3ABN presents The
Robe with Stephen Bohr.
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Some three years ago
my wife and I had traveled
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to Panama to spend
some time with her parents.
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And while there we
heard that the Fresno Church
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was in the country and that they
were actually building a church
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up into the
mountains for the Indian people
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that live up
there in the mountains
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just maybe an hour north of
where my wife's parents live.
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And so we decided to go up
there and just spend some time
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with them. Maybe
take them a little food...
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fellowship with them
while they're building there
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up in the
mountains. And we drove up into
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the mountains past the
beautiful terraced gardens
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that the Indian
people, they... they...
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they farm right on
the side of the mountains.
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It's really quite impressive.
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We drove up into the
mountains on a Thursday
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only to find out that the church
decided to take that day off
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to go to the beach.
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So we're in the mountains...
they're at the beach.
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And then my sister-in-law,
coming from an urban setting,
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locked the keys in the car.
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So we're up in the mountains.
The temperature is dropping,
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and the temperature drops
fast there in the mountains.
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And we're freezing. You
can't call AAA 'cause you're in
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Panama. And you can' just
pull over and get somebody.
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So we're stuck.
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And so I had to call
upon some long-lost skills,
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Pastor Jim, to get in that car.
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Now I assured them:
"Don't worry, I will get us
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in this car ere
the darkness fall. "
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And the Lord was kind;
we did get into the car
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and were able to get out.
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We got back and we
heard that the Fresno Church
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and Pastor Bohr would
be preaching that Sabbath.
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But we had a little bit of a
dilemma because we also heard
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that Pastor Alejandro Bullon
was also going to be preaching
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at Irma's mother's church.
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And of course he is a
famous and well-known evangelist
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in the Spanish community.
And we were trying to decide
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Bullon or Bohr? Bohr or Bullon?
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Bullon or Bohr?
Then we heard that Bullon
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was actually going to be
by videotape and Bohr was
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going to be live. Well
that settled it for us.
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Better Bohr live
than Bullon on tape.
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So we went with the
live Bohr and not the Bullon.
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And we went there to this
large arena that was packed with
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people to hear Pastor
Bohr preach in perfect Spanish.
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And I asked my wife:
"Is that good Spanish? "
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And she said: "No,
that's perfect Spanish. "
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So he... he is quite bilingual.
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He preaches in
Spanish and in English
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and does so very, very well.
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Pastor Stephen Bohr is
known as a student of the Word.
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He is one of the more
popular speakers here on 3ABN.
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He has been at the
Fresno Church for over a decade
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and during that time
has developed this wonderful
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ministry Secrets Unsealed.
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He is the husband of one wife,
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the father of a boy and a girl,
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and a grandfather, I am told.
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His son just bought two dogs,
so he is a dog's grandfather.
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No children yet but he
does have two granddogs.
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But more than that he
is a preacher of the Word
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and someone that we have come
to know and love here on 3ABN.
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And so after we
shall have prayed together
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as it seems good to
us and the Holy Spirit
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to call him here,
we ask from you for him
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your prayerful and
undivided attention.
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Shall we pray.
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Dear Father in Heaven,
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we thank you for
this Sabbath evening.
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We thank you for a time
when we can lay down the cares
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of the world and spend a
little time concentrating
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on our friend Jesus Christ.
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And so Father, as
Pastor Bohr has been called
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by You to speak a
word to our hearts
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anoint his lips and our ears
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that the words that he
speaks will be but Your words
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and that those heaven-sent
words will find lodging
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in our hearts, in
our minds, in our souls.
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We thank you for
Your promise to hear
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and for Your promise
to be with us this night
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in Jesus' name, Amen.
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God bless you.
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Good evening. Good evening.
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It's good to see you all out
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at the beginning
of this Sabbath day.
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Isn't Sabbath a blessing?
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Amen!
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I look forward to it
even though I work harder on
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Sabbath than any other day.
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But it's spiritual
work so it's allowed.
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Let's bow our heads. Father,
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as we open Your Word we ask
for the presence of Your Spirit.
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Give us clear
minds and tender hearts.
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And we thank you for
hearing our prayer for we ask it
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in Jesus' name, Amen.
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First of all, let's
review what we studied
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in our first
sermon in this series:
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Weaving the Robe of Christ.
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If you remember, we
noticed that God is covered with
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a robe of glorious light.
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And that robe of
glorious light represents
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God's righteousness.
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And so He has a literal
robe and a spiritual robe.
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The literal robe
is literal light;
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the spiritual
robe is righteousness.
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Then we noticed
that when God created man
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He made man to reflect His glory
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like the moon
reflects the glory of the sun.
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And God also gave man a
glorious robe of literal light.
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But that robe of literal
light represented righteousness
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because man had not sinned.
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But then we noticed that our
first parents - Adam and Eve -
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sinned. And as a
result first of all they lost
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their spiritual robe
because they lost righteousness.
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But as a result of
losing their spiritual robe
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they then lost their literal
robe of light that covered them.
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And now because they
were spiritually naked
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they found themselves
physically naked as well.
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And so they tried to
cover their nakedness...
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not only their
physical nakedness but the
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nakedness of
soul... with fig leaves
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which represents the excuses
that they offered for their sin.
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In other words, the
attempt to justify their sin.
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But we noticed that God
removed those fig leaves
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and He clothed them with
the skins of an immaculate lamb
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that had been slain.
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And as we noticed in our study
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this sacrifice of
an immaculate lamb
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represented two aspects
of the ministry of Jesus
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in the camp and in the court.
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In the camp He
came and lived with us.
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He faced our
trials and our temptations
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and He gained the
total victory over sin.
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He never sinned. Therefore,
He wove a perfect robe
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of righteousness
through His life.
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But then at the end of His life
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Jesus took upon
Himself our sins.
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And that's the reason why
He hung naked upon the cross.
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You see, spiritual nakedness
that He took upon Himself
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now expressed
itself in literal nakedness
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because He was bearing our sins.
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And of course,
through the life of Jesus
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and through the death
of Jesus, now He had a robe
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that He could give
to repentant sinners.
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And now those repentant
sinners would not have to die
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because accepting
Jesus - the death of Jesus -
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stood in their place.
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And so as a result
of the life of Jesus
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and the death of
Jesus, Jesus now had benefits
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that He could pour out
on those who come to Him.
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Now we want to ask a
critically-important question.
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And the question is this:
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did Jesus forgive
everyone's sins at the cross?
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Now usually when
I preach this sermon
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whether it's in an Adventist
church or a non-Adventist
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environment, people
immediately answer "yes. "
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"Jesus forgave
everyone's sins at the cross. "
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But I have a surprise
for those who think that.
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Jesus did not
forgive sins at the cross.
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You see forgiveness is an
individual, personal thing.
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Jesus lived His life in the
camp and He died in the court
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and that way He had
benefits to pour out upon those
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who claim His sacrifice.
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I'd like to read a statement
that we find in the book
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Acts of the Apostles.
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Actually it's in Acts of
the Apostles but I'm going to
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read it from Story
of Redemption page 386.
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It's speaking about
what Jesus went to do
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on the Day of
Pentecost in heaven.
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It says there:
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In other words, now He
could pour out His life
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and He could pour out His
death upon His disciples...
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those who believe in Him.
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Allow me to give you an example
so that we can understand
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the relationship between
the perfect life of Jesus,
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His death, and how
we benefit from these.
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I want you to imagine
a bank that we will call
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The Bank of the Universe.
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And a certain individual
who has unlimited resources
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deposits enough
money in that bank
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to pay every person's
debts on planet earth.
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Debts of your
mortgage, your credit cards,
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department
stores, educational bills,
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auto loans. He deposited
enough capital in that bank
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to pay every person's
debts on planet earth.
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Now He doesn't have to do this.
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People got in debt
because of their choices.
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But out of His mercy and
out of His grace He says:
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"I just want to make
this deposit into the bank
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so that I can pay every
person's debts on planet earth.
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There's only one catch...
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and that is that to
benefit from the capital
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that has been
deposited in the bank
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you have to come and make
the withdrawal at the bank.
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If you don't come
and make the withdrawal,
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the capital is there
- the money is there -
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but you're still
going to be in debt
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because you never
claimed what was there.
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And so the life
of Jesus in the camp
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was lived for the whole world.
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The death of Jesus on the cross
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was sufficient
for the whole world.
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But only those
who claim His life,
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only those who claim
His death in their place,
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are going to
benefit from what Jesus did.
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Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
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Now what did Jesus
go to heaven to do?
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What has He been doing
during the last 2,000 years?
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You ask Christians that question
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and they're
somewhat puzzled and confused
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because, you know, why
has Jesus been in heaven
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for 2,000 years?
What is He doing?
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The fact is the New
Testament makes it clear
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what Jesus has been doing.
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Let's read three
verses from the New Testament.
00:12:32.26\00:12:35.00
The first is found in I
Timothy chapter 2 and verse 5.
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It says here:
00:12:39.60\00:12:40.83
So what is
Jesus doing in heaven?
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He's what? He's
mediating His life and His death
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in favor of
those who come to Him.
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Notice I John
chapter 2 and verse 1.
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Here the word
mediator is not used.
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It's a different word but it
means basically the same thing.
00:13:07.11\00:13:09.78
"My little children,
these things I write to you
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so that you may not sin.
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And if anyone
sins, we have" a what?
00:13:16.59\00:13:19.92
And so during
the last 2,000 years
00:13:26.28\00:13:28.63
Jesus has been the
mediator. Jesus is the advocate
00:13:28.83\00:13:32.86
to apply His life and His death
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to those who come to
Him to claim the benefits
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of what He did in the camp
and what He did in the court.
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Notice also Hebrews
chapter 7 and verse 25.
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Hebrews 7 and verse 25.
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It says here:
00:13:50.61\00:13:51.78
So who are those who
are saved to the uttermost?
00:14:07.92\00:14:10.19
Everybody on planet earth?
00:14:10.40\00:14:12.28
No! It says: "Therefore
He is also able to save... "
00:14:12.58\00:14:16.49
What does the
word "them" refer to?
00:14:26.26\00:14:28.55
Those who come
to God through Him.
00:14:28.85\00:14:33.52
Now the question is:
whose sins does Jesus forgive?
00:14:33.82\00:14:39.73
Did He forgive
them at the cross?
00:14:39.93\00:14:41.68
The answer is "absolutely not. "
00:14:41.89\00:14:44.45
And I know that that might
be surprising to many of you.
00:14:44.75\00:14:47.40
But let's notice
what the Bible has to say
00:14:47.60\00:14:50.20
about forgiveness.
Whose sins does Jesus forgive?
00:14:50.41\00:14:54.17
Go with me to Acts
chapter 2 and verse 38.
00:14:54.47\00:14:58.15
Acts chapter 2 and verse 38.
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This is Peter speaking
on the Day of Pentecost.
00:15:01.89\00:15:05.44
It's towards the
conclusion of his sermon.
00:15:05.64\00:15:08.25
In fact, he's
already preached his sermon
00:15:08.45\00:15:10.04
and the people who are
present came to him and said:
00:15:10.24\00:15:12.82
"Peter, what do we need to do? "
00:15:13.02\00:15:14.43
And notice what
Peter said, Acts 2:38:
00:15:14.73\00:15:17.43
The word remission is trans-
lated also in the New Testament
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"for the forgiveness. "
Remission and forgiveness
00:15:39.73\00:15:42.10
is the same Greek word.
00:15:42.20\00:15:43.56
And so Peter says: "Repent,
and let every one of you
00:15:43.86\00:15:47.42
be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ
00:15:47.45\00:15:49.94
for the remission or
forgiveness of sins... "
00:15:50.14\00:15:53.57
Let me ask you: who
are those who are forgiven?
00:15:56.13\00:15:58.20
Those who repent
and are baptized.
00:15:58.50\00:16:02.93
Notice Acts
chapter 5 and verse 31.
00:16:03.23\00:16:05.64
By the way, this
was present truth
00:16:05.94\00:16:07.96
in the days of the apostles:
00:16:08.16\00:16:09.44
the intercession of Jesus.
00:16:09.64\00:16:11.06
We're going to notice
tomorrow that present truth
00:16:11.26\00:16:13.25
is that Jesus is
performing a work of judgment.
00:16:13.45\00:16:15.94
Notice Acts
chapter 5 and verse 31.
00:16:16.24\00:16:19.35
Speaking about Jesus, it says:
00:16:19.66\00:16:21.50
What did Jesus
go to heaven to do?
00:16:36.58\00:16:38.52
He went to heaven to
what? To give repentance
00:16:38.82\00:16:41.89
and what else? And
to give forgiveness.
00:16:42.09\00:16:44.22
If He has to give forgiveness,
He didn't give it at the cross.
00:16:44.52\00:16:47.02
Notice also Acts
chapter 10 and verse 43.
00:16:47.32\00:16:51.24
Acts chapter 10 and verse 43.
00:16:51.54\00:16:54.62
It says here, speaking
about Jesus once again:
00:16:54.92\00:16:57.61
Who is it that
receives remission of sins?
00:17:10.48\00:17:13.16
Those who what?
Who believe in Him.
00:17:13.46\00:17:17.40
Now you remember
Simon Magus, right?
00:17:17.90\00:17:20.60
The fellow who tried to buy
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:17:20.91\00:17:23.33
When he tried to do that,
notice what Peter said to him.
00:17:23.63\00:17:26.57
This is in Acts
chapter 8 and verses 20 to 23.
00:17:26.77\00:17:30.40
Acts 8:20-23.
00:17:30.60\00:17:32.58
Was it necessary for
Simon Magus to repent
00:18:03.96\00:18:07.46
in order to receive forgiveness?
00:18:07.66\00:18:09.54
Absolutely!
00:18:09.74\00:18:11.82
So Jesus did not
forgive everyone at the cross.
00:18:12.12\00:18:15.18
Jesus Christ, by living
His life, made provision for
00:18:15.38\00:18:19.42
people to receive His life.
00:18:19.52\00:18:21.15
He made provision by His death
for people to receive His death.
00:18:21.46\00:18:25.43
But you must repent
and you must believe
00:18:25.63\00:18:28.64
in order to receive the
benefits of His atonement.
00:18:28.84\00:18:32.03
Now let's ask the question:
what are the conditions
00:18:32.33\00:18:37.61
for being forgiven
00:18:37.92\00:18:39.67
and receiving the robe
of Christ's righteousness?
00:18:39.97\00:18:44.08
There are five
conditions that are mentioned
00:18:44.28\00:18:46.79
in the New Testament.
00:18:46.99\00:18:48.28
At least five.
00:18:48.58\00:18:49.78
The first
requirement is, as we have read,
00:18:50.08\00:18:53.02
repentance.
00:18:53.22\00:18:55.13
Let's read once again
Acts chapter 2 and verse 38.
00:18:55.43\00:18:58.93
Acts chapter 2 and verse 38.
00:18:59.24\00:19:01.53
We read this before and
we'll probably read it again
00:19:01.73\00:19:04.53
before we're
finished. It says in Acts 2:38:
00:19:04.73\00:19:07.09
Let me ask you: is
repentance a condition for
00:19:21.86\00:19:25.30
having your sins
remitted or forgiven?
00:19:25.51\00:19:27.76
Absolutely... very
clear. He says: "Repent
00:19:27.86\00:19:31.03
and then your sins
will be remitted. "
00:19:31.23\00:19:34.87
Notice Luke chapter
17 and verses 3 and 4.
00:19:35.17\00:19:38.57
This is speaking
about us forgiving others,
00:19:38.87\00:19:41.85
but the principle is the same:
00:19:41.95\00:19:43.36
that repentance
must precede forgiveness.
00:19:43.56\00:19:46.62
By the way, we don't need
to repent to come to Jesus.
00:19:46.82\00:19:49.91
We come to Jesus in repentance
and then He forgives us.
00:19:50.21\00:19:53.78
Some people think that
they have to repent before Jesus
00:19:54.09\00:19:56.63
will accept them. No, you
come to Jesus as you are...
00:19:56.83\00:19:59.22
repentance... and
Jesus accepts you.
00:19:59.42\00:20:01.30
Luke 17 verses 3 and 4:
00:20:01.60\00:20:03.82
Does repentance
precede forgiveness?
00:20:27.42\00:20:30.44
Absolutely.
According to this text it does.
00:20:30.74\00:20:33.07
And some people say:
"Well, Pastor, if an individual
00:20:33.37\00:20:35.98
commits the same
sin seven times a day
00:20:36.18\00:20:38.50
and seven times he
comes and he says 'I repent, '
00:20:38.70\00:20:41.08
how do you know if his
repentance is genuine or not?
00:20:41.28\00:20:44.40
Well, you need to come
to the next exciting episode
00:20:44.70\00:20:47.96
tomorrow morning. That's why God
is going to have a judgment...
00:20:48.16\00:20:51.41
to show if
repentance was genuine or not.
00:20:51.61\00:20:55.39
Now we all know that there's
true and false repentance,
00:20:55.89\00:20:59.34
right? Now, what is
the difference between
00:20:59.54\00:21:02.78
true and false repentance?
00:21:02.98\00:21:04.89
Allow me first of all to say
- and this is very important -
00:21:05.19\00:21:08.67
that we cannot
repent on our own.
00:21:08.87\00:21:12.28
Repentance is a gift of God.
00:21:12.58\00:21:15.56
In other words, repentance
is not something I come up with.
00:21:15.86\00:21:19.05
Repentance is
something that God gives us.
00:21:19.35\00:21:22.93
Now let's notice
that in scripture...
00:21:23.23\00:21:25.82
Go with me to Acts
chapter 5 and verse 31.
00:21:26.02\00:21:29.15
Acts chapter 5 and verse 31.
00:21:29.45\00:21:32.50
We read it before but now we
want to look at something else
00:21:32.70\00:21:35.38
that comes from this verse.
00:21:35.58\00:21:36.98
It says there -
speaking about Jesus:
00:21:37.28\00:21:39.09
So who is it that
gives repentance to Israel?
00:21:54.20\00:21:57.92
It is God who gives
repentance to Israel.
00:21:58.22\00:22:01.36
In other words, repentance
is not something that I
00:22:01.56\00:22:04.20
come up with
out of my own heart.
00:22:04.41\00:22:06.81
God leads me to repentance.
00:22:07.01\00:22:09.03
And do you know what it is
concerning God that leads me
00:22:09.33\00:22:12.28
to repentance?
Notice Romans chapter 2
00:22:12.48\00:22:14.93
and verse 4 tells us
what it is that God gives us
00:22:15.13\00:22:17.95
that leads us to repentance.
00:22:18.15\00:22:19.48
Romans chapter 2 and verse 4.
00:22:19.68\00:22:22.13
Here the apostle Paul says:
00:22:22.53\00:22:24.66
You see, when I catch a glimpse
of the perfect life of Jesus
00:22:39.95\00:22:43.74
and how imperfect
I am in comparison
00:22:43.94\00:22:46.79
and when I see that
Jesus took my sins upon Himself
00:22:46.99\00:22:51.10
and He suffered the
torture of the cross, I say:
00:22:51.30\00:22:53.65
"Man, You did that so
that I wouldn't have to die.
00:22:53.85\00:22:56.25
You're so good. I'm sorry! "
00:22:56.45\00:22:59.52
So it's Jesus - the
goodness of God through Jesus -
00:22:59.82\00:23:03.26
that leads us to repentance.
00:23:03.46\00:23:05.73
Now what is the difference
between genuine and counterfeit
00:23:05.93\00:23:09.11
repentance?
00:23:09.31\00:23:11.02
Folks, genuine repentance
is sorry for the sin itself.
00:23:11.32\00:23:15.55
Counterfeit repentance
is - on the contrary -
00:23:16.90\00:23:21.88
sorry for the results
that sin will produce.
00:23:22.08\00:23:25.64
In other words, genuine
repentance is sorry for sin!
00:23:25.94\00:23:29.83
Whereas, counterfeit repentance
is sorry for the consequences
00:23:30.13\00:23:34.01
or the results that
will come as a result of sin.
00:23:34.21\00:23:37.35
Notice II Corinthians
chapter 7 verses 10 and 11.
00:23:37.65\00:23:41.60
II Corinthians
chapter 7 and verses 10 and 11
00:23:41.90\00:23:45.61
it compares the two
kinds of repentance:
00:23:45.81\00:23:48.40
godly repentance
and worldly repentance.
00:23:48.70\00:23:51.72
It says there:
00:23:52.02\00:23:53.08
Do you know what
true repentance is?
00:24:12.07\00:24:13.77
It simply means saying:
"I blew it; it was my fault"
00:24:13.97\00:24:18.48
with no ifs, buts, or maybes.
00:24:18.68\00:24:22.57
True repentance does not
come because we fear punishment
00:24:22.87\00:24:27.23
or because we hope for reward.
00:24:27.43\00:24:29.38
True repentance comes
simply because we see the
00:24:29.68\00:24:32.93
beauty of the character of Jesus
00:24:33.13\00:24:34.82
and we say: "I'm
so unlike Jesus. "
00:24:35.02\00:24:37.26
And we see His death
on the cross and we say:
00:24:37.46\00:24:39.48
"He was so generous in
His giving of His life for me.
00:24:39.68\00:24:42.39
I'm sorry,
Lord, that I sinned. "
00:24:42.59\00:24:44.46
That's true repentance.
00:24:44.77\00:24:47.54
By the way, Adam and Eve
were not repentant at first
00:24:47.85\00:24:50.42
when they ate from the tree.
00:24:50.72\00:24:51.94
Do you know one of the greatest
signs that a person is not
00:24:53.30\00:24:55.52
repentant is making excuses.
00:24:55.72\00:24:57.81
"Well, Lord, it's true that
I hollered at my wife but... "
00:24:58.11\00:25:02.97
"You know, it's true that I did
this, but the flesh is weak. "
00:25:04.16\00:25:07.58
And so we give all
these buts and ifs and maybes.
00:25:07.88\00:25:10.62
True repentance means that
we assume full and complete
00:25:10.82\00:25:14.45
responsibility for
what we did for ourselves.
00:25:14.65\00:25:17.80
You see, Adam and Eve... at
first they weren't repentant.
00:25:18.10\00:25:21.24
God comes to Adam. Adam says:
00:25:21.54\00:25:23.46
"The woman You gave
me... that's why I sinned. "
00:25:23.76\00:25:27.20
And He comes to the
woman... she says "The serpent
00:25:27.50\00:25:29.54
that You made... " See,
they weren't really repentant.
00:25:29.74\00:25:32.42
Ellen White tells us when
they were truly repentant.
00:25:32.72\00:25:35.65
It's when they had to
sacrifice the first lamb.
00:25:35.95\00:25:38.71
And then the Creator told
them: "That lamb represents Me.
00:25:39.01\00:25:42.78
I'm going to have to
die because of your sin. "
00:25:43.08\00:25:46.33
Then they said:
"Wow, sin is horrible! "
00:25:46.64\00:25:48.99
And then they
repented of the sin.
00:25:49.09\00:25:51.63
They did not repent
because of the consequences
00:25:51.93\00:25:53.95
because they
were afraid of dying.
00:25:54.15\00:25:56.07
Notice this interesting
statement that we find
00:25:56.37\00:25:58.82
in Christ Object
Lessons page 311.
00:25:59.02\00:26:01.38
Only the covering which
Christ Himself has provided
00:26:01.68\00:26:05.37
can make us meek to
appear in God's presence.
00:26:05.57\00:26:09.91
This covering -
now listen carefully -
00:26:10.21\00:26:12.18
the robe of His
own righteousness -
00:26:12.38\00:26:15.53
Christ will put upon
every repenting, believing soul.
00:26:15.73\00:26:20.76
So what do you need
to do in order to have
00:26:21.26\00:26:23.91
the robe of His righteousness -
00:26:24.11\00:26:25.73
the spiritual robe we're talking
about - of His righteousness?
00:26:25.83\00:26:29.13
You must what?
Repent as well as what?
00:26:29.33\00:26:33.12
Believe.
00:26:33.66\00:26:34.81
Now let's... we'll come
back to believe in a few moments
00:26:35.11\00:26:37.54
but let's go to
our second condition
00:26:37.75\00:26:39.73
for receiving the robe or
for receiving forgiveness.
00:26:39.93\00:26:43.24
The second
requirement is confession.
00:26:43.54\00:26:46.68
Now there's a close
relationship between repentance
00:26:46.98\00:26:50.60
and confession. You say:
"What is the relationship
00:26:50.70\00:26:52.84
between
repentance and confession? "
00:26:53.04\00:26:55.10
Well, repentance
means to be sorry for sin.
00:26:55.40\00:26:59.94
Confession means to
openly say that you are.
00:27:01.18\00:27:04.76
Audibly say that you are.
00:27:06.29\00:27:08.52
In other words, it is
to with the mouth admit it
00:27:08.82\00:27:11.94
and say: "I blew
it; I'm sinful. "
00:27:12.14\00:27:14.37
There are several examples
of confession in scripture.
00:27:14.67\00:27:19.14
Daniel when he was
praying over the sins of Israel
00:27:19.44\00:27:24.42
that had led them into
captivity. Daniel chapter 9
00:27:24.62\00:27:27.02
verses 4 and 5,
notice how Daniel audibly
00:27:27.23\00:27:30.98
confesses the sin of
Israel in repentance.
00:27:31.18\00:27:35.55
You see,
repentance is to be sorry.
00:27:35.75\00:27:37.76
Confession means to
say that you're sorry.
00:27:37.96\00:27:40.05
It says there in
Daniel 9 4 and 5:
00:27:40.35\00:27:42.38
"And I prayed to the Lord
my God and made confession
00:27:42.58\00:27:46.25
and said: 'Oh Lord,
great and awesome God,
00:27:46.45\00:27:49.80
who keeps His covenant and
mercy with those who love Him
00:27:50.00\00:27:52.80
and with those who
keep His commandments,
00:27:53.00\00:27:54.74
we have sinned and
committed iniquity.
00:27:55.04\00:27:59.27
We have done
wickedly and rebelled
00:27:59.47\00:28:02.48
even by departing from Your
precepts and Your judgments. ' "
00:28:02.68\00:28:06.22
Notice he doesn't say
only "We have sinned. "
00:28:06.33\00:28:08.08
He says: "We have sinned;
we have committed iniquity;
00:28:08.28\00:28:10.58
we have done wickedly;
and we have rebelled. "
00:28:10.78\00:28:13.13
In other words,
this is true repentance
00:28:13.43\00:28:15.80
that leads to confession.
00:28:16.00\00:28:17.51
You know when
David committed adultery
00:28:17.71\00:28:19.77
and also the sin of murder
for all practical purposes
00:28:19.97\00:28:22.99
he wrote Psalm 51 but
he also wrote Psalm 32.
00:28:23.19\00:28:26.78
I want you to notice
Psalm 32 and verse 5.
00:28:27.08\00:28:30.14
In this
penitential Psalm of David
00:28:30.34\00:28:32.68
not only did he repent but
he also acknowledged his sin
00:28:32.88\00:28:37.46
audibly.
00:28:37.56\00:28:38.57
It says there in
Psalm 32 verse 5:
00:28:38.79\00:28:41.17
"I acknowledge my sin to You,
00:28:41.37\00:28:45.72
and my iniquity
I have not hidden.
00:28:45.92\00:28:50.00
I said: 'I will confess my
transgressions to the Lord'
00:28:50.30\00:28:56.05
and You forgave the
iniquity of my sin. "
00:28:56.36\00:29:00.37
So did David audibly
confess his sin to the Lord?
00:29:00.67\00:29:06.09
The repentance
that was in his heart?
00:29:06.39\00:29:08.50
Absolutely.
00:29:08.80\00:29:10.12
Notice also
Psalm 38 and verse 18.
00:29:10.42\00:29:14.31
Psalm 38 and verse 18.
00:29:14.61\00:29:16.68
Here David once again
- the psalmist - says:
00:29:16.98\00:29:19.56
"For I will declare my iniquity.
00:29:19.86\00:29:23.53
I will be in
anguish over my sin. "
00:29:23.73\00:29:27.13
We also know the
story of the prodigal son.
00:29:27.43\00:29:31.14
Did the prodigal son repent
when he was far away from home?
00:29:32.40\00:29:36.52
Yes he did repent.
00:29:36.82\00:29:38.81
What led him to repentance?
00:29:39.11\00:29:40.79
The memory of his father...
the goodness of his father
00:29:41.09\00:29:44.68
led him to repent. He was sorry!
00:29:44.98\00:29:47.15
And therefore he goes
back home and what does he do?
00:29:47.45\00:29:51.10
He says audibly: "Father,
00:29:51.40\00:29:54.48
I have sinned against
heaven and against you
00:29:54.69\00:29:57.80
and am no longer worthy
to be called your son. "
00:29:58.10\00:30:00.26
Did he openly
confess his repentance?
00:30:00.56\00:30:02.87
He most certainly did.
And what did the father
00:30:02.97\00:30:05.00
place over his
shoulders? He was forgiven
00:30:05.20\00:30:08.56
and he received
the robe of his father.
00:30:08.76\00:30:11.61
We can think also of the
confession of the publican.
00:30:11.91\00:30:14.64
A Pharisee and a publican
went to the temple to pray.
00:30:14.94\00:30:17.77
Of course, the Bible
says that the Pharisee prayed
00:30:18.08\00:30:20.10
with himself
because he felt pretty good.
00:30:20.20\00:30:22.44
He didn't feel like
he needed to repent.
00:30:22.64\00:30:24.78
But the publican repented
of his sin, and the fact is
00:30:25.08\00:30:28.87
show by his - according to
the Bible - standing afar off.
00:30:29.07\00:30:33.56
It says he wouldn't
even look to heaven.
00:30:33.86\00:30:36.42
And he beat his breast
and he confessed audibly.
00:30:36.72\00:30:40.69
He said: "Lord be
merciful to me a sinner. "
00:30:40.89\00:30:44.21
And the Bible says
Jesus Himself, His own words
00:30:44.51\00:30:48.27
that this man
went home justified.
00:30:48.47\00:30:51.96
By the way, the word
justify means to forgive.
00:30:52.26\00:30:54.67
They're synonymous terms.
00:30:54.97\00:30:57.63
In other words, this
publican went home justified
00:30:57.93\00:31:01.93
because he repented
and he confessed his sin.
00:31:02.23\00:31:05.50
Now you remember when the
apostle Paul was in Ephesus
00:31:05.80\00:31:08.96
and there was a group of
people who accepted the gospel.
00:31:09.27\00:31:12.53
And they made
this great big bonfire
00:31:12.73\00:31:14.61
and they burned all of
their books. Do you remember it?
00:31:14.75\00:31:17.06
Now notice how they confessed
publicly what they had done
00:31:17.29\00:31:20.59
before. Notice Acts
chapter 19 and verses 18 and 19.
00:31:20.79\00:31:25.78
Acts chapter 19
verses 18-19. It says here:
00:31:26.08\00:31:30.90
"And many who had
believed came confessing
00:31:31.20\00:31:35.15
and telling their deeds. "
00:31:35.55\00:31:39.14
What were they doing?
00:31:39.45\00:31:40.83
Confessing and
telling their deeds.
00:31:41.03\00:31:43.68
"Also, many of those
who had practiced magic
00:31:43.98\00:31:47.90
brought their books
together and burned them
00:31:48.10\00:31:51.73
in the sight of all. "
00:31:51.93\00:31:54.50
Was this a public
thing? It most certainly was.
00:31:54.80\00:31:57.68
"And they counted
up the value of them
00:31:57.98\00:32:00.57
and total 50,000
pieces of silver. "
00:32:00.77\00:32:04.31
That was a fortune back then!
00:32:04.51\00:32:06.28
Notice Romans
chapter 10 and verse 10.
00:32:06.58\00:32:08.69
We're still on the
second condition for receiving
00:32:08.89\00:32:11.22
forgiveness. The
first is repentance.
00:32:11.42\00:32:12.91
The second
condition is confession.
00:32:13.11\00:32:14.83
Romans 10 verse 10 says that
we must confess with our mouth.
00:32:14.93\00:32:18.07
It says there: "For
with the heart one believes
00:32:18.27\00:32:21.55
unto righteousness and with
the mouth confession is made
00:32:21.75\00:32:26.61
unto salvation. "
00:32:26.81\00:32:28.76
And then of course you
know that classic verse
00:32:29.06\00:32:31.60
which by the way
begins with a conditional word
00:32:31.80\00:32:35.18
I John chapter 1 and verse 9:
00:32:35.48\00:32:38.11
"If we confess our sins... "
00:32:38.31\00:32:41.67
Is there a condition
for receiving forgiveness?
00:32:41.87\00:32:43.78
Absolutely.
00:32:44.08\00:32:45.09
Is confession a condition
for receiving forgiveness?
00:32:54.70\00:32:57.93
Absolutely. Let's
read one final verse.
00:32:58.23\00:33:01.03
Proverbs
chapter 28 and verse 13.
00:33:01.33\00:33:04.24
Proverbs
chapter 28 and verse 13.
00:33:04.54\00:33:07.18
This is also a
very well-known verse.
00:33:07.38\00:33:09.37
It says here:
00:33:09.57\00:33:10.69
Once again we find
that whoever confesses sin
00:33:27.85\00:33:31.36
and forsakes sin
will have what? "Mercy. "
00:33:31.56\00:33:36.51
Now let's go to
our third condition
00:33:36.71\00:33:38.56
for receiving forgiveness.
00:33:38.76\00:33:40.48
Our third condition is to
believe or trust in Jesus.
00:33:40.78\00:33:45.00
What does that mean to
believe or trust in Jesus?
00:33:46.23\00:33:49.04
Basically what it means,
folks, is that I come to Jesus
00:33:49.24\00:33:52.91
and I say: "Jesus,
I'm a miserable sinner.
00:33:53.12\00:33:55.21
My life is stained with
sin and there's no hope for me.
00:33:55.41\00:33:59.92
But Jesus I believe that
You lived Your perfect life.
00:34:00.22\00:34:03.30
I believe that You died on
the cross carrying my sins.
00:34:03.51\00:34:06.87
And Jesus would you
please take Your life
00:34:07.07\00:34:10.00
and would you
PLEASE take Your death
00:34:10.20\00:34:12.23
and would You put
these to my account?
00:34:12.43\00:34:13.98
Would You please give me the
benefits of Your atonement? "
00:34:14.28\00:34:17.93
That's what it means: trusting
in the life and in the death
00:34:18.24\00:34:20.96
of Jesus Christ.
00:34:21.26\00:34:22.75
Let's notice several
verses that speak about
00:34:23.05\00:34:26.31
belief or trust in Jesus.
00:34:26.52\00:34:28.31
The word believe
actually means to trust in Him.
00:34:28.51\00:34:31.32
Notice Acts
chapter 10 and verse 43.
00:34:31.62\00:34:34.74
Acts chapter 10 and verse 43.
00:34:35.04\00:34:37.68
Once again, speaking
about Jesus. We read this before
00:34:37.99\00:34:40.38
in another context. It says:
00:34:40.41\00:34:42.22
"To Him" - that is to Jesus -
"all the prophets witness... "
00:34:42.42\00:34:46.15
Is it necessary to
believe in Jesus to receive
00:34:57.24\00:35:00.44
remission of sins? Absolutely.
00:35:00.54\00:35:02.54
And you know the most
famous verse in the Bible...
00:35:02.74\00:35:05.02
"For God so loved the world... "
00:35:06.56\00:35:08.61
By the way, it
would be nice to put there
00:35:19.62\00:35:21.77
"that whosoever trusts in Him
00:35:21.97\00:35:24.93
should not perish but
have everlasting life. "
00:35:25.23\00:35:28.15
Notice I John
chapter 2 and verse 1.
00:35:28.45\00:35:30.77
This is a very
interesting verse.
00:35:30.98\00:35:32.38
By the way, how can we
approach the throne of God?
00:35:32.68\00:35:34.76
Do we have any
righteousness to offer God
00:35:34.96\00:35:36.57
when we come to
the throne of God?
00:35:36.77\00:35:37.84
Absolutely not. So how
can we approach His throne?
00:35:38.05\00:35:40.17
It must be through the
righteousness of Jesus.
00:35:40.47\00:35:42.54
Now notice I John 2 verse 1..
00:35:42.84\00:35:44.93
powerful words:
00:35:45.23\00:35:46.32
Now that's important
00:36:01.19\00:36:02.76
because it's not my righteous-
ness that is presented
00:36:03.06\00:36:05.50
before the Father. It's
the righteousness of Jesus
00:36:05.70\00:36:08.18
my Advocate. And so
when I come before the Father
00:36:08.38\00:36:11.85
the Father says: "Where
is your righteousness? "
00:36:12.05\00:36:14.12
I say: "I don't have any
but my Advocate is Jesus.
00:36:14.32\00:36:18.17
Jesus is righteous because
He lived the righteous life
00:36:18.37\00:36:21.65
and I have accepted Him as
my Savior and as my Lord. "
00:36:21.95\00:36:25.26
I want to read you 3 statements
from the little magnificent book
00:36:26.43\00:36:30.14
Faith and Works
00:36:30.34\00:36:31.34
which is actually a compilation
of articles that were written
00:36:31.64\00:36:34.57
by Ellen White. Ellen White
had this very, very straight.
00:36:34.77\00:36:38.17
Notice what she says in
the little book Faith and Works
00:36:38.38\00:36:40.89
page 70 about what it
means to believe. She says:
00:36:41.09\00:36:45.03
Isn't that a
magnificent quotation?
00:37:09.62\00:37:12.07
Faith and Works
page 106 she says:
00:37:12.37\00:37:15.88
Isn't that a
magnificent quotation?
00:37:44.38\00:37:47.27
That's what the
Bible means when it says
00:37:47.57\00:37:49.31
that we are
accepted in "the beloved. "
00:37:49.51\00:37:53.03
God looks upon us as
if we had never sinned
00:37:53.33\00:37:55.98
because the righteous life
of Jesus stands in place of
00:37:56.18\00:37:58.94
my life and His death stands
in place of the death that I
00:37:59.14\00:38:03.09
should suffer. One
final quotation from Faith...
00:38:03.29\00:38:06.15
actually this is not
from Faith and Works.
00:38:06.35\00:38:08.19
It's from The
Faith I Live By page 107.
00:38:08.39\00:38:11.59
This is what Ellen
White says there...
00:38:11.89\00:38:13.61
The Faith I Live By page 107:
00:38:13.81\00:38:15.93
Is there any merit or
claim to justification
00:38:24.95\00:38:27.56
on the basis of our
righteousness and goodness?
00:38:27.76\00:38:29.94
Absolutely not!
00:38:30.14\00:38:31.38
She says:
00:38:31.48\00:38:32.57
And now I love this part:
00:38:37.79\00:38:39.65
That's a magnificent quotation!
00:39:08.51\00:39:10.78
And so we must
repent. We must confess,
00:39:11.08\00:39:13.67
and we must trust in Jesus...
in the merits of His life
00:39:13.87\00:39:16.95
and in His death. But
there's a fourth condition.
00:39:17.16\00:39:19.32
Our faith must be
a faith that works.
00:39:19.62\00:39:25.08
It must be a genuine faith.
00:39:25.38\00:39:28.31
A genuine faith - a
genuine trust in Jesus -
00:39:28.62\00:39:31.78
produces a change in the life.
00:39:31.98\00:39:34.41
Notice once again
Proverbs 28 and verse 13.
00:39:34.72\00:39:38.74
Proverbs 28 and verse 13.
00:39:38.94\00:39:41.34
Do you remember the
preaching of John the Baptist?
00:39:58.61\00:40:01.36
Let's read in Matthew chapter
3 and verses 8 through 10.
00:40:01.66\00:40:05.45
Matthew 3 verses 8 through 10.
00:40:05.75\00:40:08.93
John the Baptist
says: "Therefore bear fruits
00:40:09.23\00:40:12.60
worthy of repentance. "
00:40:12.70\00:40:13.76
In other words, fruits that
show that repentance is real.
00:40:13.96\00:40:16.48
"And do not think to say to
yourselves: 'we have Abraham
00:40:16.78\00:40:20.05
as our father. ' For
I say to you that God is
00:40:20.25\00:40:22.74
able to raise up children
to Abraham from these stones
00:40:22.94\00:40:25.79
and even now the ax is
laid to the root of the trees.
00:40:25.99\00:40:29.30
Therefore every tree
that does not bear good fruit
00:40:29.50\00:40:34.19
is cut down and... " what?
"and thrown into the fire. "
00:40:34.39\00:40:38.92
Must the tree produce fruit?
00:40:39.23\00:40:42.00
Absolutely. And the
tree represents the believer.
00:40:42.30\00:40:45.92
Now let's notice what
the apostle Paul had to say
00:40:46.22\00:40:49.24
to King Agrippa.
This is found in Acts 26
00:40:49.44\00:40:52.90
and verses 19 through 21.
00:40:53.10\00:40:54.82
Acts 26 verses 19 through 21.
00:40:55.12\00:40:57.98
Here the apostle Paul says:
00:40:58.28\00:40:59.95
What does that mean:
"works befitting repentance? "
00:41:27.69\00:41:30.58
It means works that
show that repentance is real.
00:41:30.78\00:41:34.54
By the way, the Bible teaches
that we are saved by grace
00:41:34.64\00:41:37.87
through faith but we
will be judged by works.
00:41:38.07\00:41:40.66
We will see that
tomorrow morning.
00:41:41.26\00:41:43.21
You say: "there's a
contradiction there. "
00:41:43.51\00:41:44.90
How can we be saved by
faith and judged by works?
00:41:45.11\00:41:47.77
The fact is that
works show if faith is real
00:41:47.97\00:41:51.75
or if faith is a counterfeit.
00:41:51.95\00:41:54.15
Notice this very famous
passage that you all know
00:41:54.55\00:41:57.52
about: James chapter 2
beginning with verse 14.
00:41:57.72\00:42:02.02
It's a rather large passage
00:42:02.22\00:42:03.32
but I'm going to read the whole
passage because it's powerful
00:42:03.52\00:42:06.06
about the relationship
between faith and works.
00:42:06.36\00:42:09.50
Here James - the brother
of Jesus, by the way - says:
00:42:09.81\00:42:13.02
"What does it profit,
my brethren, if someone
00:42:13.22\00:42:16.70
says he has faith but
does not have works? "
00:42:16.90\00:42:20.42
Notice he doesn't
really have faith... he SAYS
00:42:20.63\00:42:21.92
he has faith.
00:42:22.12\00:42:23.22
"Can faith save him? "
00:42:23.52\00:42:26.04
Actually in the Greek it says
"Can such a faith save him? "
00:42:26.24\00:42:29.79
Then he goes on:
"If a brother or sister
00:42:30.09\00:42:33.11
is naked and
destitute of any food
00:42:33.31\00:42:35.90
and one of you says
to them 'depart in peace,
00:42:36.10\00:42:40.06
be warm and filled, '
00:42:40.26\00:42:42.06
but you do not give them
the things which are needed
00:42:42.26\00:42:45.11
for the body,
what does it profit?
00:42:45.31\00:42:47.10
Thus also faith by itself
00:42:47.30\00:42:50.45
if it does not
have works is dead.
00:42:50.65\00:42:53.71
But someone will say: 'you
have faith; I have works. '
00:42:53.91\00:42:56.83
Show me your
faith without your works
00:42:57.03\00:42:59.83
and I will show you
my faith by my works.
00:43:00.03\00:43:03.14
You believe that there
is one God; you do well.
00:43:03.44\00:43:06.36
Even the demons
believe and tremble.
00:43:06.56\00:43:08.78
But do you want to
know, oh foolish man,
00:43:09.08\00:43:11.66
that faith
without works is dead?
00:43:11.86\00:43:14.50
Was not Abraham our
father justified by works? "
00:43:14.70\00:43:17.85
By the way, it's not saying
that he's justified by works.
00:43:18.05\00:43:20.09
The works show that
he was justified by faith
00:43:20.19\00:43:22.16
because it's a genuine faith.
00:43:22.36\00:43:23.69
"Was not our father
Abraham justified by works
00:43:23.99\00:43:27.59
when he offered Isaac
his son on the altar? "
00:43:27.79\00:43:29.73
Do you see that faith was
working together with his works?
00:43:29.93\00:43:33.77
See, it's a package deal.
00:43:33.97\00:43:35.43
"And by works
faith was made perfect. "
00:43:35.53\00:43:38.08
In other words, faith without
works is an imperfect faith.
00:43:38.38\00:43:41.04
"And the scripture was fulfilled
which says Abraham believed God
00:43:42.49\00:43:45.81
and it was accounted
to him for righteousness
00:43:46.01\00:43:48.78
and he was called
the friend of God.
00:43:49.08\00:43:50.64
You see then that a
man is justified by works
00:43:50.94\00:43:53.72
and not by faith only. " In
other words, not by a bare faith
00:43:53.92\00:43:57.07
that has no works.
00:43:57.27\00:43:58.36
"Likewise, was not Rahab
the harlot justified by works
00:43:58.66\00:44:02.71
when she received the messengers
and sent them out another way?
00:44:03.01\00:44:06.13
For as the body
without the spirit is dead
00:44:06.33\00:44:09.55
so faith
without works is dead. "
00:44:09.75\00:44:14.04
You see, when the branches
00:44:15.17\00:44:17.64
off the wild
olive tree were cut off
00:44:17.84\00:44:20.86
and grafted into
the natural olive tree,
00:44:21.06\00:44:24.05
those branches
produced what? Fruit.
00:44:24.26\00:44:27.60
In the parable of
the vine and the branches
00:44:28.00\00:44:31.04
Jesus says: "I am the
Vine; you are the branches. "
00:44:31.24\00:44:33.29
When the branch is
connected with the vine
00:44:33.49\00:44:35.59
truly and genuinely
through believing in Jesus
00:44:35.79\00:44:38.97
He will produce
what? Much fruit.
00:44:39.17\00:44:41.83
Of course, you're all
acquainted with what Jesus said.
00:44:42.13\00:44:44.10
He said: "By their
faith you shall know them. "
00:44:44.30\00:44:46.69
No, that's not what He said.
00:44:48.99\00:44:50.49
I was hoping that
you would protest.
00:44:50.79\00:44:52.83
Jesus didn't say: "By their
faith ye shall know them. "
00:44:53.13\00:44:55.56
He says: "By their
works ye shall know them. "
00:44:55.76\00:44:59.35
Because works show if
faith is genuine or not.
00:44:59.65\00:45:03.10
So we must
repent. We must confess.
00:45:03.40\00:45:07.07
We must believe
and trust in Jesus.
00:45:07.37\00:45:09.90
It must be a belief or a
faith that produces works.
00:45:10.10\00:45:13.62
It must be a genuine faith.
00:45:13.82\00:45:15.87
But there's one final condition
00:45:16.07\00:45:18.09
that I want to
draw your attention to.
00:45:18.29\00:45:20.45
And that is found once
again in Acts 2 and verse 38.
00:45:20.75\00:45:25.28
We read this verse
before but let's read it again
00:45:25.58\00:45:28.53
because now we
have the last condition.
00:45:28.73\00:45:30.71
What is the last condition?
00:45:50.61\00:45:53.27
You must be what?
You must be baptized.
00:45:53.57\00:45:59.08
It says: "Repent and be baptized
for the remission of sins"
00:45:59.38\00:46:03.93
and then it says: "and
you shall receive the gift
00:46:04.07\00:46:06.90
of the Holy Spirit. "
By the way, do you know
00:46:07.10\00:46:08.65
that actually the moment
that we're covered with the
00:46:08.85\00:46:10.73
wonderful robe of Christ's
righteousness officially
00:46:10.93\00:46:14.04
and publicly is
when we are baptized.
00:46:14.14\00:46:16.89
That's when Jesus
places His spiritual robe.
00:46:17.29\00:46:20.61
His life is
placed to our account.
00:46:20.71\00:46:22.91
You say: "Where in the
Bible is such a thing taught? "
00:46:23.11\00:46:25.82
Go with me to
Galatians chapter 3
00:46:26.12\00:46:27.89
and verses 26 and 27.
00:46:28.09\00:46:29.96
Here the apostle
Paul makes it clear
00:46:30.16\00:46:32.18
that it's at the moment
of baptism when officially
00:46:32.38\00:46:35.32
and publicly God
says: "Now this individual
00:46:35.52\00:46:37.89
is covered with the
robe of My righteousness. "
00:46:38.09\00:46:41.31
Notice Galatians
3 verses 26 and 27:
00:46:41.61\00:46:45.80
By the way, that expression
"put on" is used in the
00:47:06.60\00:47:10.04
New Testament to describe
the putting on of clothing.
00:47:10.24\00:47:14.47
So those who have
been baptized have what?
00:47:14.88\00:47:17.90
Have "put on Christ. "
00:47:18.20\00:47:20.75
You see, the Bible
teaches that when I'm born
00:47:21.15\00:47:23.60
I'm born into the
family of the first Adam.
00:47:23.80\00:47:26.68
I am born naked in other words.
00:47:27.74\00:47:31.58
I am born with a sinful nature
00:47:31.88\00:47:33.59
that then expresses
itself in actual sin
00:47:33.80\00:47:36.80
and I'm naked
spiritually in the sight of God!
00:47:37.10\00:47:39.90
And so I must be what?
00:47:40.20\00:47:41.81
I must shed the
nakedness of the old Adam
00:47:42.11\00:47:45.26
and I must be
included in the second Adam
00:47:45.46\00:47:48.29
in order for my
nakedness to be clothed.
00:47:48.49\00:47:52.15
Now let me ask you: What is
the ceremony that God has chosen
00:47:52.36\00:47:55.03
for me to shed the
nakedness of the first Adam
00:47:55.23\00:47:58.44
and to be covered with
the robe of the second Adam
00:47:58.65\00:48:02.59
to cover my nakedness?
00:48:02.89\00:48:04.09
It is the
ceremony of what? Baptism!
00:48:04.40\00:48:07.97
Notice Romans chapter
6 and verses 3 through 5.
00:48:08.28\00:48:11.43
Romans chapter 6
and verses 3 through 5.
00:48:11.73\00:48:15.04
Here the apostle Paul says:
00:48:15.14\00:48:17.63
So when we're baptized we're
not baptized into our death,
00:48:29.61\00:48:31.97
we're baptized into His death.
00:48:32.17\00:48:33.67
"Knowing this... that our
old man was crucified with Him
00:48:55.92\00:48:59.40
that the body of sin
might be done away with
00:48:59.60\00:49:03.00
that we should no
longer be slaves of sin. "
00:49:03.20\00:49:05.64
You see what happens at baptism?
00:49:05.94\00:49:07.43
At that moment God
includes me in Jesus.
00:49:07.64\00:49:13.44
And God couldn't have chosen
a better ceremony than baptism
00:49:14.59\00:49:17.54
for this... to be
incorporated into Christ,
00:49:17.74\00:49:20.26
to benefit from the
death, burial, and resurrection
00:49:20.46\00:49:24.54
of Jesus... because you know,
when a person's going to be
00:49:24.74\00:49:26.37
baptized, the person
is in the baptistry and
00:49:26.47\00:49:29.53
the pastor says: "In the
name of the Father, the Son,
00:49:29.73\00:49:32.48
and the Holy Spirit" that
individual is breathing, right?
00:49:32.68\00:49:34.92
Before they go under the water.
00:49:35.22\00:49:37.03
What's the last thing they do
before they go under the water?
00:49:37.23\00:49:39.50
They stop breathing like when
you die - like when Jesus died.
00:49:39.80\00:49:42.73
And then the person is
buried under the water.
00:49:44.01\00:49:46.40
And is the person
breathing under the water?
00:49:46.70\00:49:48.70
Oh, better not. No! He's
not breathing under the water!
00:49:49.00\00:49:52.02
And then what's the first
thing that the person does
00:49:52.43\00:49:55.49
when... when he or she
comes out of the water?
00:49:55.70\00:49:57.82
Ah-haa...
breathes again! New life!
00:49:58.13\00:50:01.76
And so at baptism by reenacting
00:50:02.06\00:50:05.86
symbolically the death, burial,
and the resurrection of Jesus
00:50:06.06\00:50:08.96
God is including
me in what Jesus did.
00:50:09.17\00:50:11.89
I'm not dying
my own little death
00:50:13.07\00:50:15.11
because my death is not atoning.
00:50:15.61\00:50:18.75
I am dying WITH HIM,
God reckons me with Him...
00:50:18.95\00:50:22.28
death on the cross.
00:50:22.48\00:50:23.77
He reckons me buried with Jesus
00:50:24.08\00:50:26.28
and He reckons me
resurrected with Jesus
00:50:26.48\00:50:28.97
and standing at
the right hand of God.
00:50:29.07\00:50:31.24
The apostle Paul says
that in the book of Ephesians.
00:50:31.44\00:50:33.71
And now I am
accepted in the beloved.
00:50:34.01\00:50:36.17
I'm seated in heavenly
places with Jesus Christ.
00:50:36.37\00:50:40.83
Acts 2:38 says that
baptism is indispensable
00:50:42.62\00:50:46.43
for the remission of
sins. It's not an option.
00:50:46.63\00:50:49.10
That's why Jesus said in
Mark 16 verses 15 and 16:
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So is it necessary to be
baptized in order to be saved?
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Let's not talk
about the exceptions.
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Some people say: "What
about the thief on the cross? "
00:51:10.46\00:51:12.17
Well I tell them:
"You're not a thief
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and you're not on a cross. "
00:51:14.22\00:51:15.61
There are exceptions to the rule
00:51:15.91\00:51:18.01
and God
recognizes our circumstances.
00:51:18.31\00:51:21.07
And so it says: "He who
believes and is baptized
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will be saved... "
00:51:23.98\00:51:24.99
And I'll tell you
how beautiful this is.
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When I come forth from
the water now I'm in Christ.
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The Father doesn't look
at me... He looks at Jesus.
00:51:35.32\00:51:38.08
Isn't that wonderful?
00:51:38.38\00:51:40.28
And so Jesus tells me...
By the way, the only one who
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has a right to truly be called
the Son of God is Jesus Christ.
00:51:42.62\00:51:45.88
We're all children of wrath.
00:51:46.18\00:51:48.59
And Jesus went
even further, said:
00:51:48.89\00:51:50.19
"You're of your
father the devil! "
00:51:50.40\00:51:52.42
And so Jesus comes
before His Father and says:
00:51:54.04\00:51:56.49
"Hey, Father...
I've got a new brother. "
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"Oh, yeah? "
"Who's Your brother? "
00:52:00.43\00:52:03.47
"Tom. "
00:52:03.77\00:52:05.68
"Oh, Tom's Your brother?
00:52:05.98\00:52:07.35
Well if he's Your
brother, He's My son too. "
00:52:07.55\00:52:09.69
And so Jesus comes... He said:
00:52:12.51\00:52:14.75
"Father, I have a
new sister, Shirley. "
00:52:14.95\00:52:20.40
And the Father said:
"Shirley's Your sister?
00:52:20.70\00:52:23.08
Well if Shirley's Your
sister, she's My daughter. "
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That's what Jesus
meant when He said
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"I am the Way, the
Truth, and the Life.
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No man comes unto
the Father but by Me! "
00:52:32.07\00:52:35.56
We have to become
brothers and sisters of Jesus
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in order to becomes
sons and daughters of God.
00:52:39.02\00:52:41.84
And that's the reason
why the Bible says that
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He is not ashamed
to call us brethren.
00:52:44.21\00:52:47.65
In the
devotional book Lift Him Up
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page 109 we find
this beautiful statement:
00:52:51.50\00:52:55.49
So once we accept Jesus Christ
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we are now "in Christ. "
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So what happens if you
should die "in Christ? "
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See, those who die in Christ...
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they don't have
anything to worry about
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because they have
the spiritual robe.
00:53:33.22\00:53:35.39
And you know what?
You say: "What about the
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literal, physical robe? "
00:53:38.32\00:53:39.38
Well, if you have the spiritual
robe and you should die
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before Jesus comes, when
Jesus comes he's going to
00:53:43.40\00:53:46.02
give you the
literal robe of light.
00:53:46.22\00:53:48.06
You see, man lost
his spiritual robe first
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and then he lost his
literal, physical robe.
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In the restoration, God restores
first of all the spiritual robe
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and then when Jesus
comes He will give us
00:53:58.01\00:54:00.14
the physical, literal robe
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and we will be covered
once again with the glorious
00:54:02.31\00:54:04.74
light of God.
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In fact, let's notice
I Thessalonians chapter 4
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verses 15 through 17.
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There's something
very important here.
00:54:12.83\00:54:14.18
I Thessalonians 4
verses 15 through 17.
00:54:14.48\00:54:16.75
What must happen if
we're going to be "in Christ? "
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We must what? Repent. What else?
00:54:44.21\00:54:45.99
Confess. What else?
00:54:46.29\00:54:48.37
Trust. What else?
00:54:48.67\00:54:51.02
Have a trust that
changes what? The life.
00:54:51.33\00:54:54.12
And finally be what? Baptized.
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At baptism
we're included in Him.
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Buried with Him. Die with Him.
00:54:58.57\00:55:01.49
Resurrected with Him.
God reckons us "in Him. "
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So that's the reason
why I'm not afraid of dying.
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Some people say:
"Pastor, aren't you afraid of
00:55:06.76\00:55:08.06
getting on airplanes
all the time? That some day
00:55:08.26\00:55:10.13
the airplane'll
fall out of the sky? "
00:55:10.33\00:55:11.85
No! Because I'm in Christ.
00:55:13.02\00:55:15.58
And if I should die, the Bible
says that the dead "in Christ" -
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and I came to be "in
Christ" at the moment of baptism
00:55:19.78\00:55:22.70
officially and publicly -
00:55:22.90\00:55:24.19
"the dead in
Christ will rise first. "
00:55:24.39\00:55:26.67
Verse 17: "Then we who
are alive and remain... "
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Jesus expressed it in
John 11 verses 25 and 26:
00:55:36.82\00:55:41.17
This is speaking to... to Mary.
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Doesn't mean that they're not
going to die the physical death
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but they're not
going to die forever.
00:56:00.44\00:56:02.02
And then of course we
have that majestic passage of
00:56:05.35\00:56:07.55
I Corinthians chapter 15,
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and I want to
read that in closing.
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This is the moment when
God is going to clothe our...
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the nakedness
of death with life.
00:56:14.81\00:56:18.13
It says in I
Corinthians 15 verse 51:
00:56:18.43\00:56:20.85
That's the same word that has
to do with putting on clothes.
00:56:38.53\00:56:41.83
And so it says: "For
this corruptible must put on
00:56:42.13\00:56:45.30
incorruption. " That's
where we're going to receive our
00:56:45.40\00:56:47.40
glorious literal physical robe.
00:56:47.60\00:56:49.52
And man will have been
restored totally and completely
00:57:10.22\00:57:14.36
because he will have
once again both robes:
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the robe of righteousness
and the glorious physical robe
00:57:18.06\00:57:22.30
of light that
covered man originally.
00:57:22.50\00:57:25.58
Isn't this a wonderful truth?
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