Welcome to the
Sabbath School Study Hour.
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Whether you're
watching from around the world
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or you're here
worshiping with us
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here at the Granite Bay church,
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we just want to welcome
you for joining us today.
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If you have not
been able to download
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or even get this lesson here
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that we're been
studying in the Book of Romans,
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you can go to the
Amazing Facts website,
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and download it and
follow along each week
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as we do this study.
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We're so excited
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that you're able to
study with us today.
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And we also have a special gift
that we want to give to you,
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Your Case in Court
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and you can get
that if you call in
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to 866-788-3966,
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and ask for Book Number 192.
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And that will
be available to you
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free for watching with us today.
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And we're just so glad
that you could join with us,
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we just want to
ask the song leaders
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to come out and begin
our study today with a song.
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Thank you, Pastor John.
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We are excited, ladies?
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Yes? Yes.
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Because we look
forward to this time every year
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where we get to start singing
our favorite Christmas songs,
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and I know that yours as well.
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There's just only a few weeks
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that we get to do it every year.
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And so we're trying
to get in our favorites.
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And today, we're
going to start with
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Hark! The Herald
Angels Sing, 122.
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And we're going to
sing all three stanzas.
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So join with us
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if you're at home,
pull out your hymnals,
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we want to hear your voices.
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122.
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Hark! the herald angels sing
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Glory to the newborn King
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Peace on earth, and mercy mild
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God and sinners reconciled
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Joyful, all ye nations, rise
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Join the triumph of the skies
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With angelic host proclaim
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Christ is born in Bethlehem
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Hark! the herald angels sing
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Glory to the newborn King
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Christ by highest heaven adored
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Christ, the everlasting Lord
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In the manger born a king
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While adoring angels sing
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Peace on earth to men good will
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Bid the trembling soul be still
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Christ on earth
has come to dwell
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Jesus, our Immanuel
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Hark! the herald angels sing
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Glory to the newborn King
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Hail, the
heaven-born Prince of Peace
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Hail, the Son of Righteousness
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Light and life to all He brings
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Risen with healing in His wings
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Mild He lays His Glory by
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Born that man no more may die
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Born to raise the sons of earth
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Born to give them second birth
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Hark! the herald angels sing
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Glory to the newborn King
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Thank you so much
for joining with us.
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And we look forward
to singing Silent Night
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with you next week.
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At this time
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Pastor John is going to
have our opening prayer.
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Before we begin our Bible study,
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we'll let bow our heads
as we have a word of prayer.
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Our kind Heavenly
Father, as we are here
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we are just asking
your special blessing
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as Pastor Shawn Brummund
shares this study today.
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Lord, we ask that
you be here with us
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and all those around the world
as we study this lesson today
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on no condemnation.
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Thank you, dear Lord,
for answering our prayers
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and being with us today.
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We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
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At this time, I'd like to invite
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Pastor Shawn Brummund
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to share the
message with us today.
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Good morning everyone.
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Good morning.
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It's good to see you here.
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And thank you so much
for all your smiling faces.
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You know, as we were
singing our different hymns
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and as we we're approaching
that traditional season
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where we remember the
birth of Christ and such,
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I have to confess that
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I just had this
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not overwhelming
but this large feeling
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of just thankfulness
to be able to be a part.
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What a privilege
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to be a part of the Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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And what a privilege it is
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to be a part of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church as well
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as well as the study hour.
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You know, the
Sabbath School of Study Hour,
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this has been a
longstanding program
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in which God has
brought God's Word
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not only to us live here
in Sacramento Central Church
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and now here in Granite Bay,
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but to thousands
around the world.
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And just want to
welcome you as well,
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we thank you so
much for joining us
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here this morning
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as we continue to study
this great and powerful book.
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This gospel book,
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many Christians have
counted the Book of Romans
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the most powerful gospel
book that there really is
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in all of the Bible.
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And so this is no small book
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amongst this Holy Bible
that we're studying here today.
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Well, I invite everybody
to open their Bibles first off
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to not the Book of Romans
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but to the Book that's
just a couple of chapters...
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couple of books
after the Book of Romans.
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That's 2 Corinthians 5 chapter.
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And as we go to 2
Corinthians chapter 5,
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I like to read
together here verse 17.
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We're going to 2
Corinthians chapter 5
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and we are going to
be reading verse 17.
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Now some of you
know just by reference
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what that verse is
already, don't you?
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I know that
there's more than one
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that not only knows
where the references is
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but knows this verse by memory.
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And not only do you know
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the reference and
this verse by memory
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but this is also a verse
that describes your experience.
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This is something that describes
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your faith and life experience.
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So let's read it together here
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as we review it for some
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and perhaps for some of us
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that are watching
or studying here today,
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this is also new.
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In verse 17 it says,
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"Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ Jesus,
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he is a new creation.
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All things..." Sorry.
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"Old things have passed away,
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behold, all
things have become new."
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And, you know,
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as I was
thinking of that scripture
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and as I was studying
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for this particular study lesson
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in poring over Romans chapter 8,
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poring over
Romans chapter 7 in such,
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and looking at the context
in that close relationship
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that the two
chapters have together.
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And reflecting on
really chapters 6, 7, and 8,
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I really, my mind was
brought to this particular verse
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because this
particular verse is one that
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really summarizes
these three powerful chapters
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that when we are in Christ,
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we are no longer
the same, are we?
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When we are in Christ, behold,
old things have passed away,
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all things have become new.
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And so there is a very
real, spiritual, practical,
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moral character
change that takes place
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when we find
ourselves in Christ.
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Well, we're looking
at lesson number 9 today,
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and that starts on page 72.
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And we have a
couple of volunteers
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that are going to
be reading here for us.
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And I'm not sure, is there...
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Okay. Yes. We have a
volunteer here today.
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And she's going to
read our memory text
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which is Romans 8:1.
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Of course, you can
find it in your Bible
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and you can also find
it in your quarterly study
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on page 72, on page 72.
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Okay.
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Romans 8:1 says,
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"There is therefore now
no condemnation to those
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who are in Christ Jesus,
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who do not walk
according to the flesh,
00:10:02.06\00:10:04.83
but according to the Spirit."
00:10:04.87\00:10:07.64
Okay, thank you.
00:10:07.67\00:10:09.07
And so this is a
very powerful verse.
00:10:09.10\00:10:11.71
And we're going to
spend the next few minutes
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looking at this particular verse
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because this verse is something
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that is worth
stopping and parking at
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for some time.
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In fact, it's so important
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and that the words in the verse
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is found in the title
of our quarterly study
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which is No Condemnation.
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I'm going to go ahead and read
the first two small paragraphs
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that begin page 72
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because it is just so well done
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as the different
authors and editors
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have contributed to this,
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it says, "Romans 8 is
Paul's answer to Romans 7.
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And so if you studied
last week whether in this study
00:10:44.91\00:10:47.84
or whether you studied
it in your local church
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or whenever it was,
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I trust that you've
already looked at Romans 7
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because Romans 8 is
really part 2 to Romans 7.
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And that's why it says Romans
8 is Paul's answer to Romans 7.
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In Romans 7,
00:11:01.89\00:11:02.99
Paul speaks of frustration,
failure, and condemnation.
00:11:03.02\00:11:07.96
But in Romans 8,
00:11:07.96\00:11:09.16
the condemnation is gone
and it's replaced with freedom
00:11:09.20\00:11:12.10
and victory
through Jesus Christ.
00:11:12.13\00:11:15.60
Paul was saying in Romans 7
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that if you refuse
to accept Jesus Christ,
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the wretched experience
of Romans 7 will be yours.
00:11:20.81\00:11:24.61
You will be slaves to sin
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unable to do
what you choose to do.
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In Romans 8, he says that,
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"Christ Jesus offers
you deliverance from sin."
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What does He offer us?
00:11:33.12\00:11:34.82
He offers us
deliverance from sin.
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And the freedom to do
good that you want to do
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but your flesh won't allow.
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And so thank you for
the editors and the author
00:11:46.30\00:11:50.11
and contributors to
this particular quarterly
00:11:50.14\00:11:52.07
because that is just
such a accurate statement
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and summary of the two chapters
that we've been looking at
00:11:55.84\00:11:58.55
both in Romans 7
last week and now also
00:11:58.58\00:12:02.12
as we look at
Romans in the 8th chapter.
00:12:02.15\00:12:05.99
Now when I say Romans 8,
00:12:06.02\00:12:08.09
if you studied
and you read through,
00:12:08.12\00:12:09.79
you know that I'm talking about
00:12:09.82\00:12:11.03
just the first half
of Romans 8, don't you?
00:12:11.06\00:12:12.89
Because the
second half of Romans 8,
00:12:12.93\00:12:14.60
Paul is inspired to go
in some different directions
00:12:14.63\00:12:17.00
on some different topics.
00:12:17.03\00:12:18.17
Now depending on our time here,
00:12:18.20\00:12:20.17
we'll see how many of
those different topics
00:12:20.20\00:12:21.97
we can touch on.
00:12:22.00\00:12:23.20
But the first half of Romans
8 is really the punch line
00:12:23.24\00:12:27.18
for what God has
been working up to
00:12:27.21\00:12:29.08
both in Romans 6,
Romans 7, and Romans 8.
00:12:29.11\00:12:35.02
In fact, the
first half of Romans 8
00:12:35.05\00:12:37.72
really is on the
topic of what I call
00:12:37.75\00:12:39.32
the second half of the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:12:39.35\00:12:42.79
Now what does gospel mean again?
00:12:42.82\00:12:45.19
Gospel means
good news, doesn't it?
00:12:45.23\00:12:47.76
Okay, so if
gospel means good news
00:12:47.76\00:12:50.57
and Jesus says,
"Hey, listen we can find
00:12:50.60\00:12:52.03
a victory and they
have no longer have sinned,
00:12:52.07\00:12:53.97
they have dominion over us,
00:12:54.00\00:12:54.97
but now righteousness
will reign in our lives."
00:12:55.00\00:12:57.94
That's good news then, isn't it?
00:12:57.97\00:12:59.74
Okay, that's why I call it
the second half of the gospel.
00:12:59.77\00:13:03.78
Now theologians have
been throwing a word around it
00:13:03.81\00:13:05.95
for a long-time scholars,
00:13:05.98\00:13:07.65
Bible Students,
Christians and such.
00:13:07.68\00:13:09.85
And it can be tempting to think
00:13:09.88\00:13:11.42
that theologians
made up this work
00:13:11.45\00:13:13.25
as it's such a long
fancy kind of sounding word,
00:13:13.29\00:13:16.09
but it's actually in
the Bible several times
00:13:16.12\00:13:17.89
and it's called sanctification.
00:13:17.93\00:13:20.66
Sanctification.
00:13:20.70\00:13:22.00
Now sanctification is not a word
00:13:22.03\00:13:23.30
that we use that often, is it,
00:13:23.33\00:13:24.93
in our regular day to
day lives and conversations?
00:13:24.97\00:13:27.77
But it's very real
in the conversation
00:13:27.80\00:13:29.34
of the New Testament.
00:13:29.37\00:13:30.74
And so it's important for us
to understand what that means.
00:13:30.77\00:13:34.08
Sanctification.
00:13:34.11\00:13:37.05
I want to ask
everybody a question here today.
00:13:37.08\00:13:39.35
Does anybody agree
with me that in order
00:13:39.38\00:13:41.98
that for us to be
formed from the inside out
00:13:42.02\00:13:45.42
or maybe we can say
reformed from the inside out
00:13:45.45\00:13:49.99
to experience a
love for God's law
00:13:50.03\00:13:53.06
and to experience a love
00:13:53.09\00:13:54.30
for what is right in God's eyes,
00:13:54.36\00:13:56.93
to have a power,
then to do what is right,
00:13:56.97\00:14:00.14
how many agree that that
is really, really good news?
00:14:00.17\00:14:05.11
Okay, I see a few hands go up.
00:14:05.14\00:14:07.41
Okay, I have
somebody in the back.
00:14:07.44\00:14:08.74
He's got both hands
up. All right, okay.
00:14:08.78\00:14:11.48
So I join you in that, okay?
00:14:11.51\00:14:15.72
This is something that is
important for us to understand.
00:14:15.75\00:14:20.16
In fact, I want to share here
00:14:20.19\00:14:21.22
just a little bit of a
personal testimony if I may.
00:14:21.26\00:14:24.46
When I was 20 years of age,
00:14:24.49\00:14:25.99
I had been experiencing
20 years of a secular life.
00:14:26.03\00:14:29.83
My parents were
very loving parents,
00:14:29.86\00:14:32.47
it was a very loving home.
00:14:32.50\00:14:34.07
But my parents
had decided early on
00:14:34.10\00:14:36.84
one or two
years after I was born
00:14:36.87\00:14:38.31
to leave the
church of their heritage,
00:14:38.34\00:14:39.97
to leave the
Christian faith altogether,
00:14:40.01\00:14:42.21
and to live a secular life.
00:14:42.24\00:14:44.31
And so my experience basically
00:14:44.35\00:14:47.05
from as far back
as I can remember
00:14:47.08\00:14:49.28
up until 20 years of age
00:14:49.32\00:14:50.82
was 100% secular, and
faith, and religious-free.
00:14:50.85\00:14:57.26
And so 20 years
of age that summer,
00:14:57.29\00:15:00.10
God had spoken to
me in a very real way,
00:15:00.13\00:15:02.76
no audible voice, but
there was a very real voice
00:15:02.80\00:15:06.30
that I was tuned into that said,
00:15:06.33\00:15:09.07
"Shawn, I want you to
check out this church thing."
00:15:09.10\00:15:11.27
And without sharing my
whole personal testimony,
00:15:11.31\00:15:14.24
I was open to it at that time.
00:15:14.28\00:15:16.58
I was looking for hope in
a very hopeless situation.
00:15:16.61\00:15:20.38
And so I
started going to church.
00:15:20.42\00:15:22.38
And every Sunday morning,
there was a local church
00:15:22.42\00:15:24.39
that I felt comfortable with,
00:15:24.42\00:15:26.39
I went every morning,
00:15:26.42\00:15:29.32
every week at 8:30 every morning
00:15:29.36\00:15:31.39
and I attended that church.
00:15:31.43\00:15:33.06
And while I was
attending church,
00:15:33.09\00:15:34.93
fortunately, the
pastor there was one
00:15:34.93\00:15:36.33
that was opening the Bible still
00:15:36.36\00:15:37.93
and he was sharing some
different parts of the Bible
00:15:37.97\00:15:40.04
and the good news
and Gospel of Christ.
00:15:40.07\00:15:42.17
And even though there
wasn't a whole lot of knowledge
00:15:42.20\00:15:44.51
that was there, in fact,
I started from ground zero.
00:15:44.54\00:15:47.01
And I didn't know a
lot about almost nothing
00:15:47.04\00:15:50.38
about the Christian faith,
00:15:50.41\00:15:51.41
I didn't know
the Ten Commandments,
00:15:51.45\00:15:52.78
I didn't know
anything about Jesus, nothing.
00:15:52.81\00:15:55.78
But because my heart was opening
00:15:55.82\00:15:57.55
and because I'd open the
door to my heart, Jesus says,
00:15:57.59\00:16:00.16
"Behold I stand at
the door and I knock.
00:16:00.19\00:16:02.39
And if anyone opens the
door, I will come in to him
00:16:02.42\00:16:05.36
and dine with
him, and he with me."
00:16:05.39\00:16:07.86
And so because I did that,
00:16:07.93\00:16:09.36
Jesus honored
that and He came in.
00:16:09.40\00:16:12.03
And I'm telling you friends,
00:16:12.07\00:16:13.10
my life was just
turned upside down
00:16:13.13\00:16:14.54
in a wonderful way.
00:16:14.57\00:16:16.00
And all of a sudden,
00:16:16.04\00:16:17.27
I began to see the
world in a different way.
00:16:17.31\00:16:19.44
My emotions were
starting to be restored
00:16:19.47\00:16:21.38
because of the simple pleasures
00:16:21.41\00:16:22.54
that I was
indulging and so deeply,
00:16:22.58\00:16:25.21
and my emotions
have been numbed.
00:16:25.25\00:16:27.15
And all of a sudden, I
started to enjoy and experience
00:16:27.18\00:16:30.15
the fruits of the spirit.
00:16:30.19\00:16:31.95
And I didn't even know
what the Holy Spirit was,
00:16:31.99\00:16:33.42
never heard of it,
00:16:33.46\00:16:34.46
but I was
experiencing it, wasn't I?
00:16:34.49\00:16:36.49
Okay, I was
beginning to become born again.
00:16:36.52\00:16:40.00
I was starting to experience
00:16:40.03\00:16:41.16
the Spirit-filled
sanctification experience.
00:16:41.20\00:16:44.87
That was the best news for me,
00:16:44.90\00:16:46.30
in fact, it
wasn't until years later
00:16:46.33\00:16:47.57
that I even learned
about justification,
00:16:47.60\00:16:49.40
the need for
forgiveness and so on,
00:16:49.44\00:16:50.87
I didn't even
know about that part.
00:16:50.91\00:16:52.61
So that was good
news that I learned later.
00:16:52.64\00:16:54.41
For me, the
second half of the gospel
00:16:54.44\00:16:57.48
was the first half for me
00:16:57.51\00:16:58.65
because that was the
only experience and knowledge
00:16:58.68\00:17:00.92
that I had.
00:17:00.95\00:17:02.68
And so it hurts me
and I know it hurts God
00:17:02.72\00:17:04.69
when some of us
say to ourselves,
00:17:04.72\00:17:06.05
"Well, I like the first
part, I like to be justified,
00:17:06.09\00:17:08.32
I like to know that I'm forgiven
00:17:08.36\00:17:09.49
and I'm going to go to heaven
00:17:09.52\00:17:10.53
and I'm going to
have eternal life.
00:17:10.56\00:17:12.03
But I'm not so excited
about changing my life.
00:17:12.06\00:17:14.36
I'm not so excited about
opening my heart to Christ
00:17:14.36\00:17:16.46
and allowing His
spirit to come in
00:17:16.50\00:17:18.63
and begin to take
the throne in my heart."
00:17:18.67\00:17:21.70
And so, you know,
that's part of the gospel.
00:17:21.74\00:17:26.68
That's part of the good
news that Jesus gives to us,
00:17:26.71\00:17:29.28
that He gives us
a new life in Him.
00:17:29.31\00:17:30.98
"Behold, old
things have passed away,
00:17:31.01\00:17:32.98
behold, all
things have become new."
00:17:33.01\00:17:38.29
As a former Pharisee,
00:17:38.32\00:17:39.99
the author of
the Book of Romans,
00:17:40.02\00:17:41.32
the prophet Paul
and Apostle Paul,
00:17:41.36\00:17:43.49
he was not only
thrilled to find out
00:17:43.53\00:17:45.46
that justification
came by faith alone
00:17:45.49\00:17:47.50
that he didn't
have to deserve it,
00:17:47.56\00:17:49.23
there's nothing that we can
do to deserve justification.
00:17:49.26\00:17:52.97
The only thing that we can do
00:17:53.00\00:17:54.10
is bring all their
sin at the feet of Jesus
00:17:54.14\00:17:55.97
and say, "Lord, I accept
you as my Lord and my savior,
00:17:56.00\00:17:58.61
I come to you.
00:17:58.64\00:17:59.67
Please, have
mercy and forgive me."
00:17:59.71\00:18:02.01
And when we do that,
00:18:02.04\00:18:03.38
the Bible tells us
that He counts us new,
00:18:03.41\00:18:05.35
He counts us justified,
00:18:05.38\00:18:07.08
He counts us acquitted
00:18:07.12\00:18:08.72
from all the charges
that have been laid against us
00:18:08.75\00:18:11.12
from all our sins and our guilt.
00:18:11.15\00:18:12.79
And now we are a child of
God from that point forward.
00:18:12.82\00:18:16.16
And so Paul was thrilled
00:18:16.19\00:18:17.73
to be able to discover
00:18:17.76\00:18:18.79
this very real
spiritual gospel truth
00:18:18.83\00:18:21.30
that he had not
experienced as a Pharisee
00:18:21.33\00:18:24.10
in the years
previous in his experience.
00:18:24.13\00:18:26.67
But it's very important
for us to really understand
00:18:26.70\00:18:28.67
that Paul was just
as thrilled as I was
00:18:28.70\00:18:31.34
when he discovered
that there is a power
00:18:31.37\00:18:33.34
outside of himself
00:18:33.38\00:18:35.04
that allows us to be
able to experience a new life
00:18:35.08\00:18:37.25
and begin to overcome sin.
00:18:37.28\00:18:40.75
You see, Paul was a Pharisee,
00:18:40.78\00:18:42.25
and Pharisees were
brought up to be very strict
00:18:42.28\00:18:44.75
and to look very
closely at the law of God.
00:18:44.79\00:18:48.02
But the problem was
00:18:48.06\00:18:49.06
that they were also
taught to look to themselves
00:18:49.09\00:18:51.43
in their own strength
00:18:51.46\00:18:53.36
to be able to overcome
the sin that the law revealed.
00:18:53.40\00:18:57.47
And so Paul was
just like Martin Luther,
00:18:57.50\00:18:59.10
he was in a lot of
misery because of that.
00:18:59.13\00:19:01.20
And not only that, but he had
a lot of very sinful attributes
00:19:01.24\00:19:04.57
that continue to
have dominion over Paul.
00:19:04.61\00:19:09.58
Some of those
attributes are arrogance.
00:19:09.61\00:19:11.51
Paul was a very arrogant man.
00:19:11.55\00:19:12.78
And we can find that
in his own confessions
00:19:12.81\00:19:14.35
as well as in the
historical Book of Acts.
00:19:14.38\00:19:16.85
We find there that
Paul is describing himself.
00:19:16.89\00:19:20.29
And he says, "I
was an arrogant man.
00:19:20.32\00:19:21.66
I was murderous."
00:19:21.69\00:19:23.63
Okay, so Paul was
a very murderous man,
00:19:23.66\00:19:25.46
in fact, he had the blood
of many innocent Christians
00:19:25.49\00:19:28.40
that he had led
to the execution bar.
00:19:28.43\00:19:32.83
He was an angry man.
We find that as well.
00:19:32.87\00:19:35.20
He was a man that
was ruled by envy.
00:19:35.24\00:19:38.64
These are all sinful works
of the flesh, are they not?
00:19:38.67\00:19:41.68
And so Paul was
under the dominion of sin,
00:19:41.71\00:19:44.85
even as a very religious person,
00:19:44.88\00:19:46.58
as a Pharisee
within the synagogue.
00:19:46.61\00:19:49.62
It wasn't until he discovered
that there is a Spirit of God
00:19:49.65\00:19:53.19
that can fill his heart.
00:19:53.22\00:19:54.62
There is a
higher power than he is
00:19:54.66\00:19:56.76
that can help him to
have dominion over sin.
00:19:56.79\00:19:59.36
And so that was the good
news that Paul experienced,
00:19:59.39\00:20:02.06
that was the good news
that I first experienced,
00:20:02.10\00:20:04.27
and I know
there's many in this room
00:20:04.30\00:20:05.43
and many are watching today
00:20:05.47\00:20:06.57
that you've
also experienced that
00:20:06.60\00:20:08.34
as you have come
to find that victory
00:20:08.37\00:20:10.77
in the spirit.
00:20:10.81\00:20:12.67
So let's return back
to the Book of Romans.
00:20:12.71\00:20:15.61
Romans 1, chapter 8 I should say
00:20:15.64\00:20:18.11
and we're going to
look back at verse 1,
00:20:18.15\00:20:19.51
our first key verse.
00:20:19.55\00:20:21.85
Let's read it together.
00:20:21.88\00:20:23.05
Again, it says,
"There is therefore
00:20:23.08\00:20:24.49
now no condemnation to
those who are in Christ Jesus,
00:20:24.52\00:20:29.26
who do not walk
according to the spirit...
00:20:29.29\00:20:32.26
do not walk
according to the flesh,
00:20:32.29\00:20:33.53
but according to the Spirit."
00:20:33.56\00:20:37.70
And so very clearly,
00:20:37.73\00:20:38.73
we have this
very powerful answer
00:20:38.77\00:20:40.50
to the desperate cry
that is cried out by the man
00:20:40.54\00:20:43.74
that Paul is
describing in Romans 7:24.
00:20:43.77\00:20:47.74
"Oh, wretched man that I am,
00:20:47.78\00:20:49.74
who will deliver me
from this body of death?"
00:20:49.78\00:20:54.18
And Romans 8 is being set up
00:20:54.22\00:20:57.79
by what Paul had
already read or written
00:20:57.82\00:21:00.19
in Romans 7
00:21:00.22\00:21:01.56
ending with that desperate
cry of the man of that chapter.
00:21:01.59\00:21:05.76
And so essentially,
the last half of Romans 7
00:21:05.79\00:21:08.30
is setting us up for Romans 8
00:21:08.33\00:21:10.80
in a very
dramatic and effective way.
00:21:10.83\00:21:13.70
And so I'm very thankful
for our teacher last week,
00:21:13.74\00:21:16.54
as he was able to
bring that forward for us
00:21:16.57\00:21:21.51
in such an effective way.
00:21:21.54\00:21:24.31
So to coming to
the saving gospel
00:21:24.35\00:21:25.65
of Jesus Christ is to
reject the works of the flesh,
00:21:25.68\00:21:28.45
as we've just read in verse 1,
00:21:28.48\00:21:30.85
and to daily ask
for the Holy Spirit
00:21:30.89\00:21:32.85
in our lives, in our hearts.
00:21:32.89\00:21:34.92
That's the invitation,
00:21:34.96\00:21:37.26
that is the
solution that God gives to us
00:21:37.29\00:21:40.36
in these very powerful verses.
00:21:40.40\00:21:43.30
Now some may ask,
and we're looking at this
00:21:43.33\00:21:45.40
both in Romans 7 and Romans 8,
00:21:45.43\00:21:47.44
and if you weren't
studying in the past
00:21:47.47\00:21:49.87
and we haven't stopped
here at the word flesh,
00:21:49.90\00:21:52.21
I just want to
explain that just briefly
00:21:52.24\00:21:54.61
because flesh is normally used,
00:21:54.64\00:21:56.88
you know, to describe our
physical bodies, isn't it?
00:21:56.91\00:22:00.32
Okay, Paul is not talking
about the physical body itself,
00:22:00.35\00:22:03.72
he's not looking
at the physical body
00:22:03.75\00:22:05.39
in a derogatory way
00:22:05.42\00:22:06.76
or something that is
just kind of disposable,
00:22:06.79\00:22:08.82
it doesn't matter.
00:22:08.86\00:22:09.96
In fact, there's
all kinds of verses
00:22:09.99\00:22:11.46
that tell us that we
need to respect our bodies,
00:22:11.49\00:22:14.60
and that our bodies
are actually a temple
00:22:14.63\00:22:17.67
of the Holy Spirit in whom
we're talking about here today.
00:22:17.70\00:22:20.90
And so it's very
important for us to understand
00:22:20.94\00:22:22.94
that God is not
trying to tell us
00:22:22.97\00:22:24.74
that our flesh is kind of
bad in of itself physically.
00:22:24.77\00:22:28.21
No, in fact, we are
to take great care of it
00:22:28.24\00:22:30.65
and respect it as a temple.
00:22:30.68\00:22:33.55
So what is God telling us
00:22:33.58\00:22:34.65
when Paul is
using the word flesh
00:22:34.68\00:22:36.38
in these different verses?
00:22:36.42\00:22:38.19
Well, Monday's lesson study
00:22:38.22\00:22:39.49
gives us a very good
brief definition of it.
00:22:39.52\00:22:42.19
In Monday's
lesson study it says,
00:22:42.22\00:22:43.69
flesh means an
unregenerate person.
00:22:43.73\00:22:46.53
An unregenerate person, okay?
00:22:46.56\00:22:49.23
Another word for flesh
or unregenerate is carnal.
00:22:49.26\00:22:53.37
Really, what it's talking about
00:22:53.40\00:22:54.64
is that hardwired problem
that we're all born with,
00:22:54.67\00:22:59.71
that we're all conceived with,
and that is bent towards sin.
00:22:59.74\00:23:04.01
All of us are born
with a sinful nature.
00:23:04.05\00:23:07.92
How many parents here
had to teach their child
00:23:07.95\00:23:09.98
as they were growing up
from that cute little age
00:23:10.02\00:23:12.92
up until here, and
they first started to talk,
00:23:12.95\00:23:14.76
how many had to teach
their child how to lie?
00:23:14.79\00:23:18.53
Anybody had to teach
their child how to lie?
00:23:18.56\00:23:20.46
How many parents here
had children that lie?
00:23:20.50\00:23:24.03
Come on, put your hands up.
00:23:24.07\00:23:27.00
All right, every parent
should put their hand up here.
00:23:27.04\00:23:28.94
One of the most
horrifying experience
00:23:28.97\00:23:30.61
that a parent has
and I deserve it too
00:23:30.64\00:23:32.81
is when that
cute little munchkin,
00:23:32.84\00:23:34.28
the innocent little angel
00:23:34.31\00:23:35.48
that came in that
little beautiful bundle
00:23:35.51\00:23:38.05
from the hospital and so on,
00:23:38.08\00:23:39.58
barely is able to walk,
00:23:39.61\00:23:40.72
and just shortly after
it's able to say mama and papa,
00:23:40.75\00:23:43.45
and it can put a
sentence together,
00:23:43.49\00:23:45.62
it's pretty well
about that stage, you know,
00:23:45.65\00:23:47.52
that they're taking a cookie
that they shouldn't have taken.
00:23:47.56\00:23:49.49
And you say, "Did
you eat that cookie?"
00:23:49.52\00:23:51.43
And they look up
and they say, "No."
00:23:51.46\00:23:55.90
Okay.
00:23:55.93\00:23:56.97
It just comes
instinctively, doesn't it?
00:23:57.00\00:23:59.37
Okay, all of us are
hardwired towards sin.
00:23:59.40\00:24:02.94
And that's what
it's talking about,
00:24:02.97\00:24:03.97
it's talking about
that fleshly nature
00:24:04.01\00:24:07.74
in regards to our sinful nature.
00:24:07.78\00:24:09.74
It's not talking about
the blood and the bones
00:24:09.78\00:24:12.51
and the muscles and such
that we're to take care of.
00:24:12.55\00:24:16.45
Well, that been said, let's
leave Romans just briefly again
00:24:16.48\00:24:18.45
and back up to
the gospel of Luke.
00:24:18.49\00:24:21.06
And as we go to
the gospel of Luke,
00:24:21.09\00:24:22.66
we're going to the 11th chapter.
00:24:22.69\00:24:27.46
And when we get there,
00:24:27.50\00:24:28.90
and we're gonna go
to start with the...
00:24:28.93\00:24:30.43
Let me see now verse 9.
00:24:30.47\00:24:33.94
So we're going to
the gospel of Luke 11,
00:24:33.97\00:24:37.34
and we're going to look by
reading verses 9 through 10.
00:24:37.37\00:24:40.48
Now immediately, as
soon as we start reading it,
00:24:40.51\00:24:42.38
many of us, if not
all of us here today
00:24:42.41\00:24:44.35
and those who are watching,
00:24:44.38\00:24:45.61
many of you are very familiar
with these verses, okay?
00:24:45.65\00:24:48.92
You'll see what I'm
saying when we start to read it.
00:24:48.95\00:24:50.89
Verse 9, Jesus says,
00:24:50.92\00:24:51.92
"I say to you, ask and
it will be given to you."
00:24:51.95\00:24:55.39
Some of you don't even have
your Bibles open, you know it.
00:24:55.42\00:24:57.53
"Seek, and you will find.
00:24:57.56\00:24:59.73
Knock, and the door
will be opened to you.
00:24:59.76\00:25:04.80
For everyone who asks, receives,
00:25:04.83\00:25:06.50
and he who seeks, finds,
00:25:06.53\00:25:08.70
and to him who
knocks, it will be opened."
00:25:08.74\00:25:12.47
Now these verses have
been used in a variety of ways.
00:25:12.51\00:25:16.71
When I want to
trade in my old car
00:25:16.75\00:25:19.75
for a very
desperately needed new one,
00:25:19.78\00:25:22.65
okay, ask and you shall
receive we say, don't we?
00:25:22.68\00:25:26.59
Okay.
00:25:26.62\00:25:27.76
And then our Christian friends
will rally around and say,
00:25:27.79\00:25:29.62
you know, seek
and you shall find,
00:25:29.66\00:25:31.63
you know, knock on the door
and it will be opened to you.
00:25:31.66\00:25:33.16
When you're looking
for that first house
00:25:33.19\00:25:34.66
or maybe a new
house or a bigger house
00:25:34.73\00:25:36.43
because your
family is expanding.
00:25:36.46\00:25:37.87
Now look, you needed a
new job or a higher paying job
00:25:37.90\00:25:41.37
or your finances need,
00:25:41.40\00:25:43.00
you know, rearranging
and recovery and so on,
00:25:43.04\00:25:46.01
we come to these
verses, don't we?
00:25:46.04\00:25:48.41
And so these are
very well used verses.
00:25:48.44\00:25:52.41
And that's not a bad thing,
00:25:52.45\00:25:53.82
in fact, I believe
that the principle here
00:25:53.85\00:25:55.58
that Jesus is bringing
to us in the right context
00:25:55.62\00:25:57.85
and of course with
the right motivations,
00:25:57.89\00:26:00.49
can be claimed.
00:26:00.52\00:26:01.62
And so I'm not saying that
we're misusing those verses.
00:26:01.66\00:26:04.63
But what I am saying
is what a crime it is,
00:26:04.66\00:26:08.13
if this is the only way
that we use these verses
00:26:08.16\00:26:10.97
and we miss the original
point that Jesus had in mind
00:26:11.00\00:26:17.24
in regards to why He even spoke
these words in the first place.
00:26:17.27\00:26:21.74
In other words, so
often we end at verse 10
00:26:21.78\00:26:24.18
and we miss the main point,
00:26:24.21\00:26:25.55
the original point that
Jesus was trying to make.
00:26:25.58\00:26:29.12
And so with that being said,
we have a volunteer here again,
00:26:33.22\00:26:35.72
Brianca is going to
read the next of the verses,
00:26:35.76\00:26:39.26
and allow Jesus
here to make His point
00:26:39.29\00:26:41.73
as she read verses
11 through to verse 13.
00:26:41.76\00:26:45.13
Thank you.
00:26:45.17\00:26:46.17
"If a son asks for bread
from any father among you,
00:26:46.20\00:26:49.17
will he give him a stone?
00:26:49.20\00:26:51.21
Or if he asks for a fish,
00:26:51.24\00:26:52.94
will he give him a
serpent instead of a fish?
00:26:52.97\00:26:56.18
Or if he asks for an egg,
will he offer him a scorpion?
00:26:56.21\00:27:00.85
If you then, being evil,
00:27:00.88\00:27:02.68
know how to give good
gifts to your children,
00:27:02.72\00:27:05.32
how much more will
your Heavenly Father
00:27:05.35\00:27:07.66
give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask Him."
00:27:07.69\00:27:11.59
Okay, so today, by God's grace,
00:27:11.63\00:27:15.26
we're allowing Jesus to
make His original point.
00:27:15.30\00:27:17.77
What is the original point
that Jesus is trying to make?
00:27:17.80\00:27:20.57
To ask for the Holy Spirit, yes.
00:27:24.01\00:27:26.04
Okay, seek, and you shall find.
00:27:26.07\00:27:28.74
Seek what?
00:27:28.78\00:27:30.81
To seek the Holy Spirit?
00:27:30.85\00:27:32.68
Isn't that what Jesus is saying?
00:27:32.71\00:27:33.95
Knock and it shall
be open to you, okay?
00:27:33.98\00:27:37.02
So all these things
ask and you shall receive.
00:27:37.05\00:27:40.89
Receive what?
00:27:40.92\00:27:42.16
The Holy Spirit.
00:27:42.19\00:27:43.19
And not only that
but then Jesus says,
00:27:43.22\00:27:44.79
he's making that point
00:27:44.83\00:27:46.19
is also speaking in
some of the most exaggerated
00:27:46.23\00:27:48.76
kind of humorous
language we can almost call it.
00:27:48.80\00:27:51.77
Where He says, hey, listen,
00:27:51.80\00:27:52.83
which parent here says
when their little one says,
00:27:52.87\00:27:55.67
"You know, Mommy,
I'm really hungry."
00:27:55.70\00:27:57.57
And instead of an egg,
you give them a scorpion.
00:27:57.61\00:28:00.61
I mean, it's
ridiculous, isn't it?
00:28:00.64\00:28:02.78
Okay, Jesus is trying to
be ridiculous on purpose.
00:28:02.81\00:28:05.68
Why because he is trying
to communicate to you and I,
00:28:05.71\00:28:08.92
how eager God is to
give us his Holy Spirit.
00:28:08.95\00:28:14.19
He's using the most effective
and exaggerated language He can
00:28:14.22\00:28:17.83
to make that point.
00:28:17.86\00:28:19.06
He's saying listen, too often,
God is so disappointed with us
00:28:19.09\00:28:22.10
as we make our
way through the day
00:28:22.13\00:28:23.97
and we don't ask
for the Holy Spirit.
00:28:24.00\00:28:26.84
We don't knock on the door,
00:28:26.87\00:28:27.90
we don't seek out
00:28:27.94\00:28:29.10
the presence of
God in our heart.
00:28:29.14\00:28:31.37
And so Jesus here is
trying to make the main point.
00:28:31.41\00:28:34.24
And so again, these
original verses 9 and 10
00:28:34.28\00:28:36.95
that we're so accustomed
to and so familiar with,
00:28:36.98\00:28:39.75
may we not miss
the original point
00:28:39.78\00:28:41.85
that Jesus had for you and me,
00:28:41.88\00:28:43.25
and that is to remember
how much God wants us to ask
00:28:43.28\00:28:46.39
for the Holy
Spirit in your lives.
00:28:46.42\00:28:51.73
And chapter 8 and
verse 1 as we just read,
00:28:51.76\00:28:54.63
this also explains to us
why this is so important.
00:28:54.66\00:28:57.67
Why was Jesus using this
most exaggerated language
00:28:57.70\00:29:02.00
as He can to tell us
00:29:02.04\00:29:03.97
and encourage us and urge
us to ask for the Holy Spirit?
00:29:04.01\00:29:09.11
Why?
00:29:09.14\00:29:10.18
Because in Romans 8
00:29:10.21\00:29:12.28
and the first
verse as we've read,
00:29:12.31\00:29:13.78
it says, "Therefore,
there is no condemnation."
00:29:13.82\00:29:16.32
Did Jesus come to condemn?
00:29:16.35\00:29:18.42
No, the Son of Man was
not sent into the world
00:29:18.45\00:29:20.06
to condemn the world,
00:29:20.09\00:29:21.12
but the world might
be saved through Him
00:29:21.16\00:29:22.42
as it says in John 3:17.
00:29:22.46\00:29:25.79
And so Jesus is wanting
to save us from condemnation,
00:29:25.83\00:29:29.73
and so He paves the pathway
00:29:29.76\00:29:31.70
and summarizes it
in this powerful verse
00:29:31.73\00:29:34.37
through Paul in Romans 8:1.
00:29:34.40\00:29:36.00
It says, "There is
therefore now no condemnation
00:29:36.04\00:29:38.84
to those who are
in Christ Jesus."
00:29:38.87\00:29:41.94
Well, how are we in Christ Jesus
00:29:41.98\00:29:43.81
who do not walk
according to the flesh,
00:29:43.85\00:29:46.45
but according to the spirit.
00:29:46.48\00:29:50.12
And so Jesus is here, again,
reminding us and urging us
00:29:50.15\00:29:53.99
how important it is to have
the Holy Spirit in our hearts,
00:29:54.02\00:29:56.89
have the Holy
Spirit ruling in our lives.
00:29:56.93\00:30:00.36
Now in the 6th verse of
the same chapter in Romans
00:30:00.40\00:30:02.36
and it repeats
basically the same thing
00:30:02.40\00:30:04.30
and so I'm just
gonna jump ahead.
00:30:04.33\00:30:05.80
We don't have time
to, of course, to look
00:30:05.83\00:30:06.84
at every verse in
this very long chapter
00:30:06.87\00:30:09.00
even in the
first half of Romans 8.
00:30:09.04\00:30:11.27
But let's look at verse 6
00:30:11.31\00:30:12.74
'cause essentially He's saying
00:30:12.77\00:30:14.11
the same thing
in a different way.
00:30:14.14\00:30:15.41
He says, "For to
be carnally minded,"
00:30:15.44\00:30:16.98
that is minded of
the flesh, "is death,
00:30:17.01\00:30:20.95
but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace."
00:30:20.98\00:30:26.29
And so again He says, listen,
00:30:26.32\00:30:28.12
"If you're in the spirit
and you're spiritually minded
00:30:28.16\00:30:31.19
you have life and peace."
00:30:31.23\00:30:34.03
Now, friends, I think
it's very important for us
00:30:34.10\00:30:35.43
to understand that
you can sit at the feet
00:30:35.46\00:30:37.63
of every self helpers,
spiritual guru in the world.
00:30:37.67\00:30:42.40
You can go to every seminar,
00:30:42.44\00:30:43.84
you can go to all
kinds of different versions
00:30:43.87\00:30:46.98
whether it's eastern
religions and new age
00:30:47.01\00:30:49.44
and all these different,
00:30:49.48\00:30:51.41
you know, claims to
supernatural victory
00:30:51.45\00:30:54.08
to your life or
whatever it is, friends,
00:30:54.12\00:30:56.08
you can sit at
the feet of all these,
00:30:56.12\00:30:57.22
you will never be
spiritually minded.
00:30:57.25\00:30:59.69
You know, this word spiritual
00:30:59.72\00:31:01.72
has been, you know,
just dragged through the mud
00:31:01.76\00:31:04.86
through our modern generation.
00:31:04.89\00:31:06.33
And really the Bible
tells us that the only way
00:31:06.36\00:31:09.43
that you can truly
be spiritually minded
00:31:09.46\00:31:11.33
is to have the
Holy Spirit of God
00:31:11.37\00:31:12.80
in your heart.
00:31:12.83\00:31:13.97
It's the only way,
00:31:14.00\00:31:15.94
there is no other way
to be spiritually minded.
00:31:15.97\00:31:18.97
And so that's why it
tells us in verse 6 that,
00:31:19.01\00:31:21.81
"To be spiritually
minded is life and peace."
00:31:21.84\00:31:23.91
And He tells us in the previous
verses and the verses after,
00:31:23.95\00:31:26.41
and that is through
a life in the spirit.
00:31:26.45\00:31:31.85
Well, that being said,
let's turn to the Book of John,
00:31:31.89\00:31:33.99
we're going to leave
Romans 8 just briefly,
00:31:34.02\00:31:35.39
again, we're going to
back up to another gospel
00:31:35.42\00:31:37.19
and come to the
teachings of Jesus
00:31:37.23\00:31:38.93
'cause Paul is reflecting
of what Jesus, of course,
00:31:38.96\00:31:41.36
had already taught
during his life on earth
00:31:41.40\00:31:43.43
previous to that
00:31:43.47\00:31:44.97
and I just cannot
go through this subject
00:31:45.00\00:31:48.14
without going to one
of my favorite chapters
00:31:48.17\00:31:50.14
because this chapter
speaks on the same topic
00:31:50.17\00:31:53.14
that Paul
speaking on in these verses
00:31:53.17\00:31:55.08
in Romans chapter 8.
00:31:55.11\00:31:56.48
Now John chapter 3,
00:31:56.51\00:31:57.71
many of you as we turn to it
00:31:57.75\00:31:58.75
already know what that's about.
00:31:58.78\00:31:59.95
But if you don't, we're
going to discover very quickly
00:32:00.05\00:32:02.32
that this is what I
call the born again chapter.
00:32:02.35\00:32:06.29
And the reason I
call this chapter that
00:32:06.32\00:32:08.46
is because this
is the only chapter,
00:32:08.49\00:32:10.83
the only chapter
in all scriptures
00:32:10.86\00:32:12.49
that uses the term born again.
00:32:12.53\00:32:14.86
And yet it's very popular among
many of our evangelical friends
00:32:14.93\00:32:18.33
and Protestant
Christians and so on.
00:32:18.37\00:32:21.07
Let's read what Jesus had to say
00:32:21.10\00:32:23.14
in regards to that popular term.
00:32:23.17\00:32:26.31
So I'm going to go
ahead and read John 3:3.
00:32:26.34\00:32:29.84
And then we
have a volunteer here
00:32:29.88\00:32:31.08
who is going to
read a little bit later
00:32:31.11\00:32:32.48
in the same chapter.
00:32:32.51\00:32:34.25
Verse 3 says, "Jesus
answered and said to him,
00:32:34.28\00:32:36.25
'Most assuredly, I say to
you, unless one is born again,
00:32:36.28\00:32:40.09
he cannot see
the kingdom of God."
00:32:40.12\00:32:45.36
Unless we are born again,
00:32:45.39\00:32:46.80
we cannot have
spiritual eye sight,
00:32:46.83\00:32:48.90
Jesus is saying.
00:32:48.93\00:32:50.00
You can't even
recognize the kingdom
00:32:50.03\00:32:53.10
unless you are born again.
00:32:53.13\00:32:55.24
Is it important to
be born again, friends?
00:32:55.27\00:32:57.44
Sure it is.
00:32:57.47\00:32:58.51
If you can't even see it,
00:32:58.54\00:32:59.94
how in the world do
you going to enter it?
00:33:00.04\00:33:02.64
Okay, and so this is about
00:33:02.68\00:33:04.38
being spiritually
minded again, isn't it?
00:33:04.41\00:33:06.31
Paul says to be
spiritually minded
00:33:06.35\00:33:08.05
is life and peace.
00:33:08.08\00:33:10.59
And spiritual in
its very essence,
00:33:10.62\00:33:12.99
in its original
obligation, and again, you know,
00:33:13.02\00:33:15.66
as opposed to its
misdefinition and misuse
00:33:15.69\00:33:18.53
which is so popular
around many unbelievers
00:33:18.56\00:33:21.83
is that spiritual
comes from the word spirit.
00:33:21.86\00:33:25.33
And the original spirit
that the word is derived from
00:33:25.37\00:33:28.00
is the Holy Spirit of the Bible.
00:33:28.04\00:33:31.54
And yet so many of us
who are trying to claim
00:33:31.57\00:33:33.34
that we're spiritual people
00:33:33.38\00:33:35.18
but we have nothing to
do with the Holy Spirit.
00:33:35.21\00:33:38.91
The Bible says
there's no such thing,
00:33:38.95\00:33:40.28
Jesus says,
"Unless you're born again,"
00:33:40.32\00:33:43.05
and He's speaking in
the context of the spirit,
00:33:43.08\00:33:44.89
"You can't even
recognize the kingdom of God."
00:33:44.92\00:33:49.96
All right, we have a volunteer,
00:33:49.99\00:33:51.09
Denise is going to be reading
for us verses 5 through 8
00:33:51.13\00:33:53.56
in the same
chapter here this morning.
00:33:53.60\00:33:57.03
Jesus answered, "Most
assuredly, I say to you,
00:33:57.07\00:34:01.10
unless one is born
of water and the Spirit,
00:34:01.14\00:34:04.51
he cannot enter
the kingdom of God.
00:34:04.54\00:34:07.48
That which is born
of the flesh is flesh,
00:34:07.51\00:34:10.95
and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit.
00:34:10.98\00:34:14.18
Do not marvel that I say to you,
00:34:14.22\00:34:16.55
'You must be born again.'
00:34:16.58\00:34:18.95
The wind blows where it wishes,
and you hear the sound of it,
00:34:18.99\00:34:23.39
but cannot tell
where it comes from
00:34:23.43\00:34:25.99
or where it goes.
00:34:26.03\00:34:27.73
So is everyone who
is born of the Spirit."
00:34:27.76\00:34:32.00
Okay, thank you.
00:34:32.03\00:34:34.30
And so now Jesus
goes on and says,
00:34:34.34\00:34:35.60
"Now that you cannot
see the kingdom of God,"
00:34:35.64\00:34:37.51
but verse 5 says, "If
you don't have the spirit,
00:34:37.54\00:34:39.91
if you are not
born of the Spirit"
00:34:39.94\00:34:41.54
the Holy Spirit with capital S,
00:34:41.58\00:34:43.71
"He cannot enter
the kingdom of God."
00:34:43.75\00:34:46.28
You cannot see it
and you cannot enter it,
00:34:46.31\00:34:49.55
unless you have the Holy Spirit.
00:34:49.58\00:34:52.02
Very important for us
to be able to understand.
00:34:52.05\00:34:53.52
Then we come to
verse 6 as He says,
00:34:53.56\00:34:55.39
you know, we're
all born of the flesh,
00:34:55.42\00:34:57.39
but hey, we're in trouble
if we only stay in the flesh
00:34:57.43\00:34:59.56
because again our
flesh is hardwired,
00:34:59.59\00:35:02.20
and the flesh is really talking
about that part of our brain
00:35:02.23\00:35:04.60
that was hardwired towards sin.
00:35:04.63\00:35:08.10
And so Jesus says
00:35:08.14\00:35:10.71
listen, to be just in
the flesh is big trouble,
00:35:10.74\00:35:13.64
but to be born of
the spirit is spirit,
00:35:13.68\00:35:16.48
this is the key to life.
00:35:16.51\00:35:18.55
Then we come to verse 7
and this is no small verse,
00:35:18.58\00:35:21.18
Jesus really
comes to the punch line,
00:35:21.22\00:35:22.65
in verse 7, He says,
00:35:22.68\00:35:23.75
"Do not marvel that I
say you must be born again."
00:35:23.79\00:35:29.19
Is Jesus give it as an option
00:35:29.22\00:35:30.59
to have the Holy
Spirit to be born again
00:35:30.63\00:35:32.99
and be part of His kingdom?
00:35:33.03\00:35:34.73
No.
00:35:34.73\00:35:35.76
And so we here have a
very, very important chapter
00:35:35.80\00:35:38.50
that is telling us
how essential it is,
00:35:38.53\00:35:41.10
in fact, He is
telling us that our salvation
00:35:41.14\00:35:45.27
is bearing upon whether or
not we have the Holy Spirit
00:35:45.31\00:35:48.38
in our lives or not,
00:35:48.41\00:35:50.75
whether we are
born again or not.
00:35:50.78\00:35:55.45
This is why Paul was
inspired to also write
00:35:55.48\00:35:57.32
in the Book of Galatians
and the Book of Corinthians,
00:35:57.35\00:36:00.09
two very hard hitting passages
on the very same subject.
00:36:00.12\00:36:03.09
Why?
00:36:03.12\00:36:04.13
Because God wants us
to be able to understand
00:36:04.16\00:36:06.39
how important this is
00:36:06.43\00:36:07.76
and how much and how eager
as we read in Luke chapter 11,
00:36:07.76\00:36:10.37
Jesus tells us, "God
wants to give us the spirit."
00:36:10.40\00:36:13.03
We don't have
time to look at both.
00:36:13.07\00:36:14.14
Well let's turn to
the Book of Galatians
00:36:14.17\00:36:15.64
and we look at
one of those examples.
00:36:15.67\00:36:18.61
Okay, we're going to
the Book of Galatians.
00:36:18.64\00:36:22.31
And we're going to
go to the 5th chapter
00:36:22.34\00:36:25.35
and we're going to
start by reading verse 16
00:36:25.38\00:36:27.82
to get the context.
00:36:27.85\00:36:29.05
Verse 16 reveals
to us that the passage
00:36:29.08\00:36:30.72
that we're about
to read and look at,
00:36:30.75\00:36:32.55
again, is on the
very same subject
00:36:32.59\00:36:35.46
that we've been
looking at in Romans 8,
00:36:35.49\00:36:37.43
we'll continue to
look at here today.
00:36:37.46\00:36:42.16
Verse 16 says,
00:36:42.20\00:36:43.43
"I say then walk in the spirit
00:36:43.47\00:36:46.27
and you shall not
fulfill the lust of the flesh."
00:36:46.30\00:36:50.74
Is this the same topic friends?
00:36:50.77\00:36:52.47
Sure it is, isn't it?
00:36:52.51\00:36:53.48
Okay, so this is the
same topic talking about
00:36:53.51\00:36:55.74
either walking in the
flesh or walking in the spirit.
00:36:55.78\00:36:59.68
Now let's skip down
to verse 19, it says,
00:36:59.71\00:37:01.72
"For now the works of
the flesh are evident."
00:37:01.75\00:37:03.82
And then he gives
us an example list,
00:37:03.85\00:37:05.45
now this is not exhaustive.
00:37:05.49\00:37:06.55
In fact, if you go
to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11,
00:37:06.59\00:37:09.46
again, we don't have time today,
00:37:09.49\00:37:10.73
you can find that he
lists some others as well.
00:37:10.76\00:37:12.76
Verse 9:18 says now,
00:37:12.79\00:37:13.90
"The works of
the flesh are evident
00:37:13.93\00:37:15.50
which are
adultery, fornication,"
00:37:15.53\00:37:19.20
which is our
sexuality before marriage,
00:37:19.23\00:37:25.44
adultery of course
is engaging in sexuality
00:37:25.47\00:37:27.81
outside of your marriage,
00:37:27.84\00:37:29.71
"Uncleanness,
lewdness, idolatry, sorcery,
00:37:29.74\00:37:35.12
hatred, contentions, jealousies,
00:37:35.15\00:37:39.12
outbursts of wrath."
00:37:39.15\00:37:40.32
What is that, friends?
00:37:40.36\00:37:42.19
That's... our
modern day, we call that
00:37:42.22\00:37:44.63
losing our temper, okay?
00:37:44.66\00:37:47.50
When we lose our
temper, outbursts of wrath,
00:37:47.56\00:37:51.90
"Selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies."
00:37:51.93\00:37:56.91
Heresies.
00:37:56.94\00:37:58.07
Every time I come to this
verse in this passage and list,
00:37:58.11\00:38:00.84
I say to myself, isn't that
something that heresies is...
00:38:00.88\00:38:03.85
I would have never guessed
that he would list it in there,
00:38:03.88\00:38:05.85
you know, 'cause the others
are more character defaults,
00:38:05.88\00:38:08.32
different, you know,
00:38:08.35\00:38:09.35
sins and
transgressions of God's law.
00:38:09.38\00:38:11.62
But God tells us one
of the works of the flesh,
00:38:11.65\00:38:14.36
one of the fruits
of the flesh is heresy.
00:38:14.39\00:38:17.79
Now what is heresy?
00:38:17.83\00:38:20.33
Heresy is false
doctrine, isn't it?
00:38:20.36\00:38:22.26
Heresy is
coming up with theology
00:38:22.30\00:38:24.57
and either coming up
with it or adopting it
00:38:24.60\00:38:26.94
from some other source
and then propagating that.
00:38:26.97\00:38:29.70
And so a heresy is something
00:38:29.74\00:38:31.77
that is not in harmony
with the Bible's teaching,
00:38:31.81\00:38:34.18
something contrary
to what God has revealed
00:38:34.21\00:38:36.68
in the Holy Scriptures.
00:38:36.71\00:38:38.48
And so if, you know...
00:38:38.51\00:38:41.85
how do I say this?
00:38:41.88\00:38:44.19
You know, over the years,
00:38:44.22\00:38:45.25
I've had a lot of
different people that have,
00:38:45.29\00:38:48.22
not a lot, I shouldn't say that.
00:38:48.26\00:38:49.69
I've had a handful of members
00:38:49.72\00:38:52.73
that I've had to try to win back
00:38:52.76\00:38:55.23
into the Bible truth
00:38:55.26\00:38:56.40
as they have either
adopted or have concocted
00:38:56.43\00:38:59.77
some kind of wild-eyed,
you know, unbiblical theology
00:38:59.80\00:39:04.74
and just ran with
it and promoted it
00:39:04.77\00:39:06.74
at my church and so on.
00:39:06.78\00:39:08.44
And yet they claim to be
00:39:08.48\00:39:11.25
one of the most
spiritual people there are.
00:39:11.28\00:39:13.98
And yet God tells me that
00:39:14.02\00:39:16.02
it's not the Holy Spirit
that's leading me into that,
00:39:16.05\00:39:17.95
that's the flesh.
00:39:17.99\00:39:20.32
Verse 21, "Envy,
murders, drunkenness,
00:39:20.36\00:39:22.69
revelries and the like of
which I tell you beforehand,
00:39:22.72\00:39:25.43
just as I also
told you in time past
00:39:25.46\00:39:27.40
that those who
practice such things
00:39:27.46\00:39:29.36
will not inherit
the kingdom of God."
00:39:29.40\00:39:33.80
Now that's
pretty strong, isn't it?
00:39:33.84\00:39:35.04
Jesus says, "You
must be born again
00:39:35.07\00:39:37.04
and walk in the spirit
00:39:37.07\00:39:38.27
where there is no condemnation."
00:39:38.31\00:39:40.31
Because if you
don't walk in the spirit,
00:39:40.34\00:39:42.84
you're walking in the flesh,
00:39:42.88\00:39:44.28
and if you walk in the flesh,
00:39:44.31\00:39:45.28
you will practice one
or more of these things
00:39:45.31\00:39:46.75
and you'll find yourselves
00:39:46.78\00:39:48.38
not inheriting
the kingdom of God.
00:39:48.42\00:39:50.95
But let's go on
to the good news.
00:39:50.99\00:39:52.05
Verse 22, it says,
00:39:52.09\00:39:54.06
"But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace,
00:39:54.09\00:39:59.03
longsuffering, kindness,
00:39:59.06\00:40:02.76
goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control
00:40:02.80\00:40:07.77
and against such
things, there is no law."
00:40:07.80\00:40:11.34
Beautiful, beautiful contrast
in list there, isn't there?
00:40:11.37\00:40:14.74
Which one will you choose?
00:40:14.78\00:40:16.44
Which one will we
choose as we continue on?
00:40:16.48\00:40:20.45
Well, let's back
up to Romans chapter 8
00:40:20.48\00:40:21.98
before we run
of all or our time.
00:40:22.02\00:40:23.79
And I'm just having so much...
00:40:23.82\00:40:27.89
I'm enjoying
myself so much up here
00:40:27.92\00:40:30.03
just going through these
important life-giving truths
00:40:30.06\00:40:33.36
that I can see that...
00:40:33.40\00:40:34.36
You know, when
you're having fun,
00:40:34.40\00:40:35.43
time flies,
00:40:35.46\00:40:36.53
and it seems to be flying
faster than ever here today.
00:40:36.56\00:40:39.23
So let's go to Romans 8:2.
00:40:39.27\00:40:41.90
And we have a volunteer,
00:40:41.94\00:40:43.47
Tadd is going to
kindly read that for us.
00:40:43.51\00:40:46.41
"For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
00:40:46.44\00:40:48.91
hath made me free from
the law of sin and death."
00:40:48.94\00:40:53.05
Okay, thank you.
00:40:53.08\00:40:54.42
Now there's two laws
that are being spoken of here,
00:40:54.45\00:40:56.28
isn't there?
00:40:56.32\00:40:57.35
Now this is no small verse
00:40:57.39\00:40:58.62
because this
particular verse is boiling down
00:40:58.65\00:41:01.56
what Paul has already started
to paint in Romans Chapter 7
00:41:01.59\00:41:04.59
is continuing to
paint in Romans Chapter 8.
00:41:04.63\00:41:07.83
And that is that
there are two laws of life
00:41:07.86\00:41:11.03
that all of us
are living by, okay?
00:41:11.07\00:41:13.80
One or the other is what I mean.
00:41:13.84\00:41:15.64
So there are two laws of life
00:41:15.67\00:41:17.31
that we are either
living by the law of the spirit
00:41:17.34\00:41:20.04
or we are living
by the law of sin
00:41:20.08\00:41:22.61
or the law of
fleshes it's also called.
00:41:22.64\00:41:25.51
So there's a law
of the sin or flesh
00:41:25.55\00:41:27.82
and then there's
the law of the Spirit.
00:41:27.85\00:41:29.52
Now we don't want
to get this confused
00:41:29.55\00:41:30.89
with the law, capital L
00:41:30.92\00:41:33.09
which is God's Ten Commandments
as moral law and so on,
00:41:33.12\00:41:36.62
that's not what
Paul is speaking of here,
00:41:36.66\00:41:38.13
he's talking
about two laws of life
00:41:38.16\00:41:40.40
when he's using
the term law here.
00:41:40.43\00:41:43.37
The best way to put
it that I can think of
00:41:43.40\00:41:44.77
is to think of the
law of gravity, okay?
00:41:44.80\00:41:48.30
This is not part of God's
Ten Commandments, isn't it?
00:41:48.34\00:41:50.34
But it's still a law, isn't it?
00:41:50.37\00:41:51.87
It's a law of life.
00:41:51.91\00:41:52.94
It doesn't
matter what I pick up,
00:41:52.97\00:41:54.31
if I take this quarterly
00:41:54.34\00:41:55.38
and I was to
release it out of my head,
00:41:55.41\00:41:56.58
what will happen?
00:41:56.61\00:41:57.91
It will fall down
to the ground, okay?
00:41:57.95\00:42:00.18
And so all of us agree
00:42:00.22\00:42:02.48
that law of gravity
is consistent, isn't it?
00:42:02.52\00:42:05.55
It doesn't matter
what object I pick up,
00:42:05.59\00:42:07.39
if I drop it, it's going
to fall down to the ground
00:42:07.42\00:42:10.59
because gravity the law
of gravity tells me that
00:42:10.63\00:42:12.86
the law of
thermodynamics tells me that
00:42:12.89\00:42:14.60
if I leave this book long enough
00:42:14.63\00:42:16.77
all matter left to itself
will always move towards chaos,
00:42:16.80\00:42:20.87
will always move
towards disorder.
00:42:20.90\00:42:23.57
That's the
scientific law of thermodynamics
00:42:23.61\00:42:26.88
and it is consistent
00:42:26.91\00:42:28.18
and there is no exception
00:42:28.21\00:42:29.41
that any
scientist has ever found.
00:42:29.44\00:42:31.61
And so that's why
they're called laws of science.
00:42:31.65\00:42:36.85
There's spiritual laws.
00:42:36.89\00:42:37.92
Galatians 6:7, we
don't have time to go there
00:42:37.95\00:42:40.96
but I'm going to
read it from my notes.
00:42:40.99\00:42:42.76
In Galatians 6:7, it
says, "Do not be deceived.
00:42:42.79\00:42:45.59
God is not mocked,
00:42:45.63\00:42:47.40
for whatever a man
sows that he will also reap.
00:42:47.46\00:42:50.00
For he who sows to his flesh
00:42:50.03\00:42:52.40
will reap of
the flesh corruption
00:42:52.43\00:42:53.84
but he who sows to the Spirit
00:42:53.87\00:42:56.57
will of the Spirit
reap everlasting life."
00:42:56.60\00:42:59.44
And so there is a
spiritual law there,
00:42:59.47\00:43:02.08
what you sow is
always inevitably
00:43:02.11\00:43:04.98
what you will reap.
00:43:05.01\00:43:07.02
If you sow to righteousness
into the spirit and to God,
00:43:07.05\00:43:09.52
you will reap good things.
00:43:09.55\00:43:10.55
If you don't and
you reap to the flesh
00:43:10.59\00:43:11.89
and to sin and to wickedness,
00:43:11.92\00:43:13.59
you will reap bad
things in your life, won't you?
00:43:13.62\00:43:17.13
Okay, there's a
general law of life,
00:43:17.16\00:43:19.69
a very real spiritual love life.
00:43:19.73\00:43:22.53
And so what verse 2
really is bringing us down
00:43:22.56\00:43:24.73
to what it is boiling down to
00:43:24.77\00:43:26.63
is the big
million dollar question,
00:43:26.67\00:43:28.94
and the million
dollar question is this,
00:43:28.97\00:43:31.11
what law will you
choose to live by?
00:43:31.14\00:43:35.94
The law of sin,
that's leading to death
00:43:35.98\00:43:38.68
or the law of the
spirit that is leading to life?
00:43:38.71\00:43:43.08
Those are the two choices
that we have in life, isn't it?
00:43:43.12\00:43:45.75
And this is part of the gospel.
00:43:45.79\00:43:47.49
You see, the whole gospel
00:43:47.52\00:43:48.59
is not just
confessing our sins and such,
00:43:48.62\00:43:50.86
but it's also
repenting our sins,
00:43:50.89\00:43:52.66
surrendering to God,
asking for the Holy Spirit,
00:43:52.69\00:43:56.10
and then to walk in
the spirit from day to day.
00:43:56.13\00:43:59.13
That's the other part
of our gospel experience
00:43:59.17\00:44:02.04
with Jesus Christ.
00:44:02.07\00:44:03.04
And that's the point
that God is inspiring Paul
00:44:03.07\00:44:05.17
to go to so much effort
into trying to communicate
00:44:05.21\00:44:09.71
to you and me.
00:44:09.74\00:44:11.01
Well, let's continue on
as we read verses 3 and 4
00:44:14.58\00:44:16.99
in the same
chapter, Romans 8:3, it says,
00:44:17.02\00:44:19.65
"For what the law could not do,
00:44:19.69\00:44:23.56
and that it was
weak through the flesh."
00:44:23.59\00:44:25.73
We're going to
come back to that.
00:44:25.76\00:44:26.76
"God did by sending His Son
00:44:26.80\00:44:29.10
in the likeness of sinful flesh,
00:44:29.13\00:44:30.57
on the account of sin,
00:44:30.60\00:44:32.00
He condemned sin in the flesh,
00:44:32.03\00:44:34.00
that the righteous
requirements of the law
00:44:34.04\00:44:37.04
might be fulfilled in us
00:44:37.07\00:44:38.71
who do not walk
according to the flesh
00:44:38.74\00:44:40.71
but according to the spirit."
00:44:40.74\00:44:43.71
Now it can be very
tempting to come to verse 4
00:44:43.75\00:44:45.98
and say, well, there it is,
there's justification again,
00:44:46.01\00:44:48.02
Christ life covers ours.
00:44:48.05\00:44:50.12
Well, Paul already
spent multiple chapters
00:44:50.15\00:44:52.02
previous to this,
already making that point.
00:44:52.05\00:44:55.16
Paul is not
being redundant here.
00:44:55.19\00:44:56.86
Paul is telling us here
00:44:56.89\00:44:58.53
that when we are in Christ
the Spirit comes into our life
00:44:58.56\00:45:02.13
and he gives us victory
00:45:02.16\00:45:03.23
and now we can
experience more and more
00:45:03.26\00:45:05.07
as each day goes by,
00:45:05.10\00:45:06.94
the experience of
having and reaching
00:45:06.97\00:45:10.14
and experience the righteous
requirement of the law.
00:45:10.17\00:45:14.18
That's the second half
of the good news is that,
00:45:14.21\00:45:16.08
"Behold, old
things have passed away,
00:45:16.11\00:45:17.98
all things have become new."
00:45:18.01\00:45:20.05
As we started with our opening
verse in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
00:45:20.08\00:45:25.35
And so again, friends,
00:45:25.39\00:45:26.39
there's one thing
that I've been praying
00:45:26.42\00:45:27.79
that God has put upon my heart
during this particular study
00:45:27.82\00:45:30.39
is to get across the fact
that this is not bad news.
00:45:30.43\00:45:34.36
This is good news.
00:45:34.40\00:45:35.60
Our sinful nature
says it's bad news,
00:45:35.63\00:45:37.17
the devil comes along
and says it's bad news,
00:45:37.20\00:45:39.17
the demons come along and
say this is terrible news,
00:45:39.20\00:45:43.74
you know, this is
going to ruin your life
00:45:43.77\00:45:45.67
if you give yourself
over to complete righteousness
00:45:45.71\00:45:47.84
and start to love God's law.
00:45:47.88\00:45:49.94
But, friends, I can
tell with experience,
00:45:49.98\00:45:51.15
being on the other
side, that is not true,
00:45:51.18\00:45:53.25
that is a lie
that comes straight
00:45:53.28\00:45:54.82
from the flames of hell.
00:45:54.85\00:45:56.02
This comes straight
from the devil himself.
00:45:56.05\00:45:59.05
I am telling you, friends.
00:45:59.09\00:46:01.39
God has given us a
spirit, a presence in our heart
00:46:01.42\00:46:05.03
that can help us to
be able to experience
00:46:05.06\00:46:07.00
a new life in Jesus
and new life in him.
00:46:07.03\00:46:10.43
Now we need to do
that daily, do we not?
00:46:10.47\00:46:13.07
Now I'm not
trying to say, listen,
00:46:13.10\00:46:14.14
you invite the
Holy Spirit and poof,
00:46:14.17\00:46:15.80
you just kind of
get up in the morning,
00:46:15.84\00:46:16.91
you don't have to
think about it anymore.
00:46:16.94\00:46:18.64
No, you have to work in
cooperation with the spirit,
00:46:18.67\00:46:20.38
doesn't it?
00:46:20.41\00:46:21.41
Galatians
chapter 5, we just read,
00:46:21.44\00:46:22.94
the later verses says,
00:46:22.98\00:46:24.01
"Therefore, if we
live by the Spirit,
00:46:24.05\00:46:26.08
let's also walk by the Spirit."
00:46:26.11\00:46:27.98
There's a
cooperation a partnership
00:46:28.02\00:46:29.68
that works in
conjunction with that.
00:46:29.72\00:46:31.39
That's why it says in
the same Book of Romans
00:46:31.42\00:46:33.12
later on in the
chapters, where it says,
00:46:33.15\00:46:35.82
"Make no
provision for the flesh."
00:46:35.86\00:46:38.43
Okay, so we still
have to do our part
00:46:38.46\00:46:40.10
as we work in
cooperation with the spirit
00:46:40.13\00:46:42.36
and be able to avoid temptation
00:46:42.40\00:46:46.07
and overcome it by
God's help and strength.
00:46:46.10\00:46:50.74
We're quickly
running out of time.
00:46:50.77\00:46:52.21
I just wanted to summarize
as we read in verses 3 and 4.
00:46:52.24\00:46:55.88
And because Paul is really
wrapping up the whole subject
00:46:55.91\00:46:58.65
of the place of God's holy law
00:46:58.68\00:47:00.75
in the life of a believer,
in the life of a Christian,
00:47:00.78\00:47:03.18
I want to just
take a couple of minutes
00:47:03.22\00:47:04.72
and look at what the
law can and cannot do.
00:47:04.75\00:47:08.36
Now the first
thing that the law can do
00:47:08.39\00:47:10.93
is essentially educate us.
00:47:10.96\00:47:13.09
In fact, that's the only
thing that the law can do.
00:47:13.13\00:47:16.16
The only thing that
the law can do for us
00:47:16.20\00:47:18.10
and it is
essential is educate us
00:47:18.13\00:47:22.47
and educating means
it gives us a knowledge.
00:47:22.50\00:47:25.71
A knowledge of what?
00:47:25.74\00:47:26.88
It gives us a
knowledge of God's will
00:47:26.91\00:47:29.24
and it gives us a knowledge
00:47:29.28\00:47:30.41
of the principles of
a heavenly government,
00:47:30.45\00:47:33.42
God's will and knowledge
00:47:33.45\00:47:35.42
of principles of
heavenly government.
00:47:35.45\00:47:37.45
This knowledge,
then an extension of that
00:47:37.49\00:47:39.42
reveals our sin, does it not?
00:47:39.45\00:47:41.36
Paul talks about that
in the same Book of Romans.
00:47:41.39\00:47:43.19
So because of that
education, now it's like,
00:47:43.22\00:47:45.19
"Hey, wait a minute.
00:47:45.23\00:47:46.23
The more I study
God's law and His holiness,
00:47:46.26\00:47:48.00
the more I recognize
how much I've broken it
00:47:48.03\00:47:50.50
and how much I
fall short of it."
00:47:50.53\00:47:51.90
And so it reveals our guilt
00:47:51.93\00:47:53.17
and it reveals also that
00:47:53.20\00:47:54.84
the wages of
that guilt is death.
00:47:54.87\00:47:57.94
And so now we need
a Savior, don't we?
00:47:57.97\00:48:02.01
And so in an
extension of that now,
00:48:02.04\00:48:03.81
extension of
revealing our sin and guilt,
00:48:03.85\00:48:05.31
it drives us to
the feet of Jesus.
00:48:05.35\00:48:07.78
We find our
cleansing and forgiveness.
00:48:07.82\00:48:10.45
And we find the Holy
Spirit there as well, don't we?
00:48:10.49\00:48:14.16
And this knowledge of
the law then helps us to know
00:48:14.19\00:48:16.42
how to follow and obey.
00:48:16.46\00:48:18.19
You know, for
the first six years
00:48:18.23\00:48:19.23
of my life as a Christian,
00:48:19.26\00:48:20.30
I was born again, I was saved,
00:48:20.33\00:48:21.46
I was walking with
Jesus, I had the Holy Spirit,
00:48:21.50\00:48:23.83
but not once did I keep
the Seventh-day Sabbath.
00:48:23.87\00:48:26.57
Why?
00:48:26.60\00:48:27.80
Because I hadn't
been pointed out.
00:48:27.84\00:48:29.50
I hadn't been
educated by the law yet
00:48:29.54\00:48:32.51
concerning that
point of God's holy law.
00:48:32.54\00:48:35.01
But once the
Lord pointed me to it
00:48:35.04\00:48:37.11
and once I discovered
it, I began to keep it. Why?
00:48:37.15\00:48:39.98
Because it educated me on
that is part of God's will,
00:48:40.02\00:48:44.49
something that was new to me
00:48:44.52\00:48:46.15
and so I began to
keep the holy day, Sabbath,
00:48:46.19\00:48:48.32
from Friday sundown
to Saturday sundown.
00:48:48.36\00:48:51.29
And praise Jesus, I've
been blessed ever since
00:48:51.33\00:48:53.36
for the last 25 years or so
00:48:53.40\00:48:56.30
and I don't
regret it ever since.
00:48:56.33\00:48:59.93
Now the law...
00:49:00.04\00:49:01.40
This is what the law can do.
00:49:01.44\00:49:02.97
But just like a
textbook knowledge,
00:49:03.00\00:49:05.54
if you're going to be
a mechanic or a surgeon,
00:49:05.57\00:49:07.28
textbook knowledge
is important, isn't it,
00:49:07.31\00:49:09.48
if you're learning to
be a mechanic or a surgeon?
00:49:09.51\00:49:11.45
But is textbook
knowledge enough?
00:49:11.48\00:49:15.42
Okay, somebody came
into the surgery room
00:49:15.45\00:49:17.15
with his scalpel
in his hand, he says,
00:49:17.19\00:49:18.99
"You know, I've
been reading my textbook
00:49:19.02\00:49:20.12
for the last two years
00:49:20.16\00:49:21.16
and I can't wait to
do my first surgery."
00:49:21.19\00:49:23.39
And you're the patient, are you
going to be excited about that?
00:49:23.43\00:49:25.86
No. No.
00:49:25.89\00:49:27.10
Okay.
00:49:27.13\00:49:28.16
Textbook knowledge is important,
00:49:28.20\00:49:29.40
but it can't
replace hands-on experience
00:49:29.43\00:49:31.83
with an accomplished surgeon
00:49:31.87\00:49:34.44
that is walking you through
that first successful surgery.
00:49:34.47\00:49:39.24
Hands-on experience
with a master surgeon.
00:49:39.27\00:49:43.55
And that's the
relationship between the law
00:49:43.58\00:49:45.55
and what it can do
and what it can't do,
00:49:45.58\00:49:47.92
the relationship
with the law to God
00:49:47.95\00:49:49.25
as well as to us.
00:49:49.28\00:49:50.62
Now let's talk about
what the law can't do.
00:49:50.65\00:49:53.46
The law cannot do I should say.
00:49:53.49\00:49:55.92
Three things the law cannot do.
00:49:55.96\00:49:57.16
Number one, it cannot
cleanse us from our sin.
00:49:57.19\00:49:59.96
1 John 1:9 says that, it's God
who cleanses us from our sin.
00:50:00.00\00:50:03.93
"If we confess our sins,
00:50:03.97\00:50:04.93
He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins
00:50:04.97\00:50:06.57
and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness."
00:50:06.60\00:50:09.54
It cannot convert
or change the heart,
00:50:09.57\00:50:11.47
Philippians 2:13 says,
00:50:11.51\00:50:13.61
"For it is God who works in you
00:50:13.64\00:50:15.11
both to will and to
do His good pleasure."
00:50:15.14\00:50:19.18
And so it is God
who changes the heart
00:50:19.21\00:50:21.28
and gives you
that new motivation.
00:50:21.32\00:50:22.58
That's where the word
will comes in that verse.
00:50:22.62\00:50:25.92
The law cannot strengthen us
to obey and resist temptation.
00:50:25.95\00:50:29.52
Again, Philippians 2:13,
00:50:29.56\00:50:30.99
"For it is God who works in you
00:50:31.03\00:50:32.09
both to will and to
do His good pleasure."
00:50:32.13\00:50:35.33
It's God who is
working through you
00:50:35.36\00:50:37.10
through the Holy Spirit
that's able to strengthen you
00:50:37.13\00:50:39.47
to obey and resist temptation.
00:50:39.50\00:50:44.27
And of course, the Holy
Spirit is available 24/7
00:50:44.31\00:50:47.41
at all times, at all places.
00:50:47.44\00:50:49.18
There is no place on
earth, no place in space,
00:50:49.21\00:50:52.15
no place on the ocean
00:50:52.18\00:50:53.21
or under the
ocean or in the water
00:50:53.25\00:50:54.42
that you can escape
the presence of God.
00:50:54.45\00:50:57.22
If you're asking the
Holy Spirit to be with you,
00:50:57.25\00:50:59.02
He will be with
you wherever you go.
00:50:59.05\00:51:00.99
That's the beautiful
thing about that part of God.
00:51:01.02\00:51:03.06
He's omniscient, but
he's also omnipresent,
00:51:03.09\00:51:06.56
and he's omnipotent
00:51:06.59\00:51:08.00
which means he has the power
to help you to overcome sin
00:51:08.03\00:51:11.10
if you give
yourselves over to it.
00:51:11.13\00:51:14.47
And so I hope that helps
00:51:14.50\00:51:16.07
as we continue to walk through
the gospel of Jesus Christ,
00:51:16.10\00:51:20.54
and as we go
into some new subjects
00:51:20.58\00:51:22.34
as we look at lesson 10
next week and study together.
00:51:22.38\00:51:26.11
I want to remind you that
we do have a special offer
00:51:26.15\00:51:29.05
if you're watching online
and you're North American,
00:51:29.08\00:51:31.02
you like that to be sent to you,
00:51:31.05\00:51:32.15
you can just call in I
should say to 866-788-3966
00:51:32.19\00:51:38.19
and ask for offer 192.
00:51:38.23\00:51:40.00
That's 1866-788-3966,
ask for offer 192,
00:51:40.03\00:51:44.50
Pending Your Case in Court,
00:51:44.53\00:51:47.60
and we'll send
that to you for free.
00:51:47.64\00:51:49.07
You can also
download it for free
00:51:49.10\00:51:51.11
on amazingfacts.org
as a digital copy.
00:51:51.14\00:51:53.31
God bless you.
00:51:53.34\00:51:54.34
We look forward to
studying with you next week.
00:51:54.38\00:51:56.04
Friends, have you ever
heard of the bowhead whale?
00:52:08.12\00:52:10.53
This enormous leviathan
00:52:10.56\00:52:12.53
is the second largest
creature in the world.
00:52:12.56\00:52:15.10
Dark and stocky,
00:52:15.13\00:52:16.36
it runs the fertile
Arctic northern waters.
00:52:16.40\00:52:19.97
These massive creatures
can be more than 65 feet long
00:52:20.00\00:52:23.44
and way more than 75 tons.
00:52:23.47\00:52:25.71
That's heavier
than the space shuttle,
00:52:25.74\00:52:28.54
yet in spite of
their titanic size,
00:52:28.58\00:52:30.78
they're able to leap
entirely out of the water.
00:52:30.81\00:52:34.12
Can you say belly flop?
00:52:34.15\00:52:36.69
The bowhead whale gets its
name from its bow shaped skull
00:52:36.72\00:52:40.62
and they've got
one ginormous noggin.
00:52:40.66\00:52:43.19
Matter of fact, their heads
are about 40% of their body size
00:52:43.22\00:52:46.49
which comes in handy
00:52:46.53\00:52:47.60
when you find out
how they use their heads.
00:52:47.66\00:52:50.07
They've got very thick skulls.
00:52:50.10\00:52:51.73
Sometimes, they get
trapped under the surface
00:52:51.77\00:52:54.07
and they use their
heads to ram the ice.
00:52:54.10\00:52:56.67
They can break a
breathing hole in the ice
00:52:56.71\00:52:59.11
that is a 1.5 feet thick.
00:52:59.14\00:53:02.04
Friends, you
have to just imagine
00:53:02.08\00:53:03.18
what it would be like
00:53:03.21\00:53:04.31
to be walking
around on the Arctic ice
00:53:04.35\00:53:06.45
and all of a sudden
have the ground beneath you
00:53:06.48\00:53:08.62
crack and split and rise,
00:53:08.65\00:53:11.35
as one of these sea monsters
pushes its head up to breathe
00:53:11.39\00:53:14.79
for the first time in 90 minutes
00:53:14.82\00:53:17.56
because bowheads make their home
00:53:17.59\00:53:19.09
in the coldest
part of our world,
00:53:19.13\00:53:20.66
they have the
thickest blubber of any whale.
00:53:20.70\00:53:23.10
But this, plus, their
friendly and curious nature
00:53:23.13\00:53:26.33
made them prime targets
00:53:26.37\00:53:27.70
when the European
whalers discovered the bowheads.
00:53:27.74\00:53:30.41
They hunted them
nearly to extinction.
00:53:30.44\00:53:34.44
Fortunately, because
of conservation efforts,
00:53:34.48\00:53:37.18
we've slowly seen their
numbers begin to increase
00:53:37.21\00:53:39.38
since the '60s.
00:53:39.41\00:53:41.25
One of the most amazing
facts about the bowhead whale
00:53:41.28\00:53:44.12
is its longevity.
00:53:44.15\00:53:45.72
Scientists have discovered
by evaluating harpoon tips
00:53:45.75\00:53:48.72
found in their skull
00:53:48.76\00:53:50.13
and examining their eye tissue,
00:53:50.16\00:53:52.09
there are
bowhead whales out there
00:53:52.13\00:53:53.73
that are probably
over 200 years old.
00:53:53.76\00:53:57.37
You realize that means
there are bowhead whales
00:53:57.40\00:54:00.20
swimming the oceans
right now that were alive
00:54:00.24\00:54:03.17
before Abraham
Lincoln was elected president.
00:54:03.20\00:54:06.21
Can you imagine that?
00:54:06.24\00:54:08.28
Among the other
amazing mega facts
00:54:08.31\00:54:10.38
about the bowhead
whale is its mega mouth.
00:54:10.41\00:54:13.45
They have the largest mouth
of any in the animal kingdom.
00:54:13.48\00:54:16.89
And when they open
their pie hole full extended,
00:54:16.92\00:54:19.49
it's large enough to
park a medium-size SUV inside.
00:54:19.52\00:54:23.63
Yet in spite of the fact
they've got such big mouths,
00:54:23.66\00:54:26.26
they survive by eating
00:54:26.29\00:54:27.36
the very smallest
creatures in the ocean,
00:54:27.40\00:54:30.13
plankton, krill and
other microscopic animals.
00:54:30.17\00:54:34.47
Friends, I'm always amazed
by the creatures God has made.
00:54:34.50\00:54:37.27
This bowhead whale is able
to dive to the deepest oceans.
00:54:37.31\00:54:40.54
They can break through the ice
00:54:40.58\00:54:41.81
and move
mountains with their head
00:54:41.84\00:54:42.91
and completely leave the
water and fly through the air.
00:54:42.94\00:54:46.51
And yet they do all
that by gaining strength
00:54:46.55\00:54:48.92
from almost
microscopic organisms.
00:54:48.95\00:54:52.12
Helps us
remember that we survive
00:54:52.15\00:54:54.22
through the little
promises in God's Word.
00:54:54.26\00:54:56.66
Jesus when tempted by the devil,
00:54:56.69\00:54:58.49
He quoted just a
few little verses
00:54:58.53\00:55:00.63
and He sent the enemy running.
00:55:00.66\00:55:02.50
You can also have that
same durability and long life
00:55:02.53\00:55:05.27
as the bowhead whale
00:55:05.30\00:55:06.60
by trusting in God's
Word and His promises.
00:55:06.63\00:55:09.00
Amazing Facts changed lives.
00:55:21.58\00:55:24.55
We are going to
church every other week.
00:55:30.59\00:55:32.96
About 19 years old,
00:55:32.99\00:55:34.40
things really start
to make sense for me.
00:55:34.46\00:55:36.26
I started to go
to church for myself
00:55:36.30\00:55:38.27
and the pastor
wanted to study with me.
00:55:38.30\00:55:41.60
When we came to the
study about baptism,
00:55:41.64\00:55:44.74
and I kind of just
shrugged, put my head down,
00:55:44.77\00:55:46.98
I said, "I'm not ready."
00:55:47.01\00:55:48.58
He looked me in
the eye and said,
00:55:48.61\00:55:50.55
"Jason, you'll
never make yourself ready.
00:55:50.58\00:55:55.58
You know, this is
something you have to do."
00:55:55.62\00:55:58.32
Put a lot of things behind me,
00:55:58.35\00:55:59.65
the drinking and smoking
and all that stuff stopped.
00:55:59.69\00:56:01.92
All through at a time,
00:56:01.96\00:56:03.32
when I've been
learning about God,
00:56:03.36\00:56:04.99
it was just me and God.
00:56:05.03\00:56:07.30
Comes around up to about August,
00:56:07.36\00:56:09.93
and I meet this girl.
00:56:09.96\00:56:12.40
And about two years
into a relationship,
00:56:12.43\00:56:14.30
we're talking about
marriage and everything.
00:56:14.34\00:56:15.84
We did pray, we
did study together,
00:56:15.87\00:56:19.97
we were arguing a
lot, but we were engaged.
00:56:20.01\00:56:24.65
I started drinking again.
00:56:24.68\00:56:26.55
And that was a slow downward
spiral on the different things
00:56:26.58\00:56:29.05
and my devotional life
started really weaseling away.
00:56:29.08\00:56:32.65
We broke up in 2008.
00:56:32.69\00:56:34.46
It was heavy for me
00:56:34.49\00:56:35.62
'cause again, being
with somebody for that long,
00:56:35.66\00:56:38.73
it's almost like a divorce.
00:56:38.76\00:56:42.33
I started to fall
back away even more,
00:56:42.36\00:56:45.57
I remember looking in the mirror
00:56:45.60\00:56:46.67
just looking at myself
and say, "What are you doing?
00:56:46.70\00:56:49.90
How can you do this to God
who has brought you so far?"
00:56:49.94\00:56:55.28
And, you know, God
really heard my cry.
00:56:55.31\00:56:57.31
There was a
Testimony Telling at my church,
00:57:00.85\00:57:03.72
and there was a call,
and kids start getting up,
00:57:03.75\00:57:06.35
a bunch of high
school kids are getting in
00:57:06.39\00:57:07.66
for calls of baptism.
00:57:07.69\00:57:09.59
I'm back doing the
PA system at this time
00:57:09.62\00:57:11.39
and I feel just like this urge
00:57:11.43\00:57:13.46
as my heart just
started ripping out of my chest.
00:57:13.50\00:57:16.53
As I've this
feeling just to go up.
00:57:16.56\00:57:19.03
I get up to the front
00:57:19.07\00:57:20.07
and I just meet the
pastor in open arms.
00:57:20.10\00:57:25.41
I realize that
there's so much more to life
00:57:25.44\00:57:27.54
than just
living life for myself.
00:57:27.58\00:57:29.88
And, you know, falling
away, it's not a necessity.
00:57:29.91\00:57:34.72
But God can work
through anything in the bad
00:57:34.75\00:57:37.92
to make it to good,
that's a promise He makes.
00:57:37.95\00:57:40.42
Together, we
have spread the gospel
00:57:51.03\00:57:53.47
much farther than ever before.
00:57:53.50\00:57:56.34
Thank you for your support.
00:57:56.37\00:57:58.11
For life changing
Christian resources,
00:58:03.65\00:58:05.91
visit AFBOOKSTORE.COM
or call 1-800-538-7275.
00:58:05.95\00:58:11.82