What seems to be
the problem, mate?
00:00:10.25\00:00:11.77
I tried to get a broad sheep,
00:00:11.80\00:00:14.71
but the suitcase
is hard to manage.
00:00:14.74\00:00:19.25
Any topic that
big needs a handle.
00:00:19.28\00:00:22.06
Yep, any topic
that big needs a handle.
00:00:34.68\00:00:40.01
The same is true
regarding salvation.
00:00:40.04\00:00:43.16
I read through the
four gospels over 30 times
00:00:43.19\00:00:45.96
and studied much of it in depth.
00:00:45.99\00:00:48.03
You know, every
time I read the gospels
00:00:48.06\00:00:50.25
I find something else,
00:00:50.28\00:00:51.65
something new about
His love and salvation.
00:00:51.68\00:00:54.97
One author wrote that
this will be the study
00:00:55.00\00:00:57.75
and science of the
redeemed throughout eternity.
00:00:57.78\00:01:01.26
Well, if that's true,
00:01:01.29\00:01:02.67
then we've a huge suitcase
of truth to deal with here.
00:01:02.70\00:01:06.77
No one would want to travel
00:01:06.80\00:01:08.17
with a large
suitcase without a handle.
00:01:08.20\00:01:10.89
So, let me start by
putting a grip on salvation.
00:01:10.92\00:01:14.55
A summary statement that somehow
00:01:14.58\00:01:16.71
encompasses the whole subject.
00:01:16.74\00:01:18.68
A simple single sentence
00:01:18.71\00:01:20.57
that effectively puts
a handle on this topic.
00:01:20.60\00:01:24.41
In fact, if you don't remember
anything else, do remember this,
00:01:24.44\00:01:28.00
"Salvation is
saying yes to the Lord,
00:01:28.03\00:01:31.37
with all my known choices."
00:01:31.40\00:01:33.99
I know it seems
a bit simplistic,
00:01:34.02\00:01:36.19
but simplicity is one
of the hallmarks of truth.
00:01:36.22\00:01:40.32
And the truth taught by Christ
00:01:40.35\00:01:42.10
regarding
salvation is no exception.
00:01:42.13\00:01:45.26
His salvation is as
far reaching as eternity
00:01:45.29\00:01:48.62
and yet simpler enough that
a child can fully embrace it.
00:01:48.65\00:01:53.24
Yet it caused a whole lot
of thunder in the Holy Land.
00:01:53.27\00:01:56.36
Virtually, everything
Jesus said about salvation
00:01:56.39\00:01:59.22
was opposed by the religious
leaders of the Jewish people.
00:01:59.25\00:02:02.70
And I'm pretty sure
that what Jesus taught
00:02:02.73\00:02:04.68
about being
saved is still causing
00:02:04.71\00:02:07.75
some serious thunder today.
00:02:07.78\00:02:09.84
Just outside the old city of
Jerusalem is a very old quarry.
00:03:02.34\00:03:07.23
A Jewish tradition points to
this hill as Beth-has-sekîlah
00:03:07.26\00:03:11.94
or the house of stoning.
00:03:11.97\00:03:14.48
Early Christian
tradition fixes it
00:03:14.51\00:03:16.49
as the scene of the
martyrdom of Steven.
00:03:16.52\00:03:20.66
More recently,
some have wondered
00:03:20.69\00:03:22.22
if this might be Golgotha,
00:03:22.25\00:03:24.53
the very spot on
which Jesus authored
00:03:24.56\00:03:27.13
the gift of
salvation with the cross.
00:03:27.16\00:03:30.60
Paul told timothy
that it was the purpose
00:03:30.63\00:03:32.84
and plan of God to
save all of mankind.
00:03:32.87\00:03:36.23
To accomplish
that, it seems to me
00:03:36.26\00:03:38.09
that Jesus went out of
His way to make salvation
00:03:38.12\00:03:41.19
simple to
understand and experience.
00:03:41.22\00:03:44.96
No place on earth is the
simplicity of getting saved
00:03:44.99\00:03:48.44
made more clear
than on Golgotha.
00:03:48.47\00:03:52.12
Levi is standing by on
Gordon's Calvary to explain.
00:03:52.15\00:03:57.13
Thanks Charles, and I know
00:03:57.16\00:03:58.53
you've been here on
more than one occasion.
00:03:58.56\00:04:00.54
Yep, I am working on my
second handful of times.
00:04:00.57\00:04:04.68
Well, today for the first time,
00:04:04.71\00:04:06.77
I had the privilege of
standing atop Gordon's Calvary
00:04:06.80\00:04:09.73
right above the bus
station here in Jerusalem.
00:04:09.76\00:04:12.65
As early as 1842,
a German theologian
00:04:12.68\00:04:15.13
named Otto
Thenius, proposed the idea
00:04:15.16\00:04:17.41
that this outcropping
could possibly be significant
00:04:17.44\00:04:20.87
in the identification of
the site of the crucifixion.
00:04:20.90\00:04:24.45
But not until
General Charles Gordon
00:04:24.48\00:04:26.52
wrote about this
site, well on sabbatical,
00:04:26.55\00:04:28.59
here in that
area in 1882 and '83
00:04:28.62\00:04:31.94
that the idea really take whole
00:04:31.97\00:04:33.41
and people began to
look seriously at the claims
00:04:33.44\00:04:36.32
that this could
possibly be the site
00:04:36.35\00:04:37.96
listed in the New Testament
as Golgotha or Calvary,
00:04:37.99\00:04:41.83
the place of the skull.
00:04:41.86\00:04:43.54
Today, well,
over a century later
00:04:43.57\00:04:45.48
it looks remarkably the same.
00:04:45.51\00:04:48.38
Archeologically it matches
00:04:48.41\00:04:49.78
some of the key
biblical descriptions
00:04:49.81\00:04:51.67
of the site Jesus crucifixion.
00:04:51.70\00:04:54.32
The shortlist of evidence
00:04:54.35\00:04:55.72
in favor of this
site starts in Mark 15:22,
00:04:55.75\00:04:59.40
"And they brought Jesus on
to the place called Golgotha,
00:04:59.43\00:05:02.56
which is being interpreted
the place of a skull."
00:05:02.59\00:05:06.16
Of course, 2000 years ago
00:05:06.19\00:05:08.48
this hill may not have
looked like this at all.
00:05:08.51\00:05:11.38
From the other hand
00:05:11.41\00:05:12.78
it may have looked
even more skull like.
00:05:12.81\00:05:15.07
The second
evidence is in John 19:41.
00:05:15.10\00:05:19.09
Now in the place where he was
crucified there was a garden.
00:05:19.12\00:05:22.82
Just to the left of
the hill is this garden.
00:05:22.85\00:05:26.27
In the Bible the word
garden is used broadly
00:05:26.30\00:05:28.21
to include an orchard,
olive grove, or vineyard.
00:05:28.24\00:05:31.76
And there is evidence to suggest
00:05:31.79\00:05:33.61
that this was a
vineyard since it contains
00:05:33.64\00:05:35.66
this ancient wine press and
a cistern for storing water.
00:05:35.69\00:05:40.89
The third and
forth evidence is found
00:05:40.92\00:05:42.77
in verses 41 and 42 are that A.)
00:05:42.80\00:05:46.87
"In the garden
there a new sepulcher,
00:05:46.90\00:05:48.65
wherein never yet
man yet laid." and B.)
00:05:48.68\00:05:51.96
"It was nigh at hand."
00:05:51.99\00:05:54.28
And in this
garden there is a tomb
00:05:54.31\00:05:56.26
and it's within
a mere of 300 feet
00:05:56.29\00:05:57.73
of the skull like outcropping.
00:05:57.76\00:05:59.84
Original site are not,
00:05:59.87\00:06:01.33
it makes a great
place to tell a story
00:06:01.36\00:06:03.21
about that radical simplicity,
the salvation of Jesus.
00:06:03.24\00:06:08.18
It was on Calvary that two
men were crucified with Jesus.
00:06:08.21\00:06:11.22
Both were bad men, thieves.
00:06:11.25\00:06:13.51
By the emission of one
they were both worthy of death.
00:06:13.54\00:06:17.00
At the end of their wasted
00:06:17.03\00:06:18.40
and pathetic lives
they were stripped off
00:06:18.43\00:06:20.67
everything except for
the one thing that matters.
00:06:20.70\00:06:25.03
The one thing that you
can't take away from anyone
00:06:25.06\00:06:27.17
possessed of mind
and reason, choice.
00:06:27.20\00:06:32.50
And one of those men
chose to put his trust in Jesus.
00:06:32.53\00:06:37.16
He prayed the most
pathetic deathbed prayer
00:06:37.19\00:06:39.85
a person could make.
00:06:39.88\00:06:41.25
The one that I wouldn't accept,
00:06:41.28\00:06:43.28
but Jesus did.
Yes, he did, Levi.
00:06:43.31\00:06:47.36
But that shouldn't
surprise us, should it?
00:06:47.39\00:06:49.95
Jesus said that our
salvation was the reason
00:06:49.98\00:06:52.63
he came to earth as a man.
00:06:52.66\00:06:54.95
"For the Son of
man is come to seek
00:06:54.98\00:06:56.92
and to save
that which was lost."
00:06:56.95\00:06:59.90
Jesus came to save people,
00:06:59.93\00:07:02.46
sinful people,
unpleasant people.
00:07:02.49\00:07:05.92
He also came to save the people
who are the hardest to save.
00:07:05.95\00:07:09.85
Bad people who think
they are good people.
00:07:09.88\00:07:14.17
Levi emphasize with clarity
who it is Jesus came to save.
00:07:14.20\00:07:18.09
John 3:16 says the world.
00:07:18.12\00:07:21.61
God send his son
to save the world.
00:07:21.64\00:07:25.12
That's why Paul
could boldly say,
00:07:25.15\00:07:27.66
"All have sinned."
00:07:27.69\00:07:29.24
That's everyone,
we all are sinners.
00:07:29.27\00:07:33.03
The prophet in
Psalmist, David said,
00:07:33.06\00:07:35.07
"there is none that
doeth good, no, not one."
00:07:35.10\00:07:39.64
So that would mean
we all need salvation.
00:07:39.67\00:07:42.29
That means we
all need a saviors.
00:07:42.32\00:07:45.64
So what do Jesus, our
savior, teach about salvation
00:07:45.67\00:07:49.10
that caused so much
thunder in the Holy Land?
00:07:49.13\00:07:52.50
What did he say that is
still troubling so many people?
00:07:52.53\00:07:56.81
Perhaps, we should start with
00:07:56.84\00:07:58.21
what Jesus taught
about justification.
00:07:58.24\00:08:00.96
And there is no
better place to talk
00:08:00.99\00:08:02.55
about justification
than at the temple.
00:08:02.58\00:08:05.43
Of course that
building was destroyed
00:08:05.46\00:08:07.01
by the Romans in 1870.
00:08:07.04\00:08:09.22
So I visited the
model of Jerusalem
00:08:09.25\00:08:11.30
at the Israel museum
built to 1:50 of scale.
00:08:11.33\00:08:14.88
In Luke 18, two men went
up to the temple to pray.
00:08:14.91\00:08:18.59
One, a Pharisee the
religious elite of the day
00:08:18.62\00:08:22.09
and the other a
publican or a tax collector.
00:08:22.12\00:08:25.44
A publican was
looked on as a trader,
00:08:25.47\00:08:27.90
like Benedict Arnold or as an
extortioner like Bernie Madoff.
00:08:27.93\00:08:32.53
The Pharisee stood and
prayed thus with himself,
00:08:32.56\00:08:36.61
"God, I think you that I am
not like other men extortioners,
00:08:36.64\00:08:41.69
unjust, adulterers, or
even as this tax collector.
00:08:41.72\00:08:47.53
I fast twice a week and I give
tithes of all that I possess."
00:08:47.56\00:08:52.96
And the tax
collector standing afar off
00:08:52.99\00:08:56.25
would not so much as
raise his eyes to heaven,
00:08:56.28\00:09:00.02
but be his breasts saying,
00:09:00.05\00:09:02.19
"God, be
merciful to me, a sinner."
00:09:02.22\00:09:06.87
All people are
sinners, even this Pharisee,
00:09:06.90\00:09:10.47
but his pride
didn't let him see that.
00:09:10.50\00:09:13.05
The publican on the other
hand was closer to salvation
00:09:13.08\00:09:16.09
because he said yes
to God's evaluation.
00:09:16.12\00:09:20.81
"You're right,
God, I'm a sinner.
00:09:20.84\00:09:24.22
But you are a merciful God.
00:09:24.25\00:09:26.95
So, be merciful to me.
00:09:26.98\00:09:29.46
Not because I deserve
it but because I need it."
00:09:29.49\00:09:35.20
So, with that Jesus teaches
00:09:35.23\00:09:36.60
the outcome of
the publican's prayer.
00:09:36.63\00:09:39.46
"I tell you, this man,
00:09:39.49\00:09:41.49
the tax collector
went down to his house
00:09:41.52\00:09:43.64
justified
rather than the other."
00:09:43.67\00:09:46.88
Justified means
declared righteous.
00:09:46.91\00:09:50.23
If you want to be
declared righteous by God,
00:09:50.26\00:09:52.96
pronounced not guilty
by the judge of all mankind
00:09:52.99\00:09:57.22
then you must agree with Him.
00:09:57.25\00:09:59.91
He only came to save sinners.
00:09:59.94\00:10:03.21
Lay your pride in the
dust, admit you are a sinner
00:10:03.24\00:10:07.91
and cast yourself on his mercy.
00:10:07.94\00:10:11.53
And one more thing
that you'll have to say
00:10:11.56\00:10:13.17
yes to at this point,
00:10:13.20\00:10:15.90
if Jesus declares you
righteous as one not guilty
00:10:15.93\00:10:19.18
of any sin as one
under no condemnation
00:10:19.21\00:10:23.76
then you have to say,
00:10:23.79\00:10:25.16
yes, Lord and accept
that as a your new reality.
00:10:25.19\00:10:29.32
Your new state of being.
00:10:29.35\00:10:32.26
And that was a problem.
00:10:32.29\00:10:34.06
Jesus was making salvation
away too simple, too easy.
00:10:34.09\00:10:40.43
What? Just tell God
you're sorry throw yourself
00:10:40.46\00:10:42.82
on His mercy
and you're forgiven.
00:10:42.85\00:10:44.90
That's what Jesus taught.
00:10:44.93\00:10:46.61
That's the
lesson Jesus illustrated
00:10:46.64\00:10:48.33
by for giving the
thief on the cross.
00:10:48.36\00:10:50.43
And he didn't even say I'm
sorry or payback what he stole,
00:10:50.46\00:10:53.87
but as best he knew how
he put his trust in Jesus.
00:10:53.90\00:10:57.21
He chose to believe
00:10:57.24\00:10:58.61
that against all odds,
Jesus was going to escape
00:10:58.64\00:11:00.90
the death that
was apparent to all
00:11:00.93\00:11:02.76
and setup a kingdom
that would never end.
00:11:02.79\00:11:05.78
In His own way, He said yes.
00:11:05.81\00:11:08.69
With the only
know choice he had,
00:11:08.72\00:11:10.83
he chose Christ.
00:11:10.86\00:11:14.33
Oh, no, thanks.
00:11:14.36\00:11:17.27
Jesus said, "by thy
words though shall be justified
00:11:25.66\00:11:30.64
and by thy words
thou shall be condemned."
00:11:30.67\00:11:34.54
Because of His words
of confidence and faith,
00:11:34.57\00:11:37.35
Christ promised
that unnamed thief
00:11:37.38\00:11:39.67
a place in heaven at last.
00:11:39.70\00:11:43.30
The same is true for you.
00:11:43.33\00:11:44.86
When you say yes to God
with all your know choices,
00:11:44.89\00:11:47.63
salvation begins for
you at that very moment.
00:11:47.66\00:11:51.28
Note of caution,
the enemy of our souls
00:11:51.31\00:11:53.55
would be as happy as a
tornado in a trailer park
00:11:53.58\00:11:56.08
if you can get you
to think you're saved,
00:11:56.11\00:11:58.57
just because you said yes once.
00:11:58.60\00:12:01.37
But there's more into
the teachings of Jesus
00:12:01.40\00:12:03.31
regarding our salvation.
00:12:03.34\00:12:05.31
If you really read texts
in the four gospels about
00:12:05.34\00:12:07.28
what Jesus taught,
00:12:07.31\00:12:08.68
you'll discover that
salvation is lesser than event
00:12:08.71\00:12:11.22
and more of an ongoing vital
00:12:11.25\00:12:12.89
and dynamic relationship
with the living God.
00:12:12.92\00:12:16.85
When Simone came into the temple
00:12:16.88\00:12:18.25
and saw the baby Jesus he said,
00:12:18.28\00:12:20.44
"mine eyes have
seen thy salvation."
00:12:20.47\00:12:22.88
He wasn't merely
looking at a doctrine
00:12:22.91\00:12:24.28
or a belief system, he
was looking at a person,
00:12:24.31\00:12:27.01
the son of God.
00:12:27.04\00:12:28.61
Jesus told Nicodemus,
00:12:28.64\00:12:30.21
"whosoever believes
in Him, the son of God,
00:12:30.24\00:12:33.07
should not perish,
but have eternal life."
00:12:33.10\00:12:35.95
Eternal life is once
again not so much a church
00:12:35.98\00:12:38.69
or a creed as it a
person, The Person, Jesus.
00:12:38.72\00:12:44.39
After Jesus left the upper room,
00:13:06.43\00:13:08.32
He spent a little time
sharing with the disciples
00:13:08.35\00:13:10.58
before He was betrayed.
00:13:10.61\00:13:12.12
Notice His doctrine
in these last words.
00:13:12.15\00:13:14.60
John 17:3, "And
this is life eternal,
00:13:14.63\00:13:18.37
that they might know
thee the only true God,
00:13:18.40\00:13:21.07
and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent."
00:13:21.10\00:13:24.22
Life eternal, is about
knowing and experiencing God,
00:13:24.25\00:13:27.19
a living being and that sets
us up for a lifetime of choices.
00:13:27.22\00:13:31.73
Just before Judas betrayed his
master Jesus prayed a prayer,
00:13:31.76\00:13:36.33
a prayer that will
never be fulfilled.
00:13:36.36\00:13:39.43
Never fulfilled
unless you and I say
00:13:39.46\00:13:41.94
yes to God in a
very definite way.
00:13:41.97\00:13:45.29
While thinking of us
Jesus asked his father,
00:13:45.32\00:13:48.81
"Sanctify them through
thy truth, thy word is truth."
00:13:48.84\00:13:55.39
Part of
salvation is sanctification
00:13:55.42\00:13:58.31
and sanctification is a process
00:13:58.34\00:14:00.63
where we are
actually made righteous.
00:14:00.66\00:14:03.99
Jesus prayed to the Father
00:14:04.02\00:14:05.71
that He would
sanctify us through the word.
00:14:05.74\00:14:09.07
When Jesus said this, He
was talking about the Bible,
00:14:09.10\00:14:12.49
the whole Old Testament.
00:14:12.52\00:14:14.73
He said, it was the truth
00:14:14.76\00:14:17.13
and it is these
truths found in the Bible
00:14:17.16\00:14:19.69
that inform our know choices.
00:14:19.72\00:14:22.61
For example, in Matthew 19:16,
00:14:22.64\00:14:25.31
a rich young ruler
came to Jesus and asked Him,
00:14:25.34\00:14:28.94
"Good master, what
good thing shall I do,
00:14:28.97\00:14:32.10
that I may have eternal life?"
00:14:32.13\00:14:34.85
Jesus told him and
He's telling us too
00:14:34.88\00:14:37.68
what we must do
if we would be saved,
00:14:37.71\00:14:41.18
"If thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments."
00:14:41.21\00:14:45.91
The rich young
ruler asked Jesus,
00:14:45.94\00:14:47.73
"Which?" Good question,
00:14:47.76\00:14:49.84
since the Torah
contains 613 laws not to mention
00:14:49.87\00:14:54.43
the thousands
more in the Talmud.
00:14:54.46\00:14:57.39
But the
commandments Jesus was referring
00:14:57.42\00:14:59.76
to here are from
the Ten Commandments.
00:14:59.79\00:15:03.14
Jesus said, "Thou
shalt do no murder,
00:15:03.17\00:15:06.66
thou shalt not commit
adultery, thou shalt not steal,
00:15:06.69\00:15:11.04
thou shalt not
bear false witness,
00:15:11.07\00:15:13.94
honor thy father and thy mother"
00:15:13.97\00:15:16.46
and then He quotes
also one commandment
00:15:16.49\00:15:18.59
from Leviticus 19:18,
00:15:18.62\00:15:21.34
"And thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself."
00:15:21.37\00:15:26.41
So Jesus informs my choice.
00:15:26.44\00:15:29.25
Don't steal, the
word of God tells me.
00:15:29.28\00:15:31.57
Then when I'm
tempted to steal a penny,
00:15:31.60\00:15:34.15
some influence or my
boss' time, I have a choice.
00:15:34.18\00:15:38.92
Am I going to do
what I want to do,
00:15:38.95\00:15:41.54
what the tempter encourages
me to do or am I going to say
00:15:41.57\00:15:45.43
yes to my savior
with all my known choices?
00:15:45.46\00:15:49.55
The rich young ruler told Jesus
00:15:49.58\00:15:51.17
that he had been faithful
in keeping those commandments
00:15:51.20\00:15:54.07
and indeed according
to the letter of the law,
00:15:54.10\00:15:56.16
he probably had.
00:15:56.19\00:15:57.91
But he knew something
was missing in his life
00:15:57.94\00:16:01.43
and I can tell you what it was.
00:16:01.46\00:16:03.83
It was a person.
00:16:03.86\00:16:05.75
You see salvation is
not so much a list of rules
00:16:05.78\00:16:09.61
as it is a committed
and obedient relationship
00:16:09.64\00:16:12.52
with our loving creator.
00:16:12.55\00:16:14.95
So Jesus directed His
attention from the second half
00:16:14.98\00:16:18.08
of the Ten
Commandments to the first half.
00:16:18.11\00:16:21.13
And Jesus said unto him,
"If thou wilt be perfect,
00:16:21.16\00:16:24.79
go and sell that thou
hast, and give to the poor,
00:16:24.82\00:16:28.16
and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven
00:16:28.19\00:16:31.14
and come and follow me."
00:16:31.17\00:16:34.40
Let's unpack this verse in light
our simple single sentence.
00:16:34.43\00:16:39.29
Salvation is
saying "yes" to the Lord
00:16:39.32\00:16:41.53
with all our known choices.
00:16:41.56\00:16:44.94
Jesus knew this man was one,
00:16:44.97\00:16:47.08
just one step
away from perfection.
00:16:47.11\00:16:50.47
If you would be perfect He said,
00:16:50.50\00:16:52.86
"then you have to quit
breaking the first commandment,"
00:16:52.89\00:16:55.56
which says, "Thou shalt
have no other Gods before me."
00:16:55.59\00:17:00.62
I meant, there
are no other Gods,
00:17:00.65\00:17:03.37
but you have made your money
00:17:03.40\00:17:04.90
and the
influence that it buys you
00:17:04.93\00:17:06.85
the most important
thing in your life.
00:17:06.88\00:17:09.18
So if you want to have peace
00:17:09.21\00:17:12.22
that thing you're
missing sell everything,
00:17:12.25\00:17:15.80
give it to
those who are in need.
00:17:15.83\00:17:18.24
Now look at the
promise Jesus made,
00:17:18.27\00:17:20.98
this is breath
taking, "And he said unto him,
00:17:21.01\00:17:24.93
if thou wilt be
perfect, go sell that thou hast,
00:17:24.96\00:17:28.43
give to the poor and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven."
00:17:28.46\00:17:33.46
You can't have
treasure in heaven
00:17:33.49\00:17:35.42
without having eternal life.
00:17:35.45\00:17:37.92
Jesus was offering
him eternal salvation.
00:17:37.95\00:17:42.37
And then Jesus
finished by saying,
00:17:42.40\00:17:44.74
"And come and
follow me." Look at this.
00:17:44.77\00:17:48.87
He would not only have
eternal life in heaven at last,
00:17:48.90\00:17:52.65
Jesus offered the
rich young ruler Himself,
00:17:52.68\00:17:56.43
His friendship, companionship,
His personal presence.
00:17:56.46\00:18:00.01
Oh, what a gift.
00:18:00.04\00:18:03.13
But at this point,
00:18:03.16\00:18:04.53
there is a burning
question he has to answer.
00:18:04.56\00:18:07.72
A choice he has to make.
00:18:07.75\00:18:10.85
Am I going to say yes to
Jesus with all my known choices,
00:18:10.88\00:18:15.27
am I going to allow Him
to not only be my savior,
00:18:15.30\00:18:19.35
but also Lord in my life.
00:18:19.38\00:18:21.93
Matthew 19 tells
us, his choice was, no.
00:18:21.96\00:18:26.62
What choice will you make?
00:18:26.65\00:18:28.93
The rich young
ruler went away sorrowful.
00:18:28.96\00:18:31.92
He could have been happy,
00:18:31.95\00:18:33.63
he could have
found peace and joy,
00:18:33.66\00:18:35.67
but he traded
all that for money.
00:18:35.70\00:18:38.92
But check out the
thunder Jesus dropped
00:18:38.95\00:18:41.51
on his own
disciples regarding salvation.
00:18:41.54\00:18:45.87
He sure did Charles.
00:18:45.90\00:18:47.33
Once while preaching to
the Jews in the synagogue
00:18:47.36\00:18:49.78
in Capernaum with many
of his disciples around,
00:18:49.81\00:18:52.71
Jesus launched a
stunning thunderbolt.
00:18:52.74\00:18:55.60
"Whoso eateth my
flesh and drinketh my blood,
00:18:55.63\00:18:59.14
hath eternal life and I will
raise him up at the last day.
00:18:59.17\00:19:03.64
For my flesh is meat indeed
and my blood is drink indeed.
00:19:03.67\00:19:08.00
He that eateth my
flesh and drinketh
00:19:08.03\00:19:10.33
my blood dwelleth
in me and I in him."
00:19:10.36\00:19:15.61
For the strict Jew talk
of eating the flesh of Jesus
00:19:15.64\00:19:19.18
and drinking His blood,
sounded like an abomination.
00:19:19.21\00:19:22.93
And even to us today it
sounds a rather cultish,
00:19:22.96\00:19:26.41
but salvation is a person.
00:19:26.44\00:19:28.76
Jesus himself in
seeking to drive that point home
00:19:28.79\00:19:33.04
he made this radical statement.
00:19:33.07\00:19:35.16
But instead of
loving Jesus, the truth,
00:19:35.19\00:19:38.34
some of his own
disciples began to murmur.
00:19:38.37\00:19:41.15
Verse 60 says "Many
therefore of his disciples,
00:19:41.18\00:19:44.43
when they heard this,
said, this is an hard saying,
00:19:44.46\00:19:49.44
who can hear it?
00:19:49.47\00:19:51.10
And from that time many
of his disciples went back
00:19:51.13\00:19:54.94
and walked no more with him."
00:19:54.97\00:19:58.05
They said no to
a truth from Jesus
00:19:58.08\00:20:00.22
that was strange to their ears.
00:20:00.25\00:20:02.59
Instead of saying,
"Lord, this is a hard saying
00:20:02.62\00:20:06.81
will you help us to understand
00:20:06.84\00:20:08.21
what you really mean by this."
00:20:08.24\00:20:10.03
They showed they
were more in love
00:20:10.06\00:20:11.43
for the doctrines of the Jews
00:20:11.46\00:20:13.66
than they were
with the doctrine giver.
00:20:13.69\00:20:16.12
So what was Jesus talking about?
00:20:16.15\00:20:19.04
His words, "The
flesh profits nothing
00:20:19.07\00:20:22.64
but the words
that I speak unto you,
00:20:22.67\00:20:25.15
they are spirit
and they are life."
00:20:25.18\00:20:28.92
And that's why John started his
whole letter with these words.
00:20:28.95\00:20:32.66
"In the beginning was the
Word and the Word was with God
00:20:32.69\00:20:37.77
and the Word was God.
00:20:37.80\00:20:40.88
And the Word was made
flesh and dwelt among us."
00:20:40.91\00:20:45.30
When Jesus asked
his twelve disciples,
00:20:45.33\00:20:47.57
"are you going to go away too?"
00:20:47.60\00:20:49.52
And Peter showed that he got
it and then he said to Jesus,
00:20:49.55\00:20:52.65
"Lord, to whom shall we go?
00:20:52.68\00:20:55.08
Thou hast the
words of eternal life."
00:20:55.11\00:20:58.65
He is God. His words can
create planets and galaxies.
00:20:58.68\00:21:03.39
His words can create life
00:21:03.42\00:21:05.81
and His words can
create spiritual life.
00:21:05.84\00:21:09.41
Every day we have the privilege
of picking up the living word
00:21:09.44\00:21:15.10
and eating and drinking the very
life of Christ into our lives.
00:21:15.13\00:21:21.12
We can know Him,
we can hear His voice
00:21:21.15\00:21:25.34
and it's this voice of
His spirit made audible
00:21:25.37\00:21:28.45
through these
stories that encourages us
00:21:28.48\00:21:31.41
to embrace His
will for our lives.
00:21:31.44\00:21:34.14
And just another
wonderful opportunity
00:21:34.17\00:21:36.52
to say yes to his goodness.
00:21:36.55\00:21:39.71
If you want to embrace
the salvation offered by God,
00:21:39.74\00:21:43.58
Jesus told us what
steps must be taken.
00:21:43.61\00:21:47.02
In Mark 16:16, he said,
00:21:47.05\00:21:49.40
"He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved,
00:21:49.43\00:21:53.91
but he that
believeth not shall be damned."
00:21:53.94\00:21:58.01
There are many today
who totally misunderstand
00:21:58.04\00:22:00.95
what it means to believe
00:22:00.98\00:22:02.89
and what it
means to be baptized.
00:22:02.92\00:22:07.55
Belief is not
just a mental ascent,
00:22:07.58\00:22:10.08
a simple acknowledgment
that there is God.
00:22:10.11\00:22:13.07
The devils believe in God,
00:22:13.10\00:22:15.33
but that doesn't
mean they love Him,
00:22:15.36\00:22:17.59
nor does it mean
that they will be saved.
00:22:17.62\00:22:19.92
They certainly don't say yes
to His leadership, His lordship.
00:22:19.95\00:22:25.20
For example,
Noah was told by God
00:22:25.23\00:22:28.04
that he needed to build a boat.
00:22:28.07\00:22:30.25
It was going to
rain and flood the world.
00:22:30.28\00:22:33.16
Now up till this time it had
never rained, but Noah believed.
00:22:33.19\00:22:40.91
"Noah, being divinely
warned of things not yet seen,
00:22:40.94\00:22:44.59
moved with godly fear,
00:22:44.62\00:22:46.72
prepared an ark for
the saving of his household
00:22:46.75\00:22:50.41
by which he condemned the world
00:22:50.44\00:22:52.10
and became heir
of the righteousness
00:22:52.13\00:22:54.17
which is according to faith."
00:22:54.20\00:22:57.03
Even though it had never rained,
00:22:57.06\00:22:59.46
Noah believed and the
proof, he built a boat.
00:22:59.49\00:23:05.20
That is how he became an heir
of the righteousness of God.
00:23:05.23\00:23:09.47
And here is the
doctrine of Jesus,
00:23:09.50\00:23:12.66
"But seek ye first the kingdom
of God and his righteousness,
00:23:12.69\00:23:17.78
and all these things
shall be added unto you."
00:23:17.81\00:23:21.87
The righteousness
of God is something
00:23:21.90\00:23:23.38
that we should seek for.
00:23:23.41\00:23:25.46
The farmers land
can be full of corn,
00:23:25.49\00:23:28.04
but he has to plant it.
00:23:28.07\00:23:29.91
The ground is full of water,
00:23:29.94\00:23:32.05
but we have to dig the well.
00:23:32.08\00:23:35.03
When Jesus says,
seek first that eternity
00:23:35.06\00:23:38.39
and that holiness that
makes eternity worth living in,
00:23:38.42\00:23:42.05
it is our job to say yes.
00:23:42.08\00:23:45.42
True belief is not
just something we think,
00:23:45.45\00:23:49.06
but it's something we do.
00:23:49.09\00:23:51.67
True faith, true
belief and His righteousness,
00:23:51.70\00:23:56.14
is what we seek for daily
in His word and in our lives
00:23:56.17\00:24:01.41
and that's how we
attain eternal life.
00:24:01.44\00:24:05.82
Salvation is simple.
00:24:05.85\00:24:07.37
Just say yes to the Lord
of all your know choices,
00:24:07.40\00:24:10.08
but it's not always that easy.
00:24:10.11\00:24:11.89
The battle itself
is the greatest battle
00:24:11.92\00:24:13.48
we have to fight
00:24:13.51\00:24:14.88
and Jesus understands
he had to fight self too.
00:24:14.91\00:24:18.08
That's why he said, "If
any man will come after me,
00:24:18.11\00:24:21.16
let him deny himself
00:24:21.19\00:24:22.56
and take up his
cross daily and follow me.
00:24:22.59\00:24:25.24
For whosoever will
save his life shall lose it,
00:24:25.27\00:24:27.83
but whosoever will
lose his life for my sake,
00:24:27.86\00:24:30.40
the same shall save it."
00:24:30.43\00:24:32.40
That's what
baptism is all about too.
00:24:32.43\00:24:34.85
Learning to say yes to the Lord
00:24:34.88\00:24:36.45
with all your know
choices while dying to self.
00:24:36.48\00:24:40.20
And this experience is daily.
00:24:40.23\00:24:42.50
Jesus said so, "take up
your cross daily and follow me."
00:24:42.53\00:24:46.63
Paul agreed, "I die daily."
00:24:46.66\00:24:50.13
But this I know for sure,
00:24:50.16\00:24:51.81
if you make just yourself
in saying yes to the Lord
00:24:51.84\00:24:54.52
a daily
deliberate part of your life,
00:24:54.55\00:24:57.08
it does get easier.
00:24:57.11\00:24:58.65
It does become a habit
00:24:58.68\00:25:00.19
and it is exciting when
you see God changing you.
00:25:00.22\00:25:04.29
"For it is God
which worketh in you,
00:25:04.32\00:25:06.26
both to will and to
do of his good pleasure."
00:25:06.29\00:25:09.12
He will help you to
make the right choices,
00:25:09.15\00:25:11.17
He will provide you the
power to live above the world.
00:25:11.20\00:25:14.44
But every step of the
way and into eternity,
00:25:14.47\00:25:16.92
we must continue to say yes.
00:25:16.95\00:25:19.88
Just imagine the thief arriving
00:25:19.91\00:25:21.28
and having--and seen
in the golden streets.
00:25:21.31\00:25:23.15
He then picks up a hammer
00:25:23.18\00:25:24.55
and it shows that
he's getting ready
00:25:24.58\00:25:25.95
to chip off a piece of the curb.
00:25:25.98\00:25:27.35
Angel then taps him
on the shoulder and says,
00:25:27.38\00:25:29.68
"What are you doing?"
00:25:29.71\00:25:31.15
"That's gold," the thief
says, pointing to the curb.
00:25:31.18\00:25:33.71
"That's
pavement," says the angle.
00:25:33.74\00:25:35.98
"No, no you don't
understand, that's gold,
00:25:36.01\00:25:38.38
don't you know what you can
do with gold?" the thief asked.
00:25:38.41\00:25:41.33
"Paved
streets," the angles says.
00:25:41.36\00:25:43.88
"But that's
gold," he says again.
00:25:43.91\00:25:46.80
Then the angel says,
00:25:46.83\00:25:48.87
"Jesus would like
you to leave it there."
00:25:48.90\00:25:51.23
And he'll say, "okay."
00:25:51.26\00:25:53.87
That's what makes heaven
a place worth seeking for.
00:25:53.90\00:25:56.40
Everything there
would be perfect,
00:25:56.43\00:25:58.23
because we're all
saying yes to the Lord
00:25:58.26\00:26:00.25
with all our known choices.
00:26:00.28\00:26:02.77
So, do you want to be saved?
00:26:02.80\00:26:06.40
Do you want to go to heaven?
00:26:06.43\00:26:08.76
Then he who has
ears to hear let him hear
00:26:08.79\00:26:11.66
the doctrine of Jesus.
00:26:11.69\00:26:14.14
Revelation 21:27,
"And there shall in no wise
00:26:14.17\00:26:18.29
enter into the New Jerusalem
anything that defileth,
00:26:18.32\00:26:22.37
neither whatsoever worketh
abomination or maketh a lie,
00:26:22.40\00:26:25.96
but they which are written
in the Lamb's book of life."
00:26:25.99\00:26:30.39
Do you know the number one
thing that will defile you,
00:26:30.42\00:26:33.49
making you unsafe to save?
00:26:33.52\00:26:36.12
Not saying yes to God
with all your know choices.
00:26:36.15\00:26:40.70
That's what happened to Lucifer.
00:26:40.73\00:26:42.37
At some point he quit
saying yes to God's will.
00:26:42.40\00:26:46.00
He encouraged Adam and
Eve to make the same choice
00:26:46.03\00:26:49.77
and that is the reason
for every war, every rape,
00:26:49.80\00:26:53.52
every theft, every
murder or domestic abuse.
00:26:53.55\00:26:57.05
That's why there is cancer
and Alzheimer's and diabetes.
00:26:57.08\00:27:00.92
That's why there is
death, pain, tears and sadness.
00:27:00.95\00:27:05.91
The good news is, Jesus
came to not only save us
00:27:05.94\00:27:09.39
from the consequences of sin,
00:27:09.42\00:27:11.59
He also came to
save us from sin itself.
00:27:11.62\00:27:15.45
So next time the Holy
Spirit whispers to your heart
00:27:15.48\00:27:18.53
"love your enemies" say yes,
00:27:18.56\00:27:21.96
"obey your parents" say yes.
00:27:21.99\00:27:26.03
Some folks may hate you,
but don't stop being faithful.
00:27:26.06\00:27:30.16
Don't stop saying yes to
God with all your know choices.
00:27:30.19\00:27:35.04
For Jesus said, "he that
shall endure unto the end,
00:27:35.07\00:27:37.89
the same shall be saved."
00:27:37.92\00:27:40.31
So, keep saying
yes, to his love.
00:27:40.34\00:27:45.15