WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.080 Where's Stacy? Nathan, Stacy, we want to bid you farewell temporarily. Nathan and Stacy have 00:00:16.080 --> 00:00:20.240 ! Nathan and Stacy have been with us longer than they anticipated. Nathan and Stacy 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:28.000 ! Where is little bright Sophia? Where? Oh. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.520 A little effervescent little girl and Noah, the quiet one. Nathan and Stacy were sent here on 00:00:36.520 --> 00:00:42.399 temporary assignment from Washington, D.C. and the company he is with, and they stayed far longer 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:49.560 than they anticipated. They've been a blessing to us, and Nathan, one of our deacons, gave the 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:55.500 deacon board a letter of his official resignation from that responsibility as he is going to be 00:00:55.500 --> 00:01:04.019 leaving town. We are packing him Wednesday what time? After the evening prayer service. And so 00:01:04.019 --> 00:01:07.960 you can kind of, it's a two-for-one, and we won't charge you for the second opportunity. 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:12.359 You come and pray with us, and then you come and pack with us. It's kind of like a double P 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:16.879 that's pastoring at the best, you know, when you can put P's together and make it sound reasonable. 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:23.579 We want you there to pray. We want you there to pack, and we will send Nathan and Stacy off 00:01:23.579 --> 00:01:28.679 with our love and affection, and we know that we will be apart for only a short time 00:01:28.679 --> 00:01:37.799 because the day is coming when we will enjoy the presence of Christ forever. Isn't that right? 00:01:37.799 --> 00:01:38.359 Amen. 00:01:40.219 --> 00:01:46.719 Well, that being said, turn in your Bibles to John chapter 5. 00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:59.060 So, question, how many of you already started praying for me? Come on, raise your hands. I trust 00:01:59.060 --> 00:02:05.579 that it's kind of instinct that you, among the other things you do today, is you pray for me. 00:02:05.579 --> 00:02:14.919 There are people here today that need Christ, and that won't happen apart from the work of the Holy 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:22.079 Spirit. Do you understand that? And you who are believers this morning need to see the Lord Jesus 00:02:22.079 --> 00:02:29.879 lifted up so that He consumes your heart, and that won't happen apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:38.719 Spirit. It's very easy for us to be pretty dull and indifferent to the holiness and the absolute 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:46.039 glory of Christ. Isn't that right? And we need the work of God to do something. 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:50.199 Pray with me. 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:58.119 Father God, this morning we are thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ and for the blessing we have of 00:02:58.119 --> 00:03:04.560 gathering in His name and being able to open this book that tells us about Him and being able to rely 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:13.139 upon the work and the ministry of the Spirit of God. We want to walk out of here more like Jesus, 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:23.739 and that won't happen if we rely simply on our own intellectual ability or maybe the momentary flash of our 00:03:23.739 --> 00:03:33.979 emotion. That won't happen. And we're thankful that we can come with confidence and depend upon you to do 00:03:33.979 --> 00:03:44.459 a work that reflects the glory and the supremacy of Christ. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:46.019 --> 00:03:55.179 So, John chapter 5, I want you to read to you verse 24 down through 29, and I want you to think about 00:03:55.179 --> 00:04:00.419 one particular thing as I'm reading. Stop just for a moment. Don't go to your Bibles yet. I just want you 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:07.819 to follow what I want you to think about. How persuaded are you of the reality of hell? 00:04:08.939 --> 00:04:16.740 Think about that. How significant is hell in your present thinking? 00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:30.879 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:40.300 He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:45.139 an hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, 00:04:45.139 --> 00:04:51.759 and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also 00:04:51.759 --> 00:05:01.219 to have life in Himself. And He's given Him authority to execute judgment because He's the Son of Man. 00:05:02.539 --> 00:05:08.419 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice 00:05:08.420 --> 00:05:15.939 and come out. Those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil 00:05:15.939 --> 00:05:20.500 to the resurrection of judgment. 00:05:23.900 --> 00:05:25.180 So, question. 00:05:25.180 --> 00:05:28.819 Do you really believe in hell? 00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:43.420 If hell is as real as Jesus makes it in the Scriptures, in other words, can Jesus still be Jesus and lie? 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:44.680 And what's the answer? No. 00:05:47.159 --> 00:05:53.459 So, if Jesus tells us that hell is real, and heaven is real too, 00:05:53.459 --> 00:06:04.759 the reality of hell should have affected our conversations this last week and our behavior. 00:06:05.859 --> 00:06:06.299 Agreed? 00:06:07.379 --> 00:06:10.599 I mean, I'm talking to you who are believers, and I'm not talking to you about, 00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:13.979 well, if you misbehave, you're going to hell. That's not what I'm talking about. 00:06:13.980 --> 00:06:23.420 But if you who know Christ are not affected by the brevity of life and the reality of eternal judgment, 00:06:24.640 --> 00:06:30.120 enough that your conversation and your behavior reflects upon those realities, 00:06:30.540 --> 00:06:33.080 there's something missing in your understanding. 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:35.960 Agreed? 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:44.479 Well, here's Jesus. 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:47.379 John chapter 5. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:49.019 Remember? 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:55.560 He started out his ministry by walking into Jerusalem, and what did he do? 00:06:56.039 --> 00:06:58.240 You know, the idea that kind of Jesus... 00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:59.839 Get this thing right. I'm sorry. 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:03.299 I need a piece of tape in the future to just kind of stick over here, 00:07:03.359 --> 00:07:05.699 and nobody would notice it, but this wouldn't move. 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:12.420 You know, or maybe some kind of surgical procedure to make this stay. 00:07:12.779 --> 00:07:13.639 Newton, where are you? 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:15.639 You know, there's a couple stitches right there, and it'd stay. 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:17.019 Bugs me. 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:17.479 Okay. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:23.500 Anyway, Jesus came to Jerusalem, and he announced his presence by walking into the temple, 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:24.599 and he cleaned house. 00:07:26.659 --> 00:07:28.000 Didn't make him real popular. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:36.079 And so he goes up to his hometown, Galilee, and he stops at the well in Sychar, 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:38.360 and there's a lot of people that are saved. 00:07:38.819 --> 00:07:40.379 And back he comes to Jerusalem. 00:07:41.660 --> 00:07:46.800 Now, we know already that he was beginning to face pressure and persecution. 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:49.139 They weren't really happy with Jesus. 00:07:49.139 --> 00:07:57.620 He hadn't accommodated their religious conventions, and he irritated them a great deal. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:00.740 Instead of just kind of being quiet and subtle about the whole thing, 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:05.180 when he comes back to Jerusalem, the first thing he does is he goes down to the pool at Bethesda, 00:08:05.339 --> 00:08:07.419 and he heals a man on what day? 00:08:07.420 --> 00:08:11.520 You got Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and you skip over to Sunday, 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:12.819 you can heal on any of those days. 00:08:13.140 --> 00:08:15.319 But Saturday, don't be doing healing on that one. 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:16.699 He heals on the Sabbath. 00:08:17.640 --> 00:08:22.900 And it just really irks them because here is Mr. Healed Guy tromping through the city, 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:24.040 carrying his bed. 00:08:24.400 --> 00:08:25.620 That was a no-no. 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:27.160 Everybody knew, don't do that. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:29.879 What are you doing carrying your bed? 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:33.580 He says, hey, listen, the guy who healed me, he said, carry it. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:34.279 What am I going to do? 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:34.879 Carry it. 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:37.080 Well, who's that? 00:08:37.419 --> 00:08:40.479 You know, it was Jesus. 00:08:42.019 --> 00:08:45.620 And so they're all irritated with Jesus about this. 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:55.099 And you'll remember, instead of backing away, he makes it clear that he indeed is God's son, 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:56.919 equal to the Father. 00:08:57.479 --> 00:08:59.759 And he goes on and he makes it clear. 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:01.679 And look with me, if you will, at verse 24. 00:09:02.139 --> 00:09:06.959 He says, truly, truly, I say to you, and that's kind of like highlighting in your textbook. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:08.220 It's like, get this point. 00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:12.259 Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:18.360 Now, the Jewish spiritual religious leaders, they kind of proposed, if you want to have 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:25.220 some marginal confidence in the possibility that you may get to heaven, you need to do 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:26.620 all these particular things. 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:32.560 How many of you have been around people that have the idea that eternal life is kind of conditional? 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:35.560 It all really depends on how you behave, right? 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:39.360 You talk to some people and say, so, when you die, where are you going? 00:09:39.419 --> 00:09:41.120 I'm not sure, but I'm hoping I'm going to heaven. 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:42.519 And why are you hoping that? 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:45.620 Well, I'm hoping that I've been a pretty good person and I've kept the Ten Commandments. 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:47.560 And, well, you know, hope, hope, hope, hope, hope. 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:52.620 Jesus made the issue of eternal life undeniably clear. 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:58.639 And he also made it clear that eternal life is something we receive not because of our good 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:00.759 works, but because of his finished work on the cross. 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:06.419 And so here he says, hey, listen, those who believe in me, they have eternal life. 00:10:06.419 --> 00:10:09.659 They don't come into judgment. 00:10:11.939 --> 00:10:14.699 You've passed from death to life. 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:23.319 That is kind of an overview of what we're going to see in the remaining part of our study this morning. 00:10:23.479 --> 00:10:28.120 Jesus makes this announcement, I'm the one who has the power of salvation, 00:10:28.479 --> 00:10:31.939 and I'm the one who has the power to judge forever. 00:10:33.419 --> 00:10:34.559 That's verse 24. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:37.939 Now we step in, and Jesus is going to explain two different pieces, 00:10:38.219 --> 00:10:41.579 and he's going to use kind of a poetic language to drive the point home. 00:10:41.739 --> 00:10:43.779 He's going to talk about resurrections. 00:10:47.119 --> 00:10:50.939 And so I want you to understand that as you look at this passage, 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:55.739 I want something to ring in your ears, and when you walk out of here, 00:10:56.099 --> 00:10:58.839 I want this thought to resonate. 00:10:59.119 --> 00:11:04.159 I am going to heaven, and I want as many as possible to come with me. 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:09.799 I'm going to heaven, and I want as many as possible to come with me. 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:11.099 Do you understand that point? 00:11:11.599 --> 00:11:13.819 Remember I said, how much do you think about hell? 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:15.579 How serious are you about hell? 00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:19.159 If you are here this morning and you're a believer, 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:23.019 I trust one of the things that is fixed in your mind is you're going to heaven. 00:11:23.859 --> 00:11:24.679 You're going to heaven. 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:31.219 But I trust one of the other pieces that goes along with this is that you want others to come with you. 00:11:32.739 --> 00:11:36.620 And it's not just kind of a passive, well, I'm hoping they make it, 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:38.459 but you're out there talking about it. 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:42.459 You're interested in living in such a fashion that unbelievers say to you, 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:43.639 what's the deal with you? 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:44.159 You're different. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:47.699 Oh, I'm a vegetarian. 00:11:48.459 --> 00:11:48.759 No. 00:11:49.319 --> 00:11:50.639 I came to know Jesus. 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:55.939 I was a miserable, lost, broken sinner, and Jesus saved me. 00:11:55.940 --> 00:12:02.260 Now, either you're going to heaven or I want you to walk out of here fully persuaded of this. 00:12:02.660 --> 00:12:07.220 I'm on the path of hell, and I have no hope unless I come to Christ. 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:08.240 Let's think about that. 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:12.880 I am on the path to hell, and I have no hope unless I come to Christ. 00:12:13.040 --> 00:12:17.700 I am on the path to hell, and I have no hope apart from Christ. 00:12:20.060 --> 00:12:21.300 Well, let's come to the text. 00:12:22.020 --> 00:12:22.960 Verse 25. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:29.259 Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:35.120 when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:42.879 I want you to mark the repeated phrase that we find in verse 25 and verse 28. 00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:46.560 Keep your finger on 25 and just skip ahead just a little bit, 00:12:46.800 --> 00:12:50.360 and here is Jesus saying the same thing in some sense. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:54.120 Again, he says, do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:55.680 Repetitious. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.159 An hour is coming. 00:12:57.240 --> 00:12:58.100 An hour is coming. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:12:59.700 Verse 25 and 28. 00:12:59.800 --> 00:13:05.919 He uses the same phrase to highlight something and to draw our attention to something important. 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:08.300 We repeat things when it's important. 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:09.580 Jesus did that. 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:16.360 And while the two phrases are identical at this point, and they draw our attention to something, 00:13:16.800 --> 00:13:20.540 what follows is different and amplifies our interest. 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:25.420 In verse 25, Jesus says the time is coming and is now here. 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:26.360 What does that mean? 00:13:27.800 --> 00:13:32.680 The time is coming and it's here. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:33.800 Present. 00:13:34.300 --> 00:13:34.740 Now. 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:35.960 Right this minute. 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:36.080 Present. 00:13:37.280 --> 00:13:38.280 So there you are. 00:13:38.420 --> 00:13:41.160 You're driving in the car and you're going on a long journey. 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:45.460 And your children, Judith and I, had four of them all in the car at the same time. 00:13:45.660 --> 00:13:49.820 And the minute we leave the home, I mean, we haven't even pulled off onto Trebu Road, 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:53.040 someone in the back would ask that proverbial question. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.700 You know what it was? 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:55.600 Are we there yet? 00:13:57.920 --> 00:14:02.580 I could say justly the time is coming. 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:05.400 We will be there eventually. 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:11.240 But when we pull into Grandpa's driveway or something, I can say, it's now here. 00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:12.100 We're here. 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:19.379 And so when Jesus says, it's now here, he's talking about something that's in the present. 00:14:19.900 --> 00:14:22.300 In verse 28, he says this. 00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:25.320 He says, for an hour is coming when. 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:27.020 We don't have that is now here. 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:33.179 And so we understand that 25 and 28 are talking about two different resurrections. 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:40.059 I want you to recognize that as you look at the passage in 25, the indication there is 00:14:40.059 --> 00:14:42.679 that those who hear come to life. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:50.379 In 28, it says those who hear either come to eternal life or they come to eternal judgment. 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:55.820 And so the thing I want you to remember from our study this morning is that part of the larger question 00:14:55.820 --> 00:15:00.539 that Jesus answered for the religious leaders as to, well, what right do you have to do this? 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:02.240 He says, listen, I've got the power. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:10.080 I'm the one who has the power and the authority to save and to deliver from judgment. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.059 I'm the one who can do that. 00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:19.919 And very, very clearly, I want you to recognize that those religious leaders understood that only God had the right 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:25.199 to identify himself as the savior of the world and as the judge of the whole world. 00:15:28.459 --> 00:15:29.799 Let's see something else here. 00:15:31.199 --> 00:15:40.339 Jesus makes it clear that salvation moves a person from a state in which they are dead to a position of being alive. 00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:44.780 You look there in verse 25, it says, 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:53.600 the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 00:15:57.280 --> 00:16:01.379 Many of us here have loved ones that are not saved. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:04.620 We have friends that are not saved. 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:09.340 We have people that we work with and around that are not saved. 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:15.120 And if you were to say to them, hey, listen, you're dead, what would be their reaction? 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:16.259 You think? 00:16:17.180 --> 00:16:19.040 I mean, it's like, you're talking about me? 00:16:19.940 --> 00:16:20.680 I'm alive. 00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:20.980 No. 00:16:21.560 --> 00:16:24.820 In fact, I tell you about the party I had on Saturday night. 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:26.040 It was the greatest thing. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.360 I was alive. 00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:28.639 Really. 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:34.259 The Bible says that apart from Christ, those who do not know Christ are dead. 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:44.639 And by the way, how capable are dead people to reason, think, figure things out, come to wise conclusions, avoid difficulty? 00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:45.980 Do you follow that? 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.000 Can they do those things? 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.519 The answer is what? 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:49.539 No. 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:58.839 I want you to understand that the Bible is consistent in giving us a picture of the fact that those who do not know Christ are dead. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:16:59.879 Dead. 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:03.319 Turn in your Bible just for a moment. 00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:05.599 We're going to follow this track just for a little bit of time. 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:09.500 Over in Ephesians, you're in John, so kind of go to the back of the book. 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:11.480 Come to Ephesians chapter 2. 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:19.599 Ephesians chapter 2, verse 1. 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:22.360 And you were, what? 00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:24.120 Look at it. 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:25.279 Say it with me. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.059 Dead. 00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:27.440 Dead. 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:28.799 Dead. 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:31.500 In the trespasses and sins. 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:36.799 How were you prior to your salvation? 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:37.400 You were dead. 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:37.480 Dead. 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:58.519 You know, one of the things that I wouldn't call it troublesome, but it's confusing to some is recognizing that at the very heart of gospel ministry is the imperative that we help people understand what the Bible has to say about their condition prior to conversion. 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:04.500 And we don't get saved by just kind of helping God along with whatever needs to be done. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:11.539 Salvation is something that He does to those who are dead in sin. 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:14.079 Ephesians 2, verse 1. 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.480 Dead. 00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:16.579 And Ephesians chapter 2, verse 5. 00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:16.920 It says, 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:21.440 Even when we were dead in our trespasses, He made us alive together with Christ. 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:23.720 By grace are you saved. 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:26.259 Let me have you look at another passage. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:27.119 You're in Ephesians. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:29.599 Keep your finger in John because we are coming back there. 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:35.199 But in 1 John chapter 3, verse 14, here's the apostle again writing on this subject. 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.279 And here's what he says. 00:18:37.159 --> 00:18:38.939 1 John chapter 3, verse 14. 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:41.519 We know that we have passed out of what? 00:18:42.139 --> 00:18:44.059 Death into life. 00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:46.539 Death into life. 00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.139 Death into life. 00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:57.680 I can tell you one of the things that I have noticed characterizes some who are concerned about their eternal condition and they're bent on doing the best they can. 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:09.019 They've kind of bought into the idea that salvation is something that must be attainable by virtue of doing good things. 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:11.920 Try, try, try, try, try. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:16.560 They're trying to kind of elevate their spiritual status by things they do. 00:19:17.600 --> 00:19:23.500 But there's all this niggling concern in the back of their mind that they're not getting there. 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:34.360 Not only that, but they are painfully aware that even the best of their motives are flawed and their intentions are messed up. 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:44.959 How many of you realize that a wife is not at all persuaded when you have been an absolute skunk and come home and just give her flowers and think that covers it? 00:19:47.139 --> 00:19:47.759 Am I right? 00:19:48.159 --> 00:19:49.539 Just want to check here. 00:19:49.659 --> 00:19:50.240 Am I right? 00:19:50.939 --> 00:19:51.119 Huh? 00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:56.339 I mean, you walk in the living room and you throw them on the couch and say, those are for you. 00:19:57.439 --> 00:19:59.079 I mean, it's like, oh, really? 00:20:00.459 --> 00:20:00.899 No. 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:00.940 No. 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:03.400 Something's got to change in the heart. 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:05.300 The flowers don't do it by themselves. 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:13.180 So the idea that we can kind of work our way into heaven by bringing flowers home, it's not going to cut it. 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:26.640 You see, let's understand, going back to John chapter 5, that what Jesus is teaching us here is that those who hear the voice of Christ and respond in faith are saved. 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.380 Saved. 00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:35.860 They enjoy a spiritual resurrection from death to life. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:38.560 Death to life. 00:20:39.260 --> 00:20:48.000 Truth of the matter is, there may be some of you here this morning, the reality of it is, you may have grown up in a home where you heard gospel truth. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:51.400 You understood the fact that salvation is the work of God. 00:20:51.400 --> 00:21:08.600 But all your life, you have been working desperately to kind of pull it off on your own, and you've been profoundly frustrated that there's never, ever really been any significant evidence of the power of God to bring change. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.340 You're still the same. 00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:12.340 You're still the same. 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:17.379 And the problem is not that you haven't tried hard. 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:17.819 You have. 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:18.799 But you're dead. 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:25.439 And only Christ can bring you to life. 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:33.299 Let me have you understand another thing that goes along with this business of coming to resurrection power and to life in Christ. 00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.660 And it's this. 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.279 Let me tell you something. 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:42.779 If you have come to Christ, you will never get over the reality of the resurrection from death to life. 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.859 It's always there. 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:53.839 I appreciated John asking that question, and that fit well with the song this morning, John. 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:58.720 You know, one word to describe Jesus, and I'm sitting over here, and I said, Savior. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:02.400 There are a lot of other words, but I think about Jesus. 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.660 He's my Savior. 00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:05.019 Do you understand that? 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.880 Do you know what it means to need a Savior? 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:11.180 It means to be a rotten, miserable, broken skunk. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.339 And Jesus delivered me. 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:15.740 I never get over that. 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.539 Do you know what? 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:33.259 People know whether you've gotten over it or not. 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.799 Do you understand that? 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:39.279 Well, I'm a Christian, and it's been a really rugged journey. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:42.000 And, you know, I'm looking forward to the future. 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:43.799 But it's not really good right now. 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:48.759 But, you know, I go to church and kind of sit and, God, do it because I'm supposed to, you know. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:52.720 Oh, by the way, we are having evening service this evening, just so you know. 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:56.480 And I'm going to preach my heart out of the book of Proverbs. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:59.279 And so, you all come up counting noses this morning. 00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:04.059 I'm thinking, now, some of you are thinking you're going to go play t-ball, and some of you are thinking you're going to take it easy. 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:06.000 Try this. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:09.539 There will be the preaching of the Word of God here this evening. 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:14.140 And why don't you just show up and see if it's going to make a difference in your life. 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:14.980 Okay. 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.319 We got off the track, didn't we? 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.220 Let's go back to the sermon. 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:20.740 That was an announcement. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:30.500 People who have moved from death to life, they never get over it. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:32.480 They never get over it. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:40.440 And as you sit here this morning, my question to you is, in part, are you awed? 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:52.759 Are you overwhelmed that He spoke faith into your dead heart, and He lifted you out of the pit, and He's given you a name, and He's loved you, 00:23:52.759 --> 00:24:08.680 and He's promised to take you home to be with Him in glory, and that He has committed Himself to that unrelenting task of helping you change to be different from who you used to be? 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.559 I love that. 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:17.159 See, I get to say to people who are hurting and broken, I love it. 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:19.419 You don't have to stay this way. 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:25.500 I like that. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:31.039 And if they say, well, you ought to know me. 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:34.659 I am not the hero in my story. 00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:36.740 Jesus is. 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:40.799 So, understand this. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:50.759 When you get your hands around the fact that Jesus brings salvation into the broken and ruined, into those who are dead in Christ, 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:54.200 it makes a difference in the life that you live. 00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:57.059 Check it out. 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:03.420 We come to another piece that's really critical. 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:14.140 There in verse 27, 28, and 29, He hammers on the issue of eternity. 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.600 Let me read it. 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:15.860 He says, 00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:45.839 As we take up this second portion of Scripture, I want you to recognize that what Jesus is making clear here is that the Father has given Him the right and responsibility. 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:53.839 We've already seen that truth declared earlier. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:55.779 Go back just for a moment to verse 22. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.699 Here's what it says in verse 22. 00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.279 John chapter 5, verse 22. 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:03.119 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son. 00:26:03.459 --> 00:26:11.159 You remind yourself of the passage we looked at in Genesis chapter 18, where John references, Jesus actually references this. 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:12.259 He says, I didn't say that. 00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:13.440 I meant to say it this way. 00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:18.040 Where we reminded ourselves in Genesis 18, where Abraham said this. 00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:18.400 He says, 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:20.860 Shall not the judge of the whole earth do right? 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.900 The point is, is God's the one who judges. 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:32.180 And here's Jesus saying, I want you to understand that God the Father has given me the responsibility of judgment. 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:38.940 Now, He adds some understanding to why He is in this position of being the judge. 00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:41.320 And follow along with me, if you will, there. 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:43.780 He says, the Father has life in Him. 00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:49.860 I've said that He's given Him authority to execute judgment because, because that's the reason that's coming. 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:51.240 He is the Son of Man. 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:56.059 So, what's the reason that Jesus will be the judge? 00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:57.880 What's the answer? 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.839 Right there it is in the Bible, right? 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.059 He's the Son of Man. 00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:06.559 Now, if you don't know what it means to be the Son of Man, you're sitting there scratching your head saying, I wonder what that means. 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:16.220 The title, Son of Man, is one of Christ's names, and it refers to His humanity. 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:23.019 How many of you realize there are some things about God that are just bigger than our little pea brain? 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:29.299 And there are some things that God even tells us about Himself that are hard for us to put together. 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.380 Give you an illustration. 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:36.059 How can Jesus be 100% God and 100% man? 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:41.679 How many of you are reasonably good at math and understand that when you hit 100%, you've maxed out? 00:27:41.680 --> 00:28:11.660 How many of you are? 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:13.039 Well, what is AP? 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:18.100 You have to have the code to go along with the variance in math. 00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:24.019 And so it means this, that if you take certain kind of credits, you get extra points, and it can take you above 4.0. 00:28:24.199 --> 00:28:26.079 I thought 4.0 was 100%. 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:30.619 How can Jesus be all God and all man? 00:28:30.699 --> 00:28:31.179 He is. 00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:32.879 He is. 00:28:33.639 --> 00:28:34.679 The Bible says that. 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:47.720 And so here we are, seeing that Jesus is referred to as the Son of Man, and what that's telling us is that He is 100% human. 00:28:49.100 --> 00:28:56.660 And because He is human, He is able to die in our place. 00:28:56.660 --> 00:29:17.519 Because He is human, He was able to live a perfect life, and we have His righteousness, not only the righteousness that we received in salvation as a result of His blood covering our sins, but also the righteousness of His behavior. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:20.339 So what's your record, Tim? 00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:24.619 Oh, please refer to line 14 where Jesus did it all. 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.099 That's inaccurate. 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:29.019 How many of you just got confused? 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:30.920 Okay. 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:38.200 We receive complete forgiveness, and we also receive the righteousness of Christ imputed or attached to our account. 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:40.800 Hey, Tim, were you a good person down there? 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.180 Please see line 14. 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:45.560 It's what Jesus did that counts. 00:29:46.620 --> 00:29:51.220 And it's because He was all human that His righteousness attached to me. 00:29:51.220 --> 00:30:01.380 Well, anyway, we understand that His complete humanity means that He can die in our place, means that His righteousness can be carried over to us. 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:07.720 But it also means that He was profoundly sympathetic to our frailty and our difficulties. 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:08.980 He understands. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.519 Let's think about this a little more carefully. 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:15.960 Keep your finger in John because we're coming back. 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:20.420 But go, if you will, to 1 Timothy 2, verse 5. 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:23.799 1 Timothy 2, verse 5. 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.740 It says this, 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:34.059 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and man. 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:36.019 Men, the man Christ Jesus. 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:40.140 I'm not going to reference Job 9, verse 32 through 34, 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:43.400 but just kind of make the reference in broad terms here. 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.340 We'll not turn to it. 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:52.419 But in Job, you remember Job was struggling a great deal with the suffering that he was going through. 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:53.339 What's going on? 00:30:53.399 --> 00:30:54.539 Why is this happening to me? 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:55.980 And he said, 00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:59.119 I would like to be able to march into God's presence and say, 00:30:59.399 --> 00:31:00.099 What are you doing? 00:31:01.179 --> 00:31:02.959 What did I do to deserve this? 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.240 Right? 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:07.599 And in Job chapter 9, he says, 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:09.720 There is no mediator. 00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:10.799 There's no daisman. 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:16.700 There's no go-between that can put his hand on my shoulder and put his hand on God's shoulder and say, 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:19.299 Well, why don't we come together and work this out? 00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:25.720 You see, because Jesus is completely human, 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:28.079 He is our go-between. 00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:32.700 And He steps into our nature and takes it upon Himself. 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:37.079 And He is the one that brings God and man together. 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:39.860 And we are blessed by that reality. 00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:49.559 And I want you to understand that the one who executes judgment in eternity will be Jesus who understands completely what it is to be man. 00:31:50.859 --> 00:31:55.139 There will never be anyone who will be able to justly say, 00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:59.359 God has been unfair in condemning sinners to hell. 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:05.019 Now, will hell be a real place where people will suffer forever? 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.660 Yes. 00:32:07.339 --> 00:32:11.980 One of the things that will make hell unbearably difficult, 00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:16.700 and there are many things that will make hell unbearably difficult, 00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:18.500 but one of the things will be this, 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:24.559 there will be a sense of justice, but also a sense of ongoing rebellion. 00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:28.079 Now, can you understand the confusing thought of that? 00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:30.599 I'm here because I deserve to be. 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:32.879 I don't like being here. 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:35.160 How many of you have trouble with more than one thought at a time? 00:32:35.820 --> 00:32:37.340 It's why we stay awake at night, right? 00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:37.880 We're trying to put the... 00:32:38.560 --> 00:32:38.880 They're just... 00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:44.520 Hell will be a place of unbearable suffering. 00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:47.820 It will be a place of unbearable consciousness. 00:32:51.040 --> 00:32:53.420 And no one in hell will ever be able to say, 00:32:54.020 --> 00:32:56.660 I don't deserve to be here. 00:32:56.660 --> 00:33:03.080 And the one who judges me has no right to be a judge because he doesn't understand. 00:33:03.340 --> 00:33:04.340 Have you ever heard anybody say that? 00:33:04.580 --> 00:33:05.540 You don't understand. 00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:09.880 Let me stop just for a moment and drift left to center. 00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:12.700 Bruce Jenner is still a man. 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.480 Do you understand that? 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:15.360 Bruce Jenner is still a man. 00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:17.500 I want to make this very clear. 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:21.259 Every one of us in here, apart from the grace of God, 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:29.579 is profoundly affected by our own unbelievable dissatisfaction with our disconnect from God. 00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:33.380 And how we try to fill that void varies. 00:33:35.420 --> 00:33:43.660 Our heart should be profoundly grieved and sympathetic for the heartache that Bruce Jenner continues to endure. 00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:51.620 However, silicone and amputation don't satisfy a broken soul. 00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:57.779 And our heart should grieve for that person and suffer along with a desire to... 00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:59.779 Remember I said, do you take hell seriously? 00:34:03.620 --> 00:34:04.720 Let's make this clear. 00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:08.940 No one will ever be able to say, 00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:12.200 Jesus, you don't understand what it is to be a person, 00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:14.159 to be human, to be tempted. 00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.539 Yes, I do. 00:34:20.739 --> 00:34:26.299 How do we know that Jesus will judge forever? 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:29.079 Because he tells us. 00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:31.559 Because he tells us repeatedly. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:36.779 And so as you look at verse 29 as we close, mark what it says. 00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:41.860 All those who are in the tomb will hear his voice and come out. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:44.560 Those who have done good to the resurrection of life 00:34:44.560 --> 00:34:48.300 and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. 00:34:51.240 --> 00:34:58.920 Those who refuse his convicting voice and gracious offer of his substitutionary death, 00:34:58.960 --> 00:35:00.160 he died in your place, 00:35:01.160 --> 00:35:03.380 will be assigned to hell forever. 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:05.519 That's a fact. 00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:07.740 That's a fact. 00:35:09.140 --> 00:35:11.260 And let me say this. 00:35:15.260 --> 00:35:18.140 I'm persuaded that there are far too many Christians 00:35:18.140 --> 00:35:21.579 that really don't think very seriously about hell. 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:25.059 How do I know that? 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:34.739 Because the vast majority of professing believers 00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:37.500 just kind of stumble through life 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:42.099 and seldom ever 00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:47.440 let people know who are on their way to hell 00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:49.539 that there's hope in Christ. 00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:52.179 Do you follow that? 00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:56.699 The only reason Tim Kenoyer is here and not up there 00:35:56.699 --> 00:36:04.059 The only reason Tim Kenoyer is here and not up there 00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:09.559 is not because my worship is enhanced and enriched here 00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:12.919 or because it's better here. 00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:17.119 Jesus left Tim Kenoyer here 00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:19.639 because there are people that need him 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:24.019 and they need someone who knows brokenness 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:27.320 and knows the power of the cross 00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:28.840 to say, 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.900 I have good news. 00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:34.559 You can avoid the eternal consequence of hell 00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:36.240 and judgment for sin 00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:38.460 through the finished work of Christ. 00:36:38.460 --> 00:36:43.800 Say it to yourself. 00:36:46.740 --> 00:36:47.760 I know Jesus. 00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:51.480 I know hell is real. 00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:54.619 And this work 00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:56.159 and this week 00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:57.440 will be different. 00:36:58.980 --> 00:37:00.059 Can you say it to yourself? 00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:01.799 I know Jesus. 00:37:03.799 --> 00:37:05.199 I know hell is real. 00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.980 And this work 00:37:07.980 --> 00:37:09.460 and this week 00:37:09.460 --> 00:37:10.779 will be different. 00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:17.099 To say yes or no to God 00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:18.820 is the purpose of preaching. 00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.239 Right? 00:37:21.239 --> 00:37:22.340 Let's close in prayer. 00:37:22.340 --> 00:37:26.400 Father God, 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:28.100 I'm reminded of the passage 00:37:28.100 --> 00:37:31.180 in Zechariah, 00:37:31.260 --> 00:37:32.260 not by power, 00:37:33.160 --> 00:37:34.000 not by might, 00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:35.059 but by my spirit, 00:37:35.220 --> 00:37:35.780 saith the Lord. 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:36.559 And this morning, 00:37:37.079 --> 00:37:38.980 you who abide in heaven, 00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:40.980 who have given all judgment 00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:42.300 to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:37:42.640 --> 00:37:43.860 fully intend for us 00:37:43.860 --> 00:37:45.579 who have been delivered from the fall 00:37:45.579 --> 00:37:47.660 and delivered from the brokenness, 00:37:48.360 --> 00:37:49.360 delivered from sin, 00:37:49.360 --> 00:37:51.160 you have called us 00:37:51.160 --> 00:37:53.380 to this holy purpose 00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:56.280 of displaying the glory 00:37:56.280 --> 00:37:57.019 of our Savior 00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:58.280 who has delivered us 00:37:58.280 --> 00:38:01.019 and who we will someday see. 00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:03.599 Make us fit, 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:07.039 joyful, 00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:11.120 proclaimers of the hope of the gospel. 00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:14.300 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:38:14.860 --> 00:38:15.160 Amen.