WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:25.240 I want you to turn your Bibles this morning to John chapter 8 beginning there in verse 48. 00:00:25.240 --> 00:00:25.240 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.679 The Jews answered him, Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:43.759 Jesus answered, I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:46.659 Yet I do not seek my own glory. 00:00:46.780 --> 00:00:49.600 There is one who seeks it and he is the judge. 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:59.299 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:01.539 Let's pray. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:12.319 Father, for us this morning, together as a body of believers, prayer is not something we do out of habit or routine 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:16.700 or because it's just the appropriate way to introduce a sermon. 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:20.939 We do so because we have confidence in you who answer prayer. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:27.280 And we confess at the same time that we are pretty frail. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:32.140 Father, we tend to be full of ourselves and our own ambitions and interests. 00:01:34.260 --> 00:01:41.920 And Father, we recognize that your glory, your word is truly supremely valuable 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:45.680 and we are well served to come to you with humility and ask for your help. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:51.060 That as the psalmist wrote in Psalm 119, verse 18, 00:01:51.520 --> 00:01:55.500 Open thou mine eyes that I might behold wondrous truths out of thy law. 00:01:57.240 --> 00:01:58.820 And so we begin with prayer. 00:01:58.819 --> 00:02:10.579 There are some here that need to be obedient. 00:02:10.579 --> 00:02:16.319 For your people are charged with responsibility in the scriptures of praying that the word of God would have free course. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:22.680 There are some here this morning that need to be obedient. 00:02:24.180 --> 00:02:27.180 Some who need their hearts encouraged and refreshed. 00:02:27.959 --> 00:02:32.740 Some who need to be drawn to the cross and to genuine repentance and faith. 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:38.580 And some who need to have their hearts lifted up with the love of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:02:38.580 --> 00:02:41.260 and that their love may grow for him. 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:48.939 All these things flow from the preaching of your word, 00:02:49.939 --> 00:02:55.100 from the faithful and humble prayers of your people and the work of the Spirit among us. 00:02:56.140 --> 00:02:57.980 And so we begin by asking for your help. 00:02:57.979 --> 00:03:01.619 And we have confidence in your answer. 00:03:02.899 --> 00:03:05.259 And for Jesus' glory we ask this. 00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:06.500 Amen. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.239 Well, as we take up our text this morning, 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:13.699 I think it's appropriate to kind of frame where we are in the book of John. 00:03:14.519 --> 00:03:18.959 And I want you to understand that John chapter 8 is a breakover point. 00:03:20.339 --> 00:03:22.659 If you are familiar with the four gospels, 00:03:22.659 --> 00:03:28.979 you know that the four gospels really only cover a very small part of Christ's life. 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:34.120 He lived some 30 years. 00:03:35.180 --> 00:03:36.539 And the truth of the matter is, 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:40.519 is that the gospels give us hardly any detail about his birth, 00:03:40.979 --> 00:03:43.680 none about his adolescence and childhood, etc. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:50.960 And the majority of the time actually focuses on the one week surrounding his crucifixion. 00:03:52.200 --> 00:03:55.560 That is particularly true of the synoptic gospels. 00:03:56.280 --> 00:04:01.319 What we find in John's gospel is that he takes a different tack, 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:09.060 and at the center of his gospel is this singular focus of making sure 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:15.120 that those who read the gospel understand some fundamental questions. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:19.120 The question is this, who is Jesus? 00:04:20.420 --> 00:04:21.620 And what does that mean to me? 00:04:23.339 --> 00:04:27.019 Interestingly, in the last several weeks, for one, I was out in California with my sister, 00:04:27.019 --> 00:04:31.299 and then later I had an opportunity to talk with some other individuals. 00:04:31.459 --> 00:04:34.799 And in two conversations, though they were in different locations 00:04:34.799 --> 00:04:36.799 and with radically different individuals, 00:04:37.019 --> 00:04:40.219 we really came back to kind of the same things. 00:04:42.419 --> 00:04:46.479 And when I actually had a person ask me, a Baptist pastor, that's always scary, 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:48.259 but, you know, ask me, 00:04:48.419 --> 00:04:51.560 so what's this about all the religions in the world? 00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:55.919 I thought that was a died-and-gone-to-heaven opportunity. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:57.160 I really did. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:04:59.140 And I explained it this way. 00:04:59.220 --> 00:05:01.400 Even though I grew up in India, my parents were missionaries, 00:05:01.520 --> 00:05:03.680 and I lived across the street from Muslims, 00:05:03.819 --> 00:05:05.379 and I had Hindus around the corner, 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:08.640 and I had Buddhists where I went to school in the Himalaya Mountains. 00:05:09.020 --> 00:05:11.180 How many of you noticed they said Himalaya, not Himalaya? 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:14.900 Just talk to me about that afterwards, okay? 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:16.020 But anyway, here we go. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:19.819 There are really only two religions in the world. 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:21.020 Only two. 00:05:21.019 --> 00:05:28.740 One that proposes mankind may work their way up the ladder by repeated efforts 00:05:28.740 --> 00:05:29.799 and eventually get it right. 00:05:31.779 --> 00:05:37.740 And if that idea is true, then Buddhism, or Hinduism in particular, with do-overs. 00:05:37.819 --> 00:05:38.839 You know what a do-over is? 00:05:38.919 --> 00:05:41.000 It's, you know, you die and get another shot at it, 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:42.959 another shot, another shot, another shot. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:47.359 It took me a while to figure out in India why, for the most part, 00:05:48.419 --> 00:05:53.839 people tended not to help the deprived and down. 00:05:54.659 --> 00:05:55.479 Here's the reason. 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:56.939 Because you're messing with their karma. 00:05:57.139 --> 00:05:57.560 Do you understand? 00:05:57.939 --> 00:05:59.819 They're paying off their debt from the past, 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:02.799 and when you step in and interfere, guess what they have to do? 00:06:03.859 --> 00:06:05.079 They have to do it again. 00:06:05.359 --> 00:06:07.759 So kind of let them work their way out of this pile. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:07.839 Wow. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:13.779 And so here, two religions, one where men kind of work their way up, 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:15.459 and I love asking the question to people, 00:06:15.539 --> 00:06:16.639 so when you die and God says, 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:18.699 why should I let you into heaven, what are you going to say? 00:06:19.019 --> 00:06:20.319 Well, I've been a pretty good person. 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:21.699 You're on that, guess what? 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:25.659 You're kind of on the works-based idea of kind of working your way up. 00:06:25.699 --> 00:06:29.699 The other idea is God knowing our desperate inability to save ourselves, 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:32.899 about like a drowning man pulling himself out of the water by his hair. 00:06:32.899 --> 00:06:39.759 You know, it's like God sent his son to be the sacrifice for my sin, 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:44.679 and he, seeing my desperate state, loving me unconditionally, 00:06:44.819 --> 00:06:47.579 and not because of who I am or ever would be, 00:06:47.799 --> 00:06:49.519 he sent Jesus to be my Savior. 00:06:51.539 --> 00:06:53.679 So in both of these conversations, 00:06:53.979 --> 00:06:57.759 I had the opportunity of kind of ending off the conversation by saying, 00:06:58.099 --> 00:06:59.639 because, you know, it's not like the person said, 00:06:59.719 --> 00:07:01.099 man, I need Jesus right now. 00:07:01.159 --> 00:07:01.759 What do I do? 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:03.939 I wish that had happened, but it didn't. 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:08.339 So it's like, so how does a pastor walk away from some of these conversations? 00:07:08.599 --> 00:07:09.199 Here's what I did. 00:07:09.939 --> 00:07:13.860 I said, hey, we've had a great time talking about these things, 00:07:14.039 --> 00:07:16.819 and can I leave you with something to think about? 00:07:16.980 --> 00:07:18.139 Well, yeah, sure, you know. 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:21.740 I said, why don't you read the Gospel of John, 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:25.699 and as you're reading the Gospel of John, 00:07:25.779 --> 00:07:27.180 just ask yourself two questions. 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:29.779 Who is Jesus? 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:32.339 And what does that mean to me? 00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:37.199 And that question is particularly poignant. 00:07:37.419 --> 00:07:42.639 It's very central to what we're going to study this morning, 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:44.779 because here at John chapter 8, 00:07:45.019 --> 00:07:46.959 remember I said we're kind of at a turnover, 00:07:47.159 --> 00:07:48.539 a turning point. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:50.599 Prior to John chapter 8, 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:54.520 Jesus has continued a fairly public ministry 00:07:54.520 --> 00:07:56.860 that has gotten more aggressive 00:07:56.860 --> 00:07:59.580 in making it clear to people who He is. 00:08:01.080 --> 00:08:03.860 And, as you have heard me say, 00:08:04.320 --> 00:08:05.939 when the truth is out there, 00:08:06.020 --> 00:08:07.980 people are on the spot of saying yes or no to God, 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:08.720 and that's what happened. 00:08:09.840 --> 00:08:15.439 As Jesus made His messianic and saving work clear, 00:08:15.760 --> 00:08:17.700 people came to the point of saying yes or no. 00:08:17.699 --> 00:08:19.759 And John 8 is a turning point. 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:23.939 He stops working so much in the public eye 00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:26.379 and begins to invest more and more energy 00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:28.579 in working towards the cross 00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:30.120 and ministering to His disciples. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:34.819 Interestingly enough, 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:37.539 as we were closing off these conversations 00:08:37.539 --> 00:08:38.399 that I referenced, 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:41.039 I had one of them say to me, 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:41.980 well, you know, 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:46.079 I really do believe that all religions are the same. 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:47.779 Now, I'm on the spot. 00:08:47.839 --> 00:08:48.679 What do I say with that? 00:08:48.719 --> 00:08:49.219 And I said, well, 00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:51.740 you know, I have to tell you, 00:08:51.839 --> 00:08:54.079 if I read the Bible, 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:55.579 I have to come to a conclusion 00:08:55.579 --> 00:08:58.219 of either Jesus is a pathological liar 00:08:58.219 --> 00:09:00.179 or He's telling the truth. 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:02.839 Because what Jesus said is, 00:09:03.099 --> 00:09:04.799 I am the way, the truth, and the life, 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:09.299 and no one comes to the Father but by Me. 00:09:10.439 --> 00:09:13.899 And so either Jesus was a liar and a deceiver 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:16.299 or what He had to say about who He was 00:09:16.299 --> 00:09:17.279 and what He'd come to do 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:20.399 was to be believed or rejected. 00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:23.819 And so as we work our way 00:09:23.819 --> 00:09:25.099 through this passage this morning, 00:09:25.219 --> 00:09:27.799 beginning there in John 8, verse 48, 00:09:28.199 --> 00:09:29.379 one of the things that I want you 00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:30.359 to be thinking about 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:32.680 is this central question, 00:09:32.820 --> 00:09:33.519 who is Jesus 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:36.220 and what does that mean to me? 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:37.759 And I'm going to take 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:40.700 the parts of this passage 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:42.100 and break them down 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:43.600 into two little pieces. 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:45.899 I'm going to let you kind of 00:09:45.899 --> 00:09:47.120 follow along with me 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:48.379 and if you want to, 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:50.560 you could actually put a little tick mark 00:09:50.560 --> 00:09:51.600 by verse 48. 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:53.180 This is the Jews 00:09:53.180 --> 00:09:55.019 kind of reacting to Jesus. 00:09:55.019 --> 00:09:57.000 You could put another little tick mark 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:59.600 by verse 52 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:01.620 and you could put a little tick mark 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:02.899 by verse 57. 00:10:03.060 --> 00:10:04.080 So you've got to get an outline. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:05.860 We see the one side 00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:07.080 that looks at Jesus 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:08.740 and has the idea 00:10:08.740 --> 00:10:10.019 that He is not 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:11.420 the Son of God 00:10:11.420 --> 00:10:12.440 and the one who is 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:13.480 the Savior of the world. 00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:15.639 So we're going to work our way 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:16.320 through this passage 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:17.279 and I want you to understand 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:17.820 ahead of time 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:19.680 how the outline is going to flow. 00:10:21.220 --> 00:10:23.040 Being that we start in verse 48, 00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:25.220 I guess we could begin this way 00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:26.420 of saying the question is this, 00:10:26.540 --> 00:10:28.320 was Jesus a wicked deceiver 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:28.960 and a liar? 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:31.220 In verse 48, 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:32.379 the Jews answered Him, 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:34.420 are we not right 00:10:34.420 --> 00:10:36.100 in saying that you are a Samaritan 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:36.860 and have a demon? 00:10:38.180 --> 00:10:39.659 And when they said that, 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:41.320 I want you to understand 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:42.519 that they were responding 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:44.480 to the ongoing logic 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:46.700 that Jesus had been engaging in 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:48.480 since the beginning of chapter 8. 00:10:48.540 --> 00:10:49.259 It actually goes back 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:50.040 in chapter 6 00:10:50.040 --> 00:10:51.139 where He came out 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:51.720 and made it clear 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:52.740 I am the bread of life. 00:10:53.660 --> 00:10:54.660 And then in chapter 8 00:10:54.660 --> 00:10:55.300 in particular, 00:10:55.660 --> 00:10:56.080 He said, 00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:58.420 I am the light of the world. 00:10:58.419 --> 00:10:59.419 Later, 00:11:00.139 --> 00:11:01.339 in that same context, 00:11:01.419 --> 00:11:02.639 He made it clear to them 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:05.039 that those who did not believe in Him 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:08.000 were destined to an eternity in hell 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:09.259 because of their rejection 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:11.539 of the offer that He made 00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:12.199 of the gospel 00:11:12.199 --> 00:11:13.899 and salvation through that. 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:14.819 And so here they were. 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:17.259 The Jews had tried to trap Jesus 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:19.279 with various logical arguments. 00:11:19.539 --> 00:11:21.159 They had actually sent some 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:22.719 to arrest Him. 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:23.840 This had not worked out. 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:25.080 Not worked out well at all. 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:28.680 And so their closing statements 00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:31.220 were kind of a sarcastic 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:32.160 and what they thought 00:11:32.160 --> 00:11:35.300 was a supremely insulting statement 00:11:35.300 --> 00:11:35.879 to Jesus. 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:37.960 Now, I'm not inclined 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:39.779 to get into the political season. 00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:40.360 You know that. 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.840 But I'm always impressed 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:43.860 by the fact that 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:45.879 when people don't have much to say, 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:46.720 they are reduced 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:48.680 to throwing barbs at one another. 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:50.300 How many of you understand 00:11:50.299 --> 00:11:50.759 what I'm saying? 00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:53.120 In the absence of logic, 00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:54.439 insult will do. 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:57.399 And so here's what the Jews did. 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:00.459 They were not being very successful 00:12:00.459 --> 00:12:03.599 at dealing with Jesus' popularity. 00:12:03.819 --> 00:12:05.039 They were not being successful 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:06.199 at dealing with Jesus' 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:08.359 winsome ministry 00:12:08.359 --> 00:12:09.959 and gospel presentation 00:12:09.959 --> 00:12:11.259 that He was the one 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:12.240 who'd come to save people 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:12.959 from their sins. 00:12:12.959 --> 00:12:14.179 And so they decided, 00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:16.120 let's go with the absolute 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.339 knockout insult 00:12:17.339 --> 00:12:19.099 for any average Jewish male. 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:20.600 We will call Him 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:21.720 a Samaritan 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:23.779 and we'll accuse Him 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:27.040 of being filled with demons. 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:27.440 Somebody's like, 00:12:27.540 --> 00:12:29.120 ah, you can't say that about me. 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:30.080 You can see it going on. 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:30.659 And Jesus goes, 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:31.379 yeah, really? 00:12:31.920 --> 00:12:32.960 Is that all you got? 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:35.500 Well, you look here 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:38.220 and they threw it. 00:12:39.800 --> 00:12:41.740 And by the way, 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:42.540 you do have to understand 00:12:42.540 --> 00:12:43.779 that Jesus had kind of 00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:44.700 egged them on a little bit. 00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:45.779 You understand that, 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:46.120 don't you? 00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:47.799 He had referred to them 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:48.740 as not being part 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:49.720 of Abraham's children. 00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:52.279 And He'd actually gone so far 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.039 in verse 44 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:53.899 to say that they were 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:55.000 the children of Satan. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:56.740 And you can understand 00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:57.440 that things were getting 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:58.000 pretty heated. 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:00.720 And so they threw this at Jesus 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:01.620 and they thought, 00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:02.860 wow, this is going to do it. 00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:04.519 But what happened? 00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:06.899 You look there in verse 49, 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.639 Jesus answered, 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:08.779 I do not have a demon, 00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:11.159 but I honor my father 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:12.860 and you dishonor me. 00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:15.180 I want you to understand 00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:17.200 that at the core 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:18.600 of the tension 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:19.560 between Jesus 00:13:19.560 --> 00:13:21.480 and the religious leaders 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.919 was this question 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:24.480 of whether or not 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:27.320 their system of faith 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:30.600 was worthy of trust. 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:32.580 The Jewish leaders 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:33.440 had the idea 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:34.879 that the way in which 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.620 you got to heaven 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:36.019 is one, 00:13:36.060 --> 00:13:37.200 it really helped to be a Jew. 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:38.399 And number two, 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:39.000 you had to keep 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:41.340 a whole grocery list of laws. 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:42.620 One of the biggies 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:43.720 was really don't mess 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.300 with the Sabbath. 00:13:45.800 --> 00:13:46.899 And how many of you 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:47.800 realize that Jesus 00:13:47.800 --> 00:13:48.680 kind of specialized 00:13:48.680 --> 00:13:49.420 on Sunday 00:13:49.420 --> 00:13:50.720 or on Sabbath healings, right? 00:13:50.780 --> 00:13:51.139 It's like, 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:52.300 remember they said, 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:53.580 can you do it any other day? 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.019 And I was like, 00:13:55.160 --> 00:13:55.860 please, no. 00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:56.840 And Jesus kept on 00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:57.800 letting them know 00:13:57.800 --> 00:13:58.759 that the Sabbath 00:13:58.759 --> 00:13:59.740 was not all about 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:01.560 their rules and plans. 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:03.420 And really, 00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:04.399 coming back, 00:14:04.780 --> 00:14:07.000 what the Jewish leaders 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:07.820 had put together 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:09.519 was a works-based faith. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:09.579 faith. 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:11.159 They believed 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:11.740 that they were going 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:12.379 to get to heaven 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:13.059 because they were 00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:14.159 doing the right things. 00:14:15.319 --> 00:14:15.899 And by the way, 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:18.379 that is the predominant 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:20.159 faith of everyone. 00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:21.620 Everyone. 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.480 Whether a person 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.659 is a professing believer 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:25.699 or a person 00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:26.399 is an atheist, 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:27.319 at the end of the day, 00:14:27.579 --> 00:14:28.419 they think it's going 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:29.279 to turn out okay 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.460 because at the heart 00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:30.699 of it, 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:31.639 they think they're 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:32.620 pretty decent people. 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:35.860 Now, 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:36.740 I would be the first 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.539 to admit that 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.539 everybody could be 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:39.519 worse with practice. 00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:42.079 But the fact of the matter 00:14:42.079 --> 00:14:42.759 is the heart 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.439 is a dark 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:44.579 and deceitful place. 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:46.740 And when Jesus 00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:47.719 made it clear 00:14:47.719 --> 00:14:49.360 to the Jewish 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.860 spiritual leaders 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.399 of Israel 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:53.799 that their faith 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:54.759 in their works, 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.360 religion, 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.120 was not going 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:56.740 to accomplish 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:58.000 what they hoped, 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:00.439 they became incensed. 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:01.459 They hated 00:15:01.459 --> 00:15:02.939 the logic 00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:03.679 of what He presented. 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:04.219 Incidentally, 00:15:04.599 --> 00:15:05.299 it was rooted 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.319 in the Old Testament 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:07.360 scriptures 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.500 and what God 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:08.980 had to say 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.480 about the heart 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:09.840 of man. 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.020 And so, 00:15:11.160 --> 00:15:12.240 here we are today 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:14.140 sitting under 00:15:14.140 --> 00:15:14.700 the teaching 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:15.700 of the Word of God 00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:16.760 and really having 00:15:16.760 --> 00:15:17.220 to wrestle 00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:17.780 with the same 00:15:17.780 --> 00:15:18.200 attitudes 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:19.020 that the Jewish 00:15:19.020 --> 00:15:19.920 religious leaders 00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:20.660 were dealing with. 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:22.640 Am I trusting 00:15:22.640 --> 00:15:23.460 this morning 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:25.000 in my own abilities 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.200 and my own goodness 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:27.600 to be the remedy 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.660 for the darkness 00:15:28.660 --> 00:15:29.760 of my own heart? 00:15:30.660 --> 00:15:31.940 Put it another way, 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:33.960 are you sitting 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:34.760 here trusting 00:15:34.760 --> 00:15:36.260 in your own efforts 00:15:36.260 --> 00:15:36.940 to save you? 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:37.800 And that's a question 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:38.820 every one of us 00:15:38.820 --> 00:15:39.400 need to answer. 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.860 Am I really confident 00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:41.780 at the end of the day 00:15:41.780 --> 00:15:42.960 that my increased 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:43.580 education 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.720 or my increased effort 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.220 and a little more 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:45.720 self-help, 00:15:45.920 --> 00:15:46.920 I'll get there. 00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:48.780 I'm not what I should be 00:15:48.780 --> 00:15:50.280 but give me time, 00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:51.240 it's okay. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.460 Here's the problem. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.680 When you start 00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:58.720 with bad code 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:01.980 or to use 00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:02.639 a mathematical 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:05.080 principle 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:06.100 that I am 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:06.740 always very 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.480 uncomfortable with 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.800 but if you don't 00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:09.700 copy the problem 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:10.620 right when the 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.540 teacher writes it 00:16:11.540 --> 00:16:12.060 on the board 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:13.399 and you take it home 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:13.940 and you've got 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:14.639 some of the pieces 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.220 wrong in the way 00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:16.759 you copied it, 00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:17.700 how many times 00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:18.240 does it take 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.000 before you get it 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.279 right? 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:21.960 Forever. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.600 Here's the reason. 00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:24.620 If you don't 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:26.120 get the information 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.399 right to start with, 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.340 you can't come out 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:28.800 with the right 00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:29.340 conclusion 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:31.100 and the truth 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:31.460 of the matter 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.100 is the scripture 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:32.980 says that the 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:33.519 heart of man 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:34.259 is deceitful 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:35.060 above all things 00:16:35.060 --> 00:16:35.980 and desperately 00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:37.220 wicked who can 00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:37.580 know it. 00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:39.320 The heart that I 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:39.879 have and the 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.540 heart that you 00:16:40.540 --> 00:16:42.000 have is a place 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.720 that is marked 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:43.519 by darkness 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.399 and deceit 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.220 and sin. 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:45.879 I'm not as bad 00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:46.440 as I could be 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:47.160 with practice 00:16:47.160 --> 00:16:49.460 but I cannot 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.280 save myself 00:16:50.280 --> 00:16:52.259 and Jesus 00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:53.280 made that true 00:16:53.280 --> 00:16:54.720 undeniably clear 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:57.340 to the Jewish 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:57.759 leaders. 00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.139 So the practical 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:00.480 question for you 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.019 at this moment 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:02.680 is do I believe, 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.620 do I believe 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.460 that my sin 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.039 is a serious 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:05.539 problem 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:07.259 or do I believe 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.160 that I can solve 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:08.819 my problem 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:09.420 with my own 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:09.740 efforts 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:11.700 and my energy? 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.920 As we work 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.559 through the remainder 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.240 of the passage 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:15.900 you will notice 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:16.380 that Jesus 00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:17.380 didn't back away 00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:18.019 from the truth 00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:18.740 of their need 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:21.460 and interestingly 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.940 enough as he 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:24.180 continued to make 00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:25.099 his ministry 00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:26.339 and his calling 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.779 clear what 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.839 happened is they 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:30.140 hardened their 00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:30.819 heart. 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.039 Will you listen 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.279 to me? 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:35.680 There is a distinct 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:38.039 disadvantage to 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:39.120 sitting under the 00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:40.359 teaching of the 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:41.740 gospel when a 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:43.519 person refuses to 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.720 hear what God 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.420 has to say. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.200 Why is that? 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:49.700 The more light 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.440 you are given 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.559 the more responsible 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.960 you are for the 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.539 facts. 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.720 And gospel 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.580 teaching helps 00:17:57.580 --> 00:17:58.180 you come to 00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.759 grips with the 00:17:58.759 --> 00:17:59.799 fact I can't 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.559 solve my problem 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.080 myself. 00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:02.299 I need Jesus 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.100 to be the one 00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:03.799 that helps me. 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:04.840 And so as you 00:18:04.840 --> 00:18:05.620 sit here this 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:08.700 morning I appeal 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.200 to you that you 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:09.960 don't behave like 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:11.640 the Jewish hearers 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.380 did who said 00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:12.920 hey I don't want 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.360 to hear what you 00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:13.880 have to say 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:14.720 and I'm going 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.319 to accuse you 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:15.940 with the most 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:16.799 vile name I 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.660 conceivably can 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.519 because I want 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:20.019 you to step off 00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:20.759 the message that 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.279 you have. 00:18:22.080 --> 00:18:22.940 So when you say 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:23.820 no to the light 00:18:23.820 --> 00:18:26.120 I want you to 00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:26.740 hear this things 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.440 grow darker in 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:27.920 your life. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.259 Don't risk that. 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:32.120 You look here in 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:32.980 the passage in 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:34.259 verse 48 the 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:34.860 Jews answered 00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:36.180 you got a demon 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.820 you're Samaritan. 00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:39.080 Verse 52 the 00:18:39.080 --> 00:18:39.700 Jews said to him 00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:40.460 now we know that 00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:40.880 you have a 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:42.160 demon because 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.080 Jesus said hey 00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:43.680 those that believe 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.160 in me are not 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:44.779 going to die. 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:47.740 Abraham died I 00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.259 mean that was 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.019 trump for a Jew 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.680 do you understand 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.319 everything kind 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.639 mention Abraham's 00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.139 name it's like 00:18:53.139 --> 00:18:54.119 that's good that's 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:55.099 good you got 00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:55.700 Abraham in the 00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:56.559 picture that's 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:58.519 good and Jesus 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:00.059 said you believe 00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.559 in me you're not 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.220 going to die well 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.039 Abraham died the 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.779 prophets died blah 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.619 blah blah and 00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:04.660 Jesus says let's 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.399 get this clear. 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:10.480 the life that you 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.019 live in the 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:13.040 physical sense is 00:19:13.040 --> 00:19:13.640 going to bring you 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:14.400 to the grave but 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.360 those who trust in 00:19:15.360 --> 00:19:16.460 Jesus are not going 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:16.980 to die. 00:19:18.040 --> 00:19:18.980 So let's kind of 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:19.759 step into that a 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.380 little bit more and 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:21.340 ask you a practical 00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:22.220 question as you work 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:22.600 your way through 00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:24.000 this is Jesus your 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.400 hope and your 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.400 confidence for all 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:26.940 of eternity. 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.740 I want you to put 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.380 your finger if you 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:30.560 would on John 00:19:30.560 --> 00:19:31.340 chapter 8 verse 00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:32.340 51 look at that it 00:19:32.340 --> 00:19:33.519 says this truly truly 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.819 I say to you if 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:35.819 anyone keeps my 00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:37.220 word he will never 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:40.400 see death never 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.539 see death. 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.339 Now let me ask you 00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:44.460 a question if you 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:48.000 had been if you 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.220 had been writing 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.000 that verse and you 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.720 weren't invited to 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.539 do that so just kind 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.379 of buy what's there 00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:54.160 right but if you 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.859 had been writing 00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:56.460 that verse would 00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.400 you have written it 00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:58.240 the way Jesus 00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.559 quoted it or would 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:00.160 you rather have 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.799 said anyone who 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:02.519 believes in me 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.139 shall never see 00:20:03.139 --> 00:20:03.500 death. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.980 which would you 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.359 prefer? 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:07.599 Whoever keeps my 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.519 word or whoever 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.559 believes in me. 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.920 How many of you 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:13.119 would prefer just 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:14.259 hey I believe 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.819 I believe you know 00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.319 it's like I 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:16.720 believe. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.299 Why did Jesus say 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:19.700 keeps? 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:21.639 Listen to me. 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:23.940 It's fairly easy to 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.160 profess belief. 00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:28.000 It's another thing to 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.119 show the evidence of 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.259 the transforming power 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.579 of the gospel in 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.900 behavior that is 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:33.900 radically different 00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:35.240 than the way you 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.500 used to be. 00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:38.860 I think one of the 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.320 things that's a 00:20:39.320 --> 00:20:40.000 detriment to the 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.840 evangelical church 00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:41.820 today is there are 00:20:41.820 --> 00:20:42.340 a whole lot of 00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:43.000 people scampering 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.280 around saying I 00:20:44.280 --> 00:20:46.420 believe and they're 00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.100 acting like the 00:20:47.100 --> 00:20:48.740 average unregenerate 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:50.240 unsaved person and 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.060 there's no difference 00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:51.759 whatever in their 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.160 life. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:54.759 Jesus said let me tell 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.180 you something. 00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.600 Here's how you know 00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.380 you got the real 00:20:58.380 --> 00:20:58.680 deal. 00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.380 There's something 00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.160 happening in your 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.620 life. 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.759 It's interesting. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.259 A couple weeks ago I 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:06.800 was sitting at the 00:21:06.800 --> 00:21:09.180 table with three 00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:11.100 wonderful people I 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:11.980 had the opportunity to 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.960 eat supper with and 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.519 we're in a conversation 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:15.440 and all three of them 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.000 were profoundly 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.660 unhappy. 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:18.840 I mean we're 00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:19.680 talking about people 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:21.120 that had education 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:22.259 up to the point that 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.080 I was kind of sitting 00:21:23.080 --> 00:21:24.420 there with degree 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:24.820 envy. 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:29.400 It's like wow I'm 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:29.860 impressed. 00:21:30.800 --> 00:21:31.480 But the thing I kept 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.519 as we were just kind 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.580 of so how do you like 00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:33.920 your job? 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.480 I work with turkeys. 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.840 And I just kept on 00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:38.180 going on. 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:38.860 These were unhappy 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:39.400 people. 00:21:40.320 --> 00:21:41.600 I mean really unhappy. 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:44.439 And finally you know 00:21:44.439 --> 00:21:45.740 low life sitting there 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.480 in his jeans and 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.559 t-shirt and that's 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.339 California so you 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:48.679 understand. 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:52.919 I said I feel sorry. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.379 I'm sad that you're so 00:21:54.379 --> 00:21:54.859 unhappy. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.240 And they looked at me 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:59.959 and I was like well 00:21:59.959 --> 00:22:02.599 are you happy? 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.919 I said I love doing 00:22:03.919 --> 00:22:04.439 what I do. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.839 What do you do? 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:07.939 Here's my answer. 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:10.240 I said I'm a broken 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:10.740 person. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:12.919 Who gets to talk to 00:22:12.919 --> 00:22:14.039 broken people about the 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.259 only one who can fix 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:16.359 their heart. 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.219 Do you follow that? 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:20.099 I love that. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:23.179 And here is Jesus 00:22:23.179 --> 00:22:27.399 saying something 00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:28.299 profound. 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.439 Look at the passage. 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:33.139 Truly truly I say to 00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:36.079 you if anyone keeps my 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:38.740 word he will never see 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.539 death. 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:45.000 I'm a professional 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.000 funeral doer. 00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.119 How many of you 00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:48.799 understand what I just 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:48.959 said? 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.519 I'm a pastor. 00:22:50.159 --> 00:22:51.240 I've done funerals. 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:53.179 In fact the truth of 00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:53.919 the matter is the 00:22:53.919 --> 00:22:56.039 first professional 00:22:56.939 --> 00:22:58.839 act I ever performed 00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.579 was to do a funeral. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.480 My father-in-law thought 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.559 that I should be a 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:03.980 pastor before I thought 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.699 that I should be a 00:23:04.699 --> 00:23:04.959 pastor. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:06.660 pastor and he 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:08.759 invited me to go to a 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:10.120 graveside in New 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:13.039 Jersey and be part of 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.200 the funeral service at 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:14.900 the graveside. 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.279 I'm froze to death. 00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:18.240 It was like January and 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.319 it's like what am I doing 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:19.680 out here? 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.840 No someday someday you're 00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.500 going to be doing this. 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:23.299 I don't think so. 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.960 But you know what? 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:27.039 I'm a professional 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.779 funeral doer. 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.640 I mean and I've got to 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.019 tell you something. 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.420 Listen to me. 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.620 I love funerals. 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.659 I absolutely love 00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:32.559 funerals because I have 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:34.199 a captive audience that 00:23:34.199 --> 00:23:35.419 is obligated to sit and 00:23:35.419 --> 00:23:36.479 listen to what I have to 00:23:36.479 --> 00:23:37.539 say for a couple minutes. 00:23:38.459 --> 00:23:39.979 And I never preach about 00:23:39.979 --> 00:23:40.959 the person that's dead. 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.759 Do you know why that is? 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.319 Because they don't care. 00:23:44.679 --> 00:23:46.399 I'm all about letting the 00:23:46.399 --> 00:23:48.579 people who are still in 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:50.259 the path of dying know 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.779 about how to get it right. 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.839 And so here we are. 00:23:55.179 --> 00:23:56.000 Jesus says to them, 00:23:56.739 --> 00:23:59.419 hey, the one who believes 00:23:59.419 --> 00:24:00.599 in me will never see 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.379 death. 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.739 And what he was talking 00:24:04.739 --> 00:24:06.039 about was not the issue 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.679 of physical death because 00:24:07.679 --> 00:24:09.899 we know for a fact that 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:10.519 people die. 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:12.299 They die every day. 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.659 Every one of us here are 00:24:15.659 --> 00:24:16.219 going to be ground 00:24:16.219 --> 00:24:17.019 temperature one of the 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:18.039 days unless Jesus comes 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.299 back. 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.000 It's just a fact. 00:24:20.739 --> 00:24:22.439 And so you look here and 00:24:22.439 --> 00:24:23.219 here is Jesus. 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.979 He's speaking about the 00:24:24.979 --> 00:24:26.199 issue of not seeing death 00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:27.339 and their immediate 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:29.119 response is verse 52. 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:30.939 Now we know that you have 00:24:30.939 --> 00:24:31.299 a demon. 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.759 Abraham died as did the 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.179 prophets. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:38.119 And yet you say, 52, if 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:41.299 anyone keeps my word, what? 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:42.619 You're not going to die. 00:24:43.459 --> 00:24:44.479 Now listen to the response 00:24:44.479 --> 00:24:45.479 that Jesus gives. 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:48.199 In verse 54 he says, if I 00:24:48.199 --> 00:24:49.959 glorify myself, my glory is 00:24:49.959 --> 00:24:50.319 nothing. 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:52.119 It is my father who glorifies 00:24:52.659 --> 00:24:54.039 me of whom you say he is our 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:54.579 God. 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:57.599 Now follow with me so that 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.539 you understand what is 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.319 happening here. 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:01.599 Jesus has made a profound 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:04.000 and indicting statement to 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.359 them. 00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:07.759 You are going to die in your 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.019 sins. 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.399 He said that three times 00:25:09.399 --> 00:25:11.039 earlier in John 8. 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.279 And I got to tell you that 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.099 was pretty offensive. 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:16.619 People who were greatly 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:18.500 confident in their own 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:21.119 status as, hey, I'm doing 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:21.839 the best I can. 00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:22.799 In fact, I'm doing better 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.500 than he is. 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.839 I mean, what do you mean 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.779 I'm not going to make it? 00:25:27.659 --> 00:25:28.859 Jesus was profoundly 00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:30.159 offensive to them and they 00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:31.460 kept on pushing back at it 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.419 and here he says, listen, 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.200 let me tell you something. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:35.519 I'm not in this to glorify 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.079 myself. 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:37.039 And what was he saying? 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.259 He was saying that the 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:40.019 father was the one who was 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.039 glorifying him. 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:42.720 How was God glorifying 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.139 Jesus? 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:44.399 Ask yourself the question. 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:46.319 How was God glorifying 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:46.720 Jesus? 00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:49.599 Let me help you understand 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:51.779 that for one, God was 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:53.740 glorifying Jesus by the fact 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:56.119 that Jesus had the full 00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:58.279 measure of the Spirit and 00:25:58.279 --> 00:26:02.559 everything he said came 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.960 from the prompting and the 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:05.339 enabling and the power of 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:06.180 the Spirit of God. 00:26:06.399 --> 00:26:07.000 Remember one of the 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:08.000 recurring things that people 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:08.740 said about Jesus? 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:10.160 You never heard anybody 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:10.839 talk like him. 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.559 You never heard anybody. 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:14.240 Man, he could preach your 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.139 socks off to use the 00:26:15.139 --> 00:26:15.859 phrase. 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.759 That guy brought fire from 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.059 heaven. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.779 Remember when they sent 00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:21.259 people to arrest Jesus? 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:23.379 I mean, these were 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:25.359 professional arresters. 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:27.259 And they came to deal with 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:27.579 Jesus. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.319 They kind of had it. 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.619 All right, bud, you grab 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.359 him on the left arm and 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.000 I'm going to grab him on 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.559 the right and we're going 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.519 to march him right in there 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.940 to the Sanhedrin and he's 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.319 toast. 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.680 And all they did was they 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.700 listened to him preach the 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.420 word of God and what 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:37.759 happened? 00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:40.200 Walked out of there as a 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:41.599 kind of overawed and 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.359 fanatic. 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.839 And they came back to the 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:45.279 Jewish leaders and they 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.399 said, you never heard 00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:47.240 anything like this. 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:49.240 I mean, that guy preached 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.839 like, wow. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.940 How do you do that in 00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.579 power of the spirit? 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.819 Something else. 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:56.640 Do you understand that he 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.440 did miracles that were 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.000 real miracles? 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:03.980 Jesus was the original 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:07.839 fact-checking opportunity. 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:09.380 What I mean by that is one 00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.779 of the things that happens 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.779 every now and then is we 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.299 have quote-unquote, you 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.339 know, these fancy miracles 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:15.960 at these big rallies, you 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.539 know, kind of stuff. 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.319 And, you know, what 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:20.420 happens is in 24 hours, 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.680 48 hours, people come back 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.860 and check and see, really, 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:25.259 did they get healed, etc.? 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.779 And da-da-da. 00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:28.319 And they were always around 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:29.460 behind Jesus kind of 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.460 checking to see whether 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.539 there was clear evidence 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.759 of him really doing the 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.059 miracles. 00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:34.019 We're going to get to that 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:35.259 in John 9, by the way. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.519 Remember a man born blind? 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.440 They're all about checking 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.460 to see whether or not 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.700 Jesus really could heal. 00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:42.319 And there was undeniable 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:44.079 power that he healed. 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:45.619 In fact, it was so undeniable 00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:47.220 that remember after he raised 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:48.319 Lazarus from the dead, 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.500 what did they think was 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.939 their best option for 00:27:50.939 --> 00:27:52.319 dealing with the evidence 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:52.879 of Lazarus? 00:27:52.919 --> 00:27:53.379 What was it? 00:27:54.159 --> 00:27:54.779 Kill him! 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:57.079 If you don't like the 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:58.000 messenger, kill the 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.720 messenger, right? 00:27:58.919 --> 00:28:00.019 Okay, so here we are. 00:28:00.699 --> 00:28:04.439 How did God affirm and 00:28:04.439 --> 00:28:05.419 glorify Christ? 00:28:05.659 --> 00:28:09.079 By enabling him to perform 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.179 miracles. 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:11.100 But one other thing. 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:15.560 God glorified Christ by 00:28:15.560 --> 00:28:17.180 seeing to it that hundreds 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:19.019 and thousands of years 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:20.340 before Christ showed up on 00:28:20.340 --> 00:28:21.700 the scene, there were 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.920 repeated prophetic 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:24.019 statements about the 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.960 ministry of the coming 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:26.460 Messiah, and Jesus 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:28.100 fulfilled every one of 00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:28.320 them. 00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:30.400 In fact, one of the things 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.140 that you find over and 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:31.660 over again in the 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:33.080 Scripture, it says, he did 00:28:33.080 --> 00:28:35.240 this to fulfill Old 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.980 Testament prophecy. 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:38.220 So I want you to look 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:39.759 here at verse 51 and 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.920 kind of lock your heart 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.579 in on this. 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.900 Those who believe in 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:44.200 Jesus will never see 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.640 death. 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.480 That's interesting. 00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:49.900 Those who believe in 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.960 Jesus will never see 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.319 death. 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:53.079 What does that mean? 00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:54.400 It's not physical death 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:56.259 because we know for one, 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:57.680 Jesus was going to die on 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.220 the cross. 00:28:59.420 --> 00:29:01.799 We know for another that 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:03.420 ever since Adam and Eve 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.360 sinned in the garden, 00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.779 human existence has been 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:07.599 marked by the sorrow and 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:08.879 the reality of death. 00:29:10.199 --> 00:29:11.359 I want you to understand 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:12.419 that what Jesus was 00:29:12.419 --> 00:29:15.000 talking about was the 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:17.639 fact that those who have 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:19.859 faith in Christ and His 00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:21.240 finished work upon the 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:23.819 cross do not see death 00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:24.919 the same way the 00:29:24.919 --> 00:29:26.099 unbeliever sees death. 00:29:27.439 --> 00:29:28.459 Now, when you hear a 00:29:28.459 --> 00:29:29.859 statement like that, a 00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:31.119 logical follow-up is, 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.079 can you prove it? 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:34.099 I want you to turn in 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:35.559 your Bibles to Revelation 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.500 chapter 21. 00:29:37.879 --> 00:29:39.559 Revelation chapter 21 is 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:41.039 the way the book ends. 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:43.559 And listen to what it says 00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:45.139 in Revelation chapter 21, 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:49.819 verse 8 and then verse 14. 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:55.859 But as for the cowardly, 00:29:55.939 --> 00:29:57.339 the faithless, the detestable, 00:29:57.399 --> 00:29:58.559 as for murderers, the 00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:00.159 sexually immoral, sorcerers, 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:02.079 idolaters, and all liars, 00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:03.319 their portion will be in the 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:05.179 lake that burns with fire and 00:30:05.179 --> 00:30:06.980 sulfur, which is the, what? 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:07.579 What's the word? 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:09.799 Second death. 00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:12.799 Second death. 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:14.059 Look again, if you will, 00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:15.359 at verse 14. 00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:18.779 And the wall, I'm sorry, 00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:19.799 verse 14. 00:30:23.419 --> 00:30:24.819 Suffice it to say that 8 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:26.099 will do it unless Tom can 00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:27.199 save me and find where it 00:30:27.199 --> 00:30:28.259 says second death twice. 00:30:28.919 --> 00:30:29.939 Because it does say it. 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.579 We'll move on. 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.459 Okay? 00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:34.919 The point is this, is that 00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:37.459 there is a death that we die 00:30:37.459 --> 00:30:39.159 physically, but there is a 00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:41.019 death that unbelievers die 00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:41.599 spiritually. 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.519 How is that? 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:45.180 For one thing, death is 00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:45.799 separation. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.940 In simple terms, it's the 00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:48.500 separation. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.900 And ultimately, the 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:53.859 unbeliever will be separated 00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:55.319 from God and not just kind of 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:57.059 separated into, you know, 00:30:57.139 --> 00:30:59.079 kind of absence from God. 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:01.819 It is separation into eternal 00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:03.519 suffering that is very real and 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.660 undeniable in the Scriptures. 00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:07.940 The sinner's death will usher 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.720 him forever into eternal 00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.139 judgment. 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:12.460 The sinner's death will 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:14.160 separate him forever from the 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:15.660 joys of fellowship with God. 00:31:16.560 --> 00:31:17.960 And so that brings us kind of 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:19.900 here to the closing lines of 00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:21.520 this chapter and the final point 00:31:21.520 --> 00:31:22.600 that you want to consider. 00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:25.740 You go back there to verse 51, 00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:27.200 if you will, again in John 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.880 chapter 8. 00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:30.440 And here's what Jesus said. 00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.980 He said there in verse 51, 00:31:32.520 --> 00:31:34.160 if anyone keeps my word, he 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:36.620 will never see death. 00:31:37.520 --> 00:31:39.180 What Jesus was saying is those 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.759 who keep his word and who 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:43.100 believe in him will not die a 00:31:43.100 --> 00:31:45.120 spiritual death and suffer the 00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:47.380 eternal absence from God the 00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:47.720 Father. 00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:49.580 You will be in the presence of 00:31:49.580 --> 00:31:51.340 God and enjoy his company 00:31:51.340 --> 00:31:51.799 forever. 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.720 I've got to tell you this 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:55.700 morning as I went into the 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:58.240 office, touched on the 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.740 computer screen, just touched 00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:01.460 the keyboard, bang, there came 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:03.580 up the picture of my family, my 00:32:03.580 --> 00:32:04.440 dad and my mom. 00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:06.360 You know the first thought I 00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:06.560 had? 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:09.079 My first thought is, dad, I'm 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.759 seeing you again. 00:32:10.179 --> 00:32:10.899 That's what I thought. 00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:12.559 First thought was, I'm seeing 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:12.960 you again. 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.960 I have no fear of dying. 00:32:17.159 --> 00:32:18.799 And the reason I have no fear 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:20.039 of dying is not because I'm 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:22.279 deceiving myself, but because I 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.559 have confidence in the finished 00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:24.240 work of Christ. 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:26.919 And I know that I will not suffer 00:32:26.919 --> 00:32:28.919 the second death, not because I 00:32:28.919 --> 00:32:30.440 have been a good person all of my 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:33.480 life, because I came to the point 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:35.259 of recognizing the absolute moral 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:37.200 bankruptcy of my soul and 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:39.120 confessing, I am a sinner justly 00:32:39.120 --> 00:32:41.299 condemned before a holy God, and I 00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:43.819 believe Jesus came to pay the 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:45.039 penalty for my sins. 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:47.519 Now, I like the way this argument 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:48.360 plays out here. 00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:50.839 If you look at it, you find here 00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:53.839 that as Jesus made this issue of not 00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:57.180 dying clear, the Jews kind of 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:59.480 responded and look at their closing 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:01.440 argument in verse 57. 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:04.059 Jews said to him, you are not yet 00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:06.059 50 years old, and have you seen 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.440 Abraham? 00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:09.440 Remember he said, Abraham rejoiced 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:10.400 to see my day. 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.420 Now, that's a very interesting 00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:11.880 statement. 00:33:12.380 --> 00:33:13.680 What does it tell us? 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:18.440 Abraham looked forward to the 00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:20.000 coming of the Savior. 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.400 That's what it's saying. 00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:23.420 Abraham rejoiced. 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:26.320 Hey, how many of you sitting here 00:33:26.320 --> 00:33:28.600 this morning, as muddy and as 00:33:28.600 --> 00:33:30.840 difficult as your life is, are 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:32.519 looking forward to the day that 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.480 Jesus comes back? 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:36.199 That is a characteristic of a 00:33:36.199 --> 00:33:36.500 believer. 00:33:37.419 --> 00:33:39.339 It says this in 1 John chapter 3, 00:33:39.699 --> 00:33:42.319 they that have this hope purify 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:43.819 themselves even as he is pure. 00:33:44.179 --> 00:33:45.359 What drives you forward? 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:47.819 It is an understanding that the day 00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:49.619 is coming that Tim Kenoyer is 00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:50.819 going to be in the presence of 00:33:50.819 --> 00:33:51.179 Christ. 00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:54.119 And that keeps a guard on my tongue. 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.959 By the way, my tongue without any 00:33:55.959 --> 00:33:57.339 practice can be an absolute 00:33:57.339 --> 00:33:57.459 cesspool. 00:33:57.460 --> 00:34:00.920 It is a reminder of the work of 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:03.079 Christ in my life and my interest 00:34:03.079 --> 00:34:05.180 in pleasing him that has slowly 00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:06.940 changed first my heart, then my 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.200 tongue. 00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:11.300 And you look here and Jesus says, 00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:13.400 the Jews said, well, you're not 00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:14.400 even 50 years old. 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.740 And look at verse 58. 00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:18.920 Jesus said to them, truly, truly, I 00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:21.260 say to you, and this is, remember 00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:23.400 they loved saying Samaritan, demon? 00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:28.400 This is Jesus with a full forehand 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:31.240 slap across the face of the 00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:32.300 unbelieving Jews. 00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:35.700 Before Abraham was, what's the next 00:34:35.700 --> 00:34:35.960 word? 00:34:36.720 --> 00:34:37.619 I am. 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.119 Well, what does that bring to your 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:39.860 Jewish mind? 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.440 Remember? 00:34:42.619 --> 00:34:45.800 Back in Exodus, poor old Moses chasing 00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:47.559 sheep around the backside of the 00:34:47.559 --> 00:34:50.280 wilderness, and God comes to him and 00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:53.019 says, Moses, you are going to go back 00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:55.080 to the land of Egypt and you're going 00:34:55.080 --> 00:34:56.580 to lead my people out. 00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:59.060 You're going to deliver them from the 00:34:59.060 --> 00:35:00.700 bondage that they're in. 00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:02.440 And Moses says, yeah, all right, why 00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:03.519 don't you send somebody else? 00:35:03.620 --> 00:35:05.260 No, no, burning bush and all that. 00:35:05.720 --> 00:35:07.600 And so Moses, all right, says, okay, 00:35:07.640 --> 00:35:08.780 when I go back there, they're going 00:35:08.780 --> 00:35:09.860 to say, who sent you? 00:35:14.080 --> 00:35:15.620 And God says, well, here, get this. 00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:19.019 My name is I am. 00:35:20.279 --> 00:35:21.659 The self-existent. 00:35:23.279 --> 00:35:26.599 The self-consuming. 00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:27.319 All. 00:35:27.779 --> 00:35:29.940 Everything that you can imagine, God 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.859 is that. 00:35:34.199 --> 00:35:36.339 And God says to Moses, you tell them 00:35:36.339 --> 00:35:37.639 that I am is sending you. 00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.639 And here is Jesus. 00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:44.039 If there was anything that those Jews 00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:47.059 knew, it was the book of Exodus and 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:48.179 the call of Moses. 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:52.639 And Jesus says, let me tell you 00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:52.900 something. 00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:56.679 Before Abraham was, I am. 00:35:57.900 --> 00:36:01.519 Who has the right to tell you that you 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:04.739 may have everlasting life despite the 00:36:04.739 --> 00:36:05.800 darkness of your heart? 00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:10.139 Who has the right to promise that he 00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:11.400 will raise you from the grave? 00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:14.800 Who has the right to assure you that 00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:16.500 you're going to spend heaven in his 00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.019 presence? 00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:20.780 Who has the right to be able to guarantee 00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:24.220 to you that with your conversion, you 00:36:24.220 --> 00:36:26.500 will enjoy the enabling of the spirit of 00:36:26.500 --> 00:36:28.599 God that you, listen to me carefully, you 00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:30.559 don't have to stay the slave to your own 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:32.940 passions and your own self-centered, 00:36:33.220 --> 00:36:34.539 unhappy focus. 00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:39.759 The only one who can make such an 00:36:39.759 --> 00:36:42.579 unbelievable guarantee is the one who is 00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:43.380 the I am. 00:36:53.559 --> 00:36:55.259 Let me close by coming back to where we 00:36:55.259 --> 00:36:55.619 started. 00:36:55.619 --> 00:37:03.960 At the heart of the gospel of John is this one 00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:06.159 recurring thought that I think it's appropriate 00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:06.739 to think. 00:37:07.299 --> 00:37:08.259 Who is Jesus? 00:37:09.299 --> 00:37:10.480 And what's that mean to me? 00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:12.480 Who is Jesus? 00:37:13.319 --> 00:37:14.639 And what's that mean to me? 00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:16.359 Who is Jesus? 00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:18.400 And what does that mean to me? 00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:21.980 And I want to tell you this morning as you listen to the 00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:23.619 preaching of the word of God, I want you to 00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:26.699 recognize this, the scriptures are undeniable clear. 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:31.239 The Bible answer is right in front of you. 00:37:32.839 --> 00:37:35.599 Jesus is the Lord and the judge of the whole earth, 00:37:36.019 --> 00:37:40.119 and he is the only one who can save sinners. 00:37:41.799 --> 00:37:44.500 So a question you have to ask yourself is this, 00:37:45.199 --> 00:37:48.900 am I a sinner who has come to the point of 00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:52.400 recognizing the moral bankruptcy and the darkness 00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:54.139 of their own soul? 00:37:54.619 --> 00:37:56.780 Or do I need, let's stop just for a minute so you 00:37:56.780 --> 00:37:59.139 understand me, do I need more empirical evidence? 00:37:59.240 --> 00:38:00.660 How many of you understand what I mean by empirical 00:38:00.660 --> 00:38:01.139 evidence? 00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:02.480 Huh? 00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:05.860 Do I need anything else to convince me that I'm a 00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:06.240 skunk? 00:38:07.340 --> 00:38:08.940 I mean, your friend's been telling you, but you know, 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.860 you may not believe them. 00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.280 Okay? 00:38:15.740 --> 00:38:18.260 Gospel truth begins by helping us understand 00:38:18.260 --> 00:38:21.480 there is a holy God, 00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:27.200 and someday I will stand before him and give an account for my life. 00:38:29.520 --> 00:38:35.340 Will I offer to him my absolute lame excuses? 00:38:35.340 --> 00:38:43.400 Will I offer to him my incomplete and half-hearted efforts? 00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:48.660 Or will I come to him broken and contrite and say, 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:52.660 I stand justly condemned, 00:38:53.220 --> 00:38:57.940 but I believe you and your infinite grace and love were willing to put your 00:38:57.940 --> 00:39:00.380 own son on the cross for my sins. 00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:03.720 And the Bible puts it this way. 00:39:05.740 --> 00:39:07.700 Whosoever believes in him, what? 00:39:09.260 --> 00:39:11.640 Shall not perish but have everlasting life. 00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:13.400 There's another part that I like. 00:39:15.039 --> 00:39:17.660 Whosoever believes in him shall not be ashamed. 00:39:17.660 --> 00:39:17.800 Hmm. 00:39:17.800 --> 00:39:32.300 Can I tell you, as Christians, 00:39:32.900 --> 00:39:40.039 we have the power of God to work in us so that we don't have to be ashamed. 00:39:43.640 --> 00:39:47.280 And by the way, when we live lives that please Christ, 00:39:47.800 --> 00:39:50.320 we become powerful, effective witnesses. 00:39:50.420 --> 00:39:50.980 Isn't that right? 00:39:52.060 --> 00:39:53.400 People ask us, 00:39:54.000 --> 00:40:00.160 how come you're not so unhappy and moody and just full of yourself? 00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:02.940 Well, I don't want to take credit for that, 00:40:02.940 --> 00:40:04.760 because I'm not the hero in my story. 00:40:07.260 --> 00:40:14.019 Jesus found me as a broken and bankrupt, miserable, unwholesome person. 00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:18.840 And I came in brokenness and said, 00:40:18.920 --> 00:40:21.519 I'm a mess and I can't solve my problem. 00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:27.019 But I believe Jesus died for me and he died for you. 00:40:28.280 --> 00:40:30.619 And the scriptures make it abundantly clear 00:40:30.619 --> 00:40:36.079 that all those who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:45.699 So the decision is, is what are you going to do with who Jesus is? 00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:52.099 He is the Savior and he will be your judge. 00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:54.500 Let's close in prayer. 00:40:54.500 --> 00:41:05.019 Gracious Father, this morning as we consider the authority and the supremacy of your word, 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:11.820 we are very thankful that Jesus is the one who is the center of the gospel story. 00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:17.019 Jesus is the one who is the hope of sinners. 00:41:18.260 --> 00:41:27.660 Jesus is the one who steps beyond the shallow pride and arrogance of our spirit 00:41:27.660 --> 00:41:34.420 and helps us see that apart from his complete forgiveness 00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:41.940 and the payment of his life upon the cross, we have no hope. 00:41:43.900 --> 00:41:48.079 And this morning we delight in the sweetness of the gospel 00:41:48.079 --> 00:41:55.880 that gives believers joy and unbelievers hope. 00:41:57.340 --> 00:42:00.480 Lift up Jesus among us this morning in your precious name. 00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:01.260 Amen. 00:42:01.260 --> 00:42:01.360 Amen.