WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:19.559 First, let me ask that you turn in your Bible to John chapter 1, and then I want you to join me in prayer. 00:00:26.140 --> 00:00:26.620 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:49.060 There is not a habit, a ritual, something that is scribed out as a preface, but it is the glad confession of your supremacy and your sufficiency, 00:00:49.060 --> 00:01:07.280 and our absolute dependence upon you to work in making the word that you have given to us that is settled in the heavens clear and understandable and appreciated in the lives of your children. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:37.280 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:45.500 So the declaration of the word is of the Lord, and the application and appreciation of the word is of the Lord, and we are dependent upon you today. 00:01:45.500 --> 00:02:00.760 And we ask that you would be pleased to bless us with the work of the Holy Spirit, both in the preaching and the application of the word to our lives. 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:03.500 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:05.159 Amen. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:05.159 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:05.159 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:05.159 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:05.159 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:05.159 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:05.159 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:29.159 Thank you, Aaron. 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:29.740 Now. 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:29.740 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:39.420 I called on Aaron earlier in the week. 00:02:39.540 --> 00:02:42.100 I said, Aaron, would you mind doing a favor for me? 00:02:42.180 --> 00:02:43.640 I think it has a place. 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:45.340 And he said, well, I've never played that before. 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:46.900 I said, you can handle it. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:50.400 And I do appreciate Aaron doing that. 00:02:50.920 --> 00:02:52.160 And there's a reason for it. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:03:00.379 You know, when we hear those notes, what do we think? 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:07.979 We think that they are an introduction to the President of the United States coming out 00:03:07.979 --> 00:03:17.939 because that is pretty much the fanfare that is played at any time when he is making a public appearance. 00:03:17.939 --> 00:03:22.560 And it's kind of a signal that he is going to be out immediately. 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:30.859 We use similar signals that I don't know that they're always accepted, 00:03:31.099 --> 00:03:34.520 but we do things like blinking the lights in the lobby. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:35.659 You know why we do that? 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:38.099 Come on down. 00:03:38.300 --> 00:03:38.919 You know, come in. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:39.439 Okay. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:47.240 Another thing we do, and I have been tempted to pipe music out into the lobby before we get started 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:52.280 because you're kind of cued that you're not going in until some music is happening 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:54.900 and then kind of drift in as you feel inclined. 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:58.599 And I thought, we'll play the music early and surprise you one time. 00:03:58.620 --> 00:03:59.439 But here's what I know. 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:01.360 I'd only get away with it once. 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:05.579 And then what you would do is just kind of wait it out. 00:04:05.580 --> 00:04:11.260 And so those kind of preparatory signals would not make much sense. 00:04:11.900 --> 00:04:19.939 But the reason I had Aaron play this little line is I want you to understand clearly 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:29.740 that Jesus did not come into his public ministry unannounced and missed. 00:04:30.080 --> 00:04:34.340 Now it's true, and we make much of it, and I think rightfully so, 00:04:34.339 --> 00:04:37.339 that his birth was with relative anonymity. 00:04:38.159 --> 00:04:42.199 He arrived in a little old town, and he ended up actually in a manger. 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:46.099 But I want you to understand that while his birth was that way, 00:04:46.359 --> 00:04:51.979 his public ministry was not something that was characterized by stealth or secret. 00:04:54.179 --> 00:05:01.179 And as we look at John 1, verse 6, and carry down to verse 13, 00:05:01.299 --> 00:05:02.139 what I want you to understand. 00:05:02.219 --> 00:05:03.379 Aaron, you can go sit with your honey. 00:05:03.379 --> 00:05:04.980 She thinks you should be up there. 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:07.459 Hi, Megan. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:13.759 I mean, you know, you're married, right? 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:19.540 Is he turning color just a little bit? 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:19.960 Okay. 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:22.879 Okay. 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:30.540 As we look at John 1, we look at verse 6 through 13. 00:05:31.540 --> 00:05:38.140 I want you to understand that the God of this universe is not into secrets and surprises 00:05:38.140 --> 00:05:40.080 and catching us unaware. 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:53.839 Everything he does, his justice, is something that is communicated clearly so that men are without excuse. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:58.979 When ultimately they reject the sweetness of the gospel, they will never be able to say, 00:05:58.980 --> 00:06:00.120 I didn't know. 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:00.120 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:02.120 I didn't hear. 00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:15.400 And so this morning, as we look at this passage, we want to understand that Christ's coming was prophesied in the Old Testament. 00:06:15.399 --> 00:06:19.579 It was announced by John the Baptist. 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:29.159 And yet, as we will see, John's ministry and the coming of the light, the Lord Jesus Christ, was largely rejected. 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:31.939 Does that mean that the darkness wins? 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:32.720 No. 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:37.700 Because as we are going to see later on towards the end of our lesson this morning, 00:06:38.080 --> 00:06:40.439 what it says there in verse 12 and 13 is, 00:06:40.580 --> 00:06:47.520 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God. 00:06:48.520 --> 00:06:54.040 I'm excited to be able to tell you that the darkness doesn't win, and that is a reminder of that reality. 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:59.000 Well, let's dive into the text and mark, first of all, John's great work. 00:06:59.100 --> 00:07:01.660 We find it there in verses 6 through 8, and it says, 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:04.620 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 00:07:05.980 --> 00:07:09.660 Now, the Bible makes it rather clear, if you read through any of the synoptic gospels, 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:12.060 that John was a rather unusual man. 00:07:12.140 --> 00:07:16.700 For one, his dress and his diet was something that set him apart from the crowd. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:22.640 But we find the thing that was most significant about him was not his dress and his diet, 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:25.099 but it really was the ministry that he had. 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:29.659 The scripture makes it very clear that he was Christ's forerunner, 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:33.759 or he was Christ's introducer or front man, 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:39.399 the one who came in front to make it very clear that someone important was coming. 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:48.779 I want you to understand that John's ministry was not something that he took upon himself simply as a career choice, 00:07:48.779 --> 00:07:50.619 because it tells us there in verse 6, 00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:52.379 there was a man sent. 00:07:54.739 --> 00:07:59.699 The office and role that John engaged in was something that he received by divine appointment. 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:04.979 And I want you to understand that John was called by God to go before the Messiah 00:08:04.979 --> 00:08:07.399 and to announce Christ's coming. 00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:11.359 Just like if we heard that hail to the chief, 00:08:11.679 --> 00:08:14.699 and we were in Washington, D.C., kind of sitting in a press club there, 00:08:14.779 --> 00:08:16.039 waiting for the president to come out, 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:18.620 we would know that says, all right, all right, here he is. 00:08:19.760 --> 00:08:21.400 John served in that capacity. 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:27.420 I want you to understand that in doing what John did, 00:08:28.420 --> 00:08:31.800 he was fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:35.279 And I want you to look at a couple different passages to fix that in your mind. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:38.720 Go back, if you would, to Matthew chapter 3, 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:41.840 and then also in Luke chapter 3, 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:45.000 and basically both of the passages are fairly similar. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:50.680 But I draw attention to them so that you can see that this issue of John's ministry 00:08:50.680 --> 00:08:55.440 was something that the Spirit of God considered to be very important 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:57.680 and wants us not to miss it. 00:08:57.740 --> 00:08:59.940 John chapter 3, verse 1 through 3. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:03.740 In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea. 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:06.860 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:10.879 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:11.919 when he said, 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:14.519 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:16.700 Prepare the way of the Lord. 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:18.440 Make his path straight. 00:09:19.899 --> 00:09:20.899 And then over in Luke, 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:25.159 we find a very similar statement made by Luke. 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:27.620 Luke chapter 3, verse 2 through 5. 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:34.820 During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:36.480 the word of God came to John, 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:38.899 the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:42.259 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, 00:09:42.419 --> 00:09:46.440 proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:50.659 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, 00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:52.419 the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:54.159 Prepare the way of the Lord. 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:55.340 Make his path straight. 00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:57.259 Every valley shall be filled, 00:09:57.660 --> 00:09:59.660 and every mountain and hill shall be made low. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:01.500 The crooked shall become straight, 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:03.960 and the rough places shall become level ways, 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:07.740 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:09.820 I want you to understand, 00:10:09.940 --> 00:10:12.519 if you were to read through the Gospels 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:14.960 and get an idea of John's ministry, 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:16.660 what you would recognize is this, 00:10:16.700 --> 00:10:20.780 is that John came and made it undeniably clear 00:10:20.780 --> 00:10:24.180 that he was not the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, 00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:25.799 but he was the forerunner. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:31.219 He was coming in advance and making the ministry of Jesus that was coming to be clear. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.339 He called people to repentance, 00:10:33.859 --> 00:10:35.679 and in calling people to repentance, 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:38.899 he made it quite clear that what they had been involved in, 00:10:38.899 --> 00:10:41.559 in their behavior and practice, 00:10:41.739 --> 00:10:44.620 and the religious culture that they were living, 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:45.519 it was not adequate. 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:52.799 The superficiality of their performance in their religious Jewish issues was not sufficient, 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:53.980 and it was a call, 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:57.259 it's time to repent and make things right in your heart. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:01.579 I want you to thank me just for a moment about the message that John preached. 00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:07.720 We find that John made it very, very clear that the Messiah's coming 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:12.720 was one that required things to be changed in the environment in which he was speaking. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:16.240 Now, I want you to understand that when he makes this statement, 00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:19.519 and look in your mind, just go back to the passage in Luke, 00:11:19.540 --> 00:11:20.360 I'm going to reference it. 00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:20.700 It says, 00:11:21.460 --> 00:11:22.660 Make his path straight. 00:11:23.160 --> 00:11:24.500 Every valley shall be filled, 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:26.540 and every mountain and hill shall be made low, 00:11:26.680 --> 00:11:28.259 and the crooked become straight. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:32.000 It is talking about an ancient practice that characterized 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:34.960 when a king would come to visit some little berg. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:40.300 What would happen is that the king, 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:43.500 anticipating showing up at Columbus, so to speak, 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:46.300 would send out his advance man, 00:11:46.420 --> 00:11:48.860 and his advance man would come into the community and say, 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:54.920 By the way, King so-and-so is going to arrive on August the 29th, 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:57.940 and he is going to come from Port Columbus, 00:11:58.100 --> 00:11:59.960 and he's going to come down such and such a path, 00:12:00.280 --> 00:12:03.240 and we want you to be ready when he comes. 00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:06.799 I think about, over the years, 00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:09.899 the number of times that, while I've been here, 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:14.180 we've had a president or one of the presidential hopefuls 00:12:14.180 --> 00:12:15.220 show up here in Columbus, 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:17.960 and guess what happens when a president 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:21.600 or someone who is campaigning to become president 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:22.580 shows up in Columbus? 00:12:22.700 --> 00:12:23.320 Guess what happens? 00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:25.519 How many of you have been caught in the traffic before? 00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:29.200 You know, you decide you're going from point A to point B, 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:32.200 and you find out that there are all these police officers 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:34.759 that are being paid double time or whatever else it is, 00:12:34.900 --> 00:12:36.740 and they are blocking off the traffic, 00:12:36.900 --> 00:12:38.700 and you want to go this way, and guess what? 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.560 No, you're going this way. 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:43.300 Well, in the old days, 00:12:43.560 --> 00:12:46.680 in order to have things ready for the king, 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:48.640 what they had to do was take care of potholes. 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:51.320 They had to kind of straighten out the road, 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:52.220 you know, get everything right. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:54.560 The king was going to go from point A to point B, 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:56.519 and it was going to be a smooth path. 00:12:56.839 --> 00:12:58.319 It was going to have no bumps in it. 00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:00.419 Everything was going to be just zip, 00:13:00.619 --> 00:13:03.559 and so the village would all kind of come out 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:05.099 and fill in the potholes 00:13:05.099 --> 00:13:07.259 and make everything just perfect. 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:11.539 By the way, if they didn't, guess what happened? 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:15.839 The king would be bumping along, you see. 00:13:16.979 --> 00:13:19.339 And pretty soon, heads would roll. 00:13:19.439 --> 00:13:20.679 That was the ancient world. 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:22.779 And so Isaiah says, 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:26.779 I want you to know that there will be a messenger 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:29.059 that is going to come in front of the Messiah, 00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:34.179 and the Messiah is going to expect that things be in order. 00:13:36.699 --> 00:13:41.839 I want you to understand that John 1.8 00:13:41.839 --> 00:13:45.240 makes it very clear that John's coming 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:49.579 and John's life was all wrapped up in his ministry. 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:51.959 It says there in verse 7, 00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:54.939 He came as a witness to bear witness about the light 00:13:54.939 --> 00:13:56.919 that all might believe through him. 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:00.659 John's focus was in no way upon himself. 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:03.659 Every time John had an opportunity, 00:14:04.079 --> 00:14:06.739 he made it clear that the hero of the story 00:14:06.739 --> 00:14:08.659 was the Lord Jesus Christ who was coming. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:11.279 He was the one who would be the Savior of the world, 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:14.620 and John's ministry was always pointing attention 00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:16.159 to the coming Messiah. 00:14:17.599 --> 00:14:18.599 In verse 8, it says, 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:19.940 He was not the light, 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:23.940 but came to bear witness about the light. 00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:27.440 One of the undeniable truths about a faithful witness 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:30.300 is that the witness is not the hero of the story, 00:14:30.420 --> 00:14:32.279 and John never allowed anybody 00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:34.820 to attach any of the significance or glory 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:36.779 to what he was doing to himself. 00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:39.940 Now, it's interesting to stop and think about this, 00:14:40.040 --> 00:14:43.040 that John's ministry was atypical 00:14:43.040 --> 00:14:44.600 from many of the prophets 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:47.759 that were used in a very dramatic and significant way. 00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:49.080 I think about two in particular. 00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:50.600 One would be Elijah, 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:52.139 and the other would be Moses. 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.659 In both cases, 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:56.460 along with their public ministry, 00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:59.180 there were also some pretty dramatic what? 00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:01.100 Miracles. 00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:05.019 John was significant 00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:08.980 only in his messianic preaching 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:11.060 and his call for repentance, 00:15:11.060 --> 00:15:13.320 and it was so powerful 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:16.159 through the power of the Spirit of God 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:18.539 that he brought profound conviction. 00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:19.740 Remember? 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.360 People coming out to be baptized, 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:23.019 people one after, 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.639 just droves of them coming out, 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:28.500 and so some of the religious leaders in Jerusalem 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.879 sent people down to say, 00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.620 All right, John, 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.980 are you that prophet? 00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:36.039 Are you the one who is the forerunner? 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.259 Are you coming to... 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:37.860 He says, 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:38.339 Hey, listen, 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:39.500 no, I'm not that prophet. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:42.759 Talking about what Moses had predicted 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.980 about the coming of the Messiah. 00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:45.439 He says, 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:47.740 I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:50.740 Make straight the way of the Lord. 00:15:52.939 --> 00:15:54.259 All of John's life, 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:56.379 all that he was engaged in, 00:15:56.959 --> 00:15:59.519 was wrapped up in pointing to Christ. 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.159 And I just wonder, 00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.019 stop just for a minute 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.980 and think about your own life. 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:04.500 So how significant is the issue 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:06.340 of you making clear 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:08.820 the ministry and significance of Christ 00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:10.379 for your heart and life? 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.960 How central is it? 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:15.059 I want you to stop and think for a moment. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:16.720 Go, if you would, 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.320 to 2 Corinthians. 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:20.299 Let's cut over there for a second 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:23.220 and just mark what Paul has to say 00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:24.639 about the ministry of believers. 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:29.740 He says that we are ambassadors for Christ. 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:31.519 There in verse 20, 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:33.320 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 20, 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:33.580 it says, 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:36.220 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ. 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:38.440 God making his appeal through us, 00:16:38.560 --> 00:16:39.520 we implore you. 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.280 Now listen to me. 00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:42.780 What does it mean to implore? 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.460 What does it mean to implore? 00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:48.420 It means to beg with an earnestness 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:51.940 because in practical terms, 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:53.800 we implore when we know 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:55.620 what the outcome is going to be 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:57.780 if individuals refuse the gospel. 00:16:57.779 --> 00:17:01.740 someone shared with me earlier today 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:04.420 the blessing that an individual 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:05.639 who has been prayed for 00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:07.319 for many, many, many years 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:09.500 came to know Christ this Thursday. 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:12.279 Came to know the Lord Jesus Christ 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:14.440 against the backdrop of cancer 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:17.019 and an understanding of their life 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:19.019 being very frail and very tentative. 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.720 And in that space, 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:22.879 God's spirit brought conviction. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:24.660 And I guarantee you, 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:25.500 over the years, 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:27.360 those who have loved this individual 00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:29.240 have pled and pled and pled 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.240 and God graciously saved him. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.240 So here it says that 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:35.640 we implore you in Christ's stead, 00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:37.480 be reconciled to God. 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:40.720 So as you think about the ministry 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.099 that John the Baptist had 00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:43.360 and go back there, if you will, 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.779 to John chapter 1, 00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:46.200 you mark that John came. 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:46.980 What did he do? 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.799 He says, hey, listen, 00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:50.019 I am here to let you know 00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:51.720 that the Messiah is coming 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.160 and when he comes, 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:54.140 he is to be listened to 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:55.240 and attended to. 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.819 Well, you would think 00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:59.799 that when you had 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:01.319 hail to the chief being played, 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:03.039 that people would at least act 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.180 like they expect the president 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:05.819 to come in 00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:07.740 and show due deference and respect. 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:10.399 When you look there in verse 9, 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.419 it says the true light, 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.559 which enlightens everyone, 00:18:12.659 --> 00:18:13.559 was coming into the world. 00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:14.799 He was in the world 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:16.220 and the world was made through him, 00:18:16.419 --> 00:18:18.399 yet the world did not know him. 00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:21.000 He came to his own 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.659 and his own people 00:18:22.659 --> 00:18:23.659 did not receive him. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:25.220 And so the second thing we see 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:25.899 is first of all, 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:28.500 John's ministry of making Jesus clear 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.519 and his coming evident. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.379 But secondly, 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.339 we want to understand 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:34.740 that the light of Christ was rejected. 00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:38.220 You can't say that John 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.159 didn't make the coming 00:18:39.159 --> 00:18:40.059 of Christ clear. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.939 His ministry, public, 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:45.980 every aspect of what he was engaged in 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:47.759 was driving towards the point. 00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:48.919 The Lord Jesus, 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.339 the Messiah is coming. 00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:52.679 And when Jesus showed up 00:18:52.679 --> 00:18:53.200 on the scene, 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.759 remember what John the Baptist said? 00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.720 We're going to look at it later. 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.299 It says, 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.519 Behold the Lamb of God 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.559 that comes to what? 00:18:58.819 --> 00:19:00.339 Take away the sins of the world. 00:19:00.659 --> 00:19:01.639 That's the one. 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:05.100 And I want you to understand 00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:06.080 that John the Baptist 00:19:06.080 --> 00:19:07.680 did his job faithfully. 00:19:08.800 --> 00:19:09.840 And in the face 00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:11.500 of doing his job faithfully, 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.759 we can be certain 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:14.800 that no one in that day 00:19:14.800 --> 00:19:16.540 would ever have been able to say, 00:19:17.040 --> 00:19:17.900 I didn't know 00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:19.400 that that was the Messiah 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.640 and that his coming 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:22.420 was of any significance to me. 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.820 You can imagine, 00:19:25.820 --> 00:19:28.320 given the unbearable burden of sin 00:19:28.320 --> 00:19:29.640 and the darkness of the world 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:31.360 that was in that day 00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:33.220 and we see it in our day as well, 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:35.020 you would just stop to think 00:19:35.020 --> 00:19:37.880 that just the streaming indication of light 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:39.580 would draw people to it. 00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:42.300 It says there, 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:43.259 He was not the light 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.820 but came to bear witness about the light. 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:45.700 There is a light 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:47.300 and the light is valuable 00:19:47.300 --> 00:19:49.360 and you are to be drawn to it 00:19:49.360 --> 00:19:49.759 and yet, 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.560 when the light came into the world, 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:54.560 the light was not received by the world. 00:19:55.780 --> 00:19:57.680 The light showed up 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:01.720 and yet it was intentionally rejected by all. 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:04.380 So I want you to stop and recognize 00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.759 that what the Bible is telling us 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.860 to this point is that 00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:08.580 some 2,000 years ago, 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.660 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:11.299 burst into the blackness 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:12.460 of a sin-torn world 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:14.840 and He brought hope and salvation for all. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.620 That's what He did. 00:20:17.620 --> 00:20:18.980 And when John wrote, 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:23.279 He gives light to everyone, 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.779 what He was making clear 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.279 is that the Lord Jesus came 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:28.980 to allow the gospel ministry 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:31.519 and the impact of salvation through Him 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:33.119 to be available to all people. 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:34.279 Now I want you to recognize 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.819 that the hope of salvation 00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:37.440 in the thinking of Jews 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.879 was limited to guess who? 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:40.660 Jews. 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:43.299 And their idea was that, 00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:43.940 well, okay, 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:45.660 if you want salvation, 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.660 guess what you have to do? 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.579 You have to become a Jew. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.779 The hope of salvation 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:51.980 through the finished work of Christ 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:53.599 was not something that was limited 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:55.539 to the circumcised Jew 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.620 that wore robes 00:20:56.620 --> 00:20:58.059 and bells on their robe or whatever. 00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.700 The promise of salvation 00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:02.000 was to all who came by faith, 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:04.120 convicted of their sin 00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:06.900 and believing that the Lord Jesus Christ 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:08.400 died in their place 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:10.539 to pay the penalty for sin 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:12.740 and to satisfy the judgment of God. 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:15.480 The amazing thing that we find 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:18.500 in this passage is this. 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:21.400 The world that desperately needed 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:23.180 and still needs salvation 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:24.460 and the Jews as well 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:27.440 who had received incredible blessings 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.960 through being Abraham's children 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.720 both equally rejected the light. 00:21:31.860 --> 00:21:32.740 Look at what it says there. 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.100 He came into the world 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:35.220 and the world was made through him 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:37.000 and yet the world did not know him. 00:21:37.080 --> 00:21:38.120 It's not, I don't know him. 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.019 It's just saying I don't want him. 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.980 And verse 11, 00:21:41.060 --> 00:21:42.040 he came to his own. 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.800 He came to the Jews. 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:46.500 And what was the response of the Jews 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.500 when they recognized 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:49.019 this is the one that has come 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.960 according to promise, 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.160 according to prophecy, 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.160 they said I don't want him. 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.839 I don't want to have anything 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:53.420 to do with him. 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:56.859 And as we saw last week in John 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:58.779 and also in Romans, 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:01.579 fallen mankind does not simply 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:03.940 reject the light out of ignorance 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:05.500 but rejects the light 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:07.180 out of an intentional hardening 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:08.359 of the heart that says 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:12.259 I do not want what Christ has to offer. 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:16.420 Sinful men willingly choose 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:17.460 to reject the light 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:19.200 because of the blackness 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.279 and darkness of their heart. 00:22:20.379 --> 00:22:21.879 I remind you of what it says 00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:22.940 in John chapter 3. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.879 It says that they refuse the light. 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.140 Why? 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:27.259 Because their deeds are evil. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.700 They don't want to come to grips 00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.460 with the reality 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:32.240 of the condition of their soul 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:34.180 and when the light turns on 00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:36.200 instead of saying I need that light 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:37.680 I desperately recognize 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:39.180 the condition of my heart. 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.980 They say hey I don't want that. 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.980 I refuse it. 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.819 So let's take up the final piece 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.860 of our study this morning 00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:49.660 and understand what we find there 00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:50.940 in verse 12 and 13. 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:53.220 Here's the reality. 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:57.019 God sent John the Baptist 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.680 as the forerunner, 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:00.900 as an announcer to make it clear 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:02.640 to the unbelieving world 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:05.259 I am sending my Messiah, 00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:06.880 the Savior of the world 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:09.039 and he is available to all. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:11.200 He's the light. 00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:12.819 He's the life. 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:15.299 He's the one in whom alone 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:17.099 you have opportunity 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:18.799 of complete deliverance 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.980 for all of your sin 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:21.480 and the hope of eternity. 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.559 And in the face of that 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:25.079 beautiful, wonderful message 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.460 the unbelieving world 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.539 and unbelieving Jews said 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.519 hey I don't want anything 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.220 to do with that. 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.339 No thank you. 00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:34.699 Well, does darkness win? 00:23:35.699 --> 00:23:36.639 Does darkness win? 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:38.859 You look there in verse 12 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.179 it says, 00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:41.039 But to all who did receive him 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.980 who believed in his name 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:44.319 he gave the right 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.819 to become the children of God 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:47.740 who were born not of blood 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:50.179 nor of the will of the flesh 00:23:50.179 --> 00:23:52.139 nor of the will of man 00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:53.480 but of God. 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:55.000 And so as we look at 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.819 verse 12 and 13 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:56.920 what we are seeing here 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:59.640 is the absolute undeniable miracle 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:01.140 that salvation is. 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.519 I want you to listen 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.819 to the sweet truth that follows 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:06.200 because some have received him 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:06.920 that's what it says 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:08.480 and some will receive him 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.420 still in this day. 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.860 Some have believed in him 00:24:11.860 --> 00:24:14.319 and those who have believed in him 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.620 have become the children of God. 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.559 So let me put together 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:18.000 verse 12 and 13 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:19.460 11 and 12 this way 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.960 say that verse 11 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.840 announces what faith does 00:24:22.840 --> 00:24:24.900 and verse 12 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:26.720 tells us how faith comes. 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.759 Verse 11 says 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:30.100 what faith does 00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:31.779 verse 12 says 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.900 how faith comes. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.539 It would be easy 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.079 to look around 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.900 in the world today 00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.880 and all you got to do 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:37.759 is listen to the news 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.680 and everywhere you turn 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:41.799 you are just almost overwhelmed 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:43.680 by the unbelievable darkness 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:45.860 and cruelty of the world we see. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.380 Isn't that right? 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:49.779 It's not just in Syria 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.779 and Iraq 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.839 where people are suffering 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.579 for their faith. 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:55.099 It's not just in the Sudan 00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:56.319 and places where 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.720 where women are being 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.819 grossly abused 00:24:58.819 --> 00:25:00.079 because they're believers. 00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.619 These are not just 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.420 the only places 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.519 where the darkness 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.660 of sin exists 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.859 and the brutality 00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:06.559 of the heart 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.940 of unregenerate men 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.339 and women 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:09.139 comes to the fore. 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:11.079 Everywhere you look 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:13.420 you see the ugliness 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:15.059 of the darkness 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:15.859 of men's souls. 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.980 And as you look at that 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.720 you understand 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:20.400 man it is a horrible world 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.180 that we live in 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:22.620 and yet we understand 00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.400 as it says there 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.680 in verse 12 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.200 it says 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:25.980 verse 11 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.700 and 12 00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.660 it says 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:29.539 but to all who did receive him 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.600 who believed in his name 00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:31.720 he gave the right 00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:34.059 he gave the right 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:36.380 to become the children of God. 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.620 It's amazing at all 00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:39.360 that any 00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:40.860 any at all 00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:42.059 get the message 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.900 and receive the truth 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:45.160 and come to the light. 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:47.440 and because of this response 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:48.100 to the truth 00:25:48.100 --> 00:25:49.900 they become the children of God. 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:51.440 To receive and believe 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.840 is to respond 00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:54.460 to the truth of our sin. 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.700 To receive the truth 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.759 means to accept it 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.019 and say 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.840 I believe that that is right 00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:00.340 about me 00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:02.300 and I am in a desperate condition 00:26:02.300 --> 00:26:04.460 and I can't do anything about it. 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:07.680 Not too long ago 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.640 talking with an individual 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:09.320 about the issue 00:26:09.320 --> 00:26:10.080 of their salvation 00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:11.840 and the reality 00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:12.480 of the condition 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.080 of their soul 00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:14.000 and as we really got down 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.660 to the nitty gritty 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.380 it came out that 00:26:15.380 --> 00:26:17.039 well this person's idea 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:17.440 was that 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:17.900 hey listen 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:19.400 I'm doing the best I can 00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:22.220 and the best that I can 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.200 is good enough. 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:25.200 Well I want to tell you this 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:27.000 if mankind 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:28.259 could get to heaven 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:28.859 on the basis 00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:30.000 of their own good efforts 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.720 then Jesus would never 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.559 have had to come 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:34.319 and his dying on the cross 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.440 was an absolute waste 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.759 and exercise in futility. 00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.579 Jesus came 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:40.099 because we cannot 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:41.220 save ourselves. 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:44.120 And I want you 00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.720 to understand 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.279 the blessing 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:45.860 that comes 00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:46.980 with being God's child 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:48.100 turn over if you will 00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:49.759 you're in John chapter 1 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.720 but turn if you will 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:52.819 to 1 John chapter 3 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:54.519 1 John chapter 3 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.759 towards the very end 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.220 of the Bible 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.660 but listen to what it says 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:59.160 in 1 John chapter 3 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.160 verse 1 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:01.160 and 2 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:03.140 it says 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.720 see what kind of love 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.339 the Father 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.440 has given to us 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.480 that we should be called 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.380 the children of God. 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:12.140 and so we are 00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:14.940 and I want you 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.460 to recognize 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.120 this morning 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:17.200 when that passage 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.720 penned by John 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.100 says 00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:20.500 see what manner 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:22.060 he was kind of saying 00:27:22.060 --> 00:27:22.700 wow 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:24.140 look at that 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:26.000 that we should be called 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.640 the children of God. 00:27:28.280 --> 00:27:29.840 Does it get any better 00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:30.420 than that? 00:27:30.520 --> 00:27:31.480 And the answer is 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:31.880 no. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.220 No. 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:36.200 there was a day 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:38.400 when each of you here 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.839 that at one point 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:40.400 did not know 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:41.559 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:43.200 were a child of Satan 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:44.240 were doomed 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:45.519 to eternal destruction 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:47.539 were under the slave 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:49.160 grip of Satan 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.920 and were doing 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.819 pretty much everything 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:51.819 he wanted you to do 00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:54.160 and God in his kindness 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.860 and his mercy 00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:56.259 came to help you 00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:57.079 see the darkness 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:58.019 of your condition 00:27:58.019 --> 00:28:00.039 and he opened your eyes 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:01.420 and he gave life 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.360 to a dead heart 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.799 and he brought salvation 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.359 to you 00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:05.299 and he made you 00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:05.979 his child 00:28:05.979 --> 00:28:07.740 he blessed you 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:09.559 and John says 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.379 hey let me tell you 00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:10.679 something 00:28:10.679 --> 00:28:12.439 those who did receive him 00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:13.959 who believed in his name 00:28:13.959 --> 00:28:15.179 he gave the right 00:28:15.179 --> 00:28:16.019 to become the children 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.539 of God 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.979 well we understand 00:28:17.979 --> 00:28:18.839 what faith does 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.559 it receives 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.919 but let's also think 00:28:20.919 --> 00:28:22.599 about how this comes about 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.839 how does faith come 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:25.259 so as you look 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:26.219 at verse 13 00:28:26.219 --> 00:28:27.039 you find three 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.939 very interesting 00:28:27.939 --> 00:28:28.539 statements 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:30.079 that the apostle 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.899 makes that we need 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.319 to mark 00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:32.319 he says there 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.079 he says 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:33.819 who were born 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:35.000 not of blood 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.339 not of blood 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:38.859 there are some 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.939 different opinions 00:28:39.939 --> 00:28:40.659 of what blood 00:28:40.659 --> 00:28:41.299 has to do 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.000 with this issue 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:43.599 and some would say 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.339 that it has to do 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.220 with physical birth 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:47.399 I would take it 00:28:47.399 --> 00:28:47.819 to mean 00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:49.159 that this statement 00:28:49.159 --> 00:28:50.019 is talking about 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.619 the fact that 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.159 salvation 00:28:51.159 --> 00:28:52.159 was not something 00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:53.460 that came about 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.720 because of a certain 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.419 ethnicity 00:28:55.419 --> 00:28:58.740 why do you think 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.740 what do you think 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.460 the Jews thought 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.220 about salvation 00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.480 they thought 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:02.960 that because 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.720 they were Jews 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.680 they had what 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:07.240 salvation 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:11.079 one of the rabbis 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:12.740 taught that 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:14.740 Abraham camped 00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:16.620 towards the very end 00:29:16.620 --> 00:29:17.180 of the slide 00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:18.120 down towards hell 00:29:18.120 --> 00:29:19.279 and when he saw 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:20.259 someone skittering 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:20.900 down towards 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:21.599 eternal hell 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.519 and he noticed 00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.059 that the person 00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.859 was circumcised 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:25.019 he'd snatched that guy 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.000 because Jews 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.859 didn't go to hell 00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:28.859 and here is 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.960 John saying 00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.339 hey listen 00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:30.859 let me tell you 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.200 something 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.700 salvation is not 00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.759 something that comes 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.940 because of your 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.579 ethnicity 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.700 now we're sitting 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.139 here and we're 00:29:37.139 --> 00:29:37.619 thinking well 00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:39.019 I'm not a Jew 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:40.079 but you know 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.599 it's pretty easy 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.160 to get caught up 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:41.700 in the idea 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.700 well why am I saved 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.879 oh I tell you 00:29:43.879 --> 00:29:44.299 what I love 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.000 those testimonies 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.700 I grew up 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.180 in a Christian 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:46.480 home 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:46.900 so 00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:48.980 that's a good 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.379 thing 00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:50.480 but do people 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.019 get to heaven 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.680 because they grew 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.279 up in a Christian 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:52.980 home and the answer 00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:54.319 is not on your 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:54.759 life 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:57.920 not of blood 00:29:57.920 --> 00:30:00.879 secondly we find 00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:01.440 there it says 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.599 nor of the will 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.480 of the flesh 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:05.140 that word flesh 00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:06.279 is talking about 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:06.920 the emotions 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:08.279 and so 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:09.879 salvation is not 00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:10.559 a birthright 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:12.359 it's not a matter 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:13.700 of emotional stirring 00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.619 and I want to 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.559 make it clear 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.640 for a person 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.519 who is passionate 00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.099 about preaching 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:18.720 the gospel 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:20.519 and has no hesitation 00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.799 of being moved 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:22.440 emotionally 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.379 when I appeal 00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:23.759 to people 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.559 to come to Christ 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:25.220 I want you 00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:25.740 to understand 00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:26.279 nevertheless 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.500 that salvation 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.519 is not 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.279 an emotional 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.940 decision 00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:34.519 I've been moved 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.279 to all kinds 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:35.819 of things 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:38.399 and we need 00:30:38.399 --> 00:30:39.279 to be very careful 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.319 that we understand 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:41.119 that ultimately 00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:42.399 the issue 00:30:42.399 --> 00:30:43.079 of salvation 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.839 is not just 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:44.399 a matter of 00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:44.960 having had 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.480 an emotional 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.319 experience 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:46.960 now some of us 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.480 grew up 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.879 in an environment 00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:49.919 where if they 00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:50.299 didn't have 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.039 an adequate number 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:51.579 at the altar 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:52.000 guess what 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.279 they would 00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:52.579 do 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.920 well let me 00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.400 give you a little 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:55.720 rendition of it 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:57.299 now as we are 00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:58.500 singing verse 19 00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.680 of just as I am 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:00.720 okay 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.720 and if nobody 00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:02.640 comes for I want 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:03.980 the organist 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:04.519 this morning 00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.160 I want to get 00:31:05.160 --> 00:31:05.880 on those keys 00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.759 I want you to 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.519 play it quietly 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.339 and there's some 00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:08.859 of you out here 00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:09.500 that if you don't 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.180 come I'm coming 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:10.680 down 00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:13.039 you know 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:14.000 listen 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:17.460 can you be 00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.740 moved emotionally 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.839 to make decisions 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:21.299 and the answer 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.619 is you bet 00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:22.819 you 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:25.799 but in the 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.799 unbelieving world 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.900 we have three 00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:29.160 days in which 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:29.980 to reverse 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.960 our decision 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.400 how many of you 00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:31.980 understand that 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:33.000 I can sell you 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.019 a vacuum sweeper 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.900 that you think 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.619 is going to take 00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:36.200 you to heaven 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:37.259 but three days 00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:37.880 later you may 00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:38.640 decide you don't 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:39.160 want it 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:40.539 and you can 00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.500 say no 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:44.039 emotion 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:46.200 doesn't save us 00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:49.019 furthermore 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:51.079 it says there 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:51.980 in verse 13 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:53.599 nor of the 00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:54.960 will of man 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.900 that's talking 00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:57.240 about 00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:59.160 the intellect 00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:01.660 so 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:03.519 why did you 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.900 come to Christ 00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:06.660 well 00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:08.039 I was figuring 00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:08.380 it out 00:32:08.380 --> 00:32:10.200 I read the 00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:10.460 Bible 00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.740 it just 00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:12.279 made sense 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.180 to me 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:14.000 bada bada 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:14.340 bing 00:32:14.340 --> 00:32:14.940 I decided 00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:15.380 I'd be a 00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:15.680 Christian 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:17.900 you follow 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.220 that 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:21.340 I'm 00:32:21.340 --> 00:32:22.279 all for 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.160 apologetics 00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:26.319 but nobody 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:26.860 has ever 00:32:26.860 --> 00:32:27.299 come to 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:27.680 Christ 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:28.240 simply 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:29.500 on the 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:29.799 basis 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.120 of an 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:30.840 apologetic 00:32:30.840 --> 00:32:31.240 argument 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:31.460 do you 00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:31.640 follow 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:31.980 that 00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:33.640 dead 00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:33.920 men 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:34.440 do not 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:34.720 come 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.220 to life 00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:35.559 just 00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:36.019 because 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.440 the 00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:36.940 intellectual 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.420 argument 00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:37.740 for the 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.120 reality 00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:38.680 of God 00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:39.319 is so 00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:39.900 persuasive 00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:40.300 that they 00:32:40.300 --> 00:32:40.500 are 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.160 absolutely 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.960 crushed 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.620 by the 00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:42.960 weight 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.340 of 00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:43.840 intellect 00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:44.380 no 00:32:44.380 --> 00:32:50.300 so 00:32:50.300 --> 00:32:50.700 how are 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:50.900 men 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:51.360 saved 00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:55.440 let me 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:55.780 read it 00:32:55.780 --> 00:32:56.120 to you 00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:59.780 who were 00:32:59.780 --> 00:33:00.320 born 00:33:00.320 --> 00:33:03.420 not of 00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:03.780 blood 00:33:03.780 --> 00:33:05.200 nor of the 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:05.580 will of the 00:33:05.580 --> 00:33:06.000 flesh 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.940 nor of 00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.380 will of 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:07.700 man 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.480 but 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.259 of 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:10.119 God 00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:12.599 let me 00:33:12.599 --> 00:33:12.859 have you 00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:13.279 look at a 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:13.720 companion 00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:14.220 passage 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:14.519 I'm 00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:15.059 fired up 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.299 about 00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:15.579 this 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:16.359 so just 00:33:16.359 --> 00:33:16.900 bear with 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:17.019 me 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:17.400 turn in 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:17.519 your 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:17.799 Bible 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.460 can we 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:18.880 ever get 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:19.259 away from 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:19.539 the book 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.079 of Ephesians 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:20.460 I don't 00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.119 think so 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:23.799 Ephesians 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:24.720 chapter 2 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:30.880 the idea 00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:33.960 that salvation 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.579 is something 00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:35.120 that we 00:33:35.120 --> 00:33:35.640 can be 00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.339 manipulated 00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:37.019 emotionally 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:37.860 into deciding 00:33:37.860 --> 00:33:38.240 about 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:38.960 or we 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:39.299 can be 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:39.799 persuaded 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.500 intellectually 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.500 into deciding 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:41.860 about 00:33:41.860 --> 00:33:42.860 has no 00:33:42.860 --> 00:33:43.339 basis 00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:44.180 in the 00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:44.759 scriptures 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:47.240 because in 00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:47.720 the Bible 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:48.360 it makes it 00:33:48.360 --> 00:33:48.839 clear that 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:49.559 salvation 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.120 is of 00:33:50.120 --> 00:33:50.740 the Lord 00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:53.359 Ephesians 00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:54.099 chapter 2 00:33:54.099 --> 00:33:54.859 we start 00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:55.299 out with 00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:55.700 some pretty 00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:56.500 ugly news 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.259 it says 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:57.579 but you 00:33:57.579 --> 00:33:58.039 were dead 00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.319 in the 00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:58.900 trespasses 00:33:58.900 --> 00:33:59.440 and sins 00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.099 by the 00:34:00.099 --> 00:34:00.380 way 00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:03.140 verse 00:34:03.140 --> 00:34:03.759 number 9 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.160 of just 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:04.460 as I 00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:04.640 am 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:04.940 does it 00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:05.079 do 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:05.359 anything 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:05.839 for a 00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:06.019 dead 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.500 carcass 00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:06.880 lying in 00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:06.960 a 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:07.180 funeral 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.359 home 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:07.539 and the 00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:07.799 answer 00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.039 is 00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:08.619 no 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:08.840 no 00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.219 no 00:34:09.219 --> 00:34:12.280 putting 00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:12.920 Josh 00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:14.079 McDowell's 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:14.599 evidence 00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:15.179 that demands 00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:15.599 a verdict 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.099 on top 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.360 of the 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:16.820 casket 00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:17.579 does that 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.039 cause the 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.300 person 00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:18.739 to rise 00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:19.039 up 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:19.539 no 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:19.780 no 00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:20.159 no 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:23.659 but the 00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:24.119 God who 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.519 saves 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.420 was the 00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:25.920 one who 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:26.500 spoke 00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:27.539 and brought 00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.059 life 00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:30.259 from death 00:34:30.259 --> 00:34:32.039 and here's 00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:32.299 what it 00:34:32.299 --> 00:34:32.519 says 00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:32.799 you were 00:34:32.799 --> 00:34:33.179 dead in 00:34:33.179 --> 00:34:33.779 trespasses 00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:34.259 and sin 00:34:34.259 --> 00:34:34.599 kind of 00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:34.859 skipping 00:34:34.859 --> 00:34:35.259 ahead 00:34:35.259 --> 00:34:36.199 it says 00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:36.519 there in 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:36.980 verse 5 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:37.539 by grace 00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:37.839 you were 00:34:37.839 --> 00:34:38.159 saved 00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:38.440 and then 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:38.819 in verse 00:34:38.819 --> 00:34:39.239 7 00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:40.559 and verse 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:40.819 8 it 00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:41.000 says 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:42.119 for by grace 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.619 you have 00:34:42.619 --> 00:34:43.199 been saved 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:43.799 through faith 00:34:43.799 --> 00:34:44.759 and so that 00:34:44.759 --> 00:34:45.519 we don't 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:46.559 get confused 00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:47.599 with the 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:48.019 natural 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.599 tendency 00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.319 of 00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:49.980 kind of 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.480 taking a 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:50.820 little bit 00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:51.140 of credit 00:34:51.140 --> 00:34:51.340 to 00:34:51.340 --> 00:34:51.760 ourself 00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:52.000 here's 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.260 what it 00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:52.500 says 00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:52.880 in verse 00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:53.220 8 the 00:34:53.220 --> 00:34:53.780 latter part 00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:54.580 and this 00:34:54.580 --> 00:34:55.240 is not 00:34:55.240 --> 00:34:56.260 of your 00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:56.780 own 00:34:56.780 --> 00:34:57.380 doing 00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:58.200 it is 00:34:58.200 --> 00:34:58.500 the 00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:58.900 what 00:34:58.900 --> 00:35:00.120 the gift 00:35:00.120 --> 00:35:00.660 of God 00:35:00.660 --> 00:35:05.180 not the 00:35:05.180 --> 00:35:05.720 result of 00:35:05.720 --> 00:35:06.180 works 00:35:06.180 --> 00:35:07.600 so that 00:35:07.600 --> 00:35:07.980 no may 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.340 boast 00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:09.039 god 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.039 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.039 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.039 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.039 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.039 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.039 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:10.000 god 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.640 god 00:35:10.640 --> 00:35:10.640 00:35:10.640 --> 00:35:12.539 god 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.539 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:22.940 god 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:22.940 00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:44.960 and if we who are sitting here this morning 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:47.680 stop to consider the reality of our salvation 00:35:47.680 --> 00:35:51.620 and the fact that we who once were the children of slavery 00:35:51.620 --> 00:35:53.860 once the children of Satan 00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:58.100 to recognize that we enjoy personal relationship 00:35:58.100 --> 00:36:00.600 with the Lord and creator of this universe 00:36:00.600 --> 00:36:03.579 it is because salvation is of the Lord 00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:06.500 and he in his grace saved us 00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:11.260 so what obligation does that bring to us 00:36:11.260 --> 00:36:13.599 do you know what it does 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:19.000 first of all to be individuals who with gladness proclaim 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:21.559 the wonder and majesty of our Savior 00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:25.099 we ought to spend the rest of our life 00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:27.760 in a spirit of thanksgiving say wow 00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:31.099 I can't believe he loves me and he's given me salvation 00:36:31.099 --> 00:36:34.320 and I want the rest of you to find out about the one I love 00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:37.660 secondly 00:36:37.660 --> 00:36:41.220 because we have been saved by his grace 00:36:41.220 --> 00:36:43.820 we also have a burden and an obligation 00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:47.120 to live lives that do not complicate the gospel 00:36:47.120 --> 00:36:48.140 do you follow what I'm saying 00:36:48.140 --> 00:36:49.760 hey listen 00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:51.900 if you live like a skunk 00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:53.160 Monday through Saturday 00:36:53.160 --> 00:36:55.820 you don't have much power to do anything 00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:57.559 other than drive people away 00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:59.300 from the sweetness of the gospel 00:36:59.300 --> 00:37:04.120 if your vocabulary is a shame to the Lord Jesus Christ 00:37:04.120 --> 00:37:05.120 where you work 00:37:05.120 --> 00:37:08.120 don't expect to have much of an impact 00:37:08.120 --> 00:37:10.380 on people who desperately need Christ 00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:15.580 and we who have been saved by the Lord Jesus 00:37:15.580 --> 00:37:18.340 have a longing 00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:21.200 to see the one who has loved us 00:37:21.200 --> 00:37:22.660 and the one who has saved us 00:37:22.660 --> 00:37:25.160 high and exalted and lifted up 00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:26.619 and we want to be able to say 00:37:26.619 --> 00:37:29.339 that's the one I love 00:37:29.339 --> 00:37:33.339 that's the one who can save 00:37:33.339 --> 00:37:38.799 and so let me close 00:37:38.799 --> 00:37:40.379 with this question 00:37:40.379 --> 00:37:42.259 first of all 00:37:42.259 --> 00:37:42.940 do you know him 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:45.500 are you sitting here today 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:47.239 as one who by the grace of God 00:37:47.239 --> 00:37:48.940 has come to know the Lord Jesus Christ 00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:50.179 then here's the truth 00:37:50.179 --> 00:37:52.119 you have been saved for a purpose 00:37:52.119 --> 00:37:53.319 like John the Baptist 00:37:53.319 --> 00:37:54.199 of saying 00:37:54.199 --> 00:37:55.639 come to the Lord Jesus 00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:56.839 that you might have forgiveness 00:37:56.839 --> 00:37:57.900 for all of your sins 00:37:57.900 --> 00:38:00.500 and if you're here today 00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:01.779 and you do not know Christ 00:38:01.779 --> 00:38:02.500 you may have grown up 00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:03.259 in a Christian home 00:38:03.259 --> 00:38:04.859 you may have been baptized 00:38:04.859 --> 00:38:07.719 you may know all the Bible verses 00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:08.759 but here's the truth of the matter 00:38:08.759 --> 00:38:10.179 you have never had 00:38:10.179 --> 00:38:11.440 the transforming power 00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:12.500 of the gospel 00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:13.539 change your life 00:38:13.539 --> 00:38:14.679 bring conviction 00:38:14.679 --> 00:38:16.239 and then deliverance 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:16.940 and salvation 00:38:16.940 --> 00:38:18.759 and you've never been able to 00:38:18.759 --> 00:38:19.880 in reality say 00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:21.679 Jesus is my savior 00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:22.960 and I know him 00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:25.440 I would plead with you 00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:25.919 this morning 00:38:25.919 --> 00:38:26.599 where you sit 00:38:26.599 --> 00:38:28.759 you humble yourself 00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:29.119 and say 00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:30.659 I need Jesus desperately 00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:33.440 I'm fooling myself 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:36.159 and I'm not going to do it anymore 00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:38.419 and you plead with him 00:38:38.419 --> 00:38:38.940 to save you 00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:39.480 where you sit 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:40.379 let's bow our heads 00:38:40.379 --> 00:38:43.179 our father God 00:38:43.179 --> 00:38:43.659 this morning 00:38:43.659 --> 00:38:44.599 we are very thankful 00:38:44.599 --> 00:38:45.279 for the blessing 00:38:45.279 --> 00:38:45.980 of your word 00:38:45.980 --> 00:38:46.919 that makes it clear 00:38:46.919 --> 00:38:48.179 that the Lord Jesus 00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:49.519 is the light of the world 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:52.079 we're thankful 00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:52.940 that salvation 00:38:52.940 --> 00:38:53.539 is something 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:54.420 that you do 00:38:54.420 --> 00:38:55.400 first of all 00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.460 by convicting us 00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.119 of our sin 00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:58.139 and bringing us 00:38:58.139 --> 00:38:58.599 to the point 00:38:58.599 --> 00:38:59.719 of seeing the absolute 00:38:59.719 --> 00:39:00.420 darkness 00:39:00.420 --> 00:39:01.179 and bankruptcy 00:39:01.179 --> 00:39:02.099 of our soul 00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:05.119 and in the misery 00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:06.019 of that conviction 00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:08.820 you graciously lift up 00:39:08.820 --> 00:39:09.300 the truth 00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:10.480 that the Lord Jesus Christ 00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:11.480 came into the world 00:39:11.480 --> 00:39:12.659 to save sinners 00:39:12.659 --> 00:39:15.039 and he paid the penalty 00:39:15.039 --> 00:39:15.940 for my sin 00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:17.399 and for all of our sins 00:39:17.399 --> 00:39:19.139 and he offers salvation 00:39:19.139 --> 00:39:20.239 to whosoever 00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:22.239 will call upon 00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:23.639 the name of the Lord 00:39:23.639 --> 00:39:26.440 and I would plead 00:39:26.440 --> 00:39:27.000 with you father 00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:27.559 this morning 00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:28.399 that you would honor 00:39:28.399 --> 00:39:29.039 your son 00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:32.719 by drawing to the cross 00:39:32.719 --> 00:39:34.699 those that are here 00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:35.339 that are broken 00:39:35.339 --> 00:39:36.000 in their sin 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:37.000 and desperately need 00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:37.699 the Lord Jesus 00:39:37.699 --> 00:39:40.799 we ask this in Jesus name 00:39:40.799 --> 00:39:41.599 Amen 00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:43.319 I'm going to ask 00:39:43.319 --> 00:39:44.079 that you stand together 00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:45.119 as we sing in closing 00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:47.119 let's stand 00:39:47.119 --> 00:39:49.059 and if you're here 00:39:49.059 --> 00:39:49.539 this morning 00:39:49.539 --> 00:39:50.360 and the spirit of God 00:39:50.360 --> 00:39:51.339 is addressing an issue 00:39:51.339 --> 00:39:52.179 you need to care for 00:39:52.179 --> 00:39:52.739 publicly 00:39:52.739 --> 00:39:53.839 it might be 00:39:53.839 --> 00:39:54.519 that you're here 00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:55.360 and you need Christ 00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:56.420 as your personal savior 00:39:56.420 --> 00:39:57.139 I don't know 00:39:57.139 --> 00:39:58.119 the condition of your heart 00:39:58.119 --> 00:39:59.679 but the spirit of God does 00:39:59.679 --> 00:40:00.880 and if you're here 00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:01.880 and you need Christ 00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:02.559 to save you 00:40:02.559 --> 00:40:04.000 then you humble yourself 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:05.360 and cry out for him 00:40:05.360 --> 00:40:05.940 to do that 00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:07.940 and if you want to share 00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:08.420 that with us 00:40:08.420 --> 00:40:09.099 you come forward 00:40:09.099 --> 00:40:09.779 and have somebody 00:40:09.779 --> 00:40:10.559 pray with you 00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:11.259 and encourage you 00:40:11.260 --> 00:40:11.920 from the scriptures 00:40:11.920 --> 00:40:13.560 it might be 00:40:13.560 --> 00:40:14.320 that you're here 00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:15.200 and you are 00:40:15.200 --> 00:40:16.140 a child of God 00:40:16.140 --> 00:40:17.720 but you've not connected 00:40:17.720 --> 00:40:18.800 to a body of believers 00:40:18.800 --> 00:40:19.820 and let me tell you something 00:40:19.820 --> 00:40:21.940 being part of the local church 00:40:21.940 --> 00:40:22.940 is important 00:40:22.940 --> 00:40:24.840 and you're willing 00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:25.540 to humble yourself 00:40:25.540 --> 00:40:25.840 and say 00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:27.000 I'm willing to take that step 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:28.740 you come forward 00:40:28.740 --> 00:40:29.920 it might be 00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:30.820 that you need to be baptized 00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:31.500 in obedience 00:40:31.500 --> 00:40:32.540 you've come to faith 00:40:32.540 --> 00:40:34.080 but you've never publicly 00:40:34.080 --> 00:40:35.540 made that an issue 00:40:35.540 --> 00:40:36.780 that you have acted upon 00:40:36.780 --> 00:40:37.440 with baptism 00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:38.100 and I encourage you 00:40:38.100 --> 00:40:38.900 to take care of that 00:40:38.900 --> 00:40:40.360 as we sing this song 00:40:40.360 --> 00:40:40.860 in closing 00:40:40.860 --> 00:41:01.420 what can take a dying man 00:41:01.420 --> 00:41:05.240 and raise him up to life again 00:41:05.240 --> 00:41:09.019 what can heal a wounded soul 00:41:09.019 --> 00:41:12.860 what can make us white a stone 00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:16.159 what can fill the emptiness 00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:22.039 what can mend our brokenness 00:41:22.039 --> 00:41:27.840 brokenness 00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:31.579 mighty awesome 00:41:31.579 --> 00:41:33.960 wonderful 00:41:33.960 --> 00:41:40.800 is the holy cross 00:41:40.800 --> 00:41:42.940 mighty is the power of the cross 00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:45.260 mighty is the power of the cross 00:41:45.260 --> 00:42:10.780 mighty is the power of the cross 00:42:10.780 --> 00:42:14.240 what can lead the cross 00:42:14.240 --> 00:42:17.420 what restores our faith in God 00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:21.260 what reveals the Father's love 00:42:21.260 --> 00:42:25.040 what can lead the wayward home 00:42:25.040 --> 00:42:28.860 what can melt a heart of stone 00:42:28.860 --> 00:42:32.700 what can free the guilty ones 00:42:32.700 --> 00:42:35.280 what can save and own