WEBVTT 00:00:00.860 --> 00:00:07.879 We are making a little bit of adjustments on the stage, and so you saw me stumble going up. 00:00:08.140 --> 00:00:10.140 ! I'm wondering if some of them will stumble going down. 00:00:10.140 --> 00:00:21.460 We're making some changes so that in the future many of our fellowship can join in kind of the, what would you call it, ad hoc choir? 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:37.320 A round-town choir. Okay, we want many of you to participate from week to week so that our singing, and by the way, one of the very best places to be when our congregation is singing is up here. 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:48.060 Because you get to enjoy seeing the hearts and the affection of people coming this way for the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:55.760 And as we sing together, our hearts are lifted up, and man, it is a blessing to be up here front and hear what God is doing in your hearts. 00:00:56.160 --> 00:01:01.920 I want you to turn in your Bibles this morning to John chapter 6 and put your finger there on verse 51. 00:01:02.140 --> 00:01:08.760 I'm going to read just a little bit to kind of frame the text that we're going to be studying together. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:14.020 How many of you know, everybody look up and smile at me just for a moment. 00:01:14.019 --> 00:01:18.459 I know that smiling is a stretch for some, but go ahead, just force it. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:25.379 How many of you know that pastors are facial readers? 00:01:26.859 --> 00:01:27.799 You know what I'm saying? 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:35.439 You remember when in Nehemiah, Nehemiah came into the presence of the king, and the king said, 00:01:35.539 --> 00:01:39.479 What's the deal with you, bud? Your face is really downcast. 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:52.140 Evidently, Nehemiah had been, for most of the time, a pretty joyful, confident, happy person. 00:01:54.200 --> 00:02:01.420 And the fact that his countenance was fallen was so out of the ordinary that the king was really concerned. 00:02:03.100 --> 00:02:03.580 Okay. 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:06.540 Was Nehemiah a Christian? What's the answer? 00:02:06.540 --> 00:02:07.540 Yes. 00:02:07.540 --> 00:02:13.200 Did Nehemiah have reason to be happy in God as a general rule? 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:14.800 The answer is yes. 00:02:15.700 --> 00:02:23.420 So, if Nehemiah is an illustration of what generally happy and contented Christians are like, 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:31.379 you should understand why a pastor would be concerned if Sunday morning he comes to the pulpit, 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:37.379 and he looks out and he sees people who are professing believers who are profoundly downcast. 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:43.019 It makes me wonder, what's the burden of your heart? 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:46.699 That's what I should care about. 00:02:46.739 --> 00:02:47.239 Isn't that right? 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:47.719 All right. 00:02:48.600 --> 00:02:49.280 Nod your heads. 00:02:49.420 --> 00:02:49.659 Nod your heads. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:51.240 Just do it whether you feel it or not. 00:02:51.540 --> 00:02:51.860 Yes. 00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:53.700 I should care about you. 00:02:54.340 --> 00:02:54.920 And I do. 00:02:55.800 --> 00:03:01.120 And by the way, I got to tell you that this morning we get to look at a passage that reminds us of somebody 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:04.580 that cares far more about us than Tim Kenoyer ever will. 00:03:05.040 --> 00:03:06.460 That's the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:18.920 And in John chapter 6, we find Jesus just stepping right forward into this issue of making his purposes in our life clear. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:24.180 John 6, verse 51. 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:28.319 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:33.719 If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever, and the bread that I will give, 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:36.159 for the life of the world is my flesh. 00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:40.219 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:43.860 You know, that's not in the text. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:45.579 But just to give you a, they're irritated, okay? 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:49.759 How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:51.780 So Jesus said to them, 00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:57.939 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 00:03:57.939 --> 00:04:09.419 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:10.819 Let's pray. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:23.659 Our Father God, prayer for us is not a habit, a routine, an obligation, a means of starting a sermon in a formal way, 00:04:23.660 --> 00:04:32.880 but it is a happy declaration of our absolute dependence upon you to work in us and through us. 00:04:34.300 --> 00:04:36.220 And so we come to ask your enabling. 00:04:37.260 --> 00:04:43.379 We come to ask that you would use your word and that your spirit would draw attention to areas in our life 00:04:43.379 --> 00:04:49.699 where we have lessons yet to learn or we have sins to care for, to confess and to forsake. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:57.040 Where we have matters in our behavior and our attitudes towards you and towards one another 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:04.040 that deeply grieve the spirit and compromise the effectiveness of our testimony 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:08.719 and the brief journey that you have for each of us here before we go home to be with you. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:17.580 And so we pray, and we pray with expectation that your spirit would work to lift up the Lord Jesus Christ 00:05:17.580 --> 00:05:24.300 and having not seen him, we may grow to love him more as a result of his work in us this morning. 00:05:24.980 --> 00:05:27.740 And we're going to give you glory in advance for what you will do. 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:30.320 And we pray this in Jesus' name. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:31.320 Amen. 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:38.540 Now, as you look at this passage in John chapter 6, verse 51 through 61, 00:05:38.719 --> 00:05:44.699 what we are looking at is a larger portion of text beginning actually in chapter 6 00:05:44.699 --> 00:05:51.339 where Jesus, remember, he fed the multitude, provided food for probably about 20,000 people. 00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:57.360 And on the heels of that, there was a large group of people that wanted him to do a follow-up, 00:05:57.500 --> 00:05:58.839 an encore, another meal. 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:01.000 And he resisted that. 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:04.179 Instead of accommodating their desire, by the way, you'll remember, 00:06:04.479 --> 00:06:09.060 he also wanted to take or they wanted to take him and make him king. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:12.219 They didn't like what they were enduring under the Roman government, 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:16.019 and they particularly liked the fact that here was free food, reasonable stuff. 00:06:16.339 --> 00:06:21.419 And they thought, well, hey, if we can force him to accommodate us, we're just in a good space. 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:28.540 And Jesus dealt with their very, very shallow and very self-centered materialistic thinking, 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:35.319 and he really drove home the point that their need was not material and superficial or physical, 00:06:35.580 --> 00:06:37.000 but their need was spiritual. 00:06:38.300 --> 00:06:40.620 And he made a very stunning statement. 00:06:40.780 --> 00:06:45.120 They had said, hey, listen, our fathers ate bread in the wilderness. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:49.120 You know, they had that big thing with Moses going on, manna every day. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:53.079 And when they brought that up, you'll remember what Jesus said to them. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:55.600 He said, by the way, Moses was not the one who did that. 00:06:56.259 --> 00:06:57.019 Who did it? 00:06:57.420 --> 00:06:57.860 God. 00:06:58.699 --> 00:07:00.560 And then he walks on beyond that. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:02.860 He says, let's get this clear. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:04.920 I'm the bread of life. 00:07:05.540 --> 00:07:06.660 I'm the bread of life. 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:09.960 And whosoever believes in me is going to have life. 00:07:10.080 --> 00:07:18.920 And he made it undeniably clear that he was the center of the hope and the desire and the need of every living person. 00:07:19.700 --> 00:07:21.500 Now, that was a little unsettling. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:26.300 And so you would imagine that in the face of people kind of getting a little wigged out 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:32.320 and irritated by his straightforward comment on their spiritual needs, they'd back away from it. 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:33.760 That's not the way Jesus was. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:40.120 He was not a politician who kind of was putting his finger to the wind to try to figure out what people were interested in 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:42.159 and talking about that at the given moment. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:49.339 He was right on point helping people understand that at the heart of their need was their spiritual condition 00:07:49.339 --> 00:07:51.319 and the darkness of their soul. 00:07:53.219 --> 00:07:58.959 And as this matter of bread rolls out and plays out, you find that instead of softening the gospel, 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:02.539 Jesus doubled down on it and made it even clearer. 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:05.420 And that's what we're looking at here in verse 51. 00:08:05.580 --> 00:08:05.760 He says, 00:08:05.960 --> 00:08:09.280 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:14.000 If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:21.160 And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. 00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:26.300 So as we take up the text here this morning, I want you to recognize for one thing, 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:34.660 Jesus in this passage is actually letting those who were listening to him know that he was going to die for them. 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:43.440 The statement actually ended up being something that went quite top over top of the heads of the thinking of the Jewish listeners. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:47.320 And they ended up actually grumbling among themselves. 00:08:47.780 --> 00:08:53.860 Instead of backing away from the tension of these people who misunderstood, we find that Jesus even takes it further. 00:08:54.400 --> 00:08:58.700 Not only does he say at the beginning of verse 51, I'm the living bread that came down from heaven, 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:00.300 but towards the end he says, 00:09:00.299 --> 00:09:04.740 And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:06.479 My flesh. 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:12.939 He makes it undeniably clear that his life would be given for them. 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:14.899 That he was going to die. 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:18.719 And serve as a sacrifice for them. 00:09:19.219 --> 00:09:24.959 And I want you to understand that when he spoke about this matter of being the bread of life, 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:29.660 he was using an imagery that people very well understood. 00:09:29.920 --> 00:09:34.600 In the ancient world, food was not something that was kind of taken for granted. 00:09:35.560 --> 00:09:40.259 It was something that people depended upon as much as we do. 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:44.519 But the truth of the matter is, is that we think in terms of, 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.160 so what am I going to have for dinner? 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:48.879 It's not a question of, will I have dinner? 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:50.360 It's a question of what? 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:54.560 Well, am I going to have fried chicken? 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:59.800 Or am I going to have pork chops that are covered in almonds or whatever else it is? 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:03.300 Or am I going to have, you know, roast beef and potatoes? 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:06.639 We're all thinking about the dinner, not as if, 00:10:07.060 --> 00:10:09.539 Oh, maybe I'm going to eat and maybe I'm not. 00:10:09.620 --> 00:10:10.940 It's just like, what's the menu? 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:18.360 In the ancient world, the issue of food was much more tenuous. 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:21.180 And it was something that people thought a lot about. 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:24.060 And when Jesus said, I am the bread of life, 00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:28.320 You're the one who I am absolutely dependent on. 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:30.700 And without you, I'm not going to survive. 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:33.800 And here he is making that statement. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:38.600 He says, and the bread that I'm going to give for you is my flesh. 00:10:38.700 --> 00:10:39.860 I am going to die. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:40.860 And that's what he was saying. 00:10:41.139 --> 00:10:42.080 I'm going to die. 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:44.379 And my death is going to meet your need. 00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:50.100 You see, when he spoke about bread, they were thinking about Moses and the manna. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:55.620 He made it clear that the bread that he was referring to was something more significant, 00:10:55.840 --> 00:11:00.939 more necessary, and of eternal significance, 00:11:01.059 --> 00:11:06.200 namely dealing with their spiritual condition and their need for eternal salvation. 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:11.840 You see, what he was saying is that his death was going to give life-giving power 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:16.040 to those who received by faith the bread that he had to offer. 00:11:16.420 --> 00:11:21.160 And what his point was is this, is that his crucifixion and faith in his finished work 00:11:21.160 --> 00:11:24.220 is really the only thing that brings eternal life. 00:11:24.300 --> 00:11:25.840 Now, I want you to have that fixed in your mind. 00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:31.879 His crucifixion, his death on the cross, that was what he was predicting was going to happen. 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:35.200 His death on the cross and his finished work. 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:36.600 Now, what does finished work mean? 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:40.220 What does it mean when work is finished? 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:43.360 How many of you have left? 00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:45.580 This is one of the things I'm very good at. 00:11:45.899 --> 00:11:48.600 I'm good at doing a project but not finishing it. 00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:50.320 Do you know what finishing a project means? 00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:55.860 It means actually picking up the tools that you used to do the project with. 00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:59.340 Are there any wives out here that identify with unfinished projects? 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:02.280 I see those hands in the crowd. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:03.160 Put them down. 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:04.040 Okay? 00:12:05.160 --> 00:12:06.580 Judith, you didn't put your hand up. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:07.700 Thank you very, very much. 00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:08.840 Okay, I appreciate that. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:10.759 See, finished work means it's all done. 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:11.879 It's completely done. 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:22.740 And his crucifixion, his faith, his finished work on the cross was the only thing that is 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:23.920 going to bring eternal life. 00:12:24.300 --> 00:12:27.820 And how is it that a person goes to heaven when they die? 00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:27.900 Why? 00:12:28.900 --> 00:12:33.520 It certainly was not by eating manna because one of the things that Jesus had spoken about 00:12:33.520 --> 00:12:36.800 earlier, look there in verse 49, just back up a little bit. 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:40.260 He says, your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and guess what? 00:12:41.160 --> 00:12:41.940 They're dead. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.460 Manna didn't do the trick. 00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:47.660 And here's Jesus talking about, I am the bread of life. 00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:52.640 And the point he makes is, let me tell you something, the ones that eat of the bread that 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:55.679 I give, in verse 50, will not die. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.639 They're not going to die. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:02.939 And what Jesus was saying is this, is that salvation is through what he had done for them 00:13:02.939 --> 00:13:05.960 and he has done. 00:13:06.199 --> 00:13:09.659 And it's not through what man can do. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:11.620 Now stop just for a moment. 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:18.000 Because I want you to understand that when Jesus was speaking to the Jews, the thing that 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:23.759 the Jews found profoundly irritating was not just that he said, I am the bread of life, 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.440 I am the son of God. 00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:31.720 The thing that they found profoundly irritating was that he was telling them they had no part 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:34.679 to play in bringing about their own salvation. 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:35.399 What do you mean? 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:41.759 You mean all the good that I am doing in and of itself does not secure me eternal life? 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:44.740 We bump into people on a regular basis. 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:48.980 You and I, when we talk to them about their salvation, we say, why is it that God should 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:49.779 let you into heaven? 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:51.419 Their standard answer is what? 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.819 Well, I've been a pretty good person. 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:56.039 I'm doing the best I can. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:59.740 I'm sure that God grades on the curve and I'm just above the bump. 00:13:59.819 --> 00:14:00.480 You know how it is? 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:05.580 We bump into all kinds of people who think that the basis for getting to heaven is on 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:10.120 the basis or on the frame of their own merit and their own effort. 00:14:11.180 --> 00:14:14.240 And Jesus said, hey, listen, I'm the living bread. 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:17.320 I'm the one that has to do this for you. 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:20.159 And I love the gospel that Jesus shared that day. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:23.159 He made it clear that he was the way to God. 00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:29.019 He was the only one that men could depend upon to save them from their sins. 00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:31.240 And listen to what he says in verse 53. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.179 He said, truly, truly. 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:36.199 And by the way, the word truly, truly is really knocking it to him, right? 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:40.259 It's like, I'll try the English, the King James, verily, verily. 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:42.399 How many of you like verily, verilys? 00:14:43.199 --> 00:14:47.840 Verily, verilys are kind of like shaking your finger in a person's face and saying, get this, 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:48.379 right? 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:50.159 Verily, verily. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.240 Truly, truly. 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:57.600 Jesus says, I want you to be sure you understand, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:02.639 drink His blood, you will have no life in you. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:03.919 Boom. 00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:06.840 Now, what was the takeaway from that? 00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:14.720 Follow with me here, if you will, just for a moment, at the attitude that the Jews had towards 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:14.980 that. 00:15:15.060 --> 00:15:16.860 They already find this in verse 52. 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:22.560 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? 00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:26.259 They were arguing. 00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:28.379 Can you imagine what the argument was? 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:32.240 There was a group of people who were saying, hold it, hold it. 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:34.980 When he said that, he was speaking metaphorically. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:36.279 How many of you know what a metaphor is? 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:36.779 Raise your hand. 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:37.820 Jared, where are you? 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.700 Jared, wave your hand. 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:42.180 He's in the nursery. 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:43.019 Tell him to wave his hand. 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:43.580 Okay. 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:45.960 What is a metaphor? 00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:55.139 A metaphor is a set of words that are not to be taken literally because they are communicating 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.660 something else. 00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:59.180 I'm as serious as a heart attack. 00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:03.800 Now, that's a picture that tells you I'm really what? 00:16:04.680 --> 00:16:05.320 Serious. 00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:09.700 There are many metaphors in the Bible. 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:14.300 And so you had one side who were saying, hold it, hold it. 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:19.200 Jesus is really telling us that he's going to walk up a piece of his arm and make us eat 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:19.460 that. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:20.879 I'm gag. 00:16:21.020 --> 00:16:21.460 No. 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:25.860 There's another part that we're saying, what he is saying, he's using a figure of speech. 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.879 He's using a metaphor. 00:16:27.400 --> 00:16:28.740 Don't take him literally. 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.700 He's trying to tell us something. 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:34.620 And they were arguing back and forth between themselves, kind of on the side. 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:39.060 And Jesus says, let me step into that and let you understand, you better get it. 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.340 You have to eat my flesh. 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.500 You have to drink my blood. 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:44.159 Without that, you're not going to have life. 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:49.720 Now, let's step into this just a little bit further because there's a very interesting argument 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:53.659 that plays out in our culture today in relationship to that. 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.720 It's a fruitless argument. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:17:01.660 There are some who actually believe that when Jesus spoke these words of eating his flesh 00:17:01.660 --> 00:17:05.319 and drinking his blood, he actually meant them literally. 00:17:06.600 --> 00:17:13.799 The thought is that when people take communion in churches, not the pastor. 00:17:13.860 --> 00:17:18.839 The pastor doesn't have the ability to do this, but a priest has the ability of actually turning 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:24.519 the bread that is on the table and the juice that is in the cup into the literal. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:26.259 Now, what do I mean by literal? 00:17:28.179 --> 00:17:36.299 The real, the actual, into the actual bread and blood, the body and blood of Jesus. 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:43.220 They believe in something called transubstantiation. 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:46.220 That's a fancy word for changing substance. 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:51.039 Chains from bread and juice to flesh and blood. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:54.079 And they say, well, how come you believe that? 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:56.059 Well, look at this passage. 00:17:57.319 --> 00:18:05.799 Jesus said, verse 53, unless you eat the flesh and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:11.460 Now, I want to make two points in relationship to that to help you understand that when Jesus 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:17.299 said this in this passage that we're looking at, he was speaking metaphorically. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:24.539 He was using a figure of speech to communicate an idea that we all need to understand, and he 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:31.700 was not speaking about actually eating his flesh and drinking his blood. 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:35.880 Number one, when he said this, who did he say it to? 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:38.140 Who did he say it to? 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.600 He said it to a vast majority of unbelievers. 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:45.940 And he was speaking to unbelievers not about communion. 00:18:47.060 --> 00:18:48.300 He hadn't died yet. 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:51.140 The Last Supper had not been instituted. 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:58.160 He was speaking to them about the matter of their faith at the moment in him as the Savior 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:00.920 of the world, not about actual flesh and blood. 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:08.340 Now, furthermore, if you will turn in your Bible over to 1 Corinthians chapter 11, we're 00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:09.000 here in John. 00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:10.600 Keep your finger because we're coming back. 00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:16.200 But let's see it in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 where the apostle corrects a misunderstanding 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:19.680 that was in the church regarding the matter of the Lord's table. 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:23.440 What's the purpose for which we take communion? 00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:29.900 24 and 25, it says this, when he'd given thanks, he broke it and said, this is my body which 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:32.780 is for you, do this in, what's the next word? 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:34.540 Remembrance. 00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:36.680 In other words, hey, I want you to remember. 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.019 I want you to remember. 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:43.600 The purpose of the Lord's table is a reminder to us. 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:44.680 How many of you need reminders? 00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:47.200 How many of you need reminders? 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.800 Hey, just try this out. 00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:53.040 How many of you on occasion get into your car and don't put the buckle on, the seat belt? 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:53.980 All right? 00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:57.820 What happens when you don't put the buckle on, the seat belt? 00:19:57.820 --> 00:19:58.519 What happens? 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:04.580 I mean, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:10.100 And you think, eventually, in the old days, how many of you remember when that didn't go 00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:11.120 off all the time? 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:14.140 And you could just eventually, you could connect it behind you. 00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:14.960 How many of you ever did that? 00:20:15.040 --> 00:20:16.860 Connect it behind you and just got in the car anyway? 00:20:17.300 --> 00:20:20.340 You know, it's like, but now they have it so it's idiot proof. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:22.019 You know, well, I shouldn't say that, but I mean, okay. 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.740 Okay? 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:22.859 Okay? 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:27.579 It just reminds you forever, you better suck it up and buckle up. 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:29.299 We need reminders. 00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.160 We need reminders. 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:38.580 And so we find out in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 that the Lord's table is not actually eating 00:20:38.580 --> 00:20:42.120 the real flesh and drinking the real blood of Jesus. 00:20:42.360 --> 00:20:45.200 It is reminding ourselves of what He did for us. 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:48.500 Now, there's another little part that I want you to understand. 00:20:48.600 --> 00:20:52.240 Go back to John chapter 6, verse 56. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:21:03.240 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood, if you take those two words literally, it just 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:07.579 follows logically that you at least ought to take the rest of the verse literally. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.039 Okay? 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.500 Let me read it for you again. 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:15.799 Whoever feeds my flesh, chomp, chomp, chomp, drinks my blood, sip, sip, sip, abides where? 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.920 Abides where? 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:19.240 Yeah. 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.519 How can you be in Jesus? 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:24.720 Have you ever had to explain to little kids what it means to have Jesus in your heart? 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:25.960 Have you ever done that? 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.879 Mommy, how can I have Jesus in my heart? 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:32.740 I mean, you know, how can He be in me? 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:36.039 And by the way, let me tell you something. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:40.160 This issue of Christ in us, the hope of glory, is huge in the Scriptures. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:46.299 It is at the core of the Christian life. 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:55.119 But most of us, by the time we're this age, understand that that phrase, Christ in you, 00:21:55.299 --> 00:22:01.119 is not talking about a physical abiding. 00:22:01.379 --> 00:22:07.440 It's talking about a relationship that we have with Him, and He is at work in us. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:14.799 So, I do want you to understand, and my apology for this lingering cough. 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:18.180 I am very thankful for Zithromax. 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:20.240 But here we are. 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:26.539 This is a fruitless argument to get caught up in, well, we're actually talking about the real flesh, 00:22:26.580 --> 00:22:28.380 and we're really talking about the blood. 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:33.760 What Jesus was saying when people were struggling with this issue of salvation, 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:37.120 He said, listen, you don't have life apart from Me. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.860 You cannot live apart from Me. 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:49.120 Well, on the basis of that, having made that statement that salvation is in this relationship 00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:52.960 that we have by faith in Christ alone, 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:58.120 Christ then takes the remainder of the passage that we're going to study, 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:02.600 and He deals out four blessings that come to us in salvation. 00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:07.220 And I love the fact that Jesus, in this context, 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:12.559 gives us an indication of what are the blessings that we have in our relationship with Him. 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:13.980 We need to be reminded occasionally. 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:15.840 We need to be reminded. 00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:18.779 And so, let's look, first of all, at verse 54. 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.940 Put your finger on it there. 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:25.259 Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life. 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.880 Eternal life. 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:31.600 How many of you, every now and then, make purchases, 00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:34.720 and you decide you're really looking for a 90-day warranty? 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:39.140 You know, who needs anything beyond 90 days? 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:40.400 Right? 00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:43.539 Most of us, when we make a purchase, 00:23:44.580 --> 00:23:49.840 we would like to have a longer warranty than 90 days. 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:52.940 The other day, I was in Home Depot and bought whatever it was, 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:55.600 a particular tool, something essential to my well-being. 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:58.259 And as I was walking through the checkout lane, 00:23:58.600 --> 00:23:59.460 the lady said to me, 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.019 Would you like an extended warranty? 00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:04.840 Tongue-in-cheek, I said, Yeah. 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.700 She says, Well, that'll be, you know, 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:09.320 it's like almost double the cost of the tool. 00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:10.220 I said, No, thank you. 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.660 And the truth of the matter is, 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:15.720 is that when you get an extended warranty, 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:18.319 how many of you understand that lifetime is about seven years, 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:18.900 give or take? 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:21.500 In most cases, it's not as long as you think. 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:25.980 Most warranties, you understand the legalese is this, 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:27.500 the large print adds, 00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:29.980 and the small print takes away. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:33.900 Well, when Jesus used the terms eternal life, 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.140 he wasn't talking about, 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:36.200 Well, you know what? 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:38.620 I'm making this promise that you're going to have salvation, 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:42.940 and it's just going to be for as long as you're really a nice person. 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.940 That's not what it is. 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:48.420 Eternal life means this. 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:52.279 Those who come to faith in Jesus will enjoy heaven forever, 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:56.799 and we will never lose that blessing and that confidence. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.700 Settle it in your heart. 00:24:59.659 --> 00:25:03.379 Salvation that is of the Lord is not conditional. 00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:05.720 I want you to hammer that point home in your life. 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:08.559 Salvation that is of the Lord is not conditional. 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.659 We're not saved by our own works. 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:12.159 We're not kept by our own effort. 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.879 And the fact of the matter is, 00:25:13.899 --> 00:25:16.079 is when Jesus announced this truth, 00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:18.399 he was making it undeniably true 00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:22.879 that those who come to faith in him have everlasting life. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.240 It will never stop. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:26.599 When Jesus said, 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:28.220 It is finished on the cross, 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:31.759 he was announcing that the work of salvation 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:34.019 and the blessing that you and I enjoy 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:36.640 as a result of our relationship with Christ 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:38.380 is unchangeable. 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.680 I vacillate. 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:46.299 There are days that I am not very confident or secure 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:48.539 in my relationship with Jesus, 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:50.140 even at 67. 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.420 67. 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:51.540 Okay? 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:54.180 And I don't think I'm atypical. 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:56.040 The truth of the matter is, 00:25:56.060 --> 00:25:58.360 is every now and then I look at the ugliness of my life 00:25:58.360 --> 00:26:00.340 and the burden of reality, 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:00.759 and I say, 00:26:00.820 --> 00:26:02.500 Man, Jesus, I can't figure out how you love me. 00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.060 And he says, 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:03.440 Hold it. 00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:08.200 My love for you is not based on your love for me 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.320 or your behavior. 00:26:09.580 --> 00:26:11.980 It is an unconditional relationship 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:14.759 that he has secured with his blood, 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:16.460 and it's settled in the heavens. 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.079 Secondly, 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:21.599 salvation there in verse 54 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:25.379 is a guarantee of my eternal resurrection 00:26:25.379 --> 00:26:27.379 and my physical resurrection and eternity. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:29.160 The last part says, 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:32.960 And I will raise him up the last day. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:36.299 Our spirits, 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.600 when we die, 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.200 do you know where we go? 00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:39.920 Believers? 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.819 It says in the Bible, 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.900 Absent in the body, 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:45.000 present with the Lord. 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.740 What happens to the body? 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:49.680 It takes a temporary parking space here, 00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.940 and do you know what it's waiting for? 00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:53.100 How many of you know what it's waiting for? 00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:55.039 It's waiting for a resurrection 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:56.660 when my body, 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.539 my spirit, 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:59.240 linked back together again in eternity 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:01.819 and glorified body present with the Lord forever. 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.259 Now, 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:04.759 how do I know that the resurrection 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.779 is going to take place 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:07.019 and Tim Knoyer, 00:27:07.139 --> 00:27:08.759 who is someday going to be worm food, 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.919 is going to rise again? 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.740 How do I know that? 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:14.480 I know that because Jesus rose from the dead. 00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.700 And here's what he says. 00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:16.519 He says, 00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:16.859 Look there, 00:27:16.919 --> 00:27:17.559 verse 54, 00:27:18.159 --> 00:27:20.039 I will raise him up the last day. 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:22.059 I will raise him up the last day. 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:24.240 I will raise him up the last day. 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.519 Last week, 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:30.480 I had a contractor coming over to the house 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.179 to look at something, 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:33.080 and he walked up to me and said, 00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:33.640 How you doing? 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.200 Now, 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.140 you know what I'd say 00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:36.539 when a person says, 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:36.940 How you doing? 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.500 What do I say? 00:27:38.560 --> 00:27:39.380 I said this. 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:39.840 I did. 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:41.779 Standing right out there in the grass, 00:27:41.860 --> 00:27:42.080 I said, 00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:43.100 Any better than I'd be dead? 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.299 The guy looked at me. 00:27:45.340 --> 00:27:47.900 He got this really concerned look on his face. 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.600 I'm smiling. 00:27:48.840 --> 00:27:49.400 I'm smiling. 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.240 He wasn't paying attention. 00:27:50.600 --> 00:27:51.160 I'm smiling. 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.120 Any better than I'd be dead? 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.060 He's looking at me and says, 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:55.240 Are you okay? 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:58.299 I said, 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.220 I said, 00:27:59.279 --> 00:27:59.740 I'm fine. 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.440 He said, 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.160 What's the deal? 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:02.779 I said, 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.259 Listen, 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.480 I like this life, 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.259 but when I die, 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.059 I'm going to heaven, 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.500 and it's better there. 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.279 Oh. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.859 Ponder that. 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.720 What do you mean? 00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:14.680 Okay. 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.220 So, 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:18.140 salvation guarantees 00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:20.059 our physical resurrection. 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:23.500 The story doesn't end 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:25.059 for the believer 00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:26.019 in a messy, 00:28:26.139 --> 00:28:27.179 unhappy predicament. 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.700 Third, 00:28:29.179 --> 00:28:31.259 I want you to mark 00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:32.299 what we notice here, 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:35.079 and the scriptures just hammer this. 00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:38.559 Jesus makes the point 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:40.639 that we have a personal relationship 00:28:40.639 --> 00:28:41.559 with him. 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.740 Look at verse 56. 00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:44.859 Whoever feeds on my flesh 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:45.859 and drinks my blood 00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:47.779 abides in me 00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:49.679 and I in him. 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:52.500 Salvation grants me 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.379 personal 00:28:53.379 --> 00:28:56.440 and intimate relationship 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.379 with Jesus. 00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:01.119 Salvation grants me 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.139 personal 00:29:02.139 --> 00:29:04.240 and intimate relationship 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:04.899 with Jesus. 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.139 Now, 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:06.079 let me stop just for a minute. 00:29:07.379 --> 00:29:09.119 Some of us are born frowners. 00:29:09.159 --> 00:29:09.960 Do you understand what I'm saying? 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:16.419 But when we pick up 00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:18.379 on the reality 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:19.480 of our relationship 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.300 with Christ, 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.540 what should it do 00:29:21.540 --> 00:29:22.640 to our countenance? 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:23.840 A quiz question. 00:29:25.060 --> 00:29:25.520 Help me out. 00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:26.040 What should it do 00:29:26.040 --> 00:29:26.740 to our countenance? 00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:27.160 Help me. 00:29:29.780 --> 00:29:30.860 Judith left. 00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:31.660 She walked out. 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.460 I don't know where she went. 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:33.620 It's okay. 00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.160 She'll be back. 00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:36.140 She said to me, 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.080 I'm a moody person. 00:29:37.260 --> 00:29:37.840 Did anybody know 00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:38.500 I'm a moody person? 00:29:38.560 --> 00:29:39.440 Have I ever told you that before? 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.480 I'm a little moody sometimes. 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.720 I can be depressed 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.620 without even practice. 00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:44.080 I don't have to stretch, 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.520 warm up. 00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:44.920 I'm there. 00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:46.560 The other day, 00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.100 she said to me, 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:48.300 you've been a little moody lately. 00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:50.140 You know, 00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:51.340 it's really not becoming 00:29:51.340 --> 00:29:52.360 of a person 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:53.100 who knows Jesus 00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:53.980 as long as you do. 00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:55.920 I really didn't like that, 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.420 but, you know, 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:56.880 it was like, 00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:57.220 yeah, 00:29:57.320 --> 00:29:58.060 I get the memo. 00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:59.019 Let's stop. 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:01.100 And the next day, 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:01.440 you know, 00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:02.279 having devotions, 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.140 praying about this. 00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:03.800 Lord, 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.759 please help me stop 00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.519 being so moody 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:06.039 and self-focused. 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:07.039 It's about being self-focused. 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.000 How many of you understand that? 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.519 Moodyness and self-focus 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.100 go together. 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:10.980 Nod your heads. 00:30:11.600 --> 00:30:12.340 Nod your heads. 00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:14.639 When you're unhappy, 00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.639 you can't blame Jesus. 00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.480 Can we say that too? 00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.179 When we got that one, 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:17.399 you know, 00:30:17.439 --> 00:30:17.679 it's like, 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.500 just blame yourself. 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.359 So the next day, 00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.639 I'm praying. 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.879 I started out 00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.779 thanking the Lord 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.619 for how wonderful 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:25.599 his salvation is 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:27.799 and just for the incredible fact 00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.720 that he loves me 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.459 despite me. 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:31.980 And towards the end of the day, 00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:32.220 I said, 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:32.859 so how did I do? 00:30:32.939 --> 00:30:33.279 She says, 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.099 you get better points. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.579 I need someone 00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.319 to help me with those things. 00:30:36.419 --> 00:30:36.519 You know, 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:36.759 it's like, 00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.079 okay. 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.319 So here's the deal. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.480 Get it. 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:41.720 salvation grants me 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:43.180 personal and intimate 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:44.559 relationship with Jesus. 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:47.200 He knows me. 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.779 He loves me. 00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:50.539 He will never change 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:51.960 his mind about who I am 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:53.740 and what his relationship 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.839 with me is. 00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:58.299 I love what you find 00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.519 over there in Ephesians 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.160 chapter 3, 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.420 verse 14 through 19 00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:03.140 where Paul says this. 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:03.380 He says, 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:04.480 the thing that I really want 00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.559 you to get your arms around 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.960 is just how incredible 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.160 the love of Christ is. 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:10.000 Get your hands around that. 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:12.300 And I got to tell you something. 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.000 Listen to me 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:14.320 and I want you to mark this down. 00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:16.240 It should not be 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.820 an occasional discipline 00:31:17.820 --> 00:31:19.060 of pondering 00:31:19.060 --> 00:31:20.800 how much Christ loves you. 00:31:21.660 --> 00:31:22.680 It should be 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:23.680 the daily 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:26.800 thought process 00:31:26.800 --> 00:31:27.920 of the believer. 00:31:29.600 --> 00:31:30.120 Finally, 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.600 salvation grants me 00:31:32.600 --> 00:31:34.160 the power for effective living. 00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:36.400 Put your finger on verse 57. 00:31:36.400 --> 00:31:38.900 As the living Father sent me 00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.740 and I live because 00:31:40.360 --> 00:31:41.540 of the Father, 00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:43.500 so whoever feeds on me, 00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:45.600 he also will live 00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:46.960 because of me. 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:50.180 I like that. 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.940 The world we live in 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:54.960 is a profoundly messy, 00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:56.160 scarred, 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.220 broken, 00:31:57.940 --> 00:31:59.019 disappointing world. 00:32:00.420 --> 00:32:02.100 And is there any hope 00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:03.480 for improvement and growth? 00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:05.759 And the answer is what? 00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:07.839 Not if you're counting 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:08.620 on yourself 00:32:08.620 --> 00:32:09.680 or anybody else 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:11.360 that is of human makeup, 00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:12.799 flesh, 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:15.000 apart from Christ. 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:18.599 There is no justification 00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:22.500 for the dishonest suggestion 00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:25.900 that we can make a difference 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:27.940 in our life on our own. 00:32:29.099 --> 00:32:29.700 But do you know 00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.640 what the Bible tells me? 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:33.380 Because of my salvation 00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:35.440 and because of Christ 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.460 living in me 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:38.120 and the work of Christ 00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:38.820 in me, 00:32:39.020 --> 00:32:40.640 I don't have to stay 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:42.420 the way I am. 00:32:45.580 --> 00:32:46.440 This morning, 00:32:46.560 --> 00:32:47.620 we had a knockout 00:32:47.620 --> 00:32:48.660 Sunday school time. 00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:51.660 We had a number 00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:52.360 of our people 00:32:52.360 --> 00:32:53.520 that have been members 00:32:53.520 --> 00:32:54.300 of our fellowship 00:32:54.300 --> 00:32:55.140 for many years. 00:32:55.560 --> 00:32:56.780 All of them had been 00:32:56.780 --> 00:32:58.259 believers for quite some time. 00:32:58.259 --> 00:33:00.279 And as I listened to them, 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:01.460 they were sharing 00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:03.279 the blessing of 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:05.160 being part of the same 00:33:05.160 --> 00:33:05.579 congregation 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:06.700 for a long time. 00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.859 One of the things 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:11.359 that they did not mention 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.819 was this. 00:33:13.819 --> 00:33:15.460 Being part of the same 00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:15.980 congregation 00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:17.799 for many, many years 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:21.539 allows you 00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:23.619 to see God at work 00:33:23.619 --> 00:33:25.019 in other people's lives 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:26.059 in time, 00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:26.859 over time. 00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:31.059 You know, 00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:32.960 it's entirely 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.680 theory 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:34.980 that God 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.819 changes people 00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:37.799 in one sense 00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:38.799 unless you can actually 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.400 see it happen. 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:39.859 Do you understand 00:33:39.859 --> 00:33:40.279 that point? 00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:42.779 And when you are 00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:44.259 in lasting relationship 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:45.200 in the same place 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:46.019 and you watch people 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:47.140 change over life, 00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:48.920 I'm going to say this, 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.119 Ken. 00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.819 Hi, Ken. 00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:51.019 Good to have Ken 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.640 Laurel and Eileen 00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:52.059 with us. 00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:53.539 I remember when, 00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:54.279 I'm going to just 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.119 launch off here, 00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:55.779 so bear with me. 00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.779 I remember when I 00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:57.299 used to be a little 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.200 critical of Ken 00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:59.639 being very expressive 00:33:59.639 --> 00:34:00.839 when he would sing. 00:34:00.899 --> 00:34:01.339 Do you remember that, 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:01.500 Ken? 00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.039 Do you remember that? 00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:04.619 Did you see me over here? 00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.539 You probably didn't see me. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.420 You did? 00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:08.400 I raised my hand. 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.440 I hope nobody else 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:09.900 noticed it. 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:10.119 Huh? 00:34:10.259 --> 00:34:11.019 I'm going to make you smile. 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:11.519 Yeah. 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:18.619 One of the benefits 00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:19.460 of having a pastor 00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.119 in the same place 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.639 you put up me 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.440 for 29 years 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.300 is you actually 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:23.300 get to see me change. 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:23.980 Do you understand that? 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:25.340 Progressive sanctification 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:26.380 means people don't 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:27.340 stay the way they are 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:28.559 and it's the Spirit of God 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.900 that helps people change. 00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:34.340 The blessing of salvation 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:36.219 is that when the Spirit of God 00:34:36.219 --> 00:34:37.940 brings a person to faith, 00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:40.119 he doesn't have to stay 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:41.900 that moody, grumpy, unhappy, 00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:44.039 surly, negative, 00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:45.659 highly offendable. 00:34:45.839 --> 00:34:47.099 Do I need to add any others 00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:47.819 that haven't missed you yet? 00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:49.460 Okay? 00:34:50.299 --> 00:34:52.059 You don't have to be that way. 00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:55.259 And the reason I can tell you 00:34:55.259 --> 00:34:56.559 you don't have to be that way 00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:57.759 is because Christ Jesus 00:34:57.759 --> 00:34:58.699 came into the world 00:34:58.699 --> 00:35:00.259 not only to save sinners 00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:01.579 but to change sinners. 00:35:03.319 --> 00:35:05.059 And the gospel hope 00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:07.079 is that the work 00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:08.259 of glorification, 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.679 progressive sanctification, 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:11.500 begins from the moment 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.539 of your conversion 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.799 until the day 00:35:13.799 --> 00:35:14.699 he takes you home 00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:15.460 into his presence. 00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:17.799 Is that good news? 00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:18.960 Yeah. 00:35:19.799 --> 00:35:20.960 Do you know the good news 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.980 at work in your life? 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:22.619 Huh? 00:35:23.319 --> 00:35:23.539 Ah! 00:35:23.759 --> 00:35:23.899 Ah! 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:26.079 Yeah. 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:28.879 I'm not sure, 00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.419 but yeah. 00:35:30.759 --> 00:35:31.179 Hey, 00:35:31.399 --> 00:35:32.519 if he's at work, 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:34.099 I don't have to talk 00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.919 to you about smiling. 00:35:35.059 --> 00:35:35.639 You're doing it! 00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:39.460 And let me tell you something. 00:35:40.839 --> 00:35:43.079 You go out into an unbelieving world 00:35:43.079 --> 00:35:45.319 whose lives are absolutely wrecks. 00:35:48.319 --> 00:35:49.480 Their lives are broken. 00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:52.259 Their lives are absolutely ruined 00:35:52.259 --> 00:35:52.940 by sin. 00:35:52.940 --> 00:35:57.159 And all you have to do 00:35:57.159 --> 00:36:00.159 is have the joy 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:01.280 of your salvation 00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:04.480 as a rich patina 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:06.200 on the life that you live 00:36:06.200 --> 00:36:07.679 and people ask you, 00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:08.440 what's the deal? 00:36:10.200 --> 00:36:11.119 What's the deal? 00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:15.179 I can tell you this. 00:36:15.179 --> 00:36:19.259 Christ Jesus came into my life, 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:22.179 delivered me from all of my sins, 00:36:22.339 --> 00:36:23.679 given me complete forgiveness, 00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:27.279 granted me eternity in heaven with him, 00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:29.519 and he is actively at work 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:31.500 changing me from being who I am 00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:32.480 to who I will be. 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:35.819 I'm not the man I will be, 00:36:35.919 --> 00:36:37.399 but I'm not the man I was. 00:36:38.399 --> 00:36:40.440 And it's because Christ Jesus 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:42.379 died on the cross 00:36:42.379 --> 00:36:43.599 and rose again 00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:45.460 and delivered me from the pit 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.619 and saved me, 00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:47.579 and he's done that 00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:48.739 for many of you here. 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:50.819 And you know what? 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:52.339 When you read the story 00:36:52.339 --> 00:36:53.319 of what he says here, 00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:54.900 you get your hands around this thing 00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:55.279 and you think, 00:36:55.400 --> 00:36:57.059 man, that's my Jesus, 00:36:57.799 --> 00:36:59.639 and I've got confidence in him. 00:37:00.319 --> 00:37:01.319 Let's close in prayer. 00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:04.940 Our Father God, 00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:07.299 as we think about Jesus this morning, 00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:09.219 we rejoice in the glory of the cross. 00:37:10.279 --> 00:37:11.539 We rejoice in the fact 00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:12.779 that Jesus came into the world 00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:13.460 to save sinners, 00:37:13.580 --> 00:37:14.380 and he saved me, 00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:15.900 and he saved many of us here today. 00:37:16.560 --> 00:37:18.260 And we are here today 00:37:18.260 --> 00:37:19.060 to worship him 00:37:19.060 --> 00:37:20.060 and lift up his name. 00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:21.580 There are some here 00:37:21.580 --> 00:37:23.180 that do not know Christ, 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:25.120 and my prayer is that today 00:37:25.120 --> 00:37:27.019 their hearts would be drawn 00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:29.100 to the cross by your Spirit. 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:31.519 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:37:31.620 --> 00:37:31.900 Amen. 00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:32.000 Amen. 00:37:32.000 --> 00:38:01.980 Thank you.