WEBVTT

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 Sing about, would we?

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 I mean, stop and think about it.

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 The truth of the matter is, I've only been to one Ohio State game,

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 and I sat where I needed an oxygen mask.

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! I mean, it was really high.

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 I did bring 10 power binoculars so I could see what was happening on the field.

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 And my takeaway from that is,

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 why sit on cold aluminum benches where you have to use binoculars and you...

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 By the way, to buy water there was like $3 for a bottle.

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 I can get it in my kitchen for free.

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 And a hot dog.

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 I mean, I don't even think it was made by who knows who.

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 But it was, you know, like $5 for one of those things.

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 Forget it!

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 And the thing that really kind of, I thought, what is this all about?

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 When the game was all over, they sang that Carmen Ohio.

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 You know, it's like, big deal.

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 I mean, you know, I mean...

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 Gary, forgive me, brother.

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 Okay.

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 For some of you who don't know, Gary is a lifelong usher at the OSU games,

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 and he does get fired up.

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 You can ask him in July how many days to starting,

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 but, you know, listening to you sing,

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 I love that.

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 But then I love being able to say this.

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 Let's just open the book.

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 I want you to turn your Bibles this morning to John chapter 8, verse 21.

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 So he said to them again,

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 I am going away, you will seek me,

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 and you will die in your sin.

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 For I'm going, you cannot come.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father God, for us, prayer is not at all just an exercise

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 or an expression of habit.

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 But it is our life.

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 It is a clear indication of our glad dependence upon your sufficiency.

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 And I can't help but think this morning of the passage in Zechariah chapter 4

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 where the prophet uttered these words,

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 not by power nor by might, but by my spirit, saith the Lord.

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 And I am thankful that you have given to us,

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 who are your children, the spirit who indwells us.

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 And it is by the spirit's power that I trust to preach the glory of Christ this morning

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 and by the spirit's power that your people would receive it

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 and allow the sweetness of the word to lift their hearts away

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 from being self-focused and gloomy in the midst of the world

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 that you've placed us to be candles.

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 And by your spirit's power that those that are here that do not know Christ

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 to be drawn to see that the darkness and the despair

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 and the ugliness of their life has no remedy

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 apart from repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus

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 who came to be the Savior of the world.

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 And Lord, I'm thankful that as I preach

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 that I fully know that your people will pray for me

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 that you might be lifted up.

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 And we pray this because of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well,

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 every day that I sit in my office,

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 across my office is on the east,

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 my desk is on the east side,

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 and on the west side is the wall that faces out on the parking lot,

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 and there are two signs that I look at every time I look up.

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 One sign says this,

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 how does this testify to Christ?

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 And I think it's fair to say that really at the heart of what Bible preaching is,

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 is the responsibility and the privilege of lifting up the Lord Jesus Christ

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 that He alone might have preeminence.

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 Never should a pastor long to hear you say,

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 wow, that was really good.

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 What He should long to hear you say is,

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 thank you for exalting Jesus this morning.

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 Because here's the truth,

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 everyone who ever stands in this place

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 to minister the Word of God to you who are His people

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 is at best an earthen vessel.

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 You know why it's that way?

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 Well, here's what it says in the Bible,

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 and we have nothing else to rely upon for absolute clarity

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 other than the Bible.

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 Amen?

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 You know, you guys are moving a little bit

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 towards being a little best, a little stalling, you know.

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 But not everybody's going to be like me.

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 I admit it.

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 You know, I'm thankful.

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 But, you know, every now and then, just let it rip.

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 I mean, not now.

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 Just hold on.

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 Look at me!

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 I don't want you to be any more passionate

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 and zealous for the glory of Christ.

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 Well, I do.

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 But at least kind of do this.

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 If you get kind of fired up about a basketball game

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 or a football game,

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 what is holding you back in the presence of God's people

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 in relationship to the glory of Christ?

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 You did better.

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 Okay.

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 But anyway, here we go.

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 The goal of preaching is the glory in the person of Christ.

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 And so, the faithful preaching of the Word

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 means making Jesus clear.

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 It means relying upon the Spirit of God

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 to take the revealed Word

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 and press it into the hearts of people

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 so that, for one, they may come to know Christ

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 and that they may grow to be like Him.

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 I have to explain,

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 and bear with me as we kind of wind into this,

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 but we'll get there.

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 biblical preaching is not really the mind,

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 the work of a witty mind,

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 nor is it the ability to repackage what the world thinks

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 regarding how to live happier lives

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 or be more self-satisfied or self-focused

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 or wrapped up in your pets and your projects.

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 It is really about helping you understand the glory

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 and the supremacy of Christ

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 who will inhabit all of eternity,

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 and you and I, when we are in His presence,

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 will join the throng with unbelievable enthusiasm,

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 rejoicing in His person.

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 Right?

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 And the goal of preaching is to lift up Jesus

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 so that instead of being here unhappy and moody

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 because we're focused on ourself,

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 we lift up our eyes and see Jesus and say,

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 Lord, thank you for what you've done in saving me,

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 and till you draw me home,

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 I want to be a candle for your glory.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 I say this because this morning's sermon is a hard one,

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 but it comes from the mouth of Jesus.

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 I want you to take just a moment

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 and put your finger on one little statement

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 that Jesus repeats three times.

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 Verse 21,

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 Verse 24,

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 You will die in your sin.

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 Verse 24,

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 You will die in your sin.

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 The phrase is stunning.

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 It's a sobering reminder

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 of eternal judgment and hell

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 and the terrible everlasting consequences

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 of rejecting Christ.

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 So if I were to give you a one-sentence summary

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 of what this morning's sermon is all about,

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 let me tell you this.

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 Jesus came to save us from our sins

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 and deliver us from the holy wrath of God

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 against our sin.

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 That being said, let's look at the text

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 and recognize that what we are being told here

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 is that the offer of salvation ends at death.

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 Let me read the verse.

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 So he said to them again,

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 I'm going away

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 and you will seek me

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 and you will die in your sin.

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 Where I am going,

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 you cannot come.

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 We should understand that by this point

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 in John's gospel,

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 what we have seen is that

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 Christ's ministry had come fully to the forefront

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 and people who were listening to him preach

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 understood what he was saying.

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 There was a growing hatred

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 for what Jesus had to say.

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 There was grudging admission

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 that his miracles were authentic

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 and there was nothing,

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 nothing that people could do

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 to deny the truth

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 of what his ministry was.

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 And I want you to understand

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 that every step

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 of Christ's public ministry

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 and gospel offer

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 was resisted

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 as you work your way through the book.

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 He fed the throng

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 on the Sea of Galilee.

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 Following that,

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 he took advantage

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 of that great crowd of people

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 to preach a clear gospel message

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 in which he made it clear

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 that faith in him

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 was the only way to heaven.

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 And what was the result

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 of the clear preaching of the gospel?

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 We understand that what happened was this,

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 is that the vast majority of people

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 walked away and left him.

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 They said,

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 this is a hard saying.

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 If you think hearing the news

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 that there is no salvation

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 through any means

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 except in Jesus is hard,

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 it's far harder to hear

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 the rest of the sentence

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 where Jesus says this,

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 and those who do not believe me

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 will spend eternity in hell.

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 We see not only that he preached there

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 by the shore of Galilee,

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 we also see that

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 in the Feast of Tabernacles

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 he came up

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 and he said,

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 listen,

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 I am the bread of life

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 in six and in seven

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 and eight

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 we find there

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 that he comes in

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 and he says,

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 I'm the light of the world.

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 And instead of receiving

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 that statement,

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 understanding it

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 in the biblical

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 and messianic context

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 of the scriptures,

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 the response that the crowd had,

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 in particular the religious leaders had,

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 was that they accused him

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 of petty self-deception

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 and dishonesty.

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 And it is in that frame

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 that we hear this

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 very chilling announcement,

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 I am going away

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 and you will seek me

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 and you will die in your sin.

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 There are several things

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 that deserve our attention

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 as we think about this statement.

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 For one,

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 the offer of salvation

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 will end at some point

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 for every man.

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 The offer of salvation

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 will end

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 for every man.

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 One,

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 when Jesus spoke

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 of going away

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 he wasn't speaking

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 about going to another town.

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 He was speaking

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 about his own death

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 but in a larger sense

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 he was also speaking

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 of the fact

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 that his purpose

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 for being there

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 as the savior of the world

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 and the offer of salvation

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 that he made

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 through believing

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 in his finished work

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 on the cross

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 would someday

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 come to an end.

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 And this ending

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 happens in a sense,

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 in a present sense

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 when individuals

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 repeatedly refuse

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 to respond

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 to the sweetness

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 of the gospel.

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 Let me have you look

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 at a passage

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 where we see

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 how God kind of

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 lets people go

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 the path they want.

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 turn over in your Bible

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 if you will

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 to Romans chapter 1.

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 You're there

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 in John chapter 8

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 but just skip ahead.

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 Romans chapter 1.

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 The apostle writes this

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 in verse 21.

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 He says,

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 For although they knew God

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 they did not honor him

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 as God

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 or give thanks to him

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 for they became

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 but they became futile

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 in their thinking

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 and their foolish hearts

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 were darkened.

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 See,

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 make no mistake,

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 recognize that the truth

00:13:24.540 --> 00:13:25.280
 of the word of God

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 is that every man

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 receives ample insight

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 and light

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 with which to come

00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:32.040
 to grips with the reality

00:13:32.040 --> 00:13:33.460
 of their own dark soul.

00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.120
 Friday,

00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:35.960
 as I had

00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:37.520
 an extended opportunity

00:13:37.520 --> 00:13:38.500
 to share the gospel

00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.340
 with an individual,

00:13:39.900 --> 00:13:41.020
 it was very interesting,

00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:41.820
 this individual

00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:43.720
 was clear

00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:45.280
 in his own thinking

00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.860
 of how dark

00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.819
 the world was

00:13:47.819 --> 00:13:48.620
 around him.

00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:52.360
 He was also

00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:53.939
 clear in his own thinking

00:13:53.939 --> 00:13:55.019
 of just how dark

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.659
 and deceitful

00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.699
 his own heart was.

00:13:58.839 --> 00:13:59.919
 And I said to him

00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.639
 over and over again,

00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:01.539
 you really don't need

00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:02.339
 any more evidence

00:14:02.339 --> 00:14:03.360
 of just how desperately

00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.279
 you need the work

00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.240
 of Christ in your life

00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:06.759
 because things are a mess.

00:14:09.299 --> 00:14:10.399
 And here's the truth

00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.699
 that we need to recognize.

00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:14.300
 when men repeatedly

00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:16.379
 refuse to listen

00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:17.180
 to the word

00:14:17.180 --> 00:14:18.480
 that God gives them,

00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:19.660
 calling them

00:14:19.660 --> 00:14:20.680
 out of darkness

00:14:20.680 --> 00:14:21.840
 into his marvelous light,

00:14:22.160 --> 00:14:22.780
 God says,

00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:23.300
 go ahead,

00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.160
 go your way.

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.020
 Look at Romans 1,

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:27.680
 verse 24.

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:28.340
 It says this,

00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:29.640
 therefore God gave them up

00:14:29.640 --> 00:14:31.060
 in the lusts

00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:31.520
 of their heart

00:14:31.520 --> 00:14:32.220
 to impurity.

00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:34.520
 In verse 26,

00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:35.840
 for this reason,

00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:37.160
 God gave them up

00:14:37.160 --> 00:14:38.740
 to dishonorable passions.

00:14:39.280 --> 00:14:40.020
 And in 28,

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.480
 and since they did not

00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:42.980
 see fit to acknowledge God,

00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:44.199
 God gave them up

00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:46.220
 to a debased mind

00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:48.960
 to do what

00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:50.259
 ought not to be done.

00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.779
 I want you to understand

00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.259
 this morning

00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:55.699
 as we look at this passage

00:14:55.699 --> 00:14:56.500
 that it tells us

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.879
 that what happens

00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.519
 is individuals

00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.539
 can turn their back

00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:00.059
 on the sweetness

00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:00.740
 of the gospel

00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.240
 and God says,

00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:01.559
 go ahead,

00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:02.179
 you go,

00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:03.279
 you go.

00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.340
 And I don't know

00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:06.379
 as I preach this morning

00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.159
 and I'm going to

00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:08.620
 make an appeal to you,

00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:09.460
 if you're sitting here

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.720
 and you do not know Christ,

00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:12.040
 I would plead with you

00:15:12.040 --> 00:15:12.940
 in Christ's stead,

00:15:13.300 --> 00:15:14.780
 do not refuse

00:15:14.780 --> 00:15:16.600
 the offer of salvation

00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.740
 that he makes to you.

00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:18.320
 Why?

00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:19.660
 Because he may just say,

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.340
 hey, go ahead.

00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:24.200
 But in a more certain way,

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.220
 I want you to understand

00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:26.500
 that the final offer

00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.080
 of salvation

00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:28.720
 ends forever at death.

00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:32.940
 It says in Hebrews 9,

00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:33.820
 verse 27,

00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:34.860
 it is appointed

00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:36.080
 for man once to die

00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:36.720
 and after that

00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.580
 comes judgment.

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.060
 Can I tell you something

00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:41.800
 if you're sitting here

00:15:41.800 --> 00:15:42.040
 thinking,

00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:42.280
 well,

00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.100
 there'll be another time,

00:15:43.160 --> 00:15:44.639
 there'll be a later moment

00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:46.340
 and maybe after I've lived

00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:46.780
 my life,

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.700
 I'll kind of step in

00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:49.620
 and grab the brass ring

00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.420
 at the very moment

00:15:50.420 --> 00:15:51.820
 when I'm ready to pass.

00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:53.980
 I don't know

00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:54.519
 if you know this,

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:57.980
 but in the theology

00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:58.800
 of the Middle Ages,

00:15:58.920 --> 00:15:59.639
 particularly affected

00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.780
 by Catholic thinking,

00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:03.220
 the best way to die,

00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:04.100
 are you listening to me

00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:04.920
 so you understand this?

00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.819
 The best way to die

00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:06.860
 was to be baptized

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.939
 moments before you

00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:08.839
 slipped into eternity.

00:16:08.979 --> 00:16:09.620
 Why is that?

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.419
 Their thinking was

00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:13.019
 the baptism washed away sins.

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:14.299
 We're going to have

00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:15.079
 four people baptized

00:16:15.079 --> 00:16:15.719
 this morning

00:16:15.719 --> 00:16:16.719
 and I've got to tell you

00:16:16.719 --> 00:16:17.399
 not one of them

00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.139
 is getting their sins

00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:18.740
 washed away.

00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.839
 That was done

00:16:20.839 --> 00:16:21.799
 by the blood of Christ.

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:23.279
 That was done

00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:23.919
 by their faith

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.860
 in the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:25.240
 But anyway,

00:16:25.339 --> 00:16:26.839
 in that old Middle Ages

00:16:26.839 --> 00:16:27.299
 thinking,

00:16:27.719 --> 00:16:28.339
 the best time

00:16:28.339 --> 00:16:29.559
 to be baptized,

00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:30.079
 in fact,

00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:31.159
 many, many people

00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:32.079
 just kind of delayed it

00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:32.899
 to the last minute

00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:33.419
 and they're like,

00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:33.980
 whoop,

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:34.779
 get a bath

00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:35.480
 and off you go,

00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:35.799
 right?

00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:38.500
 So,

00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:40.620
 that's not true.

00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:42.019
 What is true,

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:42.220
 though,

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.579
 is that at death

00:16:43.579 --> 00:16:44.959
 it's over.

00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:47.779
 As it says here

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.439
 in the scriptures,

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:51.360
 after that,

00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.360
 the judgment.

00:16:52.939 --> 00:16:54.019
 Now let's come back again

00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:54.939
 to that passage

00:16:54.939 --> 00:16:56.059
 in John

00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:56.620
 because I want you

00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:57.139
 to look at it

00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:57.759
 just for a moment

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.360
 and recognize

00:16:58.360 --> 00:17:00.299
 that Jesus is speaking

00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:00.879
 to people

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.159
 whose hardened hearts

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:02.919
 had resisted

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:04.539
 every gospel appeal

00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.440
 that had been made

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.339
 and here's what he says,

00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.079
 you will die

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.799
 in your sin.

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.980
 He was speaking

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.799
 of the fact

00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.079
 in broad terms

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.779
 there are two ways

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.399
 to die.

00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:17.980
 How many of you

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.519
 thought about that?

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.339
 I remember

00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:22.559
 when Tom Parsons,

00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.299
 bear with me,

00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:23.659
 Linda,

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.399
 if I may speak

00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:25.220
 of your dear husband,

00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:27.000
 Tom Parsons

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:28.619
 wrote eloquently

00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:31.480
 about how he would die,

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.539
 I mean not that he would die

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:32.839
 but he,

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.860
 I remember Kathy,

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.539
 where is Kathy?

00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:35.099
 Is she in here

00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:35.860
 this morning, Kathy?

00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:37.799
 Oh yeah,

00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:38.559
 well you know,

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:39.819
 Mandy you're here,

00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:40.380
 I'll blame you.

00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:43.539
 I don't know

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.860
 how Kathy read

00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:45.839
 the chapter

00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.700
 from the book

00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:48.480
 that Tom had written

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.420
 during his lifetime

00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.460
 about dying.

00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:51.500
 He talked about dying

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:53.099
 in a fiery car wreck

00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:54.400
 or dying just

00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:55.180
 you know

00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:55.960
 at home

00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:57.019
 and truth of the matter

00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.380
 is if anybody

00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:59.339
 gets to choose

00:17:59.339 --> 00:17:59.839
 how they go,

00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.779
 I want Tom's way.

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:03.839
 Kind of raised up in bed,

00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:04.559
 took a gasp

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.399
 and he was gone.

00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:06.339
 That's me,

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.059
 I want that one.

00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.220
 Here's the deal,

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.579
 we only get to die

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.619
 two ways.

00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:12.720
 What do you mean?

00:18:13.819 --> 00:18:14.720
 Well you may die

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.299
 in the Lord.

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.039
 You may die

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.480
 in the Lord.

00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:19.940
 It was my privilege

00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:20.879
 last week

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.779
 to do

00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:24.279
 Barbara Armstrong,

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.339
 her name is Friday

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.099
 in case you're wondering,

00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:28.180
 do Barbara Armstrong's funeral

00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:29.940
 and I talked about

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.740
 the fact that

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.799
 in the scripture

00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.200
 it says,

00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:33.240
 blessed are all they

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.259
 who die in the Lord.

00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:36.580
 It's not a bad thing

00:18:36.580 --> 00:18:37.500
 to die in Jesus,

00:18:37.620 --> 00:18:38.500
 do you understand that?

00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.960
 I love here,

00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:41.539
 I like being around you,

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.759
 I love my bride,

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:44.519
 but I have no hesitation

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.720
 about when the call comes,

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.240
 I'm going.

00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:47.700
 You know why?

00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:48.799
 It says this,

00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:49.700
 absent in the body,

00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:50.680
 present with the Lord,

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:52.160
 it will get better.

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:54.220
 This is not as good

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:55.180
 as it gets.

00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:58.480
 And in Revelation chapter 14

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.519
 verse 13 it says,

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:00.720
 blessed are they

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:02.080
 who die in the Lord Jesus.

00:19:03.600 --> 00:19:04.560
 That's the one way.

00:19:06.820 --> 00:19:08.400
 You may die in your sin.

00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.539
 John chapter 8

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:12.500
 verse 21,

00:19:13.600 --> 00:19:14.220
 he said to them,

00:19:14.320 --> 00:19:14.940
 I'm going away

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.779
 and you will seek me

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.880
 and you will die

00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.779
 in your sin.

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.660
 Verse 24,

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.180
 I told you

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.080
 that you would die

00:19:21.080 --> 00:19:21.640
 in your sins

00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.620
 for unless you believe

00:19:22.620 --> 00:19:23.340
 that I am he,

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.339
 you will die

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:25.980
 in your sin.

00:19:27.199 --> 00:19:28.359
 What is the significance

00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:28.959
 of that?

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:29.839
 Well, I want you

00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.679
 to understand this.

00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.779
 Hell is the permanent

00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:34.720
 home of sinners.

00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.679
 Look at the passage.

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:40.099
 Here's what he says.

00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:41.959
 Verse 21,

00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:42.839
 you will die

00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:43.359
 in your sins

00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.539
 where I am going

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.439
 you cannot come.

00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.819
 The person who dies

00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:51.619
 in their sin

00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:53.699
 will not spend

00:19:53.699 --> 00:19:54.339
 eternity

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.139
 in the presence

00:19:55.139 --> 00:19:55.879
 of Christ.

00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:05.099
 It is the reality

00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:07.059
 of hell.

00:20:08.439 --> 00:20:10.039
 It is the certainty

00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:11.500
 of the holy judgment

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.439
 of God

00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:14.919
 that makes

00:20:14.919 --> 00:20:16.500
 gospel issues

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.679
 so profoundly

00:20:17.679 --> 00:20:18.619
 significant

00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:19.759
 that we

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:21.079
 who by God's

00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:21.399
 grace

00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:21.819
 have been

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.219
 delivered

00:20:22.219 --> 00:20:23.039
 from darkness

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.939
 and drawn

00:20:23.939 --> 00:20:24.719
 into his kingdom

00:20:24.719 --> 00:20:26.500
 have an unrelenting

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.500
 interest in seeing

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.279
 other people

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.099
 come to Christ.

00:20:29.159 --> 00:20:29.759
 Isn't that true?

00:20:34.199 --> 00:20:35.000
 I want you

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.619
 to understand

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:35.939
 that

00:20:35.939 --> 00:20:37.619
 what Jesus

00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.299
 was saying

00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:38.739
 here

00:20:38.739 --> 00:20:40.919
 is that

00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:41.939
 those who die

00:20:41.939 --> 00:20:43.319
 without faith

00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:43.959
 in Christ

00:20:43.959 --> 00:20:44.599
 will spend

00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.339
 eternity

00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:46.439
 in hell.

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.840
 those who die

00:20:47.840 --> 00:20:49.759
 in their sin

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.620
 will spend

00:20:50.620 --> 00:20:51.059
 forever

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.259
 in that state.

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.559
 And how can I

00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.299
 say this?

00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.440
 Well,

00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.559
 here's the truth

00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:56.960
 and I want you

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.320
 to get this

00:20:57.320 --> 00:20:57.779
 very clearly

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.299
 in your mind.

00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.500
 I have no

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.120
 basis

00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:00.720
 on which

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.420
 to say that

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:01.960
 other than

00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.400
 the word

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.080
 of God

00:21:03.080 --> 00:21:03.980
 and the clear

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.559
 words of the

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.019
 Lord Jesus

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.400
 Christ.

00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:05.600
 Do you

00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:06.220
 understand that?

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.460
 I am not

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:07.799
 up here

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.400
 reciting

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.400
 some psychologist

00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:09.980
 that kind of

00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:10.380
 tells you

00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:10.740
 about an

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.180
 afterlife

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:12.640
 or talking

00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:13.259
 about Tibetan

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.980
 prayer flags

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.380
 or something

00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:15.120
 else like that.

00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:16.259
 I am telling

00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:16.759
 you on the

00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.359
 basis of

00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:17.679
 the word

00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:18.099
 of God

00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:18.859
 that there

00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:19.319
 is heaven

00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:19.679
 and there

00:21:19.679 --> 00:21:20.179
 is hell

00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:20.939
 and those

00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:21.199
 who have

00:21:21.199 --> 00:21:21.619
 faith in

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:21.919
 Christ

00:21:21.919 --> 00:21:22.879
 spend

00:21:22.879 --> 00:21:23.279
 eternity

00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:23.819
 with him

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.539
 and those

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.159
 who reject

00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:25.559
 the Lord

00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:25.939
 Jesus

00:21:25.939 --> 00:21:27.239
 will suffer

00:21:27.239 --> 00:21:27.759
 forever.

00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:30.619
 I want you

00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.139
 to understand

00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:31.399
 that the

00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:32.019
 Bible is clear

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.379
 that the

00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:32.779
 sinner will

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.019
 spend

00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.439
 forever

00:21:33.439 --> 00:21:34.679
 in a place

00:21:34.679 --> 00:21:35.739
 that Christ

00:21:35.739 --> 00:21:36.399
 describes

00:21:36.399 --> 00:21:37.339
 in terrible

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.059
 terms.

00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:41.099
 For starters,

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:43.399
 most of what

00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:43.739
 we know

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.240
 about hell

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.759
 comes from

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.299
 information

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.319
 Jesus gave

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.740
 us.

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.180
 John MacArthur

00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:50.140
 comments that

00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:50.920
 though every

00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.519
 New Testament

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:53.079
 author writes

00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.819
 about hell,

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.140
 Jesus has the

00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.819
 most to say

00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.420
 about it and I

00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:57.920
 suppose that's

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.720
 appropriate because

00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.700
 he was the one

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.279
 who came to

00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:00.980
 save us from

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.359
 our sin and

00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:03.140
 deliver us from

00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:03.660
 the certainty

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.019
 of hell.

00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.220
 Do you

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.839
 understand that?

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.640
 The one who

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.279
 is willing to

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.200
 die for my

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.160
 sins is the

00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:09.900
 one who tells

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.180
 me undeniably

00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.059
 what the future

00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:13.079
 is and what

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:13.919
 the consequences

00:22:13.919 --> 00:22:14.759
 of not

00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.759
 believing and

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.799
 not repenting

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.519
 are going to

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:17.879
 be.

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.539
 I mean,

00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:20.039
 why?

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:20.799
 Listen to me.

00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:21.559
 Why would

00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.319
 Jesus die on

00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:25.480
 the cross if

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.139
 everybody went

00:22:26.139 --> 00:22:26.519
 to a better

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:26.839
 place?

00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:27.319
 Do you follow

00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:27.519
 that?

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:27.879
 Does that make

00:22:27.879 --> 00:22:28.159
 sense?

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.659
 Why do that?

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:34.359
 Let me read

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.059
 to you several

00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.619
 of the things

00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:36.240
 that are clear

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:36.899
 about hell.

00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.639
 For one,

00:22:38.179 --> 00:22:38.799
 it will be a

00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:39.819
 place of permanent

00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.960
 separation from the

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.759
 glory and presence

00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.340
 of Christ.

00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.579
 What he said

00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.019
 there in verse

00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.980
 21 is this,

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.840
 where I'm going

00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:46.660
 you cannot come.

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.600
 It will be a

00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:49.500
 place of permanent

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.640
 separation from the

00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:52.160
 glory of Christ.

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.400
 It will also be a

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:55.500
 place of weeping

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.740
 and of gnashing of

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.160
 teeth.

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.880
 Over in Matthew

00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.819
 chapter 8 verse

00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.559
 12, and we're not

00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.079
 going to look at

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.500
 that, but he

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.120
 talks about the

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:03.100
 fact that hell

00:23:03.100 --> 00:23:03.759
 will be a place

00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.600
 where there is

00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:05.180
 weeping and

00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:06.019
 gnashing of teeth.

00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:09.019
 And those words

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.779
 express,

00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:12.779
 extreme heartache

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.539
 and discomfort.

00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:15.799
 It will also be a

00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:17.099
 place of outer

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.660
 darkness.

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.819
 Matthew chapter 22

00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:19.799
 verse 13 says,

00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.960
 it will be a

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.059
 place of outer

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:22.720
 darkness.

00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:23.940
 Furthermore, in

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.899
 Mark chapter 9

00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:26.200
 verse 48, it

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.039
 says it will be a

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.619
 place of unquenchable

00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:29.240
 fire.

00:23:30.399 --> 00:23:31.200
 Now stop and think

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:31.759
 about that.

00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:34.819
 I have heard people

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.940
 get kind of up in

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.899
 my face about the

00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:38.160
 fact, well how can

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.119
 hell be a place of

00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.179
 unquenchable fire?

00:23:41.739 --> 00:23:43.559
 Well, I don't know.

00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:45.119
 But here's what I

00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:45.379
 know.

00:23:46.479 --> 00:23:47.519
 The God who created

00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.619
 everything that exists

00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:50.159
 out of nothing,

00:23:50.379 --> 00:23:52.019
 let's go slow, out of

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:54.359
 nothing will not have a

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.179
 problem with doing

00:23:55.179 --> 00:23:55.839
 something with

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.719
 unquenchable fire.

00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.359
 Do you follow that?

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:59.279
 And if he tells me

00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.939
 that's the way it's

00:23:59.939 --> 00:24:01.699
 going to be, I would

00:24:01.699 --> 00:24:06.000
 be unwise to not take

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.680
 him at his word.

00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:10.680
 It will also be a

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.619
 place of eternal

00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:12.279
 torment.

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.400
 Over in Luke chapter

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:16.180
 16 verse 23 and 24,

00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:17.279
 it talks about the

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.740
 fact that hell will be

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.640
 a place of eternal

00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.039
 torment.

00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:20.660
 And I want you to

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.460
 think with me just for

00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:23.400
 a moment that some of

00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.519
 the torment of hell

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:27.140
 will not just be

00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:27.740
 physical.

00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:28.279
 Are you paying

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.619
 attention?

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:30.619
 It will not just be

00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:31.119
 physical.

00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:33.039
 It will also be the

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:36.619
 unrelenting replay in

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:38.299
 your mind of the

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:39.359
 bitterness and the

00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.939
 anguish and the

00:24:40.939 --> 00:24:42.879
 heartache and the

00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:44.079
 irritation of your

00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:44.579
 soul.

00:24:44.719 --> 00:24:45.719
 How many of you have

00:24:45.719 --> 00:24:46.659
 ever laid awake at

00:24:46.659 --> 00:24:47.859
 night really been

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:49.119
 irritated with somebody

00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:49.619
 else?

00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:50.599
 Raise your hands.

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.539
 There's only four or

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:52.939
 five of you.

00:24:52.959 --> 00:24:53.659
 I'm impressed.

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:56.259
 Okay, let's try it

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:56.639
 this way.

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.399
 How many of you have

00:24:58.399 --> 00:24:59.159
 ever laid awake at

00:24:59.159 --> 00:24:59.939
 night really been

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:01.320
 irritated with yourself?

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.380
 Oh.

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.620
 Hey, we've all done

00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:05.940
 both.

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.680
 I got to tell you one

00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.519
 of the nice things

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:11.220
 about doing so is

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.539
 that eventually sleep

00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.559
 overtakes you and you

00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:15.279
 slip into that senseless

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.220
 oblivion where you get

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:16.740
 a little bit of a

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.220
 break from that.

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.220
 Can you imagine

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:20.360
 staying awake forever

00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:21.720
 to be bitter at other

00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.940
 people and bitter at

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:24.460
 yourself and regretting

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.360
 all the bad decisions

00:25:25.360 --> 00:25:26.440
 that you've made and

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.340
 the wickedness of your

00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:28.620
 soul and the hardship

00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:29.440
 of other people's

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:31.200
 lives and still having

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:32.279
 no relief?

00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.960
 I want you to

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.220
 understand when Jesus

00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:44.580
 said, where I'm going

00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:45.620
 you will not come.

00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:52.380
 The thing that is

00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:54.500
 striking about this is

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.360
 that some will

00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:57.140
 willingly, willfully

00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:58.100
 reject the truth.

00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:59.579
 Look at verse 25.

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:03.159
 Just listen to this.

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.699
 So they said to him,

00:26:05.939 --> 00:26:07.219
 who are you?

00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.819
 Now, how many of you

00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.759
 understand that tone of

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.899
 voice is really big?

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.659
 Do you follow what I'm

00:26:13.659 --> 00:26:13.899
 saying?

00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:15.980
 I see Judith is sitting

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:17.640
 back there and after 46

00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:18.580
 years of marriage we

00:26:18.580 --> 00:26:19.500
 still have those tone of

00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.340
 voice issues, don't we

00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:20.500
 honey?

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.620
 It's more me because I'm

00:26:22.620 --> 00:26:24.140
 more emotional, you know,

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:24.860
 what do you mean with

00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:25.060
 that?

00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:27.519
 Tone of voice is like, I

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.200
 mean, let's try it this

00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:28.380
 way.

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.640
 Who are you?

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.420
 You know.

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.660
 But when you say, who

00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:36.220
 are you?

00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:37.759
 And I was like, get out of

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.660
 my space.

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:40.340
 Who are you to tell me

00:26:40.340 --> 00:26:41.100
 I'm going to hell?

00:26:44.040 --> 00:26:45.180
 And here were the Jews

00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.700
 actually challenging

00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:48.420
 Jesus when he told them,

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.800
 hey, where I'm going,

00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.519
 you're not coming.

00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:52.960
 Now listen to what they

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.779
 say because this is

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.320
 actually a little

00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:54.779
 interesting.

00:26:54.779 --> 00:27:01.019
 In the passage, he said

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:02.139
 in verse 24, he said,

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:02.599
 who are you?

00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:03.720
 And they said, he will

00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:05.139
 kill himself since he

00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:06.220
 says where I'm going you

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:06.779
 cannot come.

00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.539
 Listen to me carefully.

00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.539
 A little bit of Jewish

00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.700
 theology helps you at this

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.119
 point, right?

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.059
 You can take this home and

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:12.059
 try it around the dinner

00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:12.339
 table.

00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:15.000
 The Jews believed that

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.799
 anybody who committed

00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:17.039
 suicide went to the

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.539
 lowest part of hell.

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:19.839
 Low.

00:27:21.899 --> 00:27:22.259
 Worst.

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.139
 And here he said, where

00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.759
 I'm going you can't

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.240
 not come.

00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:26.579
 They're saying, oh yeah?

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.759
 You're thinking about

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:30.180
 committing suicide, right?

00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:30.779
 Yeah, that's what they

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:30.839
 were.

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:33.079
 No, that's not what he

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:33.700
 was saying at all.

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.480
 You guys are going to

00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:34.700
 hell.

00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:36.279
 You've rejected me and

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.279
 you're not going to be

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:37.799
 where I am.

00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:41.559
 So let's come back around

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.180
 because there's a very

00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.019
 interesting statement

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.460
 Jesus makes in verse 21.

00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:47.359
 I'm going away and you

00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:48.240
 will seek me.

00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.279
 Oh.

00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.559
 Does that mean that

00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.279
 people get a second

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.519
 chance in heaven or in

00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:54.740
 hell?

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.400
 Everybody look at me.

00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.900
 I'm going like this.

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:59.339
 No, no, no.

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:02.740
 Nor is the false

00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:05.379
 doctrine of purgatory

00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:06.879
 ever found in scripture.

00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:09.200
 The idea that I can drop

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.720
 money in an offering plate

00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:12.059
 or I can burn candles to

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:13.460
 have a friend kind of move

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.740
 up the food chain and out

00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:16.019
 is not true.

00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:21.559
 I want you to understand

00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.579
 what it is saying when it

00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.720
 says they will seek me.

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.839
 Turn over in your Bibles

00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:27.279
 if you would please to the

00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.879
 passage that we just touched

00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:30.379
 on briefly earlier just in

00:28:30.379 --> 00:28:30.779
 passing.

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.900
 Turn to Luke chapter 16

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:34.400
 verse 24 and 27.

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:39.500
 Luke chapter 16 verse 24 and 27

00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:42.780
 actually begins there in verse 19

00:28:42.780 --> 00:28:45.120
 where Jesus tells an account of a

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.360
 rich man in Lazarus.

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.740
 The rich man incredibly

00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:49.620
 financially endowed.

00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.920
 He had everything you wanted.

00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:52.019
 You know he had a motor home.

00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:54.080
 He had a retirement place in

00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:56.279
 you know southern Ohio and he had

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:59.480
 property in Canada for the summer

00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:01.300
 and he had property in Florida.

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.100
 Well actually in Jamaica for the

00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:03.340
 winter.

00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:04.700
 You know I mean bring the

00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.980
 missionaries in while we're at it.

00:29:06.080 --> 00:29:07.600
 You know it says hey he had it all.

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:09.360
 He died and he went to what?

00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:11.259
 He went to hell.

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:16.639
 And you look there in verse 24.

00:29:17.959 --> 00:29:19.740
 He called out Father Abraham have

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:22.199
 mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip

00:29:22.199 --> 00:29:24.439
 the end of his finger in water and

00:29:24.439 --> 00:29:25.419
 cool my tongue.

00:29:27.959 --> 00:29:29.179
 And that doesn't happen.

00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.099
 Verse 28.

00:29:30.459 --> 00:29:31.359
 I have five brothers.

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:34.639
 He says send someone to my father's

00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.079
 house.

00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.039
 I've got brothers.

00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:37.339
 I don't want them to come here.

00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:43.959
 I want you to understand that one

00:29:43.959 --> 00:29:45.959
 of the bitternesses of eternity will

00:29:47.479 --> 00:29:48.240
 not be.

00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:49.699
 I want you to think with me

00:29:49.699 --> 00:29:50.079
 carefully.

00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.179
 Follow me.

00:29:51.459 --> 00:29:51.939
 Oh by the way.

00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:54.679
 This evening I am going to preach on

00:29:54.679 --> 00:29:58.419
 how can a loving God send people to

00:29:58.419 --> 00:29:59.399
 hell forever.

00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:01.419
 Huh?

00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:06.500
 One of the hardships of eternity.

00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:12.779
 will not just be that there is no

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.699
 second chance.

00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:16.500
 It will be that people who are in

00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:19.799
 hell will not want a second chance.

00:30:23.899 --> 00:30:26.979
 Hey if you spent your life rejecting

00:30:26.979 --> 00:30:29.839
 Christ while you're alive and you've

00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:32.939
 resisted every indication of the glory

00:30:32.939 --> 00:30:35.159
 and wisdom of God and all of his

00:30:35.159 --> 00:30:37.240
 goodness in this brief life.

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:39.620
 Why would you want to have it full bore

00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:40.859
 in heaven forever?

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:45.160
 The unrepentant will remain unrepentant.

00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:46.859
 In fact hardened in his state.

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.660
 And we'll look at that a little bit more

00:30:48.660 --> 00:30:48.980
 later.

00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:52.079
 So here we understand

00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:58.420
 that those who go to hell will remain

00:30:58.420 --> 00:31:01.799
 there in all of eternity under God's

00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:03.660
 judgment resenting his holiness.

00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:06.620
 Resenting the marvelous offer of salvation

00:31:06.620 --> 00:31:08.000
 through the atonement.

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:10.660
 Resenting all and everyone and everything

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:14.700
 just in a bitter, angry, hateful, sorry,

00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:16.460
 painful mess.

00:31:20.560 --> 00:31:26.759
 Can God be loving and also just?

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:30.340
 That's the practical question that comes to us

00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:32.779
 as we look at this passage here in Matthew

00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.419
 chapter 8.

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:35.720
 And let me just kind of touch on several

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:37.599
 thoughts in relationship to that.

00:31:37.959 --> 00:31:39.959
 For one I want you to know that when Jesus

00:31:39.959 --> 00:31:42.759
 came back into Jerusalem in the week

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:46.480
 preceding his crucifixion it tells us that

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:48.839
 as he looked upon Jerusalem that holy city

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:51.740
 that was going to refuse his offer and

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:54.539
 crucify him it says this that he looked

00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:56.220
 upon them and he says oh Jerusalem,

00:31:56.220 --> 00:32:00.360
 Jerusalem his heart was broken by the

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:03.180
 hardness that sin had produced in them

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:06.720
 and he grieved over that city's abject

00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:09.640
 rejection of the sweetness of the gospel.

00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:12.700
 And here's something stunning.

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:17.380
 When Jesus marched with resolute determination

00:32:17.380 --> 00:32:21.220
 to the cross there were many women who moaned

00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:24.519
 moaned and groaned at the physical evidence

00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:25.480
 of his suffering.

00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:27.519
 Do you know what he said to them?

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:31.240
 Don't cry for me.

00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:38.640
 Cry for those who will suffer in the coming

00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:41.279
 judgment that is going to come on the city

00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.360
 of Jerusalem.

00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:50.779
 Do you wonder what the heart of Christ is like

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:53.079
 towards sinners?

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.740
 It is compassionate.

00:33:00.179 --> 00:33:01.099
 It is tender.

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:03.539
 It is sympathetic.

00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:05.539
 One of the things it says in the book of Ezekiel

00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:06.799
 it says this.

00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:09.019
 It says God takes no pleasure in the death

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.539
 of the wicked.

00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:15.099
 If you ever wonder about how deeply Jesus

00:33:15.099 --> 00:33:19.799
 cares about sinners and how seriously takes

00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:22.519
 the matter of hell, you stop and realize that

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:25.379
 he was willing to go to the cross to keep you

00:33:25.379 --> 00:33:26.779
 from that place.

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:37.240
 And so when we preach John chapter 8 and we hear

00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:40.519
 Jesus say that where I'm going you cannot come.

00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:42.579
 You will die in your sin.

00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:47.680
 The practical question that a pastor should ask

00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:49.720
 when he preaches a passage like this

00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:53.759
 will you die

00:33:53.759 --> 00:34:00.180
 as one who has come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:03.420
 or will you die in your sin?

00:34:06.320 --> 00:34:06.860
 That's it.

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:11.099
 Will you die as one who's come to faith in Christ

00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:14.099
 or will you die in your sin?

00:34:15.220 --> 00:34:17.420
 There are some of you thinking, well it looks like he's

00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:20.079
 coming to the end and I'd like to go out and have dinner.

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:23.299
 I'm not.

00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:35.099
 The purpose of preaching

00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:38.960
 is to put people on the spot

00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:40.840
 of saying yes

00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:42.279
 or no

00:34:42.279 --> 00:34:43.539
 to God.

00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:52.079
 Let's pray.

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:01.960
 Father God, this morning heaven and hell

00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:07.039
 is what is before us.

00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:11.559
 when we stop and consider

00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:14.480
 we who know the Lord Jesus Christ

00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:15.840
 of the unbelievable blessing

00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:16.880
 that you have given us

00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:19.340
 in delivering us from the kingdom of darkness

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:21.099
 and bringing us into the kingdom

00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:22.039
 of your dear son

00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:24.759
 we understand why our lives

00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:26.480
 should amount to more.

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:32.659
 And there's some of us here this morning

00:35:32.659 --> 00:35:33.639
 that need to repent

00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:36.279
 for being so self-consumed

00:35:36.279 --> 00:35:37.659
 in the reality

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.519
 in the face

00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:39.759
 of the truth

00:35:39.759 --> 00:35:42.039
 of the darkness

00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:43.179
 and suffering

00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:44.259
 of eternity.

00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:49.839
 We want to live holy

00:35:49.839 --> 00:35:51.219
 winsome

00:35:51.219 --> 00:35:52.379
 joyful

00:35:52.379 --> 00:35:53.539
 sweet

00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.739
 humble

00:35:54.739 --> 00:35:55.719
 lives

00:35:55.719 --> 00:35:56.819
 in the presence

00:35:56.819 --> 00:35:58.319
 of an unbelieving world

00:35:58.319 --> 00:35:59.779
 that is staggering

00:35:59.779 --> 00:36:00.679
 towards hell.

00:36:01.879 --> 00:36:02.960
 We want the things

00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:04.320
 that we are remembered

00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:04.900
 for

00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:06.199
 not to be

00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:07.159
 the substance

00:36:07.159 --> 00:36:08.119
 of our possessions

00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:09.280
 but the glory

00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:10.840
 of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:17.320
 There are some here today

00:36:17.320 --> 00:36:18.099
 that do not know

00:36:18.099 --> 00:36:18.860
 the Lord Jesus

00:36:18.860 --> 00:36:22.559
 and it has been my prayer

00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.460
 and it is the prayer

00:36:23.460 --> 00:36:25.460
 of every one of God's people

00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:26.079
 this morning

00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:27.220
 that today

00:36:27.220 --> 00:36:28.220
 the spirit of God

00:36:28.220 --> 00:36:29.240
 would bring conviction

00:36:29.240 --> 00:36:31.500
 and repentance

00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:34.340
 that sinners

00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:35.099
 confessing

00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:35.679
 the darkness

00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:36.519
 of their soul

00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:37.699
 and their complete inability

00:36:37.699 --> 00:36:38.920
 to save themselves

00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:40.000
 would be drawn

00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:40.619
 to understand

00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:41.820
 that there is no hope

00:36:41.820 --> 00:36:42.820
 apart from Christ

00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:45.039
 that today

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:47.860
 where they sit

00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:50.880
 with broken humility

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:52.000
 they would confess

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:54.420
 Father God

00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:55.199
 I stand

00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:56.539
 justly condemned

00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:59.259
 and yet

00:36:59.259 --> 00:36:59.980
 you have sent

00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:01.159
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:01.840
 to bear

00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:03.219
 my sin

00:37:03.219 --> 00:37:04.380
 upon the cross

00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:08.179
 and you have

00:37:08.179 --> 00:37:08.779
 offered me

00:37:08.779 --> 00:37:09.480
 salvation

00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:10.099
 through

00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:12.259
 believing

00:37:12.259 --> 00:37:12.960
 in

00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:13.579
 his

00:37:13.579 --> 00:37:14.699
 finished work

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:16.599
 and I claim

00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:17.279
 your promise

00:37:17.279 --> 00:37:18.820
 salvation

00:37:18.820 --> 00:37:20.320
 and forgiveness

00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:21.699
 in the Lord Jesus Christ

00:37:21.699 --> 00:37:22.539
 Amen

00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:23.380
 Amen

00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:25.800
 Ask thee

00:37:25.800 --> 00:37:27.460
 holy

00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:27.460


00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:27.460


00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:27.460


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