WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.299 Verse 24, would you please stand if you're able with me for the reading of God's Word? 00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:17.859 John chapter 5, verse 24, these are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:30.060 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:36.179 He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 00:00:36.739 --> 00:00:38.519 This is the word of the Lord. 00:00:39.420 --> 00:00:40.379 You may be seated. 00:00:40.380 --> 00:00:52.940 It is possible to think you're right and to yet be completely wrong. 00:00:55.160 --> 00:01:02.280 One of the moments where I laughed the most with Andrea and with Grandpa and Grandma Mendel 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:08.040 was when we were on a bus ride from São Paulo in South America, Brazil. 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:10.859 We were going to the Iguazu waterfalls. 00:01:11.360 --> 00:01:14.760 And it was an overnight bus ride, maybe 16 hours on the bus. 00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:16.140 And it was worth it. 00:01:16.380 --> 00:01:22.060 And Grandpa really wanted to see the world's largest waterfall in terms of water volume. 00:01:22.780 --> 00:01:24.380 So there we are on this bus. 00:01:24.520 --> 00:01:26.080 They're in the two seats right in front of us. 00:01:26.160 --> 00:01:27.540 Andrea and I are right behind them. 00:01:28.300 --> 00:01:32.800 And it starts to get dark and all the lights go out and people are falling asleep. 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:37.280 But Grandpa has his light on and he's got his maps out. 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:40.920 And he finally found the right map and it's all in Portuguese, of course. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:42.780 He had brought it at the local book stand. 00:01:43.579 --> 00:01:45.740 And he couldn't hear too well. 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:49.859 So he was talking very loud and getting himself worked up on the map of where we are. 00:01:49.900 --> 00:01:52.260 He's trying to read the road signs, the ones that had a light. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:58.280 And Grandma Thoma started kind of arguing with him and telling him that it didn't look right. 00:01:58.379 --> 00:01:58.819 Put it away. 00:01:58.920 --> 00:01:59.700 Everybody's trying to sleep. 00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:01.500 And they just kept getting louder and louder and louder. 00:02:01.500 --> 00:02:05.920 And Andrea and I just started laughing because he would not give it up. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:11.819 And he had been tracing on his map a little black line with a permanent marker where he thought we were going. 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:15.120 And finally we just went up there and we're looking at it with them. 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:16.939 We're trying to make sense on the map as well. 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:20.580 And Grandpa had traced it completely wrong. 00:02:20.659 --> 00:02:24.860 He had us almost in another state where he thought the bus had been going compared to where we really were. 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:29.260 And of course Thoma was just laughing so hard when we pointed out his mistake. 00:02:29.920 --> 00:02:37.260 And I'll always remember that, just that sense of humor, love for adventure and doing it together, each with their personalities just shining. 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:40.580 You know, but it's a wonderful picture as well. 00:02:40.740 --> 00:02:52.200 In this world, even if your hearing is perfect and your eyes are great and you speak multiple languages, it's possible in this life to think you're right and to be completely wrong. 00:02:52.199 --> 00:03:01.000 A memorial life or a funeral, it's a time where all of us inevitably are thinking about what is life and what is it all for? 00:03:01.519 --> 00:03:02.939 And even what is death? 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:12.060 The Bible says there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it is the way to death. 00:03:12.679 --> 00:03:14.579 Proverbs 14, 12. 00:03:14.580 --> 00:03:24.720 It is possible to think that you have life, that your soul is living and to yet be spiritually dead. 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:26.060 That's possible. 00:03:26.700 --> 00:03:30.120 Our verse today, our Lord Jesus says, truly, truly. 00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:38.980 And he's repeating that word truly, truly two times because that's the way in ancient Hebrew and Greek culture to highlight, it's to emphasize. 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:43.280 You can't put it in bold and italic and under underline in all caps. 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:46.640 So truly, truly, our Lord wants to get your attention. 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:49.020 Truly, I say to you. 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:54.680 And what I want you to see here is a wonderful promise, but it's conditional. 00:03:55.300 --> 00:03:59.319 The promise of our Lord of eternal life depends on three things. 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:02.060 Number one, who is it that speaks? 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:06.939 And I want you to see today, who is it that speaks these words of promise to you? 00:04:07.419 --> 00:04:12.840 Number two, it's only to those who believe and receive his promise. 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:15.959 And finally, it's if you trust him. 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:23.500 So it's possible to think you have life in your soul, spiritual life, and yet remain spiritually dead. 00:04:24.459 --> 00:04:25.959 Let's look at our first point. 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:29.300 Can you see the one who speaks to you? 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:32.639 John 5, 24. 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:35.839 Truly, truly, I say to you. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:48.959 Our Lord Jesus is correcting and he's speaking with the authority of heaven itself, the revelation of God himself to these religious leaders and teachers of the law who are arguing and bickering. 00:04:49.699 --> 00:04:52.500 The Sadducees said there was no life after death. 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:56.920 There are many today, probably most in our country that believe that. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:58.560 It's fatalism. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:01.680 You live your life for pleasures in this world only. 00:05:02.339 --> 00:05:11.120 And even if you think there might be some type of heaven, it's not a biblical view of what happens to the soul at the moment that the body takes the last breath. 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:15.100 And we need to hear the word from heaven itself through our Lord Jesus. 00:05:15.100 --> 00:05:18.980 Truly, truly, truly, I say to you. 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:22.879 And this was correcting the accusation of the Pharisees. 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:30.639 They wanted to know by what authority is this man come into our town and proclaim this this kingdom of heaven in such a powerful way. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:31.819 By what authority? 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:38.500 In the context of John 5, Jesus has just told a lame man who could not get healed by getting into the water. 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:39.899 He could not do it by himself. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:45.379 And Jesus, with the same words, he says, I tell you, pick up your mat and walk. 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:49.099 And that man received that word from our Lord. 00:05:49.539 --> 00:05:52.259 The spirit brought a miracle in his life. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:56.060 He applied the healing word of God and he stood up and walked. 00:05:56.479 --> 00:05:57.779 You know why Jesus did that? 00:05:58.139 --> 00:05:59.919 Because that was a picture lesson. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:03.020 That was a visual illustration that everyone there could see. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:09.640 No one could deny that the word of our Lord Jesus carries power to bring life and to heal. 00:06:09.640 --> 00:06:14.660 And that word of our Lord Jesus, he still speaks today through his word. 00:06:15.200 --> 00:06:16.240 Who is it that speaks? 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:22.060 The book of Revelation calls him the true and faithful witness of heaven. 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:27.280 Our confession says he is very God of very God. 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:29.860 Took on flesh to save sinners. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:33.520 He is our Lord, our creator, our law giver. 00:06:35.020 --> 00:06:40.600 Jesus spoke word of life because that's the mission his father sent him to do. 00:06:41.140 --> 00:06:42.360 John 316. 00:06:42.580 --> 00:06:43.379 You know this one. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:50.340 But have you thought about what this promise says in light of the transforming work inside of you? 00:06:50.339 --> 00:06:55.439 For God so loved the world. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:57.779 Yes, the world. 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:00.939 The sinful, wicked, rebellious world. 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:02.019 Not just the Jews. 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:05.060 He loved every nation, tribe and tongue. 00:07:05.219 --> 00:07:07.279 Whoever would believe in him. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:10.719 That he sent his only begotten son. 00:07:10.719 --> 00:07:15.979 That whosoever would trust him would have forgiveness for sins. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.739 This world that God loves. 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:20.859 We know how broken it is. 00:07:20.860 --> 00:07:23.520 But let's not be quick to look out there. 00:07:25.060 --> 00:07:25.360 Sin. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:28.379 According to John Piper, one one pastor. 00:07:28.540 --> 00:07:29.340 This convicts me. 00:07:30.080 --> 00:07:31.960 A friend of mine had this on his refrigerator. 00:07:32.860 --> 00:07:34.920 For God so loved the sinful world. 00:07:35.080 --> 00:07:36.420 He loves sinners like me. 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:41.240 Who have not honored God's glory. 00:07:42.280 --> 00:07:44.340 Sin is the holiness of God. 00:07:44.640 --> 00:07:46.160 Not reverenced. 00:07:46.900 --> 00:07:48.520 Sin is the greatness of God. 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:49.900 Not admired. 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:51.720 It's the power of God. 00:07:52.020 --> 00:07:53.060 Not praised. 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:55.300 Sin is truth of God. 00:07:55.460 --> 00:07:56.819 Not sought after. 00:07:57.300 --> 00:07:58.580 It's the wisdom of God. 00:07:58.700 --> 00:07:59.560 Not esteemed. 00:08:00.280 --> 00:08:01.840 Sin is the beauty of God. 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:03.080 Not treasured. 00:08:03.080 --> 00:08:04.639 It's the goodness of God. 00:08:04.780 --> 00:08:05.660 Not savored. 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:07.939 Sin is the faithfulness of God. 00:08:08.180 --> 00:08:09.300 Not trusted. 00:08:09.880 --> 00:08:11.960 Sin is the command of God. 00:08:12.060 --> 00:08:13.020 Not obeyed. 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:14.480 The justice of God. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:15.540 Not respected. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:17.240 It's the wrath of God. 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:18.320 Not feared. 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:20.120 It's the grace of God. 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:21.740 Not cherished. 00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:23.700 It's the presence of God. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:25.480 Not prized in your life. 00:08:26.020 --> 00:08:27.860 It's the person of God. 00:08:28.420 --> 00:08:29.240 Jesus Christ. 00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:30.820 Not loved. 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:32.840 That's what sin is. 00:08:33.040 --> 00:08:34.720 And into such a world. 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:38.259 The father sent his only begotten son. 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:39.720 And Jesus speaks. 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:41.060 He says, truly, truly. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:42.740 I say to you. 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:48.240 If you look on your program. 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:49.779 You'll see two dates. 00:08:49.940 --> 00:08:52.740 One is when Grandma Thelma Mendel was born. 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:56.960 And the other date was May 28th, 2022. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:04.299 And doesn't your first thought go to on that day, the second date, May 28th. 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:07.340 That's the day when eternal life began for Thelma. 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:08.759 Isn't that where your thought goes? 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:13.740 But I want you to pay careful attention to this verse. 00:09:13.740 --> 00:09:18.360 Because the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:18.560 --> 00:09:19.120 Truly, truly. 00:09:19.220 --> 00:09:19.940 I say to you. 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:23.019 It's that eternal life had already begun. 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:27.340 The moment that the soul believed and trusted in Christ. 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:31.120 So not only do you need to see the one who speaks in this verse number two. 00:09:31.680 --> 00:09:32.460 You too. 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:35.000 You must believe in Jesus. 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:37.940 He says, truly, truly. 00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:39.020 I say to you. 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:40.360 Look at the next words. 00:09:41.280 --> 00:09:50.480 Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. 00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:55.340 When Jesus says, whoever hears my word. 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:59.920 He's really talking about the revelation of the kingdom of God. 00:10:00.040 --> 00:10:05.200 He's saying not just this word in this moment, but my teaching, my doctrine about salvation. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:10.500 My opening up, unveiling to you the true nature of God the Father. 00:10:11.180 --> 00:10:13.840 Believe what I'm telling you about God the Father. 00:10:14.540 --> 00:10:17.580 And you have eternal life. 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:21.980 The word of our Lord Jesus is what you must believe. 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:27.080 You must believe the truth about his person, his life, his work, his kingdom. 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:31.240 The peace that passes understanding that can come from Jesus alone. 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:35.240 The rule over your life by our Lord Jesus. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:39.200 And that the judgment of God cannot be suspended. 00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:43.659 God must judge sin because God is holy. 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:48.919 And he must punish evil because God is good. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:57.680 And the judgment of God can only be suspended if there is one who takes the judgment in your place. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:05.019 Our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to reveal the Father to you and to live the life you could never live. 00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:11.459 So that when he paid the sacrifice for sin on the cross, you could receive his righteousness. 00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:18.979 And receive the forgiveness because the judgment of God had already poured out on his own son. 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:22.759 I want you to take your eyes back a couple of verses. 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:26.779 John chapter 5 verse 21. 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:30.399 Jesus says, 00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:40.939 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 00:11:40.940 --> 00:11:48.300 When the Lord Jesus gave up his life, he was holding on to this promise. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:53.440 It's the Father who has power to raise a life from the dead. 00:11:54.420 --> 00:11:58.860 Jesus himself had to trust that promise when he took on the flesh. 00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:01.480 And Jesus says, 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:05.879 If you hear my voice today, then the gospel promise is for you. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.860 That means Jesus himself is giving you life. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:14.080 If you are opening your ear, believing and trusting upon him. 00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:19.259 John Bunyan, who wrote Pilgrim's Progress, he wrote another book. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:22.620 And he describes the soul as a city. 00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:27.899 And you picture a city that's going to be surrounded by the enemy, besieged on all sides. 00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:29.539 He said, 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:31.819 The soul of man is under constant attack. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:32.740 Don't you feel that? 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:38.000 Not only from the world and the poison that comes in through the media and our phones and stuff like that. 00:12:38.319 --> 00:12:39.480 But also from within. 00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:42.720 Our own flesh is at war over the soul. 00:12:44.179 --> 00:12:44.779 And he said, 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:47.459 The soul has these gates. 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:48.279 One is the, 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:49.600 It's the senses. 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:52.159 Your hands, your feet, your eyes. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:54.899 They can be gates for sin to come in and attack your soul. 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:56.480 But he said, 00:12:56.620 --> 00:13:01.000 There's one source of hope for the dead soul that's surrounded and besieged. 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:04.399 And he calls it allegorically, he calls it ear gate. 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:11.139 If you'll hear the word, the word of your king, your commander, through the ear gate, 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:15.379 your soul can find life and refuge and protection. 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:18.639 So that's what Jesus says today. 00:13:19.059 --> 00:13:21.179 Our verse for today, verse 24. 00:13:22.100 --> 00:13:28.939 Whoever hears my word, this is the word of salvation coming through ear gate to your soul, 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:32.080 that you can have eternal life. 00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:35.779 And my exhortation to you today is receive the word of Jesus. 00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:39.500 Receive it like his cousin, John the Baptist, received it. 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:43.259 He said, when he beheld Jesus and heard him preaching, he said, 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:45.740 Now my joy is complete. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.519 He said, 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:53.720 The friend of the bridegroom stands and hears him and rejoices at his voice. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:58.840 Does your soul rejoice at the voice of your Savior, Jesus Christ? 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:08.040 I was thinking, as DJ shared, that Thelma's request was not a eulogy describing how great her life was. 00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:11.480 She wanted to see the glory go to God. 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:14.540 And if that was her desire in the flesh, 00:14:15.280 --> 00:14:22.280 how much more so would that be desire when you finally behold the Lord Jesus in his full glory and splendor? 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:25.080 How could you want anything less than that? 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:29.080 Can you pray today like the hymn says, 00:14:29.280 --> 00:14:34.660 Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight. 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:39.920 Don't you long for that day when your soul is united to Christ 00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:44.000 and what you believe with a weak faith like a beggar's hand. 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:46.460 One day you'll behold fully. 00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:49.280 But that promise is not yours. 00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:53.780 Only if you behold Jesus or even hear the words with your body, 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:56.299 you must trust him. 00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.699 This is my final point. 00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.600 Trust Jesus. 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.519 And look again at the verse. 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:03.279 You need to see this with your own eyes. 00:15:05.079 --> 00:15:09.379 Whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.819 Look at the next few words. 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:14.179 He does not come into judgment, 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:19.259 but has passed from death to life. 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:21.620 Did you catch the verb tense? 00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:25.299 He has eternal life. 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:27.319 That's when eternal life begins, 00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:29.899 when you trust in Jesus with your life. 00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:33.759 And you don't fear judgment and condemnation for your sin 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:37.580 because you already have passed from judgment, 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:39.720 from death to life. 00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:41.100 That's what Jesus promises. 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:48.080 I started off by telling you it's possible to think you have life 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.620 and yet remain spiritually dead. 00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:53.800 The Bible says there's a way that seems right to man, 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.100 but in the end, 00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:57.040 it's the way to death. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.960 That's a biblical way of understanding what your life is. 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:05.940 Psalm 8 says that God created man 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:08.160 and set him a little lower than the angels. 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:10.919 So we are given a flesh, a body. 00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:13.719 The Puritans described the body like a garment. 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:16.360 When the child is a baby, it's young, it's brand new. 00:16:16.839 --> 00:16:19.139 You know, the skin is tight, full of life. 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:22.159 And as that body, that flesh wears down, 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:23.899 it becomes like an old garment. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:27.360 And some of you might be feeling like your knee or your back, 00:16:27.439 --> 00:16:28.659 it's like a filthy rag. 00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:30.659 By now it barely holds together. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:35.799 The psalm 8 also says that you have been crowned with glory and honor 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:38.740 as being the image bearer of God. 00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:43.839 And that means that the body is the temporary vessel. 00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:46.719 It's like the war-torn ship 00:16:46.719 --> 00:16:48.939 that's taking your soul to eternity, 00:16:49.319 --> 00:16:51.159 to heaven with the Lord, 00:16:51.219 --> 00:16:53.299 if you are united to him. 00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:56.659 One pastor, John Flavo, said, 00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:58.740 the soul is the life of the body 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:03.379 and Christ is the only life of the soul. 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:08.440 If Christ is not the Lord over your soul, 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:11.120 you have no spiritual life. 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:14.839 Just like what death is, 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:17.000 it's when the soul is separated from the body. 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:20.339 It's the absence of the soul in the body 00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:21.400 is physical death. 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.720 In the same way, 00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:24.859 the absence of Christ in the soul 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:27.079 is spiritual death. 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:29.039 Jesus explained, 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:30.980 here is what eternal life is, 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:34.059 that you know the only God 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:35.460 and Jesus Christ 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:37.159 whom he has sent. 00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:38.119 John 17. 00:17:38.919 --> 00:17:39.919 In John 10.10, 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.519 Jesus said, 00:17:40.659 --> 00:17:43.759 I came that they may have life 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:45.839 and have it abundantly. 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:48.059 That's what eternal life is. 00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:49.019 It's to be united 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:52.000 to our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.119 Christ. 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.599 So which field, 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.339 which soil, 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:57.380 which fruit are you in? 00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:00.920 Like we heard this morning, 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.900 as Travis mentioned, 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.220 bad tree can only bear bad fruit. 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:07.180 But if you are in Christ, 00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:08.599 your life will produce 00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:09.599 the fruit of the spirit 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.740 because it's the spirit 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:11.960 working in your soul 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:13.339 to bear his fruit. 00:18:13.859 --> 00:18:15.119 There's a pastor in London 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:16.799 named Martin Lloyd-Jones, 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:18.720 and he uses a very simple picture 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.420 of two fields. 00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.880 And as we are driving here, 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:23.940 these beautiful winding roads 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:25.140 through Nebraska 00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:26.220 and to South Dakota, 00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:28.300 I saw that contrast 00:18:28.300 --> 00:18:29.140 and it immediately 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:30.140 came to mind again. 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:33.240 There's the well-kept soybean field. 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:34.039 You know, 00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:36.000 the ditch is mowed nice 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.259 and it's been sprayed. 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:38.440 It's that dark green. 00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:40.120 It's got irrigation. 00:18:40.340 --> 00:18:41.400 It's got everything it needs. 00:18:41.800 --> 00:18:42.880 And right next to it, 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.680 with this drought, 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.840 is that abandoned field. 00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:46.720 There's stumps. 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.900 There's weeds. 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:49.120 It's dry. 00:18:49.280 --> 00:18:50.420 It looks like you drop a match 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.920 and it's going to go on fire. 00:18:53.280 --> 00:18:55.080 So picture your life. 00:18:55.780 --> 00:18:56.960 You've got your body 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.620 and your soul. 00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.759 And no matter where, 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.820 which field you're in, 00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.940 your soul is going to be 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:03.100 bearing one type of fruit 00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:03.620 or the other. 00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:06.840 And one is the field of death. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.560 Picture barbed wire, 00:19:08.800 --> 00:19:09.200 poison, 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.019 machine guns, 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.440 all kinds of things 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:13.700 that will destroy your soul. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.559 And on the other side, 00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:17.200 it's the field of peace 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.400 and life in Christ. 00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:19.640 Jesus says, 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:21.940 his banner over me is love. 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:24.000 And that's the banner in a war. 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.940 If you make it underneath that banner, 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.840 you are safe. 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.420 The power of this army 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.720 is protecting your soul 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:30.740 for eternity. 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.440 And the promise of Jesus, 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:32.940 truly, 00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:33.340 truly, 00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:34.539 I say to you, 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:36.840 if you believe in me 00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:37.680 and trust in me, 00:19:37.860 --> 00:19:39.360 you have eternal life. 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.360 You have passed 00:19:40.360 --> 00:19:41.279 from death 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.259 to life. 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:46.879 Do you see Jesus 00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:48.859 as he's revealed himself? 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:51.920 Do you believe in his promise 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:52.680 from his word 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:54.119 that that's for you today? 00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.559 That's for your soul. 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:58.000 And do you trust him? 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:01.660 I'm reminded of that beautiful hymn. 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.819 To see him, 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.579 behold him there, 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:07.140 the risen lamb. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.079 And believe him, 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.579 my perfect, 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:12.960 spotless righteousness. 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:15.199 And trust him. 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.339 Who are you trusting? 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.000 The great, 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:20.240 unchangeable I am, 00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:21.980 the king of glory 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:24.099 and of grace. 00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:26.500 Just last week, 00:20:26.919 --> 00:20:27.980 my family and I, 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.879 we got to go visit 00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:30.519 a different grave site 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:32.179 and a different headstone. 00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:35.440 and it was my grandpa's father. 00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.720 And the story 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.900 that my dad told us, 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:41.000 it was very sad. 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.340 And it was that 00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:43.519 my grandpa, 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:45.519 he never heard the words 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.240 I love you 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.200 from his father 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:49.380 until he was an adult. 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.940 And so when we visited 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.779 this tombstone, 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.880 I'm trying to picture 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.700 my grandpa 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.480 who, 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:56.600 in his 40s, 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.500 God saved him 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:59.119 and he raised us 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:00.339 in a very loving way. 00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:02.119 But he never heard 00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:02.660 those words 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.660 from his own father. 00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.500 I love you. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.960 And if you, 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.700 you look back 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.859 on the generation before, 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:10.319 his dad thought 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:11.519 he was doing pretty well 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.859 because he had, 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.559 he himself, 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.460 so my great, 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:14.940 great grandpa, 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:16.259 he had been dropped off 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:17.079 at an orphanage 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.599 when he was only 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.380 three years old. 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:20.299 His dad was the town drunk. 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.640 So he provided 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:22.359 for his family 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.099 and he gave them 00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.880 a place to live 00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:24.359 and work. 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:26.000 He never told them 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.079 I love you, 00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:27.559 but he thought 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.579 he was doing pretty well. 00:21:30.439 --> 00:21:31.459 And we can't help it 00:21:31.459 --> 00:21:32.199 but think back 00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:33.079 on these generations 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.319 of our life 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:37.299 and impose upon God 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:38.899 that he's distant 00:21:38.899 --> 00:21:39.639 and cold 00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:41.419 and that he doesn't speak. 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.839 But I want you now 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.619 by faith 00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:45.719 to hear the words 00:21:45.719 --> 00:21:46.379 of Jesus 00:21:46.379 --> 00:21:47.519 one more time. 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.599 Truly, truly, 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:51.240 I say to you, 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:53.579 whoever hears my word 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:56.319 and believes 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.679 him who sent me 00:21:57.679 --> 00:22:00.240 has eternal life. 00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.579 Jesus came to say 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.699 I love you 00:22:03.699 --> 00:22:05.419 from God the Father. 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:07.220 Make sure you will 00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:08.019 believe this, 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.919 that God is not silent 00:22:09.919 --> 00:22:10.899 and even now 00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:12.039 his word goes forth 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:12.960 and his Holy Spirit 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.819 applies it 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.779 through our mind 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.539 to our heart 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.759 so that your soul 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.919 can be united on him 00:22:17.919 --> 00:22:19.240 and you must believe 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:19.779 in Jesus 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:21.019 while your body 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:22.079 has breath. 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:22.939 You must. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:25.379 And when you trust 00:22:25.379 --> 00:22:25.819 in Jesus, 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.819 you will have passed 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.779 from death 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.759 to life. 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.419 And you'll be able 00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.399 to enjoy 00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:33.720 eternal life now 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.659 in preparation 00:22:34.659 --> 00:22:36.139 for heaven, 00:22:36.699 --> 00:22:37.679 eternity with him. 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:38.980 And you'll be able 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.539 to sing 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:41.279 one with himself. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.799 I cannot die. 00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:45.180 My soul is purchased 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.659 by his blood. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.700 My life is hid 00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:50.339 with Christ on high, 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:52.579 with Christ my Savior 00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:54.819 and my God.