Well, last week, I worked to show you the all-sufficient merit of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man.
We saw in John 5 how our Lord Jesus, number one, is equal with God. That was verse 18.
Number two, how Jesus accomplished the work of God, verses 19 through 21.
And number three, last week, how all authority that Christ holds is from God, verses 22 and 23.
So today we'll begin our reading at verse 24, and we'll go to the end of chapter 5.
So John chapter 5, starting at verse 24.
What I want you to listen for, I want you to hear what King Jesus declares about his own authority.
So hear God's own word, remembering that God's word is inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient.
John 5, 24.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.
He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who hear will live, for as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out.
And those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Verse 30.
I can do nothing on my own as I hear I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own, but the will of him who sent me.
If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.
There is another who bears witness about me.
And I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.
You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John,
for the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing,
bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me.
His voice you have never heard.
His form you have never seen.
And you do not have his word abiding in you,
for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life,
and it is they that bear witness about me.
Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
I do not receive glory from people,
but I know that you do not have the love of God within you.
I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me.
If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
But how can you believe when you receive glory from one another,
and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father.
There is one who accuses you, Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
For if you believed Moses, you would have believed me,
for he wrote of me.
But if you do not believe me,
believe his writings,
how will you believe my words?
Well, this is the word of our Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Let's pray.
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit.
And I pray, Father,
this hour in a special way,
fill me with your love
and your earnestness,
so that as your word is proclaimed,
we can all confidently believe
and gratefully obey you,
King Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
You may be seated.
The sheep bleat.
The lame walks.
The temple crowds shove.
The lawyers whisper tactics to incriminate
the God of all justice.
The established elite plot to kill
the only meritorious man to have walked the earth.
The great high priest whose name is love
fulfills God's law perfectly at every turn.
The only possible mediator between God and man
prays.
The king of all glory patiently waits.
The dust in the temple courtyard settles.
Then he speaks.
Verse 24.
Truly, truly, truly, I say to you,
whoever hears my word
and believes him who sent me
has eternal life.
He does not come into judgment,
but has passed from death to life.
Truly, truly, I say to you,
an hour is coming and is now here
when the dead will hear the voice
of the Son of God
and those who hear will live.
For as the Father has life in himself,
so he has granted the Son
also to have life in himself
and he has given him all authority
to execute judgment
because he is the Son of Man.
The Son of God was born the Son of Man
so that his heavenly kingdom
now comes to earth.
We sang this in the hymn.
Born thy people to deliver.
Born a child and yet a king.
Born to reign in us forever.
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
That's what King Jesus declares
for whoever has an ear to hear him.
And what I see in this passage,
my goal is to walk us through
verse by verse
in the order that Christ gives it.
I see two ways that you can respond.
Number one,
you will either obey him
as your king now and live.
Or number two,
you will refuse him now
knowing that you will face him
as judge later.
So those are my two points.
Number one,
why you must obey King Jesus.
And number two,
what refusing Jesus as your king means.
And I plead to you,
his kingdom is coming.
Heed his voice.
So first,
why you must obey King Jesus
in three verses.
24,
25,
and 26.
I've got three observations here.
Number one,
you must obey King Jesus now
because his hour
to rule as king
is here.
That's what he says
in verse 25.
The hour is coming
and is now here.
So what I want you to picture
is two different kingdoms,
two different nations.
On one side
is a kingdom of death
and destruction
and poison
and sin
and Satan
going around like a lion
seeking who he can devour
in this kingdom
of darkness.
And then there's
a very thin line,
like a thin thread.
That's the border
between the two kingdoms.
There is no middle ground.
And on the other side
is the kingdom of life
and light.
It's the power
of heaven.
It's the white throne
of God
ruling over this domain,
this dominion.
And the king of heaven,
King Jesus,
speaks out
over the darkness.
And when he speaks,
his voice,
it's creative
and powerful
and it's effectual.
Effectual.
The dictionary defines
effectual this way.
It's possessing
the necessary virtues
that gives
effective power.
In other words,
it's effectual
when there is power
to produce
the promised effect.
So King Jesus,
in these verses,
we see
he effectually
gives life
through his voice.
his voice
exhales
the spiritual life
into every soul
that hears him
and believes.
Look at verse 24.
Those who hear
will live.
It's effectual.
When you hear
the voice of
King Jesus
and you believe in him,
your name
is now
revealed
as one who
he has given life to
and has passed over
and now your name,
you can know
with certainty,
it is in his book
of life.
We sang
he left riches
without number.
He was
in the kingdom
of heaven,
riches without number.
He left that
and he was born
in the world
within a cattle stall.
This,
our everlasting
wonder,
Christ
was born.
the Lord
of all.
King Jesus
gives life
through his voice.
King Jesus
also effectually
grants you
citizenship
into his
kingdom
of heaven
when you believe
in him.
You have
the passport.
You have
citizenship.
You can never
be kicked out
of his kingdom
if you are
united to Christ.
If you believe
in him,
look at verse 24.
You have
passed.
In the past tense,
you have
passed
from death
to life.
How do you
know that?
Because you have
the word
of the king
himself
effectually
making it so,
declaring you
belong to him.
That's what it
means to be
ransomed
by Christ.
It means that
he entered
this fallen
world to bring
you to the
kingdom of heaven,
to pass you
from this
domain of
darkness
into his
kingdom
of light.
So we're
promised by
our Lord
that you
have passed
from death
to life.
And he says
those who hear
will live.
So we need
to try to
understand what
is our Lord
revealing to us.
He's talking
here about
a type of
life that
only goes out
to those who
believe.
See, it's
exclusive.
It's only
those who
will hear
him.
So he's
talking about
a spiritual
life.
What is
spiritual
life?
Well,
spiritual
life is
when your
soul is
united to
God.
When your
soul is
one with
your maker,
the giver
of life,
you have
spiritual
life.
So what
is spiritual
death?
Spiritual
death is
when the
soul is
separated
from God.
Your soul
is dead
at birth
until the
Holy Spirit
makes your
inner being
able to
hear the
voice of
Jesus Christ.
And you
are so
dead in
sin,
the Bible
teaches,
that your
heart,
your soul,
your mind,
and your
body are
all tainted
by sin.
And it
binds your
will.
It binds
your freedom
to sin.
You are
a slave
to sin.
That's
the language
the Bible
uses.
You are
now
imprisoned
to sin,
Satan,
and death.
That's what
Colossians 2.13
says,
you who
were dead
in your
trespasses,
in your
flesh.
You were
made alive.
How?
Together
with him.
You were
made one.
You were
united to
Christ,
his one
person,
two
natures.
made
alive
together
with
him,
having
forgiven
us
all
our
trespasses.
So
God,
by his
creative
power,
his
effectual
voice
as
king
over
all,
he
speaks
life.
And he
speaks into
that dead
soul and
causes the
deaf to
hear his
voice.
And by
doing that,
by believing
through faith
in his
grace for
you,
you are
united to
him,
and you
pass over
from death
to life.
That's what
he promises
in verse 24.
And that's
why you must
obey king
Jesus now,
because this
is his
hour.
His rule
is now
here.
He is
speaking into
the domain
of darkness
so that
you will
believe.
Number two,
you must
obey king
Jesus now
because his
grace is
your only
hope in
life and
in death.
notice how
gracious
king
Jesus is
in these
words.
He
graciously
declares,
you who
hear him
now,
you are
pardoned
forever.
You get
the judicial
pardon from
the highest
court,
from the
king,
over the
kingdom.
You are
pardoned
forever.
Look at
verse 24.
You do
not come
into
judgment
if you
are roped
in his
righteousness.
That's all
that the
father
sees.
Now,
as I
mentioned,
it's only
some who
are robed
in Christ's
righteousness.
Who is
it?
It's only
those who
hear his
voice now
and believe.
So spiritually,
it's those who
are in the
domain of
darkness but
believe they
have spiritual
life now.
And this
is in
contrast with
verse 28.
See,
he says,
there's another
hour that's
coming when
all will
hear.
But this
does not
refer to
spiritual
life.
This
refers to
the final
judgment.
The time
to hear
him
spiritually
is now.
It's only
those who
hear who
will live.
They will
enjoy union
with Jesus
Christ.
Romans 7
23 drives
this point
home.
Even as
a Christian,
you are
going to be
fighting against
remaining sin
till your
final breath.
But you
have spiritual
life in
Christ.
You're
united
with
Christ.
Listen to
how Paul
describes the
bondage of
the will
to sin.
Romans 7
23.
It's
captive to
the law
that is
the rule
or the
principle
of sin
that dwells
in your
members,
he says,
your body
or your
fallen
flesh.
You need
to believe
in Christ
now because
his voice
is effectual
for all
who he
causes to
hear and
believe him.
Think about
God's
providence.
Children,
your parents
brought you
to church.
You hear
the scripture.
You hear
the word
of God.
That's
his kindness.
It's
his providence
for you
so that
you will
believe
because
he is
your only
hope.
His grace
is our
only hope
in life
and in
death.
Left
on your
own without
him speaking
to you,
you will
refuse
his grace.
Your will
is free.
You
have
free
will
to
refuse
God.
John
Owen,
Puritan
pastor,
wrote,
the sinner's
will has
the power
to refuse
God's
grace.
The
ministry
of the
word
alone
without
the work
of the
spirit
cannot
convert
sinners.
Human
persuasion
is
useless
to
change
fallen
nature
any more
than the
most effectual
arguments
can prevail
to make
a blind
man see
or a
lame
man walk
or a
dead
person
rise
from
the
grave.
You
know why
this is
important?
If this
is what
the scripture
teaches,
you need
to start
there.
Your
unregenerate
will
is free
only to
refuse
God.
And this
is important
because
God
alone
gets
all the
glory
in our
salvation.
This
is what
Christ
makes
very
clear.
If you
believe,
it's
because
his
Holy
Spirit
has
taken
that
effectual
word
of the
king
and
worked
it
into
your
soul
to
unite
you
to
Christ
so
that
your
soul
can
have
life
by
being
united
in
God
and
belonging
spiritually
to
his
kingdom.
Obey
the
voice
of
King
Jesus.
His
grace
is
your
only
hope.
Number
three,
you
need
to
obey
King
Jesus
now
because
only
King
Jesus
has
this
spiritual
life
for you.
He's
the only
one
who can
give
life
to
your
soul.
Remember,
that's
what
spiritual
life
is.
It's
when
your
soul
is
united
to
God.
But
because
of sin
and
Adam's
sin
and
your
own
sin,
your
soul
was
born
separated
from
God.
But
Christ
alone
can
give
your
soul
the
life
that
it
needs.
Your
soul
will
be
unhappy.
It
will
be
miserable
until
it's
life
in
himself.
So
he
has
granted
the
son
also
to
have
life
in
himself.
You
know,
when the
Lord
formed
Adam
out of
the
dust,
his
earthly
body
was
formed,
but it
wasn't
until
God
breathed
the
spirit
into
him,
gave
him
a
soul,
that
the
body
had
life.
We
agree
in
John
chapter
1
verse
4,
in
Christ
was
life.
In
Christ,
in
union
with
Christ
was
life.
And
that
life
was
the
light
of
men
who
were
otherwise
in
darkness.
This
theme
is
echoed
throughout
all
of
scripture.
You
could
say
this
is
the
dominant
note
in
all
the
gospel
of
John.
One
example
is
Psalm
36
9.
The
psalmist
confesses
of
God
with
you,
with
you,
in
union
with
you,
in
your
presence
is
the
fountain
of
life.
in
your
light
do
we
see
light.
There
is
darkness
apart
from
God,
but
with
his
presence
is
the
fountain
of
life.
The
kingdom
of
heaven
is
filled
with
the
life
that
is
in
God
alone.
God,
our
most
glorious,
most
radiant
creator,
it's
his
essence
that
gives
spiritual
life
to
anyone
who
will
belong
to
his
kingdom
through
Christ.
apart
from
God
is
only
death.
When
the
Holy
Spirit
unites
you
to
Christ,
he
puts
into
your
soul
his
life.
Can
you
hear
the
voice
of
King
Jesus
effectually
calling
you,
commanding
you,
believe
in
him.
He
is
the
only
source
of
life
for
your
soul.
We
just
read
this
in
the
Chalcedonian
Creed.
It's
only
King
Jesus
as
the
Son of
God
and
the
Son of
Man
who
can
bring
the
kingdom
of
heaven
to
earth.
Do you
see why
this is
so
important?
He
unites
in
one
person,
one
mediator
between
God
and
man,
the
two
natures
that
are
needed,
God's
divine
nature
and
representative
of
all
humans.
God
and
God
and
God
and
God
and
man
according
to
his
human
nature
he
is
in
all
things
like
unto
us
yet
without
sin
and
according
to his
divine
nature
he
is
begotten
before
all
ages
of
the
father
according
to
the
God
head
one
person
two
natures
for
the
very
purpose
of
our
salvation
that
we
can
be
united
to
God
a
high
view
of
Christ
his
person
and
his
work
is
vital
for
your
hope
of
salvation
it's
vital
Satan
wants
to
attack
your
view
of
God
Satan
wants
you
to
lower
your
view
of
Christ
this
will
always
be
a
temptation
this
is
why
we
are
always
being
reformed
in
our
thinking
under
the
word
of
God
and
Satan
wants
to
go
after
your
faith
and
my
faith
when
we're
most
weak
most
tired
and
I
promised
last
week
I
would
not
leave
you
hanging
with
Athanasius
remember
Arius
and
those
who
had
a
low
view
of
Christ
the
liberals
you
could
say
within
the
church
they
wanted
to
bring
Christ
down
a
few
notches
and
there
was
one
point
when
Athanasius
was
seemingly
the
only
man
within
the
church
writing
to
defend
from
scripture
how
Christ
is
fully
God
fully
divine
and
because
that
group
took
over
the
government
and
the
church
they
exiled
him
not
one
time
not
twice
not
three
times
five
different
times
Athanasius
was
exiled
weak
abandoned
alone
his
medieval
biographers
described
this
period
as
Athanasius
contra
mundum
in
Latin
Athanasius
against
the
world
and
Athanasius
was the
first
one
to
confess
yes
I
am
weak
I
am
feeble
but
that's
not
the
source
of
my
strength
you
could
see
Athanasius
got
to
experience
what
God
promised
to
all
who
are
in
him
in
1
John
5
3
who
is
it
that
overcomes
the
world
except
the
one
who
believes
that
Jesus
is
the
son
of
God
for
this
is
the
love
of
God
that
we
keep
his
commandments
and
his
commandments
are
not
burdensome
Athanasius
would be
the first
one to
say
it was
not
by
my
strength
I
just
simply
heard
the
voice
of
the
king
and
he's
exalted
to
obey
king
Jesus
uncompromisingly
is no
burden
if you
belong
to the
kingdom
of
heaven
Athanasius
wrote
for the
might
of
man
and of
all
creatures
is weak
and poor
but the
the
might
capital
m
Jesus
Christ
which is
above
man
and
uncreated
is rich
and
incomprehensible
and has
no
beginning
but is
eternal
that's
who
Jesus
Christ
is
he
is
our
strength
and as
first
John
wrote
everyone
who has
been
born
of
God
everyone
overcomes
the
world
and this
is the
victory
that has
overcome
the world
our
faith
it's
not
our
strength
it's
our
union
with
Christ
it's
our
view
of
him
our
faith
in
Christ
overcomes
the
world
even
when
we're
most
weak
well
that's
why
you
must
obey
King
Jesus
now
he
has
overcome
the
world
he
extends
the
father's
love
to
you
by
grace
alone
and
he
speaks
today
because
his
hour
is
here
he
was
born
to
reign
in
you
forever
heed
his
voice
obey
King
Jesus
but
if
you'll
notice
beginning
at
verse
27
all
the
way
to
the
end
of
the
chapter
verse
47
the
rest
of
Christ's
sermon
is
warnings
and
if
we're
going
to
practice
expository
preaching
we're
going
to
flow
through
these
verses
with
the
warnings
of
Christ
because
his
kingdom
is
coming
and
you
need
to
heed
his
voice
so
what
refusing
King
Jesus
means
if
you
refuse
him
now
four
things
number
one
you will
face
him
later
as
judge
King
Jesus
already
holds
all
authority
as
high
judge
you
are
refusing
the
one
now
who
already
has
God's
full
authority
as
judge
look at
verse
27
he
has
given
him
authority
to
execute
judgment
because
he
is
the
son
of
man
so
refusing
to
God
is
God
has
given
him
King
Jesus
fulfills
the
promise
to
enact
God's
justice
over
all
creation
this
is
no
surprise
this
is
what
God
has
declared
and
preached
to
every
single
generation
that's
why
he
says
in
verse
28
do
not
marvel
at
this
for
an
hour
is
coming
when
the
son
of
man
will
judge
all
our
Lord
Jesus
is
making
it
very
clear
to
them
and
to
you
and
me
as
well
you
are
without
excuse
every
generation
has
heard
that
the
just
God
is
also
all
powerful
and
he
will
bring
his
kingdom
to
the
new
heavens
and
the
new
earth
be
ready
for
that
day
it
will
happen
how
well
the
book
of
Jude
verses
14
and
15
tells
us
Enoch
the
seventh
from
Adam
so
Adam
and
Eve
as
they
knew
God
and
walked
with
him
in
the
garden
and
experienced
the
banishment
and
they
also
had
the
gospel
promise
they
would
have
preached
this
to
their
kids
and
their
kids
and
their
kids
and
grandkids
and
then
we
come
to
Enoch
and
that
preaching
continues
the
day
of
the
sinners
have
spoken
against
him
so
refusing
King
Jesus
now
means
that
you
are
ignoring
the
warnings
that
he
has
given
to
every
single
generation
in
verse
28
Jesus
makes
it
clear
also
that
he
will
make
every
soul
rejoin
its
body
for
the
purpose
of
hearing
him
on
the
day
of
judgment
look at
verse
28
there
is
a
day
coming
an
hour
that
is
coming
when
all
who
are
in
the
tombs
will
hear
his
voice
and
come
out
what
does
that
mean
all
who
are
in
the
tombs
will
hear
his
voice
and
come
out
this
means
that
Jesus
Christ
is
bringing
a
judgment
not
only
in
a
spiritual
sense
over
your
soul
but
he
will
judge
your
soul
and
your
body
so
how
you
live
your
life
in
this
world
in
the
body
now
it
has
direct
implications
for
his
judgment
upon
your
life
when
he
brings
body
and
soul
back
together
with
the
new
heavens
and
the
new
earth
does
this
mean
only
those
in
the
tombs
no
the
rest
of
scripture
makes
it
clear
all
souls
will
be
joined
with
their
bodies
yes
God
is
able
to
do
that
he
who
created
heaven
and
earth
out
of
nothing
he
will
bring
this
new
heaven
and
a
new
earth
and
your
hour
to
believe
in
him
is
now
so
we
define
spiritual
life
as
the
soul
being
united
to
God
the
giver
of
life
well
what
is
physical
life
then
physical
life
when
your
body
is
alive
think
about
that
it's
harder
to
define
than
you
would
think
what
is
it
to
be
alive
the
Bible
teaches
that
physical
life
is
when
your
body
has
a
soul
as
God
breathed
life
into
Adam
we
also
read
in
Acts
17
25
God
gives
to
all
mankind
life
and
breath
and
everything
and
the
reason
it's
important
that
we
understand
what
life
is
for
the
body
physically
is
because
of
this
warning
what
is
physical
death
because
Christ
is
coming
to
judge
the
living
and
the
dead
the
body
and
the
soul
well
physical
death
is
when
the
soul
departs
from
the
body
that's
what
physical
death
is
and
if
your
soul
leaves
your
body
without
being
united
to
Christ
then
your
body
will
get
eternal
condemnation
along
with
your
soul
there
is an
hour
coming
when
all
who
are
in
the
tombs
will
hear
his
voice
and
come
out
for
judgment
king
jesus
will
justly
judge
every
soul
according
to
his
moral
law
look at
verse
29
those
who
have
done
good
will
be
judged
to
the
resurrection
of
life
and
those
who
have
done
evil
to
the
resurrection
of
judgment
in
verse
30
jesus
says
my
judgment
is
just
I
seek
the
will
of
him
who
sent
me
in
verse
45
he
says
well
how
is
it
just
against
what
criteria
will
be
judged
and
he
says
the
one
who
accuses
you
in
45
is
moses
so
there's
the
lord
speaking
through
moses
to
israel
his
picture
of
a
kingdom
people
and
he
gives
them
by
his
own
finger
the
moral
law
of
god
so
what
pleases
god
over
his
kingdom
is
attached
to
the
character
of
god
the
character
of
god
does
not
change
what
has
pleased
god
since
the
beginning
and
when
adam
was
made
and
eve
all
the
way
to
mount
sinai
with
the
israelites
that's
the
moral
law
of
god
it
still
pleases
him
today
jesus
said
i
do
not
come
to
abolish
the
law
because
god
does
not
change
his
law
shows
what
pleases
him
what
should
we
envision
on
this
terrifying
day
of
his
judgment
if
you
are
not
in
christ
revelation
20
verse
11
this
same
apostle
john
writes
a
glorious
vision
that
god
gave
him
for
the
good
of
the
church
why
is
it
for
your
good
because
a
covenant
the
kingdom
covenant
it
has
warnings
and
blessings
and
this
vision
of
his
second
coming
the
blessings
ought
to
attract
you
are
hearing
his
gospel
make
sure
you
are
found
in
his
kingdom
and
the
warnings
it's
because
god
is
just
they
are
to
serve
that
same
gracious
purpose
it's
to
drive
you
out
of
your
bondage
to
the
world
to
faith
in
christ
alone
that
you
will
belong
to
his
kingdom
hear
the
vision
of
john
i
saw
a
great
from
his
presence
earth
and sky
fled
away
and no
place
was found
for
them
and i
saw
the
dead
great
and
small
standing
before
the
throne
and
books
were
opened
then
another
book
was
opened
which
is
the
book
of
life
and
the
dead
were
judged
by
what
was
written
in
the
books
according
to
what
they
had
done
and
the
sea
gave
up
the
dead
who
were
in
it
death
and
hades
gave
up
the
dead
who
were
in
them
and
they
were
judged
each
one
of
them
according
to
what
they
had
done
then
death
and
hades
were
thrown
into
the
lake
of
fire
this
is
the
second
death
the
lake
of
fire
and
if
anyone's
name
was
not
found
written
in
the
book
of
life
he
was
thrown
into
the
lake
of
fire
the
kingdom
of
Jesus
is
coming
heed
his
voice
refusing
Jesus
as your
king
now
means
you
are
pretending
to be
your
own
judge
and
you
are
despising
God's
lamb
the
king
of
all
who
promises
eternal
life
if you
will put
your
trust
in
him
another
Puritan
pastor
John
Flavel
under
much
persecution
he lost
family
members
was
kicked
out of
his
church
by
the
government
he
continued
to
proclaim
the
kingdom
of
Jesus
through
his
pen
even
when
he
was
blocked
from
the
pulpit
and
he
wrote
this
the
side
to
which
the
tree
leaned
most
while
it
stood
that
way
will
it
fall
when
it
is
cut
down
and
as
it
falls
so
it
lies
whether
to
the
south
or
to
the
north
do
you
get
what
he's
getting
at
with
this
illustration
had
your
heart
he
wrote
affectionately
inclined
and
bended
heavenward
whilst
it
lived
that
way
no
doubt
had
it
fallen
at
death
but
as
your
heart
inclined
to
sin
and
even
bended
to
the
world
so
when
God
gives
that
final
stroke
you
must
fall
hellward
and
how
dreadful
will
be
such
a
fall
be
warned
if
you
reject
the
voice
of
king
jesus
now
you
are
also
rejecting
his
witnesses
refusing
jesus
as
your
king
now
means
that
you
say
all
of
the
prophecies
all
of
the
prophets
including
the
one
to
their
generation
the
last
old
testament
prophet
john
the
baptized
you
reject
all
of
them
look
at
verse
33
jesus
tells
them
you
sent
to
john
and
he
has
borne
witness
to
the
truth
not
that
the
testimony
i
receive
is
from
man
but
i
say
these
things
so
that
you
may
be
saved
he
was
a
burning
and
shining
lamp
and
you
were
willing
to
rejoice
for a
while
in
his
light
but
yet
by
not
following
what
he
points
to
they
reject
his
witness
so
the
picture
here
is
of
a
lamp
and
during
this
time
period
king
herod
it's
called
the
herodian
era
a
lamp
would
have
put
out
about
as
much
light
as
a
candle
not
very
much
and
the
backdrop
here
is
of
a
dark
world
and
there
is
the
light
of
god
by
the
holy
spirit
on
this
man
john
the
baptizer
like
a
dim
lamp
or
candle
in
the
dark
world
and
for
a
while
here
are
these
wicked
sinners
dancing
around
his
light
and
he's
trying
to
point
to
them
look
the
light
from
heaven
has
entered
this
dark
world
the
essence
of
god's
light
is
here
look
to
him
but
they
refuse
him
and
by
refusing
his
message
they
refuse
christ
you
reject
not
only
christ
prophets
you
also
reject
another
witness
which
is
the
son
of
god
himself
jesus
is
the
true
and
greater
moses
he
is
god's
new
covenant
law
giver
and
they
are
rejecting
the
very
son
of
god
look
at
verse
36
the
testimony
that
i
have
is
greater
the
works
that
the
father
has
given
me
to
accomplish
the
very
works
that
i
am
doing
they
too
bear
witness
about
me
that
the
father
has
sent
me
when
god
called
moses
out
of
the
wilderness
to
go
to
the
people
he
said
well
what
signs
will
you
give
me
that
they
can
believe
that
i'm
sent
by
you
in
the
same
way
the
greater
moses
jesus
christ
comes
to
the
people
and
the
lord
gives
him
signs
his
father
gives
him
signs
he
does
the
works
that
the
father
has
given
him
to
do
so
that
the
people
would
believe
and
yet
they
reject
the
very
son
of
god
deuteronomy
18
15
moses
actually
said
this
would
happen
in
the
words
of
moses
the
lord
your
god
will
raise
up
for
you
a
prophet
like
me
from
among
you
from
your
countrymen
and
you
shall
listen
to
him
so
by
rejecting
christ
they're
also
rejecting
moses
and
the
law
of
god
given
through
him
this
is
confirmed
by
rejecting
moses
they're
rejecting
the
son
by
rejecting
the
son
they're
rejecting
the
father
look at
verse
37
the
father
who
sent
me
has
himself
borne
witness
about
me
his
voice
you
have
never
heard
his
form
you
have
never
seen
he's
making
them
go back
to
sinai
the
people
of
god
they
knew
they
were
in
the
presence
of
god
an
animal
could
not
go
at
the
base
of
the
mountain
or else
it
would
be
struck
dead
and
they
heard
the
voice
of
god
like
thunder
and
they
trembled
in
the
presence
of
god
yet
jesus
says
verse
38
you
do
not
have
the
word
of
god
abiding
in
you
because
you
do
not
believe
in
the
one
he
has
sent
they
around
mount
sinai
they
had
god
speaking
from
the
cloud
giving
the
law
and
here
they
have
god
himself
in
the
flesh
and
they
don't
recognize
him
as
god
they
have
rejected
therefore
the
same
god
himself
and
finally
the
last
witness
that
they
reject
is
the
word
of
god
the
scriptures
look at
verse
39
you
search
the
scriptures
because
you
think
that
in
them
you
have
eternal
life
the
principle
of
the
old
covenant
is
do
this
and
live
remember
the
young
ruler
the
young
lawyer
he
came
and
said
what
do
I
need
to
do
to
be
into
the
kingdom
of
god
and
he
said
well
I'll
follow
the
ten
commandments
and
he
said
I've
done
all
of
this
Jesus
says
do
all
of
the
ten
commandments
perfectly
and
you
will
live
do
this
and
live
that's
the
principle
of
the
old
covenant
and
in
his
pride
this
young
and
he
could
earn
god
he
could
earn
the
righteousness
by
living
a
perfect
life
and
so
first
christ
the
new
covenant
law
giver
he
exposes
our
sin
he
drives
us
to
our
need
for
him
alone
to
be
saved
jesus
says
the
scriptures
of
god
bear
witness
about
me
you
need
to
study
all
the
scriptures
but
you
need
to
do
it
not
to
earn
your
own
righteousness
who
the
scriptures
exalt
jesus
christ
your
salvation
because
his
kingdom
is
coming
and
we
too
need
to
heed
his
voice
well
there's
a
final
point
here
that
if
you
refuse
king
jesus
now
what
this
means
is
that
the
darkness
of
your
soul
is
truly
exposed
if
you
reject
king
jesus
your
soul
is
exposed
for
not
having
god's
love
within
you
look
at
verse
42
but
I
know
that
you
I
have
come
in
my
father's
name
and
you
do
not
receive
me
refusing
jesus
as
your
king
now
means
you
don't
have
god's
love
if
you
reject
king
jesus
your
soul
is
also
exposed
for
caring
more
about
the
glory
that
comes
from
man
than
god's
glorious
offer
of
union
to
god
in
christ
verse
44
how
can
you
believe
when
you
receive
glory
from
one
another
and
do
not
from
god
your
pride
and
mine
as
i
mentioned
it's
going
to
fight
to
rob
god
of
a
little
bit
of
his
glory
even
in
our
salvation
you
and
i
we
want
to
think
that
at
least
part
of
our
salvation
is
because
we
are
choosing
god
we
get
some
of
the
glory
don't
we
for
being
saved
we
don't
choose
god
jesus
says
in
john
15
16
you
did
not
choose
me
but
i
chose
you
and
appointed
you
that
you
should
go
and
bear
fruit
and
that
your
fruit
should
abide
refusing
jesus
as
your
king
and
you
and
you
are
a
slave
to
what
fallen
sinners
think
of
you
and
if
you
reject
king
jesus
your
soul
is
exposed
for
being
self
righteous
you
think
you
are
good
enough
look at
verse
45
do
not
think
that
i
will
accuse
you
to
the
father
there
is
one
who
accuses
you
he
does
not
see
moses
they
used
to
think
the
pharisees
taught
that
moses
had
this
high
place
of
being
super
righteous
and
he
interceded
for
them
moses
they
wanted
him
to
be
their
mediator
he'll
pray
for
us
we
keep
his
law
we
keep
him
righteously
and
they
turned
moses
into
their
savior
and
moses
the bible
says
was
the
most
humble
man
he's
the
one
who
made
himself
nothing
in the
sight
of
the
glory
of
the
lord
and
they
put
their
hope
in
moses
and
jesus
sets
their
theology
right
all
that
you
get
from
moses
is
the
law
the
moral
law
of
god
and
it
accuses
you
cannot
earn
your
salvation
you've
set
your
hope
on
moses
on
keeping
the
law
for
yourself
in
verse
46
he
says
if
you
believed
moses
you
would
have
believed
me
moses
was
humbled
by
my
presence
moses
knew
that
we
are
saved
by
god's
grace
and
he
knew
better
than
anyone
else
that
the
people
of
god
cannot
obey
the
law
of
god
by
their
own
strength
verse
47
if
you
do
not
believe
his
writings
how
will
you
believe
my
words
so
refusing
jesus
as
your
king
now
think
about
this
is
probably
the
most
shocking
of
all
refusing
jesus
as
your
king
now
means
that
you
are
betting
on
your
own
self
righteousness
to
merit
entrance
into
the
kingdom
of
heaven
by
rejecting
the
king
of
that
kingdom
that's
the
epitome
of
self
righteousness
we
need to
heed
the
warnings
of
christ
and
our
confession
states
it so
powerfully
this
kingdom
of
heaven
that
jesus
describes
it
is
closed
to
unbelievers
and
to
hypocrites
as
long
as
you
do
not
repent
the
anger
of
god
and
the
eternal
condemnation
of
your
body
and
your
soul
is
still
there
because
of
your
sin
and
rebellion
you
need
to
repent
of
self
love
man
pleasing
and
self
righteousness
because
his
kingdom
is
coming
heed
the
voice
of
king
jesus
see our
lord
gives
stern
warnings
and this
is what
the kingdom
of heaven
is
now the
glorious
truth
is that
when
god
regenerates
you
when he
makes you
a new
creation
he gives
life to
your soul
in union
with christ
he causes
you to
hear his
voice
you will
obey him
and he
will make
you willing
and ready
from now
on to
live
for him
he renews
your will
you will
choose him
because he
gave you a
new soul
you will
follow him
and he
says you
will bear
much fruit
fruit that
abides
fruit for
his eternal
kingdom
it's the
fruit of
righteousness
it's the
fruit of
the spirit
it's the
fruit of
sanctification
it will
happen if
you are
truly united
to him
martin luther
puts this
so clearly
he said
good works
are the
fruit of
justification
first god
declares you
righteous he
makes you
righteous and
in his
kingdom of
life the
nutritious soil
the power of
his holy
spirit you
will bear
fruit
luther said
the tree
makes the
fruit the
fruit does
not make
the tree
you're in
the kingdom
of darkness
and destruction
and death
you could
never produce
the fruit
that would
then be your
ticket into
the kingdom
of heaven
you see
but once he
has made
you alive
in christ
you will
bear fruit
that abides
do you hear
the voice of
king jesus
obey him
as your
king now
and live
but if you
refuse his
kingship now
you've been
warned by
christ himself
you will face
him as
judge later
revelation
1 7
behold he
is coming
on the
clouds
and every
eye will
see him
even those
who pierced
him in all
tribes of the
earth will
wail on
account of
him even
so amen
let it be
so our
lord has
spoken we
need to
receive his
word see
this hour of
the kingdom
of heaven being
inaugurated on
earth it has
been long
coming we
saying come
thou long
expected jesus
but jesus
tells you in
his incarnation
in his life
and ministry
his his kingdom
is now here
for you
he was born
for this
very purpose
he has
taken on
flesh fully
god fully
man for
your good
and for
his glory
in you
that's why
he was born
it's to
reign in
us forever
king jesus
speaks so
that you
will believe
see his
heart in
this verse
34 he
says i
speak to
you so
that you
may be
saved
jesus says
if i am
your only
hope in
life and
in death
verse 45
i will not
accuse you
to the
father
the second
part of
our catechism
gets it so
right as
well the
kingdom of
heaven is
open to
you who
heed christ's
voice now
accept his
gospel promise
in true faith
because of what
christ has done
god truly
forgives you
for all
your sin
jesus said
i am
the alpha
and omega
who is
and who
was and
who is
to come
the almighty
king jesus
he loves
you
and if you
put your
faith in him
he has
freed you
from your
sins
by his
blood
john calvin
helped me
to see
another
illustration
of this
passage
with
maybe the
like the
best
test
case
so what
about
the man
who saw
the blood
of christ
perhaps
closer than
anyone else
what about
that criminal
on the cross
lord said
you will be
judged by
what you
have done
and there
that man
hung
looking to
christ
on the
cross
both of
them
and he
hears the
lord jesus
say
father
forgive
them
they don't
know what
they have
done
so he
he sees
the god
man who
took on
flesh
innocent
man
praying
to his
father
and in
that moment
the criminal
on the cross
heard the
voice of
king jesus
and he
was made
new
and he
said
this is
the son
of god
he is
speaking to
his father
and he is
promising
forgiveness
to those
who don't
deserve it
like me
especially
me
see this
man did
not have
another moment
in his
life to
bear fruit
but his
tree
the tree
of his
life
was
was tipping
toward christ
god regenerated
him
there was
not a
single
good work
he could
do
and the
lord jesus
promised him
this day
you will
be with
me in
paradise
but i'm a
criminal
what about
my life
of sin
murder
i've broken
all the
ten commandments
this day
by faith
i am
speaking life
into your
soul
in a moment
your soul
is going
to part
from your
body
and your
soul
will be
with me
today
in paradise
for that
man and
for you
who put
your trust
in christ
your body
will be
joined to
your soul
and your
body will be
raised for
judgment to
life or to
condemnation
what is your
response what is
it that you
will be judged
for what have
you done
you can
never do
enough
the one
step of
obedience is
you must
respond
you must
heed the
voice of
king jesus
his kingdom
is coming
put all
your trust
in him
and trust
the promise
that all
your past
sins
have been
forgiven
you are
translated into
the kingdom
of life
and in you
he will
produce fruit
that will
abide
let's pray
our most
gracious
most just
most righteous
lord jesus
christ
in the words
of the hymn
we sing
you were
born
thy people
to deliver
born a
child
and yet
a king
you were
born to
reign in
us forever
now
thy gracious
kingdom
bring
by thine
own
eternal
spirit
rule
in all
our hearts
alone
by thine
all sufficient
merit
raise us
to thy
glorious
throne
because you
have made
us a
kingdom
of priests
to god
the father
so to
you
be glory
and dominion
forever
and ever
god's
people say
amen
rather
as
pearl
and
we
all
but