WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.040 I would like you to take your Bibles this evening just to frame the lesson that we're going to study together and have you turn back to the text that we looked at this morning in John chapter 8. 00:00:14.040 --> 00:00:23.420 Let's look at John chapter 8 and mark again just for the frame and for our thinking what Jesus said there in verse 21. 00:00:23.420 --> 00:00:33.840 So he said to them again I am going away and you will seek me and you will die in your sin. 00:00:35.219 --> 00:00:38.060 Where I am going you cannot come. 00:00:39.219 --> 00:00:40.540 Let's come to the Lord in prayer. 00:00:41.740 --> 00:00:53.320 Our Father this evening as we take the word in hand and we think carefully and deliberately about what the scriptures tell us about your love and the reality of eternal suffering. 00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:53.800 In hell. 00:00:54.679 --> 00:01:10.799 We pray that our hearts would be humble and that our mind would be open to hear the authority and the sufficiency of your word and that we by faith would receive these things that we have here given to us for our joy and our profit. 00:01:11.579 --> 00:01:13.260 We ask this in Jesus name. 00:01:13.740 --> 00:01:14.060 Amen. 00:01:14.060 --> 00:01:24.879 Now the question that I posed this morning towards the close of the sermon was that question how can a loving God send anyone to hell for eternity. 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:39.359 And it's a question that anytime someone touches on the subject of hell particularly in terms of the reality of eternal judgment it's a very common question to have people ask. 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:42.980 And I would be curious how many of you have heard people pose that question before. 00:01:43.420 --> 00:01:45.659 Well how can a loving God do this. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:55.659 It's like it just it doesn't make sense for God to be in that situation of judging someone and condemning them forever. 00:01:55.659 --> 00:02:02.379 And while I don't think the subject of hell should be the center point of every sermon. 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:11.620 In fact if we were to stop and think about it the characteristic of expositional preaching is that you preach upon what the text actually says. 00:02:11.620 --> 00:02:26.740 And so it's pretty hard to get from feeding the 5,000 necessarily when you're laying out the beauty of the fact that Jesus said I'm the bread of life to get right over there and launch into an extended lesson that deals with the reality of hell. 00:02:26.740 --> 00:02:40.420 However when we are preaching through the text and we come to a statement such as the one that is made in 21 and 24 where Jesus on three different occasions in that same context he says listen you're going to die in your sin. 00:02:40.540 --> 00:02:41.700 You're going to die in your sin. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:43.180 You're going to die in your sin. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:45.800 And where I'm going you're not going to come. 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:49.920 It's entirely appropriate for us to think about the reality of hell. 00:02:50.640 --> 00:02:56.120 To recognize that it has a very important part to play in every one of our lives. 00:02:56.120 --> 00:03:09.759 And I'm just curious how many of you have loved ones that when you pray for them you are fully aware that they're not saved and you think of the prospect of their spending eternity in hell. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:11.700 How many of you have people that you pray for like that? 00:03:11.860 --> 00:03:19.280 You know people that you love and you care about and you think about them man if they die I don't know they're going to spend eternity. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:29.120 And when we think carefully and biblically about hell it has to do something with encouraging a heart in evangelism doesn't it? 00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:39.139 I mean they may not want to hear the news but you realize that in the face of the reality of what God has to say about judgment and eternal condemnation. 00:03:39.139 --> 00:03:47.619 It kind of pushes you forward to be a little more aggressive and a little more clear in saying listen I want to talk to you about something that is desperately important. 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:56.419 Friday I had a wonderful and extended opportunity of sharing the gospel with an individual. 00:03:57.719 --> 00:03:59.039 And it was very interesting. 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:01.079 The guy is almost 50 years old. 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:10.920 And he said to me you know I've been thinking a lot about the fact that you know even if I live another 50 years the day is coming when I won't be around. 00:04:12.200 --> 00:04:17.620 And I'm thinking about what's it going to be like when it's all done and gone. 00:04:18.379 --> 00:04:20.080 And after that there's nothing. 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:26.600 I said that's not really what's going to happen after that. 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:38.220 I said the reality of what the scriptures tell us is that people are going to spend eternity in one of two conditions. 00:04:39.580 --> 00:04:47.100 And it is because of what I firmly believe the Bible says about heaven and hell that I want to plead with you. 00:04:48.760 --> 00:04:49.820 Trust in Christ. 00:04:51.379 --> 00:04:52.840 Repent and come to faith. 00:04:52.839 --> 00:05:22.839 Repent and come to faith. 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:24.639 A pastor up in Michigan somewhere. 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:25.219 I don't know. 00:05:25.359 --> 00:05:27.079 Pastor Andrew do you know what church it was? 00:05:27.799 --> 00:05:29.359 He has dropped out of the ministry now. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:31.339 But he was in a large congregation. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:32.519 Mega church. 00:05:32.619 --> 00:05:33.259 It grew grew grew. 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:35.479 Tremendous communicator. 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:37.799 Though not an expositor of the scriptures. 00:05:38.219 --> 00:05:43.179 And it kind of became one of the characteristics of his ministry. 00:05:43.359 --> 00:05:44.779 He went out and he said listen. 00:05:45.739 --> 00:05:47.959 The name of his book was Love Wins. 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:49.500 Love Wins. 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:50.879 Very popular. 00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:52.399 Had quite a following. 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:55.720 And the essence of his book was this. 00:05:55.779 --> 00:05:59.160 Is that at the end of the day because God is a loving God. 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:01.879 He will not condemn people to hell forever. 00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:06.920 So my purpose tonight is not to rehash the storyline. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:12.040 But rather think along some different lines as we address the subject of. 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:15.060 Would a loving God really send people to hell forever? 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:19.519 And so when we think about the question we have to start with who are we really talking about? 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:20.740 That's important. 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:27.300 I appreciate John picking songs that had to do with the character of God. 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:31.279 Where else do you start when you think about any doctrinal truth? 00:06:31.840 --> 00:06:38.600 And so it's appropriate for us to remind ourselves when we think about this question of can a loving God send anyone to hell for eternity? 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:52.500 We have to stop and recognize that even all of our efforts to really get our hands and our head around the reality of the scriptural truth is something that while enabled by the spirit of God when we are believers, 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:59.240 it still is something that our human mind and hearts are limited in grasping. 00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:05.600 I want you to think with me just for a moment of how the first sin took place. 00:07:07.400 --> 00:07:11.160 Go back in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 3 verse 5. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:16.379 Genesis chapter 3 verse 5. 00:07:17.259 --> 00:07:24.600 I haven't parsed out exactly the flow of how sin came into the world, 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:32.640 but I am struck by the fact that here is Satan coming to the woman and making an appeal to her, 00:07:33.340 --> 00:07:38.460 and right there in verse 5 here is Satan saying this, 00:07:39.460 --> 00:07:44.360 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and follow the rest of it, 00:07:44.640 --> 00:07:49.660 and you will be like God knowing good and evil. 00:07:49.660 --> 00:07:54.580 How many of you recognize the difference between a temptation 00:07:54.580 --> 00:08:00.480 and entertaining sin to where it actually gains traction in your life? 00:08:02.960 --> 00:08:05.000 Matthew chapter 4, Jesus was what? 00:08:05.760 --> 00:08:06.780 Tempted in the wilderness. 00:08:06.960 --> 00:08:07.480 Did he sin? 00:08:07.580 --> 00:08:08.180 Not at all. 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:09.280 Had no traction. 00:08:10.280 --> 00:08:12.060 But I want you to think with me just for a moment. 00:08:12.220 --> 00:08:16.500 Here is Satan thinking that a reasonable appeal to the woman is that, 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:20.740 hey listen, if you do this, you're going to become like God, 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:24.180 and you're going to be able to determine what is good and evil. 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:31.240 Now, just imagine the unbelievable gulf 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:37.259 between the reality of who God is and who the created woman was, 00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:41.620 and here is Satan coming to her and proposing, 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:45.000 hey listen, I want you to number one, doubt the character of God, 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:49.980 but I want you to number two, fantasize about the fact that you could ever become a God. 00:08:53.500 --> 00:08:54.019 Impossible. 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:56.159 Impossible. 00:08:57.080 --> 00:09:00.700 And yet, there are those when they come with this question of, 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:03.980 I can't believe a loving God would ever send anybody to hell, 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:09.720 what they have done is they've just restricted and diminished the reality of who God is 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:12.259 and pressed him down into a very limited mold. 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:20.960 I want you to listen to another passage that kind of frames the thinking of who God is in comparison to us, 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:24.379 and turn in your Bible to Psalm 50, 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:28.399 Psalm 50, verse 21. 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:33.860 The latter part of the verse says this, 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:51.279 Now, admit that we have a tendency of thinking that way, don't we? 00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:52.320 In broad terms. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:56.500 How many of you have tried to explain something to someone else, 00:09:56.820 --> 00:10:03.120 and at the end have reduced your logic and your argument to a presentation of your own experiences? 00:10:03.540 --> 00:10:04.220 Have you ever done that? 00:10:05.020 --> 00:10:06.400 Come on, we've all done that, haven't we? 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:15.180 I mean, we think that our experience is the frame that explains things. 00:10:15.179 --> 00:10:16.639 Give you an illustration. 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:20.879 Any of you here ever had goat meat? 00:10:22.059 --> 00:10:22.559 Goat meat? 00:10:23.099 --> 00:10:23.439 Bob. 00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:25.279 Love goat meat. 00:10:25.459 --> 00:10:26.319 It's my favorite. 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:27.739 It really is. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:32.039 But when I would try to explain goat meat to Andy Manwiller, 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:34.599 no goat meat eater here, you know, 00:10:35.819 --> 00:10:36.099 okay, 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:37.680 if I would say, 00:10:37.800 --> 00:10:38.920 well, it tastes just like 00:10:38.920 --> 00:10:39.740 chicken. 00:10:41.680 --> 00:10:43.060 That's what I was going to say. 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:44.060 I mean, hey, 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:46.519 everybody knows what chicken tastes like, right? 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:48.860 And my point is, 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:50.460 is that we rely upon these comparisons 00:10:50.460 --> 00:10:52.620 based upon our own experiences 00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:56.420 to be the means where we communicate what we're thinking. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:58.560 And here is God saying, 00:10:58.860 --> 00:10:59.980 you guys don't get it. 00:11:00.580 --> 00:11:02.420 You think that I'm like you. 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:05.500 You think that I'm like you. 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:10.340 And so when we come to this question 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:12.700 of can a loving God really send anybody to hell 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:14.200 for all of eternity, 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:15.360 we've got to be very careful 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:18.019 that when we take that question up, 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:20.759 that we are, first of all, 00:11:21.180 --> 00:11:25.000 thinking with humility about who God really is 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:26.519 and not just kind of thinking about Him 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:28.639 with our limited little pea brain 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:29.460 and deciding, well, 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:30.920 He must be, you know, 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:33.279 kind of like me and limited. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:36.959 The difference between who God is 00:11:36.959 --> 00:11:38.360 and who we are is profound, 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.000 and we should be careful to remember that. 00:11:41.199 --> 00:11:42.720 Let me give you another passage 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:45.419 in relationship to that as a foundation. 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:47.339 Go to Isaiah chapter 6. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:51.279 Isaiah chapter 6. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:56.679 And in that passage, 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:01.360 beginning there in verse 3, 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:04.919 we find that, not Elijah, 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:08.139 Isaiah has a vision of the glory 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:09.519 of the pre-incarnate Christ, 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:12.679 and he hears the seraphim saying, 00:12:12.939 --> 00:12:14.240 holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. 00:12:14.699 --> 00:12:16.159 The whole earth is full of His glory. 00:12:16.699 --> 00:12:17.799 And then look at verse 5, 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:20.359 and he said, woe is me for I am, 00:12:20.599 --> 00:12:22.500 how many of you have the King James Version 00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:24.039 where it says, I am undone? 00:12:25.079 --> 00:12:25.339 Okay? 00:12:26.359 --> 00:12:29.679 If you look up what that word lost means in the Hebrew, 00:12:30.099 --> 00:12:33.019 it doesn't mean like I'm lost in the mall 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:35.959 or I'm lost somewhere out on 270 00:12:35.959 --> 00:12:38.059 where I really don't know my directions. 00:12:38.599 --> 00:12:40.399 It's a more profound word. 00:12:40.479 --> 00:12:42.579 It's communicating, I'm wiped out. 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:45.679 That's why I like the word undone. 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:49.899 It means that I am completely lost 00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:51.599 in terms of the reality of, 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:55.739 just overwhelmed with the fact of who God is. 00:12:56.559 --> 00:13:00.000 And here is Isaiah getting a glimpse. 00:13:00.719 --> 00:13:03.519 And by the way, was Isaiah a godly, reverent, 00:13:04.099 --> 00:13:05.179 God-fearing individual? 00:13:05.319 --> 00:13:06.879 He absolutely was. 00:13:07.699 --> 00:13:09.419 But when he came face to face 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:11.639 with this vision of the pre-incarnate, 00:13:11.819 --> 00:13:12.879 it overwhelmed him. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:13.360 Absolutely. 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:13.679 Absolutely. 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:17.600 I would venture to say prior to this 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:21.200 that Isaiah had a fairly reasonable sense 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:24.080 of confidence in his own walk with God, 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:25.840 in his daily relationship, etc. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:29.179 He was chosen by God 00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:30.899 and given a very important ministry. 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:33.340 But here he is coming face to face 00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:34.539 and he says, I'm undone. 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.039 I'm undone. 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:39.799 And so in the presence of the holiness of God, 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:43.339 Isaiah is completely overwhelmed 00:13:43.339 --> 00:13:44.659 by the reality of it 00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:46.379 and all he can say is, 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.839 wow, who am I? 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:50.539 What am I? 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:53.519 Let me give you one other passage 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:54.799 as we kind of think about 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:56.299 who we are talking about 00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:58.679 in relationship to this question of, 00:13:58.779 --> 00:14:00.319 you know, so can a God do this? 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:03.199 Go to Deuteronomy chapter 29, 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.379 verse 29. 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:10.840 Deuteronomy chapter 29, 00:14:11.180 --> 00:14:13.100 verse 29. 00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:19.080 The secret things belong to the Lord our God. 00:14:19.540 --> 00:14:21.100 Put that into your own words 00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:23.660 and tell me what you hear 00:14:23.660 --> 00:14:24.900 when it says that. 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:27.759 The secret things belong to the Lord our God. 00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:31.300 Put it in your own words. 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:32.519 What do you think that's saying? 00:14:33.859 --> 00:14:34.279 David? 00:14:38.099 --> 00:14:38.500 Okay. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:39.779 There are some things 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:41.519 that God doesn't want us to know. 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:42.059 Okay. 00:14:43.339 --> 00:14:45.419 What else goes through your mind in relationship? 00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:46.899 The secret things belong to God. 00:14:50.359 --> 00:14:52.719 God knows the unknowable. 00:14:53.719 --> 00:14:54.500 What else? 00:14:58.079 --> 00:15:00.079 We're just not equipped to handle it. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.920 The secret, I mean, 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:03.340 it's not just, 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:06.080 and I appreciate David's comment. 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:06.720 There are some things 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.879 that God doesn't want us to know, 00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:09.340 but I think it's more than that. 00:15:09.680 --> 00:15:11.040 We're just not equipped to handle it. 00:15:12.160 --> 00:15:13.160 We never will be. 00:15:13.800 --> 00:15:15.540 How many of you have ever had people say to you, 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.520 well, when I get to heaven, 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.400 I'm going to ask. 00:15:19.220 --> 00:15:20.000 You ever done that? 00:15:20.400 --> 00:15:21.500 You ever been around people 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:22.080 that say those kinds? 00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:23.620 My attitude is, you know, 00:15:23.660 --> 00:15:24.259 when I get to heaven, 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:25.740 I'm just going to be overwhelmed to be there. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:28.860 And I'm not going to pull a little piece of paper 00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:29.779 out of my pocket and say, 00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:31.120 by the way, God, you know, 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:33.500 I really did want to ask you this. 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:35.440 Not going to happen. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:40.659 The secret things belong to the Lord our God. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:43.340 Just beyond you. 00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:49.360 But the things that are revealed belong to us 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:52.139 and to our children forever, 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:55.340 that we may do all the words of the law. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.320 So when we come to this question 00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:58.600 of can a loving God 00:15:58.600 --> 00:16:00.639 send anyone to hell for eternity, 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:03.300 we have to recognize, number one, 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.240 that God is God. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.420 That God really is God. 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:10.820 And there are going to be things 00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:12.940 about God's dealing with us 00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:14.580 that at the end of the day, 00:16:14.680 --> 00:16:17.260 we can't fully put our mind around. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:23.240 And so we are best served 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:26.000 to accept the reality of who God is 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.240 with humility 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:31.280 and then allow the word 00:16:31.280 --> 00:16:32.440 that he has given to us 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:34.760 to communicate with us accurately 00:16:34.760 --> 00:16:36.420 about who he is 00:16:36.420 --> 00:16:37.680 and what he's chosen to do. 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:41.120 There's another thing that is important. 00:16:41.459 --> 00:16:43.359 When we come to that question, 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:44.559 can a loving God 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:46.239 send anyone to hell for eternity, 00:16:46.819 --> 00:16:48.120 sometimes that question 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:50.699 really rises out of a rebellious 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:52.439 and arrogant spirit. 00:16:52.599 --> 00:16:53.559 Do you follow what I'm saying? 00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:54.679 It's kind of like, 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:55.799 I have Trump 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:58.159 because I know what God is like 00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:59.479 and if he is loving, 00:16:59.599 --> 00:17:00.919 he wouldn't do this. 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:03.919 That kind of question 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:05.960 is not one 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:09.379 that a search of Scripture 00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:12.079 is going to reconcile 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:14.200 because the attitude 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:16.579 colors the approach 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:17.359 to the Scriptures 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:20.859 and the ears are kind of silenced 00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:22.859 by the attitude of the heart. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:26.220 There are a number of doctrinal truths 00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:28.700 that really are complex and profound 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:30.539 and if we come to them 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.500 with the wrong attitude 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.220 and the wrong heart, 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.779 we are not going to get anywhere with them. 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:37.100 Let me give you just a short litany 00:17:37.100 --> 00:17:37.940 of some of these. 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.880 When we think about the Trinity, 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:42.819 I mean, how many of you 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:43.799 have to recognize 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:44.980 that the Trinity 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.220 is one of those complexities 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:48.600 that it's just, 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.640 all it does is kind of, 00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:51.380 as we think about it enough, 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.819 it kind of stretches our mind out 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.299 to where we say, 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:55.080 ah, I can't take it anymore. 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.299 I could step away from it. 00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:59.519 I think about the issue 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.559 of the full humanity 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:02.119 and the full deity of Christ. 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:03.819 I think about the matter of, 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.799 okay, so where did evil come from? 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.079 Just explain that one to me completely. 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:12.079 I remember reading R.C. Sproul's book 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.779 that does probably a better job 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:18.099 at getting you started in that passage 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:19.879 or that thought than many others, 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.839 but at the end of the day, 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.500 where do you solve that one? 00:18:22.639 --> 00:18:23.559 How do you solve that one? 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:24.700 Election and free will. 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:28.299 And so when we ask this question, 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:30.160 can a loving God 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:32.640 really send anyone to hell for eternity, 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.880 I want you to recognize 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:35.000 that there's a difference 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:38.000 with how we come to the subject 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.360 and the attitude 00:18:39.360 --> 00:18:40.680 with which we come to the subject. 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:43.680 A perfect illustration 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:45.279 of the importance 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.900 of how we come to the subject 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:48.559 would really be found 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:49.720 in the case of Job. 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:52.579 Can you hear yourself 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:55.140 playing Job's part? 00:18:56.380 --> 00:18:56.779 Honestly? 00:18:58.100 --> 00:18:58.680 I mean, hey, 00:18:58.819 --> 00:19:00.160 there's not a one of us in here 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:02.720 that on one or more occasions 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:03.759 has not kind of looked 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.339 at the circumstances in our life 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:05.680 and said, 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:06.700 what are you doing? 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:10.860 Why is this happening, right? 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.740 Do you follow that? 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.480 We've all been there. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:17.620 It's not the way I planned it. 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:21.200 And it doesn't seem fair. 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.579 And so here is Job, 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:28.279 actually goes on for 37 chapters, 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:31.900 the book of the back and forth 00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:37.000 between Job and his low-life counselors 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.319 trying to help him understand, 00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:38.940 you know, Job, 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:41.079 the reason all these bad things are happening 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:43.119 is because you must have been a bad guy. 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:47.000 And then in chapter 38, 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:47.819 who shows up? 00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:49.639 God. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:53.179 And when God shows up 00:19:53.179 --> 00:19:56.339 and begins to call Job to task, 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.619 very interestingly, 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:01.179 God starts with the simple. 00:20:02.699 --> 00:20:03.779 Why do I say the simple? 00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:07.539 He starts by asking Job 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.859 where he was 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:11.079 and what his thinking is 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:11.920 in relationship 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:14.460 to the simple matter of creation. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:17.420 Where were you when I did this 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.319 and I did that 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.379 and I did the other thing 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:20.420 and I designed this 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:22.700 and I told the, you know, 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.259 the mountain goats or whatever 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:26.440 and I had just one thing after another 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:28.819 and for two chapters, 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:29.779 he goes on 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:31.379 and just hammers the issue of, 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.839 hey, Job, pea brain, 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:36.220 where were you? 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:39.940 Well, let's look at Job chapter 40 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:42.480 because it has some bearing 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:45.160 on what our thinking is about tonight. 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:49.100 Job chapter 40, 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:51.019 verse 1 and 2. 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:54.120 And the Lord said to Job, 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:57.220 shall a fault finder contend 00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:59.019 with the Almighty? 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:02.740 He who argues with God, 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.980 let him answer it. 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:05.440 Now, what is that saying? 00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:07.819 In essence, 00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:09.579 part of what was going on 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.539 as Job was suffering 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:11.759 was what was he coming to God 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.240 and saying? 00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:15.579 What was Job kind of hinting at? 00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:18.920 Hey, why is this happening to me? 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.120 And here is God 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:22.720 challenging him and saying, 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.799 shall a fault finder 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:26.460 contend with the Almighty? 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:30.579 When we're arguing with God, 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:33.119 are we ever, 00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:33.720 ever, 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:35.059 ever going to win? 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.199 What's the answer? 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.000 No. 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:41.960 And here is God 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.939 coming down 00:21:42.939 --> 00:21:44.980 and communicating with Job 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.339 and saying, 00:21:45.439 --> 00:21:46.179 hey, listen, Job, 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.439 stop and think about this. 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:48.519 Anyway, 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:50.519 there it goes on. 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.720 Then Job answered the Lord 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.019 and said, 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.359 behold, 00:21:52.439 --> 00:21:53.500 I am a small account. 00:21:53.919 --> 00:21:55.059 What shall I answer you? 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.879 I lay my hand on my mouth. 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:57.440 Okay. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:01.500 I really recognize 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.659 that I don't have the right 00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.639 to speak. 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:09.720 We find ourselves sometimes 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:11.060 in the midst of difficulties 00:22:11.060 --> 00:22:12.060 and things aren't going 00:22:12.060 --> 00:22:14.360 the way we would like them to go 00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:16.940 and Satan tempts us 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:20.200 to get a little snitty with God 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.800 about the way he's dealing with us 00:22:21.800 --> 00:22:22.900 and we need to remind ourselves 00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:25.180 we haven't approached Job yet 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:27.020 in terms of suffering. 00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:30.860 And then God shows up and says, 00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.259 hey, listen, 00:22:31.360 --> 00:22:32.280 what are you doing, Job? 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:34.680 Well, 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:36.259 as we come back 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.340 to that question of 00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:38.480 let's think about 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:40.080 can a loving God 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:42.500 send individuals to hell? 00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:44.220 We have to put 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.340 a couple facts 00:22:45.340 --> 00:22:45.940 out there 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:46.900 for us to recognize. 00:22:47.080 --> 00:22:48.140 We understand who God is. 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:49.320 We understand who we are 00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:50.440 in broad terms. 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.680 But we have to understand 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.820 that the Bible also speaks 00:22:52.820 --> 00:22:53.380 very clearly 00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:54.500 about the reality of hell. 00:22:54.580 --> 00:22:56.700 And I mentioned that last week 00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:58.120 and I mentioned it this week. 00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.560 And the reality is 00:22:59.560 --> 00:23:00.960 that sinners will spend 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.960 all eternity in hell. 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:06.759 And the Bible has 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:08.960 a great deal to say 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.700 about hell. 00:23:09.860 --> 00:23:10.840 Now, I want to, 00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:13.660 I remember Jared Piles 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:14.480 making a comment 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.500 several weeks ago 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:15.960 that just, 00:23:16.280 --> 00:23:16.480 whoa, 00:23:16.620 --> 00:23:17.660 it just made something 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.440 crystal clear. 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:20.380 we live in a day 00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.519 and age where anything 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:23.039 that anybody says 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:24.279 can be immediately 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:25.059 referenced. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.140 Why do I say that? 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.440 How many of you have 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.140 your phone in your pocket 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:29.539 right now? 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.980 Just raise your hand 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.500 and wave at me 00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.100 if you have your phone 00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:33.500 in your pocket. 00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:34.480 You know that 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.660 the web, 00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:36.580 you can pick up, 00:23:36.840 --> 00:23:37.120 you can, 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:37.720 okay, 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:39.579 so if I said to you 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:41.220 that there's much more 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.160 said in the Bible 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:43.039 about hell 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.839 than there is 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.600 about heaven, 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.120 what could you do? 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.559 You could Google it 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.500 right now. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.900 And you would find out 00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:52.420 actually, 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.220 in fact, 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.120 if you wanted to dive 00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:54.539 into it, 00:23:54.600 --> 00:23:55.279 you could find out 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.079 how many references 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:57.120 there are about heaven, 00:23:57.360 --> 00:23:58.180 how many references 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.120 there are about hell. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:03.819 and I do not want 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.819 to be one of those people 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.739 that ends up getting 00:24:05.739 --> 00:24:06.759 an email from you 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:06.979 saying, 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.159 hey, 00:24:07.219 --> 00:24:08.159 what you said was wrong 00:24:08.159 --> 00:24:08.939 and I Googled it 00:24:08.939 --> 00:24:10.000 and here's the passage, 00:24:10.399 --> 00:24:10.979 a recitation, 00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:11.459 et cetera. 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.539 So my point is, 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:14.019 is the Bible has a lot 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.859 to say about hell, 00:24:15.479 --> 00:24:17.799 not as much as about heaven, 00:24:17.959 --> 00:24:18.759 but it has a lot 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.599 to say about it. 00:24:20.239 --> 00:24:22.619 And in particular, 00:24:22.879 --> 00:24:23.879 Christ is the one 00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:25.119 who communicates 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:27.000 the reality of hell 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.599 over and over again 00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:30.319 and he does with a compassion 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.199 and a sensitivity. 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:31.959 Why? 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:33.879 Because in his desire 00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:35.019 for the souls of men 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.899 and his love 00:24:35.899 --> 00:24:36.859 for lost mankind, 00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:38.319 he wants us 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:40.279 to understand the reality. 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.519 But I want you 00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.439 to understand also 00:24:43.439 --> 00:24:44.240 that it's not just 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:45.119 the fact that the Bible 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:46.079 tells us about hell. 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:48.179 The Bible also tells us 00:24:48.179 --> 00:24:49.079 about the love of God 00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:50.480 for fallen man 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.379 and it's real. 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:54.019 How can a loving God 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.659 send men to hell? 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.779 We do want to recognize 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.599 God is loving 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:59.419 and I think about 00:24:59.419 --> 00:24:59.980 a couple different 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:01.379 illustrations in relationship 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:01.839 to that. 00:25:01.919 --> 00:25:02.319 For one, 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.959 it tells us over in 00:25:03.959 --> 00:25:05.359 Ezekiel chapter 33, 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.839 verse 11, 00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:07.719 it says that God 00:25:07.719 --> 00:25:09.199 does not take pleasure 00:25:09.199 --> 00:25:12.639 in bringing or exacting 00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.759 judgment on men. 00:25:14.199 --> 00:25:14.459 Okay? 00:25:14.719 --> 00:25:15.659 He takes pleasure 00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:16.139 in mercy, 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.379 he delights in showing 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:18.159 loving kindness 00:25:18.159 --> 00:25:20.480 and there is no satisfaction 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.139 in one sense 00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:23.379 in God bringing judgment 00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:23.980 on mankind. 00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:25.480 Does he judge mankind? 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.460 Yes, he does. 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.120 But it's not his pleasure. 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.559 I want you to look 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.339 at another passage 00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:32.579 that kind of reminds us 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.519 of the nature of God 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.180 in relationship 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:35.120 to the subject 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:36.539 of hell. 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.620 And turn in your Bible 00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:39.000 if you would 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.480 to Romans chapter 2, 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.140 verse 4. 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:44.339 Romans chapter 2, 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:44.799 verse 4. 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:46.039 Can a loving God 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:47.940 send people to hell 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.240 forever? 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.380 Well, we do want to 00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:50.339 recognize that he really 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:50.980 is loving. 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:54.279 And he is also profoundly 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:55.579 patient with men. 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.160 Verse 4. 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.620 Do you presume 00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:58.559 on the riches 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.299 of his kindness 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.200 and forbearance 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.740 and patience 00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.920 not knowing 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.420 that God's kindness 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:05.120 is meant to lead you 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:05.660 to repentance? 00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.559 Why is God 00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:08.400 so patient with people? 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.579 As a sidebar, 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.059 how many of you 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.799 have ever found yourself 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.940 being impatient 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:15.079 with God's judgment 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:16.579 in other people's lives? 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.599 Have you ever been there? 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.920 Look at me 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:20.080 so, you know, 00:26:20.800 --> 00:26:21.300 boy God, 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:23.340 I want you to deal 00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:23.820 with them. 00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:25.840 They deserve it. 00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:28.160 At a younger point 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.720 in my life, 00:26:28.800 --> 00:26:30.180 I used to really desire 00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:31.380 God to bring vengeance 00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.259 on individuals 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.539 who had deeply offended 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:34.240 and harmed me. 00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:36.720 As I've grown older, 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.380 I've become more sensitive 00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:42.039 and recognized 00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.880 that it was only 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:43.960 God's loving kindness 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.560 and patience 00:26:44.560 --> 00:26:45.940 that I was not consumed. 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:48.200 And it has moved 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:49.400 my prayer from, 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.740 hey, I wish you'd deal 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.500 with that person 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.860 to this thing. 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.080 Lord, I want you 00:26:54.080 --> 00:26:54.860 to be as patient 00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.880 with that individual 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.880 as you have been 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.559 with me. 00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.960 Passage tells us 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:01.680 that God is incredibly patient. 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:03.480 And why is he that way? 00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:06.500 Because he is a God 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.880 that delights in mercy. 00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:09.440 He doesn't sit around 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.039 just kind of rubbing 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.759 his hands thinking, 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:12.320 boy, I cannot wait 00:27:12.320 --> 00:27:13.279 to get hold of him. 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:16.119 But as we think 00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:17.460 about the love of God, 00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.519 I want you to also 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.720 consider that Christ, 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:21.559 sent as our Savior, 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:23.160 is the supreme proof 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:23.720 of his love. 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:25.259 We know that God 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.660 is loving. 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.460 How do we know that? 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:28.359 Because he sent Christ 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:29.680 to be the Savior 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.359 of mankind. 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:33.619 John 3, verse 15 and 16, 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.339 we know well, 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.220 but I want you to look 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.899 at another passage 00:27:35.899 --> 00:27:37.099 in relationship to that 00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:38.279 over in Titus 3. 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:42.920 Titus 3, verse 4, 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.600 it says this, 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.720 but when the goodness 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.860 and loving kindness 00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:47.620 of God our Savior appeared, 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.380 when did it appear? 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.920 It appeared when Christ Jesus 00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:51.880 came into the world. 00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:53.880 And he appeared 00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:56.200 to be our Savior 00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:57.620 and to die for us, 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.740 to die in our place. 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:00.360 And his love took him 00:28:00.360 --> 00:28:01.519 to the cross on our behalf. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:03.140 He died for my sins, 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.340 he died for your sins, 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.880 and he died there, 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.360 rose again, 00:28:07.840 --> 00:28:08.980 and his sacrifice 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:10.480 is an undeniable proof 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.860 of the love of God 00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.799 for us. 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.079 Well, I want you 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:16.339 to think about another thing 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.319 as we consider 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:18.440 the reality of people 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.819 spending forever in hell. 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.799 And I want you 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.400 to recognize 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:23.960 that the Bible tells us 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:25.660 that apart from 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.360 the grace 00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:27.700 and the work of God, 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:29.200 the unrepentant 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:30.559 is not persuaded 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.460 by suffering. 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.160 Are you listening carefully? 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:35.480 I'll say it again slowly. 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:38.579 The sinner 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:40.019 is not persuaded 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.680 by suffering. 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.339 How many of you 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.579 have, on occasion, 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.680 hit your thumb 00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.500 with a hammer? 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:48.420 Okay. 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.440 I see that 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.440 as a gender-specific 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:51.059 illustration. 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.740 I'll back that one up. 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:56.240 How many of you 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:57.400 have decided 00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:58.299 that you didn't need 00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:59.099 an oven mitt 00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:00.079 to pull something 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:00.660 out of the oven? 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.720 Oh, that? 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:03.799 Thad? 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:05.819 Both parties, right? 00:29:05.919 --> 00:29:06.079 Okay. 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.419 My point is this, 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.359 is that there are 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.359 some things that we 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:10.299 generally, 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.119 we learn from 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:11.759 pretty quickly 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.379 that that was 00:29:12.379 --> 00:29:13.460 a bad idea, right? 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.480 Tragically, 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:18.500 the unintended 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.879 consequences of sin 00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:20.919 do not persuade 00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:22.379 sinners as a general 00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.700 rule to completely 00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:24.220 stop. 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.079 Do you understand that? 00:29:26.659 --> 00:29:27.480 Let me have you look 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:27.940 at a passage 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:29.139 in relationship to that, 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.919 and that's just stunning. 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:31.359 Proverbs chapter 27, 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.419 verse 22. 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:35.639 The Bible tells us 00:29:35.639 --> 00:29:37.279 that the sinner 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.339 is not changed 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.099 by suffering. 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:43.399 Proverbs chapter 27, 00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.799 verse 22. 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:51.399 Crush a fool 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:52.259 in a mortar 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:53.200 with a pestle 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:55.440 along with crushed grain, 00:29:55.659 --> 00:29:56.379 yet his folly 00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.299 will not depart 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.859 from him. 00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:59.319 What's the illustration? 00:30:02.379 --> 00:30:03.359 What's the illustration? 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:06.419 It is that suffering 00:30:06.419 --> 00:30:07.639 in and of itself 00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.799 is not going 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.980 to persuade people 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:11.019 to change the way 00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.899 they think. 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.899 I don't know 00:30:16.899 --> 00:30:17.700 where our country 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.440 is going to go 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.379 during the elections, 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:25.019 but I can tell you 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:26.960 that at least 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:28.019 the two frontrunners 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:29.059 are probably not 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.139 going to be the remedy 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:32.259 for this nation's 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:32.900 revival. 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.680 And when I think 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.460 about our nation 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.380 actually choosing 00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:39.180 an undeniable socialist, 00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:41.940 by the way, 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:42.759 I don't think Trump 00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.640 is much better 00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:44.480 of a solution 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.540 in case you're wondering. 00:30:46.820 --> 00:30:47.340 Well, 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.620 we stay where I am. 00:30:51.020 --> 00:30:52.560 There is no place 00:30:52.560 --> 00:30:54.240 that socialism 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:55.420 has worked ever. 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:59.240 And so you think 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.600 about the foolishness 00:31:00.600 --> 00:31:01.200 of men 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:03.740 not being persuaded 00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.740 by circumstances, 00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:06.620 but just cranking on 00:31:06.620 --> 00:31:07.640 off the end 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.160 of the pier 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:08.920 into the dark. 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.759 And here it says 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.300 in Proverbs, 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:11.900 you know what? 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:14.500 Suffering doesn't cause 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:16.700 people to change 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.160 their mind. 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.900 Let me give you 00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:20.259 an even more 00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.380 profound illustration 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.600 of that truth 00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:23.200 that sinners 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.060 are going to stay 00:31:24.060 --> 00:31:24.580 sinners 00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:26.520 regardless of the suffering. 00:31:26.580 --> 00:31:26.860 And I think 00:31:26.860 --> 00:31:27.400 that has bearing 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:28.360 on hell in part. 00:31:29.060 --> 00:31:29.460 But anyway, 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.480 look in your Bible 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:32.080 at Revelation 16, 00:31:32.580 --> 00:31:34.260 verse 9, 11, 00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:35.580 and 21. 00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:38.220 And by the way, 00:31:38.300 --> 00:31:39.160 I would encourage you 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:39.940 to underline 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:42.040 this recurring phrase. 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:43.440 I think it is 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:45.660 profoundly instructive. 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.600 I think one of the things 00:31:50.600 --> 00:31:51.160 that will happen 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.360 during the Great Tribulation 00:31:52.360 --> 00:31:54.140 is that God 00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:55.420 will permanently remove 00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:56.480 from all men 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.700 the argument, 00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:58.820 we didn't know 00:31:58.820 --> 00:31:59.480 how you felt 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.200 about sin. 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.440 God will make 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:05.580 His judgment 00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:07.360 undeniably clear. 00:32:08.040 --> 00:32:09.240 And you would think, 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:11.480 hey, you know, 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.420 I get the memo. 00:32:12.580 --> 00:32:13.620 I understand you really 00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:14.259 don't like me 00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:14.940 to be this way, 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:16.000 and I'm going to stop. 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:20.519 Let's look at verse 9. 00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:22.839 They were scorched 00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:23.879 by the fierce heat, 00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:25.180 and they cursed 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:26.000 the name of God 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.779 who had power 00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:27.500 over these plagues. 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:28.579 They knew who was 00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.519 causing the problem, 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:29.859 right? 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.559 And what was their reaction? 00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:33.799 They did not repent. 00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:35.720 Whew. 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.559 Verse 11. 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.379 People gnawed, 00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.160 the latter part 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:43.240 of verse 10. 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:44.180 And people gnawed 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:44.880 their tongues 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:45.740 in anguish 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.880 and cursed 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:48.140 the God of heaven 00:32:48.140 --> 00:32:49.140 for their pain 00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:50.079 and their sores. 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:53.579 They did not repent. 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:56.039 Verse 21. 00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:58.259 And great hailstones, 00:32:58.380 --> 00:32:59.700 about 100 pounds, 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.819 each fell from heaven 00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.400 on people, 00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:03.319 and they cursed God 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:04.059 for the plague 00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:04.620 of the hail 00:33:04.620 --> 00:33:05.740 because the plague 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.480 was so severe. 00:33:06.859 --> 00:33:07.420 They hated 00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:08.599 the suffering 00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:09.579 that they endured 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:11.240 because of their sin, 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.920 and not for a minute 00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.799 did they repent. 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:19.400 I remember some months ago 00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:20.279 dealing with a man 00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:23.720 that ministered 00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.339 to repeatedly, 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:28.960 and I had, 00:33:29.359 --> 00:33:30.299 in case you're wondering, 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:32.579 how I look forward 00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:33.240 for opportunities 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:34.059 to share the gospel, 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:35.639 and with this individual 00:33:35.639 --> 00:33:36.700 probably three or four 00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:37.460 different times, 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:39.299 I kept on having 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:39.779 an opportunity 00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:40.619 to share the gospel, 00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:42.619 usually in the context 00:33:42.619 --> 00:33:43.379 of the wheels 00:33:43.379 --> 00:33:44.419 absolutely coming off 00:33:44.419 --> 00:33:44.940 in his life. 00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:45.299 I mean, 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.599 we're talking about 00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:48.179 skid row disaster. 00:33:51.339 --> 00:33:52.679 And about the fourth time 00:33:52.679 --> 00:33:53.079 into it, 00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:53.399 I said, 00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:53.899 you know what, 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:54.519 Bradley? 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.399 I said, 00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:57.159 it is evident 00:33:57.159 --> 00:33:58.799 that you are unwilling 00:33:58.799 --> 00:34:01.099 to listen to my appeal. 00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:05.399 and it is also evident 00:34:05.399 --> 00:34:07.839 that the circumstances 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:08.619 of your life 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.839 are not in any way 00:34:09.839 --> 00:34:10.819 persuading you. 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.860 I don't know 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:14.980 what else I can say, 00:34:15.839 --> 00:34:17.119 but I will pray for you. 00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:19.839 The unrepentant sinner 00:34:19.839 --> 00:34:23.360 of his own nature 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:25.000 is just going to grow 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:26.480 harder and harder 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:28.559 in their state 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.819 of wicked rebellion 00:34:29.820 --> 00:34:31.480 regardless of the circumstances 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:32.080 and pressure 00:34:32.080 --> 00:34:33.220 that comes upon them. 00:34:33.620 --> 00:34:33.960 And so, 00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:34.180 you know, 00:34:34.220 --> 00:34:35.120 you stop and think about 00:34:35.120 --> 00:34:36.420 all that suffering 00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:37.059 in hell, 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.700 it would have to bring 00:34:38.700 --> 00:34:40.260 people to repentance, 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.320 to a change of heart. 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.160 It won't. 00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:43.440 It won't. 00:34:45.200 --> 00:34:46.080 What we know 00:34:46.080 --> 00:34:46.800 about the state 00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:47.280 of the wicked 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:48.100 in all of eternity 00:34:48.100 --> 00:34:49.480 is that their existence 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.080 will be marked 00:34:50.080 --> 00:34:51.640 by all forms of suffering. 00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:54.500 It will also be marked 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:55.900 by the immediate presence 00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:56.539 and association 00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:57.440 with Satan 00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.620 and his demonic host. 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:01.840 And I venture to say 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:02.400 on the basis 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:03.120 of what we see 00:35:03.120 --> 00:35:04.519 particularly in Revelation 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.440 chapter 16 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:07.059 and what is the heart 00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:07.980 of the unregenerate 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.760 going to be like 00:35:08.760 --> 00:35:10.039 throughout all of eternity? 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:12.100 It is going to persist 00:35:12.100 --> 00:35:12.740 in its rebellion 00:35:12.740 --> 00:35:13.400 against God. 00:35:17.660 --> 00:35:19.000 So in simple terms, 00:35:19.100 --> 00:35:20.059 we have to ask ourselves 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:20.580 the question, 00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:22.680 what does a loving God do? 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:25.039 For one, 00:35:25.120 --> 00:35:25.860 a loving God 00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:28.480 realizing the absolute despair 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.500 of our situation 00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.719 and understanding 00:35:30.719 --> 00:35:32.860 the consequences of sin 00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:34.300 sent the Lord Jesus Christ 00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:35.000 to be our Savior. 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:36.400 That's what he did. 00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:38.800 The love of God 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:42.039 provided his son 00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:43.719 as the unbelievable, 00:35:43.980 --> 00:35:46.480 miraculous remedy 00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:47.780 for our sin 00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:48.099 and said, 00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:48.380 listen, 00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:49.480 what you need 00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.639 because of your sin 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.820 is a solution 00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:52.519 that is found 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:54.280 only in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:55.940 And he sent his son 00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:57.200 to die for me 00:35:57.200 --> 00:35:57.940 and to die for you. 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:01.340 And for those 00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:02.220 who reject, 00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:04.980 who refuse, 00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:06.960 the blessing 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:09.220 of grace 00:36:09.220 --> 00:36:10.300 offered to them 00:36:10.300 --> 00:36:11.659 in Christ Jesus 00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:12.639 as our Savior 00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:14.280 will spend 00:36:14.280 --> 00:36:15.400 all of eternity 00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:16.099 suffering 00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:17.740 for their unrepentant, 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:18.760 hardened hearts 00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:20.559 against the grace of God. 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:23.019 Why is 00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:26.579 eternal suffering 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:28.219 the just penalty 00:36:28.219 --> 00:36:29.519 for sin? 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:34.039 I don't know 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.960 if I can explain it 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.159 exactly mathematically, 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:37.440 but I'll try it this way. 00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:41.759 An infinitely holy God 00:36:41.759 --> 00:36:45.679 is infinitely offended 00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:48.199 by a single sin. 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:51.719 And apart from 00:36:51.719 --> 00:36:54.379 the infinite sacrifice 00:36:54.379 --> 00:36:55.519 and substitution 00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:56.539 of Christ 00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:58.839 for the infinite weight 00:36:58.839 --> 00:36:59.659 of sin, 00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:00.879 an individual 00:37:00.879 --> 00:37:01.960 who refuses 00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:05.480 the offer 00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:06.679 of salvation 00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:07.319 will spend 00:37:07.319 --> 00:37:08.359 all of eternity 00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:09.279 answering for 00:37:09.279 --> 00:37:10.679 their willful rejection 00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:12.559 of the sweetness 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.659 of the work of Christ. 00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:16.679 So, 00:37:16.879 --> 00:37:17.879 the next time 00:37:17.879 --> 00:37:18.679 you have someone 00:37:18.679 --> 00:37:19.399 say to you 00:37:19.399 --> 00:37:19.940 with kind of 00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:21.119 a sarcastic tone, 00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:22.299 how in the world 00:37:22.299 --> 00:37:23.659 can a loving God 00:37:23.659 --> 00:37:25.899 send anyone 00:37:25.899 --> 00:37:26.440 to hell 00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:27.639 for all of eternity? 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:30.279 You appeal to them 00:37:30.279 --> 00:37:31.139 first of all 00:37:31.139 --> 00:37:32.699 that they need 00:37:32.699 --> 00:37:33.559 to be careful 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:34.279 in thinking 00:37:34.279 --> 00:37:35.279 who are they 00:37:35.279 --> 00:37:36.379 talking about? 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:40.839 Someone like them? 00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:42.379 That's not who 00:37:42.379 --> 00:37:43.599 the God of the Bible is. 00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:46.299 Are they also 00:37:46.299 --> 00:37:47.079 considering 00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:47.900 what God 00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:48.579 has done 00:37:48.579 --> 00:37:50.000 for their sins 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:50.839 in the person 00:37:50.839 --> 00:37:51.980 of Jesus Christ? 00:37:53.360 --> 00:37:54.539 And in the face 00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:55.319 of the reality 00:37:55.319 --> 00:37:56.960 of the awesomeness 00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:57.679 of their sin, 00:37:58.799 --> 00:38:00.179 will they continue 00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:01.219 to reject 00:38:01.219 --> 00:38:02.779 what Christ 00:38:02.779 --> 00:38:03.219 has done 00:38:03.219 --> 00:38:03.819 for them 00:38:03.819 --> 00:38:05.099 in dying 00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.940 in their place 00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:07.440 and offering 00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:08.059 salvation 00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:08.900 through His work? 00:38:10.259 --> 00:38:11.219 Let's close 00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:11.599 in prayer. 00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:14.099 our Father God, 00:38:14.159 --> 00:38:14.619 we are thankful 00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:15.339 for this evening 00:38:15.339 --> 00:38:16.860 and just for the reminder 00:38:16.860 --> 00:38:18.019 that you 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:18.900 in your grace 00:38:18.900 --> 00:38:19.420 sent the Lord 00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:20.139 Jesus Christ 00:38:20.139 --> 00:38:21.360 to be the Savior 00:38:21.360 --> 00:38:21.960 of the world 00:38:21.960 --> 00:38:23.119 and you have given us 00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:24.059 the blessing 00:38:24.059 --> 00:38:24.920 of eternal life. 00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.779 I'm thankful 00:38:26.779 --> 00:38:29.179 that with that gift 00:38:29.179 --> 00:38:30.279 you've also 00:38:30.279 --> 00:38:31.159 appointed us 00:38:31.159 --> 00:38:31.759 to be your 00:38:31.759 --> 00:38:32.420 representatives 00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:33.219 and ambassadors. 00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:34.299 And Lord, 00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:35.500 our purpose 00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:37.279 in this brief reminder 00:38:37.279 --> 00:38:38.059 this evening 00:38:38.059 --> 00:38:39.719 is not to equip us 00:38:39.719 --> 00:38:41.739 to be sharp 00:38:41.739 --> 00:38:43.579 and belligerent 00:38:43.579 --> 00:38:44.400 with other people 00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:45.820 but to be tender 00:38:45.820 --> 00:38:46.460 and sympathetic 00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:48.019 as the Lord Jesus was. 00:38:49.279 --> 00:38:49.639 Father, 00:38:49.739 --> 00:38:50.739 put us in situations 00:38:50.739 --> 00:38:52.059 where we have opportunity 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:53.400 of lifting up 00:38:53.400 --> 00:38:53.880 the sweetness 00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:54.579 of the gospel 00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:55.000 and the hope 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:56.000 that we have in Christ. 00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:59.059 Give us also 00:38:59.059 --> 00:38:59.679 this evening 00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:00.559 as we think about 00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:01.219 the reality 00:39:01.219 --> 00:39:02.119 of heaven and hell 00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:04.139 a very real compassion 00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:05.699 for those 00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:06.199 who have been 00:39:06.199 --> 00:39:07.299 deceived by Satan 00:39:07.299 --> 00:39:08.819 hardened in their sin 00:39:08.819 --> 00:39:09.679 that we would pray 00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.980 that your mercy 00:39:10.980 --> 00:39:12.879 and your grace 00:39:12.879 --> 00:39:14.779 would deliver them 00:39:14.779 --> 00:39:15.619 from that state 00:39:15.619 --> 00:39:17.539 and cause us 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:18.299 as your children 00:39:18.299 --> 00:39:19.420 to walk with humility 00:39:19.420 --> 00:39:20.039 and joy 00:39:20.039 --> 00:39:22.519 that the lives 00:39:22.519 --> 00:39:23.259 that we live 00:39:23.259 --> 00:39:25.879 would cause unbelievers 00:39:25.879 --> 00:39:26.539 to ask us 00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:27.559 a reason for the hope 00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:29.980 that's so starkly 00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:31.099 different from theirs. 00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:33.019 We ask this 00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.900 in Jesus' name. 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:34.799 Amen. 00:39:35.699 --> 00:39:36.619 I'm going to encourage 00:39:36.619 --> 00:39:36.719 you.