Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: GMTB
Program Code: GMTB000036
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00:16 Hello and welcome to the 3ABN Worship Center
00:19 right here in Thompsonville, Illinois. 00:21 I just welcome all of you... especially you that are 00:25 here in the viewing audience from the So. Illinois area. 00:29 And I want to encourage everyone 00:30 here in Southern Illinois 00:32 to come on down to the 3ABN Worship Center 00:35 for this series on Give Me The Bible 00:37 by Pastor Kenneth Cox. 00:39 And I also want to welcome everyone. 00:41 Do we welcome everyone from around the world? 00:43 Do you know we have people that are viewing us 00:46 from all over the world. Every inhabited continent has 00:50 the ability to view 3ABN, and we welcome all of you. 00:54 You know, Pastor Cox has been bringing a beautiful series 00:58 to us for the last seven months. This is the eighth increment 01:02 of sermons that he is bringing to us, 01:05 and I want to encourage any of you... 01:06 Have you just been truly blessed? 01:08 How many of you have been a part of this? 01:10 You've been truly blessed? And if you have missed any 01:14 of these sermons in this series I want to encourage you 01:17 to contact Pastor Cox and get them 01:19 because they are such a blessing. 01:21 Well tonight he continues in the Give Me The Bible series, 01:25 and this 5-part series is on Judgment. 01:29 Tonight's sermon is going to be on Christ Our Mediator. 01:33 But before Pastor Cox comes we have a lovely lady 01:37 right here from the Southern Illinois area 01:40 that's going to minister to you. 01:41 Kateena, you're always such a blessing to us 01:44 and we sure welcome you. 01:46 And the song she's going to minister to us tonight is 01:48 He's Just as Real to Me. 02:06 No one can make 02:11 me believe 02:16 God's not real. 02:21 Year after year 02:25 more of Himself 02:28 to my heart 02:31 He reveals. 02:36 This world can't seem 02:39 to understand 02:43 this mystery. 02:50 If they would only look 02:55 beyond those things 02:59 their eyes can see. 03:05 He's just as real 03:09 to me 03:12 as if I'd held His hand 03:16 a million times. 03:19 And though I've never seen Him smile 03:26 I know I've felt Him by my side. 03:33 These ears have never heard Him speak 03:40 but my heart has heard Him 03:43 time and time again. 03:47 Just like a friend would be... 03:55 He's just as real to me. 04:09 When I think of mercy, 04:14 love, forgiveness, 04:18 grace so sweet, 04:23 and open arms 04:27 that have so tenderly 04:32 embraced me. 04:38 There's just no way 04:42 this world can make 04:45 me disbelieve. 04:51 This God through eyes of faith 04:56 this heart of mine 05:00 has clearly seen. 05:05 He's just as real 05:10 to me 05:12 as if I'd held His hand 05:17 a million times. 05:19 Though I've never seen Him smile 05:26 I know I've felt Him 05:28 by my side. 05:33 These ears have never heard Him speak 05:39 but my heart has heard Him 05:42 time and time again. 05:47 Just like a friend would be... 05:54 He's just as real 05:59 to me 06:01 as if I'd held His hand 06:05 a million times. 06:08 Though I've never seen Him smile 06:14 I know I've felt Him 06:17 by my side. 06:21 These ears have never 06:25 heard Him speak 06:29 but my heart has heard Him 06:32 time and time again. 06:37 Just like a friend would be... 06:44 He just as real to me. 06:55 He's so real 07:00 to me. 07:17 Thank you, Kateena. Appreciate that very much. 07:20 Beautiful song. 07:22 And a special welcome to all of you who are joining us 07:26 by television or by radio or here locally. 07:30 Very happy to welcome you to this series entitled 07:34 Give Me The Bible. 07:36 And this particular part 07:38 that we're presenting is on The Judgment. 07:41 Talking about the judgment. 07:43 And you'll find the Bible speaks of three different judgments. 07:48 That's what we'll be looking at 07:49 during this particular series on The Judgment. 07:52 Tonight we're going to talk about Christ Our Mediator. 07:57 That He IS our Mediator. 07:59 We're going to take a look at what the scripture has to say 08:02 about that. And then our next presentation 08:05 will be entitled The Investigative Judgment. 08:11 Actually a judgment that the scripture says 08:14 is going on up in heaven at the present time. 08:19 And by the way, that particular prophecy that we'll be 08:22 looking at is probably the greatest prophecy 08:26 in all the scripture. 08:28 It's one you need to see, understand, 08:31 because there's no one - no agnostic, 08:34 infidel, or atheist - that has ever been able to answer 08:38 this next prophecy we'll be talking about on 08:40 the Investigative Judgment. 08:42 So don't miss that. 08:43 And then in the judgment, it says that there are books 08:48 that are used in the judgment. 08:49 And it talks about a Book of Life 08:51 and it talks about a Book of Iniquity 08:53 and a Book of Remembrance. 08:55 We'll see how all those books are used in the judgment. 08:59 In fact, we'll see how it takes place. 09:01 So you'll want to tune in as we talk about the books: 09:04 the Book of Life in the judgment. 09:07 And then the Bible says that there is a judgment 09:10 that goes during the thousand years 09:14 that's mentioned in Revelation 20 known as 09:17 the millennium. That there's a judgment that takes place 09:20 during that time. And so we're going to look 09:22 at that particular judgment. 09:24 See what the scripture has to say about it. 09:26 And then it tells us that God brings it all to an end 09:31 in something that is called the Great White Throne Judgment. 09:36 So these are the different judgments that we'll be 09:39 looking at during this series. 09:41 And we hope that you can tune in each time 09:44 as we go through them. That they'll bless you 09:47 in a very, very special way. 09:49 We're delighted that you're here. 09:51 We hope that as we continue to study the Bible 09:54 that it will open up more and more for you. 09:57 What says the Bible, 09:59 the blessed Bible? 10:00 This should my only question be. 10:03 Is Jesus now in heaven interceding for me? 10:08 What says... what does 10:11 the Word of God say to me? 10:13 That's what we want to find out. 10:15 So I'm sure that it will help you 10:16 as we continue to go through it. 10:18 Tonight Kateena LeForge is 10:22 going to present to us a song 10:25 that was written by Dona Klein 10:28 entitled "What Is Jesus Doing Now? " 10:49 What is Jesus 10:52 doing now 10:56 since He left so long ago? 11:04 He pleads in my 11:08 behalf 11:11 for He loves me so. 11:19 Representing me 11:21 in judgment, 11:26 seated now before the throne. 11:34 And since He paid my debt 11:40 I won't have to stand 11:44 alone. 11:48 He is my 11:51 Savior, 11:55 my Mediator. 12:01 The great High Priest is He - 12:06 How can it be? - 12:10 for me. 12:15 Only faith in Christ 12:20 can save me. 12:24 Only His redeeming grace. 12:31 On this alone I stand 12:38 till I see Him face to face. 12:47 I am lost 12:49 in great amazement 12:55 at salvation's wondrous plan. 13:02 Even 13:05 the angels 13:09 cannot understand. 13:15 When I think of all He's done 13:20 for me 13:23 and the price He had to pay. 13:30 My heart cries out 13:35 to Him 13:37 and in faith I hear Him say: 13:44 "Father, I gave My life. 13:51 I lived a sinless life. 13:57 Oh take My righteous life 14:03 and cover this 14:06 poor child. " 14:12 He is ever 14:16 interceding 14:20 in the heavenly 14:23 courts above. 14:28 Oh what a Savior! 14:35 Oh what tender, 14:38 matchless love! 14:42 Oh what 14:46 a Savior! 14:53 Oh what tender, 14:57 matchless 15:01 love. 15:27 Gracious Father, 15:30 thank you. Thank you for making a way 15:37 which we can be reconciled to You. 15:42 Bless us tonight. 15:44 May your Spirit be present. 15:47 May our hearts be open. 15:50 May we understand clearly Your Word. 15:56 And may we reach out in faith... 15:59 take hold of all that You have done for us 16:03 and be reconciled to God. 16:07 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 16:18 My son is an attorney, 16:21 and sometimes he has to intercede 16:27 or he has to - how should I say? - 16:30 mediate in a case 16:33 where he as two different parties 16:36 and there has to be 16:38 a reconciliation brought about 16:41 between both parties. 16:42 So he has to work and see what can be done... 16:45 what negotiation, what solution 16:48 can there be provided to bring about an agreement 16:51 between these parties. 16:53 Well tonight you and I have God - who is holy, 16:59 who is righteous, who is pure - 17:04 on one side. 17:07 On the other side 17:09 we have man who is unholy, 17:15 unrighteous, unpure. 17:18 And how in the world are you ever going to bring 17:24 those two together? 17:28 Fortunately, the Bible says that we have a Mediator. 17:33 Listen to what it says: 17:44 Now it says there's one Mediator between God and man. 17:48 So here you have God 17:50 and over here you have man. 17:55 And between them you have Christ Jesus. 18:00 Now those folks that have trouble with that text 18:04 where Jesus said: "The Father and I are One... " 18:08 this text ought to clear that up for you. 18:11 You see, when He said: "The Father and I are one, " 18:14 He's not talking about one person. 18:16 He's talking about one in will, one in desire, 18:20 one in character, one in characteristics. 18:23 They're that way. But He's not saying 18:25 they're one individual... because here you have God, 18:30 that's... the scripture's clear... 18:32 and over here you have man. 18:35 And in between the two of them you have Jesus Christ 18:40 and He is mediating this case. 18:44 He's trying to bring about a solution. 18:46 He's trying to bring about an agreement. 18:49 He's trying to bring out a reconciliation, if you please, 18:53 between God and between man. 18:56 That's what He's trying to do, 18:58 and He is the Mediator. 19:00 Now if He is the Mediator, if I had someone that 19:03 was mediating a case for me, 19:05 immediately I would want to know what's their qualifications. 19:10 Do they have any kind of a background? 19:13 What kind of knowledge do they have? 19:16 Are they able to mediate this case? 19:21 What... what qualifications do they have? 19:23 That is absolutely necessary. 19:26 I want to know that about the person that's mediating 19:29 that case. Also... do they have experience? 19:35 Do they have the experience to mediate the case? 19:39 Those are questions that you need to know, 19:40 you need to understand. 19:42 So if Jesus is our Mediator, 19:46 then does He have the qualifications? 19:49 Does He have the experience to do this? 19:54 What's involved in it? 19:56 That's what we're looking at tonight 19:57 because that is essential if you and I are going to be saved. 20:04 Because dear friend, some way... somehow... 20:07 there has to be brought a reconciliation 20:11 between God and man. 20:15 So when we start looking at Christ, 20:17 let's see what the scripture tells us about Him. 20:20 It says: 20:29 Now when Jesus said that, folks, 20:31 the Jewish people understood clearly what He meant. 20:36 You and I today... we may stumble over that a little bit 20:41 but I can guarantee you they didn't. 20:43 They knew very well when God... Moses said: 20:46 "Well, how do they know that You sent me? " 20:49 He said: "Tell them I AM sent you. " 20:51 They understood that text or that word applied to God. 20:57 And Jesus said: "Before Abraham was, I AM" 21:02 He was saying: "I am God. " 21:05 That's what He's saying. 21:07 So when we're taking a look at this, 21:09 we have to understand there's God the Father 21:11 but we also need to understand that there's God the Son. 21:16 They are God 21:19 and we need to have that clear. And Jesus said: 21:22 "I AM... " "I am God. " 21:24 And the scripture supports that all the way through, 21:28 because when it starts talking about Jesus 21:30 it says that He was with God 21:35 way, way back in the beginning. 21:50 So here again, it's saying "The Word was with God 21:55 and the Word was God. " 21:58 OK? 22:03 OK. So we have the Word. The Word is with God. 22:09 The Word WAS God. 22:20 So all the things back in creation - man included - 22:25 was made by the Word. 22:30 That's what it was made by: the Word. 22:33 He was there with God. 22:49 So it tells us that the Word that was with God 22:53 and the Word that WAS God 22:56 became flesh and dwelt among us. 23:01 Now folks, I don't know if you're putting it together yet, 23:05 but that all of a sudden - concerning this subject - 23:09 becomes extremely important when it says: 23:14 "He became flesh. " See? 23:19 We'll look at that because that is absolutely vital 23:22 to the reconciliation process that has to take place 23:27 for you and I to be saved. 23:31 OK? 23:52 So it's telling us that Christ was back there with the Father 23:56 in the beginning and that He made the worlds. 24:00 Now what I'm just trying to get across to you tonight 24:02 is His qualifications. 24:04 Does He has the qualifications that are necessary 24:09 to mediate for you? You've got to settle that. 24:14 Is He... is He able to mediate for you? 24:17 Well, the scripture says that He was WITH God, 24:20 that He IS God. 24:22 Therefore I would say tonight that He is HIGHLY qualified. 24:27 Very much so. Listen as it goes on: 24:54 Now it says this One who is mediating for you and me, 25:00 that He has purged our sins and that He has sat down 25:05 at the right hand of His Father. 25:09 That again is extremely important. 25:14 That He purged our sins - 25:18 we'll look at that - and that He sat down 25:21 at the right hand of His Father. 25:24 So He made us. 25:28 He also redeemed us. 25:49 All of these things were made by Him. 26:03 So when we're talking about His qualifications, 26:06 it tells us that He created this world. 26:11 He made it and then He redeemed it. 26:15 Now if He created the world and then redeemed it, 26:20 certainly He is qualified to mediate it. 26:26 So He is the One that stands between you and God. 26:32 I want to make this real clear. 26:34 Nobody else can do that. 26:42 I want to be clear here, and I don't want to be hard... 26:46 but I want to be absolutely crystal clear. 26:50 He is the only one that can mediate this. 26:55 Nobody else. 26:58 That means Mary is not capable of mediating 27:04 between God and man. 27:07 The scripture says there is only one Mediator 27:11 between God and man. And the only reason there can be 27:15 Jesus Christ, and Him alone, 27:17 is because He's the only One that has the qualifications. 27:20 Nobody else can do it. 27:23 So He is our Mediator. 27:27 Now, very important 27:31 is that He has to be impartial. 27:35 OK? Must understand both sides. 27:39 I don't want somebody mediating for me 27:43 that doesn't understand me. 27:45 Do you? 27:46 I can assure you that if I have somebody that 27:50 was mediating a case for me 27:51 and they don't understand my situation and what's all there, 27:54 I don't want them representing me. 27:57 So He has to be impartial. 28:00 I don't want somebody that leans to one side. 28:04 I want him to be absolutely impartial 28:07 in what decisions he makes. 28:10 So this is necessary that He is impartial. 28:14 Is Christ in the position 28:17 where He can be impartial? 28:21 Is He capable of that? 28:24 Well, the scripture tells us: 28:41 So we can say right up front 28:44 one thing for sure: He understands God's side 28:47 because He's what? He's equal with Him. 28:51 Therefore He understands God's side very clear. 28:54 In fact, the scripture makes it real clear 28:59 that He understands that side very, very well 29:03 because when it talks about Him in Isaiah, 29:07 it uses these wonderful terms: 29:32 So He... He understands God's side completely. 29:36 OK? The question is 29:40 does He understand our side? 29:43 You know, does He understand my situation? 29:47 Does He understand when I am faced with temptation? 29:53 Does He understand? Does He understand that? 29:56 Does He understand when I fall 29:59 and I do something I shouldn't have done? 30:03 Does He understand that? 30:06 Does He understand my weaknesses? 30:33 Now here we have the Creator. 30:39 We have the One that made the world. 30:43 We have the One that created you. 30:48 And He is coming here and has taken upon Himself 30:55 our likeness. He's become like you and me. 31:00 Do you understand that sacrifice? 31:03 You put that together? 31:06 You see, when it says that He came 31:09 and He took the likeness of men, 31:13 Christ didn't take, folks, one step down... 31:18 He took two. 31:21 You see, Christ didn't become an angel. 31:27 The scripture says that man was made a little lower 31:32 than the angels and therefore He took two steps down. 31:40 He took on our likeness. 31:45 Well... what does that mean: 31:49 He became like us? 31:53 Well, let's say you and I were willing to take two steps down. 31:59 The next order of life below us would be... 32:04 animals. 32:07 Horses, cows, dogs, cats. 32:09 That's one step, folks. 32:12 He took two. 32:15 The next order of life would be insects. 32:19 Now let me ask you, 32:23 would you be willing to die for an insect? 32:27 Huh? Would you be willing to take on the likeness 32:31 of an ant? 32:34 And bear that for eternity? 32:42 See, when it says He took on the likeness of man, 32:47 folks, that sacrifice is beyond what we can understand. 32:51 To be willing to come and become like one of us. 32:56 So I can tell you, He understands God 32:59 because He IS God 33:01 but He understands man because He took upon Himself 33:08 our likeness and became one with us... 33:12 which He will bear for eternity. 33:28 It would have been one thing 33:32 for Him to have come to this earth in our likeness 33:38 as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 33:44 He could have come and been hailed 33:49 as the King. 33:53 But He didn't come that way. 33:55 He came as a servant 33:59 understanding you and me. 34:04 He faced temptation just like you and I 34:08 must face temptation. 34:10 And He was tried as we are. 34:13 In fact, He was tried in ways that you will never 34:18 be tried. 34:20 Never, never will you ever face 34:25 some of the temptations that He faced. 34:30 You see, He was God. 34:35 He had at His command all of heaven. 34:41 Said: "Peter, don't you know I could call a legion of angels 34:46 and they would come? " 34:47 All of heaven was at His command. 34:51 Never, never could He use that 34:56 for His own benefit. 35:01 You'll never be tempted like that. 35:03 Never. 35:05 So He understands completely your side. 35:09 So He's impartial 35:11 because He can understand God; He can understand you. 35:16 That makes Him a wonderful Mediator! 35:19 That makes Him an absolute Mediator 35:23 that nobody else could fulfill those shoes. 35:28 So, if He's the Mediator, 35:31 what's He mediating? 35:32 You know, if you're mediating something... 35:35 if you're going to be a mediator between two parties... 35:37 there has to be something that you're trying to bring about 35:40 a reconciliation over. 35:42 You're trying to mediate 35:43 some particular solution to something. 35:46 What is He mediating? 35:48 Well, the scripture tells you what He's mediating. 36:00 He is the Mediator of a new covenant. 36:03 Now a covenant, folks, is something that is written down. 36:08 It's something in which they have written down 36:10 certain different ideas. 36:14 They've written down certain conditions. 36:16 They put all these down 36:18 and they're trying to bring about a reconciliation 36:21 to this covenant. 36:22 And Jesus is the Mediator of a NEW covenant. 36:27 Now we've got to take a look at that 36:29 and see why He's the Mediator of a new covenant. 36:32 Listen carefully: 36:35 OK, we're talking about the conditions here... 36:58 All right, now this is the covenant 37:01 and the covenant says: 37:03 OK. You are... "I'm God - 37:07 I'll be your God" 37:08 is what He's saying - 37:09 "you will be My people. " 37:12 "And My law... " - these are the conditions - 37:17 "I will put in your mind and write them on your heart. " 37:23 Now this is what Jesus is trying to bring together 37:27 and to bring a solution to 37:30 to bring a reconciliation about. 37:33 It also says this in the New Testament. 37:51 So the covenant is simply this: 37:53 God says "I want to be your God. 37:57 I want you to be My people. " 38:01 That's the covenant, folks. 38:03 Simple... not hard. 38:06 He just says: "I want to be your God. 38:08 I want you to be My people. " 38:10 OK. But in order for that to happen 38:14 certain things have to take place 38:17 because we've got a God over here who is holy, 38:20 who is righteous, who is pure, 38:24 who is sinless... 38:26 and over here we've got man who is just the opposite. 38:31 He's not holy, he's not sinless, he's not pure. 38:34 He's none of those things. 38:35 And we're trying to bring those two parties together... 38:39 Jesus is trying to bring those together. 38:42 That's what's involved. 38:44 And in order for them to be God's people 38:48 He's got to bring that together. 38:58 So He's saying, if there was... if there was no 39:01 problem with the first covenant, 39:04 then we wouldn't have to find a second covenant. 39:08 So evidently there was something wrong with the first covenant. 39:14 OK? Something wrong with it. 39:17 And He tells you where the problem is: 39:25 Get it clear... 39:27 He didn't say finding fault with the conditions of the covenant. 39:32 He didn't say that. 39:34 He said the problem was with the people. 39:38 "Finding fault with them. " 39:41 That's where the problem is. 39:43 So let's see what Jesus does 39:47 to take care of this problem. 40:06 So He said: "Christ, He's mediating this... 40:11 this settlement. And He's the Mediator of a better covenant 40:17 which is established on better promises. " 40:21 How is that possible? 40:23 How can that be that He's the Mediator 40:28 of a better covenant established on better promises? 40:44 Now you have to understand, folks, 40:48 that every time you partake 40:52 of the Lord's Supper 40:54 you are renewing that covenant with God. 41:00 That's what you're doing. 41:01 That's what the Lord's Supper is all about... 41:03 you're renewing that covenant with God. 41:05 Actually what you're doing 41:07 is you're saying to God: "I'll be Your people. " 41:11 That's what you're doing. That's the covenant. 41:14 He'll be your God; you'll be His people. 41:16 So when you partake of the Lord's Supper 41:18 you're saying: "Here, You're my God; 41:20 I'll be Your people. " 41:22 You're renewing that covenant 41:24 with Him every time you partake of the Lord's Supper. 41:35 Now we're talking about a covenant - a new covenant - 41:38 that's established on better promises. 41:42 Well He said that when He entered into this covenant 41:45 He took the law and He wrote the law where? 41:48 Yeah. Put it in your mind and wrote it on your heart. 41:52 Well, what about the law? 41:58 What does the law have to say? 42:01 The law is a transcript of God's character, 42:06 and God is holy, He's just, He's good, He's perfect. 42:11 And the law is holy, just, good, and perfect. 42:16 OK? 42:18 Man over here is unholy, 42:22 unjust, sinful, not perfect. 42:28 And the law says if you break it 42:32 the penalty for that is death. 42:36 And Jesus said: "I'll pay it. " 42:42 I'm talking about "on better promises. " 42:44 See? No way... no way that man 42:49 could fulfill that. 42:50 The offering of lambs, offering of goats, 42:55 the offering of oxen... that would never take care of it. 42:59 Never. But Jesus said "I'll do it. " 43:04 "I'll die. " And since He died, 43:10 therefore it is established on better promises. 43:15 Not on the promise of a goat 43:18 but on the promise of the Son of God. 43:23 And He died. That's why it says He's the Mediator 43:26 of a new covenant "by means of death. " 43:30 That means that He can say to His Father, 43:34 God over here, 43:36 in behalf of man over here, 43:40 "I died for him. 43:42 I paid the price that the law demanded. 43:47 I paid it for him. " 43:49 And God... who is just, who is holy, 43:52 who is righteous, can accept that 43:55 because the debt has been paid. 43:59 Are you with me? 44:01 Are you following what's taking place here? 44:03 So He's negotiating a much better covenant. 44:23 Jesus Christ died. 44:28 Paid the price. 44:30 Now He's gone and He's sitting 44:34 beside His Father where He can negotiate 44:39 or intercede in your behalf 44:43 because He can say: "Father, I paid the price. " 44:48 Do you know how many He paid it for? 44:53 For everybody. 44:56 For every man, every woman, every child 45:00 on this whole world... 45:03 He paid the price for them. 45:05 Dear friend, your debt has been paid. 45:09 It's not a question of whether your debt will be paid. 45:13 Your debt has been paid. 45:15 It's just a matter of you accepting it. 45:17 That's all it takes: 45:19 you accepting His death in your behalf. 45:22 But there's a little bit more to this covenant. 45:35 So it says that righteousness and justice 45:39 is the very foundation of God's throne. 45:43 God is righteous. God is holy. God is just. 45:48 It's the foundation of His throne. 45:52 Now that's the reason Jesus Christ died... 45:57 because God is just. 46:01 He's loving, He's kind, He's merciful... 46:06 but He's just, folks. 46:08 And you and I expect Him to be just. 46:11 And therefore He cannot just turn His head 46:15 and say "We won't pay any attention to that. 46:17 We won't worry about that. " 46:19 If it is violating His law, He has to be just. 46:42 You see, this is the negotiation. 46:44 That by His death... He died that He might bring us to God. 46:50 That's bringing us together. That's negotiating the covenant. 46:53 All right? "Bringing us to God... " 46:59 So He fulfilled the demand of the law 47:03 concerning justice. 47:06 You can be counted just 47:11 tonight because Jesus Christ died for you. 47:17 You can be counted just 47:21 because Christ died for you. 47:23 OK. Let's look on: 47:25 See, He's also righteous. 47:29 God not only requires justice 47:31 but he requires righteousness or holiness if you please. 47:35 God will not settle for anything less than righteousness. 47:41 That is a requirement. 47:45 "Then He said, " Listen carefully to this verse: 47:59 That's the new covenant. 48:02 Set aside the first to establish the second. 48:17 So it says that He's not only just 48:20 but by Christ dying and living here on this earth 48:25 a perfect life, He also established righteousness. 48:29 Watch as it continues: 48:44 OK, here you have the everlasting covenant. 48:55 What does that mean? 48:56 That means to make you righteous. 49:00 To make you complete means to make you righteous 49:05 "in every good work to do His will. " 49:14 In other words, it's saying 49:16 that when you come to Christ and you accept him, 49:20 that He works in you to bring about His good pleasure, 49:25 to bring about righteousness in you. 49:28 And therefore He can stand before His Father 49:30 and say: "Father, credit that person with My righteousness. " 49:35 Counts them righteous. 49:37 You see, if He had never become flesh, 49:42 the covenant could have never been fulfilled. 49:46 But He did everything that the covenant required. 49:50 That's why it's on better promises, folks. 49:54 Much better promises. 49:57 So... we simply ask: 50:01 What about the judgment? 50:04 What about the judgment? 50:06 What takes place there? 50:09 Well, God is just. 50:13 He's got to count things as they are. 50:17 He can't gloss it over. 50:20 He's got to take a look at it. 50:21 And that's what it says. Listen: 50:49 So God is not going to just push it under the table. 50:55 Not going to do that. 50:57 But, Jesus Christ... The law over here 51:02 said you broke it, you've got to pay the penalty. 51:05 Christ paid it. The law said you've got to be 51:08 righteous, and Christ said 51:09 "I will live a righteous life for you. " 51:14 So He lived a righteous life 51:17 for you and for me. 51:20 OK? That's what He does for us. 51:23 That's how He lived that we might have life. 51:28 Because He is the Mediator of a better covenant 51:32 that is established on better promises. 51:35 So now, since He's the Mediator, 51:38 it says here: 51:49 That means dear friend that there's not one of you 51:52 out here anywhere watching anywhere in the world 51:56 that He can't save. 51:59 No man. I don't care, dear friend... I don't care how dark 52:04 your past may be, how sinful you may be, 52:09 Jesus Christ can save to the uttermost. 52:14 Do that for anybody 52:16 because He has met everything that was required 52:21 for your salvation. 52:31 "That He ever lives to make intercession for them. " 52:35 You see, He is seated at the right hand of His Father 52:40 and He can say to His Father 52:45 "Father, I died for that person. 52:51 I lived on that old earth for 30-some odd years 52:57 that they might have My righteousness. " 53:02 And the Father says: 53:04 "I'm pleased. Count them righteous. " 53:08 That's how He ministers the covenant for you and for me. 53:16 What is Jesus 53:18 doing now 53:23 since He left so long ago? 53:31 He pleads in my behalf 53:38 for He loves me so. 53:46 Representing me in judgment, 53:53 seated now before the throne. 54:01 And since He paid 54:05 my debt 54:08 I won't have to stand 54:12 alone. 54:18 Let us pray. 54:20 Father in Heaven, 54:24 tonight we can come with humble hearts 54:30 realizing that You have done everything 54:35 that's necessary to reconcile us to God. 54:42 That because of You, 54:45 because of the beloved, 54:50 because of You He's willing to accept us. 54:54 Willing to forgive our sins 55:00 to cleanse, for us to be clean, righteous, 55:05 and to have a place with You in Your kingdom. 55:07 Tonight, Lord, we want to be Your people. 55:15 We want You to be our God. 55:20 Be with us. 55:22 Help us to walk with You each day. 55:24 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 55:30 Don't forget our next presentation 55:33 is on the Investigative Judgment. 55:36 One of the greatest prophecies in all the scripture. 55:39 So we look forward to you being here. 55:41 God bless you. Have a good evening. 55:46 Psalm 19 and verse 1 says: 55:49 "The heavens declare the glory of God 55:52 and the firmament shows His handiwork. " 55:55 All around us we see the handiwork of our Creator. 55:58 Every flower displays a palate of color and texture 56:02 beyond the imagination of man. 56:05 Every variety is uniquely designed 56:08 by the Master of creativity. 56:11 But they're not just a thing of beauty. 56:13 Every flower has a function and a purpose. 56:16 So does every living creature. 56:18 Whether it is feathered or finned, 56:20 each creature was put together by the Author of Life. 56:24 Even in a fallen world 56:26 God has placed a desire for life in every creature. 56:29 Without instruction, a mother knows how to nurture 56:33 and protect her young 56:35 reflecting the tenderness God feels for each of us. 56:39 No man can observe nature 56:42 and deny His existence. 56:44 But the God of Heaven went far beyond 56:47 by humbling Himself and becoming the man Jesus. 56:51 He walked the dusty paths of Israel 56:53 and He paid the debt for every man's sin 56:56 so we could have eternal life. 57:00 The Bible says in John 17 and verse 3 57:03 "And this is eternal life 57:05 that they may know You, 57:07 the only true God, 57:09 and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. " 57:11 The evidence of a Creator God is all around us. 57:15 He has revealed details of His character 57:18 in a love letter to you and to me. 57:21 Our desire is to help you understand the Bible 57:24 and receive life... eternal life... 57:27 by getting to know Him intimately. 57:30 Won't you help us bring this message to the world? 57:33 Please consider what you can do 57:35 for those who still don't know about Jesus. 57:38 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 57:39 please send your tax-deducible gifts to: 57:53 Thank you for helping us spread the light of God's Word 57:56 through television and radio. 57:58 Your gifts help bring the Blessed Hope of salvation 58:00 to millions around the world. |
Revised 2014-12-17