Participants: Pr. John Lomacang, Pr. John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL130011
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00:01 Hello, friends, grab your Bible and a friend and sit back
00:03 as we explore God's Word together 00:05 on this edition of "House Calls." 00:22 Hello, friends, 00:24 welcome to another edition of "House Calls." 00:26 You know, if you believe 00:27 that there's another program on television 00:30 that approaches the Bible the way that we do. 00:32 Well, you won't find it today because this is it. 00:35 My name is John and this is John to my right 00:38 and we are here today to talk to you about 00:40 what the Word of God says. 00:42 So thank you for tuning into House Calls 00:43 and, John, thank you for being here. 00:44 It's great to be here. 00:46 Do you know we just talked about this, nine years almost? 00:49 Isn't that amazing? 00:50 Going on nine years now for this program. 00:51 We have lost count as to how many programs we have done, 00:54 but every one of them that we've done together 00:57 has been a blessing and a pleasure. 00:58 It's been a blessing, yeah. 01:00 And we talked about this a number of years ago, 01:02 when we sat down together there in my living room 01:05 in Fairfield, California, 01:07 we just said, well, wouldn't it be nice one day 01:09 if we could just kind of share 01:11 what God has given to us with the world. 01:14 And then one day I think about the fourth year 01:16 after we've been doing this. 01:17 One day it hit us that we were actually sitting down together 01:20 and God gave us the desires of our heart. 01:22 So thank you for tuning in to enjoy 01:25 what God is doing for us, to us, as well as through us. 01:30 So get your Bibles, get your pens, 01:31 invite your family and your friends 01:33 for the next almost hour as we cover your questions 01:36 as well as the topic that we'll be covering today. 01:39 But before we do anything 01:41 we always like to begin with prayer. 01:42 So, John, would you pray for us? Let's pray. 01:44 Our Father in heaven, 01:45 we ask for Your presence to be with us here today. 01:48 Lord, we open our hearts to You, 01:50 we ask that you would fill us with Your Sprit 01:52 and for those who are watching or listening to this program 01:55 we invite You into their lives 01:57 as well as they open themselves up 01:59 to the Word of truth here today in Jesus name. 02:02 Amen. Amen. 02:04 And as you know some of you 02:05 are still into the sending your mail by mail, by letter. 02:10 That's, okay, nothing wrong with that. 02:12 But there are those of you that want to send things by email. 02:16 And if you have any questions or comments 02:18 that you like shoot an email to us with, 02:20 send those questions or comments to housecalls@3abn.org. 02:24 That's housecalls@3abn.org 02:29 and we surely would try our best to respond 02:30 to those always with the Bible. 02:33 But, John, let me go ahead and give you 02:35 a first shot at it today which I normally do 02:38 or it's because he is the anchor man. 02:39 What do we have? 02:41 Let's see here it's a question from Laura 02:43 and she's asking--now she shares this question here, 02:47 "I saw on National TV, 02:49 Ariel Sharon talking with General Tommy Franks 02:53 and Franks said 02:55 'How are we going to get funding to fight the war, Sharon? 02:59 Don't worry, I'll tell the American Congress what to do? 03:04 We are fighting these wars-- 03:06 and this is back to Laura's commentary. 03:09 "We are fighting these wars for Israel under false pretense. 03:12 So how did we as a Christian nation get fooled into this? 03:15 Why is Congress and the common person falling for these wars? 03:20 Simply because most of the Christian world 03:22 believes that the Jews are God's chosen people, 03:25 who taught them that?" 03:27 Anyway, and she goes on to talk about how a few things 03:30 she's not finding a connection there in the Word of God 03:32 for Israel today being God's chosen people. 03:37 And so, John, I know that 03:39 you and I have talked about this issue before, 03:41 but it would be good to dialogue briefly. 03:43 Because when you accept the notion 03:48 that God's chosen people are still the nation of Israel. 03:52 And we're talking about not only ethnically, culturally. 03:57 Nationally. Nationally. 03:59 As a nation, when we say that 04:01 we have to adopt other things into our theology. Right. 04:05 That don't match with the Word of God. 04:08 And some of those things are a dual covenant theology 04:11 where, you know, I've seen many espouse 04:14 in trying to explain this away. 04:15 Well, the covenant with Israel is one of law 04:19 and the one with the churches one of grace, I've heard that. 04:22 Yeah, dispensationalism. 04:24 Yes. And then I've heard, 04:25 well, God's chosen people are still the nation of Israel 04:31 and He's still going to do a mass conversion there 04:34 through evangelistic means and things 04:37 coming from the church, we need to protect them. 04:39 And this is where some of this fighting 04:40 these wars come from in our support of Israel. 04:43 But I don't want to just jump on the bandwagon 04:46 that she is on here and say, 04:47 that we shouldn't defend Israel. Right. 04:50 On those reasons that they are God's chosen people, 04:54 I would say we should not use that to defend Israel. 04:58 We as a nation, if we call ourselves a Christian nation 05:03 it means that we stand up 05:04 for the rights of others as Jesus did. 05:07 And so there are sometimes when nations are threatened 05:10 that we intervene and we step in as a "Big brother". 05:14 And in this case probably the right kind of term 05:16 with big brother where we say, we will stand with these people 05:19 if you try to hurt them we will defend them. Like allies. 05:21 Yeah, and I just think that's an important thing to realize 05:25 that just on that level it's a good thing. 05:28 I believe that if our nation, if the United States do not 05:32 or did not defend or has not stood by the nation of Israel, 05:37 it would probably cease to exist. 05:39 Because with so many of the Middle East nations 05:43 they want to destroy Israel and have outright said so. 05:46 But back to this issue of Israel as God's chosen people 05:50 it doesn't seem to be what the Bible is telling us. 05:54 Number one, it's pretty clear 05:55 that the Bible says that the nation of Israel, 05:59 specifically its leaders were instrumental 06:02 in the crucifixion of Christ, the Messiah. 06:05 I don't find anywhere where a nation or a people 06:09 that not only crucified Him but continues to reject Him 06:13 is called God's chosen people. Right. 06:17 Those who follow Christ, who obey Him 06:20 are the ones that are His people. 06:23 And that's just one point. 06:24 Number two, Paul didn't agree with this notion either 06:28 and if we turn to Romans Chapter 9. Okay. 06:34 And beginning with verse 6, 06:38 he says these words and just to give you 06:40 some background before I read this verse. 06:43 Paul was dealing with and working with a church 06:46 that was comprised of Jews and Gentiles, 06:50 they were coming together. 06:51 The Jews had a superiority complex 06:54 and that the oracles of God had come 06:56 and been passed down through them 06:58 and they felt like they were in a position 07:00 not only of authority but a position of knowledge 07:03 that the Gentiles did not have. 07:05 And they were throwing this out constantly 07:08 and probably the feeling by the Gentiles 07:10 was that they were being tugged down to a great degree. 07:13 They were trying to enforce 07:15 their ceremonial laws in some aspects, 07:17 the feast, the sacrifices, those things to a degree. 07:21 The way they viewed foods and what was acceptable to eat, 07:24 what was not acceptable to eat 07:26 as far as what was offered to idols. Right. 07:28 Those things they were imposing 07:30 and so several times Paul writes letters 07:34 to intervene in this discussion, 07:36 this argument and says leave it alone. 07:38 We are under Christ, under His grace, under His Lordship now. 07:43 We are not under the old system 07:45 and not only were they not under the old system 07:47 Paul says these words about the nation of Israel. Right. 07:51 And we're reading from verse 6 of Romans 9. 07:54 "But it is not that the Word of God has taken no effect." 07:57 Of course not because the word passed down 07:59 through Israel has now taken root in the early church. 08:04 "For they are not all Israel who are of Israel 08:12 nor are they all children 08:13 because they are the seed of Abraham." 08:17 Now that's a powerful statement there. 08:20 If you're a Jew living in that time 08:22 your defense was I'm a child, 08:24 I'm a child, the seed of Abraham 08:27 and the promise was given to Abraham. 08:28 In fact, how many times I can't account right away, 08:31 but numerous times that was there defense with Christ. 08:34 True. We're the chosen of Israel. 08:36 We're the Abraham's seed. Right. 08:38 You know, it was this, 08:40 you know, they were thinking very highly of themselves 08:42 and that they were genetically linked to Abraham. 08:47 Matter of fact when Jesus came in the New Testament, 08:49 when He was speaking to the Jews then, 08:52 they said, we have never been slaves to sin, 08:55 we are Abraham's seed. That was a point of boasting. 08:57 Even in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. 09:01 The reason why the Lord used 09:02 the designation of the rich man died 09:06 and was buried in Abraham's bosom. 09:08 I mean, sorry the poor man died 09:10 and was buried in Abraham's bosom. 09:13 It was because the Jews believed that, 09:15 hey, it was only their right 09:17 to be anything connecting with Abraham. 09:20 So the Lord used that analogy or that parabolic language 09:25 and he continually emphasized Abraham, Abraham, 09:27 Abraham because they said, 09:29 hey, we're Abraham's descendants. 09:31 Even the time when He met the woman at the well, 09:34 that was the biggest, 09:36 this well was given to us by our Father Abraham. 09:41 So you continually go down the gamut of Abraham, 09:46 but I want to add something 09:47 before I turn it back over to you here. 09:50 In Galatians 3 because you brought out the term Abraham 09:55 or the word Abraham when you just read Romans Chapter 9, 09:59 in other words, those who are of Israel 10:00 and not all Israel and those who, 10:03 even those who are of Abraham's seed or not all Israel. 10:07 So the question is, how does Christ designate 10:11 and what place does Abraham have 10:14 when it applies to the Christian faith? 10:16 Galatians 3: 26-29. 10:23 It reads "For you are all the sons of God 10:26 through faith in Christ Jesus." 10:28 And notice he says, are the sons of God 10:30 because they were boasting about being the sons Abraham. 10:33 "You are all the sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 10:36 For as many of you as were baptized 10:38 into Christ have put on Christ." 10:40 Verse 28, now this is very important 10:43 and this is where the big argument was. 10:46 "There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free. 10:51 There is neither male nor female, 10:54 for you are all one in Christ. 10:56 And if you are Christ's, 10:58 then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." 11:02 And so there a lot of people say, 11:03 well, the reason why Israel is receiving the promises 11:07 because they are literal Israelites. 11:09 Christ said that's not the application. 11:11 If you belong to Me then you are heirs according to the promise. 11:15 Then you are really Abraham's seed. 11:17 So I'm looking for a spiritual inheritance rather than genetic. 11:22 See that's a big part of it. 11:24 And I think that's what you're talking about. 11:25 In fact, Romans 9 concludes in verse 8 11:28 "That is, those who are the children of the flesh, 11:30 these are not the children of God." 11:32 Okay, there you go. 11:33 He's basically saying those who are the nation 11:35 genetically, ethnically, 11:38 those who are part of that nation of the flesh 11:42 are not the children of God. 11:44 So that's a direct answer to the statement. 11:46 Are they God's chosen people? The answer would be no. 11:50 And also even further when it--talks about the flesh. 11:53 There was that battle between the flesh and the spirit. 11:55 And he says if you are carnal, first of all, 11:58 if you are just naturally born into the nation 12:00 don't consider yourself immediately 12:04 a part of my promise, 12:06 just because you're born into the family. 12:08 I think, Walter Peterson once said, 12:10 even if you are born on the front pew of a church 12:13 you still need to be born again. There you go. 12:15 And so that was the big issue they were not born again, 12:17 until we're born again we are not 12:18 heirs according to the promise. 12:20 And the other thing is the flesh issue was a big part of it. 12:25 So the natural as well as the carnal 12:27 both need to have an accompaniment 12:29 by being born again spiritually. That's right. 12:32 You know the other aspect to this too is that-- 12:38 the other kinds of theology have to come into play, 12:42 if you adapt this method or this teaching. 12:45 And I know that some of the difficulties 12:48 lies in the symbolism used in say the Book of Revelation 12:51 because you have the 12 tribes of Israel listed there. 12:56 And they say, well, look, then there are literal tribes 12:58 and this is the actual nation of Israel 13:01 seeing reconverted back at the end of time. 13:05 But the issue here has more to do with the transference 13:09 from old to new covenant, 13:11 because under the new covenant you have here a situation 13:15 where not only is it an explanation of exactly 13:21 how we are saved which is through Christ 13:24 even way back during Abraham's day 13:25 was faith in those sacrifices of a coming Messiah 13:28 that saved them. Right. 13:30 They weren't saved by law back then. 13:31 It's by grace they were saved. 13:34 But secondly here is there would be no reason 13:39 to have established the church 13:42 had Israel fulfilled the promise. That's right. 13:45 But they were not willing to do that. 13:49 They were not willing to receive the call 13:51 that God had placed on them to accept their Messiah, 13:55 usher in His ministry and then finish the work 13:57 of bringing salvation to all the world. 13:59 That's why Jesus established the church. Right. 14:01 So there aren't--I found no where in the gospels 14:03 where there is two running covenants, 14:08 two running people of God separately doing God's work. 14:12 It is one chosen people, it always has been. 14:14 It's remnant theology and through that line 14:17 God brings salvation to all the world. 14:19 You made a point earlier, John, 14:20 which is very important to reemphasize 14:22 about the nation and its leaders. 14:26 Particularly, the leaders of Israel were the ones 14:28 that were partners in the calling down 14:33 of the crucifixion on Christ. 14:35 Matthew 23: 38 that's why Jesus made this statement, 14:39 "Behold your house is left unto you desolate." 14:43 He didn't even identify with their house at all, 14:47 but earlier He says, 14:48 my house shall be called the house of prayer 14:51 and when they rejected Christ He says, 14:53 "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Yeah. 14:56 So He even rejected anything that had to with their 15:00 way of worship, their methods of religion, 15:03 that's why when He died the temple curtain was torn 15:06 from top to bottom exposing the very thing 15:08 that they had placed so much of there security in 15:11 and that's the crucifixion of a literal lamb 15:13 when they rejected the spotless Lamb 15:16 who was Christ Jesus. 15:17 All this continual rejection along the way 15:20 and then they called down on them, 15:21 and then they called down on them the curse. 15:27 His blood, be on us and on our children. 15:29 I know some people try to make that a spiritual application. 15:32 But that was not a spiritual application 15:34 saying in the very same way, 15:36 as the person will say, well, I'm saved 15:38 because I'm covered by the blood of the lamb. 15:40 That was saying let the guilt of His death be on us. 15:45 We'll own up to the guilt of His death. 15:48 We'll take the responsibility for killing Him 15:50 that's what that was, not a blessing by any means. 15:53 Even with the preaching of Paul and Barnabas, 15:56 it's recorded there in Acts 13 15:58 that when the Jews saw this happening 16:00 it says they were filled with envy 16:02 and they blasphemed against the word 16:04 that was being preached about Jesus. 16:06 And then it says in verse 46, 16:08 "Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, 16:10 'It was necessary that the word of God 16:11 should be spoken to you first.'" 16:13 In other words, God always goes back 16:14 and gives another opportunity to repent. 16:17 "But they said, since you reject it, 16:20 and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, 16:24 behold, we turn to the Gentiles." 16:26 We only have gone to the Gentiles 16:28 and established the church here 16:30 because you have rejected Christ and His gospel 16:34 and that is still the case today, they reject Christ. 16:36 Now let not someone think that we're being hateful 16:41 because there's a political correctness that goes on here. 16:44 They say, well, that's very hateful words 16:45 to say you know that the Jews are, 16:49 you know, they crucified Christ 16:51 and they are not God's chosen people. 16:53 We're just telling you what the facts of God's word says. 16:57 The other thing of what God's word says is that 16:59 they can be grafted back in. That's right. 17:03 To the wine, one wine, that's Christ. 17:06 They can be grafted back in 17:08 by accepting Christ as the Messiah, 17:11 through faith they are God's people again. That's right. 17:13 And I believe to a great degree many will come. 17:18 Of course, many have. 17:20 And have come to knowledge of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, 17:23 so praise God for that. And so we're not attacking. 17:26 We're just simply saying theologically. 17:28 The Bible says, one line, 17:30 one remnant through which Christ saves by faith, it's the church. 17:34 And let me go ahead and broaden the platform here 17:36 because in New York City there's a-- 17:39 being from New York City, 17:40 I saw that there's a great Jewish population 17:44 in the city of New York. 17:45 And many though having accepted Christ, 17:48 there's a movement called Jews for Jesus 17:51 or somebody may say, what's so unique about that? 17:53 Well, the only reason 17:55 why that's has a kind of a unique connotations 17:57 because for the most part Jews are still looking forward 18:00 to the coming of the Messiah, the first time. 18:03 Messiah, they haven't accepted the first advent of Christ. 18:06 So for those who have accepted 18:08 the first advent of Christ they say, 18:09 we are Jews, but we are for Jesus. 18:11 You see, but if you think of the general term 18:14 Jews for Jesus, 18:16 it wouldn't be any different than, 18:17 you know, the Spanish for Jesus 18:19 or the African American for Jesus 18:21 or the Europeans for Jesus. 18:23 Anybody who is for Jesus is a part of the promise. 18:26 You see, so there's no, 18:27 in that sense the generalization 18:29 is not making anybody exclusive. 18:31 The point of the matter is there is no salvation 18:34 in any other name other than the name of Jesus. 18:36 So if you feel that because of the way 18:40 He came the first time, 18:41 He says in the First Book of John, 18:44 John Chapter 1, He says, 18:46 "I came to my own and they did not receive me." 18:50 So it makes it very, very clear, 18:52 the very nation He chose 18:55 is the one that ended up rejecting Him. 18:57 And so that's why it's still to this very day, 18:59 just to add one last component to this, 19:02 because you led the question by talking about Israel 19:05 and we talked about that term is not just a literal nation, 19:09 but a spiritual terminology. 19:11 And the reason this is widely important is 19:12 because when you get down to Revelation 19:14 and it talks about the 12 tribes of Israel. 19:17 They must understand that 19:18 that is the tribes of those who overcome, 19:20 not 12 literal tribes of this original line 19:25 of national Israelites like all the way through. 19:26 Right, which is the typical way it's tied. 19:28 Which is the dispensational view 19:30 that the nation of Israel literally will be converted 19:33 and now preach the gospel to the world in the very end. 19:35 That's not what it's talking about 19:36 because here in Genesis 32:28, 19:40 we read these words. 19:42 "And he said, that is God said, 19:44 "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob 19:48 but Israel for you have struggled with God 19:52 and with men and have prevailed." 19:56 And then one more Genesis 35:10 here it is, 20:01 "And God said to him, your name is Jacob, 20:05 you shall not be called Jacob anymore 20:08 but Israel shall be your name, so he called his name Israel." 20:13 And so the word Israel means the over comers. 20:16 So when it talks about to him that over cometh, 20:19 that's the 12 tribes, those spiritual inheritance 20:23 which is made up of every nation, 20:25 every kindred, every tongue, every people, you see. 20:28 So that's what something that's very important 20:30 to point out that when Revelation mention 20:32 the 12 tribes at Israel its not going to back to lineage 20:36 and even though it mentions them by name, 20:38 one of the reasons why it mentions them by name 20:40 like the tribe of Benjamin and Zebulun and Issachar 20:43 and all those it's because if you follow their lives 20:46 each of them had a particular weakness. 20:49 And when you get down to Genesis 20:50 the one that had a weakness that he did not over-- 20:53 sorry, when you get down to Revelation, 20:55 the one that's not mentioned there is Dan 20:57 because Dan had a particular weakness 20:59 that he never overcame 21:01 and he was replaced by a Manasseh which was a grandson. 21:06 I think, there's one other one too, 21:07 Ephraim was replaced by Joseph. 21:09 Okay, so there you go. 21:11 So you see that this whole ideology 21:14 that there's a literal descendants, 21:16 this unbroken bloodline all the way through is not the case. 21:19 Yeah. And then, I think some of that feeds-- 21:22 back to the question feeds this desire 21:24 as a Christian nation to defend Israel 21:26 because we believe that it's our obligation to do that. 21:30 Where as more it's more of a Christ like desire 21:34 to defend those that are defenseless, 21:36 that really should be our reason for defending any nation. 21:39 And we have allies with a number of other countries, 21:43 but that if they were in a pickle, 21:45 militarily that's speaking though it's a very small word 21:49 to use when it comes to military strength, 21:51 the pickle, doesn't sound like it's very strong, 21:54 but if they were ever in a military situation 21:56 that they needed to be defended, the United States, 21:58 its allies with a lot of other countries and vice versa. 22:02 I don't want to go down the list and start naming 22:04 the nations, that's not important. 22:06 However, thank you for the point that-- 22:09 and in a nutshell we are all Israelites 22:13 as we overcoming Christ. 22:14 We are all Abraham's seed if we are in Christ. Amen. 22:20 I have another question. This was a really great letter. 22:23 By the way the person said though, 22:25 this is not to be answered on the air, 22:27 there is no question here 22:29 but the point that was made in the letter, 22:31 I want to make out of a question, 22:34 pointing out that Sunday should be the day of worship 22:39 because Jesus was resurrected on Sunday 22:43 and that was the one line in this letter. 22:46 The person who sent this letter read 22:49 the book "The Great Controversy." 22:51 Said it was the best book 22:52 that she'd ever read and beautifully, wonderfully, 22:59 gave accolade to the whole book 23:02 even pointing out that it was just phenomenal. 23:05 Why is this book not the selling market? 23:08 Why are more people not getting a chance to read this? 23:10 In particular, wishing that more Catholics 23:15 had a chance to read this book 23:16 and I could understand that 23:18 because majority of my family is Catholic 23:20 and I would second that emotion. 23:23 But they also went on to point out that the only thing 23:29 I did not agree within the book was the day of worship 23:32 and probably the only thing 23:33 that the Roman Catholic religion got right 23:36 was that they honor Sunday as a day of worship 23:41 and they went on to say Sunday should be a day of worship 23:45 because Jesus was resurrected on Sunday. 23:48 This was His first day and the Jewish nation 23:55 knew who Jesus was, who He said He was. 23:58 This is His day and should be our day to remember Him. 24:02 So this thing, well, Sunday was His day. 24:04 Well, in reality, every day is, 24:07 every day belongs to the Lord 24:09 because He created every day, 24:11 but He didn't say every day should be honored as holy. 24:13 Well, yeah, He only blessed and sanctified one day. 24:15 Only blessed and sanctified one. 24:16 So the big issue here that I want to raise 24:18 in the initial question is, 24:20 do we believe that because Christ rose on Sunday 24:25 that we now need to establish 24:27 a new day in honor of His resurrection. 24:30 Well, a lot of people failed to realize, 24:33 let me give you two things that the Bible 24:34 has already established. 24:36 There's already a ceremony in the Bible established. 24:39 I'm going to use another word, there's already an observance-- 24:43 okay, I'll go back to the word ceremony. 24:44 There is already an established ceremony 24:47 in the Bible to honor His resurrection. 24:50 There's already an established ceremony 24:53 to honor the crucifixion. 24:56 So the day of worship is established 24:58 and the ceremony in honor of His resurrection 25:02 and they don't conflict with each other. 25:04 But this ideology that Sunday is the day of worship. 25:07 Sunday is the day that should be the day 25:09 that we honor is not something 25:11 that the Bible can support at all. 25:13 So as nice as it may seem and as convenient as it may seem 25:15 and as convenient as it may seem 25:17 and even on the other note as many as honor it as, 25:21 hey, we honor Sunday because it's the resurrection day. 25:25 You can do that if you want to, 25:27 but you cannot replace the Sabbath 25:29 and now say, this is the Christian day 25:31 and this is the day we're going to keep. 25:34 Oh, when it comes down to who is your authority? 25:37 Because even the Roman Catholic priest, 25:39 if you ask this gal here 25:42 who writes this letter would ask them, 25:43 they would say, it's not on the word. Right. 25:45 That we honor Sunday, it's on the authority of the church. 25:50 And so even they acknowledge 25:53 and we've said this over and over again 25:55 that the change of the Sabbath is simply not in the Bible. 25:59 But I would answer it from another approach. 26:03 She's mentioning that we should use that as a day of worship 26:05 because of the resurrection, 26:07 but that's not really what the Sabbath is all about. 26:11 And I know that we're going to cover 26:13 maybe some different aspects 26:15 and the Sabbath will tie into this 26:16 because our subject is on the Ten Commandments 26:18 coming up here for the next two programs. 26:20 But just on this issue, if you look really quickly 26:22 there are two Sabbath commandments 26:24 given in the Pentateuch, 26:26 one is Exodus 20 and the other is Deuteronomy 5, right? 26:33 And if you look at Exodus 20, 26:35 it says that it connects the Seventh day Sabbath 26:39 which belongs to the Lord thy God 26:41 and then it connects it with creation. 26:44 That there were six days of creation 26:46 and the seventh day He rested from His work. 26:50 But it's interesting that in Deuteronomy 5, 26:53 that language is not entirely the same. 26:58 Right, it's not duplicated. 26:59 But the subject is similar 27:01 and so we can learn more about 27:03 what the meaning of the Sabbath is 27:04 and while we observe it from looking at the transcript 27:08 in Deuteronomy Chapter 5 in regard to the Sabbath. 27:10 Look at this. What verse you're looking at? 27:12 I'm looking at verse 12. Okay. 27:16 Which goes on to observe-- 27:17 it says observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy, 27:20 very similar as you read down through verses 13 and 14, 27:23 but then look at verse 15 27:25 that isn't there in the original Ten Commandments. 27:28 --not exactly. 27:30 And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt 27:35 and that the Lord your God brought you out 27:37 from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm, 27:42 therefore, the Lord your God 27:43 commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. 27:47 The Sabbath is about creation, 27:49 yes, but it's also about recreation. 27:53 That's right, freedom. 27:54 Deliverance and freedom from sin. 27:57 So everything about the Sabbath is 28:00 what God is doing through His creative 28:02 and redemptive work through His people. Right. 28:05 So when we observe the Sabbath calling it 28:08 the true Lord's day which is the seventh day, 28:10 we're honoring Him as not only our creator, but our redeemer. 28:15 In fact, if you want to put the exclamation point on this, 28:18 look at Hebrews. 28:20 Just real quick, Hebrews Chapter 5, 28:25 where it says there in regard to rest, 28:31 it connects it with the same line of thinking, 28:32 excuse me Hebrews 4, 28:34 "For indeed the gospel was preached to us 28:36 as well as to them but the word they heard did not profit them, 28:39 that is the Jews as a nation not being mixed 28:42 with the faith and those who heard it." 28:45 And then it goes on there talking about God 28:47 rested the seventh day from all His works, verse 4. 28:50 And then He promises in verse 5, 28:53 that they shall not enter my rest. 28:56 So it was the disobedience of Israel 29:00 that they will not enter it into rest. 29:01 Now how ironic is that? 29:04 But ones that say that-- 29:06 that the Sabbath is so important are told 29:09 they will not enter the rest because of disobedience. 29:12 But the ones that are God's true people through the church 29:17 and through faith are rejecting the rest God offers them. 29:20 That's right, that's sad. 29:22 That is sad, not only it's ironic, it's very sad. 29:25 So we need to understand 29:27 that this Sabbath wasn't made for the Jews. 29:29 It was established at creation, 29:30 its means made for us. That's right. 29:32 And it not only is tied to creation 29:34 but it's tied to our salvation. 29:35 It is not tied to the resurrection. 29:39 No where in the Bible is the Sabbath 29:41 tied to the resurrection. 29:43 It's a nice thought from this gal 29:45 that she says that we should honor the day 29:47 that He was resurrected, 29:49 but there's already services for that. That's right. 29:52 But the Sabbath is not one of them. 29:54 And by the way just to make it very, very clear 29:57 a lot of times people read and say, 29:59 well, sure, let's go ahead and honor, 30:02 that the Lord made it extremely clear 30:04 even in the New Testament. 30:06 Mark 2:27, 28. 30:10 "He said to them, the Sabbath was made for man 30:14 and not man for the Sabbath, 30:16 therefore the Son of man is also Lord of the Sabbath." 30:21 So he's saying the Sabbath is made for men, 30:24 when was it made? At the end of creation week. 30:26 So you have the Roman Catholic Church comes along 30:29 and during the dark ages changes it 30:31 and everybody else jumps on board and say, 30:33 hey, we like this new one it fits better. 30:35 You know why it fits better? 30:37 Because it's more convenient, 30:38 you don't have to honor the whole day, 30:40 you do your holy hour or holy two hours and you go home. 30:44 You go home or you go to a football game 30:46 or you go shopping at a mall 30:47 or you go out playing, you go out fishing 30:50 or you go out playing baseball. 30:51 It's not a holy day. 30:53 It's a few hours you kind of do your daily two hour, 30:55 your weekly two hours and you go about your business. 30:58 You know it's weird because we fight about the day, 31:00 but what the rest of the commandment? 31:01 Exactly, the whole day. 31:04 So they don't keep Sunday 31:05 is not a holy day in the Christian world. 31:08 It's a holy couple of hours and you can't even make it holy 31:11 because God hasn't made it holy. 31:13 You can't make something holy that God hasn't made holy. 31:16 Let me use a perfect classic example here. 31:18 You cannot make this hopefully will drive the point home. 31:23 When the Bible says, thou shall not commit adultery. 31:25 Let's make this as a seventh commandment. 31:27 What is adultery? 31:28 It's a violation of a marriage between a man and a woman, 31:32 between a man and a woman. 31:34 Okay, so now, marriage, do you believe as a Christian 31:37 that marriage is between a man and a woman? 31:40 Well, you know what, 31:42 people that don't agree with you could say, 31:44 marriage is between a man and a man and I prefer that. 31:48 Well, by them changing the Sabbath to their preference 31:51 as I changing marriage to the other people's preference. 31:55 They prefer a man marrying a man or a woman marrying a woman, 31:59 will make that any different from taking 32:01 the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. 32:03 It's a violation still of the marriage commandment. 32:06 Yeah. See. 32:07 Powerful. You know and we get the statement here they say, 32:10 you know, John and John, 32:12 you know, you talk about the Sabbath, 32:13 you pin this up, you know, we're tired of hearing about it. 32:17 We're bringing up because we get letters 32:18 and questions on this all the time. 32:21 And I know we get some letters that say, 32:22 well, you're talking about it so much 32:24 but overwhelmingly people are asking about this. 32:25 People are asking about it. And the issue really is here. 32:28 I had a question that someone asked me one time 32:30 and they said, "Pastor, are you saying 32:34 that I have to keep the Sabbath to be saved?" 32:37 They want to get down to brass tacks. 32:38 They want to get down to the basic issue. 32:41 Pastor, do I have to keep the Sabbath to be saved, 32:43 is that what you're saying? 32:45 Because that will be legalism, my answer was this. 32:48 I tried-the Lord spoke to me I felt in this moment 32:51 and I said whatever answer to your question 32:55 that you would give for any of the other commandments 32:58 give for the fourth. 33:00 Thank you. Thank you, John. 33:01 Whatever answer you give 33:02 for any of the others give for the fourth. 33:05 Do I have to stop committing adultery? 33:07 Do I have to stop stealing? Do I have to stop murdering? 33:10 Do I have to stop lying to be saved? 33:13 Well, I find very few that would start arguing 33:16 that you have to stop being a murderer to be saved. Right. 33:19 But when we talk about the Sabbath 33:21 all of a sudden becomes big issue 33:23 because we're trampling on someone's-- 33:25 Preference. Preference, exactly. 33:28 So my answer is whatever answer 33:30 you're gonna give for the others 33:32 in regard to your salvation give for the fourth. 33:34 It's one of the commandments. These aren't 10 suggestions. 33:36 It's not a smorgasbord 33:37 I'll take a little of this, a little of that. 33:38 God said the seventh day is the Sabbath. 33:41 Now the other issue here is, 33:43 well, I hear the response already. 33:45 Well, how do you know, which day was really the Sabbath? 33:47 Because it's been so long gone by, 33:49 anyway I'll answer that in the second, 33:50 you want to comment. 33:52 Because we're going to actually talk about that 33:53 in our topic today. 33:55 But I'm so glad that you're making that point 33:57 and just to come across very carefully 34:00 and very cleanly but very surefooted on the Word of God. 34:05 This issue should not-- the Sabbath should not be 34:08 an offensive observance if God is your God. 34:14 That's just what really when it comes down to you. 34:15 You said that in the very beginning the seventh day, 34:19 Exodus 20: 10-11, the seventh day 34:23 is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 34:27 You remember that Uncle Sam's finger, 34:29 Uncle Sam wants you. 34:30 The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 34:33 So it comes down to who is your God? 34:37 If you believe in the authority 34:38 of the Roman Catholic Church 34:40 above the Bible which they say 34:42 they have the strength above the Bible. 34:44 To make this change. To make this change. 34:47 If you believe that they are above the Bible 34:50 then you're honoring Sunday in recognition 34:51 to the Roman Catholic Church. 34:53 You are not honoring Sunday 34:54 in reference to Christ resurrection 34:56 because and I mentioned this, 34:59 baptism is in honor of the resurrection not Sunday. 35:06 As many of us as were baptized into Christ 35:11 have put on Christ. Romans Chapter 6-- 35:13 Are baptized into His resurrection, it says. 35:16 Into His resurrection. 35:17 So we're being baptized 35:19 we're coming forth to walk in the newness of life, 35:21 the old has passed away, 35:23 we have put on the new life, that's the resurrection. 35:26 The baptism is in honor of the resurrection of Christ 35:29 not the first day of the week. 35:30 But, you know, John, what gets me is 35:32 Christianity today is like a-- 35:36 is like one part lemonade, nine parts water. 35:42 Now let me go back to how it's supposed to be. 35:46 It supposed to be ten parts lemonade, 35:48 zero parts water and I'm using this. 35:51 Let me just use a different thing, 35:52 lemonade is kind of cheapie type of thing. 35:55 Let's use grape juice straight from the vine 35:57 because the grape is used in the Bible. 35:59 Ten parts grape juice 36:01 but what's happened is Christianity 36:04 has been diluted through out the centuries 36:08 with all these traditions 36:09 and Sunday is one of the biggest traditions 36:12 that Christians have now found a convenient. 36:15 Ah, it's really great. 36:17 I could go to church and I could relax 36:20 and you know this this fits my schedule a lot better 36:25 and I'm glad you mentioned that. 36:26 And the other reason too is that 36:28 people are defensive about 36:29 what they have always believed. Yeah. 36:31 I've read a statement here not too long ago that people-- 36:35 I'm going to use it statistically 36:36 and they say that more people nine out of ten, 36:38 upwards of nine out of ten people 36:41 react rather then reflect. 36:46 In other words, when they hear something that opposes 36:49 or may contradict their system of believes. 36:52 Instead of reflecting on that 36:54 and studying it out and thinking about it, 36:56 they react against it. Right. 36:58 And I find even on forums where this discussion comes up 37:01 about the seventh day Sabbath you know and honoring that 37:04 and it's highly reactionary. 37:07 It's repeating the same thing. 37:08 It's like politics, if you say it enough times 37:11 they will believe it. 37:12 If you keep quoting the same verses Romans 14, 37:15 Colossians 2, if you keep saying that they'll believe it. 37:19 You can't go there. No, you can't. 37:20 Because those questions have been answered 37:22 and you don't have answers for those answers, 37:25 it's just--it comes down to am I humble enough 37:28 to receive the Word of God for what it is, 37:30 and will I follow it? 37:32 And Romans 7, let me just hit this last one 37:34 before we go into our topic 37:35 and by the way we're already into our topic 37:37 whether you got that or not. 37:40 Let me show you what the real issue is here in the Bible. 37:44 We're in Romans. 37:46 Here is the issue, Romans Chapter 8. 37:48 This is in fact the real issue. 37:52 If the commandments of God bother you 37:55 so much so to the point 37:57 where you want to just get rid of that fourth commandment, 37:59 just obliterate it because you're sick 38:01 and tired of it and you prefer another one in its place. 38:05 This is the issue, Romans 8:6, 7. 38:08 I'm going straight to the issue. 38:10 "For to be carnally minded is death 38:14 but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, 38:19 because the carnal mind is enmity against God, 38:24 for it is not subject to the law of God 38:29 nor indeed can be." 38:32 It just doesn't want to have anything 38:33 to do with the law of God. 38:35 And the biggest issue in the law of God 38:37 is not whether or not Christians want to commit adultery? 38:40 Although some of them are adulteress. 38:42 Although some of them do lie and steal 38:45 and some of them hate so much 38:46 that they might go ahead and kill. 38:48 I mean, not given license to that 38:49 but if you hate somebody, 38:51 you have murdered them already, 38:53 though many violate those principles also 38:55 of those commandments also. 38:57 It is saying here the biggest issue today in the world 38:59 is Sunday versus Sabbath 39:02 and Christians have been duped into believing 39:05 that Sunday is the new day. 39:08 And, John, if you look at society today, 39:10 I think our topic is kind of taken the natural course here, 39:13 that's why we've chosen this topic to discuss. 39:16 If you look at society today, 39:18 the entire world has set itself up economically 39:22 to exalt the first day of the week, everything about it. 39:26 It's the day that everybody feels 39:27 it's the last day of the week 39:28 before you go back to work 39:30 so they think if it is the seventh day. 39:32 It's the day where all the sales happen. 39:35 It's the day where many of the car dealerships close. 39:38 It's the day where many cities and states 39:40 you can't sell alcohol or you can't buy cigarettes 39:43 or you can't do anything that 39:46 that particular state decides shouldn't happen on Sunday. 39:50 But on Saturday, it's the day that's trampled under foot 39:53 and Satan's plan has been to so stamp under his foot 39:59 everything that connects us to God 40:01 that he's brought the world on board to do that. 40:05 And sadly enough he's brought many Christians onboard 40:08 to trample on the very word remember. 40:11 Now let's wind up this very thought here 40:12 and segue into our topic. 40:14 If God says to me, 40:16 remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 40:19 A man says, remember Sunday to keep it holy. 40:23 I am going to chose God's side. 40:25 If you want to follow man you do that, 40:27 but I'm going to chose to follow God. 40:29 That's said simple. That seems brain. 40:32 That seems like a no-brainer to me, 40:35 but people would say, 40:36 uh, but it-- No, it is, it's that simple. 40:39 God says remember, man says forget. 40:42 Remember this, man says, God says remember this 40:45 and you chose to remember what man says 40:47 and to completely ignore what God says. 40:49 Who's behind that? That Satan's plan. 40:51 Yeah. Yeah. 40:53 So anyway, we've talked about a lot of that 40:55 and I think you got the point. 40:57 It's what God's word says. 40:59 It's what the God says from the very beginning 41:01 to the very end is what really matters not the convenience, 41:04 nor the tradition of the first day of the week. 41:07 Now I am sure, I am positively sure, 41:12 we have said something here today 41:13 that makes you want to give us or send us an email. 41:15 That's part of why we do this program. 41:17 We want to hear from you. 41:19 What do you think about what we just talked about? 41:20 What do you think about our feedback on 41:22 whether or not God's Sabbath 41:24 should be honored above man's tradition? 41:26 What do you think about Sunday versus Saturday? 41:29 Let us hear what you have to say 41:30 regardless of what your denomination is, 41:32 send us the emails. 41:34 And here's the email address, housecalls@3abn.org. 41:38 That's housecalls@3abn.org. 41:42 And thank you so much for all you do. 41:44 Now, John, our topic today is the commandments of God. 41:50 There's a folder that Amazing Facts 41:53 puts out called "You are responsible." 41:55 Amazing Facts is a supportive ministry 41:58 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 42:01 but I strongly, my good friend 42:04 Pastor Doug Bachelor is a President of Amazing Facts 42:08 and this folder "You Are responsible" 42:10 it's not something we are offering, 42:12 so don't write us for it, 42:13 but if you go to amazingfacts.org 42:15 you can get a copy of this one, 42:16 it's called "You Are responsible." 42:18 Beautiful, beautiful flier but the reason why we added 42:23 so much passion and tenacity 42:25 to what we were just talking about is 42:26 because the bottom line is you are responsible, right? 42:30 Yeah. 42:32 So let's start with a very simple text. 42:34 John 14:15. 42:36 You know what that says, right, John? 42:39 You tell me. 42:42 I am not at it right now. 42:43 So you know, I don't have that memorized specifically by that. 42:46 Well, John 14:15, 42:48 "If you love me, keep my commandments." 42:49 There we go. Okay. 42:51 So let's get down to the simple fact, if you love me. 42:56 You know, friends, it is all about love. 42:59 If we love God then we'll love His commandments, right? 43:05 And there's several meanings to that passage too 43:07 because I know we've used it in different contexts. 43:10 One of them is if we really love God 43:12 we will keep His commandments. 43:14 Another one is that we really can't keep 43:16 His commandments unless we really love God. 43:18 So you see there's a couple of ways 43:20 to look at that text specifically. 43:22 So and if the whole passage 43:24 really kind of is an interesting one to read there 43:26 because it's really out of nowhere comes this statement, 43:31 "If you love me, keep my commandments." Right? 43:34 I mean, because if you look at the rest of it, 43:35 it's not talking about the commandments. 43:37 It appears that this is coming out of nowhere, 43:40 but it doesn't. 43:42 Jesus is very much speaking in context 43:44 and so if we look at that 43:49 John 14:15. 43:58 Notice this here. 44:01 Let's start with verse 12, 44:04 "Most assuredly I say to you, 44:05 he who believes in Me, the works that I do, 44:08 he will do also and greater works than these he will do 44:12 because I go to my father. 44:14 And whatever you ask in my name, 44:17 that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 44:21 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." 44:24 And all of a sudden this verse, 44:26 "If you love me, keep my commandments." 44:29 And then he goes back to, 44:30 "And I will pray the Father 44:32 and He will give you another Helper," 44:33 the subject of the Holy Spirit. 44:34 So the application here, 44:37 the statement here of Jesus for the Ten Commandments, 44:40 falls in line with greater works that one will do. 44:44 How we will ask God and He will respond to us 44:47 and if we obey Him and love him He will respond to us 44:50 but part of that relationship is what? 44:53 Keeping the commandments out of love for Jesus. 44:57 And then how does God respond to us 44:59 keeping those commandments out of love? 45:01 He sends us another helper. That's right. 45:03 That is Holy Spirit. 45:04 So it is in context but it appears at first not to be. 45:08 But God is basically, Jesus is saying 45:10 that the commandments are part of the Christian experience 45:13 right down to the very end. 45:14 And it's amazing to me, John. 45:16 And one of the reasons why we're talking about this topic 45:18 is that over now centuries within Christianity 45:24 as it's been diluted down as you said earlier, 45:27 more and more advocating 45:29 that the Ten Commandments were done away with. 45:33 They were nailed to the cross so to speak 45:35 and that's not what, at least what my Bible says, 45:38 I am reading from the New King James version. 45:40 I can't find that it says that there were-- 45:42 the Ten Commandments themselves were nailed to the cross 45:45 as in done away with but that our-- 45:50 well, maybe we should look at that verse. 45:52 I probably think we'll probably come up to that later, 45:53 so I won't jump ahead. Okay. 45:55 But the point being the Ten Commandments 45:57 are absolutely a core theology of the New Testament 46:01 and part of the Christian experience. 46:03 You know when you say to somebody, 46:06 I am convinced you love me and they will say, "Why?" 46:10 Because I mean you don't have any problem doing what I ask. 46:15 My wife and I have been married now 30 years. 46:18 If we ever got to the place where I said to my wife, 46:21 honey, or she said to me, John. 46:23 You know, I always call her honey. 46:25 And we have difficulty now all of a sudden 46:27 after that period of time to acquiesce 46:31 to a request that each one makes. 46:33 I remember I am also a marriage counselor. 46:35 I remember sitting down once talking to a couple 46:39 and the husband was making a request to the wife 46:47 that she should not hang around and this other man so often. 46:53 And she said to me, could you tell him that is not an issue 47:00 and he's making a big deal out of me hanging around this guy. 47:05 And what's the problem with him? 47:08 And I said-- she said, 47:10 "Could you give me a reason why I should I listen to him." 47:11 I said, "It's very simple, do you love him? 47:15 If you love your husband and he makes a request 47:18 that he doesn't want to share you 47:19 with any other man it should-- 47:21 that's all of that he needs to say, 47:24 in order for you to sever your relationship with any man 47:26 whether it is platonic or any other way. 47:29 All he has to say is, 47:31 "Honey, I am not comfortable with you 47:33 hanging around that guy all the time." 47:36 You don't even need me to come to me 47:38 as a counsel to figure out 47:40 or to try to get me to change his mind 47:42 because I am not going to change his mind. 47:44 He says that you belong to me 47:46 and our love relationship is the foundation 47:49 upon which our love relationship has been established 47:51 and I am not sharing you with anybody else. 47:54 So if we believe that we are exclusively the property of God, 47:58 if He is exclusively our Lord 48:02 and He makes a request of us to honor His commandments, 48:07 it is evidence of love. 48:08 Here is the proof that I have, 48:10 look at 1 John 5. 48:12 1 John 5, I want to read verse 1, 2 and 3. 48:17 1 John 5, verse 1, 2 and 3. 48:20 "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ," 48:24 now this is the whole point, 48:25 let's go and make the application. 48:26 Whoever believes that she is your wife or he is your husband. 48:30 "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, 48:34 and everyone who loves Him, 48:38 who begot also loves Him who is begotten of Him." 48:43 In other words, if you love God, you're going to love Christ. 48:47 And then verse 2, 48:48 "By this we know that we love the children of God, 48:52 when we love God and keep His commandments." 48:56 Verse 3, "For this is the love of God 48:59 that we keep His commandments 49:01 and His commandments are not burdensome." 49:06 Says, oh man, it's such a burden to keep that. 49:09 Well, you know, a wife or a husband 49:11 will think it's a burden, 49:12 if they made the request to leave that woman alone 49:15 or leave that man alone if love was not in the relationship. 49:19 That's right. Well, and it is the center 49:21 because if you don't have that love relationship with Jesus 49:24 there's nothing that motivates you to keep the Ten Commandments 49:28 or to obey Him in any respect. 49:31 Some will say I know that some try to say, 49:33 well, the commandments spoken of here in the verse 49:35 you just quoted, John, is only God's commandments 49:39 through Jesus when He came to this earth. 49:41 Only the words that He spoke and He iterated. 49:43 And He did not reiterate or give authority 49:48 again to the fourth commandment. 49:50 Well, we know that's not true 49:52 because the Sabbath is mentioned many times. 49:55 So the issue really here comes down to, 49:57 are we following God out of love, 49:59 we'll respond to what He says 50:01 or are we really doing what we want, 50:03 are we defensive about what we want to do? 50:07 And I know it's a tough thing. 50:10 I don't like being convicted that I am doing wrong. 50:15 I don't think any of us like that. 50:17 My first response, reaction is, 50:18 I confess, my first reaction to every time, 50:20 John, that I am convicted with something 50:22 that I am wrong is to defend my wrong position. 50:25 And that is my-- Initially, absolutely. 50:28 Look at politicians today. 50:30 One of the reasons we have a difficult time 50:32 with the left and the right coming together 50:34 is because more and more they are settling 50:35 into their positions and they continue 50:37 to just say things enough. 50:39 If they say it enough people will believe it. 50:41 And they are not coming together and reasoning. 50:45 What did Jesus say, what did God say? 50:46 "Come let us reason together." That's right. 50:50 Share with me your defenses. 50:51 Let's talk as He did with Job 50:54 and we will always find that God's right. Yeah. 50:57 And that we were wrong. 50:59 And so when we talk about the responsibility of the Christian 51:05 when you read the Bible, 51:08 the longing of Christ is not that 51:11 He has a people just calling on His name. 51:15 I just recently spoke and as I mentioned again, 51:18 I am a marriage counselor. 51:20 I recently spoke to a couple a little while ago, 51:25 who-- one of them said, 51:29 "I don't really know if my spouse loves me any longer." 51:32 I said, "Why?" 51:34 Because they are just-- they don't-- 51:37 it's like I'm not even heard anymore. 51:39 I said what do you mean? 51:41 Well, I mean, in public they act like they care for me, 51:45 but when we're home its like I don't even exist. 51:48 I talk and I get no response. 51:51 It's like I am talking to a wall. 51:53 And then I bring that to my spouse's attention, 51:57 I am just being vague intentionally 51:59 and I still get no response, 52:01 it's like they are not even home. 52:03 It's like I don't even matter 52:04 but in public everybody think we have a great relationship. 52:07 It's like what's going on there? 52:10 And I said if you would narrow it down 52:13 what one thing you would say is a problem? 52:15 I am not heard. 52:17 It's like my word doesn't matter. 52:18 And when you come down to it 52:20 there are many Christians that say, "I love the Lord." 52:23 That's their public persona 52:26 but privately in their one to one relationship with God 52:29 there is this recalcitrant, internal spirit 52:32 that's battling against the commandments of God 52:35 and yet they say, "But I still love Him 52:38 but I don't have to keep His commandments." 52:40 And then the Apostle Paul-- 52:43 Let's look at some of the places 52:44 and I think you segued just a moment ago 52:47 or you made this point. 52:48 The commandments of God 52:50 or the Sabbath didn't need to be emphasized over and over 52:53 and over and over again in the New Testament 52:55 because nobody was violating the Sabbath. 52:58 You see, they accused Jesus of violating the Sabbath 53:02 and He never did but the Sabbath was not an issue. 53:06 It did not become an issue, 53:08 in Christendom until during the dark ages. 53:10 When Rome began to try to challenge 53:12 the dictates of Christianity and injected with traditions. 53:16 So there was no need to even fight over the Sabbath 53:18 even though it's mentioned 60 times in the New Testament. 53:20 Yeah. And I think also there's an explaining away 53:24 or misperception about how Christ handled the Sabbath too 53:28 because some Jews say that He broke it. Right. 53:30 But the problem is, is if He broke it 53:32 then He no longer becomes the Savior and becomes a sinner. 53:34 And we're lost. And we're lost. 53:36 So He could not have broken it. 53:37 What He broke was their traditions 53:40 and that's a big difference. 53:42 He broke from their traditions with regard to the Sabbath. 53:45 And I believe some of those traditions 53:47 have been carried over into the mindset of those 53:50 who see the seventh day Sabbath as, 53:53 you know, a Jewish Sabbath with a lot of rights 53:55 and just difficult challenges and burdens. 53:58 When that's not at all what the Sabbath is about. 54:01 The Sabbath is liberating. 54:02 It's about our relationship with Christ, 54:04 letting Him to do the heavy work for work for us 54:06 and resting in-- by faith, 54:07 resting in His finished work. 54:10 John, I think one of the big things that individuals have 54:14 and it just creates a blockage 54:16 is that the Ten Commandments themselves 54:20 are viewed theologically in the theological model 54:25 that most and many Christians have. 54:27 They view theologically it's something against them. 54:31 Very good point. 54:32 And so when you talk about keeping the commandments 54:34 they just can't get their arms around it 54:35 because, no, that's something that's against us. 54:39 But it's not always against you and here's why, 54:43 it's against those that are sinners 54:45 because it condemns what sinners do. Right. 54:48 It's a transcript of God's law obviously 54:53 and that when you disobey it as a sinner it condemns you. 54:57 It drives you to Jesus who has fulfilled that law 55:01 and has kept it in every point. 55:04 So for someone who believes in Jesus 55:06 it no longer is a condemning thing. 55:08 It's a transcript of God's character 55:10 and what He wants us to be like. 55:12 It's something to be obeyed 55:13 because now we have joy because Christ has overcome. 55:16 He has kept that law perfectly for us 55:18 and He gives us that perfection 55:20 that we didn't have and don't have. Right. 55:22 And so then when you see it that way 55:24 you see God's law as something to be embraced and accepted. 55:28 That is the biblical theology of the Ten Commandments. 55:32 So if this mindset, it comes from your preacher 55:34 or a teacher or someone that the Ten Commands is against us, 55:37 it's a curse, it's a burden. 55:40 No, it's only that way to the sinner 55:41 who doesn't have Christ. That's right. 55:43 But to the one who has Jesus, 55:45 who has kept those commandments 55:47 and gives you His perfect life it is a wonderful thing, 55:50 it's liberating, even to the point 55:51 where Paul calls it the law of liberty. 55:54 That's right. 55:55 Matter of fact, James calls it the law of liberty. 55:57 James, sorry. 55:58 And so-- but you have here-- 56:00 and I want to hit this commandment one more time, 56:02 1 John 5:3, 56:03 "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. 56:07 And His commandments are not burdensome." 56:09 Anytime somebody says to you, 56:11 "Oh, you're under the burden of the old law." 56:14 No, the law of God is not a burden. 56:17 They say, oh, you're under works. 56:18 Well, you know, often times when you mention 56:20 the Sabbath people say, 56:21 "Ah, you believe in salvation by works." 56:24 But if you read the Sabbath commandment it says, 56:26 "Thou shall not do any works, it's a freedom from work." 56:31 That's right. 56:32 It's not a bond. 56:34 It's not a binding to work. 56:35 It's a freedom from work. 56:37 Thou shall not do any work. 56:39 And let's make it plain here, doing things to be saved. 56:44 In other words, you are not saved yet through Christ, 56:47 you are doing things to be saved is legalism. Exactly. 56:51 Once you are saved doing things and working for God, 56:55 doing good deeds and following His plan 56:58 for your life to obey Him, 57:00 out of love becomes a response of thanksgiving 57:06 and just your salvation experience with Christ. 57:09 It's only legalism if you're trying to do it to be saved 57:11 but once you are saved doing those things, 57:14 that's not legalism. That's right. 57:15 That's a response of love to God. 57:17 Matter of fact I think that point is so well taken. 57:19 The next program we do on this topic 57:21 we're going to begin it from the prospective 57:23 of why you do what you do? 57:25 But, friends, here at House Calls 57:26 the call is coming to you one day, 57:28 if you accept Christ out of love 57:30 you will have a blessing as you follow Him. 57:33 God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17