Participants: John Lomacang (Host), John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL130020
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00:01 Hello friends, grab your Bible and friend
00:03 and sit back as we explore God's word 00:05 together on this edition of House Calls. 00:21 Welcome to the only program 00:24 right now that matters on television. 00:26 Forget CNN, NBC, ABC, nothing but bad news. 00:30 This is the good news network, 00:31 right, John? It is the good news network. 00:33 This is the good news, I mean, this is the gospel. 00:35 This is where you're gonna find food 00:36 for today, tomorrow and the next day. 00:39 Welcome to House Calls. 00:40 My name is John and right next 00:41 to me is my good friend, what's--what's your name? 00:45 John. Stanton, that's Stanton. 00:48 We know him as Stanton. 00:51 He's from the Northwest. 00:52 I'm from the Northwest. Or Coolidge, Park. 00:54 Coolidge, Park. Our names are so identical 00:57 that we had use derivatives 00:59 just so when we are around our wives, 01:01 we confused each other when Rochelle 01:03 and Angie together and she says John I turned 01:06 and he turns and Angie says John. 01:07 So I called Coolidge and he calls me Parker 01:11 but don't you do that. 01:12 Thank you, for tuning into the program today. 01:14 Get your Bibles, get your family, 01:15 get your pens and sit back 01:18 as we go to another topic today. 01:19 We're gonna talk about something that's very important 01:21 I'm not gonna tell you what it is yet but before 01:24 we do anything we want to just thank you, for tuning in. 01:26 And we're going to have prayer 01:28 so we can ask for the Lord to bless this program. 01:30 John, pray for us. 01:31 Dear Father, we are thankful once again 01:34 to be able to come before Your presence 01:36 and to pray to You. 01:38 God who hears our, our cries, our voice and our, 01:41 our prayers and we just asked that You would respond to us 01:45 as we open up Your word to bring Your spirit 01:47 to lead into to instruct us in Your word 01:50 that we may rightly divide the word of truth. 01:53 Lord it is the good news gospel and we want to make sure 01:55 that is always connected to Jesus our Savior. 01:58 So we submit ourselves into His hand today 02:01 and ask that You would lead us down 02:03 the path of righteousness in Christ name we pray, amen. 02:06 Amen. And as you know 02:09 we always have Bible question, we love to do Bible questions. 02:12 Matter fact that's kind of half our program 02:15 and sometimes we get snail mail, 02:20 other times we get email. 02:22 And--but whatever you send we are thankful 02:26 that you do consider sending. 02:29 I just, I just happened to end up 02:31 by default with all the letters. 02:35 He is so techie, he didn't want to deal with any letters. 02:37 He is the email guy. 02:39 So what you have, Mr. Email guy? 02:41 Well, I'm got a question that we've been asked before 02:44 but it's been sometime that we've since we've answered it. 02:47 Okay. The question comes 02:50 from Connie and she says, "my husband said 02:53 that he thought Romans 14 was about the Sabbath, 02:56 when it first, two days-- when it refers two days, 02:59 so I told him it's not, it's about feasters or eating. 03:03 I read in verses 1-4, so he must've mentioned 03:08 that to a leader of the program at his church 03:12 that he was a part of and the guy said, 03:14 that he would like to know our church's view on Romans 14. 03:18 So can you please explain that?" 03:20 Okay. This is a same question 03:22 that I was asked actually by one of my pastor friends 03:27 that I met at an area church that I was pastoring 03:32 and he was pastoring another denomination 03:34 and he said you know, I sincerely want to know 03:36 your view on several things. 03:38 And he said, would you-- if I sent an email and asked you 03:40 some questions would you be able to respond to that? 03:42 And I said, sure. 03:44 So this is one of the things he asked me, 03:46 can you please expound on I think he said, 03:49 Ephesians 2, Colossians 2 and Romans 14. 03:53 Okay. Those are the key passages 03:55 that he wanted to know my interpretation 03:56 of and our churches interpretation. 03:58 And so what he didn't expect is my 19 page letter 04:03 that was the reply that went back to him. 04:05 But he went through the whole thing. 04:07 I mean--I mean I really I gave him credit 04:08 for that and he was an honest seeker and so, 04:10 you know, pray for him. 04:12 Anyway so let's go into Romans Chapter 14. 04:16 All right. Is the Sabbath in here, 04:18 first of all its the question that is being asked 04:21 and if its not what is Paul talking about in Romans 14? 04:26 All right. So John, 04:27 let's start with verse 1. 04:30 "Receive one who is weak in the faith, 04:32 but not to disputes over doubtful things." 04:35 Okay, that's good opening statement here because I think 04:40 the Paul's encouragement here of the saints 04:43 is not to get into arguments over things 04:46 that really don't matter. 04:48 Don't, don't really have a huge barring 04:51 on the over all Christian life and how you walk 04:53 and give yourself to following God and His teachings. 04:58 And so this is the opening statement 05:00 in a way tells us that what follows 05:03 is not a major issue within Christendom. 05:05 It's not a major teaching within Christendom. 05:08 And so the question there first of all is, 05:10 is the Sabbath number one, 05:13 one of the major teachings of the Christian faith? 05:16 And we would advocate of course of that is because it's, 05:19 it's one of the Ten Commandments. 05:20 Although some feels it's the ten suggestions these days 05:23 but it's the fourth commandment that you keep part of that. 05:25 So it's not a doubtful thing. 05:28 Verse 2, "For one believe that he may eat all things 05:32 but he who is weak, eats only vegetables. 05:35 Let not him who eats despise him who does eat 05:38 and let not him who does not eat 05:39 judge him who eats for God has received him. 05:43 Who are you to judge another servant? 05:45 To his own master he stands or falls indeed 05:48 he will be made the stand for God 05:50 is able to make him stand. 05:53 One person esteems one day above another, 05:57 another esteems everyday alike. 05:59 Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 06:02 He who observes the day observes it to the Lord 06:04 and he who does not observe the day to the Lord 06:06 he does not observe it. 06:08 He eats, eats to the Lord for he gives God 06:10 thanks and he who does not eat to the Lord, 06:14 he does not eat and gives God thanks." 06:18 So the issue here clearly ascended 06:20 around this issue, issue of eating. 06:22 And there are couple issues 06:24 involved with eating in those days. 06:26 And they were certainly many dietary laws 06:29 that were coming in through the Jews 06:32 in the Jewish traditions that they had. 06:34 And you have in the church today that Paul is writing 06:37 or in this day the Paul is writing to you have 06:39 in the church a blending, which seems like a perfect 06:42 description for disaster which have a blending of Jews 06:46 and their traditions in their teachings and the Gentiles 06:49 which have no traditional teachings 06:52 from the word of God who are new converts. 06:55 And there is this blending together 06:57 and they're supposed to become one. 06:58 Now do you think that was challenging? 07:00 Oh, unequivocal. Just to say the least 07:04 in fact most of many, I should say 07:06 of the letters of Paul, are given in regard 07:09 to their fighting about the traditions 07:11 and their teachings. That's right. 07:13 And this is one of those and he is trying to say 07:16 don't dispute and argue over these things 07:18 that are traditional or that are teachings 07:21 under the old covenant system that the Jews had. 07:27 And so this in regard to eating 07:29 could be a one of the couple things. 07:30 It could be a situation 07:31 where there are not to eat food offered to idols, okay. 07:35 That is one of the issues that the Jews 07:38 would not touch food that was offer 07:42 to other idols and other Gods. 07:44 Or number two this is issue of, of fasting. 07:48 There was a process the Jews went through of fasting 07:52 to God and they during fasting would not eat anything 07:56 or they limited what they ate. 07:59 There were different ways they fast and there seems 08:01 to be some illusions there to that is well. 08:03 So certainly what we're talking about 08:05 here doesn't seem to be connected 08:07 to the commandments or the Sabbath day 08:09 but it's connected to traditions or teachings 08:12 that come from the Jews as the church 08:15 was formed in its early state. 08:17 And these were primarily, when you look at the transition 08:21 of the two, let's just kind of give 08:24 a little bit history and you did give some of the history. 08:26 The Jews thought themselves to be superior in many respects. 08:30 You know, we've got the feast days, 08:32 we observed the new moons, we have the many Sabbath feast, 08:36 you know, the seven not only 08:38 the seventh day Sabbath which was given to all humanity. 08:41 But they had the seven week, the seven months, 08:44 the seven years and they had the periodical Sabbath 08:47 that had different, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 08:49 at the Feast of Unleavened Breads, 08:51 The Feast of Firstfruits, the Day of Atonement. 08:54 They had all these observances that were referred 08:57 to as "Sabbaths" pluralized. 09:00 In Leviticus Chapter 23 outlines all of those observances. 09:04 So now all of a sudden these observances 09:07 were designed to point to the work 09:08 that Christ was going to accomplish. 09:10 So Christ comes but what you have now 09:13 as you have people that from more than 2,000 years 09:15 have been keeping all these feasts. 09:16 You know, they sow custom 09:18 to all these feasts but then the lamb 09:20 who was a part of these feast 09:22 now comes in the person of Christ. 09:24 The lamb slain from foundation of the world, 09:26 the lighting of candles which is so much part of these feasts, 09:29 in the Feast of Tabernacles they light the candles 09:31 for seven day but all of the sudden 09:33 the light of the world comes now in the person of Christ. 09:36 The Unleavened Bread that they broke at these feasts 09:39 without any yeast in it, that they partook 09:41 of even and they are past over supper 09:43 was so much a part of their tradition 09:45 that they even try to indict the disciples 09:47 as to going into the temple, he didn't--I mean, 09:50 eating grain during the feel in the Sabbath. 09:53 And the Lord says, don't you remember 09:54 that David ate this bread? 09:56 Well, the point of the matter is if you're hungry 09:58 that's what you do, you eat bread. 10:00 But He said, but this bread is only for a specific purpose. 10:03 The Lord said, and the major purpose is, 10:05 you're hungry eat it. 10:07 See they try to indict David in that respect. 10:09 So, but now all of the sudden the bread comes 10:11 in the person of Christ the bread of life. 10:13 So now the-- so the Gentiles receives Jesus 10:17 the bread of life, Jesus the water of life, 10:19 Jesus the life of the world, Jesus the lamb slain 10:22 from the foundation of the world. 10:24 And the Jews are saying, wait a minute, 10:25 wait a minute, wait a minute. 10:26 What about the feast? 10:30 The Lord says, look okay, Paul says, look okay, 10:32 you esteem one day above another, 10:35 to them all days are alike. 10:37 You've need to eat certain things the unleavened, 10:40 the vegetables, the bitter herbs all that stuff, 10:43 which is all part of their ceremonials. 10:45 But to them hey, it doesn't matter. 10:49 So this is primarily pointing out these traditions 10:53 that were heavily emphasized by the Jews. 10:56 But when they came down to it, when they came down to it, 11:00 Paul round this up by saying, look at verse 10 11:03 and this is where I want to end. 11:05 This is why want to-- verse 8 to 10 11:09 is what I want to institute and this is show you that really 11:11 the whole focus, Paul was saying, it's Christ. 11:13 Guys choose whatever you want, 11:15 the whole focus is Christ. 11:16 He was binomial letter writing the weekly Sabbath. 11:19 "He says for if we live in" verse 8 of Romans 14, 11:23 "We live to the Lord and if we die, 11:25 we die to the Lord therefore whether we live 11:27 or we die we are the Lord's. 11:29 He says, for to this end Christ died 11:32 and rose again that He might be Lord 11:34 of both the dead and the living. 11:36 But what you judge your brother? 11:39 Or why do you show contempt for your brother? 11:42 For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." 11:48 Yeah. You're judging Him about this day, 11:50 you're judging the about the feast, 11:53 you're judging about whether or not 11:54 to eat vegetables, hey, the bottom line is, 11:57 your diet is not going to save you from the judgment. 11:59 We all gonna about to stand there. 12:01 So he's not obliterating the weekly Sabbath, 12:03 he is saying, guys Jew, gentile what matters is Christ. 12:07 And the weekly Sabbath really isn't an issue here. 12:09 He even talked about it hear. 12:10 In fact the early church or you look at the Book of Acts 12:13 there is a clear delineation between the Sabbath 12:16 and the first day of the week. 12:18 Right. The Sabbath has mentioned 12:19 many, many times is to, when the Jews and Gentiles 12:21 came together to worship. 12:22 The Sabbath never changed. 12:24 No, they didn't ambitious with that. 12:25 Even in the transition from the Jewish system 12:27 to the early church the Sabbath never changed. 12:29 The seventh will still the same. 12:30 That's right. It was a Sabbath, 12:31 it was according to the Lord of the Sabbath 12:35 whom they worshiped. 12:36 The first day of the week some other things happened 12:38 on a couple occasions there in Acts but overwhelmingly 12:41 the Sabbath is when they came together. 12:43 And so if you look at that and that is a tradition 12:46 of the early church now, that wouldn't be an issue 12:50 that they were disputing here. 12:51 No that's not the issue. 12:52 It was indisputable, it was un-doubtful. 12:54 The only came into doubt over centuries later 12:59 when Rome came in and through the, it is by constantly 13:03 another things there was a day of festivity 13:05 that was setup along side of the Sabbath day 13:07 which was the first day of the week. 13:09 And then slowly over time the tradition changed 13:11 that Sabbath which was then begin to be thought 13:15 of the some Jewish tradition over to Sunday 13:18 which then become the tradition of the church 13:21 and its worship services. That's right. 13:22 And so that's only when the dispute happen. 13:25 But here at this time, just one day just the Sabbath. 13:28 You know, there is no issue. 13:29 Matter fact, the Jews, the Gentiles, 13:31 the Greeks whenever the sermons 13:33 were being preached in the itinerant schedule of Paul 13:36 and Barnabas and, and Mark and John 13:40 they came on the Sabbath to hear these words 13:42 being preached to them. 13:43 It was no issue there so no it's not that. 13:46 The focus of this was, my brother, 13:48 my sister make sure that your focus is Christ. 13:51 Because even, let me just even take it to the next level. 13:55 Even if you are a strong healthy individual 13:59 doing all the things that the Bible encourages 14:02 you to do as for as your health is concerned, 14:04 your salvation is not based on your health, 14:06 it's still based on Jesus Christ. 14:09 That's right. That's a bottom 14:11 on you can't escape that. 14:12 And I would also balance this with one last statement. 14:14 Let's make sure as well that when we are listening 14:18 and changing thoughts and the word with each other 14:22 and trying to arrive at the truth, 14:25 that we don't interpret somebody 14:28 who is sharing something that appears 14:29 to be truth, that's in our position to. 14:31 What we have always done, 14:33 let's not interpret that as judging us. 14:35 Right. Because just--just because 14:37 you hear truth that convicts your heart 14:40 that you're doing wrong and that you need to align 14:43 yourself with what the word says to do 14:45 what's in harmony with God's will. 14:47 Doesn't mean, the person sharing 14:48 that with you is judging you. Right. 14:50 He's simply sharing what he's learned 14:53 from the word of God 14:54 and he's asking you to follow that as well. 14:56 That's all. The judging that has been 14:58 talked about here in Romans 14 15:00 is that the whole different level, 15:02 it's a whole different thing. 15:04 And that the Jews were seeing the Gentiles 15:06 as not worthy of being in church as they what doing 15:10 the things as they should do them 15:12 and they were judging their salvation 15:14 their position with God. 15:16 And we have-even in this program 15:19 we've never done that. 15:20 We've saying all people who are honest seekers of truth 15:23 as God's children. That's right. 15:25 And we just simply are sharing the words 15:26 that they might follow Him more fully. 15:28 And that is, it's shouldn't be interpreted 15:29 his judging but, but hoping 15:32 to shade light on the word of God. 15:35 Wow, thank you for that one, John. 15:37 Question here, you hear many ministers 15:40 say that God the Father and God 15:42 the son Jesus are one on the same. 15:44 That cannot be true. 15:46 Because Jesus did not pray to Himself, 15:48 didn't talk to Himself and didn't resurrect Himself. 15:54 Plus when Jesus was baptized God the Father 15:56 said this is my beloved son in which I am well-pleased. 16:01 So if I look at this, I think this person 16:04 is really asking for a reiteration or strengthening 16:06 from the scriptures of the fact that God 16:09 and the--that the Father and that the Son 16:11 and that the Holy Spirit are not all 16:15 blended up into one individual. 16:17 I think that's what the person is saying. 16:18 And so in response to your, 16:20 your question or your statement, yes, yes. 16:25 There is no blending of the three together. 16:27 Matter of fact what I like to do is begin with the scripture, 16:30 that you're alluded to here in Matthew Chapter 3, 16:33 one of the most beautiful scriptures showing 16:35 and affirming the fact that, that there is a distinction 16:40 in body, there is a distinction 16:42 between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 16:49 Verse 16, "Then Jesus, when He was baptized, 16:54 came up immediately from the water, 16:56 and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, 16:59 and He saw the Spirit of God descending 17:02 like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17:05 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, 17:08 saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" 17:13 Pointing out a few things right away here, 17:15 the spirit is also referred to as God, the spirit of God. 17:19 And then the Father is, the Father, God the Father. 17:23 So you have the spirit, you have the Father 17:26 and you have Jesus who's being baptized separate and distinct. 17:31 Yet one in purpose, one in mission, 17:34 one in the God head. 17:37 So that's something that often times--John, 17:40 I think the challenge here, that's coming up 17:42 as they are some who teach manifestations of God. 17:46 They are some that teach in the beginning God, 17:48 created heavens and the earth. 17:49 And then latter on God metamorphosed into Jesus, 17:53 then Jesus metamorphosed into the Holy Spirit 17:56 or and then there is a second view that people 17:59 say well God is almighty than Jesus is mighty 18:04 and the Holy Spirit is just a force. 18:06 That's, that's the second rendition. 18:08 Then they have those that say, well, you know, 18:10 there is no such thing as the Holy Spirit 18:13 because that he just an active force. 18:15 That's just his force are wind 18:17 that is used by God to impress us. 18:20 And those are-- those two that I just mentioned 18:23 or the three I just mentioned are incorrect. 18:24 The true, the truism of this is, yes God the Father 18:28 and His Son Jesus Christ eternal fully existent, 18:33 fully divine from the beginning through out 18:38 the ceaseless ages of eternity. 18:39 They have no beginning, they have no end, 18:41 the Holy Spirit also in the very same way. 18:43 So the Godhead is not a--hey, 18:46 when did the Godhead get created, 18:47 that's a question that none of us can ever 18:50 have an answer to not in this life. 18:52 You know, when did the son get created, 18:54 a person may wake up or be blown and in five years 18:58 they say, mom I have the question. 18:59 When did the sun get created? 19:00 And just say, as long as I have been here it has been there. 19:04 So in the very same sense, theses are questions 19:07 that may be answered in eternity 19:09 but these are not questions that I challenged 19:13 I would suggest that we even try to fine 19:16 a pinpoint specific accuracy for. 19:19 But is God the Father and the son the same? 19:22 In many respects they are but when he came to the mission 19:26 of Jesus and this way the separation came in. 19:28 When Jesus came to the earth, 19:31 He did not lose His divinity, He clothed His divinity. 19:35 But then He took on human flesh 19:36 and the difference between the Father and the Son 19:39 is now forever Jesus will manifest 19:42 our human-- He will have a human likeness a body like ours. 19:47 But perfect and sinless and completely divine, 19:52 He came to be like us. 19:53 The Bible says, "When the fullness 19:55 of time at come" Galatians 4:4, 19:56 "God sent forth his son, born of a woman." 20:00 And the Bible says a body that has prepared. 20:03 So this divine one came in the likeness of human flesh 20:07 for the purpose of taking on our sin and paying our ransom 20:10 and being-- and fulfilling His role 20:13 as the redeemer of the world. 20:15 So forever He is going to maintain 20:16 the mark of the crucifixion, forever He will be designated 20:19 as the Son of God and the Son of man 20:23 throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. 20:25 Amen, amen. Very good. 20:28 So, anything else you have for us? 20:29 No, I think you explained that very well. 20:32 I think we had one question, that-- 20:36 Oh yes, oh yes. 20:37 It shouldn't take too long. Daniel 9. 20:39 But a question regard to-- 20:40 The 70 week. Yeah, 70 weeks. Yeah. 20:41 Very good question. 20:43 Dear, John and John. 20:44 Which one does he mean? 20:46 Well, am I first or you're first? 20:49 Okay, our friend has attempted 20:51 to persuade me on the merits of futurist 20:53 position on-- the futurist position 20:55 of the 70 week prophecy in Daniel 9. 20:58 He has given me a pamphlet to read which discusses 21:02 the command which sets the 70 weeks 21:05 in motion found in Daniel 9:25. 21:08 I quoted from the pamphlet and here is the quote. 21:11 There are four possible decrees 21:15 that have to do with the restoration of the Jews 21:18 from the Babylonian captivity as recorded in scripture. 21:21 First, the decree of Cyrus, to rebuild the temple 21:24 in the second chronicle, secondly, the decree of Darius, 21:31 conforming the decree of Cyrus, 21:33 thirdly, the decree of Artaxerxes 21:36 and the fourth the decree of Artaxerxes 21:38 given to Nehemiah authorizing the rebuilding of the city. 21:42 The first three decrees refer only to the rebuilding 21:45 of the temple and do not make the conditions 21:47 set forth by Daniel in Daniel 9:25 21:50 to restore and build Jerusalem. 21:53 Only the decree given to Nehemiah in 445 BC 21:56 relates to the rebuilding of the city. 21:59 My question-- here is the question. 22:00 Although, the futurist begin the 70 weeks 22:03 at 445 BC I know that the decree of Artaxerxes in 457 BC 22:08 is actually the correct command 22:10 to set forth the 70 weeks in motion. 22:13 How do we determine that this is the accurate 22:16 and true decree-- first as the other 22:20 three decrees mentioned above? 22:22 Thank you, for your response. 22:23 I love this question. 22:25 This is by the way an entire program question 22:27 we're going to seek to squeeze the grapefruit juice out 22:30 of that very quickly here. 22:31 But go to Daniel 9, very quickly with me. 22:34 Daniel 9, one of the things you have to keep in mind is, 22:38 in posing the questions they've already given the answer. 22:43 How do you give the answer? 22:45 Clearly simple. Let me use a human analogy 22:48 then I will jump to the scriptures 22:50 to give the point very strongly emphasized. 22:53 If somebody said, my birthday--if somebody says 22:57 John's birthday that is my birthday 22:59 is on the 7th month, the 30th day 23:02 of the month of the year. 23:05 The question will be well what is the, how do you, 23:09 what is the first month of the year. 23:11 Now in the Jewish economy they had a civil calendar, 23:15 they had a religious calendar. 23:18 When you look at these all these, 23:20 decrees given out Artaxerxes, Cyrus, Darius, 23:23 in order for you to come to how which one fits well 23:26 is you've got to look at the timeline. 23:28 And have you ever seen, John, have you ever seen-- 23:32 remember when people use these transparencies. 23:35 And they would place those transparencies 23:37 on a reflective light and then they'll reflect 23:39 the transparencies on the screen 23:41 and as they put together a piece of art. 23:45 First, they'll put the head of the art 23:47 on the transparency then they'll put another transparency 23:50 and they measured up all the corners together. 23:53 Like that they'll match the corners up together. 23:55 And then you go from just to head-alone to neck. 23:58 Then you'll put another transparency the arms, 23:59 and all because when you do that to the prophecy, 24:03 when you begin with the year 457 BC 24:05 and follow every component mentioned, 24:09 every timeline, mentioned in Daniel 24:11 and they all match every single one. 24:14 The only one, that could fit is the decree 24:18 given by Artaxerxes to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem. 24:23 That's 457 BC but somebody was suggesting 445. 24:28 No, the reason why that is not the date is because 24:30 you see as the building continued 24:33 there was a brief halting. 24:35 It wasn't completed right away. 24:38 It wasn't completed immediately. 24:41 Right. There was a stage 24:43 where walls are broken down 24:44 and you read that in the book of Nehemiah 24:46 where people were in disrepair, where they were discouraged. 24:49 They got discouraged, yeah. 24:50 They got discouraged. 24:51 And so to close up all the gaps that were remaining in the world 24:54 as what Nehemiah's commission was. 24:56 But to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem 24:58 the only commission given was at 457 BC. 25:01 That's right. And the actual 25:03 one of the untruths of the statement in the pamphlet 25:06 there was that the first three decrees including 25:08 Artaxerxes was only for the rebuilding of the temple. 25:10 That's not true. That's not true. 25:12 Artaxerxes actually gave the command 25:13 that we store and rebuild Jerusalem itself. 25:15 That's right. That's right. 25:17 So that part of the pamphlet is not, is not accurate. 25:21 You know, one of the things too I think it's important 25:23 and that is not the only picture of the futurist's position. 25:26 Some futurists pick 25:27 Cyrus's decree. Oh yeah. 25:29 So there is several-- this pamphlet 25:30 is happening to pick the fourth 25:32 of the second decree by Artaxerxes 25:33 but the fourth decree given to Nehemiah. 25:37 But some also pick some of the others 25:38 which are the ones of the popular ones 25:40 that I have typically seen. 25:42 But one of the ways we know 25:43 which decree it is, is found in Ezra Chapter 6. 25:46 Go for it. And in that verse 14, 25:52 it says here, "So the elders of the Jews built." Okay. 25:56 And lets see, "And they prospered 26:01 through the prophesying of Haggai 26:03 the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. 26:05 And they built, and finished it, 26:07 according to the commandment of the God of Israel." 26:12 Now that's interesting because he is not identifying 26:15 here is the command is from Cyrus, 26:17 Dairus or Artaxerxes as the one that commanded it truly. 26:20 But the God of Israel is also one behind the command. 26:24 "And according to the commandment of Cyrus, 26:27 Darius, and Artaxerxes." 26:29 So you cannot pick Cyrus and stop--Darius and stop 26:34 but Artaxerxes is clearly a part 26:37 of the command for finishing the temple. 26:39 And because it was added the building of Jerusalem, 26:43 if you look at Artaxerxes decree it also included that. 26:47 So you'll pick Artaxerxes as the date. 26:49 So it's another way of finding your start day. 26:53 And so when you look at, when you measure up 26:55 all the components 457 BC and it breaks it down, 27:00 7 weeks, 3 score and 2 weeks. 27:03 From 457 BC, 7 weeks, that's 7x7--49 years later. 27:09 Jerusalem was rebuilt, exactly the first seven week 27:13 component which was 49 years. 27:17 Then you have the other component 27:18 when the Messiah was anointed. 27:20 Then you have the other component 27:21 in the middle of the week He shall be cutoff. 27:23 The only one of those prophecies that matches 27:26 without any discrepancy is the commission 27:30 given by Artaxerxes to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem. 27:33 You couldn't find it that's where the rapture theory 27:36 comes into existence. 27:37 Because they can't find this prophecy happening. 27:39 And the danger John, this is something 27:41 that I want to add in Daniel 9 and the reason 27:43 I said to turn to Daniel 9 is because this is the challenge 27:45 where-- this is the great departure 27:48 from what the prophecy is all about. 27:50 Notice the main focus of the prophecy 27:52 and I will show you this very quickly. 27:54 Daniel 9:24, "Seventy weeks are determined 27:57 for your people and for your holy city," that for the Jews. 28:00 "To finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, 28:03 and to make reconciliation for iniquity, 28:05 and to bring in everlasting righteousness, 28:06 and to seal up the vision and prophecy, 28:08 anoint the most Holy." 28:10 The focus of this prophecy is work of the most holy. 28:13 Once again, "Until Messiah the prince." 28:15 Verse 25, it's all about Christ. 28:17 Verse 26 again, "After sixty two weeks 28:20 shall Messiah shall be cut off." 28:22 All--its all about the work of Christ. 28:24 That's the major problem 28:26 in the futurist's theory of the rapture. 28:28 They're talking about the antichrist work for 7 years. 28:31 Yeah. This time at the work of Christ. 28:34 So you got to come to this conclusion, 28:37 if this focusing on the antichrist 28:41 then you can accept the futurist believe. 28:43 But because this is focusing on the most holy, 28:46 the Messiah, the prince it only focuses on the work 28:50 that Jesus already accomplished. 28:52 You cannot delete that that's the history 28:54 and it happened exactly as outlined in this prophecy. 28:57 Yeah. So anyway, nutshell. 28:59 And also a futurists position-- this is in account 29:00 for the--well sometimes they do conveniently 29:03 and sometimes they don't. 29:05 But not the day using the day, year principle. 29:07 No they're not using the day and year principle. 29:08 And they're trying narrow down to one man 29:10 in future coming up and he is going to be the guy 29:13 that's can do to all this stuff 29:14 and let's not even go any further than that. 29:16 I think that's the best place to stop right there. 29:19 It's the false. 29:20 It's not a scriptural prophecy. 29:22 Well, thank you for your questions and comments 29:24 if you have any more those you like to send to us. 29:26 Sometimes we get a little bit 29:27 of deep, very deep here. 29:29 So if we haven't made it very, very clear send your questions 29:32 and comments to the email on the screen, housecalls@3abn.org 29:36 that's housecalls@3abn.org. 29:39 And we thank you very much for your support. 29:41 John, take us into the program 29:43 today on the study part of it. 29:45 Well the title of the program today 29:47 at least the lesson part of the program is On-trial. 29:50 Okay. And it's about the judgment. 29:52 And I know lot of people when they 29:53 hear the word judgment its going 29:54 to be very negative connotation. 29:56 But one of the things we're gonna do in this program 29:59 is see how close they lined the judgment process 30:04 and when it comes to Christ and His judgment 30:06 of all people on this earth. 30:08 How closely lined our own justice system 30:11 within in the United Sates of America 30:13 is to this system that God has. 30:16 Now we know from the beginning 30:17 that our court system and many of our laws 30:21 and other things that are governed 30:23 this country are lined 30:24 with Judea Christian principles. That's right. 30:26 We've heard that term many terms. 30:27 So it shouldn't surprise us. 30:29 So there are some thing's done 30:30 within God's kingdom or similar to the way 30:32 that the United States operates in its government. 30:36 But we're going to take it is a step 30:37 further today and I hopefully 30:39 we're gonna unfold some real keen insights 30:42 to help us understand the judgment a little better 30:44 and to take some of the anxiety 30:48 or some of the fear out of that judgment process. 30:50 All right. So first of all we're going 30:53 to start with who is judge. Okay. 30:55 Who is the judge? 30:57 Now I think there is some clear statements 30:58 on this and we're gonna begin with John Chapter 5, 31:02 an unequivocal statement by Christ himself in verse 22. 31:07 All right. John, do you have that one? 31:10 I sure do. Okay. 31:12 John 5:22 the Bible says "For the Father judges no one, 31:17 but has committed all judgment to the Son." 31:21 All right, so judgment, the responsibility for judging 31:25 the Father is not going to deal. 31:26 But who is he giving that responsibility to? 31:28 To Christ. To Christ. 31:30 So then Paul can say in 2 Corinthians 5:10. 31:34 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 31:39 that every one may receive the things done in his body, 31:41 according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 31:44 So this is something that simply Paul is expounding on. 31:47 That judgment has have been given to Jesus. 31:50 Not--the Father has not retained that. 31:52 And the Jesus is responsible and He is one we must appear 31:55 for to give account for what we have done 31:58 while we're here on this earth. 32:00 Now it's interesting because Jesus 32:01 takes it another step further this process of judging 32:05 and how it will look as He is going through 32:08 the process of judging all human beings, all mankind. 32:13 And so John Chapter 12, I think it's a real powerful 32:19 text to help us understand what is Jesus 32:22 actually looking at as he sits as judge over us. 32:27 And I'm going to read 32:28 from John 12:47-48. Let's see. 32:35 All right. I'm gonna read with verse 46. 32:38 "I have come as a light into the world, 32:40 that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 32:44 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, 32:48 I do not judge him." 32:50 I thought that was interesting when I first read that. 32:52 You don't believe, He doesn't judge you. 32:55 But then read on. 32:57 "for I did not come to judge the world." 33:00 But to do what? Save the world. 33:01 "To save the world." 33:03 So Jesus job, His main role in judgment 33:06 is not to condemn us, is to save us. 33:10 In fact He said, also where He says 33:12 "I have come to seek and save that which is lost." 33:15 Luke 19:10. Yeah. So that's, 33:16 that's His goal, that's His purpose. 33:18 But notice this verse 48, "He who rejects Me, 33:23 and does not receive My words, 33:26 has that which judges him the word 33:31 that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." 33:37 Okay The word of God 33:39 that was spoken and given to us is the baseline 33:43 the foundation of judgment. 33:46 In fact when Jesus returns if you recall in Revelation 19, 33:49 He has called the word of God. 33:52 Word of God, that's right. 33:54 There's a reason He has called the word of God 33:56 because He is coming back on the basis 33:57 of His word to judge each of us. 34:00 I mean, He is not coming back to condemn as His main role. 34:04 He is coming back and the judgment, 34:06 the whole judgment process is taking a look at our life 34:11 and whether or not we have received His word 34:14 and have followed it or where we have rejected His word. 34:17 The word itself provides the key ingredient 34:21 for whether or not we're condemned 34:23 or we're saved by Jesus. 34:26 You know, what I like about 34:27 this whole thing in this concept, 34:28 not concept but the teaching of the judge in the Bible 34:31 can get some people pretty nervous 34:33 when they think, oh, judge. 34:37 The judge is the one person people don't want to see. 34:40 That's right. You just don't want 34:41 to--you could go to the mall, 34:43 you could go to but you someone 34:46 who don't go to court. Court over to the judge. 34:47 I mean, got a notice 34:48 to see the judge its like, its never good. 34:51 You know, accepted person dies and, 34:53 you know, the will has being read 34:55 in court and, you know, your name mentioned 34:57 in there and you're beneficiary or something. 34:58 Outside of that nobody wants to see the judge. 35:01 So this is the very, very fearful topic 35:03 when you thing about the judge. 35:04 You know, years ago 35:06 we had this saying grown up, "here comes the judge. 35:08 Here comes the judge." 35:10 Well it's a fearful thing 35:11 and now they're all judged Judean, 35:13 Judge Mathewson, judge and all these people that are judging. 35:16 And people in front of them 35:18 are made to look silly most of the time. 35:19 Oh, it's just like because 35:20 they judge--the judge never comes across 35:23 as the person who has done anything wrong. 35:27 But in the setting of-- in the setting 35:30 of heavenly temple what I love so much Jesus 35:34 is not just our judge. 35:37 Go to 1 John 2:1 I want to show you this. 35:39 Because this is where, this is where heavens 35:44 judicial system departs from earthly system. 35:47 Because you see man cannot occupy 35:49 both positions but Jesus can. 35:52 That's right. This is the beautiful thing. 35:53 Now what's so nice about it is. 35:55 Man okay, I will read this first. 35:56 1 John 2:1. Look at what the Bible says. 35:59 "My little children, these things I write to you, 36:02 so that you may not sin." 36:05 However, this is my word. 36:07 Here it is if "And if anyone sins, 36:11 we have an Advocate with the Father, 36:14 Jesus Christ the righteous." 36:17 We've got an advocate. 36:18 Who is that representing? 36:20 He is representing the Father. 36:21 The advocate is the Father's advocate. 36:24 He is with the Father. 36:26 They're together on this. 36:28 Jesus Christ the righteous. 36:30 Now let us put this in the setting of a court. 36:33 You go to court and the judge comes out 36:36 and the honorable everybody stands. 36:40 And then he walks around and he then 36:44 he stands next to you. 36:45 I'm not just the judge I'm also your advocate. 36:48 So what I need to do is go let you know 36:50 that if you go to the Book of Daniel. 36:53 Could I go there? 36:55 That's, yeah lets that's where we're going to next. Yeah. 36:57 Okay, I want to go to the Book of Daniel 36:59 show you how beautiful this is. 37:00 Because what you have to keep in mind--okay Daniel 7. 37:05 Yeah, okay let me see yes, yes, yes okay. 37:08 Daniel 7:21, 22 you got it on your paper. 37:11 You see, you got to understand 37:13 what's so beautiful about this whole thing about 37:15 judgment is that when Jesus says you're advocate 37:19 because he is your judge there is no fear there. 37:23 That's right. John, since you have 37:24 it on your syllabus read Daniel 7:21, 22. 37:27 Because keep this in mind in the judgment 37:30 we're living in the judgment hour, 37:31 we're living in the time 37:32 of the antitypical Day of Atonement. 37:34 And this time of searching our hearts and laying aside 37:38 our sin will all culminate in the final, the final verdict. 37:43 Here is guilty, here is righteous, 37:46 here there is holy, here there is unjust. 37:48 This is going to be a verdict somewhere here. 37:50 That's right. But you got to know 37:52 that when this verdict is coming down 37:54 that we could stand in the confidence 37:57 of Christ and not be fearful. 37:58 I'm gonna read, first of all I will read the verses 38:01 you mentioned 21-22. Yes 38:02 But then I want to stay in Daniel 7. 38:04 Okay. Because I want to, 38:05 I want to back it up with this court scene. 38:07 Okay. And we're going 38:08 to expand on that a little bit. 38:09 But look at this. 38:10 Talking about the fear of judgment 38:12 and so forth but Christ being our advocate. 38:14 Its says in verse 21, "I was watching, 38:17 and the same horn made war with the saints, 38:20 and prevailed against them, until the Ancient of Days came, 38:24 and judgment was made" what? 38:26 "In favor of the saints of the Most High, 38:30 and the time came for the saints 38:31 to possess the kingdom." Wow. 38:33 When you think about coming into the court setting, 38:37 when you think about what do we do 38:39 in this pivotal hour of our destiny 38:41 and then the Ancient of Days. 38:44 And He is present there because 38:46 the advocate is with the Father. 38:48 That's right. They're no fighting 38:49 with each other. Jesus is not saying 38:51 "Dad, dad come on dad could you let him through." 38:54 Yeah. For God soul of the world 38:57 that he gave his only begotten Son. 39:00 Let's just reestablish for God soul of the world 39:03 that he sent us a lawyer. 39:05 Yeah, it's the Father 39:07 isn't the hard man and Jesus the loving one. 39:10 Right. They're both one in the same 39:11 and they're redemption. 39:12 And their efforts to redeem mankind 39:14 to save us and they're all in favor of this acquittal. 39:18 That's right. They're all in favor 39:20 of the acquittal. They're all standing with us. 39:23 There is something-- I had this revelation years ago 39:28 when I was living in California. 39:30 Actually had this revelation of the beauty of the judgment, 39:32 I want to share a couple of things. 39:34 You said, you want to stand Daniel for little bit. 39:36 Well, we're going to, I'm going to expound a bit on Daniel. 39:38 Okay. But finish your point 39:40 on where you want to go. 39:41 And what I love so much about this. 39:43 You see judgment being made in favor of the saints 39:48 takes the fear away from the whole process of judgment. 39:52 So if you know the Lord you will remember 39:55 that you're advocate said, 39:57 I'm not willing that any should perish. 40:00 I'm not giving up anybody. 40:02 Even in the story of Joshua, 40:04 the highest-- Jesus standing 40:07 there in the favor of Joshua the high priest 40:09 and he snatches Joshua from destruction. 40:12 And He says, then the Lord says to the devil 40:15 "you just upset because I will snatch him from the fire." 40:19 The devil says, yeah. 40:21 I mean, can you see it. Yeah. 40:23 Can you see it? Lost again. 40:26 And that's one so beautiful about that our advocate 40:29 is our defense attorney, He is out Savior, 40:32 He is our advocate and also He is our judge. 40:35 So what is that make 1 John 4:17. 40:40 I want to show you this. 40:42 This is what's so nice about the judgment here. 40:44 1 John 4:17. And this is what, 40:48 this is the departure from the judicial system of America. 40:51 We have a lot of similarities. 40:52 You know, the number of jurors. 40:54 Yeah. The way it set up. 40:55 The verdict aspects have with 40:57 the investigations of person's life. 40:58 We have lot of components 40:59 but this is where we kind of depart a little bit. 41:03 Verse 17 of 1 John 4. 41:09 You want to read that for us, John? 41:10 "Love has been perfected among us in this, 41:13 that we have boldness in the day of judgment." 41:16 That we may have boldness. 41:18 That we may have boldness 41:19 "Because as he is, so are we in this world. 41:22 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear 41:26 because fear hath torment. 41:28 But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." 41:32 And that beautiful verse, we love Him. Why? 41:34 Because He first loved us. 41:36 So you have the advocate here. 41:37 You have the advocate here. 41:39 And so when you go to court. 41:40 Let's just put this in the proper perspective. 41:42 When you hear that you're court date has come 41:44 and you must appear before the judge. 41:46 You walk and I called with great confidence. 41:48 That's right. This man, why he is so confident? 41:51 He is my attorney. That's right. 41:53 He loves me. I love Him. 41:55 So do you think that the court is right in your favor? Yes. 41:59 That's right. Judgment was made in favor 42:02 of the saints because the merits of our salvation 42:05 is not based on what we have done in our record. 42:07 If it's based on my record I'm in trouble. 42:10 Yeah. But if my record 42:12 has been expunged and the accuser of the brethren 42:15 who accuses me before God day 42:17 and I stand in they're accusing me. 42:18 And Jesus said, "Okay. 42:21 Show me, show me his sin." 42:24 And the devil will say "but he was there." 42:26 And He said "but it ain't there now." 42:28 God has cleaned our record 42:30 that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment, 42:32 that we may have confidence. 42:34 These are terms that are not often associated 42:36 with any court setting, John, at all except 42:39 if you're the plaintiff. 42:41 You're going there with the sense of confidence. 42:43 But in this sense that we are, we are the one on-trial 42:48 and we have the advocate and the judge on our side. 42:52 Yeah. In the book of Daniel, 42:55 back to Daniel 7, we know that in many ways, 43:00 in many chapters and within different 43:03 presentation of prophetic time there. 43:06 There is a sequential-- a sequence of events. 43:09 A chronological order of sorts. 43:11 Now we know that it's not always the case 43:13 in the broad scheme of prophecy but within each chapter 43:17 you have this mini picture of chronological events. 43:19 Right. And the judgment seem 43:22 always seems to appear before the second coming. 43:25 Right. And so you cannot deny 43:28 and Seventh-day Adventist have called have 43:31 had several words for this. 43:32 One is pre-advent judgment 43:34 which is prior to the second coming 43:36 or investigative judgment. 43:37 That's the another way of looking 43:39 at it and it is looking at the record of our life 43:42 and inspecting those, those courtroom records. 43:45 All these things point to or alluded to in chapter 7. 43:50 I'm going to read verse 9 and 10. 43:51 And I think, John, I think what we're gonna 43:53 do is we're gonna get a clear picture 43:55 that there is courtroom in heaven. 43:56 Yes There is no doubt 43:58 so the analogy we're using of the courtroom 44:00 today is very, very true in the literal sense. 44:03 Okay. It says here in Daniel 7:9. 44:06 "I watched till the thrones were put in place, 44:08 and the Ancient of days were seated." 44:11 That's the Father. 44:12 "His garment was white as snow, 44:15 and the hair of his head like the pure wool, 44:18 his throne was like the fiery flame, 44:20 its wheels as burning fire. 44:22 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him, 44:25 a thousand thousands ministered unto him, 44:27 ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him, 44:30 the courts were seated, and the books were opened." 44:36 Now I remember in one program not too long ago John, 44:39 we looked at Revelation Chapter 20 44:41 and we noticed that judgment looked at the books. 44:45 That's right. These are the books 44:47 and each one of us I would say has a book. 44:50 But these are the books of our lives 44:52 as a collective people on-- in this earth. 44:55 And so the books being opened is the inspection of record 44:59 of what is going on, on this earth 45:02 in the lives of you and of me. 45:05 Now, as we read on, we already read the text 45:07 from verses 21 and 22, that if you are a saint, 45:12 which means you're in Christ the judgment 45:15 is made in favor of the saints. 45:17 And that's good news. 45:19 That's good news. 45:20 But let me draw some parallels 45:22 here about this courtroom scene till today. 45:24 And I know that it doesn't fit in every respect. 45:27 But in this respect it's very helpful I think. 45:29 All right. John, when you're called before 45:32 the judge, it's this nervous thing. 45:35 We don't really like to appear before the judge. 45:36 We've already made that plain. 45:37 But one of the things that you do as a defendant 45:42 coming into a courtroom is you is asked to during 45:45 the hearing, to enter a plea. 45:48 That plea is one of two things. 45:50 Either you're guilty or you're not guilty. 45:55 Now the wonderful thing when it cause 45:58 comes to God's courtroom is that when you step 46:00 into the court, another words, 46:03 by virtue of your book been opened. 46:05 When you appear then before the court, 46:06 Jesus steps forward as your lawyer. 46:10 That's right. And he is your judge 46:12 and without you even having to speak 46:14 He enters the plea for you and He says my son, 46:17 my daughter is not guilty. 46:20 And He declares us not guilty by virtue of the fact 46:26 that we believe in Him-- in His righteousness. 46:28 His works stand in place of our works. 46:31 And we're seen as righteous in Him. 46:34 Not because we're righteous but because He is righteous. 46:36 Now here is the thing. 46:38 When you enter that plea the trial is not over. 46:44 It's only the beginning of a trial that takes place 46:47 to investigate the records 46:50 of whether or not the plea entered of not guilty is true. 46:55 And for the saint or for anybody who enters 46:59 the plea of not guilty saying I believe in Jesus 47:02 the record must be inspected to see is it true 47:06 that they're a follower of Christ 47:08 or not the follower of Christ. 47:09 So the not guilty plea is simply by virtue 47:13 of my declaration that I follow Jesus 47:16 and I trust in Him. 47:18 So the record book that is investigated 47:20 is whether or not that's true. 47:23 Right. And so this investigation 47:25 occurs, this inspection of records occurs to see 47:28 whether you're not your life is lived 47:29 in harmony with that declaration. 47:31 Now, on the other hand, let's talk about the other plea. 47:35 Someone stepping before a court and they do not have, 47:40 they don't proclaim Christ at all. 47:42 Never have, would they enter the plea not guilty. 47:45 I mean would enter the plea guilty. 47:47 Okay. Why is that? 47:48 Because they never professed Christ. 47:50 They know standing in God's courtroom 47:51 that they have not advocate to rely on and depend upon 47:56 and by virtue of that they are guilty. 48:00 And so the plea is entered then, they enter the plea 48:02 even themselves and we're talking about 48:04 the spiritual applicaton of this--of guilty. 48:06 Now its interesting John, when you enter a guilty plea 48:09 you don't have a trial. 48:11 You go straight to sentencing. That's right. 48:15 So, then the investigative judgment, 48:18 the pre-advent judgment is, does not involved the wicked. 48:23 It only involves those who have professed Christ 48:26 name and come before the judgment seat of Christ 48:29 saying I trust in Him. 48:32 So the inspection, this investigation 48:34 that occurs that is going on-- I believe today John, 48:37 is to determine whether or not those 48:39 that professed Christ truly are followers of Jesus. 48:43 Wow, wow. And for those 48:44 that are followers of Christ, Jesus steps forward 48:46 and says my righteousness stands in their behalf. 48:49 Right. To those that don't He says, 48:51 I never knew you. Knew you. 48:53 And we find that in Matthew Chapter 7. 48:56 And so now, I know we can go a lot of places here. 48:58 Okay. But what the, the point 48:59 I wanted to make here is he the judgment 49:01 that occurs before the second coming 49:03 is only of those who profess the name of Jesus. 49:07 It is not involved the wicked who have never claim Christ 49:10 as their Savior because their plea is guilty 49:13 and you go straight to sentencing for them 49:15 which is after the 1,000 years. 49:17 But today before Christ return 49:19 there must be a determination in the courts 49:21 above whether or not someone who professes Christ 49:24 really is a truly follower of Jesus. 49:27 You know, John, you've unpacked 49:29 so much stuff there that I just want to dive in. 49:31 now I kind of want to see, hold a moment 49:34 but let me just insert a few things here. 49:36 Praise the Lord. You know, what's so beautiful 49:38 about this, this teaching that John just put forth over 49:42 the fact that when you don't profess Christ 49:44 you're already condemned. 49:46 You know, you don't ask for any, 49:50 you can't ask for anything because 49:51 you don't have an advocate. 49:53 You don't have a judge on your team. 49:54 You're just, you don't enter, once you don't enter 49:58 a plea or once you don't ask for the mercy 50:01 or once your sins are atoned for you're already guilty. 50:05 I sight John 3:18. You know 50:08 we read John 3:16. We all know what that is. 50:11 "That you should not perish but have everlasting life." 50:13 But John 3:17 gives way to John 3:18 50:17 showing you how this whole process of, 50:21 you don't have a trial because you're guilty. 50:24 That's right. If you declare guilt, 50:27 you fall on the, if you'll say I'm guilty 50:30 then you need to do that really soon, 50:35 so that you could fall on the mercy of the court. 50:38 A person who is innocent doesn't ask for mercy, 50:41 a person who is innocent asks for justice. 50:44 And the person that enters an innocent plea 50:47 may or may not in the end after the trial 50:50 be found guilty or not guilty. 50:52 Right. You see there is a determination, 50:54 just because you say, I'm not innocent. 50:56 It doesn't mean that, that's the final verdict 50:58 because the trial still must have occur. 51:00 It doesn't mean I'm not guilty. 51:01 Well, no just there is a final verdict at all. 51:04 Okay. Because when you get 51:05 to the end of the trial. 51:07 The jury comes forward and says, 51:09 guilty or not guilty, right. 51:11 So that comes after the plea of not guilty. 51:15 The plea at the hearing that you enter into. 51:18 And this is similar to the inspection 51:21 of the guest that happened. 51:23 Well, before you go to the guest 51:24 let me read John 3:18. 51:26 The Bible says, "He who believes in Him 51:28 is not condemned, but he who does not believe 51:32 is condemned already, because he does not believe in 51:36 the name of the only begotten Son of God." 51:39 So do you need it? 51:40 So if you reject your advocate 51:42 you also close the book on the judge. 51:45 Yeah. And you say, 51:48 I don't believe in either one of these guys, 51:50 I'm gonna stand on my own merits. 51:52 Oh, are you going to represent yourself in the judgment? 51:56 Oh, the challenge with that is, if you represent yourself 52:00 in the judgment then here are your, 52:01 here are your transgression, here are your sins. 52:05 What do we do with that? 52:06 I'll explain each one to them you just give some time. 52:11 You're gonna explain 40 years or 60 years 52:13 or 30 years or 50 years of sin 52:15 and then you're gonna explain them all away. 52:17 All I have got to do say "his blood." 52:22 Yeah. And you wouldn't in reality 52:24 be explaining all those 40 years of sin 52:26 because you would basically be bowing before the court 52:28 saying you're just in fare to pronounce me guilty. 52:31 Its an mission of guilt. 52:33 It's a guilty plea you've entered. 52:35 That's what will happen one day. 52:36 Yeah. That's what is going 52:37 to happen one day and it'll be very, very careful. 52:39 We have to be very mindful 52:40 of how we judge because the Bible says 52:42 "For judgment is without mercy 52:44 to the one who has shown no mercy." 52:47 James 2:13. You don't show mercy to people, 52:50 you will not get mercy in the judgment. 52:53 Now there's part of this experience, 52:56 this reality that helps us understands 52:58 that once saved always saved is not accurate either. 53:00 Yeah. Because, just because 53:03 you've profess your name in Christ 53:05 and you're justified in Him does not mean 53:07 that you will always, that will always be your standing. 53:10 That's right. It just simply means 53:12 you've entered a not guilty plea by virtue of Jesus. 53:16 That's true. But then what do you do with the life? 53:18 What does that faith look like? 53:20 Have you been sanctified and have you been grown 53:23 and have you experienced Christ as your Savior? 53:25 Well, in the scene of Matthew 22 53:28 where it's a parallel or picture of Jesus 53:32 coming into inspect the guest. 53:34 We find a guest there that in attendance 53:37 of the wedding without a garment 53:38 and he is speechless and they cast him out. 53:42 Well, that's a picture of the courtroom scene 53:44 because the only way to get into--by the way 53:46 Matthew 25, the only way 53:47 to get into the wedding is when you're ready. 53:49 That's right. So when you profess Christ. 53:51 The reality is at that moment you're saved 53:54 because you professed one who can save. 53:56 That's right. But from that point 53:58 on you have an opportunity to accept or reject 54:03 the word of God which means it's the foundation 54:05 of our judge in your life and practice of the faith. 54:08 And the inspection, the investigation, 54:11 the courtroom scene, the inspection of, 54:13 of-- "and witnesses that come forward as well" 54:18 are part of understanding. 54:21 And God's proclamation himself is to whether or not 54:24 you're truly a follower of God or if not. 54:27 John I'm just gonna read Matthew 7 here real quick. 54:30 Sure. And then I know 54:32 you're going somewhere as well. 54:34 Matthew 7: 21, 22. "Not everyone 54:38 who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' 54:39 shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 54:42 but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." 54:45 The will that is explained in His word. 54:48 "Many will say to Me in that day, 54:50 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, 54:52 cast out demons in Your name, 54:53 and done many wonders in Your name?' 54:54 And then I will declare to them, 54:56 'I never knew you, depart from Me, 54:58 you who practice lawlessness!' Therefore whoever hears 55:03 these sayings of Mine, "going back to the word" 55:05 and does them, I will liken him to a wise man 55:10 who built his house on the rock." 55:12 So the issue here is, even that you may have 55:15 except a Christ are you following Him and His word. 55:18 Because that is the determiner in the inspection of records 55:23 in the courtroom as to whether or not you're a true follower 55:26 or you're following Him on false pretences. 55:30 I'll tell you when you think about 55:32 this whole concept, what you say and how you live 55:36 is so huge when it comes to the judgment 55:39 because as the saint goes we could fool 55:43 some of the people, some of the times, 55:44 or all of the people some of the time. 55:46 But let me just modify the ending 55:48 you can never fool Christ. 55:49 That's the purpose of the judgment is to reveal 55:51 whether or not your actions 55:53 have been in harmony with your profession. 55:55 I know what you'll say but how do you live. 55:57 There you are. And so that's why when you look 55:59 at this whole concept of the Book of Psalms 150 chapter 56:03 of just, oh, we plea with the glory of God 56:06 but I like the way the book of Psalms it makes it clear. 56:09 He says "The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, 56:15 nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." 56:18 The purpose of the judgment is to make sure 56:19 that when the time comes you're standing in the right place. 56:22 That's right. Or where am I going to stand. 56:24 Who, the great day of his wrath has come, Revelation 6:17. 56:28 I think that's the text. 56:29 "The the great day of His wrath has come, 56:31 and who is able to stand?" 56:33 And David says "Well the ungodly 56:35 will not stand in the judgment. 56:37 Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." 56:40 The whole issue is when this is all done 56:41 where you're going to stand? 56:43 I plan on standing on the sea of glass. 56:44 I know, that's your plan also. 56:46 So the judgment is gonna reveal where we stand. 56:48 Amen. So I think to reiterate as we close 56:52 don't fear the judgment. 56:54 Make sure you're depended upon Jesus 56:57 and you're trusting in Him. 56:58 But also the standard by which he is set for judgment 57:01 which is His word that you're following His word 57:03 because that is the one where you can be sure 57:06 that you have Him as your advocate 57:08 in the courts of heaven. 57:10 Great are your tender mercies on Lord, 57:12 revive me according to Your judgments, Psalms 115:156. 57:17 He is a great and just judge. 57:19 We fear not the judgment because we know the judge, 57:22 we know the advocate, we know the person of Jesus. 57:25 If God before us, who can be against us today 57:29 is your day to choose Him as your judge and your advocate. 57:32 Make that decision today. 57:34 God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17