Participants: Stephen Bohr
Series Code: ASTPP
Program Code: ASTPP000017
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00:15 Alright, folks, we're back again.
00:18 And we need to continue our study of this principle 00:22 that God's Israel today is spiritual Israel. 00:27 The nation of Israel is no longer God's vehicle to take 00:30 the gospel to the world. 00:32 It is God's worldwide church that has that mission. 00:36 Now we're going to take a look at the material that is titled, 00:39 Israel and the Fig Tree. 00:41 We're not going to look at all of this material. 00:44 We are going to skip certain sections because 00:47 in our next study we are going to cover those sections 00:51 that are in this document, Israel and the Fig Tree. 00:54 So let's begin at the top of the page 00:56 where it says, Introduction. 00:58 We're going to read from Matthew 24 and verses 32 to 35. 01:04 Matthew 24, of course, has the signs of the second coming. 01:09 And this is how it reads, "Now learn this parable 01:13 from the fig tree. 01:15 When its branch has already become tender 01:19 and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 01:23 So you also, when you see all these things, 01:27 know that it is near; at the doors. 01:30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means 01:34 pass away till all these things take place. 01:38 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words 01:41 will by no means pass away." 01:43 Now we want to focus on what this text says 01:46 about the fig tree. 01:48 It says, "Now learn this parable from the fig tree. 01:52 When its branch has already become tender 01:54 and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 01:57 So you also, when you see all these things, 02:01 know that it is near; at the doors." 02:04 Now dispensationalists say that the fig tree here 02:09 is a symbol of Israel, and that the budding of the fig tree 02:14 is a prophecy concerning the re-establishment 02:17 of the Jewish nation in the year 1948. 02:21 They teach that this is the greatest sign 02:24 that the coming of Jesus is imminent, or even at the door. 02:29 So we need to carefully examine whether this is true. 02:34 We need to examine this passage to see if the budding 02:37 of the fig tree is the re-establishment of Israel 02:42 in the Holy Land as a nation. 02:45 Now first of all, we must say that it is true 02:49 that the fig tree and the vine are associated 02:53 with literal Israel in the Old Testament. 02:55 Notice Hosea chapter 9 and verse 10. 02:59 The fig tree and the vine are associated with literal Israel. 03:03 It says there in Hosea 9 verse 10, 03:07 "I found Israel like..." What? 03:09 See, there you have the vineyard idea. 03:11 "...like grapes in the wilderness; 03:13 I saw your fathers as the firstfruits on the 03:17 fig tree in its first season. 03:20 But they went to Baal Peor, and separated themselves 03:24 to that shame; they became an abomination 03:27 like the thing they loved." 03:28 And so it's true that the vineyard and the fig tree 03:33 in the Old Testament symbolized literal Israel. 03:36 There's no doubt about it. 03:38 But the question is, does Matthew 24, when it refers 03:43 to the fig tree, refer to the Jewish nation, 03:46 or does it have another meaning? 03:49 Well, we want to take a look at this idea of the tree 03:53 in three different moments of time leading up to the 03:57 ministry of Christ. 03:59 Go in your Bibles with me to Matthew chapter 3 04:01 and verses 8 through 10. 04:03 Here, John the Baptist is going to begin his preaching. 04:07 And he begins his preaching six months before 04:10 Jesus begins His public ministry. 04:12 That's an important chronological detail. 04:15 John the Baptist is beginning his preaching 04:17 six months, or half a year, before Jesus began 04:22 His public ministry. 04:23 And of course, John's mission was to prepare the way 04:27 for the first coming of Jesus. 04:29 Now let's notice what John said in his message 04:34 to the Jewish nation. 04:35 It says there, "Therefore..." He's calling upon the nation. 04:39 "Therefore bear..." What? 04:42 "...fruits..." That's important. 04:43 "...bear fruits worthy of repentance, 04:47 and do not think to say to yourselves, 04:49 'We have Abraham as our father.'" 04:51 In other words, he saying, "Don't you just think 04:53 that it's a great thing to be a literal descendent of Abraham." 04:57 "For I say to you that God is able to raise up children 05:00 to Abraham from these stones." 05:02 And by the way, "Desire Of Ages" says that Jesus was not 05:05 pointing at literal stones. 05:07 He was pointing at some Gentiles that were... 05:09 I mean, John wasn't pointing at some stones. 05:11 He was pointing at Gentiles that were present there 05:14 at his baptism. 05:15 Because the Jews felt that the Gentiles had stony hearts. 05:19 And so they called them stones, they called them swine, 05:22 and they called them dogs. 05:24 Not very complimentary. 05:26 But anyway, John says, "God is able to raise up 05:30 children of Abraham from these stones." 05:33 And then notice verse 10. 05:34 "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. 05:39 Therefore every tree..." 05:41 Notice he's using the analogy of the tree, right, 05:44 for the nation of Israel. 05:45 And he's saying that they need to repent. 05:47 So, "Therefore every tree which does not bear..." What? 05:51 "...good fruit..." 05:52 In other words, a fruitless tree. 05:54 "...is cut down and thrown into the fire." 05:58 Now remember all these elements. 06:00 First of all, he calls them to repentance. 06:03 Secondly, he says, "Don't you think that it's a great thing 06:05 simply to be a literal descendent of Abraham." 06:08 And then he says that, "You're like a tree." 06:10 And if the nation of Israel does not produce fruit, 06:14 it will be cut down. 06:15 Those are the key details. 06:17 Now, let's go to our next passage. 06:20 Luke 13 and verses 1 through 9. Luke 13 and verses 1 through 9. 06:26 And a chronological detail is very important here. 06:29 Jesus is telling this parable, according to those who have 06:33 studied the chronology of the gospels, 06:35 two and a half years into Christ's ministry. 06:40 So how long has this tree existed at that point? 06:44 Three years. 06:46 Six months, or half a year, John the Baptist preached. 06:49 He calls Israel a tree. 06:52 And then Jesus gives His parable two and a half years 06:54 into Christ's ministry. 06:56 So six months plus two and a half years is what? 06:58 Three years. 06:59 That's an important chronological detail 07:01 we're going to notice. 07:03 And we're going to see many similarities 07:05 in this parable to what John the Baptist preached. 07:09 Notice Luke 13 and verse 1. 07:12 "There were present at that season some who told Him 07:14 about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled 07:18 with their sacrifices. 07:20 And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Do you suppose 07:23 that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans 07:28 because they suffered these things? 07:30 I tell you, no; but unless you...'" What? 07:34 There's one of the key words. 07:35 "...unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." 07:41 Verse 4, "Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam 07:45 fell and killed them, do you think that they were 07:48 worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 07:52 I tell you, no; but unless you..." What? 07:55 "...unless you repent..." 07:56 There's the key word again that John the Baptist used. 07:59 "...you will all likewise perish." 08:01 And now He's going to tell a parable. 08:03 Verse 6, "He also spoke this parable: 08:07 'A certain man...'" This is God the Father. 08:11 "...had a fig tree..." 08:12 What would the fig tree represent? 08:14 Israel, that's right. 08:16 "...planted in his vineyard..." 08:19 He had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. 08:21 What does the vineyard represent? 08:23 It represents the world. 08:26 "...and he came seeking fruit..." 08:28 What fruit was he seeking? 08:30 The fruit of the Holy Spirit. 08:32 And what happened? 08:33 "...and on it he found none." 08:36 What kind of tree was it? 08:38 It was a fruitless tree. 08:40 So three years after John the Baptist began his preaching, 08:45 had the Jewish tree produced fruit? 08:48 No. 08:49 Now notice what it continues saying. 08:52 Let's go to verse 7. 08:55 "Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard..." 08:56 Who's the keeper? 08:58 Jesus Christ. 08:59 "Look, for three years..." 09:02 There's the chronological detail. 09:04 "...for three years I have come seeking fruit 09:08 on this fig tree..." 09:10 Did John the Baptist speak about a tree? 09:12 Absolutely. 09:14 "...and find..." What? "...none." 09:17 So the owner of the tree says, "Cut it down." 09:20 Did John say something about cutting down the tree? 09:23 Absolutely. "Cut it down. 09:25 Why does it use up the ground?" 09:28 But the vinedresser loved the tree. 09:32 Notice what he says. 09:35 "But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone 09:40 this year...'" 09:43 How long did the ministry of Jesus last? 09:46 Three and a half years. 09:47 How long still remained in His ministry 09:49 when He told this parable? 09:51 One year. 09:54 "Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it 10:01 and fertilize it." 10:03 So is he going to dedicate special attention to it? 10:06 Absolutely. 10:09 "And if it bears fruit, well. 10:13 But if not, after that you can cut it down." 10:18 Did Jesus dedicate special attention to the Jewish nation 10:20 the last year of His ministry? 10:23 He most certainly did. 10:24 He did everything that He could for this fig tree. 10:30 Now the parable ends and we don't know what 10:32 happened to the fig tree. 10:34 Did it produce fruit or did it not produce fruit? 10:37 We don't know until the year is almost over. 10:42 Go with me to Matthew chapter 21 and verses 17 through 19. 10:47 Matthew 21:17-19 10:49 You remember Jesus saw a fig tree in the distance, right? 10:52 And He was hungry. 10:54 So He says to His disciples, "Hey, let's go over to that 10:56 fig tree and see if there's any figs; I'm hungry." 10:58 And we need to understand that in Israel the fig tree, 11:02 first of all, bears the fruit and then the leaves come out 11:06 indicating that the tree has fruit. 11:09 So the fruit comes out and then the leaves. 11:12 So if this fig tree had leaves, 11:16 Jesus says, "It's got to have fruit." 11:19 And so Jesus comes seeking fruit on the tree because He's hungry. 11:24 And I want you to notice what happens. 11:26 Verse 17, "Then He left them and went out 11:30 of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there. 11:33 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, 11:36 He was hungry." 11:38 Does Jesus hunger for fruit? 11:41 Does He hunger for the fruit of the Spirit? 11:43 Yes He does. 11:44 "And seeing a fig tree..." 11:46 Ah, this is the fig tree that John spoke about. 11:49 This is the same fig tree that we find 11:51 in the parable of Luke 13. 11:53 You have to connect these three fig tree stories. 11:56 "And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it 11:59 and found nothing on it but leaves, 12:04 and said to it, 'Let no fruit grow on you ever again.'" 12:10 Now what part of, "ever again," don't you understand? 12:15 "And immediately the fig tree withered away." 12:20 What does the fig tree represent? 12:22 Israel. 12:26 Mark 11 adds some interesting details. 12:28 Mark 11 verses 12 through 14. 12:30 "Now the next day, when they had come out 12:33 from Bethany, He was hungry. 12:35 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves..." 12:40 So you would expect fruit. 12:43 Ellen White said that it had just pretentious foliage. 12:48 "...He went to see if perhaps He could find something on it. 12:51 And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves..." 12:56 And then it says, "...for it was not the season for figs." 12:58 And Ellen White explains something very interesting. 13:00 She says that this one tree in an orchard 13:06 had born leaves before all of the other ones. 13:08 The other ones were bare. 13:11 You see, the other ones represented the Gentiles. 13:14 It was not expected that they bear fruit because 13:16 they had no leaves. 13:19 They had not received the benefits and the blessings 13:22 that this one fig tree had received. 13:26 And so it says, "...it was not the season for figs." 13:30 If it wasn't the season for figs, Jesus wouldn't have 13:32 gone to the tree if He thought that it wouldn't have figs. 13:34 But it had leaves. 13:36 It received special privileges and special blessings. 13:39 Verse 14, "In response Jesus said to it, 13:44 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' 13:48 And His disciples heard it." 13:51 Now Mark 11:20-21 tells us that the next morning 13:56 something very interesting happened. 13:58 It says, "Now in the morning, as they passed by, 14:02 they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots." 14:10 What happens when a tree dries up from the roots? 14:13 That is it. 14:16 It is finished. 14:20 "And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look! 14:25 The fig tree which You cursed has been...'" What? 14:30 "...has been withered away." 14:33 Does that sound like quite a bit of finality 14:37 when it comes to the destiny of the Jewish nation? 14:40 Absolutely. 14:42 The fig tree dried up from the roots. 14:45 And it is a symbol of the nation of Israel. 14:48 The nation of Israel is not God's instrument 14:51 to bring the gospel to the world anymore. 14:53 There might be individual Jews that God will use 14:55 who have accepted Jesus Christ. 14:57 But it is the church of Christ that has accepted Jesus Christ 15:01 all over the world to whom the mission has been committed, 15:05 to spiritual Israel who have linked with Jesus Christ. 15:09 Now let's jump down on the next page to where it says, 15:12 Matthew 24 and the Fig Tree. 15:15 Matthew 24 and the Fig Tree. 15:16 Remember we read about the fig tree in Matthew 24; 15:19 when it starts budding, you know, when you see this, 15:22 you know that Jesus is even at the doors. 15:25 Well, let's take a closer look at this. 15:28 Let's notice Matthew 24 verses 32 and 33 again. 15:33 "As you see the fig tree bud, it is a sign that 15:37 the summer is near. 15:39 In the same way..." 15:40 He's using an analogy. 15:42 "...when you see," now listen carefully, "all these things, 15:47 know that it is near, even at the doors." 15:51 Is it just the budding of the fig tree that is the sign? 15:55 No, what does Jesus say? 15:57 "When you see all of these things." 15:59 It's when you see all of the signs of Matthew 24. 16:02 Not only the budding of the fig tree. 16:06 What's even more telling is what we find 16:09 in Luke 21 verses 29 to 31. 16:12 Luke 21 and verses 29 to 31. 16:17 Here, Jesus is speaking about the signs of His coming also. 16:21 And notice that He adds a very significant detail. 16:24 He says there, "Then He spoke to them a parable: 16:28 'Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.'" 16:32 Is there anything special about the fig tree, 16:34 as far as signs are concerned? 16:35 No, no, no. It's not only the fig tree. 16:38 It says, "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 16:42 When they are already budding..." 16:44 When they are already budding. 16:46 "...you see and know for yourselves that 16:48 summer is now near. 16:50 So also, when you see these things," plural, "happening, 16:56 know that the kingdom of God is near." 16:57 Is the budding of the fig tree of particular significance? 17:02 No. 17:03 Jesus is using an analogy. 17:05 He says, "When you see the fig tree budding, 17:07 you know summer is near." 17:09 And so when you see all of these signs of Matthew 24, 17:12 you'll know that the end is near. 17:13 But Jesus is not saying that the fig tree here is a symbol 17:17 of Israel being reborn as a nation in 1948. 17:21 Because the fig tree withered from its roots. 17:26 Now let's go to our next section. 17:28 Nathanael, The Nathanael Experience. 17:31 Let's read from John 1 verses 43 to 48. 17:35 "The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, 17:40 and He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow Me.' 17:44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 17:49 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 17:52 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, 17:55 and also the prophets, wrote; Jesus of Nazareth, 17:59 the son of Joseph.' 18:01 And Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good 18:04 come out of Nazareth?' 18:07 Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' 18:10 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him..." 18:14 Now listen carefully. 18:17 "Behold, an Israelite indeed..." 18:23 Now if there are Israelites indeed, must there be 18:25 Israelites not indeed? 18:27 Of course. 18:29 "...an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit." 18:33 Now what made Nathanael an Israelite indeed? 18:36 Verse 48 has the key. 18:39 "Nathanael said to Him, 'How do You know me?' 18:42 Jesus answered and said to him, 'Before Philip called you...'" 18:46 And here's it very interesting. 18:47 It says, "...when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 18:51 So there you have the symbol and what is symbolized. 18:54 You have the fig tree and Nathanael, 18:56 who is an Israelite indeed. 18:59 Are you with me? 19:00 Now what is it that made Nathanael an Israelite indeed? 19:06 He said to Jesus, "You are..." What? 19:10 "You are the Messiah. 19:12 You are the King of Israel." 19:16 He recognized Jesus Christ as the Messiah. 19:19 And that's what indicated that Nathanael was an 19:23 Israelite indeed, a true Israelite. 19:26 Because He confessed Jesus as the King of Israel 19:29 and as the anointed One, or as the Messiah. 19:33 If there are Israelites indeed, then there must be 19:36 Israelites not indeed. 19:39 The Greek word for, "indeed," really means, something true 19:42 or real; something genuine. 19:46 This is why the NIV translates the expression, 19:49 "a true Israelite." 19:51 This translation is corroborated by the fact that the verse ends 19:55 by saying that there was in Nathanael no pseudos. 20:02 Why was Nathanael singled out as an Israelite indeed? 20:07 Verse 49 provides the answer. 20:10 What made Nathanael an Israelite indeed 20:13 was that he confessed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, 20:17 the King of Israel. 20:18 What then is a true Israelite? 20:20 One who acknowledges Jesus Christ as the Messiah. 20:26 Notice that Nathanael was an Israelite indeed 20:29 and he was under a fig tree, which was a recognized 20:34 symbol of Israel. 20:35 Thus in this passage we have the symbol 20:38 and what the symbol represents. 20:40 The Israelite indeed is sitting under a tree, 20:43 which represents Israel. 20:46 Are you understanding the point? 20:48 Now let's go to one final passage before we go 20:50 to our next material. 20:52 And that is, John 8 and True Israel. 20:55 Even during His ministry, Jesus made a distinction 20:59 between Israel and then true Israel. 21:03 Jesus was speaking to a group of Jews, 21:05 and I want you to notice carefully 21:07 the conversation that goes on. 21:09 It begins in verse 37. 21:11 Because the people are saying, "We are children of Abraham." 21:17 Now let's pick up the conversation. 21:19 Verse 37, Jesus says, "I know that you 21:22 are Abraham's descendants..." 21:24 By the way, the word, "descendents," is 21:26 the word, "seed." 21:28 In the King James it says seed. 21:31 "I know that you are Abraham's seed..." 21:33 Were those who were present there Abraham's seed physically? 21:36 Sure they were. 21:38 "...but you seek to kill Me, because My word 21:41 has no place in you. 21:43 I speak what I have seen with My Father, 21:45 and you do what you have seen with your father." 21:51 Soon He's going to reach the climax. 21:52 He's going to tell them who their father is. 21:56 It's not Abraham. 21:58 "They answered and said to Him, 'Abraham is our father.' 22:02 Jesus said to them, 'If...'" 22:05 Is there a condition here? 22:07 Conditional? Yes. 22:08 "If you were Abraham's children..." 22:12 Were they Abraham's children? 22:13 Now wait a minute. We have a problem here. 22:15 Were they Jews? 22:18 So were they Abraham's children? 22:20 Does Jesus say they're Abraham's children? 22:23 No. 22:24 He's going to say, "You're not Abraham's children." 22:26 So is it possible to be the literal descendent of Abraham 22:30 and not be an Israelite? 22:32 Absolutely. 22:33 This is Jesus. 22:34 Notice what it continues saying. 22:36 "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the 22:41 works of Abraham. 22:43 But..." 22:46 This is the combination, if...but, right? 22:49 "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you 22:53 the truth which I heard from God. 22:55 Abraham did not do this." 22:58 You know, it's, "What you want to do to Me, 23:01 Abraham would have never done. 23:02 So how can you say that you're Abraham's children?" 23:06 Then the conversation continues. 23:10 Once again verse 41, "'You do the deeds of your father.' 23:15 Then they said to Him, 'We were not born of fornication. 23:18 We have one Father; God.' 23:21 Jesus said to them, 'If...'" 23:23 Notice once again, "If..." 23:25 They weren't. 23:27 But He says, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, 23:31 for I proceeded forth and came from God; 23:34 nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 23:36 Why do you not understand My speech? 23:39 Because you are not able to listen to My word. 23:41 You are of your father the devil..." 23:46 Were they children of Abraham? 23:48 Why were they children of the devil? 23:52 Because they did not accept Jesus. 23:57 So He says, "You are of your father the devil, 24:02 and the desires of your father you want to do. 24:06 He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not 24:08 stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. 24:12 When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, 24:15 for he is a liar and the father of it." 24:19 So let me ask you, is there such a thing as a literal Jew 24:23 who is not a Jew, according to the definition of Jesus? 24:27 Is there a true Israel and a counterfeit Israel? 24:30 Yes. And how is it defined? 24:33 It is not defined by geography. 24:36 It is not defined by genetics. 24:39 It is not defined by the last name that you have. 24:43 It is defined by your relationship to Jesus Christ 24:47 as your Savior and Lord. 24:48 "If you are Christ's, you are Abraham's seed 24:51 and heirs according to the promise." 24:54 So let me ask you, are there prophecies that are going to be 24:57 fulfilled with literal Israel in the Middle East? 25:00 No. 25:02 With which Israel is prophecy going to be fulfilled? 25:05 It is going to be fulfilled with God's spiritual 25:09 worldwide Israel. 25:12 Is that clear? 25:14 Now let's go to our next material. 25:16 We're not going to be able to finish this in this time period, 25:20 so we're going to have to pick up a little bit more 25:22 in our next session together. 25:24 But let's get as far as we can. 25:26 A Monumental Conversion Experience. 25:31 We're going to work through this the way that we worked through 25:34 all of the other material. 25:38 In Acts chapter 6 and verse 7, we find that after the day of 25:44 Pentecost thousands were leaving Judaism, 25:50 and they were accepting Jesus Christ as the Messiah. 25:54 Not only from among the laity, but also priests of Israel 25:59 were accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 26:02 It says there in Acts chapter 6 and verse 7, "Then the word of 26:06 God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied 26:10 greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests 26:14 were obedient to the faith." 26:18 Now Stephen was one of the instruments that 26:21 God used in this phenomenal church growth. 26:25 We're told in Acts chapter 6 and verse 8, "And Stephen, 26:30 full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs 26:35 among the people." 26:37 Now in Judaism at this time was a very prominent prospect. 26:45 His name was Saul of Tarsus. 26:48 He was no featherweight. 26:51 He was an intellectual giant and a promising prospect 26:55 with a brilliant future. 26:58 He was young, energetic, and relentless. 27:03 He had tunnel vision. 27:05 In his mind, God has chosen the Jewish nation 27:08 irrevocably and unconditionally. 27:10 And woe to those who thought otherwise. 27:14 For Saul, the preservation of the religion of Judaism 27:17 was the top priority. 27:19 His entire religion was Jewish centered. 27:22 In his own words he said, this is found in Acts 22 verse 3, 27:27 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, 27:33 but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, 27:37 taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, 27:41 and was zealous toward God as you all are today." 27:48 So he was Israel centered at this point in his life. 27:54 You see, Saul of Tarsus felt the same way as Caiaphas had felt 27:59 when Jesus appeared before the Sanhedrin 28:03 for His religious trial. 28:06 Let's remember that experience. 28:08 It's found in John 11 and verses 47 through 50. 28:13 This is the fear that embraced Saul of Tarsus, 28:16 and this is what led him to persecute 28:19 Christians mercilessly. 28:21 He was afraid that if Christianity proliferated, 28:24 the Jewish nation would disappear. 28:25 The Romans would take away the Jewish nation. 28:28 And for him, the Jewish nation was the important thing, 28:31 and all of its religion. 28:33 In John 11 verses 47 through 50 we find, "Then the chief priests 28:37 and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, 28:40 'What shall we do? 28:42 For this Man works many signs. 28:45 If we let Him alone like this,'" speaking about Jesus, 28:49 "everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come 28:53 and take away both our place and our nation." 28:57 Are you understanding the fear that they had? 29:00 They had the fear that the religion of Jesus 29:03 would embrace the whole world. 29:04 And then the Jewish religion would be irrelevant 29:07 and the Romans would get rid of them. 29:09 Verse 49, "And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest 29:13 that year, said to them, 'You know nothing at all, 29:16 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us 29:20 that one man should die for the people, 29:23 and not that the whole nation perish.'" 29:27 That was the fear of Saul of Tarsus; 29:30 that the Jewish nation would disappear. 29:32 He wanted to preserve his religion, 29:35 Jewish centered religion. 29:38 And therefore, he became a persecutor of those 29:41 who followed Jesus Christ. 29:43 Acts chapter 26 and verses 9 through 11. 29:46 The apostle Paul reminisces about his past experience, 29:50 and he says, "Indeed, I myself thought 29:53 I must do many things contrary to the name of 29:56 Jesus of Nazareth. 29:58 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints 30:01 I shut up in prison, having received authority from the 30:04 chief priests; and when they were put to death, 30:07 I cast my vote against them. 30:09 And I punished them often in every synagogue 30:12 and compelled them to blaspheme; 30:16 and being exceedingly enraged against them, 30:19 I persecuted them even to foreign cities." 30:26 So was Saul of Tarsus. 30:30 The one who was centered on the Jewish nation 30:34 and preserving the faith of the Jewish nation 30:37 without Christ. 30:39 Now we're told in the story in Acts that Saul of Tarsus 30:44 was present at the stoning of Stephen, this champion 30:48 that had preached the gospel. 30:49 And as a result, many Jews had left Judaism 30:52 and many priests had left Judaism, and they had 30:55 embraced Christianity. 30:57 And so Stephen was public enemy number one 31:00 in the mind of Saul. 31:01 We're told in Acts 7 verses 57 and 58, 31:05 speaking about the stoning of Stephen, 31:07 "Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, 31:11 and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him 31:14 out of the city and stoned him. 31:16 And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet 31:19 of a young man named Saul." 31:24 In fact, Saul was the ringleader in this lynching. 31:30 Notice Acts 22 and verse 20. 31:32 Acts 22 and verse 20. 31:35 Speaking about the death of Stephen, it says, 31:37 "And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, 31:40 I also was standing by consenting to his death, 31:44 and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him." 31:50 He was egging everybody on to destroy Stephen 31:57 who was gaining many converts from Judaism. 32:00 Because he saw that Christianity was growing by leaps and bounds, 32:03 he said, "Judaism will disappear, 32:06 the religion of the fathers." 32:08 So Saul decided that he would travel to Damascus 32:13 because he had heard that there were Christians 32:16 in Damascus. 32:17 And so he received permission from the high priest, 32:21 and he began his expedition to Damascus. 32:26 I've been there. It's an interesting place. 32:28 I wouldn't be able to go there today because of 32:31 what's happening in Syria. 32:34 But in May of 2001, shortly before the 9/11 thing, 32:40 I was able to go over there with Sarkis Kinablein, 32:43 who is one of the members of our church. 32:45 And it was a very interesting place. 32:48 Damascus, the oldest city on earth, they say. 32:51 And we actually visited the place where supposedly 32:55 Saul went to the house of Ananias after he was 32:59 blinded on the road to Damascus. 33:01 I want you to notice how the story continues to develop 33:04 in Acts chapter 9 verses 1 and 2. 33:07 "Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder 33:12 against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 33:15 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, 33:20 so that if he found any who were of the Way, 33:23 whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." 33:28 And so Saul of Tarsus began his journey towards Damascus. 33:34 And he would have arrived to Damascus from the southwest. 33:40 Now on the road to Damascus he had a life changing experience 33:46 that was to change, not only his life, 33:48 but his theology forever. 33:51 He had an encounter, a personal encounter, 33:55 with his enemy, Jesus Christ. 33:59 Saul discovered that by persecuting the body of Christ, 34:02 he was actually persecuting Christ. 34:05 Because Christ is the head and the church is His body. 34:08 He had been kicking against the pricks. 34:11 And his conscience, from the time that Stephen had been 34:14 stoned, had bothered him. 34:16 He knew deep in his heart that Stephen was in the right 34:20 and that he was in the wrong. 34:22 So we find these words in Acts 9:3-6, it says, 34:26 "As he journeyed he came near Damascus, 34:29 and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 34:32 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 34:35 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 34:41 And he said, 'Who are You, Lord?' 34:44 Then the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 34:49 It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 34:53 So he, trembling and astonished, said, 34:55 'Lord, what do You want me to do?'" 34:59 On the road to Damascus he encountered Jesus Christ. 35:04 And his encounter with Jesus Christ transformed his life 35:08 and transformed his theology from Jewish centered 35:12 to Christ centered. 35:15 In Acts 22 verses 16 through 18, we find that he was directed 35:21 to go to the house of Ananias. 35:23 And there at the house of Ananias, Saul of Tarsus 35:27 was baptized into Christ. 35:30 Let's read it in Acts 22 verses 16 through 18. 35:35 "But the Lord said to him," that is to Ananias, 35:38 "'Go to the house of Judas, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine 35:43 to bear My name from the Gentiles, kings, 35:45 and the children of Israel. 35:47 For I will show him how many things he must suffer 35:50 for My name's sake.' 35:51 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; 35:55 and laying his hands on him he said, 35:57 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the 36:01 road as you came, has sent me that you may receive 36:05 your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' 36:09 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, 36:12 and he received his sight at once; and he arose 36:16 and was baptized." 36:20 You know, those scales that fell off of his eyes 36:23 were more than physical scales. 36:25 He could now see clearly what his religion was all about. 36:32 Now I want you to notice Galatians chapter 3 36:35 and verses 26 and 27. 36:37 Galatians 3 verses 26 and 27. 36:40 Those who are baptized put on Christ. 36:44 In other words, Saul of Tarsus, when he was baptized, 36:46 he became a Christian. 36:49 He became a believer in the Messiah, 36:50 and he received the Spirit to proclaim the Messiah. 36:54 It says there in Galatians 3 verse 26, 36:56 "All those who have been baptized 36:59 into Christ have..." What? 37:00 "...have put on Christ." 37:04 So at his baptism, Saul of Tarsus puts on Jesus Christ. 37:09 He is now a Christian. 37:11 He is now a true seed of Abraham. 37:15 He is a true descendent of Abraham. 37:17 Before, he was not. 37:19 Because when he was persecuting the Christians, 37:22 he was doing the work of the devil. 37:25 But when he embraces Jesus Christ, he's doing the work 37:28 of the Lord. 37:29 Are you following me. 37:31 He was, before, a Jew. But he was not a true Jew. 37:35 When he receives Jesus, he is now a true Jew. 37:38 Because those who have accepted Jesus 37:40 are the true seed of Abraham. 37:42 Notice Galatians chapter 3 and verse 29. 37:46 Galatians 3 verse 29 says, "If you are Christ's, 37:51 then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs 37:54 according to the promise." 37:55 Who is a descendent of Abraham? 37:59 A descendent of Abraham is one who has accepted 38:03 Jesus Christ as the Messiah. 38:06 It doesn't matter if you're Chinese, 38:08 it doesn't matter if you're Filipino, 38:11 it doesn't matter if you're Colombian, or Argentinean, 38:14 or Puerto Rican. 38:16 It doesn't matter what nation you're from. 38:18 When you receive Jesus as your Savior and as your Lord, 38:22 you are Israel. 38:25 You are the seed of Abraham. 38:27 Because those who have joined Christ are the seed of Abraham. 38:31 They are true Israel. 38:34 So with whom is prophecy going to be fulfilled? 38:38 These prophecies that speak about Israel, 38:40 with whom are they going to be fulfilled? 38:42 With the literal Jews in the Middle East? 38:45 No, they're not the true Jews, 38:48 according to the biblical definition. 38:50 And so now the emphasis of Saul of Tarsus 38:55 totally shifts and changes. 38:58 It is not now Israel centered, it is Christ centered. 39:03 In Acts chapter 9 and verse 22, this is what it says, 39:08 "But Saul increased all the more in strength, 39:11 and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, 39:15 proving that this Jesus is the Christ." 39:19 And that word, "Christ," is the word, "Messiah." 39:24 The anointed One, Christ; we get the word, 39:27 "Christian," from. 39:29 It means, to anoint. Right? 39:31 And so Saul says, and he actually debates with the 39:35 Jews in Damascus, and he says, "Jesus is the Christ." 39:40 Saul's encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus 39:43 had a deep impact upon him. 39:46 You know, it's interesting that the story of his conversion 39:48 is told three times in the book of Acts. 39:51 Once, it's told by the one who wrote the book. 39:55 That is Luke. 39:57 And then Paul himself tells that story in chapter 22 40:00 and in chapter 26. 40:02 I think that is considered extremely important 40:05 in understanding Saul of Tarsus. 40:08 Notice how his theology shifted. 40:11 Philippians 3 and verses 3 through 11. 40:14 Philippians chapter 3 and verses 3 through 11. 40:18 We've read this before, but now we read it in the context 40:21 of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. 40:24 Here, the apostle Paul says, "For we are the circumcision, 40:29 who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, 40:35 and have no confidence in the flesh..." 40:38 Wow, isn't that amazing? 40:40 He says, "We worship God in the Spirit..." 40:43 This is real circumcision. 40:44 Is this spiritual circumcision? 40:47 Yes it is. 40:48 "We worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, 40:51 and have no confidence in the flesh..." 40:52 But then he reminisces about his past. 40:56 He says, "...though I also might have confidence in the flesh. 41:01 If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, 41:05 I more so: circumcised the eighth day, 41:09 of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, 41:13 a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 41:20 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; 41:23 concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." 41:29 That's the old Paul. 41:32 But now notice what he says. 41:34 "But what things were gain to me, 41:37 I have counted loss for Christ. 41:43 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence 41:48 of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have 41:53 suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, 41:57 that I may gain Christ and can be found in Him, 42:02 not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, 42:05 but that which is through faith in Christ, 42:07 the righteousness which is from God by faith; 42:11 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, 42:15 and the fellowship of His sufferings, 42:17 being conformed to His death, if, by any means, 42:20 I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." 42:24 And now the persecutor becomes the persecuted. 42:29 Notice 2 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 22 to 28. 42:32 Everything that Saul of Tarsus went through, 42:34 he did lose all. 42:37 But he gained all. 42:39 Because when you lose everything you have, 42:41 and you have everything that Jesus has, 42:43 you have much more than you had before. 42:47 Notice 2 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 22. 42:51 "Are they Hebrews? 42:53 So am I. 42:55 Are they Israelites? So am I. 42:59 Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 43:03 Are they ministers of Christ?" 43:05 Then he says, "I speak as a fool; I am more: 43:10 in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, 43:14 in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 43:18 From the Jews five times I have received 43:21 forty stripes minus one. 43:22 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; 43:30 three times I was shipwrecked; 43:32 a night and a day I have been in the deep; 43:35 in journeys often, in perils of waters, 43:37 in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, 43:40 in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, 43:43 in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, 43:46 in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, 43:49 in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, 43:52 in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 43:56 Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: 43:59 my deep concern for all the churches." 44:05 You say, "Wow, he gave up a lot." 44:09 He gave up nothing. 44:11 And you know, one of the most exciting things 44:14 that is ever going to happen is when Saul of Tarsus 44:17 and Stephen meet. 44:19 Whoa, I've got to see that. 44:24 Because Stephen did not know that Saul was converted. 44:30 And so you can imagine. 44:31 Allow me to dramatize just briefly here. 44:36 Give me the joy of recreating what might happen 44:41 when we get to heaven. 44:42 Here you have Saul of Tarsus walking down the street of gold. 44:46 And from the opposite direction comes Stephen walking. 44:51 The apostle Paul, Saul of Tarsus, looks 44:54 and he sees Stephen. 44:56 And Stephen, he looks and he sees Saul. 44:59 And he says, "You look familiar. 45:05 Are you Saul of Tarsus? 45:09 Why, you nasty character." 45:11 Ha, that's not what he's going to say. 45:13 What is he going to say? 45:16 "Saul, you accepted Jesus as your Savior? 45:21 You were saved too? 45:23 You're kidding me." 45:24 And there's going to be this great embrace 45:27 between the martyr and the martyrizer. 45:32 That is going to be tremendous when Saul of Tarsus 45:36 meets Stephen. 45:38 And by the way, there will be no hard feelings. 45:42 Stephen will be just happy to see that Saul of Tarsus 45:45 is saved in the kingdom. 45:48 Saul discovered a revolutionary truth. 45:53 And that is, that God has only one true people; 45:57 those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 46:02 God does not have two mutually separable peoples; 46:05 the literal Jews and the Christian church. 46:08 There is only one people of God, and they are not defined 46:12 by their ethnicity, by their nationality, 46:15 by their social status, by their gender, 46:18 by their color. 46:21 They are defined as the people of God by their relationship 46:24 to Jesus Christ. 46:26 Now let's take a look at the fact that in the New Testament 46:34 God's people are only one. 46:38 Because dispensationalism says that God has two peoples. 46:42 One people is the literal Jews. 46:45 And God's plan for them is after the rapture. 46:49 Another plan of God is for the Gentiles, or for the church. 46:53 And they're going to be raptured to heaven. 46:55 So God has two peoples and He has two different plans 46:59 for those peoples. 47:01 But my Bible tells me that God has one people, 47:04 and one plan for that people. 47:06 Now let's notice how this develops. 47:09 God has only one fold. 47:12 And that fold has only one Shepherd. 47:15 Notice John chapter 10 and verse 16. 47:17 We're going to notice several passages in Scripture 47:20 that speak about the word, "one," now. 47:22 One fold, one Shepherd. 47:24 John 10 and verse 16. 47:27 And Jesus says, "Other sheep I have which are 47:31 not of this fold." 47:32 Who are those other sheep that were not of that fold? 47:36 Jesus was sent first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, 47:38 so who would the other sheep be? 47:41 It would be the Gentiles. 47:42 "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; 47:45 them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; 47:49 and there will be two flocks and one shepherd." 47:53 Thank you very much. 47:54 You're still awake. 47:55 After such a long day. 47:58 "...there will be one flock and one shepherd." 48:02 Will Gentiles and Jews both be one flock? 48:05 Absolutely. 48:06 John 11:51-52 48:10 Here we have a commentary on what Caiaphas said. 48:13 "Now this he did not say on his own authority; 48:17 but being high priest that year he prophesied that 48:21 Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, 48:25 but also that He would gather together in one 48:29 the children of God who were scattered abroad." 48:34 So are there two flocks? 48:37 There is only one flock composed of Jews and Gentiles, 48:41 and there is one Shepherd, Jesus Christ. 48:44 There is only one Israel, folks. 48:47 One true Israel. 48:49 Notice Romans chapter 2 and verses 28 and 29. 48:53 The New Testament is so clear on this. 48:55 It's difficult to understand how people don't catch this point. 49:00 See, what they do is literalize. 49:02 And they lose the deep spiritual significance of Bible prophecy 49:07 because they're expecting everything to be fulfilled 49:08 literally in the Middle East. 49:11 A literal antichrist in a literal temple, a literal image, 49:15 a literal three and a half years. 49:18 And they lose that the antichrist is in the temple now. 49:21 He's sitting in there. 49:25 And his helper is growing right here in this country; 49:29 the beast that rises from the earth that has 49:31 two horn like a lamb. 49:32 People can't see it... 49:34 ...because they're looking in the wrong place. 49:36 They think that God is fulfilling prophecy 49:38 with literal Israel, when the New Testament clearly says 49:42 that Israel is spiritual, and it's worldwide. 49:46 Romans 2:28-29 49:49 "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly..." 49:54 What is an outward Jew? 49:58 Ethnic, right? 50:00 Circumcised. 50:03 With the last name, Goldberg. 50:07 Yeah. 50:10 "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, 50:14 nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 50:19 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; 50:23 and circumcision is that of the heart..." 50:28 Converted heart, folks. 50:30 "...in the Spirit, not in the letter..." 50:33 Which the Jews emphasized. 50:35 "...whose praise is not from men..." 50:37 Because the Jewish nation loved to be praised by men. 50:40 "...but from..." Whom? 50:41 "...but from God." 50:43 So are there true Jews and counterfeit Jews? 50:46 Yes, there are outward Jews and there are inward Jews. 50:49 So with whom is prophecy going to be fulfilled? 50:51 With the outward Jews, right? 50:53 No. With the in. 50:56 Why would the devil want to persecute outward Jews? 51:00 He wants to persecute those who have a true relationship 51:03 with Jesus Christ. 51:04 Notice Romans 9 verses 6 through 8. 51:07 Romans 9 verses 6 through 8. 51:10 Here, the apostle Paul says, "But it is not that the 51:13 word of God has taken no effect. 51:16 For they are not all Israel who are of Israel..." 51:21 Isn't that interesting. 51:22 Not all Israel is Israel. 51:25 Now that sounds like a weird statement. 51:28 What does he mean? 51:30 "...nor are they all children because they are the 51:34 seed of Abraham..." 51:37 Are there children of Abraham that are not 51:38 really children of Abraham? 51:40 Yes. 51:42 Now notice, "...but, 'In Isaac your seed shall be called.'" 51:47 Now comes the explanation. 51:48 "That is, those who are the children of the flesh..." 51:53 Who are those, the children of the flesh? 51:56 Literal Jews. 51:57 "...those who are the children of the flesh, 52:00 these are not the children of God; 52:02 but the children of the promise are counted as the seed." 52:06 That is, the promise of the Messiah; 52:08 the children of the Messiah. 52:11 Thus, Israel is not defined geographically, ethnically, 52:15 or genetically, but relationally. 52:18 Jesus is the only faithful Israelite. 52:20 And when we receive Him as our Savior, 52:23 we too become Israelites. 52:26 Notice this interesting passage in Galatians 3 verse 16, 52:29 and verses 26 to 29. 52:31 This is kind of a strange apparent contradiction. 52:36 There's not a contradiction, but it appears kind of strange. 52:39 You'll see in a minute why. 52:41 Verse 16 says, "Now to Abraham and his Seed 52:44 were the promises made. 52:47 He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, 52:51 but as of one, 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ." 52:55 So to whom were the promises made? 52:57 They were made to Christ. 52:59 So how many seeds are there? 53:00 How many seeds of Abraham? 53:02 One. 53:04 Now you say, "Now wait a minute. 53:06 So the only seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ?" 53:09 That's what Paul is saying. 53:10 He said the promises were not made to "seeds," 53:14 the promise was made to the "Seed." 53:17 Now are we going to benefit from those promises? 53:19 How? 53:21 Well, because we live in the Middle East. 53:24 Because we have literal Jewish blood flowing through our veins. 53:29 No. 53:30 Let's go to verse 26. 53:32 It says in verse 26, "For you are all sons of God 53:36 through faith in Christ Jesus." 53:38 How do we become true sons of God, true Israel? 53:40 By faith in Christ Jesus. 53:42 "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ 53:46 have put on Christ. 53:48 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, 53:51 there is neither male nor female..." 53:53 And some people use that to say that we can ordain women 53:55 to the gospel ministry. 53:57 It's not talking about church offices at all. 54:01 That is twisting, that is twisting the Scriptures 54:06 beyond... 54:09 I don't have words to describe it. 54:10 Let me put it that way. 54:13 It's frustrating when I sit and I listen to people try to 54:16 twist this text and say that it's saying that 54:18 women can be pastors and they can be elders of the church. 54:21 This is speaking about salvation and your status in Christ. 54:26 Pure and simple. 54:28 Forgive me for being so zealous about this. 54:30 But I belong to the Theology of Ordination Committee. 54:33 And we have to sit and we have to listen 54:35 to a lot of foolishness. 54:37 So now notice what it says. 54:40 Verse 28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, 54:43 there is neither slave nor free, 54:45 there is neither male nor female; for you are all one..." 54:49 How many? 54:50 How many true Israel does God have? 54:53 You are one Israel in Christ Jesus. 54:56 And then it say, "If you are Christ's, then you are 55:00 Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." 55:04 Do you know why we are the seed of Abraham? 55:06 Because we're linked with Jesus. 55:09 In other words, if you want to be a son or daughter of God, 55:11 you have to become a brother or sister of Jesus. 55:16 Let me amplify that point in the couple of minutes 55:18 that we have left in this segment. 55:23 You know, Jesus is the only individual who really has the 55:27 right to be called the son of God in a very special sense. 55:31 He's the Son of God. 55:35 How do we become sons of God? 55:39 Well the fact is that to become sons of God, 55:41 we have to become brothers and sisters of Jesus first. 55:44 So when I'm baptized, I become a brother of Jesus. 55:51 And then Jesus comes before the Father and He says, 55:53 "Father, I've got a new brother." 55:57 And the Father says, "Really, You've got a new brother?" 55:59 "Yes." 56:01 "Who is he?" 56:03 "Pastor Stephen Bohr." 56:05 And the Father says, "Really? 56:07 Stephen Bohr is Your brother? 56:09 Well if he's Your brother, he's My son too." 56:14 That's what Jesus meant when He said, 56:15 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. 56:18 No man cometh unto the Father but by Me." 56:23 That's why Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren. 56:29 So when we join Jesus, we become His brothers and sisters. 56:32 And because we're brothers and sisters, 56:34 we inherit with Him all of the promises. 56:38 But the promises are not inherited out of Christ, 56:41 they are inherited in Christ. 56:44 None of the promises will be fulfilled to literal Israel 56:47 if they don't link with Jesus, because the promises 56:50 were made to Jesus. 56:51 And when you receive Jesus, the promises are yours as well. 56:56 It is so clear. 56:59 It's kind of like a tomato plant. 57:01 You take a little tomato seed, you plant it, 57:03 and you have a tomato plant. 57:05 How many tomatoes on that tomato plant? 57:09 At least dozens. 57:11 Do those tomatoes have seeds too? 57:13 Thousands of seeds. 57:16 And so you plant all those seeds. 57:19 And then you have thousands of plants. 57:24 Let me ask you, where do all those seeds come from? 57:26 From the one seed. 57:29 So when you link yourself with Jesus, 57:32 the seed, then you become the seed. 57:36 And then you share the message, and others become the seed. 57:40 Are you following me? 57:41 In other words, the key is linking with Jesus. 57:46 Not any other consideration. |
Revised 2015-05-07