Participants: Pr. John Lomacang, Pr. John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL080026
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00:01 Hello friends, grab your Bible and a friend
00:03 and sit back as we explore God's word 00:04 together on this addition of House Calls. 00:21 Well, friends welcome to another House Calls 00:23 program, it's so good to have tune in, 00:25 so good to have you join us for this excursion 00:27 in the Bible. And as you know my name 00:29 is John Lomacang and I'm Pastor John Stanton. 00:32 And it's great to have you here with us again 00:33 today on House Calls. That's right, 00:36 John its always good to be able to get into 00:37 homes of the people that are watching 00:38 and to walk with them through the Bible 00:41 and friends as you know today is no exception, 00:43 because the Lord is always ready to bless us, 00:46 always ready to give us something new. 00:48 So, get your Bibles, get your pens you may 00:51 want to hit the record button if you wanna 00:52 share this program. And continue to pray 00:55 for the leading of the Holy Spirit as John 00:57 right now leads us before the Lord in prayer 00:59 for this program. Amen. Dear Father in heaven, 01:02 we're so thankful to be able as we've sat here 01:05 to come together and study your word 01:06 and we pray that your Holy Spirit will lead 01:08 and guide, and touch each heart and touch 01:11 our minds in a way that maybe we aren't 01:13 anticipating here today. And may your presence 01:16 be with us as we study the topic of the day 01:18 in Jesus name Amen, amen. 01:21 And friends as you know this program has a lot 01:23 to do with your Bible questions we have some 01:26 questions today, but I know that 01:27 you may have some questions as you see 01:29 the program right now and you say, 01:30 well now how do I get those questions to House 01:32 Calls here's the address you need, 01:34 it's housecalls@3abn.org. 01:37 That's housecalls@3abn.org 01:40 just send them to us and we'll try our best to 01:43 answer them according to the scriptures but 01:45 I know that John has a Bible question 01:47 and so I'll let you lead in today. 01:49 What do you have? I've got a question here 01:51 from Geneva. Switzerland? Well, no she is not 01:54 from Switzerland she seems to be from the 01:57 states although I don't know which state here, 01:59 but she's asking a question that is a very 02:02 good one, it's about Abraham and his mission, 02:05 why God called him, okay. And she says here 02:09 please specify why God called Abraham 02:12 and why God expected Abraham descendants, 02:14 what he expected them to accomplish. 02:16 When so many things about God's word 02:18 are "folksy" that was just for the Jews. 02:23 God's blessings for Abraham is suppose to 02:25 include the whole world isn't it? Please explain. 02:28 Lets go to a few texts here 'cause I think 02:30 we're gonna see that in fact God did call Abraham 02:33 to bestow blessings through him upon the 02:36 whole world. And we'll start with Genesis 02:38 chapter 22, okay. In Genesis 22, I want to 02:41 just read a few texts here and there from 02:43 three different passages of scripture showing 02:45 that this commission of this mission that God 02:48 had given to Abraham carried right on through 02:51 to his descendants and then into the church, 02:53 the church area today. Verse 18 it says 02:56 in Genesis 22 that, in your seed all the nations 03:01 of the earth shall be blessed, because 03:03 you have obeyed my voice. So, clearly part 03:06 of the covenant that God made with Abraham 03:09 was not just to bring him a blessing, 03:11 but all his descendants and through them 03:14 the entire world would be blessed, that's right. 03:17 If you read just a couple of chapters over, 03:19 few chapters Genesis 26 beginning with 03:23 verse 5, now lets see, no verse 4, 03:29 this is the covenant restated to now 03:32 Abraham's son Isaac. And it says 03:35 and I will make your descendants multiply 03:37 as the stars of the heaven, and I will give 03:40 to your descendants all these lands; 03:42 and in your seed all the nations of the earth 03:44 shall be blessed. Again, referring to all the 03:47 nations of the earth. Now God, you know I said 03:52 this several times and I will say it again, 03:53 God's people, the children of the Israel, 03:56 the nation of Israel was given a commission 03:58 and it came, it began with Abraham of course 04:00 we know the ever lasting covenant, 04:02 the overarching covenant began way back with 04:04 Adam and Eve, right. But, this specific 04:06 covenant to Abraham and his descendants 04:08 came on down through the people, 04:10 until Christ day and when Christ came 04:13 he came to, to give them up, or to get them 04:16 excited about that covenant to reach the 04:18 entire world. Now the world had become quite 04:21 popular by then. So, the work was even a greater 04:25 work to do with that time. Just pure, 04:26 you know purely by how many people were 04:28 existing that day. And we find that God's people 04:33 had been given this but to a great degree 04:35 that had become reluctant, because 04:37 it become very sectarian, it was well 04:40 they're clean, everybody else is unclean, even 04:42 the Samaritans, which worshiped as they did 04:44 were connected with them in the worshiping 04:46 of the true God were considered the dogs 04:49 of the earth. So, you can see their mentality 04:51 back then was very much you know we're it, 04:53 you know we're the people of God. Others 04:55 the gentiles, they don't have that blessing. 04:58 But that wasn't God's purpose, and we'll find 05:00 here in the great commission now given 05:02 to Jews, okay. We forget this given to the Jews 05:06 which of course we as the church know that 05:08 we as his disciples carry on to the world as well. 05:11 But, look at this great commission given to the 05:13 Jews found in Matthew chapter 28, 05:17 Matthew chapter 28, Matthew 28 verse 19. 05:24 Jesus is speaking to his disciples here 05:26 and he says go therefore, and make 05:28 disciples of Jerusalem. Of all nations, 05:34 it's all nations. Baptizing them in the name 05:37 of the father and the son and of the Holy Spirit. 05:40 So, all nations are included again Jesus 05:43 is saying in the blessing that he sort initially 05:46 to extend through the nation of Israel. 05:49 And keep in mind, for those of you who have 05:51 understand the prophecy here, the prophecy 05:53 of the 490 years that had not yet ended, 05:56 there was still three and half years until the 06:00 probation were to close for the Jews as a people 06:02 to engage in their mission to reach 06:05 the world. And to you know bring in 06:09 righteousness and usher in the Messiah 06:11 and present the Messiah to the rest of the world 06:13 so that nations could be blessed. 06:15 So, John here we have part of the original 06:17 commission given to Abraham, given to Isaac, 06:21 but way down in Christ day given to the people 06:25 and the nation of Israel. Now we know what 06:28 happened to that commission, after the 06:30 three and half years had happened. 06:31 After that preaching had gone forth, 06:33 we see that in Acts. We finally see that Stephen 06:37 was martyred, he's one of the head deacons 06:40 of the church. Stephen was martyred by 06:44 or at least ordered to be martyred by the leaders 06:47 of Israel. Thus sealing Israel's fate or closing 06:51 their probation with a no Lord, we're not 06:53 wanting to do, to accept the commission 06:56 you've given to us. So, from then on 06:57 we've seen that this commission extents to 06:59 the church, right. And this church is still 07:01 taking to all the world. The same commission 07:04 given to Abraham way back, when. 07:06 You know I think one of the reasons we get 07:08 confused these days is because, what is 07:11 being taught today is this dual covenant 07:14 theory and that is that the nation of Israel, 07:17 the people of the Israel down now through 07:19 the Jews are God's chosen people and he has 07:23 a covenant that remains with them to provide 07:26 a special blessing to them. But, that doesn't 07:29 follow scripture, and that the blessing we find 07:31 in scripture is suppose to be extended through 07:33 them to all people, right. And there 07:35 isn't this separate covenant that exists 07:37 with the church. That well the church is to 07:39 reach the gentiles, the Jews are to reach 07:41 the Jews and then we all kind of come together 07:44 at the end with you know culminating in one 07:47 nation, living a millennium on earth here with 07:50 Christ as it's leader. That's not really 07:52 what is happening and nor was it God's plan. 07:54 God had one everlasting covenant given to Adam 07:58 and Eve, given again or restated again to 08:01 Abraham and his son Isaac. You see this thing 08:04 is being passed on down through time 08:05 and then we find the great commission give 08:07 to the disciples, Jews at the time to reach 08:11 the world with. And so John I think there's a lot 08:15 of misconceptions about this because 08:16 there is so much attention on the 08:18 Middle East. You know what's happening with 08:19 God's people? You know we know the church 08:21 is over here in America doing it's work around 08:23 the world, but you know God's people are still 08:25 the chosen people like it's a 08:26 separate covenant but it's not. 08:28 No, it's a matter of fact what you said is right 08:32 on because there is no separate between, 08:35 this people and that people. 08:38 The Lord has there's the righteous 08:41 and there is the unrighteous, 08:43 that's right. Those who accept Christ and those 08:46 who don't accept Christ, so God is not 08:49 into smorgasbord salvation, there is 08:51 no other name given among men where 08:53 by we must be saved, that name is 08:55 Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can 08:57 save us. He is the only one through which 08:59 everyone must pass in order to get to 09:01 the father. Now, that's very, very clear. 09:03 But, whether the Jews fit in, the Lord chose 09:06 them and John when you use the phrase 09:08 seed in my mind I go all the way back to 09:12 Genesis 3, yeah. When Eve and Adam had fallen 09:17 into transgression obviously Eve was 09:19 deceived, Adam went to it with his eyes 09:21 wide open, the Lord said to Eve I will put 09:24 enmity between you and woman, he is saying, 09:27 the Lord said that to the serpent, 09:29 between you and the woman, between your 09:31 seed and her seed, that's right. See so now 09:34 you have a woman with this seed that 09:36 was to come. And from Eve's time to Abraham's 09:41 time to the time of Mary when Jesus was born 09:45 in the New Testament time that 09:46 we refer to now, women looked to their male 09:51 children being that promised seed. 09:54 And so even in the sense of Abraham and Isaac, 09:58 the blessing was not an earthly seed only that 10:02 is through the nation of Israel but they were 10:05 to carry on the blessing by doing the Lord's work. 10:08 And I want to make this very, very clear. 10:10 I think it's, I think its Roman's 9 verse 6, 10:13 check that out for me. Do you just turn to that? 10:16 Yes, that's exactly where I'm going. 10:18 You are so funny this happens to often. 10:21 He borrows my name, his name is John, 10:23 mine's John he's thinking my thoughts. 10:25 Read the text for me real quickly, 10:27 so I can preach off of that while John 10:29 is looking at that. It's amazing we think alike, 10:32 most people think we're the same just except 10:34 you know I have different hair styles, 10:36 three to four weeks, little differentiated 10:37 color, skin too but we're the same, that's why. 10:41 Here's verse 6 of Romans 9 starting with 10:44 verse 6, But it's not that the word of God 10:47 has taking to effect. For they are not 10:48 all Israel who are of Israel. 10:50 Okay, there you go, the text that I was just 10:52 going to read he was thinking about it, 10:55 that's why we do this program together. 10:57 They that are of Israel naturally are not only 11:01 Israel spiritually. That's the difference 11:03 and when Jesus came the problem in his day 11:06 was all those who are naturally Jews thought 11:10 they had an advantage over those who are not 11:12 naturally Jews. It was a continual processes, 11:15 even in John chapter 8 when the Jews said 11:18 we've never been slaves, how could you say 11:21 we've been slaves. We have our father 11:23 Abraham we have never, you know they go, 11:25 they boast on their lineage and Jesus 11:28 said whoever, whoever has sinned 11:30 is a slave to sin. They both said about the 11:33 woman at the well. She said this well was given 11:36 to us by our father, and Jesus says well 11:39 I'm the water of life. See so whoever, 11:41 whoever drinks of the water I give 11:43 who will never thirst again. 11:44 You continue to see that they kept pointing 11:46 to the lineage, right, rather than to the 11:49 spiritual application and even the word Israel 11:54 was the spiritual term that the Lord give to 11:56 Jacob that when he overcame, right. 11:59 When he prevailed in that night of wrestling, 12:01 when he was running from his brother Esau, 12:03 your name will no longer be called Jacob 12:05 but Israel. So, the word Israel it's a spiritual 12:08 term meaning the over comers, that's right. 12:11 So, but here is, well lets finish this, 12:13 I wanna read two more verses, go ahead. 12:15 Romans 9 and now verse 7, nor are they all 12:18 children because they are the seed of Abraham, 12:20 but in Isaac your seed shall be called. 12:23 So, he's extending his covenant down on 12:24 through to the descendants. Verse 8, 12:27 That is, those who are the children of the flesh 12:29 these are not the children of God, okay, 12:31 but the children of the promise are counted as 12:35 the seed. So, anyone that has received the promise 12:38 including the church, that's right. 12:39 Are candidates the seed of the woman that 12:41 started way back when, that's right. 12:43 And came down through Abraham and 12:45 his descendants as well. So, clearly that, 12:47 I mean this text doesn't work if you define it, 12:51 interrupt it the other way. So, clearly 12:54 we find that this covenant goes through, 12:56 passes right along through Israel as a 12:58 nation to Israel as the church and lets mention 13:01 that here. The church today is spiritual Israel, 13:04 it is still Israel. But, in the spiritual sense 13:07 it's Israel and that name carries down again 13:10 from Jacob right on down to the church today, 13:12 those who have persevered and those also 13:15 include those who have been faithful, 13:18 those who remain faithful to God are 13:19 counted as Israel. And in fact we find 13:24 and I know you have a question coming up 13:26 here on this, but we find that those who are 13:28 obedient to God, who follow God are children 13:31 of God and they're given the Holy Spirit. 13:34 And that comes down through and has ties 13:37 into this you know understanding the 13:38 covenant correctly too because God makes 13:40 this promise, but part of the promise 13:42 has been to send the Holy Spirit too. 13:44 So, anyway that's our next question, but. 13:47 You know that's a good segue but as 13:50 I wind up on Galatians 3 verse 29, 13:52 Galatians 3 talks about the seed in two 13:55 particulars. Galatians 3:19 talks about 13:57 the seed should come, but then 14:00 Galatians 3:29 says and if you are Christ, 14:04 if you belong to him then you are Abraham's 14:07 seed and heirs according to the promise. 14:10 So, that extends to you John and to me, 14:14 so we are not naturally Jews, but we are 14:17 spiritually Israel. And that's where the 14:21 difference comes in, in Acts chapter 13 14:22 you could follow that also where the Jews 14:24 were so determined that they were the only 14:27 ones chosen in Acts 13 verse 46, 14:31 then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, 14:33 it was necessary that the word of God 14:35 should be spoken to you first. 14:38 That was the key. But, since you reject it, 14:43 and judgey ourselves unworthy 14:44 of everlasting life, behold we turn to 14:46 the Gentiles. And so that's exactly what 14:49 they did, and here is the reason why God 14:50 chose them, I think the initial question was 14:52 why did God choose Abraham? 14:54 Here's the answer. For so the Lord has 14:56 commanded us, and this what the Lord had 14:58 chosen for Israel. For I have set you as a 15:01 light to the gentiles that you should be 15:03 for salvation to the ends of the earth. 15:05 So, the purpose that God chose Israel 15:07 was to carry the message forward. 15:09 The post office, well what if the post office 15:12 hasn't delivered my package, 15:13 well I could chose UPS, I could chose DHL, 15:16 I could chose Federal Express. 15:17 I won't have one option, and the Lord never 15:20 leaves himself without options. 15:21 The people that chose not to do it, 15:23 The people that chose not to do it, 15:24 he turned to the Gentiles to carry the message. 15:26 And the Bible says they were excited, 15:27 they were rejoiced and they were glad. 15:29 You know God doesn't say, oh and God creates 15:31 a new covenant with the gentiles. 15:32 There is no new covenant there although 15:34 there is new covenant in the transaction 15:36 of ministry, right from the old system 15:39 of sacrifices and ceremonies to the new 15:40 system of Christ as our high priest 15:42 in the heavenly sanctuary. 15:43 That's more about what the new covenants about, 15:45 right. But still God's people it's one ever 15:48 lasting covenant right on down through time, 15:50 through the God's people, the nation of 15:52 the Israel, to God's people to church. 15:54 And I like that John but when you use the 15:56 word covenant, the covenant is a promise 15:59 that the Lord makes to us. And because 16:02 we couldn't keep the covenant, that we made 16:04 with him because of the fatality of human flesh. 16:07 So, because of that the covenant that 16:10 the Lord made with us, even from the beginning. 16:11 He's able to carry that through, 16:13 and then when Jesus shed His blood, 16:15 that was the stamp that ratified, 16:18 that guaranteed. That now that covenant 16:20 has been fulfilled, so if anyone is in Christ 16:24 we are Abraham seed and we are heirs 16:26 according to the promise. It's a wonderful 16:29 study by the way, you shouldn't introduce 16:30 yourself to that. Here is another question 16:32 we have from Summerland, sorry from 16:35 Wayne in Summerland, British Columbia. 16:39 I'm assuming he's not the only Wayne 16:41 there but, here is the question. Hello John 16:43 and John, quite enjoy your show, 16:45 thank you for the insightfulness this truly 16:47 inspiring, a couple of weeks ago you made 16:49 a comment about the wise men visiting 16:52 Jesus in the manger. And then I change it 16:53 by the way. And Matthew 2:11 indicates 16:56 that it was a house that they visited Jesus. 16:58 We know that Jesus was born in the manger 17:00 and tradition has the wise men visiting Jesus 17:03 in the manger however, our question is, 17:06 is this the wise men visiting Jesus in the 17:09 manger biblical. Will you answer the question, 17:14 I like when people do that, they give the 17:17 whole answer and say it is biblical. 17:19 I wouldn't by the way even change that 17:22 at all, you ask the question, you answer 17:24 the question. It is not biblical, 17:26 that the wise men were at the manger, 17:28 the shepherds. And this is Luke 2:8 to 12, 17:32 the shepherds were the ones to whom 17:35 the angels appeared, in the field they were 17:38 keeping watch over their flock by night, 17:40 when the shepherds, the shepherds were told 17:42 that Jesus will be found in a manger, 17:44 lying in swaddling cloth. Then you find the 17:48 wise men were following the star that 17:50 announced the birth of Jesus, 17:52 but when they got to Jerusalem first 17:55 the Jews and the leader said what we heard 17:57 it was suppose to be Bethlehem 17:59 and then angel led them to Bethlehem. 18:01 And what happened when they went to 18:03 Jerusalem, Herod was nervous because 18:07 he says he thought to himself a king, 18:10 to take my place and then he said to the 18:12 wise men when he find them let me know 18:16 where he so that I will come and worship him, 18:18 by the John that's why I noticed that Satan 18:21 used worship for the purpose of killing Christ. 18:24 So, worship was not always, always 18:27 cracked up to be when is the wrong motive 18:28 behind it, that's right. Anyway the wise men 18:31 went to find Jesus and they found him 18:34 in a house with his mother and Joseph. 18:36 And the Bible says he was a young child, 18:39 that's right. A young child, Matthew 2 18:42 in verse 10, but they didn't go back 18:47 to Herod and tell him about finding the young 18:50 child in house. And to show you that the 18:52 time span between the wise men and 18:55 shepherds, Herod put out a decree to kill all 18:59 those who are two years old and younger. 19:01 So, it must have been about two years 19:03 between the time the shepherds saw Jesus 19:06 in the manger and the wise men saw him 19:08 in a house, a young child in house. 19:11 So, no the shepherds but people do that 19:14 and you'll notice during the Christmas season, 19:18 people are going to have the whole thing because 19:19 you know the shepherds and the wise men 19:21 had a part to fulfill in the Bible and because, 19:24 because they couldn't put the you know that 19:27 the nativity scene, that's what they call it 19:29 because they couldn't put this up, 19:30 little pieces at a time based on the time frame. 19:33 If they did that'll be two years apart. 19:36 They just put that there for the sake of the story. 19:38 Well, we can learn from that too, I mean 19:40 traditions don't necessarily mean that 19:42 something is absolutely true right. 19:43 And that's why it is so important that even 19:45 though you follow a tradition of your church 19:47 maybe or the church of large, it doesn't mean 19:49 it's actually true, let's go to Bible. 19:51 And that will tell us what is really true, 19:53 that's right. I have a question here John it's, 19:57 I have a question that we've gotten many 19:59 times in the past and it's probably I would 20:01 say in our top 10 question list you know 20:03 if we had top 10 questions that are most 20:05 commonly asked this is one of them, 20:07 and we haven't answered it for a while, 20:10 but here it says dear John L and John S. 20:13 I have been studying with this certain 20:16 denomination and she says the trainee 20:18 doctrine has pagan roots that should not be 20:20 followed, the doctrine doesn't even come 20:22 into being until after the third or fourth century. 20:25 And neither Jesus nor the disciples ever spoke 20:27 anything about it. If we are to come out 20:30 of pagan Babylon, why should be following 20:34 this doctrine. Jesus always referred to his 20:37 fathers commands praying to his father and 20:39 told Satan in Matthew 4:10 to worship 20:42 the Lord your God and serve him only. 20:44 He never wanted the glory for himself, 20:46 even for, even though his disciples sometimes 20:49 fell at his feet in worship or respect 20:52 and she's talking about here you know 20:54 shouldn't we actually be worshiping God 20:56 does he say that we can worship Jesus as God. 20:58 So, clearly she has an issue with, 21:00 she doesn't have an issue with Jesus 21:02 being God, that's not a problem. It's seems 21:04 to be the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of the 21:06 trinity, the tradition of the Holy Spirit as a 21:08 being is a separate person or being of the 21:10 God head, and probably also the word 21:12 itself trinity and so. Before you answer 21:15 that even the suggestion that well they were 21:18 times when the disciples wanted to fall 21:20 at the feet of Jesus and worship him. 21:22 And he said you know worship my father, 21:24 worship my father, not worship me, 21:27 yeah, but you know I just want to make sure 21:30 that in answering that question I know that 21:35 they are so many views about trinity 21:37 and the Trinitarians, Trinitarianism. 21:39 There are so many views the manifestations 21:42 of the father so, I let you answer that 21:43 and I'll kind of segue off. 21:45 Well we have, there are views, 21:46 and it does go back to the word was used 21:48 initially as they're saying back in the early 21:50 centuries where the council had come together 21:52 they found the Triune God and assigned 21:56 a name the trinity and it's actually with that 22:00 name I think it's had a little bit of deviation 22:02 from scripture and how they applied that 22:04 sometimes too, which is why a lot of us have 22:06 issues with the word trinity. So, we most 22:09 often use the God head, which we find actually 22:11 appearing in scripture so as a 22:14 Seventh-Day Adventist church we frequently 22:16 talk about the God head, three in one. 22:18 And those three of course being Father, 22:20 Son and Holy Spirit, right. And we see 22:23 couple of instances that they all appear 22:24 and it seems to appear very clearly as separate 22:28 beings of God. The first time at Jesus baptism 22:32 we find that in Matthew 3 I also believe John 3 22:35 where it says, that Jesus came up out of the 22:37 water that he heard his father saying 22:40 this is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased 22:42 and then of course the dove ascending 22:44 in this presence of the Holy Spirit upon him, 22:47 to anoint him for his official ministry 22:50 on this earth, right. You know was still 22:52 last three and half years. And so we see 22:54 all three playing a part, in his anointing 22:57 and bringing him up for a ministry. 22:59 And so that's the first one. 23:02 Then we also find in 1 John 5:7 reference 23:07 to 2 through 3. And it says here, 23:10 For there are three that bear witness 23:12 in heaven, the Father, the Word, 23:14 and the Holy Spirit and these three are one. 23:17 So, when we say these three being we're not 23:19 saying it's more than one God, 23:21 no. We're saying that God is manifested, 23:24 by three actual beings, separate beings 23:28 as part of the God head, now this issue most 23:32 of time it boils down to the Holy Spirit, 23:33 that's the biggest question. 23:34 And they are questions clearly about you know 23:37 was Jesus God you know was he with God, 23:41 his father from the very beginning. 23:42 The Bible is actually very explicit about that, 23:45 it's actually no denying the fact that Jesus 23:47 in fact is God, right. I always use a term 23:51 there is no deity without eternity. 23:53 And Jesus was deity, he was eternal. 23:55 We can't separate those two from each other. 23:58 But, when it comes to the Holy Spirit 23:59 John sometimes you know we kind of break 24:04 his influence down to the presence of the 24:09 power of God. It's the presence or the power 24:12 eliminating from God, and that's his spirit, 24:14 but it doesn't have its own character 24:16 it doesn't have its own work as a separate 24:18 being of the God head. But, we find that 24:20 that's not actually true. That in the Bible 24:23 refers to several times, that the Holy Spirit 24:26 is something that can be clenched 24:28 we can hurt his feelings, we can push him away, 24:30 we can drive him away. Frequently its referred 24:33 to as him in the Bible. And another helper 24:38 as Jesus was a helper the Holy Spirit is another 24:41 helper so it's not just power coming down. 24:44 So, several times we find that the Holy Spirit 24:47 clearly. John is a being of the God head just 24:51 as surely as the Father and the Son 24:53 Jesus Christ are beings of the God head. 24:55 Yes, this is the subject that is deep 24:59 and broad at the same time. 25:02 To try to think in human terms of the God had. 25:06 Couple of quandaries we find ourselves in one, 25:09 is we cannot think of anything that did not 25:12 have a beginning that's the first thing, 25:14 right. We always think in terms of beginning 25:16 well where did God the Father come from, 25:18 where did his Son come from, where did the 25:22 Holy Spirit come from. You find a number 25:24 of books in the Bible that will give you some 25:26 glimpses into that, but the Bible only 25:28 encapsulates some, the Bible is the book 25:31 that contains all the knowledge necessary 25:32 for salvation, it doesn't contain the full mind 25:35 and the broad expands of God. 25:38 The Bible does not unequivocally explain 25:41 how God came here. Oh! Can you imagine 25:43 dissertation in actually reading how long that 25:45 dissertation would be on the true, yeah. 25:48 As a matter of fact John even said just 25:50 pertaining to Jesus' life he says, 25:52 and I suppose that they would be other books 25:55 written about what Jesus did and the world 25:58 itself couldn't contain the books, 26:00 if it were written and that was in John 26:01 chapter 21, so that's just a three-and-half year 26:03 life span, yeah as people say well what did 26:05 Jesus do, the Bible contained what was 26:07 necessary for salvation. However John, I look 26:12 at the example of that and just follow me 26:14 for a moment here. See, see for example 26:17 you said to me you have a map of Springfield 26:20 that's where you live, now for me to say. 26:23 John would you please get me an atlas, 26:25 I want an atlas. I'm coming to your house 26:27 I need an atlas. John says you need a map 26:33 of Springfield that's where I live, why would 26:35 you need an atlas? Right, I said John 26:38 I need a topographical atlas. I would like one 26:42 with elevations, I like one with you know 26:45 incline, decline. I want literally a 26:48 topographical statistical map of the entire world. 26:52 But, I'm just going to your house, right. 26:54 And John would say to me, this map contains 26:56 all the knowledge necessary to get you to 26:59 my house. To get to where you are. 27:00 That's what the Bible is, it contains all the 27:03 knowledge necessary to get to where the father 27:06 is leading us, and to also get us into the 27:08 relationship and the knowledge that he wants 27:09 for us to obtain in this life. So, to try to figure 27:14 God out, even the Bible writers says can 27:17 we by searching find out God yet, 27:19 men wrote this book under the inspiration 27:22 of the Holy Spirit. But, to wind this up John 27:24 it's very, it's very simple. The burden approve 27:29 is on the person who says, that there is no 27:33 eternal aspect to the God head or the 27:36 Holy Spirit wasn't there. Genesis 1 makes it very, 27:39 very clear. What I was suggesting is, 27:41 Genesis 1 doesn't go far back as John chapter 1, 27:45 and Hebrews chapter 1. Those books go further 27:49 back and when you look at Hebrews 1 27:51 and I will just wind up on this, well you know 27:54 John chapter 1 it says in the beginning 27:55 was the word and the word was with God 27:57 in the word was God. And he became flesh, 28:00 and dwelt among us. No tickle there, 28:03 that's okay. He became flesh and dwelt among us, 28:06 John chapter 1 verse 14 so the word 28:08 who was also God became flesh and dwelt 28:12 among us. No dispute, God, alright. 28:16 Then later on you find in Hebrews chapter 1 28:19 and the Bible says to whom to which of the 28:22 angels did God the Father ever say, 28:24 your thrown oh God is forever, referring 28:28 to Jesus once again as God. But, there, 28:31 there is a sect out there, there's a religion 28:32 out there that says, where he is the 28:34 mighty God, and then the father in heaven 28:36 is all mighty God. But, that's in correct. 28:39 And also they say that you know if there are 28:42 lot of them would kind of compromise, 28:43 they say if there is any Godness in Christ 28:45 it was given to him, yeah, right he wasn't with 28:48 the Father from the very beginning, 28:49 it was just one. But, did you know one of the 28:53 big aspects in the issues that they have with this 28:55 and I know you were gonna read something 28:56 from Hebrews 1 but one of the big aspects 28:58 here is something we've been studying recently 29:00 here in our Sabbath school lessons 29:01 which is the atonement, the atonement fall short 29:05 if Jesus is not God and humanity, right, 29:09 why is that? Well, because we can't save ourselves 29:12 in our humanity, if Jesus was just human 29:14 how could he link with God to bring us up into 29:18 a redemptive or a relationship with God to 29:20 reconcile us back to God. He had to be God, 29:22 and had to be one of us. Right, in order, 29:25 so the uniqueness of his person and who he was 29:28 and that he was the son of God, deity 29:31 and the son the man humanity linked those both 29:34 together and we're reconciled and saved 29:35 by him, right reconciled. Through that, 29:38 through his person, who he is. 29:40 Making the two one breaking down that 29:42 middle wall of partition. That's right. 29:44 The Holy Spirit, oh lets wind up on this thought 29:46 here, my mind was going somewhere else 29:49 I turned the Bible, oh yeah here it is. 29:51 Jesus is not mighty God I had a conversation 29:54 with a person once who says well. 29:56 I know the Father is almighty God but Jesus 29:58 is mighty God. Says all mighty then there 30:00 is mighty try to put them on different levels. 30:03 Friends, bad, bad mistake not a very good 30:06 application of scripture. Revelation 1, 30:09 the Revelation of Jesus Christ okay that's 30:12 what it says the Revelation of Jesus 30:13 Christ who was he described as Revelation 1 30:16 that was Revelation 1:1 his Revelation 1:8 30:19 and this what is said of Jesus, I am the Alpha 30:23 and the Omega, the beginning and the end, 30:25 that what he says he's the beginning, 30:27 he is the beginning, he is the beginning, 30:30 he was not just there in the beginning 30:32 he is the beginning, get that differences 30:35 all together who he is present, 30:38 who was and who is to come The Almighty okay. 30:44 So, clearly you see that Jesus is the beginning 30:47 not was in the beginning only. 30:50 I have to say something we're done with that 30:52 subject. Yes. But, I have to say one thing 30:54 about studying God's word and that is some 30:56 times when you get down to these things 30:57 and you start studying, this group and some other 31:00 groups will say well the Bible really 31:02 wasn't translated correctly and there are 31:04 some problem, as soon as you hear someone 31:07 starting to break down God's word as not 31:09 being exactly you know accurate or carried down 31:11 through and has lost somehow, it's wording 31:14 and some other things it doesn't really mean 31:15 exactly what it says you're in trouble. Yeah,. 31:18 I would say don't even study there, 31:19 in fact I myself if I'm doing a Bible study, 31:22 one of the first thing I cover is making sure 31:25 that we are in harmony with how 31:26 we see and view the word of God. 31:28 Could I be blatant, let me be blatant, 31:31 let me not have you meander in the maze 31:34 and mediocrity, I wonder what we're talking about. 31:36 The new world translation which was 31:38 put up by the Jehovah's witnesses, 31:40 the claim is as long as that, the claim 31:44 is the Bible that you own, the King James 31:48 Version new King James Version is only 31:50 accurate as it agrees with the new world 31:51 translation, that's the claim. Also in the same 31:54 sense The Book of Mormon it's another testament 31:57 that's added, they call it another testament 31:59 but the Bible is excepted as it is interpreted 32:05 and in agreement with The Book of Mormon 32:07 so don't let those fractions fool you, 32:10 there's only one word when somebody 32:14 has to put there own Bible out to make 32:16 this Bible true, or to say that this Bible only 32:19 is true as it agrees with theses others books 32:21 that's, that's dangerous. Yeah. And that's the 32:24 thing you have to be careful of. 32:25 Right, anyway I said a lot to say this, 32:27 thank you for your Bible questions we had 32:30 about 3 or 4 more question but this was so 32:32 widely important we didn't want to cut 32:33 it short. If you have any questions you want 32:35 to send to us send those questions to 32:37 housecalls@3abn.org that's housecalls@3abn.org 32:42 and we will try our best to answer those 32:44 questions hopefully we have done justice. 32:45 But if you are more confused than ever before 32:48 there is email that you need and if you don't 32:50 have email sent to PO Box 220, 32:53 West Frankfort, Illinois 62896. 32:56 And we can do that sometimes, 32:57 we can actually make these more confusing. 32:58 Yeah, we can make them, we can say to you 33:01 the burden improve is in your lap. 33:03 We have been talking about a dynamic 33:05 topic John. Amen. Spiritualism, right? 33:09 And spiritualism is alive and well today 33:14 and we are gonna continue in that topic 33:15 today to begin to open up the chest draw 33:19 so to speak to show you what's on the inside 33:21 of that and we will segueing out of Babylon, 33:26 the three unclean spirits, we talked about 33:29 what happen in the Garden of Eden where Satan 33:31 planted the very seed that has carried 33:34 throughout generations to bring men to the 33:37 point of darkness. But, I'll go ahead 33:38 and let you segued. We've talked about 33:40 deception that was his main, his main MO. 33:43 I would say if Satan had an MO. Method 33:46 of Operation it's deception, he's a liar 33:49 and he's been a liar from the very beginning 33:51 and so he is using you know when we talk 33:53 about Spiritualism and sorcery. 33:56 We're talking about some of the things he uses 33:58 to deceive but John I would say if there 34:01 is an avenue a grand avenue you know 34:03 you go down through a city and this is one 34:05 big thorough fair. If Satan has a grand avenue 34:09 of Spiritualism it's this, it's communication 34:13 with the dead, that's the communication with 34:18 the dead. Those who have gone from life to 34:20 death and our living in some spirit realm 34:23 and going beyond in and it's just not in paganism. 34:27 It's in the Church too. And that's, 34:31 that's what we wanna spent sometime maybe 34:32 in the next time two programs wrapping up 34:34 spiritualism with because I don't think the church 34:37 Christian them at large has an understanding 34:40 or fully comprehends spiritualism in this grand 34:44 avenue theme of communication with the 34:47 death. From the very beginning God told 34:50 his people never speak with the dead, 34:53 it's an abomination when you talk 34:55 to the dead and do not do it. 34:58 I have to say this because it's gonna be 35:01 a one way conservation your not gonna 35:02 get any response. Well, because it's not the 35:05 dead you're talking to. Right. It's Satan 35:08 and his angels, so, when we talk about demons 35:11 too what we really saying when we say Demon 35:13 we're saying fallen angel, okay demon 35:16 isn't some I know that people have all kinds 35:18 of ways and interpreted the demons. Not some 35:20 new conjured up kind of entity. 35:23 Demons are simply the beings Satan working 35:26 to manifest all manner of deception. 35:29 Yeah and they get together with Satan, 35:31 Satan has a master plan but he use this grand 35:33 avenue of communicating with people and they 35:37 bridge this gaps by there communicating 35:39 as the dead and that's the most comfortable way, 35:42 that's why we call him familiar spirits where 35:44 we get by the way the same root word 35:45 we get family from, but they do that to be able 35:50 to deceive and do what they can now, 35:52 John you mentioned I think one time here 35:54 previously now some will say, but I went to 35:59 this gal and she, you know she read my palms 36:02 or she looked into her crystal ball 36:04 and she told me all the things about me that 36:07 I've never told anyone. How could anybody 36:11 except my best friend or my mom who is the 36:15 only person I told, no one else I've told how 36:19 would they know unless they really talk to them. 36:23 You know there is a very simple answer for 36:24 that why don't you give me the answer. 36:25 very simple answer for that. 36:27 Well, Satan and his evil angels were there 36:29 when that conservation was held they are not 36:32 omnipresent like God is. They can't be in every 36:35 place at the same time but evil angels manifest 36:39 themselves in various ways and in various 36:41 setting so it's not some mystery that they 36:44 overheard the conservation or 36:46 preview to the conversation and one 36:47 of the methods of deception, that's why 36:49 I like the story of Nebuchadnezzar when 36:51 he had a dream, he had a dream and he had 36:54 soothsayers in Babylon, he had fortunetellers, 36:58 he had people that were working with spiritists 37:01 he had spiritists, he had mediums he had all 37:03 of that and they came to him and said we could 37:06 tell you the interpretation but you 37:08 tell us what you dreamt, now don't miss this 37:10 very important point. The reason why he said 37:13 to them I won't tell you what I dreamt 37:15 you tell me what I dreamt. If you are the 37:18 one that are so smart you tell me what 37:20 I dreamt and then you tell me the interpretation 37:22 and the point is this Satan cannot read your 37:26 mind, he doesn't know what's in here, 37:28 he doesn't know like for example if I am thinking 37:31 of a thought right now he doesn't know 37:32 what that thought is, he doesn't know 37:34 if I'm communicating in my mind to the Lord, 37:37 he doesn't know that he cannot read our minds, 37:39 he can only go on based on what we said 37:41 or what we have done and build on that, 37:45 he didn't know what was in the Eve's mind 37:47 but he knew that when she was at the tree 37:49 she was not there by God's direction, because 37:52 the Lord said don't mess with it, don't go there. 37:54 So Satan being very clear on what the Lord 37:56 said was the reason why he says, 38:00 has God said he wasn't reading her mind 38:03 but he knew that for a fact that she was there. 38:06 She was questioning what God had said, 38:08 so our actions are a greater indicator of what 38:11 we're thinking rather than Satan being able 38:14 to read our mind and so we have all these people 38:15 nowadays that would say I know what's on your 38:18 mind you know they say well does the letter 38:21 W mean anything to you John. 38:24 I see a person with a blue sweater 38:25 in your background, you know 38:27 it's coming, give me a break. 38:29 But, I would say when those that do that, 38:31 I believe they are open to receiving 38:34 communication from the spirit world and 38:37 that is Satan and his angels, and people talk 38:38 about that, and even if you talk to them 38:41 they'll say this is real stuff because they do 38:43 communicate with Satan's angels. 38:44 Now I would give them the benefit of the 38:46 doubt on this, I don't believe they know that 38:49 it's Satan and his angels and the evil intent that 38:53 they have in them for them, 38:55 in other words I don't believe that. 38:57 You know the person using that. Person using 38:58 vthat channeling or hearing these messages 39:00 not all of them are really aware that 39:02 it's Satan, their angels and they really, 39:05 what they have in their heart is to destroy 39:07 and kill. I think that's what we see this white 39:10 magic and the white you know Wicca in the 39:14 white realm and so forth where it's like this 39:17 good magic or good witchcraft and so 39:20 people really aren't understanding the intent 39:22 of Satan and his angels and what they really 39:24 mean for harm. But, I do know that they 39:26 know it's real that they are hearing messages 39:29 and so that's why it's so convincing it can be 39:33 so convincing for some who are dabbling 39:35 in this and so we say first of all never go to 39:40 a medium or channeler or someone who is gonna 39:43 read your palm or anything like that because 39:45 it's opens the door for communication not only 39:47 with the dead but who you're talking to is not 39:50 really the dead it's Satan and his angels, 39:52 that's right. And they mean only harm, 39:54 so that's why from the very beginning John, 39:56 God said do not communicate or even 39:59 attempt to communicate with the dead why? 40:01 Because it's not really the dead you will be 40:02 talking with Satan and his host of demons. 40:06 Yeah and that's so, so on the nut shell 40:08 of what John segued with, what we began with 40:10 is the foundation of spiritualism is in fact a 40:14 thought or the teaching that man is naturally 40:17 immoral and that you could communicate with him 40:19 any time and that's why you get all these. 40:22 I mean our society today John is just we plead 40:24 with all the movies and the books about embraced 40:30 the light even Christians and this is something 40:33 else you said and I want to go this direction because 40:35 John suggested that not only in the world we know 40:38 it's in the world, I mean that's not even an issue. 40:41 But, how is Satan's claims being affected in the 40:47 Christian church? How is it, how does it find it's place 40:50 in the Christian church, how has he gotten ahold 40:53 of the Christian church and I think that's one of 40:55 the things we wanna talk about today and 40:57 it's based on that very teaching that man really 41:00 does not die and I think it's Genesis chapter 3 41:03 and verse 4, Genesis chapter 3 verse 4, 41:08 I think that's it, let me look at it, 41:09 where Satan says you will not surely died, I 41:11 believe that. Verse 4. It is correct okay Genesis 41:14 chapter 3 verse 4, Satan planted the thought 41:17 by saving to Eve you will not die and what the 41:20 Hebrews in essence saying there he wasn't saying 41:22 to her well I'm not sure you're gonna die, he was 41:23 saying to her I'm sure you are not gong to die. 41:26 You will not surely die. Say in other words you 41:29 surely will not die that's the real application of it. 41:33 Because if she knew she was going to die 41:35 if he said to her, now Eve I am sure you're going 41:37 to die, she just there's no way I'm gonna touch 41:39 that because the word of God would have come back 41:41 to her mind you will die. But, he said to her I am 41:45 sure you'll not die and that opened the door so now 41:48 today when a person dies and you go to a funeral 41:50 and you hear about well they're in heaven looking 41:52 down, their body is there you know you open 41:55 the door for Satan to do work in the Christian 41:57 church that's just expensive and phenomenal. 42:00 And this become so confusing to people 42:02 I can't tell you John and you've obviously 42:05 as a pastor have seen this as well some people 42:06 come and they will, they're so confused about this 42:08 issue of dead, of the death of their loved once 42:12 and then beyond that. Second coming and the 42:14 resurrection all the other things and how this is 42:16 gonna happen. You know so what happens do, 42:19 okay when they die are my loved ones in heaven 42:23 when Jesus comes back do they put him back 42:25 in the body then he raises him and takes them back 42:26 to heaven. So, they been there before now wait 42:29 a minute but he says that you know that you 42:31 can't enter the kingdom until you're righteous 42:33 but you don't receive righteousness before that 42:34 so does that work out it gets so confusing. 42:37 Right, just that one, if you think that, 42:39 if you think that one lie doesn't make every thing 42:42 very complicated you're mistaken because 42:45 what happens is once you accept that lie, 42:48 now that's why Second Thessalonians says loveth 42:51 and believeth a lie, loveth and maketh a lie. 42:54 Once you accept that first lie you can die 42:57 and go to heaven. Well then wait a minute what 42:59 about resurrection? Well actually this how it 43:02 happens. What about the body then will this how 43:03 see you go down that dark-dark tube, 43:06 like following the rabbit down a deep deep hole, 43:08 and it's all based on that first lie. 43:12 You know so, you can't explain it, you know, 43:14 you can't explain the other verses. 43:16 So, 'cause what we believe is when you find 43:18 any topic in the Bible you wanna study, 43:20 you go verse by verse with that topic. 43:23 And you study putting them all together and 43:25 see how things fall out, you don't say, 43:27 here's what I believe and I'm gonna approve it. 43:30 Because then you get yourself trouble, right. 43:32 And we find that many times that happens, 43:34 there are a couple of verses that are difficult 43:37 to understand unless you look at them very clearly 43:40 in scripture with regard to death. 43:43 We acknowledge that, right. They're difficult 43:44 understand, but think about this, 43:47 even the disciples knew that Paul was difficult 43:50 to understand, right. So, they had trouble with 43:53 what Paul wrote often and had struggle with what 43:56 does he mean by this? So, that's means if scripture 43:59 can be complicated you need as much of it as you 44:02 can to put the whole picture together. 44:04 And so what we wanna find is Old Testament, 44:06 New Testament would like to talk you know look 44:09 at the some of these scriptures to really put 44:10 a good foundation of basis on what does happen 44:14 when you die? Because without a proper 44:16 understanding this, you'll become open to deception 44:22 from that spiritual realm which usually involves 44:25 contact from the dead as spirits beyond the grave 44:29 either in heaven or wherever they are back 44:32 to you. And there's nothing more than, 44:37 if there's one thing you need in the last days, 44:39 it is clarity of truths. Because that is going 44:42 to guide you through to the second coming 44:45 to resist be able to avoid and resist temptation 44:49 and deception of the enemy that he's gonna 44:50 be bring about with blinding force. 44:53 And just I mean some of the scriptures there 44:55 that we find in the word, you got to know the truth, 44:57 the truth will save you, you know being delivered 44:59 from deception in the last days, 45:01 this is one way sorcery and spiritualism that the 45:06 devil uses to deceive so many so that's why 45:09 we've got to hit it. And hit it strong 45:11 for couple of programs here. 45:13 You know a couple of things that we want to 45:15 also point out is whenever you're developing the 45:19 truth and coming to the conclusion about what you 45:20 studied, keep these two principles in mind. 45:24 One Bible verse cannot, cannot adequately remove 45:30 the evidences found in 60 Bible verses. 45:33 Oh! Yeah I like the way you said that. You 45:35 can find 60 Bible verses that all say the same 45:37 thing and you find that says something seemingly 45:40 opposite and say see I've got my proof, 45:42 throw all 60 of those out in favor of this one, 45:45 but people have done that, let me give an example, 45:49 people read that living know that they will die, 45:51 but the dead know not nothing; right. 45:55 People will read in Psalms 115 verse 17 45:59 the dead praise, do not praise the LORD, 46:01 or any that go down into silence. 46:04 Clearly the dead do not praise the LORD neither 46:07 any that go down into silence. 46:08 You clearly see that, the Bible says 46:11 in Job chapter 14, in the grave who shall give 46:14 thee thanks? That in Ecclesiastes chapter 9. 46:17 In the grave who shall give thee thanks? 46:20 Ecclesiastes 9 verse 5, 6 and 10. 46:23 Whatever your hands find do with all your might, 46:25 for there is no work, no knowledge, 46:27 no wisdom in the grave where you are going? 46:31 And then Job of course, back to Job 14 says 46:33 that he's gonna rest in that grave, 46:36 right until his change comes. 46:37 That's right he says hide me in the grave until 46:39 your wrath is past, keep me until the point 46:42 of time and I will wait till my change comes, 46:45 that's right. He says I'll be in the grave, 46:46 so but then you read one text like to be absent 46:48 from the body is to be present with the Lord, 46:50 can you read it, read it for us. And then 46:52 what you'll not find in that entire passage. 46:54 Is the word death or dying. Read it for us, 46:59 read the whole thing. From verse 1, yeah exactly. 47:02 For this we know that if our earthly house, 47:05 this tent, is destroyed, we have building from God, 47:08 right, a house not made with hands, eternal 47:10 in the heavens. Right, For in this we groan, 47:12 earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation 47:15 which is from heaven, if indeed, having been 47:17 clothed we shall not be found naked. So, 47:19 first of all we're talking about two different kinds 47:21 of bodies, one our mortality and the other 47:24 one which is our spiritual body, 47:26 which is our immortal body okay. 47:28 So, that's what he's talking about, 47:30 no dead hear yet, no. Verse 4, For we 47:32 are in this tent that's our immortal body, being 47:35 burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, 47:37 but further clothed, that mortality may be 47:40 swallowed up by life. Okay, our immortal body. Don't 47:43 run pass that, I want you to say that again 47:45 John because that is the crux of this entire focus 47:48 that what will be swallowed up by what? 47:52 This is mortality maybe swallowed up by life. 47:55 Okay, okay I want you to hear that, he just said, 47:59 now read that entire passage with that phrase 48:02 that mortality, that verse, okay read that. 48:04 For we who are in this tent groan, 48:07 that's gotta be our mortal body, 48:08 because we're groaning, okay here in our mortality. 48:11 In other words we're going through all these 48:12 struggles and trials and tribulations in this 48:16 particular body. We suffer, we go through pains, 48:18 we suffer with pains, heartaches disease. 48:20 Being burdened not because we want to be unclothed, 48:24 in other words, we don't want to die, right. 48:27 Although it not mentioning death we don't want to die, 48:28 we don't want to just not be existing anymore. 48:31 In other words if we had a chose, 48:35 my choice wouldn't be Lord only can take my life, 48:37 well that's not what I want, but it's tough being 48:39 in this body, but I don't want to kill myself. 48:40 I don't want to die, that's what he's saying. 48:42 He says but, you want to be further clothed, 48:44 that mortality may be swallowed by life, exactly. 48:48 So, life when we receive our immortal bodies, 48:52 our celestial bodies. Now he who has prepared 48:56 us for this very thing is God. Who also is given us 49:00 the spirit as a guarantee. So, everything John he's 49:04 saying, everything that God has done to redeem 49:07 us is pointing to what? The resurrection, that's right. 49:11 Everything is pointing to the resurrection, 49:13 the resurrection is everything in fact 49:14 John spend so much time, I mean not John, 49:17 Paul does, so much time on the resurrection 49:21 and it's connection with Christ resurrection 49:23 is the first fruit of that, that we almost John, 49:27 we almost completely eliminate the punch line. 49:32 Now, if you're telling a joke and someone gives 49:34 you the punch line ahead of time, 49:35 you're like you ruin my joke, right. 49:37 Well I mean it's kind of a anticlimactic yeah. We 49:41 almost take away Christ, God's greatest event. 49:46 But, putting everybody in heaven ahead of time 49:48 and giving them life, we take away the resurrection 49:50 which is the greatest thing that he's looking forward 49:52 to giving us to doing for us, when we do that. 49:55 This big huge change, and what I want to point 49:58 out John this is so powerful that, text 49:59 mention is this because one thing you must 50:02 also keep in mind because the Bible is written 50:04 under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 50:06 It's not a book that contradicts itself. 50:08 You may think that because you start 50:10 in one place and don't go to the rest of the 50:12 evidence that's found in scripture. 50:13 One the points that Paul just made which he 50:16 clarifies even further he says what he desires 50:19 is that mortality will be swallowed up by life okay. 50:25 I want you to listen to this, this is in First 50:27 Corinthians 15, he's gonna make that very clear, 50:30 how mortality will be swallowed up by life. If 50:34 you look at this entire passage First Corinthians, 50:37 the entire chapter of First Corinthians 15 50:39 it deals with the body, it deals with the first Adam, 50:43 the last Adam. It deals with the resurrection 50:46 and it deals with transaction, 50:48 the change that's gonna come from mortal to 50:50 immortal. This entire passage, that's the last 50:52 trumpet, okay here we go listen to this. 50:57 Just talking about two bodies here, 51:01 for okay down to First Corinthians 15 verse 39, 51:09 All flesh is not the same, is not the same flesh, 51:14 let me put my glasses on here. 51:15 Not that I need them, this is a fashion statement 51:21 but there is one kind of flesh of men, 51:22 another flesh of animals, another of fish, 51:26 and another of birds. They are also verse 40 51:29 of First Corinthians 15. There are also celestial, 51:32 that's heavenly bodies and terrestrial earthly 51:34 bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, 51:37 and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 51:41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory 51:43 of the moon, and another glory of the stars; 51:46 for one star differs from another star in glory, 51:49 watch this. So also in the resurrection of the dead. 51:56 The body is sown in corruption, and it's raised 51:58 in incorruption. Notice the change is happening there, 52:02 raised too, raised resurrection not at death. 52:08 I want you to get this, the change doesn't come 52:10 when you die, the change comes in the resurrection. 52:13 We're gonna make this very, very clear. 52:15 Notice this, verse 43, It is sown in dishonor, 52:19 and it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, 52:23 that's how you go to the grave, 52:25 it is raised in power. The same way when Jesus 52:28 came forth from the tomb he says all power 52:30 is given on to me, he came forth gloriously 52:32 and then that's why Paul says he will transform 52:35 our lowly bodies that they maybe fashioned like 52:39 his body at his appearing. 52:41 That's when he's gonna do that, when he returns, 52:43 not when we die lets continue. 52:46 Make this very clear, 44, verse 44. 52:49 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual 52:52 body. Not a spirit body, that's right, that's key. 52:56 There is a natural body, and there 52:58 is a spiritual body. The natural body is the 53:00 carnal body, the body we have now this corruptible 53:03 flesh that is decaying, all kinds of problems, 53:07 and the reason why I'm reading you this is because 53:09 we want to hit that spiritual idea that you die 53:12 and go to heaven and have this other body 53:13 waiting for you up there. Oh I just killed that 53:15 thought today, it's ridiculous, 53:16 it's not spiritual, excuse me for getting off track, 53:19 here we go. And so it is written, 53:23 "The first man Adam became a living being. 53:26 The last Adam became a life-giving spirit." 53:29 Okay Jesus was an spirit in the sense but 53:34 he brought to, he brought to life 53:35 the life giving spirit. In another words we 53:38 could never have life if we did not receive that 53:40 from the power that resides only in Christ. 53:43 He says in him who life and that life was 53:45 the light of men, let's go and finish it here. 53:48 The first man was of the earth, 53:49 that's Adam made of dust, the second man is the 53:52 Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust. 53:55 You just skipped 46, okay. However, 53:57 the spiritual is not first, but the natural, 53:59 and afterward the spiritual. So, we're in 54:02 natural body now, that's right, but after death 54:05 and after the resurrection we'll be in the 54:07 spiritual body, but not before that, 54:09 not before that. Everything hinges on the resurrection, 54:11 read First Corinthians 15 it's all about being 54:14 raised at the resurrection. 54:15 And I must put a PS here that's why many people 54:17 had misunderstood what Paul when he says, that 54:20 flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom 54:24 of heaven. He wasn't saying we have to be 54:25 in spirit form, he was in essence saying the 54:28 corruptible man can't make it there, that's right, 54:30 that's right. This corruptible flesh, 54:31 this sinful flesh won't make it there, 54:32 lets finish it up here, our time is going fast, 54:35 in verse 48. As was the man of dust, 54:38 so also are those who are made of dust; 54:39 and as, as is the heavenly man, Christ, 54:43 so also are those who are heavenly. 54:46 As we have borne the image of the man of dust, 54:49 we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man. 54:53 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood 54:55 cannot inherit the kingdom of God; 54:56 nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 54:58 And here's what happens, Behold, 55:00 I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, 55:03 but we shall all be changed that is we will 55:05 not all die. When is this change gonna come, 55:09 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 55:11 at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, 55:14 and the dead will be raised incorruptible, 55:16 the resurrection and we shall be changed. 55:19 Not at death but at the resurrection. 55:21 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, 55:23 and this mortal must put on immortality. 55:27 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, 55:29 and this mortal has put on immortality, 55:33 then shall be brought to pass the saying that 55:35 is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55:39 What did Paul say he wanted, 55:40 he wanted mortality to be swallowed up by life, 55:44 that's right. Death, mortality, 55:46 is swallowed up in victory that is life. 55:49 Yes, and this prior passage that we looked 55:51 at the Second Corinthians chapter 55:52 5 where it talks about to be absent from the 55:55 body is to be present with the Lord. 55:57 He's not giving an element of immediacy there, 55:59 no he is not. He seemed to be absent from this 56:01 natural body that we're that sown in incorruption 56:04 that we would like to finally get rid of some day 56:07 that we, when we finally get rid of it guess what? 56:11 We're present with God in our spiritual body, 56:13 that's right. But, he's not saying that in the 56:15 immediate sense, there is no time element there, 56:16 that is instantaneous. Because you don't know 56:18 how long you've been in the grave? 56:19 You've got to look at the rest of scripture 56:21 and what Paul says to put the time factor in 56:23 this. Notice this, dealing with the time factor, last 56:26 verse, let's go for it. Hebrews chapter 11:39 56:29 and 40, okay. And all these having obtained 56:32 good testimony through faith. This is the faith, 56:34 hall of faith chapter, did not receive the promise, 56:36 they didn't get it yet, that's right. 56:38 They're still waiting, why? God having provided 56:42 something better for us that is in united way 56:44 that they should not be made perfect apart from us, 56:50 do you mean John all of us get me perfect together. 56:52 That's exactly right, that's exactly 56:55 right they all died in faith. 56:56 The resurrection is about a reunion, 56:59 where all of us get our bodies, 57:01 our incorruptible bodies where we change 57:02 at the same time, and get to go to heaven to 57:05 live with God eternally with our new immortal 57:08 bodies or incorruptible bodies forever. 57:11 We're not gonna go up there and Paul's not gonna 57:13 say where have you been it's been 26 hundred years 57:17 since I've seen you last that's not gonna be 57:19 the case friends and that's why here at 57:21 House Calls we say continue studying the word. 57:24 We're gonna hit this more on the next program, 57:25 but until we see you friends may the Lord's 57:28 word be your guide may you trust him so that 57:30 you'll never be deceived have a great day in Christ. |
Revised 2014-12-17