Participants: John Lomacang (Host), John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL090006
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00:01 Hello, friends, grab your Bible and a friend and sit back
00:03 as we explore God's word together 00:05 on this edition of 'House Calls.' 00:22 Well, friends, welcome to "House Calls" 00:23 as you could see John and John are in the house today. 00:26 Good to have you here, John. 00:28 It's great to be here, John. 00:29 Looking forward to another "House Calls" program, 00:31 I am excited about it. 00:32 Yeah, friends, you know, we want you to just stay tuned, 00:35 sit back, hit the record button. 00:36 This is the program you don't want to miss. 00:39 Our topic is an exciting one today, 00:41 'Why did Jesus have to die.' 00:42 We're going to get into that in various details, 00:45 but you know, before we do anything, 00:47 we always like to have prayer and I am going to ask John, 00:51 if he could have prayer for us today. 00:53 Absolutely, let's do that. 00:54 Dear Father in heaven, we rely upon you for everything 00:57 and especially when we open Your Word, 00:59 Lord we want you with us, to lead and guide us, 01:02 so Father send Your Holy Spirit, to open our minds, 01:05 to open our hearts as we study Your Word, 01:06 especially this important topic today, 01:08 'why did Jesus have to die' we want to know more. 01:11 So lead us, we pray in Jesus' name, amen. 01:15 Praise the Lord for that prayer. 01:16 Thank you, John, I appreciate that. 01:18 You know, this part of our program is so vitally important, 01:21 because it has to do with your Bible questions 01:23 and many people have been sending Bible questions, 01:25 in which, it really makes this program, what it is, 01:28 that's why it's entitled "House Calls." 01:30 But some people are sending in scrolls, 01:32 you know, very, very thick questions. 01:34 Try to make them concise and to the point, 01:36 so that we can answer them. 01:38 There sometimes we get on recipient list. Yeah. 01:40 You know, we have where one of our "House Calls" 01:42 is one of hundred different emails. 01:45 We don't have time to read those, 01:46 we basically just delete them. 01:47 And so I feel bad about telling you that, 01:49 but if you send us just as a recipient list, 01:50 if it's not a Bible question, we had to delete it, 01:53 just for the essence of time, just to add that 01:55 because I knew that some people just add us to that, 01:57 but it doesn't really get through. That's true. 02:00 And so if you-- if you have a question today, 02:02 you like to send to us, send that to housecalls@3abn.org, 02:05 that's housecalls@3abn.org. 02:09 And we will try our best to get to those questions 02:12 and answer them in the best way we can. 02:15 If it's our opinion we'll say so 02:16 but we like to stick with the Bible as much as we can. 02:20 So who'd like to start, John, me or you? 02:22 You go ahead, you start today, 02:23 and my question may take a little longer. 02:25 Okay, Revelation 14:4. 02:28 You have your Bible turned there with us to Revelation 14:4. 02:34 Okay, notice the text and, by the way I am-- 02:38 we are having a Revelation seminar 02:40 at our church, going through the Bible, 02:41 chapter by chapter, verse by verse. 02:44 Very interesting text. 02:45 And this is on the heels of 02:48 the description of 144,000, but notice it. 02:52 Revelation 14:4, "These are the ones" 02:55 speaking of the 144,000, 02:57 "who were not defiled with women, 02:59 for they are virgins, 03:01 they are the ones who follow the lamb, 03:04 where ever He goes. 03:06 These were redeemed from among men, 03:08 being first fruits to God and to the Lamb." 03:12 It begins by describing something very important. 03:14 It says first of all, these are the ones 03:16 who were not defiled with women for they are virgins. 03:21 Now the Bible, when the Bible uses the word, 03:23 'in prophecy women' is describing the church. 03:26 Now the woman is first introduced in Revelation 12, 03:29 and you'll find a woman clothed with a sun, 03:34 and the moon and the stars, meaning natural. 03:40 The glory of God is being reflected from this woman. 03:43 Then you find in Revelation 17, another woman. 03:46 She is decked with purple and scarlet and precious stones 03:51 and she has a golden cup in her hand, 03:53 full of the blood of the saints. 03:55 And the reason why it's purple and scarlet, 03:58 she is missing the color, blue. 04:00 Which is the color of the commandments of God. 04:02 Now this group in Revelation 14, 04:04 they also have another description. 04:06 Let's look at that description in Revelation 14:12, 04:10 and showing that they are the ones 04:12 who are honoring the commandments of God, 04:15 so they would have blue, represented in their garments. 04:19 It says, "Here is the patience of the saints. 04:21 Here are those who keep the commandments of God, 04:24 and the faith of Jesus." 04:26 But now going back to Revelation 14:4, 04:30 the reason why I say, they were not defiled with women 04:32 for they are virgins is, 04:34 at a time when the people of God are having to take a firm stand. 04:38 This is the time where the 144,000 are sealed. 04:43 It's a time where the world 04:44 is correlates into two particular groups. 04:46 Those who have stood for the truth, 04:49 and those who are yet to either hear the truth 04:51 or those who have turned away from the truth. 04:53 So the 144,000 are pure. Their message is pure. 04:56 They are sealed in the pure gospel. 04:58 And they go forth to proclaim this message. 05:01 And what they proclaim is totally undefiled. 05:05 It's pure, that's why the Bible says they are virgins. 05:08 As a matter of fact, 05:09 when you look at the other portions of this, 05:13 look at verse 5, Revelation 14:5, it says, 05:16 "And in their mouth was found no deceit, 05:20 or no guile" depending on the translation, 05:22 "for they are without fault before the throne of God." 05:26 In other words, they don't tell a lie. 05:28 They're telling the truth. Truth about what? 05:30 Truth about the gospel message. 05:33 You could register in on anytime you like, John. 05:35 Well, I like--what you're saying is absolutely true. 05:38 And I think one of the things interesting of verse 4, 05:40 talking about them being first fruits to God. 05:44 You were saying that these were, 05:47 this is talking about a group who were sealed to God, 05:51 they were sealed in the truth. 05:54 And as we read about the 144,000 in Chapter 7, 05:58 it talks about that they are sealed 06:00 before the four winds are released. That's right. 06:03 So by the time when the four winds are released, 06:05 the time of trouble comes upon the earth, 06:07 the 144, 000 have been sealed. 06:10 So when it says 'their first fruit 06:12 it means they're sealed first, 06:13 they've been judged as not defiled, 06:16 they've been judged as clean, 06:18 they have been judged as dedicated and loyal 06:20 to their God and their Savior. 06:22 And as keeping the commandments of God as well. 06:25 So, they're sealed in, they're ready for the work, 06:28 that they're going to do, they're called to do 06:29 during that time of trouble. 06:31 That's right, as a matter of fact, 06:32 if you compare that with the condition, 06:34 because Revelation talks about seven churches. 06:37 So if the woman represents the church, 06:40 we are in essence talking about seven women. 06:44 But if you look at Isaiah 4:1, go there with us, 06:46 I want you to see this, "The condition of the woman" 06:52 or the 'women,' Isaiah 4:1, 06:58 and this is-- the context here is the, 07:03 in that day, the motive in the day of God, it says, 07:07 "In that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, 07:14 We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel, 07:18 only let us be called by your name, 07:21 to take away our reproach." 07:22 So the name that they're going to be associated with 07:25 will definitely take away their reproach. 07:26 In other words, give me the name of Jesus, 07:28 give me the Christian name. 07:30 So this is not talking about-- 07:32 this is not talking about paganism, 07:34 this is not talking about witchcraft, 07:36 this is talking about those who are under the banner of Christ, 07:41 but they have their own bread, 07:42 meaning their own teachings. 07:44 They have their own apparel, their own clothing, 07:46 their own righteousness. 07:48 They don't want that from Jesus Christ, 07:50 they don't want His teachings. 07:52 And so look at the contrast 07:53 between this description here in Isaiah 4:1, 07:58 and the description given in Revelation 14:4, 08:00 they are not defiled, these are defiled. 08:03 They have their own message, their own righteousness, 08:06 they just want Jesus' name. 08:08 But these have not only the name, 08:10 but they have the message, and they are undefiled. 08:12 Yeah, and if you read on in Isaiah 4:2, 08:15 it says, "In that day, the branch of the Lord 08:17 shall be beautiful and glorious, 08:19 and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent 08:20 and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped." 08:24 And it says, "And it shall come to pass, 08:26 he who is left in Zion, remains" 08:29 this is talking about the remnant. That's right. 08:31 "Remains in Jerusalem, will be called holy, 08:34 every one who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem." 08:36 So it's talking about those who are left 08:38 not the ones who are saying, we have our own brand, 08:40 we have our own thing. Right. 08:41 Those who are left, who remain, 08:43 who are part of the remnant, are called holy. 08:45 That's right. So yes, very good. 08:47 So in a nutshell I believe, that's what is, it's talking, 08:50 and this is a, this text is symbolic, 08:53 in a sense of the women, the first fruits, 08:56 but the Lamb is a symbol of Christ, 09:01 and so the other part we didn't emphasize very much 09:03 is these are the ones who follow the Lamb where ever He goes. 09:06 So Jesus directs and as a matter of fact, 09:10 when the Bible says, they follow the Lamb where He goes, 09:14 that's what a disciple is. 09:15 He says, take up your cross and follow Me. 09:19 They have decided to do that, 09:20 but in this context they are sealed already, 09:23 and wherever He directs them to go, 09:25 they will follow Him. 09:26 And what's so important about that, 09:28 is there is a multitude still to be won, 09:31 during this time of tribulation, during this time of trouble, 09:34 not when the doors of probation are closed, 09:37 but when 144,000 are sealed, 09:40 there will go forth to proclaim the message of God, 09:43 more fully, the loud cry of Revelation 18. 09:46 Very good. Thank you. 09:49 Here's a question from Bob, and he is sending it in. 09:52 He doesn't say exactly where he is from, 09:54 but thank you Bob for sending this question. 09:56 It's kind of a question, that's asking us 09:59 to clarify an earlier statement. All right. 10:01 He says, on a recent House Calls program, 10:03 the two Johns indicated that 10:04 the tribulation in Mathew 24:32 and 33, 10:07 refers to the time of trouble of Daniel 12:1, 10:10 instead of the days immediately following 10:12 the great papal persecution of the Dark Ages. 10:15 A reading of Desire Of Ages, page 631 and 632 10:20 puts these events in a different perspective, 10:22 than that presented on House Calls. 10:25 Well, that's a matter of perspective. 10:29 But let's clarify, John, here, 10:30 what in fact we did say about that. 10:32 I was reading Mathew 24:32 and 33, 10:36 and I don't think that those are the quick verses 10:38 that he means to put in here. 10:40 Because it's not talking about 10:41 any tribulation in those two verses. 10:43 I believe Bob is speaking of-- 10:46 because I remember talking about the verses 10:49 regarding the great tribulation from verse 21 and 22. 10:53 So I'm going to read, 21 and 22 here. All right. 10:55 And we'll talk about those in its proper context. 10:59 Verse 21, "For then, there will be great tribulation 11:04 such as has not been since the beginning of the world 11:06 until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 11:10 And unless those days were shortened, 11:12 no flesh would be saved, but for the elect's sake 11:15 those days will be shortened." 11:17 This verse as we have said before 11:20 refers to the time of trouble, 11:23 a great tribulation, not in period or duration, 11:27 because it says, the days are shortened. Right. 11:29 But a great tribulation in intensity 11:31 and we've said it before as well, 11:34 that this compares to the scripture in Daniel 12, 11:40 and I'll read that very quickly 11:42 because you'll see very similar language 11:44 occurring in verse 1 here. 11:47 Daniel 12:1, "And at that time Michael shall stand up, 11:50 the great prince who stands 11:51 watch over the sons of your people, 11:53 and there shall be a time of trouble, 11:55 such as never was since there was a nation even to that time." 11:59 So you see, same language there. That's right. 12:01 Great tribulation, such as never was, 12:04 the time of trouble, a time such as never was 12:07 and so there we find the connecting link. 12:09 Now if you want to refer 12:11 to the 1260 years of papal persecution, 12:14 back up a little more in Mathew 24 to verse 9. 12:23 Verse 8 talks about some things, 12:26 you know, nation rising against nation, 12:28 being the beginning of the sorrows 12:29 and then in verse 9, it says, 12:31 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you 12:34 and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 12:37 And then many will be offended, 12:39 will betray one another, and will hate one another." 12:41 And then it goes down. 12:42 So that's the period of tribulation 12:45 which is the time of the 1260 years of persecution, 12:49 but the end is not yet, 12:51 because that period was not the end. Right. 12:54 That period was a tribulation period 12:56 and the end came, finally we know, 12:59 at the very end of that time, 13:01 as we ushered into 1844 and the events following that, 13:05 being the time of the unofficially. 13:08 So Jesus is very, I think He is very poignant here, 13:12 He is very accurate here, when He goes through 13:14 a segment of a tribulation period, John, 13:18 to then the things that happened 13:19 the gospel being preached to all the world 13:21 and then a great tribulation happening, 13:23 and then in fact tribulation is mentioned again, 13:26 in verse 29, where it says, 13:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days 13:31 the sun will be darkened, 13:32 and the moon will not give its light, 13:33 and the stars will fall from heaven." 13:35 Now I believe that tribulation which is saying of those days 13:38 is also the great tribulation, 13:41 and I think this is where some get kind of mixed up or confused 13:45 because many will say, 13:47 and I know you've done some studying into this. 13:49 and talking on this point to, John, that they referred to, 13:54 these days of the sun growing dark had already happened 13:56 You know, we are talking about 17AD, 13:59 we're talking about-- 1755. 14:02 1755, Yeah, well, 1833 with the stars fell, 14:05 with the meteoroid shower, so we talk about those events 14:08 that's already occurring, but you know, 14:10 Jesus speaks of in Mathew 21, these things happening 14:15 in the context of the very last days, 14:17 again on a global scale. Right. 14:19 And the Bible is very, very consistent on this matter, 14:24 and that it speaks often of something happening locally, 14:27 that will eventually in its literal context 14:29 happening globally. Right. 14:31 And we find that as well, where there was a picture 14:33 or shadow of the last day events happening in 17AD, in 1833, 14:38 that will happen on a global scale at the very end of time, 14:41 and I believe that's what this is speaking of here. 14:43 And if you want take a look quickly at Luke 21. 14:47 It puts in context what is being spoken of there 14:51 by Jesus regarding the sun growing dark. 14:55 I'll just read that John, and then I'll let you chime in. 14:57 Sure. In verse 25-- 15:00 now this is Luke's record of the same message 15:04 that Jesus is giving only Luke, he gives, 15:06 gives some additional detail on what Jesus is saying. 15:09 It says in 25, there will be signs in the sun, 15:12 in the moon and in the stars, and on the earth, 15:14 distress of nations with perplexity, 15:16 that sea and the waves roaring. 15:19 Men's hearts failing them from fear, 15:22 and the expectation of those things 15:24 which are coming upon the earth, 15:25 for the powers of the heaven will be shaken." 15:28 And then notice right there within the context here, 15:31 "Then they will see the Son of Man 15:33 coming in a cloud with power and great glory." 15:36 So this happens right before Jesus comes back. 15:39 It also happens in the context of people 15:41 who are with perplexity, 15:43 nations that brings into that context, 15:46 not just one nation, not just a local issue, 15:48 but a global issue where nations are coming together 15:51 saying, John, look, what's coming upon the earth, 15:54 what are we going to do and the sun is growing dark, 15:56 the moon isn't giving its light, 15:57 but the moon's turned to blood. 15:59 And people are saying, this is an incredible time, 16:02 things have changed, God's dealings are not the same, 16:05 what shall we do. 16:07 As a matter of fact, John, this text gives such foundation 16:10 to that very timeframe 16:12 that is just before the coming of the Lord, that verse 28 says, 16:15 "Now when these things begin to happen, look up, 16:20 and lift up your heads because your redemption draws near." 16:23 So now if you look at the timeframes of the events 16:26 that have been recorded, 1755, Lisbon earthquake, 16:29 1780, the great dark day, 1833, 16:34 all these events that happened, 16:36 those all those events chimed in didn't happen, 16:39 I use the phrase here, before 1844. 16:42 And the early advent believers lead out by William Miller, 16:45 a Baptist preacher, and those who have been coming 16:48 from other movements during that time, 16:50 they were no Seventh-day Adventists at that time. 16:52 Sabbath keeping started a little later on, as a matter of fact. 16:57 Even after 1844. In 1850s. 16:59 Se in the 1850s, They got back to the message of the Sabbath. 17:03 So those believers who had gone back to the Bible, 17:05 had come to the conclusion in their study 17:08 that, Jesus was coming in 1844. 17:10 So notice the context of that, all these events had to happen 17:14 in order to convince them that Jesus was ready to come in 1844, 17:18 so the last of these recorded events was 1833, 17:21 eleven years earlier. All right. 17:23 The great tribulation, that's often referred to, 17:26 as from 538 to 1798, 1798 is only 46 years earlier. 17:33 So when you look at the papal reign 17:37 from 538 to 1798, 1260 years. 17:41 By no means is that time period cut short, 17:45 to save a person's life, because you die of natural causes. 17:48 Right. You see. 17:49 So but all these events had to happen before 1844 17:50 in order for those who believe that Jesus was coming then 17:55 to be convinced that everything was fulfilled. Right. 17:59 But if you look at these, Jesus is saying in verses 28, 18:04 "Now when these things begin to happen, 18:08 look up, and lift up your heads, 18:10 because your redemption draws near." 18:12 Mathew also adds another component to this, 18:15 and I want to go back to Mathew 24, 18:17 because Jesus also used the phrase, 18:19 the parable of the fig tree. 18:21 Look at Mathew 24:27, it says, "For as lightning coming" 18:29 just as the second coming, 18:31 "For as the lightning comes from the east, 18:33 and flashes to the west, 18:35 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 18:38 For wherever the carcass is, 18:40 there the eagles will be gathered together. 18:43 That's the great supper talked about in Revelation. 18:46 But notice this, "Immediately after the tribulation 18:49 of those days, the sun will be darkened, 18:51 the moon will not give its light, 18:53 the stars will fall from heaven." 18:55 But this is the part that we often have no application for, 18:59 this didn't happened in 1833, in 1780, not at all. 19:03 "The powers of heavens will be shaken." 19:05 But notice the word, in verse 30, 19:07 'then' it's talking about a sequential, 19:10 a sequence of events happening one after the other, 19:12 after the other, after the other, 19:14 not hundreds of years spanning between them 19:17 because verse 30 says, "Then the Son of Man 19:21 will appear in heaven and then all the tribes' 19:26 not just a certain part of the earth, 19:28 not just the upper northeast. 19:29 Right, all the tribes. Right. 19:32 "Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, 19:34 and they will see the Son of Man coming 19:36 on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." 19:39 But now notice the context, and He will send His angels, 19:42 okay, we know that, that's the coming of the Lord. 19:44 But now what does Jesus say, 19:46 "Now learn the parable of the fig tree 19:48 when its branches already become tender 19:50 and put forth leaves, you know the summer's near." 19:52 So like wise, here's again, just like Luke. 19:56 "When you see all these things, know it is near at the door." 20:03 And how near is it? 20:04 He says, one generation, won't pass. 20:07 Right, because that generation will all, 20:09 see all these things. Thank you. 20:11 "Assuredly I say it to you" verse 34, 20:13 "This generation" that is the one it sees all these things 20:17 "Will by no means pass till all these things take place." 20:21 And speaking of that generation 20:23 will see the Lord in the cloud's coming. 20:25 So we are not denying any of the events 20:27 that happened, Lisbon earthquake. 20:30 Somebody talked about that as the great earthquake. 20:32 Well, now have we had any greater earthquakes since then. 20:35 Just a few years ago, I think it was December 26, 20:39 2004, 2005 around that time, with that earthquake 20:42 that happened in the Pacific Rim 20:44 and over 300, 000 lives were lost from the ensuing tsunami, 20:50 way larger than 60,000 people died in the Lisbon earthquake. 20:54 The earthquake in China. 20:55 Okay, earthquake in-- Okay, so we've had much huger 21:00 and I am using this word loosely here, 21:02 much larger earthquakes than the earthquake in 1755. 21:07 You know, another point here too is, 21:09 that not only does the Lord work in shadows, 21:12 or type and then antitype, on a global scale. 21:17 What we find here even with disasters, 21:19 is that God gives us glimpses 21:22 of what will come during the time of trouble, 21:24 through the natural disasters, that have been coming, 21:26 we've been seeing those over time. 21:29 But this person, references The Desire of Ages 21:32 and if you also references to Great Controversy, 21:34 you'll find that what we find on a local scale around the world 21:39 will happen globally even with disasters at the end of time. 21:42 Because she describes, thousands of cities will be destroyed. 21:47 In other words wiped out, thousands. Right. 21:50 That is much larger than anything we've experienced 21:53 on a individual local scale even if it does kill 300,000 people. 21:59 We are talking about millions, at a time wiped out 22:02 and perishing in the city. Right. 22:04 Repeated thousands of times. 22:06 So the time of trouble that is coming, 22:08 and I am not trying to scare everybody, 22:10 is going to be so much greater. 22:12 So much more significant and powerful, 22:14 than anything this world has ever seen. 22:17 And you and I can go into lot more detail, 22:20 on what it's going to be about, 22:22 but anyway that's the context of Christ description 22:27 of last day events there in Mathew 24. 22:29 And we were in Revelation 7, a moment ago. 22:33 I want you to look at that very briefly here. 22:35 Because Revelation 7 also brings in the very same phrase, 22:39 Great Tribulation. That's right. 22:42 The 144,000 have a function, they are not just sealed 22:48 because they are chosen as the first fruits. 22:52 They have a function and they're chosen 22:54 to proclaim a message, but to whom 22:58 and then what's going to be the response 23:00 to the proclamation of this message? 23:02 Well that's spelled out in Revelation. 23:04 Because 23:07 John shows another group, look at verse 9. 23:10 "After these things I looked and behold a great multitude, 23:15 which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, 23:21 and tongues" and where are they? 23:23 "Standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, 23:26 clothed with white robes with palm branches in their hands. 23:31 And crying out with a loud voice, 23:32 saying, salvation belongs to our God 23:35 who sits on the throne, in to the Lamb. 23:38 All the angels sit around the throne, 23:40 and the elders and the four living creatures, 23:42 and fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God," 23:45 and it says what they said, 23:47 but now look at verse 13 because the question is, 23:50 "Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, 23:54 Who are these arrayed in white robes?" 23:57 and here's the key question, "And where did they come from?" 24:02 "And I said to him, Sir, you know, so he said to me, 24:05 These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, 24:10 and washed their robes, and made them white 24:13 in the blood of the Lamb." 24:15 Notice it says, these are the ones who come out. 24:17 Yes. Now read Revelation 18:1. 24:22 How do they come out? How do they come out? 24:26 It's one of the commands 24:28 given by God's people in those last days. Actually verse 4. 24:33 Verse 4 it says, "The voice came from heaven, 24:35 saying, Come out of her, 24:36 my people, that lest you share in her sins, 24:39 and lest you receive of her plagues." 24:41 Okay, now notice the Bible says, 24:43 the voice came from heaven. 24:44 You got to keep this in mind. 24:46 God is not going to be yelling down from the sky. 24:50 In the same way the messages of the three angles 24:54 that talked about, flying in the midst of heaven. 24:56 I want to put the context to that. 24:58 So the-when it says, the voice from the heaven. 25:01 In another words, this is heaven's message to you. 25:05 This is not a loudspeaker coming from heaven, 25:08 this is heaven's message, 25:09 just as the first angel flying in the midst of heaven, 25:12 the second angel, the third angel. 25:14 And you notice the second angel says, 25:15 'Babylon has fallen' but it's not said 25:17 with a loud voice in Revelation 14. 25:20 It's said with a loud voice in Revelation 18, 25:23 and that's the reason why, 144,000 are sealed. 25:28 And I know, John, 25:29 we could do this for the rest of the program. 25:32 The reason why the 144,000 are sealed 25:33 as they sent this message, the message reached 25:36 its pinnacle at that particular point. 25:39 Because the entire earth is now ripe for the harvest. 25:45 Come out of her my people, and that's why Revelation 7:14 25:49 says, "They came out" they came out, what timeframe? 25:53 Out of the great tribulation. 25:56 And that large multitude that's going to come out of the great, 25:59 that's going to come out and join the people of God, 26:02 are going to come out during a time of great tribulation, 26:05 that for God's, in God's plan, He's going to cut it short. 26:10 So that no flesh-- so that some flesh will be saved. 26:14 Because the time is so severe. 26:16 Yeah, it's going to be terribly severe. 26:18 You've anything else. 26:19 Well, I think we are about ready to go with our topic, today. 26:22 Okay. Which I am excited about. 26:24 Let me go ahead and ask if anybody has any questions, 26:26 you know, we talked about a lot here today. 26:29 We didn't get to all the questions but, you know, 26:31 we do have some upcoming programs, 26:32 so you do stay tuned for that next week. 26:35 But if you have any more Bible questions, 26:38 may be about the tribulation, about the time of trouble, 26:40 about the 144,000, great multitude, 26:42 or anything that we talked about here today. 26:44 Send those questions to housecalls@3abn.org, 26:48 that's housecalls@3abn.org. 26:50 And either Pastor John or Pastor John will respond. 26:53 We really appreciate that very much. 26:56 Now, John, this topic of, why did Jesus have to die. 26:59 Since I did so much talking here, 27:01 let me go ahead and let you chime in on this one. 27:04 Well, it's a topic that, a question, 27:06 that I think needs to be answered. 27:10 Because there are so many Christians throughout the world 27:12 who have heard very simple answers, 27:16 for why Jesus is their Savior. 27:18 Why they've put their faith and trust in Him, 27:20 to save them from their sins and why he had to die. 27:25 But there is a depth I believe 27:27 to answering that question that we all-- 27:30 that will enhance our salvation experience. Okay. 27:33 That if answered correctly, if we really know, 27:37 why did Jesus, the Son of God have to come to die, 27:40 to pay the price for our sins. 27:42 If we understand that, I think that our life, 27:45 our spiritual life could be transformed in a way that may be 27:49 many are not transformed to this day. 27:52 Because I've asked, I mean as a pastor, 27:54 you asked this question, why do you believe in Jesus? 27:59 You know, well, because Jesus is my Savior. 28:02 You know, He saved me, and He forgave my sins and-- 28:05 What does that mean? How did He forgive your sins? 28:08 Well, these questions become difficult to answer. 28:11 In this program we are going to commit at this question. 28:14 Why did Jesus have to die from difficult angles? 28:17 You and I, I know there's a lot of different 28:19 directions we can go here, and I've had people asked me, 28:22 and I know you've had people asked you. 28:23 How do you plan for these programs? 28:26 You know, what do you guys have a script or what do you do? 28:28 They are always surprised when I say, 28:30 "we don't really plan for these programs." 28:34 These programs are designed, 28:35 I believe to be lead by the Spirit of the God. 28:38 And we come, we talk about a topic beforehand, 28:40 what we like to talk about generally. 28:42 We may bring some text or some things 28:44 may be to held in front of us, but we have no script. 28:46 Right. And today we have no script. 28:49 And so we just want to answer the best we can 28:51 as two pastors in your living room 28:53 or in your vehicle if you're driving, 28:55 answering the question, why did Jesus, have to die? 28:59 And so, John, I just kind of springboard from there, 29:01 and I think, the place to start is, 29:05 this one text, and then we kind of go off with that. Okay. 29:10 Jesus is being described as a Lamb, the Lamb of God. 29:16 And John even proclaimed as he was coming down to the water, 29:19 where he was baptizing, John proclaimed that Jesus, 29:22 behold the Lamb of God, 29:24 who takes away the sin of the world. 29:29 So clearly, we have a lamb associated with sin. 29:32 We have imagery there 29:33 that is associated with the sanctuary service. 29:36 And the ceremonial sacrifices that were going on in Israel 29:39 and have been going on for quite some time. 29:42 But if you go back even before that, 29:43 you'll find that these sacrifices began immediately 29:46 after sin entered the picture. Right. 29:48 Because we have Cain and Abel, and the two altars there. 29:51 And how Cain or how Cain brought the wrong sacrifice 29:53 which was the fruit of his own hand, 29:55 and Abel brought the sacrifice of the lamb, 29:58 which pointed to Christ. 30:00 Even before the whole ceremonial 30:02 sacrificial system came into place, 30:04 at least became the fixture through the law of Moses. 30:09 But let's take a look at one text here in Revelation, 30:12 and we were just in Revelation answering a question. 30:15 But in Revelation 13:8, it says this. 30:23 And this is in reference to the worship, 30:28 initially the worship of this first beast power. 30:30 "All who dwell on the earth will worship him" 30:32 speaking of the first beast, 30:34 "Whose names have not been written in the book of life." 30:37 And then he goes on to say, "Of the Lamb slain 30:40 from how far before" the foundation of the world." 30:43 the foundation of the world. 30:45 Jesus knew that He was going to give up His life. 30:50 He was going to die on man's behalf, 30:53 even before the world was created. 30:56 Now that's an amazing fact to me 30:57 and I know you want to chime in on this little bit, 30:59 but it's an amazing thought to think, 31:00 that even before He created the world, 31:03 before even the world is in its perfect way, 31:06 He came into existence. 31:08 He knew that sin would enter the picture one day 31:11 and that He would have to die, 31:13 He would be slain. Yet He still created us. 31:17 Well, you know, 31:18 that's a beautiful picture to know that 31:20 He had the plan of salvation in place before it was needed, 31:24 but I want to approach it also from this perspective in Romans. 31:28 I think for me, as I springboard into this topic 31:32 "why did Jesus have to die." 31:34 I'm going to go to, what I would referred to as in very broad, 31:41 a very multi-dimensional process but in a very simple text. 31:48 The reason why Jesus had to die was this, 31:50 "For the wages of sin is death." 31:55 Why would you have to die? Well, that's what sin requires. 31:58 For the wages of sin is death. 32:00 Before we even get down to the gift, 32:02 the gift was, what would come after. 32:04 So built into this plan of salvation was two things. 32:07 I have a way to pay the price for what they would do, 32:11 if they do it, and I have a way to bring them back. 32:15 And there's nothing they could do 32:17 to warrant that of themselves. 32:18 It's going to be a gift. Right. 32:20 and so you see salvation, John, is not just a gift, 32:24 but it's a gift to specifically to those who accept this gift, 32:27 and why do we all have to accept it. 32:29 Another verse, you have both verses of verse 23, 32:33 but in two different chapters. 32:35 Romans 3:23, whydo we need Jesus, 32:42 why did He have to die? 32:43 "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." 32:48 So when you look at that, when you begin to see that, 32:51 before we can get into the lamb, 32:54 we are going to get into some very figurative language today, 32:57 even some prophecies that are been fulfilled aboutthe Messiah, 33:00 and how they all fit into the timeframe of why He had to die, 33:03 or the theme of why He had to die. 33:05 The bottom line is, He had to die because of sin. 33:11 You know, you said that. It's a sin, it is a sin problem. 33:14 The sin problem, the sin problem required payment. 33:18 And so somebody say, why do I have to pay? 33:20 Because it requires payment. The wages of sin is death. 33:24 And we'll go to the gift of God in just a moment. 33:26 But to me that's the first thing, 33:28 wages, that's why He had to die. 33:30 And you know what? 33:31 To me, John, it's really, when you think of that 33:34 from the beginning of the world, 33:36 when Adam and Eve fell into transgression. 33:40 There was no doubt in the mind of the Father, 33:43 the Son and the Holy Spirit, that the Redeemer's plan, 33:46 that was now in place, it wasn't, 33:49 they didn't have to figure it out, 33:51 it was now in effect. 33:52 And you know what's so wonderful about that, 33:55 as people talked about Jesus' coming, 33:57 'you know, one day the Messiah would come' 33:59 one day the messiah would come. 34:00 Well, you know what's so beautiful about that. 34:01 It wasn't a one day thing. 34:03 Jesus came the day they sinned He showed up. 34:07 And go with us to Genesis 3, 34:08 and I would just jump back to you. 34:10 Would you go and do that. 34:11 Let's go to Genesis 3, and what I'll say to is, 34:14 we're turning there to Genesis 3 34:15 is that if there was no plan in place, 34:19 when Eve sinned she would have dropped dead on the spot. 34:24 Very good point. Think about it. 34:26 I mean, if there was no plan in place, 34:29 God's mercy could not have been put in effect. 34:34 Right, there was no padding at all. 34:35 There was no room, no latitude. 34:37 But she did not drop dead, Adam did not drop dead. 34:41 Instead God came looking for them, 34:44 because He had a plan. That's right. 34:46 And that's the wonderful thing about the Lord. 34:49 You know, He showed up-- 34:50 He didn't show up necessarily 4,000 years later, 34:53 which in fact we look at the redemption of the cross, 34:56 truly 4,000 plus years later, but He came that day, 34:59 and I like the way that Genesis 3 brings this out, 35:03 it says, "And I heard," verse 8, 35:07 "And I heard the sound of the Lord God 35:11 walking in the garden in the cool of the day, 35:15 and Adam and his wife hid themselves 35:18 from the presence of the Lord amongst the trees of the garden. 35:22 And the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, where are you?" 35:27 And you know why he hid, while you read the rest of the story, 35:29 he hid because he was afraid. 35:31 I'm going to stop at the point right there, 35:33 the Lord came and called Adam, where are you? 35:36 And you know what, that has been the theme of salvation. 35:39 The Lord coming after us, not us going after the Lord. 35:44 That's why I'm always turned off when people say, 35:46 well, I'll decide whether or not I went to church, 35:49 and that's where I found Jesus. 35:51 No, He found you before you even entered the building. 35:53 Where are you, get you to where you're supposed to be. 35:56 Even though Adam and Eve sinned. 35:59 Right. God looked for them. 36:01 And here's the grace of God is bigger than our sin. 36:07 That's right. 36:08 But it doesn't make insignificant our sin. No. 36:13 Sin is an issue that had to be dealt with, 36:14 and if you want any other, there is no better answer 36:17 I would say, to that, to knowing that's the case, 36:21 than the fact that Jesus had died because of our sin. 36:24 Right. He died to take away our sins. 36:26 So sin is a big issue for the Lord, 36:30 and often, you know, John, as a pastor, 36:31 you know the most difficult sermons 36:33 for us to preach are sermons about sin. 36:36 'Cause people don't want to hear about that. Yeah. 36:39 They don't want to hear about their sins. No. 36:43 And in fact last Sabbath we had communion. 36:47 And communion is the time where we can take some latitude there 36:50 to talk about sin, because Jesus did, 36:53 you know, it's all about Jesus' death. 36:54 His broken body. He shed blood for us. 36:57 And it's hard to go through a communion 36:58 without thinking or talking about sin. 37:00 So I took some opportunity to talk about that, 37:03 and one of the questions we looked at was, 37:05 why did Jesus have to die. 37:07 Why are we here doing this, you know, 37:10 partaking of the bread and the juice here 37:12 representing Christ's body and His blood. 37:16 We are doing that because we are sinners. 37:19 And we will be sinners until we are glorified. 37:23 That's right. And so sin exists even today. 37:27 Although it was dealt with in two different phases, 37:30 we have old covenant where it was dealt with by the sacrifices 37:34 the ceremonies that pointed to the Lamb of God, 37:37 who would come and take away the sin of the world. 37:40 Before Christ dealt with in type, 37:43 which is by the shedding of the blood of goats and bulls 37:46 and the other things that, they used for sacrifices then 37:50 and then after Christ came, 37:52 the sin problem is still being dealt with by Jesus-- 37:55 in Hebrews it's talking about, in the heavenly sanctuary 37:58 whereby His own blood shed for us, 38:01 He applies that still for us in the heavenly sanctuary, 38:04 for the sins that we commit to this day. 38:06 And, John, what amazes me, is that we have any debate 38:11 whatsoever, as to whether or not, 38:15 the law of God is still in effect. 38:19 That's a good one, John. 38:20 Because if Jesus is still dealing with our sin problem, 38:24 a law must still be in effect, but if there's no law in effect, 38:28 we are not sinners. That's right. 38:30 Where there's no law, the Bible says, there is no sin. 38:34 There can't be-- There cannot be-- 38:37 if a police officer pulls you over 38:39 and says, you were speeding. 38:43 He will pull you over anywhere, 38:44 except on the autobahn for speeding, 38:47 because there's no law for speeding. 38:49 I also learned this in this, 38:50 if this is not true, somebody let me know, 38:53 may be not in the city of Manila. 38:55 I am sure that you can't drive 38:56 through Manila, Philippines wildly, 38:59 but I notice as I was driving in the Philippines, 39:01 one of the drivers said to me, we have no speed limits here. 39:06 And I thought, you know, I haven't seen any. 39:09 He said, you know, they figured, we know how to drive, 39:13 we are not going to-- 39:14 I mean there are some people that drive really crazy, 39:16 it depends on where you are, 39:18 quite a difference in the outer provinces, 39:22 as compared to Manila. 39:23 But people do drive with some, aggressiveness. 39:27 My point being made is that if there were no laws 39:30 against speeding then you couldn't be stopped 39:33 and given a citation for speeding. 39:35 There could be no law, there could be no sin 39:38 against what's existing in the world today, 39:40 if there is no law. 39:42 Jesus would not have to die 39:44 if there wasn't a law in effect that city had to. 39:46 And yet people, Christians today teach that, 39:50 by Jesus' death on the cross, He did away with the law. 39:55 I mean if you understand why Jesus had to die, 39:58 that question doesn't even come into play. 40:01 Because we don't get a ticket and then the officers turns 40:06 and says to us, now that you had your ticket, 40:08 the law isn't in effect anymore, 40:09 go out speed as much as you want. 40:10 I mean, that's insane. Right. 40:13 We get a ticket to remind us-- It's backward. 40:15 That the law is still in effect. Right. 40:17 So we come to Jesus, and we receive from Him forgiveness, 40:21 because we are reminded by the law 40:23 that is still in effect, that we are sinners still. 40:25 It's almost like Jesus died and saying, you know what, 40:27 I had to die to get rid of this law because it's ridiculous. 40:31 And then but in the reality of it if the law was an issue, 40:35 He would have gotten rid of it 40:37 rather than gotten rid of Himself. 40:39 That is, He would have killed the law, 40:41 rather than had to be killed. 40:44 And if the law could have been changed, 40:46 He would have changed it after sin, 40:48 so they wouldn't have to die. 40:50 In fact, one of the texts that I wrote down here, this is, 40:53 I was jotting down some notes was, God Himself says, 40:56 "I am God, I do not change." Right. 41:00 And His law, representing His character, 41:03 we see as there's some all kinds of verses we can go into here, 41:07 you know Exodus 33:34 where Jesus meeting 41:10 or God is meeting with Moses on the mountain, 41:13 and Moses says, "Show me Your glory." 41:16 And so He says, "I'll make all my goodness pass before you." 41:19 And what does He do? 41:20 He takes two tablets of stone-- And give it to him. 41:23 Pens it out of the rock, gives them to Moses 41:25 and he proclaims His name, 41:27 which is His character and gives him His law. 41:30 So His law is as much a part of Him, 41:32 He cannot get rid of that as much as He can change it. 41:36 And so one of the reasons, Jesus had to die 41:38 was because the law is unchangeable, 41:42 it is immutable, it cannot be changed, 41:44 so Jesus paid the price for you and for me. 41:49 So for us to say, well, I have accepted Jesus as my savior, 41:51 so I don't have to obey the law anymore, 41:53 I don't have to keep the law, 41:54 it's not in effect for me any more. 41:55 It's not reading salvation, or the plan, 41:59 God's plan of salvation correctly throughout scripture. 42:03 Going into another passage in the Bible in Titus. 42:06 That's right, after the book of 2 Timothy, 42:08 I want you to look at that with us Titus 2:11-14, 42:14 because you know, Ephesians 2:8 and 9 says 42:17 "For by grace are you saved through faith. 42:20 And that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, 42:23 Not of works, lest any man should boast." 42:25 So we have this saving relationship with Christ, 42:27 which is based on His grace. 42:29 But now, how many of us are in need of that grace. 42:32 I want you to read for us, John, Titus 2:11 down to verse 14. 42:37 Okay. And I'll emphasize that. 42:39 "For the grace of God that bring salvation 42:42 has appeared to all men." 42:43 Right, now why? 42:44 Because all have sinned. Go ahead. 42:46 "Teaching us" now listen to this, 42:48 grace of God is also teaching us something. Right. 42:51 Teaches us "That, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, 42:55 that we should live soberly, righteously, 42:57 and Godly, in this present age. 43:00 Looking for the blessed hope, and glorious appearing 43:03 of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 43:06 Who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us 43:08 from every lawless deed and purify for Himself, 43:11 His own special people, zealous for good works." 43:15 John, this tells me 43:17 that salvation is more than just a one time deal. Right. 43:20 Salvation is something that, 43:22 God brings through by His grace to us every day of our life. 43:26 Right, because we are learning. 43:28 Matter of fact-- the whole, 43:29 and you made references to the sanctuary a moment ago, 43:31 the Lamb, that take away the sin of the world. 43:33 That entire system was a system of learning. 43:35 They learned through that system of sacrifices, 43:38 what the whole process of sacrifice, 43:40 what the whole process of salvation was all about. 43:44 Not only was the lamb slain, but notice something here, 43:47 and I want to look at verse 14 again, because it says, 43:51 "Who gave Himself for us, the lamb being slain" 43:54 that's the beginning. "He gave Himself for us", 43:56 but what was the whole purpose of giving Himself for us? 43:59 Not only the second answer would be, 44:02 the first answer would be 44:03 the reason why Jesus had to die is because of sin. 44:05 The second answer would be, to redeem us. Yes. 44:08 Okay, the second answer would be to redeem. 44:11 He didn't just die for our sins but He died to redeem us. 44:16 You know the word 'redeem' there. 44:17 You ever went to buy the army bases, 44:20 people taking radios and cameras 44:22 and they get this ticket at the pawn shop there, 44:25 and they go back and they say, well, 44:28 I've come to claim my item, that I put on, 44:30 I needed, you know, $40, because I was short. 44:33 That has redemption value. 44:35 So Jesus came to redeem us, 44:38 but notice what He came to redeem us from, 44:40 every lawless deed. 44:43 That means, all of those deeds 44:44 that were out of harmony with the law, 44:47 is what I've come to redeem you from. 44:49 Now are we still being redeemed today? Absolutely. 44:52 So there are deeds that are still outside of the law. 44:54 That's right, and we're talking about here really is, 44:57 Christ dying for our sins and paying the penalty. Right. 45:01 But as you said, several times before too, 45:04 it's not just redeeming us from the penalty of sin. Right. 45:07 Which is death, He is redeeming us from the power of sin. Right. 45:11 which is giving us that holy life today. To everyday. 45:15 So Christ death is not just about justifying us, 45:19 it's about sanctifying us, it's about changing our life. 45:24 So if we just depend upon Christ 45:26 and just say, well, I believe in Jesus 45:28 because He forgave me of my sins and I don't have to die anymore. 45:31 And that's as far as we go, 45:32 we miss the other entire half 45:35 of the reason for Christ dying on the cross. 45:40 The other reason is that everyday I wake up, 45:42 I'm going to be tempted, this flesh is still mortal. 45:47 It's going to pull me constantly to sin. 45:52 And the only one that can deliver me from that is Jesus. 45:56 And what He has done for me. 45:59 And so, you know, 46:01 this part I think sometimes is overlooked. 46:04 This part of why Jesus died for us is overlooked. 46:07 He died, so that we might also be delivered 46:11 from the power of sin in our life. That's right. 46:13 As a matter of fact, I have the three P's 46:15 and John just reiterated that, and I liked that. 46:18 Once from the penalty of sin, that is justification, 46:22 then the power of sin, that's sanctification, 46:25 then finally from the presence of sin, 46:27 that's when He comes back, that's glorification. 46:30 Another way I like to look at that is, 46:31 Jesus first saves us from the curse of sin, 46:34 that's justification. 46:36 Then everyday from the confines of sin, 46:39 because sin will confine you. 46:41 That's daily, but then finally 46:43 He will save us from the condition of sin. 46:45 There will be no more condition. 46:47 He's going to change the world and make it, 46:49 He's going to change that whole sinful atmosphere 46:52 and make it sinless. 46:54 The conditions of sin will be finally erased, 46:56 so I have some C's with that also. 46:58 That's good. But let's go to the next part. 47:01 Now the spring boarding off of your last text there, 47:04 we are talking about that God is calling us to a holy life. 47:09 I use this text in my last message 47:11 with our congregation here as we were preparing for, 47:15 for communion and it's found in 1 Peter, 47:19 1 Peter 2:21. All right. 47:26 You know there are many today that wonder 47:27 what's God's calling is on their life. 47:31 You know, why does God have me where He has me today. 47:34 What is He called me to do in life? 47:37 And I like the way the Peter start with this, John. 47:39 In verse 21 it says, "For to this you were called." 47:43 Okay. It's like okay, now I am listening. 47:45 And if I am reading this text, I perked up 47:47 and I said okay, I am listening now. 47:49 "For the what purpose was I called." Right. 47:52 "Because Christ also suffered for us, 47:54 leaving us an example, okay. 47:59 That you should follow His steps. 48:02 Who committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth." 48:05 Okay, so we are supposed to follow his example 48:07 by committing no sin and not allowing ourselves to deceive. 48:12 And who, when he was reviled, did not revile and return." 48:15 You means, I don't lash back, 48:17 like Jesus didn't lash out and back at somebody. 48:20 "And when he suffered, he did not threaten 48:22 but committed himself to him who judges righteously." 48:25 So we do things differently than the world does them. 48:28 And then look at this, verse 24, 48:31 "Who himself bore our sins in his own body on a tree" 48:34 referring to the cross, why did Jesus have to die? 48:37 "That we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness, 48:42 by whose stripes you were healed." 48:44 You see, Jesus died for us. 48:47 And He is calling us notice this to this you were called, 48:50 He's calling us to die to our sins as well. 48:56 So somehow Jesus is dying on that cross and in His death, 49:01 He is also calling us to die to our sins as well. 49:07 And so we find text after text, Paul talks about how-- 49:11 he no longer lives, but its Christ who lives in him. 49:15 Because this flesh that he lives in now he's died to, 49:19 because he's now living in the spirit. 49:21 And several other times 49:22 he talks about how we are in Christ, 49:25 as He is dying on the cross, our sins are in Him, 49:28 we are dying on to our sins, by the cross as well. 49:33 And I have some of those texts here, 49:35 and we could probably, you are probably 49:36 looking up at one of them or several of them, 49:39 but Galatians, let see Galatians 6:14 49:42 I have that one jotted down here. 49:44 We'll just give you a few here to emphasize this point. 49:48 Another one I want to add-- You have another one there. 49:50 Another one I want to add, 49:51 He calls us not only to, He didn't come just to die 49:55 because of sin, He came to redeem us 49:58 and I want to build further on what you've just talked about. 50:03 Calling us to righteousness. 50:05 He's also come to make us righteous. 50:09 Why else He had to die, 50:11 and the dying part was the payment. 50:14 The Romans, here it is. Let me just read it out. 50:17 I was going to turn to here, 50:18 but let me just go ahead and read it, 50:19 since we're talking about that Romans 6, 50:24 here it is- the third reason. 50:27 You're reading some of the text, I was going to read. 50:30 There we go, how do we get there we have no script. 50:33 Starting with verse 4. 50:34 It says, "Therefore we were buried with him" Romans 6:4, 50:38 "Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death." 50:44 Notice why did Jesus had to die. We enter into His death. 50:46 He died, we entered into it. But we don't stay dead. 50:50 You know, if you go to a church that's dead, 50:51 they've just been baptized. Yeah. 50:53 They got to be resurrected. 50:54 No, they're still under the water. 50:57 You got to come out of the water. 50:58 Okay, I like that one. 51:00 Water baptism, now they need Holy Spirit baptism. 51:05 "Buried with him through baptism into death, 51:07 that just as Christ was raised from the dead 51:09 by the glory of the Father 51:11 even so we also should walk in newness of life. 51:14 For if we have been united together 51:16 in the likeness of His death, 51:18 certainly we also shall be 51:19 in the likeness of his resurrection." 51:22 So it's not just the deaththing, it's a resurrection thing. 51:25 But not resurrection from the grave, 51:27 but resurrection from the grave of sin. 51:31 The next text, "Knowing this, 51:32 that our old man was crucified with him." 51:37 It talks about, so we shall no longer be slave to sin. 51:40 Right, "that the body of sin" the body of sin, 51:43 you know why it calls it the body of sin? 51:45 Because that's the thing that keeps us bound. 51:48 Remember Romans 7, he says, "O wretched man that I am, 51:53 Who will deliver me," Romans 7:24, 51:56 "Who will deliver me from this body of death?" 51:59 See the body of this death, primarily is the real way, 52:02 it is said the body of this death. 52:04 And, you know, I am besides, 52:05 I am taking a detour here real quick. Okay. 52:08 But some referred that as well, 52:09 we want to get out of this body and go to heaven. 52:11 That's not what Paul was talking about. 52:13 No, not, he's not talking-- 52:14 Paul's talking about being delivered 52:15 from the body of death that keeps on pushing us to sin, 52:19 while we live on this earth. 52:21 Christ came to deliver us from that body, 52:23 so that we might live in righteousness, 52:25 not susceptible to the mortal flesh 52:28 that's always tempting us to sin. 52:30 And in that very same phrase, he talks about, he says, 52:33 "Do not let sin reign your mortal body." 52:36 The mortal body-- the reason why we need Jesus every day, 52:39 and this is something else, 52:40 we need Him for not only for the payment of our sin 52:44 and the redemption but the holy life, 52:47 but what else do we need Him for? 52:49 We need Jesus, another reason why He had to die is, 52:53 there was no ability on our part to do anything righteous. 52:58 So how can we be righteous, 53:01 if we couldn't even deliver ourselves from sin? 53:05 So when the Bible says, 53:06 be there for holy as your father in heaven is holy. 53:09 How can we be holy? 53:11 Jesus, His holiness is imputed to us, 53:15 and then imparted to us. 53:17 What imputed means is, we are in fact-- 53:21 when He imparts His righteousness to us, 53:23 He imparts it to us as a justified saint, 53:28 as a justified sinner, now a saint. 53:31 But then He imputes to us everyday. 53:34 We're now living in His righteousness, 53:36 that's the only way we'd been declared righteous. 53:39 I know we are talking about 53:41 being crucified in Christ on the cross 53:43 and crucifying our flesh and dying to our sin. 53:47 Jesus says it in another way, 53:49 although we're seeing the same thing. 53:50 What passage are you? I am in Mathew 16:24. 53:53 All right, let's go there. 53:55 Mathew 16:24, "Jesus said to his disciples, 54:00 If any one desires to come after me, 54:02 let him deny himself," that is deny that flesh, 54:07 that he's always pulling us in a different direction. 54:09 "Take up his cross, and follow me." 54:14 There's the cross again. That's right. 54:15 Why did Jesus have to die? 54:17 See it's more than just pain, the penalty for our sins 54:19 is to deliver us from this sin even today. 54:22 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, 54:26 but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." 54:31 So in the cross Jesus is calling us as well, 54:36 not only to accept his death on our behalf 54:39 to pay for the penalty of our sin, 54:42 but he's asking us to lose our life. 54:45 So that through the cross as Christ dies, 54:48 we also die to sin, so we can experience 54:51 the resurrection power of the Lord. 54:54 And so some of us, I think today, and you know, 54:57 we John and I, we fall into this trap as well sometimes. 55:01 We don't allow ourselves 55:02 to experience the power of the resurrection, 55:05 because we haven't died first. 55:09 We haven't died to the sin and its passion in our lives, 55:12 and we don't accept the fact that Jesus died, 55:16 He's trying to help us die to that as well 55:18 by His experience on the cross. 55:21 So let's make this practical, John, 55:23 so when someone cut you off on the road, 55:26 and he makes you angry, you know those, 55:29 they just, 'this guy is an idiot.' 55:31 Yeah, we speed up and try to run off the road. 55:33 Yeah, we get upset and we start getting all angry 55:36 and you know, my question for you is, 55:39 die, you are going to die, 55:42 we have to die in that instant. 55:44 You know when these passions flare up, die, we got to die. 55:48 Yeah, unless you - 55:49 And we can only do that in a death of the cross, 55:52 or of Christ on the cross, we can't just die to ourselves, 55:55 we have no strength to die. 55:57 But on the cross we have the ability to die 56:00 because Christ took our sins. 56:01 You know, you mentioned that instance, 56:03 I remember it once, somebody cutting me off, 56:06 matter of fact it was a teenage girl, 56:08 my wife and I were in a vehicle together 56:10 and we were in our SUV and this little small car, 56:14 must have been size of a Corolla. 56:17 She was determine to play chicken, 56:19 we went left, she would cut in front of us, 56:21 we went right, she cut in front of us, 56:22 and I am thinking myself, you know, 56:24 every human feeling rose up in me. I know. 56:28 I am being very candid about, every human feeling. 56:31 And I'm thinking this vehicle is 7,000 pounds, 56:36 she's messing around with her 800 pound car, 56:39 I am just, you know, and but you know what, 56:41 I contained myself and we did what any good citizen would do, 56:45 we called the highway patrol, 56:48 while she was cutting us off, I reported her license plate 56:51 and they said, we're going to visit her 56:52 because this is dangerous. 56:53 I don't know what was in her mind 56:54 but she just won't let us pass. 56:56 The whole point of it, friends is this. 56:58 We went to the one, the only one 57:00 that could save us from doing something foolish. 57:03 In the context, why did Jesus have to die? 57:05 He is our Savior, He is also our Redeemer, 57:10 but the real reason why went down this line today is, 57:13 He is also our Lord. 57:15 And you've got to give your life to the Lord, 57:18 not just the one that is died to save you, 57:20 but the one that is going to come back 57:22 and you have to give your life to the Lord, 57:23 the one that wants to save you from sin 57:25 on the day by day basis. 57:26 So until you come back again to House Calls, 57:29 we pray that the Lord of your life, 57:31 you will invite him in today. God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17