Participants: John Lomacang (Host), John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL090007
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00:01 Hello, friends, grab your Bible and a friend
00:02 and sit back as we explore God's word together 00:05 on this edition of "House Calls." 00:22 Friends, welcome to the most exciting 00:24 program in the world, "House Calls." 00:26 And you know why, because we are living in a world 00:29 where the Bible needs to be talked about 00:31 and it's happening here, so welcome. 00:33 My name is John Lomacang, and I have my buddy 00:35 in the studio with me, Pastor John Stanton. 00:37 Good to have you here stretch. 00:38 John, it's good to be here again for another exciting program. 00:41 I'm excited about this program, 00:42 some hot button issues coming up. 00:44 That's right, that's right. 00:45 You know, we like to talk about things 00:46 that are interesting to you 00:48 and many have fed us emails 00:50 about how important it is to get back to the truth and so. 00:53 One of the topics we're gonna be talking about today 00:55 is entitled "To tell the truth." 00:57 What does it mean to tell the truth? 01:00 But before we do any of that, 01:02 we want to go to the Lord in prayer. 01:03 So, John, let's have a prayer together. 01:05 Our Father in heaven, we're so thankful again 01:07 to be able to come before Your throne 01:09 and seek wisdom and strength and knowledge. 01:11 And we just pray that You will send us Your Holy Spirit 01:14 to lead and guide us through our study, 01:15 bless everyone who joins us for this program as well. 01:18 May we draw closer to You because we know more about You 01:21 and Your plan for our lives, in Jesus' name, amen. Amen. 01:25 And friends, as you know 01:26 you Bible questions are big part of this program. 01:29 And many of you are very faithful. 01:31 Some of you are just like clockwork, 01:33 we can count on your emails coming through 01:34 and all the Bible questions. 01:36 Some of you send us snail mail 01:38 that is by the post office that stamped. 01:41 And some of you really enjoy doing that 01:43 and there are those of you who don't have typewriters 01:45 and we appreciate that too. 01:46 So today we're gonna begin our program 01:48 by entertaining your questions and if you have any of them, 01:51 you can send those to housecalls@3abn.org, 01:55 that's housecalls@3abn.org. 01:58 We download those questions and try our best 02:01 to go to God's word and answer them for you. 02:03 And if it's our opinion, 02:05 we're going to say it's our opinion. 02:06 But we'd like to stick to the word of God. 02:08 Today let's start with our first question. 02:11 John, what do you have for us? 02:12 I've got a question with regard to the Old Testament and-- 02:18 yeah, it's a New Testament word actually, 02:19 but with regard to Abraham and his ancestry. Okay. 02:25 And not only where is he from, but who he was 02:29 and it says here, the question specifically says, 02:31 "On the show you mentioned that Abraham was not a Jew 02:34 and that he was a Chaldean. 02:36 I'm a Seventh-day Adventist 02:37 and I'm confused about what you said 02:40 so would you please explain it further. 02:43 And if this is true where did the first Jew 02:45 come on the scene from, was it Jacob?" 02:49 And there is actually good guess. Okay. 02:51 But let's talk about here Abraham first. 02:54 We find that in Genesis 11:31, it says this in regard 03:00 to Abraham and his father and his-- 03:05 I believe his-- yeah, his father here. 03:07 It says, "And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, 03:11 the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarah, 03:15 or actually Sarai at the time. 03:17 his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them 03:21 from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan." 03:25 So here we find that his family was from Ur, John, 03:31 which was part of the land of the Chaldeans. 03:33 So he was Chaldean so to speak. 03:35 Now that's why we said that Abraham was not a Jew. 03:40 Now specifically with regard to the word Jew, 03:43 that wasn't really applied to God's people 03:46 until after the divided kingdom following Solomon's reign 03:50 we had Solomon's son and then of course 03:53 he rebelled against the Lord 03:54 and that's where Jeroboam came into play 03:56 to take Israel, the northern kingdom 03:59 which had 10 of the 12 tribes 04:02 and as that divided eventually over time. 04:05 We know that the northern kingdom 04:06 was besieged and taken over by Assyria. 04:09 They were scattered and then the southern kingdom of Judah 04:13 which had grown was taken captive and brought to Babylon. 04:17 After seven years plus they return to Jerusalem 04:20 to rebuild the city, to rebuild the temple. 04:22 And then from that point on, we get into the segment between 04:25 kind of the Old Testament and New Testament 04:28 and by the time we get to the New Testament 04:30 writings of Jesus' first advent, 04:32 they were referred to as Jews which was short for Judah. 04:37 So that's where the word Jews comes from. 04:39 Now if you go back far enough 04:40 although the word Jew wasn't part of Israel at the time. 04:45 The word Israel itself was applied to Jacob the first time. 04:50 And so that was a good guess 04:52 as far as where these names go back, 04:54 how far they go back to. 04:55 But Jacob who was the son of Isaac 04:59 was first known with his new name 05:03 after wrestling with God that night where he wrestle with Him 05:06 and he didn't concur but he struggled, 05:10 he wrestle with God and he overcame or at least he-- 05:13 what's the word I'm looking for it talks about, 05:15 he was an overcomer. He prevailed. 05:17 He prevailed to receive the blessing from the Lord 05:20 and from that point on, God called him Israel, 05:23 your name should be called Israel. 05:25 And so that's where Israel which apply to both kingdoms, 05:28 both the north and the south 05:29 even though they were divided came from. 05:32 So that little history 05:33 into where these names come from in the Bible. 05:36 That was good, that was good that you walked us through that. 05:39 Glad that you hit the record button to follow that. 05:41 You could rewind that later on 05:42 and look at the history that John just laid out for us. 05:45 It's important to know why we are where we are today 05:49 and what we believe and how God led 05:51 in the choosing of a special people. 05:55 They were special not because they had a different blood type 05:58 or because their DNA-- let me not use that phrase 06:01 or that word but because their nationality. 06:04 They were not special because of nationality. 06:06 They were special because 06:07 they were chosen by God for a particular purpose. 06:11 And so you find in and believe its Romans 9:6 where it says, 06:17 "They that are of Israel are not all Israel." 06:22 And so you clearly see that 06:24 it is not so much our physical birth 06:27 but it's our spiritual birth that makes the difference 06:29 and that was very important. 06:30 But something aside to add about where Abraham is from. 06:33 And by the way the name Abram, you know, 06:36 when the promise that God had made with him was covenanted, 06:39 He called him Abraham now which is a beautiful thing 06:42 and changed Sarah's name from Sarai to Sarah 06:45 showing that the covenant that He had made with them 06:47 had now have been enforce. 06:49 And what a beautiful covenant to say 06:51 to a couple that don't have any children at all. 06:54 He said one day your seed would be like the stars of the sky. 06:59 That's an amazing thing and God did fulfill that promise. 07:02 But in Genesis 15:7 the Lord even confirms 07:06 what you just read 07:09 "Then He said to him" that is the Lord said to Abraham. 07:13 "I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, 07:17 to give you this land to inherit it." 07:20 And if you look at where Ur was, Ur was in southern Babylon. 07:24 So years ago I've said that Abraham was Babylonian 07:27 and by birth and nationality, yes he was 07:30 because Ur was the southern providence 07:32 of the Babylonian empire. 07:35 So here's the beautiful thing about that. 07:37 The Lord can take somebody from Babylon 07:39 and give him the inheritance of the kingdom of God. 07:42 Amazing, and look at this, look at the parallel. 07:44 In the last days, the Lord is gonna call people out of Babylon 07:48 and then give them the designation of His chosen people 07:53 come out of her my people. 07:54 He did that to Abraham and his wife. 07:57 And He's gonna do that in the last days also again. 07:58 You know, the interesting thing to you that we talked about here 08:02 how Israel is about prevailing, it's about, you know, 08:05 wrestling with God and staying and clinging 08:07 and staying close overcoming. 08:09 You know, we talk about faith being the victory 08:12 that we have 'cause it's all by faith. 08:14 By faith we cling to God, by faith we overcome, 08:17 by faith we prevailed because it's His strength. 08:19 And so when it says there 08:22 that all Israel or Israel is not all Israel. 08:27 Really what we're talking about that word Israel 08:29 is an issue of faith when you get to the New Testament. 08:32 So those Paul says, "Who are by faith are Israel." 08:36 Right. And so the real issue is not 08:38 whether or not you're descendants as a race of Abraham 08:42 which was a big issue for the Pharisees, 08:44 Sadducees at that time. 08:46 The issue was whether you are not gonna-- 08:47 you put your faith in Jesus Christ 08:49 and you're gonna becoming overcomer through Him. 08:52 And so that's why we have said several times 08:54 that we do not believe in some kind of a dual covenant here 08:57 where Israel as a nation has a covenant with God still 09:01 and now Israel, the church has a covenant with God. 09:04 But there is only been one everlasting covenant. 09:07 It was first came through Abraham and then came through-- 09:10 it was reiterated actually through Abraham 09:11 'cause he had a covenant with Noah too. 09:14 But then he came down through them until the time of Christ 09:18 which was a probationary period for the nation of Israel 09:22 and then afterwards was given to the church. 09:24 So that's why we say several times, 09:26 you will hear us say that church, 09:28 the church of Christ today is Israel, spiritual Israel. 09:33 But in the sense it's always been 09:34 a spiritual application that word, hasn't it? Right. 09:37 Those who are of Christ's are Abraham's seed 09:41 and heir according to the promise. 09:43 So it's always been spiritual designation. 09:45 We know that a salvation is not a first birth, 09:48 it's always the second birth, it's a new birth. 09:50 And anyone whose is the part 09:51 of the new birth is in fact spiritual Israel 09:54 that's what the Lord makes it very, very clear. 09:56 So when you get down to Revelation, John, 09:58 and this is something that 09:59 you and I both really enjoy studying. 10:02 Revelation is a spiritual book for a spiritual people. 10:05 It's not a book designated for just one particular race 10:10 but in fact a book for a spiritual people, 10:12 calling them out of darkness into this marvelous life. 10:15 And you know the Apostle Paul does a wonderful job about that. 10:18 He says, at one time we were not a people 10:22 but now we are a people. 10:24 And so that's the beautiful thing. 10:26 The Lord can extend an invitation 10:28 to somebody who is not His 10:30 but then by accepting the invitation, they become His. 10:35 But thank you very much. 10:36 And our last text to that Nehemiah 9:7 10:41 once again the Bible says 10:43 confirming what you just pointed out about Abraham. 10:46 "You are the Lord God, who chose Abram, 10:51 and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, 10:54 and gave him the name Abraham." 10:57 You see, so that's showing the transition 10:59 and then it says "You found his heart faithful before you, 11:03 and made a covenant with him 11:05 to give him the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, 11:07 the Amorites, the Perizzites, 11:08 the Jebusites, and the Girgashites 11:11 and to give it to his descendants." 11:13 And so you clearly see that 11:14 the promise that God made to Abraham 11:16 at that point was when his name changed 11:18 and it wasn't the same thing with his son Jacob. 11:21 He went from Jacob to Israel. Yeah, that's right. 11:25 When God makes a covenant 11:26 and friends, look at that whole thing, 11:28 when we get to heaven we're gonna have a new name. 11:31 There's another topic all together. 11:33 It's not gonna be our name, 11:34 His name is gonna be on our foreheads, 11:37 that's the new name since God is above. 11:39 And we thank you for that question. 11:41 Here's another one. 11:44 Dear John, it could be anyone of us. 11:47 Thank you so much. 11:48 Please help me out with Revelation 14:4. 11:52 Go with us to Revelation 14:4 11:54 and by the way that is the second place in Revelation 11:57 or the second place in the Bible 11:59 you find that 144,000 talked about. 12:01 The first place in Revelation 7 12:03 the choosing and the sealing of the 144,000. 12:06 And then Revelation 14, the message of the 144,000. 12:11 A lot of times we take them out of the equation, 12:14 but before you find the first, second, 12:16 and third Angel's message you find the 144,000. 12:20 Those who are going to proclaim this message, 12:23 very exclusive message. 12:25 The message is exclusive for the carriers, 12:28 but it's inclusive for the world. 12:31 Revelation 14:4 describes who the 144,000 are. 12:36 "These are the ones who were not defiled with women, 12:42 for they are virgins. 12:44 These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. 12:51 These were redeemed from among men, 12:54 being first fruits to God and to the Lamb." 12:58 Now that's a big passage and there are a lot of points 13:01 that were brought on that passage. 13:02 One of the first one it says, 13:03 "These are the ones who were not defiled with women." 13:07 Well, we know in prophecy 13:08 that when the Bible uses the phrase woman 13:11 or the word woman it designates to church. 13:14 And so clearly if I would begin with the beginning 13:18 it says for they are virgins meaning pure. 13:21 They were not defiled by the teachings of other churches. 13:27 Matter of fact go with us to Revelation 17. 13:29 I want you to see something here because in Revelation 17, 13:34 you find a condition but you find another woman 13:38 that's not described as pure. 13:41 As a matter of fact, she is anything but pure. 13:44 Revelation 17:1. 13:46 Why don't you read that for us, John? 13:48 Revelation 17:1. 13:51 "One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls 13:54 came and talked with me, 13:55 saying, 'Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot 13:58 who sits on many waters.'" 14:00 And look at verse 4. 14:03 "The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, 14:06 and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, 14:09 having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations 14:13 and the filthiness of her fornication." 14:15 And just add verse 5 there. 14:16 "And on her forehead a name was written, 14:20 Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots 14:23 and the abominations of the earth." 14:25 Okay, now notice something. 14:27 In Revelation 14, it says, 14:28 these were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. 14:32 But you go to Revelation 17 you clearly see a different 14:35 system altogether talked about, 14:37 a system of complete defilement. 14:40 She is referred to as a great harlot, 14:43 not just a harlot, a great harlot. 14:45 She is referred to as the mother of harlots 14:50 and abominations of the earth, 14:52 so if you partake of what she is selling, 14:55 you will definitely be defiled. 14:56 As a matter of fact, verse 6 talks about-- 15:00 matter of fact, verse 2. Sorry before verse 6. 15:03 Verse 2 says, "With whom 15:05 the kings of the earth were made drunk 15:09 with the wine of her fornication. 15:12 The kings of the earth committed fornication, 15:15 and the inhabitants of the earth 15:16 were made drunk with the wine of her fornication." 15:19 So you clearly see 15:20 the inhabitance of the earth may drunk, 15:22 the kings committed fornication, they were not clean, 15:26 they were defiled, so the contrast is 15:29 Revelation is talking about a people that are not defiled, 15:32 a people that are not polluted, 15:35 a people that are true to the Lord God 15:38 as the woman described in Revelation 12. 15:41 Look at that with us. 15:43 That woman was not decked with gold 15:47 and precious stones and pearls. 15:48 And by the way, John, I want to add this. 15:52 The woman of Revelation 17 had on purple and red. 15:57 It's nothing wrong with the color purple and red. 15:59 The question is what didn't she have on. 16:02 She didn't have on the color of blue. 16:05 And the color blue is the color that's symbolic 16:07 with the commandments of God. 16:09 So you see that in this system of worship 16:12 the commandments of God were omitted 16:14 or most specifically were changed, 16:19 were diverted, were broken down 16:22 as the word I used just a moment ago 16:25 polluted or diluted, 16:27 that's the word I'm looking for. 16:29 But look at Revelation 12:1. The contrast is amazing. 16:34 "Now a great sign appeared in heaven, 16:37 a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, 16:42 and on her head a garland or crown of twelve stars." 16:47 And when you look at that whole parallel, 16:50 you begin to see that the reason why this woman 16:52 is the one that's designated is pure, 16:54 is this is the one that Satan is upset with. 16:56 And by the way you can guarantee that 16:58 if the devil is upset with you, you're doing something right. 17:01 Read for us, John, Revelation 12:17. 17:04 Notice how angry the devil is 17:06 and what his attitude toward this woman is. 17:09 "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, 17:12 and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring." 17:16 King James Version says, remnant there which is a key word. 17:20 "Who keep the commandments of God 17:21 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 17:24 So you see there, that woman 17:26 is a woman that's associated with 17:28 keeping the commandments of God and the devil is upset. 17:32 She also has the testimony of Jesus Christ 17:34 which Revelation 19:10 says, 17:36 "The gift of the Spirit of Prophecy." 17:39 But let's look at the rest of the aspects of that 17:41 and you could chime in anytime you'd like in that verse. 17:43 Well, you know, I was focusing on that word remnant. 17:46 It's interesting that Babylon has a remnant. Very good point. 17:50 Because she is the mother of harlots 17:52 which means she has children. That's right. 17:54 And those children play a big part in the end times, 17:57 in last days as the Book of Revelation tells us. 18:00 The woman of Revelation 12 has a remnant. That's right. 18:03 And this is the one 18:04 that the dragon is very angry with at the end of time. 18:07 But specifically that remnant, the 144, 000 18:10 he is very angry with because they are doing the work 18:14 that God has called them to do. 18:16 And it says there in the passage we already ready in Chapter 14, 18:19 "They are firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." 18:23 Now that word firstfruits 18:25 tells us a little bit about the remnant or the 144,000 18:29 because firstfruits that were part of the culture 18:34 and part of the life of the nation of Israel 18:39 were the very firstfruit that came from the harvest 18:41 and that firstfruit was brought 18:44 and dedicated to God as an offering. 18:46 And so we see here in the remnant or the 144, 000 18:51 that they are the first ones 18:52 that are redeemed from the earth by God. 18:56 And they're redeemed for a specific purpose, all right. 19:00 That's why Revelation 7 says that they were sealed 19:03 prior to the four winds being released to blow upon the earth 19:08 which is the coming of the time of trouble. 19:10 So they were sealed, they were firstfruits, 19:12 they were prepared for a message to give to the world 19:17 during the time the four winds were released. 19:20 And for that message you just have to 19:22 read on little further in Revelation 14, 19:25 the Three Angels' messages from verse 6-11. 19:31 So anyway just to give you 19:32 a little picture of the last days. 19:34 Now if you want to see those who were not firstfruits, 19:37 who were redeemed at the end of time, 19:39 then look at the second part of Revelation 7 19:41 which is the great multitude, all right. 19:44 So all these things play a part, 19:46 they come in together here as you read the Book of Revelation. 19:48 Just want to give you those pieces to fit everything in here 19:51 as we talked about the firstfruit or the 144,000. 19:55 I'm glad you brought that up because in 1 Corinthians 15, 19:59 Paul the Apostle described Jesus 20:01 as the firstfruits of those that slept. 20:04 Meaning, He is the first one to conquer the grave, 20:09 but He is not the only one 20:10 that's going to conquer the grave. 20:12 Those of us who are laid to rest before Jesus comes, 20:16 1 Corinthians 15 is going to say when they are resurrected. 20:19 "O death, where is thy sting? 20:21 O grave, where is thy victory?" 20:22 At the resurrection they will be conquerors of death 20:25 but not on their own but through Christ. 20:27 But the harvest-- let's get back to that 20:29 because that's a very good point. 20:30 I'm glad you brought that out. 20:33 In Exodus 23:16 the Bible talks about the harvest. 20:37 And when the time of the harvest came, 20:39 the firstfruits always represented the best. 20:43 I'm going to give you the first. 20:45 When a person--that's why when we return tithes to the Lord, 20:49 it should be our firstfruits not what's left. Right, right. 20:52 You know, a lot of people 20:53 that don't give a return tithe to the Lord, they don't think 20:57 if it is the firstfruits, the first obligation. 21:00 The Lord wants our first, 21:01 because the first always represents the best. 21:03 Let me go ahead and read the text 21:04 that I was referring to in Exodus 23:16. 21:07 "And the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors 21:12 which you have sown in the field, 21:14 and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, 21:18 when you have gathered in 21:20 the fruit of your labors from the field." 21:24 And so notice the firstfruits are the fruit of the labors. 21:28 Fruit of whose labor though will be the firstfruits? 21:31 The fruits of the Lord's labor. 21:33 He says the harvest is ripe but the laborers are few. 21:38 Pray that the Lord of the harvest 21:39 will sent forth laborers into the field. 21:42 And so those who come in are the firstfruits, 21:45 those who are chosen to bringing 21:47 the rest of the harvest are the firstfruits. 21:51 Follow me carefully. 21:52 Those chosen are the firstfruits from the Lord's harvest. 21:56 But the firstfruits bring in the rest of the harvest. 22:00 You're getting my point? 22:01 The multitude that you point out 22:02 that no one could number. 22:03 Yeah, and that's why in Revelation 14 22:05 you see the structure of the 144,000 22:08 which is the first half of that chapter 22:10 and the next half of the chapter 22:11 is all about the rest of the harvest. 22:13 It says, "The grapes are now fully ripe." 22:16 Why are they ripe because the Three Angels' Messages 22:19 smacked out in the middle of it, 22:20 have already been given, 22:21 they had been accepted and they now go forward. 22:24 Now there is something that I saw several years ago, 22:28 that was really key to help me understand this little better 22:30 and that's Revelation 15. 22:34 And I'll just mention this here 22:35 just to finish up our question here, John, 22:37 that we're getting the aspects 22:38 that aren't really asked there but. 22:40 If you look here-- Revelation 15 what verse? 22:43 Revelation 15 and I'm reading from-- 22:48 let's see verse 2. All right. 22:51 It says, "I saw something 22:53 like a sea of glass mingled with fire, 22:56 and those who have had victory over the beast, 22:59 over his image and over his mark, 23:00 and over the number of his name, 23:02 standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God." 23:04 Now first of all, what does a sea represent? 23:07 Water. Right. 23:08 The great number of people, right. 23:10 And so those who have had victorious standing on the sea. 23:13 So there is a great number of people here. 23:15 and I would refer to this 23:16 as the great multitude speaking of here. 23:18 And it says, "They sing the song of Moses, 23:21 the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, 23:22 saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! 23:27 Just and true are Your ways, O King of saints!" 23:29 Now look at this verse 4, it's really key. 23:32 If you know anything about the Three Angels' Messages, 23:35 this should ring loud and clear. 23:37 So the 144,000 have given this message, 23:39 they've declared this message. 23:41 And the great multitude have been redeemed 23:44 because of their receiving of that truth. 23:47 Now listen to what they say. 23:49 "Who shall not fear You, O Lord God, 23:55 and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. 23:59 For all nations shall come and worship before You, 24:03 for Your judgments have been manifested." 24:07 Now what do you think of when you see those words. 24:10 John, fear, glorify, worship, judgments? 24:15 First angel's message. The First angel's message. 24:17 Fear God, give glory to Him 24:19 for the hour of His judgment has come, worship Him. 24:22 So I would say the great multitude have got the message. 24:26 Right, they got the message. 24:27 They receive the message 24:28 and they have become part of the redeem 24:32 or they have been joined with the firstfruit of God 24:34 as the total redeemed at the end of time. 24:36 Matter of fact, Revelation 15:4 is a statement of preparation. 24:40 Now we're prepared, now we are ready. 24:43 The Lord has call those out that are going to respond to Him. 24:46 Now we are ready, go ahead and send the judgments of God. 24:49 That is go ahead and send the judgments of God 24:51 that are not mixed with God's mercy. 24:54 That's the key because there are judgments 24:56 talked about in Revelation that are mixed with God's mercy, 24:58 but when you get to the seven last plagues. 25:00 The reason why it's called seven last 25:03 is because they are unmixed with the mercy of God 25:06 and a lot of people have a hard time thinking of that 25:09 as the time where God's mercy is withdrawn. 25:12 God is never, not a merciful God 25:14 but He withdraws His mercy from the finally impenitent, 25:18 those who refuse to repent. 25:21 But God is always a merciful God. 25:23 Just that in those last judgments, 25:25 it's the consuming judgments rather than 25:27 judgments to lead men's heart to repentance. 25:31 What else is left in here in verse 4? 25:33 There is so much in just that one verse. 25:35 Thank you for the question. It's a rich question. 25:38 Of the last part it says in verse 4, 25:41 well, we've talked about redeemed, 25:42 the firstfruits and it says 25:44 they follow the Lamb wherever He goes. 25:47 You will find one of the most important things 25:50 is when they follow the Lamb wherever He goes, 25:53 the commission is, go ye therefore 25:56 and preach the gospel to every nation. 25:59 And this is the time 26:00 how wonderful it is on Revelation 14:4 26:03 that the very people that are waiting 26:05 for the message are the ones that are sent 26:08 and the Lamb is the one that sends them 26:10 and wherever the Lamb is gonna go, 26:12 they are going to go now. 26:14 I want to lean back to something here, John, 26:15 as I wrap up this question. 26:17 Many years ago there was a poem about Mary had a little Lamb. 26:21 And it says wherever Mary went, the Lamb was sure to go. 26:25 But that was a fable, that was teaching 26:27 the old adage that, you know, Mary was supreme to Christ. 26:32 But this is the proper context. 26:34 Wherever the Lamb goes, people follow Him. 26:37 Not wherever Mary goes, the Lamb follows her. 26:40 We are followers of Christ. 26:42 Christ is not the follower of Mary. 26:44 And so that's the beautiful context there. 26:46 So the point of it, winding it up. 26:48 They were not defiled pure gospel, 26:50 they follow the Lamb 26:51 wherever He sends them, wherever He leads. 26:54 And lastly, they are the firstfruits 26:57 but not the only fruits. 26:59 And in their mouths, 27:00 last part verse 5, was found no deceit." 27:03 In other words their message is true, 27:06 unadulterated and pure. 27:08 They are preaching the true and everlasting gospel 27:10 that will lead people to a knowledge of the truth. 27:13 Amen. Okay. 27:14 You know, I think that's probably all we have time for 27:16 as far as our questions today. 27:18 That's right, so if you have anymore questions. 27:20 If we've opened the door to something 27:21 that has triggered a thought or question, 27:24 send your questions to 3ABN 27:26 that is to House Calls program at housecalls@3abn.org, 27:30 that's housecalls@3abn.org. 27:34 And we would tremendously appreciate 27:36 getting a chance to respond to it. 27:38 We have some more about wine and other things 27:40 that we will entertain on a future program. 27:43 But let's dive into the topic for today. 27:45 You know, friends, this is a topic that really excites me 27:49 and I believe that, you know, John and I share, 27:51 there is a similar excitement because we are-- 27:54 what I would refer to as sentinels, 27:57 I'm gonna use that word, champions of the truth. 28:01 People who love the Lord and love even more, 28:04 proclaiming His message and His truth. 28:07 And, John, there is a growing tendency in our world today 28:11 to shy away from the word truth in Christian circles. 28:18 Some people think that the word truth is divisive, 28:22 suggesting exclusivity and leaning toward elitism. 28:27 And so nowadays when people say or when we say, 28:31 well, this is the truth about that particular topic 28:33 or this is the truth about that topic. 28:36 Sometimes people say, well, are you saying that 28:39 because we don't agree with what you teach, 28:41 that somehow we are lost 28:43 or we are wrong or we're not really Christians? 28:46 But I think that where we're headed 28:48 with this particular program is 28:50 in a world where pluralism and diversity 28:54 has taken over the landscape 28:57 and what I mean by that is some people say that 28:59 well, in the pluralistic postmodern society, 29:03 you can hear the phrases like, there's got to be 29:06 more than one interpretation of that Bible text. 29:09 And one of the ones, John, that people really fight against 29:11 is if you love me, keep my commandments. 29:15 And people say, well, there's got to be 29:17 more than one interpretation to that text. 29:19 And so in a society where pluralism has taken over 29:23 the landscape even in Christianity, 29:26 many that are highly educated 29:28 used the Bible now as a book of suggestions 29:31 rather than a book of as a guidepost 29:35 to teachings that are affirm and sure. 29:39 And so in a pluralistic society, people say, 29:42 how do you know that I'm wrong and you are right 29:44 or how do you know that I'm right and you are wrong. 29:47 See, so what makes you so different than us. 29:50 And so nowadays instead of going straight to the Bible 29:53 and say this is what it means and nothing else, 29:56 we're now living in a pluralistic society 29:59 and straight forward Bible truths 30:01 have been replaced with shades of gray. 30:03 You know, I think the other thing too is that 30:07 there is truth and then there is the way that people look at it. 30:12 And when we say that there is truth, 30:15 I think we're talking about something 30:17 that maybe is a little different than others talk about, 30:20 when they talk about truth. 30:21 And I'm not saying just John and I, 30:23 I'm just saying that those who read the word 30:27 understand truth or see the truth in a different light 30:30 because when you follow the word of God, 30:34 that is the truth, okay. That's right. 30:37 But if you're not following the word of God, 30:39 then truth is gonna be something else to you. 30:43 And the Bible says very clear 30:45 and we read this in the Gospel of John 17:17 30:48 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." 30:54 Okay, pretty clear. Very straight forward. 30:56 So if John or I'm talking about truth today in this program, 31:01 what we are depending upon, 31:02 where we're standing on is not what we believe. 31:05 We're saying, this is what the word of God says. 31:10 And the word of God is truth. 31:12 So there are those out in the world say, 31:14 well, you-- that's the way that you see it 31:15 or that's the way that-- 31:16 Will, I would suggest that if someone 31:20 has another foundation of truth, 31:23 then they would come up with a different conclusion. 31:26 But what we're saying is 31:27 we're standing on the word of God 31:29 and this is what the word of God says is truth. 31:32 So, you know, we don't want to offend. 31:35 No one is looking to offend somebody by saying, 31:37 well, I'm sharing the truth with you, 31:38 I'm gonna give you what the truth is 31:40 because we're not saying it's my truth, 31:42 this isn't John's truth, this isn't my truth, 31:45 this is what God's word says is truth. 31:48 And truth also comes by a preponderance 31:51 of the evidence of all of God's word, 31:53 it's not just one text taken 31:56 the way that someone wants to read it 31:58 because if you compare that one text with just the text itself 32:03 or even yourself, it's gonna be your world view. 32:06 It's gonna be your thoughts and your truth 32:09 which where it's what the Bible calls a private interpretation. 32:12 Right, very good point. 32:13 But the truth that this is talking about 32:15 as the truth of God's word 32:16 that is more than just single text here, 32:18 it is the Bible put together in its entirety 32:21 and that's what we seek to share with you each and every week. 32:24 So I just want to qualify truth there 32:26 as we begin to talk about it today. 32:28 The other thing that, you know, 32:30 I'm using this word postmodernism and diversity 32:36 and I'll also add another word ecumenical. 32:40 There is this pushed to correlates together 32:42 into a particular thought pattern 32:45 and if you don't correlates into that thought pattern, 32:46 you are seen as an outsider-- there is even a new definition. 32:51 A few years ago the pope clearly defined, 32:56 gave a new definition for what a Christian is. 32:59 And unless you fell onto that definition, 33:03 then you are outside of the realm 33:05 of what a "Christian is." 33:08 But another word that has come to the forefront 33:11 that has been used to water down 33:13 the truth of God's word is a word relevance. 33:17 Is it relevant to our society, is it relevant to the church. 33:21 And what so deceptive about relevance is 33:25 it doesn't deny the truth, it just argues 33:28 whether or not it's relevant, 33:30 whether or not it matters anymore. 33:32 And so, you know, we have to look at that 33:35 and so you look at the two categories. 33:37 One is the attack, Satan seeks to attack something to kill it 33:40 and if he can't kill it he seeks to modify it or water it down. 33:45 And so one would be getting rid of the word truth altogether 33:49 and the other one would be, 33:51 does it really matter, is it really relevant. 33:54 And John, remember in the Book of Daniel, 33:56 one of the things that the Bible says the antichrist had done 34:00 was he cast truth to the ground, you see. 34:04 And we're living in that day and age 34:05 where truth has been cast to the ground. 34:08 And how strange it is at a time 34:10 where there seems to be more Christians 34:11 and more Bibles than ever before, 34:14 we're looking for the truth. 34:15 And so that's why the program is entitled "To tell the truth." 34:18 And lies are never--are rarely completely manufactured. 34:24 Lies are usually variance of the truth 34:26 to be a successful lie. 34:29 You know, if someone hit you with the direct question. 34:32 You know, where were you on such and such a time. 34:35 You know, the truth is you were gone. 34:39 So you can't say, I was here right under your nose. 34:45 The truth is it has to be a-- 34:46 the lie has to be adopted off of some element of truth. 34:49 I was gone but here's where I was, okay. 34:53 So when devil manufactures or puts together a lie, 34:56 he doesn't do it entirely apart from some truth. 35:01 He takes elements of truth 35:03 and then mingles the lie, his lie with it 35:06 and he distorts what is called truth to fit his pattern. 35:10 I want to read a text here just briefly 35:12 from 2 Thessalonians 2. Okay. 35:15 And some strong words about the truth 35:18 but I think it's a good one to springboard off of 35:20 because we do need to understand I believe, 35:22 the God's word tells us we need to search for 35:25 and understand the truth 35:26 because it is an issue of being saved or lost. 35:30 It can be that important. And I believe is that important. 35:35 And it says here in 2 Thessalonians 2:9. 35:38 "The coming of the lawless one 35:40 is according to the working of Satan, 35:41 with all power, signs, and--" what kind of wonders? 35:44 Lying. "Lying wonders. 35:47 And with all unrighteous deception." 35:50 Notice he's gonna deceive not only live but deceive. 35:53 "Among those who perish, 35:55 because they did not receive the love of a truth." 35:58 The truth. What? 36:01 Love of the truth. I thought it was a truth. 36:05 No, it does say the love of the truth 36:07 and so there is one truth not a truth, 36:10 but the truth that they might be what? 36:13 Saved. "Saved. 36:15 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion." 36:19 In other words they are confused about it. 36:20 "That they should believe the lie." 36:23 Notice the comparison the truth, the lie. 36:25 The lie, there is the truth and the lie, 36:28 not a truth and a lie. 36:30 This is the ultimate truth, 36:31 the ultimate lie that opposes it. 36:33 That they all maybe condemned who did not believe-- 36:37 not a truth again but the truth again. 36:40 But had pleasured in unrighteousness. 36:44 So you see, they were saved, John, 36:46 or lost because of the fact 36:48 they did not receive the truth, not a truth. 36:52 It doesn't matter that you believe something. 36:55 It matters that you believe the truth 36:58 or the right thing and that is what God's word says. 37:02 So if you say, well, no it's not how I see it. 37:06 And you oppose or have a different view of something 37:09 than someone else does, one of you is wrong. 37:12 That's right. Or maybe both. 37:15 But there is always a right and a wrong. 37:18 And I understand there is a gray area when it comes to ethics. 37:21 Okay, the application of ethics here 37:24 but we're talking about God's word does, 37:26 it is black and white, it does have truth, 37:28 it does have error and that's what I believe 37:30 Paul is talking about in his letter 37:32 to the Thessalonica Church. Right. 37:35 The other way that Satan is fighting 37:37 against truth today is couple of questions. 37:41 Does it really matter, you know, 37:43 people get down to that, "Well, does it really matter?" 37:45 And we're gonna intersperse throughout our discussion here, 37:48 some of the topics that have fallen 37:50 into the category of does it really matter. 37:53 One of those that really 37:56 is a hot button is the Sabbath truth. 38:00 Does it really matter? 38:02 I mean, you find-- if you look at the world 38:05 and the way the world has been established 38:07 in observance of a particular day, 38:09 then Sunday has risen to the forefront 38:11 kind of like somebody taken a brand new toothpaste tube 38:14 and just squeezing that whole thing, 38:16 it just, you know, it's full. 38:18 As compare to the Sabbath 38:20 is almost like a toothpaste tube with nothing left in it. 38:23 And you're trying to squeeze out and say I have toothpaste 38:25 and somebody says well, it's so little, 38:27 why even pay attention to it you got a full tube here. 38:31 And so the world is full when it comes to its adherence 38:34 and allegiance to the first day of the week. 38:37 I mean, that's the dictionary 38:39 called Sunday the first day of the week. 38:41 But a lot of people that honor the first of the week 38:44 and do so in lieu of the Sabbath 38:47 they say, "Well, does it really matter 38:49 more than a relationship with Jesus. 38:52 And so John, I mean, how do you answer that? 38:54 Somebody says, "Okay, you are keeping the Sabbath, 38:56 but is it more important than a relationship with Jesus?" 39:01 This is tough, that's a tough question 39:03 but I mean, you know, we know the answer 39:04 but does the Sabbath really matter, 39:07 as you compare with the relationship with Jesus, 39:09 you know, I had relationship with Him 39:11 and you got the Sabbath, does it really matter? 39:12 I mean, let's look at that. 39:14 You know, and we could apply this to anything, 39:15 I mean, we're talking about the Sabbath 39:16 and we'll talk a little bit more about it here. 39:18 But, you know, with any truth in God's word 39:20 does it really matter more than the relationship with Jesus. 39:23 Well, you know, the question we got to ask ourselves is 39:25 what does the relationship with Jesus mean, right. 39:29 I mean, what is the relationship with Jesus mean? 39:31 Does my relationship with John 39:34 mean that I can do anything I want 39:37 or believe anything I want about him 39:39 and our relationship is still maintain 39:42 at the same level or degree. 39:45 Could I believe the worst about him? 39:47 Can I believe things that are untrue about him 39:49 and operate off of that foundation, 39:52 that foundation of error about him 39:53 and still call him my good friend? 39:57 I would say that he would suggest 39:59 or tell me if I were to do that, come on, John, 40:03 you know what I mean, I didn't do that. 40:06 Well, how could you believe that about me? 40:08 Or I mean, a relationship is built on truth. That's right. 40:16 It's built on trust and if it's not built on that, 40:19 if I don't know where you are coming from 40:21 and you don't where I'm coming from in our relationship, 40:23 it's not a strong relationship. That's right. 40:25 So you know, is the relationship more important? 40:28 Both are important. It's not one or the other. 40:32 Truth is important to our relationship with Jesus. 40:35 And anyway weighing on that 40:37 'cause I have some other things I'd like to-- 40:39 You know, and I'm gonna just go ahead and make the point 40:41 based on what we just talked about 40:42 in the context of the Sabbath. 40:45 If the Sabbath were not important 40:49 or if the relationship with Jesus was more important, 40:54 then you have a really difficult time 40:57 saying that all that is based on the Bible. 40:59 Let me put those two together. 41:01 When Jesus says in Ezekiel 20:12. 41:05 "Moreover or furthermore I also gave them My Sabbaths 41:08 to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know 41:12 that I am the Lord who sanctifies them." 41:15 The Sabbath is a sign of a relationship. 41:18 Let me use the comparison now. 41:20 It's like my wife saying to me, 41:21 "Honey, you forgot our anniversary." 41:24 And I say to her, "Honey, what's more important, 41:27 our anniversary or our relationship. 41:29 And she says to me, 41:30 our anniversary is a sign of our relationship. 41:34 If you love me, our anniversary 41:36 would be something you would remember. 41:38 And so to separate the two is to say that 41:40 we don't understand really what the relationship with Christ is. 41:43 A relationship with Christ does not omit truth. 41:47 Our relationship with Christ includes truth. 41:51 So the Sabbath being the truth cannot be omitted 41:54 and then all of the sudden we say 41:55 our relationship with Christ is as relevant as yours 41:58 because we forget and you remember 42:01 or because we remember and you forget. 42:04 You cannot say the Lord asks us 42:06 to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 42:09 And you say Lord, I am not gonna remember that, 42:12 I'm just gonna have a relationship with you. 42:14 It doesn't make sense. 42:15 But that's what happening in our world today. 42:18 In a pluralistic, postmodern, ecumenical society 42:22 where everybody is pushing us all 42:23 to get back into same tube of toothpaste. 42:26 People are saying, well, now what do we unload 42:29 to get into this toothpaste tube. 42:31 And a number of years ago, John, 42:32 I heard that it was at a Promise Keepers Convention 42:36 where I'm not gonna mention the person's name but he says, 42:39 "Okay at the count of three everybody, 42:41 you know, mentioned their denomination 42:43 and all the men, thousands of men 42:46 mentioned their denominations and you can imagine 42:48 all the names flying through the air. 42:50 It sound like battle of Armageddon, 42:52 it sound like just confusion. 42:54 And then he says, okay, okay, now let's do that over again. 42:57 At the count of three let's all just say 42:58 mention the name Jesus and, you know-- 43:01 To whom you put your faith 43:02 and I think is what you're saying. Yeah. 43:04 Let's mention who you trust for your salvation or, yeah. 43:07 And so he mentioned Jesus. 43:09 And so but the inference was 43:11 get rid of all your beliefs and just look to Jesus. 43:15 And but Jesus doesn't, He is not an advocate of that. 43:20 He is saying, look to Me first 43:23 and those things that you believe about Me 43:26 will strengthen our relationship. 43:28 But we're in the society nowadays that says, 43:31 does it apply to this generation 43:33 like it applied to the generations in the past. 43:35 Well, the question would be, does the Lord change. 43:37 Now the Bible even says, 43:38 "He holds His word above His name." 43:41 Oh, that's right. 43:43 So, you know, this guy is saying, 43:45 let's just all say Jesus, O Jesus, see. 43:48 You know, He says, My word is even above My name, 43:51 that's how valuable His word is when Jesus comes again. 43:54 This is interesting, John. 43:55 When Jesus comes again, if you look at Revelation 19. 43:59 It says that "He is called the word." 44:03 The word, not a word, but the word. 44:08 Why is Jesus come as the judge of the world 44:11 and His name is the word 44:13 because the word is what judges the people. 44:18 So for you to say, 44:19 well, the word isn't so important or truth. 44:21 The truth we've already talked about the truth 44:23 is the word of God that the word is not so important, 44:27 you're actually taking away from God Himself 44:31 because He holds His word even above His name. 44:34 That's right. He-- 44:35 And forbid that we would do that, you know-- 44:38 Matter of fact, if we go to the next verse. 44:40 Think of the word, David says in the text 44:42 that John is refereing to is Psalms 138:2. 44:45 Notice the Lord says, 44:46 "For you have magnified your word above all you name." 44:52 Notice, He didn't minimize His word, 44:55 He magnified His word. 44:56 The word of God Jesus magnified the word, His written word. 45:02 Yeah, Paul talks about the word that sanctifies 45:05 and purifies is able to save your soul. That's right. 45:08 So I mean, the word can save. That's right. 45:11 And anyway we're gonna go 45:14 a lot of directions in this topic I know. 45:16 But I wanted to go one direction here that 45:18 last Sabbath I preached a sermon 45:20 and I come out of from an approach 45:22 that I'd not seen before. 45:24 You know, you got those uh-huh moments. 45:25 I got to preach about that. Well, this was it. 45:28 And I'm going to Romans 6. All right, go to Romans 6. 45:31 You know, we all, if you believe in Jesus 45:33 one of the things he asked you to do 45:34 is your profession of faith, John, is to be baptized. Right. 45:39 And so we declare our faith, our belief in Jesus, 45:42 we're baptized and ecumenism would tell you 45:45 well, you know, the truth isn't the important part, 45:47 just get baptized or just put your faith and trust in Jesus 45:51 and you will be just fine. 45:52 Right, that's the one time deal. 45:54 We're on the heels of Paul's discussion 45:57 about baptism in Romans 6. 46:01 Are these words as he continues on 46:03 to talk about the importance of baptism. 46:07 And so verse 15 is where I'll begin here. 46:10 He says, "What then? 46:14 Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?" 46:18 And he answers the question for himself, certainly not. 46:22 "Do you not know that 46:25 to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, 46:28 you are that one's slaves whom you obey, 46:31 whether of sin leading to death, 46:33 or of obedience leading to righteousness?" 46:35 And you know, sometimes we ask or we talk about 46:38 well, you have to do this to be saved, 46:41 you have to do this to be saved. 46:42 And well, you know, 46:43 we're not saved by works, we're saved by grace. 46:46 But come on, we in common sense know that as a murderer 46:51 one going around murdering people, 46:52 you're not gonna go to heaven. Right. 46:54 You're running around stealing from people all the time, 46:55 you're not gonna go to heaven, 46:56 you're running on lying constantly, 46:58 you're not gonna go to heaven. 46:59 I mean, these commandments are there to tell us 47:02 not only that we're sinners but we're in a saving relationship 47:06 or lost relationship depending upon 47:07 whether we're committing those or not. 47:09 So sin is an issue to God, that's why Jesus died. 47:12 But as we go on look at what the Bible says, 47:16 look what Paul says after talking about baptism here, 47:19 our obligation to Christ. What verse now? 47:21 I'm in verse 17 now of Romans 6. Okay. 47:24 "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, 47:28 yet you obeyed from the heart 47:29 that form of doctrine which you were delivered." 47:32 Okay, so you did what, you went on to do what? 47:35 Obey. You obey. 47:37 Obey, so obedience is an issue here. 47:39 "And having been set free from sin." 47:41 And here's the key thing. 47:43 "You became slaves of righteousness." 47:48 And I had to think about that one, John, 47:50 you know, because I've always been taught that when I'm free, 47:53 I'm not a slave anymore. 47:55 I'm right? Well, that's true. 47:58 Well, typically people think if you're set free, 48:00 you're no longer a slave but this says 48:03 that I'm set free from sin but I'm a slave to righteousness. 48:07 Now I had to grabble with that a bit. 48:08 Okay. So I read on verse 19. 48:12 "I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. 48:15 For just as you presented your members 48:16 as slaves of uncleanness, 48:18 and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, 48:21 so now you present your members 48:22 as slaves of righteousness for holiness." 48:28 So now wait a minute. 48:30 I have been set free by Jesus, free from the power of sin 48:35 and I'm not--this is saying, I'm not free to do as I please. 48:40 I become a slave to righteousness, to holiness. 48:45 Elsewhere Paul says, "I became a slave to Christ." 48:49 So this is telling me, I'm not free to do as I please, 48:53 I became obliged or obligated to not commit sin 48:58 but to do or to perform acts of holiness. 49:03 So and let me break this down in the practical aspect. 49:06 And I don't know we've shared this before. 49:08 If you get pulled over as a citizen of the United States 49:12 and as a citizen of the State of Illinois 49:14 both of us are right now. 49:15 If I'm driving my car 80 miles an hour-- 49:19 let's make this a little more personal-- 49:21 let me tell you a story 49:22 this is fictitious by the way so I didn't do this. 49:24 I'm driving 90 one day, John, 49:26 and a State police pulled me over. 49:30 And he said, I caught you doing 90 in a 65 zone. 49:34 I'm gonna give you a ticket. Where you doing 90? 49:38 Oh, yeah, I was doing 90. 49:39 You know, I'm a pastor, I need to tell the truth. 49:42 So he comes back and he writes me the ticket, 90 in a 65 zone. 49:46 And then he says to me, John, this is amazing. 49:48 He says, "Here's your ticket for doing 90 49:52 and remember from now on, 49:55 now that you've have this ticket once 49:57 you don't have to keep the speeding laws anymore, 50:00 you can speed as much as you want. 50:02 So you peel out. 50:03 So I peel out in front of them and I get back up to-- 50:06 I go up to 120 miles an hour, screaming 50:09 and he passes me and waves. No way. 50:12 No way it could happen. Right. 50:14 You know what, we teach this lie. 50:17 Christendom teaches this lie that because we are in Christ, 50:23 we don't have to keep the law anymore. 50:25 Because I'm a citizen of the State 50:29 and I committed sin against it but now I've been set free, 50:32 I don't have to obey the speeding laws anymore 50:34 or other laws whatever that is. 50:36 The Ten Commandments have become 50:39 as I put my will on the side of Christ 50:42 as I put my trust in Him, 50:43 it has become an obligation to me. 50:46 That's why Paul says, I became a slave 50:49 through righteousness, a slave to Christ. 50:51 I become obligated to serve Him in that way now. 50:55 So I'm not free to do as I please, 50:58 I've now became a slave to Him. 51:00 But praise God this Master that I serve now 51:03 loves me more than my own father loves me, 51:06 so I will serve Him out of love, but I will serve Him 51:10 in a way He's called me to serve Him 51:11 in the truth of keeping His commandments. 51:14 He says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." 51:19 But in the pluralistic world like we've have nowadays 51:21 that has found a home in Christianity and the phrase, 51:25 the argument against that would be. 51:27 Well, I mean, look at all the good 51:29 that's been done by Christians. 51:31 How can we allow our believes to divide us from them. 51:35 And look at how the good that's been done. 51:37 This pluralistic society uses the argument of doing good 51:40 to fight against whether or not 51:42 keeping the commandments of God are relevant anymore. 51:45 The other word is tolerance. 51:47 We're gonna be tolerant of those 51:49 who believe something different than us. 51:51 But let's just entertain that and what would the response be 51:54 to those who say, well, look at all the good work, 51:58 we're feeding the hungry, 51:59 where we have all these societies 52:01 are helping underprivileged kids get a good education. 52:05 We are making sure that the cities 52:06 that are broken down are being built up. 52:08 All these things are good and relevant. 52:10 But Matthew 7:21-23 is put there 52:17 so that we don't think that the things that we do 52:20 now free us from living by the will of God, 52:24 you see, and so when you look at Matthew 7. 52:26 Look at that with me for those of you-- 52:28 some people know it right off back, 52:30 but let me go and read it, Matthew 7:21-23. 52:37 Here it is. Okay, listen to this. 52:43 And this is in the context of the doing all the stuff. 52:47 It's important and everything I've mentioned so far 52:49 that I profess the statement by a good things. 52:52 Yes, it's important to feed the hungry. 52:54 It's important to clothe the naked. 52:56 It's important to make sure 52:57 that underprivileged kids get good education, 53:00 but the church and the government now 53:02 has fought the correlation somewhat 53:04 to better the community very, very relevant. 53:07 But the question I'm leading to is, 53:09 does it all of the sudden now omit us 53:12 from standing firmly on the truths 53:14 that God has taught in His word 53:16 and listen to what Jesus says? 53:18 Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' 53:24 shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 53:26 but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." 53:31 But here's the text. 53:33 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, 53:36 have we not prophesied or preached in Your name, 53:40 cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonderful works 53:46 or many wonders in Your name?' 53:49 And then I will declare to them, or profess to them, 53:53 I never knew you, depart from Me, 53:56 you who practice lawlessness or you who work inequity." 54:01 Now why was that so important? 54:03 Notice He says, I never knew you. 54:04 And here's the context, John, 1 John 2:3-4. 54:08 "And hereby we do know that we know him, 54:11 if we keep His commandments." 54:13 1 John 2:4, "He that saith, I know Him, 54:16 and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, 54:19 and the truth is not in him." 54:23 So, John, it doesn't take 54:24 a Christian organization to better communities 54:26 but Christian organizations that are better in communities 54:29 have an extra obligation outside of the-- 54:31 you know, the Red Cross or the-- 54:34 you know, the foundation for the betterment of our community. 54:37 They have an obligation to also teach the truth 54:41 in the context of reaching out and changing peoples lives. 54:44 The group here has put the name of Christ 54:48 as an utterance, just a mere speaking 54:51 of the name above the word of God 54:56 as we already read from Psalms, what was it 123? Yeah. 55:02 That He says, "I magnified My word above My name." 55:06 Psalms 33:2. 138, Psalms 138. 55:10 138, okay, there we go. 55:11 So you have that reference 55:13 but so while God is elevating His word to the highest standard 55:18 these people just speaking the name of Jesus 55:20 have just used that as a way of believing 55:26 or something that has given them enough power 55:28 or given them all that they need for their salvation. 55:34 And what is Jesus' response to that? 55:36 He doesn't even know them. Right. 55:38 So the issue is here 55:39 that there could be people that exist in this world. 55:42 And in fact I think He says many, not some. 55:45 Right, many, that's right. Many, that's more than half. 55:48 Many will say in that day, "Lord, Lord," okay. 55:53 So there are lots of people today, 55:55 who are saying that they are Christian, 55:56 they're taking on the name of Christ 55:57 but they take it on in vain 55:59 because they don't keep His commandments 56:02 or they don't follow His word and what He says in it. 56:05 And even using the phrase, they keep His commandments. 56:08 People say, there you go again with those commandment keeping. 56:11 They're just the commandments this, the commandments that. 56:14 Why do you guys make 56:15 such a big deal about the commandments? 56:17 Well, you know, Jesus made a huge deal. 56:19 He says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." 56:24 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 56:26 You notice the word, keep is being 56:28 coming to the surface over and over again. 56:30 And why would Jesus say, remember, keep, 56:34 if He didn't want us to remember and keep. 56:36 And that what's happening nowadays, 56:38 all these good work organizations, 56:39 all these, you know, get a better portfolio, 56:43 here's how did the seven habits of highly effective Christians 56:45 were following all the secular mindset, 56:47 it's just watering down the truth. 56:50 And we're gonna talk about some other topics 56:51 that are just had been shut off the pavement 56:55 by this whole pluralistic society. 56:56 Yeah, and so you want to stay tune here for this next program 57:00 'cause, John, we're gonna talk about some hot button issues 57:03 just that generally come up 57:04 in topics of conversation between Christians today. 57:07 That's right. And so stay tune for those. 57:10 That's right, because the truth really does matter 57:13 and as you know here at House Calls, 57:14 the reason why we tell it like it is in a loving ways 57:17 because we serve a loving Savior 57:19 who tells like it is in a loving way. 57:22 It's not just about knowing Jesus, 57:23 it's about knowing the truth of His word 57:26 which in fact when you know the truth, 57:27 it will make you free. 57:28 So begin that free relationship in Christ 57:31 by having a good day with Him today. 57:34 God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17