Participants: John Lomacang (Host), John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL130001
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15:05 Oh, we have a long history in leading
15:08 in obedience to the laws or commandments a.k.a. he put, 15:12 given to us by God in the Bible. 15:14 And this is the statement. 15:15 The New Testament in this the pastors response, 15:18 "The New Testament however, 15:20 living in grace through the blood of Jesus Christ 15:24 for redemption of sins is our model. 15:27 This does not mean we disregard the Old Testament. 15:30 However, the Old Testament was the law 15:33 which does not apply to us now 15:35 as far as our eternity is concerned. 15:38 God gave us all 66 books 15:40 and they all agree without exception." 15:42 Now normally, I don't read all this but it's important 15:44 because it gets to the crux of the matter. 15:46 "God makes his will very clear in his word 15:48 as far as how we should be born again. 15:51 How we are to be behave ourselves 15:53 both in public and private 15:55 and in the business world and in our homes. 15:57 And born again Christians" this is the example, 16:01 "a born again Christians now celebrate 16:03 corporate worship and praise and learning on Sunday. 16:07 Because, Sunday is the day 16:09 on which Christ arose from the grave. 16:11 We commemorate that significant event 16:13 by meeting on Sunday. 16:15 And yes, in those days Sunday began at 6 p.m. Saturday 16:19 for the good, further proof 16:21 that Jesus is not crucified on manmade Good Friday. 16:25 Another fact filled sermon straight from God's word. 16:28 So in essence he is saying we keep Sunday 16:31 in honor of the resurrection of Christ. 16:33 That's the reason in essence saying 16:34 but he made statement he says, 16:36 the Old Testament was the law which does not apply to us 16:40 as far as our eternal as far as our eternity is concerned. 16:44 Well, John, I read that long question 16:46 if I want to lead him by saying this when Jesus said, 16:51 "Man shall not live by bread alone 16:54 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." 16:57 He wasn't talking about the New Testament, 17:00 because there was no New Testament 17:02 when Jesus made that statement. 17:03 It was the Old Testament. 17:05 So when you say the statement 17:08 about salvation does not apply to the Old Testament. 17:10 Jesus himself made that connection 17:12 long before there was a New Testament. 17:15 So right away that point is now in void. 17:19 The other part that was pointed out 17:20 in showing you the connection between the old and new, 17:22 there is no difference 17:23 when it comes to the commandments of God. 17:25 The commandments of God however cannot be ignored 17:28 if we claim ourselves to be saved. 17:30 It is impossible. 17:32 Matter of fact, let's go the New Testament. 17:33 Go with me to Romans. 17:34 Romans 13, I want you to see the New Testament 17:37 as it relates to the commandments of God. 17:40 And as you listen to the question 17:42 you also understand that the issue there 17:43 was not so much just the commandments of God, 17:46 the issue really was the Sabbath. 17:49 Am I correct John? That's right. 17:51 That was the issue that was brought out. 17:53 The Sabbath was the focal point that he actually addressed. 17:56 And Romans 13 starting with verse 8. 18:03 Romans 13:8. 18:06 And Paul the Apostle says, "Owe no one anything, 18:09 except to love one another." 18:12 Now we've heard that. 18:14 We've heard Jesus say 18:15 "Love the Lord with all your heart. 18:17 Love your neighbor as yourself." 18:19 The law of the God is encompassed in love. 18:22 The whole principle on which it hangs is love. 18:25 He goes on. 18:26 "For he who loves another has fulfilled the law." 18:31 Now I want to say something here, 18:32 because, my mind is clicking right now. 18:35 When Jesus says, in Mathew 5:17-19 18:38 "That He fulfilled the law." 18:40 He didn't do away with it. 18:42 Anymore than Paul says, 18:43 "When you love somebody you fulfill the law." 18:46 You do away with it, because we fulfill-- 18:48 Fulfill doesn't do away. 18:49 Exactly, when we love somebody 18:52 fulfill doesn't mean we do away with the law, 18:55 it means we honor it. 18:56 We are fulfilling His requirements. 19:00 That's what he in essence says, 19:01 we're fulfilling the requirements of the law, 19:03 not fulfilling by getting rid of it. Right. 19:06 You see, I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 19:12 And he says by honoring us each other out of love 19:15 we do the same thing. 19:16 We fulfill the law. 19:18 So Jesus didn't do away with it. 19:19 And Paul has not, going in contrast to Christ. 19:23 But look at verse 9 and notice what he says. 19:26 "For the commandments, 'you shall not commit adultery, 19:29 you shall not murder, you shall not steal, 19:32 you shall not bare false witness, 19:34 you shall not covet,' 19:36 and if there is any other commandments 19:39 are all summed up in this saying namely 19:42 you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 19:47 Love does no harm to a neighbor, 19:49 therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." 19:53 So when we say New Testament Christians as his-- 19:57 I didn't say we. 19:58 Did I say we? 19:59 When the statement is made that the Old Testament is all law. 20:03 That's not the truth. 20:05 Just the first five books 20:06 encompass the Law of Moses which is the ceremonial laws, 20:12 the Pentateuch had more than ceremonial laws 20:14 by the way, health laws, laws commercial laws. 20:19 When we say that the Old Testament is a law. 20:21 That is not the case. 20:23 Because the Old Testament is the books of law, 20:26 you have the prophets and kings. 20:29 You have the books of poetry. 20:30 You have the large book of Psalms 20:32 then you have the Minor Prophets books of prophecy. 20:35 That's not all the law. 20:36 But in a nutshell what is actually the focal point is, 20:40 he made a statement that is not supported by scripture. 20:43 We actually keep Sunday now 20:44 because of the resurrection of Christ. 20:46 I'm gonna and break the monotony of my voice alone. 20:49 Let me have you chiming on that 20:50 and I'll come back and make some points. 20:52 Quote some statements here, John. 20:53 Well, I mean, the first thing 20:55 I think of is Jesus' own words where He says. 20:57 He is referring to the law and the prophets. Right. 21:00 All the Old Testament books were considered the law 21:02 and the prophets because the Law of Moses 21:04 and then the prophets that came after that. 21:05 That's right. And their writings. 21:07 And so even this doesn't really line up with that. 21:10 I think what he is saying there with the law, 21:12 the Old Testament is the law 21:14 is this common misconception of the dispensation theory 21:17 which is-- the Old Testament is law, 21:19 the New Testament is grace. Right. 21:21 And so they encompass 21:23 all of Old Testament writings with this era of law. 21:26 And actually, it goes far as to teach that 21:28 they were saved by keeping the law back then 21:30 and now we're saved by grace. 21:32 Where if you look at the scripture clearly 21:33 over and over again especially Hebrews 11, 21:36 by faith, by faith, by faith for Abraham and Sarah and Moses. 21:42 And all these great patriarchs and matriarchs of the Bible 21:46 who were practicing their faith in Christ 21:50 and through His grace were saved, 21:52 so even that doesn't work. 21:53 And so this dispensation theory, John, really is kind of-- 21:58 it's everywhere in these doctrines 22:01 that churches are teaching today 22:02 and this where this individual is at. 22:04 And I understand it's very hard to come out of that. 22:07 Once you have a system in your head 22:10 of how something works, 22:11 it is hard to see anything else. Right. 22:15 We can argue till we're blue in the face 22:17 what is right and what's wrong, but it is difficult. 22:20 I--we have to acknowledge that. 22:22 But what we are saying here with this issue 22:23 then it gets into the Sabbath 22:25 and we honor in recognition of the resurrection of Christ. 22:32 There is nothing that points to the resurrection at all. 22:35 In fact, Jesus Himself rested in the grave 22:39 prior to resurrection day on the first day of the week. 22:41 Right. And as you go into the Book of Acts 22:44 you find the early church continuing to meet 22:46 on the Sabbath both Jews and Greeks. 22:49 And Gentiles. 22:50 Yeah and so this ideology, this whole package 22:55 that's been put together by many churches today 22:59 is something that is so interwoven 23:00 and interconnected that it's hard to talk about 23:02 what we're talking about and see it. Right 23:04 But that's what God's spirit is all about. 23:06 That's what Bible study is all about 23:08 to confirm what we're hearing as to whether or not it is true. 23:12 First thing they did after Paul preached to them, 23:14 they went back-- it says, 23:16 they went back to their Bibles 23:17 to see if what he was saying was true. 23:21 And the reason they did that is 23:22 because they heard that Jesus was not the Messiah. 23:25 They heard all these other things. 23:27 Now they were hearing something new 23:29 and they had to go to the Bible to find out 23:31 if it was true what Paul was saying 23:32 and they find very much that it was true. 23:35 And so we encourage you to study your Bibles, 23:38 it's not what the pastor says. 23:40 And even for pastors it's not what your colleague says 23:42 it's what the word or what the scripture say. 23:45 And we need to get back to scripture for our faith, 23:48 our rule of faith and practice. 23:50 Well, it almost makes it sound like the New Testament. 23:52 If we hadn't had the New Testament, 23:53 we wouldn't really have salvation. 23:55 Because, it says, the Old Testament 23:57 does not apply to us as far as our eternity is concerned. 24:01 Well, when you make that kind of statement, 24:04 you really shouldn't just sell Bibles 24:05 that only have the New Testament. 24:07 If you don't need the Old Testament, 24:09 it--this does not mean that we disregard the Old Testament. 24:12 So you see how you have to dance through that. 24:14 This does not mean that we disregard it, 24:16 but we don't really need the Old Testament for salvation. 24:18 It doesn't really apply for salvation. 24:19 Yes, God gave us all 66 books 24:21 and they all agree without exception. 24:23 And but however that you have to dance through that 24:27 and that's exactly what he is trying to do, he is dancing. 24:29 Well, not only that. Yeah. 24:31 You have a problem 24:32 with the New Testament and Commandments. 24:33 Because keeping the Commandments of God 24:35 is what matters. 24:36 Right. Says the New Testament. 24:38 If we love-- 1 Corinthians 7:19. 24:39 Yeah, "If we love God, we keep His commandments." 24:41 That's right. 24:43 All these things in the New Testament, 24:44 just-- how we say. 24:48 You know, what is the definition of a politician is, John? 24:50 Let's just kind of step back for a minute. Okay. 24:52 Politicians are very good at one thing. 24:55 You become a good politician 24:56 when you know that if you say something enough times, 24:59 whether it's right or wrong... 25:01 It's a good one. People accept it. 25:03 Surely. They start to believe it. 25:05 You're a good politician if you can make that happen. 25:08 And to a great degree-- even in the Christian world 25:11 we feel if we say something enough times, 25:15 then people will believe it. 25:16 And it's happened, its working. Right. 25:17 Just like it works for politicians, 25:19 it's working for the Christian world. 25:21 We need to get out of this 25:23 if you say it enough times it will just make it true 25:25 and get to the fact of what the Bible really is saying. 25:29 I've heard over and over again, John. 25:30 You've and I've heard this we shouldn't judge each other 25:33 for the day that we worship and they quote Romans 14. 25:37 Right, don't judge. 25:38 The Sabbath is not even in Romans 14, 25:40 where you're getting that from? 25:41 It's like if we say it enough times 25:43 all of the sudden it will work. 25:45 But it's not gonna work because Romans 14 25:47 isn't about the Sabbath. Right. 25:50 It's about fasting and ceremonial offerings 25:53 and what we eat and drink not offering food, 25:56 eating and drinking foods offered to idols. 25:57 It's all these things but not about the seventh-day Sabbath. 26:00 No, not at all. 26:01 Yet they quote it over and over again 26:03 and that's a political tactic that we find today 26:06 in politics of America and around the world. 26:09 If you say something enough times people will believe it. 26:11 I know, that's true, John. 26:13 Because you know, if you think about it 26:14 this is not just a modern day thing 26:17 but it is so prevalent today it's just sickening. 26:20 Just imagine people saying for centuries 26:24 Sunday is the new day, Sunday is the new day, 26:27 Sunday is the new day, Sunday is the new day. 26:30 It's just like saying, we die and go to heaven, 26:32 we die and go to heaven. 26:33 So you hear people on T.V. 26:35 they are in the better place now. 26:37 They're in heaven now. 26:38 They're looking down from heaven now. 26:40 And there is not a single verse in God's word 26:44 where you'll see one evidence of a person 26:48 that died is looking down from heaven. 26:50 I would at least give some plausibility to it 26:53 if there was one text that said, 26:55 "They're looking down from heaven right now, 26:57 since they died and went there." 26:59 And there is not one. 27:01 And as a politician does, they launch of if something 27:04 that's only appears to be true. Right. 27:06 Which is they used the parable of the rich man Lazarus. 27:09 And they use absence 27:10 from the body is present with the Lord. 27:11 Those two, that's it. Right. 27:13 And they keep repeating those as the evidence 27:16 but they are ignoring hundreds of verses 27:19 through our scripture that say that 27:21 when you die you rest in the grave 27:23 until the second coming of Jesus 27:24 and the resurrection. Right. 27:26 That is the model that the Bible provides for us 27:29 for those who have rested in Christ. 27:31 And then the statement is, 27:33 well don't tell me I'm wrong that offends me. 27:35 Well, you know, why would you be offended 27:36 if I'm trying to give you 27:38 the direction of God's word that's like. 27:39 Why would somebody who really wants directions 27:42 to get to a specific location get offended 27:45 when they say well sir, the direction say go--go left 27:49 and make two right turns then the last left 27:50 and then you'll find your direction. 27:52 The word of God is for instruction 27:55 and when people get offended by, it's a deeper issue. 27:59 It's the human pride of 28:01 I don't want to be even thought of 28:04 or labeled as being incorrect in my views. 28:07 And that's somehow this human pride issue has to die 28:10 in order for many people to come to the knowledge of the truth. 28:13 We sometimes don't like to date this program too much. 28:18 But recently-- Right. 28:20 We've heard of this great speech 28:24 that was given at the National Day of Prayer. 28:27 By Dr Ben Carson and he talked about political correctness. 28:31 One of his statements was, 28:33 we have to move past this point of being offended 28:35 by what something someone says. 28:38 Because we've become so enamored 28:41 with political correctness and not being offensive 28:43 to anybody that we're not having dialog anymore. 28:46 We're actually not trying to solve problems and issues 28:49 because you might offend me. 28:50 Right. And dialog is not happening. 28:52 No. And I would say even within 28:54 the Christian community the same thing is going on. 28:56 Now Christians say they love his speech. 28:59 They love how we need to get back 29:01 to solving problems and solving issues 29:03 and really talking about those issues 29:04 amongst both parties in our country. 29:07 But let me say, there are people that disagree 29:10 on both sides of some issues 29:11 within scripture amongst Christians. 29:14 Yet we can't--they don't want to talk about it. 29:16 We can't tolerate, it's not-you're offending me, 29:18 you're judging me. 29:20 I mean, a forum here 29:21 that we're talking a little bit about 29:24 Bible questions and things 29:26 and any time you type something in there 29:28 that goes against with someone else's beliefs, 29:31 they say you're judging. 29:34 And you know, I tried to post in there, no I'm not judging. 29:37 I'm judging you would be, 29:39 I'm judging whether you're saved or not 29:41 what your eternal salvation is. 29:43 And that's not what I'm doing. 29:45 We're called in scripture to discern right from wrong. 29:47 The judging I'm doing is discernment. 29:49 We need to discern from scripture whether or not 29:52 what we're living by is right or wrong. Right. 29:54 If that's offensive to you 29:56 you're never going to get to a point 29:57 where you're looking and finding truth. 29:59 You've got to agree to be offended to some degree 30:03 to be declared a sinner in need of Christ. Right. 30:06 If I was offended by being called a sinner, 30:08 I would never find Jesus. And now you see what-- 30:12 Jesus you're calling me a sinner, 30:13 who you call me a sinner. 30:15 I'm never gonna get to that step 30:16 where I can take my faith put in Christ 30:19 and move beyond myself the sinner into trusting him. 30:23 Now you see what Paul-- 30:24 this is your friends it seems strange 30:26 it almost sounds like its new and contemporary 30:28 but it's really old because Paul says 30:30 "Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth." 30:35 See-- Good statement. 30:37 See, when he came and stood before a gripper 30:39 and he was in the judgment hall 30:40 and stood before feistiest 30:42 all this men have the same problem. 30:46 He said--a gripper said, oh wait 30:47 you've almost persuaded me 30:49 but I'd call you at a more convenient time. 30:53 And feistiest these men were offended by the truth, 30:56 that's why they decided to persecute Paul. 30:58 The same thing today. What is the issue? 31:01 The issue is the human heart. 31:03 The carnal mind is enmity against the law of God. 31:06 It is not subject to the law of God 31:09 neither it can it be 31:10 and I'll give that text in just a moment. 31:12 But we need a transition-- Yes, we do. 31:14 I'll tell you, if you're in Christ 31:16 these things don't offend you. 31:17 And somebody may say, 31:19 but there are lots of Christians 31:20 that are in Christ that are offended. 31:22 Oh, wait a minute you may feel that you're in Christ 31:25 but you cannot be. 31:27 You cannot be offended. 31:29 I think in Psalms 115, verse 31:32 I'll get the text in a moment--Psalms 165. 31:35 Psalms 119:165? 31:38 Psalms 119:165, 31:41 "Great peace have they that love thy law 31:43 and nothing shall offend them." 31:47 Said it. Yes. 31:48 Psalms 119:165 31:52 "Great peace have they that love thy law 31:54 and nothing" nothing "shall offend them." 31:59 If you love the law of God 32:00 you don't have any reason to even be offended 32:02 but you will be offended if I bring it up 32:04 and you don't love it. 32:06 Right. Okay. 32:08 Well, I know we've kind of open a can or worms there, 32:10 but that's what we do here at "House Calls." 32:11 We don't believe in talking to Christians 32:14 that are made of marshmallows. 32:16 If you want to be a strong soldier in the army of Christ 32:19 this is the program for you. 32:20 If you want to be a marshmallow Christian, 32:22 this program will melt you 32:23 and you'll liquefy somewhere in the room 32:27 because we believe in handling the truth of God. 32:29 Hopefully not offensively but we do believe in handling it, 32:32 because we love the Lord 32:33 and we want His people to understand all the truth. 32:36 Well if you have any Bible questions 32:37 you like to send to us. 32:39 If we've said something that may be opened, 32:41 opened another thought to you send it to housecalls@3abn.org 32:45 that's housecalls@3abn.org. 32:49 And we thank you so much for all you do 32:51 for this network and for this program. 32:54 John, lead us into our topic for today. 32:58 In Christ we've used that term several times already today. 33:01 In Christ, what does that mean that be in Christ? 33:04 We want to cover this topic. 33:06 We want to handle this topic very carefully 33:09 but at the same time we recognize that 33:11 there're so common misconceptions 33:13 about what salvation, 33:14 the word salvation really means out there. 33:17 And of course that term in Christ 33:19 if you just type in any kind of Bible 33:22 online Bible source program and I couldn't code in so 33:24 or online program and typed "in Christ" with quotes, 33:28 you'll find a number of times 33:31 this specific phrase appears in the New Testament. 33:34 In Christ, in Christ, in Christ. 33:36 It's almost like Paul was obsessed, John, 33:39 with being in Christ and he was 33:43 because Christ is every thing to the Christian. 33:47 Somehow I think when we talk, 33:48 when people hear us talk about the law and the Sabbath, 33:51 they hear out of the context of Christ, 33:54 but what we're really saying is 33:56 when you're in Christ you also have His law. 33:59 And so it's not about law, 34:01 it's about the law that of Christ and who Christ is. 34:05 And He was the great giver of that law, 34:08 way back on Mount Sinai. 34:10 In fact, John, there is-- as I was doing some study 34:13 it was really a powerful thing. 34:16 The burning bush. Okay. 34:18 Moses met at the burning bush, the I am. That's right. 34:21 And when we said who may I have to tell 34:24 send me to deliver Israel. I am. 34:28 Jesus comes--New Testament and He says, I am. Right. 34:32 Jesus was at the burning bush. That's right. 34:35 That burning bush was at Sinai. That's right. 34:38 Later, the very place that God brought Moses 34:40 and the Israelites back to give the law. 34:43 Who gave the law on Mt. Sinai? 34:45 Jesus. That's right. 34:47 So if Jesus says, if you love Me, 34:48 keep My commandments. 34:50 There is a literalness to my. Right. 34:53 He actually did give them on Mt. Sinai. 34:55 So we say, well, I'm in Christ. 34:57 I believe in Christ and He is the embodiment of the law. 35:00 Yet, you disregard the Old Testament, 35:01 the very law He gave and He wrote 35:03 and stoned with His own finger. 35:05 There is a disconnection there. That's right. 35:06 So we are saying is when someone is in Christ, 35:09 when Paul is talking about being in Christ, 35:11 there is more that just saying Jesus is everything to me. 35:15 We need to find out what Jesus teaches? 35:18 The way He wants us to live? 35:20 How He wants us to act? 35:21 All these things are what we do 35:24 as in our relationship with Christ--being in Christ. 35:27 And so we want to talk about that term 35:29 and magnify the in Christ motive here today. 35:33 That's right. 35:35 By the way when John suggested that you do 35:37 a search in the New Testament on the phrase in Christ 35:42 there're in the New King James Version 85 references, 85. 35:48 There are more references to "in Christ" 35:52 than they are to the word "Sabbath" which is 60. 35:56 So you find 85 times and the question this day 36:00 when you made and I like that. 36:01 Paul was obsessed with the statement being in Christ. 36:04 Hey, we all should be obsessed with that 36:05 because if we are not in Christ we are in trouble. 36:08 Did you get that? 36:09 If we are not in Christ we are in trouble. 36:11 That's right. Can only be one or the other. 36:13 So let's start with the text, John, 36:17 that really is I think about it is the foundation text. 36:21 This text embodies salvation 36:24 in the context of the in Christ motive. 36:27 We use that phrase motive, for that word motive. 36:30 First let's go to 2 Corinthians 5:17. 36:32 Why don't we begin with that one? 36:34 Yeah, it says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 36:37 he is a new creation, old things have passed away, 36:41 behold, all things have become new." 36:46 Powerful-- Right. 36:47 Because that is how we are made new. 36:50 Not because, we are new 36:52 but because Christ is new in everyway. 36:56 To understand that in a practical sense 36:59 if you put, if you go to the store 37:02 and each of the team players that play baseball-- 37:06 I'm in a sports mind today I don't know what happened. 37:09 And they all buy gloves baseballs gloves. 37:12 You couldn't really tell whether a white guy has on a glove, 37:15 a black guy has on a glove 37:17 and an Asian guy has on a glove. 37:19 You couldn't tell because his hand is in the glove. 37:21 What you see is the glove, so therefore, you'll say, wow. 37:26 Your hand looks different than it was before. 37:30 And he'll say, well actually the only difference is 37:32 it's covered with this glove. 37:34 Well, the reason why we appear different to the world is 37:37 because when we are in Christ we are new creations. 37:41 Well, that's a new idea what happened? 37:43 What's that called? It's a glove. 37:45 Whether it a catchers glove the bigger. 37:47 Whether it's an out fielders glove with a large webbing, 37:50 whether it's a first base glove with a curve on the side 37:53 or whether it's a batting glove 37:54 that just simply is slipped on to keep the hand 37:56 from being burned or from sliding. 37:59 Any time you're in something 38:00 what you were before does not appear. 38:03 And so when we are in Christ 38:04 the whole idea about being made new it cannot be-- 38:09 and this is what you've to get. 38:10 It's not just on the basis of accepting 38:12 certain tenets of the faith and saying well, 38:14 that's true, that's true, that's true. 38:16 Well, that's all of those things are true 38:18 but when you really boil it down, 38:20 you begin to see, okay, the reason why 38:22 this does matter is because I'm in Christ now. 38:26 Now you have to get this. 38:28 Whatever markings are on that glove, 38:30 whatever symbols are on that glove, 38:32 whatever name is on that glove all now appears 38:37 and it's a part of your hand as your hand moves. 38:39 So what you've to keep in mind is this very next text. 38:43 Go with me to Acts 17:28, Acts, 17:28, 38:49 talking about how the in Christ 38:51 and I use a little different phrase here 38:53 but it means the same thing. 38:56 Acts 17:28 read as follows. 38:59 "For in him we live," Hand in glove. 39:03 "We move and have our being." 39:07 In Him we live. 39:09 Our hand is still alive because we're living in Christ, 39:12 we move, we're now moving in Christ and we have our being. 39:15 We exist in Christ. 39:17 So the Christian lives in Christ. 39:19 When we move from day to day. 39:21 We move in Christ and in Him we have our being. 39:23 He is our source of strength. 39:25 He is our source of every aspect of our Christian life. 39:29 In Him we live and move and have our being. 39:30 But it's in Him the in Christ motive. John? 39:33 You know, I think one of the text 39:35 that really helps us amplify here 39:38 what we're talking about by being in Christ. 39:40 What's so important being in Christ 39:41 because we're talking about salvation? 39:44 And that is this thought 39:47 that I've used ever since you shared it back 39:50 and that may be you got it from somebody else as well before 39:52 but the 3 P's of salvation. 39:54 Well, I sure came up with that. 39:55 Okay, so I've been quoting 39:57 it's from you so it's a good thing. 40:00 The three ways that we're saved. 40:03 We're saved first of all from the penalty of sin. 40:07 That has been justified in Christ. 40:09 We're justified by His blood. 40:11 Then we're saved from the 2 P, the power of sin. 40:16 That is the sanctification process, 40:17 the growing in Christ, the deliverance from the power 40:19 it's the way the sin draws us in. 40:22 This is constant deliverance from that. 40:23 And then thirdly we're saved from the presence of sin. 40:26 That's our glorification, 40:27 that's at Christ return at the resurrection 40:30 where we're finally delivered from every, 40:33 every stain and presence of sin in our life 40:38 and that of course we don't get to experience now. 40:41 But these are the three ways that we're saved 40:43 and so if we emphasize 40:44 one of the other there is not a balance, 40:46 there's not a harmonious being in Christ 40:48 and how He saves us. 40:50 But He saves us and has saved us from this penalty 40:54 by His death on the cross. 40:55 And He continues to save us every day 40:57 from the power of sin as we're tempted. 40:59 And then will one day save us in glory 41:02 when He comes back to give us new bodies. 41:04 And so this is the salvation that we have 41:06 and so I share that because there's a text here 41:09 from 1 John Chapter 5, two verses together, 41:13 verses 11 and 12 are really important to help to amplify 41:17 as I said this in Christ concept here. 41:20 "And this is the testimony," verse 11. 41:23 "This is the testimony that God has given us eternal life 41:27 and this life is in his Son." 41:29 Okay, there is that in him. 41:31 Now look at this, verse 12, very plain. 41:34 "He who has the Son has life, 41:37 he who does not have the Son does not have life." 41:42 Simply plain--you can't get any more simple than that. 41:45 If you have Jesus, if you are in Him, life. 41:49 If you don't have Jesus, or if you are not Him, no life. 41:52 The question here that we need to ask ourselves 41:55 is everyday how do we put on Christ? 41:59 How do we--how can we be in Jesus everyday 42:02 from the moment we wake up 42:03 until the day the moment we sleep each evening. 42:07 Well, let me answer that question 42:08 with my favorite Bible text. 42:10 How do we? What actually would we be doing 42:13 if we said we put on Christ? 42:15 Go with us to Romans Chapter 13, 42:18 if you've ever been to one of my concerts 42:21 and I sing also, I always write this scripture 42:24 on the face of the CD. 42:28 So if you're trying to figure out what that scribble is, 42:31 this--this is the text, all right. 42:35 Romans Chapter 13 beginning with verse 11. 42:37 This what it means to put on Christ, this what it means to. 42:40 And by the way, earlier we read verses 8 down to 10 42:44 the fulfillment of the law. 42:46 But here's what it adds as the other responsibility. 42:50 "And do this, knowing the time, 42:52 that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, 42:56 for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 43:01 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. 43:03 Therefore let us," 43:04 and this is what you do when you're in Christ. 43:06 "Cast off the works of darkness, 43:08 and let us put on the armor of light. 43:12 Let us walk properly or honestly, as in the day, 43:16 not in revelry and drunkenness, 43:19 not in licentiousness and lewdness, 43:22 not in strife and envy. 43:23 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision 43:28 for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." 43:31 Or as the King James says, the lust thereof. 43:33 So if you notice this, 43:34 this gives us some more specifics. 43:36 What should you not do? 43:38 Well don't make provision for the flesh. 43:39 If you are in Christ, cast off the works of darkness, 43:42 get away from revelry that is partying. 43:45 That's what that in essence is saying. 43:47 This lewd parties, revelry and drunkenness and licentiousness, 43:51 that's sexual immorality and lewdness 43:54 and there's so much of this in world, 43:55 not in strife and envy, no content against yourself, 43:58 no being--I wish I had that, no I'm envious of you, 44:01 get away from all that and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. 44:04 And when you're in Christ these things die 44:06 because you can't have, you can't have, 44:10 you can't have old--you can't have new wine in old wineskins. 44:16 Okay, it's not going to work, see. 44:19 So if we have--if we are gonna be in Christ, 44:22 if anyone is in Christ, he is new, 44:23 because Christ is never old, you see. 44:26 See, but the issue here this really interesting on that, 44:29 and I love that response because you're saying 44:31 that we actually need to put Him on. 44:34 Right. 44:35 'Cause, but we've heard Christ has done everything for us, 44:38 just believe. 44:40 Well, part of believing in Jesus is putting Him on. 44:44 Right. 44:45 Wearing His righteousness, 44:47 adopting His ways, His teachings. 44:51 That's what disciple means. Right. 44:53 Disciple of Christ is you're a learner in His school. 44:56 He is the master, you're the disciple. 44:59 And so putting on is what we do 45:02 and it's done by choice everyday. 45:04 We choose to put on Christ and so let's not think 45:08 that how we live our Christian life, 45:11 it doesn't matter. That's a sad reality. 45:14 Because it does matter. 45:16 If we have put on Christ, we will not be living lustfully, 45:21 we won't be drunk, we won't be in strife or envy 45:24 or revelry or the different things 45:27 he's talking about here and there 45:28 are lots of other list in the New Testament. 45:30 Those things we have cast off in favor of putting on Christ. 45:36 And so that's something that happens every day, 45:38 in fact, Paul says, "I die daily." 45:41 Every day he put on Christ and in fact he expounds on that 45:45 in Ephesians 6 the whole armor of God. 45:49 So, John, this idea then that 45:53 just because Jesus is everything for us 45:55 and we are in Christ doesn't mean that 45:57 there's something--there is a decision that has to been made 45:59 to put Him on. 46:00 Actually wear His ways and His purposes 46:04 and His will for our life. 46:06 In the same way the baseball player 46:08 has to make a decision to put the glove on, 46:10 we have to do the same thing day by day. 46:12 And now I want you to catch this whole idea 46:16 when we put on Christ, it's not that 46:18 when we go to bed at night, we take them off 46:19 and put them on and take them off 46:21 and put them on, I don't want to sound that way ritualistic. 46:24 But by the decisions we make, we are either abiding in Him. 46:29 And, John, you talked about this before the program started. 46:31 You may want to go to John 15 and talk about this whole thing. 46:34 When you put on Christ, let's go back to the glove example 46:38 that kind of worked earlier so let's stick with it. 46:41 If you put on the glove and always wore it, you'll go beyond 46:45 just the phrase of, hey, he put on a glove. 46:48 You say, no, man, he is living in that glove. 46:51 Like a kid when you first gets a baseball glove--I remember, 46:54 when I first got a baseball glove, 46:55 you know, how little boys are they get that 46:57 first pair of baseball glove, they go to bed with it. 46:59 They sleep with that like a pillow. 47:01 That's right. 47:02 You know, they have this affection 47:04 to that baseball glove, they never have one. 47:05 Oh, daddy got me a baseball glove, 47:07 mommy got me a baseball glove. 47:09 As I Tommy, we are going to church 47:11 leave your baseball glove in home. 47:13 Do I have to? 47:14 They have just had in such a connection. 47:16 They are abiding in that relationship. 47:18 That's what it's in essence saying. 47:20 You don't just, and John 15, maybe you're there or not. 47:22 No, I was actually, I was gonna segue there, 47:24 because 1 John talks about this abiding. 47:27 Okay, let's do that. 47:29 But we ask a question about what it means then to put Christ on. 47:33 And so just in a few verses here all from 1John, 47:37 first of all we read 1 John 2:5. 47:40 "But whoever keeps His word, 47:42 truly the love of God is perfected in him. 47:45 By this we know that we are in Him." 47:49 So when you are in Him you are keeping His word 47:52 and the love of God has been perfected in you. 47:54 That's huge. It is. 47:56 Because the statement ago, a moment ago we talked about 47:59 somebody who looked at the word of God 48:00 and said it doesn't apply anymore. 48:02 Yeah. 48:04 And Jesus said, "We live by every word that proceeds 48:06 from the mouth of God." 48:08 So you see how this comes backs to what Jesus said not so much, 48:11 the cornucopia ideology that while if it's not in the head 48:15 I don't it, you see. 48:17 If it's not in the New Testament, I don't live by it. 48:19 It's the politicians speaking here by just saying enough, 48:21 the Old Testament doesn't matter. 48:23 It doesn't make it true? No. 48:25 It just makes people believe it. 48:26 Yeah, I don't want to say that word cornucopia out there 48:28 because that's probably a foreign word to somebody 48:30 and-- what's a cornucopia? 48:32 It's a gigantic thanksgiving hat. 48:35 Put everything inside of it, but anyway-- 48:38 Not use for a hat but-- Yeah. 48:40 Here is another one, 1 John saying in my book 3:3. 48:47 Notice this, "And everyone who has this hope in Him 48:50 purifies himself, just as He is pure." 48:53 Do you see the modifying of the behavior 48:55 the changing of the behavior to fit with Christ behavior, 48:58 to want to mimic and be like Jesus to exemplify Jesus? 49:02 And notice what it says, "He that has hopes in him, 49:05 purify himself." 49:06 In other words you make sure you make pure choices. 49:08 There is a program actually on 3ABN, 49:10 I think on "Dare to Dream" called "Pure Choices." 49:13 It's a beautiful program, I don't know 49:14 if they use this as a springboard text. 49:16 But we have this hope we purify ourselves that is we keep make 49:21 pure choices even as he is pure, Christ is pure. 49:27 We got to make choices as the Bible says, 49:30 "Blessed is He that keeps His garment." 49:32 Well, who's the garment? Belonged to Christ. 49:35 But you got to keep that garment. 49:37 You got to maintain, you have to abide 49:40 and you have to take that garment with you 49:43 throughout your daily life. 49:44 Make choices in harmony with that garment. 49:46 You know, John uses sports illustration even further. 49:50 It's really working a whole lot today. 49:51 So forgive me if you don't like sports. 49:54 But can you imagine a person on the St. Louis Cardinals 49:58 coming out of the Pittsburgh Pirates dugout. 50:02 Hanging out with the guys there. 50:05 No, and then when the guys comes up to bat from Pittsburgh, 50:08 he's in a Cardinals outfit, just wait a minute, 50:11 what are you doing in that, what are you doing? 50:13 You have on a uniform. 50:15 Why you on the other team when you have our uniform? 50:18 In the very same way we cannot say we are in Christ 50:21 and live on the other team. 50:25 We can't play with the other team. 50:27 We can't hang out with the other team. 50:30 You can't say you're in Christ and hang out with the world 50:33 and do the things of the world, and live like the world 50:36 because the uniform denotes that you are, 50:39 hey, you are on the wrong team. 50:40 So if you are in Christ, stay on this team 50:43 that has everything that associates with Christ. 50:46 I almost--I want to go to the place where, 50:49 you know, talking about putting on this garment. 50:50 We are gonna cover in our next program. 50:52 Okay. Now, we will. 50:53 But I do want to cover one last motive if you will or connection 50:59 to what it means to be in Christ. 51:01 And again I'm still in 1 John look at Chapter 3:24. 51:05 "Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him." 51:10 So now being in Him requires an abiding period of time, 51:16 a presence. 51:17 I like one preacher, I think it was David Asscherick, 51:19 he said, to abide you must reside. 51:22 Very good. Okay. 51:24 So to abide in someone, you have to be in close proximity. 51:26 You have to be there with that individual. 51:28 And so abiding is required to be in Christ. 51:33 "So keeping His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. 51:38 And by this we know that he abides in us, 51:41 by the Spirit whom he has given us." 51:44 So this ordering of a life and harmony with Christ 51:47 we've talked about this purifying ourselves 51:49 and acting like Him. 51:51 It also involves keeping His commandments. 51:54 And by keeping His commandments, we abide in Him. 51:56 And so now we go to John 15, which is where you want to go 52:00 with this abiding in Him, because that's what John. 52:03 John is big on this abiding, John is the one 52:06 that really talks about abiding in Christ over and over again 52:09 in this gospel and again in this epistle here. 52:12 Because John had that kind of connection with Christ, 52:14 he being the youngest disciple. 52:17 What is the picture in fact of him at the last supper, 52:21 where was he? Leaning on Christ. 52:24 Leaning on the breast of Christ, you know, abiding very close. 52:28 So he made it very clear all throughout the Book of John 52:32 Chapter 15 for example verse 5, John 15:4. 52:39 Start with verse 4 down to verse well-- 52:45 It's all. It's all through there. 52:47 Look at John 15, start from verse 4 down to verse 10. 52:50 It's a long reading but we'll go very quickly. 52:52 "Abide in me" Jesus says in verse 4 "and I in you. 52:56 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, 52:59 unless it abides in the vine, 53:00 neither can you, unless you abide in me. 53:03 I am the vine, you are the branches. 53:05 He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit, 53:09 for without me you can do nothing." 53:11 John, pickup verse 6. 53:13 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch 53:17 and is withered, and they gather them 53:20 and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 53:23 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, 53:26 you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 53:29 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, 53:33 so you will be My disciples. 53:35 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you, 53:38 abide in My love." And verse 15. 53:41 "If you keep my commands, you will abide in my love, 53:44 just as I have kept my Father's commandments 53:47 and abide in his love." 53:48 Okay, so you cannot abide in Christ and say, 53:53 but those commandments they don't really matter anymore. 53:57 But it's all about Jesus. 53:59 See that's all of a sudden that's a oxymoronic, 54:02 what do you call a statement it's diametrically, 54:05 these things are diametrically appose but we put them together. 54:08 I mean, Jesus but all of His commandments. 54:11 Sabbath is an important. Right. 54:14 It's all part of the abiding process. 54:16 It really--we don't want to hammer the point home 54:19 but we do want to hammer the point home. 54:22 We want to make it very clear that the requirements of Christ 54:25 are so necessary. 54:28 As a matter of fact continuing in that whole ideology 54:31 you have to follow first of all what happens 54:34 when we ignore the commandments. 54:36 Well, the wages of sin is dead. 54:40 When you go to Romans Chapter3 look at verse 23 and 24. 54:44 Romans 3:23 reads as follows. 54:47 "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." 54:53 But Romans 3:24 now adds it in. 54:57 "Being justified freely by His grace 55:02 through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." 55:06 So yes we've all sinned. What does that mean? 55:09 We've all violated the commandments of God, 55:11 we've lived outside of harmony with God' law. 55:14 But when you justified freely 55:17 what is that bring you in harmony with, 55:19 in harmony with His law? 55:22 So He says, if you love me keep them. 55:25 And when we are in harmony with him, 55:26 that no longer is an issue 55:28 that's why the in Christ motive is so significantly important. 55:31 And just kind of as a segue to our next program, 55:34 because we're gonna continue this topic 55:35 in the very next program, 'cause there is all this things 55:40 are important to understand in a principled way, 55:43 but we need to make them part of the practical life. 55:46 And so this is why I love the words of Paul, 55:48 2 Corinthians13:5, "Examine yourselves, 55:52 as to whether you are in the faith." 55:54 Okay. "Test yourselves. 55:57 Do you not know yourself that Jesus Christ is in you 56:01 unless indeed you are," what? 56:03 Disqualified. "Disqualified." 56:05 We're gonna talk about that word disqualified, 56:07 what is it mean? 56:08 Is it possible to be in Christ one day 56:11 and then to not be in Christ another day. 56:15 Can that happen? 56:16 Does the scripture talk about 56:18 our need to continually examine ourselves to make sure 56:21 that we are in the faith? 56:22 That's what I believe this text here is suggesting. 56:26 And so there are lots of things that we're gonna bring into it, 56:28 but we really want you to stay with us for that, 56:30 'cause it's exciting. 56:32 The other one I want to bring out 56:34 is Roman 6:11, Roman 6:11. 56:37 And what I've actually done 56:38 and you could do this too at home if you like 56:40 this one the Bible says, 56:42 "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves 56:45 to be dead indeed to sin, 56:47 but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." 56:52 So what does that mean? 56:53 If you are no longer living for yourself 56:56 you reckon yourself to be dead and alive to Christ. 57:00 It is hard to die to self, to die to those sinful practices 57:03 that we've done all our life, 57:05 but in Christ He will deliver us. 57:08 Not only does He promise to be our savior 57:10 He promises to be our Lord and to move us 57:14 and to give us strength and power 57:15 away from the life of sin to live a life of righteousness. 57:18 That right, and, John, you know, the reality of this reference is 57:21 we'll never know that joy we'll never understand 57:23 the power of what it means to be in Christ 57:25 until we pray the prayer Lord allow me to die to self. 57:28 So until we see you again may the Lord bless you 57:30 and have a great day in Christ. |
Revised 2014-12-17