House Calls

Crisis Salvation -part 1

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: John Lomacang, John Stanton

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Series Code: HCL

Program Code: HCL140001


00:01 Hello, friends, grab your Bible and a friend
00:03 and sit back as we explore God's Word together
00:05 on this edition of House Calls.
00:25 Welcome to the best Bible program
00:28 anywhere at this very moment.
00:30 And if I didn't believe that,
00:31 I wouldn't be here what about you, John.
00:32 At this very moment.
00:33 At this very moment I would choose
00:35 not to be on any other program but House Calls.
00:37 Well, thank you so much for tuning in today.
00:40 As you know we promise by God's grace to give you
00:43 what the Word of God says.
00:44 So sit down, relax,
00:46 invite your family and your friends,
00:48 get your Bibles and your pens
00:50 and enjoy a thoughtful hour in the study of God's Word.
00:52 John, it's so good to have you here with me today.
00:54 It's good to be here.
00:55 You know, I think we both got new shirts.
00:57 Your shirt is checkered.
00:58 I'll put on the checkered one later,
01:00 you know I have a grey one and this is amazing
01:02 that we could do with these very relaxed looks.
01:05 Yeah. I agree with you.
01:06 It's going to be a fun day.
01:07 And we've a great topic today too.
01:09 What is our topic today.
01:10 Topic is "Christ our righteousness"
01:11 but it's about Christ the cross,
01:13 what salvation means to us as Christian believers.
01:16 You know, it's amazing topic because not a lot of people
01:19 really embrace everything about the cross.
01:21 There are some misconceptions and you'd think that
01:23 the most basic doctrine of Christianity salvation
01:26 is something understood by everyone.
01:28 Well, you'll discover in this program today
01:30 that it's not as clear in the minds of many
01:32 as it is in the Word of God.
01:34 So stay tuned with us to enjoy
01:37 what God has to share with you today.
01:38 But before we do anything we always have prayers.
01:40 So John, would you pray for us. Let's start.
01:42 Father in heaven, we are so thankful
01:44 for this opportunity to come together
01:46 and to study your Word and we pray
01:48 that you would send your spirit to guide
01:50 and direct our thoughts, our hearts,
01:53 be with those who are listening and viewing this program
01:55 and that you would touch their lives as well.
01:58 And we ask most of all
01:59 that You'd just take possession of this program
02:01 and send it in a direction that you see fit
02:03 and you know as best in Jesus name Amen.
02:06 Amen. Thank you John.
02:08 Well, friends you all know that we have questions
02:10 that are included in our program.
02:12 We like to break it in half and half
02:14 and sometimes we go little shorter,
02:16 sometimes longer on the questions
02:17 depending on how intense they are.
02:19 So if you don't have email
02:21 and there's some people amazingly that don't.
02:23 Well, some people prefer to send hardcopies,
02:25 you can still do that.
02:26 Send those to P.O. Box 220, West Frankfort Illinois, 62896.
02:32 Obviously, 3ABN
02:33 and sub send that to House Calls.
02:36 And John or John will get that.
02:38 It's one of the other
02:39 or you can send those questions to housecalls@3abn.org
02:44 that's housecalls@3abn.org
02:48 that's were we download them.
02:49 John, begin with our first question
02:51 this morning, what do we have today.
02:52 John, we have a few questions on the same topic.
02:54 All right.
02:55 So I am going to a kind of mix and match
02:56 a few questions from that
02:58 or few comments from each of those.
03:00 Okay.
03:01 This first one after reading a book
03:04 they said that it appears that
03:08 this author was portraying the destruction of the wicked
03:12 where some were destroyed in a moment
03:14 while others suffered for many days.
03:19 And in another email coming from another individual
03:22 they said it appears on one hand
03:25 that like from the book of James it says
03:29 if you break one commandment you are guilty of all.
03:32 Okay.
03:33 Which seems to be well it's kind of like
03:34 one punishment for everything.
03:37 Or then it says in the book of Revelation 22:12
03:41 that everyone is judged according his work.
03:44 Right.
03:45 And or rewarded in that specific verse.
03:48 So what is it?
03:49 You know, is the Bible contradicting itself
03:51 or can we really know.
03:53 Well, I think there're some principles in the Word of God
03:55 that we need to address here first.
03:57 And you'll find in the Old Testament
03:59 on several occasions when addressing sin
04:03 God speaks very specifically
04:06 about handling certain sins differently from others.
04:09 Right.
04:10 There is clearly a degree of sin
04:13 and in the system of justice there with Israelites
04:16 that God put in place from the very beginning.
04:19 And we have carried over a lot of that system
04:21 even into our own justice system
04:23 within the United States here today.
04:25 Where you would have not the same punishment
04:27 for somebody that was shoplifting in a store,
04:32 to someone who'd murder somebody else.
04:34 There was definitely a different--
04:35 There is a different sentence for those kinds of things.
04:39 In fact we call that the punishment fits the crime.
04:42 Crime, right.
04:43 And so you wouldn't have the same punishment
04:47 for both of those two crimes clearly
04:50 and that comes from the principles of God's Word.
04:52 So in principle we find
04:54 that judgment meets out different sentences.
04:56 True.
04:58 But when we get to the New Testament
05:01 and specifically we're going to go to Revelation 20.
05:04 All right Revelation 20.
05:06 And so let's go to Revelation 20,
05:09 you will find starting around verse 11,
05:14 you will find this great white throne judgment,
05:17 John and this is the throne of judgment
05:19 that the wicked appeared before.
05:21 This isn't the throne judgment that God's people,
05:23 his followers are part of.
05:26 And so it says here in verse 11
05:28 "And I saw a great white throne,
05:30 and one sitting upon it,
05:31 from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away
05:36 and there was no place found for them.
05:38 And I saw the dead, great and small,
05:40 standing in the presence of the throne
05:42 and the books were opened."
05:45 Books singular or plural there John.
05:47 Plural. More books than one.
05:50 "And another book was opened."
05:52 Is that singular or plural. Singular.
05:54 Singular that's one book was opened
05:56 and it says "Which is the book of life
05:58 and the dead were judged according to those things
06:01 which were written in the books."
06:03 Plural "according to" what? "Their works."
06:06 "According to their works."
06:07 So here we find a scene
06:08 in front of the great white throne of judgment
06:11 where the book of Life is opened
06:12 and then the reason that book is opened
06:13 is because the names of the wicked
06:15 are not in that book.
06:17 That's right.
06:18 So then Jesus moves
06:20 on His great white throne of judgment
06:21 from looking at that book to the books plural
06:25 and those were the books
06:26 that are the books of the Life's
06:28 recorded in the lives of those who are the wicked,
06:31 standing before His throne to be sentenced.
06:35 And it says you know I like one phrase John it says
06:38 and we this goes ways back it says
06:40 "I can read you like a book."
06:42 Book.
06:43 Well, in this respect God literally does open their book
06:47 the book recording their life and their life events
06:50 and their life activities and decisions
06:53 and he makes the judgment.
06:54 He sentences them
06:56 according to what is written in those books
06:58 which is why it says according to their works.
07:01 Right.
07:02 Now the reason why they're judged
07:04 according to their works
07:07 and not the works of Christ
07:08 is because they did not believe in Him.
07:11 So Christ's righteousness was not substituted
07:15 for their works as is with the righteous.
07:19 So they are left to stand in judgment
07:21 with their own deeds.
07:22 Right.
07:23 And this is where God meets out
07:25 or he issues a sentence
07:27 that allows them to experience
07:30 and will cause them to experience
07:31 judgments to different degrees.
07:33 And that judgment occurs within the lake of fire.
07:36 And it goes on a little bit it says the sea in verse 13
07:41 "And the sea gave up the dead that were in it and death
07:44 and hell gave up their dead that were in them
07:47 and they were judged everyone according to their works.
07:50 And hell and death were cast into."
07:53 Where? Lake of fire.
07:55 "The lake of fire." "This is the second death.
07:58 And whoever was not found written in the book of life
08:01 was cast into the lake of fire."
08:04 So we read this and we see that yes
08:07 everybody goes into the same lake of fire
08:11 but the experience in that lake of fire
08:14 the result that happens to them is different
08:17 or has differing degrees according to their works.
08:21 So you would not say that somebody
08:24 such as a Hitler or Idi Amin,
08:27 would burn the same amount as somebody
08:30 who was generally a kind person in this earth
08:33 but just did not believe in Christ
08:35 believe that was all of ours.
08:36 And in fact really lived themselves at a selfish means.
08:41 But they weren't murderers. Right.
08:42 And so there are different degrees of judgments here,
08:45 this is why the statement is used
08:47 they were judged according to their works.
08:50 That's right. Very clear.
08:51 You know, God is a just God
08:53 and we would never say that
08:55 the judge was just if he threw the book at a--
08:59 If he threw the book at a kid who is a first time offender
09:03 and the person who is a repeated offender
09:06 got the same judgment.
09:08 Right.
09:09 Somebody would say that was just not just.
09:12 And if that could be declared about a human
09:15 what must be declared about God.
09:17 All of his judgments are just.
09:20 Right. He is not the unjust judge.
09:23 And in reality it only make sense,
09:25 matter of fact Ecclesiastes 12 let me go there.
09:30 Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 emphasizes the standard
09:35 by which each of us is to be judged
09:39 and this makes it sense because if we were just based.
09:43 If our lives were judged
09:46 based on the life of someone else,
09:49 then it stands to reason that person's life
09:52 will be judged based on the life of another person.
09:54 And so what happens is we become persons
09:57 whose deeds are measured
09:58 by the severity of somebody else's deeds.
10:02 So we'll say as sometimes we say in our own lives,
10:05 I was bad but not that bad.
10:07 You know, we say that
10:09 I use to party but not like that.
10:11 Well, I use to drink but not like that.
10:14 We measure our works against somebody else's works
10:16 and we feel somehow exonerated
10:18 that we we're not that bad.
10:21 But the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
10:25 the Bible says "Let us hear
10:27 the conclusion of the whole matter.
10:31 Fear God, and keep his commandments
10:33 for this is the whole duty of man.
10:36 For God will bring every work into judgment,
10:40 including every secret thing,
10:42 whether it is good, or whether it is evil."
10:46 So the standard by which judgment will be made
10:48 is the commandments of God.
10:50 Now that's why James says, "So speak and so do as those
10:53 that shall be judged by the law of liberty."
10:56 This law of liberty is the commandments of God.
10:59 The commandments of God shows us
11:01 the parameters of our freedom
11:03 while Jesus is the one that sets us free.
11:05 We're going to talk about that today
11:06 in our particular in our topic content.
11:10 So yes, God is a just God
11:12 and no the Bible doesn't misinterpret itself
11:16 all of our works will be measured
11:18 by one single standard.
11:20 And each person based on what their works had been.
11:22 And I like the fact that you brought this out, John,
11:24 because Revelation 20
11:26 when it talks about the great white throne judgment
11:28 it's not talking about well
11:29 let's see who is going to be saved
11:30 that is already been decided.
11:32 Done. It's already been done.
11:33 That's those whose names are not written
11:36 in the book of Life in Revelation 20 says
11:39 those whose names are not written in the book of Life
11:41 will be cast into the lake of fire
11:42 this is the second death.
11:44 Yeah, in that respect it's the same fire.
11:46 Right.
11:47 But there is different
11:48 and a different experience within that fire.
11:50 Right.
11:51 And that depends upon their works.
11:53 That's probably the easiest and quickest way to say it.
11:55 That's true.
11:56 And when you think about it though,
11:59 I thought about that sometimes and I thought,
12:01 well, if I am going to be destroyed
12:05 somebody wants to say well, what difference does he make
12:06 he burns for five years, he burns for three minutes,
12:08 he burns for two hours
12:10 I don't want to burn for any of that time particular
12:12 because we don't know
12:13 we don't have any kind of reference point
12:17 as to what that's going to be.
12:19 But if a person is going to be judged
12:20 and then sentenced according to his deeds,
12:24 I can imagine there are going to be severe
12:27 differing degrees but the end result
12:29 is going to be eternally being blotted out.
12:32 Wow, well, thank you anything more in that on that, John.
12:35 No, no.
12:37 Okay, here is another question from a person named Annie.
12:39 My question is didn't the vision
12:42 that Peter had indicate two concerns
12:45 not one about the Jews.
12:49 We're not concerned about the Gentiles.
12:53 And also unclean and also that the Lord
12:55 declares all food clean that's what,
12:58 that's what they're saying that this vision talks about.
13:02 And she goes on to say, Jesus even ate fish and meats
13:08 but now all foods are considered clean to eat.
13:10 Of course, if one is allergic
13:13 to a certain food they shouldn't eat it.
13:15 Please comment on this.
13:17 Thank you, Annie for that question
13:19 and we will definitely comment on it.
13:21 Well, let's go to a book of Acts.
13:24 Acts 10 lets look at the vision.
13:27 Let's look at the vision.
13:28 You know we could find
13:29 many applications to a particular story
13:32 but when you look at the story in its totality
13:35 you have to understand the message
13:38 that Jesus is trying to teach Peter.
13:41 And you pointed out that this brings out
13:44 not only the unjust judgment of the Jews upon the Gentiles,
13:49 but you also point out that isn't this the vision
13:52 of consideration that everything
13:53 is now able to be eaten.
13:56 Well, I would love to agree with you
13:58 but that's not the story
13:59 if you look at in its context and its fullness.
14:02 So we're going where, John.
14:03 We're going to Acts 10. Okay.
14:05 Acts 10, all right.
14:09 Not going to go through the whole things
14:10 just kind of verses that are very significant.
14:13 It says Acts 10:9.
14:17 "The next day, as they went on their journey
14:19 and drew near the city,
14:21 Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour."
14:26 That's about noon.
14:28 "And he became very hungry and wanted to eat
14:30 but while they made ready, he fell into a trance
14:35 and saw Heaven open
14:37 and an object like a great sheet
14:39 bound at the four corners,
14:41 descending to him and let down to the earth.
14:46 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals
14:48 of the earth, wild beasts,
14:51 creeping things and birds of the air.
14:54 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat."
14:59 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord,
15:01 for I have never eaten anything common or unclean."
15:05 And a voice said--
15:08 And a voice spoke to him again the second time,
15:11 "What God has cleansed you must not call common."
15:15 And the object was taken up into heaven again.
15:19 Now while Peter wondered, verse 17 within himself
15:22 what this vision which he had seen meant,
15:25 behold, the men.
15:27 And here is the key
15:28 that's the transitional verse what does it mean.
15:31 Does this mean God is saying eat anything now.
15:34 The key verse is 17.
15:36 He is trying-- What does this mean.
15:38 And I will suggest he knows it doesn't mean
15:40 what people think is obvious here.
15:43 Right. It's not.
15:44 It's just not what it means because
15:46 and that's what he is struggling.
15:47 Here what does this mean? What does this mean?
15:49 Is God trying to say I could eat anything now,
15:52 the Bible interprets what it's going to say.
15:56 "Now Peter while wondering verse 17
15:59 within himself what this vision
16:01 which he had seen meant, behold,
16:03 the men who had been sent from Cornelius
16:06 had made inquiry for Simon's house
16:08 and stood before the gate.
16:10 And they called and asked whether Simon,
16:12 whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
16:15 While Peter thought about the vision,
16:18 the Spirit said to him,
16:19 "Behold, three men are seeking you.
16:22 Arise therefore, go down and go with them,
16:26 doubting nothing for I have sent them."
16:29 Now let me just pause for a brief moment here
16:31 and make it really clear what's happening.
16:34 The reason why-- The reason why
16:36 the Holy Spirit says don't doubt I sent them
16:38 is because the Jews had no dealings with the Gentiles.
16:43 That's right.
16:44 Matter of fact,
16:45 if the Jewish man went to a Gentiles house
16:47 he went with the contingency of other Jews
16:49 to see whatever reason he had
16:51 whether his reason was legitimate.
16:53 They'll say what you're going to a Gentile's house for.
16:55 Well, I am going to give them Bible studies.
16:57 Well, I am going with you because I don't believe that.
17:00 And they went to legitimize whether or not the reason
17:02 he used to go to a Gentile's house was so.
17:05 And so the Holy Spirit is saying to Peter
17:08 "Don't worry about it.
17:10 I sent them. It's okay.
17:13 This is not something that you need to worry
17:17 whether or not there is any good in it.
17:18 I have sent them." And then verse 21.
17:23 "Then Peter went down, who had been sent--
17:25 Then Peter went down to the men
17:27 who had been sent to him from Cornelius,
17:29 and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek.
17:32 For what reason have you come?"
17:34 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man,
17:37 one who fears God and has a good reputation
17:40 among all the nations of the Jews."
17:42 He said that because it was not good
17:44 for Jews and Gentiles to mix.
17:47 He's got a good reputation don't worry about it.
17:50 "Was divinely instructed by the Holy Angel--
17:53 By a Holy Angel to summon you to his house,
17:56 and to hear words from you.
17:59 Then he invited them in and lodged them.
18:04 On the next day Peter went away with them, and some."
18:07 This is the key.
18:08 "And some brethren from Joppa accompanied him."
18:12 We got go see and make sure this is right.
18:14 Because we don't know what's going on with Peter here.
18:16 I mean he's going to a Gentile's house.
18:17 He's on his way to Cornelius's house
18:19 and he is surely not an acceptable person.
18:22 Even though he has a good reputation,
18:23 we still have to go and see what's going on.
18:25 Now here is verse 24
18:28 "And the following day they entered Caesarea.
18:30 Now Cornelius was waiting for them,
18:32 and had called together
18:34 his relatives and close friends.
18:36 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him
18:38 and fell down at his feet and worshiped him."
18:41 And this is important
18:42 because if Peter was the first Pope
18:44 that will be acceptable just the thought.
18:48 "But Peter lifted him up, saying,
18:50 "Stand up I myself am also a man."
18:56 And as he talked with him, verse 27
18:58 he went in and found many who had come together.
19:02 Then he said to them,
19:04 "You know, you know, it is unlawful.
19:08 You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man
19:12 to keep company with or go to one of another nation"
19:17 Ah, the reason for the vision.
19:19 "But God has shown me
19:22 that I should not call any man common or unclean."
19:31 So was it food that was common or unclean
19:36 in Peter's experience or men
19:39 that were considered common or unclean.
19:41 Which one was it? Men.
19:43 Ah, see now I am going to go further and say it was both.
19:48 Because Peter knew that there were things
19:50 he was not supposed to eat
19:52 but God used Peter's understanding
19:55 of unclean things to let them--
19:58 To let him know, wait a minute,
19:59 you've got the same attitude Peter about men.
20:02 And I want you to know I have cleansed them.
20:04 You see the blood of Jesus Christ,
20:06 his Son, cleanses us all from sin.
20:10 So the Lord was saying,
20:11 "I am sending you to be an apostle to the Gentile.
20:13 You have got to know that the same way
20:16 you are cleansed they could be cleansed."
20:19 Don't call them common don't call them unclean
20:22 and that was the vision that was the purpose of it.
20:24 And so it was not to change their diet,
20:28 it was to give them a different attitude
20:29 about those who were not of the same persuasion
20:32 or of the same nation.
20:34 And one of the challenge,
20:35 I think one of the biggest struggles
20:38 that Christians have over this topic
20:39 is the use of the Word
20:42 or the term unclean and clean foods.
20:48 Because if you look in the Bible
20:49 there something very interesting
20:50 that some of you may not have thought about
20:52 but in the Bible you will find
20:54 no phrase unclean foods.
20:59 It's not there. Okay.
21:01 It is the animals that are either clean or unclean
21:06 and the line of food that is acceptable
21:08 that God has ordained only comes from the clean line.
21:13 Okay, so here you have clean and unclean animals.
21:17 Right. Food is acceptable.
21:20 The animal is acceptable to kill for food
21:22 from the line of clean.
21:25 Never was food considered from this line of unclean.
21:30 Right.
21:31 So to use the term unclean food is a misnomer.
21:37 It's very--
21:38 There is no unclean food or even clean food
21:42 that becomes unclean food
21:44 because there is no unclean food.
21:46 There is unclean animals. Right.
21:48 And God said the unclean line is not for food
21:51 the clean line of animals
21:52 where you can eat that for food.
21:54 Very good a very good analogy.
21:55 And this is very important because, I hear this often
21:58 well, God has made unclean foods now clean.
22:02 But the problem is there is never
22:04 such thing as unclean food.
22:05 Right.
22:07 And if you say well he's made all animals
22:09 that are unclean for food,
22:10 now food that's going so much further
22:13 than any scripture even remotely alludes to.
22:15 Right.
22:16 Which is when you're reading this
22:18 and when Peter saw this vision,
22:20 he knew God cannot be telling him eat this for food
22:24 because he knew very well
22:26 that this line of unclean animals
22:27 that's never food.
22:28 Right.
22:29 Not under any circumstances.
22:31 Well, that's a very good point.
22:32 So I think it's important to get out of this
22:35 mindset of clean and unclean foods.
22:38 You have clean and unclean animals
22:39 food comes only from the clean line.
22:41 You know, John I appreciate
22:43 that analogy because in my mind
22:44 I just-- I've got this very imaginary mind.
22:47 I know sometimes it makes me laugh and I am thinking about
22:49 what the picture are going on my head.
22:51 It's like saying I am going to--
22:54 I am going to the city dump.
22:56 You want to go there with me and you'll say what for.
22:58 I am going for dinner.
22:59 But why are you going to the city dump,
23:02 well, it's a new restaurant.
23:04 The city dump has never been a restaurant really honestly.
23:07 Exactly.
23:08 So it's like saying but no God has now
23:11 made the city dump a new restaurant.
23:13 The city dump has never been a restaurant.
23:15 Exactly, right.
23:16 Its never, it's never
23:17 so it cannot become a restaurant now.
23:19 You don't go to the city dump to eat.
23:21 You don't run behind a garbage truck with a knife and a fork.
23:23 Right.
23:25 That's a good, very-- That's a very good analogy.
23:27 So because it's original designation
23:29 a garbage truck has never been designated as a restaurant.
23:33 I cannot make a garbage truck a restaurant.
23:37 Garbage truck like catering replaced now,
23:39 the little I can see while it's going
23:41 through towns, come in come and eat.
23:43 Yeah, isn't it terrible? You know, isn't it terrible?
23:44 And what in fact, God--
23:46 And reason I use garbage truck
23:47 as a particular point of description
23:50 is because God created certain animals
23:53 to keep the earth clean that's what their job was.
23:56 Right.
23:57 That-- Sorry, that's what their job is.
24:00 You can put a bow on a pig's neck
24:02 you could give them make them
24:04 nice pig jacket with a button under it.
24:07 You could do-- You can spray him with cologne
24:11 but the moment that they get up the chain
24:13 they're going to the nearest slop, mud, filth
24:17 and they're going to eat it.
24:18 Because that's how they-- That's were they created for.
24:22 Walking process and plan.
24:23 You know, cat fish, mud fish
24:27 you find them in the dirtiest places
24:29 because that's what they're created for.
24:31 You know why because it's not possible for man
24:34 to be in all these places that are out of human reach
24:38 to keep the oceans clean.
24:39 That's why clams and lobsters and all this shellfish
24:43 are caught at the bottom of the ocean.
24:45 They put those nets.
24:46 My uncle-- My uncles were fishermen
24:49 professional fishermen.
24:51 And when a hurricane came
24:52 through the Virgin Islands years ago.
24:53 He lost 600 of his traps
24:56 because he provided the shellfish
24:58 and the lobsters and crabs
24:59 and the oysters for the local fishery
25:01 for the local restaurants.
25:03 Well, he lost all of those and he declared bankruptcy.
25:06 So to speak and not clear bankruptcy
25:09 but he went out of his business.
25:10 Because he lost all of his--
25:12 But I said where were they?
25:13 They were on the floor of the ocean.
25:16 Not 8,000 feet down but you know,
25:19 obviously the good reasonable depth reachable.
25:22 But that's why they're down there
25:24 because if you go and you're scuba gear
25:26 and some people like that.
25:27 Doug Batchelor loves to do that.
25:28 I want to do that one day.
25:30 You can see these animals faithfully going along
25:32 they're just cleaning up the ground
25:34 they're cleaning up the earth.
25:35 They're cleaning up the waters.
25:37 They're cleaning up the side road.
25:38 There's a raccoon that got hit
25:39 unfortunately on our side-- on our road
25:42 he's not going to be there for long.
25:44 And you could always tell birds are circling
25:47 and those birds that are circling
25:49 should never be on your table to eat.
25:52 Right. That's just the way it is.
25:54 Thank you for that question John.
25:56 I think do we have
25:58 and we have time for probably one.
25:59 Lets do one I think it's fairly short.
26:00 Okay, go ahead.
26:01 Now this comes from Carolyn
26:04 and she says "Dear John and John please tell me
26:06 what is the Bible stand on cosmetic surgery."
26:09 Okay. That's a good question.
26:12 Be it to fix a problem
26:14 which is a source of great embarrassment
26:15 or simply to enhance ones physical appearance.
26:17 Good question, very good question.
26:20 The simple answer is that the Bible
26:22 doesn't specifically talk about cosmetic surgery.
26:25 All right.
26:26 We know that because it was written long ago
26:27 before cosmetic surgery was taking place
26:30 and was on a regular thing.
26:33 But there are principles in the word of God
26:35 I think that we can kind of stand behind.
26:40 And we are not, we cannot judge someone's motive
26:44 to be able to match those principles
26:46 up with the motive of the individual.
26:48 Right. Does that make sense?
26:50 In other words I can't look at somebody
26:52 who has had cosmetic surgery and judge their motive.
26:57 The reasoning for doing this,
26:59 but here is what I mean on a principles way
27:03 the Bible doesn't seem to advocate
27:06 anywhere that I can find adornment.
27:09 Right.
27:10 Something to make us
27:12 just simply for the pure fact of looking better, adornment.
27:15 There are there is functional things
27:18 that people will wear.
27:20 Just like the priest wore
27:21 very beautiful jewels and vestiture
27:24 and all the other things that he wore.
27:26 They served a purpose. Right.
27:27 They had a meaning behind them.
27:29 But just purity adornment
27:32 even the New Testament ways on this
27:35 not our outward adornment
27:36 but the Lord looks on our heart.
27:37 Right.
27:38 And the principle here caring over
27:40 and to cosmetic surgery would be
27:43 well, what is the purpose of this person doing it.
27:45 Are they doing it for the purpose
27:47 of looking hot for the man.
27:51 Or they're doing for the purpose of benefit to self
27:55 or improvement of self in such a way
27:57 that maybe isn't so selfish or focused on attraction.
28:01 Right. But just a better ones life.
28:04 There are things beyond just repairing of a facial thing.
28:09 Like you know jar that was broken
28:11 and you have to go and then you have to do cosmetic surgery
28:14 to look better or scar something.
28:15 I think there are things beyond that are still acceptable.
28:17 Right.
28:18 This is between them and the Lord.
28:21 This is what I want to emphasize,
28:22 we should not be judging.
28:24 Even the question itself bothers me a little bit.
28:27 You understand what I am saying, John.
28:28 I am looking for the another brief--
28:29 Even the question bothers me a little bit because it means
28:33 that behind the question there is somebody
28:35 that maybe wanting to assign or stereotype
28:38 or judge somebody for the reason
28:40 that they got cosmetic surgery.
28:41 Right. That is not for us to do.
28:44 That is between them and the Lord
28:46 and let them work that out.
28:47 That's right.
28:49 Yeah, let every man be a liar and let God be true.
28:51 I think it's a principle that maybe.
28:53 Yeah. Applied here.
28:54 And truly I liked the way you said,
28:56 things that are not clearly revealed in God's Word
29:00 we should not try incessantly
29:04 to make it a standard of salvation
29:06 and I think that one of the things,
29:08 I mean, I have heard
29:09 and let me just not open the can right now
29:11 because there's a lot of worms in it.
29:13 But and I speak of other areas
29:16 where sometimes Christians burdens
29:18 have increased to the point
29:19 where people feel as though
29:22 they are under this microscope of someone else's
29:25 when in fact what the Bible
29:26 encourages us to do is to examine ourselves
29:29 to see whether they are-- to see whether or not
29:32 we're in the faith to judge ourselves.
29:35 And so let's not make everything a doctrine.
29:38 And I like what you're saying about that, John,
29:40 sometimes people will frame these passages to almost say,
29:43 well, I haven't been able to find anything
29:46 maybe John and John could find something.
29:48 Maybe they can give me some scriptural references
29:50 so that I could say see there now,
29:52 you shouldn't have done that.
29:53 Right.
29:55 There's a problem with that approach.
29:56 If there is a verse in the Bible
29:58 you can find, well, let us know about
29:59 but we haven't found any verses that say
30:02 that it is sin that you have plastic surgery.
30:05 On the other hand we've seen some
30:06 serious disasters in plastic surgery.
30:08 And some people that have stopped
30:10 they wouldn't stop doing plastic surgeries
30:13 at a point where there is a one called cat lady
30:15 and remember that there is a lady
30:17 who had so many plastic surgeries
30:18 that they can't even fix or face any longer.
30:21 Because there is everything that could be stretched
30:22 has been stretched and all the collegians lips
30:26 and the alternations of the eyes
30:28 and let me just kind of stop there
30:30 but some people get disfigured
30:31 because they just get this addiction to it.
30:34 But and other people say, well, you know
30:36 I want to fix something that I am not happy with.
30:38 And it only hurts ourselves. Yeah.
30:40 If you go too far with that. Right.
30:42 The Bible clearly doesn't talk about this,
30:44 we shouldn't be judging whether someone else
30:46 is doing it right or wrong or doing it at all.
30:49 This is between them and the Lord.
30:51 And I think I'm in a category that kind of say that
30:53 if we look clearly I have got big ears
30:56 and somebody once said you should get plastic surgery
30:58 it kind of bring in some.
30:59 Well, this is my signature.
31:03 There's one, you haven't take that.
31:06 This is my signature.
31:07 I'm known,
31:09 if they even have a doubt that's John Lomacang,
31:10 just look for the ears.
31:12 It's a family trait we have a lot of us
31:14 in the family have big ears.
31:15 And I know somebody wants to draw the line
31:17 where what about it's just about cosmetic improvement
31:19 and improvement of your looks.
31:21 Bible doesn't speak about that. It doesn't speak against it.
31:23 I mean this is not an issue
31:25 that we should be even having to discuss or address.
31:28 Right.
31:29 It is between them and the Lord.
31:30 The Lord may look on it completely favorably,
31:33 praise God.
31:34 Let them work that out
31:35 but it is not up to us to talk about or to judge.
31:38 And always keep in mind
31:39 your body is the temple of the Lords.
31:41 Pray for God to give you guidance
31:43 if you ever enter that arena.
31:46 Well, that I think that takes--
31:47 We're going to transition our topic today.
31:49 We're talking about salvation
31:50 but if you have any questions you like to sent to us
31:52 and that was completely in opinion response in our part
31:55 because there are no scriptures about that.
31:57 But if you do have any questions
31:58 you can send those questions to housecalls@3abn.org,
32:02 that's housecalls@3abn.org
32:05 and we promise to spend our time wisely
32:08 to respond to those questions
32:09 and most of our answers do come from God's Word.
32:12 We thank you for your participation.
32:16 Now John, what I'd like us to do
32:18 is just kind of dive into this topic salvation,
32:21 salvation what an amazing topic to talk about.
32:25 Without salvation we are all are lost.
32:28 And should I pitch it to you to go ahead and dive
32:30 into this topic together because we--
32:31 Right, and we can start I mean we can do this together.
32:34 I'll make a couple of comments. Okay.
32:36 When we hear, we hear this phrase
32:38 over and over and over again.
32:39 You've heard it.
32:40 I've heard it everyone probably listening to this program
32:42 watching this program has heard it.
32:44 I got saved.
32:46 Yeah, people will give a dates ad places and--
32:48 I got to say on such and such day
32:50 or I got to say back in such and such year
32:53 what does that mean when it comes to Jesus.
32:57 And what Jesus has done to save us.
33:01 And I am not trying to trivialize this,
33:03 I mean, we do guess saved by Jesus.
33:05 Right.
33:06 But we can say it sometimes
33:07 so the point where it's almost like a billboard
33:10 I got milk.
33:11 Yeah, I got a car. I bought a house.
33:13 Yeah, and so we don't want to trivialize
33:17 that which is one reason
33:18 why we decided to cover this topic.
33:21 To show the expense that God went through, that God--
33:28 Invested.
33:29 Invested, yeah, that's a good point.
33:31 Invested to save mankind.
33:34 And how-- What that means to us.
33:37 But also would it meant to him.
33:39 And some of the things in regard to who Jesus was,
33:43 his nature, the Son of God,
33:46 son of man question what does that mean?
33:49 All these things sometimes are misunderstood.
33:54 That's right. Or not even defined at all.
33:57 Because I think there is also a tendency to just say,
34:01 well, I have been saved by grace
34:02 and grace kind of almost like no further explanations needed.
34:07 God's grace he did everything.
34:10 But what did he do. Right.
34:11 And how does that change,
34:13 how we might respond to what he did.
34:17 According to you know,
34:18 what it meant for him to do those things.
34:20 So it's hard to explain but well,
34:22 as we get into it, I know the Lord is going to lead
34:24 and we'll see some thing's
34:26 that maybe we haven't seen before.
34:28 And God's Word when it comes to Jesus
34:30 and what he did to accomplish our salvation.
34:33 I think a good passage to begin with is in Ephesians.
34:37 Ephesians it is the-- it is the signature passage
34:43 when we talk about salvation.
34:45 Ephesians 2:8-9,
34:50 Ephesians 2:8-9 we will definitely include 10,
34:55 but Ephesians verse 8 and 9
34:59 "For by grace you have been saved."
35:03 If you're reading the King James,
35:04 "For by grace are you saved through faith.
35:09 And that not of yourselves,
35:11 it is the gift of God, not of works,
35:16 lest anyone should boast."
35:18 So if we begin with the most
35:20 elementary definition of salvation,
35:23 it is by grace through faith.
35:27 In other words we haven't done anything,
35:28 but what I want to pause here and spend
35:30 a little time on this particular passage,
35:33 oh, we know number by the scriptures
35:35 we going to use in just a moment here.
35:37 Is this is often the passage that sighted
35:40 when people say they're saved.
35:42 And this is the best one
35:44 and this is the most traditional one in reality.
35:46 Not so much the best one
35:47 but the one that is commonly instead
35:49 just like the John 3:16,
35:51 of Revelation you know all these particular passages.
35:54 This is the one so people will say
35:55 I have been saved somebody said,
35:57 I was saved when I was five, I was saved when I was three,
35:58 I saved on the March 5, 1975
36:01 thinking about this particular dates.
36:03 And I often follow that with the question
36:05 save from what?
36:09 Okay, you want to chime in before we go any further.
36:10 No, no that's a good question
36:12 I am waiting to hear how you've respond to it.
36:13 I will say, saved from what?
36:16 And I was saved and some people say
36:18 I was saved different and I am going to use cliches
36:21 that exist in the larger Christendom.
36:24 I was saved sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost.
36:27 Beautiful, praise God for that.
36:29 Saved, you know,
36:30 one thing I want to bring out sanctification
36:32 is not just something that happens
36:34 throughout our walk with Christ,
36:35 but sanctification also is an instant act.
36:38 Let me just make the difference here.
36:39 You know, when the Sabbath was sanctified
36:41 when the last day of week was sanctified
36:42 it was sanctified instantly.
36:45 There was no necessary-- there was no necessity
36:48 for to continually be to be sanctified.
36:50 God blessed it, sanctified it.
36:52 That means so in this context
36:53 the word sanctified means set apart.
36:56 See, so when you're saved the question
36:58 is what are you saved from?
37:00 Well, let me just go ahead to the second part.
37:02 We are set apart from what we used to be
37:05 we're now set apart for a Holy purpose
37:09 to the soberly, godly and righteously
37:12 but we have what have been saved from
37:15 and here is the answer to that.
37:16 And we'll point out something I have--
37:18 God gave me years ago, I call that the three Ps,
37:23 the letter P.
37:24 The three Ps remember this.
37:25 So when we're instantly saved
37:27 when we are accept Jesus in our lives,
37:29 we are saved from penalty of sin.
37:34 So therefore, what that means
37:35 is up until that point you're on death row,
37:38 that means you're destined to die.
37:40 As an Adam 1 Corinthians 15:22
37:42 "As an Adam all die" we were on that death row,
37:46 we were going to die without Christ.
37:48 But we got-- we, we were saved,
37:50 we accepted Jesus Christ.
37:51 He delivered us from death.
37:55 So if you ask somebody says what are you saved from.
37:57 Say I am saved from the penalty of sin.
38:02 I'll go to the next in a just moment,
38:03 give you a chance to add to that.
38:05 You know, because-- and I like your point here.
38:06 We were born on death row
38:08 and for someone that's sees sin as just an act.
38:12 Right.
38:13 Isn't understanding the full impact of sin.
38:16 Sin is an infection, it is passed on to us at birth.
38:22 We are inclined our propensity our tendency is to sin.
38:26 Right.
38:27 And so we were born with it.
38:29 It doesn't take you long John to see a young baby
38:32 as it begins to get around and crawl
38:35 and be able to speak and talk to see
38:37 that sin resides in him and her.
38:40 Right? That's right.
38:41 Because sin is part of what we are born with.
38:44 Its' not necessarily just something that we do.
38:47 Now it is something that we do.
38:48 But the big picture of sin is that
38:52 we have a condition we are on death row.
38:54 We cannot save ourselves from death
38:57 which is where all of us end up.
38:58 We all end up dying of this we're along-- last long enough.
39:02 And so that's an important thing to distinguish
39:05 because there are sin and there are the sins
39:08 that we commit because of the fact
39:10 that we're infected with sin.
39:11 Right. Very important point.
39:13 I'm glad you pointed that because a lot of times
39:15 people say the Lord saved me from,
39:19 saved me from, saved me from
39:21 and they got on these itemized cigarettes,
39:23 alcohol, pornography, thievery, lying, stealing, killing
39:28 we go down this itemized list of things
39:29 that God saved us from.
39:31 Well, in essence saying is we no longer do those things
39:34 so salvation is not even what you no longer do.
39:37 But salvation is what Jesus has done.
39:40 But the saving process is deliverance
39:42 and if deliverance from the former life
39:44 is not something that you experience,
39:46 then you're really not delivered.
39:49 If you're continuing in the old ways,
39:51 then you cannot be in the new way.
39:54 I side 2 Corinthians 5:17
39:57 a passage another one of those wonderful passages.
40:00 In reference to the battle between the flesh the spirit.
40:06 2 Corinthians 5:17
40:08 the Bible reads "Therefore if any one be in Christ,
40:12 he is a new creature old things have passed away
40:18 behold, all things are become new."
40:21 Now John I want to give you a chance
40:23 to we've talked about this preprogram.
40:26 Whenever you've a chance to talk about this okay,
40:28 but if all things have passed
40:29 when all things are new well what about the fact that--
40:34 Doesn't Jesus accept us as we are.
40:38 I mean do I need to be different after I am saved.
40:42 Yeah.
40:43 According to Bible all things have passed away,
40:45 all things all, all things have become new
40:48 so the old is gone the new is in.
40:52 But do I have to be different now that I am saved.
40:55 Doesn't Jesus accept me as I am?
40:57 Well, you brought up one big word
41:00 that we need to identify or explain what it is.
41:03 Okay. Sanctification.
41:05 One word we haven't identified here is justification.
41:08 Okay.
41:09 So these are two aspects to salvation,
41:12 but quite different in their meaning.
41:16 Justification is--
41:18 It occurs the moment we believe in Jesus.
41:21 He has saved us as you said from the penalty of sin.
41:24 Right.
41:25 Sanctification begins at that same time,
41:29 because we are set apart for a holy purpose
41:32 but it also continues on.
41:34 So we began to be justified and we were sanctified,
41:37 sanctification then continues
41:39 its part of what we experience throughout life.
41:42 That's right.
41:43 Now sanctification-- do your second P,
41:45 because you haven't done that.
41:46 Yeah, sanctification the first in justification
41:50 is just as if I had never sinned.
41:54 That's a good way to think of it.
41:55 Just as if I had never sinned.
41:57 Justified, just is if I had never sinned.
42:00 The Lord expunges our record.
42:03 He takes from us
42:05 and I want to add to this component
42:06 because you mentioned sin and sins.
42:08 The sin nature which is what we have from Adam
42:13 no longer determines our destiny.
42:17 The sins we have committed
42:19 because all of the sin nature are expunged.
42:23 Whatever you were before, you've been forgiven
42:25 your sins have been forgiven
42:28 your record has been cleansed and the Bible says
42:31 if we confessed he is faithful and just to forgive us
42:33 cleanses from all unrighteousness.
42:35 That's justification all the way no longer
42:37 against you it's all been taking care
42:40 by the blood of Christ.
42:41 But now the second P is sanctification,
42:45 sanctification is the salvation from the power of sin.
42:51 The power of sin, so let's go and apply that.
42:56 A person says, I am saved
43:00 but I am still doing what I did before
43:03 and I am thinking wait a minute doesn't the passage say
43:06 old things have passed away behold all things are new.
43:09 Isaiah 1 "Seize to do evil learn to good."
43:13 Now do we instantly forget what we did in the past?
43:17 No, but now do we--
43:19 And something that I think also needs to be mentioned here
43:22 justification is a revival that happens,
43:26 we change direction.
43:27 Now we begin to move in a different direction.
43:30 We unlearn the evil we begin to learn the good.
43:33 So and I must say this, John
43:35 we don't immediately become completely
43:41 disconnected from the way we thought
43:44 because no we're learning a whole new process
43:46 that's where the installation of pure purity comes in.
43:49 Our mind begins to take on be transformed
43:52 by the renewing of your mind that you may prove
43:56 what is the good acceptable perfect people of God.
43:58 That's where the transformation begins.
44:00 The transformation is not complete
44:03 until the last process of salvation.
44:06 We'll get to that in just a moment.
44:07 Let me go ahead and let you add something
44:08 to this before I, go on.
44:10 There is a term that is used to describe this change,
44:15 this transformation that occurs in the sanctification process.
44:18 Right.
44:20 Because it is also a process as well as a single event.
44:25 Paul speaks of it as two laws.
44:28 One is the law of sin in death. That's right.
44:30 The other is the law
44:31 of the spirit and righteousness.
44:35 Right.
44:36 And when we are sanctified we are sitting on a course
44:40 that moves us away from the law of sin in death
44:42 to the law of the spirit.
44:46 Right. Which brings life.
44:48 And so Paul speaks of this in Romans.
44:51 Very good.
44:52 Chapter 8:1 and, well, lets read a few verses here.
44:57 Starting with the verse 1
44:59 "There is therefore now no condemnation
45:00 to those who are in Christ Jesus."
45:02 When He uses the term in Christ Jesus
45:04 he is saying justified in Christ.
45:07 That's justification.
45:09 "Who do not walk according to the flesh,
45:12 but according to the Spirit?"
45:13 And now he talks about the walk
45:14 the walk is the walk of sanctification.
45:18 The process we talk about day by day being justified
45:21 but walking in Christ is how we are being
45:26 transformed into his image.
45:27 And it's also the evidence of our--
45:29 It's also the evidence of our conversion
45:32 or of the trans-- our life being transformed.
45:34 You know somebody may say did you get married lately.
45:39 Yeah, that explains it.
45:42 That's what we don't we see you at the bar
45:43 anymore on Tuesday night.
45:44 There you go. That explains it.
45:46 Yeah, my wife cut that out right away.
45:48 You know, there are certain activities
45:49 that change instantly in our lives
45:51 when we become married.
45:52 In the very same way there are certain activities
45:55 in our lives that change and cut off
45:56 when we become Christians.
45:58 So we don't walk that way
45:59 do not walk according to the flesh.
46:01 Keep going. "But according to the spirit."
46:04 Verse 2 "For the law." Notice the law is here.
46:07 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
46:10 has made me free from the law of sin and death."
46:14 This is where sanctification is deliverance
46:17 from the power of sin.
46:20 We have moved from one law
46:22 which is sin and death to the other law
46:24 which is the spirit of the life in Christ Jesus.
46:26 Right.
46:27 Very important to remember this.
46:29 Verse 3 "For what the law could not do,
46:32 and that it was weak through the flesh,
46:34 God did by sending his own Son
46:35 in the likeness of sinful flesh,
46:37 on account of sin he condemn sin in the flesh.
46:39 The righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
46:42 who do not walk according to the flesh,
46:44 but according to the Spirit."
46:45 Now here is what I want to say something
46:47 that it's probably misunderstood.
46:50 One of those areas it's misunderstood.
46:53 That as we begin to walk in the spirit of life
46:58 in Christ Jesus He gives us the power and strength
47:03 to live in harmony with his law.
47:06 That's right.
47:07 The Ten Commandments, where before we had the power
47:11 from on high to partake off to live according to that law.
47:17 We were ruled by the law of sin and death.
47:19 That's right.
47:20 We had no power in fact Paul goes on to say
47:23 that a carnal man cannot do the things of God.
47:26 He cannot keep the law,
47:28 but once you're given the life of Christ
47:31 and you're walking in the spirit in his power
47:34 you're living in a harmony with that law
47:35 because he gives you the strength to do it.
47:38 So this thought that when you're saved
47:41 you no longer then keep the law
47:43 is missing the entire reason that God saves you.
47:46 Wow. Very good point.
47:49 He is saving you to save you from eternal death, yes.
47:52 And to give you eternal life, yes.
47:54 But he is also saving you to make you new in Christ
47:57 which is an individual,
47:59 who walks in a spirit living in harmony
48:01 with the Ten Commandments.
48:02 Right.
48:03 I don't lie, steal, murder, I don't commit adultery.
48:08 I don't covet. Exactly.
48:10 I don't bow down to images, I know God is my God.
48:14 Right.
48:15 I don't take his name in vain
48:17 and I obey my parents and respect them.
48:20 Oh, wait...
48:21 I keep the Fourth Commandment as well.
48:24 Right, right the law of God.
48:25 The Seventh-day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.
48:29 All these things God gives me power to now do
48:32 because I have been saved
48:34 which is why those things are the evidence
48:36 that our transformation is taking place.
48:37 I have been saved. Right.
48:39 To say I am saved and then I don't have to--
48:43 I don't need the power, I don't want the power,
48:46 I don't accept the power to live in harmony
48:47 with God's law its only accepting
48:49 one part of the equation justification
48:51 and I would say
48:53 you're missing on the entire salvation experience.
48:55 You know what's so beautiful about salvation,
48:57 John, you know, very well put.
48:59 Wonderfully put because salvation
49:01 just to build on what you said salvation is an evidence.
49:05 It's an evidence of not just your life being changed
49:09 but the power of Christ.
49:11 The power of Christ, matter of fact Romans 1,
49:14 I want to just go ahead and look at Romans 1.
49:17 Paul begins the book of Romans
49:19 with this beautiful, beautiful analogy.
49:23 This beautiful definition
49:24 of how wonderful the grace of God is.
49:28 Here it is. Page verse 16.
49:31 Yeah, you have to highlight it.
49:33 Notice what it says.
49:36 Romans 1:16
49:38 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,
49:43 for it is the power of God to salvation."
49:48 Yes, salvation includes power not just deliverance but power.
49:53 We don't often include the power.
49:54 So people today they say they're saved
49:56 but there is no-- they live the same way,
50:01 There are pastors that still drink and smoke.
50:03 there are churches that advocate
50:04 doesn't matter what you do.
50:06 Now I am not talking about the advocating killing
50:08 and lying and stealing and cheating
50:10 but there's no change.
50:11 I know
50:12 I am not gonna talk about the particular denomination.
50:15 Let me just go ahead and focus on the text here.
50:17 The power of God is what is often
50:20 missing in the Christian walk.
50:23 And so you have people that don't get deliverance
50:25 and let me just narrow it down.
50:27 Some people said well, God does not know power.
50:30 And some people well, excuse the way they speak
50:32 with the way they treat others.
50:34 And the power of God doesn't show up there.
50:36 But here's what it goes on to say
50:38 "It is the power of God to salvation for every one
50:42 who believes for the Jew first, and also for the Greeks.
50:46 For in it" in what in the power.
50:49 "The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith."
50:55 What are we saved by grace through faith?
50:58 There is some power revealed there.
51:01 How did you ever overcome that?
51:04 That's the power of the gospel.
51:05 So when people say that the gospel is just
51:08 you know, a measure by which we become members.
51:11 No, the gospel is the measure
51:13 by which we become sons and daughters of God.
51:17 There's a power there that must be exemplified,
51:20 that must be emphasized,
51:21 matter of fact let me go ahead and show you
51:23 there's a particular passage here in 1 John 3:14
51:28 I want to just throw this one into the mix here
51:30 because we have to think of the power.
51:33 What does the power of the gospel show us.
51:35 You know if we didn't love somebody
51:36 before you became Christian,
51:39 you must love them after you become Christian
51:43 just you show you this 1 John 3:14 "We know."
51:46 Remember we talked about death row.
51:48 Well, how does somebody
51:49 or how does someone know I am no longer on death row.
51:52 It says in the Bible 1 John 3:14
51:54 "We know that we have passed from death to life,
52:00 because we love the brethren."
52:03 That's right.
52:04 He who does not love his brother abides in death."
52:07 So here I am, I am a Christian that hates
52:10 is this such an oxymoron.
52:12 I don't like this person,
52:13 I don't like that person or I hate this person,
52:14 I can't stand that person,
52:16 I cut this person down don't like the pastor
52:18 I can't stand to head elder
52:19 I don't like the teachers I the Sabbath school.
52:22 We go all this hate speech and we say to I am Christian.
52:26 Well, you know why it's because we've boiled down salvation
52:28 to just simply eternal life.
52:31 And I am on the eternal life track.
52:33 Right.
52:34 And that's not what salvation is entirely about.
52:38 It's the beginning of salvation.
52:41 But it's not the salvation experience
52:42 and I use the word experience over and over
52:44 Because it says they just shall live by faith.
52:48 I mean it's the life that I have today
52:50 I am saved everyday throughout the day all day long.
52:54 Right.
52:55 In other words I am experiencing deliverance
52:58 and salvation in Christ from all the things
53:00 that Satan tempts me with.
53:02 And if I am doing every--
53:04 If I'm succumbing to every temptation
53:06 and doing what he wants me to do
53:08 I can honestly say, I am not saved.
53:10 I am not living that salvation experience.
53:12 Which is where this once saved always saved
53:15 it's so deadly and we won't talk
53:16 if we won't get there right now.
53:18 Yeah, we'll get there at some point.
53:20 But I just-- it's so important
53:21 to remember salvation is more than just the instant.
53:25 It's the experience that we have that last a life time.
53:29 And if we see it if we don't see it that way
53:32 and we're just boiling it down to one time event,
53:35 then the God saved takes on a totally different meaning.
53:38 Oh, I tell you, I tell you, I tell you.
53:41 A God saved that means I am on my way to heaven,
53:43 you can't turn away from me
53:44 because they said once I am saved,
53:45 I am always saved so I am good.
53:47 Right.
53:48 And so it takes away all accountability as a Christian.
53:53 If we didn't really need to be changed
53:55 then the work of Christ is of not.
53:57 If there was no power to change the way
53:59 we were prior to the cross 2 Corinthians 5:17
54:04 kind of an ethereal text.
54:06 If anyone is in Christ he is in new creation
54:08 all things have passed away
54:09 behold all things have become new.
54:11 Let me just I want to give you
54:12 two very very quick passages here.
54:14 2 Corinthians 2:15
54:18 actually 1 Corinthians 1:18,
54:20 1 Corinthians 1:18 the Bible says
54:23 "For the message of the cross
54:25 is foolishness to those who are perishing
54:29 but who us who are being the process being saved
54:35 it is the power of God."
54:37 You see the power-- What does it mean by power?
54:40 The power to change who you are you see
54:42 that this thing that we're Christians
54:43 but we could live the way we did before.
54:45 Our music our, entertainment,
54:46 our attitudes, our habits, our practices,
54:48 our-- the things we watch, the places we go,
54:50 the music we listen to, the habits we were bound by,
54:53 to say that we can keep that kind of thing up and say
54:56 I am a Christian, is a lie to the Gospel
54:59 because the power is like getting a brand new television
55:03 and keeping it unplugged
55:04 and you sit in the living the room
55:05 and people would say, what are you doing?
55:07 I am watching TV.
55:08 But there's nothing on the screen.
55:09 Well, I am still watching TV.
55:11 But there's nothing on the screen
55:12 what are you watching?
55:13 Plug it in.
55:14 If we plug into the power we'll see the transformation
55:18 that's happening in our lives.
55:19 One more text.
55:20 Hebrews 7:25 look at the work of Christ.
55:23 Here's another word using the phrase
55:24 or using another text using the Word saved
55:28 "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost."
55:33 Do we-- how do we need to be
55:35 you need to be saved all the way.
55:37 Now just instantly you need to saved all the way.
55:40 He is able to save to the uttermost
55:43 those who come to God through Him,
55:45 since He ever lives to make intercession for them."
55:50 I need to be saved to the uttermost,
55:52 wasn't I saved already.
55:53 That's right.
55:54 He'd done, you're just been added to the assembly line
55:57 we got a whole lot of work to do in you.
55:59 And the work he's begun Philippians 1:6
56:01 the work Christ begins he's able to complete it.
56:05 Yeah.
56:06 You know the other important part here
56:08 to consider to is the meaning of grace.
56:10 You know, the grace is been boiled down
56:11 and watered down to the one time event as well.
56:14 And grace is beyond just God saved me
56:19 and now have eternal life.
56:21 Grace is strength from God its strength from God's hand.
56:26 You know, we have grace to find.
56:28 Well, it's divine favor. Okay.
56:30 That's kind of the most simple explanation
56:32 but that it's lost its meaning overtime.
56:34 Here is the definition I first--
56:36 I believe, I felt impressed God gave me with grace.
56:40 Grace is anytime the God reaches down to do for me
56:44 what I can't do for myself.
56:45 Oh, Amen.
56:46 Anytime the God reaches down to do for me
56:47 what I cannot do for myself that is grace.
56:50 It's to save, it's to help, it's to overcome sin.
56:52 It's to empower, it's to do all that that's God grace.
56:54 That's right Titus 2:11
56:57 "For the grace of God that brings salvation
57:00 has appeared to all men, teaching us that,
57:03 denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
57:06 we should live soberly, righteously,
57:10 and godly in this present age."
57:13 That's what grace really does in you lives,
57:14 friends, I'll tell you we just getting sorted on this program
57:17 you know, God's grace and God's salvation
57:19 is available even for you wherever you're today.
57:22 If you take hold of the grace and the power of God
57:25 you'll find salvation not just to save you momentarily
57:28 but to save you everyday.
57:30 And hold on to Christ for one day
57:31 at house call will come to you.
57:33 God bless you until we see you again.


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Revised 2014-12-17