Participants: John Lomacang (Host), John Dingzey
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL140005
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00:01 Hello, friends, grab your Bible and a friend
00:03 and sit back as we explore God's Word together 00:05 on this edition of House Calls. 00:22 We want to welcome to another House Calls program. 00:25 Well, we're excited to be here with you in your living room, 00:28 maybe in your car wherever you maybe 00:30 we're just thankful to be part of your day. 00:33 And so House Calls is a program about 00:36 rightly dividing the word of truth. 00:38 We pray that that will be 00:39 part of the program today as it usually is. 00:42 And I want to thank Johnny Dinzey 00:43 for being here with us today. 00:45 Johnny, thank you. Welcome to the program. 00:47 Thank you, thank you once again. 00:48 It's my opportunity to be here and share God's word together. 00:51 Yeah, it's a wonderful thing. 00:53 We-- you know, it's not a duty, 00:56 it's a privilege to be able to dive 00:58 into the Word of God and to share His truth. 01:00 Amen. 01:01 It really is and we consider that every time 01:04 we began and we record one of these programs 01:07 it truly it is a privilege to be able to share 01:09 the everlasting gospel with all the world. 01:12 And we're thankful for that. 01:13 We want to-- not only thank you 01:15 for joining with us in this program 01:17 but we want to make sure 01:18 we're starting off the program on the right foot. 01:20 So let's go to the Lord and pray. 01:22 Johnny, would you lead us in prayer. 01:23 Sure, let's go to the Lord in prayer. 01:26 Our loving heavenly Father, 01:28 we thank You once again for the opportunity 01:30 to come before Your throne of grace. 01:33 We pray Lord, for Your blessing upon everyone 01:35 that stops to listen to this program. 01:37 We pray that Your holy angels 01:39 and Your Holy Spirit will draw on to them, 01:41 close to them and draw close to us. 01:43 And we pray that You will bless Pastor Stanton 01:46 and myself with the Holy Spirit give us the words to speak, 01:49 give us the answers to the questions 01:51 that have come in and we pray that 01:53 You will lead us in our study. 01:55 We ask you Father, for a blessing upon everyone. 01:58 In Jesus name, amen. Amen. 02:01 Our program today the topic of the program today is Unity. 02:06 And that is unity speaking of the church 02:08 and within the church the body of Christ. 02:11 And we want to make sure that you stay tuned for that 02:13 that's usually in the last part 02:14 of our program, the last half hour. 02:16 The first part is your questions. 02:18 And you are a big part of those questions 02:20 and we thank you for sending those in. 02:22 We've got some good ones to cover here today. 02:24 You can mail those questions to housecalls@3abn.org. 02:28 That's housecalls@3abn.org 02:32 or you can write out your questions 02:34 sticking in envelopes send it to 3ABN care of House Calls 02:37 or you could even call the call center 02:40 and they will make sure they take down your question 02:41 and send it into the House Calls 02:43 email if you don't have an email of yourself. 02:46 Several ways to get your questions to us 02:47 but we do depend upon you to send those in. 02:50 It's a big part of the program 02:51 and that's exactly where we're heading today. 02:53 And Johnny, I think you have 02:55 a question to start us off with. 02:56 Why don't we go ahead 02:58 and cover our first question here today. 02:59 Let me get that one here-- questions that came in 03:04 and, yes, this one is from Jimmy. 03:10 And Jimmy writes to us. 03:13 Actually, we'd like to ask the next time 03:15 to please include where they're writing from. 03:17 You know, we have viewers 03:19 and listeners all over the world. 03:20 It'll be nice to be able to say 03:22 well, this one is calling from-- 03:24 Yeah. Honk Kong may be. 03:26 But Jimmy writes to us and he says 03:28 please explain 1 John 5:16, 17 03:33 where it talks about there being a sin 03:36 that does not lead to death. 03:38 Thank you and God bless, he says 03:40 and actually he says, A. Parker so A wrote to us. 03:47 And so we are thank you for your questions 03:49 and please continue to watch House Calls 03:51 and listen to House Calls 03:53 by whatever form you view the program. 03:56 So this leads us to 1 John Chapter 5. 04:00 Yeah, a very interesting passage to say the least. 04:04 Yes, it is. 04:05 But one that can't be understood. 04:08 Well, here we have the Scriptures 04:10 and we know that he says 16 and 17 correct. 04:16 Is it 16-17? Yes, it is. 04:19 Okay, "If any man see his brother sin 04:23 a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, 04:27 and he shall give him life for them 04:29 that sin not unto death. 04:31 There is a sin unto death 04:34 I do not say that he shall pray for it. 04:37 All unrighteousness is sin 04:39 and there is a sin not unto death." 04:43 So a very good question 04:47 about what is this sin unto death 04:50 and what is this sin not unto death. 04:52 So we look at the Scriptures 04:55 and we ask ourselves what it is it. 04:57 Because James does not enter into what that sin is. 05:01 Well, John and this one is John. 05:02 Oh, John, yes, John. Yeah. 05:04 So I had James on my mind. Yeah. 05:06 So 1 John, here we see-- we first we have to look 05:10 at what the Bible says concerning sin. 05:13 Of course, when we look at the Bible 1 John 3:4 says 05:16 that sin is the transgression of the law. 05:20 Since sin is the transgression of the law 05:23 then that's how you identify sin. 05:25 You know, some people I wanted to say 05:27 that the law has passed away 05:29 but the Bible tells us 05:30 that sin is the transgression of the law. 05:33 The law remains as the standard 05:35 by which you identify 05:36 what sin is and what is not sin. 05:40 So having said this we want to bring 05:44 your attention to the Book of James. 05:47 This is why I wanted to-- 05:50 I want to find this Scripture in the Book of James 05:54 where it gives you a description 06:01 as to the process of sin and the process 06:05 that takes place when a person sins. 06:08 It is in James Chapter 2 06:11 let's see if I can find that here 06:14 perhaps you can look for it. 06:15 Is it James, is it James 1 I think 1-- 06:17 James 1. Starting with 14. 06:20 Oh, I am sorry, I am still in 1 John. 06:23 There you go. 06:24 James 1:14 I think it's where you're trying to go right. 06:26 "Each one is tempted 06:27 when he is drawn away by his own desires." 06:28 There you go. 06:30 Would you read that for us then? 06:31 Yeah, "Each one is tempted when he is drawn away 06:32 by his own desires and enticed." 06:35 It says "Then, when desire has conceived, 06:37 it gives birth to sin and sin, 06:39 when it is full-grown, brings forth death." 06:42 There we go, so here we have the Scripture that tells us 06:45 when sin is full grown it leads to what? 06:49 Death. It leads to death. 06:51 So still the question remains 06:53 what is the sin that is not unto death. 06:54 I want to add another text to this 06:57 by going to Ezekiel Chapter 18, 07:01 Ezekiel Chapter 18. 07:07 In Ezekiel 18:4, we are told, 07:12 "Behold, all souls are Mine, 07:15 as the soul of the father, 07:16 so the soul of the son is mine." 07:18 God says. 07:20 "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." 07:23 It is very clear. 07:24 The soul that sinneth, it shall die." 07:27 By the way here is some people say 07:29 that the soul cannot die 07:31 however the Scripture says that it can. 07:33 That's right. 07:34 We won't dwell on this aspect. 07:36 So what is the sin that is not unto death? 07:39 Well, there is a description in the Bible 07:43 about an unpardonable sin. 07:45 In other words, Jesus said, "that all sins 07:50 that men may commit will be forgiven them 07:53 except the sin against the Holy Ghost." 07:55 That's right. 07:56 So we have the Bible helping us understand 07:59 that the sin against the Holy Ghost 08:01 consider the unpardonable sin 08:03 and this how do you commit the sin. 08:05 It is a continuing persisting 08:10 in rejecting the drawing 08:12 of the Holy Spirit to repentance. 08:14 Because when we send God through His Holy Spirit 08:17 leads us to repentance 08:19 but if we continue to refuse and refuse 08:22 eventually this becomes the unpardonable sin. 08:25 Yeah. 08:26 And so this is a sin that is-- that is-- 08:29 I am sorry that is unto the death 08:31 because from that you have no opportunity for salvation 08:36 but all sins that you commit 08:38 and you go to the Lord 08:40 and you ask Him for forgiveness you will be forgiven. 08:42 It is written in 1 John 08:44 and it says "if we confess our sins 08:47 He is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins 08:50 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 08:52 I am sure you have something to add. 08:53 Well, I tell you what first the Book of 1 John 08:57 really it does a great job of explaining exactly that. 09:01 Here's what sin is. Here's what righteousness is. 09:05 Here is how to cling to God and receive forgiveness. 09:08 Here is how to not cling to God 09:10 persisting your own life and die. 09:13 And it really lays both of those things out very clearly 09:17 and does an excellent job 09:18 although it seems in this one passage 09:20 to be very brief sin leading to death, 09:23 sin not leading to death 09:24 and we kind of boil it down to one specific sin 09:26 that is committed that's not what it speaking about. 09:28 He is developing an entire theology 09:30 throughout this epistle about sin and life in Christ, 09:34 sin as opposed to righteousness. 09:36 Here is an example of it. 09:38 You already mentioned this text 09:40 John, it's from 1 John 3:4, 09:44 "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness. 09:47 And sin is lawlessness" 09:48 or transgression of the law, right. 09:50 And notice this. 09:52 Listen to his ongoing theology. 09:54 "And you know that He was manifested 09:56 to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 09:59 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. 10:02 Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him." 10:05 This is one that sin as a trend of the life. 10:08 This is the life of sin. This is the one specific sin. 10:11 So when it says whoever abides in Him does not sin 10:14 it means that He is not living a life 10:16 full of sinful for practices. 10:17 Right. 10:18 And we here is how I can say that 10:20 because he defines exactly what he is talking about. 10:23 Look at verse 7, 10:24 "Little children, let no one deceive you." 10:26 He who does what? Sin. 10:29 "He who practices righteousness is righteous, 10:33 just as he is righteous. 10:35 He who sins" or you would say practices sin "is of the devil, 10:40 for the devil has sinned from the beginning." 10:42 So you see here this theology of the lifestyle. 10:47 Yes. 10:48 The big capital SIN am I living a life 10:51 where I practice the sins that result from a separation 10:54 or sin for relationship with God 10:57 or is might the trend of the life 10:59 to practice the good things, 11:01 the pure things, the righteous things, 11:03 that come from Christ righteousness 11:05 and living according to His Spirit. 11:07 Amen. 11:08 And he pulls up the two 11:10 and he continues that thought right down into chapter 5 11:14 so it helps us as we read chapter 5 11:17 and the verses that you mentioned there 16 and 17 11:21 where it says "If anyone sees his brother 11:23 sinning a sin which does not lead to death." 11:25 In other words, he's sinning but it's not a practice 11:29 and he can be delivered from it. 11:31 Intervene, pray for him that he might overcome that sin 11:34 and he will be saved, okay. 11:36 Now the sin or the error 11:38 that the mistake committed by the individual maybe as such 11:43 where he even needs conviction about it. 11:46 And so we of course 11:47 we should be praying for that right. 11:49 But that's supposed to the one leading to death 11:52 which is the sin that resists the spirit of God. 11:57 You did a very good job John, of mentioning 11:59 how the unpardonable sin is 12:01 a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 12:03 And what that is telling the spirit 12:06 who is trying to draw you to Christ no, go away. 12:10 I don't want to hear about it. 12:11 I am not interested in life in Christ 12:13 and hopefully I will say this right. 12:15 I'd always tried I mess it up sometimes. 12:18 There is no sin that Christ won't forgive 12:24 but there is a sin that He can't forgive. 12:27 That's right. 12:28 He can't forgive it because we're not confessing it 12:32 nor do we want to forsake it. 12:33 That's right. 12:34 That's why it says "if we confess." 12:36 "If we confess." 12:37 So it's not that you have committed a sin 12:39 that He won't forgive it's that you committed a sin 12:43 that you don't want forgiveness for. 12:46 You're running away from God with and it's not that 12:48 He won't forgive it if you confess it. 12:50 It's just He can't 12:52 because if you're deliberate practice of sin. 12:55 And this is the theology that John develops 12:57 throughout the Book of 1 John-- 13:00 his first epistle to the church. 13:02 And I think a fantastic way he-- example of that. 13:06 Here is a passage we've been eluding 13:08 to a couple of times already. 13:10 Mark Chapter 3 is one of the places 13:12 you'll find that verse beginning in verse 28 13:14 "Verily I say unto you" Jesus says 13:16 "All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, 13:19 and blasphemies wherewith soever 13:23 they shall blaspheme 13:24 but he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost 13:28 hath never forgiveness, 13:30 but is in danger of eternal damnation." 13:34 And so here we have Jesus clearly speaking to us 13:37 about this great danger. 13:40 And so what happens if you've committed a sin. 13:44 In 1 John 2:1, he says 13:47 "My little children, 13:48 these things I write unto you, that ye sin not. 13:52 But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, 13:55 Jesus Christ the righteous." 13:56 That's right. So the invitation is out. 13:59 Jesus says "if any man cometh unto me 14:02 I will in no wise cast out." 14:04 So we have the opportunity to be forgiven for our sins. 14:07 Please take advantage of it while there is opportunity. 14:10 And also we would pray that sometimes forgiveness 14:13 or the repenting heart that is a gift from God. 14:16 The gift of repentance, we should pray for the sorrow. 14:18 Sometimes I mean Johnny, 14:20 when I was, when I was young first-- 14:23 well I was raised in a Christian home 14:26 and abided by my parents rules and guidelines 14:30 but never really had a relationship with Jesus. 14:33 And I remember during a lot of my party life 14:35 I would be sitting there in the car 14:37 whether I was drinking or smoking 14:39 or doing what I shouldn't do, 14:40 I don't you know whatever it was, 14:42 sitting there thinking with a sudden fear 14:46 that came upon me 14:47 that if the Jesus would come I will be lost. 14:49 I mean I knew that I will be lost. 14:51 And when I began to-- 14:55 when my heart turned back toward God 14:57 and I opened my heart up to Him 15:00 and the forgiveness came and my repentance came. 15:04 I found myself early on at that point 15:06 just before that point praying Lord I know that I am sinning, 15:11 I know I am a sinner and I don't even really 15:14 I am not even really sorrowful for it. 15:16 But give me the sorrow. 15:18 Give me a desire for you give me an experience 15:21 where it makes me want to even to turn from my sin 15:24 and then He did. 15:25 Amen. 15:26 And we underestimate the act of the will. 15:29 You know, just saying even in your words, 15:32 in you mind without feeling it 15:34 Lord I opposed to You right now 15:37 in fact I don't even want the things of God 15:39 but I know I should. 15:40 Amen. 15:41 Help me to want it. Amen. 15:43 Put the desire within me. 15:44 I choose Jesus, I choose God not the ways of this world 15:48 but my body my desires 15:50 don't allow me to follow after that. 15:52 Please put that within me 15:53 and He will give you repentance. 15:55 Your forgiveness will be genuine 15:57 as you ask for your confession. 15:59 And you'll find that this blasphemy 16:01 against the Holy Spirit is God. 16:02 Amen. 16:03 And anything you committed He will forgive 16:05 and that's a great promise that we have in His word. 16:07 Amen, praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 16:08 Here is the another question we have from Karen 16:11 and she says give an, 16:13 please give an answer to someone who believes 16:15 that he believes in Jesus 16:16 but does not feel it is important to belong to 16:20 or join the church. 16:23 And as a pastor I can say this it's happened several times 16:26 where we've gone through series of Bible study lessons 16:29 and there has been conviction 16:31 and clearly someone who sees the truth of God's word 16:35 and the question comes well, pastor, 16:38 do I have to join the church? 16:41 Can I just be baptized? 16:43 Why do I have to join the church? 16:46 And I think to a degree 16:48 it's one of the reasons why we have 16:50 a entire Bible study devoted to baptism. 16:53 Yes. 16:54 Because the baptism that we receive 16:57 which is unto repentance and a new life in Christ 17:00 contains within it 17:03 membership into the body of Christ. 17:06 So when you come up to a new life 17:08 that new life is served in harmony 17:11 or together with your other fellow believers, 17:15 the body of Christ under the headship of Christ. 17:18 There is no, you could say no Christian on an island 17:21 you could see no man-- no man is in island 17:23 there is no Christian that's in island, 17:25 there is no teaching that you can find in God's word 17:27 where you can just believe 17:29 but not be a part of God's church. 17:31 The reason for that is because God knows 17:34 there is safety in the multitude of counselors, 17:37 there is safety in the together the unity of all believers. 17:41 And this is how he teaches and he uses his church 17:45 to finish the gospel work that is given to us. 17:48 The mission of the church is to proclaim 17:49 the everlasting gospel. 17:50 Now certainly you can go out individually 17:52 and you share with people what you believe 17:55 but you're missing entirely the big picture perspective 17:59 of what God is doing through His church 18:01 to finish those specific work 18:03 that He is finishing now before His return. 18:04 Yes, yes. 18:06 So it's not we shouldn't be long range of questions. 18:09 Right. 18:10 Yeah, there is no real such thing as that. 18:12 In fact, you will find teachings from Paul 18:18 about the body of Christ where all members 18:21 but one having one body. 18:23 So that's not one body 18:25 with a few individualistic islands around. 18:28 He is talking about everybody is part of one body 18:30 and if that's the case 18:32 you cannot be baptized into the faith 18:36 without joining Christ church. 18:38 Amen. 18:39 I think the real issue is behind these things. 18:43 I wouldn't say in every case but in many cases 18:46 they're uncomfortable with joining 18:48 an established denomination. 18:50 As you know Johnny, 18:51 there is emerging church movement out there 18:54 which really is bucking the trend of denominationalism. 18:59 Its where a lot of the nondenominational church 19:01 is the early mindset of the establishment 19:03 of nondenominational churches has come from 19:06 this not wanting to be associated with movements 19:09 or churches that are established 19:11 denominations of sorts. 19:13 And the crazy thing is that 19:15 these nondenominational churches today 19:17 have become an organization in themselves. 19:19 That right. 19:20 And so they really still join an organization 19:21 it's just called 19:22 a nondenominational organization. 19:25 So truly God's word is supportive of organization 19:29 of the organized church 19:31 but it must be under the system of truth 19:33 which actually is part of our topic 19:35 that we've already begun here on unity, church unity. 19:38 It's under a system of truth 19:39 that God has clearly established 19:41 for the church to operate under. 19:43 Amen, praise the Lord. 19:45 Do you have another, do you another question? 19:46 I have another yeah, that has come in 19:49 this one from Irma 19:51 and she says dear pastors, I struggle to understand 19:55 the purpose of the resurrection of the wicked. 19:58 What is to be learned and by whom 20:01 from raising the wicked to burn them in hellfire? 20:05 And so we have here apparently the question 20:08 takes in those wicked that have died 20:13 through some natural course of life they died 20:19 so we'll take those into consideration in the question 20:23 and then of course there are the wicked 20:25 that are alive 20:26 when Jesus Christ returns obviously 20:28 they're gonna be righteous and wicked alive 20:31 when Jesus Christ returns. 20:33 Those wicked what happens to those? 20:35 We understand from 1 Thessalonians 2:8 20:38 that the wicked that are alive when Christ returns 20:42 are slain by the brightness of His coming. 20:45 And there is a 1,000 year period of time 20:49 upon which there is no wicked human being alive 20:55 and describes in Revelation Chapter 20 20:58 that Satan is this earth becomes like a vast wilderness 21:04 Satan has no one to tempt, 21:06 he is chained by a circumstances 21:12 and can go nowhere except to see the results of his work 21:17 throughout the 100s and several 1,000 years of sin 21:21 then you say several 100,000 21:23 I said several 1,000 years of sin 21:26 of life of history that he has called sin 21:30 to create destruction upon this earth. 21:33 He has time to contemplate all the damage that he has done 21:36 and suffering he has caused. 21:39 We see of course in Revelation Chapter 20 21:41 that at the end of 1,000 years 21:44 he takes up the work right where he left off. 21:47 Because it says at the end of Revelation Chapter 20 21:51 it helps us to understand what happens here 21:56 let me find it in Revelation Chapter 20. 22:01 By the way as you're going there, Johnny. 22:02 Yes. 22:03 I am just gonna read here just real briefly 22:05 because you mentioned 22:06 and it maybe a little challenge for some that are hearing this 22:09 that when Jesus comes 22:12 the wicked who are alive at that time 22:14 are destroyed by the brightness of His coming 22:15 and earth is left with no one on it alive. 22:18 Correct, yes. 22:19 And the explanation you can find for this 22:23 where it says I believe the earth 22:26 and indeed it was without "I beheld the earth, 22:28 and indeed it was without form, and void. 22:32 And the heavens, they had no light. 22:34 I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, 22:36 and all the hills moved back and forth. 22:38 And there was no man." 22:40 So here there is no man alive on it 22:42 and that's what you're talking about there. 22:44 And the interesting thing it says in verse 27 22:47 "Thus says the Lord, 22:48 'The whole land shall be desolate, 22:50 yet I will not make a full end.'" 22:53 "In other words this isn't the end. 22:55 This isn't. 22:56 Jesus comes back the wicked are destroyed 22:58 or at least killed by the brightness of His coming 23:00 but judgment hasn't occurred, the full end hasn't occurred 23:02 but yet it will be without form and void 23:04 for a period of time which is a 1,000 years. 23:06 So now you gonna pick it up in Revelation 20. 23:09 Revelation 20, yes in Revelation 20 23:15 I will begin reading in verse 5 23:17 and go through different verses here. 23:18 Revelation 20:5 says, "But the rest of the dead 23:22 lived not again until the thousand years were finished." 23:26 This is the first resurrection, 23:29 the first resurrection it's talking about 23:32 in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 you will notice that it says 23:36 that it's a description of the righteous that are dead 23:41 when they're resurrected and the righteous living 23:44 when Christ comes they join together 23:48 in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 23:51 We go to heaven for 1,000 years. 23:53 We're going through a lot of concepts 23:54 in this Scriptures. 23:56 They go to heaven for 1,000 years 23:57 what are they doing there? 23:59 It's time and opportunity for the righteous to judge. 24:04 What do you mean judge? 24:05 Look over the books to see why they're there 24:10 and to see why people they loved, 24:12 people they knew are not there. 24:14 Questions are asked why isn't so and so here? 24:17 Why isn't so and so here? 24:19 And so the record books are opened 24:21 and they look and they judge the work that was done by God 24:26 to determine who is saved and who is not. 24:28 That's right. 24:29 So here if there is a first resurrection 24:33 there is a second resurrection. 24:35 This is brought out in Revelation Chapter 20 24:37 and in John Chapter 5 Jesus talks about 24:39 the resurrection of life 24:41 and the resurrection of damnation. 24:43 So in this second resurrection 24:46 now we go to a certain verse 24:50 and notice what it says in verse 6 24:52 "Blessed and holy 24:54 is he that has part in the first resurrection 24:57 on such the second death has no power 25:01 but they shall be priest of God 25:02 and that of Christ and shall reign with him 25:04 a thousand years." 25:05 Yeah. 25:06 Now, let's go over to eventually 25:12 the wicked dead are resurrected. 25:16 That's right. 25:17 This is the resurrection of damnation. 25:19 As they are gonna have a second death. 25:21 Yes. 25:22 So to mean to die twice you have to be resurrected 25:24 at some point before the second death. 25:26 So it is safe to say 25:30 that there are people alive today 25:33 and people that have lived before us 25:34 their have been wicked they have died. 25:37 They just died because they got sick, 25:38 they got cancer, they were killed by someone 25:40 different reasons why they died. 25:43 So you have to ask yourself 25:44 what happens to those people. 25:45 Why are they resurrected? 25:47 They need to understand 25:49 why they are going to receive the wages of sin. 25:54 That's right. 25:55 Because when they die a physical death 25:57 it's not necessarily the wages of sin 25:59 that they have experienced. 26:00 The wages of sin or in other words 26:03 they are judged according as their work shall be. 26:06 That's what it says in the Bible. 26:07 You're judged according to what we're choices. 26:11 What were the choices you made? 26:13 And so here we see that God is just, 26:18 fair and good to everyone. 26:21 Questions are asked, the books are opened. 26:23 It says there in the at the end of Revelation Chapter 20. 26:29 Look at verse 12 there. 26:30 Beginning-- I will start in verse 11 26:32 for little context. 26:33 "And I saw a great white throne, 26:36 and him that sat on it, 26:37 whose face the earth and the heaven fled away 26:40 and there was found no place for them. 26:42 And I saw the dead," 26:44 obviously resurrected "small and great, 26:45 stand before God and the books were opened 26:49 and another book was opened, which is the book of life 26:51 and the dead were judged out of those things 26:55 which were written in the books, 26:56 according to their works." 26:58 So here the wicked dead 27:00 are judged according to what is written in the books. 27:04 They need to understand why 27:07 they did not received eternal life. 27:08 Yeah. 27:09 Because they really have not suffered 27:12 for the sins they have committed. 27:14 They merely died a first death. 27:17 You know, Johnny, there is a 27:18 there is some evidence of this 27:20 in just our own court system here today 27:22 because there are several kinds of judgment 27:24 there is an investigation phase of the judgment 27:28 that's the court trial with evidences presented. 27:30 Yes. There is a verdict. 27:37 Yes. That's the second part. 27:40 That's judgment too. 27:41 And there is a sentencing a third aspect of judgment. 27:45 So you have investigation. Yes. 27:47 Verdict and sentencing. And sentencing, yes. 27:50 And you have to look carefully for what part you're in 27:53 and what you're talking about here 27:55 with the dead standing before God 27:58 it's this is a judgment 28:00 an investigation of sorts for the wicked 28:04 but also it comes with a verdict and a sentencing 28:06 and its all three here in this specific piece. 28:10 With the righteous it is different. 28:14 The righteous there 28:15 or has to be an investigative judgment 28:18 and a verdict prior to the second coming of Jesus. 28:21 Yes. 28:22 Because the sentence is eternal life 28:25 and the reward is given to them at Christ returns. 28:27 So the judgment has to occur before that. 28:29 But for the wicked 28:31 it doesn't have to occur before. 28:32 It's happening all at once. 28:34 This is so true and this will help many people understand 28:38 because the Bible describes that 28:41 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Corinthians 15, 28:43 it talks about a transformation of those that are righteous 28:49 this corruptible shall put any corruption 28:50 and this mortal shall put on immortality. 28:54 And then it says that the sleeping saints 28:58 the Christians that died for whatever reason it was 29:01 the first-- their first death and only death. 29:05 They are resurrected 29:06 and they meet the Lord in the air and it says 29:08 and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 29:10 But why are they receiving eternal life? 29:12 There was that phase of investigation 29:15 that was done already prior to the second coming. 29:19 This is so true what you've stated. 29:21 And so this is what the Bible brings out. 29:24 Now, the question is 29:26 why bring these the wicked up again 29:29 so they can face death. 29:32 Well, as we mentioned before, 29:35 before the universe they are judged 29:38 because God is-- 29:39 God is so precise in His judgment 29:43 that throughout, throughout eternity 29:45 if it would take that long 29:47 you can see the record books and say well, 29:50 I am just going to pick a name Bob, Jerry, Frank, 29:56 let's go just to pick a name, Jerry. 30:00 Why was he not allowed to have eternal life? 30:03 Well, he never gave his life to Christ. 30:05 He turned away from God 30:07 and he never accepted salvation and forgiveness. 30:11 This is why Jerry is going to be 30:14 thrown into the lake of fire. 30:18 And they will see how God tried over and over again 30:21 to reach Jerry and Jerry refused 30:23 and refused and refused and refused 30:26 and eventually he died for whatever reason. 30:28 Now he has to understand 30:30 why he did not get eternal life. 30:33 He just did not want it. 30:34 He refused it. 30:35 And so here we see the love of God 30:38 and His mercy 30:40 and so at the end of Revelation 20 30:44 let's pickup in verse 12 again "And I saw the dead, 30:47 small and great, stand before God, 30:48 and the books were opened 30:49 and another book was opened, which is the book of life 30:51 and the dead were judged out of those things 30:53 which were written in the books, 30:54 according to their works. 30:56 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it 30:58 and death and hell delivered up the dead 31:00 which were in them and they were judged 31:02 every man according to their works. 31:05 "And death." I'm sorry. 31:07 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. 31:09 This is the second death. 31:12 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life 31:16 was cast into the lake of fire." 31:19 So unfortunately they received the wages of sin. 31:25 And so it is not because it is not that God 31:30 are betrayal chose who is gonna be saved. 31:33 Let's see I think I will save this person and that's person 31:35 and oh, no, not that one, oh, no, not that one. 31:38 No, there is an investigated judgment 31:41 that takes place as was already mentioned 31:43 and they're judged according to their works. 31:47 Did they accept Christ? 31:48 Did they not accept Christ? 31:50 And the Bible tells us in 2 Peters Chapter 3 31:53 that God is not willing that any should perish 31:56 but that all should come to repentance. 31:57 Yeah. 31:58 But the question do all come to repentance? 32:01 Unfortunately, none. 32:02 So the blessing of being in the investigative judgment 32:04 that happens before Christ return 32:07 is that when judgment is made for the saints 32:11 it's in their favor because of what Christ has done. 32:13 Amen. 32:14 They are not judged by their works their works, 32:16 their works are Christ works. 32:19 Yes, amen. 32:20 So Christ is the one that is looked at 32:22 and the sins don't appear because Christ has written 32:25 or covered the sins by His blood 32:26 and blotted them out. 32:27 Amen. That's the blessing. 32:29 What we're talking about here 32:31 in this great white throne judgment 32:33 are those that don't have Christ there 32:35 to stand in their behalf they rejected that 32:38 and they're judged by the things 32:39 written in the books 32:40 because their own works stand as evidence. 32:43 Yes. 32:44 They don't have Christ to be the works of evidence for them 32:47 as those the saints did. 32:49 Yes. 32:50 These are the wicked that stand in their own 32:52 in their own works. 32:53 And there are none that would say 32:55 I don't deserve it. 32:57 I mean, at point they will see clearly 32:59 the big picture and God will make that clear. 33:01 He is a just God and a fair God. 33:03 And the other aspect to this of course is 33:05 how long is the sentencing for each? 33:08 Yes. 33:09 And there is a different length of time 33:12 that they maybe burning in that lake of fire 33:15 because of the deeds that they're burned 33:17 or they're sentenced to burn for. 33:19 Perhaps, we should dwell on that a little bit. 33:21 Could you elaborate a little bit? 33:23 Maybe we can discuss that 33:24 because this is a little challenging for some people. 33:27 Yeah, well with every sentence here 33:29 you'll find within our court system 33:31 and it's our court system is built on 33:33 Judeo-Christian principles. 33:35 As many courts especially the sentencing 33:38 is built on the system of judgment 33:40 and fairness, justice really. 33:42 And so what you have are those that maybe murderers 33:46 that are given life sentences and there are those 33:50 that maybe are thieves or perjurers 33:54 or whatever it maybe 33:56 they're given a much shorter time period 33:59 and the reason is because for justice to occur 34:02 the punishment must fit the crime, right. 34:07 And in the last days God is the same way 34:09 the punishment will fit the crime 34:11 and the lake is kindled to burn up sin 34:15 those that are sinful will burn up in that lake 34:17 but the long-- the more sins 34:20 the most severe the sin the longer there is to burn. 34:25 And we find evidence 34:27 not in a specific text from Scripture 34:29 we find evidence through the preponderance of evidence 34:32 throughout Scriptures 34:33 that shows us that justice of God 34:36 also occurs in the punishment in the sentencing of the wicked 34:39 and therefore then that must be the case. 34:41 Because you cannot give 34:42 lets just look up to you commonsense. 34:44 You would not give Hitler for an example 34:49 and then maybe a Jew that was a secular Jew 34:53 and never believed in Christ 34:55 and was generally a good kind person on the earth 34:58 but just he's not believer. 34:59 You would not give them the same sentence. 35:02 They would the one that was persecuted 35:05 and killed by the Hitler and his men 35:08 would sit there and say though that's not fare. 35:11 I mean he's killed millions. Yes. 35:14 At least was behind the killing of millions 35:16 what did-- who did I ever killed? 35:19 There is justice even in the sentencing of God 35:21 and there will be a different level 35:23 or different term of burning in that lake of fire 35:26 because of that. 35:27 It just it comes from the principles 35:29 and the preponderance of evidence in Scriptures. 35:32 And of course, eventually they all the wicked die 35:36 and become ashes. 35:37 The Bible tells which is in this Malachi Chapter 4 35:40 an in other places they become ashes. 35:42 So therefore, ultimately the end of the sinners 35:46 of the wicked is that they die, 35:48 for the wages of sin is death. 35:50 Yes. 35:51 And there is a Scripture that may help us 35:52 to understand this as well 35:55 in Luke Chapter 12 35:57 we're talking about the length of punishment. 36:01 It says you have to read the context 36:04 I am just going to read a few verses here. 36:09 Let's-- I will begin in verse 45 36:10 and Luke 12:45 36:13 "But and if that servant say in his heart, 36:15 My lord delayeth his coming 36:16 and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, 36:18 and to eat and drink, and to be drunken. 36:21 The lord of that servant will come in a day 36:23 when he looketh not for him, 36:25 and at an hour when he is not aware, 36:27 and will cut him in sunder, 36:28 and will appoint him his portion 36:30 with the unbelievers. 36:32 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, 36:35 and prepared not himself, 36:36 neither did according to his will, 36:39 shall be beaten with many stripes. 36:41 But he that knew not, 36:43 and did commit things worthy of stripes, 36:45 shall be beaten with few stripes. 36:47 For unto whomsoever much is given, of him 36:49 shall be much required 36:51 and to whom have committed much, 36:53 of him they shall ask the more." 36:56 So the servant worthy of few stripes 36:59 will receive few stripes 37:01 the one worthy of many stripes will receive many stripes. 37:04 You made a good reference there about one person 37:07 killing of maybe one or a few 37:09 and Hitler responsible for millions of death. 37:12 Obviously to be fair, 37:16 you know, the lookers and will say wait 37:18 why did this person that killed this one person 37:23 all he did receive his death 37:24 and this person that is responsible for millions. 37:27 You know-- That's right. 37:28 The same punishment. 37:29 You know there will be difference, 37:32 there will be a difference but God is fair and just 37:34 and no one will suffer 37:37 one second less than they deserve. 37:41 Nor one second more than they deserve 37:44 because God is very sensitive to punishment. 37:46 God is love so ultimately they become ashes 37:50 and they die. 37:51 And this is why we disagree with the eternal burning 37:54 that many Christians believe today 37:56 that God will burn internally in hell 37:58 everyone who doesn't believe in Jesus. 38:00 It doesn't present a very fair picture of God, 38:03 nor an accurate one according to the Bible. 38:04 So anyway we've gone way longer 38:07 than we should have on our questions 38:09 but we thank you for them 38:11 and we want to encourage you to send in more 38:12 maybe some of the things we're talking about 38:14 have prompted more questions in your mind. 38:16 So we encourage you to send those questions 38:18 into housecalls@3abn.org 38:21 that's housecalls@3abn.org 38:24 and we'll be sure to get to them 38:27 as soon as possible. 38:28 And we encourage you not to send 38:29 long distortion about your views 38:31 just present the questions simply 38:33 because those are the only ones we really take 38:35 and bring to the program itself. 38:36 So thank you very much for being 38:38 a very important part of this program. 38:40 Now on to our topic. 38:43 We don't have a lot of time 38:44 we have taken up most of our time here with questions 38:47 but we do want to talk about Unity 38:48 and where we are to this point 38:50 in the subject of Unity 38:52 as we have in the last program 38:53 we talked about the difference between 38:58 pillar, landmark teachings 39:02 present truth teachings 39:04 as well as core Christian teachings 39:06 from the Word of God 39:08 that are part of the body of believers 39:10 that are non negotiables 39:12 and other teaching or even personally held views 39:16 or lifestyle issues that are just that. 39:18 There're teachings that aren't test of faith 39:21 but are convictions, individual personal convictions 39:25 of the believers and followers of Jesus. 39:27 Even Paul mentioned in one of his epistles 39:30 and because of the shortness of time 39:32 we're not gonna go there 39:33 but you know he says there are something's 39:35 that I do that I might do by myself 39:39 but I don't do in public 39:40 because I don't want to be stumbling block 39:41 for somebody else. 39:42 But he feels by faith he's a perfect liberty 39:44 to live out his life 39:46 may be in a different way than another believer would 39:48 because of their personal convictions. 39:49 So there're clearly personal convictions 39:52 that aren't test of faith or even test fellowship 39:56 within the body of believers 39:57 and that's kind of where we left off last time. 40:00 I want to just for those who understand 40:05 and believe that God has raised up a last day movement 40:12 a church known as 40:14 the Seventh-day Adventist church 40:15 for proclaiming the everlasting gospel 40:17 throughout the world 40:18 to finish the work those who understand that 40:22 I am a minister of the gospel of that faith. 40:25 We have this encouragement for us 40:28 in regard to what the landmarks really are. 40:31 In other words, these are the core present truths 40:33 we have as a church. 40:34 And I just thought I'd read this here. 40:37 It's from Counsels Writen to the church specifically 40:40 and it says here in regard to the passing of time 40:43 in 1844. 40:45 This is now there were Millerites there 40:47 and there were no Seventh-day Adventist 40:48 but as the time progressed here is what happened. 40:51 It says "There was an opening to our astonished eyes 40:55 the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven" okay. 41:00 "And having decided 41:02 relation to God's people upon the earth." 41:04 There is a connection between the two. 41:07 "Also the first and second angels' messages 41:10 and the third, including unfurling the banner 41:13 on which was inscribed, 'The commandments of God 41:15 and the faith of Jesus.' 41:17 One of the landmarks under this message 41:20 was the temple of God, 41:21 seen in His truth-loving people in heaven," 41:23 or by His truth-loving people in heaven " 41:25 and the ark containing the law of God. 41:27 The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment 41:30 flashed its strong rays in the pathway 41:32 of the transgressors of God's law. 41:34 The nonimmortality of the wicked 41:36 is an old landmark." 41:38 Okay, in other words, there is a conditionalism here. 41:42 Mortalities received because of faith in Christ 41:45 not because of innately who we are. 41:49 I can call, listen to this, 41:50 "I can call to mind nothing more 41:53 that can come under the head of the old landmarks. 41:58 All this cry about changing the old landmarks 42:00 is imaginary." 42:01 In other words, here is a dispute 42:02 over what we should believe 42:03 what so and so believes and ah 42:04 and there is a casting of disparagement 42:07 and dissension 42:08 upon what maybe was someone taught here there. 42:11 There were these making mountains out of molehills 42:14 that was going on back then 42:15 and so she felt like she needed to reiterate 42:18 what the old landmarks were. 42:19 And so we have core beliefs within the church 42:21 that we have established had been established overtime. 42:25 You were probably at the second coming of Jesus. 42:27 Amen. 42:28 And a few others 42:29 but there are teachings that are not part of that 42:31 and we need to make sure that we are not dividing 42:34 over those issues. 42:35 And it's been Johnny, honestly it's been part of 42:38 one of the core messages 42:41 I have felt God has laid on my heart 42:43 because I love my church. 42:45 Amen. 42:46 And I want to see it unified. 42:48 And there are things that we tend to divide over 42:51 that create disunity and I don't think 42:54 God has pleased with that 42:55 because the Bible is fairly clear 42:57 that in love in unity we revealed God's character. 43:01 That is even when people don't agree with 43:04 what we believe with exactly on our points. 43:07 Amen, Amen. 43:09 Now perhaps it would be good to say that 43:11 while we are Seventh-day Adventist 43:13 and believe that God has called 43:14 the Seventh-day Adventist church 43:16 with a special message for the world 43:19 at the end of time 43:21 that God has believers in all churches. 43:25 Children, Jesus said other sheep I have 43:28 that are not of this fold 43:29 we also have a moment in time 43:32 when it is declared in Revelation 18 43:36 where he says "come out of her, my people, 43:39 where there is error 43:40 and be not partakers of her sins." 43:43 So therefore, we believe that God has His children 43:47 and in many, many denominations. 43:49 Yeah. 43:50 So having said that yes we need to work together 43:57 for the purpose of glorifying God 43:59 because Jesus said 44:01 "by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples 44:03 if you have love for one and another." 44:05 Paul addressed several times 44:08 when they were envying and strives 44:11 among the believers 44:13 and he said these things should not be. 44:15 Yes. 44:16 And so this is what we want to get away from. 44:18 There is a work to be done and it has to be done 44:23 understanding that God is calling us 44:26 to be consecrated, sanctified 44:29 and to follow Him with all of our hearts 44:32 and to leave the world 44:33 and its attractions behind and to follow Jesus. 44:36 And sometimes we get to we tend to pull these things 44:38 and it almost becomes political about it. 44:40 Yes. 44:41 And I like the statement politics leads to polarization 44:46 which leads to paralyses from our mission. 44:49 Paralyses that's a good way to putting. 44:50 And so when we are a paralyzed 44:52 from accomplishing our mission the devil is happy. 44:55 We're not spreading the gospel. 44:57 We're not sharing the good news 44:58 we're fighting within 45:00 and God does not want that. 45:01 Here is just a few texts in regard to unity 45:04 that I think are important from. 45:05 From the Word of God. 45:08 First Corinthians 1:10 let's go there here first, 45:13 1 Corinthians 1:10 says 45:18 "Now I plead with you, 45:19 brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 45:21 that you all speak the same thing, 45:24 and that there be no divisions among you, 45:26 but that you be perfectly joined together 45:28 in the same mind and in the same judgment." 45:33 All right, so he wants us to be of the same mind. 45:38 But this doesn't necessarily mean that 45:39 in every single respect that we agree-- 45:42 Yes. 45:43 But we must agree on the major 45:45 the core teachings that we share. 45:48 Notice here how this translation says 45:52 that you speak the same thing. 45:54 What we share evangelistically, 45:56 what we teaches as a church, 45:57 what is present truth for today 45:59 we must be unified in the faith. 46:02 But other things within the church 46:03 we can have some disagreement 46:06 and but we should not never divide over. 46:08 Let me give you example. 46:12 And I am touching a hot button here 46:13 I realize but its relevant and its present today 46:16 the issue of women ordination. 46:19 You know, it is an issue 46:21 that is creating some division within the church. 46:26 And some are holding fast 46:29 to what they believe is true and that's good. 46:33 But if we begin to fight and become unchrist like 46:38 in the way that we share our position the truth 46:41 and begin to then divide 46:43 in our feelings toward each other 46:45 and make this a dividing issue 46:48 then we've stepped on ground 46:49 that God does not want us on. 46:52 I do believe there will be issues within the church 46:54 that we must end up and proclaim truth regarding. 46:57 Amen. 46:58 However, if God is leading the church 47:01 He is doing it united way and if we see Him go direction 47:05 even if it may not be exactly what He would desire 47:09 He still wants us to remain unified. 47:10 Let me give you an example from the Old Testament. 47:13 Did God want Israel to have a king? 47:17 No. 47:18 Did Israel ask for and insist on king. 47:21 Well, they sure insisted on a king. 47:22 And did God give them king? Yeah, yes He did. 47:26 He allowed them to have a king. He let them have the king. 47:28 Would He disown them as the people? 47:30 No. No. 47:32 There may be things and I am not speaking 47:34 of women's ordination specifically 47:35 but there maybe things that the church does 47:38 that God doesn't isn't completely in harmony with. 47:40 It's not exactly His will 47:42 but He doesn't disown His church. 47:44 He loves His church and He wants us 47:45 to still to work together and to move forward. 47:48 Now I am giving you just a couple of examples here 47:50 because I believe that sometimes 47:54 we have become unchrist like in the way 47:57 treat others for the sake of truth 48:01 where truth is never licensed for being unchrist like. 48:06 We must share the truth in love. 48:08 Amen. 48:10 Ellen White one of our core pioneers of the church says 48:13 this is called the truth as it is in Jesus. 48:17 That is His character and how He would relate truth 48:21 and this is essential. 48:22 And what I am seeing in all kinds of churches 48:25 but its also in the Seventh-day Adventist church as well 48:29 its some of these polarizing over issues 48:31 and dividing over issues that should not divide us 48:34 that we need to set aside as barriers 48:36 and get back to the mission of the church 48:37 and that is spreading the everlasting gospel 48:39 and calling people and do 48:40 a saving relationship with Jesus. 48:44 Now this is so true. This is so true. 48:47 You know I guess 48:49 it would be good to say John 17 48:54 which we mentioned in previous program 48:57 Jesus said concerning His disciples 49:00 that they may one even as we are one. 49:03 Oh, yeah. And this is the same. 49:05 And you brought out so well in the last program 49:08 that it encompasses believers throughout 49:10 the history of the earth-- us in the future. 49:13 We're to be one as Christ and the Father of one 49:16 based on the platform of the truth of God's word 49:19 the truth found in the scriptures 49:21 and so this is something that we should strive for. 49:26 And again I would like to stress 49:30 that for us living in the end of time 49:32 God wants to bring us into one accord. 49:38 Unfortunately, we see that the Bible reveals 49:43 and well, fortunately and unfortunately 49:45 I'll put those two words there 49:47 remember the time when the servant asked 49:52 there was good seed planted on the ground 49:54 but eventually there were tares among the wheat. 49:57 Yeah, yeah. 49:59 The servant asked master, did you not plant good seeds? 50:03 Where do the tares come from? 50:05 And Jesus says or in the parables it says 50:08 an enemy has done this. 50:09 Yeah. 50:10 Do you want us to gather up, don't wait till the end. 50:14 And so to say that we'll have perfect unity 50:21 among all members-- On all issues. 50:23 On all issues is not going to happen. 50:26 However, when we say 50:27 there will be unity among believers 50:30 will be one accord that will happen. 50:33 Yes. 50:34 Because eventually those that are not sincere 50:36 and honest and true they're going to leave. 50:39 Yeah. 50:40 So in Acts Chapter 2 its talks about 50:44 that the disciples of Christ became, 50:47 they were of one accord. 50:48 Yeah. 50:49 And this is they repented of their sins. 50:52 They confessed the false one to another hey, 50:55 I had some terrible things I thought about you 50:58 and I was you know-- 51:01 I am giving you possibility so what took place 51:03 and I really didn't want anything to do with you. 51:05 But you are a brethren, Christ and forgive me for the-- 51:09 Yeah. 51:10 And be embarrassed one and other forgave one another 51:13 and a beautiful thing happened. 51:15 They were able to go as one 51:18 and proclaim the gospel unlike ever before. 51:20 Yeah. 51:21 Yeah, there is power in unity as we saw with the disciples. 51:25 They were not unified in every single thing 51:28 especially their personality differences were there 51:31 but they unified in the mission 51:33 that God has given them as a church. 51:36 And we can-- we need to be unified 51:38 in our mission of saving people 51:40 and spreading the gospel 51:42 right before the Jesus soon return. 51:45 And also I would add to this 51:47 it is not our job 51:49 to divide the wheat from the tares. 51:51 No, its not. 51:53 In fact, He says no leave them alone 51:56 because you might root up-- 51:57 up root some of the wheat with the tares. 51:59 In other words, you're gonna mess things up. 52:02 You need to be careful let the Lord do that. 52:04 Let Him do that work. 52:05 In fact over and over again we find 52:08 encouragement and counsel through pastor, pioneers 52:13 and those who have counseled the church 52:15 through issues that have happened in the past 52:17 that the best way to counteract error is to preach truth. 52:20 Amen. 52:21 Not go after the person that's teaching the error. 52:24 There maybe a time to come in and rebuke that error 52:27 and set through straight 52:29 but you also must do that in love 52:31 and one person said that truth is 52:36 what is it the preaching of truth 52:41 never gives one license for being unchrist like. 52:45 And so I think that's a good thing. 52:46 Here's another verse from Colossians 3:14 52:49 and above all things all these put on love 52:52 which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 52:55 Amen. 52:57 I have said several times love is the greatest law. 53:01 It is higher law than other laws. 53:03 In fact, if you look at first Corinthians 13, 53:06 Johnny, I think its-- 53:07 he talks about you know if we have prophecy 53:09 we have all this knowledge and all these things 53:11 but we don't have love we're like a claying symbol. 53:14 Claying symbol. It doesn't do any good. 53:15 That's right. 53:16 Love is more important even than these other truths 53:19 not that these other truths aren't important they are. 53:21 But love is the highest law then there is a difference here 53:23 we must default to love. 53:25 Love for our brothers and our sisters 53:27 and we do that by showing them respect 53:30 by humbling ourselves before them 53:32 and as Paul puts it 53:34 in the epistle to the Philippians church. 53:37 He said that we should treat them 53:39 as better than ourselves and this is hard to do. 53:43 I know this is hard to do 53:45 but if we are to stick with a mind of Christ 53:48 this is part of our actions towards others 53:50 that even that we disagree with on some issues. 53:54 One another text that another passage 53:57 we I would like to share is found in Ephesians Chapter 4 54:00 and I am gonna read verses 1 through 6 and then verse 13. 54:03 Okay. 54:04 "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, 54:06 beseech you that you walk 54:07 worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 54:11 with all lowliness and meekness, 54:12 with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love 54:15 endeavoring to keep the unity 54:17 of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 54:20 There is one body, and one Spirit, 54:22 even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. 54:25 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 54:28 one God and Father of all, 54:30 who is above all, and through all, 54:32 and in you all." 54:34 Other things are mentioned 54:35 but I want to the core of this whole thing is verse 13 54:40 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, 54:44 and of the knowledge of the Son of God, 54:46 unto a perfect man, unto the measure 54:49 of the stature of the fullness of Christ." 54:52 Beautiful. Amen. 54:54 That's the whole key. 54:55 Yeah and there is a promise there 54:57 that with unity we mature. 55:01 Amen. 55:02 Right. Amen. 55:03 Because we finally reach a status of fullness in Christ 55:07 when unity occurs what I often find 55:09 is those that are bickering or complaining 55:11 or criticizing the preacher 55:13 for what he preached that Sabbath 55:15 or going home and talking about 55:16 what a horrible message this was 55:18 or just the criticism that we see 55:21 this all comes from those that are immature. 55:24 They're still babes in Christ, 55:25 they're still relying on their carnal nature. 55:28 We are looking for unity and growth to maturity 55:32 and maturity is where we're unified 55:35 even if we disagree there is still unity. 55:38 And that's an important aspect of the gospel 55:40 because when they sees and our love for one another 55:42 even when there is disagreement on certain issues 55:45 they can say you know what, Christ is in them. 55:47 Christ truly He is showing His character through them. 55:52 And I think the biggest thing 55:53 we need to be doing especially in these last day 55:56 is showing that love for others 55:58 in the mission that we have 55:59 and our interceding for those who don't know Christ 56:02 and our reaching out to them to bring them into the faith. 56:05 And we're fighting over an issues 56:06 we're not doing that. 56:08 You know, it's the Bible gives us 56:12 scriptures to help us to understand 56:14 the unity that God desires to be among His believers. 56:19 You know, there is summarizing 56:21 the first great commandment 56:22 and the second great commandment. 56:24 Yeah those are great. 56:25 Love the Lord your God 56:26 with all your heart with all your mind 56:28 and then it says and love your neighbor as yourself. 56:31 That's right. 56:32 And when we look at that aspect of God's teachings 56:37 love your neighbor as yourself and the context of unity 56:41 we will see that are lot of things 56:42 well we put aside. 56:43 Yeah. 56:45 And so self has to be put aside for the sake of Christ. 56:49 It's much more difficult to criticize 56:53 and to dislike or even hate somebody 56:55 that you're friends with. 56:58 Getting to know somebody and really caring for them 57:01 really is a key to help it with unity 57:03 and praying for your brother or your sister. 57:06 And this is where we need to establish 57:08 those bonds of love to finish the work. 57:09 Amen. 57:10 And so we encourage you from House Calls to you 57:13 even you may disagree with some of you brothers 57:15 and sisters in the faith 57:16 unify on the bond of love express your love 57:20 and your care for them 57:22 and that Christ leads you step by step 57:24 into sharing in His mission 57:25 for spreading that everlasting gospel 57:27 of love of Jesus Christ with every one 57:29 you know and you meet. 57:31 God bless you, today. |
Revised 2014-12-17