The Doctrine of Justification (11/09/2003)

We've been talking about the wonderful things that Jesus Christ's death on the cross

Accomplished and last time we began to discuss the topic of justification.

So we'll continue that theme this morning.

Let's have a word of prayer and again father.

We thank you so much for each person here today.

We thank you for your great love which comes to us from eternity.

To eternity we thank you that you had us in your heart.

That we belong to you from that time from always.

Thank you that you have given us a Birth from above and

Lord as you Brought us into light.

You gave us the ability to hear your words and to understand your words and to see

Jesus Christ by faith.

We thank you for all these things father, we thank you that Because of the precious

blood of Jesus Christ and its application At your throne we

stand justified today in him.

We pray in his name.

Amen when we study justification we see

Many points as we go through a lot of scriptures.

We tried to start off last week with an introduction.

It just stayed in one passage in Luke chapter 18 starting with verse 9.

So I'm going to use that passage once again as just the outline but today we're going to bring in other beautiful

verses from the epistles of Paul from many places in his letters as

God inspired him to give us some deep information about this concept of

justification.

Justification.

Before we begin the main thing to understand about it.

Is that it is something that is done to you.

It is not something you can accomplish yourselves it is something that God must do

to us and for us and He can only do it in Jesus Christ

and because of his death on the cross.

So justification is something that God does to us he causes

us to stand in a state of Being justified in a state of being as

if we've never sinned in a state of being right.

To be justified means to be made and counted righteous before God before a

holy God a God whose holiness demands perfect

holiness.

To stand in a right state beside before such a God and that's what justification

accomplishes.

Now, let's go into Luke chapter 18, but start with verse 9 and let's use this as an outline

to cover some other scriptures.

Some of it will be review if you weren't here last time and he spake this parable unto certain which

trusted in themselves.

Now we won't read every verse in this passage because we've we've preached through this passage last Sunday, but remember that our

first point About justification comes from that phrase.

They trusted in themselves.

And if you remember the story Jesus goes on and tells this to those who trusted in themselves.

He says two men went up to the temple to pray the one was a Pharisee and the other was a publican.

Now publican was a tax collector and he was Taking money from the Jewish people

and giving it to the Roman government.

The Roman government only wanted five dollars a head and the tax collector could

charge twenty and keep the rest.

So that's what they did and they were hated for this.

And so they became the symbol among the Jews of the greatest sinner of all was a publican.

So you have to kind of think about this through the Jewish mind to get all of it.

But these two men Jesus is telling this story to the religious people of Israel.

They're standing by listening.

The Pharisees are listening and he says well, there were two men.

One was a Pharisee.

The other was a publican.

That means the worst sinner that there was and the Pharisees stood and prayed thus within himself God I

thank thee that I am not as other men are.

Thank you that I'm not an extortioner.

I'm not unjust.

I'm not an adulterer even as this publican over here and

Jesus tells this story.

He goes on and says I fast twice in a week.

Now you see this man has devised his own religious system and we talked about last time

how men think it's really great if I can devise my own system and then keep it and then be

right with God and That is humanism and it's also Arminianism

theologically, which is where man thinks that he causes it all to happen.

Man thinks that he builds the stairway to heaven and Climbs it he can build it.

Anyway, he wants to as long as he climbs it and That is false.

In fact every Religion in this world other than biblical Christianity builds its

own stairway to heaven.

You have the Mohammedans or those who believe in Islam.

You have the Hindus you have the Buddhists you have the Mormons.

You have the Jehovah's Witnesses.

You have any manner of group.

The thing that binds them all together and makes them similar is that they have created their own? system.

Teaching one another that if we keep this system, we'll be right with God.

So they go about to justify themselves Themselves.

The Bible teaches this is impossible.

Because we're dealing with the God that is holy and man cannot even comprehend what that means.

But what it means is that any of man's systems?

The best that you can come up with would come in the presence of this Holy God and be totally obliterated.

Be totally destroyed standing in the presence of his holiness.

And so none of these systems work.

They're all put about by people as verse 9 says who trust in themselves.

So all religious systems just remember this doesn't matter what name you put on it.

The only reason that matters is so you can teach your children's your children which ones they are.

But all these religious systems that have a set of man -made rules to approach God.

Are kept by people who wish to trust in themselves and Jesus is teaching this.

He says this man now has his own system.

Verse 12 says I fast twice a week I give tithes of all that I possess as if that's going to cause me to

be justified before a holy God.

Well, you know, let me I teach my little children this.

I say, you know, if you if you did so many sins.

And then you do put some right things on top of those sins and then you do some more sins.

And then you put some more right things on top of those sins and then you do some more sins.

Then you put some good things on top of those do the good things ever really?

Eliminate the bad things or are they all just mixed together?

Well, they're all mixed together.

And that is the problem you you cannot find any system that will cause a man in

that state to approach a holy God without being destroyed and Sent to hell forever.

So it doesn't matter what system you create whether you call it Mormonism, whether you call it Jehovah's Witnesses.

Whether you call it Buddhism or whether you worship Allah.

You heard about one of our generals didn't you one of our top generals today over in that arena?

Went to church on Sunday in his own church and got up and made a statement and he said We're going to

win because we worship the true God and they worship idols and he was castigated for saying that.

Even President Bush himself gives him the cold shoulder now because he told the truth.

You see when you tell the truth, it's never popular.

Because there is a mindset in the end times that the Bible tells us will be here.

It is prophesied that in the end times there will be a mindset that wants to bring all people together.

Into one religious system where there is unity and love and we just get along and we just worship the same

God.

That's a mindset and it's called the spirit of Antichrist and it's in the world today and.

So never back down on your doctrinal beliefs.

The only thing you have that would cause you to be separate from any other group is your doctrine.

Your love for Jesus won't separate you from them.

Charlotte can I tell the story on you?

I'm doing it anyway, because I got the microphone problem is I know she may get it later.

But uh, we always have fun at home when she goes to town to bring the movies back.

Because she likes to try one new ones.

You never heard of sometime.

So she brought one home this weekend and You don't get to tell the part where I

told you.

I thought it sounded like it might be a good one.

Don't tell that part.

We didn't know we brought the what was the name of it something about?

Something of light or something.

Missionaries something so we bring it home.

We plug it in.

We start watching it.

We knew we had a problem when it said this is based stories begins in Utah.

You know, I said Man, I'm glad Katie's not here this weekend.

She had a confrontation about Mormonism.

It's cool here at the same time about Utah.

And it's this nice well -dressed young man this perfect family.

I mean every hair was in its place everything every child was strictly totally obedient.

Perfect family and they send this young man off on a mission and it took you about the first 20 minutes to figure out.

He wasn't going to war.

He was going out as a an elder.

You see they take their young men and send them out as elders into the world as missionaries.

They call them elders.

I remember the two that came into my office and wanted to fistfight me one day.

Because I told him you're saved by the blood.

You're not saved by your system.

It's the blood of Jesus got up out of his chair and reached for me and the other one sat him down.

His name was younger.

So he was elder younger.

But that's how they all are.

I said elder younger.

You might better sit down.

I know some old tricks.

No, I didn't tell him that but I said it's saved by the blood.

There's no religious system that can save you and he just got furious found out later that these two

Young elders had been renting an apartment.

I just had to be going down the street Knocking on doors and witnessing to people and the lady came out.

So I'm so glad you're doing this because the Baptists don't do this enough.

The Mormons are always out doing this the batteries.

I said why are you talking about Mormonship to two young elders living or rent my upstairs apartment?

And they got in there and they tore up all my Furniture and began to throw it outside and go out and break it up.

And then they were calling on the telephone and and calling these porn Pornographic numbers where

these women would talk dirty to them.

They were too stupid to know the bill came to me and I knew these 900 numbers and I've got all that stuff and it was hard, but she said

I think they were demon -possessed.

What do you think about that?

And I said how much time you got?

I'll tell you I said those two young men were in my office wanting to fist -fight me the other day as they told me how To be religious.

You see these kinds of systems come from the flesh.

They come from Humanism and from all of the best that man has to

offer.

But the Bible says none of that is good enough and Jesus said here.

They are they fast twice a week.

They give tithes of all they possess.

Now.

Let's see what Jesus says about these Pharisaical people verse 13.

And the publican he points over at the pumpkin.

Here's the sinner.

The one who doesn't keep this religious system the one whose kids are not all perfect.

All of the hairs on his head are not in place.

His family looks a little bit scruffy and here he is standing afar off.

He won't even come near this religious man, and he would not so much as lift his eyes into heaven.

But he smote on his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner and Jesus said I

tell you.

This man went down to his house justified rather than the other.

He doesn't say along with the other.

The religious man went to hell.

This man went to his house Justified and the reason is the religious man was trying to go

about justifying himself trusting in himself.

Jesus told this whole story to pick to certain which trusted in themselves that

they were Righteous and despised others who did they despise they despise those who knew they weren't

righteous.

They despised anyone who said I can't be righteous.

Therefore.

I must trust strictly upon the blood of Jesus.

They'll get up out of their chair and reach for your neck every time if the law would allow them to.

Fortunately, we live in a country where he would have been prosecuted if he had gotten me.

But If I'd been in Utah, I might not have made it that day.

Those who have strict religious systems who are bound in legalism hate freedom.

They hate the freedom that comes with the blood of Jesus Christ and knowing that when

he was on that cross.

And he looked up and he said my father my God my God.

Why has thou forsaken me.

And then a few moments later?

He said it is finished.

He had finished every work that could be done to justify God's people.

He did it all we don't do it.

And that's what makes the religious man.

So angry they pick up their stones.

To throw at the Lord Jesus Christ when he tells these same stories.

Let me tell you Jesus did not go to the cross because he agreed with all the religions of the day.

And he said all we all in love.

We're just all going to get there the same way.

It's the same God.

He did not go to the cross for that.

He went to the cross because he looked at them and he said you Will go from the east

to the west looking for one convert and you make all of your converts twice the children of hell.

That you are that's what he told them.

He said you shall die in your sins for you believe not that I am

He therefore you shall die in your sins.

He said you whited sepulchers.

You think you're alive, but you're walking men full of dead men's bones.

It didn't sound like he was trying to get along did it?

But we have a mindset in these end times.

Where where the mantra is, oh you shouldn't.

Why he loves God as much as you do.

He's just going a different way.

He has a different set of rules and beliefs, but he's just as sincere in his faith.

Even our president has to say that today because if he didn't the whole Arab world would just

they're gonna kill.

They're trying to kill us anyway.

So, I don't know why where we get the idea we appease and we're gonna be better off.

But we appease them and all.

Muhammad was just as wonderful as Jesus.

He will answer for that someday.

I hate to say it because I love him.

I love President Bush, but that one issue He fell short there.

But you know what?

He probably didn't grow up in the church like this.

Did he.

I Doubt that he heard his pastor preach like this.

I think he was pretty much a hellraiser when he was young man.

So he's learning.

Maybe he'll get there in the next term.

Wouldn't that be nice?

I can see it now.

He'll go over there and look at mr.

Yeah, well

Jesus said this man Went home justified that means someone greater than he

had justified him because he couldn't do it himself.

That is a great Beginning on understanding what justification means it is interesting in

verse 13 Just to review where it says the man said God be merciful to me a sinner.

The Greek word doesn't mean merciful.

It's Kind of a weak translation.

It's actually the word Hellasterion, which is air everywhere else

translated propitiation in the Bible.

Remember propitiation is the one thing that when Jesus died on the cross This

was done to God the rest of the stuff was done to us.

Such as redemption.

We were redeemed by his blood were reconciled by his blood were justified by his blood.

But God was propitiated by his blood.

What does that mean?

It means he was satisfied His justice was satisfied that Jesus death

paid the price for sin.

God was propitiated.

This is one thing that none of the other religions in the world can ever accomplish and if you ever want to

help.

A Mormon or a Jehovah's Witness or a Jew or someone who believes in another system

realize first of all You can't save them.

So don't be frustrated because they're not going to really listen to you.

They can't listen unless the Lord turns on their listener, but we are still held bound by the Word of God to

witness.

So if God leads you to witness, let me tell you what to talk to him about.

Ask him.

Well, you know, what is your system have that propitiates God?

And they're gonna go what'd you say?

Well, I want to know in your system what it is.

It causes a holy Sinless God to be propitiated where you can stand before him and he's

propitiated with regard to you because they have nothing.

The only thing the world has is the blood of Jesus Christ.

Because this word when this man said God be merciful to me a sinner.

It is the word in the Greek language Hillisterion which is really the lid or the covering on the

mercy seat if you go back out in the Old Testament and you look At the wilderness tabernacle and you had the

altar which was the judgment seat of God and the Shekinah glory presence of God

dwelt upon it and no man could walk in the presence of that except one man once a year who was the High priest and he could

only come with the blood if he went without the blood he'd be destroyed by the holiness of God.

And he went in this place called the Holy of Holies where no man could go.

But this one man that man pictured the Lord Jesus.

He was a type of Jesus Christ who is our high priest and when the priest

would go in he would sprinkle the blood of the offering on this judgment seat and it became

what was known as a mercy seat at that moment.

This is typical or pictures the very throne of God in the heavenlies.

There is a real place that this was a model of and when Jesus died on the cross He went

and he presented his blood at the real place and he sprinkled his own blood on that

throne of God.

Which until this time as man counts time was nothing more than a judgment seat where if any

man came before it standing alone he would be cast into hell and he sprinkled his own blood on this seat and

it becomes a Hilasterion a mercy seat because it's the place where God

his wrath and his justice is propitiated that means satisfied God

stands satisfied with regard to his children because the blood of Jesus has been

shed on their behalf and Applied upon the judgment seat turning it into a

hilasterion a mercy seat.

That's what this man said.

He said God be propitiated unto me a sinner this man.

Unlike the man who tried to trust in himself this man a sinner a publican

knew he couldn't do that so all he could ask from God was that he might be

propitiated toward him that something would Satisfy you with regard to my sin because I know I

can't get rid of it myself.

That man understood God's justice and his mercy more than the religious man.

And that's why Jesus said that man will go home justified today.

Not the other man.

Verse 14.

I tell you this man went down to his house all ready Justified

made just as if he had never sinned counted that way by a holy God so

the first point we learn is that self exaltation and Justification do

not reside in the same person a person who exalts himself by saying I have this

system I have this holy book or I have whatever this thing is that I keep and Therefore I'm a good

person and I live a good clean life.

That man cannot and is not Justified before God he may stand

justified before man in man's eye because man's eye looks at purity and cleanness and Character

and says that's what pleases God, but God nowhere says that God says your best

Righteousnesses are as filthy rags to me because God is holy

and so.

These kinds of systems don't work.

A self exaltation a self justification one who goes about to make himself righteous

Cannot be a person who has been justified by God because the two don't go together.

Now that was the first point we took out of that passage.

Let me take you into Romans chapter 3 turn with me quickly.

We have to go quickly.

There's so much Romans 3 19.

Now we know that what things soever the law saith it Saith to them which

are under the law that every mouth may be stopped.

You see God gives the law not to save people.

No religious system of rules ever saved anyone but what he gives it for is that their mouths may be

stopped whose mouth the mouth of a person who thinks his character is Going to get him to him.

Which the Jews are the best picture of that?

I thought about the Mormons because that came up with Katie and This story that

I heard there at school but the Jewish people In the Bible

and over there in Israel right now are the greatest example of self -righteousness even Paul himself

Wept over the fact that they went about to make themselves righteous not understanding the righteousness of

God.

Paul said and so he says now we know that what

things soever the law saith it saith to them that are under the Law that every mouth might be stopped.

Those who exalt themselves and say Oh God, I'm glad I'm greater than that man.

I'm glad I'm not an extortioner.

I'm glad I've got my little rules to keep.

I'll I will fast twice a week.

Now, how does he know three times a week isn't better?

I'll tie.

Well, how does he know 20 % wouldn't be better?

How do you if you got a system?

How do you ever know that?

It's good enough to Please a perfect God you see it's impossible.

It can't be done, but man always wants to go that route, but God says I will stop

Their mouths verse 20 therefore by the deeds the works of the law there shall no

flesh Be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of

sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law

and the prophets 22 says even the righteousness of God, which is by

faith of Jesus Christ and to all upon all them that believe.

But there is no difference for all have sinned you see how it knocks down this Self -righteousness it

stops the mouth of a person who thinks he's got a great system for all have sinned and come short of the glory Of God is

what God would tell them.

You can only be justified freely by his grace Through the redemption that is in Jesus

Christ the Bible says Who how can we all get along if that's true?

How can we get along with those who have a religious system to approach God or what if they

say they have Jesus?

But they have a religious system that goes with it.

Maybe even their own Bible the Book of Mormon, you know, I've got to have this other book.

So I have Jesus plus the book.

These works the things that we have to do.

How can we?

Even worship in the same room with such a person if the Bible says Being justified

freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Jesus only Whom God hath set forth to be listen

to this the one and the only propitiation through

faith in his blood.

The only thing that can propitiate God is Jesus blood and our faith in that

blood and in that blood only you cannot mix with anyone.

I know you can go to work with them.

You can go shop with them at the market.

Paul tells us that clearly in Corinthians.

He said, you know be separated from but he says not all together because you couldn't get any work done.

But he said don't fellowship with them.

Do not be a brother or a sister with them because what you may not realize you say

well they're a nice person, but what you don't realize is that they are bringing shame

to the cross of Jesus Christ and to Jesus Christ.

In Hebrews chapter 6 it says that they would put him on the cross again and

recrucify him.

Putting him to open shame.

Never let it be said that you would fellowship with such a person as that.

No matter how might nice they may look the Bible says that Satan's ministers appear to be ministers of light.

Do we not know this scripture?

They appear as ministers of righteousness.

Yes, they're gonna look good.

Yes, their hair is combed just right.

Yes, their little family is perfect all the little children lined up and the little ties is everything perfect.

They Appear to be ministers of righteousness, but they say that Jesus blood is not

sufficient.

Therefore they blaspheme the blood of Jesus Christ.

And you're gonna be their friend.

You're gonna be nice and sweet to them and help them along and go worship with them.

And we're all getting to the same place.

Well, then you're not a Bible Christian.

Or you don't know the Bible.

Now we're living in that day ladies and gentlemen young people you were living in the day where the mindset

says.

It's all mixed together and let's worship together and get our hands up look up to the same God.

We don't have to worry how we get there, but Jesus never lived that way.

All of the Apostles were killed.

They all died except for John because they didn't live that way.

They told those Jews who said well, maybe it is Jesus.

But you also got to keep the law of Moses be circumcised.

They said no, that's not what it's all about.

Paul said neither circumcision nor uncircumcision profited anything.

But faith that worketh by love.

They were all killed for that message.

They would not mix in they could not.

It's like oil and water.

You can try all you want.

They won't mix together.

Nothing will mix with the blood of Jesus Christ.

It is the only thing verse 25 and Romans chapter 3 the only thing that propitiates

God.

Whom God had set forth to be the propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his

righteousness.

For the remission of sins that are passed Through the forbearance of God.

Now back to Luke chapter 18 verse 15.

The next story comes about and says that he brought these little infants

to Jesus and Even as the apostles rebuked him says,

you know.

Don't touch them but when his disciples saw it they rebuked the children and

Those who were bringing the little children verse 16 says but Jesus called them unto him and said allow the little

children to come to me.

And for it forbid them not for such is the kingdom of God.

Truly I say unto you Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little

child shall in no wise enter therein.

This brought us to point number two last Sunday.

If you remember in point number two was justification is not caused by knowledge or pride

or strength such as an adult would have.

But he says you must come as a little child now what's interesting about this.

I've said this before and you've heard this before that what this teaches is that you must have

childlike faith in order to be saved.

And that's not a bad thing to say that the passage teaches, but that's not really exactly what it teaches

or let's put it this way.

It's not all that it teaches.

It's not even the main point.

So I want you to read it with me carefully.

Look at Luke 18.

Look at verse 17 truly Jesus says

Truly I said unto you Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God

as a little child Shall in no wise enter therein.

He was using these little children sitting on his lap as an object lesson.

And why is it that we say what that's teaching is that if you'll have childlike faith God will save you.

The truth is what his teaching is that unless you receive the kingdom of heaven as a little child you'll not

Ever see the kingdom of heaven.

How does a child receive anything?

How does he if Jesus uses spiritual birth?

I mean physical birth is a picture of spiritual birth.

What does a child do to come into this world?

Doesn't do anything.

He receives it as a gift, but he doesn't do anything.

His birth has nothing to do with what he does.

Or what he says or what he promises or what he strives for in fact.

He didn't even really wasn't here until he was born.

He did not have the opportunity to do anything good till after he was born.

You didn't know if he's gonna be Obedient or disobedient until after he was born.

The same is true of spiritual birth.

Therefore all those who teach that there are there's a list of things that you must do a set of religious

instruction.

You must keep in order to be saved.

They're all liars.

Because an unborn person can't do anything yet.

You must be born from above before you even have the opportunity to obey.

But by the time you have the opportunity to say Lord, what would you have me to do?

You've already been born again.

God has already brought you into the family.

God the parent has done all the work to get you here and that's why Jesus told them unless you come as a little

child.

How does a little child come he is born?

He does nothing.

He's like the public and he says Lord.

I can't do anything.

He says be merciful to me.

I can't do anything.

That's like a little child.

And that's what this is teaching.

I would support this with Romans 8 verse 30.

It says moreover whom he did predestinate.

Them he also called and whom he called them.

He also justified and whom he justified them.

He also glorified.

That's who's going to be saved.

Now notice it mentions our word.

We're studying in this verse the word justified.

Who is it?

That is justified.

We could go back in verse 30.

It says those who were called.

If we ask the question, who are those who are called it says well those who are predestinated.

Now that's very unpopular doctrine in our day and time you go back a hundred years ago and back beyond that it was the

doctrine.

It was the greatest doctrine the Baptist surely.

But certainly of the Presbyterians the Lutherans all the reformed churches that came out of the Catholic Church all believe in

predestination.

It was the Catholics who didn't.

Today now we've turned that around all the Protestants and the Baptists now don't believe this today.

Because Satan has moved them into humanism you see if we don't believe

that you are predestinated and That that's why God called you and if that's why you were

justified then you really believe you did it yourself.

You believe you played a part in your own birth.

You cannot come to God as a little child if you believe that way therefore you'll never see the kingdom of heaven.

You see the Bible always Upholds itself the best way to

interpret a passage is to let the Bible interpret the passage.

Go find another passage if you want to understand what Luke 18 15 through 17 means go into Romans 8

chapter 8 verse 30.

God has known his children before he made anything including a star including

an angel including the world's.

God knew you by name and he loved you with a knowledge that extended love.

It was a parent -child love and God spins everything out into

existence and calls it into existence and the world is created and Time begins and

Adam and Eve are in the garden and Adam and Eve sin.

And that did not surprise God contrary to the Arminian belief.

God already knew Adam was going to sin.

Adam didn't know it.

That was the problem, but God knew it.

In fact, God had ordained it to be so.

Everything you see today.

God is ordained to be so.

If we have a problem with God over that means we don't know God well enough yet.

But it is a fact and when it comes to this very important issue of salvation.

And we're talking about this one little part very important part of salvation called Justification because you cannot be

saved if God doesn't justify you.

You can't be saved before God if you're not just in the presence of a holy God He must justify you.

The Bible says that justification comes from Being called and that being called comes from

being predestinated which means God knew before the foundation of the world you would be saved and he

Predetermined that you would be his child just like the parents determined.

They're going to have children.

Charlotte and I made a really interesting mistake one day when we were very young.

We'd been married a few years we started babysitting with other people's beautiful little children and playing

with them a lot.

And boy, we'd bring them in, you know.

Put their little crib at the foot of our bed.

But these little babies in there and let them sleep right there in the room with us now.

You don't do that when it's your child.

Usually you want to get some sleep.

So you put them in their room.

Oh, we had fun with these babies and all of a sudden before we knew it.

We were wanting to have some babies.

We wanted to be just like those babies.

We were babysitting with it turned out to be better, of course.

But uh.

We purposed in our hearts to have children.

It's just a weak human example, but Jesus used physical birth as the example for how it works spiritually.

We purposed that they would come into the world.

Jenny didn't have a thing to do with it.

Katie didn't have a thing to do with it.

Paul didn't have a thing to do with it.

None of them did we purposed it and we brought them into this world physically and

Now they're very glad about that and they love us.

Why is it that of all you adults in this room my kids would pick me to go home with?

Does that make you feel like they're unjust or?

Being unfair.

Why is it that of out of all the children in this room?

I would pick them to help them escape if this building were on fire first, then I'd come get your kids.

Why is that is that unjust?

It's because they're mine.

Why is it that the world today condemns God For having his own children and

For not loving Satan's children as much as he loves his children.

The Bible teaches clearly there are both Satan's seed and God's seed.

They're there.

So why do we condemn God for loving his children more than the others?

It's because we've been Armenian eyes for the last 100 years.

In all of our churches, but it wasn't preached that way back when days were strong, but we're in the

last days.

You have to search far and wide to find a preacher.

It'll tell you this is the passage of Scripture you might ought to look at because these passages are skipped nowadays.

You sure won't hear a sermon on Romans chapter 9.

I mean, we're in chapter 8 and it's pretty bad here.

It's pretty rough for us.

But chapter 9 is the most hated chapter in the whole Bible.

Isn't it interesting that Jesus said you must come as a little child and Paul said Those who are predestinated are

called and those who are called are justified and those who are justified are glorified.

What shall we say then to these things if God before us who can be against us?

Why.

He's our dad.

He's our parent.

He's our father.

He's our Abba.

He Despaired not his own son, but delivered him up for us all.

How shall he not with him?

Also freely give us all things and that what you do with your children.

Everything you have is there someday.

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect.

Do you hear that word used much in preaching today?

Elect I mean God elects who will be his children.

Can God choose that is that fair.

It really doesn't matter if it is or not.

Because it's the way it is.

Who shall bring anything to the charge of God's elected is God that justified them.

You see we didn't justify ourselves.

God called us and Knew us before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians chapter 1 says and in time as we were walking down the road not knowing all these things in

time.

We heard a call from heaven just like Paul did and he looks up and says Lord What would you have me do now?

You're saying you don't even know why you do.

You didn't plan it out.

You didn't plot it.

You found yourself saved one day.

Because God had known you before the foundation of the world and as time went by he reached down and turned it

up said you're mine.

Don't you feel it?

Don't you sense it.

Look at me in the face and tell me you can turn away from me and not one of you did.

Irresistible grace.

He goes on and he says Who is he that condemns it is Christ that died?

Yay, rather that is risen again.

Who is even at the right hand of God who also makes intercession for us?

He is our lawyer.

Every moment when you sin and Satan comes and accuses you in your mind.

So you probably not even say you wouldn't do something like that.

If you were saved Jesus stands up at the right hand of God and says he's forgiven.

He is justified by my blood.

My blood has made him right.

He is mine.

So who can condemn such a person.

Jesus died for such a person who shall separate us from the

love of Christ.

Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or

sword on and on.

He lists everything in Heaven and everything on earth and says not one of them can separate you from the love of your

parent your heavenly father.

You must come as a little child.

It's all we have time for this morning.

We made it through two points out of our seven points.

So we'll pick this up again next Sunday.

Let's stand and have prayer together.

Father we thank you for your word for it is truly that which separates us and

Calls us to your knowledge to your mind your heart.

Father if we do not stay in your word.

Then we go the way of the world whether it be the religious world or the darkness of this world.

We go that way so move us to stay in your word daily and to read and to study and

To not read our philosophies into your word, but to read your word so that you might teach us

The truth you want us to know.

Lord cause us to live what we learn in the scriptures.

Mold us more into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Help us to be salt and Light not just light and love to this world, but salt.

Help us to be a Preservative.

Help us to be something that might sting at certain times.

But which is good?

Help us to be like the Lord Jesus in these areas.

Father give us the grace and the strength to Explain to people who would ask us

questions about the Bible.

To just show them your scriptures and to get them to think about what you say and may your

Holy Spirit perform the work as We merely spread the seeds.

May you water and bring in the harvest father.

We thank you for This day together for our fellowship we're about to have we ask you to bless

our meal and we thank you for it and Bless our evening services as well in Jesus name.

Amen.