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- And it's all about His great love toward us. Because that's what brought the
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- Savior into this world. For it's God that so loved the world.
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- Think of that. So loved the world. I'd like to speak to you this morning from John 3 .16. As you turn there,
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- I want to give you a quote from C. H. Spurgeon on this
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- Christmas morning as we focus on the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ and God's great love to this world.
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- Nothing can match it. Nothing. Nothing in this world, beloved, can even come close to it.
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- Spurgeon said this, The love of God is a wonderful thing, especially when we see it on a lost, ruined, guilty world.
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- What was there in the world that God should love it? There was nothing lovable in it.
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- No fragrant flower grew in that. Arid desert. Enmity to Him.
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- Hatred to His truth. Disregard of His law. Rebellion against His commandments.
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- Those were the thorns and the briars that covered the wasteland. But no desirable thing blossomed there.
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- Where did this love come from? Listen to that question. Where did this love come from?
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- Nothing from anything outside of God Himself. God's love springs from Himself.
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- He loves because it is His nature to do so. God is love, 1
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- John 4, verse 8. Nothing on the face of the earth could have merited His love, though there was much to merit
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- His displeasure. The streams of love flows from its own secret source in the eternal deity.
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- And it owes nothing to any earth -born rain or stream. It springs from beneath the everlasting throne and fills itself full from the springs of the infinite.
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- And the gift of His one and only Son, God commended His love to us.
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- And that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5, verse 8. The black background of sin makes the bright line of love shine out the more clearly.
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- Listen to this, folks. When the lightning writes the name of the
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- Lord with flaming finger across the black brow of the tempest, we are compelled to see it.
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- So also when love inscribes the cross on the tablet of our sin, even blind eyes must see that love consists in this, 1
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- John 4, verse 10. End quote. Now, beloved, that's a wonderful quote by C.
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- H. Spurgeon. He's one of my favorite preachers. He's been known as the
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- Prince of Preachers, but I'm going to have to draw back from that a little bit because we're going to actually hear from the
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- Prince of Preachers himself this morning. I love Spurgeon, but there's one
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- I love better than Spurgeon, and that's the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the
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- Prince of Preachers, folks. Now, I had to give you that quote from Spurgeon because he says it well, doesn't he?
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- But there's someone else that says it much more clearly, and he's the one that came from heaven, speaking about the great love of God.
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- These are good words, I said, again, by Spurgeon, but now we're going to look at the Master. We're going to look at the
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- Lord Jesus Christ and what He has to say about the love of God because He is love manifest in flesh.
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- He is that love of God. So if you're not already there, John 3, 16, we're looking at this one great verse.
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- We should all know this by heart. It's no doubt one of the most familiar verses amongst
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- Christians. Actually, Jesus summarizes the good news of the gospel into 25 words.
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- Think of that. In 25 words, Jesus Himself gives us the whole plan of salvation in this one verse.
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- It is called the gospel in a nutshell. Remember what Jesus said about His words?
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- Now, Spurgeon's got good words, right? I love the Puritans. But Jesus said,
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- My words are spirit and they are life. So the life -giving power is in the words of Jesus.
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- Jesus is speaking to a Pharisee, by the way. When He is speaking this great verse,
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- He's speaking to Nicodemus. Very religious man. He would be considered a conservative theologian of our day.
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- A very religious man. A very upright, devout. He knew theology, but his theology was somewhat messed up.
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- Jesus straightens him up. But we must approach this, by the way, this great verse, with an attitude of awe and reverence within our hearts.
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- So as we come before this burning bush of the Bible, bow with me just for a few minutes as we pray.
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- And let's ask the Holy Spirit to help us within this time and remaining hour of worship.
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- Our Father and our God, as we come to Thee now, we come before Your throne.
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- We thank You, Father, for the blessing that we've already received. But Lord, we want to bless You because You are the great giver.
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- Every perfect gift comes from You. And You have given us the greatest, the most perfect gift from Heaven.
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- And that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, as we pause to think about this, it is unspeakable.
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- The unspeakable gift. There's no words that can utter it because all of Heaven is in Jesus. Heaven would not be
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- Heaven if You take away the Lord Jesus Christ. So Lord, we thank You this morning for Your one and only
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- Son that You sent. Your one and only great
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- Son. We adore Him. Lord, we honor Him. Because we know when we adore
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- Him, we honor You. Lord, we come to You and we worship You.
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- And Lord, in joyful delight of Your gift of love to us, save us from apathy,
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- Lord, of being so over -familiar with this verse and warm our hearts this morning as we hear from the words of Jesus.
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- Speak to us from Your Word. Because we know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by Your Word. We pray,
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- O Lord, that You would open our eyes, the eyes of our hearts today as we take off the sandals of our hearts before You, before we come, as we come to this great burning bush.
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- So may we never be the same. Change our hearts, O God, and we ask this for Your honor and glory in Jesus' name.
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- Amen and amen. John 3 .16 I'd like for us to do something
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- I've done here or there. Very seldom I've preached on such a great verse and I do not approach it lightly.
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- It is one of the greatest verses in the entire Bible. So let's all read this awesome verse together in strong voice.
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- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
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- Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
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- Isn't that wonderful? Praise God. Wonderful verse of Scripture. Wonderful verse.
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- Words of life. Words of life is no doubt the most well -known passage in all of Holy Scripture and all of Holy Writ.
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- No doubt one of the most familiar as I said in the Bible. We see it on bumper stickers nowadays, don't we?
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- We see it in banners. We see it waved on poster boards as athletes use it.
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- I've even seen a nail salon on my milk route. John 3 .16
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- Nails. John 3 .16 People use this verse and I don't believe that's right.
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- It should be more respect to the Word of God and leave businesses out from it, away from it because it is separate in of itself.
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- Now we even hear it quoted by some politicians shamefully to say from time to time.
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- It is one of the first verses actually that children and adults we have learned to recite it from memory and there's nothing wrong with that.
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- I think it should be one of the first verses we should teach our children. I'm not going to speak against that but for some people it is the only
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- Bible verse they can identify with reference and it's a good one but there's much more in the
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- Word of God. I will say it is the heart of the Bible and is the burning bush of the
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- Bible and reads everything else in the Bible and the whole gospel and the whole counsel of God along with it.
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- But again as with various things that people can identify by the reference that's a discussion for another time.
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- Suffice it to say that John 3 .16 is one of the most familiar verses in the
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- Bible rightly so but what makes me tremble is this folks is that we have become too familiar with it.
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- We have we can quote it and I think it's wonderful to quote it
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- I'm not saying anything against that but do we really know the meaning of it? Do we really get what
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- Jesus is saying when he says for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
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- Now this has been called the gospel the pro evangel in a nutshell a summary of scripture and a blueprint for salvation there's also a wonderful verse to reflect on and meditate on with respect to missions and bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world rightly so rightly so and it is within that context
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- I would like to somewhat look at but I also like for us to look at the surrounding verses around John 3 .16
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- now to get the meaning of this wonderful verse we must see and hear by the help of the spirit of God what is
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- God saying what is God saying through his son Jesus Christ as Jesus mentions for God so loved the world we must see the context in which our
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- Lord is speaking and this is a wonderful chapter now I'm going to go through this as fast as I can so we can get to it it's going to take me a few minutes to get to John 3 .16
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- but we're going to look at the passages that comes before it and some that comes after it at the conclusion of this message but this passage comes right in the middle of a conversation between Jesus and one of the most learned teachers of Israel think of that he was a well known teacher in Israel he was a ruler of the
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- Jews his name was Nicodemus now according to John 3 .1
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- this is a man of the Pharisees there's been different views commentators saying why did he come to Jesus at night this is very interesting this man comes to Jesus by night and I'm going to say probably because of being afraid of the implications of associating with Jesus possibly open conversation with him in daylight so he comes to Jesus by night so his fellow
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- Pharisees and his fellow theologians would not say anything to him about approaching Jesus now
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- Jesus has become at the beginning of his ministry here after cleansing the temple he goes to Jerusalem and his popularity is beginning to grow miracles he's performing miracles many things have taken place here he's already turned in chapter 2 the water into wine at the
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- Canaan in Canaan and Galilee at the wedding feast that was a great miracle and that miracle has a great significance and symbolism to it of the wine symbolic of of his blood and his death now since the
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- Pharisees were Jesus' number one enemy I want you to keep this in mind as well think of this this religious party are the ones that eventually ended up killing
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- Jesus Jesus called him out many times he calls them out and calls them hypocrites whited sepulchers he was not afraid to get the truth because he is the truth he's going to tell the truth and that's what love does so love is not a fuzzy feeling it tells truth and warns people of the wrath to come
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- Jesus is here to be savior he comes in this first advent and he comes to save but he still warns these
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- Pharisees and these religious people and he calls them hypocrites flat out play actors and vipers he calls them these names and he's not out just calling names to be mean he is actually telling them the way they are in their hearts now listen to this
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- Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night now I will say this for Nicodemus at least he comes he's a hypocrite but he comes he comes to Jesus and by the way he goes to the right source he goes to the right person he goes to the truth in verse 2
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- Nicodemus approaches Jesus and he addresses him this is interesting as rabbi he addresses him as rabbi that means teacher meaning teacher and notice what he says we know, we know, he's talking about the
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- Pharisees or the Jews, the Jewish people that you are a teacher come from God you're a teacher for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him right here
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- I want to bring out something very interesting Nicodemus acknowledged the Lord to be a teacher sent by God now in some way there's some truth there you can kind of sense there's some flattery going on and Jesus doesn't go for it and I will show you how in his answer he does it since no one could perform such miracles
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- Nicodemus says without the direct help of God that's what he's saying but in spite of all his learning
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- Nicodemus did not recognize the Lord Jesus Christ as God manifest in the flesh he did not see this he saw him as just another miracle worker and a teacher now this is interesting because Nicodemus was like so many other people like in our day and that they addressed
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- Jesus they know Jesus is a great man a wonderful teacher he's an outstanding example he's an example to follow even a good prophet
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- I've heard the cult say that folks he's a good prophet, he's a good teacher he is all these things but all of these statements fall very very shy and short of the full truth of who
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- Jesus really is Jesus was and is
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- God and I don't know if you read through the whole entire gospel of John, that is the theme he is
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- God in flesh he is God he is the
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- God man there is none other now at first sight the answer of the
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- Lord Jesus does not seem to be connected with what Nicodemus just said but Jesus is right on target folks and I want you to see this in scripture this is beautiful according to John 2 let me read it,
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- John chapter 2 go back one chapter look with me at verse 23 and verse 25 you know what this is telling us
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- Jesus is the discerner of hearts he searches the reins of hearts he knows our hearts he knows our thoughts and he knows all people's thoughts and hearts listen to what he said, verse 23 now when he was in Jerusalem at the
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- Passover during the feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did but notice the next verse but Jesus did not commit himself to them because he knew all men and had no need that anyone should testify of man for he knew what was in man that is a powerful verse that Jesus knows our hearts the hearts of a depraved men cannot be trusted deceitful, wicked naturally
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- Adamic fallen and Jesus knew this even the most religious men and you can kind of connect this last piece of these last verses in chapter 2 to Nicodemus now
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- Nicodemus Jesus answers Nicodemus now he's answering a comment this conversation begins not with a question from Nicodemus you notice that I think
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- Nicodemus was very teachable though we're going to see that in a minute but he starts with a comment a flattery then
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- Jesus in John 3 3 gets right to it Jesus answered Nicodemus and said to him most assuredly now in some translations whatever you have says barely barely or truly truly that means amen and amen
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- Jesus connects two amens before he makes the statement we usually say amen after a truth is being stated
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- Jesus says amen and amen because he is the truth and by the way when he speaks
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- I heard R6 Pro speak about this he said when he is saying that we better have a tent of ears because he's saying something very important anytime in the gospels when you hear
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- Jesus saying most assuredly or barely barely or truly truly amen amen we better pay close attention to it now all the words of Jesus we pay close attention to but really when
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- Jesus is saying this Jesus is saying something a revelation that's anew and he reveals this and he says truly truly
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- I say to you you unless one is born again born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God what our
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- Lord is saying to this very religious man this ruler of Jews in essence is Nicodemus you have to come to me you come to me for teaching but what you really need is to be born again that's what he's really saying in essence he says you need a new birth you know what he's saying in that this is a very old religious man that's been religious all of his life and Jesus is saying
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- Nicodemus you must begin all over again throw away all your religion dump it
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- Paul says it was like manure to him that I may win Christ read it you can read it in Philippians chapter 3
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- Paul says that and Paul even says I was a Pharisee of Pharisees but when
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- I came to Jesus when I saw Jesus when I was born again basically Paul was saying all that religion is manure throw it out you gotta begin all over again you must be born from above you must be born again you must have a spiritual birth a new birth otherwise you cannot never see or enter into the kingdom of God very serious there's no other way to get into the kingdom of God folks one must be born again and when
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- Jesus says that it's serious it's very serious and being naturally fallen in his lost condition of course
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- Nicodemus he refers and he comes back with a question now now notice he doesn't get it he says how can a man be born when he's old how can a boy be born when he's old can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born he's thinking fleshly
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- Jesus answered it's kind of comical and humorous in a sense but the master comes back and he says surely surely he says it again amen amen he says these words of alert you better pay attention
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- I say to you unless one is born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God that which is born of the flesh is flesh that which is born of the spirit is spirit and he says do not marvel that means don't be surprised
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- Nicodemus do not marvel that I said to you notice the you it's personal you must be born again verse 8 the wind blows where it wishes and now he's speaking about the working of the spirit of God folks he's referring to the wind you can't see the wind but you can see the effects of it that's what he's saying the effects of the spirit you can't even see the wind but the effects you can see and Jesus says you can hear even the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes so is everyone who is born of the spirit it's outside of ourselves folks it's the spirit of God that must regenerate us and make us new creations and he's referring to Ezekiel and the new birth he's referring to that when he takes out the stony heart puts in a heart of flesh and he writes
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- God's laws on it and it says time and time again God says I will
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- I will I will it's not us our will it's God's will that does the work how many times have you heard people say
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- I have Jesus I gave Jesus my heart hey look Jesus you can't get into the kingdom of God by giving
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- Jesus your heart it's God that gave it's God that gave his son it is
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- God that gave his gift and we receive it by faith alone see it's the operation of the spirit of God and all this
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- Jesus has taken Nicodemus now I'm not going to break down verses 9 -13
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- I want to read it but not break it down because I think it's very important for us to get it look at verse 9 -13
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- Nicodemus answered said to him how can these things be that's a good question very good question and Jesus answered and Jesus has got an answer for him and you can guarantee it the answer that Jesus gives it's just not a partial answer or it is the answer of answers folks it is the truth from heaven this is a revelation
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- Jesus answered and said to him are you a teacher of Israel and do not know these things it's like Jesus is basically saying it's in Ezekiel it's in Jeremiah you're a teacher of the
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- Jews and you don't know this and then he says most assuredly again barely barely truly truly
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- I say to you we speak what we know and testify what we have seen and you do not receive our witness if I have told you earthly things and you do not believe how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things no one no one has ascended to heaven but he who came down from heaven that is the son of man who is in heaven now now when we come to verse 14
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- Jesus is about to unpack some powerful truth folks now
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- I want you to keep this in mind I mentioned it already Nicodemus' theology is messed up it is messed up his theology is not sound he really doesn't know anything about the new birth which is taught in Ezekiel in Jeremiah how's this man a teacher of the
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- Jews he's a ruler of the Jews and Jesus has already lovingly rebuked him for that in a sense but some of the greatest truth that's about ever to be given is about to be said so we better pay close attention the penalty of man's sin folks must be met it must be dealt with now people cannot go to heaven in their sins nobody not a one of us
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- I don't care how devout how religious somebody is this man Nicodemus was one of the most religious men in his day
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- Paul the apostle as he was Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee of Pharisees and he had to dump all of his religion but in verse 14
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- Jesus gives this revelation listen to this and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the son of man be lifted up now folks this is powerful now listen to me very closely what's
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- Jesus referring to he's going to Numbers we've already read through that Numbers chapter 21 you can read it in your devotional time verse 4 -9 let me give you a little just a briefing on it here as the children of Israel had been bitten by snakes they wandered through the wilderness for 40 years into the wilderness to the promised land they were going in circles disobedient to God murmuring complaining the children of Israel became very discouraged very impatient with the
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- Lord they murmured they complained against the Lord and to punish them for their sins the
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- Lord sent fiery serpents among them many many of them died now the survivors cried out to the
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- Lord in repentance you can read the story the Lord in his grace told
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- Moses Moses that's God's man God's prophet he said you take a serpent made of brass and you put it on a pole and you lift it up for them to see it and as the bitten
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- Israelites who would look on the brass serpent as he lifted up that pole was miraculously healed by God now
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- I'm telling you there's a great truth behind this what Jesus is quoting in here in the Old Testament incident is to illustrate how the new birth takes place it's basically this old song
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- I used to sing years back called look and live I wish I had the words to it but I can find it one day for you and it's based upon that incident in Numbers all men and women have been bitten by the deadly vipers of sin everybody and all are condemned to eternal death and hell and by the way to suffer justly under the wrath of God we deserve it we have been bitten by Adam's sin we come into the world already condemned there's nothing we have to do to go to hell it's what you don't do that takes us to hell and that's not to believe in the
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- Lord Jesus Christ the serpent of brass in the scriptures was a type or a picture of the
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- Lord Jesus Christ by the way that picture
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- I'm sorry the brass in the Bible speaks of judgment okay that speaks of judgment the
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- Lord Jesus was the spotless the sinless perfect son of God without sin the just one the righteous one but in his great love he was our substitute he took our place he took your place we're the ones that deserve the death we deserve the wrath we deserve the hell
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- Jesus came as our substitute folks this is the gospel this is the gospel the perfect son of God the lamb of God bore the awful consequences of judgment in which we so deserve and he did not he did not deserve it he was the perfect one but yet he chose to come in his love and the father's love to take your place and my place of all that judgment and all that hell that is placed upon man for all eternity brother
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- Keith referred to it this morning by God my God why have you forsaken me right there those three hours as Jesus died on the cross he was taking that eternal judgment upon himself that we deserve folks this pole is beautiful because it speaks of the cross of Calvary that's what
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- Jesus is talking about he says that pole as Moses lifted up that pole with that brass serpent so also shall the son of man be lifted up for the world to see folks
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- I can't help it it warms my heart to think of this that's the altar the mountain of God it's the mountain that we all must go to to get into heaven and to have the new birth that's what
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- Jesus is referring to to this religious man the lifted up pole is referring
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- Jesus says I'm going to a cross see he knew that mission he knew every step he already knew it from eternity past and he lovingly gladly went there folks he knew all of it he knew what he would bear beloved we are saved by looking to him in faith by faith alone by receiving
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- Jesus Christ not by good works not by going to church folks people can go to church and be as religious as Nicodemus and go to hell you must be born again this is the gospel verse 15 and then
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- Jesus is about he's coming to verse 16 but notice what he says in verse 15 that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life see that's the latter part of John 3 16 but that's in verse 15 he's basically saying whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life we must get that beloved the savior was made this goes right along with what
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- Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5 21 that he was made sin for us he who knew no sin was made sin made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him my friends let me tell you this this is the very heart of the gospel you take this out you take out you take out imputation you take substitution out you've taken out reconciliation you've taken away the gospel this is why
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- Paul says I know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified there's nothing else that really
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- I'll be honest with you I'll quote Spurgeon one more time he says if I preach Jesus Christ and him crucified that would be sufficient for me to preach while I live here on this earth now we're to preach the whole gospel the whole counsel of God but I'm telling you everything from Genesis to Revelation and back all points to the cross the cross of the
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- Lord Jesus Christ why he became why he came he was born in that manger folks the shadow of the cross was over that manger that's why he came he was born to die that was his mission and he passionately went there for you and me now using the principle of imputation in that great verse treated his one
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- God treated his one and only son as if he were a sinner and I'll take it a step further as that sinner as Jesus though he never committed a sin
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- God the father crushed him God the father treated him as all the sins of the world of every person past present and future will ever commit upon Jesus I want you to think of that of all the wicked and evil that you and I see in this day all that sin was placed on Jesus all that wickedness was placed on Jesus that sin that a holy
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- God abhors and hates placed on Jesus and the
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- Bible says and it pleased God to crush him it pleased the Lord to crush him
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- I want you to think about the love behind that Romans 6 .23 says it for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
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- Lord you know what that says number one the wages of sin the soul that sins shall die spiritual death is the paycheck folks of every man's slavery to sin now that's the bad news but how can we know the good news unless we know the bad news you see the good news comes eternal life is the free gift of God we don't deserve that free gift
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- God gives us that free gift see through Jesus Christ and undeserving sinners who believe in his son the
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- Lord Jesus Christ now we see this burning bush before us and now Jesus comes to John 3 .16
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- now the translators made it John 3 .16 there was this one flow of scripture at that time but it's broken up for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life folks this verse is absolutely awesome it summarizes the
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- Lord Jesus had been teaching Nicodemus concerning the manner in which the new birth is to be received this is what he's talking about how is the new birth received well it's answered this is the great doctrine of the good news of the glorious gospel the good news for God so loved the world here it is for God so loved the world let's look at it let's break this down for what does that little word mean well the word for gives us the reason for God giving eternal life in reference to verse 15 you see what he says verse 15 to whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life then he gives the reason for for the reason having made a statement about death
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- Jesus now shows how God the Father would demonstrate his saving plan of salvation around and centered on the death of Jesus Jesus the
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- Lamb of God the perfect Lamb of God without sin no sin in him that's why he's a virgin born he did not inherit
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- Adam's sin folks that's how God entered into this world without Adam's sin that's why the virgin birth is so critical if we deny the virgin birth we deny the sinless
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- Savior folks that is crucial because Jesus must be sinless without spot without wrinkle perfect so he was born to take away the sin of the world thou shalt call his name
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- Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins he shall he shall we see it also in John 129 in chapter 1 verse 29 behold the
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- Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world verse 36 John sees
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- Jesus coming down that dusty road looking at Jesus as he walked he said behold the
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- Lamb of God he pointed people to Christ that's a true minister folks that's a true preacher a preacher does not point people to himself if he is he's a false preacher he's a false prophet he points them to Jesus that's what
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- John says I'm just a voice crying in the wilderness and that's all the heralds that's the preacher's job is to herald the gospel and say hey this is the one right here
- 40:30
- Jesus God so loved the world for God so loved the world the greatest lover so loved the greatest degree the world the greatest number for God listen to that for God now let's talk about God it's important to understand that salvation is of the
- 40:52
- Lord and only of the Lord it's not a man God is the originator of salvation he drew up the plan eternity past before this world even was created folks before the stars were made and the sun was made and the universes were made and the galaxies were made he already had it drew out he knew he already known
- 41:17
- Paul said this before the foundation of the world so God is the originator he takes the initiative
- 41:25
- God is the seeker you know don't you hear the opposite of today you gotta do this to get into heaven you gotta do that you gotta obey
- 41:36
- God obedience is important but obeying God does not get you to heaven it's the fruit of salvation
- 41:44
- Jesus paid it all folks and when we get a hold of that the fruit of salvation it's like the works follows what is the source of that salvation when the change is taking place you see
- 41:59
- God is the originator salvation is God salvation is God's idea it's God's plan salvation not only comes from God but it's only in God and by the way it's only through his son
- 42:12
- Jesus Christ Jesus is the link he's the bridge to get us he's the mediator listen to this
- 42:19
- Acts 4 12 nor there is salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved 1
- 42:29
- Timothy 2 3 -6 for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth for there is one
- 42:41
- God and one mediator between God and men the man
- 42:49
- Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time why is it in this world today that we're hearing that there's so many ways to God even the
- 43:03
- Pope gets up and brings ecumenically all these other religions they got a way to God they got a way to God we just need to be friendly and respect one another but folks
- 43:17
- I want to tell you the truth there's only one way to God somebody asked John MacArthur this question one time he says well all these religions and this person says are you to tell me that all these other religions are wrong he said yes sir he said if there was 43 ways to God I'd preach all 43 ways but there's only one way to God Jesus said it
- 43:42
- I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father but by me he said we don't hold to that folks we're preaching lies we're preaching damnation one way to God Jesus said it
- 43:59
- I am the way the truth and the life that is absolute truth and we need to stand on that truth die for that truth
- 44:08
- I don't hey even the multitudes can say something else different folks the
- 44:13
- Bible says there's only one way to God and that's through Jesus Christ now the word for gives the reason
- 44:23
- God is the source what about that little word so brother
- 44:29
- Keith loves this word and I want to tell you I appreciate that brother Keith because it's a good reason you know what so means it's the manner it's the way it's the degree it's the intensity of that love that comes from God two words so for God so love the world you know what
- 44:56
- God is showing us he's showing us the great depth the degree of love that love gift his love sacrifice towards the world for God so love the world so loved this is the scope of God's love
- 45:13
- God is no respecters of persons folks the scope of God's love covers the whole entire planet it doesn't matter the color of people's skin it doesn't matter their language their language differences it doesn't matter what tribe they're from God has no respecters of persons he loves everyone on this entire planet with a common grace now there's a special grace there's a special love for God's people we're going to look at that in a few minutes but Revelation chapter 7 listen to this 9 and 10
- 45:53
- John the apostle is on the isle of Patmos and he sees these visions of things to come after these things
- 45:59
- I looked and behold a great multitude which no one could number listen to what it says and all nations, tribes, peoples tongues standing before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white robes with palm branches in their hands verse 10 and they're crying out they're worshipping with a loud voice and what are they saying?
- 46:26
- salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb to God and the lamb you get that?
- 46:36
- see it's God and the lamb all these different tribes all these different peoples different languages with a loud voice it's got to be like thunder it explodes in praise to God it's amazing and all the angels and all the universal bow before the lamb and worship him people have no idea how great and powerful this is for God so loved the world teaches us the great degree of the scope of God's love
- 47:08
- God's great love extends to all people next we see in John 3 .16
- 47:14
- the depth of God's love the depth of God's love now what is that?
- 47:20
- what is that? means his one and only son you know what that means?
- 47:26
- he sent his unique son God gave his best he didn't send an angel he didn't send his top angel
- 47:36
- Michael or Gabriel in which we know their names from revelation of scripture he sent his one and only son we don't get our little minds can't wrap around this folks
- 47:52
- I want you to listen to this it's more of a modern day hymn it says like this oh how deep the father's love for us how vast beyond all measure beyond all measure that he should give his only son to make a wretch his treasure don't you love that?
- 48:15
- the extent the depth of God's love surpasses all knowledge Paul the apostle literally prays for this in Ephesians chapter 3 turn with me very quickly to Ephesians chapter 3
- 48:26
- I want you to see this just want to read it but listen to what
- 48:32
- Paul says for this reason verse 14 I bow my knees to the father of our
- 48:38
- Lord Jesus Christ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named and that he would grant you listen to what he prays that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with the might through his spirit and the inner man
- 48:53
- I need that don't you? that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, listen to what he says being rooted and grounded in love that's what we're rooted and grounded in is the love of God and listen to what he says may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and the length and the depth and the height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge do you get that?
- 49:26
- that's what he's praying for the church that you may be filled with all the fullness of God and then he gives a doxology to it now to him who's able to do exceedingly abundantly above all what we can ask or think according to the power that works in us to him be glory and the church by Jesus Christ to all generations forever what a doxology but notice the prayer
- 49:50
- God gave to his best when he gave his son Paul through the
- 49:57
- Holy Spirit says this in 2 Corinthians 9 15 thanks be to God for his indescribable gift indescribable the old king
- 50:10
- James says his unspeakable gift I like both of them, both mean the same but both words are sufficient glorious isn't it?
- 50:21
- now Jesus chose to lay down his life go with me to John chapter 10 read a few verses here listen to this in John chapter 10
- 50:36
- Jesus speaks this whole chapter is about the good shepherd laying down his life this chapter will take you into the depths of God's love if you read it and by the way it also shows that Jesus lays down his life for his sheep you know what that means?
- 50:54
- he specifically even though in common grace God loves the entire world and he does not desire no one to perish that's the general call there's also an effective call to the elect in other words those who believe will be those that are elected of God we don't know who they are folks people try to figure this out
- 51:18
- Spurgeon said this if I knew who the elect was I would go to him but God has not marked him out for us to see
- 51:26
- God has marked him out and he sees him so it's the general call that's why
- 51:31
- Jesus says to those as he's preaching come unto me all you laboring heavy laden
- 51:37
- I'll give you rest but see he's given them a call to come to him and that's why in the
- 51:45
- Christmas story it's to all peoples God does not exclude no one if anybody goes to hell like I said it's not believing in the
- 51:56
- Lord Jesus Christ it's not God's fault a lot of people try to even put the fault on God but it's not
- 52:03
- God's fault because God is just judge folks he desires all people to come to the knowledge of the truth a lot of people have a hard time and I like the way
- 52:13
- MacArthur explains this you have the sovereignty of God and man's responsibility they run parallel they do not intersect they run parallel they do not contradict each other if you read it, you know
- 52:27
- I like what one old preacher said you'll like this he says when I come to the verses that says whosoever will,
- 52:33
- I'm going to preach whosoever will and then when I come to the scriptures that says
- 52:39
- Esau I've hated and Jacob I've loved I'm going to preach it you see in other words we leave the results with God because it's
- 52:48
- God who brings people to salvation you see that man can't do that we can't even bring our own selves to salvation even though we must repent
- 52:58
- God gives us the gift of faith of believing and repenting and those are twin gifts we must believe, we must repent
- 53:06
- God's not going to do it for us it's like he gives us the gift and that gift is in Jesus Christ he's the link, he's the key but notice what he says here
- 53:17
- I don't want to read all of it in verse 11 I am the good shepherd the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep but a hireling he who is not the shepherd he who is not the shepherd one who does not own the sheep sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees that's what the false teachers do the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them the hireling flees because he's a hireling and does not care about the sheep
- 53:50
- Jesus said this, I am the good shepherd I know my sheep and I am known by my own notice what he says in verse 15 as the father knows me so I know the father and I lay down my life for the sheep you see
- 54:08
- Jesus is the good shepherd there's no other way the sheep can come through it starts by the beginning of this most surely, there it is, verily verily truly truly
- 54:16
- I say it to you he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs up some other way the same as a thief and a robber but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep and basically he says to him the doorkeeper opens the sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name and he leads them out and then basically
- 54:39
- Jesus says I am that door I am that one that brings the sheep in and I lay down my life notice the last part of that verse 17 therefore my father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it again in other words and what he is saying no one takes his life from him he has the authority and the power to lay it down he chose to do that no one could do that and if you remember the story when they came to arrest him right before he goes to the cross they basically said don't you know we have the power to release you
- 55:21
- I think Pilate said that and he said don't you know that I have that power over you and then Jesus spoke out on this and he said no you don't you don't have no power unless it's given to you from God and then
- 55:32
- Jesus says I have all power he says I'm the one that lays down my life I give it
- 55:40
- I take it back up again no one takes it from me verse 18 no one Jesus said no one he meant no one takes it from me but I lay it down to myself and I have power to lay it down I have power to take it again notice what he says this command
- 55:57
- I have received from my father in other words that was a covenant that the son made with the father in eternity before he came to this earth folks that this was already in the plan of salvation now
- 56:11
- I gotta move on but this is the great love of God the greatness of God's love that brought him here isn't that glorious for God so loved the world there's not two ways there's only one way but look at how
- 56:30
- God loves the world there's two things I'd like for us to look at very quickly look at what
- 56:35
- God loved and two look at what God gave he loved the world and he gave his son you know think about that meditate on that that's two great truths you find yourself lost in the words in no time whatsoever and humbled to the dirt you think about that God loved the wicked world not the sins of the world but he loves the world not the wickedness of the world not the world system but he loves the people the souls not desiring that any should perish but all should come to repentance
- 57:12
- God is the one loves like God Paul says and you he made in Ephesians 2 made alive and were dead in trespasses and sins in which you were once walked according to the course of this world listen to this according to the prince and the power of the air the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh isn't that what the world lives for?
- 57:44
- for the flesh and of the mind were by nature children of wrath and then this says this just as the others verse 4 but God the transition
- 57:56
- God intervenes who's rich in mercy because what?
- 58:01
- of his great love were with he loved us even when we were dead in trespasses made us alive together with Christ a dead man can't choose by his own will to come to God he's dead he stinks amen by grace in parenthesis by grace you've been saved raised us up together made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ the father gave the father gave and he gives and he gives and no wonder
- 58:36
- Wesley sung it and can it be that I should gain an interest in the saviors blood died for me died he for me who caused his pain for me who loved him to death pursued amazing love how can it be that thou my
- 58:57
- God shouldst die for me and also Frederick Lehman who wrote the love of God he says it like this the love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell it goes beyond the high star it goes beyond the high star and reaches to the lowest hell the guilty pair bowed down with care
- 59:19
- God gave his son to win his erring child he reconciled and pardoned from his sin when years of time shall pass away and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall when men who here refuse to pray on rocks and hills and mountains call
- 59:37
- God's love so sure shall still endure all measureless and strong redeeming grace don't you love that name to Adam's race the saints and angels song third stanza could we with ink the ocean fill were the skies of parchment made were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky
- 01:00:12
- O love of God how rich how pure how measureless and strong it shall forever endure the saints and angels song it's glorious isn't it for God so loved the world the greatest lover the greatest degree the greatest number that he gave the greatest act his only begotten son the greatest gift that whosoever the greatest invitation believes the greatest simplicity in him the greatest person should not perish the greatest deliverance but the greatest difference have the greatest certainty everlasting life the greatest possession now
- 01:00:55
- I need to wrap this up and give you some application here there's several things here how much time
- 01:01:02
- I got left it's gone but I'm going to finish it there's several things that's very important here in this application we must get this folks
- 01:01:12
- Jesus says you got to believe that's really the key to everything here you must believe it that word believe whosoever believes the first thing is meaning everybody that would benefit from Jesus came what he came to do whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life tragically the rest will perish and not have eternal life those that do not believe we know that's a eternal tragedy the important thing is believe it trust the word believe means to trust to receive to embrace it true means to trust in Jesus Christ to lean to embrace to cling to him to lay hold of eternal life like Paul said third to receive it believing and receiving it is together a person must receive the free gift of eternal life receive what
- 01:02:22
- Christ has done for you before God will pardon and give eternal life it's by faith alone so receiving and believing
- 01:02:32
- Jesus and you can see that in Romans 10 9 and 10 if you shall confess with thy mouth the
- 01:02:40
- Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that he died he rose again, was buried, rose again and shall be saved this is not just mere repetition and because he says with the heart you believe unto righteousness it's not with the mind it's with the heart that's what we better get a hold of as a child takes a hold fourth if we ask and receive it shall be given to him
- 01:03:12
- Jesus said that seek and you shall find receive him as what?
- 01:03:18
- receive Jesus as what he is and all that he says he is and all his claims everything in John 3 .35
- 01:03:27
- for example Jesus says I am the bread of life whoever comes to me shall not hunger whoever believes in me shall not thirst so here believing means coming to Jesus receiving him as the food and drink that satisfies our souls folks nothing else is going to satisfy us and notice people in the world look for everything else to satisfy them but only
- 01:03:52
- Jesus can satisfy oh I'm telling you beloved it's only in Christ and Christ alone and I will preach that to the day
- 01:04:02
- I die what is eternal life? Jesus answered that John 17 .3
- 01:04:07
- and this is eternal life that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent that's important folks knowing
- 01:04:18
- God knowing Jesus Christ notice he does not exclude Jesus Christ Jesus is praying for his disciples in John 17 so eternal life is received by believing by faith alone faith comes by what?
- 01:04:32
- hearing and hearing by the word of God there is life given power in this book folks like I said in the beginning
- 01:04:40
- I love Spurgeon and everything he says but this book right here has power it has the power to raise dead men it's powerful it's like it makes me think about God told
- 01:04:54
- Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones a pile of bones thousands and millions of them and he preached the word of God and he gave the word of God and all of a sudden you see them bones coming together and muscles and sinew and a whole powerful army came out folks you're looking at a world that God spoke with his word and his word is that powerful and why is the church now without power it's because we've departed from this
- 01:05:24
- Bible I tell you God help us we must get back to this Bible Lord help us
- 01:05:32
- Lord help us that's the only way we can have a revival again folks and I've been hearing on Christmas day churches canceling services because of families folks that's a problem because on Christmas day it should be like no other because God is
- 01:05:48
- God and God is above family we love our family yes God gave us the family but God is the giver of gifts he's the giver of all come on I'm telling you folks we must come back to this and know that God is
- 01:06:05
- Lord hallelujah I better stop before I get beside myself because I'm telling you this is so important one more thing
- 01:06:15
- I got to say the most important thing here and it makes me think of Psalm 2 12 the
- 01:06:24
- Psalmist David says kiss the son least he be angry and you perish there's that word perish what you got to do you kiss the son and we're not talking about a
- 01:06:38
- Judas kiss folks we're talking about a worshiping loving kiss of adoration to love
- 01:06:48
- God and Jesus Christ kiss the son least he be angry with you you perish in the way when his wrath is kindled but a little and then it says this blessed are all those who put their trust in him blessed are those who put their trust in him let's pray
- 01:07:13
- Father we thank you Lord we adore you Lord we bless you we thank you that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and he who believes in him though he may die and we're going to die because it's appointed for once man to die and after this the judgment but we shall live and whoever lives and believes in me
- 01:07:40
- Jesus said shall never die do you believe this that's a question to each and every one of us do we believe this oh hallelujah there's no other hope for mankind there's no other hope for this dying world there's no other hope for us but in the living only in the living hope who is the way the truth and the life
- 01:08:06
- Jesus Christ Father I pray that seal this great truth to our hearts today as we have heard that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners and to seek and to save the lost
- 01:08:18
- Father help us to turn this world upside down and spread this gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth fill us with your spirit
- 01:08:26
- Father we thank you for this your wonderful unchanging love it never changes wherewith you have loved us you have set your love and your affection upon us