John 8 from London

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A sermon on John chapter 8 from the Trinity Road Chapel in London, February, 2010.

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Good evening, it's wonderful to be with you again. This time
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I will turn my microphone on and not scare the sound person to death. It's good to be with you this evening.
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Let's turn again to John chapter 8, for I sort of feel like I have a mission this evening to make it all the way through.
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John chapter 8. We began this morning with the first section, verses 12 and following.
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We saw the use of the phrase, Ego, I am, in regards to the
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Lord Jesus Christ. We sort of traced that from other texts in John back into the Old Testament.
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And we read through verse 30. And so with your indulgence,
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I will just be skipping through some of these sections rather than reading all the way through again this evening.
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So we have maximum time to actually make application. Specifically, beginning in verse 30.
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Remember this morning we looked at these verses. And we read here that as he was speaking these things, many believed in him.
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Many believed in Jesus. Now before we read the rest of it, I need to give you some background information.
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So you can understand this amazing statement. Why do I say it's an amazing statement? Because if you've read the rest of this chapter, you know that by the end of the chapter, the people to whom
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Jesus is speaking, they will pick up stones to stone him. Think about the very definition of fickle faith.
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Faith that is temporary. Faith that is easily changed. As they heard
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Jesus speaking, they believed in him. But what kind of faith did they have?
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What kind of faith would allow them by the end of the chapter to be picking up stones to stone
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Jesus? I think we can learn a very important lesson from this. Because in the
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Gospel of John, when saving faith is discussed, when saving faith is presented, it is presented as an ongoing action.
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For example, we all know John 3 .16, probably the most widely memorized verse in all the
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Bible. And there when we have a discussion of the one believing, it is a form of the language that doesn't talk about someone just simply for a moment believing.
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It is the one who is constantly believing as a regular thing. Ongoing action.
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And throughout the Gospel of John, saving faith is described of those who are coming to Jesus, believing in Jesus, looking to Jesus, and it's an ongoing thing.
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But a couple of times, you have a different kind of faith mentioned. Remember back in John chapter 2, when
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Jesus had done his first sign. It says that having seen the sign, some believed in him.
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But it uses a different form of the language. A form of the language that refers to a simple point action.
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A very simple thing. It does not speak of ongoing action. It's just simply believed. And interestingly enough,
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John says, in most of our English translations say, but Jesus did not entrust himself to them because he knew what filled the hearts of men.
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It's literally the same word. Jesus did not believe himself to them because he knew that theirs was not an ongoing faith.
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It was a point action faith. And here in John chapter 8, that's exactly what we have in verse 30.
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When it says he was saying these things that some believed in him, it's not the ongoing faith.
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It is a point action faith. There's no commentary on it. This is saving faith.
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This is they believed in him. And what Jesus immediately does is he challenges that kind of faith.
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Jesus does what we don't do today. What do
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I mean by that? Well, think about how many times Jesus broke modern rules of church growth.
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Think of John chapter 6. You've got 5 ,000 excited men at the beginning.
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They are excited. They're so excited about Jesus, they want to come and make him king. They're so excited about Jesus, the next day when they see
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Jesus is gone, they get into boats and row across a lake looking for him.
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They are seeking Jesus. Now in most of our churches, we make these people deacons.
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Immediately. But what does Jesus do? He challenges them.
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And he identifies them as unbelievers. In fact, by the end of John chapter 6,
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Jesus has gone from 5 ,000 excited men, not including women and children, to 12 confused disciples.
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That's not how we do things today. But that's how Jesus did it. And here in John chapter 8, you have men who go, well,
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I like what he says. And what does Jesus do? Does he attempt to say, oh, well,
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I'm glad you like what I have to say. What would you like to hear me say next? What would you like me to do?
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He doesn't invite them to define him. Notice what he says.
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Therefore Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, if you abide, remain, dwell in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
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And you will know the truth, and the truth will free you. The truth will set you free.
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So what does Jesus do? He doesn't accept surface level faith.
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He is not excited by surface level faith. Instead he says, if you abide in my word.
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Now again, I have to stop and say, I know we've heard this text so many times.
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We've probably sung it in songs, and you've heard it in cantatas and things like that.
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It becomes so familiar to us. But hear what Jesus said. In my word. How would people have understood that?
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What other prophet could ever make those words, those statements? If you abide in my word.
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Notice, if you abide. If you remain. If you stay. Not if you show a little bit of interest. Not if once in a while you sort of tip your hat toward my word.
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If you remain in my word. Then you are truly my disciples.
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My learners. Anyone who does not find delight in the words of Christ.
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Does not desire to abide in the word of Christ. Is not truly his disciple.
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That's his own statement. It frightens me how many people there are.
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Who even though we have been given this rich revelation in scripture. That no person in their life can ever fully understand.
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And plumb the depths of what God has given to us in his word. So many people are dissatisfied.
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With what is to be found in God's word. They're always looking for something new. They're always wondering about, well what about this new thing and that new thing.
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When I see someone in the church that has that attitude. I'm concerned. Because the true disciple of Jesus Christ.
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Desires to dwell, abide in his word. And finds all that we need.
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In what God has given to us. When I find someone who does not find satisfaction.
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True contentment. In the word of God. I'm very concerned. Because I believe in the spirit of God.
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Causes a heart to be born again. He places within that heart. A desire to hear the word of Christ.
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In fact what would Jesus' words. Well what would Jesus' words be two chapters from now. In John chapter 10.
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My sheep hear my voice. My sheep hear my voice.
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And so if you abide in my word. Truly you are my disciples. And you will know the truth.
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You will know the truth. Jesus knew that these men. This was not true saving faith. Because it was not based upon who he really was.
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They did not understand that. They had heard words of wisdom. But they did not really understand those words.
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In John 2 they had seen miraculous signs. But they didn't understand what they were pointing to. We must be careful.
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Of false faith. Because when we do not follow Jesus' example. And challenge that false faith.
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With God's truth. And it's easy to fall into that trap. We want to believe that any little bit of statement of faith.
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Is the real thing. But how do we find out when we look at Jesus? He says you will know the truth.
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What does it say to someone? If I say to you. You will know the truth. What does that mean about you right now?
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That means you don't know the truth. And there is an immediate.
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Testing of a person's real attitude. Because if someone says well you don't really know the truth.
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What do you mean I don't know the truth? There has to be some humility. There has to be. A person has to come to a point.
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Where they recognize I need truth. I need something outside myself. You will know the truth.
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And here is where Jesus used a word. That always. Absolutely always.
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Exposes the harm of hypocrisy. Jesus says the truth will free you.
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The truth will set you free. And what do you say to someone.
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When you say to them you will be set free right now. You are a slave. You are a servant.
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You don't have freedom. And as soon as Jesus says that.
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The absolute self deception. Of the men to whom he is speaking. Comes flying off the page.
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For before we read verse 33. Remember what the context is here. These are men.
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Who right now are under the heel of Rome. If a Roman soldier had walked up to them.
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At any point during their day. And said carry my back. Their only response would be how far.
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They are paying tribute to the Roman state. Heavy taxation.
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Rome doesn't really care. About their rights or their liberties. And this wasn't the first time.
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We can think of how many times. God used the Philistines. To bring the people of Israel into subjection.
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As a judgment. We think of the Assyrians. We think of the
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Babylonians. Even during the time of Greek domination. Israel had been enslaved many times.
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And yet in all of that. Look at verse 33. They answered and said to him.
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We are the seed of Abraham. And we have never been enslaved to anyone.
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How can you say that we shall be made free. Self -deception.
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Absolute self -deception. And here we see the necessity.
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The absolute necessity. Of challenging self -righteousness.
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On the part of those. Who show some interest in Jesus. There is nothing that will kill a church.
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Faster than filling its pews with unregenerate. Slightly religious people.
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Nothing. The driftwood will choke the life of any church.
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The church is made up of people. Who bow the knee before Jesus Christ. Not who expect
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Jesus Christ to bow the knee to them. And the self -righteous person.
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Is the one who is continually speaking of his own goodness. His own worthiness.
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His own freedom. Does not recognize that he is the slave of sin.
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And must be set free from that sin. Oh so much of evangelicalism in the world today.
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Seeks to make men feel comfortable where they are. Seeks to make
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Jesus a self -help methodology. That you add. Rather than the very
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Lord of life itself. And we wonder. Why we see the things happening.
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That we see happening in churches. Jesus explains to these men.
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Don't Jesus answer in verse 34. Truly truly I say to you. Everyone doing sin.
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There is that present tense. There is that ongoing action. Everyone doing sin.
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Is the slave of sin. Sin is not something you can play with.
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Sin is not something you can turn on and off. When it's something you're living in.
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It's something that you're doing. You are experiencing slavery. He says the slave, the servant.
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Does not abide in the house forever. But the son abides forever.
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Therefore. If the son shall set you free. You will be free.
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Indeed. He is the son. And he must be the one who sets free.
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From the tyranny of sin. They didn't understand that.
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That's why their faith was not a true saving faith to begin with. And they rebelled.
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When the truth of God. Concerning the fact that salvation is his work.
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Was brought to bear. In their hands. I'm reminded that the apostle
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Paul. When he wrote. We might as well call the. The gospel according to Paul. The book of Romans.
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When he wrote that book. He did not begin the book.
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With a sickly sweet appeal. For people to.
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Enable Jesus to save them. Beginning in the 18th verse.
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The first chapter. He lays out. For two chapters. The bad news.
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The bad news. Of the universal sinfulness of man. The depravity of man. The fact there's none righteous.
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No not one. There's none that seeks after God. All have gone out of the way. They have together become useless.
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There's no fear of God before their eyes. He not only talks about Gentiles.
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But the Jews as well. Because it is easy for them to stand back and say. Oh yes. You go ahead and talk about those
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Gentiles. But Paul says. No I'm talking about you. And he concludes in chapter 3 saying.
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All are under sin. And only then. Does he go to the good news.
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Only when you have someone who stands before God. Recognizing. Their sinfulness.
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Recognizing their need of a savior. Recognizing his justice. His right.
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To judge sin. Does he then speak of a perfect savior.
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We because we so often fear the face of men. Reverse the order.
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We don't like seeing the disapproving stare of people. You are offending me.
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That is the great heresy. Of our society. To offend. And yet how many are concerned about offending
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God. And God's law. So what does
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Jesus do. He goes directly to the heart of the matter. He speaks their need to be set free.
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And in so doing he exposes. He lays bare their true intentions.
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The conversation continues to escalate. Jesus points out he knows their hearts.
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And he knows that they want to kill him. Remember these are going to be very many the same people. Who in just a few chapters when
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Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. They take counsel as to how they might destroy him.
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What kind of madness. Does sin bring.
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That in the light of the very conquering of death. You wish to try to kill the one who conquers death.
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What madness does sin bring. And so he knows their hearts.
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And he says you are seeking to kill me. A man who has spoken the truth to you in verse 40.
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A truth that he heard from God. This Abraham would not do. You are not really Abraham's descendants.
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But I want to look especially at just a couple of verses. And contrast
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Jesus' analysis of their situation. With what we would normally hear from people today.
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Jesus is talking about the fact that they do the desires of their father the devil. And he was a liar from the beginning and the father of lies.
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And how if they loved God as they claimed to. They would love him because he came forth from God. Now look at verse 43.
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Why is it that you do not know or understand. What I'm speaking to you.
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Why don't you understand what I'm saying to you. Stop right there.
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How is that question normally answered. By many in the world today.
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Why don't people believe what Jesus says. Well it's because how we present it.
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I don't know if the same thing is true over here. But I know Pastor Doug is a pastor in the
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United States. So he would know that if you want to. You can spend a fair amount of change.
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And bring in people who will survey the area around your church. They will pass out surveys.
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And give polls and research. And they will let you know what the median income is. And what the educational level is.
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And exactly when you should have your church services. And how long they should be. And what colors you should have in the sanctuary.
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And what kind of clothing your pastor should wear. And I guarantee they never suggest what I wear. And what color his hair should be.
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And I really strike out there. And all sorts of stuff like that. And they will tell you exactly how you should craft your church.
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To be the most attractive to your area. Attractive to your area.
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Attractive to whom? To whom? I mean when you think about it.
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When people ask the question. Well why don't people believe in Jesus? Why aren't people just flooding through the doors? We say well it's how we do church.
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Or it's how we present it. Or you know if we just need to do more drama in the church service.
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And so on and so forth. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying there aren't unique and excellent ways to get people's attention.
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And to open up dialogue and things like that. I'm not saying there's something wrong with that. But the fundamental question that has to be answered.
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First before we even start thinking about those things. Why is it that people reject the claims of Christ when they hear the claims of Christ?
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And if we view the gospel as a primarily man centered thing. Then we're going to come up with the wrong answer.
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What do I mean by a man centered thing? Well many view the gospel as something that God is desperately trying to do.
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He is having some real problems in certain areas. But he's at least trying. And it's all about man.
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May I suggest to you that a serious reading of the testament will reveal to us. That the gospel is something that God does.
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It is the great self glorification of the triune God. Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
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That in the counsel of God before creation itself. In the great covenant of redemption.
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This gospel found it's origin in the Father. It's accomplishment in the
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Son. It's application in the Spirit. And that in eternity to come.
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It's not going to be focused on us. It's going to be focused upon the glorious accomplishment of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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It will be to the praise of His glorious grace. And many of the ones doing the praising.
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It's a God centered thing, not a man centered thing. And if we make that decision.
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Then we can understand. Why Jesus answered the way He did. He didn't answer the way most evangelicals do.
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Why do you not hear? Why do you not understand? Because you are not able to hear my word.
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You lack the capacity. You lack the ability to hear my word.
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Now, obviously they could hear what He was saying. So here is not some type of physical problem.
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Jesus was not lamenting the lack of an ancient equivalent of a sound system. But He was lamenting the fact that those who remain in slavery to sin.
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Are spiritually dead. They cannot hear the word of Christ.
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Because that is something a spiritually live person does. The word of Christ is spiritual.
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Those who are spiritually dead. They only hear what their father wants them to hear.
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They don't hear what Jesus says. He even says in the next verse.
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You are of your father the devil. You hear what your father would have you to hear.
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And you might say. Oh that's just terrible. These were the most religious Jews of the day. Yes, religion can be a very dangerous thing.
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When it becomes a means of self -gratification. Which it has become here.
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Indeed, it was only to the Jews that Jesus warned of the unpardonable sin. I believe the unpardonable sin.
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Can only be committed by those who have great might. Great might and yet become so twisted in their sinfulness.
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That they can call that which is white, black and black, white. That's what they had done.
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If you look at Matthew chapter 12. But notice what Jesus' response says.
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Man lacks a capacity to hear the word of Christ.
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Jesus had said two chapters earlier in John 6. No man has the ability.
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No man is able to come unto me unless the father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
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Here we have the assertion made. You do not have the ability to hear my word.
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That's why they do not understand. Well is that really all there is to it?
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Well I think we have an expansion in this. In verse 45 through 47.
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Notice what Jesus says. Jesus has spoken the truth to these men.
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But you are not believing me. You are unbelievers. Very same phraseology used in John 6 .35.
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You are unbelievers. You're standing right in front of me but you're unbelievers. Why?
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Because they will not accept what Jesus reveals about himself. Which one of you convicts me of sin?
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If I am speaking the truth, why do you not believe me? There's that question.
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And once again, how do people respond to that? I like to ask my students when
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I have the opportunity to teach in seminary this question. Why do people disbelieve? And it's amazing the number of responses that you get.
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The wide variety of answers. But Jesus provides an answer.
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In verse 47. The one who is of God.
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The one who belongs to God. Hears the words of God.
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For this reason you are not hearing. Because you don't belong to God.
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Why are they not hearing? The man -centered gospel presentation says, oh, because of their free will.
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Because of their background. Because of failures in the church. Whatever it might be.
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Jesus' response. Why do you not hear? Because you don't belong to God.
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Those are hard words. Those are hard words. Now we don't know the way
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Jesus knew. Who is who? I've said many times. I got new eyeglasses recently.
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I had LASIK back in 2001. It worked pretty well for a while. But my eyesight has been decreasing in its clarity.
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So I finally gave up and had to go back to glasses. These glasses
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I have here. If there was sun shining, they would turn dark. Transition lenses.
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You may have seen people have those. Once they're exposed to sunlight, they turn into sunglasses. And then they light back up again.
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That's pretty cool. There's some sort of something in there that reacts to ultraviolet light. And voila,
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I have sunglasses. I think that's, I like gadgets and things like that. Well, I really wish that we had glasses we could put on and I could see the elect.
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The elect would glow green. Wouldn't that be wonderful? I mean, from a pastoral perspective, wouldn't that be great?
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You put on your elect glasses and you find out who the real ones are. And oh, I didn't figure he'd glow green.
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And her? No surprise there. I'm going to stop calling her Sister Margaret.
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Wouldn't that be wonderful? In counseling situations, only one of the two people glow green.
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Change how you talk to them, wouldn't it? And Alex, oh, we're going to what, Leicester Square?
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Is that what it's called? We're going to Leicester Square. Now, if we had those glasses, we could put them on.
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And we could focus our attention on the people we really need to get to and skip everybody else. Wouldn't that be easy?
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Guess what? There are no election glasses. Wish there was.
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There isn't. We don't know. That's why we evangelize everything.
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We command men everywhere to repent. Because God doesn't give us that information. Jesus knew, and he does lay down a basic principle for us.
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Those who are of God will hear the words of God. Those who are not, will not.
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And how dare us to think we should edit the words of God to try to get around.
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His own revealed way of doing things. We have no right to prostitute the word of God so that the non -elect find it more acceptable.
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What are we thinking? That happens so much today.
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So much today. Jesus will put it very bluntly in John chapter 10.
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When he talks about himself as the good shepherd. What does he say?
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Yes, my sheep, they hear my voice. They follow me. And when he gets done with that, what does he say to the
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Jews who are opposing him? You're not my sheep. That's why you don't hear my voice.
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That's why you don't follow me. You're not my sheep. Now, I know that this is going to be shocking to everyone.
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But the general application in regards to shepherding and sheep.
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Is that shepherds choose the sheep. The sheep don't choose the shepherds.
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You do not have a situation where the shepherds stand in line. And then the sheep pray by and look each shepherd over.
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And they get to the end of the line. I'm going to take number 8. I'm going to be a part of his flock.
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Sheep aren't smart enough to remember through 8 anyways. And yet, is that not how we, so often, do you think?
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That we're the ones that choose the shepherd? No. The shepherd chooses his sheep.
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And it's because they are sheep that they hear his voice. Jesus lays down a principle.
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And while we are not given information to know who the elect are. We are to take this information to understand why there are differing responses when we proclaim the gospel.
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And we are to take as a firm foundation a recognition of God's sovereignty in this matter.
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And it should banish any sense. Of pride on our part.
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Because you see. You can proclaim the gospel to two men of equal intelligence.
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Equal education. Equal social standing. Equal background. Why does one respond in humility and faith and repentance.
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And the other finds it to be utter foolishness. Why is there a difference? Jesus explained it right here.
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One belongs to God. One is one of those the Father has committed to the
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Son in John chapter 6. The Son says, I will lose none of them but raise them all up on the last day.
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In the words of the Apostle Paul, writing of the Corinthians. To those who are perishing.
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The message of the cross is foolishness. But to those who are being saved.
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The called of God. Jews or Greeks. Christ. The power of God and the wisdom of God.
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It is not because you and I are better or wiser or more spiritually insightful.
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It is all of the mercy and grace of God. The Jews did not like this.
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You will notice in verse 48. You are a
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Samaritan. You have a demon. Those were fighting words.
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That was about as low as you could land. They hated the
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Samaritans. We tend to detest the ones that are the closest to us in many ways.
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You are a Samaritan. You have a demon. At this point, if Jesus was a compromiser.
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If Jesus was one who subscribed to the, let's not really worry about God's truth thing.
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Let's just try to calm everything down. We don't want anyone to be offended here.
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Things are starting to get a little bit warm. Let's just all smile. It is not true that Jesus does.
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There is much that he could say here. That he could have really calmed the situation.
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Walked away. He doesn't. Because Jesus honored the Father and honored the Father's truth.
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More than he feared the face of men and their feigned offense. In fact,
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Jesus knew exactly what he needed to say to bring this situation to a head.
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Verse 51. Truly, truly, I say to you. If anyone keeps my word, he will not taste death forever.
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Well, talk about pouring fuel on the fire. Clearly the
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Lord wants to bring forth this final confession he's going to make.
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And so he makes it very clear. If you keep my word, and again hear that, my word.
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You'll never die. Who do you make yourself out to be? We know you have a demon.
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Now, Abraham died. The prophets died. And you say if someone keeps your word, they will never taste death forever?
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Are you making yourself out to be greater than our father Abraham who died? And the prophets who died?
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Who are you making yourself out to be? Jesus answered.
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If I'm glorifying myself, my glory will be nothing. It is the Father who is glorifying me. He's the one you say is your
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God. But you don't know him. Just like you don't know me. Boy, they must have all found that to be a very easy pill to swallow.
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And then he talks about Abraham. Verse 56. Abraham, your father.
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The one that you are so proud of, you know. He rejoiced to see my day.
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He saw it. Oh, I was glad. What? Did Jesus therefore say to him, you're not yet 50 years old.
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You've seen Abraham? And that's when Jesus says the words we know this morning.
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Jesus said to them, truly, truly, I say to you. Before Abraham was,
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I am. Before Abraham was, I am.
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Not just a claim to preexistence. But the very name of the
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God of Israel. As they take up stones, they might stone him.
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But Jesus hid himself around the temple. We don't know if that was a miracle. We don't know. They were just kept from seeing him.
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We don't know. But the very men who once said, that sounds pretty good.
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Are picking up stones to stone him. Because their self -righteousness has been exposed.
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They will not accept Jesus for who he is. My friends, we live in a day.
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Where many people do not want the Jesus we read about in John chapter.
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They want a Jesus that will make your hair fuller. And your teeth whiter.
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And your bank account a little bit bigger. Maybe make your retirement a little bit smoother. But that Jesus, he's not politically correct.
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He's not what our society wants. Our society was focused upon self -fulfillment.
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And amusement and self -gratification. But may I suggest something to you?
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That's the Jesus we're following. Right there. I'm afraid of the face of men.
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The very I am. The very creator. The one sent by the Father. Who can reveal the truth to us.
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That we can be free. That's the only Jesus that can save. And that's the only
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Jesus that we have any right to proclaim in this world. But the wonderful thing is we can always trust.
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That the spirit of God. Will continue to open hearts and minds. By his grace.
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So that men and women. Boys and girls will bow the knee in confession. To that Jesus.
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The true Jesus. Who continues to be worthy of our worship. And our praise.
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We are going to have the Lord's Supper in a few moments. And I hope that as we do.
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You will remember. What the Apostle Paul said. When he instructed the Corinthians.
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That as often as you eat this bread. And drink this cup. You make remembrance.
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Of the Lord's death until he comes. You proclaim it. We are not merely passive.
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In what we do this evening. We are active. You are making a statement of faith.
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That that Jesus of John 8. That Jesus of John 10. John 17. John 20, 28.
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When Thomas seeing the risen Lord says. My Lord and my
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God. Gave his life. His body.
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As a ransom. For sinners. That he truly died.
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And that he truly. Rose again. May I just mention.
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As part of. What we are going to be doing. That in.
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The old covenant. There was in the repetitive. Sacrifices.
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A reminder. Of sin. That is what Hebrews chapter 10 tells us. The fact that people had to keep coming back.
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And keep coming back. And keep coming back. And the lamb had to be slain. The bull had to be slain.
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The blood had to be sprinkled. Was a reminder. A remembrance. Of sin.
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That there must be something coming. That was going to. Bring an end to all this. And deal with sin once for all.
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One of the most glorious truths. In the New Testament. Is that we have.
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A reminder as well. But the reminder that we have. In the Lord's Supper.
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Is not a reminder of sin. It is a reminder. Of a savior.
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Who saved us from sin. And so while we do this. Repetitively.
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It is not a sacrifice. It is a remembrance. Of a singular. Accomplished. Sacrifice.
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And the reason. That it can be efficacious. For men and women. From every tribe.
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Tongue. People and nation. Is because the one who gave himself. Was the
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God man. Not just a good man. Not just a righteous man.
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But a perfect man. Who fulfilled the law of God. In every way. He loved
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God perfectly. So the righteousness that we have.
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Is a perfect. Full righteousness. Needing no addition. On our hearts.
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It leads us to. The desire to be holy. But it does not say of us.
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Your holiness must be added to this. To have eternal life. That truly is. The dividing line between.
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Supernatural Christianity. And various religions of men. We celebrate.
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An accomplished salvation. In the supper. Let us be thankful.
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To the Lord. TRC praise number 63.