Approaching God - Exodus 19

Okay, well, good morning. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Faith Bible Church. Glad to see everybody's here some visitors all the way from Hawaii. So welcome again. Family church family goes all all the way all around the globe and Are you to tell that all you got to do is need to do is get online and boy, it's it's pretty pretty amazing.

So, I'm just glad you're here today and we're blessed in so many ways. The Announcements we're not too heavy on in that announcements. We've got our prayer meeting every Sunday at 6 in the evening. So please join us for that.

I want to thank pastor for his. This morning was on the canonicity of scriptures. What a wonderful study that is and If you'd like his notes and you weren't here, it's really relevant to What we stand on not that we need to have all the intellectual aspects of the scriptures.

But it really grounds of what we study and what we what we believe in. It just it's a consistent thread of truth all the way through it. So if you'd like those notes, I'm sure see Victor and he'll get your email and write it down.

But it's a great study and thank you pastor for that for that study. There's men's breakfast next Saturday at 9 o 'clock in the morning, so men take note of that and that's always a great time of gathering together and filling our stomachs because men like to do that and At least I do.

And there's no men's Bible study that afternoon. On it's not on the on the bulletin yet, but we're gonna have an all-church fellowship on May 22nd. That's after the Sunday service. It'll be over at the Huffman household.

So Lunch will be served. All you need to do is bring yourselves. Children are welcome. Everybody's welcome. So please come join us so. So now it'll be right after the morning service. So as soon as we wrap up here and then we'll head in that direction.

Okay, and I think that's all for announcements. As we prepare our hearts, I'd like to just read a few verses from Psalm 103. It reads bless the Lord. Oh my soul and all that is within me. Bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord. Oh my soul and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your iniquities. Who heals all your diseases who redeemed your life from destruction. Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies who satisfies your mouth within with good good things?

So that your youth is renewed like the Eagles and then in 19 He says the Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules overall so praise the Lord for his word and that he is ruler over all things and.

So, please join me in prayer. Lord God, we thank you father that you have gathered us here today Lord that you have made us in your image Lord that we might worship you Abundantly in an in a magnificent magnificent manner father God we ask that you would lead us that the Holy Spirit would guide us as We hear your truths that we as we sing and hear the truths that are spoken of and repeated in the in the hymns that we Sing father in the scripture that is read.

And the teaching that is given father that you are would be the preeminent you are the Lord over all and that we would be good hearers and listeners of That father we pray that you would help us to to discern What we hear and then apply that to our lives father.

We pray for for the folks that are not present today. Many are sick or ill at home father. We pray for strength and Comfort for them and we know that they would like to be here father, but Lord, you have them in a place and time as according to your will so father We just thank you for your grace and love and your mercy father for it is it is infinite.

So God bless our time today and this morning. We look forward to taking communion as well begin to prayer prepare our hearts in anticipation for that father that we might have a whole heart before a holy God and That we would have set aside and confess those things that are that are grievous of you to you father.

So that we might commune Without any hindrance or any encumbrance father. So God bless this morning and this service. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.

God Will Never Forsake His People

Good morning, and he has said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee and We serve the Lord Jesus and how great he is and let's stand and sing how great thou art.

At this time.

Good morning, I'm gonna be reading from John chapter 1 verses 9 through 14. As John chapter 1 verses 9 through 14 I'll be reading out of the New King James Version. That was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

He was in the world and the world was made through him and the world did not know him. He came to his own and his own did not receive him. But as many as received him to them he gave the right to become children of God to those who believe in his name.

Who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God and The word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. The glory is of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.

May the Lord please add his blessing to the reading of these words.

Well, let's worship our King the Heavenly King and that sing a worship the King and.

We are God's people, please stand you please be seated. Children are now dismissed to the Children's Church as pastor.

God Comes Down to Meet His People at Sinai

Please turn with me to the book of Exodus chapter 19. In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt on the same day They came to the wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim and come to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness so Israel camped there before the mountain and Moses went up to God and the Lord called to him from the mountain saying Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to myself.

Now therefore if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people for all the earth is mine and You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel. So Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before them all these words Which the Lord commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said all that the Lord has spoken we will do.

So Moses brought back the words of the law of the people to the Lord and the Lord said to Moses Behold I come to you in the thick cloud and the people may hear when I speak with you and believe you forever.

So Moses told the words of the people of the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow and let them wash their clothes and Let them be ready for the third day.

For on the third day The Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. You shall set bounds for the people all around saying take heed to yourselves That you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base.

Whoever touches a mountain shall surely be put to death. Not a hand shall touch it Touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow whether man or beast. He shall not live when the trumpet sounds long.

They shall come near the mountain. So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and Sanctified the people and they washed their clothes and he said to the people be ready for the third day. Do not come near your wives.

Then it came to pass on the third day in the morning that there were thunderings and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and the sound of the trumpet was very loud and that all the people who were in the camp trembled and Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Now Mount Sinai was Completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire. It's smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace and the whole mountain quaked greatly and When the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder.

Moses spoke and God answered him by voice. Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai on the top of the mountain and the Lord called Mount Moses to the top of the mountain and Moses went up. The Lord said to Moses go down and warn people lest they break through to gaze at the Lord and many of them perish.

Also, let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves lest the Lord break out against them. But Moses said to the Lord the people cannot come up the Mount Sinai for you warned us saying set bounds Around the mountain and consecrated.

Then the Lord said to him away Get down and then come up you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord lest he break out against them. So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

This is the Word of the Lord. Let us pray. Father we are thankful that you are God who comes down to meet his people. We're thankful that you are a God who desires to meet his people. You are a God who makes a way for his people to meet you and We're grateful to be living on this side of the cross where God did come down in in a form of a man and he died for us so that we could be his and Father we pray that as we remember This great Presence of God that Moses and Israel got to see that we would also remember the fulfillment of that in Christ Jesus in his name we pray Amen as Israel is Headed toward the promised land.

God makes them stop by Mount Sinai for a special purpose. This is none other than to start a covenant relationship with his people. This text shows an appearance of God that is more vivid and more terrifying than ever before in Israel's history and The purpose of it is to form a covenant relationship.

Now that the Lord has graciously saved his people How are they going to relate to their God? Remember the Lord did not demand obedience from Israel Before saving them God graciously and mercifully saved Israel just as they were.

And now We see on Mount Sinai God Officially starting a covenant relationship with his people and what is required of his people To be in a relationship with him. Now to briefly speak about covenants in the ancient Near East a covenant was a treaty made between a powerful king and a lower vassal or lower Lord.

The powerful king would promise protection and provision to the lower Lord and The lower king or the lower magistrate might promise allegiance. Loyalty to this power for powerful king no other king. But this specific powerful king that they're making a covenant together.

It was legally binding treaty of loyalty. In which a betrayal would mean death for the traitor. A Covenant was a very serious matter. It wasn't just a promise it included that. But it was a treaty That was binding.

Now for the Lord God of Israel the relationship he offers his people was that of a covenant? Relationship a loyal committed relationship in which Israel would have no other God and God would provide and protect Israel and this is a crucial point in God's redemptive History because God graciously saved Israel out of bondage Despite their sinfulness and inadequacies.

Now this compassionate God this powerful God Desired to start a relationship with them. He wanted to be their one and only God. And Today's text will show us what it looked like for the Lord to show up so that Israel could enter a covenant relationship with him and This is important for us today.

Because the covenant-making Lord of the Old Testament is the same covenant-making Lord in the New Testament. Although we're in a different covenant We're making a covenant with the same being and of course Because we're in a different covenant how we live would look different from how Israel lived.

But it is important to know what kind of God makes the covenant with his people. God's relationship with us is not consumeristic. Where his in it as long as you provide or you're in it until he stops providing it is not a superficial consumeristic Relationship, but it's the covenant that legally binds ourselves to him.

It's a deep relationship That you can't find anywhere else. The closest thing to a covenant relationship with Jesus is When we find it in the covenant of marriage it's the giving of whole self to the other person and it's by and they're bound together and Each party looks out for the best God's best for the other.

That's the importance of covenant relationship and Every marriage even the best of the best is a shadowy glimpse of Our Relationship with God. So the main point of this text is that God God's people Enter into a covenant relationship with the Lord as he provides the way God's people enter into a covenant relationship with the Lord as he provides the way first.

Consecration Before Approaching the Holy God

The first 15 verses cover when God's people enter into a cup into covenant with the Lord. They must consecrate themselves. When God's people enter into covenant With the Lord they must consecrate themselves.

Now after leaving the camp of Rephidim Israel finally arrived in Sinai this passage is the climax of The Exodus narrative because the Lord reveals himself and his law to his people. This is where God's people enter into their covenant relationship with their Redeemer with their God.

This is how they will know how to relate to their God. How to live with their God how to live for their God? The first two verses established the context of this important event. They arrived at Sinai after three months of journeying in the wilderness.

After Moses goes up to the mountain. Now God speaks to Moses. Thus she shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel You have seen what I did to the Egyptians how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to myself.

This part is the preamble of the covenant. It identifies the parties that are involved in the covenant. Israel and the Lord. The Lord reminds Israel of his redemptive act to free Israel from their slavery their bondage and he uses the metaphor of eagles wings that bore them up.

An Eagle is the chief of all the birds. Majestic he's the king and This metaphor would illustrate How God saved his people from the enslavement of Egypt? It's the outstretched wings that protected his people.

The wings that swiftly rescued Israel from Egypt. It's the wings that show the powerful protection that the Lord provided for his people. Not only that it's those wings that brought Israel to himself.

It's not just freedom from enslavement. But a deliverance to himself. This was not just a political move on the Lord's part. But it was relational. The goal was to bring his people to himself. It's like the bridegroom bringing his bride to himself.

This covenant is not just political alliance But a relational deep covenant. Now after introducing the parties involved in the covenant the Lord lays out the requirements for the covenant. Now therefore if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant the first part is That there is a requirement of obedience in order for Israel to belong to God.

They must obey the Lord. They must be faithfully committed to him. They must not seek other gods. They must not disobey God. And What will result from the covenant faithfulness? Then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people.

For all the earth is mine if Israel walked with the Lord and remained loyal to the Lord. They will be the recipient of God's delight and blessing. They will be reserved and Preserved for the creator of the world.

Out of all the people groups whom God created Israel would be the crown jewel. Now, what does that mean for Israel to be the special treasure of the Lord? First six unpacks the implication of this special status and you shall be To me a kingdom of priests in a holy nation.

These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel. The special status of Israel was not to be preserved quietly in a secret vault. But to bless the surrounding nations. First as a kingdom of priests.

They would play an intermediary role between the Lord and the other nations. Israel's holiness and Faithfulness would show the surrounding pagan nations. What kind of God they worship. The hopeless pagan nations would encounter the compassionate and loving God through Israel.

Israel would be a nation that reflected God's holy characters which means they needed to be a holy nation. A Nation that is set apart for the Lord. A nation that is different from other nations. Israel would obey laws that are more just than any other laws of the pagan nations.

When you study the law of the Bible. It's striking. How impartial it is? The same law applies not just to the elders, but also to the poor. The same law applies to the foreigners but also to the king.

That was not the case in the surrounding regions and In this country even that's not the case often. When the elites get away with the crime that would not be possible to get away for the rest of us. Israel was Different and not only that they would be morally pure.

Israel's law showed the moral holiness and purity that would be unheard of in the surrounding regions. The surrounding regions. In the temple there would be cult prostitution. That would not be okay in Israel.

The priests would have to consecrate themselves before entering the temple in the surrounding nations. They had no regard for human life. They would sacrifice children for good harvest in Israel. That would curse the nation of Israel if that were found in Israel.

God set apart Israel. To be a kingdom of priests to show what kind of just morally pure holy and merciful God that Israel served and the surrounding nations would experience and Encounter him through Israel.

Now upon receiving such a great deal Moses relays it to the elders and the elders to the rest of the people and The people excitedly excitedly exclaimed all that the Lord has spoken we will do. Then Moses goes back to the Lord to share the people's response.

Now it is important to point out that God did not need Moses to tell him how the people responded. Right. God is omniscient. He is all-knowing. However, the formality in verse 8 in which Moses goes back to tell the Lord that the people accepted the deal is to show that.

The Israel's response was not to Moses but to God. This would serve as a reminder That Israel is now accountable to God. God has formally heard their reply. It's kind of like signing the marriage certificate After you get married.

The signing doesn't make it official. You are married when the pastor pronounces you man and husband in the witness of his people and God. But that formality is included here so that the agreement Is not between Moses and Israel.

Nor even the elders and Israel. But between the Lord himself and Israel. In verse 9 the Lord promises to be present Before his people to seal the deal. Behold I come to you in the thick cloud that the people may hear when I speak with you and believe you forever.

The Lord will be seen by Israel. To show that this was not some made-up religion that Moses Came up with when he spent too long in the mountains but rather a real Visitation from the sovereign Lord who rescued them from the bondage of Egypt.

This visit would show that Israel is truly dealing with the Lord not Moses. Right, this is very unlike From various religions that depends on only the testimony of a single man like Islam Mormonism. Now, how must Israel prepare for the Lord's visit?

Verses 10 through 13 detail what Israel must do to prepare for the Lord's visitation. Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow and let them wash their clothes and Let them be ready for the third day.

For on the third day The Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. The consecration or Making oneself set apart would require physical cleansing. To be set apart for the Lord remember in the Old Testament the physical phenomena.

Illustrated the spiritual reality. God used the physical phenomena to teach the spiritual truths. When Israel cleansed themselves physically their body and their garments. They would learn the importance of purity and holiness.

Remember they were purifying themselves for two days two days. That's a long time. This would get them thinking during this whole two days two days of purification process. Wow, what kind of God is the Lord that we have to be squeaky clean before he arrives?

What is the Lord like that we have to be spotless And pure from head to toe. It would be a teaching opportunity to show them the holiness the purity of the Lord their God. Now not only do these people have to be physically cleansed.

Verses 12 to 13. Actually restrict the people when the Lord comes down. They can't just be anywhere. You shall set bounds for the people all around saying take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch Its base.

Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow whether man or beast. He shall not live when the trumpet sounds long.

They shall come near the mountain. The Lord is so holy he is so utterly other. That Israel could not approach even the mountain in which the Lord was coming down on. Now this is not to say the mountain was special.

But It's how the how holy the Lord is. His holiness spreads even to the mountain that he comes down on. And What is the consequence of disobeying the Lord? Death no trial immediate execution. Not only that the method of death would prevent the justice keepers from touching the violator.

The criminal has to be shot with an arrow or stone to death. No one shall touch him. Now, why is the Lord so serious? Well, this is the reality of relating to the Holy God. The Holy God cannot be reached on our own terms but his terms.

This was vastly different from the gods of the ancient world. People made idols out of whatever material that suited them wood rock Metals whatever is available and they offer up food to these idols in Return they would expect some sort of blessing fertility good harvest good marriage and.

These idols or statues of fake gods could be kissed Could be robbed Could be hugged and you could bow down to them any time anywhere. Whatever suits your desires. It would be like a vending machine. I'll put some money in and expect the goods in return.

Not so for this Holy God. The Lord will not be controlled nor manipulated by the created. He will meet his people according to his way unlike the idols where the idolaters can choose whatever and whenever to offer and Whenever to approach however to come come closer.

The Lord will choose who will approach when they will approach and how they will approach. Because he is the creator Not a mere idol. And the command for preparation continues in verse 15. Be ready for the third day.

Do not come near your wives. The peculiarity of this last command is due to the Hebrew idiom to come or to go into one's wife. This was sexual intercourse. Now, why would Moses? Command Israel not to do that after all Bible celebrates sexual union between husband and wife everywhere else.

Well, this is because during the consecration The focus would be on the Lord. Not anything else. During these two days Israel had to just Consecrate every part of their bodies and their lives every facet to the Lord.

The focus was on the Lord not their personal lives. Now the question is How do the new covenant people consecrate themselves before the Lord. A shower is not required to approach the Lord. Laundry is not required to approach the Lord.

However consecration is required to approach the Lord. Titus 2 14 tells us How we are consecrated to approach the Lord. How we are consecrated to become the treasured possession of the Lord. Jesus gave himself for us that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself his own special people zealous for good works.

Ultimately it is not the physical filth that we need to worry about before approaching the Lord. Are there we need to be cleansed out of? The internal filth sin lawlessness wickedness. Rebellious heart.

Gross desires. It is this rebellious heart that actually Wants to disobey the Lord that needs to be cleansed out. And How does Jesus purify his people to make his own treasured people? Through his death on the cross He took our sin from us and faced the consequence death for our sake.

So that we would be made a new people in him. Jesus is the one who consecrates us who purifies us and Presents us acceptable before the Lord. Cleansing away the filth that we could not get rid of with soap and laundry detergent.

But cleansing away our sin and Dealing with that on the cross as he faced the wrath that we deserved. That's how God makes his people his treasured possession. Now the question is How does God meet his covenant people?

How does God? Encounter his covenant people. His covenant people approach the Lord according to his way. His covenant people approach the Lord according to his way. Verses 16 to 18 show what occurred on the third day.

The third day when the Lord would come down to his people first. Verse 16 tells us it was not just a normal day. Then it came to pass on the third day in the morning that there were Thunderings and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and the sound of the trumpet was very loud.

So that all the people who were in the camp trembled on the day of God's visitation. Anything that could possibly be perceived by human senses were experienced at a maximum level. The thundering and lightning the sight of the thick clouds that cover the mountain the trumpet that increasingly grew louder and louder.

So powerful was this experience there the Israelites were shaking from fear. Israel who knew of God who compassionately and mercifully and delivered them were scared of God's arrival unlike the pagan gods.

Who represented these frightening phenomena the God of thunder? Would be the thundering. The God of the cloud would be the thick cloud. The Lord God of Israel is Separate from these natural phenomena.

The Lord is not in the lightning. The Lord is not the mountain. The Lord is not the cloud. He is the creator who is sovereign over all things made in. Verse 18 describes the sight of the Lord's descent.

Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire. It's smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace and the whole mountain quaked greatly. The Lord came down upon Mount Sinai and fire and he's descent was so great that the whole mountain quaked.

One of the fewest things in the ancient world that would not shake would be a mountain. It's giant and It's heavy doesn't move. There's no natural phenomena that would normally move it. There's no wind that's good enough to move the mountain.

But here when the Lord came down the mountain quaked. Verses 19 to 20 show the meeting of God and his people and when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and Became louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered him by voice.

When Moses called out to God He answered back to Moses publicly. Again this is different from the false gods who can't answer back. The false gods are mute the idols are mute and Even if some people claim that they're false gods answered back.

It's only to that private individual other witnesses are Absent. Conveniently not so for this God. He answers back to his people. He is present through his word. Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai.

Sinai on the top of the mountain and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain and Moses went up. This is the prototype of the temple it is the meeting place between God and man a location where the Creator meets the created a location where the divine meets the mortal.

The top of the Mount Sinai and the subsequent verses tell us that not everyone could meet the Lord the same way the Lord first warns go down and warn the people lest they break through to gaze at the Lord and many of them perish and Lest and let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves.

Lest the Lord break out against them. First the lay people could not come near the Lord lest they perish. The Holy God could not be just approached in a willy-nilly fashion. Verse 22 tells us the priests the descendants of Aaron even them they could not approach God by themselves without consecrating themselves if The priest did not consecrate themselves.

They also would end up just like anyone before the Holy God crispy and burnt. No one was exempt from following the Lord when approaching him. And verse 24. Also further limits even the priests Away get down and then come up you and Aaron with you.

But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord lest he break out against them. The space closest to the Lord was still reserved for only Moses and Aaron. Not even the priests could approach the top of the mountain.

Sarna a Jewish commentator Sarna is his name by the way points out that there are three divisions on the mountain in order to meet the Lord and That's very similar to the tabernacle. Which will be built in the subsequent chapters of Exodus.

First there is the summit the very top where Moses would meet the Lord and receive the law. Priests. Normal priests could not enter. Only Aaron the high priest could go up and this would represent the holy of the holies a cubic area inside the tabernacle and later the temple.

That can be only accessed by a select few namely the hall the high priests. Second there's the pathway up to the mountain which the consecrated priests could access. Access this would be the holy place inside the tabernacle inside the tent.

Where the consecrated priests would be ministering inside the tent, but before the holy of the holies. Lastly the foot of the mountain where the rest of the people had access to to see. Was like would be like the outer court where people would gather around to see the sacrifice.

There would be the altar for the burnt offerings outside. Now this is a fascinating fascinating similarity and it is hard to confirm. Definitely. Right to see that three parts and three parts in both the Sinai and also the tabernacle.

But there is one absolute common theme between the Sinai presence of the Lord and the tabernacle. God's people encounter the Lord according to his way. They do not get to make up the paths themselves.

Any attempt to do so would get them stoned or shot with an arrow. Right if someone was stubborn and said how come Moses gets to go up to the summit. I'm gonna go up to. Well, God set a boundary for that.

He'll be shot and if Israel sought to go beyond what they were limited. They would have been killed on the spot. And this is really important for the church. Because the principle of approaching God has not changed.

God's people need to follow God's way when approaching him. You may have heard this idea. Anywhere you really go there are many ways to God. Or God has revealed many different ways to himself to different civilizations.

Coexist whether it's Buddha or a different monk. One of the millions of Hindu gods. Joseph Smith Islam how they all point to the same God. That's what they claim. However, this is a sure way to disobey God and Die along the path before encountering him and that's the prevalent lie of pluralism.

There is not one way but many acceptable ways. That's a lie from the pit of hell. Directly goes against what God has been saying all throughout this passage shows us that any other way or any other method of Approaching the Lord up the Mount Sinai would have led to death immediately.

It doesn't matter who you are. What family you come from? You stray from God's designated way. You will not only miss him, but you will die trying. This is a serious matter. Just because we're living in the New Testament era Does not mean we get to make up how we approach the Lord.

Now, how do God's people encounter him? What path has God prepared for God's people to take in order to meet him? Well after Jesus announced his departure to his disciples The Apostle Thomas asked how we must know the way.

How do we know the way? To this Jesus replies in John 14 6 to 7. I Am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my father also and From now on you know him and have seen him the once unapproachable God became flesh and Not only spoke of the way to him But became the way to him.

The once cloud-veiled deity on Mount Sinai Clearly revealed himself before his people yet most rejected him once it would have been death sentence to get near this God for God's people and And when this deity became flesh and he dwelt among us he Tabernacled among us.

He was the very presence of God among us. We decided to kill him but by God's sovereign grace It was Despite our sinful response to this God. It was precisely the method in which he provided a way for the sinful people to Meet the Holy God.

It was the cross and the resurrection. After all all throughout history the biggest Obstacle for humans to meeting the Lord was their sinfulness. The Holy God could not stand a sin of The people the Holy God By his just presence alone Would have killed any sinner in the way however when God Became flesh and dwelt among us He took on our sin and Died the death that we deserved.

So that we could be made holy complete to approach him To have a covenant relationship with him and it's his way or the highway. There's no other way to God than Jesus Christ Through his cross through his death and resurrection.

No goodwill no good works. No other teachers. Do you believe but Jesus alone? And what he's done for you on the cross. Let us pray Father we are thankful That all throughout history you make clear how your people can approach you and that you graciously provide the way and Of course we celebrate and remember the most costly way To bring the most amount of people the history has ever seen To worship the one true God and that's through the death and resurrection of Jesus your son.