The Gospel Truth That Makes You Free (Part 1)

I'd like to speak to you as we continue our journey through the gospel of John.

So please open your Bibles with me to the gospel of John chapter 8 as we continue our wonderful study through this glorious wonderful gospel that is centered and focused on the person and works of Jesus Christ our

Lord and Savior. He is Lord. We should not look at that lightly and He is

Savior. He is God. He is God in flesh and the deity of Jesus Christ shines forth all the way through this wonderful gospel.

So let me begin by reading to you beginning at verse 30 in chapter 8 to jump right in to the

Word of God to verse 36 in this particular section. The truth shall make you free.

I titled this the gospel truth that makes you free. The truth and you will see that truth is

Jesus Christ. Christ is that truth. He did say

I am the way the truth and the life. Sad there's so many people in the world.

Jesus is right there in their presence and they cannot see Him. As Pilate says what is truth?

Right in the front in the face of Jesus. But it takes the spirit of truth

God's spirit to show us that truth of who Jesus really is and if you notice as we've gone through this wonderful gospel what is paramount and what really beams forth strongly from the

Scriptures is that who Jesus Christ is who he is his identity and it's absolutely critical and I'm telling you this that in this section everything that Jesus has said and everything that he does say is all of great importance but anytime you come to a section where Jesus says verily verily depends on what translation you have most assuredly there needs to be special attention given to that and this particular section is very critical because Jesus is going to give these people a critical test and giving them the truth of what it what he says and the meaning of discipleship what it means to follow

Jesus what does that mean what what does that entail what is the implications to that what is what is it to our life and it means it's critical folks so let's hone in and listen to the word of God as I read beginning at verse 30 as he spoke these words many believed in him so there are some believers here verse 31 then

Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him if you abide in my words you are my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free they answered him and said we are

Abraham's descendants and have never been in bondage to anyone how can you say you will be made free verse 34

Jesus answered them most assuredly or verily verily truly truly I say to you whoever commits sin is a slave of sin and a slave does not abide in the house forever but a son abides forever and then

Jesus emphasizes once again verse 36 therefore if the son makes you free you shall be free indeed the truth shall make you free the son shall make you free that's why

Jesus is the truth folks let's pray father we thank you and we bless your holy name and we give you praise for who you are we seek your face we seek your favor and it has come through Jesus Christ grace and truth has come so father help us to submit to your allegiance this morning in this time of worship as we hear your word the word of truth we need the spirit of truth to help us help me speak

I'd be behind the cross Lord just a voice crying in the wilderness and may we all see

Jesus the lamb of God Lord we do need illumination we have all the revelation we need so there's no new revelation the cannons closed so we thank you but we do need illumination the light and heat the light from your word the heat from your spirit to help us this morning to open our eyes to open our ears our blinded eyes our deaf ears our stubborn hearts to perceive who

Jesus is the one you're one and only son in whom you are well pleased and the one that was lifted up on the cross the one that died in our places our substitute is the lamb of God that took the curse that took our sin bore the wrath that we can have eternal life in him so father

I pray this morning that we will behold and gaze and look the beauty of Jesus the wondrous things from your truth thy word thy word is truth sanctify us through your word this morning may not a one of us leave here today the same way we came

Lord change us from faith to faith from glory to glory and father help us not to just be hearers only but to be doers of your word to be obedient to your word for the glory and the honor of yourself and in Jesus name we pray this amen wonderful text this morning actually it's going to take three sermons to get through this so this would be part one of a three -part series because there's so much here folks it's so critical and here we see that Jesus offers discipleship and freedom to the believing

Jews and he puts them to a test a test scripture says we are to examine ourselves to see if we're in the faith

I think it's very critical and this is a good time to do this as we always should and allow the

Spirit of God the scriptures to search us the Holy Spirit to search our hearts so here in our text and John chapter 8 beginning in verse 31 through 59 this complete section reveals the intensification of the theological divide between Jesus and the religious leadership the

Pharisees the Sanhedrin as you already know we've already gone through and we've seen that already they've already taken up stones to try to kill

Jesus they already are offended at what they have heard and they are offended by what his words his words folks this is what it all comes down to is the words of Jesus Christ his words two major issues are at heart of the debate in which they debated

Christ which was not wise because you're not going to debate Christ and win not in his perfect wisdom and it's as we've already seen it's already great grace that he even takes the time to be patient with these self -righteous

Pharisees so that's incredible how loving and patient God is so that the major issues here at the heart of the debate is the truthfulness of Jesus's testimony and who he is then you have opposite of the truthfulness of Jesus's testimony is the falsehood of those who opposed him actually you could break down this whole chapter in its entirety as beginning with John chapter 53 through John 8 11

Jesus is opposed by his accusers and John 8 12 through 30 he's opposed by darkness

John 8 verse 31 through 59 Jesus is opposed by the devil and major emphasis here that is given

John 8 Jesus and the shame of sin as we saw the woman that was caught in adultery but yet Jesus silences the enemies the religious leaders that wanted the desire to stone her but it was really about the words of Jesus Christ in which they hated you see that in verse 1 through 11 in chapter 8 then chapter 8 verse 12 through 32 we see

Jesus is the light of the world and then in verse 33 through 59 and the rest of the chapter we see freedom in Jesus Christ the

Son of God so that pretty much breaks down the entire chapter we will again as we look into this particular section verse 31 to 36 it will take three parts

I'm borrowing Pastor John MacArthur's outline let me give you a quote by him first before I get to the outline and in each of the points of the outline

I'm going to basically take and we're going to look at that entire point and look at what is being said in the text

MacArthur says this concerning John chapter 8 verse 31 to 36 he says this these verses quote are a pivotal passage in understanding genuine salvation and true discipleship

John emphasized these realities by stressing truth and freedom the focus in the passage is upon those who were exercising the beginnings of faith in Jesus as Messiah the

Son of God and Jesus desired them to move on in their faith saving faith is not fickle but firm and settled he goes on to say much such maturity expresses itself in full commitment to the truth to the truth in Jesus Christ resulting in genuine freedom and he goes on and then the passage here has three features and this is the outline of this section first of all in verse 31 and 32 we see the progress of freedom the progress of freedom and second we see the pretense of freedom in verse 33 and 34 the pretense of freedom then third and last the promise of freedom the promise of freedom verse 35 and 36 so by God's help we will look into each of these points each time again as God permits we will meet together as the

Lord wills learn more about our Lord Jesus Christ and what it means to follow him and be his disciple this is critical folks because in America there are so many people deceived under the guise of thinking that they are

Christians just because they said a prayer just because they went to an altar they all they think everything is okay just because they go to church just because they are baptized in water and don't get me wrong there's places for those things but that does not save you it takes the blood of Jesus Christ his only son his precious blood faith in who he is washed in his blood his person of who he is believing who he is and also his works that he did upon the cross to save us alone nothing else added or subtracted from that Jesus paid it all all to him

I owe sin had left the crimson stain he washed it white as snow so we praise him for the great redemption he has provided in the great salvation that he has provided so by God's help and grace we will look into each of these points again credits to Pastor MacArthur on this wonderful outline so I took the outline and I basically put together a message and I asked the

Lord I said I just don't want this to be just another sermon as I always do I said Lord burn this within my heart examine my own heart search me

Oh God try me see where I'm at before you today we all need to do that David did that and he was a man after God's own heart so we're never ever into a place thinking okay we're okay we need to make sure there is a security and God's salvation we should know that security

Paul had it I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which

I have committed unto him against that day that was the Apostle Paul and yet Paul on the other hand and many times realized he had remaining sin in his life and in Romans chapter 7 he said

Oh wretched man that I am but yet he was one of the most holiest apostles and child of God that ever walked this earth as a follower of Jesus Christ and he was so close to Christ he even says be imitators of Christ as I imitate him so if Paul could say that help us that we could get draw closer to the

Lord Jesus Christ and be more like him well let's begin looking to observe first of all this one great point the progress of freedom the progress of freedom first 31 and 32 then

Jesus said to those Jews who believed him if you abide in my word you are my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free freedom in Jesus Christ freedom in Jesus Christ and as first 30 is said and we looked at as he spoke these words many believed in him so we have believers here

Jesus found that many profess to believe in him doubtless some were genuine in their faith others only had been prompted to give only lip service to the

Lord and their heart was far from him we know that Jesus never committed himself to anyone we see that in John John chapter 2 and then when he was in verse 23 was in the

Jerusalem in Jerusalem at the Passover during the feast many believed in his name notice that when they saw the signs the miracles which he did many believed him but Jesus did not commit himself to them because he knew all men and he had no need that anyone should testify man for he knew what was in man he knows our hearts beloved now that could be a terrifying thing or a comforting thing just depends on which side you're on so Jesus makes a powerful statement in verse 31 crystal clear distinction

I like to say it like this he drew a straight line of demarcation right here straight between those who are quote -unquote disciples learners the basic meaning followers of Christ and those who are disciples indeed that word indeed is very important it's it's the same as what

Jesus speaks of in the Gospels you read about in Matthew in the parable of the true and the false

Jesus spoke about the straight and the narrow only two paths not three the wide the narrow those that are many that will go in the broad road of destruction those that are few that goes in the straight and narrow he spoke also in parables in about the wheat in the tares that the tares will grow up right next to the wheat and you cannot tell the distinctions you cannot tell the difference of it and the only way you can would be would it be good fruit or bad fruit and even that sometimes can sneak in within the church like a leaven and leaven the whole lump like Paul says and not until the end of the world until Christ comes back the angels is going to separate the tares and the wheat so it takes a sharp discerning eye nowadays to those who come and profess

Christ even the Apostle Paul had a Demas and he forsook following Jesus Christ alongside

Paul the Apostle and why because he loved this present world and the scripture says if the love of the world is in you the love of the

Father is not in you so you cannot have both don't hear much of that nowadays do you that it's almost like a very wishy -washy compromise in Christianity today that you can have one foot in the world and one foot in God's kingdom but it doesn't work that way

Jesus says you're for me or you against me you cannot serve two masters where your heart is where your treasure is your heart is also so Jesus said to them here these

Jews that believed in him if that's important if you abide that means continue in my word in my word you are my disciples indeed

Leon Morris says here JC Rouse is pretty much the same thing but I'm quoting

Leon Morris here great commentator he says this this section of the discourse is addressed to those who believe and yet do not believe clearly they are they were inclined to think that what

Jesus said was true but they were not prepared to yield him the far reaching allegiance that would trust in him that real trust in him implies this is a most dangerous spiritual state why is it dangerous

I tell you why it's dangerous you don't have to turn there and I've already pointed this out in some of the sermons but Hebrews chapter 10 gives us warning why it's dangerous because there's apostasy right on the horizon if you go to verse 25 of chapter 10 the

Bible says let me let me let me back up a little bit verse 22 let us draw near verse 22 with a true heart and full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water let us hold fast this is important because this is going to be the track right the track

Jesus is going to give us his perseverance let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful and then he goes on to say and let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching the day is a capital

D speaking of the day of judgment that's what he's speaking of because this is how important it is that we come together as God's people to exhort one another because today a judgment is coming and we exhort one another why because we love one another we love one another and then from verse 25 to verse 26 is like a huge gap of falling away when these people were neglecting to come together as they were supposedly commanded to do in a manner of some but exhorting one another he said you need to come together and then he says for if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth people call themselves

Christians listen to this they profess to be Christians there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins but a certain fearful expectation of judgment fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries anyone who has rejected

Moses's law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses how much more worse punishment do you suppose will he be thought worthy who has trampled the son of God underfoot counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing and insulted the spirit of grace severe warnings folks it's far worse to sin against the light of grace than it is of law and then he says for we know him who said vengeance is mine

I will repay says the Lord and again the Lord will judge his people it is a fearful thing to fall in the hands of the living

God you see that that's why it's dangerous as we receive the light of the gospel the gospel goes forth and power and truth and in love and then we what we do with it we just are not to be just hearers of the word but to be doers of the word and apply this great truth to our lives and love our

Lord Jesus Christ and go all the way to the end with him it's not how well you start it's how well you end and will you end faithfully that's what is really important as you know now and many denominational camps whether it be

Southern Baptist or Reformed Baptist or whatever it may be we have been seeing a falling away from the faith folks but at the same time there has been as we know two godly men three godly men

I think about pastor John MacArthur that went home to be with the Lord Votie Bachman Charlie Kirk these men were faithful folks they finished faith but yet there are others that knew could preach well they could tell the truth they could get up and preach a great sermon they could tell you the

Word of God they're great theologians they have got a MDiv a

PhD and they've learned how to preach but yet they have fallen away into deep immorality and disqualified themselves from the preached word how sad that is and we should be weeping and we should be searching our own hearts and said oh

God what about me what about my heart keep me it's the apple of that eye keep me from falling as scripture says keep me and persevere me as scripture says

God will persevere the faithful well that's why there's warnings to exhort us and to encourage us that we would search our hearts where we are with God our relationship with God our fellowship with one another are we part of the true body of Christ and I'm not talking about just one denomination

God has his people scattered out like salt across this entire world and other denominations and certain issues we may not believe in but I'll tell you one thing they better believe in they better believe in who

Jesus is they better get that one right and they better believe what the works of Jesus Christ is that he died on the cross he was born of the

Virgin Mary he lived a perfect life and he went to the cross and he took our sin to the cross and who he was he was the

Son of God the Lamb of God he died a criminal's death but he was the

Son of God God man fully God fully man truly God truly man and he died was buried rose again was ascended on high and he's coming back folks we better get that one right so here you have warnings so coming to Jesus as being his disciple means we must abide continue to live in to dwell in to make our home in his word in his word it all comes down to obedience to the words of Jesus Christ beloved are you joyfully obeying the

Lord Jesus says if you abide in my word what does this mean what does this mean let's look into it one commentator

Trasker gives us a great definition he says this and what it means to abide this one word abide let's look at this word abide it means to continue here you have the perseverance of the

Saints the perseverance of the Saints we are to continue in the words of Jesus in his word he says this quote it means to welcome it being at home with it living with it so continuously that it becomes part of the believers life a permanent influence and stimulus and every fresh advance in goodness and holiness

I love that continuously we continue in his word it makes me think of many many scriptures but I'm going to quote one here which is one of my favorites from Psalm 1 because the godly man the believer in Jesus Christ loves

God's word and this is the actually the first Psalm is actually the introduction to all 150

Psalms what does he say blessed is the man who walks notice is he walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the paths of sinners nor sits there's a order here walking standing sitting nor sits in the seat of the scornful and here's the break verse 2 but this is how a disciple of Jesus Christ looks like folks but his delight is in the law of the

Lord talks about God's word his delight is in the law of the

Lord he delights in it he loves it it's part of his life morning noon evening even midnight he gets up in he praises

God for his great judgments he praises God throughout the day do you delight in God's word today but his delight that's a heart issue that's a heart motive delight in the law of the

Lord and in his law what does he do he meditates he ponders like Brother Key says he like a cow chews the cud he chews on it he it's sweet sweeter than honey beloved and in his law he meditates he just doesn't read it he meditates on it day and night and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruits in its season whose leaves shall never wither and whatever he does shall prosper the ungodly are not so but are like the shaft which the wind drives away therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous but the

Lord knows get that you know a lot of times people that profess to be

Christians that are not truly born again of the Spirit of the Living God they may fool people but folks they can't fool

God but the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish that's powerful so you have that right there there's many other scriptures

I can go to but time permitting let's keep looking at what it means to abide in God's Word go with me to Colossians chapter 3

Colossians chapter 3 I think this is a great verse of scripture that speaks about what it means to abide in God's Word look at verse 12 all the way to 17 therefore as this speaks about character folks this talks about who you are your heart just not your brain but your heart how is your character you do you have integrity therefore as the elect of God holy beloved put on tender mercies kindness humility meekness long -suffering very similar to the fruit of the

Spirit isn't it bearing with one another as brother Ben was talking about compassion if you compassionate toward one another you bear with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another even as Christ forgave you so you also must do that's how believer is to look like folks but above all these things put on love love agape love which is the bond of perfection you remember what it says in 1st 1st

Corinthians 13 if you look at it we won't go there but that whole chapter is about agape love you can have all the knowledge you can have all the wisdom you can know all these things you can even have the gift of tongues and tongues of seas and languages in other words you could speak all these languages you could be brilliant you can even give yourself a body to be burned and Paul says if you don't have

God's love you are nothing folks we need to smoke that one in our pipe let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body and be thankful are you thankful you know when these words come up we should say okay if I'm God's elect

I should be holy I should be separated from the world I am beloved for God to even choose me to be part of his family part of the kingdom of God because we do not earn it it's by grace and grace alone and putting on tender mercies and kindness and humility and meekness notice this is the way

Jesus looks and we are followers of Christ disciples of Christ this is the way we should look now

I'm not talking about perfection but I like what MacArthur says its direction because we fall short of these things don't we and may

God help us if we're going in that direction and if we fail we repent and if we've done something wrong and a sin against another we go to the brother or the sister and say please forgive me and show it that's what he talks about forgiving one another as Christ forgave you but above all these things put on love

I love that pardon the pun agape love which is the bond of perfection it's the bond of perfection and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body and be thankful and here it is let the word of Christ God's word

Christ's word dwell in you richly and all wisdom teaching and a modishing one another in Psalms how do we do that in Psalms and hymns we did it this morning singing to one another singing to the

Lord and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord we bless the

Lord we minister to the Lord and whatever you do whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the

Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him praise his name so that's the first step that Jesus gives if you abide and continue in his word you're his disciples indeed there's another progress that direction is to continue that second step is also the progress towards true discipleship is one word and I've already mentioned it that word abiding to continue is perseverance perseverance endurance obedience to the scripture now

I say this I was in in Hebrews chapter 10 a minute ago but there's the latter part of Hebrews 10 speaks about this

I stopped right at verse 31 it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God but listen to verse 32 to verse 39 and listen what the writer of Hebrews says but recall the former days in which after you were illuminated you endured you hear that and now he's already introducing to us endurance you endured a great struggle with sufferings you mean to tell me to be a disciple of Jesus Christ you're gonna suffer you can guarantee it you can guarantee it but it should not let you down and that's why

Jesus says in John 14 we'll go there in a minute to the disciples he talks about the

Spirit of God will be the comforter he will comfort them in their trials and persecutions and all the afflictions because that another comforter by the way

Jesus was the first comforter empirically here comes the Spirit of the Living God to abide within us to help those disciples those apostles through persecutions and guess what happened to almost every single one of them except for one they were martyred and if you look at the record of Scripture they took it joyfully because they knew whom they who they belong to folks they knew that they were passing through this world and it was short like a vapor like a shadow and they recognized it was a grand privilege to suffer for one so great and mighty may

God give us that grace when the time comes if we are going to be facing martyrdom you recall the former days you endured a great struggle with sufferings what's he doing he's encouraging and partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations and partly while you became companions to those who were so treated companions

Psalm 119 says we're a companion of those who fear God for you had listen to this you had compassions on me and my chains we don't know who this apostle is or who he is but he said you had compassion on me and my chains joyful accepted the plundering of your goods knowing that you have a better and enduring possession for yourselves and heaven it's going to endure forever doesn't sound like the best life now does it matter of fact if it is our best life now you could just about grant it your worst life is to come verse 35 therefore do not cast away your confidence don't cast it away which has great reward for you have need of endurance don't you love that listen to what he says you have need of endurance

I read that I said God I have need of endurance give me endurance give me endurance so that after you have done the will of God we're to do

God's will doing it you may receive the promise and then listen to what he says birth yet for yet a little while it's just a little while and he who is coming will come and will not tarry he's coming

Jesus and now the just shall live by faith that's how we're to live the just shall live by faith but if anyone draws back my soul has no pleasure in him folks that's

God's word we should not be sliding back we should be going forward there's no neutrality with God we're to go forward and then he says this what an encouragement verse 39 but we are not of those who draw back to perdition amen we're not drawing back one

I oh we're going to go forward in Jesus Christ and pursue as the deer pants after the water brooks so we are my soul will pant after God but those who believe to the saving of the soul hallelujah so much more the word of God is key it means to habitually continue continue to abide in Jesus and Jesus's words one who continues in his words teachings as a genuine believer they hold fast to his words they obey his words and most important as they obeys the word of God practices the words of Jesus they just don't talk about it they actually practice it

Paul said that he said I preached the gospel but I live by the gospel I live it there was defectors in John chapter 6 we already went through that section but remember with that in verse 66 from that time many many of his disciples get that disciples went back and walk with him no more for 66 for 67 in chapter 6

Jesus said to the 12 he asked him a question do you also want to go away

Simon Peter answered hallelujah Lord to whom shall we go excuse my emotions and tears folks has nowhere else to go this world's got nothing for you and me but death hell of the grave and Jesus conquered that but there's a hell for those who fall into perdition and forget

God but our eyes is upon the author and finish of our faith Jesus Christ he endured he endured the cross now it's our turn not even dare in the same degree he took folks we can't even come close we can even come close to a lot of godly martyrs but I tell you this we better keep our eyes on Jesus he said

Lord to whom shall we go you have the words of eternal life the words also we have come to believe we have come to believe and know he had assurance that you are the

Christ the son of the living God Jesus said and answered them Jesus didn't pat him on the back did he he said he said great job

Peter no what does he do he gives another warning did I not choose you in the 12 and one of you is a devil makes me think of the time when they were at the table reclining at the

Lord's Supper and what happens Jesus said one of you will portray me and each one of them said is it

I is it I is it I they were concerned about their heart and he spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon for it was he who would betray him being one of the twelve

Judas heard all of Jesus's sermons saw his miracles he knew plenty about Jesus he would probably be a great churchgoer and yet he fell away folks

I'm telling you we better examine ourselves to see whether we're in the faith I say that in love so much more the one who continues in his teaching abides in his word has both the father and the son second

John nine says whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have

God and he who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the father and the son

Hebrews 314 for we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end that is why

Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 15 I want you to get this is the resurrection chapter but this is so critical and a lot of a lot of times we can easily miss something like this but it's so critical what he says as he begins to unpack the gospel and the risen

Christ in the faith's reality that it's all in the risen Christ and Jesus's death moreover brethren

I declare to you the gospel which I preach to you which also you receive in which you stand listen to this by which also you are saved the gospel saves us

Christ if if you hold fast that word which

I preach to you unless you believed in vain you get that if you hold fast folks we better hold fast that's why

Paul says lay hold of eternal life and don't let it go how can that happen because he's lay hold of you

Paul said that we should not let go of him that's why

Jesus says he that what how do you say talk to someone a so -called believer he said if you have your hands to the plow and you look back you're not fit for the kingdom of God and I believe it was another party says remember lots wife what happened to her she looked back you know why she looked back to Sodom while judgment came down her heart was still there folks we better not love this evil wicked world the

Bible says clearly if the love of the world is in you the love of the Father is not in you love not the world that's a command from God that's a command from God if you hold fast that word which

I preached to you unless you believed in vain like me to look at something also from Revelation chapter 2 go with me to Revelation chapter 2 here we see the glorified risen

Christ he speaks to the seven churches in Asia Asia minor and he gives warning he gives promises but this is a very interesting promise here

I don't want to read the entirety of this chapter not the chapter but the section there's chapter 2 there's the loveless church

Ephesus you have Smyrna which is the persecuted church and now he has the corrupt church then later on in chapter 3 you got the dead church then you have the faithful church but listen what he says to the corrupt church which has immorality and within it to the angel he's talking about the messenger he's basically passing it to the elders to the church of Thyatira write these things says the

Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and his feet like fine brass

I know your works love service faith and your patience he commends them for this and as for your works the last are more than the first so he commends them nevertheless

I have a few things against you notice what he says because you allow that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols it's a serious thing to be partakers of this and I gave her time to repent the old

King James says I gave her space God is patient Christ is patient he gives people space to repent

I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality and she did not repent what happens indeed

I will cast her into a sickbed those who commit adultery with her in great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds you don't hear this much folks but the glorified

King of Kings and Jesus says is I will kill her children with death God can bring judgment folks when a person refuses to repent they will be cut off but he gave him space to repent and all the churches listen to this all the churches not some of them all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the minds and the hearts and I will give to each one you according to your works this is not talking about salvation this is talking about to those who follow

Christ and we will be judged according to our deeds the body and now to you

I say to the rest in Thyatira as many as I do not have this as do not have this doctrine who have not known the depths of Satan as they

I will put on you no other burden now get this he gives a promise but hold fast what you have till I come hold fast and he who overcomes and keeps my works until the end to him

I will give power over the nations he shall rule them with a rod of iron and they shall be be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessel he quotes the psalm there and also received from my father and I will give him the morning star and he who has an ear let him hear what the

Spirit says to the churches but the emphasis is on verse 40 25 but hold fast what

I you what you have till I come hold fast real disciples hold fast real disciples of Jesus persevere they endure they endure to the end

Jesus says he that endures to the end shall be saved there's perseverance of the

Saints right here folks and the promise is made to true disciples verse 32 will probably be look more into that next

Lord's Day back to chapter 8 and the truth and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free as a few things

I like to bring to application very quickly and I'll probably pick up on this a little bit more later on you'll hear more of this a

W Tozer said this in his book the incredible Christian he said this the gravest question of any of us face is whether we do or do not love the

Lord too many too much engines on hinges on them answer to pass the matter off lightly it is a question that no one can answer for another not even the

Bible can tell you tell the individual that he loves the Lord it can only tell him how he can whether or not love the

Lord it can and does tell us how to test our hearts though for love is a man to test our hearts for love as man might test or for the presence of uranium but we must do the testing it goes on to say all the patriarchs and saints of Holy Scripture had all -consuming passionate love for God they had a

Jupiter longing and pining after God himself God was their goal they loved

God supremely God was all -in -all to them they not just first but everything he is everything to you

I've read a quote from JC Rowley says Christ is all he says beloved that is the essence and heart of Christianity that Jesus Christ is all -in -all question is is he everything to you is

Christ your first love is he more than life to you do you truly love the

Lord from your heart mind soul and strength and we cannot love him perfectly but the scripture says to love the

Lord that God with all your heart soul mind and strength and is more to and then all the burnt offerings and sacrifices he says love your neighbor as yourself on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets this is the first and great command and only

Christ did this perfectly but folks this should be something we should strive after fullness we have received grace for grace for the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ let me give you some bullet points in order to love

God we first must remember that it is God who first loved us beloved

Spurgeon said there's no light in the planet but that which proceeded from the Sun and there's no true love to Jesus in the heart but that which coming from the

Lord Jesus himself from this overflowing fountain of infinite love of God our love to God must spring this must ever be a great certain truth that we love him for no other reason that because he first loved us can you understand how much he loves us in you know we can't but Paul says

I fall on my knees and he says I desire that and he prayed for the church that they may know the height and the depth and the width of the great love of God folks we cannot imagine and how is it so hard for people to even enter church to hear

God's Word or even more so to follow Christ on a daily basis knowing all that he did folks

I'm telling you we better think about it and especially if he's chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that's love

Paul said that he that we've chosen us in Christ before the foundation or that we should be holy and without blame before him in love so we must see first of all that he loves us with a great love second the love to God is produced only by the

Holy Spirit Galatians 522 but the fruit of the Spirit is love and there's others joy goodness faithfulness does that abide you do you practice that does people see that in you now may the

Lord Jesus direct your hearts into the love of God and the patience of Christ 2nd

Thessalonians 3 5 Romans 5 5 one of my favorite verses now hope does not disappoint but the love of God has been shed abroad poured out into your hearts by the

Holy Spirit who was given to you has that love been poured into your heart chambers says this before we can love

God we must have the lover of God in us by the Holy Spirit and when the

Holy Spirit is shed abroad the love of God in our hearts then that love requires cultivation it must be divinely nourished and must be watered from above no love on earth will develop without cultivating and we have to commit ourselves to this love which means identifying ourselves with God's interest with God's people third love to God is characteristics of his saints that produces joy

Psalm 511 but let all those who rejoice put their trust in you let them ever shout for joy because you defend them let those also who love your name be joyful in you by the way joy is another fruit of the spirit fourth love to God produces hatred to sin listen to that hatred to sin

Psalm 97 10 you who love the Lord hate evil we love what

God loves we hate what God hates he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked so to love

God is to fear God they are connected and to fear

God is the beginning of wisdom fifth love to God brings obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ love to God brings produces obedience to the commands of Jesus Deuteronomy 30 20 that you may love the

Lord your God that you may obey his voice that you may cling to him for he is your life and the length of your days you see the goodness of God in this it's a madman to push away a

God so good first John 5 3 for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments his commandments are not grievous they're not burdensome it's not hard to love because God's love is within us it should be natural it should be part of us to obey

God is just not a duty but it's a delight a joyful delight beloved

God's children longs to please God and love bringing pleasure to God by joyful obedience to him you see when we love the

Lord we seek the Lord we please the Lord in this by faith it's not by feelings sixth the test of knowing

Christ is this to love God is perfected in obedience first John 2 3 and 6 now by this we know that we know him if we keep his commandments he who says

I know him does not know does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him folks this is important but whoever keeps his word this is abiding folks but whoever keeps his word truly the love of God is perfected in him by this we know that we are in him he who says he abides in him ought himself to walk just as he walked

I know this is convicting folks as I'm preaching this to you my heart is just being pierced but I say

Lord search my heart I want to know you more does he know you do you know him do you abide in his word seventh almost finished the love of the world is proof of not having the love of God I said that earlier first John 2 15 16 love not the world neither the things in the world if any man loved the world the love of the father is not in him for all that is in the world the lust of the desires of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world and the world is passing away and the lust thereof but he who does the will of God abides forever if you're a friend of a friend of God then then the world is your enemy beloved if you're a friend of the world then

God is your enemy I would rather have this world as my enemy than God take you take you that now we talk about the creator of the ends of the earth all -powerful omnipotent wonderful loving

God for where you're if you're for him or against him where your heart is your treasure is also is

Christ your treasure this morning the world the lust of the flesh

God is a jealous God he will have no rivals he will not have second place he must be ruler and have full allegiance this is what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus is he your king

God demands all or nothing folks and he deserves all hey they who love not others listen closely those who do not love others are without the love of God you can know about it but if you don't have it in your heart you're empty your clinging's gone as Paul says 1st

John 420 if someone says I love God and hates his brother he's a liar a liar for he does not love his brother whom he has seen how can he love

God whom he has not seen and this commandment this is a command this commandment we have from him that he who loves

God must love his brother also and does it show

I would ask does it show the undeviating question as a chamber says that comes from Christ himself is this love is now me this question hurts but can produce good fruit if obedience comes out of it and if we love him then our actions will show will we be spent out and burned up for God so many more scriptures

I like to share with you but I'll wait to another day and let me close again with what Tozer says here he concludes this about this important subject the

Christian cannot be certain of the reality in the depth of his love until he comes face to face with the commandments of Christ and is forced to decide what to do about them then he will know he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings said our

Lord and he that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me so the final test

Tozer says is love of love is obedience the final test of love is obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ not sweet emotions not willingness to sacrifice our

Lord drew a line plain and tight for everyone to see on one side he placed those who keep his commands and said these love me and on the other side he put those who keep not his saying said these love me not love for Christ is a love of willingness as well as a love of feeling and it is a psychological it is in psychologically impossible to love him adequately unless we obey his words end quote and this is why the scripture says for it is better to obey than to sacrifice let's pray well father we are humbled today

Lord you draw close to those that humble themselves before you and Lord we definitely will do desire that we desire to have a mind and a heart to obey you with all of us at wall within us

Oh God may we put this to the test from Scripture we would easily find ourselves to know for certain that the answer to the question it troubled the fathers of old they should trouble us as well do we love you

Lord or do we not Lord it's an old prayer and I won't pray for all of us the dearest I do

I have known whether whatever that idol may be help me to tear it from thy throne and worship only the

Lord it's only by your love that's poured within us by your Holy Spirit that abounds more and more to love you and to love our brethren as the wonderful hymn says more love to the old

Christ more love to the here down the prayer that I make on bended kneel Lord this is my earnest plea

Lord more love Christ to thee more love to thee and Lord as Amy Carmichael said

Lord Jesus do turn us all into love and all of our love into obedience