1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: thou shalt be saved and thy house Acts sixteen thirty one. 3 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Dear God, I invite you to fill my heart with 4 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,440 Speaker 1: your presence to day. Remind me to practice your word 5 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: daily so that I can experience the wonder of your works. Father, 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: Help me to see the beauty in your grace and mercies, 7 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: so that I can understand the peace and joy which 8 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: comes from loving and trusting in you. I give my 9 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: heart to you for protection and strength. May you continue 10 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:41,319 Speaker 1: to embrace me in your loving arms. Amen. Thank you 11 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: for listening to today's daily prayer. For more inspiration and 12 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: an incredible message from our feature pastor, stay tuned to 13 00:00:48,760 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: pray dot COM's Sunday service. The following message is from 14 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: Jeff Shreve, pastor of First Baptist Church Texas, Count of Texas, 15 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: and from his Heart Ministries. On September eighth, eighteen sixty 16 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 1: two am in the morning, on Lake Michigan, right by Evanston, Illinois, 17 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: two ships collided in the night. One of the ships 18 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: was carrying over three hundred passengers. Both ships went down, 19 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: the people went in the water. The water was cold. 20 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: It's two am a tug boat was able to save 21 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: ninety eight, but there were still over two hundred in 22 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: the water. A man named Edward Spencer was notified that 23 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: the ships had collided in that there were people in 24 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: need of rescue. He was a strong swimmer, he was 25 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: a university student. And he went to the place where 26 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: the people were in the water and he fought the breakers, 27 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: and he fought the waves, and he fought debris that 28 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: was in the water, and he had a rope tied 29 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: around his waist, and he had some associates on the 30 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: shore and he would go and he would go out 31 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: into the water to try and find a person, and 32 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: when he found him, he would pull them close to 33 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: himself and they would pull the rope and pull him 34 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: back on the shore. He did that hour after hour 35 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:39,839 Speaker 1: after hour, six hours total. Finally his body just gave way. 36 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: It just collapse and he passed out. When he awoke, 37 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 1: they told him that because of his efforts, he had 38 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: saved seventeen people. But it came at a great cost 39 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: to himself because he was never the same after that. 40 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 1: He was never the same emotionally, and he was never 41 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: the same physically. He was so injured in his efforts 42 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: to try and save that the rest of his life, 43 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 1: he spent it as a semi invalid in a wheelchair. 44 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: He was asked some time after about the night of 45 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: September eighth, and he said, with tears, he said, I 46 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: saved seventeen people, and not one ever said thank you. 47 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: When's the last time you said thank you to your savior? 48 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: Your heartfield with thanksgiving and gratitude for Jesus. You know, 49 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: one of the dangers in the Christian life is that 50 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: we get so used to hearing the Gospel story, the 51 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: good News of Jesus. We get so used to hearing 52 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: about at Christmas time, about his incarnation and all that 53 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: means is he took on flesh. We hear that, and 54 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: we hear about the cross, and we hear about the 55 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: empty tomb, and we hear about his sacrifice, and we 56 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: hear it and hear it and hear it and hear it, 57 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 1: and eventually it doesn't register anymore. The old saying is 58 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 1: so true. Familiarity breeds contempt, and we don't have a 59 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 1: heart of excitement and a heart of joy and a 60 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: heart of passion and love and gratitude and awe for 61 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 1: what God did for us in the person of Jesus Christ. 62 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: If we're not careful, we can get callous to Calvary, 63 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 1: and we can lose the wonder of it all. You know, 64 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: that's one of the beautiful things about celebrating the Lord's supper. 65 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: The Apostle Paul said, when we celebrate the Lord's supper, 66 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: we proclaim his death until he comes, and we remind 67 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: to ourselves of the great price that was paid to 68 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: purchase our salvation. Now, the apostle Paul was one who 69 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: never forgot what the Lord did for him. He never 70 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 1: got callous to Calvary, he never got callous to the cross. 71 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: He never lost the wonder and the joy and the 72 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: wow and the awe and the thanksgiving for what Jesus 73 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: did for him. And Paul in the scripture talks about 74 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 1: the day of his salvation often he talks. It's recorded 75 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: in the Book of Acts three times, his actual conversion 76 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: experience in Acts chapter nine, and then when he was 77 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: before the Jews, and then when he was before Agrippa. 78 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 1: He is sharing his testimony in the Book of Acts, 79 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: and he talks about his testimony. He talks about it 80 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: in the Book of Galatians. He talks about it in Philippians, 81 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: and he talks about it in First Timothy chapter one, 82 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: and this is what he had to say. Begin reading 83 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: in verse twelve. I think Christ Jesus, our Lord, who 84 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 1: has strengthened me because he considered me faithful, putting me 85 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and 86 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 1: a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was 87 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the 88 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,359 Speaker 1: grace of our Lord was more than abundant with the 89 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It 90 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 1: is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance that Christ Jesus 91 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: came into the world to save sinners, among whom I 92 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 1: am foremost of all, among whom I am chief. And 93 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that 94 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: in me, as the foremost Jesus, Christ might demonstrate his 95 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: perfect patience as an example for those who would believe 96 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 1: in him for eternal life. Now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, 97 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 98 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: The apostle Paul was arguably the greatest Christian who ever lived. 99 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: God used him to write nearly half of the New Testament. 100 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: He was so close to the Lord. He understood things 101 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: that most of us don't understand about God. He spent 102 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,679 Speaker 1: time with the Lord, and the Lord taught him things. 103 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: And Paul was just an open vessel for the Lord 104 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: to fill. And he was just soft clay in the 105 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: Lord's hands. And the Lord used him in such a 106 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: great way. And I believe that the secret to Paul's 107 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: success in the Christian life, we can boil it down 108 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: to this. He was saved and he never got over it. 109 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: He was saved and he never got over it. He 110 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: never lost the wonder and the awe and the gratitude 111 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ would save him. As John Newton wrote, 112 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: amazing grace, How sweet the sound that saved a wretch 113 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: like me. So here's our question today. Is your heart 114 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: filled with thanksgiving and awe and gratitude for the Savior? 115 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: Or have you started to cool a little bit? See 116 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: when Paul wrote to Timothy. Timothy was the pastor in Ephesus, 117 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: the Great City. And in Revelation chapter two, when the 118 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 1: Lord writes the letters seven Letters to seven churches, the 119 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: first letter is to the church at Ephesus and do 120 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 1: you remember what the Lord had against the church in Ephesus. 121 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: They were doing lots of good things, he said, but 122 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: I have this against you that you have left your 123 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 1: first love. You're not on fire for me like you 124 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: used to. You've gotten kind of callous, and you've gotten 125 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: kind of dry, and you don't have the passion that 126 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: you have. You don't have the wonder and the awe 127 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: and the love and the gratitude. Hey, how do you 128 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: get that back if you lose it? How does that 129 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: stay in your heart? Where you're just on fire for 130 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: Jesus and your fire doesn't go out? Let me give 131 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 1: you three keys this morning before we partake of the 132 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: Lord's supper together. Key number one. Thanksgiving comes when you 133 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 1: remember who you were, who you were before you encountered 134 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: the Lord Jesus. Christ Paul never forgot who he was 135 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: and where he was when the Lord came into his life. 136 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: Look at verse twelve again. I thank Christ Jesus, our Lord, 137 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: who has strengthened me because he considered me faithful, putting 138 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: me into service. And here it goes. He starts to 139 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: tell what he used to be, even though I was 140 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, 141 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,119 Speaker 1: and yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly 142 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: in unbelief. You know, we read about Paul, and we 143 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: kind of think about Paul in glowing terms. I means, 144 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: we put him up there. He is arguably, we don't 145 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: know for certain, but man probably the greatest Christian who 146 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 1: ever lived. But the greatest Christian who ever lived was 147 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: the chief of Sinners. He was a terrible guy before 148 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: he was Paul the Apostle. He was Saul of Tarsus, 149 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: and the Bible says of Saul of Tarsus, he was 150 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: there in Acts chapter seven, watching the coats of those 151 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: who stone Stephen to death, and he was, yeah, that's right. 152 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,319 Speaker 1: He was in hearty agreement to put Stephen to death. 153 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: He has spoken of in Acts chapter eight that he 154 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: is ravaging the church, and he is dragging people out 155 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: and binding them and putting them into prison, going after Christians, 156 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: trying to destroy Christianity and stamp out Christianity. Acts chapter nine. 157 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 1: The scripture says he is breathing out threats and murders 158 00:10:56,480 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: against the disciples of the Lord Man. He is a blasphemer. 159 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: He would cause the people to blaspheme Jesus Christ. You 160 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: denounced Christ. You blaspheme Christ, or you lose your life. 161 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: That was kind of what he was doing, as he 162 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: would go from house to house and arrest Christians as 163 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: a blasphemer. He was a persecutor of the Church Jesus. 164 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: When he met him on the road to Damascus, said 165 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? He said, 166 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: who are you? Lord? He said, I'm Jesus whom you 167 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 1: are persecuting. Blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. You 168 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: know what is a violent aggressor? He was literally Some 169 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: say a bully, but it probably a better term for 170 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: violent aggressors. Just one word in the Greek is a sadist. 171 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: He was sadistic in his zeal to destroy the Church 172 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: of the Lord Jesus Christ. He got pleasure out of 173 00:11:54,040 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: seeing Christians bleeding and wounded and hurting and imprisoned and bound. 174 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: He was a bad guy, and yet he can say 175 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: in Philippians chapter three, I'm a Hebrew of Hebrews. Hey, 176 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: I'm a Pharisee. I learned under Gamaliel. I mean I 177 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: was top of the class. I was circumcised on the 178 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: eighth day. I'm from the tribe of Benjamin, and as 179 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: to the law externally, I was blameless. Yet he calls 180 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 1: himself the chief of sinners. So you hear, you have 181 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: this guy. What a what a dichotomy, what a strange 182 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: person in some senses. But see, he saw himself in 183 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: verse thirteen for what he really was, and he never 184 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: got he never got over that. He always understood where 185 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: he was when the Lord saved him, who he was 186 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: without Christ. Hey, something that you need to remember that 187 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 1: I always need to remember. Is this the best of humanity, 188 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: the very best of humanity, whether it's Nicodemus from John 189 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: chapter three, the ruler of the Jews, the Pharisee, the 190 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 1: member of the Sanhedrin, whether it's Nicodemus or somebody like 191 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: Gamaliel who was so respected Acts chapter five, a rabbi, 192 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: whether it is one of those guys from Bible times, 193 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: or whether it's Mother Teresa, or whether it's Billy Graham, 194 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: or whether it's the Pope. The best of humanity is 195 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: desperately wicked, a desperately wicked sinner. That is the very 196 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: best of us. So the person you think man that 197 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: I'd put that guy on top, I'd put that lady 198 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: on top. They're the most moral, they're the most kind hearted, 199 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: They're they're they're just the best. The best without Jesus 200 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 1: is a desperately wicked sinner. Bible says that all have 201 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: sinned Romans three twenty three and fall short of the 202 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: glory of God. The Bible says that the wages of 203 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: sin as death. The Bible says in Romans three ten 204 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: that there's none righteous, not even one. There's none righteous, 205 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: not even you. There's none righteous, not even me. No 206 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 1: one is righteous before God. The Lord says in the 207 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 1: book of Isaiah that your righteous deeds are like a 208 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: filthy rag before God. Even the good things that you do, 209 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: they're all it's tainted with sin and self. And so 210 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: anything that we do to offer up to the Lord 211 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 1: is repulsive to the Lord. Why because in and of 212 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: ourselves we're wicked sinners. I ran across this verse this morning, Isaiah, 213 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: chapter fifty nine, verse three. This is what the Lord says. 214 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers 215 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: with iniquity. Your lips have spoken falsehood, your tongue mutters wickedness. 216 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: It's in our hands, it's on our fingers, it's on 217 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: our lips, it's in our tongue. Just sinners. And see 218 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: here we are as desperately wicked sinners. And that's the 219 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: very best. And when you take that out to its 220 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: logical conclusion, the best of humanity is rightly deserving of hell. 221 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: That's the very best. That's why Jesus said to Nicodemus, 222 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 1: who represented the very best in Israel and John chapter three. 223 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: He said to him, Nicodemus, unless a man is born again, 224 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Unless a man 225 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: is born again, he can't enter the Kingdom of God. 226 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: You can't get there by being good. You get there 227 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: by understanding that you're not good. You get there by 228 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: understanding that you're bad and that you need a savior. 229 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 1: The best is rightly deserving of hell. Now, so much 230 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: of the time we kind of think we're the good people, 231 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: and we kind of look down our nose at other 232 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: people that we don't think measure up to us. Charles 233 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: Stanley I was listening to a message from him just 234 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: this past week, and he said that here he was 235 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: pastor First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, he said, he 236 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: was driving to church one day and he's all dressed up. 237 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: He was in a three piece suit and you know, 238 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: clean shaven and smelling good and ready to go and 239 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: had a sermon, all excited. Had you know, my life's 240 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: filled with purpose. I'm making a difference for the Kingdom 241 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: of God. He says, He's driving in his car he 242 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: sees two guys, homeless guys. They have shopping carts filled 243 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: with cans and bottles. They're living outside. They're dirty and disheveled, 244 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: and beard grown out and hair matted and just clothes 245 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: tattered and just awful. And in you it just men 246 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: with no hope. And then Charles's mind, he's thinking, man, 247 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: those guys are bad guys. Here I am I have 248 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: so much, they don't have anything. And he started to 249 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: his heart was kind of filling up with pride, like 250 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: I am better than those guys. Poor, poor those guys. 251 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,959 Speaker 1: And look at me. And the Lord spoke to his 252 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: heart and said, Charles, you see those guys over there, 253 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: that's you without me, that's you without me. The only 254 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:16,880 Speaker 1: reason you have hope, the only reason you are doing 255 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,399 Speaker 1: the things you're doing is because of me and my 256 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 1: grace and don't you ever forget it. The best is 257 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: a desperately wicked sinner. The best is rightly deserving of hell. 258 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: See Paul always remembered the pit from which he was dug? 259 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: Do you remember the pit from which you were dug? 260 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: In Luke chapter seven, prostitute comes to Jesus. He's dining 261 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: at Simon the Pharisee's house, Simon the Pharisee, who thought 262 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: he was so righteous, And this woman barges in to 263 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: the dinner. She weeps at Jesus's feet. Her tears are 264 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: splashing on his feet. She is anointing his feet with perfume. 265 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: She is wiping his feet with her hair. And Simon 266 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: the Pharisees thinking, what in the world if this man 267 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: were a prophet. Here he's not saying this, he's thinking it. 268 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 1: He said, if this man were a prophet, he'd know 269 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: what kind of a person this is touching him. She's 270 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: an immoral woman. And Jesus knew who she was. He 271 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 1: knew all about her. And Jesus said, Simon, a certain 272 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: money lender, had two debtors. One owed him five hundred 273 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: days wages, the other fifty. When he graciously forgave both. 274 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: Which one do you think loved him more? He said, well, 275 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: I guess the one whom he forgave more. And he said, 276 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: that's right. He said, you see this woman, she's covered 277 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 1: with sin, her sins are many, but she has forgiven much, 278 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: and she has loved much. And he gives this principle. 279 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: He who has forgiven much loves much. He is forgiven 280 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 1: little loves little. So here's the question, and that makes 281 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: sense to us. If you've been forgiven much, you love much. 282 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: If you've been forgiven little, you love little. But who 283 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: in the world could ever say I've been forgiven little? 284 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: Anyone in this room would say, way, the Lord, my 285 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: men didn't take much blood to save me. I've been 286 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 1: forgiven because I am such a good person. Oh listen, 287 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: if you think you've been forgiven little, I doubt you've 288 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:26,680 Speaker 1: been forgiven at all, because anyone who's been forgiven understands 289 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: I don't deserve this. I'm a sinner before God. How 290 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,880 Speaker 1: could he possibly forgive me? You know, Paul says he's 291 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 1: the chief of sinners, the foremost of sinners. But I 292 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,400 Speaker 1: look at that and say, oh Lord, maybe I haven't 293 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: done the things that Paul has done. But he I've 294 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: done some things he hasn't done. You know, Paul didn't 295 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 1: do the grosser sins of the flesh. His sins were 296 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: all spiritual. They were all a religious type of sins. 297 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 1: Paul wasn't getting drunk on Friday night. He wasn't sleeping 298 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: with this guy's wife and that guy's wife. He never 299 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: did anything like that. His sins were all spiritual. They 300 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: were all a sense of self righteousness. What does that 301 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: tell you? Perhaps the worst of sins are self righteous sins. Hey, 302 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving comes when you remember who you were. Don't ever 303 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 1: forget the pit from which you were dug. Second key, 304 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving comes when you remember who He is. Not just 305 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 1: who you were and where you came from, but who 306 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:34,399 Speaker 1: He is. And Paul says in this passage that we 307 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: read as he finishes it up in verse seventeen, he 308 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: gives a doxology, and he his heart is just filled 309 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: with praise, and he says, now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, 310 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: the only God be honor and glory forever and ever. 311 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 1: God is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting. You are God. 312 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 1: God is immortal, which means that God can never be corrupted. 313 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:07,639 Speaker 1: He's eternal, he's immortal, he's invisible. God is spirit. And 314 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:11,360 Speaker 1: the only way we can see God is by seeing 315 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: his son Jesus, who is the exact representation of his nature. 316 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: And God is not only the King, who is eternal, immortal, invisible, 317 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 1: He is the only God, the only God. Now why 318 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: is that important? Because Paul is writing to Timothy. In 319 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: Ephesus and Ephesus they worshiped Artemis. And if you have 320 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: read the Book of Acts, you find that Paul had 321 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,680 Speaker 1: a problem in Ephesis. He spends a good bit of 322 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,679 Speaker 1: time in Ephesis that big city, and he had a 323 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: problem in Ephesis where people were turning away from the 324 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: false god goddess Artemis, and they began to turn to 325 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 1: the Lord. And these silversmiths that made these little shrines 326 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: they got upset about it, and they said, great is 327 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: Artemis Us of the Ephesians. And they got this city 328 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:05,919 Speaker 1: stirred up because they said, our god is Artemis of 329 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 1: the Ephesians. Now this wasn't a little thing for Ephesus, 330 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: this was a big thing. Here is the temple that 331 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 1: they had for Artemis. She's called Diana in for the Romans, 332 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 1: but to the Greek, to her name was Artemis of 333 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: the Ephesians. That's the temple they had for her. Here's 334 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 1: the picture of Artemis. She is not a very attractive woman, 335 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 1: but she's the one that they worshiped, and they would 336 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: sell these shrines. And so the people said, well, that 337 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: is our goddess. But Paul said, no, that's not your goddess. 338 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: There's only one God, and he is the King, and 339 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 1: we know him as Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ is 340 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: the King and the Creator, the King and the Creator, 341 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 1: it says in Colossians Chapter one, Versus fifteen, sixteen and seventeen. 342 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He 343 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: is the firstborn son, superior to all creation. Everything was 344 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 1: created by him, everything in heaven and earth, everything's seen 345 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: and unseen, including all forces and powers and all rulers 346 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: and authorities. All things were created by God's son, and 347 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: everything was made for him. God's Son was before all else, 348 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: and by him everything is held together. He's before all things, 349 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: and in him all things hold together. That is Jesus Christ, 350 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 1: the King and the Creator. He created it all. Now 351 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 1: you talk to occultist who doesn't believe in the deity 352 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: of Christ, they try and tell you, well, Jesus is Lord. Shure, 353 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: I believe Jesus is the Lord. I believe he's the 354 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 1: son of God. You say, is he co equal with 355 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:58,919 Speaker 1: God the Father? Oh no, we wouldn't say that. Is 356 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: he the one who created it all? Oh no, we 357 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: wouldn't say that. That's what the Bible says. That's who 358 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 1: Jesus is. He is the King and the creator. But 359 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: not only is he that he is the holy God 360 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: of the universe. Isaiah had an experience. John tells us 361 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: in the New Testament, he had an experience in the 362 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: Old Testament with the preincarnate Jesus Christ. He saw the 363 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: glory of Jesus, and he was able to worship him. 364 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 1: And this was his experience. Isaiah, chapter six, in the 365 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 1: year of King Josiah's death, I saw the Lord sitting 366 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 1: on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of 367 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: his robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above him, each 368 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 1: having six wings. With two he covered his faiths, and 369 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 1: with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 370 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 1: And one called out to another and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, 371 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full 372 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: of his glory, and the Bible says the foundations of 373 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: the temple shook at the voice of him who is speaking, 374 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: as the angels cried out, the mighty angels, Holy, Holy, Holy, 375 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: is the Lord of hosts. Who is Jesus Christ. He's 376 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 1: the King, He's the Creator. He's the thrice holy God 377 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: of the universe. And lest you think that's a minor thing, 378 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:26,360 Speaker 1: that is a huge thing. To be holy means you're 379 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: set apart from all else. You know, we don't understand 380 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: the Trinity very well. You know why, because there is 381 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 1: nothing else. There's some faint reflections of the illustrations of 382 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,119 Speaker 1: the Trinity, but there's really nothing else like God. And 383 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: there's our minds have a hard time wrapping around. How 384 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,360 Speaker 1: can God be one and yet there are three persons 385 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 1: in one God. There is only one God. There's nothing 386 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: else like that. Don't get the idea that the devil 387 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: is God's equal on the opposite side of the spectrum. 388 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 1: He is not. The devil is created being. God has 389 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: more power in his little finger than the devil has 390 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:03,680 Speaker 1: in his whole being. There's only one God. He is 391 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:08,959 Speaker 1: the Holy God of the universe. When Jesus walked on 392 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:12,199 Speaker 1: the earth, the demon possessed people would cry out, the 393 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 1: demon within them would cry out, and they we know 394 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 1: who you are. You are the Holy One of God. 395 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:24,119 Speaker 1: Now why is that so important? Because in First Samuel 396 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: chapter six, the Philistines had stolen had taken the Ark 397 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: of the Covenant in battle that that box that Indiana 398 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 1: Jones was looking for. They took that and they brought 399 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 1: it back to their city and they put it in 400 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: the house of their god, Dagon, who is half fish 401 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 1: half man. And they put it in the house of Dagon, 402 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 1: and they woke up the next morning. Dagon's on his 403 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,640 Speaker 1: face before the Ark of the Covenant. And they put 404 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 1: Dagon back up. And then the next day Dagon is 405 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:54,440 Speaker 1: now he's broken before the Ark of the Covenant. And God, 406 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 1: those people that had the Ark of the Covenant, God 407 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 1: started to give them hemorrhoids. No, I'm not making it up. 408 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:04,159 Speaker 1: He gave him tumors. He gave him tumors where the 409 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,359 Speaker 1: sun don't shine. And they said, man, we got to 410 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 1: get out of it, get this thing out of here. 411 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:12,480 Speaker 1: And so they took it to another Philistine city and 412 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 1: they had the same thing, and they said, we got 413 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: to get it out of here. Finally they brought it 414 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,880 Speaker 1: back to Israel. And when they brought it back to Israel, 415 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: Israel saw that the Ark of the Covenant was coming back. 416 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:25,679 Speaker 1: And some men of a town named Beth Shemish looked 417 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:28,239 Speaker 1: into the Ark of the Covenant to make sure they 418 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: didn't take anything that was in there. You know, the 419 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,919 Speaker 1: Errand's rod that budded, and the two tablets of stone 420 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: and the jar of Manner they were in the Ark 421 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 1: of the Covenant. They made sure all that stuff was 422 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 1: still in there. And when they did that, the Lord 423 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 1: struck them dead. Why you don't mess around with a 424 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 1: holy God. That's why. When God had said, nobody touched that. 425 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: And you know what they said in response, They were 426 00:27:56,359 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: filled with fear, and they said, who is able to 427 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: stand before the Lord, this holy God? They were afraid. 428 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 1: You know, it's good to be somewhat afraid of God, 429 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 1: not that you're cowering in fear, but that you understand 430 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:23,159 Speaker 1: he is a holy God. You know, I'm not afraid 431 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,720 Speaker 1: of electricity, but I'm not sticking paper clips in the 432 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: light socket either. I'm not messing around with it like that. 433 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 1: Electricians know that when you're working on high voltage you 434 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: know what you do. You shut it off. Why because 435 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: if you're messing with high voltage and you hit something, 436 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:45,200 Speaker 1: you're gonna get fried. You have a healthy respect for that. 437 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: We need to have a healthy respect for God, who 438 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 1: is holy, holy, Holy. Thanksgiving comes when you remember who 439 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 1: you were, who you were before Jesus, when you remember 440 00:28:56,760 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 1: who he is, and thirdly, when you're remember what he 441 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 1: did what he did. Verse fifteen is such a great verse. 442 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 1: It says, it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance, 443 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: that Christ, Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 444 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 1: among whom I am. Foremost of all, he came to 445 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:22,760 Speaker 1: save sinners. Now he came into the world. Don't get 446 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 1: the idea that Jesus had his start when he came 447 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:31,360 Speaker 1: into the world. No, he didn't originate at his incarnation. 448 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:33,720 Speaker 1: You know, we talk about incarnation. Some people say, I 449 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 1: don't know what that means. Incarnation. It just means he 450 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 1: put on flesh. He is the great God of the universe, God, 451 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: the Father, God, the Son, God, the Holy Spirit, from 452 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:45,080 Speaker 1: ever lasting to ever lasting. Thou art God, and God 453 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: is Spirit. But then God, who is Spirit, the second 454 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 1: person of the Trinity, said I will become a man, 455 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 1: and he did, and he was born of a virgin, 456 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 1: the virgin name aimed Mary. He came into this world 457 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: on a mission to do what to save sinners? Aren't 458 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 1: you glad? He came to save sinners, Sinners like you, 459 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: sinners like me, sinners like Paul. Now he became a man. 460 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,120 Speaker 1: That's a big deal. His incarnation was a big deal. 461 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: Why because from eternity past he didn't have flesh, but 462 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 1: he became flesh for you and for me. You say, well, 463 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: why did he have to become flesh, Because it says 464 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: in Hebrews chapter two, verse fourteen, since all these sons 465 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: and daughters have flesh and blood, Jesus took on flesh 466 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 1: and blood to be like them. He took on flesh 467 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: and blood to be like them, it says in Philippians, 468 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:51,720 Speaker 1: who although he existed in the form of God, did 469 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 1: not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 470 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:58,040 Speaker 1: but emptied himself, emptied himself of all those things were 471 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 1: innately his as God. And he took the form of 472 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:04,320 Speaker 1: a bond servant, and he was made in the likeness 473 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:09,080 Speaker 1: of men. He had to do that, because we're flesh 474 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 1: and blood. He had to become one of us so 475 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: he could do what redeem us, redeem us God the 476 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:24,840 Speaker 1: Father and God. As God cannot redeem sinful man. God 477 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:29,480 Speaker 1: has to become a man to redeem men and pay 478 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 1: the price for their salvation. So he became a man, 479 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: and he paid the ultimate price to save undeserving sinners. 480 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 1: This is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance. Have you 481 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 1: accepted it? Christ, Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 482 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 1: And Paul says, he's chief, and so I don't care 483 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 1: what you might have done in your life and how 484 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 1: badly you may have sinned. Paul said, you haven't sinned 485 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 1: as bad as I have. I'm the chief of sinners, 486 00:31:56,680 --> 00:32:00,240 Speaker 1: so you have to get behind me. And here is 487 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 1: his testimony. If Jesus Christ can save me, the chief 488 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 1: of sinners, he can't save anybody. He can't save anybody. 489 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:11,080 Speaker 1: And that's good news for you and to me. And 490 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: the Lord paid the ultimate price for us. It goes 491 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 1: on to saying Philippians too, and being found in appearance 492 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,959 Speaker 1: as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to 493 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 1: the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore, 494 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: also God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the 495 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 1: name which is above every name. That at the name 496 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 1: of Jesus, every niece should bow, those are in heaven 497 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,040 Speaker 1: and on earth and under the earth, and that every 498 00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:39,080 Speaker 1: tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the 499 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 1: glory of God the Father. Why did he die? Why 500 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 1: was that so important? It was important to demonstrate his 501 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 1: love Romans five eight. But God demonstrates his own love 502 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: towards us, and that what we were yet sinners, Christ 503 00:32:55,880 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 1: died for us. So he demonstrated his love because you 504 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 1: were undeserving. I was undeserving. Paul was undeserving. But Jesus 505 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: died for undeserving sinners. And it's important from the standpoint 506 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 1: of there is no salvation apart from the blood of Jesus. 507 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:20,479 Speaker 1: There is no salvation. He said, Why is that because 508 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,080 Speaker 1: Hebrews nine twenty two says without the shedding of blood, 509 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,120 Speaker 1: there is no forgiveness. Why do we read in the 510 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 1: Old Testament about all these animal sacrifices, They're all a 511 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 1: picture of Jesus. Why do we celebrate the Jews? Why 512 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 1: do they celebrate Passover? Because Passover was when you kill 513 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 1: the spotless lamb and you put take the blood of 514 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:41,560 Speaker 1: that lamb, and you put it on the doorposts and 515 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 1: on the lintel, on the top part of the door. 516 00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:47,040 Speaker 1: And the Lord said, I'm sending through my death Angel, 517 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. 518 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 1: And so they took that spotless lamb, and they took 519 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:54,880 Speaker 1: the blood, and they put the blood, and they believed 520 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 1: God's word, and they did what God said, and the 521 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 1: death Angel passed over them. If you didn't put the 522 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:03,080 Speaker 1: blood on the doorpost and on the lendo, the death 523 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 1: Angel would come in and kill your firstborn. Well, that's 524 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:08,600 Speaker 1: all a picture in the Old Testament, in the book 525 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:11,320 Speaker 1: of Exodus, to help us see in the New Testament, 526 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:14,319 Speaker 1: as John the Baptist said of Jesus, behold the lamb 527 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:16,239 Speaker 1: of God who takes away the sin of the world. 528 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:20,320 Speaker 1: He's the passover lamb. Oh, that was just a picture 529 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:23,319 Speaker 1: in Exodus, But now here it is in reality. And 530 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:26,399 Speaker 1: he who is God in the flesh is going to 531 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:31,480 Speaker 1: die for you and shed his blood for you so 532 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 1: that you can be redeemed, because without the shedding of 533 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:38,919 Speaker 1: blood there is no forgiveness. And Leviticus chapter seventeen, verse 534 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:41,319 Speaker 1: eleven says this the life of the flesh is in 535 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:44,840 Speaker 1: the blood. And it is the blood, by reason of 536 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:49,360 Speaker 1: the life, that makes atonement for your souls. So in 537 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:52,560 Speaker 1: order for your souls to be covered and cleansed of sin, 538 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:55,439 Speaker 1: the God of the universe had to become a man 539 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:59,719 Speaker 1: and die on the cross and shed his blood so 540 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:04,880 Speaker 1: that you could be saved. We sing that song about 541 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: God leads his dear children along, and it says this, 542 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:11,359 Speaker 1: some through the waters, and some through the flood, some 543 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 1: through the fires, but all through the blood. Because you 544 00:35:16,080 --> 00:35:18,640 Speaker 1: can't become a child of God unless you come through 545 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:22,160 Speaker 1: the blood. And Jesus shed his blood for you. And 546 00:35:22,239 --> 00:35:24,600 Speaker 1: First Peter chapter one says, knowing that you were not 547 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:27,600 Speaker 1: redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your 548 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:30,359 Speaker 1: feudal way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with 549 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:35,120 Speaker 1: precious blood as of a lamb, unblemished and spotless, the 550 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:41,759 Speaker 1: blood of Christ. He became a man, and he paid 551 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:47,080 Speaker 1: the ultimate price to save you and to change you. 552 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:54,319 Speaker 1: One of my favorite hymns is titled Love Lifted Me. 553 00:35:55,360 --> 00:36:01,360 Speaker 1: It was written by James Row in nineteen twelve. Says this, 554 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:05,000 Speaker 1: I was sinking deep and sin far from the peaceful shore, 555 00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:08,480 Speaker 1: very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more. But 556 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:12,879 Speaker 1: the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry and 557 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:17,840 Speaker 1: from the waters lifted me. Now safe am I. And 558 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 1: then it ends with this stanza. Souls in danger, look above. 559 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:28,560 Speaker 1: Jesus completely saves. He will save you by his love 560 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:32,800 Speaker 1: out of the angry waves. He's the master of the sea. 561 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:38,000 Speaker 1: Billows his will. Obey He, your savior, wants to be 562 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:44,600 Speaker 1: be saved today. Listen, you're here today. Maybe you came 563 00:36:44,640 --> 00:36:47,480 Speaker 1: with family because you're in town for Thanksgiving. Man, we're 564 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:51,040 Speaker 1: so glad that you're here. But if you've never put 565 00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:54,319 Speaker 1: your faith in trust in Jesus Christ, you need to 566 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,600 Speaker 1: do that today because you are a soul in danger. 567 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:01,480 Speaker 1: Because who is able to stand before the Lord, this 568 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:06,240 Speaker 1: holy God. He is perfect, he's pure, he is holy. 569 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:08,520 Speaker 1: And you're a sinner and I'm a sinner. And if 570 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:12,120 Speaker 1: we have to stand in our own merits, we're gonna 571 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:15,320 Speaker 1: be cast into hell, and rightfully so, because heaven is 572 00:37:15,360 --> 00:37:17,719 Speaker 1: a perfect place and the only people that get there 573 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:20,200 Speaker 1: are perfect people. And there are no perfect people. But 574 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:23,200 Speaker 1: there's a perfect savior who says, I will take your 575 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:26,400 Speaker 1: sin away and I'll put my perfection in you. And 576 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:29,480 Speaker 1: on you, and you'll be able to stand before the Father, 577 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:33,680 Speaker 1: and you will be perfect in me. And if you 578 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:38,720 Speaker 1: go any other way, you'll not make it there. Because 579 00:37:38,760 --> 00:37:40,600 Speaker 1: all of sin and falls short of the glory of God, 580 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:43,640 Speaker 1: and the wages of sin is death, but the free 581 00:37:43,640 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 1: gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ. You've 582 00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:52,399 Speaker 1: been listening to Pastor Jeff Shreve, a first Baptist Church 583 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:55,799 Speaker 1: tech Hear Kenna and from His Heart Ministries. For a 584 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:59,160 Speaker 1: complete listing of Pastor Jeff's messages, check out our website 585 00:37:59,560 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: from his org. The podcast The Bible in a Year 586 00:38:07,239 --> 00:38:10,680 Speaker 1: with Jack Graham is a moving and inspiring Biblical audio 587 00:38:10,719 --> 00:38:13,600 Speaker 1: experience that will help you master wisdom from the world's 588 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:17,040 Speaker 1: greatest book. In each episode, you'll learn to apply Biblical 589 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:21,360 Speaker 1: principles to everyday life. Each cinematic episode is a journey 590 00:38:21,360 --> 00:38:24,759 Speaker 1: through the Bible's most profound stories that will strengthen your 591 00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:28,880 Speaker 1: appreciation of the Word and inspire you to keep alerting. 592 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:31,760 Speaker 1: Listen to The Bible in a Year with Jack Graham 593 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:34,799 Speaker 1: on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.