1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,000 And I would be grateful if you would open your Bible at Jude and these last verses that 2 00:00:06,000 –> 00:00:12,620 are our focus today, as we come to the last of these seven workouts for a healthy Christian 3 00:00:12,620 –> 00:00:13,620 life. 4 00:00:13,620 –> 00:00:21,740 And we’ve been learning together that many of us make great efforts to keep ourselves 5 00:00:21,740 –> 00:00:27,580 in good physical shape, but we’ve been discovering that there are specific things that we also 6 00:00:27,600 –> 00:00:32,020 need to do if we’re going to keep ourselves in good spiritual shape. 7 00:00:32,020 –> 00:00:38,919 Jude has been our coach, and we have identified these seven workouts for a healthy Christian 8 00:00:38,919 –> 00:00:43,700 life that come at the end of this little letter, and of course what needs to be said at this 9 00:00:43,700 –> 00:00:48,599 point is that the important thing is not that you know them, but that you do them. 10 00:00:48,599 –> 00:00:51,779 I mean, I know press ups. 11 00:00:51,779 –> 00:00:54,439 I know sit ups. 12 00:00:54,439 –> 00:01:01,400 The issue is not knowing these things, it’s doing them if you’re going to keep yourself 13 00:01:01,400 –> 00:01:05,680 in spiritual shape. 14 00:01:05,680 –> 00:01:07,279 Let me give you this encouragement. 15 00:01:07,279 –> 00:01:14,820 As you do them, you will become better at them, and as you do them, you will grow through 16 00:01:14,820 –> 00:01:16,360 them. 17 00:01:16,360 –> 00:01:20,620 Remember when I was at college, doing sit ups in the gym, I thought I was doing pretty 18 00:01:20,620 –> 00:01:24,379 well actually, because I’m not the biggest into that sort of thing. 19 00:01:25,360 –> 00:01:29,199 But, I was rather discouraged that the guy next to me, who was a good friend, was doing 20 00:01:29,199 –> 00:01:33,099 exactly the same exercise with huge metal weights behind his head. 21 00:01:33,099 –> 00:01:36,260 That’s kind of humiliating. 22 00:01:36,260 –> 00:01:38,680 But he started where I was starting. 23 00:01:38,680 –> 00:01:45,820 He persevered, and he grew in strength, and he grew in his ability in these things. 24 00:01:45,820 –> 00:01:49,540 Now, these are the things in which we are to grow. 25 00:01:49,540 –> 00:01:53,239 God says these are the things we’re to do, if we’re to get ourselves in spiritual shape, 26 00:01:53,239 –> 00:01:57,260 and as you do them, you will grow in them, and you will grow through them. 27 00:01:57,260 –> 00:02:02,019 So, let me remind you of the workouts for a healthy Christian life. 28 00:02:02,019 –> 00:02:06,959 These things that we are to pursue no matter what is going on around us. 29 00:02:06,959 –> 00:02:10,839 Number one, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. 30 00:02:10,839 –> 00:02:13,539 Number two, pray in the Holy Spirit. 31 00:02:13,539 –> 00:02:16,740 Three, keep yourselves in God’s love. 32 00:02:16,740 –> 00:02:21,559 Four, wait for Jesus Christ to bring you into everlasting life. 33 00:02:21,899 –> 00:02:27,020 Neglect the value of waiting in getting yourself into spiritual shape. 34 00:02:27,020 –> 00:02:30,160 And as you wait, give yourself to ministry, that’s number five. 35 00:02:30,160 –> 00:02:34,000 And as you do that, watch yourself, number six. 36 00:02:34,000 –> 00:02:35,759 And today we come to the seventh workout 37 00:02:35,759 –> 00:02:41,619 or perhaps it would be better described as what we call the warm down after the workout. 38 00:02:41,619 –> 00:02:44,720 My son tells me it’s very important after you’ve worked out, 39 00:02:44,720 –> 00:02:50,160 that you have a warm down, that there’s a point where you settle yourself. 40 00:02:50,160 –> 00:02:57,460 And that’s why I’ve called this one rest in God’s triumph. 41 00:02:57,460 –> 00:02:59,800 Now it’s very important as we mentioned last week 42 00:02:59,800 –> 00:03:05,320 that we keep the last two workouts together in our minds. 43 00:03:05,320 –> 00:03:07,020 Resting in God’s triumph, 44 00:03:07,020 –> 00:03:11,520 if you have not been watching yourself, is simply foolishness. 45 00:03:11,520 –> 00:03:15,059 Remember that last time we identified these last two workouts 46 00:03:15,059 –> 00:03:18,520 as being rather like two wheels in a bicycle. 47 00:03:18,520 –> 00:03:21,199 You need to remember them both, you need to have them both 48 00:03:21,199 –> 00:03:23,800 and if you lose either one you won’t get far. 49 00:03:23,800 –> 00:03:27,139 You need to watch yourself God says 50 00:03:27,139 –> 00:03:30,720 because you live in this Christian life, in the body. 51 00:03:30,720 –> 00:03:34,360 You live it in this world in which you so easily be 52 00:03:34,360 –> 00:03:38,320 infected by corruption the spirit of this world. 53 00:03:38,320 –> 00:03:40,240 But at the same time as you watch yourself 54 00:03:40,240 –> 00:03:42,639 you also need to rest in God’s triumph 55 00:03:42,639 –> 00:03:46,919 because God is able to keep you from falling in this world. 56 00:03:46,919 –> 00:03:49,880 You are not alone, his spirit is at work within you 57 00:03:49,880 –> 00:03:53,339 and he is able to present you, verse 24 58 00:03:53,339 –> 00:03:55,880 before his glorious presence without fault 59 00:03:55,880 –> 00:03:57,259 and with great joy. 60 00:03:57,259 –> 00:04:00,300 So keep these two wheels of truth 61 00:04:00,300 –> 00:04:03,479 within the framework of your understanding 62 00:04:03,479 –> 00:04:06,240 because this is what God has revealed to us. 63 00:04:06,240 –> 00:04:10,240 Watch yourself because you do live this life in the body 64 00:04:10,240 –> 00:04:14,779 and you live in a world that has a corrupting influence, 65 00:04:14,779 –> 00:04:16,660 watch yourself. 66 00:04:16,660 –> 00:04:18,959 But at the same time, rest in God’s triumph 67 00:04:18,959 –> 00:04:21,500 your savior is able to keep you 68 00:04:21,500 –> 00:04:23,980 through everything you face in this world, 69 00:04:23,980 –> 00:04:27,920 you can be both confident in him 70 00:04:27,920 –> 00:04:31,500 while you need to be careful as you live in this world. 71 00:04:31,500 –> 00:04:34,579 Be careful, be confident. 72 00:04:36,079 –> 00:04:37,480 Now, as we look at this confidence 73 00:04:37,480 –> 00:04:39,299 that we’re able to have in Jesus Christ, 74 00:04:39,299 –> 00:04:42,739 let’s focus in on verse 24 and verse 25. 75 00:04:42,739 –> 00:04:45,980 Notice that they’re all about God, verse 24. 76 00:04:46,720 –> 00:04:51,720 To him who is able to keep you from falling. 77 00:04:53,019 –> 00:04:55,779 So these verses that are our focus today 78 00:04:55,779 –> 00:04:59,980 are all about him, you notice that very clearly. 79 00:04:59,980 –> 00:05:01,700 They are about the glory of God. 80 00:05:01,700 –> 00:05:03,000 Now notice that’s important 81 00:05:03,000 –> 00:05:05,059 because if you glance back to verse 20, 82 00:05:05,059 –> 00:05:06,679 you’ll see that all that we’ve been saying 83 00:05:06,679 –> 00:05:09,119 in our series so far is about you. 84 00:05:09,119 –> 00:05:13,519 Notice verse 20, but you, dear friends. 85 00:05:13,519 –> 00:05:16,140 Jude has been talking about what you have to do 86 00:05:16,279 –> 00:05:18,040 and now he switches our attention 87 00:05:18,040 –> 00:05:20,440 at the end of these exhortations 88 00:05:20,440 –> 00:05:23,859 to focus our minds and our hearts upon God, you, him. 89 00:05:27,000 –> 00:05:29,160 Notice that throughout this series, 90 00:05:29,160 –> 00:05:33,480 the emphasis has been on your responsibility. 91 00:05:33,480 –> 00:05:35,399 That’s very important to understand that. 92 00:05:35,399 –> 00:05:38,339 Who is to pray in the Holy Spirit? 93 00:05:38,339 –> 00:05:39,220 You are. 94 00:05:40,820 –> 00:05:44,339 Who is to keep themselves in the love of God? 95 00:05:44,339 –> 00:05:45,339 You are. 96 00:05:46,700 –> 00:05:48,619 Who is to reach out in ministry, 97 00:05:48,619 –> 00:05:51,059 in mercy and snatch people from the fire? 98 00:05:51,059 –> 00:05:51,839 You are. 99 00:05:52,980 –> 00:05:55,339 Who is to hate clothing that is stained 100 00:05:55,339 –> 00:05:56,779 by corrupted flesh? 101 00:05:56,779 –> 00:05:57,760 You are. 102 00:05:58,739 –> 00:06:00,600 Now, it is a great mistake, therefore, 103 00:06:00,600 –> 00:06:02,739 for anyone to say, oh, the Christian life 104 00:06:02,739 –> 00:06:03,760 is all up to God. 105 00:06:03,760 –> 00:06:05,239 That is quite unbiblical. 106 00:06:06,299 –> 00:06:10,260 God calls you to do these workouts. 107 00:06:10,260 –> 00:06:13,019 And if you do them, you will grow. 108 00:06:13,019 –> 00:06:14,279 And if you do not do them, 109 00:06:14,279 –> 00:06:16,959 you’ll be like a spiritual couch potato. 110 00:06:16,959 –> 00:06:18,519 There’s a lot of spiritual couch potatoes 111 00:06:18,519 –> 00:06:19,720 in the church out there. 112 00:06:21,000 –> 00:06:22,220 Because we don’t do the workouts. 113 00:06:22,220 –> 00:06:23,760 We sit back and we say, oh, well, 114 00:06:23,760 –> 00:06:26,559 you know, it’s all up to God, what I become. 115 00:06:26,559 –> 00:06:28,519 That’s unbiblical. 116 00:06:28,519 –> 00:06:30,220 You, you. 117 00:06:32,299 –> 00:06:34,720 But after placing the responsibility 118 00:06:34,720 –> 00:06:36,339 for things that God has called us 119 00:06:36,339 –> 00:06:38,440 to do squarely upon our shoulders, 120 00:06:38,440 –> 00:06:40,440 Jude now wants to draw our attention 121 00:06:40,440 –> 00:06:42,279 towards God himself. 122 00:06:42,420 –> 00:06:45,000 Here are some things God calls you to do. 123 00:06:45,000 –> 00:06:47,220 God will not do them for you. 124 00:06:48,959 –> 00:06:51,619 So don’t spend the whole of your Christian life 125 00:06:51,619 –> 00:06:53,720 waiting for God to do the thing 126 00:06:53,720 –> 00:06:55,000 that he’s told you to do. 127 00:06:57,640 –> 00:07:00,619 But now as you do the things that God has called you to do, 128 00:07:00,619 –> 00:07:02,519 as you give yourselves to these workouts, 129 00:07:02,519 –> 00:07:04,839 here’s where you’re to keep your confidence. 130 00:07:06,000 –> 00:07:07,480 Because your confidence isn’t gonna come 131 00:07:07,480 –> 00:07:08,959 from the fact that you’re doing the workouts, 132 00:07:08,959 –> 00:07:11,640 your confidence is gonna come from God himself 133 00:07:11,640 –> 00:07:15,359 to him who is able to keep you from falling 134 00:07:15,359 –> 00:07:17,799 to him who is able to present you 135 00:07:17,799 –> 00:07:21,239 for his glorious presence, without fault and with great joy 136 00:07:21,239 –> 00:07:24,760 to the only God our Savior. 137 00:07:24,760 –> 00:07:27,700 Be glory majesty power and authority 138 00:07:27,700 –> 00:07:30,440 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 139 00:07:30,440 –> 00:07:33,040 So we’re going to focus on God today. 140 00:07:33,040 –> 00:07:33,880 Who he is 141 00:07:35,420 –> 00:07:36,720 and what he’ll do for you. 142 00:07:37,500 –> 00:07:38,940 First who he is. 143 00:07:38,940 –> 00:07:42,200 Notice the phrase that Jude uses right in the center 144 00:07:42,200 –> 00:07:45,079 of this passage in verse 25 there. 145 00:07:45,079 –> 00:07:46,679 He describes the Lord 146 00:07:46,679 –> 00:07:50,720 as the only God 147 00:07:50,720 –> 00:07:52,459 our Savior 148 00:07:53,859 –> 00:07:56,720 Who is it that can keep you from falling? 149 00:07:56,720 –> 00:07:59,200 Who is it that can present you faultless 150 00:07:59,200 –> 00:08:01,220 in God’s own immediate presence? 151 00:08:01,220 –> 00:08:03,720 Answer verse 25, Jude says, 152 00:08:03,799 –> 00:08:05,540 I’m talking about 153 00:08:05,540 –> 00:08:07,839 the only God 154 00:08:07,839 –> 00:08:10,000 our Savior. 155 00:08:10,940 –> 00:08:12,679 That is a wonderful phrase, isn’t it? 156 00:08:12,679 –> 00:08:14,959 To relish God 157 00:08:14,959 –> 00:08:16,540 our Savior. 158 00:08:16,540 –> 00:08:18,000 God 159 00:08:18,000 –> 00:08:19,559 our 160 00:08:19,559 –> 00:08:20,399 Savior. 161 00:08:21,339 –> 00:08:23,980 Now the New Testament speaks specifically 162 00:08:23,980 –> 00:08:27,000 about the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior 163 00:08:27,000 –> 00:08:29,279 does this, in fact, on 16 occasions. 164 00:08:29,279 –> 00:08:30,760 You will call His name Jesus 165 00:08:30,760 –> 00:08:33,080 for He will save His people from their sins. 166 00:08:33,080 –> 00:08:35,460 To you in the town of David is born today 167 00:08:35,460 –> 00:08:37,820 a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 168 00:08:37,820 –> 00:08:41,739 The New Testament often refers to Jesus as the Savior. 169 00:08:42,919 –> 00:08:45,960 But Jude is reminding us of something else here. 170 00:08:48,059 –> 00:08:50,700 That the whole of God 171 00:08:50,700 –> 00:08:53,700 has given the whole of Himself 172 00:08:53,700 –> 00:08:55,179 to save the whole of you. 173 00:08:56,580 –> 00:08:59,760 The Father has planned your salvation. 174 00:09:00,640 –> 00:09:03,799 The Son has purchased your salvation 175 00:09:03,799 –> 00:09:05,739 by His death on the cross. 176 00:09:05,739 –> 00:09:10,659 The Holy Spirit delivers or applies your salvation. 177 00:09:10,659 –> 00:09:14,979 The whole of God gives the whole of Himself 178 00:09:14,979 –> 00:09:16,599 to save the whole of you. 179 00:09:17,599 –> 00:09:20,219 Now you say, that sounds like a theological point, 180 00:09:20,219 –> 00:09:21,200 what’s its relevance? 181 00:09:21,200 –> 00:09:22,380 Here’s its relevance. 182 00:09:23,380 –> 00:09:26,859 Some of us have the sneaking suspicion 183 00:09:26,859 –> 00:09:28,760 that part of God loves us, 184 00:09:28,760 –> 00:09:30,659 but part of God hates us. 185 00:09:31,520 –> 00:09:35,599 Some of us have the idea that part of God is for us 186 00:09:35,599 –> 00:09:39,599 and that part of God is really actually against us. 187 00:09:39,599 –> 00:09:41,520 We believe that Jesus loves us 188 00:09:41,520 –> 00:09:44,299 because He died on the cross, 189 00:09:44,299 –> 00:09:46,640 but we have a sense somehow 190 00:09:46,640 –> 00:09:51,520 that God is reluctant about forgiving us, 191 00:09:52,419 –> 00:09:55,000 that He is essentially more concerned 192 00:09:55,000 –> 00:09:57,640 about justice and punishment 193 00:09:57,679 –> 00:10:00,239 than about opening the doors of everlasting life 194 00:10:00,239 –> 00:10:02,640 and that if He does do this for any of us, 195 00:10:02,640 –> 00:10:06,359 He’ll only open this creaking door reluctantly 196 00:10:06,359 –> 00:10:09,679 and only because Jesus His son prevails upon Him. 197 00:10:11,440 –> 00:10:14,760 Now, if you think about God like that, 198 00:10:14,760 –> 00:10:18,340 you will never be able to rejoice in God. 199 00:10:19,400 –> 00:10:22,760 Jude says there is only one God, 200 00:10:22,760 –> 00:10:27,039 He is revealed to us as Father and Son and Holy Spirit, 201 00:10:27,039 –> 00:10:32,039 but there is one God and God is our Savior. 202 00:10:36,000 –> 00:10:39,460 That is why there’s one God made Himself known to Abraham, 203 00:10:40,780 –> 00:10:44,020 that is why He brought His people out of Egypt, 204 00:10:45,119 –> 00:10:50,119 that is why David says in the Psalms God, my Savior, 205 00:10:51,559 –> 00:10:54,440 that is why Habakkuk, the Old Testament prophet, 206 00:10:54,440 –> 00:10:58,219 says I will rejoice in God my Savior. 207 00:10:59,679 –> 00:11:02,520 This is why Jesus Christ came into the world 208 00:11:02,520 –> 00:11:04,739 because this God is Savior 209 00:11:04,739 –> 00:11:08,719 and He has taken our flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. 210 00:11:08,719 –> 00:11:12,820 The fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in our Lord. 211 00:11:12,820 –> 00:11:17,780 God is our Savior. 212 00:11:19,599 –> 00:11:21,900 Now there is a great deal of discussion today 213 00:11:21,900 –> 00:11:24,640 about the claims of different religions. 214 00:11:25,539 –> 00:11:30,000 Many people assume that the discussion 215 00:11:30,000 –> 00:11:33,260 is merely about how we come to God. 216 00:11:33,260 –> 00:11:34,320 You know how it’s often put. 217 00:11:34,320 –> 00:11:35,820 You’ll be familiar with this I think 218 00:11:35,820 –> 00:11:37,580 in many religious discussions. 219 00:11:37,580 –> 00:11:39,799 People tend to speak and think in this way. 220 00:11:39,799 –> 00:11:42,440 Well, there’s one God, everyone agrees about that. 221 00:11:43,380 –> 00:11:45,119 There’s one God but of course there are many 222 00:11:45,119 –> 00:11:47,280 different ways of coming to Him. 223 00:11:47,280 –> 00:11:48,640 It’s rather like one mountain, 224 00:11:48,640 –> 00:11:50,580 there are different paths of different sites 225 00:11:50,580 –> 00:11:51,859 and all the religions represent 226 00:11:51,900 –> 00:11:53,640 different paths up the same mountain. 227 00:11:53,640 –> 00:11:55,599 Of course, whichever path you follow 228 00:11:55,599 –> 00:11:57,640 and it’ll depend largely where you’re starting from, 229 00:11:57,640 –> 00:11:59,599 it will essentially lead you to the same point 230 00:11:59,599 –> 00:12:01,299 at the summit we’ll all meet there. 231 00:12:03,559 –> 00:12:04,900 Now I want to suggest to you 232 00:12:04,900 –> 00:12:07,299 that the essential question that is being 233 00:12:07,299 –> 00:12:09,059 addressed in our culture today 234 00:12:10,320 –> 00:12:14,119 is not about how we come to God at all. 235 00:12:15,919 –> 00:12:20,940 The essential question is about who God is. 236 00:12:22,280 –> 00:12:24,840 And Jude says to us, and this is very important, 237 00:12:24,840 –> 00:12:27,559 there is only one God, notice that phrase, 238 00:12:27,559 –> 00:12:30,320 the only God, there’s no other. 239 00:12:30,320 –> 00:12:33,700 And the only God is our Savior. 240 00:12:36,239 –> 00:12:37,799 The only God who exists, 241 00:12:37,799 –> 00:12:39,799 the God who has created heaven and earth, 242 00:12:39,799 –> 00:12:41,619 the God who exists in three Persons, 243 00:12:41,619 –> 00:12:43,000 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 244 00:12:43,000 –> 00:12:45,419 is the Savior God. 245 00:12:45,419 –> 00:12:47,840 He always has been, He is, 246 00:12:47,840 –> 00:12:49,179 and He always will be. 247 00:12:49,179 –> 00:12:50,380 This is who God is. 248 00:12:50,460 –> 00:12:52,440 Now in practical application, 249 00:12:52,440 –> 00:12:54,460 here’s one place to go with that. 250 00:12:55,700 –> 00:12:57,979 When you find yourself in one of these discussions 251 00:12:57,979 –> 00:12:59,900 about religion and all different routes to God 252 00:12:59,900 –> 00:13:00,880 and so forth and so on, 253 00:13:00,880 –> 00:13:03,460 here’s a good question for you to ask 254 00:13:03,460 –> 00:13:05,460 of a spiritually confused person. 255 00:13:07,179 –> 00:13:11,820 Tell me about how God saves you. 256 00:13:11,820 –> 00:13:13,299 It’s a great question to ask. 257 00:13:14,299 –> 00:13:16,979 Tell me about how God saves you. 258 00:13:17,960 –> 00:13:21,039 Tell me about what God does for you. 259 00:13:23,520 –> 00:13:26,739 And let me tell you about what the God of the Bible 260 00:13:26,739 –> 00:13:28,900 does for me. 261 00:13:30,099 –> 00:13:33,260 Because the sad reality is that a great many people 262 00:13:33,260 –> 00:13:36,400 in our world today are actually following after 263 00:13:36,400 –> 00:13:38,960 idols that do nothing but make demands. 264 00:13:40,140 –> 00:13:43,520 And Jude’s word is so powerful for us in evangelism today. 265 00:13:43,760 –> 00:13:48,760 There is one God, and the only God is our Savior. 266 00:13:54,119 –> 00:13:56,479 Isn’t that marvelous to know the Savior God? 267 00:13:57,320 –> 00:13:58,599 The Savior God. 268 00:14:00,140 –> 00:14:03,280 Now, what does it mean for God to save us? 269 00:14:03,280 –> 00:14:07,080 Let me go through very simply three dimensions 270 00:14:07,080 –> 00:14:12,080 of God’s saving work in a person’s life. 271 00:14:12,359 –> 00:14:17,359 Number one, God is our Savior from sins penalty. 272 00:14:17,880 –> 00:14:19,780 Now, this is a completed reality 273 00:14:19,780 –> 00:14:22,859 for anyone who is in Jesus Christ. 274 00:14:22,859 –> 00:14:26,280 The moment you came to faith in Jesus Christ, 275 00:14:26,280 –> 00:14:28,919 God forgave your sins. 276 00:14:28,919 –> 00:14:31,260 He freed you from guilty, 277 00:14:31,260 –> 00:14:35,340 and he freed you from the condemnation of hell. 278 00:14:35,340 –> 00:14:38,679 There is now no condemnation 279 00:14:38,679 –> 00:14:40,840 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 280 00:14:40,840 –> 00:14:42,039 No condemnation. 281 00:14:43,020 –> 00:14:45,679 That is the beginning of your salvation, 282 00:14:45,679 –> 00:14:48,359 but it is certainly not the end. 283 00:14:48,359 –> 00:14:52,960 For our Savior, God not only frees us from sins penalty, 284 00:14:52,960 –> 00:14:54,960 secondly, the Bible makes clear 285 00:14:54,960 –> 00:14:57,960 that he frees us from sin’s power. 286 00:14:57,960 –> 00:15:01,039 This is an ongoing process, 287 00:15:01,039 –> 00:15:05,179 and a lot of folks have become confused at this point. 288 00:15:05,179 –> 00:15:06,739 Sin is still our enemy. 289 00:15:07,700 –> 00:15:09,179 Sin is still powerful. 290 00:15:09,299 –> 00:15:12,979 I find myself every day struggling 291 00:15:12,979 –> 00:15:14,280 with the ways in which it tries 292 00:15:14,280 –> 00:15:15,719 to make in-roads into my life. 293 00:15:15,719 –> 00:15:16,739 So we all do. 294 00:15:19,059 –> 00:15:20,880 But when you become a Christian, 295 00:15:20,880 –> 00:15:22,979 when you put your faith in Jesus Christ, 296 00:15:22,979 –> 00:15:24,719 the Bible makes it very clear 297 00:15:24,719 –> 00:15:28,679 that you are no longer under sin’s power. 298 00:15:29,820 –> 00:15:34,739 “‘Sin shall not be your master,’ Paul says in Romans.” 299 00:15:34,739 –> 00:15:36,940 That’s chapter six and verse 14. 300 00:15:37,859 –> 00:15:40,840 He doesn’t say sin will cease to be powerful. 301 00:15:40,840 –> 00:15:42,979 He doesn’t say sin will no longer be your enemy. 302 00:15:44,140 –> 00:15:48,780 No, but he does say sin will no longer be your master. 303 00:15:48,780 –> 00:15:51,539 It’s still dangerous, 304 00:15:51,539 –> 00:15:55,020 but it is no longer in a position of power over you. 305 00:15:55,020 –> 00:15:58,559 God has saved you from that. 306 00:16:00,500 –> 00:16:04,260 Now, let me try and offer an illustration 307 00:16:04,260 –> 00:16:05,419 that at least has helped me 308 00:16:05,659 –> 00:16:07,179 to grapple with this a little bit 309 00:16:07,179 –> 00:16:09,760 because it’s not easy to get hold of. 310 00:16:09,760 –> 00:16:12,260 How is it that we’re released from the power of sin 311 00:16:12,260 –> 00:16:15,159 when we’re still engaged in a struggle? 312 00:16:15,159 –> 00:16:17,359 We’ll try and think of it perhaps like this. 313 00:16:18,500 –> 00:16:20,679 Before you came to Jesus Christ 314 00:16:20,679 –> 00:16:22,559 you were a prisoner. 315 00:16:23,460 –> 00:16:26,260 Think of yourself as being like a prisoner of war 316 00:16:26,260 –> 00:16:31,239 in a dreadful cell with a cruel master, even a torturer. 317 00:16:32,159 –> 00:16:34,539 And your hands are tied 318 00:16:34,580 –> 00:16:39,559 and you are blindfolded and whatever this cruel guard 319 00:16:40,859 –> 00:16:43,979 wishes to do with you, he can do with you 320 00:16:43,979 –> 00:16:45,780 because you are helpless. 321 00:16:45,780 –> 00:16:47,500 He may leave you alone for a long time 322 00:16:47,500 –> 00:16:50,299 and not be too hard on you, but you’re still helpless. 323 00:16:51,460 –> 00:16:53,299 You are not in a position 324 00:16:54,280 –> 00:16:59,280 to resist the blows that rain in from him upon you. 325 00:17:01,979 –> 00:17:03,000 You’re a prisoner. 326 00:17:05,099 –> 00:17:09,099 But now in Jesus Christ, the Bible is saying 327 00:17:09,099 –> 00:17:12,020 you are no longer sins’ prisoner. 328 00:17:13,219 –> 00:17:15,459 God has come into the prison. 329 00:17:15,459 –> 00:17:17,459 He has taken off the blindfold. 330 00:17:17,459 –> 00:17:19,300 He has taken off the handcuffs. 331 00:17:19,300 –> 00:17:21,020 He’s led you out of the prison. 332 00:17:22,540 –> 00:17:26,319 You are no longer sins’ prisoner. 333 00:17:27,900 –> 00:17:31,579 Sin shall no longer be your master, right? 334 00:17:31,579 –> 00:17:32,680 Get the picture? 335 00:17:33,560 –> 00:17:36,880 Now, the question is when God takes you out of the cell 336 00:17:36,880 –> 00:17:39,839 and takes off the blindfold and unties your hands, 337 00:17:41,040 –> 00:17:42,239 where does he take you? 338 00:17:43,400 –> 00:17:44,819 Some of us have the idea he takes us 339 00:17:44,819 –> 00:17:47,699 into a sun lounge for the rest of our lives. 340 00:17:47,699 –> 00:17:49,619 That’s not where he takes you. 341 00:17:49,619 –> 00:17:52,119 He leads you out of the cell, he takes the blindfold off, 342 00:17:52,119 –> 00:17:53,579 he takes the handcuffs off, and he says, 343 00:17:53,579 –> 00:17:56,380 here now is a gymnasium. 344 00:17:57,300 –> 00:18:01,660 And in the gymnasium you see that there is a boxing ring. 345 00:18:03,160 –> 00:18:05,479 And he gives you the gloves and he says, 346 00:18:05,479 –> 00:18:06,819 there your hands are free, 347 00:18:06,819 –> 00:18:09,479 you are now empowered by my Holy Spirit, 348 00:18:09,479 –> 00:18:10,520 I want you to get in the ring. 349 00:18:10,520 –> 00:18:13,319 So you get in the ring, you sit down on the little stool 350 00:18:13,319 –> 00:18:15,479 and there to your absolute astonishment 351 00:18:15,479 –> 00:18:20,219 in the opposite corner is the guard who beat you. 352 00:18:24,819 –> 00:18:29,140 Let me at him, let me at him. 353 00:18:29,780 –> 00:18:34,680 Of course he’s still desperate to get at you. 354 00:18:35,500 –> 00:18:39,500 He’s gonna come out with all his fists flying, 355 00:18:40,439 –> 00:18:43,660 but you’re not defenseless now. 356 00:18:43,660 –> 00:18:48,060 God puts you in a position to fight, 357 00:18:48,060 –> 00:18:49,459 that’s the Christian life. 358 00:18:50,839 –> 00:18:54,380 Sin shall no longer be your master. 359 00:18:54,380 –> 00:18:56,619 You are now empowered by the Holy Spirit. 360 00:18:56,619 –> 00:18:58,300 Does that mean you’re lying on a sun lounger 361 00:18:59,060 –> 00:19:00,060 for the rest of your life? 362 00:19:00,060 –> 00:19:02,760 No, you’re in a battle, you can get hit. 363 00:19:02,760 –> 00:19:04,060 You need to watch yourself. 364 00:19:04,060 –> 00:19:06,280 You need to have your guard up. 365 00:19:06,280 –> 00:19:08,939 But you are in an entirely different position now 366 00:19:08,939 –> 00:19:13,599 in this lifelong battle, God puts you in a position 367 00:19:13,599 –> 00:19:14,520 to fight. 368 00:19:15,760 –> 00:19:17,339 Aren’t you thankful for that? 369 00:19:20,180 –> 00:19:21,959 There’s all the difference in the world. 370 00:19:21,959 –> 00:19:25,219 Before as it were you were in sin’s power. 371 00:19:25,219 –> 00:19:27,939 If we personalize sin as the Bible sometimes does, 372 00:19:28,000 –> 00:19:30,599 he could strike you at will. 373 00:19:30,599 –> 00:19:32,339 There was nothing you could do about it. 374 00:19:32,339 –> 00:19:34,939 You couldn’t lay a hand on him back, 375 00:19:37,319 –> 00:19:39,280 but now you’re in a different position. 376 00:19:41,300 –> 00:19:43,979 He saves you not only from the penalty of sin, 377 00:19:43,979 –> 00:19:46,380 but he delivers you from the power of sin 378 00:19:46,380 –> 00:19:50,099 by putting you in a position to fight. 379 00:19:50,099 –> 00:19:51,199 And of course he could have chosen 380 00:19:51,199 –> 00:19:52,619 just to take us all to heaven, 381 00:19:52,619 –> 00:19:53,699 why does God not do that? 382 00:19:53,699 –> 00:19:55,540 As soon as someone makes a decision for Christ 383 00:19:55,540 –> 00:19:56,400 take us to heaven, 384 00:19:57,300 –> 00:19:59,839 because he wants you to become the victor 385 00:19:59,839 –> 00:20:01,000 over your enemy. 386 00:20:05,699 –> 00:20:07,359 And then thirdly, there is this dimension 387 00:20:07,359 –> 00:20:09,920 of salvation, God is our savior. 388 00:20:10,859 –> 00:20:13,839 And some of us are very clear that he saves us 389 00:20:13,839 –> 00:20:14,959 from sin’s penalty. 390 00:20:14,959 –> 00:20:17,540 He forgives us and will deliver us from hell. 391 00:20:17,540 –> 00:20:19,380 Some of us are not quite so clear yet 392 00:20:19,380 –> 00:20:21,400 that he delivers us from since power 393 00:20:21,400 –> 00:20:23,800 and pushes us into a position to fight. 394 00:20:23,800 –> 00:20:25,199 Puts us in a position to fight. 395 00:20:25,579 –> 00:20:28,060 And here’s the third dimension that we have glimpsed 396 00:20:28,060 –> 00:20:30,260 I think a little bit already in our worship today. 397 00:20:30,260 –> 00:20:34,900 God is our savior from sin’s presence. 398 00:20:34,900 –> 00:20:38,020 One day he’s going to bring us into his immediate presence. 399 00:20:38,020 –> 00:20:39,160 This is still future. 400 00:20:40,140 –> 00:20:42,420 And when he brings us into his immediate presence 401 00:20:42,420 –> 00:20:47,420 we will not have any knowledge of sin 402 00:20:47,459 –> 00:20:50,300 or any of its effects at all. 403 00:20:52,020 –> 00:20:53,599 I know we’re really done boxing. 404 00:20:55,640 –> 00:20:58,900 But I can’t but imagine that once you get 405 00:20:58,900 –> 00:21:00,959 into the ninth and the 10th round 406 00:21:00,959 –> 00:21:03,560 and your opponent has landed so many punches on you 407 00:21:03,560 –> 00:21:06,079 and you’ve landed so many punches on him 408 00:21:06,079 –> 00:21:10,099 you must get to the point where you long 409 00:21:10,099 –> 00:21:13,339 more than anything else that he will finally go down. 410 00:21:14,260 –> 00:21:16,560 Don’t you feel that in your battle against sin? 411 00:21:17,599 –> 00:21:19,599 When is this beggar gonna go down? 412 00:21:22,540 –> 00:21:23,560 And the promise of God 413 00:21:23,560 –> 00:21:25,760 is that you have a lifelong battle 414 00:21:25,760 –> 00:21:28,319 but it will be a battle in which you will prevail 415 00:21:28,319 –> 00:21:30,300 and one day he will go down. 416 00:21:32,400 –> 00:21:34,520 One day you will no longer be in the battle. 417 00:21:34,520 –> 00:21:36,520 One day there will be no longer be an opponent. 418 00:21:36,520 –> 00:21:38,780 One day you will no longer even be in the ring 419 00:21:41,160 –> 00:21:42,479 for there will be no enemy. 420 00:21:43,319 –> 00:21:44,780 There will be no temptation. 421 00:21:46,119 –> 00:21:49,280 You will be in the brightness and glory 422 00:21:50,319 –> 00:21:51,839 of the presence of the Lord. 423 00:21:51,839 –> 00:21:53,040 Your battle will be over. 424 00:21:53,880 –> 00:21:56,500 And you will receive the victor’s crown. 425 00:21:59,280 –> 00:22:01,719 The only God our savior. 426 00:22:01,719 –> 00:22:04,660 No wonder Jude says to him, be the glory, 427 00:22:06,920 –> 00:22:09,280 saves us from sin’s penalty, 428 00:22:09,280 –> 00:22:12,880 delivers us from that helpless position, 429 00:22:12,880 –> 00:22:14,660 puts us in a position to fight. 430 00:22:16,079 –> 00:22:17,199 One day we’ll deliver us 431 00:22:17,199 –> 00:22:20,420 from the very presence of sin altogether. 432 00:22:21,260 –> 00:22:25,319 Now Jude has two specific things to say to us 433 00:22:25,319 –> 00:22:28,619 by way of encouragement as we come towards a close 434 00:22:28,619 –> 00:22:30,680 about the savior God. 435 00:22:32,459 –> 00:22:35,260 And they relate to the second and third dimensions 436 00:22:35,260 –> 00:22:37,979 of his saving work. 437 00:22:37,979 –> 00:22:42,979 Number one, God is able to keep you from falling. 438 00:22:43,699 –> 00:22:46,780 To him who is able to keep you from falling, 439 00:22:46,780 –> 00:22:49,800 this is what the Savior God can do for you. 440 00:22:49,800 –> 00:22:53,800 He is able to keep you from falling. 441 00:22:55,439 –> 00:22:56,280 When? 442 00:22:58,219 –> 00:23:00,880 Number one, when you failed. 443 00:23:00,880 –> 00:23:03,119 And I want very specifically to give this word 444 00:23:03,119 –> 00:23:07,400 of encouragement to folks who are feeling their failure, 445 00:23:07,400 –> 00:23:10,880 feeling that blows have been landed on them in the battle, 446 00:23:10,880 –> 00:23:13,680 perhaps even that you’ve been knocked down in the fight. 447 00:23:15,400 –> 00:23:17,800 Remember when Jesus was about to go to the cross, 448 00:23:17,800 –> 00:23:19,479 he said to Peter, 449 00:23:19,479 –> 00:23:22,500 Satan has desired to sift you as wheat, 450 00:23:22,500 –> 00:23:26,339 but I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail. 451 00:23:27,780 –> 00:23:30,599 That’s Luke chapter 22 in verse 31. 452 00:23:30,599 –> 00:23:34,119 And you remember that Peter did fall. 453 00:23:35,040 –> 00:23:37,239 Remember that he denied Jesus three times, 454 00:23:37,239 –> 00:23:40,880 that he called down horrible curses upon himself. 455 00:23:42,319 –> 00:23:44,920 But the prayers of Jesus were answered 456 00:23:45,000 –> 00:23:47,839 and Peter’s failure was not final. 457 00:23:49,119 –> 00:23:52,140 And from that I want to draw this word of encouragement. 458 00:23:53,199 –> 00:23:57,560 If you have fallen into serious sin like Peter, 459 00:23:58,719 –> 00:24:03,719 you need to know that this is not the end because of Jesus. 460 00:24:05,119 –> 00:24:06,800 To change the analogy for a moment, 461 00:24:06,800 –> 00:24:11,140 imagine two climbers scaling a cliff face. 462 00:24:11,140 –> 00:24:12,739 They are roped together. 463 00:24:13,680 –> 00:24:18,300 And as they are climbing, one of them slips and falls. 464 00:24:19,339 –> 00:24:21,160 If he had been climbing alone, 465 00:24:21,160 –> 00:24:23,979 he would have fallen to his certain death. 466 00:24:26,040 –> 00:24:28,760 But he is roped to his friend, 467 00:24:29,800 –> 00:24:34,800 and his friend is in a secure position on the rock. 468 00:24:36,680 –> 00:24:38,219 Now, being a Christian means 469 00:24:38,219 –> 00:24:41,060 that you are roped to Jesus Christ. 470 00:24:41,719 –> 00:24:44,020 And if you have fallen, 471 00:24:44,020 –> 00:24:47,300 you need to know what kind of savior you have. 472 00:24:48,500 –> 00:24:53,500 If you fall, He is able to hold on to you. 473 00:24:55,660 –> 00:25:00,660 If you fall, He will not cut the rope. 474 00:25:01,699 –> 00:25:03,579 And it may be that there’s someone here this morning, 475 00:25:03,579 –> 00:25:04,959 and that’s precisely the word 476 00:25:04,959 –> 00:25:07,739 that you need to hear from God right now. 477 00:25:07,739 –> 00:25:09,260 You know you failed, you’ve done something 478 00:25:09,280 –> 00:25:10,619 you wish you hadn’t done. 479 00:25:10,619 –> 00:25:11,680 You can’t turn the clock back 480 00:25:11,680 –> 00:25:14,140 and you feel like you’re dangling there, 481 00:25:14,140 –> 00:25:16,500 and you say, does God have anything for me now? 482 00:25:16,500 –> 00:25:19,819 Look, if you fail, God does not cut the rope. 483 00:25:19,819 –> 00:25:23,579 Why, because he is the savior God. 484 00:25:23,579 –> 00:25:24,420 That’s who He is. 485 00:25:25,739 –> 00:25:27,859 And if you fall, the weight of your fall 486 00:25:27,859 –> 00:25:29,699 will not dislodge Him either. 487 00:25:31,819 –> 00:25:32,800 You need to know that. 488 00:25:32,800 –> 00:25:34,640 This is the hope. 489 00:25:37,040 –> 00:25:39,060 If a disaster comes into your life, 490 00:25:39,660 –> 00:25:41,300 how will you get through life? 491 00:25:42,859 –> 00:25:45,359 And maybe there’s someone right here this morning 492 00:25:45,359 –> 00:25:47,859 and you feel, as it were, that you are dangling. 493 00:25:47,859 –> 00:25:51,599 Oh, you would be lost if it was not for the mercy of God. 494 00:25:51,599 –> 00:25:54,239 But listen, Jude says, 495 00:25:54,239 –> 00:25:58,939 I want you to remember that God is our savior. 496 00:26:00,060 –> 00:26:04,880 Failure is never final in the Christian life. 497 00:26:05,979 –> 00:26:07,819 And if I can extend that picture, 498 00:26:07,819 –> 00:26:11,339 as it were, the Savior looking down to you and saying, 499 00:26:11,339 –> 00:26:16,339 Get back on the wall and start climbing in obedience 500 00:26:18,140 –> 00:26:19,739 from where you are right now. 501 00:26:21,160 –> 00:26:22,319 Isn’t that wonderful? 502 00:26:22,319 –> 00:26:24,160 That’s the kind of savior we have. 503 00:26:25,699 –> 00:26:26,900 He doesn’t cut the rope. 504 00:26:30,380 –> 00:26:35,380 Secondly, he’s able to keep you when you’re tempted. 505 00:26:36,380 –> 00:26:40,280 This God is able to give you victory over temptation. 506 00:26:40,280 –> 00:26:42,699 You do not need to fall off the wall this week. 507 00:26:43,739 –> 00:26:44,760 Do you believe this? 508 00:26:45,800 –> 00:26:47,959 No temptation has seized you except 509 00:26:47,959 –> 00:26:49,500 what is common to man. 510 00:26:49,500 –> 00:26:51,199 Paul says in one Corinthians, 511 00:26:51,199 –> 00:26:52,800 and God will not let you be tempted 512 00:26:52,800 –> 00:26:54,180 beyond what you can bear, 513 00:26:54,180 –> 00:26:55,359 but he’ll provide a way out 514 00:26:55,359 –> 00:26:57,140 so that you can stand up under it. 515 00:26:58,219 –> 00:27:00,819 Now I want to ask you to search your heart honestly. 516 00:27:00,819 –> 00:27:03,400 Do you believe that God is able to deliver you 517 00:27:03,400 –> 00:27:05,339 from temptation or not? 518 00:27:06,260 –> 00:27:07,099 This goes to the heart of 519 00:27:07,099 –> 00:27:08,739 whether we really believe the gospel. 520 00:27:10,079 –> 00:27:11,819 Some of us don’t believe the gospel. 521 00:27:11,819 –> 00:27:13,660 We believe a part of the gospel. 522 00:27:13,660 –> 00:27:15,219 We believe in forgiveness. 523 00:27:15,219 –> 00:27:17,260 We don’t believe anything else. 524 00:27:17,260 –> 00:27:20,400 We’ve not really understood our savior, God. 525 00:27:23,479 –> 00:27:26,739 What temptation that you might face this week 526 00:27:26,739 –> 00:27:29,359 do you think Christ couldn’t deliver you from? 527 00:27:30,339 –> 00:27:32,680 We used the analogy of boxing earlier. 528 00:27:32,680 –> 00:27:35,239 Forgive me for pressing it just one more time, 529 00:27:35,239 –> 00:27:37,359 but you know that it’s part of the whole scene 530 00:27:37,359 –> 00:27:39,739 of a world title fight, 531 00:27:39,739 –> 00:27:42,619 that there’s always a great deal of talk. 532 00:27:42,619 –> 00:27:43,760 I’m not the only person that 533 00:27:43,760 –> 00:27:46,000 finds some interest in these things, am I here? 534 00:27:47,859 –> 00:27:49,280 There never was anyone better at it, 535 00:27:49,280 –> 00:27:53,020 of course, than Muhammad Ali, you remember that? 536 00:27:53,020 –> 00:27:56,079 I’m gonna dance like a butterfly and sting like a bee. 537 00:27:56,079 –> 00:27:58,900 I’m going to dance like a butterfly and sting like a bee. 538 00:28:00,239 –> 00:28:03,300 The count of five, you’ll take a dive. 539 0:28:03,300 –> 00:28:04,859 That wasn’t very good, was it? 540 00:28:04,859 –> 00:28:08,239 Can you imagine someone coming into 541 00:28:08,239 –> 00:28:11,540 the weigh in before a heavyweight championship of the world, 542 00:28:11,540 –> 00:28:13,719 and when the microphone is stuck in front of him 543 00:28:13,719 –> 00:28:16,359 saying, well, as he looks at his opponent, 544 00:28:17,479 –> 00:28:18,880 he’s much bigger than me. 545 00:28:20,439 –> 00:28:22,219 He’s much faster on his feet. 546 00:28:22,900 –> 00:28:25,339 He punches harder. 547 00:28:26,319 –> 00:28:28,680 He’s been a champion for a very long time. 548 00:28:30,060 –> 00:28:32,800 And I really don’t think that I have much of a chance. 549 00:28:34,660 –> 00:28:38,420 But, you know, that is precisely the kind of pre-fight talk 550 00:28:38,420 –> 00:28:40,900 that some of us are doing. 551 00:28:40,900 –> 00:28:42,420 You do that pre-fight talk 552 00:28:42,420 –> 00:28:45,219 in front of your computer screen, some of you. 553 00:28:45,219 –> 00:28:47,619 Oh I can’ do anything about this. 554 00:28:48,699 –> 00:28:51,739 This temptation is much too strong for me. 555 00:28:51,739 –> 00:28:54,040 I’ve been doing this for a very long time. 556 00:28:55,560 –> 00:28:57,000 It’s pathetic. 557 00:28:58,380 –> 00:28:59,719 It’s pathetic. 558 00:29:02,619 –> 00:29:03,599 You know the problem? 559 00:29:03,599 –> 00:29:06,520 You don’t believe the gospel. 560 00:29:07,939 –> 00:29:10,920 You don’t believe in the savior God. 561 00:29:12,219 –> 00:29:13,579 You have this idea that you’ll just keep doing 562 00:29:13,579 –> 00:29:15,260 the same thing and God will keep forgiving you. 563 00:29:15,260 –> 00:29:17,619 You don’t believe God can deliver you. 564 00:29:18,660 –> 00:29:20,939 You don’t believe he’s put you in a position to fight. 565 00:29:20,939 –> 00:29:22,579 You don’t believe the Bible. 566 00:29:22,579 –> 00:29:23,859 That’s why you fail. 567 00:29:26,500 –> 00:29:29,219 There would be much more victory in our Christian lives 568 00:29:29,219 –> 00:29:31,839 if we started to believe God. 569 00:29:33,180 –> 00:29:36,619 If we got truth into our heads, 570 00:29:36,619 –> 00:29:41,380 instead of going through this pre-fight talk of defeat 571 00:29:41,380 –> 00:29:45,520 that is language as if God had never given us 572 00:29:45,520 –> 00:29:47,540 the Holy Spirit which he has. 573 00:29:48,359 –> 00:29:52,300 You’re talking like you aren’t a Christian. 574 00:29:53,939 –> 00:29:55,280 Make up your mind. 575 00:29:56,900 –> 00:29:59,859 If you’re not a Christian, come to Jesus Christ today. 576 00:29:59,859 –> 00:30:01,760 Tell him you need the gift of his spirit. 577 00:30:01,760 –> 00:30:04,060 Tell him that you need a Savior. 578 00:30:05,219 –> 00:30:09,140 And if you have a Savior, go live like you have a Savior. 579 00:30:09,140 –> 00:30:12,300 And if you have a Savior, go fight like the Savior 580 00:30:12,300 –> 00:30:14,579 has put you in a position to fight. 581 00:30:15,420 –> 00:30:19,479 The devil has us bamboozled with confusion on this issue. 582 00:30:23,119 –> 00:30:24,819 Of course, once in a while, if I can push it 583 00:30:24,819 –> 00:30:26,819 just one little bit further. 584 00:30:27,660 –> 00:30:29,219 Once in a while, you get a boxer 585 00:30:29,219 –> 00:30:31,300 who intentionally throws a fight. 586 00:30:31,300 –> 00:30:34,020 Ever seen that happen, and all the crowd boo’s, 587 00:30:34,020 –> 00:30:35,180 because they only saw one round, 588 00:30:35,180 –> 00:30:37,160 and he went down after the first punch? 589 00:30:38,540 –> 00:30:39,459 I remember when I was a kid, 590 00:30:39,459 –> 00:30:41,380 watching some heavyweight championships, 591 00:30:41,380 –> 00:30:43,219 and my father said, you know, for that number 592 00:30:44,180 –> 00:30:45,780 of a million of dollars, I think I’d get in there 593 00:30:45,780 –> 00:30:47,760 and go down after one punch too. 594 00:30:50,219 –> 00:30:51,739 But you know, that is the surest way 595 00:30:51,739 –> 00:30:53,359 of being disqualified, isn’t it? 596 00:30:55,839 –> 00:30:58,719 That is to show that you are not a fighter. 597 00:31:00,959 –> 00:31:04,099 I’m not suggesting that we are saved by putting up a fight. 598 00:31:04,099 –> 00:31:04,939 Of course we’re not. 599 00:31:04,939 –> 00:31:06,260 We’re saved by the grace of God, 600 00:31:06,260 –> 00:31:08,140 but the evidence that God’s grace 601 00:31:08,140 –> 00:31:13,099 is at work in your life is that you put up a fight, 602 00:31:13,219 –> 00:31:14,699 and when you’re knocked down 603 00:31:14,699 –> 00:31:16,020 in the strength that God gives you, 604 00:31:16,020 –> 00:31:18,020 you get up and you start fighting again. 605 00:31:21,060 –> 00:31:24,859 Your savior will stand with you in temptation, 606 00:31:26,939 –> 00:31:29,180 and he’s able to keep you from falling. 607 00:31:29,180 –> 00:31:31,280 If you would believe that, 608 00:31:32,579 –> 00:31:35,099 you would go into a battle this week 609 00:31:35,099 –> 00:31:39,619 with an entirely different biblical mindset. 610 00:31:40,619 –> 00:31:42,699 And he’ll keep you from falling when you’re weighed down. 611 00:31:42,699 –> 00:31:44,619 One of my very favorite verses in the Bible, 612 00:31:44,619 –> 00:31:47,439 Psalm 118, verse 13 and 14, 613 00:31:47,439 –> 00:31:48,979 I was pushed hard, 614 00:31:48,979 –> 00:31:51,219 I was about to fall, 615 00:31:51,219 –> 00:31:52,219 but the Lord helped me. 616 00:31:52,219 –> 00:31:53,540 The Lord is my strength, 617 00:31:53,540 –> 00:31:55,300 the Lord is my song, 618 00:31:55,300 –> 00:31:57,140 and he’s become my salvation. 619 00:31:57,140 –> 00:31:59,000 You believe in the savior, God. 620 00:32:01,380 –> 00:32:03,140 He’s able to keep you from falling. 621 00:32:04,739 –> 00:32:07,719 And lastly, he’s able to present you in his presence 622 00:32:07,859 –> 00:32:08,939 in glory. 623 00:32:08,939 –> 00:32:12,459 He’s able to bring you to glory. 624 00:32:12,459 –> 00:32:15,060 Not only is he able to keep you from falling, 625 00:32:15,060 –> 00:32:18,079 but the savior God is able to present you 626 00:32:18,079 –> 00:32:19,839 in his glorious presence, 627 00:32:19,839 –> 00:32:22,420 without fault, and with great joy. 628 00:32:22,420 –> 00:32:24,319 Can you imagine what this is gonna be like? 629 00:32:24,319 –> 00:32:25,199 For you 630 00:32:26,400 –> 00:32:30,260 to be presented by God to God? 631 00:32:31,199 –> 00:32:33,199 The wonderful mystery in that itself. 632 00:32:33,199 –> 00:32:34,479 God presents you, 633 00:32:34,479 –> 00:32:36,819 and God is the one to whom you’re presented. 634 00:32:37,040 –> 00:32:40,859 And in the radiant majesty of his presence, 635 00:32:41,739 –> 00:32:46,400 you will be without fault. 636 00:32:48,459 –> 00:32:50,800 Can you even imagine yourself faultless? 637 00:32:53,180 –> 00:32:54,420 We saw earlier in our series 638 00:32:54,420 –> 00:32:57,199 that every Christian now is like a burned stick, 639 00:32:58,699 –> 00:33:01,439 but the damage that sin has done to us all 640 00:33:01,439 –> 00:33:03,260 will be fully undone, 641 00:33:03,260 –> 00:33:04,819 the scars will be healed, 642 00:33:05,339 –> 00:33:09,800 the charring will be as if it had never happened. 643 00:33:11,979 –> 00:33:13,719 You will be faultless in your mind 644 00:33:13,719 –> 00:33:16,400 as you know all things that are mysteries to you now. 645 00:33:17,319 –> 00:33:19,260 You’ll be faultless in your soul, 646 00:33:19,260 –> 00:33:20,599 there will be no fears, 647 00:33:20,599 –> 00:33:24,459 there will be no sudden moods that sweep upon you 648 00:33:24,459 –> 00:33:26,400 and become struggles for you, 649 00:33:26,400 –> 00:33:28,800 you will be faultless in your body, 650 00:33:29,880 –> 00:33:30,719 in your body. 651 00:33:32,280 –> 00:33:33,800 No arthritis, 652 00:33:35,260 –> 00:33:36,260 no foot pain. 653 00:33:40,160 –> 00:33:43,300 I see my son training so vigorously I support him in it. 654 00:33:43,300 –> 00:33:44,319 It’s a wonderful thing. 655 00:33:44,319 –> 00:33:47,280 But I tease him, I say it’s a losing battle. 656 00:33:49,859 –> 00:33:54,180 Over 50 years, 60 years, 70 years, it’s a losing battle. 657 00:33:55,800 –> 00:33:59,420 But your body will be made perfect, 658 00:33:59,420 –> 00:34:04,420 you will live eternity in the vigor of redeemed strength. 659 00:34:05,339 –> 00:34:08,000 And you will be able to give yourself 660 00:34:08,000 –> 00:34:10,459 more fully to God than ever before. 661 00:34:10,459 –> 00:34:14,340 Give yourself to Him as you always wanted. 662 00:34:14,340 –> 00:34:16,860 The reason I say that is that this word without fault 663 00:34:16,860 –> 00:34:19,379 goes back to the old sacrifices in the Old Testament. 664 00:34:19,379 –> 00:34:21,659 Remember, the animal that had to be sacrificed 665 00:34:21,659 –> 00:34:23,360 had to be without blemish. 666 00:34:23,360 –> 00:34:25,159 And that’s the word that’s used here. 667 00:34:25,159 –> 00:34:27,959 So you’ll be in the position where you are able 668 00:34:27,959 –> 00:34:30,439 to offer everything to God and God will embrace 669 00:34:31,280 –> 00:34:36,020 that you are, you will be His for all eternity. 670 00:34:37,399 –> 00:34:40,020 You will reflect the perfection of the Lamb of God 671 00:34:41,959 –> 00:34:43,739 and he will embrace and welcome you. 672 00:34:44,879 –> 00:34:47,360 And, says Jude, as he begins to think about 673 00:34:47,360 –> 00:34:49,699 it more and more, it will not only be without fault 674 00:34:49,699 –> 00:34:51,479 but it will be with great joy. 675 00:34:51,479 –> 00:34:54,899 Can you imagine the joy that God would have 676 00:34:54,899 –> 00:34:56,020 in receiving you? 677 00:34:56,879 –> 00:34:59,679 Can you imagine God himself rejoicing 678 00:35:01,000 –> 00:35:04,280 when we were told that Jesus endured the cross 679 00:35:04,280 –> 00:35:06,459 for the joy that was set before him? 680 00:35:07,760 –> 00:35:11,179 In other words, he looked at the joy in anticipation 681 00:35:12,139 –> 00:35:15,159 and he looked at the horrors of the cross 682 00:35:16,120 –> 00:35:19,679 and Jesus said, in his mind, according to Hebrews, 683 00:35:20,760 –> 00:35:24,600 that joy is so great 684 00:35:24,600 –> 00:35:27,520 that it’s well worth this suffering. 685 00:35:28,500 –> 00:35:31,840 And if you can picture and imagine the weight 686 00:35:31,840 –> 00:35:34,620 of the horrors of the suffering of Jesus, 687 00:35:34,620 –> 00:35:38,719 that will give you some scale of the joy of God 688 00:35:40,040 –> 00:35:43,540 in welcoming you on the last day. 689 00:35:45,020 –> 00:35:50,020 So no wonder Jude says to this Savior God, 690 00:35:51,320 –> 00:35:52,939 who can keep you from falling 691 00:35:52,939 –> 00:35:55,360 and who will present you in his own presence 692 00:35:55,360 –> 00:35:57,379 without fault and with great joy 693 00:35:57,639 –> 00:36:02,639 to him be glory and majesty and power and authority 694 00:36:04,020 –> 00:36:09,020 through Jesus Christ before all ages. 695 00:36:09,639 –> 00:36:13,800 Now, give him the glory for it now 696 00:36:14,939 –> 00:36:19,939 and forevermore, amen.