1 00:00:00,580 –> 00:00:04,660 Now we’re on the last stretch of our short journey 2 00:00:04,660 –> 00:00:06,380 through the Bible story. 3 00:00:06,380 –> 00:00:07,700 In just three weeks, 4 00:00:07,700 –> 00:00:10,540 we’ve been trying to savor and celebrate 5 00:00:10,540 –> 00:00:13,220 all that God has for us in Jesus Christ 6 00:00:13,220 –> 00:00:15,380 as we take in the broad sweep 7 00:00:15,380 –> 00:00:19,740 of God’s redeeming purpose and plan for the world. 8 00:00:19,740 –> 00:00:22,740 We began two weeks ago by looking in the Old Testament 9 00:00:22,740 –> 00:00:25,860 at God’s unshakable commitments. 10 00:00:25,900 –> 00:00:27,900 And we saw, I think, perhaps freshly, 11 00:00:27,900 –> 00:00:30,379 how remarkable they are, 12 00:00:30,379 –> 00:00:33,959 that God has said that he will create men and women 13 00:00:33,959 –> 00:00:36,720 in his image and in his likeness. 14 00:00:36,720 –> 00:00:40,840 That he will destroy evil and rid the world of its curse. 15 00:00:40,840 –> 00:00:45,779 That he will bless people from every nation on the planet. 16 00:00:45,779 –> 00:00:47,160 That he will bring these people 17 00:00:47,160 –> 00:00:48,959 into fellowship with himself 18 00:00:48,959 –> 00:00:52,160 through an atoning sacrifice for their sins. 19 00:00:52,160 –> 00:00:54,439 That he will establish his kingdom forever 20 00:00:54,439 –> 00:00:56,200 so that all these people will live 21 00:00:56,200 –> 00:00:58,119 under the blessing of his rule. 22 00:00:58,119 –> 00:01:01,160 That he will bring these people to walk in all of his ways 23 00:01:01,160 –> 00:01:02,799 and that he will give to these people 24 00:01:02,799 –> 00:01:05,559 new life from the grave. 25 00:01:05,559 –> 00:01:07,239 And when we look at the extent, 26 00:01:07,239 –> 00:01:10,220 the sweep of God’s amazing promises, 27 00:01:10,220 –> 00:01:12,120 we came to this conclusion 28 00:01:12,120 –> 00:01:15,980 that only God can deliver what God promises. 29 00:01:15,980 –> 00:01:18,720 People who do not see the uniqueness 30 00:01:18,720 –> 00:01:20,959 of the Lord Jesus Christ 31 00:01:20,959 –> 00:01:23,900 miss the sweep of what God has promised. 32 00:01:23,940 –> 00:01:27,260 But when you see how great God’s promise is, 33 00:01:27,260 –> 00:01:28,900 you’ve got to come to the conclusion 34 00:01:28,900 –> 00:01:33,900 only God himself could deliver promises as vast as these. 35 00:01:34,540 –> 00:01:38,580 And so that lead us to the miracle of the incarnation. 36 00:01:38,580 –> 00:01:40,559 When we saw last time, 37 00:01:40,559 –> 00:01:44,199 God spoke his word and then his promise was made, 38 00:01:44,199 –> 00:01:46,099 but when the word became flesh, 39 00:01:46,099 –> 00:01:48,900 then God’s promise was kept. 40 00:01:48,900 –> 00:01:51,940 And so we followed the marvelous story of the incarnation, 41 00:01:51,940 –> 00:01:53,620 the temptation, the rejection, 42 00:01:53,620 –> 00:01:55,459 the crucifix transfiguration, 43 00:01:55,459 –> 00:01:57,279 crucifixion, resurrection, 44 00:01:57,279 –> 00:02:00,379 and ascension of the lord Jesus Christ. 45 00:02:00,379 –> 00:02:03,519 And we wrap these up together in Paul’s words 46 00:02:03,519 –> 00:02:05,500 that all of God’s promises, 47 00:02:05,500 –> 00:02:09,539 everything God has ever promised is yes in Jesus Christ. 48 00:02:09,539 –> 00:02:11,580 When you read the promises of God in the Bible, 49 00:02:11,580 –> 00:02:13,500 this is not just words. 50 00:02:14,479 –> 00:02:18,500 This is backed, signed, seal, delivered 51 00:02:18,500 –> 00:02:20,619 by the birth death resurrection 52 00:02:20,619 –> 00:02:24,360 and ascension of the lord Jesus Christ. 53 00:02:25,660 –> 00:02:28,940 Now, the birth and death and resurrection of Jesus 54 00:02:28,940 –> 00:02:31,020 were 2000 years ago, 55 00:02:31,020 –> 00:02:34,300 a long time has passed since these events. 56 00:02:34,300 –> 00:02:36,339 And so the question before us today is, 57 00:02:36,339 –> 00:02:40,000 how does this great promise given by God 58 00:02:40,000 –> 00:02:41,500 and sealed in Jesus Christ, 59 00:02:41,500 –> 00:02:44,059 how do these great promises become connected 60 00:02:44,059 –> 00:02:46,539 to our lives today? 61 00:02:46,539 –> 00:02:50,100 And what does it look like when these great promises of God 62 00:02:50,580 –> 00:02:52,259 who are ours in Jesus Christ 63 00:02:52,259 –> 00:02:54,639 are actually connected to a human life? 64 00:02:54,639 –> 00:02:59,639 What difference does all this make to you in Jesus Christ? 65 00:03:00,419 –> 00:03:02,740 So I hope you’ll follow along with me today. 66 00:03:02,740 –> 00:03:05,600 I’d like to begin in Acts Chapter Two. 67 00:03:05,600 –> 00:03:08,600 If you would turn there, Acts and Chapter Two, 68 00:03:08,600 –> 00:03:10,059 we’re taking up the story 69 00:03:11,259 –> 00:03:13,820 after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus 70 00:03:13,820 –> 00:03:15,440 on a day when a great crowd of people 71 00:03:15,440 –> 00:03:18,979 from every nation had gathered in Jerusalem 72 00:03:19,059 –> 00:03:21,820 and the Holy Spirit was out poured on the apostles 73 00:03:21,820 –> 00:03:24,380 and as Peter spoke about Jesus, 74 00:03:24,380 –> 00:03:28,139 people who came from different linguistic backgrounds 75 00:03:28,139 –> 00:03:31,500 were miraculously able to hear what he said 76 00:03:31,500 –> 00:03:35,259 in their own language, it was an amazing miracle. 77 00:03:35,259 –> 00:03:37,380 And Peter speaks about the life and the death 78 00:03:37,380 –> 00:03:38,779 and the resurrection of Jesus, 79 00:03:38,779 –> 00:03:43,000 and then in Verse 36, we take it up with his conclusion. 80 00:03:43,000 –> 00:03:48,000 Therefore, he says, let all Israel be assured of this. 81 00:03:49,020 –> 00:03:53,360 God has made this Jesus whom you crucified 82 00:03:53,360 –> 00:03:56,520 both Lord and Christ. 83 00:03:56,520 –> 00:03:58,399 That was his message. 84 00:03:58,399 –> 00:04:03,399 This Jesus was born, lived, died, rose again. 85 00:04:06,119 –> 00:04:11,119 God has made this Jesus Lord and Christ. 86 00:04:13,240 –> 00:04:14,360 That was his message. 87 00:04:15,559 –> 00:04:18,119 Now it’s quite clear that these people believed 88 00:04:18,160 –> 00:04:20,200 what Peter was telling them. 89 00:04:20,200 –> 00:04:22,420 If they didn’t, they would have argued with him 90 00:04:22,420 –> 00:04:24,480 or, perhaps, they would have just walked away 91 00:04:24,480 –> 00:04:28,660 and ignored him, but notice what actually happened. 92 00:04:28,660 –> 00:04:30,959 When the people heard this, 93 00:04:30,959 –> 00:04:34,299 they were cut to the heart, verse 37. 94 00:04:34,299 –> 00:04:35,820 Now that’s faith, right there. 95 00:04:36,859 –> 00:04:41,579 You see, they believe that Jesus is the Lord and the Christ. 96 00:04:41,579 –> 00:04:43,820 They take that seriously 97 00:04:43,820 –> 00:04:45,980 and they immediately draw the obvious conclusion 98 00:04:46,059 –> 00:04:48,859 that if Jesus is Lord and Christ 99 00:04:49,739 –> 00:04:53,279 and I’ve spent half my life ignoring him or resisting him, 100 00:04:53,279 –> 00:04:54,739 then I’m in trouble. 101 00:04:54,739 –> 00:04:56,540 That’s the conclusion that they drew. 102 00:04:57,559 –> 00:04:59,619 And so, they say to Peter, 103 00:05:00,760 –> 00:05:02,399 Brothers, what shall we do? 104 00:05:02,399 –> 00:05:04,079 And Peter gives them a one word answer. 105 00:05:04,079 –> 00:05:06,299 He says, repent, verse 38. 106 00:05:07,619 –> 00:05:08,720 It’s very interesting, isn’t it? 107 00:05:08,720 –> 00:05:11,600 Peter tells believing people to repent. 108 00:05:12,399 –> 00:05:14,839 That’s important, because true faith 109 00:05:15,679 –> 00:05:18,399 is always shot through with repentance, 110 00:05:18,399 –> 00:05:21,679 and true repentance is always shot through with faith. 111 00:05:21,679 –> 00:05:23,320 They’re like two sides of the same coin, 112 00:05:23,320 –> 00:05:26,079 so that the one cannot even exist without the other. 113 00:05:26,959 –> 00:05:28,799 You will not turn to Jesus Christ 114 00:05:28,799 –> 00:05:32,480 until you see the mercy and love 115 00:05:32,480 –> 00:05:35,000 of God towards you in Jesus Christ. 116 00:05:35,000 –> 00:05:35,839 That’s faith, 117 00:05:35,839 –> 00:05:37,640 when you see his mercy and his love, 118 00:05:38,619 –> 00:05:40,239 then you will turn towards him. 119 00:05:40,260 –> 00:05:41,700 And when you see that mercy and love 120 00:05:41,700 –> 00:05:45,079 you will find it quite impossible to keep pushing God away. 121 00:05:45,079 –> 00:05:47,299 You will find yourself strangely and wonderfully 122 00:05:47,299 –> 00:05:51,940 drawn to him, by this love that you have now grasped. 123 00:05:51,940 –> 00:05:54,700 So, repentance and faith, they always are together, 124 00:05:54,700 –> 00:05:55,700 never apart, 125 00:05:55,700 –> 00:05:58,339 and they are both birthed simultaneously 126 00:05:58,339 –> 00:06:00,660 at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. 127 00:06:01,720 –> 00:06:02,660 And that is what Peter 128 00:06:02,660 –> 00:06:04,640 is calling these people to right here. 129 00:06:05,660 –> 00:06:08,540 You believe, now you must come to Jesus Christ, 130 00:06:08,559 –> 00:06:10,679 you must turn to him, you must repent. 131 00:06:10,679 –> 00:06:11,579 And notice what he says, 132 00:06:11,579 –> 00:06:14,119 repent and be baptized, every one of you, 133 00:06:14,119 –> 00:06:17,220 in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, verse 38, 134 00:06:17,220 –> 00:06:20,459 see this faith, this repentance leads to baptism, 135 00:06:20,459 –> 00:06:23,420 which is a public identification with Jesus, 136 00:06:23,420 –> 00:06:26,480 in which you receive the sign of God’s promise. 137 00:06:26,480 –> 00:06:29,480 And Peter summarizes the promise under two headings. 138 00:06:29,480 –> 00:06:32,480 He says it’s about the forgiveness of sins 139 00:06:32,480 –> 00:06:35,359 and the gift of the Holy Spirit, verse 38. 140 00:06:35,359 –> 00:06:37,839 Here is what God will give to you. 141 00:06:37,859 –> 00:06:39,739 As you’ve drawn near to him in faith 142 00:06:39,739 –> 00:06:41,019 in the Lord Jesus Christ, 143 00:06:41,019 –> 00:06:42,899 you’re turning in repentance to Jesus, 144 00:06:42,899 –> 00:06:44,260 here’s what’s yours, 145 00:06:44,260 –> 00:06:45,779 your sins will be forgiven, 146 00:06:45,779 –> 00:06:48,500 God will forgive you, he will forgive you, 147 00:06:48,500 –> 00:06:53,500 and he will give to you the gift of his Holy Spirit. 148 00:06:54,739 –> 00:06:57,160 I want you to notice verse 39 that follows, 149 00:06:57,160 –> 00:07:01,100 and for us to see the scope of this marvelous promise. 150 00:07:02,179 –> 00:07:07,179 Peter says the promise is for you and for your children, 151 00:07:07,339 –> 00:07:08,940 and for all who are far off, 152 00:07:08,940 –> 00:07:11,299 for all whom the Lord our God will call. 153 00:07:11,299 –> 00:07:13,019 This is wonderful. 154 00:07:13,019 –> 00:07:14,679 He says to these folks, look, 155 00:07:14,679 –> 00:07:17,600 this promise of forgiveness of sins 156 00:07:17,600 –> 00:07:20,220 and the power of a new life through the Holy Spirit, 157 00:07:20,220 –> 00:07:21,160 who’s it for? 158 00:07:21,160 –> 00:07:23,220 It’s for you. 159 00:07:23,220 –> 00:07:26,059 If you have come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 160 00:07:26,059 –> 00:07:28,720 if you have come to feel your own need of him, 161 00:07:30,459 –> 00:07:34,040 this promise is for you. 162 00:07:34,040 –> 00:07:35,339 It’s for you today. 163 00:07:35,339 –> 00:07:36,920 It’s for us. 164 00:07:37,559 –> 00:07:38,700 He says, specifically, 165 00:07:38,700 –> 00:07:39,720 not only is it for you, 166 00:07:39,720 –> 00:07:41,119 it’s for your children. 167 00:07:41,119 –> 00:07:41,959 In other words, 168 00:07:41,959 –> 00:07:44,500 this promise of forgiveness and new life in Jesus 169 00:07:44,500 –> 00:07:48,559 it’s not limited to one generation 2,000 years ago. 170 00:07:48,559 –> 00:07:49,959 It’s not limited to one time, 171 00:07:49,959 –> 00:07:51,500 one century, one culture. 172 00:07:51,500 –> 00:07:53,399 It’s not locked away in the past 173 00:07:53,399 –> 00:07:54,880 and inaccessible to us. 174 00:07:54,880 –> 00:07:55,839 It’s for us. 175 00:07:55,839 –> 00:07:57,480 It’s for this generation. 176 00:07:57,480 –> 00:07:59,000 God’s forgiveness for you 177 00:07:59,000 –> 00:08:00,320 and his Holy Spirit for you. 178 00:08:00,320 –> 00:08:02,239 It’s for us. 179 00:08:02,239 –> 00:08:05,119 It’s for all who are far off Peter says. 180 00:08:05,119 –> 00:08:06,299 That’s marvelous. 181 00:08:06,299 –> 00:08:09,359 Have you come here today and you feel far from God? 182 00:08:09,359 –> 00:08:10,200 Listen. 183 00:08:10,200 –> 00:08:11,420 The promise is for you. 184 00:08:11,420 –> 00:08:13,799 He reaches out to you in Jesus Christ 185 00:08:13,799 –> 00:08:15,320 offering you forgiveness, 186 00:08:15,320 –> 00:08:18,359 offering you new life by the power of his Holy Spirit. 187 00:08:18,359 –> 00:08:20,700 It’s for people who are far off. 188 00:08:20,700 –> 00:08:22,500 People perhaps who are never brought up 189 00:08:22,500 –> 00:08:23,739 with Christian faith. 190 00:08:23,739 –> 00:08:25,579 People who never knew about Jesus 191 00:08:25,579 –> 00:08:27,359 until years on into your life. 192 00:08:28,399 –> 00:08:29,220 It’s for you. 193 00:08:30,459 –> 00:08:33,200 It’s for all whom the Lord our God will call. 194 00:08:33,200 –> 00:08:34,900 You say, well how does God call us? 195 00:08:34,900 –> 00:08:37,619 Well he calls us through the gospel. 196 00:08:37,619 –> 00:08:39,419 And Peter was speaking the gospel, 197 00:08:39,419 –> 00:08:41,159 that’s why he says it’s for you. 198 00:08:42,419 –> 00:08:44,700 And so as you hear the gospel today, 199 00:08:44,700 –> 00:08:48,179 understand this God is calling you, 200 00:08:49,260 –> 00:08:51,580 he’s saying there’s forgiveness for you, 201 00:08:51,580 –> 00:08:54,460 he’s saying there is the power of the Holy Spirit 202 00:08:54,460 –> 00:08:58,719 in a new life for you in Jesus Christ. 203 00:08:58,719 –> 00:09:00,820 And so today if you hear his voice 204 00:09:00,820 –> 00:09:04,760 do not harden your heart. 205 00:09:05,119 –> 00:09:10,080 Now as we think about the scope of this marvelous promise, 206 00:09:10,440 –> 00:09:15,440 I want us to look at the sweep of God’s redeeming work 207 00:09:16,000 –> 00:09:19,880 in the life of a Christian believer. 208 00:09:19,880 –> 00:09:22,640 When this promise becomes yours, 209 00:09:22,640 –> 00:09:25,919 when you receive Christ by repentance and faith, 210 00:09:25,919 –> 00:09:28,159 what difference does it make? 211 00:09:28,159 –> 00:09:30,020 What is true of you? 212 00:09:30,859 –> 00:09:32,419 What does it look like? 213 00:09:32,419 –> 00:09:35,840 What is yours in Jesus 214 00:09:35,840 –> 00:09:39,320 when the Holy Spirit delivers the promise of God 215 00:09:39,320 –> 00:09:40,159 in your life? 216 00:09:40,159 –> 00:09:42,619 Well I want us to look at the sweep of that, 217 00:09:42,619 –> 00:09:44,280 I hope you’ll follow in your Bibles 218 00:09:44,280 –> 00:09:45,780 and would it surprise you to learn 219 00:09:45,780 –> 00:09:49,140 that we’re going to have seven stopping points today 220 00:09:49,140 –> 00:09:51,760 from the richness of scripture 221 00:09:51,760 –> 00:09:54,500 of all that’s ours in Jesus Christ. 222 00:09:55,380 –> 00:09:57,880 Will you turn with me then to John’s Gospel 223 00:09:57,880 –> 00:10:01,440 and chapter three for the first of these stopping points. 224 00:10:01,919 –> 00:10:03,739 We’re going to begin with the great blessing 225 00:10:03,739 –> 00:10:06,539 of regeneration familiar I’m sure to most of us 226 00:10:06,539 –> 00:10:08,659 from our study earlier this year. 227 00:10:08,659 –> 00:10:10,840 This marvelous truth that in Jesus Christ 228 00:10:10,840 –> 00:10:11,900 you have new life. 229 00:10:11,900 –> 00:10:13,640 And we’re looking at John chapter three 230 00:10:13,640 –> 00:10:15,900 verses five to eight. 231 00:10:17,140 –> 00:10:19,280 Jesus says here I tell you the truth 232 00:10:19,280 –> 00:10:21,719 no one can enter the kingdom of God 233 00:10:21,719 –> 00:10:24,979 unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 234 00:10:25,900 –> 00:10:27,500 Flesh gives birth to flesh 235 00:10:27,500 –> 00:10:29,440 but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit. 236 00:10:30,000 –> 00:10:32,000 And so you should not be surprised at my saying 237 00:10:32,000 –> 00:10:34,239 you must be born again. 238 00:10:35,099 –> 00:10:38,219 The wind blows wherever it pleases. 239 00:10:38,219 –> 00:10:40,239 You hear its sound but you cannot tell 240 00:10:40,239 –> 00:10:42,039 where it comes or where it is going 241 00:10:42,039 –> 00:10:47,039 and so it is with everyone born of the Spirit. 242 00:10:48,880 –> 00:10:52,520 Now when God created the heavens and the earth 243 00:10:52,520 –> 00:10:57,520 Genesis tells us that the earth was formless and empty. 244 00:10:57,760 –> 00:11:02,460 It was a dark, watery, chaos. 245 00:11:02,460 –> 00:11:04,799 And remember right at the beginning of the Bible 246 00:11:04,799 –> 00:11:07,719 we’re told that the Spirit of God 247 00:11:07,719 –> 00:11:10,619 hovered over the waters. 248 00:11:11,659 –> 00:11:14,640 And then in the creation there was this marvelous miracle 249 00:11:14,640 –> 00:11:17,479 God spoke light into darkness, 250 00:11:17,479 –> 00:11:20,760 He brought life out of death 251 00:11:20,760 –> 00:11:24,659 and from the dark, watery chaos 252 00:11:24,739 –> 00:11:28,780 God brought all the life and beauty 253 00:11:28,780 –> 00:11:30,880 of the world as we know it. 254 00:11:32,099 –> 00:11:36,260 Now John tells us that the same Spirit of God 255 00:11:36,260 –> 00:11:40,380 who hovered over the darkness at the creation 256 00:11:40,380 –> 00:11:42,820 is like a wind 257 00:11:42,820 –> 00:11:47,140 blowing into human lives. 258 00:11:47,140 –> 00:11:49,539 He gives light 259 00:11:49,539 –> 00:11:52,940 so that people will see the glory of Jesus, 260 00:11:53,119 –> 00:11:54,599 He gives life 261 00:11:54,599 –> 00:11:58,599 so that we will become responsive towards God. 262 00:11:58,599 –> 00:12:03,080 He blows into the dark chaos of human lives 263 00:12:04,159 –> 00:12:05,960 and He brings new life. 264 00:12:05,960 –> 00:12:08,320 That’s what the Spirit of God does. 265 00:12:08,320 –> 00:12:11,659 And He says, the Spirit gives birth to Spirit. 266 00:12:11,659 –> 00:12:14,140 That is the Holy Spirit gives birth 267 00:12:14,140 –> 00:12:17,760 to life by the Spirit or in the Spirit. 268 00:12:17,760 –> 00:12:20,320 There is a new life that is in you 269 00:12:20,320 –> 00:12:23,099 when you are in Jesus Christ. 270 00:12:23,099 –> 00:12:25,340 It was not there before but you have it now. 271 00:12:25,340 –> 00:12:26,880 You see Christ’s glory, 272 00:12:26,880 –> 00:12:28,960 you rejoice in Him, 273 00:12:28,960 –> 00:12:31,599 and you are alive towards God. 274 00:12:31,599 –> 00:12:34,460 So to be in Christ means that you have new life. 275 00:12:35,580 –> 00:12:38,000 Not only that, not only regeneration, 276 00:12:38,000 –> 00:12:41,760 but you have union with the Lord Jesus Christ. 277 00:12:41,760 –> 00:12:45,919 Will you turn with me to Romans and chapter six 278 00:12:45,919 –> 00:12:49,239 Union, You are in Christ. 279 00:12:49,239 –> 00:12:51,679 In Romans chapter six, verse three, 280 00:12:51,679 –> 00:12:55,479 Paul says here don’t you know 281 00:12:56,400 –> 00:12:59,520 that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus 282 00:12:59,520 –> 00:13:02,520 were baptized into His death? 283 00:13:02,520 –> 00:13:05,659 It’s always interesting when Paul says don’t you know 284 00:13:05,659 –> 00:13:07,239 because it kind of implies this is something 285 00:13:07,239 –> 00:13:10,799 absolutely basic that every Christian should understand. 286 00:13:10,799 –> 00:13:13,320 And so it’s obviously of great importance. 287 00:13:13,320 –> 00:13:14,659 Now what is it that’s very basic 288 00:13:14,659 –> 00:13:16,719 that every Christian should understand? 289 00:13:16,719 –> 00:13:20,700 He says well, we were therefore buried with Him 290 00:13:20,700 –> 00:13:22,739 through baptism into death 291 00:13:22,739 –> 00:13:25,799 in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead 292 00:13:25,799 –> 00:13:27,039 through the glory of the Father 293 00:13:27,039 –> 00:13:28,640 we too may live a new life. 294 00:13:28,640 –> 00:13:30,479 You say well, what is all that about? 295 00:13:31,580 –> 00:13:35,599 Paul is not talking about baptism in water here. 296 00:13:35,599 –> 00:13:37,820 He is talking about the reality 297 00:13:37,820 –> 00:13:41,039 that lies behind baptism in water 298 00:13:41,039 –> 00:13:44,840 to which baptism in water points. 299 00:13:44,880 –> 00:13:47,599 He’s telling us how the new life 300 00:13:47,599 –> 00:13:50,520 by the Holy Spirit comes about. 301 00:13:50,520 –> 00:13:54,219 The Holy Spirit brings you new life 302 00:13:54,219 –> 00:13:59,080 by plunging you into Jesus Christ, 303 00:13:59,080 –> 00:14:02,580 by making you one with Jesus Christ, 304 00:14:02,580 –> 00:14:05,559 by uniting you with Jesus Christ 305 00:14:05,559 –> 00:14:08,479 so that His death and His resurrection 306 00:14:08,479 –> 00:14:11,719 truly become yours. 307 00:14:11,719 –> 00:14:13,359 Another way in which Paul puts it 308 00:14:13,359 –> 00:14:15,659 is that the Holy Spirit causes us 309 00:14:15,659 –> 00:14:19,219 to be in Christ, in Christ. 310 00:14:19,219 –> 00:14:22,039 You remember if anyone is in Christ, 311 00:14:22,039 –> 00:14:24,039 he is a new creation. 312 00:14:24,039 –> 00:14:26,640 The old has gone and the new has come. 313 00:14:26,640 –> 00:14:29,299 That is true of you as a Christian believer, 314 00:14:29,299 –> 00:14:30,599 you are in Christ. 315 00:14:30,599 –> 00:14:33,739 His death and His resurrection are yours. 316 00:14:34,880 –> 00:14:38,280 Now this is so important, it’s vital for us to grasp, 317 00:14:38,280 –> 00:14:40,520 Martin Luther explains it well. 318 00:14:40,859 –> 00:14:44,059 He uses the picture that the Bible also uses 319 00:14:44,059 –> 00:14:47,840 of our relationship with Christ being like a marriage. 320 00:14:47,840 –> 00:14:52,840 And he says this, faith unites the soul to Christ 321 00:14:53,719 –> 00:14:56,280 as a bride is united to her bridegroom. 322 00:14:57,159 –> 00:14:59,780 By this mystery, the apostle teaches 323 00:14:59,780 –> 00:15:03,039 that Christ and the soul become one flesh. 324 00:15:03,039 –> 00:15:04,559 And if they are one flesh, 325 00:15:04,559 –> 00:15:06,780 there is between them a true marriage 326 00:15:06,780 –> 00:15:08,919 and it follows that everything they have, 327 00:15:08,919 –> 00:15:10,500 they hold in common. 328 00:15:11,559 –> 00:15:15,960 Accordingly, the believing soul can boast of 329 00:15:15,960 –> 00:15:20,960 and glory in what ever Christ has as though it were its own. 330 00:15:22,700 –> 00:15:27,380 And whatever the soul has, Christ claims as his own. 331 00:15:27,380 –> 00:15:28,460 You see what he’s saying? 332 00:15:28,460 –> 00:15:31,739 If there’s a true union between you and Jesus Christ, 333 00:15:31,739 –> 00:15:35,580 between your soul and Him, you can boast of and rejoice 334 00:15:35,599 –> 00:15:40,179 in all that is Jesus Christ as if it were your own. 335 00:15:41,359 –> 00:15:42,739 That is marvelous! 336 00:15:45,599 –> 00:15:50,099 Just a few weeks ago, I was thinking about some folks 337 00:15:50,099 –> 00:15:54,020 in the church that we served in London in England. 338 00:15:55,020 –> 00:15:59,559 And I was thinking about how little I have done 339 00:15:59,559 –> 00:16:04,140 to keep in touch with some of them over these last years. 340 00:16:04,140 –> 00:16:06,599 And as I was thinking about that, 341 00:16:06,599 –> 00:16:08,760 I was also aware at that point 342 00:16:08,760 –> 00:16:11,239 of being behind on a number of projects. 343 00:16:11,239 –> 00:16:13,200 And, do you have these kind of days 344 00:16:13,200 –> 00:16:14,119 where you just feel, you know, 345 00:16:14,119 –> 00:16:16,500 am I getting anything done right here? 346 00:16:16,500 –> 00:16:19,219 I was having one of these 347 00:16:19,219 –> 00:16:22,820 owretched man-that-I-am kind of days. 348 00:16:22,820 –> 00:16:24,640 Do you know that kind of experience? 349 00:16:24,640 –> 00:16:27,059 Oh, dear, what am I doing that’s right? 350 00:16:28,619 –> 00:16:30,859 And, the following morning 351 00:16:31,799 –> 00:16:35,900 Karn was sitting at our dining room table 352 00:16:35,900 –> 00:16:37,880 working on Christmas letters. 353 00:16:37,880 –> 00:16:41,359 She does a fantastic job on this. 354 00:16:41,359 –> 00:16:46,359 Each year, sending over 100 letters to England, 355 00:16:46,679 –> 00:16:50,900 each one of them with an extended handwritten note. 356 00:16:52,140 –> 00:16:55,200 And she signs it 357 00:16:55,200 –> 00:16:56,760 from 358 00:16:56,760 –> 00:16:58,080 Karn 359 00:16:58,080 –> 00:16:59,640 and 360 00:16:59,679 –> 00:17:00,500 Colin. 361 00:17:03,760 –> 00:17:05,040 And here’s me thinking, 362 00:17:05,040 –> 00:17:07,160 what a wretched failure I am 363 00:17:07,160 –> 00:17:09,599 to keep in touch with all of these people 364 00:17:09,599 –> 00:17:12,699 when actually I have written to them 365 00:17:12,699 –> 00:17:15,140 every year for the last 14 years. 366 00:17:18,400 –> 00:17:19,599 And it got me thinking, 367 00:17:19,599 –> 00:17:22,839 if I think of myself in isolation, 368 00:17:24,640 –> 00:17:27,199 I go around thinking what a wretched man that I am. 369 00:17:28,000 –> 00:17:32,599 But when I see that I am united to my wife, 370 00:17:32,599 –> 00:17:37,599 I have joy because I share in what she has done. 371 00:17:38,640 –> 00:17:43,640 A letter has gone out with my name on it personally, 372 00:17:44,119 –> 00:17:45,640 written every year. 373 00:17:47,040 –> 00:17:52,040 Listen, Jesus Christ has done what you have failed to do. 374 00:17:52,920 –> 00:17:55,060 He has lived the life that you have not lived 375 00:17:55,060 –> 00:17:57,000 and that you cannot live. 376 00:17:57,000 –> 00:17:59,920 But when you are in Christ, 377 00:18:01,079 –> 00:18:04,500 all that he has done is yours, it has your name on it. 378 00:18:04,500 –> 00:18:07,800 His life, his death, his resurrection has your name on it 379 00:18:07,800 –> 00:18:09,959 if you’re in Christ, isn’t that good news? 380 00:18:09,959 –> 00:18:11,140 No wonder Luther says, 381 00:18:11,140 –> 00:18:14,359 ”The believing soul can boast of and glory in 382 00:18:14,359 –> 00:18:18,000 ”whatever Christ has as if it were its own.” 383 00:18:18,000 –> 00:18:20,680 That’s what it means to be one with Jesus Christ, 384 00:18:20,680 –> 00:18:24,540 united with him in his death and resurrection. 385 00:18:24,599 –> 00:18:26,420 It has your name on it. 386 00:18:29,380 –> 00:18:31,579 So regeneration, you have new life, 387 00:18:31,579 –> 00:18:34,199 union, you have in Christ. 388 00:18:35,579 –> 00:18:37,439 Number three, justification. 389 00:18:37,439 –> 00:18:39,219 You are declared righteous. 390 00:18:39,219 –> 00:18:42,239 Would you turn back a page to Romans chapter five? 391 00:18:42,239 –> 00:18:45,819 Let’s take in this marvelous truth that’s ours in Christ. 392 00:18:45,819 –> 00:18:50,819 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, 393 00:18:51,300 –> 00:18:54,300 we have peace with God 394 00:18:54,300 –> 00:18:58,300 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 395 00:18:59,579 –> 00:19:03,660 Now, justified means very simply that God, in Jesus Christ, 396 00:19:03,660 –> 00:19:06,520 declares you to be righteous. 397 00:19:06,520 –> 00:19:08,959 And this is amazing, 398 00:19:08,959 –> 00:19:13,959 because Paul is telling us here that God justifies sinners. 399 00:19:15,380 –> 00:19:16,819 You think, how can that be? 400 00:19:16,819 –> 00:19:20,900 How in all the world can God say of sinners 401 00:19:20,900 –> 00:19:22,459 that we are righteous? 402 00:19:23,359 –> 00:19:26,180 How could God say of someone like me 403 00:19:26,180 –> 00:19:28,839 who has left so many things undone, 404 00:19:28,839 –> 00:19:31,020 and done so many things that I ought not to do? 405 00:19:31,020 –> 00:19:34,380 How could God say of a sinner like you or like me, 406 00:19:34,380 –> 00:19:36,780 he is righteous? 407 00:19:36,780 –> 00:19:38,239 How could God do that? 408 00:19:39,540 –> 00:19:43,020 And the answer of the Bible of course is that he did this 409 00:19:43,079 –> 00:19:47,140 because he presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement 410 00:19:47,140 –> 00:19:48,560 through faith in his blood. 411 00:19:48,560 –> 00:19:52,160 That’s Romans chapter three and verse 25. 412 00:19:52,160 –> 00:19:54,780 And faith unites you to Jesus Christ 413 00:19:54,780 –> 00:19:57,540 so that He really is yours and you really are His. 414 00:19:57,540 –> 00:20:00,060 And therefore the sacrifice of atonement 415 00:20:00,060 –> 00:20:01,979 that He accomplished on the cross 416 00:20:01,979 –> 00:20:06,300 becomes effective for you through faith in His blood. 417 00:20:06,300 –> 00:20:11,300 And that is how God justifies sinners like you and like me. 418 00:20:13,939 –> 00:20:16,939 Now I love Romans chapter four and verse five 419 00:20:16,939 –> 00:20:21,180 where it says that God justifies the ungodly. 420 00:20:23,439 –> 00:20:24,660 Until you understand the cross 421 00:20:24,660 –> 00:20:26,760 that sounds like a contradiction in terms doesn’t it? 422 00:20:26,760 –> 00:20:29,660 God justifies the ungodly. 423 00:20:29,660 –> 00:20:32,500 He declares the ungodly to be righteous. 424 00:20:32,500 –> 00:20:34,300 That’s the most marvelous good news. 425 00:20:35,739 –> 00:20:39,339 See if God only justified the godly 426 00:20:39,339 –> 00:20:41,540 which of us would feel that that’s us? 427 00:20:42,540 –> 00:20:44,680 How many of us feel that we’re the godly? 428 00:20:45,739 –> 00:20:46,560 See? 429 00:20:47,939 –> 00:20:49,479 And one of my heroes of the faith, 430 00:20:49,479 –> 00:20:52,739 Thomas Chammers, used to say regularly through his life, 431 00:20:52,739 –> 00:20:56,060 what would I do if it was not 432 00:20:56,060 –> 00:20:58,760 that God justifies the ungodly? 433 00:20:59,739 –> 00:21:02,060 Don’t you thank Him for that today. 434 00:21:02,060 –> 00:21:03,660 He justifies sinners. 435 00:21:04,540 –> 00:21:07,280 He declares righteous those who are not righteous 436 00:21:07,280 –> 00:21:09,839 by action or by nature. 437 00:21:09,859 –> 00:21:12,219 And he does it through the atoning sacrifice 438 00:21:12,219 –> 00:21:14,459 of Jesus Christ that is ours 439 00:21:14,459 –> 00:21:19,420 as we are united with Him in that bond of faith. 440 00:21:20,660 –> 00:21:22,939 Friends, in Jesus Christ you have regeneration, 441 00:21:22,939 –> 00:21:24,319 that is new life, union. 442 00:21:24,319 –> 00:21:26,180 You are in Him, justification. 443 00:21:26,180 –> 00:21:27,819 You are declared righteous. 444 00:21:28,660 –> 00:21:31,680 Number four, adoption. 445 00:21:31,680 –> 00:21:35,579 You are loved with an everlasting love. 446 00:21:35,579 –> 00:21:37,859 Would you turn forward to Galatians? 447 00:21:37,859 –> 00:21:39,819 Galatians chapter four, 448 00:21:41,140 –> 00:21:43,900 want us to take in that in Christ 449 00:21:43,900 –> 00:21:48,819 you are brought into the everlasting love of God Himself. 450 00:21:48,819 –> 00:21:51,859 When the time had fully come, Galatians 4, 4, 451 00:21:51,859 –> 00:21:54,099 God sent His Son born of a woman. 452 00:21:54,099 –> 00:21:56,859 There’s Christmas, born under the law, why? 453 00:21:56,859 –> 00:21:58,900 To redeem those who are under the law 454 00:21:58,900 –> 00:22:01,780 that we might receive the full rights of sons. 455 00:22:01,780 –> 00:22:03,339 And because you are sons, 456 00:22:03,339 –> 00:22:07,099 God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. 457 00:22:07,119 –> 00:22:11,459 The Spirit who calls out abba, Father. 458 00:22:11,459 –> 00:22:14,180 So you are no longer a slave but you are a son 459 00:22:14,180 –> 00:22:18,640 and since you are a son, God also has made you an heir. 460 00:22:18,640 –> 00:22:20,420 Now this adoption, 461 00:22:20,420 –> 00:22:22,760 this marvelous gift in which God, 462 00:22:22,760 –> 00:22:25,859 from whom we were so estranged by nature, 463 00:22:25,859 –> 00:22:27,739 adopts us into His family 464 00:22:27,739 –> 00:22:30,260 and brings us into all the blessings of His love 465 00:22:30,260 –> 00:22:32,739 forever and forever. 466 00:22:32,739 –> 00:22:34,800 It comes through these two great initiatives. 467 00:22:34,800 –> 00:22:35,959 Notice verse four. 468 00:22:35,979 –> 00:22:38,619 He sends His Son into the world 469 00:22:38,619 –> 00:22:39,699 and notice verse six, 470 00:22:39,699 –> 00:22:42,859 He sends His Spirit into our hearts 471 00:22:42,859 –> 00:22:45,140 and it is the special work of the Holy Spirit 472 00:22:45,140 –> 00:22:47,760 who cries out, abba, Father, 473 00:22:47,760 –> 00:22:50,939 to assure us 474 00:22:50,939 –> 00:22:55,339 of the love of God in Jesus Christ. 475 00:22:55,339 –> 00:22:57,780 It is the work of the Spirit to persuade you, 476 00:22:57,780 –> 00:22:59,199 to convince you 477 00:23:00,219 –> 00:23:03,780 that God loves you with an everlasting love 478 00:23:04,599 –> 00:23:08,219 and His love is made clear in two ways in the scripture. 479 00:23:08,219 –> 00:23:10,780 Remember Romans chapter five and verse eight, 480 00:23:10,780 –> 00:23:13,699 God demonstrates his love for us in this, 481 00:23:13,699 –> 00:23:15,920 that while we were still sinners, 482 00:23:15,920 –> 00:23:17,260 Christ died for us. 483 00:23:18,339 –> 00:23:20,859 How could you look at the cross 484 00:23:20,859 –> 00:23:24,660 and not be persuaded that God loves you? 485 00:23:24,660 –> 00:23:26,680 But more than that, for Christian believers, 486 00:23:26,680 –> 00:23:28,199 we are told this, 487 00:23:28,199 –> 00:23:31,680 that God pours out His love into our hearts 488 00:23:31,760 –> 00:23:34,040 by the Holy Spirit whom He has given to us. 489 00:23:34,040 –> 00:23:37,540 That’s Romans chapter five and verse five. 490 00:23:37,540 –> 00:23:40,099 And I want you to see today with great joy 491 00:23:40,099 –> 00:23:43,239 that God loves you with an everlasting love. 492 00:23:44,680 –> 00:23:47,699 There is no other love that you can experience 493 00:23:47,699 –> 00:23:52,699 in this life that can compare to the love of God 494 00:23:54,099 –> 00:23:56,239 for you in Jesus Christ. 495 00:23:56,239 –> 00:23:59,939 No other experience of love can touch this. 496 00:23:59,939 –> 00:24:01,500 It may reflect it in some small way, 497 00:24:02,239 –> 00:24:04,140 but it cannot parallel it, it’s not the same. 498 00:24:05,800 –> 00:24:08,359 Only God can say to you, 499 00:24:09,540 –> 00:24:12,520 I will never leave you. 500 00:24:13,939 –> 00:24:16,359 I will never forsake you. 501 00:24:18,260 –> 00:24:19,939 Or you may be blessed to have someone 502 00:24:19,939 –> 00:24:22,339 who will stand in a church and say to you, 503 00:24:22,339 –> 00:24:26,380 I will keep only to you as long as we both shall live. 504 00:24:26,380 –> 00:24:29,660 But they can only say as long as we both shall live. 505 00:24:29,660 –> 00:24:32,060 They can only say until death has depart. 506 00:24:32,060 –> 00:24:33,520 Why? 507 00:24:33,520 –> 00:24:36,619 Because death makes it beyond the range 508 00:24:36,619 –> 00:24:39,780 of human capacity to promise forever. 509 00:24:41,420 –> 00:24:42,819 Death takes us all. 510 00:24:44,180 –> 00:24:45,939 But God says to you, 511 00:24:46,939 –> 00:24:49,959 never will I leave you. 512 00:24:49,959 –> 00:24:53,140 Never will I forsake you, not in life, 513 00:24:54,319 –> 00:24:55,819 not in death, 514 00:24:56,760 –> 00:25:01,219 and not for all eternity. 515 00:25:01,219 –> 00:25:03,420 And when you are in Jesus Christ, 516 00:25:03,420 –> 00:25:08,520 you are enveloped in this everlasting love, 517 00:25:08,520 –> 00:25:10,660 poured out at the cross, 518 00:25:10,660 –> 00:25:13,859 poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit. 519 00:25:13,859 –> 00:25:16,420 And one day, when faith is turned to sight, 520 00:25:16,420 –> 00:25:20,119 that love will be your joy forever and forever 521 00:25:20,119 –> 00:25:22,119 in the presence of your Father. 522 00:25:22,119 –> 00:25:25,119 And all this is ours in Jesus Christ. 523 00:25:26,380 –> 00:25:29,880 Number five, sanctification. 524 00:25:29,880 –> 00:25:32,680 Here’s a great blessing in the Lord Jesus Christ, 525 00:25:32,680 –> 00:25:35,859 part of God’s redeeming work in a believer’s life. 526 00:25:35,859 –> 00:25:37,900 You will be holy. 527 00:25:37,900 –> 00:25:39,859 1 Thessalonians chapter five, 528 00:25:39,859 –> 00:25:43,160 if you’d turned just forward a few pages there, 529 00:25:43,160 –> 00:25:45,239 1 Thessalonians chapter five. 530 00:25:46,060 –> 00:25:47,739 And here Paul says this, 531 00:25:47,739 –> 00:25:52,739 May God himself, the God of peace, 532 00:25:53,619 –> 00:25:55,959 sanctify you, there it is, 533 00:25:55,959 –> 00:25:58,280 sanctify you through and through. 534 00:25:59,140 –> 00:26:01,479 May your whole spirit, soul and body 535 00:26:01,479 –> 00:26:04,680 be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ 536 00:26:04,680 –> 00:26:09,199 and the one who calls you is faithful 537 00:26:09,199 –> 00:26:13,300 and he will do it. 538 00:26:14,359 –> 00:26:18,880 Now this sanctification is the progressive work 539 00:26:18,880 –> 00:26:20,380 of the Holy Spirit 540 00:26:21,319 –> 00:26:25,380 in a believer’s life by which you grow 541 00:26:25,380 –> 00:26:30,099 in all of the life that God is calling you to live 542 00:26:30,099 –> 00:26:33,660 and it is a wonderful gift in which we grow 543 00:26:33,660 –> 00:26:36,780 to love what God loves 544 00:26:36,780 –> 00:26:41,060 and increasingly, to do what God does. 545 00:26:41,060 –> 00:26:43,099 You know that hymn 546 00:26:43,099 –> 00:26:45,020 breathe on me breath of God, 547 00:26:45,020 –> 00:26:46,380 fill me with life in you 548 00:26:46,380 –> 00:26:48,540 that I may love what thou dost love 549 00:26:48,540 –> 00:26:50,839 and do what thou dost do. 550 00:26:50,839 –> 00:26:52,819 That’s sanctification 551 00:26:52,819 –> 00:26:53,819 and it’s a process. 552 00:26:53,819 –> 00:26:55,459 It grows and it progresses 553 00:26:55,459 –> 00:26:57,819 throughout the life of a Christian believer 554 00:26:57,819 –> 00:26:59,260 by the work of the Holy Spirit. 555 00:26:59,260 –> 00:27:01,239 It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing. 556 00:27:03,140 –> 00:27:05,160 Bishop Ryle has a lovely comment on this. 557 00:27:05,160 –> 0:27:08,459 He says, most men hope to go to heaven when they die 558 00:27:10,219 –> 00:27:12,260 but few take the trouble to consider 559 00:27:12,260 –> 00:27:14,719 whether they would enjoy heaven if they got there. 560 00:27:15,680 –> 00:27:18,900 Heaven is essentially a holy place. 561 00:27:18,900 –> 00:27:20,300 Its inhabitants are all holy. 562 00:27:20,300 –> 00:27:22,979 Its occupations are all holy. 563 00:27:22,979 –> 00:27:26,339 He says, what would an unsanctified man do in heaven 564 00:27:26,339 –> 00:27:27,660 if by chance he got there? 565 00:27:27,660 –> 00:27:31,199 To be really happy in heaven it is clear and plain 566 00:27:31,199 –> 00:27:33,500 that we must be somewhat trained 567 00:27:33,500 –> 00:27:36,020 and made ready for heaven while we are here on earth 568 00:27:36,020 –> 00:27:38,760 and that’s what sanctification is all about. 569 00:27:38,760 –> 00:27:40,819 It’s never complete in this life. 570 00:27:40,819 –> 00:27:44,119 It is a process of growth 571 00:27:44,180 –> 00:27:47,599 but by the Holy Spirit, as you grow as a Christian, 572 00:27:47,599 –> 00:27:50,439 you find that you come to love Christ more. 573 00:27:50,439 –> 00:27:53,079 That you come to love what Christ loves more 574 00:27:53,079 –> 00:27:54,780 and you grow in that. 575 00:27:56,420 –> 00:27:59,500 Notice that its a prayer, that reflects the process. 576 00:27:59,500 –> 00:28:01,900 Paul’s praying for Christian believers. 577 00:28:01,900 –> 00:28:06,040 May you be sanctified. 578 00:28:06,040 –> 00:28:09,280 May God sanctify you through and through. 579 00:28:09,280 –> 00:28:11,760 But, not only is it a prayer because it’s a process, 580 00:28:11,760 –> 00:28:12,900 it’s also a promise. 581 00:28:12,900 –> 00:28:14,719 Notice what he says in verse 24. 582 00:28:14,719 –> 00:28:15,540 He says, 583 00:28:15,540 –> 00:28:20,199 the one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 584 00:28:21,400 –> 00:28:22,500 You will be holy. 585 00:28:24,239 –> 00:28:28,160 You will, in the presence of the Lord, Jesus Christ, 586 00:28:28,160 –> 00:28:31,780 love God with all your heart and soul 587 00:28:31,780 –> 00:28:33,520 and mind and strength 588 00:28:33,520 –> 00:28:36,599 and you will love your neighbor as yourself 589 00:28:36,599 –> 00:28:39,859 and that will be true of every other brother and sister 590 00:28:39,859 –> 00:28:41,599 around you as well. 591 00:28:41,619 –> 00:28:42,599 That’s glorious. 592 00:28:43,500 –> 00:28:45,300 And that work is the work of the Spirit 593 00:28:45,300 –> 00:28:49,640 progressively in our lives from here to eternity. 594 00:28:49,640 –> 00:28:51,380 You will be holy. 595 00:28:51,380 –> 00:28:52,819 You will love what God loves 596 00:28:54,660 –> 00:28:58,500 and that leads to number six, glorification. 597 00:28:58,500 –> 00:29:01,140 You will reflect Christ’s glory 598 00:29:01,140 –> 00:29:04,020 and you might like to turn just back a couple of pages 599 00:29:04,020 –> 00:29:08,020 to Colossians in chapter 3 and verse 4. 600 00:29:08,020 –> 00:29:09,420 Paul has been speaking, again, 601 00:29:09,420 –> 00:29:11,219 about this great theme of what it means 602 00:29:11,219 –> 00:29:14,819 to be united with Christ, raised with Christ and so forth 603 00:29:14,819 –> 00:29:17,939 and then in verse 4 he tells us what comes of it. 604 00:29:17,939 –> 00:29:21,099 When Christ, who is your life appears 605 00:29:21,099 –> 00:29:26,099 then you also will appear with him in glory. 606 00:29:30,459 –> 00:29:32,219 Let’s try and take this in. 607 00:29:32,219 –> 00:29:36,640 Here’s your future as a Christian believer. 608 00:29:36,640 –> 00:29:38,800 Here’s what lies ahead of you. 609 00:29:38,819 –> 00:29:43,819 You are going to be with Christ in glory forever. 610 00:29:45,660 –> 00:29:47,680 That’s what lies ahead of you. 611 00:29:47,680 –> 00:29:50,140 And your whole life is a preparation for that. 612 00:29:50,140 –> 00:29:52,599 Whatever’s going right, whatever’s going wrong 613 00:29:52,599 –> 00:29:55,859 if you are in Christ your whole life is a preparation 614 00:29:55,859 –> 00:29:59,739 for being with Christ in glory forever. 615 00:30:00,859 –> 00:30:03,420 And not only will you be in Christ’s glory 616 00:30:03,420 –> 00:30:07,300 surrounded by it but the scriptures make clear 617 00:30:07,300 –> 00:30:10,459 that Christ’s glory because you’re truly united with him 618 00:30:10,459 –> 00:30:12,739 will actually be in you. 619 00:30:12,739 –> 00:30:14,979 And that’s why Paul says in Romans chapter eight 620 00:30:14,979 –> 00:30:18,000 and verse 18, I’m persuaded he says, 621 00:30:18,000 –> 00:30:19,619 present sufferings in this world 622 00:30:19,619 –> 00:30:22,280 are not worth comparing to the glory 623 00:30:22,280 –> 00:30:25,079 that will be revealed in us. 624 00:30:26,619 –> 00:30:28,579 What a marvelous thing that’s gonna be. 625 00:30:30,260 –> 00:30:33,739 And how different that will be from our experience 626 00:30:33,739 –> 00:30:35,699 in the Christian life right now. 627 00:30:36,619 –> 00:30:39,140 How would you describe your Christian life? 628 00:30:39,140 –> 00:30:41,479 Here’s how I would describe my Christian life. 629 00:30:41,479 –> 00:30:42,660 See if you relate to it. 630 00:30:42,660 –> 00:30:47,420 I am a mass of contradictions. 631 00:30:47,420 –> 00:30:48,859 That’s my Christian life. 632 00:30:48,859 –> 00:30:50,300 Anyone agree with that? 633 00:30:50,300 –> 00:30:52,540 Anyone look at your Christian life and say, 634 00:30:52,540 –> 00:30:54,339 I am a mass of contradictions. 635 00:30:54,339 –> 00:30:57,380 That’s what the Christian life is like in this world. 636 00:30:57,380 –> 00:30:58,880 Think of it. 637 00:30:58,880 –> 00:31:00,579 We love Christ. 638 00:31:00,579 –> 00:31:01,420 We really do. 639 00:31:02,260 –> 00:31:06,339 And yet we feel the pull of the world 640 00:31:06,339 –> 00:31:08,099 and the flesh and the devil. 641 00:31:09,579 –> 00:31:10,959 We trust Christ. 642 00:31:10,959 –> 00:31:12,219 We really do. 643 00:31:12,219 –> 00:31:14,680 And yet we struggle with many fears 644 00:31:14,680 –> 00:31:16,040 and anxieties and doubts. 645 00:31:18,000 –> 00:31:19,819 We have new life, 646 00:31:21,380 –> 00:31:23,780 but we have it in aging and decaying bodies 647 00:31:23,780 –> 00:31:25,780 that one day will be buried in the ground. 648 00:31:28,060 –> 00:31:29,699 That’s a lot of contradictions. 649 00:31:32,060 –> 00:31:34,640 But when we see Him, 650 00:31:36,459 –> 00:31:38,020 we will be like Him. 651 00:31:39,359 –> 00:31:41,579 No more pull of the world or the flesh or the devil, 652 00:31:41,579 –> 00:31:44,140 no more fears, no more anxieties, no more doubts, 653 00:31:44,140 –> 00:31:47,859 no more decaying body but a resurrection body like Him. 654 00:31:47,859 –> 00:31:51,739 Glorification when we see Him, we will be like Him. 655 00:31:51,739 –> 00:31:53,780 Not only will we be in His glory 656 00:31:53,780 –> 00:31:55,699 but His glory will be in us. 657 00:31:57,819 –> 00:31:59,780 Regeneration, you have new life. 658 00:31:59,780 –> 00:32:02,119 Union with Christ, you are in Him. 659 00:32:02,119 –> 00:32:04,540 Justification, you are declared righteous 660 00:32:04,540 –> 00:32:06,060 by faith in His blood. 661 00:32:06,060 –> 00:32:09,640 Adoption, you are loved with an everlasting love. 662 00:32:09,640 –> 00:32:12,640 Sanctification, you will be holy. 663 00:32:12,640 –> 00:32:15,560 Glorification, you will reflect Christ’s glory 664 00:32:15,560 –> 00:32:17,640 forever and forever. 665 00:32:19,699 –> 00:32:22,780 And then will you turn to the very last book of the Bible, 666 00:32:22,780 –> 00:32:24,959 number seven, Consummation. 667 00:32:24,959 –> 00:32:26,199 You will see God. 668 00:32:27,000 –> 00:32:31,640 Revelation chapter 21, John the Apostle, 669 00:32:31,640 –> 00:32:33,520 given a glimpse of what is to come, 670 00:32:33,520 –> 00:32:35,959 what’s ahead of all those who are in Christ. 671 00:32:35,959 –> 00:32:39,319 He says, I saw a new heaven and a new earth. 672 00:32:39,319 –> 00:32:42,380 And the first heaven and the first earth had passed away 673 00:32:42,380 –> 00:32:45,540 and there was no longer any sea. 674 00:32:46,760 –> 00:32:50,160 Notice it’s a new earth, not a different earth, 675 00:32:50,160 –> 00:32:53,479 but this earth, finally redeemed, 676 00:32:53,880 –> 00:32:57,680 released from, liberated from its bondage to decay, 677 00:32:57,680 –> 00:33:01,400 finally set free, not only from the presence of sin 678 00:33:01,400 –> 00:33:05,020 but from even the possibility of evil 679 00:33:05,020 –> 00:33:09,060 and it becomes the home for the people of God. 680 00:33:09,060 –> 00:33:12,280 Pictured here as this city, the holy city, 681 00:33:12,280 –> 00:33:15,560 the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. 682 00:33:15,560 –> 00:33:18,319 And here are the people and they’re brought 683 00:33:18,319 –> 00:33:22,119 into this glory of this new creation. 684 00:33:22,119 –> 00:33:27,119 And later John describes the gates of this city 685 00:33:27,300 –> 00:33:29,140 and they’re to the north and to the south 686 00:33:29,140 –> 00:33:31,160 and to the east and to the west 687 00:33:31,160 –> 00:33:34,640 and they’re open gates indicating this marvelous truth 688 00:33:34,640 –> 00:33:38,160 that God is gathering a truly international community, 689 00:33:38,160 –> 00:33:42,239 people from every nation of the world 690 00:33:42,239 –> 00:33:46,479 who found faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 691 00:33:46,479 –> 00:33:50,920 now comprising this international community 692 00:33:50,920 –> 00:33:55,920 that celebrates the Savior of the world forever and forever. 693 00:33:56,000 –> 00:33:57,479 And then John changes the picture. 694 00:33:57,479 –> 00:34:01,219 The holy city, verse two, now is seen as a bride. 695 00:34:01,219 –> 00:34:04,119 You see no one picture can take in the glory of this. 696 00:34:04,119 –> 00:34:05,479 You hear it’s a great city 697 00:34:05,479 –> 00:34:08,219 and a vast company of millions and millions 698 00:34:08,219 –> 00:34:09,080 of redeemed people. 699 00:34:09,080 –> 00:34:11,199 You say, well, maybe I’ll get lost in the crowd. 700 00:34:11,199 –> 00:34:13,199 No, you won’t get lost in the crowd. 701 00:34:13,199 –> 00:34:18,199 Adds to the picture of the city the intimacy of the wedding, 702 00:34:18,840 –> 00:34:22,040 the bride, Christ, and his people 703 00:34:22,040 –> 00:34:26,100 joined in the beauty of their union of joy 704 00:34:26,100 –> 00:34:29,360 forever and forever. 705 00:34:29,360 –> 00:34:32,659 And verse three, I heard a loud voice, 706 00:34:32,659 –> 00:34:36,820 John says, from the throne saying, now. 707 00:34:36,820 –> 00:34:39,899 Now the dwelling of God is with men 708 00:34:39,899 –> 00:34:41,879 and he will live with them. 709 00:34:41,879 –> 00:34:43,419 And they will be his people 710 00:34:43,419 –> 00:34:47,620 and God himself will be with them and be their God. 711 00:34:47,620 –> 00:34:51,919 Everything that separates God from his people is now gone 712 00:34:51,919 –> 00:34:54,120 and God shares eternal life 713 00:34:54,120 –> 00:34:59,120 with his redeemed people in Christ forever and forever. 714 00:34:59,800 –> 00:35:02,919 And the joy of this is indescribable. 715 00:35:02,919 –> 00:35:06,739 Verse four, God himself will wipe away 716 00:35:06,739 –> 00:35:09,679 all tears from their eyes. 717 00:35:09,679 –> 00:35:12,139 Can you begin to imagine this? 718 00:35:13,239 –> 00:35:16,939 Literally he wipes every tear out of their eye, 719 00:35:17,699 –> 00:35:20,899 as if to convey that not only the tears but the ducts, 720 00:35:20,899 –> 00:35:23,060 the source of them are removed, as well. 721 00:35:23,060 –> 00:35:27,639 God takes away not only your tears 722 00:35:27,639 –> 00:35:31,939 but in the comfort of his everlasting joy, 723 00:35:31,939 –> 00:35:36,939 sorrow becomes beyond the range of redeemed experience. 724 00:35:38,979 –> 00:35:42,199 And there will be no more death or mourning 725 00:35:43,219 –> 00:35:47,199 or crying or pain, for the old order of things 726 00:35:47,239 –> 00:35:51,600 has passed away, and he who was seated on the throne 727 00:35:51,600 –> 00:35:55,520 said, I am making everything new. 728 00:35:58,120 –> 00:36:01,639 The promise is for you, for your children, 729 00:36:01,639 –> 00:36:04,040 for all who are far off. 730 00:36:05,780 –> 00:36:10,780 Repent, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 731 00:36:10,780 –> 00:36:15,780 Jesus Christ, and you will receive life 732 00:36:17,860 –> 00:36:19,659 in His name. 733 00:36:19,659 –> 00:36:24,659 Father, for the glories of your redeeming purpose 734 00:36:24,659 –> 00:36:28,939 in Jesus Christ, we give you our thanks, 735 00:36:28,939 –> 00:36:32,860 our worship, and our praise today 736 00:36:32,860 –> 00:36:35,580 through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and everyone said Amen.