1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:10,680 I'm overjoyed. I'm just filled with joy this 2 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:15,000 afternoon because I get to be with family who love God. 3 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,000 I hope you feel the same way about me. 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,960 I hope you see me as family. I see you all as family. 5 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,880 And so this feels as much as it is a service, this feels like 6 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,440 home. And I thank God for that. 7 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:31,680 And we come to the word of God together in Mark Chapter 8. 8 00:00:33,410 --> 00:00:46,600 So meet me there in verse 27, Mark 827. 9 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,320 We shouldn't be people of fear, but there is such thing as godly 10 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,680 fear and there is such thing as holy anxiety. 11 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:03,280 And so as we read these verses, I also want to pray and ask the 12 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,920 Lord to help us with this message, because I really do not 13 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,320 want to do anything apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. 14 00:01:10,090 --> 00:01:12,490 And I I'm sure you don't want anything to be done apart from 15 00:01:12,490 --> 00:01:15,250 the power, the grace, the wisdom, the love of the Holy 16 00:01:15,250 --> 00:01:17,370 Spirit. And so we will ask him to help 17 00:01:17,370 --> 00:01:20,370 us with these verses, that our hearts would be transformed as a 18 00:01:20,370 --> 00:01:26,250 result of what God has to say. Mark 827 And Jesus went on with 19 00:01:26,250 --> 00:01:29,530 his disciples to the villages of Cesarea Philippi. 20 00:01:29,690 --> 00:01:34,370 And on the way he asked his disciples, who do people say 21 00:01:34,370 --> 00:01:37,330 that I am? And they told him, John the 22 00:01:37,330 --> 00:01:42,670 Baptist and others, say Elijah and others one of the prophets. 23 00:01:43,630 --> 00:01:48,230 And he asked them, But who do you say that I am, Peter? 24 00:01:48,230 --> 00:01:51,990 Answer them. You are the Christ, and he 25 00:01:51,990 --> 00:01:55,310 strictly charged them to tell no one about him. 26 00:01:56,590 --> 00:02:03,350 Pray with me, Lord, help us even in this very moment. 27 00:02:03,350 --> 00:02:08,699 Realize who we are praying to, who it is that is hearing us as 28 00:02:08,699 --> 00:02:12,580 we seek You. Help us realize that you are the 29 00:02:12,580 --> 00:02:17,860 living one, that you are holy, that you have created all 30 00:02:17,860 --> 00:02:19,900 things. You have entered into your 31 00:02:19,900 --> 00:02:25,540 creation. You have saved humanity, and 32 00:02:25,540 --> 00:02:31,620 Lord, you will return as judge and you will reign forever and 33 00:02:31,620 --> 00:02:34,940 ever. Help us realize that this is all 34 00:02:34,940 --> 00:02:38,310 about you. Everything, the universe, 35 00:02:39,230 --> 00:02:42,070 everything that we know comes back to you. 36 00:02:42,870 --> 00:02:46,750 And so this is a holy moment. We thank you that you've given 37 00:02:46,750 --> 00:02:48,990 us eyes to see. We pray that you would give us 38 00:02:48,990 --> 00:02:53,310 more ability to see and that we would be transformed further 39 00:02:53,310 --> 00:02:55,910 into the very same image that we are beholding. 40 00:02:56,470 --> 00:02:58,750 This is our heart cry together as a church. 41 00:02:59,430 --> 00:03:01,470 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 42 00:03:03,150 --> 00:03:06,550 I'm not sure if you're aware, but you will be now that we've 43 00:03:06,550 --> 00:03:08,150 reached the milestone in the book of Mark. 44 00:03:08,870 --> 00:03:11,110 And the reason why we've reached a milestone is because we've 45 00:03:11,110 --> 00:03:14,790 technically arrived at the center point, the halfway mark 46 00:03:14,790 --> 00:03:20,030 of this awesome gospel account. And the text before us, in a 47 00:03:20,030 --> 00:03:23,390 sense, is really the pinnacle. It's the pinnacle of Mark's 48 00:03:23,390 --> 00:03:26,190 testimony about Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 49 00:03:26,790 --> 00:03:28,750 You can almost say that it's the climax. 50 00:03:28,750 --> 00:03:35,660 It's the high point of this riveting report of the Messiah, 51 00:03:36,660 --> 00:03:40,420 and you can also say that it's a significant hinge to the overall 52 00:03:40,420 --> 00:03:44,300 story because a lot of things are going to change from this 53 00:03:44,620 --> 00:03:46,540 point. From this point. 54 00:03:46,540 --> 00:03:48,620 One of the things that Jesus is going to do that he hasn't 55 00:03:48,620 --> 00:03:52,420 really done before is emphasize and prepare his own disciples 56 00:03:52,420 --> 00:03:54,220 concerning his death and his resurrection. 57 00:03:54,220 --> 00:03:57,220 You're going to see that even immediately after these verses. 58 00:03:58,130 --> 00:04:00,890 And so we see that this is a turning point, not just in our 59 00:04:00,890 --> 00:04:03,890 own reading of the story, but even in the ministry of Jesus. 60 00:04:04,290 --> 00:04:07,570 And the Spirit of God massively puts this at the center. 61 00:04:08,610 --> 00:04:11,490 You know, we should be more than excited of the fact that we've 62 00:04:11,490 --> 00:04:14,130 made it this far and that we've crossed this significant point, 63 00:04:14,690 --> 00:04:19,810 but we should also relish at what it is that we see here at 64 00:04:19,810 --> 00:04:23,930 this threshold. What what is it here that Jesus 65 00:04:24,450 --> 00:04:25,970 is conveying? What is it here that the Holy 66 00:04:25,970 --> 00:04:30,160 Spirit is trying to trying to say at the the core of what Mark 67 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,960 is writing about? And really what we discover at 68 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,240 this pivotal juncture is 1 simple thing. 69 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:39,520 A question asked by the Lord Jesus. 70 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:43,800 A question, Not just any question. 71 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:49,400 Let me say this the most important question that can ever 72 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,930 be asked. There are a lot of inquiries 73 00:04:52,930 --> 00:04:56,010 that you will make in this life. You've probably received wisdom 74 00:04:56,010 --> 00:04:58,690 from a father, a mother or a friend, a mentor of some sort, 75 00:04:59,130 --> 00:05:01,970 to make sure that you ask certain questions concerning 76 00:05:01,970 --> 00:05:05,530 your life concerning other people, because those answers 77 00:05:05,530 --> 00:05:10,050 will determine so much and the lack of clarity can cost you so 78 00:05:10,050 --> 00:05:13,290 much. But there is no more significant 79 00:05:13,290 --> 00:05:16,050 question than what we have here in this text. 80 00:05:16,370 --> 00:05:20,170 Nothing more vital, more crucial, more important than 81 00:05:20,170 --> 00:05:24,530 knowing the answer to what it is that Jesus asks. 82 00:05:25,890 --> 00:05:29,890 And why is that? Why does this question operate 83 00:05:29,890 --> 00:05:33,810 in a class of its own? Well, for one, because of its 84 00:05:33,810 --> 00:05:37,890 universal relevance. This question applies to 85 00:05:37,890 --> 00:05:41,090 absolutely everyone. Every man, every woman, of all 86 00:05:41,090 --> 00:05:43,290 cultures, of all societal classes. 87 00:05:43,810 --> 00:05:47,780 It cannot be ignored. And if you choose to ignore it, 88 00:05:47,780 --> 00:05:50,460 if you choose even today to be nonchalant, if you choose to be 89 00:05:50,460 --> 00:05:53,740 like this, this doesn't seem relevant to me. 90 00:05:54,500 --> 00:06:00,460 Even that willful ignorance has consequences, and so this is 91 00:06:00,460 --> 00:06:05,060 binding on all of humanity. This is a question that all of 92 00:06:05,060 --> 00:06:08,900 us in this place and beyond this place will be accountable to. 93 00:06:08,900 --> 00:06:13,940 And so this has a universal cross generational cross 94 00:06:13,940 --> 00:06:19,140 cultural application. It's not an invitation for a 95 00:06:19,140 --> 00:06:21,700 consideration, whether you're interested or not. 96 00:06:22,060 --> 00:06:25,620 It applies to you whether you care about it or not. 97 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:31,580 Why is that? Because you see how 1 responds 98 00:06:31,580 --> 00:06:35,100 to this question. As I said, even if it's absolute 99 00:06:35,500 --> 00:06:39,980 indifference, we'll frame the trajectory of the rest of your 100 00:06:39,980 --> 00:06:42,600 life. And not only will it frame the 101 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,200 trajectory of the rest of your life, it will determine your 102 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:51,000 life to come. So we might understand this to 103 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,400 be of most importance. We're not dealing with a 104 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,560 secondary subject. We're not dealing with some kind 105 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,560 of lighthearted thing that we can debate about. 106 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,840 This is something that demands a personal verdict. 107 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,880 This is something that will determine life or death. 108 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,160 What is that question? Verse 29. 109 00:07:11,660 --> 00:07:16,020 And he asked them. But who do you say that I am? 110 00:07:16,180 --> 00:07:19,220 That's the question. Let's frame it this way. 111 00:07:19,980 --> 00:07:23,540 The most vital question that you can ever be asked, the most 112 00:07:23,540 --> 00:07:26,100 important question that you can ever answer, is this. 113 00:07:26,420 --> 00:07:33,900 Who is Jesus Christ to you? Who is Jesus Christ to you? 114 00:07:34,980 --> 00:07:38,540 How would you answer them? What comes to mind? 115 00:07:39,540 --> 00:07:42,940 What springs up in your heart? Is there peace? 116 00:07:43,220 --> 00:07:45,380 Is there anxiety? Is there certainty? 117 00:07:45,820 --> 00:07:48,940 Is there confusion? How do you respond to that 118 00:07:48,940 --> 00:07:55,020 question? Who is Jesus Christ and how you 119 00:07:55,020 --> 00:07:59,060 answer that question will ultimately affect so many 120 00:07:59,060 --> 00:08:01,420 things. One, it will affect and 121 00:08:01,420 --> 00:08:03,780 determine who you are and what you will experience. 122 00:08:03,780 --> 00:08:07,020 Again, not just in this existence but in an eternal one. 123 00:08:08,940 --> 00:08:12,780 And I want to just for the sake of time, tell you that that 124 00:08:12,780 --> 00:08:18,780 question being answered will determine two massive realities 125 00:08:19,900 --> 00:08:22,260 2 Just two. I'm giving you two points today. 126 00:08:22,260 --> 00:08:25,860 I'm not refreshing 2 points today. 127 00:08:26,020 --> 00:08:30,740 Two things that answering this question will ultimately 128 00:08:31,140 --> 00:08:33,020 determine. But before that, let's glean a 129 00:08:33,020 --> 00:08:35,500 little bit around this. Let's go back to verse 27. 130 00:08:35,980 --> 00:08:38,140 I can't help but smile when I read the location of this 131 00:08:38,140 --> 00:08:40,200 conversation. This is when Jesus went on with 132 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,919 his disciples to the villages of Cicero, Phillipa, and on the way 133 00:08:43,919 --> 00:08:47,840 he asked his disciples. On the way he asked. 134 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,840 So think about it. We're about to engage in this 135 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:56,800 deep, selfreflecting spiritual conversation, and Jesus is 136 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,920 engaging with his disciples. Not in the context of a 137 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:04,000 classroom, not in the context of a synagogue or a sanctuary. 138 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,900 He's, he's doing this on route. He's doing this while he's 139 00:09:07,900 --> 00:09:11,620 walking and while he's traveling and while he's transitioning 140 00:09:11,740 --> 00:09:14,700 with his boys, with this group of men. 141 00:09:15,340 --> 00:09:17,420 And I looked at and I stepped back and I just reflected on 142 00:09:17,420 --> 00:09:20,140 that simple phrase. He asked this on the way. 143 00:09:20,140 --> 00:09:24,020 And my mind, perhaps yours did, to race to a particular passage 144 00:09:24,180 --> 00:09:26,340 that is very, very familiar to you and I. 145 00:09:26,860 --> 00:09:31,820 In Deuteronomy Chapter 6 and verse 6, the God of Israel 146 00:09:31,820 --> 00:09:35,020 instructed his people, upon entering into the Promised Land 147 00:09:35,380 --> 00:09:38,470 something so important. And these words that I command 148 00:09:38,470 --> 00:09:40,310 you today shall be on your heart. 149 00:09:40,630 --> 00:09:46,390 I pray to God that God's word has your heart, shall be on your 150 00:09:46,390 --> 00:09:50,470 heart, not in your head, not in your notebook, not in your 151 00:09:50,470 --> 00:09:53,110 phone. On your heart shall be on your 152 00:09:53,110 --> 00:09:54,310 heart. And now what? 153 00:09:54,350 --> 00:09:58,510 From there you shall teach them diligently to your children, and 154 00:09:58,510 --> 00:10:02,230 shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk 155 00:10:02,230 --> 00:10:06,350 by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. 156 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:11,080 Now the the direct application is obvious, right? 157 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:16,800 It's a call for parents to disciple their children by 158 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:19,880 rehearsing the promises of God, the commands of God, the 159 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:25,080 warnings of God, upon a condition that you first have it 160 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,560 in your heart. Children not interested in 161 00:10:28,560 --> 00:10:32,310 hypocritical parents. Anyway, it's on your heart. 162 00:10:32,310 --> 00:10:35,350 As a parent, and it from your heart, you seek to impress it on 163 00:10:35,350 --> 00:10:38,190 the hearts of your little ones. That's the that's a direct 164 00:10:38,190 --> 00:10:40,110 context. But the principle can be 165 00:10:40,110 --> 00:10:42,990 borrowed. It can expand and extend beyond 166 00:10:42,990 --> 00:10:45,150 that. What's the principle of this? 167 00:10:45,150 --> 00:10:47,390 What's the wisdom of God? What's his heart? 168 00:10:47,590 --> 00:10:49,910 For this set of instructions, I believe it's this. 169 00:10:50,150 --> 00:10:54,110 Seek to connect all of life with the word. 170 00:10:55,630 --> 00:10:59,870 Seek to connect all of life with the Word. 171 00:11:01,210 --> 00:11:05,450 Don't limit discipleship to an official weekly one hour lunch 172 00:11:05,450 --> 00:11:11,570 with a colleague or pastor. Trust and aim for something more 173 00:11:11,570 --> 00:11:14,490 than a few minutes of prayer with your children or with your 174 00:11:14,490 --> 00:11:16,770 spouse before you put your head on the pillow. 175 00:11:17,090 --> 00:11:20,810 Those are all wonderful things. But there's something more. 176 00:11:20,850 --> 00:11:22,770 There's something more that God is asking if there's some. 177 00:11:22,770 --> 00:11:25,610 There's a greater experience of the word of God and of mutual 178 00:11:25,610 --> 00:11:27,810 encouragement, and it's found in this. 179 00:11:28,190 --> 00:11:30,470 What Deuteronomy is saying, essentially, is learn to 180 00:11:30,470 --> 00:11:37,110 conversationally apply God's commentary into all settings of 181 00:11:37,110 --> 00:11:39,230 life. Isn't that wonderful? 182 00:11:40,590 --> 00:11:46,830 So when you're driving in the car with a loved one, bring it 183 00:11:46,830 --> 00:11:49,910 up. Bring up how the word on Friday 184 00:11:49,910 --> 00:11:53,110 night or on Sunday morning was preached into your soul, and 185 00:11:53,310 --> 00:11:54,710 there's something that touched you. 186 00:11:54,710 --> 00:11:57,700 Bring it up while you're driving, while you're sitting at 187 00:11:57,700 --> 00:12:01,100 that dinner table with your family, oh oh, would you? 188 00:12:01,100 --> 00:12:04,260 Would you Just for fun, while you're eating and laughing and 189 00:12:04,260 --> 00:12:07,820 talking, bring up a random quiz and ask them a question from 190 00:12:07,820 --> 00:12:09,940 something that you read in your personal devotions? 191 00:12:12,060 --> 00:12:14,740 When your child knocks on your door, when your friend or 192 00:12:14,740 --> 00:12:20,700 someone a sibling calls you with a distressing situation, Please 193 00:12:20,700 --> 00:12:23,340 don't let your counsel, don't let your exhortation be void of 194 00:12:23,340 --> 00:12:26,380 the the scriptures. Have an example. 195 00:12:26,380 --> 00:12:28,500 Ready. Have an exhortation ready. 196 00:12:29,540 --> 00:12:36,700 Seek to saturate life with the word of God while you're 197 00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:39,540 playing. While you're eating, while 198 00:12:39,540 --> 00:12:44,140 you're traveling, while you're on vacation, seek to bring God 199 00:12:44,140 --> 00:12:46,920 in it. And this is the kind of 200 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:50,160 lifestyle that we should have not official gatherings and 201 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:51,880 meetings. And we turn it on and turn off. 202 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,560 No. While you eat and while you walk 203 00:12:54,560 --> 00:12:56,840 and when you rise and when you lie down. 204 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,000 And I can't help but think that Jesus here is indirectly 205 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:04,400 modeling that with his own disciples, as a leader, as a 206 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,360 friend. Here they are walking and 207 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,920 traveling, and here he is asking them a question. 208 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:13,320 Here he is guiding them concerning A revelation about 209 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:18,170 himself. That's a footnote. 210 00:13:19,410 --> 00:13:21,690 And so we asked. While they're on their way, 211 00:13:21,810 --> 00:13:24,370 Jesus gives a more general question before he gives a 212 00:13:24,370 --> 00:13:27,410 personal one. Who do people say that I am? 213 00:13:28,890 --> 00:13:31,450 Let me tell you from from this point, Jesus is an insecure. 214 00:13:32,090 --> 00:13:34,730 He's not asking for what the recent polls are concerning his 215 00:13:34,730 --> 00:13:37,170 popularity. He doesn't have this nagging 216 00:13:37,170 --> 00:13:39,770 desire to know that people are liking him more today than they 217 00:13:39,770 --> 00:13:41,810 did yesterday. He could care less. 218 00:13:43,010 --> 00:13:45,530 Here's Jesus asking this question, and the disciples are 219 00:13:45,530 --> 00:13:48,850 fully aware of the popular opinions that are circling, and 220 00:13:48,850 --> 00:13:51,610 so they don't hesitate to give him the report. 221 00:13:51,770 --> 00:13:54,770 Some say you're John come back to life. 222 00:13:55,570 --> 00:13:59,650 Some say you're like Elijah. People that can't really 223 00:13:59,650 --> 00:14:01,970 comprehend you being the Messiah that they believe the Messiah to 224 00:14:01,970 --> 00:14:03,130 be. So they try to fit you into the 225 00:14:03,130 --> 00:14:06,010 mold of the one who's coming to usher in the great and awesome 226 00:14:06,010 --> 00:14:08,330 day of the Lord. Others are content to just put 227 00:14:08,330 --> 00:14:11,570 you in a class of any one of the prophets of old. 228 00:14:12,550 --> 00:14:15,990 And all those different shades of answers, though they may be 229 00:14:15,990 --> 00:14:17,510 different, have one thing in common. 230 00:14:17,510 --> 00:14:20,950 They're all wrong. They're all wrong. 231 00:14:20,950 --> 00:14:25,070 They all missed who Jesus was. And again, Jesus isn't just 232 00:14:25,070 --> 00:14:27,790 curious of what's happening around in the neighborhood. 233 00:14:28,870 --> 00:14:33,150 Jesus is preparing his disciples to answer a question and he's 234 00:14:33,150 --> 00:14:37,670 using that first question as a backdrop to challenge them for 235 00:14:37,670 --> 00:14:40,270 the next question that will demand an answer. 236 00:14:41,660 --> 00:14:44,940 And the challenge of asking what do other people and what are 237 00:14:44,940 --> 00:14:47,820 other people saying about me Is a challenge for you and I as 238 00:14:47,820 --> 00:14:51,140 well and preparation to answer that question for ourselves. 239 00:14:51,620 --> 00:14:53,540 What do I mean? Well, here here's the idea. 240 00:14:54,300 --> 00:14:58,940 The disciples and resurfacing what is being said are now ready 241 00:14:58,940 --> 00:15:02,020 to make their own confession and they have to determine will the 242 00:15:02,020 --> 00:15:06,060 variety of the popular and prevalent ideas of who Jesus 243 00:15:06,060 --> 00:15:11,210 Christ is shape what I believe Jesus Christ to be. 244 00:15:13,770 --> 00:15:18,010 In other words, before you can even answer the question who is 245 00:15:18,130 --> 00:15:21,770 Jesus Christ, you have to 1st identify the source of your 246 00:15:21,770 --> 00:15:26,490 answer, what you believe about the person of Jesus Christ. 247 00:15:26,490 --> 00:15:30,050 Where does that come from? Where does it come from? 248 00:15:31,010 --> 00:15:34,690 Is it a secondary source? Is it something that you heard 249 00:15:34,690 --> 00:15:36,650 from others? Is it something that was 250 00:15:36,650 --> 00:15:39,640 regurgitated? Where does that source of who 251 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,320 Jesus is come from in your mind and your heart? 252 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,080 Let me tell you something that I've heard over the years and 253 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:50,520 it's immediately a flag. Well, to me, Jesus Christ is. 254 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,360 Unless you're about to follow that up with what you believe 255 00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:00,840 the Bible says, you're already in the wrong direction. 256 00:16:03,100 --> 00:16:05,020 But if you're confident even today, as you're hearing me 257 00:16:05,020 --> 00:16:09,620 preach, that your comprehension of Christ is established from 258 00:16:09,620 --> 00:16:11,820 the one place that it should, the only place that it should 259 00:16:11,820 --> 00:16:16,100 the Word of God, then be prepared to believe and follow a 260 00:16:16,260 --> 00:16:21,420 Jesus that most of the world disagrees with more than that 261 00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:25,500 most of the world hates with all of their hearts. 262 00:16:27,900 --> 00:16:32,270 This is what he's saying. He first presents or ask them to 263 00:16:32,470 --> 00:16:35,390 represent what the people are believing, and in front there 264 00:16:35,390 --> 00:16:36,670 saying, okay, now what do you believe? 265 00:16:38,310 --> 00:16:40,230 Is what you believe shaped by what they believe? 266 00:16:40,830 --> 00:16:43,030 And if it's not, are you prepared to believe the truth 267 00:16:43,030 --> 00:16:45,030 even though the rest of the world doesn't agree with you? 268 00:16:48,790 --> 00:16:50,550 And Peter answers you're the Christ. 269 00:16:52,150 --> 00:16:54,990 He's right. Jesus praises him in Matthew. 270 00:16:56,590 --> 00:17:00,560 But what's at stake here? A W Tozer said. 271 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,280 What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most 272 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:07,480 important thing about you. What comes into your mind when 273 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:12,280 you think about God is the most and not your salary, not your 274 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:15,319 looks, not your body, not your health, not anything else. 275 00:17:15,319 --> 00:17:19,000 The most important thing is when you think about God, whatever 276 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:23,359 comes to your mind, that is the most important thing about who 277 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:26,550 you are. And I told you that there are 278 00:17:26,550 --> 00:17:30,390 two, two things, two things that come to my two reasons why 279 00:17:30,990 --> 00:17:33,990 answering the person of Jesus Christ and his identity is 280 00:17:33,990 --> 00:17:36,750 absolutely crucial. And these are pretty obvious. 281 00:17:36,950 --> 00:17:38,790 The first one probably more than the second. 282 00:17:39,430 --> 00:17:42,350 The answer to that question will ultimately determine one's 283 00:17:42,390 --> 00:17:46,270 eternal destiny. Turn with me to John 823 to 24 284 00:17:46,790 --> 00:17:49,350 and listen to what Jesus says. Concerning how important that 285 00:17:49,350 --> 00:18:04,370 answer is. John 823 to 24 Jesus is dealing 286 00:18:04,370 --> 00:18:11,130 with the hostile Jews, and he said to them in verse 23. 287 00:18:11,450 --> 00:18:13,570 You are from below. I am from above. 288 00:18:13,570 --> 00:18:15,730 You are of this world. I am not of this world. 289 00:18:15,730 --> 00:18:19,810 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you 290 00:18:19,810 --> 00:18:24,170 believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. 291 00:18:26,030 --> 00:18:30,150 Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. 292 00:18:31,230 --> 00:18:33,070 Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, and he gives him a 293 00:18:33,070 --> 00:18:36,550 solemn warning. And interestingly, the word He 294 00:18:36,550 --> 00:18:40,350 in the Greek is not included. So it more accurately reads For 295 00:18:40,350 --> 00:18:45,550 unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins. 296 00:18:45,790 --> 00:18:47,670 That is an absolute claim to Deity. 297 00:18:48,590 --> 00:18:52,750 Jesus ascribing unto himself the name and the identity that 298 00:18:52,750 --> 00:18:54,910 exclusively belongs to the God of Israel. 299 00:18:55,310 --> 00:18:59,590 Unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins. 300 00:19:00,510 --> 00:19:03,470 But notice also the link between the necessity of believing who 301 00:19:03,470 --> 00:19:07,310 he is and who he said to be, and determining that determining 302 00:19:07,430 --> 00:19:10,990 your everlasting fate. For unless you believe I am who 303 00:19:10,990 --> 00:19:13,390 I claim to be, you will die in your sins. 304 00:19:13,390 --> 00:19:19,190 And if you die in your sins, you die with condemnation to die 305 00:19:19,190 --> 00:19:23,880 free from my sins. Listen to this is contingent 306 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:25,880 upon my belief in the right Jesus. 307 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:31,680 To die free from my sins is contingent upon my belief in the 308 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:37,840 right Jesus, not just Jesus. Massive implication for our our 309 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,400 world today. Think about the millions of 310 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:44,400 Muslims, the millions of Mormons, the hundreds of 311 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:49,360 thousands of Jehovah Witnesses, the secularist, the humanist, 312 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,540 the philosophers, the psychologists who have no 313 00:19:52,540 --> 00:19:56,380 problem claiming a Jesus, but is he V Jesus? 314 00:19:57,660 --> 00:20:01,540 There's a big difference. Just the other day I checked my 315 00:20:01,540 --> 00:20:03,740 mail and and the mail was a personal letter. 316 00:20:03,860 --> 00:20:07,420 It was handwritten line paper with a pamphlet in it. 317 00:20:08,460 --> 00:20:10,820 Nice handwriting, nice calligraphy, I had to admit. 318 00:20:11,060 --> 00:20:12,340 Joel. And I read it and it was a 319 00:20:12,340 --> 00:20:14,860 handwritten letter from somebody in the neighborhood who was a 320 00:20:14,860 --> 00:20:16,660 Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witness. 321 00:20:17,140 --> 00:20:19,540 Inviting us and praising us for being new in the neighborhood 322 00:20:19,540 --> 00:20:22,020 and asking us to join them in one of their conferences. 323 00:20:23,020 --> 00:20:24,460 And they had the pamphlet for it. 324 00:20:25,500 --> 00:20:27,100 Zeal. Passion, Sincerity. 325 00:20:27,260 --> 00:20:31,420 But it doesn't matter which Jesus are you speaking about. 326 00:20:33,740 --> 00:20:36,500 And this should motivate us to know what makes the true Jesus 327 00:20:36,500 --> 00:20:41,380 different from these damning variations and to lovingly, 328 00:20:41,380 --> 00:20:44,950 informatively present the true Jesus so that people would be 329 00:20:44,950 --> 00:20:46,350 saved. This is the condition that 330 00:20:46,350 --> 00:20:50,710 Christ sets. You must believe that I am He, I 331 00:20:50,710 --> 00:20:53,870 am who I say I am. If you reject the clear 332 00:20:53,870 --> 00:20:57,910 revelation of I am, then you do not have eternal life. 333 00:20:59,230 --> 00:21:03,470 And I hope we know that it's not enough for somebody, as I said, 334 00:21:03,470 --> 00:21:07,510 to include Jesus Christ in their belief system, which Jesus you 335 00:21:07,510 --> 00:21:10,420 believe is a difference maker. Now it would be wrong for us to 336 00:21:10,420 --> 00:21:13,980 interpret what Jesus is saying here as this, That in order to 337 00:21:13,980 --> 00:21:18,020 be saved you have to have this ability to sophistically 338 00:21:18,300 --> 00:21:20,740 articulate his nature, his attributes, his works. 339 00:21:20,740 --> 00:21:25,060 It's it's not a quiz here. G's not saying if you don't 340 00:21:25,060 --> 00:21:29,340 impressively explain the complexities of my nature then 341 00:21:29,340 --> 00:21:31,500 you won't pass. And if you don't pass then you 342 00:21:31,500 --> 00:21:34,420 don't get heaven. That that's not what Christ is 343 00:21:34,420 --> 00:21:37,460 communicating because you'd be Mason on the people feel 344 00:21:37,460 --> 00:21:40,560 intimidated that just because they may not be able to conjure 345 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:45,480 up until lace and to present a truth determines the depth of 346 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:47,440 their spirituality. I know a lot of people who can 347 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,040 explain things very, very well, but their character doesn't 348 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,960 display Christ like this at all. And I know people who are 349 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:56,560 illiterate and they are more Saints than the PhD. 350 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:04,080 This Jesus insane here that you have to you have to be able to 351 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:08,120 explain theology and doctrine to a certain level if you're going 352 00:22:08,120 --> 00:22:11,400 to be accepted. What he is saying is you have to 353 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:15,400 be willing to wholeheartedly embrace what has been clearly 354 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:17,600 made known to you in the one place where you can really know 355 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:21,240 him. But to what extent, right. 356 00:22:22,120 --> 00:22:23,720 Pay attention to this To what extent? 357 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:29,080 What do I need to believe about Jesus in order for me to be 358 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:32,240 saved? What is it about his person? 359 00:22:32,670 --> 00:22:35,670 What is it about his attributes? What is it about his work? 360 00:22:36,150 --> 00:22:38,230 OK, Jesus, Believe in what? What? 361 00:22:38,230 --> 00:22:40,910 What about him? What's demanded of me? 362 00:22:41,110 --> 00:22:43,750 What truths must I acknowledge and submit to? 363 00:22:43,750 --> 00:22:45,030 Have you ever asked that question? 364 00:22:45,230 --> 00:22:46,630 Have you ever been asked that question? 365 00:22:47,710 --> 00:22:50,190 If you remember here, you you, you probably have caught on that 366 00:22:50,190 --> 00:22:56,390 when we interview you, we ask you to explain what you believe, 367 00:22:57,350 --> 00:23:01,550 because what you explain reveals whether or not you have the true 368 00:23:01,550 --> 00:23:04,900 Jesus or not. And it seems intimidating, 369 00:23:04,900 --> 00:23:06,700 right? Like, do I have to memorize 370 00:23:06,700 --> 00:23:08,860 certain things? Do I have to cover systematic 371 00:23:08,860 --> 00:23:11,340 theology from beginning to end? Do I need to have the 372 00:23:11,340 --> 00:23:13,740 eschatology in place? Do I need to have my right view 373 00:23:13,740 --> 00:23:16,780 of this in place? What is demanded of me to know 374 00:23:16,980 --> 00:23:19,420 that my name is inscribed in the Lambs book of life? 375 00:23:19,420 --> 00:23:23,340 That's the question I want to answer, and I believe there's 376 00:23:23,340 --> 00:23:29,770 one verse that eloquently and sufficiently supplies what we 377 00:23:29,770 --> 00:23:31,050 need to know. And you know, you probably 378 00:23:31,050 --> 00:23:32,370 memorize it. We don't even have to turn it, 379 00:23:32,370 --> 00:23:33,450 we can all just quote it together. 380 00:23:33,850 --> 00:23:36,810 But maybe you haven't seen it in this light in Romans 10/9. 381 00:23:37,050 --> 00:23:39,250 What does Paul say that you need to do to be saved? 382 00:23:40,210 --> 00:23:45,610 Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and 383 00:23:45,610 --> 00:23:49,170 believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you 384 00:23:49,330 --> 00:23:53,010 will be saved. You will be saved. 385 00:23:55,290 --> 00:23:58,090 So how do we do this? Usually when we tell somebody to 386 00:23:59,530 --> 00:24:01,050 invite somebody to be saved, we haven't. 387 00:24:01,050 --> 00:24:03,170 We usually quote that verse and we haven't repeat that verse or 388 00:24:03,170 --> 00:24:05,090 just ask him. You know, believe in your heart 389 00:24:05,490 --> 00:24:06,450 that God raise him from the dead. 390 00:24:06,450 --> 00:24:08,290 But if you really pay attention to this verse, there are two 391 00:24:08,290 --> 00:24:15,090 categories Paul is defining. 2 categories about Christ that 392 00:24:15,090 --> 00:24:20,210 must be acknowledged in order for one to assure themselves of 393 00:24:20,210 --> 00:24:23,210 salvation. 2 Categories. I hope you never forget it. 394 00:24:23,530 --> 00:24:26,930 The first category deals with the nature of Jesus Christ. 395 00:24:27,930 --> 00:24:30,730 That is what he says here. Confess with your mouth that 396 00:24:30,890 --> 00:24:35,050 Jesus is something, He is someone. 397 00:24:35,330 --> 00:24:39,970 He occupies a certain position. Jesus is Lord. 398 00:24:39,970 --> 00:24:45,250 That is his nature, that is his prerogative and not just the 399 00:24:45,250 --> 00:24:48,370 nature of Jesus. Now the second category, the 400 00:24:48,370 --> 00:24:53,090 mission of Jesus, which is inferred by this that God raised 401 00:24:53,090 --> 00:24:58,130 him from the dead, that God raised him from the dead, which 402 00:24:58,130 --> 00:25:01,770 implies something about He came into this world to do something. 403 00:25:02,570 --> 00:25:05,730 He accomplished something, and God approved of it by 404 00:25:05,730 --> 00:25:09,570 resurrecting him. And So what does it take? 405 00:25:09,570 --> 00:25:12,250 What is it about? He that I must believe well, has 406 00:25:12,250 --> 00:25:14,490 to deal with His nature, and it has to deal with His mission. 407 00:25:15,090 --> 00:25:18,850 And listen if you don't understand what is required of 408 00:25:18,850 --> 00:25:22,130 you concerning His nature. In other words, if you 409 00:25:22,130 --> 00:25:27,110 misunderstand or skew key components of who He is, then 410 00:25:27,110 --> 00:25:30,830 that will ultimately affect the mission part. 411 00:25:30,830 --> 00:25:37,270 Let me give you an example. If I don't believe that Jesus 412 00:25:37,270 --> 00:25:44,710 lived a sinless life, then how can I also claim that his 413 00:25:44,710 --> 00:25:50,390 sacrifice satisfies in light of the requirement of what a 414 00:25:50,390 --> 00:25:54,710 sacrifice that atones demands? If he did have blemish, if he 415 00:25:54,710 --> 00:25:58,530 did have spots, if he did have error, then the nature of Jesus 416 00:25:58,530 --> 00:26:01,970 Christ and my understanding will affect the mission of Jesus 417 00:26:01,970 --> 00:26:03,370 Christ. It affects the mission of Jesus 418 00:26:03,370 --> 00:26:05,650 Christ and it affects my salvation. 419 00:26:07,210 --> 00:26:13,650 If I don't believe that Jesus Christ is God, then how can I 420 00:26:13,650 --> 00:26:17,690 also understand that the infinite payment for humanity, 421 00:26:17,690 --> 00:26:23,370 sin, can be sufficiently taken care of because it requires an 422 00:26:23,370 --> 00:26:28,120 infinite person to pay for it? So I'm just giving, and I can 423 00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:31,480 give you 10 other examples that if I don't have the accurate 424 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:34,680 understanding of who He is, then I can't also have the confidence 425 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:36,880 in what He has done. And if I don't have confidence 426 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:38,840 in what He has done, that I don't have confidence for 427 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:45,640 salvation. And so concerning who He is in 428 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:49,320 connections, especially to what He has done, is what is 429 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:53,800 necessary for me to be at rest. And knowing that I am accepted 430 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:56,790 in the beloved. So his nature, but then his 431 00:26:56,790 --> 00:26:58,870 work. What do you believe Jesus Christ 432 00:26:58,870 --> 00:26:59,990 has done? And what do you believe about 433 00:26:59,990 --> 00:27:01,350 the implications of what he's done? 434 00:27:04,910 --> 00:27:07,750 You know it well. He came into this world through 435 00:27:07,750 --> 00:27:10,590 the moon of a virgin. He lived the perfect life. 436 00:27:10,590 --> 00:27:12,910 He died a real death. He was buried. 437 00:27:13,230 --> 00:27:14,790 He was raised. And when he was raised, it was 438 00:27:14,790 --> 00:27:18,070 God signed to the world that he has accepted what he has done in 439 00:27:18,070 --> 00:27:20,830 his life and in his death. And it's a sign of hope for the 440 00:27:20,830 --> 00:27:24,110 repentant believer that you also can expect a resurrection like 441 00:27:24,110 --> 00:27:30,380 his his nature and his mission. So if you can understand those 442 00:27:30,380 --> 00:27:35,740 two things on a foundational level concerning the ultimate 443 00:27:35,740 --> 00:27:40,620 mission, then you can be secure. This is what it means to confess 444 00:27:40,620 --> 00:27:43,180 with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and to believe 445 00:27:43,180 --> 00:27:44,660 in your heart that God raised him from the dead. 446 00:27:44,740 --> 00:27:47,400 This is what John says at the end of his gospel, that he has 447 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:51,120 written these things that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, 448 00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:53,640 the Son of God, and that by believing in him you would have 449 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:57,040 everlasting life. I have to believe he's the Son 450 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:00,920 of God, and then I have to believe that him being the Son 451 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,040 of God, he came into this world for something. 452 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:09,080 And so it is quite simple. It is quite simple. 453 00:28:09,360 --> 00:28:10,520 And I'm sure there are many questions. 454 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:12,520 Well, what about the secondary issues? 455 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:14,640 What about the other aspects of the nature of God? 456 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:17,480 Based on what I see from the scripture, this this is what 457 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:20,320 suffices. And if there's anything that's 458 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,880 brought further from that basic truth that is clear in the word 459 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:27,920 of God that a person would deny, then there are more questions I 460 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:29,800 need to be asked about what they truly believe. 461 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:36,200 So a person can say I believe I I believe in who Jesus is and 462 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:38,440 what he has done, but I don't believe in the Trinity. 463 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:40,880 OK, now we got to pause here though the train has been 464 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:42,320 clearly proven in the word of God. 465 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:44,480 Not that you may not have to be able to explain, but if you 466 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:48,200 clearly deny that there is the Person of the Holy Spirit once 467 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,440 has been made no to you, then we got to sit down and we got to 468 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:55,560 have a conversation. So what is this about? 469 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:57,680 Listen carefully that this is where a lot of people get in 470 00:28:57,680 --> 00:28:58,880 trouble. So are you saying that with 471 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:02,640 Jesus says in John eight that if you unless you believe that I am 472 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,640 he, you will die in your sense that everything depend upon my 473 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,320 salvation is a Creole confession? 474 00:29:08,570 --> 00:29:11,250 Are you saying that what makes me saved is the acceptance of 475 00:29:11,250 --> 00:29:17,730 certain facts? Yes and no, Yes and no. 476 00:29:17,730 --> 00:29:21,450 And this is where, again I say people are dangerously deceived 477 00:29:22,850 --> 00:29:25,010 because they've made a confession. 478 00:29:25,050 --> 00:29:29,290 They have a wonderful ability to explain. 479 00:29:29,290 --> 00:29:35,090 Historical Jesus Theological Jesus, Practical Jesus. 480 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:38,720 But at the end of the day they will stand before Jesus and 481 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:42,200 he'll say I never knew you. What? 482 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:45,160 What kind of confession is Christ after? 483 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,080 Well, go back to Mark and you'll understand. 484 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:53,760 And Mark eight in the same place where he says. 485 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:57,400 But who do you say that I am? Scroll down in the same context 486 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:09,660 and see what he says in verse 34 of Mark 8, Mark 834 And calling 487 00:30:09,660 --> 00:30:13,980 the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, if 488 00:30:13,980 --> 00:30:18,460 anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his 489 00:30:18,460 --> 00:30:22,020 cross and follow me forever Would save his life, will lose 490 00:30:22,020 --> 00:30:23,380 it. But whoever loses his life for 491 00:30:23,380 --> 00:30:27,100 my sake and the Gospels will save it. 492 00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:31,300 For what is a profit a man, if he gains the whole world and 493 00:30:31,300 --> 00:30:34,820 forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in 494 00:30:34,820 --> 00:30:37,220 return for his soul? Here's what I'm trying to 495 00:30:37,220 --> 00:30:39,740 illustrate to you. Jesus has a certain quality of 496 00:30:39,740 --> 00:30:43,940 confession in mind. The confession about his nature 497 00:30:43,940 --> 00:30:47,100 and his person is a confession of truth, but it's also 498 00:30:47,100 --> 00:30:55,580 confession of surrender. I am making my allegiance to 499 00:30:55,580 --> 00:30:58,700 this person once this revelation has been made known to me. 500 00:31:00,610 --> 00:31:03,370 And so to say, I believe in his nature and I believe in His 501 00:31:03,370 --> 00:31:08,170 work, but I don't die to myself as a result of that truth. 502 00:31:09,450 --> 00:31:11,890 Your fate is no different than the Jehovah's Witness. 503 00:31:13,210 --> 00:31:15,050 Your fate is no different than the Muslims. 504 00:31:15,850 --> 00:31:20,810 It's no different because Jesus clarifies here that there is a 505 00:31:20,810 --> 00:31:24,610 standard in this confession. There's a transformation that 506 00:31:24,610 --> 00:31:27,660 occurs. Yes, confess with your mouth 507 00:31:27,660 --> 00:31:30,780 that Jesus is Lord, but not just in an objective way. 508 00:31:30,780 --> 00:31:35,940 Is he your Lord? If he's the Lord, is he your 509 00:31:35,940 --> 00:31:36,660 Lord? Now? 510 00:31:39,420 --> 00:31:43,140 You can't make up, and you can't deny that He's the Lord. 511 00:31:43,140 --> 00:31:45,100 But it's up to you to make him your Lord. 512 00:31:46,820 --> 00:31:50,180 And so this confession, the confession, is connected to 513 00:31:50,580 --> 00:31:54,340 conviction and ultimately consecration. 514 00:31:55,690 --> 00:31:58,410 Transformation. That's the gospel. 515 00:32:01,010 --> 00:32:04,410 Determining who Jesus Christ is will determine your eternal 516 00:32:04,410 --> 00:32:08,970 fate. But secondly, to answer that 517 00:32:08,970 --> 00:32:11,850 question will not only determine the life to come, it will 518 00:32:11,850 --> 00:32:14,290 determine. This is fascinating. 519 00:32:14,850 --> 00:32:17,930 The depth of your transformation. 520 00:32:18,450 --> 00:32:20,290 The depth of your transformation. 521 00:32:21,980 --> 00:32:26,060 So once you ask the question and you receive the foundational 522 00:32:26,140 --> 00:32:30,980 knowledge, and then you embrace it of who Jesus Christ is, you 523 00:32:30,980 --> 00:32:33,140 have to also understand that there's a deeper understanding 524 00:32:33,140 --> 00:32:38,060 of Christ that awaits you. And the deeper understanding of 525 00:32:38,180 --> 00:32:41,340 Jesus Christ that awaits you is dependent upon you answering 526 00:32:41,340 --> 00:32:44,540 that question again and again and again and again. 527 00:32:44,940 --> 00:32:48,340 What do I mean by that? To ask the question Who is Jesus 528 00:32:48,340 --> 00:32:53,570 Christ? And to answer it rightly is 529 00:32:53,570 --> 00:32:56,450 wonderful. But you don't stop asking it. 530 00:32:56,450 --> 00:33:01,410 Once you believe it, you keep asking it in. 531 00:33:01,490 --> 00:33:05,370 In fact, as a true Christian, your quest for the rest of your 532 00:33:05,370 --> 00:33:09,690 life is discovering more and more and more of the person of 533 00:33:09,690 --> 00:33:12,210 Jesus Christ. Who is he? 534 00:33:12,930 --> 00:33:16,970 Who is he? When Paul encountered Christ on 535 00:33:16,970 --> 00:33:20,980 the road to Damascus, he asked this question. 536 00:33:20,980 --> 00:33:24,260 Who are you, Lord? Who are you Lord? 537 00:33:24,260 --> 00:33:28,340 And you can ask that from a introductory standpoint, but I 538 00:33:28,340 --> 00:33:30,460 can guarantee you that you will continue to ask that if you're 539 00:33:30,460 --> 00:33:32,580 really born again. Why? 540 00:33:32,580 --> 00:33:36,260 Because the same Paul who said at the beginning facing Christ, 541 00:33:36,300 --> 00:33:38,500 who are you? Lord was the same one in 542 00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:43,660 Philippians 3 who said, oh, that I may know him and the power of 543 00:33:43,660 --> 00:33:46,910 his resurrection. So Paul didn't stop asking the 544 00:33:46,910 --> 00:33:49,710 question when he met Christ, the real Christ, the true Christ, 545 00:33:49,710 --> 00:33:54,190 the Messiah, he lived to discover more of him. 546 00:33:55,590 --> 00:33:57,790 And so this question that Jesus says, But who do you say that I 547 00:33:57,790 --> 00:33:59,910 am? Yes, it's the entry point, but 548 00:33:59,910 --> 00:34:01,990 it's also the essence of your Christian existence. 549 00:34:03,150 --> 00:34:06,470 But Lord, I I thank you. I know your nature, I know your 550 00:34:06,470 --> 00:34:09,030 work, I know what you've done. I know who you are to save me. 551 00:34:09,030 --> 00:34:14,110 But Lord, who are you? I want to know you. 552 00:34:15,360 --> 00:34:20,400 I want to discover more of you. I want to joyfully investigate 553 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:28,080 your glories and listen that hunger and that discipline is 554 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:33,280 the primary means of your supernatural transformation as 555 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:35,880 an individual. Let me prove it to you. 556 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,159 You know this. I'm bringing very familiar 557 00:34:38,159 --> 00:34:44,929 passages to you in 2nd Corinthians 318 causes and we 558 00:34:44,929 --> 00:34:51,449 all with unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord, are being 559 00:34:51,449 --> 00:34:55,650 transformed into the same image from 1 degree of glory to 560 00:34:55,650 --> 00:34:59,730 another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 561 00:35:01,730 --> 00:35:04,290 This is one of my personal favorite verses about 562 00:35:04,290 --> 00:35:10,130 sanctification. Beholding the glory of the Lord 563 00:35:11,330 --> 00:35:14,450 is not a one time thing, it's a continual act. 564 00:35:14,770 --> 00:35:17,690 That's actually the tense of the verb. 565 00:35:18,890 --> 00:35:23,050 And being transformed from 1 degree of glory to another is 566 00:35:23,050 --> 00:35:26,810 also a continuous consequence, not a one time reality. 567 00:35:29,050 --> 00:35:30,370 And notice what Paul is saying here. 568 00:35:30,370 --> 00:35:36,520 He's saying that when you behold the glory of the Lord, there is 569 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:42,120 a reward as a result of you choosing to fix yourself on who 570 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:45,280 he is. So you know what that tells me? 571 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:52,680 Christian transformation is not by you behaving, it's by you 572 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:56,760 first beholding big difference. People get it the opposite. 573 00:35:57,240 --> 00:36:00,760 People believe If I'm a Christian, I must. 574 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:04,440 If I want to strive for more Christ like this, I must behave 575 00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:06,210 true. But if you want to really, 576 00:36:06,210 --> 00:36:11,290 really behave, you will. First, behold, the art of 577 00:36:11,290 --> 00:36:15,810 beholding the glory of God is virtually lost. 578 00:36:17,090 --> 00:36:21,690 It's virtually lost. And yet Paul says here that it 579 00:36:21,690 --> 00:36:27,850 is the instrument. It is the force that remodels 580 00:36:27,850 --> 00:36:30,410 you and renews you from the inside out. 581 00:36:31,890 --> 00:36:37,240 So if you fail to behold his glory, you will not become what 582 00:36:37,240 --> 00:36:41,800 he wants you to become. No wonder you're exhausted. 583 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:46,680 No wonder you're discouraged. You've made your Christian life 584 00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:50,200 all about behaving. Just do this. 585 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:51,960 Don't do this. And when you don't do the thing 586 00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:53,760 that you're supposed to do, or you do the things that you're 587 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:55,840 not supposed to do, just try again. 588 00:36:56,360 --> 00:36:59,160 You're exhausted. No wonder you're miserable. 589 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:04,220 Why? Because you didn't realize that 590 00:37:04,220 --> 00:37:07,860 what the Holy Spirit's inviting you is to behold before anything 591 00:37:07,860 --> 00:37:12,820 else. Behold, what are we beholding? 592 00:37:12,820 --> 00:37:15,380 What aspect? What aspect of the glory of God, 593 00:37:15,380 --> 00:37:17,460 The glory of God is so hard to describe. 594 00:37:18,900 --> 00:37:22,140 What aspect of his glory? His heavenly glory? 595 00:37:22,140 --> 00:37:24,220 His divine glory? His creative? 596 00:37:24,700 --> 00:37:27,260 What about his glory? You know Paul actually gives the 597 00:37:27,260 --> 00:37:29,940 answer. Go to 2nd Corinthians the same 598 00:37:29,940 --> 00:37:32,140 place. Not three, but chapter four. 599 00:37:32,260 --> 00:37:35,820 Look at verse 6. This is the glory that Paul has 600 00:37:35,820 --> 00:37:39,900 in mind for you to behold to put before the eyes of your heart, 601 00:37:41,020 --> 00:37:44,220 and to absorb with affection and attention. 602 00:37:45,020 --> 00:37:52,020 Second Corinthians 4/6 For God, who said, Let light shine out of 603 00:37:52,020 --> 00:37:56,560 darkness, has shown in our hearts to give the light of the 604 00:37:56,560 --> 00:38:01,080 knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 605 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:06,440 What? What am I pointing my eyes to? 606 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:10,440 What aspect of God's glory? The face of Jesus Christ? 607 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:16,760 The exact imprint of his nature, the perfect reflection of the 608 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:20,080 glory of the Father, is found in the face of the Son of God. 609 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:26,940 What Paul wants you to behold, day in and day out, is the face 610 00:38:28,460 --> 00:38:35,300 of the Savior. And as you behold that face, and 611 00:38:35,300 --> 00:38:41,380 as you admire that face, and as you study that face, something, 612 00:38:41,380 --> 00:38:46,860 if your heart is truly transformed, will begin to yearn 613 00:38:47,620 --> 00:38:49,740 for that face to be mirrored on your face. 614 00:38:50,580 --> 00:38:53,060 And we're told in Saint Corinthians 318 that this comes 615 00:38:53,060 --> 00:38:56,410 by the Spirit. This comes from the Lord, who is 616 00:38:56,410 --> 00:38:59,170 the Spirit. When he realizes that this 617 00:38:59,250 --> 00:39:02,890 precious soul has been transformed because he, he knew 618 00:39:02,890 --> 00:39:07,130 who Jesus Christ was and is, and what he has done for him is now 619 00:39:07,330 --> 00:39:10,530 seeking to behold, he will honor that pursuit. 620 00:39:10,890 --> 00:39:14,530 And he will imprint on you the image of the very thing that you 621 00:39:14,530 --> 00:39:21,470 cherish and relish in more than anything else When you read your 622 00:39:21,470 --> 00:39:25,430 Bible, which is the canvas, the portrait frame of where the face 623 00:39:25,430 --> 00:39:29,150 of Jesus Christ has shown when you read it, please, please hear 624 00:39:29,150 --> 00:39:29,670 me. Please. 625 00:39:30,950 --> 00:39:32,830 Are you looking for the glory of Jesus? 626 00:39:35,430 --> 00:39:37,190 I'm not talking about? Are you looking for things to 627 00:39:37,190 --> 00:39:39,350 glorify Jesus? I'm not asking if you're looking 628 00:39:39,350 --> 00:39:41,470 for things. I'm asking are you looking for 629 00:39:41,470 --> 00:39:43,870 the When I say glory, I'm talking about His beauty, His 630 00:39:43,870 --> 00:39:47,630 Majesty, His splendor, His awesomeness, His Holiness. 631 00:39:47,990 --> 00:39:52,920 Are you trying to behold that, or are you just looking for 632 00:39:52,920 --> 00:39:55,840 doctrine? Big difference. 633 00:39:56,520 --> 00:40:00,600 Are you looking for platitudes? Are you looking for practical 634 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:02,400 wisdom? Those things are fine. 635 00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:07,000 But if you're not looking for the face of Jesus Christ, you 636 00:40:07,000 --> 00:40:10,120 will not be transformed the way he wants you to be transformed. 637 00:40:10,120 --> 00:40:11,520 This is the point that I'm trying to get at. 638 00:40:13,800 --> 00:40:16,160 And as I thought about this is, well, how can I exemplify, How 639 00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:18,040 can I explain this in practical terms? 640 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:20,440 I don't want to sound poetic. I don't want to sound 641 00:40:20,440 --> 00:40:21,880 theoretical. I want to be real. 642 00:40:21,880 --> 00:40:24,400 I I like practical. I like handson. 643 00:40:24,720 --> 00:40:27,120 I like examples. So I'll give you one. 644 00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:30,720 I'm personally, I'm reading the book of Matthew. 645 00:40:31,840 --> 00:40:36,320 I'm in the Gospel of Matthew. And I mean how much more can you 646 00:40:36,320 --> 00:40:38,800 get the face of Jesus Christ and then the gospel accounts, right. 647 00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:42,440 So there I am, looking at Jesus, reading about Jesus. 648 00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:46,380 Things that I've like you familiar with, but asking the 649 00:40:46,380 --> 00:40:49,180 Lord continue. Lord, I want to see, and maybe 650 00:40:49,180 --> 00:40:50,260 I've seen it before, but remind me. 651 00:40:50,260 --> 00:40:51,500 I want to see the glory of Jesus. 652 00:40:51,500 --> 00:40:54,300 I want to see facets of who He is that I haven't seen before, 653 00:40:54,420 --> 00:40:56,220 and not just the things that we might know. 654 00:40:56,740 --> 00:40:58,340 As glorious as those things is right. 655 00:40:58,340 --> 00:41:01,660 That concerning his entrance to this world and his sinless life 656 00:41:01,660 --> 00:41:03,620 and his sacrifice on the crosses, resurrections, 657 00:41:03,620 --> 00:41:06,700 ascension. No, no, I want to see all that. 658 00:41:06,700 --> 00:41:09,420 He is everything, everything that's been inscribed here in 659 00:41:09,420 --> 00:41:11,260 the world. Let me see the glory of Jesus 660 00:41:11,260 --> 00:41:14,440 Christ and I'll give you an example. 661 00:41:14,440 --> 00:41:17,080 This is just for my personal reading, and I hope that it 662 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:20,080 gives you an idea of what it means to behold the glory of 663 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:22,560 Jesus. And if from beholding that glory 664 00:41:23,160 --> 00:41:26,560 your heart is inspired to imitate that very same image 665 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:31,360 that you are admiring and loving and worshiping, go to Matthew 666 00:41:31,360 --> 00:41:33,040 17. This is what I my reading of 667 00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:42,060 this week. I want to just give you 668 00:41:42,540 --> 00:41:48,150 inspiration. Matthew 1724 to 27 When they 669 00:41:48,150 --> 00:41:50,550 came to Copernium, the collectors of two, the two 670 00:41:50,550 --> 00:41:54,150 drachma tax went up to Peter and said, Does your teacher not pay 671 00:41:54,150 --> 00:41:57,110 the tax? He said yes. 672 00:41:57,110 --> 00:42:00,310 And when he came to the house, Jesus spoke to him first, 673 00:42:00,310 --> 00:42:01,510 saying, What do you think, Simon? 674 00:42:02,550 --> 00:42:05,950 From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? 675 00:42:06,510 --> 00:42:11,550 From their sons, or from others? And when he said from others, 676 00:42:11,550 --> 00:42:13,870 Jesus said to him, Then the sons are free. 677 00:42:13,870 --> 00:42:15,110 Pause. Here's what's happening. 678 00:42:16,030 --> 00:42:18,230 People are coming. The Jews are asking Peter, hey 679 00:42:18,230 --> 00:42:20,710 you're you're a rabbi there. Does he pay the temple tax? 680 00:42:22,550 --> 00:42:25,310 Does he pay the tax that funds and supports the temple, the 681 00:42:25,310 --> 00:42:28,470 activity and the sustenance of the place of worship. 682 00:42:28,470 --> 00:42:30,870 And Peter says yes. And he goes back to find Jesus, 683 00:42:30,870 --> 00:42:32,350 Jesus, omniscient. He doesn't have to wait for 684 00:42:32,350 --> 00:42:33,670 Peter. He goes, hey Peter, I heard the 685 00:42:33,670 --> 00:42:38,070 conversation, by the way, and he asked this important question. 686 00:42:38,070 --> 00:42:41,630 He says when the kings of the earth, when they take toll or 687 00:42:41,630 --> 00:42:44,510 tax, do they take it from their sons or from others? 688 00:42:46,060 --> 00:42:49,940 And Peter answers, rightly, goes others, he goes, and the sons 689 00:42:49,940 --> 00:42:52,220 are free. What is he saying? 690 00:42:53,180 --> 00:42:56,460 I'm not required to give the temple tax. 691 00:42:56,540 --> 00:42:58,780 Do you know why? Because it's my father's temple. 692 00:43:01,460 --> 00:43:03,460 In fact, the temple points to me. 693 00:43:03,460 --> 00:43:05,140 In fact, I'm greater than the temple. 694 00:43:06,420 --> 00:43:09,460 So I'm not required to give this because I'm above it. 695 00:43:10,180 --> 00:43:14,450 It's actually all for me. So the sons are free in the same 696 00:43:14,450 --> 00:43:17,410 way in the world today, a king wouldn't tax his family, he 697 00:43:17,410 --> 00:43:19,930 would tax the citizens of the land. 698 00:43:20,130 --> 00:43:23,770 I'm exempt from this Peter, and he establishes that truth. 699 00:43:24,570 --> 00:43:25,810 You say? Is that where you see the glory 700 00:43:25,810 --> 00:43:26,850 of Jesus? Well, you could. 701 00:43:27,090 --> 00:43:31,210 But look at verse 27. Jesus continues, however, not to 702 00:43:31,210 --> 00:43:36,930 give offense to them. Go to the sea and cast the hook 703 00:43:36,930 --> 00:43:39,970 and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its 704 00:43:39,970 --> 00:43:42,850 mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them 705 00:43:42,850 --> 00:43:46,730 for me and for yourself. And that's where I saw the glory 706 00:43:46,730 --> 00:43:50,410 of Jesus Christ, you said. Where I say, however, not to 707 00:43:50,410 --> 00:43:56,010 give offense to them, the glory of Jesus Christ. 708 00:43:56,210 --> 00:43:57,130 Sing, brother. I don't get it. 709 00:43:57,290 --> 00:43:59,970 Don't you see it? Here's a man who establishes 710 00:43:59,970 --> 00:44:04,810 before Peter and before us that he is free from this duty, and 711 00:44:04,810 --> 00:44:07,170 yet he is operating with a different frame of mind. 712 00:44:08,090 --> 00:44:13,460 Here's Jesus saying I'm surrendering my right for the 713 00:44:13,460 --> 00:44:18,180 sake of a greater cause. And though I am not obligated to 714 00:44:18,180 --> 00:44:22,340 do this, I want to do this. Do you know why? 715 00:44:22,340 --> 00:44:24,980 Because Jesus knows how to choose his battles. 716 00:44:26,820 --> 00:44:29,380 Do you know why? Because Jesus is not needlessly 717 00:44:29,420 --> 00:44:32,300 offensive. Do you know why? 718 00:44:32,700 --> 00:44:36,860 Because Jesus is extremely wise. How is he wise? 719 00:44:37,100 --> 00:44:41,110 He already has enemies, and he gave Peter a revelation about 720 00:44:41,110 --> 00:44:43,670 himself. I am the son of the one who owns 721 00:44:43,670 --> 00:44:46,190 this temple. Did other people have that 722 00:44:46,190 --> 00:44:47,630 revelation? No. 723 00:44:47,630 --> 00:44:49,230 That other people get that explanation? 724 00:44:49,230 --> 00:44:50,910 No, they didn't get that explanation. 725 00:44:50,950 --> 00:44:53,030 And if they did, they most of them didn't want to believe it. 726 00:44:54,830 --> 00:44:59,510 So what is Jesus saying? Why create more controversy than 727 00:44:59,510 --> 00:45:02,990 necessary? Why create a fence and give more 728 00:45:02,990 --> 00:45:07,310 ammunition to our enemies? This is not an evil thing per 729 00:45:07,310 --> 00:45:09,150 se. This is a neutral thing. 730 00:45:09,520 --> 00:45:12,000 And because of that, not to offend them. 731 00:45:12,160 --> 00:45:16,040 Let's just give the tax. That's glorious. 732 00:45:17,520 --> 00:45:20,000 That's glorious. And I'd behold. 733 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:24,560 And I look at that and I go, Lord, I want to be like that. 734 00:45:25,640 --> 00:45:28,400 I want to be like that. I don't want my existence to 735 00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:33,440 orbit about about my rights, everything revolving around what 736 00:45:33,480 --> 00:45:36,040 I believe that I should have and all these things. 737 00:45:36,620 --> 00:45:38,620 I don't want that. Lord, help me live like you 738 00:45:38,620 --> 00:45:44,380 lived based upon A cause greater than myself, to live not for my 739 00:45:44,380 --> 00:45:48,420 rights, but for my testimony. And even if I have to give up my 740 00:45:48,420 --> 00:45:50,860 right for the sake of my testimony, then so be it. 741 00:45:50,860 --> 00:45:55,060 Do you see how that works now? You see something glorious about 742 00:45:55,180 --> 00:45:59,460 Jesus Christ and from seeing how awesome it is, you now want to 743 00:45:59,460 --> 00:46:01,620 imitate it. And that's a Holy Spirit thing. 744 00:46:02,690 --> 00:46:03,810 The Holy Spirit doesn't just show it. 745 00:46:03,810 --> 00:46:06,690 The Holy Spirit inspires you and says strive for that and I'll 746 00:46:06,690 --> 00:46:10,850 empower you to do it. So I look at Jesus here and I 747 00:46:10,850 --> 00:46:15,650 say, oh, I want that for myself. This is glorious. 748 00:46:16,610 --> 00:46:17,890 OK, let me give you another example. 749 00:46:17,930 --> 00:46:21,090 This one came to mind this morning in John chapter 8. 750 00:46:22,170 --> 00:46:23,650 Notice what happens to Jesus and John 8. 751 00:46:23,650 --> 00:46:27,390 He's again with the religious leaders and they're going back 752 00:46:27,390 --> 00:46:29,990 and forth, and Jesus is just making one good point after the 753 00:46:29,990 --> 00:46:32,390 next, to the point where these men get so frustrated they 754 00:46:32,390 --> 00:46:34,830 insult Jesus. Whenever somebody insults you 755 00:46:34,830 --> 00:46:38,470 personally in a debate or an argument or a conversation, it 756 00:46:38,470 --> 00:46:41,350 means that they don't have substantial arguments left just 757 00:46:41,350 --> 00:46:45,750 to give you a hint, right? And so they now begin to hurl 758 00:46:45,750 --> 00:46:53,670 insults to Jesus and John 848 the Jews answered him. 759 00:46:53,670 --> 00:46:59,470 Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a 760 00:46:59,470 --> 00:47:04,510 demon? Jesus answers, I do not have a 761 00:47:04,510 --> 00:47:07,070 demon, but I honor my father and and you dishonor me. 762 00:47:08,190 --> 00:47:13,990 Glory, Glory, Glorious Jesus saying, What are you talking 763 00:47:13,990 --> 00:47:16,470 about? This is not describing the 764 00:47:16,590 --> 00:47:19,670 eloquent doxology that Paul tends to give in his letters of 765 00:47:19,670 --> 00:47:22,670 his creative power and of his Lordship of the universe. 766 00:47:22,750 --> 00:47:25,670 Where's the glory? Oh, it's there. 767 00:47:25,910 --> 00:47:28,350 So here's what they say. You're a Samaritan. 768 00:47:28,430 --> 00:47:30,630 And hey, are we right in saying you also have a demon? 769 00:47:30,870 --> 00:47:33,470 Okay, when you're saying you're a Samaritan, you realize the 770 00:47:33,470 --> 00:47:35,150 relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans, right? 771 00:47:35,190 --> 00:47:37,230 That's not. That's not a compliment by any 772 00:47:37,230 --> 00:47:40,230 means. They actually put Samaritan in 773 00:47:40,230 --> 00:47:45,400 the same category as a demon. Are we not in your you're a 774 00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:47,240 Samaritan. You're false. 775 00:47:47,240 --> 00:47:50,880 You're you're you're off and and on top of that you probably have 776 00:47:50,880 --> 00:47:54,360 a demon with it. You're saying what's the glory? 777 00:47:54,560 --> 00:47:57,920 Did you see Jesus's answer? Jesus answered. 778 00:47:57,920 --> 00:48:00,520 I do not have a demon. But he doesn't address the 779 00:48:00,520 --> 00:48:05,120 Samaritan part. He doesn't. 780 00:48:05,120 --> 00:48:08,520 He doesn't defend himself when they called him a Samaritan when 781 00:48:08,520 --> 00:48:09,720 it came to the demon? Yes. 782 00:48:11,560 --> 00:48:14,890 You're saying why? Because Jesus is glorious, and 783 00:48:14,890 --> 00:48:18,250 Jesus in his glory, in his humanity and his service to God. 784 00:48:18,450 --> 00:48:22,250 He knew that criticisms would come, and he knew which 785 00:48:22,250 --> 00:48:24,690 criticisms to answer and which ones to ignore. 786 00:48:27,050 --> 00:48:29,570 He knew which ones were important to address for the 787 00:48:29,570 --> 00:48:31,810 sake of the validity in the testimony of his ministry, and 788 00:48:31,810 --> 00:48:35,330 which ones to just fall off his back. 789 00:48:37,690 --> 00:48:41,570 There are some accusations worth defending, and there are some 790 00:48:41,570 --> 00:48:47,170 that are not worth defending. I look at Jesus and Johnny and I 791 00:48:47,170 --> 00:48:51,530 say that's glorious. And I say, Lord, I want to be 792 00:48:51,530 --> 00:48:54,330 like that. I want to be like that. 793 00:48:55,250 --> 00:48:58,130 Serve God long enough. Serve God long enough in the 794 00:48:58,130 --> 00:49:00,050 front lines. You're going to know slander. 795 00:49:00,050 --> 00:49:01,250 You're going to know accusations. 796 00:49:01,570 --> 00:49:03,810 You're going to know gossip. You're going to know false 797 00:49:03,810 --> 00:49:07,970 reports. So how do you imitate the glory 798 00:49:07,970 --> 00:49:09,050 of Jesus? Well, I see it here. 799 00:49:10,410 --> 00:49:13,650 He knew what to say, to defend when he needed to defend, and he 800 00:49:13,650 --> 00:49:17,290 knew what to ignore, because it had no value in addressing 801 00:49:19,130 --> 00:49:23,890 beholding the glory of the Lord, beholding the glory in the 802 00:49:24,250 --> 00:49:28,010 obvious and the not so obvious, and in the Holy Spirit. 803 00:49:28,010 --> 00:49:30,970 As He sees you engaging with the glory of the Lord, He assures 804 00:49:30,970 --> 00:49:33,050 you now I'm going to make you like that very thing. 805 00:49:34,530 --> 00:49:37,730 Not in His divinity, not in His exclusive prerogative, in His 806 00:49:37,730 --> 00:49:41,570 moral majesty. I'm going to Polish you, I'm 807 00:49:41,570 --> 00:49:44,410 going to chisel you. But you can't become unless you 808 00:49:44,410 --> 00:49:50,370 first behold. So the question Who is Jesus 809 00:49:50,370 --> 00:49:55,570 Christ is essential for your salvation, and it is inseparable 810 00:49:55,570 --> 00:49:59,770 from your sanctification. You keep asking who is Jesus 811 00:49:59,770 --> 00:50:01,170 Christ? And I pray leaving this place 812 00:50:01,170 --> 00:50:03,770 you have a fresh lens to read your Bible. 813 00:50:03,770 --> 00:50:06,250 And as you read your Bible, you're looking for the glory of 814 00:50:06,290 --> 00:50:11,280 Jesus Christ in the Epistles and the proverbs in the Old 815 00:50:11,280 --> 00:50:15,200 Testament and the Gospels. Jesus, I want to see your glory 816 00:50:15,440 --> 00:50:18,440 and I want it to rub off on me. I want to become like the very 817 00:50:18,440 --> 00:50:22,040 thing I'm beholding. Lord, we ask that you would help 818 00:50:22,040 --> 00:50:25,720 us arrive there from 1 degree of glory to another. 819 00:50:25,720 --> 00:50:29,000 We thank you that it is not an instantaneous work. 820 00:50:29,280 --> 00:50:31,040 It is something that takes a lifetime. 821 00:50:31,560 --> 00:50:35,920 You open our eyes in one season, and the next you open our eyes 822 00:50:35,920 --> 00:50:37,960 again to something that we didn't see in the previous one. 823 00:50:38,360 --> 00:50:41,830 But Lord, we just pray that there will be this new ambition 824 00:50:42,150 --> 00:50:46,350 to ask the question, who is Jesus Christ, not just in his 825 00:50:46,350 --> 00:50:49,030 nature and his mission concerning the gospel, but 826 00:50:49,030 --> 00:50:53,030 concerning his person, his character, his attitude, his 827 00:50:53,030 --> 00:50:56,030 example? And so for the person here who 828 00:50:56,030 --> 00:50:59,390 has not answered the first type of question concerning their 829 00:51:00,110 --> 00:51:03,430 redemption, may they ask it and know the answer to it and be 830 00:51:03,430 --> 00:51:06,190 saved today. And for the person who has the 831 00:51:06,190 --> 00:51:09,740 confidence that they have the right answer to who is Jesus 832 00:51:09,740 --> 00:51:13,740 Christ, may they now be excited to know that there's so much 833 00:51:13,740 --> 00:51:17,060 more to know about him. We worship you in this house 834 00:51:17,060 --> 00:51:20,740 today, giving you all glory and honor in Jesus name, that name 835 00:51:20,740 --> 00:51:23,180 that saves, that names, that transforms. 836 00:51:23,460 --> 00:51:24,660 Amen. Amen. 837 00:51:24,660 --> 00:51:25,780 Let's stand and worship the Lord.