1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,520 Welcome everyone, and thank you all for being here with us 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,920 today. As has already been mentioned, 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:09,680 we have several here that are visiting with us and we want you 4 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:11,640 to know that you are our honored guest. 5 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,360 We hope you feel that. It's great to see you, it's 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,240 great to have you, and it's good to be together. 7 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,600 I've enjoyed worshiping with all of you so far, and as always is 8 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,800 the case, I do consider it an honor to speak concerning the 9 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,560 Word of God. We're considering and continuing 10 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:33,400 our series that we started a while back on the 40 days from 11 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,480 the time that Jesus rose from the dead until he ascended into 12 00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:42,120 heaven in Acts chapter 1. And of those post resurrection 13 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,960 appearances, we've noticed the following and I'm going to be 14 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,440 very brief. It began in Luke chapter 24 on 15 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,080 the morning of the resurrection where Jesus met with two 16 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:56,400 disciples on the Emmaus Rd. about 7 miles that travelled 17 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,200 from Jerusalem to that little village so long ago. 18 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,120 Jesus speaks to them, they don't know who he is, He preaches to 19 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,720 them and finally he reveals himself to them in the breaking 20 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,960 of bread back at their house. And then Jesus vanishes from 21 00:01:10,960 --> 00:01:13,640 their sight. Those two disciples, they can't 22 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:15,640 sit still. The word of God is burning in 23 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,000 their hearts and they can't sit still. 24 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,680 They can't hold it back. They travel 7 miles back to 25 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:25,400 Jerusalem and they're telling 10 disciples that they just saw the 26 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,720 resurrected Christ. And I say 10 because Judas 27 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,760 Iscariot already hanged himself. And as you can see on the 28 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,640 screen, Thomas was not present. And about that time, Jesus 29 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,120 appears before them and reveals himself to them. 30 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:44,600 Then a week later, the following Sunday, Jesus appears before the 31 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,560 11 that were behind those locked doors, those closed doors, and 32 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:53,200 miraculously here he is and he appears there and he shows 33 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:54,880 Thomas that it's really the Christ. 34 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:59,920 And Thomas says, my Lord and my God, and therefore Jesus said, 35 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:01,840 I'm going to get back to this phrase in just a minute. 36 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:08,039 And Jesus says you have believed because you have seen, but 37 00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:11,880 blessed are those who believe and have not seen. 38 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:17,400 More on that in just a moment. Then at some unspecified amount 39 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:21,080 of time, which we don't know, there were 7 disciples including 40 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:22,400 Peter. He has this great idea, I'm 41 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,760 going to go fishing one night and the other disciples join 42 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:27,600 him. And there are 7 disciples out on 43 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,000 a boat and they fish all night long. 44 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,960 And all of a sudden from the distance on the shore they see 45 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:34,520 Jesus, but they don't recognize him. 46 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,840 And Jesus calls out to them and says, have you caught any fish? 47 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,160 And they said, no, we've been out here all night. 48 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,560 We got nothing. And Jesus says, cast the net 49 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:43,920 onto the other side. They do. 50 00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:47,640 On the right side. They caught 153 fish. 51 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,280 Jesus eats breakfast with them on the shore of the Sea of 52 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:57,080 Galilee. And then Jesus restores Peter. 53 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,200 You know, Peter denied Jesus. We know the story. 54 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:07,000 And then Jesus has Peter confess his love for him 3 * 1 for every 55 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,800 time he denied him. And then Jesus gave Peter three 56 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:15,160 ways to demonstrate that love. All right, that was the 7th 57 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,440 appearance, the 7th post resurrection appearance of 58 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:22,360 Jesus. Today we come to #8 where Jesus 59 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:27,040 gave the Great Commission. As an introduction, though, 60 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,160 we're going to go to Matthew chapter 28 and verse 16. 61 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:37,320 Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee to a mountain which 62 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,960 Jesus had appointed them. Now, first of all, Matthew 63 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:46,200 doesn't tell us how soon the disciples go to Galilee, so we 64 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,280 don't know for certain. We also don't know the exact 65 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,560 mountain or the location. What we do know that's clear is 66 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,800 the apostles all were Privy of the exact time and the exact 67 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,080 location. In fact, it actually fulfills 68 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,160 his own prophetic word. Do you remember what Jesus said 69 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:07,160 while he was still living? He said, I go before you into 70 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:11,040 Galilee. Fast forward to the resurrection 71 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,800 morning. We talked about this passage 72 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,080 last time. I love this passage. 73 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:17,760 Those precious women, they just couldn't stay away. 74 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:21,480 They go to the sepulcher, right? And all of a sudden an Angel 75 00:04:21,519 --> 00:04:26,520 says this a message to give back to his disciples about Galilee. 76 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:32,240 Mark 16 and seven, but go tell his disciples and Peter that 77 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,640 he's going before you into Galilee. 78 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,840 There you will see him notice as he said to you. 79 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,240 So it fulfilled what Jesus prophetically said, 80 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,320 prophetically stated, I will meet them in Galilee. 81 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:49,640 I just want to add a little thing here, a little question. 82 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,520 Why does Jesus choose Galilee as the meeting place? 83 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,440 First of all, it really doesn't matter, I guess. 84 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:58,320 But I did think it was kind of interesting. 85 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,600 Some thoughts that I had and I'm going to present them to you. 86 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:05,600 Why Galilee? Well, first of all, Galilee 87 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,920 would have been outside the eyesight of Judea, and Judea is 88 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,440 where everything happened. By the way, Judea actually means 89 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,440 city of the Jews. Now, what happened in Judea? 90 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,800 That was very significant. Jesus died, Jesus was buried, 91 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,120 and Jesus rose again on the third day. 92 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:25,480 That all happened in Judea. So it's entirely possible that 93 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:29,680 Jesus was choosing a place that was far away from the eyesight 94 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:35,480 of Judea for a number of reasons #1 Jesus wanted to spend those 95 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:40,600 days with his disciples and teach his disciples and teach 96 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:44,400 his disciples about the Kingdom and about their responsibility 97 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,880 moving forward. In other words, he needed an 98 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,000 intimate, private time. And just perhaps that's one of 99 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,600 the reasons that he chose to go to Galilee. 100 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,400 That's number one. Number two, it would limit the 101 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,720 number of people that actually saw the resurrected Christ in 102 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:01,720 bodily form. Why is that significant? 103 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,600 Getting back to that phrase, what I just said that Jesus said 104 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:12,640 to Thomas, blessed are those who believe and have not seen. 105 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,680 Here's the point. Christianity is all about faith. 106 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,240 It is all about faith. And the more people that would 107 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,880 actually not see the resurrected Christ would be more people that 108 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:29,280 would come to Jesus by faith, kind of like all of us today. 109 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:35,600 Maybe that was another reason, by the way, as my good old buddy 110 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:37,320 Darrell Brewer used to say, that's free. 111 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,040 No charge on that. That's just something I'm going 112 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,280 to throw in, but it kind of makes sense. 113 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:49,840 But maybe still a third reason, maybe still a third reason that 114 00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:52,120 the Galilean ministry is where it all began. 115 00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:56,120 In fact, if you go to Matthew chapter 4 and verse 12, Now when 116 00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:01,080 Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to 117 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,000 Galilee. It was there that he brought 4 118 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,480 fishermen and called them to be disciples. 119 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,560 Remember what? Remember it was on the Sea of 120 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,960 Galilee, Matthew 418 and 19, And Jesus walking by the Sea of 121 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:18,680 Galilee saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his 122 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,560 brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 123 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,480 Then he said to them, follow me and I will make you fishers of 124 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:27,560 men. What did they do? 125 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,560 They immediately left their Nets and followed Jesus. 126 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:35,080 And may I just slip this in? That's exactly the pattern of 127 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:36,760 all of us today that we should do. 128 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,080 And sometimes it takes a little longer in the process when we 129 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,520 hear the word of God and we're counting the cost and so forth. 130 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,440 But when you make the decision I'm going to follow Jesus, it 131 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,280 doesn't matter what you have to leave. 132 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:56,080 You leave. It doesn't mean you can't have 133 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,280 things in life, doesn't mean you can't have a life, doesn't mean 134 00:07:58,280 --> 00:07:59,360 you can't. I'm not talking about that. 135 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,280 You know that. What I mean is you lay aside 136 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,120 anything that's standing in your way to follow Jesus. 137 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:09,800 These were fishermen. And by the way, they continued 138 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,720 to be fishermen. That was their trade. 139 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,800 But what did they do when it came time to follow Jesus? 140 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,600 Listen, following Jesus was more important than their job. 141 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,680 Remember that? What else? 142 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,360 Then we find others too. In verse 21. 143 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,600 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of 144 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,080 Zebedee, and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their 145 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,480 father, mending their necks. What did Jesus do? 146 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:43,480 He called them then in verse 23, and Jesus went about all Galilee 147 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,560 teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the 148 00:08:46,560 --> 00:08:50,360 Kingdom and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of 149 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:55,680 disease among the people. So in summary, perhaps 3 reasons 150 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,840 Galilee was chosen. A private and intimate place 151 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,520 with his disciples, not seen by the masses, so others would come 152 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,160 to Christ by faith. And #3 it's where it all began. 153 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:13,080 All right, back to our passage in Matthew chapter 28 and we're 154 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:19,040 going to begin in verse 17. When they saw Him, they 155 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,000 worshipped Him, but some doubted. 156 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:29,360 Now there are a number of discussions and theories as to 157 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:33,520 why they doubted. And I do believe in Matthew 28. 158 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:37,160 It happened after all the other events. 159 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,120 This is the 8th appearance of Jesus. 160 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,960 This would have been the 4th appearance to the disciples, OK, 161 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,200 Because the 7th overall appearance was the 3rd 162 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,080 appearance on the Sea of Galilee to the disciples. 163 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,800 This would have been #4 So I do believe if you look at the 164 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,000 chronological sequence, because we already studied about the 165 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,560 resurrection and we already studied about all that in 166 00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:04,080 Matthew 28, I think Matthew 2819 and 20, the Great Commission or 167 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:10,160 beginning in verse 17, actually verse 16 actually goes Fast 168 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,040 forward in time to the 8th appearance. 169 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:17,080 So here's my question. Why did they doubt and what did 170 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:18,720 it mean? Well, there's a lot of different 171 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,400 discussion about what the phrase actually means. 172 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,040 Doubted. Some say this, they just looked 173 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,320 out and saw Jesus from a distance and they just didn't 174 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,280 necessarily recognize Him. So they kind of doubt. 175 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,160 Is that really Him? I think there's more. 176 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:37,360 The word doubt according to fair means to doubt or waver. 177 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:43,680 Now in our English versions or in our English words or English 178 00:10:43,680 --> 00:10:48,720 definitions, that really doesn't sound like it's very clear. 179 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:54,120 But the phrase here to doubt or waiver, Thayer says it means it 180 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:58,680 indicates A-frame of mind that might be expressed by a very 181 00:10:58,680 --> 00:11:02,560 familiar saying. It's just too good to be true. 182 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:05,120 Hear. It felt like that. 183 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:07,000 I mean, something really happened. 184 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,840 Good to you. You know the phrase pinch me. 185 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:12,920 Oh, man, pinch me. Did it really happen? 186 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,640 Is it a dream? It's kind of like I heard there 187 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,600 was an old man one time and he was on his deathbed. 188 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,800 OK. He hadn't seen his son in many, 189 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:26,560 many, many, many years. He was dying. 190 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,480 So his son heard about it and travelled to go see his father. 191 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:33,840 His father was laying there and he was very weak. 192 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:35,960 And his father opened his eyes and he looked at his son and his 193 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:40,640 father said, if I'm dreaming, let me never wake. 194 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,800 If I'm awake, may I never sleep. You know why? 195 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,880 You know what you're saying? It's too good to be true. 196 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,520 I think really, that's really the context. 197 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:59,800 That's the word doubt here. It's too good to be true, but at 198 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:04,320 any rate, whatever the case might be, any doubt that they 199 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:08,560 had was short lived. And then Jesus says this in 200 00:12:08,560 --> 00:12:15,120 Matthew chapter 28 and verse #18 Jesus came and spoke to them, 201 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:20,440 saying all authority has been given to me in heaven and on 202 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,040 earth. The word authority means this. 203 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:27,880 It denotes permission, privilege, right, and authority. 204 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,560 It also includes the power to enforce. 205 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,880 That's what Jesus was saying. He was saying I've got 206 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:35,920 permission from who? From God. 207 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,040 I've got privilege. I've got right, I've got 208 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,600 authority, and I've got the power to enforce it. 209 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,000 I got all the votes. Like my dad used to say. 210 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:45,960 Jesus had all the votes do whatever he wanted. 211 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:51,320 He was totally in charge. Notice this about Jesus with the 212 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:56,320 apostle Paul said to those Colossians in Colossians chapter 213 00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:00,880 1, beginning in verse 16 and verse 2, verse 18, You see all 214 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,160 this Him, he, he, He, him, him, He. 215 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:09,960 You could just plug in. By the way, Jesus, you could 216 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:11,960 just plug Jesus in there. I'm going to read it like that. 217 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:17,160 For by Jesus all things were created that are in heaven and 218 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,400 that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether Thrones or 219 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,800 dimensions or principalities or powers. 220 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:29,880 All things were created through Jesus and for Jesus and Jesus is 221 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:33,480 before all things. And in Jesus all things consist. 222 00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:36,800 And Jesus is the head of the body of the church, who was the 223 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:40,160 beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things 224 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:47,760 Jesus may have the preeminence. It's all about Jesus now. 225 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:49,600 Jesus had the right to the throne. 226 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:58,760 By the way, the Bible says that Jesus would be on the throne of 227 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,040 David. Those words are used in the 228 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,480 Bible. Jesus also. 229 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,960 The Bible also says that Jesus would be a king like David. 230 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:13,120 Jesus had all the authority and every right to be on the throne 231 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,880 for a number of reasons. Let's talk about the obvious 232 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,360 reason. I don't want to sidestep this. 233 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,520 I don't want to take away what Jesus did, because this is 234 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,080 really the number one main reason. 235 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:30,920 This is really the main reason #1 because Jesus was willing to 236 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:35,240 come to this world #2 because he was willing to submit to what 237 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:39,560 the Father wanted him to do #3 because he lived a life that was 238 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:43,040 perfectly sinless. He became the sacrificial Lamb 239 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,240 of God. He died on the cross for the 240 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,240 sins of the world. He was buried on the third day. 241 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,400 He rose again. He ascended to his Father, and 242 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,760 now he's on the right hand of God, reigning on the throne of 243 00:14:55,760 --> 00:15:01,400 David over the Kingdom, the church. 244 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,400 That's obvious. But you know, if you look at the 245 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:10,600 Bible on the Old Testament, there are prophecies that have 246 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:15,440 to be fulfilled. Jesus actually has the right to 247 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:19,040 be on the throne, reigning over the Kingdom, being King of kings 248 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,600 and Lord of Lords. He has the right to all of that 249 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:25,960 for three other reasons. Number 1, he has the tribal 250 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,480 right. What does that mean? 251 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,800 Tribal, right? Well, the Bible says that Jesus 252 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:35,080 came from the tribe of Judah. Now we understand this, and I'm 253 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:38,200 not going to spend a lot of time on this, but in the Old 254 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,400 Testament, Jacob had twelve sons. 255 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:42,840 Jacob's name was changed to Israel. 256 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,680 Jacob had twelve sons. Those 12 sons represented the 12 257 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,400 tribes of Israel. We know that OK, in the Old 258 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:54,240 Testament, the system of authority or the scepter, it 259 00:15:54,240 --> 00:16:01,920 says of authority would be through the tribe of Levi. 260 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:07,520 But something would change. Notice Jesus would be from the 261 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,360 tribe of Judah. In Hebrews Chapter 7 and verse 262 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:14,800 14 it says for it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah. 263 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,600 Notice of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning the 264 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:20,440 priesthood. In other words, in the Old 265 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,360 Testament, the scepter of authority was through the tribe 266 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,280 of Levi. Now you know what's interesting 267 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,360 in Genesis chapter 49? Don't turn there because we 268 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,520 don't have time. But in Genesis chapter 49 and 269 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,360 verse 10, it talks about the very fact that the system of 270 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:43,840 authority would not be in Judah until when it says until Shiloh 271 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:45,920 comes. Do you know what the word Shiloh 272 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,320 means? It means Messiah. 273 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:52,000 In other words, it would be through the tribe of Levi. 274 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:56,240 Until when? Until the Messiah came, and it 275 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,600 would be through the tribe of Judah. 276 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:02,480 Incidentally, Jesus would be on the throne of David. 277 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,920 David was from the tribe of Judah. 278 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:10,480 So all that being said, Jesus not only had the right because 279 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,520 he was God's Son and God's sacrificial lamb and fulfilled 280 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:18,280 God's purpose, but also he even had the tribal right to be on 281 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,640 the throne, the scepter of authority, the system of 282 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,599 government or the law of government, and it would be 283 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:28,119 through Judah. It would be Jesus, all right. 284 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:32,240 Second reason, He had the legal right. 285 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:35,640 He said, what do you mean the legal right? 286 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:38,840 He had the legal right. Now remember the connection has 287 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:42,600 to be to David. So the legal right, Joseph, who 288 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:47,000 by the way, I'm going to phrase it like this, the foster father 289 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,040 of Jesus. I didn't say the father of 290 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,520 Jesus. The father of Jesus is God, the 291 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,360 only begotten Son of God, and that which was conceived in her 292 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,600 was of the Holy Spirit. OK, so Joseph was not the father 293 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:03,080 of Jesus. However, being the foster father 294 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,760 of Jesus, he was the descendant of David, as we read in the 295 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:09,920 lineage in Matthew chapter 1 verses one through 16. 296 00:18:10,120 --> 00:18:13,600 So Jesus has the tribal right to the throne. 297 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:18,040 He has the legal right to the throne, and #3 he has a blood 298 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:24,040 connection through Mary to David in the lineage given in Luke 299 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:29,360 chapter 3, verses 23 through 31. Yeah, he's got all the rights. 300 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:34,040 So Jesus now is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 301 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:40,840 He is now enthroned as King and Savior over the body, over the 302 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,240 Kingdom. He's the head of the church. 303 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,040 Then Jesus says this, I love this. 304 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:50,760 He said, now I'm going to give you something and I appreciate 305 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:55,680 it very much. Wade's prayer, because Wade said 306 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:59,360 about the Great Commission and about we need to be about the 307 00:18:59,360 --> 00:19:03,800 Lord's business in our life. And I really appreciate that 308 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,040 because I want you to notice we're going to read something 309 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:11,640 that was and study something now that was given by Jesus to the 310 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:12,880 apostles. That's true. 311 00:19:14,120 --> 00:19:16,360 But did you know that this refers to you too? 312 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:22,080 Notice he said, go therefore, and make disciples of all 313 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:25,520 nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the 314 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:27,920 Son and of the Holy Spirit. Look at the word go. 315 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:29,680 Now I'm going to tell you what we do. 316 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:33,200 First of all, the Lord is opening up the time. 317 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:37,200 He's saying, look, the doors of salvation are now open and it 318 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,240 gives the process. The first thing is go. 319 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,200 This is what we do. Sometimes we think, you know 320 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,360 what go means. Go means send the preacher. 321 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:50,440 And when it says all nations, we think, man, we got to send them 322 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:53,440 to foreign fields. We got to send Frank to the 323 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,880 Philippines, which you did 15 * 15 different years. 324 00:19:57,360 --> 00:19:59,280 We got to send preachers to Africa. 325 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:02,520 You live there. Great stuff, by the way. 326 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:04,520 I'm not saying it's not part of it. 327 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,080 Always part of it. You better believe it's part of 328 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,000 it. What I'm? 329 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,800 Saying is, it's not limited to that. 330 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:17,320 The Great Commission is not limited to preachers that devote 331 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,520 their life to preaching the Word of God and travelling all over 332 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,680 the world to take the gospel to the all nations of the world. 333 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:28,640 It's not limited. I'm going to get real. 334 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:32,640 Personal. Everybody here under. 335 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:38,800 The sound of my voice. Brother or sister, I'm talking 336 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:46,840 to you. Go means you, and sometimes that 337 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:50,480 means in your own backyard. Sometimes that means. 338 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:54,080 With people that are around you, it applies to every Christian. 339 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:58,520 I remember Reuben Creek Mall. Reuben Kriegbaum. 340 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:02,400 Led to his upper 90s. Reuben Kriegbaum. 341 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,400 Was instrumental in taking the gospel to I don't know how many 342 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,360 people in his life. And after he would. 343 00:21:08,360 --> 00:21:11,160 Study the word of God with them. He would baptize them for the 344 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:12,960 remission of sins. And you know what he would say? 345 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,600 He would say this. He would say, OK, now you go do 346 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,440 the same thing. You know why? 347 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,600 Because Jesus said go. That's every. 348 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:27,040 Responsibility of every Christian. 349 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:28,920 OK, so maybe you're doing this. Maybe you're saying, look, 350 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:31,440 preacher, I don't have the ability to do that. 351 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:33,240 I don't have the ability to preach. 352 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:35,840 I don't have the ability, I don't know God's word like that. 353 00:21:36,120 --> 00:21:38,560 I'm not a good speaker. Well, I'm going to talk to you 354 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,560 about something that actually works for all of us, OK? 355 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,080 It works for all of us. You know, it's called 356 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:47,120 relationship evangelism. It is a real thing and it does 357 00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:48,720 work. And I'm going to give specifics, 358 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:53,840 specifics on how it does work. What is relationship evangelism? 359 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:59,280 Relationship evangelism is a Christian approach to sharing 360 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:03,520 faith by building genuine relationships with people and 361 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:08,320 demonstrating Christ's love through actions and words within 362 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:12,200 those connections. You might say, well, I can't. 363 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:13,440 Preach. You can do that. 364 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:16,240 Can you do that? Come on now. 365 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:21,400 What else? It emphasizes being present in 366 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,240 others lives. Oh, you mean I got to actually 367 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:28,480 be involved in people's lives? Yeah, I mean, I got you have to. 368 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,160 You mean I got to like people? Yeah. 369 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:31,080 Yeah, you do. Here we go. 370 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:36,440 Listening to their struggles, sharing the gospel naturally 371 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:40,400 within the context of a developing friendship rather 372 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:45,120 than through the pressure or predefined programs. 373 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:48,720 I'm going to tell you something. I'm not. 374 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:54,960 Well, I got, let me just say. It like this, anything that you 375 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:59,600 do to further the gospel within the realms of within the realm 376 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:01,680 of what the word of God says is a wonderful thing. 377 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:05,800 There are times. When people have sent out direct 378 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:11,400 mailers to communities and mass mailed TV programs, podcasts, 379 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:15,520 radio programs, all of these things are tools to reach 380 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:18,680 people. But I'm here to tell. 381 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,640 You right now. The greatest? 382 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:25,120 Form of evangelism on a personal level. 383 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,280 Is people that you? Know or people you've come in 384 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:34,320 contact with. Don't answer out loud, but you 385 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:36,160 might ask yourself the question, why am I here? 386 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:41,480 Who did I know? Who did I know that brought me 387 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:45,000 to worship one day? Very. 388 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,120 Few are people that just walk in, although we've had those. 389 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:53,560 Most of the time. It's because somebody cared 390 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:57,160 enough about them to invite them, or somebody had a 391 00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:59,280 relationship or a connection to them. 392 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,880 And you know what? That's better than any program 393 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,320 in the world. What else? 394 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,880 Here's some key aspects, though. It includes being authentic, 395 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:15,360 showing care, finding common ground, and being patient, 396 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,480 allowing for organic conversations about spiritual 397 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:21,640 matters and a shared journey with God. 398 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:25,400 By the way. Before we go any further. 399 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,760 Are you kind of getting the? Gist of what I'm saying that 400 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:35,000 when it comes to evangelism. Get it out of your. 401 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,600 Mind that we're just going to go preach 1 sermon. 402 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:38,640 Hey, I did it. I'm done. 403 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:39,640 I'm good. I'm that's it. 404 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:41,200 They didn't accept it. They didn't accept it. 405 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:42,440 I'm moving on. They weren't interested. 406 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:46,640 Come on now. This is work, and it's a 407 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,360 lifetime of it. OK. 408 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:50,400 All right. How does it work? 409 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:52,680 How am I going to do all that? I'm going to give you some 410 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:54,840 specifics #1 you got to be present. 411 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:56,600 What's? That mean? 412 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:00,240 Invest time and understanding and engaging with people's 413 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:04,760 lives, not just surface level interactions. 414 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,720 That's number one. Got to be deeper than that. 415 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:13,280 I love this one. Be genuine or build genuine 416 00:25:13,360 --> 00:25:16,920 connections. Cultivate real friendships by 417 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:20,080 caring for others, sharing milestones, and offering 418 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,600 support. Number three, share 419 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:26,080 authentically. In other words, be yourself, 420 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:29,160 live out your faith in a way that reflects Christ's love, 421 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,960 allowing your life to speak. And I'm going to tell you, you 422 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,320 may not know much about the Bible, but you, if you're a 423 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:37,680 Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ, your life can 424 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,840 demonstrate what you believe. And you know what? 425 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,880 People can see it, It's authentic and people will 426 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,280 respond to it. That's what gets results. 427 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:47,480 What else? Here's something else too. 428 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:51,160 In other words, I got to be present, absolutely build 429 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:53,280 genuine connections. Yes, you bet I got to be 430 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:57,160 authentic, but what else? Find common ground, discovered 431 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:02,600 shared interest to build rapport and create natural opportunities 432 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:06,680 for deeper conversations. Do you see all the work that's 433 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,200 involved before you ever get into the deep conversation? 434 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:12,680 You got to I, I. Call it like this this This is 435 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,640 my phrase I guess, but or. Else maybe I got it from. 436 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:18,680 Somebody else, I don't know, but you got to build up some equity. 437 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,160 You got to build up. Some equity with people. 438 00:26:24,360 --> 00:26:26,840 That takes time. And then you find common ground, 439 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:28,680 you have deeper conversations. Then what? 440 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,960 Then share the gospel. Naturally, as trust and 441 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,880 understanding grows, share the message of Christ in a way that 442 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:38,760 feels organic to the relationship, whether through 443 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:43,160 personal testimony, inviting them to services, or discussing 444 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:45,720 spiritual topics. And I want to make a point here 445 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,520 about personal testimony, please. 446 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,000 OK. When? 447 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:53,880 I say personal testimony. I'm not doing this. 448 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:58,120 I'm not saying I want to give my testimony all. 449 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:01,600 Although that's not. Bad. 450 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:04,840 Let me explain the negative side of what I mean. 451 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:08,000 This is what I don't think we're to do. 452 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,240 When I. Give a testimonial about my 453 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:15,040 life. For example, I used to be this, 454 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:17,040 I used to be that, I used to be that, I used to be that. 455 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:18,800 And I changed and I am different now. 456 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:24,040 That's all about me. Who cares? 457 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:30,560 But when I reach out to somebody and I say, you know what? 458 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:34,000 I used to struggle to. But the Lord. 459 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:38,640 Changed my life let. Me show you how you can change. 460 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:42,720 Yours. That gives the Lord the. 461 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:47,320 Credit. That's what. 462 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:50,320 Gets results when people know that the reason that you're not 463 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:52,840 the same that you used to be is because of the Lord. 464 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:56,360 What the apostle Paul said, he listed all those sins terrible 465 00:27:56,360 --> 00:27:57,320 name. You're not going to hurt the 466 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:02,040 Kingdom of God, but then always says and such were some of you. 467 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,320 In other words, you used to be that, but you ain't that 468 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:08,560 anymore. What are you? 469 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,160 Washed. Sanctified. 470 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:14,240 Justified. Beautiful. 471 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,440 See the point? And the next one, and the final 472 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,280 10. This is very, very, very, very 473 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:22,960 important. Here. 474 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:30,720 It is be patient and persistent and understand that sharing the 475 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:35,520 gospel can and will be a continuous process. 476 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:38,600 Wow, that takes time. You. 477 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:41,360 Know what I learned as an? Evangelist. 478 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:44,080 I learned as an evangelist a long, long, long, long time ago. 479 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:46,800 Yeah, I know. I'm getting older. 480 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:51,720 I learned a long time ago. When I was younger, I saw it 481 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:53,000 differently. I was a little more impatient. 482 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:57,240 But the older that I got. I realized, you know what the. 483 00:28:57,240 --> 00:28:59,680 Result has. Nothing to do with me at all. 484 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:06,400 There are three things involved. I got to spread the gospel. 485 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,120 There's the heart of. The recipient has to be 486 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:12,760 receptive to receiving the gospel. 487 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,200 I got nothing to do with that. And then God gives the increase, 488 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:18,760 and I certainly have nothing to do with that. 489 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:21,840 I only got 1. Out of three. 490 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:24,680 So I learned. Frank, just do your part. 491 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:29,040 And then work with. People and work with them and 492 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:31,360 try to work on that heart with the word of God and maybe the 493 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:35,240 Lord can change their heart. See. 494 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:38,400 And you know what else I learned too? 495 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:42,160 If I'm still living, I'm not judged by the outcome or the 496 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:44,520 result. I'm judged on my activity and my 497 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:46,040 efforts. I'm just going to do my part. 498 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:49,440 That's my job. That's my job. 499 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:55,280 I came to preach the gospel. OK, going back to our passage, 500 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:58,920 Jesus says go. And then Jesus says do what or 501 00:29:58,920 --> 00:29:59,480 what? What? 502 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:00,600 Jesus, what are you talking about? 503 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,000 He said make disciples. I want you to get that please. 504 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:08,960 Jesus is. Talking about converting people, 505 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:15,800 get this to Jesus, converting people to the Lord. 506 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:17,760 What does the word disciples mean? 507 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:20,400 Or make disciples? It actually means to lead a 508 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:25,440 person to become a student and ardent follower of Jesus and 509 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,920 including a desire to heed his instructions. 510 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:30,880 That's what we need to do. That's our job. 511 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:35,320 And again, this responsibility is not just for the preacher, 512 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:39,760 it's for every Christian. Then he says this and when you 513 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:44,440 make disciples of all nations, then baptizing them in the name 514 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:46,200 of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. 515 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:51,160 This phrase baptizing them is part of the conversion process. 516 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:54,960 Please get that. You know the command is in. 517 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:58,040 An active voice. You know what that means with 518 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:02,520 regards to baptism. The administrator is active. 519 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,520 The subject. Is passive or submissive? 520 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:09,040 Wade talked about that last week. 521 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:11,520 He talked about when we baptized Ray Creek Bomb. 522 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:14,960 Ray Creek Bomb last week. We can have to go however long 523 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,480 it's been. We baptized. 524 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:20,120 Ray Creek Bomb and it took three of us. 525 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:22,040 Not because Ray Creek Bomb was so big. 526 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:23,680 It took three of us guys to get it done. 527 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:26,800 Because Ray Creek bomb. Is a little guy. 528 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:30,800 But because of his. Physical condition, so we didn't 529 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:33,840 hurt him. It took me, Wade and Chris, and 530 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:38,200 I'm telling you it took all three of us so we wouldn't hurt 531 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:44,720 him. Baptizing is active on the part 532 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:48,080 of the administrator. The other. 533 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:50,680 Person is submitting to the act of baptism. 534 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:53,640 I had somebody say one time I was getting ready to baptize 535 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:55,600 somebody in a river. He said, well, couldn't if it's 536 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:56,760 cold. He said, I got an idea. 537 00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:58,920 Couldn't you just kind of just, it's hard to get in and out? 538 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:01,880 Couldn't you just both kind of just jump in and and as you're 539 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:04,960 in the air when you get in the water, just kind of no, you 540 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:07,080 baptize me. Who's baptizing who then? 541 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:12,840 There's always. An administrator, a baptizer, 542 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:20,320 and there's always a recipient the baptize E OK, so how about 543 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:24,520 the Ethiopian in that case, the Ethiopian man said, what's 544 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:26,880 keeping me from being baptized? Here's water. 545 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:29,160 Philip said, if you believe with all your heart, you may. 546 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:31,920 He said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 547 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:35,160 Upon making that statement of fact, they stopped the chariot. 548 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:37,280 They both went down into the water, both Philip and the 549 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:41,840 eunuch. And what he Philip baptized him 550 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:46,720 the administrator, right? Well, the point being is. 551 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:53,640 This dear friend, there comes a time in everyone's life when 552 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:58,600 somebody realizes I'm not saved, I need to be baptized for their 553 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:01,880 mission to my sins. And that person asks what must I 554 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:04,120 do to be saved? Or that person asks what's 555 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:07,920 keeping me from being baptized. Then an administrator gets that 556 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:12,160 done. OK, Sadly today I know there's a 557 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,080 lot of folks and I want you to really stay close to me on this, 558 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:18,200 please. There's a lot of folks. 559 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:22,320 That think that you can have a relationship with Jesus without 560 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:30,880 baptism and I'm just going to say Jesus said otherwise. 561 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:38,000 OK, my question is this though. Is. 562 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:43,720 This verse teaching the absolute necessity of baptism. 563 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:46,120 In order to be. Saved. 564 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:49,480 That's the big question, That's the big debate with people all 565 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:51,800 over the world, all over the Christian professing world. 566 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:56,280 A lot of people. Believe this, make disciples is 567 00:33:56,280 --> 00:33:59,840 when you're saved and then over here you're baptized as an 568 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:03,840 outward sign of an inward faith. But is that exactly? 569 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:06,440 What Jesus was talking about, what was He referring to? 570 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:10,120 And by the way, when people look at this passage or any other 571 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:15,280 passage and try to discredit or try to say that or deny the 572 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:18,520 necessity of baptism, they do it with three statements. 573 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:22,280 And by the way, the three statements by themselves I agree 574 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:25,040 with 100%. And you know what, you will too. 575 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,600 Here they are. Some people say that the 576 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:31,719 necessity to be baptized is insignificant or it doesn't 577 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:35,639 matter because number one, no man can merit his own salvation. 578 00:34:35,639 --> 00:34:37,840 You know what I say to that? Amen and Amen. 579 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:42,560 Nobody. Can merit his own salvation, 580 00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:45,440 that is true. I can't do. 581 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:48,360 It on my own, that's what Jesus, when Jesus gave those 582 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:51,239 beatitudes, he said you got to be poor in spirit. 583 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:53,239 Blessed are those that are poor in spirit. 584 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:56,080 In other words, I realize I'm nothing without God. 585 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:58,080 I'm nothing without Jesus Christ. 586 00:34:58,240 --> 00:35:01,720 I got a sin problem in my life. I need to do something about it. 587 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:05,920 And when I fulfill it or fill God's righteousness with my 588 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:08,120 emptiness, that's what God wants. 589 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:12,720 That's what God blesses, right? So it's true no man can merit 590 00:35:12,720 --> 00:35:16,400 his own salvation. True statement #1 OK, here's 591 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:19,400 true statement #2. Man is saved by. 592 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:21,560 God's mercy. Is that true? 593 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:28,000 Absolutely true. God's mercy is God not giving us 594 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:32,720 what we do deserve. Then people say this. 595 00:35:32,720 --> 00:35:36,360 Wait a minute. Mankind is. 596 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,720 Saved by God's grace, Is that true? 597 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:42,880 Yes, that is true. What is grace? 598 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:47,640 It is the unmerited salvation. So is the unmerited favor of 599 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:51,720 God, which is salvation. So I can't merit my own 600 00:35:51,720 --> 00:35:55,360 salvation. I am saved by God's mercy and I 601 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:58,520 am saved by God's grace. All of that is true. 602 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:03,560 But Please remember. This OK? 603 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:08,600 Grace in. Every dispensation of time. 604 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:12,840 Has. Never erased the necessity of 605 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:20,480 obedience. Ever, Ever read the Word of God. 606 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:22,560 Folks, let me give you several things here. 607 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:25,240 How does it all work? It's really simple. 608 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:31,120 Number one, God in His grace provides a plan of salvation as 609 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:35,840 His gift. That's true. #2. 610 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:40,600 Man in response to that gift. Reaches. 611 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:49,120 Out and accepts the gift by obedience #3 Salvation in every 612 00:36:49,120 --> 00:36:52,640 age though, has been by grace through faith. 613 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:55,600 In other words, grace is unmerited favor of God. 614 00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:57,960 It's a gift, but faith is my part. 615 00:36:57,960 --> 00:37:01,920 I got to do something, faith being the same thing of 616 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:05,720 obedience. So about that grace. 617 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:08,400 Salvation in every age is by grace. 618 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:12,880 I get it. But please notice baptism is 619 00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:16,000 man's way of receiving that grace. 620 00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:20,880 I didn't take away from anything. 621 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,200 I didn't take away from God at all. 622 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:24,920 I didn't take away from the blood of Christ. 623 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:28,160 That's how you contact the blood of Christ when you're baptized 624 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:36,000 for the remission of your sins. Then he says this and baptize 625 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:39,320 them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy 626 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:41,160 Spirit. Bull said it this way. 627 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:43,680 The combined authority of the Godhead. 628 00:37:43,720 --> 00:37:45,880 That's what we're doing. When somebody's baptized into 629 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:49,880 the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it is 630 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:53,320 baptized into the combined authority of the Godhead. 631 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:57,200 To be baptized into this is to be brought in subjection to the 632 00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:01,520 combined authority of heaven in a covenant relationship with the 633 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:05,080 Godhead. Have you ever stopped to? 634 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:07,520 Consider that when we baptize somebody in the name of the 635 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:10,000 Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, that's just not a formula of 636 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:16,440 what we say. I say that, I do say that. 637 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:19,840 Absolutely, I've always. Said that. 638 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:24,120 But it's more than. Just a formula of what you have 639 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:25,320 to say. What is it? 640 00:38:26,360 --> 00:38:29,920 Bull said it this way. It's not only a command, it's a 641 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:34,000 sacred act whereby we receive the fullness of the blessings of 642 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:37,720 the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 643 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:41,760 Wow. JW Mcgarvey said it like this. 644 00:38:43,160 --> 00:38:45,000 He that is. Baptized is brought in 645 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:49,520 subjection by that act to the Father, to the Son, to the Holy 646 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:54,240 Spirit, and in consequence, with this subjection he receives the 647 00:38:54,240 --> 00:38:58,320 remission of sins. Your sins are. 648 00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:01,240 Washed away. But get this, you also have a 649 00:39:01,240 --> 00:39:05,920 relationship with the Father, the Son, Yeah, and the Holy 650 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:08,960 Spirit. At baptism. 651 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:15,880 You know what the flip side is? If you haven't been baptized, 652 00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:22,000 you don't have a relationship with the Father, the Son, and 653 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:26,200 the Holy Spirit. If one act is what you how you 654 00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:30,160 get it, then the lack of that act means you don't have it. 655 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:37,360 Fair enough. OK after a person. 656 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:39,760 Comes to Jesus is baptized for the mission of sins. 657 00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:42,000 Guess what, we ain't none. I'm sorry for the word ate he 658 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:46,280 said. I talk verse 20, he said. 659 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:51,800 Teaching them. What does teaching? 660 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:54,800 Them mean. Teaching them simply. 661 00:39:54,800 --> 00:40:00,240 Expresses the ongoing and continual process whereby those 662 00:40:00,240 --> 00:40:05,320 who are saved remain saved. Now let me just say this please. 663 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:09,840 It does teach. In the Bible. 664 00:40:11,520 --> 00:40:13,360 That you can. Fall from grace, it does say 665 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:16,000 that. We are taught in the new. 666 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:17,800 Testament that we are. We are. 667 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:20,120 Even if you're justified by the old law, if you become a Creek, 668 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:22,760 you fall from grace. You can fall from grace. 669 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:26,960 He that goes and. Tries to get A1, who's gone back 670 00:40:27,120 --> 00:40:29,120 and turned a Sinner back to the heir of his way. 671 00:40:29,960 --> 00:40:33,000 Has caused great things. Has caused that person to be 672 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:36,640 saved and not lost. It is true. 673 00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:39,880 That sometimes we could turn our back on the Lord for a while. 674 00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:42,480 What we have need to do is come back to the Lord. 675 00:40:42,680 --> 00:40:47,840 So sometimes teaching is the process whereby that happens. 676 00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:51,640 But please let me tell you this, it is not about perfection. 677 00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:56,040 You will never achieve it and you will never arrive. 678 00:40:56,040 --> 00:40:59,080 And if you are a Christian, I'm saying this to all the older 679 00:40:59,080 --> 00:41:01,000 folks that I hear that I dearly love here. 680 00:41:01,320 --> 00:41:03,560 I'm telling you right now, if you think you've arrived, you're 681 00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:07,080 mistaken. I'll tell you when you arrive, 682 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:11,680 when you're done, you've arrived. 683 00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:17,440 And I mean, when you're not here, that's all you can do. 684 00:41:19,480 --> 00:41:22,440 Does that mean, older person, that you have to keep growing in 685 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:24,280 Christ even though you've been a Christian for 70 years? 686 00:41:24,280 --> 00:41:26,040 Yeah, that's exactly what that means. 687 00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:28,920 Exactly what that? Means. 688 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:32,080 It's about not. About perfection. 689 00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:35,840 It's a dominant direction. And you know what that calls 690 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:38,640 for? That calls for teaching. 691 00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:40,840 OK, so here's my question. Teach what? 692 00:41:41,680 --> 00:41:43,640 What's that mean? Teach what? 693 00:41:43,920 --> 00:41:47,040 Here's the problem. Far too often souls come to 694 00:41:47,080 --> 00:41:50,680 Jesus, they obey the gospel, they become a child of God, and 695 00:41:50,680 --> 00:41:54,160 then they're left on their own. And you know what happens then? 696 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:55,520 They start struggling spiritually. 697 00:41:56,040 --> 00:41:57,560 I've even heard people say, well, they weren't convert. 698 00:41:57,560 --> 00:41:59,000 Well, you didn't. What'd you do to help them? 699 00:42:01,240 --> 00:42:05,240 Conversion's a process, too. You don't get it overnight. 700 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:08,960 That's why the apostle Paul said those very words. 701 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:15,480 He said, I labor with you again. He's talking to Christians like 702 00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:19,000 a woman travails in birth. By the way, my daughter-in-law 703 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:20,400 and my son, they just had a little boy. 704 00:42:20,520 --> 00:42:22,280 Yeah, there was some travailing in birth. 705 00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:24,120 Taylor just has that. I'm telling. 706 00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:27,120 You know what I mean, ladies. That's what. 707 00:42:27,120 --> 00:42:29,600 Paul said he does by way of a struggle. 708 00:42:30,040 --> 00:42:32,000 Labouring with them. Until when? 709 00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:36,400 Until Christ is formed in you, wow you. 710 00:42:40,080 --> 00:42:42,240 Know what I find? In that God gives time for 711 00:42:42,240 --> 00:42:45,960 growth, and I also find there's a necessity for growth. 712 00:42:47,120 --> 00:42:50,560 OK. It's a dominant direction. 713 00:42:53,840 --> 00:42:56,640 A new Christian. Needs constant edification, 714 00:42:56,960 --> 00:43:00,400 attention, attention and encouragement. 715 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:03,520 It all begins with the milk of the word when you're a baby in 716 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:05,320 Christ. First Peter two and two as 717 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:07,760 newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word. 718 00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:11,080 The King James says sincere. You know what that word means? 719 00:43:11,080 --> 00:43:13,440 It means without wax. But really the point being is 720 00:43:13,440 --> 00:43:17,000 this, it is without flaw. The Word of God is without flaw, 721 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:20,960 and a baby in Christ, excuse me, needs milk, needs the perfect 722 00:43:20,960 --> 00:43:23,200 milk of the word that you may grow thereby. 723 00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:25,960 But you know what? At some point, milk's not 724 00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:29,720 enough, and at some point you're going to need the meat. 725 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:34,320 Hebrews 6 and. One, therefore, leading the 726 00:43:34,320 --> 00:43:37,360 discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go 727 00:43:37,360 --> 00:43:39,680 on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of 728 00:43:39,680 --> 00:43:42,280 repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. 729 00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:47,840 In other words, as the Bible says, there's a time that's now 730 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:49,880 come that you ought to be teachers, but now you need the 731 00:43:49,880 --> 00:43:51,680 basic stuff again, all over and over again. 732 00:43:51,720 --> 00:43:54,320 I'm going to tell you at some point you got to grow. 733 00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:57,640 That takes teaching and that takes the meat of the Word of 734 00:43:57,640 --> 00:44:00,240 God, OK? Well, there. 735 00:44:00,240 --> 00:44:03,920 Comes time in every baptized believer's life that he has to 736 00:44:03,920 --> 00:44:05,400 stand on his own 2 feet. I get it. 737 00:44:06,520 --> 00:44:10,320 There never comes a point when further edification is not 738 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:12,400 necessary. All right, my question is this. 739 00:44:13,680 --> 00:44:16,080 Teach. Them what? 740 00:44:17,480 --> 00:44:20,800 This is very important. We're almost finished, but 741 00:44:20,800 --> 00:44:28,760 TuneIn teach them what Jesus said to observe all things that 742 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:32,760 I have commanded you. I'm going to give you several 743 00:44:32,760 --> 00:44:37,880 things that all things does not mean OK all. 744 00:44:37,880 --> 00:44:40,640 Things does not mean. Binding with the Lord is not 745 00:44:40,640 --> 00:44:44,120 bound. And. 746 00:44:44,200 --> 00:44:45,720 I'm not plugging in examples here. 747 00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:48,240 You do that at the general statement. 748 00:44:48,240 --> 00:44:52,640 That's a statement of fact. It does not mean binding things 749 00:44:52,640 --> 00:44:56,240 on new Christians that the Lord has not bound. 750 00:44:56,600 --> 00:44:58,800 OK. I heard somebody. 751 00:44:58,800 --> 00:45:00,720 Say one time I don't know the Bible, but I know what's right. 752 00:45:00,720 --> 00:45:02,120 That's kind of the way we always used to do it. 753 00:45:02,320 --> 00:45:06,480 OK, that's binding with the Lord has not bound. 754 00:45:07,480 --> 00:45:11,360 It is just as dangerous to bind what the Lord is not bound as it 755 00:45:11,360 --> 00:45:12,920 is to loose what the Lord is not loose. 756 00:45:12,920 --> 00:45:15,320 So that's number one. What it doesn't mean, it doesn't 757 00:45:15,320 --> 00:45:17,840 mean binding. What the Lord is not bound #2 it 758 00:45:17,840 --> 00:45:22,720 doesn't mean any tradition or custom that's not bound by 759 00:45:22,720 --> 00:45:25,760 Scripture. There's a difference. 760 00:45:25,760 --> 00:45:29,440 Between a custom, a tradition and things that by the way, 761 00:45:29,440 --> 00:45:33,760 there are liberties and we're allowed to do OK, here's a 762 00:45:33,760 --> 00:45:37,920 difference between that and what is given us by law in the 763 00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:40,160 scriptures. So just because it's a liberty 764 00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:42,520 and we're allowed to do it doesn't mean we can bind it on 765 00:45:42,520 --> 00:45:45,840 somebody else. Again, I'm not talking about 766 00:45:45,840 --> 00:45:47,200 law. I'm not talking about the word 767 00:45:47,200 --> 00:45:49,680 of God teaches us to do. I'm talking about things that 768 00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:52,880 the word of God is not authorized or is not regulated. 769 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:57,320 Either way, I'm talking about traditions and customs not bound 770 00:45:57,320 --> 00:46:00,160 by Scripture. One example I might say we 771 00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:02,520 always in our in our brotherhood, I guess we meet at 772 00:46:02,520 --> 00:46:09,720 10:00 or 10:30. Tradition, custom, we got to 773 00:46:09,720 --> 00:46:11,600 meet at 10:00 or 10:30. Absolutely not. 774 00:46:13,080 --> 00:46:15,560 Autonomous congregations get to regulate that and decide what 775 00:46:15,560 --> 00:46:16,760 they want to do, what's best for them. 776 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:18,760 What did God say? Worship. 777 00:46:19,880 --> 00:46:23,000 OK, so we wouldn't take a tradition or a custom. 778 00:46:23,000 --> 00:46:24,800 Here's nothing. How about order of worship? 779 00:46:26,520 --> 00:46:28,760 By tradition. And custom we do a certain 780 00:46:28,760 --> 00:46:30,560 thing. Do we have to do that? 781 00:46:30,560 --> 00:46:32,320 No, and we can't bind that either. 782 00:46:33,360 --> 00:46:38,720 Not bound by scripture. #3. All things does not. 783 00:46:38,720 --> 00:46:43,880 Mean our opinions that are not biblically based or those things 784 00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:45,760 that are not based on God's word. 785 00:46:45,800 --> 00:46:49,080 OK, So what do all things mean? And I'm going to use the 786 00:46:49,080 --> 00:46:54,640 Scriptures 2 passages in Acts chapter 20 and verse 20 and how 787 00:46:54,640 --> 00:46:56,800 I kept back nothing that was helpful. 788 00:46:56,960 --> 00:46:59,840 Just keep that phrase in mind. The first thing Paul says. 789 00:46:59,880 --> 00:47:05,560 I didn't keep anything back that was helpful OK, but proclaimed 790 00:47:05,560 --> 00:47:08,280 it to you and taught you publicly and from house to 791 00:47:08,280 --> 00:47:11,480 house. Drop down 7 verses for I have 792 00:47:11,480 --> 00:47:15,560 not shunned to declare to you the whole council of God. 793 00:47:15,960 --> 00:47:19,320 So he said one verse I didn't keep anything back that was 794 00:47:19,320 --> 00:47:21,680 helpful and another verse he said I did. 795 00:47:21,680 --> 00:47:24,360 I have not shunned to declare to you the whole council of God. 796 00:47:24,680 --> 00:47:26,680 What is the whole Council of God? 797 00:47:28,080 --> 00:47:30,680 The whole Council. Of God, according to bulls, 798 00:47:31,040 --> 00:47:33,920 means everything that God revealed to Paul concerning 799 00:47:33,920 --> 00:47:38,600 Christ, salvation, the Kingdom of God, which is the church and 800 00:47:38,600 --> 00:47:41,600 its relations to men. Isn't that the Christian life? 801 00:47:43,360 --> 00:47:46,600 All things that. Were helpful is the whole 802 00:47:46,600 --> 00:47:49,760 council of God. So what are we to teach them? 803 00:47:51,040 --> 00:47:52,440 What Jesus had. Commanded. 804 00:47:52,440 --> 00:47:55,400 What do we teach them? Everything concerning Christ, 805 00:47:55,600 --> 00:47:59,760 salvation, the Kingdom of God, which is the church and its 806 00:47:59,760 --> 00:48:02,840 relationship to men. Our relationships too. 807 00:48:03,160 --> 00:48:04,800 And you know what? I got news for you. 808 00:48:05,240 --> 00:48:10,000 That is a lifelong process. OK, that's the teachers 809 00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:12,200 responsible. Excuse me, responsibility. 810 00:48:12,440 --> 00:48:15,640 Now what about the student? The student must be. 811 00:48:15,640 --> 00:48:19,240 Willing to obey Jesus's words, even if it means changing his 812 00:48:19,240 --> 00:48:24,200 preconceived notions and even if it's considered radical or even 813 00:48:24,200 --> 00:48:27,000 quote UN quote legalistic by the world. 814 00:48:29,120 --> 00:48:33,640 One thing about legalism, it's used in a very negative context 815 00:48:33,640 --> 00:48:34,760 today. But you know, the word 816 00:48:34,760 --> 00:48:38,400 legalistic or legalist is somebody that keeps or upholds 817 00:48:38,400 --> 00:48:41,520 the law. What's wrong with that We? 818 00:48:41,520 --> 00:48:44,600 Are under the law of Christ. So somebody that? 819 00:48:44,600 --> 00:48:48,400 Keeps the law of Christ is somebody that's being legalistic 820 00:48:48,920 --> 00:48:51,120 about that very thing. What's wrong with that? 821 00:48:53,280 --> 00:48:56,480 Legalistic. Keeps the law, but the world 822 00:48:56,480 --> 00:48:58,200 looks at it like a very negative thing. 823 00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:01,280 I'm just saying this. The student must be willing to 824 00:49:01,280 --> 00:49:04,320 obey the words of Jesus, even if it means changing your 825 00:49:04,320 --> 00:49:07,240 preconceived notions, even if it's considered radical or 826 00:49:07,240 --> 00:49:10,920 legalistic by the world. And finally, Jesus said this. 827 00:49:12,200 --> 00:49:16,560 And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 828 00:49:16,960 --> 00:49:20,360 Amen. You know this is one of the 829 00:49:20,360 --> 00:49:21,640 most. Beautiful statements in all the 830 00:49:21,640 --> 00:49:27,920 Bible. Matthew's Gospel account now 831 00:49:27,920 --> 00:49:32,120 comes to an end. He had lived the perfect life. 832 00:49:33,560 --> 00:49:35,280 He died for the sins of the world. 833 00:49:36,320 --> 00:49:39,200 His victory over. Death has vindicated that 834 00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:42,600 authority. He's the head of the body, the 835 00:49:42,600 --> 00:49:46,920 Church, the Kingdom of God, and for those that are in Christ, 836 00:49:46,960 --> 00:49:50,800 Jesus gives the sweet assurance. Get this, I will never leave you 837 00:49:51,160 --> 00:49:54,480 nor forsake you. And that gives us. 838 00:49:54,480 --> 00:49:58,440 Peace, and that's the peace that surpasses all understanding that 839 00:49:58,440 --> 00:50:02,720 our guard our hearts and guard our troubled minds. 840 00:50:03,200 --> 00:50:06,840 Philippians 4 and verse 7, great blessings. 841 00:50:07,800 --> 00:50:10,080 See, the Lord doesn't leave us, folks, We leave the Lord. 842 00:50:11,880 --> 00:50:14,400 But let me just leave you. With one final quote and I am 843 00:50:14,440 --> 00:50:19,160 finished. For those who dare to launch out 844 00:50:19,400 --> 00:50:24,400 on the sea of life with Christ as their captain, there's peace, 845 00:50:25,720 --> 00:50:32,240 there's joy, there's serenity. The storms of life matter, the 846 00:50:32,240 --> 00:50:37,000 waves of persecution role. Jesus will not abandoned ship. 847 00:50:38,000 --> 00:50:41,440 With him at the helm. We are assured safe passage from 848 00:50:41,440 --> 00:50:43,560 this world to the. Shining. 849 00:50:43,560 --> 00:50:50,800 Portals of heaven, are you here this morning? 850 00:50:50,800 --> 00:50:55,160 And you're not a child of God. We never close. 851 00:50:55,160 --> 00:50:57,800 A time when we teach from the Word of God without extending an 852 00:50:57,800 --> 00:50:59,360 invitation. It's the greatest invitation all 853 00:50:59,360 --> 00:51:02,000 the world. It's the invitation to become 854 00:51:02,120 --> 00:51:06,760 saved, to become a child of God. The Bible says first. 855 00:51:06,760 --> 00:51:09,000 Of all, in Romans 10/17 you got to hear the Word. 856 00:51:09,400 --> 00:51:12,400 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 857 00:51:13,760 --> 00:51:15,120 After. You hear the word of God, you've 858 00:51:15,120 --> 00:51:17,000 got a choice. Believe with all your heart. 859 00:51:17,000 --> 00:51:19,600 Hebrews 11 and 6. Without faith, it's impossible 860 00:51:19,600 --> 00:51:22,760 to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, 861 00:51:23,000 --> 00:51:26,680 and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 862 00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:29,000 Then what? I got to change. 863 00:51:29,760 --> 00:51:32,360 I got to repent of my sins. Acts 17 and 30. 864 00:51:32,360 --> 00:51:35,200 Truly these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands 865 00:51:35,200 --> 00:51:37,800 all men everywhere to repent. In other words, I'm born in this 866 00:51:37,800 --> 00:51:39,520 direction. I want to do an about face and I 867 00:51:39,520 --> 00:51:41,120 want to follow Jesus. What else? 868 00:51:41,400 --> 00:51:43,720 I need to be willing to confess Jesus as the Son of God. 869 00:51:43,960 --> 00:51:46,320 Acts 837. Then Philip said if you believe 870 00:51:46,320 --> 00:51:49,160 with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said. 871 00:51:49,160 --> 00:51:52,160 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 872 00:51:52,640 --> 00:51:55,240 Upon taking these steps, you're a fit candidate to go to the 873 00:51:55,240 --> 00:51:57,880 point of salvation that we studied this morning in the 874 00:51:57,880 --> 00:52:01,960 Great Commission and be baptized for the remission of sins. 875 00:52:01,960 --> 00:52:05,600 Mark 1616. He who believes and is baptized 876 00:52:05,880 --> 00:52:09,240 will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. 877 00:52:09,680 --> 00:52:11,800 And one final passage isn't necessary. 878 00:52:12,080 --> 00:52:14,640 First Peter 321. The like figure where to even 879 00:52:14,640 --> 00:52:21,280 baptism does also now save us. Not the putting away. 880 00:52:21,280 --> 00:52:23,480 The filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience 881 00:52:23,480 --> 00:52:25,680 toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 882 00:52:26,080 --> 00:52:28,040 If you've never taken those steps of obedience, we would 883 00:52:28,040 --> 00:52:29,600 love to assist you in that, if you will. 884 00:52:29,920 --> 00:52:31,120 Maybe you have, but you've drifted. 885 00:52:31,120 --> 00:52:32,560 You've been away from the Lord. Just come back. 886 00:52:33,080 --> 00:52:35,040 Repent of those things, confess those things. 887 00:52:35,320 --> 00:52:37,360 We'll pray with you and for you, and God will forgive and 888 00:52:37,360 --> 00:52:38,800 restore. If you want to be in a class, 889 00:52:38,800 --> 00:52:40,680 come forward while we stand while we see.