1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,400 This morning would like to talk about the church and 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,500 specifically the love of the church, you know. 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,800 Of course we all feel like we are appreciate the church and 4 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:15,900 we're thankful to God that we have the knowledge and the and 5 00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:20,000 the privilege of being members of it, the great kingdom of God, 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,500 but it's kind of like the song Count Your Blessings. 7 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:27,500 You know, if we really appreciate the blessings, when 8 00:00:27,500 --> 00:00:31,100 we start counting and numbering them, And as the song says, name 9 00:00:31,100 --> 00:00:33,900 them one by one and he will surprise you What the Lord Has 10 00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:36,000 Done. We kind of take things for 11 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,400 granted and until we just really start thinking about them and 12 00:00:40,700 --> 00:00:43,800 even numbering them, then we really appreciate it. 13 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:45,300 And that's what we want to do this morning. 14 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:48,300 We want to, we want to talk about the church and the value 15 00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:54,300 of the church and the great, the greatness of the church and 16 00:00:54,300 --> 00:00:58,200 these things to help us really appreciate the church and to 17 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:04,300 love it. The church is, is a God made 18 00:01:04,300 --> 00:01:09,100 institution and it's not man-made and it's not like you 19 00:01:09,107 --> 00:01:12,400 can, you know, they say just go to the church of your choice. 20 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,100 That's just minimizes the church. 21 00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:18,100 The church is so important and it's important for us to realize 22 00:01:18,100 --> 00:01:24,300 the value of the church and the importance of it. 23 00:01:24,700 --> 00:01:29,600 And we'll try to will try to stress that this morning John 3 24 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,500 and 16. Of course, we all know this 25 00:01:31,500 --> 00:01:35,500 verse and can probably all Quote it for God. 26 00:01:35,500 --> 00:01:38,900 So loved the world that he gave his only begotten, son, that 27 00:01:38,900 --> 00:01:43,300 whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting 28 00:01:43,300 --> 00:01:47,400 life. McGarvey says, this is a lesson 29 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,000 in God's love. He says, it's a lesson in its 30 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:56,200 magnitude because of the of what he had to pay for it, he gave 31 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:00,700 his only son. So it's a it's a it's a measure 32 00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:04,500 of the magnitude of God's love for the for the price that had 33 00:02:04,500 --> 00:02:07,800 to be paid. It's a measure in its Reach In 34 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:12,800 God's reach, his Gods Loves reach and that he gave it for 35 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:18,400 the whole world. And also its impartiality, 36 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,700 because it doesn't matter if your Jew or Gentile, male or 37 00:02:22,700 --> 00:02:25,000 female. It's to everyone. 38 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,200 The scripture says whoever believes. 39 00:02:28,900 --> 00:02:34,900 And of course it's a measure in its riches in that were saved or 40 00:02:34,900 --> 00:02:41,400 salvation and eternal life is its reward, but it's also and 41 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,800 it's a measure and its limitations because It's whoever 42 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,800 believes. It doesn't say that the 43 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,700 unbelievers going to have any reward at all, but those who 44 00:02:51,700 --> 00:02:57,400 believe will receive, will reap the benefits from the from the 45 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:02,300 sacrifice of godson. So this is a really a great 46 00:03:02,300 --> 00:03:08,200 measure in God's part of the church in his in his institution 47 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,400 of it. And really, you know, we don't 48 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:12,900 think about God's suffering so much. 49 00:03:13,900 --> 00:03:18,800 But this verse this little verse right here, gives us a measure 50 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:23,200 of the the suffering of God, in the offering of his son, his 51 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,900 only begotten son. You know, we can relate to that 52 00:03:26,900 --> 00:03:30,200 and some here have even lost children and can relate. 53 00:03:30,300 --> 00:03:35,000 To the heartache and the pain, but any of us can sympathize 54 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:40,400 with the loss of a child, a loss of your only child more 55 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,600 specifically. And so we can relate to the pain 56 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:51,000 that God had to go through in order to Institute and establish 57 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,300 the church. You know, it's called, it's kind 58 00:03:53,300 --> 00:03:56,900 of hard to think about God as as going through pain. 59 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:01,500 But the scripture talks about God's suffering or Odd feeling 60 00:04:01,500 --> 00:04:07,100 pain over his people even weeping Isaiah 16. 61 00:04:07,100 --> 00:04:12,200 And 9 says, therefore, I will be whale the vine of Simba with the 62 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:16,500 Weeping of Jays jazzer. I will drench you with my tears. 63 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,000 God's God says there that he is weeping over his children. 64 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,300 His faithful people, Jeremiah nine. 65 00:04:24,300 --> 00:04:28,600 And one says again, oh, that my head were Waters and my eyes as 66 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:32,400 Fountain of tears that I I tweet day and night for the slaying of 67 00:04:32,407 --> 00:04:35,900 the daughters of my people. So these verses clearly 68 00:04:35,900 --> 00:04:40,600 demonstrate that God does sorrow and has sorrowed over his people 69 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:45,800 and their faithfulness or or their unfaithfulness to him. 70 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:52,300 And so, so God does grieve and God had to also grieve for his 71 00:04:52,300 --> 00:04:54,900 son and that's really what that verse says. 72 00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:01,000 God gave His only begotten son and and that is a measure of the 73 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,200 grief that God had to go through in order to establish the church 74 00:05:05,300 --> 00:05:07,100 and for the sacrifice of his son. 75 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:11,100 But Christ, we read about him suffering to and the Bible. 76 00:05:11,100 --> 00:05:14,900 Clearly illustrates that the suffering that Jesus went 77 00:05:14,900 --> 00:05:23,700 through in, in his, in his trial and the night before in the 78 00:05:23,700 --> 00:05:27,900 garden and how he prayed. So earnestly in the garden and 79 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:32,100 we About that in the gospels. I really love Ephesians, the 80 00:05:32,100 --> 00:05:34,700 fifth chapter there, where it talks about the sacrifice of 81 00:05:34,700 --> 00:05:40,300 Christ for the church, Ephesians 5 and 25 through 28. 82 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,500 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ. 83 00:05:43,500 --> 00:05:47,800 Also loved the church and gave himself for it that in, he might 84 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,100 sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the Water by the 85 00:05:51,100 --> 00:05:54,600 word that he might present her to himself. 86 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,700 A glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such Such 87 00:05:58,700 --> 00:06:02,000 thing but that she should be holy and without blemish. 88 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,600 That's what Christ did for the church. 89 00:06:05,100 --> 00:06:09,600 His sacrifice was such that it presented the church as pure and 90 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:13,700 holy and without blemish, that's what the sacrifice of Christ 91 00:06:13,700 --> 00:06:17,000 did. And if in John, the Gospel of 92 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:22,300 John verse chapter 10, I'd like to read several verses there 7 93 00:06:22,300 --> 00:06:26,500 through 18. Then Jesus said to them. 94 00:06:26,500 --> 00:06:30,400 Again, most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 95 00:06:30,900 --> 00:06:33,900 All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the 96 00:06:33,900 --> 00:06:37,000 Sheep did not hear them. I am the door. 97 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:41,000 If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out 98 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,300 and find pasture. The thief, does not come except 99 00:06:44,300 --> 00:06:46,700 to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. 100 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,800 I have come that they may have life and that they may have it 101 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:52,200 more. Abundantly, I am the Good 102 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,400 Shepherd. The good sheet, Shepherd gives 103 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,600 his life for the Sheep, but a hireling, he who is not the 104 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,800 shepherd one, who does not own, the Sheep sees the wolf coming 105 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,400 and leaves the sheep and flees and the Wolf catches, the sheep, 106 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:11,500 and scatters them the hireling. Flees because he is a hireling 107 00:07:11,500 --> 00:07:13,300 and does not care about the Sheep. 108 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:19,500 I am the Good Shepherd. And I know my sheep and am known 109 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,300 by my own as the father knows me even. 110 00:07:23,300 --> 00:07:27,500 So I know the father and I lay down my life for the sheep and 111 00:07:27,500 --> 00:07:30,400 other sheep, I have, which are not of this fold them. 112 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,600 Also, I must bring and they will hear my voice and there will be 113 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,600 one flock, and one Shepherd. Therefore, my father loves me 114 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,500 because I lay down my life that I might take it again. 115 00:07:42,900 --> 00:07:47,500 No one takes it from me. But I lay it down of myself. 116 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,800 I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again, 117 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,900 this command I have received from the father several points 118 00:07:54,900 --> 00:07:58,700 I'd like to to bring out from this reading and that is I just 119 00:07:58,700 --> 00:08:01,600 love the. I love the idea of Jesus as the 120 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:06,600 as the Good Shepherd because she / so defenseless and the only 121 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,000 defense they have is the shepherd and so the Shepherd 122 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,300 protects the Sheep, you know, we are helpless without Christ, we 123 00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:17,800 have no hope. We have no, we have no future 124 00:08:18,300 --> 00:08:21,900 just in this life is all. We have, we have no hope of 125 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:26,300 Eternity without Christ, the Good Shepherd and Christ. 126 00:08:26,300 --> 00:08:30,400 As the Good Shepherd, also is willing to lay down his life for 127 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,100 his sheep. He knows his sheep and the Sheep 128 00:08:33,100 --> 00:08:36,100 know him. It's kind of hard for us to 129 00:08:36,100 --> 00:08:40,299 imagine a Shepherd, knowing each individual sheep, you see a big 130 00:08:40,299 --> 00:08:45,000 flock of sheep and to us, they are all the same but he's so 131 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,700 into Emmett with those sheep. He stays with him night and day. 132 00:08:49,500 --> 00:08:53,700 And he knows every sheep individually, and he calls them 133 00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:57,200 by name. And so does our Good Shepherd. 134 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,500 Jesus knows you. He knows you as an individual, 135 00:09:00,500 --> 00:09:04,000 he knows your name. And when it comes to the 136 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:09,700 Judgment, he'll be able to call you by name to reap. 137 00:09:09,700 --> 00:09:13,700 Your will reap your reward and those who do not, who are 138 00:09:13,700 --> 00:09:17,400 Unfaithful, he will say to them, I never knew you. 139 00:09:18,700 --> 00:09:21,600 He won't know those who are Unfaithful, but the righteous he 140 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,600 knows. And he calls them by name just 141 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,100 as the shepherd. Does his his sheep? 142 00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:33,800 He also says Therefore my father loves me because I lay down my 143 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:38,300 life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me but I 144 00:09:38,300 --> 00:09:41,400 lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and 145 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:45,000 I have power to take it again this command I've received from 146 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:49,900 my father. It's really something. 147 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:58,200 This this verse here. Philippians Philippians also 148 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:04,700 brings out the point of Christ offering himself and and going 149 00:10:04,700 --> 00:10:09,900 to that that terrible cross Ephesians 2 and 5 through 11 150 00:10:09,900 --> 00:10:13,200 says, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ. 151 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:17,800 Jesus who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery 152 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:22,600 to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation taking 153 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,600 the form of a servant and coming. 154 00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:29,400 In the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man, he 155 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:33,300 humbled himself and became obedient to the death, to the 156 00:10:33,300 --> 00:10:36,700 point of death, even the death of the Cross. 157 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,900 Therefore God has Hall, has highly exalted him and given him 158 00:10:40,900 --> 00:10:42,800 the name which is above every name. 159 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:47,400 Name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those 160 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,500 in heaven and of those on Earth and of those under the Earth and 161 00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:54,900 that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to The 162 00:10:54,900 --> 00:11:00,800 glory of God, the Father. Barnes really does a good job of 163 00:11:00,808 --> 00:11:06,100 talking about this verse and and the sacrifice of Christ you know 164 00:11:06,300 --> 00:11:11,200 some people would be willing to go to their death if that's what 165 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,500 their cause called for. They would be willing to go to 166 00:11:14,500 --> 00:11:19,700 their death if it were Noble and and they would be called 167 00:11:19,700 --> 00:11:21,600 courageous because they're willing to. 168 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:29,400 But but often the deaths of a warrior or Or a things like 169 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:35,300 that, people like that is quick and so they're willing to face 170 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:40,100 that knowing that their death will be quick, but there would 171 00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:44,800 really be second thoughts. If they knew that their death 172 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:49,800 would be torturous and long and painful. 173 00:11:51,500 --> 00:11:54,600 And that's what the death of the Cross is. 174 00:11:55,800 --> 00:12:00,100 It's one of the worst ways a person could die and that was 175 00:12:00,100 --> 00:12:03,200 the whole point of the crucifixion was to make that 176 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:09,000 person suffer, and and, and make them suffer as long as possible. 177 00:12:09,900 --> 00:12:15,200 People would hang on those crosses for days, And days. 178 00:12:16,300 --> 00:12:17,900 Before they would finally succumb. 179 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:25,400 And that is the death. That is meant by even the death 180 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,400 of the Cross. He went to death, he suffered 181 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:33,000 death, but it said, even the death of the cross. 182 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:39,300 There's no worst way of person could be sentenced to die, but 183 00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:44,000 Jesus went to that death. Even that death willingly. 184 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,500 He took that on himself willingly, nobody had the power 185 00:12:48,500 --> 00:12:51,900 to do it. He told pilate pilate said to 186 00:12:51,900 --> 00:12:56,000 him, don't you know, that I have the power to send you to crucify 187 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,300 you or to free you? Jesus said, you have no power 188 00:12:59,300 --> 00:13:01,700 except it's given to you from heaven from above. 189 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,500 Pilot did not have the power to release him. 190 00:13:05,700 --> 00:13:10,500 Jesus gave his life willingly of his own choice. 191 00:13:10,700 --> 00:13:14,600 He could have called Ten Thousand Angels but he didn't. 192 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,300 He gave himself over to the hands of these wicked men for 193 00:13:18,300 --> 00:13:24,400 just that death and Philippians also makes the point of Jesus 194 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:32,100 being God. And yet god well, we can relate 195 00:13:32,100 --> 00:13:38,400 more to a King and and Jesus is King to, we can relate to a 196 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:42,800 King. We don't really regard our 197 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:47,500 leaders in the United States, like like some other countries, 198 00:13:47,500 --> 00:13:53,400 were a king is Rule because the King has sovereignty, he has all 199 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,600 Rule and power our elected officials. 200 00:13:57,700 --> 00:14:01,100 Those are elected and they serve a short-term and they don't 201 00:14:01,100 --> 00:14:04,500 really have the power that a king would. 202 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,200 The King has the power to take life or to give life. 203 00:14:09,700 --> 00:14:11,900 And they have, they have Sovereign rule. 204 00:14:12,900 --> 00:14:16,500 But the king is not the one who suffers the king is not the one 205 00:14:16,500 --> 00:14:21,800 who sacrifices of himself. We have a king who gave himself. 206 00:14:23,500 --> 00:14:26,900 But Jesus is more than a king because he's Almighty. 207 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:32,900 And he is God. And so we have a God who gave 208 00:14:32,900 --> 00:14:36,800 himself for us in that sacrifice. 209 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:53,900 And in that sacrifice, Jesus purchased the church. 210 00:14:56,300 --> 00:15:00,400 In Acts 20 and 28. It says they're take heed to 211 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:05,100 yourselves Paul says to the Elders of Ephesus and to all the 212 00:15:05,100 --> 00:15:09,600 flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to 213 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:13,900 Shepherd the Church of God which he purchased with his own blood 214 00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:17,100 there. The term is of his God, shedding 215 00:15:17,100 --> 00:15:20,600 his blood and that really, you know, Jesus is God, we recognize 216 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:28,000 Jesus as part of the godhead and so he God purchased the church 217 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:33,500 with his own blood. One of the great blessings of 218 00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:37,100 the church being in the church and the sacrifice of Christ to 219 00:15:37,100 --> 00:15:41,600 purchase the church is that we are reconciled to God. 220 00:15:42,700 --> 00:15:45,500 We could not be without that sacrifice. 221 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,400 We could not be reconciled to God. 222 00:15:47,700 --> 00:15:53,300 It took that sacrifice of his blood to to give us a not give 223 00:15:53,300 --> 00:15:58,000 us a place with God. First Peter 2:9 says, you are a 224 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:03,100 chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his 225 00:16:03,100 --> 00:16:05,400 own special people. I like that. 226 00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:08,800 That rendering of the new King James better. 227 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,200 The King James says, A peculiar people but are we are really 228 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:17,700 God's own special people that you may proclaim the Praises of 229 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:20,200 him, who called you out of Darkness Into His Marvelous. 230 00:16:20,300 --> 00:16:25,400 Marvelous Light, who were who once were not a people but are 231 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:30,200 now the people of God who had not obtained Mercy but now have 232 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:35,000 obtained Mercy, that is only through Christ, that is only in 233 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,400 the church that we have those blessings and we are reconciled 234 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:43,000 to God. Revelations, one, and five and 235 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:48,000 six says to him, who loved us and washed us from our sins in 236 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:52,700 his own blood and has made us Kings and Priests to his God, 237 00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:57,300 and Father to him be glory and Dominion forever and ever, amen. 238 00:16:59,100 --> 00:17:01,600 You know, think about it. You think about the marvelous 239 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:06,099 blessing that we have in Christ and how close to God, we have 240 00:17:06,099 --> 00:17:11,300 been made through his blood. We were able to come before God 241 00:17:11,300 --> 00:17:17,099 and and speak to God, and we are basically in the presence of God 242 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:22,500 because of Christ's sacrifice. I like Revelation 7 and 14 and 243 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:26,300 15. So he said to me that John had 244 00:17:26,300 --> 00:17:32,500 seen a great unknown. Number of mobile number of 245 00:17:32,500 --> 00:17:37,800 people in white robes and he said to the angel said to him 246 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:41,400 these are the ones who came out of Great Tribulation and washed 247 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,000 their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 248 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,600 Therefore they are Before the Throne of God and serve him day 249 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,600 and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne 250 00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:55,400 will dwell among them. Now that's a wonderful image, 251 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,700 isn't it? But that's the image of the 252 00:17:57,700 --> 00:18:02,100 church and of God's people who are washed in the blood of 253 00:18:02,100 --> 00:18:07,800 Christ were made pure and were made able to be before God and 254 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:15,700 speak to God and God to us. You think about? 255 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,600 The many people. Now, all of you, I know know 256 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,400 this you all know about the church and you know that that 257 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,800 you're you're blessed it's a great privilege to be a member 258 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:32,800 of the church, a member of the the kingdom of heaven. and, 259 00:18:34,900 --> 00:18:38,300 There are many, many people who don't. 260 00:18:41,100 --> 00:18:44,300 I mean, we gather together each Lord's Day to Remember the Lord 261 00:18:44,300 --> 00:18:48,800 in communion. And so, we're reminded each week 262 00:18:48,900 --> 00:18:51,100 about the great sacrifice he made. 263 00:18:51,700 --> 00:18:54,000 But there are many people who don't think about it. 264 00:18:55,500 --> 00:19:01,000 Passing the swap meet, there's hundreds, maybe thousands of 265 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,700 people there at the swap meet today, you know, buying and 266 00:19:04,700 --> 00:19:07,600 selling and trading. And it kind of makes me think 267 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:15,600 about the scripture that talks about Noah, who, you know, they 268 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:19,900 bought and sold and married and gave in marriage until the flood 269 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:22,300 until Noah was shut into the ark. 270 00:19:22,300 --> 00:19:23,900 And they were carried away with the flood. 271 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,600 People just go on about their life without a thought. 272 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:35,300 But you and I think about heaven, we think about the 273 00:19:35,300 --> 00:19:41,600 church, and we think about the sacrifice of Christ by which all 274 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:47,800 the blessings in him are made. So it's a it's it's very few 275 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:53,900 people, honor God, and remember Christ, as they should and some 276 00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:58,500 people like sheep dumb sheep. Just go on through life. 277 00:19:58,700 --> 00:20:02,400 Without a thought of the future. Knowing. 278 00:20:04,100 --> 00:20:07,700 That they'd have an appointment to meet and that appointments 279 00:20:07,700 --> 00:20:10,600 death. Everybody dies. 280 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:15,400 Everybody makes that appointment but they're oblivious to life 281 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,200 and they just go on with life. Not preparing for that day. 282 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:25,300 We are strangers and pilgrims like Abraham was in the land of 283 00:20:25,300 --> 00:20:27,400 promise. We're strangers and pilgrims 284 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:34,400 here on this Earth and and we have our real home. 285 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:38,200 Our true home is heaven and we'll meet we'll meet there 286 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:47,800 someday. In Ephesians 5. 287 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,200 Again I'd like to reread that and read some more verses from 288 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:57,800 that verse that's chapter. It's a beautiful picture and 289 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,800 talks about husbands and wives and how they should be together 290 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:04,700 but he's really talking about Christ and the church. 291 00:21:06,900 --> 00:21:12,700 Verse 25. husbands love your wives, just as Christ, also 292 00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:18,500 loved the church, And gave himself for her that he might 293 00:21:18,500 --> 00:21:21,600 sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of Water by the 294 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,600 word. That he might present her to 295 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:27,600 himself. A glorious church not having 296 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:31,500 spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that he she should be 297 00:21:31,500 --> 00:21:35,100 holy and without blemish. So out, husbands are so 298 00:21:35,100 --> 00:21:38,700 husband's ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. 299 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:43,400 He who loves his wife, loves himself for no one ever hated 300 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:47,700 his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it just as the Lord 301 00:21:47,700 --> 00:21:52,700 does the church for, we are members of his body of his flesh 302 00:21:52,700 --> 00:21:55,200 and of his bones. For this reason a man shall 303 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,900 leave his father and mother shall be joined to his wife and 304 00:21:57,900 --> 00:22:02,300 the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery but I 305 00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:04,800 speak concerning Christ and the church. 306 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,500 You know, you think about husbands and wives and they are 307 00:22:08,500 --> 00:22:11,800 one flesh. Shhhh the scripture says, but so 308 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,800 is Christ in the Church. Of course, the church is the 309 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,400 bride of Christ. It is the body of Christ. 310 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:23,100 In the church, we are members of his body and of his of his flesh 311 00:22:23,100 --> 00:22:33,200 and of his bones. Mark, 16 and 15 and 16 says, and 312 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,100 he said to them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to 313 00:22:36,100 --> 00:22:40,100 Every Creature, he who believes and is baptized, will be saved. 314 00:22:40,100 --> 00:22:43,100 But he, who does not believe will be condemned. 315 00:22:43,700 --> 00:22:47,100 The gospel, is the death burial and resurrection of Christ. 316 00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:51,700 The great news is his resurrection and we are all part 317 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:57,300 of that through obedience in baptism and being buried with 318 00:22:57,300 --> 00:23:00,200 him in baptism, baptism and being raised. 319 00:23:00,300 --> 00:23:02,400 Raised to walk in newness of life. 320 00:23:03,900 --> 00:23:07,100 In US ax2 + 42. It says, and they continued 321 00:23:07,100 --> 00:23:10,300 steadfastly in the apostles Doctrine and fellowship in the 322 00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:13,700 breaking of bread. And in prayers verse 47, 323 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,900 praising God, and having favor with all the people and the Lord 324 00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:23,100 added to the church daily. Those who were being saved those 325 00:23:23,100 --> 00:23:27,800 who are saved are in the church, you see how important the church 326 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:32,000 is and how little the world knows about that. 327 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,200 Because they take the church so lightly. 328 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:42,200 And we really, we really come to God through obedience in the 329 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:45,100 gospel. You know, the gospel Plan of 330 00:23:45,100 --> 00:23:47,600 Salvation. We've got to hear and believe, 331 00:23:47,900 --> 00:23:53,300 Romans 10, and 14 now when they, how then shall they call on him 332 00:23:53,300 --> 00:23:55,800 in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in 333 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,100 him of whom they have not heard? And shall they? 334 00:23:58,100 --> 00:24:01,100 How shall they hear without a preacher verse 17. 335 00:24:01,100 --> 00:24:04,400 So then faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God. 336 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:09,900 Hebrews 11 and, and six, as but without faith, it is impossible 337 00:24:09,900 --> 00:24:12,600 to please him for. He who comes to God, must 338 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,600 believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who 339 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:20,400 diligently seek him. So we have to come hearing the 340 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:25,100 word and believing faith comes from hearing the word of Truth 341 00:24:25,700 --> 00:24:33,100 and, and believing and obeying. We've got to repent is part of 342 00:24:33,100 --> 00:24:36,900 our obedience. Peter says, As on Acts 2:38 343 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,800 repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus 344 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,000 Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift 345 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,500 of the Holy Spirit acts 17 and 30. 346 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,600 Truly these times of ignorance, God overlooked. 347 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:55,400 But now commands, all men everywhere to repent, we've got 348 00:24:55,400 --> 00:25:01,300 to confess our belief in Christ, Matthew 10:32, therefore, 349 00:25:01,300 --> 00:25:05,600 whoever confesses me before, men him, I will also confess Before, 350 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:09,700 my father, who is in heaven, Romans 10, and 9. 351 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,500 That if you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, and 352 00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:15,400 believe in your heart, that God raised him from the dead, you 353 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,100 will be saved. The great confession of the 354 00:25:18,100 --> 00:25:21,700 eunuch in Acts the eighth chapter was I believe that Jesus 355 00:25:21,700 --> 00:25:24,800 Christ is the Son of God, and that's the confession of the 356 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:28,700 good confession that we should make and then we need to be 357 00:25:28,700 --> 00:25:34,000 baptized Acts 22 and 16. And now why are you waiting 358 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,100 arise and be baptized and wash away? 359 00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:39,200 Your sins? Calling on the name of the Lord. 360 00:25:39,900 --> 00:25:44,600 First Peter 3 and 21. There is also an antitype which 361 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,700 now saves us. Baptism, not the removal of the 362 00:25:48,700 --> 00:25:51,100 filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience 363 00:25:51,100 --> 00:25:54,500 toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 364 00:25:55,700 --> 00:26:03,000 That is really a concluding, a verse, and a verse without 365 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,300 argument, because the denominational world will say 366 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:08,400 you can't you aren't saved by baptism. 367 00:26:08,900 --> 00:26:16,500 Here, the scripture says we are saved by baptism and baptism our 368 00:26:16,500 --> 00:26:22,000 obedience to baptism in faith washes away our sins. 369 00:26:23,500 --> 00:26:29,300 So the scriptures truly teach the truth and we need to follow 370 00:26:29,300 --> 00:26:31,200 the truth. Thy word is truth. 371 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:38,400 Jesus said so you know the world teaches the doctrines of men. 372 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:43,700 All we need is this truth. The scriptures lead us in truth 373 00:26:43,700 --> 00:26:47,500 and follow that. And we can obey the same gospel 374 00:26:48,100 --> 00:26:53,200 that Jesus gave to the apostles and they preached the first 375 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:57,200 century Church obeyed. We can obey that same Doctrine 376 00:26:57,500 --> 00:27:04,700 and reap the same power to save, you know, Matthew 23 and 13. 377 00:27:04,700 --> 00:27:08,800 Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees because he says you 378 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:10,700 have shut up the kingdom of heaven. 379 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:15,200 And men, and you won't go in. And neither will you, allow 380 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,100 anyone else to enter that would enter? 381 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,600 And, you know, that's what the denominations do. 382 00:27:22,100 --> 00:27:27,500 They have the same Bible, but they won't go in because they 383 00:27:27,500 --> 00:27:31,500 won't obey it and they teach others to follow their same 384 00:27:31,900 --> 00:27:39,600 error. Galatians 3 and 26 for you are 385 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:42,700 all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 386 00:27:42,900 --> 00:27:47,800 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, have put 387 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:52,000 on Christ Colossians 1:18 and he is the head of the body, the 388 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:56,000 church who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead that in 389 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:00,300 all things, he may have the preeminence again Ephesians 5 390 00:28:00,300 --> 00:28:05,600 and 23 and he is the savior of the body, only those who are in 391 00:28:05,608 --> 00:28:08,400 the church. The body of Christ. 392 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:12,400 Are saved. You have to be in the church to 393 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,600 be saved their salvation in no other. 394 00:28:16,300 --> 00:28:27,000 The Bible says You know, we demonstrate our love for the 395 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:32,000 church and worship. when we go to worship and worship in spirit 396 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:37,200 and in truth, We demonstrate our appreciation by worshiping in 397 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,500 spirit and truth and that's what God calls for us to do to 398 00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:43,800 Worship in spirit. And in truth, we can worship in 399 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,300 truth all day long. And not have the spirit in it, 400 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:50,900 not have our heart in and not of our faith in it, and it would be 401 00:28:50,900 --> 00:28:56,800 vain, it must be done in spirit and in truth, and we demonstrate 402 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,700 our love for the church and doing that. 403 00:29:00,300 --> 00:29:06,000 Hebrews 10 and 23 through 25. We often read verse 25 but we 404 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:09,000 leave off sometimes verses, 23 and 24. 405 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:13,300 It says, let us hold fast. The confession of our faith 406 00:29:13,300 --> 00:29:17,100 without wavering for he, who promised is faithful. 407 00:29:17,500 --> 00:29:21,000 And let us consider one another in order to stir up. 408 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:24,700 Love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of 409 00:29:24,700 --> 00:29:27,100 ourselves together as the manner of some. 410 00:29:27,100 --> 00:29:30,800 But exhorting, one another and so much the The more as you see 411 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,200 the day approaching we're to assemble. 412 00:29:33,900 --> 00:29:39,700 But the purpose of the assembly is to stir us up in love and 413 00:29:39,700 --> 00:29:44,200 good works and not too and and to not let our faith waiver. 414 00:29:45,700 --> 00:29:49,200 holding fast the confession of our faith and that's what is 415 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:54,500 involved in our Sibley's is, stirring us up and, and 416 00:29:54,700 --> 00:30:00,500 encouraging us on as we as we face each day and looking 417 00:30:00,500 --> 00:30:07,700 forward again to the Judgment Day when it's coming Colossians 418 00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:12,100 3 and 16 now singing, Talking about singing. 419 00:30:12,700 --> 00:30:15,600 It says let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all 420 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,700 wisdom teaching and admonishing. One, another in Psalms and 421 00:30:18,700 --> 00:30:22,100 hymns, and spiritual songs singing with Grace, in your 422 00:30:22,100 --> 00:30:24,800 hearts, to the Lord, and whatever you do in word or deed 423 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:28,800 do all in the name of the Lord, Jesus giving, thanks to God the 424 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:33,800 Father through him. This talks about are singing and 425 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:37,800 the kind of singing We should have there's teaching and 426 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:44,000 admonishing in our singing. And also it must be in in the 427 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:46,400 name of the Lord Jesus or by his authority. 428 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:50,300 So they need to be true. What we seeing needs to be true 429 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:56,500 scripturally and also have have a good teaching and message and 430 00:30:56,500 --> 00:31:00,300 we teach and admonishing mohnish one, another in our singing. 431 00:31:01,100 --> 00:31:05,200 So the point is that there's teaching and admonishing in our 432 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:09,100 singing, We need to be careful as song leaders and song 433 00:31:09,100 --> 00:31:12,300 selectors. That our songs are appropriate 434 00:31:12,300 --> 00:31:16,600 and true. And we do teach and admonish 435 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:22,000 through our singing. As we do in our preaching, John 436 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:26,800 6:63 it is the spirit who gives life, the flesh profits, nothing 437 00:31:27,100 --> 00:31:30,100 the words. I speak to you are spirit and 438 00:31:30,100 --> 00:31:34,400 they are Life. The Words of Christ are the 439 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:38,400 power of God to save. These are his words and he's the 440 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:41,800 words he had given by inspiration to the apostles and 441 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:46,400 his own words as written by the gospel writers. 442 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:52,100 John 5 and 38, but you do not have his word abiding in. 443 00:31:52,100 --> 00:31:57,000 You Jesus says to the scribes and Pharisees him. 444 00:31:57,100 --> 00:32:00,900 You do not believe you search the scriptures for in them. 445 00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:04,500 You think you have eternal life? And these are they which testify 446 00:32:04,500 --> 00:32:08,400 of me. But you are not willing to come 447 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:16,800 to me that you may have life. Jesus says to these scribes and 448 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:20,400 Pharisees that the works. He did there that God had given 449 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:25,200 him to do testified of his truth and of where he had come from 450 00:32:25,500 --> 00:32:30,800 and the scriptures to testify of him now, they rejected it. 451 00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:33,100 They rejected all of that testimony. 452 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:36,700 And the point is this morning that we need to be careful not 453 00:32:36,700 --> 00:32:40,900 to fall in their example, not to follow their example, the 454 00:32:40,900 --> 00:32:45,500 scriptures testify of Christ and we can know Christ and follow 455 00:32:45,500 --> 00:32:51,400 him and believe in him and obey his gospel because of the 456 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:59,000 scriptures testify testimony. And as we teach others, we need 457 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:05,100 to teach that power The Gospel Power, Christ's Gospel Power. 458 00:33:07,700 --> 00:33:14,200 Peter confessed Christ in Matthew, 16, and 16 Jesus had 459 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:17,900 asked the apostles who men say that Jesus was. 460 00:33:17,900 --> 00:33:22,200 And they said some say, John the Baptist and some say, you're 461 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:26,000 Elijah and others, they that your Jeremiah or one of the 462 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,700 prophets and he said, who do you say that I am? 463 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:31,800 And that's when Peter made that confession. 464 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,900 You are the Christ, the son of the Living God, and Jesus 465 00:33:35,900 --> 00:33:38,000 answered and said to him, Blessed. 466 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,300 Are you Simon bar Jonah for flesh? 467 00:33:40,300 --> 00:33:42,100 And blood has not revealed this to you. 468 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:46,300 But my father who is in heaven and I also say to you that you 469 00:33:46,300 --> 00:33:50,400 are Peter and Upon This Rock, I will build my church and the 470 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:52,600 Gates of Hell shall not Prevail against it. 471 00:33:52,900 --> 00:33:57,200 And I will give you the keys of Hell, the of the kingdom of 472 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:01,100 heaven and whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in heaven 473 00:34:01,300 --> 00:34:04,200 and whatever you loose on Earth. Shall be loosed in heaven. 474 00:34:05,300 --> 00:34:07,400 Jesus asked Peter, who do you say that? 475 00:34:07,500 --> 00:34:11,400 That I am and Jesus, Peter says, you are the Christ, the son of 476 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,600 the Living God. And, and Jesus said, you're 477 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:19,300 blessed, Simon bar Jonah. And I say you're Peter, and Upon 478 00:34:19,300 --> 00:34:26,600 This Rock not upon Peter, but upon the confession or upon the 479 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:32,199 fact that Jesus was the Christ, he's the rock, he's the 480 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:36,699 Cornerstone. He's the, he's the, the stone of 481 00:34:36,699 --> 00:34:40,699 stumbling in the Rock of offense that the builders rejected, but 482 00:34:40,699 --> 00:34:42,900 God made him the Chief Cornerstone. 483 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:50,300 So he is that rock that the church is built on and so. 484 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:53,900 So Jesus says, you're Peter, Peter just confessed Christ. 485 00:34:53,900 --> 00:34:56,199 He said, you are the Christ, the son of the Living, God. 486 00:34:56,400 --> 00:35:00,700 And Jesus says, you're Peter and Upon This Rock, I'll build my 487 00:35:00,700 --> 00:35:06,800 church upon Christ, the Rock and the fat, and the foundation of 488 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:10,000 the church. And I will build my church and 489 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,100 the Gates of Hell will not Prevail against it since 490 00:35:13,500 --> 00:35:18,200 Pentecost and the First Gospel sermon and where the Lord added 491 00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:24,400 to the church then daily such as we're being saved, still today 492 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:28,400 the same gospel. And the same church, is 493 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:34,400 continuing and prevailing, no matter what the devil and he'll 494 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:39,400 and the principalities and powers in. only places me may do 495 00:35:39,900 --> 00:35:47,400 still the church prevails Jesus commissioned the apostles to go 496 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:53,100 into all the world and preach the gospel and He said to them, 497 00:35:53,700 --> 00:35:58,200 all power is given to me in heaven and earth, you know, 498 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:03,400 Jesus has all authority. And he told the apostles that 499 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:08,400 all power or authority is given to me, if the new King James 500 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:12,600 says, all authority has been given to me in heaven and on 501 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:16,700 Earth go therefore and Make Disciples of all Nations, 502 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:19,700 baptizing them in the name of the father, and the Son, and the 503 00:36:19,700 --> 00:36:25,400 Holy Spirit, Jesus said, Said all power is given unto me to Go 504 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:30,500 Make Disciples, you baptize them in the name or in the authority 505 00:36:30,500 --> 00:36:34,300 of the father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them 506 00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:37,900 to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo, I Am 507 00:36:37,900 --> 00:36:40,500 With You Always even to the End of the Age. 508 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:46,200 So we still today, make disciples in the same way, we 509 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:50,500 still teach the same gospel message and we're still added to 510 00:36:50,500 --> 00:36:54,600 the same church. The Church of Christ, the body 511 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:58,600 of Christ and we're still saved by that same gospel. 512 00:36:59,700 --> 00:37:03,800 I hope that this was beneficial to you this morning and I hope 513 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:08,500 you can take away from this a grade, a greater, maybe 514 00:37:08,700 --> 00:37:12,300 appreciation for the church because of all the had to be 515 00:37:12,300 --> 00:37:16,900 given for it. And the great great blessings 516 00:37:16,900 --> 00:37:21,100 that we find in it. We thank you for listening to 517 00:37:21,100 --> 00:37:23,100 our podcast. It's put on by the Church of 518 00:37:23,100 --> 00:37:27,500 Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield. 519 00:37:28,100 --> 00:37:31,500 If you would like any additional information or you would like to 520 00:37:31,500 --> 00:37:34,600 receive a free Bible correspondence course by mail. 521 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:39,000 Please email us at info at search of Christ. 522 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:43,900 Bakersfield.com, our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 523 00:37:43,900 --> 00:37:50,100 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. please make plans 524 00:37:50,100 --> 00:37:52,700 to join us. We would love Love for you to be 525 00:37:52,700 --> 00:37:53,800 our honored guest.