1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,360 Thank you, Lord, that we can gather together tonight to spend 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:05,720 time in Your word. And our prayer, Father, is that 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,520 you'd open our eyes to be able to see the beauty of who you 4 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:13,320 are. Help us, Lord, to honor you with 5 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:17,280 our heart and mind. And pray, Father, that the 6 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:20,320 things that you teach us tonight will enable us to live with the 7 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:24,360 glory of Your Kingdom, not just today and this week, but until 8 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:26,880 you come again, as you most surely will. 9 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,680 We pray this in Jesus name, Amen. 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:39,720 As we embark further and further into the fall, we will soon be 11 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,760 upon the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas. 12 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,320 And during those times, it's an opportunity for us to talk to 13 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,880 people about Christ, to introduce them to Christ, 14 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,720 whether it's friends, whether it's family, we can gather 15 00:00:55,720 --> 00:01:01,080 together and talk about the reason for the season and inject 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:06,120 the gospel when we talk to them. The question is, will you be 17 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,920 able to present the gospel clearly? 18 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,560 Will you be able to represent the gospel clearly? 19 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:21,280 Will those in your friend and family know that you truly are a 20 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:25,480 genuine believer in the Lord Jesus Christ? 21 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,760 So important we're looking at what is a Christian. 22 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,360 After we gave you a week of introduction, we talked to you 23 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:38,880 about a Christian is known by his decision. 24 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,760 That's Luke 923 the next week, which was last week. 25 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:47,400 A Christian is known not just by his decision, but by his 26 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,920 definition. And that's Philippians 3 verse 27 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:56,040 #3 But tonight we're going to introduce to you that a 28 00:01:56,040 --> 00:02:00,520 Christian is known simply by a description. 29 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:05,520 How would you describe a Christian? 30 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:11,840 The Bible is very clear on how a Christian is described, but I 31 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:16,600 would always be curious on how you would describe a Christian. 32 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:23,440 So many times we we think of things that are unbiblical 33 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:27,720 instead of biblical. We would say probably if someone 34 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:29,680 said, would you describe to me a Christian? 35 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,480 You would say, well, a Christian is described by someone who has 36 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,640 a personal relationship with the living God. 37 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:40,800 And to some degree that's absolutely true. 38 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,920 But what does that mean? Somebody who has a personal 39 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:51,600 relationship with the living God, How do we understand that? 40 00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:55,440 You see, because as you read to you the last couple of weeks in 41 00:02:55,440 --> 00:03:00,120 Matthew Chapter 7, those people who said to the Lord, Lord, 42 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:06,400 Lord, did we not do this in your name, believed that they had a 43 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:10,200 personal relationship with the Lord. 44 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,440 But Jesus said to them, I never knew you. 45 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,600 So if they believed that they had a personal relationship with 46 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:25,520 the Lord, and yet the Lord says to them, I never knew you, how 47 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,080 do you describe then a true genuine believer? 48 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:37,760 How can someone go through life serving the Lord, speaking for 49 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:43,960 the Lord, being a part of a church ministry, and yet the 50 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:48,080 Lord say to them, I never knew you. 51 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:54,760 How tragic would that ever be if that was you or if that was me? 52 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:01,520 So how do you describe a Christian? 53 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:08,520 How is it you know the Lord knows you? 54 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,640 Because in Christianity it's not about you knowing him, it's 55 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,640 about him knowing you. So turn with me in your Bible to 56 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:21,760 Second Timothy chapter 2. Second Timothy chapter 2. 57 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:30,320 Listen to what Paul says in verse #19 He says. 58 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:35,760 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands having 59 00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:41,640 this seal, having this sign of ownership. 60 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:54,560 The Lord knows those who are His, The Lord knows those who 61 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:58,680 are His. You might say you know the Lord, 62 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:05,240 but does the Lord know you? That's very important. 63 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:12,520 It says over in the book of Galatians the 4th chapter verse 64 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:18,280 #8 However at that time when you did not know God, you were 65 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:21,840 slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 66 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:28,000 But now that you have come to know God, or rather Paul says to 67 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:33,120 be known by God. Paul distinguishes those who who 68 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:37,520 claim to know God and those who are known by God. 69 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:42,640 Over in John chapter 10, the Lord says these words. 70 00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:51,760 Verse 14 I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own, and my own know 71 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:58,640 me even as the Father knows me and I know the Father. 72 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:01,840 Now talk about an intimate relationship. 73 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:09,920 My sheep know me, I know them, even as I know the Father, and 74 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:14,840 the Father knows me. And then it says in verse #27 My 75 00:06:14,840 --> 00:06:21,200 sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 76 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:35,480 In John 17 John chapter 17, these words are spoken verse #21 77 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,400 that they all may be 1 even as You, Father, are in me, and I in 78 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:45,280 you, that they also may be in US, so that the world may 79 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:51,640 believe that You sent me the glory which You have given me. 80 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,360 I have given to them that they may be one, just as we are one, 81 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:01,160 I and them and You and Me, that they may be perfected in unity, 82 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:06,520 so that the world may know that You sent me and love them even 83 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:12,760 as You have loved me. There's something unique about 84 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:18,840 the relationship between God and his children that not only do 85 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,360 they know him, but he actually knows them. 86 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:27,280 And so Paul says, here is the firm foundation of the Lord. 87 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:32,640 This is his seal. The Lord knows those who are 88 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,840 his. And then he says this in verse 89 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,080 19. He says everyone who names the 90 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:46,320 name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness. 91 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:51,600 Everyone who knows the Lord and the Lord knows are characterized 92 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:57,720 by the fact that they abstain from any kind of wickedness, any 93 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,280 kind of evil. They refrain from doing that 94 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:07,840 which is wrong, sinful. So the Bible says that it's 95 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,360 imperative that the Lord knows who you are, that there's this 96 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,480 intimate relationship between you and your God. 97 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:14,840 We are the bride, He's the bridegroom. 98 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,040 And there's something about intimacy that's there. 99 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:21,240 The Bible says in justice said before that Cain knew his wife, 100 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:25,480 she conceived and bore Enoch. In other words, there was 101 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:29,280 something unique about that relationship that was intimate. 102 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,120 Same was true about Joseph and Mary. 103 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,600 When Joseph knew Mary, he knew her in an intimate sense. 104 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:40,640 So to the Lord knows his own intimately. 105 00:08:40,919 --> 00:08:45,720 There's this love relationship between God and his people that 106 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,000 goes beyond anything else that we can ever imagine. 107 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:57,080 And so the Bible says those whom the Lord knows are characterized 108 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,080 by the fact that they abstain from wickedness. 109 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:03,240 So a man says, I know the Lord, but he engages in wickedness. 110 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,200 The answer is the Lord doesn't know him, because if the Lord 111 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,400 knows him, he abstains from wickedness. 112 00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:12,360 Not that you're perfect, not that you're sinless, but that 113 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:17,240 your habit of life is to abstain from that which brings shame to 114 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:20,720 the Lord and is an abomination to the Lord. 115 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,000 The habit pattern is, I want to serve my Lord. 116 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,360 I want to honor my Lord. The question comes, OK, if 117 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:30,880 that's the case, how is it? If the Lord knows me, I abstain 118 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:32,880 from wickedness. How can that possibly be? 119 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:36,280 Because here is how a Christian is described. 120 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:44,840 A Christian is described as being in Christ. 2nd Corinthians 121 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:51,160 517 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. 122 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:57,760 Old things are passed away build all things have become new. 123 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:05,520 A Christian is described as being in Christ. 124 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:11,840 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. 125 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:18,280 So the Bible says that the unbeliever is without Christ. 126 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:23,800 Ephesians chapter 2 verse #12 But the believer is in Christ 127 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,800 and ultimately will be with Christ. 128 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:31,640 Isn't it interesting that if if you're a you're a a Buddhist, 129 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:34,880 they're never described as being in Buddha? 130 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:43,480 If you're a Mormon, you're never described as being in Joseph 131 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:51,840 Smith or in Brigham Young. If you're a Christian Scientist, 132 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:57,920 you're never described as being in Mary Baker Eddie, not at all. 133 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:03,920 But a Christian is described as being in Christ. 134 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,480 If you're a Muslim, you are not in Muhammad. 135 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:12,040 You are not in Allah. That is not how they're 136 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:15,640 described. So the Christian's description 137 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:21,360 is very, very unique. He is in Christ, but not only 138 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:26,600 that, not only is he in Christ, Christ is in him. 139 00:11:27,680 --> 00:11:31,560 The Bible says that we're in the Father and the Father is in us. 140 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,880 The Bible says that we're in the Spirit and the Spirit is in us. 141 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:42,040 There is this Trinitarian union that is in US and we are in. 142 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:48,880 That's what makes the Christian unique and distinct from any 143 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,360 other religious affiliation around the world. 144 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:58,840 We simply are in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and He is in 145 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,000 us. He takes up residence in us. 146 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:06,600 In fact it says over in John chapter 14. 147 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:13,840 These words He says in verse 16, I will ask the Father, and he 148 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,880 will give you another helper, that He may be with you forever. 149 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,080 That is the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive 150 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,480 because it does not see Him or know Him. 151 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:29,440 But you know Him because He abides with you and will be in 152 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:33,440 you. Verse 20 In that day you will 153 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:43,040 know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 154 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,400 It says in verse 23 if anyone loves me, he will keep my word 155 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:52,720 and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our 156 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:57,240 abode with him. A Christian is described as 157 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,840 being in Christ because Christ is in him. 158 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,160 He described as being in the Father because the Father's in 159 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,280 him. He described as being in the 160 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,120 spirit because of spirits in him. 161 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,160 Now truly mean your Bible to the book of Ephesians the first 162 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:19,600 chapter Ephesians chapter 1. The only way that I can obey the 163 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:25,560 Lord and abstain from wickedness is because he is in me. 164 00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:30,120 Look what it says verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of 165 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,560 our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual 166 00:13:32,560 --> 00:13:37,560 blessing in the heavenly places in in Christ, just as he chose 167 00:13:37,560 --> 00:13:45,560 us in him before the foundation of the world. 168 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:51,560 That that's an absolutely staggering thought that we were 169 00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:57,360 chosen to be in him before the world was ever created. 170 00:13:57,680 --> 00:13:59,600 That's why the Bible says that our names are written in the 171 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,920 Lamb's book of life before the foundation of the world. 172 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:12,280 This is an absolute staggering thought to realize that I was 173 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:18,400 chosen by the Lord to be in Him before the world was even 174 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:22,560 created. That in the mind of God, God had 175 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,480 a plan that there would be people that He would choose to 176 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,560 be in Him. And that when you gave your life 177 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:32,360 to Christ and you decided to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, it 178 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:37,080 was at that time that eternity intersected with time and you 179 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:41,640 gave your life to the Lord and everything that He had planned 180 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:49,200 came to fruition in your life. That's an absolutely staggering 181 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:55,720 thought to realize that everything that happens in your 182 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,200 life and mind when it comes to the saving knowledge of Christ 183 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:05,000 was all set in motion in eternity past by the Lord God 184 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:11,120 Himself. A Christian is not someone 185 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:16,760 necessarily who believes in Christ, but as a person who has 186 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:22,840 Christ in him and he is in Christ. 187 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:28,040 That is very, very important to understand that we as believers 188 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:31,560 are in the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 127. 189 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:39,720 Christ in you the hope of glory. 2nd Corinthians 517 we are in 190 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,480 Christ. Romans 8-9 says that we are in 191 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,040 the Spirit. In First Corinthians 619 says 192 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:52,160 the Spirit is in us. If any man be in Christ, he is a 193 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:57,120 new creation. In other words, let's say it 194 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:04,920 this way, Christianity is described as an invasion of the 195 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:11,000 Triune God into your life. That is what Christianity is. 196 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:13,240 That is why you can obey the Lord. 197 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:15,800 That is why you can follow the Lord. 198 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:18,040 That is why you can serve the Lord. 199 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,760 That is why you love the Lord. We love Him because He first 200 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:23,640 loved us. But in all reality, Christianity 201 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:27,680 is an invasion of the Triune God, God the Father, God the 202 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:33,120 Son, God the Holy Spirit invading your life because you 203 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:38,520 were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. 204 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,920 That's absolutely mind boggling to me. 205 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:51,240 And those who are who are in Christ are a new creation. 206 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:55,080 In other words, that there's, there's not a rearranging of 207 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,920 your life, there's not a refurbishing of your life, 208 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:00,040 there's not a renovation of your life. 209 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:02,800 There's a complete overhaul of your life. 210 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:08,040 You're a new creation. All things have passed away 211 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:10,200 build. All things have become new. 212 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:13,520 You see, when you become a Christian, you're not adding 213 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,280 Jesus to your existing lifestyle. 214 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,960 Oh no, all things have passed away. 215 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:24,839 All things have become brand new. 216 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,760 See that That's rooted in Old Testament theology. 217 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,000 In fact, go back with me, if you would, to the the book of 218 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:40,600 Isaiah, Isaiah chapter 42, and the Lord as he is talking about 219 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,440 the future for Israel, trying to describe them, what's going to 220 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:47,400 happen in the future, He says, behold, the former things have 221 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:51,480 come to pass. Now I declare new things before 222 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,360 they spring forth. I proclaim them to you. 223 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,240 In other words, there's going to be something brand new that's 224 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:01,240 going to take place. You go over to chapter 43 and it 225 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:06,680 says this in verse #18 Do not call to mind the former things 226 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:11,640 or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new 227 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,560 now. It will spring forth. 228 00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:20,280 Then when Isaiah 48 verse #6 he says this. 229 00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:24,760 You have heard. Look at all this, and you will, 230 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:30,120 and you will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things 231 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,880 from this time. What are the new things? 232 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:40,880 Chapter 65 verse #17 For behold, I create new heavens and a new 233 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:45,280 earth, and the former things will not be remembered or come 234 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:50,000 to mind, but be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. 235 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:56,560 For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and our people for 236 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,680 gladness. In other words, God is talking. 237 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,280 God is the creator of the universe. 238 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:06,840 He's the master designer and so when Paul says if any man be in 239 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:11,520 Christ, he is a new creation, that means the Creator did 240 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:13,280 something brand new in your life. 241 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,600 Everything changes. It doesn't change physically. 242 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:22,280 OK, So if you didn't have an arm before you were saved, you're 243 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:24,360 not going to get an arm after you're saved. 244 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,400 OK? Things don't change physically 245 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:30,880 if you're blind before you're saved, Doesn't mean you're going 246 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,120 to not be able to see after you're saved. 247 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,920 You need to understand that. But what changes is everything 248 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,680 on the inside that there's a there's a metamorphosis, there's 249 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:44,520 a transformation on what's on the inside because you've been 250 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:48,080 cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and now your temple is the 251 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,720 your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 252 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,040 So, so the Spirit of God resides within you. 253 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,960 And that's why you can live a holy life. 254 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:02,640 That's why you can aspire to righteous living. 255 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:06,480 Why? Because Christ is in you and you 256 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:08,400 want to please the Lord. You want to honor the Lord. 257 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:12,640 You want to serve the Lord simply because He reigns supreme 258 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:16,800 in your life. You see, people don't understand 259 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,040 this. They think they can get saved 260 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:22,200 and still just live any way they want to live. 261 00:20:24,120 --> 00:20:26,160 Well, the problem is you can't do that. 262 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:31,160 Why? Because God lives in you and 263 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:33,560 because God lives in you, there's a transformation that 264 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,000 takes place. You are now a new creation. 265 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:38,160 The old things are done away with. 266 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:43,360 All things have become new. Everything begins to change. 267 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,760 I don't know how many people come across and, and, and they, 268 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,560 they say they prayed a prayer and they gave their life to 269 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,640 Christ and they have a personal relationship with the Lord, but 270 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,800 they're still living the same sinful life they did before they 271 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,680 said the prayer or before they gave their life to the Lord. 272 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:03,600 Their conversion is a sham. There was no transformation. 273 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:07,320 They're not a new creation. They're living the exact same 274 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,520 way they've always lived. That's not what salvation is. 275 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:16,280 We need to stop confirming people in their unbelief or 276 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:20,120 confirming people in the fact that they believe that they're 277 00:21:20,120 --> 00:21:23,760 one way when a reality they're another because if they're 278 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:28,840 living opposite of what the Bible says, you to call them 279 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,800 into account. Now, it doesn't mean that people 280 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:33,320 don't sin. They do sin. 281 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:37,560 They do stray away from the Lord, but when you confront 282 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:41,520 them, you call them back and you beg them to to repent. 283 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:45,320 They do do that because they recognize that the Spirit of God 284 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:50,000 within them and the Spirit of God is a is a convictor and 285 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:53,560 convicts us of our sin that we might learn to serve and and 286 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:59,760 follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to what Romans 8 says. 287 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:07,800 Romans chapter 8 verse #9 Paul says however, you are not in the 288 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,880 flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells 289 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:13,680 in you. But if anyone does not have the 290 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,520 Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 291 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:22,640 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet 292 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:24,680 the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. 293 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:29,200 But the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in 294 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:31,280 you. He raised Christ. 295 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:36,320 Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies 296 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:41,480 through his Spirit who dwells in you. 297 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:44,360 Now think about this with me for a second. 298 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:52,120 Every Jew understands that God was above him and all around 299 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:53,640 him. That's why Jewish men wear 300 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,000 yarmulkes, right? They wear it on their head 301 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,200 because it's a reminder that God's above them and that God's 302 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,720 all around them. Jews are into symbols or they're 303 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,320 into rituals or into all those kinds of things. 304 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,800 We don't need to have a yarmulke on our head to realize that 305 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:12,200 God's all around us. We understand that or that God's 306 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,240 above us. We get that our Father who is in 307 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,920 heaven, we, we get that. The Bible says over in Psalm one 308 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,640 O 3 verse #19 the Lord has established his throne in the 309 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:24,920 heavens and the sovereignty rules overall. 310 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:32,680 So if you're a Jew, you understand God above us, but if 311 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:38,360 you're a Jew you also understand that God made us. 312 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:43,120 That's Genesis chapter one, that we are made in the image of God. 313 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:48,440 We understand that Jews understood that because we are 314 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:52,240 made in God's image. So God that's above us, and that 315 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:58,080 the God that's around us is the God who made us. 316 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,040 But the Jews also understood that God will one day be with 317 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:06,040 them, right? Isaiah 714 The great prophecy 318 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:10,280 about the virgin shall conceive and and bear a child. 319 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,320 You should call his name Emmanuel translated mean being 320 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,920 God with us. So the Jews lived in 321 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:23,480 anticipation of the God that was above them and around them, and 322 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,120 who made them would one day be with them. 323 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:33,360 And so when Christ was born, in Matthew chapter one, they quote 324 00:24:33,360 --> 00:24:38,000 Isaiah 714 because now Emmanuel was with them. 325 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:46,800 But what they never understood and never grasped was God in 326 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,520 them. That was a mystery. 327 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:56,440 That was a mystery concealed in the old and only revealed in the 328 00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:00,600 new. So the Bible says these words 329 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:07,760 God will to make known what are the riches of the glory of His 330 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:12,640 mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope 331 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:21,160 of glory, Christ being in you. The Jews to this day don't 332 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:24,920 understand that. They can't grasp that, but 333 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:26,440 that's what the church age is all about. 334 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:30,400 That's what Christianity is, that that's what separates 335 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,400 Christianity from Judaism or any other religion. 336 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,960 We are in Christ and Christ is in us. 337 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:44,320 So this, this God that's above us and all around us is the God 338 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:48,560 who made us in his image, who promised to one day be with us. 339 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:51,960 So what did he do? God gave us His only beloved 340 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:57,040 Son, John 316 so that God would be in US. 341 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:06,720 And if God is in us, then we know that God is for us. 342 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:12,800 Romans chapter 8 verse #31 says What then shall we say to these 343 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:17,520 things? If God is for us, who can be 344 00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:22,000 against us? So think it through with me. 345 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:27,640 The God who is above us and the God who is around us is the God 346 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:32,920 who made us, who made a promise to be the God who would be with 347 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:36,000 us. In order to be with us, God had 348 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,240 to give us his only begotten Son. 349 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:40,280 Once He gave his only begotten Son. 350 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:44,480 Now God now is in us, those who believe in his name. 351 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:48,080 And if God is in US, God is for us. 352 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:50,680 And if God is for us, guess what? 353 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:57,560 God sends us as the Father sent me, so send I you. 354 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:00,320 You see, it's so important to understand that. 355 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:02,640 Why? Because that's what Christianity 356 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:05,680 is. Christianity is described as the 357 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:11,880 Christian being in Christ and Christ in them. 358 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:17,040 That is the hope of glory. That is the hope of future 359 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,560 glorification. It's all about Christ being in 360 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,560 me. That's what enables me to be 361 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:25,800 able to say the firm foundation of the Lord is this. 362 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,360 The Lord knows those who are his. 363 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:32,920 This is his seal and those who name his name are the ones who 364 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:35,560 abstain from wickedness. Why? 365 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:41,680 Because Christ is in them. That's why He is the the 366 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:46,120 motivation. He is the drive behind all of 367 00:27:46,120 --> 00:27:51,600 that. So the question comes, if all 368 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:56,160 things are passed away, that means I've died to myself, Paul 369 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:59,360 says in Galatians 2. I am crucified with Christ. 370 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:04,240 Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me. 371 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,880 OK, I've died to myself, so Christ lives in me. 372 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,760 In a few moments we're going to have some baptisms up here. 373 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,880 And why do we have people go down into the water and come 374 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:16,880 back up out of the water again? Because it's a sign. 375 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:21,080 It's a a symbol that signifies that they had been buried in the 376 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,520 likeness of his death and raised in the likeness of his 377 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,520 resurrection. Why? 378 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:33,280 Because we are in Christ, so old things pass away. 379 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:41,640 Old values, old ideas, old plans, old loves, old desires, 380 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:49,880 old beliefs, old passions, old interests, all things that are 381 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:53,440 worldly centered, old things passed away. 382 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:57,280 Behold, all things become new, new things that accompany 383 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:00,680 salvation. God gives us new desires. 384 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:06,200 God gives us new loves. God gives us new motives, new 385 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:11,000 plans, new values, new wisdom, new knowledge, new 386 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:14,280 understanding. In other words, the old things 387 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:18,280 that are done away with are done away with because you live for 388 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:20,720 self. The new things though, come 389 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:24,720 because you live for Christ. That's why Paul said for to me 390 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:31,080 to live is Christ and to die is gain a new creation. 391 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:37,000 Let me explain to you how Spurgeon stated it. 392 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:41,880 Well over 100 years ago he said this. 393 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:47,760 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. 394 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:52,800 Read and the reading will be accurate. 395 00:29:53,880 --> 00:30:00,120 He is a new creation. This is a very sweeping 396 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,920 statement. A man in Christ is not the old 397 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:14,680 man purified, nor the old man improved, nor the old man in a 398 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:20,120 better humor, nor the old man with additions and subtractions, 399 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:23,680 nor the old man dressed in gorgeous robes. 400 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:29,320 No, he is a new creature all together. 401 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,880 As for the old man, what is to be done with him? 402 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:40,800 Can he not be sobered, reformed, and made to do us useful 403 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:42,840 service? Answer. 404 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:50,320 No, He is crucified with Christ, and bound to die by a lingering 405 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:54,320 but certain death. The capital sentences passed 406 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:58,400 upon him, for he cannot be mended, and therefore must be 407 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:01,200 ended. The carnal mind is enmity 408 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:04,200 against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, 409 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:08,560 neither indeed can be. You cannot change the old 410 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:13,120 nature. It is immutably bad, and the 411 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:18,040 sooner it is put away as a filthy and unclean thing, the 412 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:22,200 better. For all the believer, so far as 413 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:25,040 he is in Christ, is a new creation. 414 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:31,400 Not the old stuff put into new fashion and the old material 415 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:36,600 worked up into an improved form, but absolutely a new creation. 416 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:41,400 To create is to make out of nothing, and that is precisely 417 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:43,920 how the newborn life came into us. 418 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:48,280 It is not a development or an outgrowth, but a creation, a 419 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:52,280 heavenly something called into being by a power from above. 420 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:58,120 The new man in US is made out of nothing that was in us before, 421 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:02,800 for nature does not assist grace, but as opposed to it, 422 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:08,800 Christ has not found light stored away in our darkness, nor 423 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:11,880 life amid the corruption of our spiritual death. 424 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:18,120 The new birth is from above, and the life produced thereby is a 425 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:26,240 completely new creation. Absolutely perfectly said. 426 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:32,800 And so many times we go through life affirming people in a non 427 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:37,640 new creative state. We should never do that. 428 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:44,480 We should encourage them. We should move them to examine 429 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:48,360 the Scriptures. If they say they're born again, 430 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:52,040 if they say they know the Lord, if they say they're a follower 431 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:56,080 of Christ, if they say they serve the Lord, is their life a 432 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:59,720 new creation? Is it different than it was 433 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:04,200 before they were saved? Has there been a transformation 434 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:08,200 of the inner man? Are there new desires, new 435 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:13,280 loves, new pursuits, new goals, all with Christ in mind? 436 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:19,280 Or are they the same pursuits, the same sinful goals, the same 437 00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:22,760 worldly aspirations as they were before? 438 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:29,440 For the man being Christ, he is a new creation. 439 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:35,600 So what changes? Let me give you 7 word. 440 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:38,000 Excuse me, let me give you 10 words. 441 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:43,240 I had 7. I had a few more 10 words that 442 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:45,480 will help you understand a new creation. 443 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:54,800 OK, what changes? Number one, there is a new 444 00:33:56,280 --> 00:34:02,600 condition, a new condition. This is what Paul says in 445 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:08,040 Ephesians 4 verse #17 He says this. 446 00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:11,520 So this I say and affirm together with the Lord that you 447 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:14,320 walk no longer. Just as the Gentiles also walk 448 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:18,400 in the futility of their mind being darkened in their 449 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:22,600 understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the 450 00:34:22,639 --> 00:34:26,120 ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their 451 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:28,880 heart. And they have become callous, 452 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:33,600 have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of 453 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:35,920 every kind of impurity with greediness. 454 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:43,600 But you, you did not learn Christ in this way, since indeed 455 00:34:43,960 --> 00:34:48,159 you have heard Him and have been taught in Him. 456 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:54,199 Just as truth is in Jesus. That in reference to your former 457 00:34:54,199 --> 00:34:57,240 manner of life, you lay aside the old self which is being 458 00:34:57,240 --> 00:34:59,760 corrupted in accordance with the lust of the sea. 459 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:02,920 And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on 460 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:05,800 the new self which in the likeness of God, has been 461 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:11,520 created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 462 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:15,080 See, there's been a creation when it comes to righteousness 463 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:21,720 and holiness and truth. Things truly do change. 464 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:32,720 There's a brand new condition. You once in darkness, now you're 465 00:35:32,720 --> 00:35:37,400 in the light. Your condition was once the sons 466 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:41,960 of disobedience, and now your condition is the sons of 467 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:48,240 obedience. You once were taken captive by 468 00:35:48,240 --> 00:35:53,480 Satan to do his will, but once saved, you've been transferred 469 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:56,880 into the Kingdom of God's dear Son, and now you can become the 470 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:02,040 slave of God to do his will. Your whole condition changes 471 00:36:03,720 --> 00:36:08,560 simply because of what God did in your life. 472 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:12,240 God does this. You don't reform yourself, 473 00:36:12,240 --> 00:36:14,160 remake yourself, recreate yourself. 474 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:17,280 No, God does this. It's the work of the Spirit of 475 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:20,680 God in the life of a soul made new. 476 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:25,280 Not only is there a new condition, there's a new 477 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:30,920 commitment, a brand new commitment. 478 00:36:31,480 --> 00:36:37,920 Second Corinthians chapter 5. Second Corinthians chapter 5, 479 00:36:38,240 --> 00:36:44,280 verse #14 says, For the love of Christ controls us. 480 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:47,480 Having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all 481 00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:52,760 died, and he died for all, so that they who live might no 482 00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:57,880 longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose again 483 00:36:57,880 --> 00:36:59,800 on their behalf. See that? 484 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:03,160 So there's a brand new commitment. 485 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:07,040 You commit no longer to living for yourself. 486 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:11,160 You made a commitment to live for the one who lived and died 487 00:37:11,240 --> 00:37:15,320 on your behalf. That's what a new creation is. 488 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:19,200 His commitment changes. Her commitment changes. 489 00:37:19,840 --> 00:37:21,840 So Paul said for me to live is Christ. 490 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:23,840 To die is gain. I live for Christ. 491 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:28,000 I make it my ambition to please Christ and please only Him. 492 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:31,920 Why? Because He is everything to me. 493 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:35,680 I've committed my life to Him. And when you committed your life 494 00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:37,560 to Christ, that's a brand new commitment. 495 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:47,520 It's a brand new condition #3 there's a, there's a brand new 496 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:55,320 conduct, a brand new conduct. Titus chapter 2, verse 11. 497 00:37:55,480 --> 00:37:57,640 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to 498 00:37:57,640 --> 00:38:01,480 all men, instructing us to denying godliness, worldly 499 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:04,880 lusts, and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the 500 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:08,440 present age, looking for the blessed hope, the appearing of 501 00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:12,000 the glory of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus, who gave 502 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:19,280 Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to 503 00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:26,560 purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for 504 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:30,880 good deeds. Everything about our conduct 505 00:38:30,880 --> 00:38:34,000 changes. We are now zealous to please the 506 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:35,840 Lord. We are now zealous to do the 507 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:36,960 right things. Why? 508 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:39,080 Because we've been bought with a price. 509 00:38:39,240 --> 00:38:43,200 We are now sons of God. We are slaves of God. 510 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:46,520 He's our master. We want to serve Him. 511 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:52,720 Our life's passion is to be not just committed to him, but to 512 00:38:52,720 --> 00:38:58,400 live a life that honors Him. So there's a new condition. 513 00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:02,720 I've been transferred from the Kingdom of darkness into the 514 00:39:02,720 --> 00:39:06,320 Kingdom of God's dear Son. There's a brand new commitment. 515 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:09,680 There's a brand new conduct. Here's one. 516 00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:13,720 There is a brand new conversation. 517 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:23,000 Matthew, Matthew, chapter 12, verse 33. 518 00:39:24,280 --> 00:39:27,560 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree 519 00:39:27,560 --> 00:39:31,480 bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 520 00:39:32,320 --> 00:39:35,320 You brood of Vipers, how can you be an evil? 521 00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:39,720 Speak what is good, for the now speaks out of that which fills 522 00:39:39,720 --> 00:39:42,880 the heart. The good man brings out of his 523 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:47,560 good treasure what is good, and the evil man brings out of his 524 00:39:47,560 --> 00:39:51,480 evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every 525 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:55,680 careless word that people speak they should give an accounting 526 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:59,760 for in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be 527 00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:04,680 justified. And by your words, you will be 528 00:40:05,920 --> 00:40:11,280 condemned. You see, the mouth speaks of 529 00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:15,680 that which fills the heart. And when you're a new creation, 530 00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:19,160 everything about your conversation changes. 531 00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:25,640 The way you say it changes. That's why the Lord could say 532 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:29,680 that every careless word that a man speaks, he'll be held 533 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:31,720 accountable for on the day of judgement. 534 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:35,640 Why? Because your your lips are the 535 00:40:35,640 --> 00:40:37,760 clearest indicator of your spiritual condition. 536 00:40:38,720 --> 00:40:42,240 How do I know your heart? Just listen to your words. 537 00:40:42,960 --> 00:40:45,000 Because that of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 538 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:51,600 So however you use your words, that will tell me the condition 539 00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:54,600 of your heart. If you're a bitter, angry 540 00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:57,360 person, you have a bitter, angry heart. 541 00:40:58,160 --> 00:40:59,520 Is your heart really a new creation? 542 00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:04,240 If you're a person that likes to swear and cuss and use foul 543 00:41:04,240 --> 00:41:07,560 language, are you really a new creation? 544 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:10,160 Because that speaks from the heart. 545 00:41:10,720 --> 00:41:13,680 That's your heart manifesting itself through the mouth gate. 546 00:41:14,560 --> 00:41:17,160 That's why it's so imperative that when you realize that 547 00:41:17,160 --> 00:41:21,400 someone's born again, their conversation changes because 548 00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:24,960 their commitment changes, because their condition changes. 549 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:33,800 Everything changes. All things become new old things 550 00:41:33,800 --> 00:41:35,960 that passed away. All things. 551 00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:40,600 Your conversation, your commitment, your condition, your 552 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:48,520 conduct, everything changes once born again. 553 00:41:50,160 --> 00:41:55,440 Next the course of your life changes. 554 00:41:56,320 --> 00:42:03,680 First Corinthians chapter 1 Paul says this to the Church of God 555 00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:08,520 which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified or set 556 00:42:08,520 --> 00:42:15,240 apart in Christ Jesus. Saints by calling with all who 557 00:42:15,240 --> 00:42:19,160 in every place call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ their 558 00:42:19,160 --> 00:42:24,920 Lord and ours. And Paul goes on to describe the 559 00:42:24,920 --> 00:42:28,640 course of those who are called Saints. 560 00:42:28,920 --> 00:42:31,680 Remember, you are never, ever called the Sinner. 561 00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:36,320 Once you're saved in the Bible, you're only called a St. 562 00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:42,960 It doesn't mean you don't sin. You do, but you're not a Sinner, 563 00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:46,440 not characterized as a Sinner. That's reserved for the 564 00:42:46,440 --> 00:42:49,360 unbeliever. The unbelievers are sinners. 565 00:42:49,480 --> 00:42:56,200 The believers are Saints. You're called Saints by God 566 00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:59,280 himself. You've been set apart under God 567 00:42:59,480 --> 00:43:02,960 for his purposes. You are sanctified. 568 00:43:03,120 --> 00:43:06,200 Once saved, you are set apart, sanctified. 569 00:43:06,320 --> 00:43:09,840 But there is this continual practice of sanctification as 570 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:12,640 you move along your spiritual life where you are further and 571 00:43:12,640 --> 00:43:15,480 further set apart under God for his purposes. 572 00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:18,520 That's the course of action that you take as a believer. 573 00:43:19,200 --> 00:43:22,480 That's the direction you go. You're constantly being 574 00:43:22,480 --> 00:43:24,440 sanctified. You're constantly being set 575 00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:30,000 apart more and more from the world unto God for His purposes. 576 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:37,360 That's a new creation number six. 577 00:43:37,960 --> 00:43:44,240 There's a new certainty, a new certainty. 578 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:51,360 First Corinthians chapter 15 verse #22 says this. 579 00:43:51,960 --> 00:43:58,040 For as an Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made 580 00:43:58,440 --> 00:44:01,680 alive. There's a brand new certainty, 581 00:44:02,800 --> 00:44:06,040 and that certainty is what? That I will be resurrected. 582 00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:10,200 I will never die. That is, I will never be 583 00:44:10,200 --> 00:44:15,560 separated from God ever again. And I am absolutely certain of 584 00:44:15,560 --> 00:44:17,920 that. The unbeliever does not have 585 00:44:18,240 --> 00:44:24,640 that certainty. Top of that number 8 #7 excuse 586 00:44:24,640 --> 00:44:27,920 me, a new character, a new character. 587 00:44:28,320 --> 00:44:33,720 Revelation chapter 3, verse #12 The Lord gives you a brand new 588 00:44:33,720 --> 00:44:37,280 name, and name refers to nature and character in the Bible, 589 00:44:37,840 --> 00:44:40,280 right? So you have a brand new 590 00:44:40,280 --> 00:44:43,520 character because the saving grace of God, everything about 591 00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:45,560 your character changes. How about this? 592 00:44:45,640 --> 00:44:49,480 You have a new course. That's number 8, a brand new 593 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:57,440 chorus, Psalm 40, Psalm 40 verse #3 you put a new song in my 594 00:44:57,440 --> 00:45:00,320 mouth, a song of praise to our God. 595 00:45:00,640 --> 00:45:05,440 Many will see in fear and will trust in the Lord. 596 00:45:06,480 --> 00:45:09,880 There's a new chorus, a brand new song. 597 00:45:10,800 --> 00:45:13,960 Never when we were we were growing up, of course, maybe not 598 00:45:13,960 --> 00:45:16,480 you but me. When when I was growing up, they 599 00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:20,400 we used to sing those old time religious hymns, right? 600 00:45:21,040 --> 00:45:26,280 And one of them was in my heart. There rings of melody. 601 00:45:26,720 --> 00:45:30,120 Remember it goes like this. It says I have, I have sung 602 00:45:30,240 --> 00:45:32,000 that. Excuse me, I have a song that 603 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:34,560 Jesus gave me. It was sent from heaven above. 604 00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:37,080 There never was a sweeter melody. 605 00:45:37,280 --> 00:45:40,360 Tis the melody of love. I love the Christ who died in 606 00:45:40,360 --> 00:45:42,520 Calvary, For he washed my sins away. 607 00:45:42,720 --> 00:45:44,240 He put within my heart of melody. 608 00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:48,760 And I know it's here to stay, To obey my endless steaming glory 609 00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:51,720 with the angels. I will sing to obey a song with 610 00:45:51,720 --> 00:45:55,240 glorious harmony when the courts of heaven ring. 611 00:45:55,520 --> 00:46:00,800 For in my heart there rings a melody, rings a melody in 612 00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:04,480 heaven's harmony. In my heart there rings a 613 00:46:04,480 --> 00:46:07,760 melody. There rings a melody of love. 614 00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:12,200 There's something about the heart of the believer that sings 615 00:46:12,200 --> 00:46:18,040 the chorus of the redeemed soul. There's something about being a 616 00:46:18,040 --> 00:46:21,760 Christian that changes the song in your heart. 617 00:46:22,720 --> 00:46:26,200 It's a chorus. You sing for the glory of God. 618 00:46:28,280 --> 00:46:31,520 What else changes? Your conflict changes. 619 00:46:32,880 --> 00:46:39,080 Your conflict changes. For now you are in conflict with 620 00:46:39,080 --> 00:46:41,760 Satan as you've never been in conflict before. 621 00:46:43,240 --> 00:46:45,640 That's why when you get saved, things get worse. 622 00:46:46,080 --> 00:46:49,560 They don't get better in your family, at work, with your 623 00:46:49,560 --> 00:46:52,680 friends because there's a spiritual battle that's going on 624 00:46:52,800 --> 00:46:56,760 in Ephesians 6 talks about the the the armor of God that we are 625 00:46:56,760 --> 00:47:00,520 to equip ourselves with with as we go to fight not against flesh 626 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:03,360 and blood, but it begins those principalities and powers of the 627 00:47:03,360 --> 00:47:05,240 air, those things that we cannot see. 628 00:47:05,320 --> 00:47:08,240 There's a brand new conflict that takes place when you are a 629 00:47:08,240 --> 00:47:11,760 new creation. And lastly #10 there's one 630 00:47:11,760 --> 00:47:17,160 that's a negative and that is there is now no condemnation. 631 00:47:18,520 --> 00:47:24,200 For there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 632 00:47:24,840 --> 00:47:28,280 None. Those in Christ, no 633 00:47:28,280 --> 00:47:30,520 condemnation. Why? 634 00:47:31,160 --> 00:47:37,800 Because our sins were condemned at Calvary and Christ bore those 635 00:47:37,800 --> 00:47:42,120 sins in his body on the tree for you and for me. 636 00:47:43,120 --> 00:47:48,880 Listen, are you a new creation? Are you in Christ? 637 00:47:49,960 --> 00:47:52,800 Has there been a change in your life? 638 00:47:53,680 --> 00:47:56,920 Has there been a transformation from from the inside out? 639 00:47:57,840 --> 00:48:00,600 This is how a Christian is described in Bible. 640 00:48:00,680 --> 00:48:09,160 In the Bible, 77 times the believer said to be in Christ 70 641 00:48:09,160 --> 00:48:17,240 times he is said to be in him 45 times he is said to be in the 642 00:48:17,240 --> 00:48:22,200 Lord Jesus 192 times. In the New Testament, the 643 00:48:22,200 --> 00:48:27,840 Christian is described as being in Christ in the Lord. 644 00:48:28,760 --> 00:48:33,320 Because that's who we are. And that's why there's a change. 645 00:48:34,000 --> 00:48:38,520 And that's why my my whole life is transformed, because now 646 00:48:38,520 --> 00:48:44,120 Christ is in me and I'm in him. And there is this union, there 647 00:48:44,120 --> 00:48:47,240 is this relationship that I have with the living God that 648 00:48:47,240 --> 00:48:51,040 satisfies the deepest aspects of my soul. 649 00:48:52,000 --> 00:48:55,800 Only Christ can do that. Nobody else can. 650 00:48:56,440 --> 00:48:58,160 Why do you think the world's so unsatisfied? 651 00:48:58,160 --> 00:49:01,480 Why do you think the world is always searching for something? 652 00:49:01,640 --> 00:49:03,320 To feel the emptiness of the soul? 653 00:49:05,160 --> 00:49:07,200 Because the things in the world can't do that. 654 00:49:08,760 --> 00:49:12,880 Only the Lord Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness of your soul. 655 00:49:14,360 --> 00:49:18,440 And how does he feel it? He fills it with His presence. 656 00:49:20,200 --> 00:49:28,080 The Trinitarian invasion of a soul is what we describe as the 657 00:49:28,080 --> 00:49:31,640 Christian life, for we are in Christ. 658 00:49:31,640 --> 00:49:34,000 Let's pray. Father, we thank you for 659 00:49:34,000 --> 00:49:37,880 tonight, a chance to be able to look into the Word of God for a 660 00:49:37,880 --> 00:49:41,480 brief moment to examine our lives in light of what the Word 661 00:49:41,480 --> 00:49:43,880 of God says. Are we in Christ? 662 00:49:44,600 --> 00:49:46,840 For the Lord knows those who are his. 663 00:49:47,760 --> 00:49:50,280 And let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from 664 00:49:50,280 --> 00:49:53,600 iniquity. Well, the only way we can do 665 00:49:53,600 --> 00:49:57,600 that is because of you. You're in US. 666 00:49:58,800 --> 00:50:02,680 You dwell in US. You've made your abode with us. 667 00:50:03,320 --> 00:50:09,240 We are in you and you are in us, as you are in the Father and the 668 00:50:09,240 --> 00:50:14,160 Father is in you. Lord, that is just so mind 669 00:50:14,160 --> 00:50:18,360 boggling, but it's the reality of what Christianity is. 670 00:50:18,920 --> 00:50:23,720 It sets us apart from every other system of religion around 671 00:50:23,840 --> 00:50:29,040 the world. We are in the Savior of our 672 00:50:29,040 --> 00:50:38,240 lives and our Savior is in US and we thank you in Jesus name, 673 00:50:38,240 --> 00:50:38,440 Amen.