1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,480 Good morning, family, good morning, family all right there 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:10,080 we go I am so excited to be here today amongst you umm for 3 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:12,400 several different reasons. Well, first of all, just to be 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,640 with you guys again obviously I love being here. 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:20,920 I think so. Let me make sure test it's on 6 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,800 test. There it is test. 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:26,040 There we go. All right. 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:33,000 And then secondly, I have my brothers amongst me, my, my 9 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:34,320 brothers. I love them so much. 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:41,000 My brother Josh and his family's here and my brother Wes and his 11 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,120 family. Wes has joined us before here, 12 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,760 but now he's with his family, his kids, his wife and Josh has 13 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:49,720 his wife and his daughter amongst us also. 14 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,680 So I am so excited. They're both local to the area. 15 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:58,440 Hint, hint, you know, so if you please feel free to love on them 16 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,640 as well. And guys, it's a beautiful 17 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,400 church here. These guys are awesome. 18 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:08,200 But today I just wanted to give John Michael asked me to bring 19 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,440 the sermon today. And I always ask him like, hey 20 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,360 man, you know, is there anything you want me to preach on? 21 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,080 Is there anything you want a topic you want me to talk about? 22 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:19,400 And he usually kind of guides me a little bit and he gave me, as 23 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,040 you guys know, he can be a bit long winded. 24 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,320 He gave me a long winded speech about something. 25 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:29,600 And I the take away for me was figure it out, which is fine. 26 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,880 But I was like man, you know, where do I go with this? 27 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:36,240 So I was praying and I'm like, man, I don't really know. 28 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,040 I'm not I come from a Calvary Chapel background. 29 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:43,840 If anybody knows, it's very chapter by chapter, verse by 30 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:45,240 verse. So we are not very good at 31 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:49,520 topical. So I'm trained in kind of a 32 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,080 verse by verse. Here's Galatians chapter 2. 33 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,960 Galatians chapter 3. So when it gets topical, I can 34 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:57,760 be, oh man, I don't know what to do. 35 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,560 But I was praying and I was talking with my wife and we 36 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:05,600 started talking about different names and what they mean and 37 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,600 stuff like that. And so we're talking about, you 38 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,400 know, our girls names. We have faith, grace and hope as 39 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,000 middle names. So then we were like, well, what 40 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,120 is another name? And she said, you know, we talk 41 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,560 about God's faith and grace and hope. 42 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,440 But you know what's something we don't talk about his judgement. 43 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,840 And I was like, you know what, you're right, how he's righteous 44 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,960 in his judgment. And I it just like a light bulb 45 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,480 and I was like, you know what, that's what it is. 46 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,320 So I started praying and this is the the sermon that God has gave 47 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:34,760 me. So today's topic is going to be 48 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:37,120 God's. The title is God's judgment, a 49 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:43,040 Holy Land and certain reality. So judgment is one of the most 50 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,200 avoided subjects in modern Christianity, yet is one of the 51 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,000 most repeated themes in Scripture. 52 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,000 From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible declares that God is not 53 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:57,160 only loving and merciful, but also holy, righteous, and just. 54 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,280 If God were not a God of judgment, he would not be a God 55 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:04,440 of justice. And if there were no judgment, 56 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:06,760 then evil would have the final word. 57 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,280 But Scripture assures us it will not. 58 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,960 Many prefer a God who comforts but do not want, a God who 59 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,320 confronts. Yet the same God who saves is 60 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:21,160 the God who judges. Judgment is not opposed to love. 61 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:27,080 It is demanded by holiness. A God who never judges evil is 62 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,480 not loving. He is indifferent. 63 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,120 But Scripture presents judgment not as speculations, but as 64 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,080 certainty. Shall not God avenge his own 65 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,560 elect? Luke chapter 18, verse 17. 66 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,920 So number one, God's judgment is certain. 67 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:49,200 Hebrews Chapter 9 verse 27 says it is appointed unto men once to 68 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,440 die. But after this judgment, 69 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,760 judgment is unavoidable. Every person, regardless of 70 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,760 status, wealth, power, or reputation will stand before 71 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,840 God. Every single one of us will 72 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,560 stand before God. There are no exemptions. 73 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:11,720 Kings, servants, believers and unbelievers, pastors and 74 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,720 congregants, each and every one of us will stand before God. 75 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,800 All will give an account. Death is not the end of 76 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,600 accountability. It is the doorway to it. 77 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:26,280 No one escapes disappointment. You can forget about what the 78 00:04:26,280 --> 00:04:28,000 doctor says. You can skip your dentist 79 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,320 appointment, but you're not going to escape this one. 80 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:35,880 The world may deny judgment. Culture may mock it, but God's 81 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:42,120 Word declares it plainly. Judgment is coming, Ecclesiastes 82 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,520 12 verse 14 says. For God will bring every work 83 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,960 into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or 84 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:52,680 evil. 2nd and Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10 says. 85 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:57,040 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so 86 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,480 that each one may receive what is due for what He has done in 87 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:05,160 the body, whether good or evil. Romans chapter 2 verse 5 says, 88 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:08,880 But because of your heart and impenitent heart, you are 89 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,440 storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God's 90 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,040 righteous judgment will be revealed. 91 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,040 God's patience should not be mistaken for indifference. 92 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,040 Judgment delayed is not judgment denied. 93 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,480 In other words, you can continue on in your ways. 94 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,520 And just because you feel like nothing's happened doesn't mean 95 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:34,080 you won't receive the penalty of your sins #2 God's judgment is 96 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:38,320 righteous. Genesis 18 verse 25 says will 97 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,960 not the judge of all the earth do right? 98 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,160 Human justice is flawed. Courts make mistakes. 99 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,080 Can you believe that judges can be bribed? 100 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:54,440 But God's judgment is perfect. He sees what no one else sees. 101 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:59,880 He knows motives, thoughts, secret actions, and hidden sins. 102 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:05,720 God will not judge unfairly, no one will be condemned unjustly, 103 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,520 and no sin will be overlooked. His judgment is not emotional, 104 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,360 it's not impulsive, and it's not corrupt. 105 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,400 It is holy and true. God judges in perfect 106 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,400 righteousness. He does not judge by empiricism 107 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,920 or partial information. His verdicts are flawless. 108 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,440 You know, a judge can see someone and say that guy looks 109 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:29,920 innocent and maybe take into account, hey, he looks like a 110 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,240 friend of mine. He looks like somebody I know 111 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,960 and go from there. We know that to be true, right? 112 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:39,600 We know that there are times that my my cousins, I had a 113 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:43,120 cousin that did something really bad in Pennsylvania, but it 114 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,520 turned out that he didn't do it, but he was always into some 115 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,560 trouble. But the judge at the time, this 116 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,320 was years ago. This was probably 20 years ago. 117 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,960 The judge at the time was like, I'm going to make an example out 118 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,120 of you because you're people coming from New York. 119 00:06:54,840 --> 00:06:56,880 I'm tired of it. So I'm going to make an example 120 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,760 of you. 50 years. And she gave him 50 years. 121 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:01,760 Now he didn't do 50 years, but she did. 122 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,400 And that just goes to show you what that that person is flawed. 123 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,240 Even though she has the authority to do that, even 124 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,640 though she's given the right to, that doesn't mean that she did 125 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,640 the right thing. Even as a judge, she made a 126 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,680 mistake. But God is holy, imperfect, 127 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,080 righteous in judgement is not something he does. 128 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,120 It is who he is. He is righteous in his 129 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:26,760 judgement. Psalms Chapter 9 verse 7 through 130 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,280 8 says, but the Lord sits and throne forever. 131 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:33,080 He has established his throne for justice and he judges the 132 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,680 world with righteousness. He judges the people with 133 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:40,840 uprightness. Romans chapter 2 verse 2 says We 134 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,880 know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who 135 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,840 practice such things. Revelation chapter 19 verse 11 136 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:52,720 says then I saw heaven open and behold a White Horse, the one 137 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:57,440 sitting on it's called faithful and true and in righteousness He 138 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,720 judges and makes war. It is imperative we understand 139 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,520 his righteous judgment means no innocent person will be 140 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:10,160 condemned and no guilty person will escape God's judgment will 141 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:15,600 silence every objection. In other words, nothing you can 142 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,840 do is going to is going to prevent this from happening. 143 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,640 Those of us that are saved, we look forward to that day. 144 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,240 Those of us that are not should be apprehensive about that day 145 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,680 #3 we're rolling along. My, my wife was concerned. 146 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:35,360 She said 10 pages and I was like, yeah, she's still worried. 147 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:41,159 I don't blame her. Number three, God's judgment is 148 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:44,400 personal. Romans chapter 14, verse 12. 149 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:50,080 So that every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 150 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:55,320 Everyone of us shall give an account of himself to God. 151 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:57,960 We will not answer for our parents. 152 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:00,360 We will not answer for our spouses. 153 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:02,520 We will not answer for our pastors. 154 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,360 We will not answer for our churches. 155 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:08,840 We will answer for ourselves. No excuses will stand. 156 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:14,000 No blame shifting will work. The question will not be what 157 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:18,240 did others do, but what did you do with the truth that you were 158 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,240 given? You can't say, well, the church 159 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,480 hurt me because the Lord will say, but what did I do to you? 160 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,720 You can't say, well, my parents hurt me because Jesus will look 161 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:30,280 at you and say, What did I do to you? 162 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,760 Are my truths no longer truths because of the actions of 163 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:36,800 others? Are you going to be able to look 164 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:38,560 at Jesus and say, no, no, this person hurt me. 165 00:09:38,560 --> 00:09:40,560 That's why I did that. That's why I stopped. 166 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,600 No, you can't do that because what in Christ did Christ do 167 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,840 those things to you? No, human beings are flawed. 168 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,000 We all fall short of the glory of God. 169 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,640 We shouldn't be putting our trust and our faith in man. 170 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,080 We should be putting our trust and faith in God. 171 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:58,520 God's judgement is individual, it is intimate, and it is 172 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:03,280 unavoidable. CS Lewis once said there are 173 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:07,000 only two kinds of people. In the end, those who say to God 174 00:10:07,680 --> 00:10:12,920 Thy will be done and those to whom God says in the end thy 175 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,520 will be done. In other words, there's those 176 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,760 two people. One person says to God, whatever 177 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,200 your ways, I want it and I want to follow your ways. 178 00:10:22,560 --> 00:10:24,840 And the other person who God is going to look at them and say 179 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,200 you wanted this, you wanted separation from me. 180 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:30,600 I granted to you. Go forward. 181 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,960 Matthew chapter 12 verse 36 to 37 says you can be sure that on 182 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,120 the judgment day you will have to give account of every useless 183 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:42,160 word you have spoken. Your words will be used to judge 184 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,760 you, to declare you either innocent or guilty. 185 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:50,760 Galatians chapter 6 verse 5 says every man shall bear his own 186 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,120 burden. And Revelation chapter 20 verse 187 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,400 12 says the dead were judged according to their works. 188 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:03,400 Family, faith, church membership or religious activity cannot 189 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:05,880 substitute for a personal relationship with God. 190 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,400 And I don't mean the spiritual, you know, Jesus is my boyfriend 191 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:14,440 type of relationship. James chapter one verse 27 says 192 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:18,160 religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father 193 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,520 is this to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and 194 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,000 to keep oneself unstained from the world. 195 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:27,320 And people go, oh, I can do that. 196 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,160 I can go visit people and I can go give to the widows. 197 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,640 But it also says to get keep yourself unstained from the 198 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:35,240 world. And what does that mean? 199 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,360 What does that mean to keep yourself unstained from the 200 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,920 world? Well, James expands on that in 201 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:43,800 chapter 2. You see that faith was active 202 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:48,240 along with his works and faith was completed by his works and 203 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,680 the Scripture was fulfilled. That says Abraham believed God 204 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,080 and it was counted to him, counted to him as righteousness, 205 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,120 and he was called a friend of God. 206 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:00,240 You see that a person is justified by works and not by 207 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,280 faith alone. And in the same way, was not 208 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:07,240 also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she 209 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,880 received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 210 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:14,320 For as the body apart from the Spirit is dead, so also faith 211 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:18,720 apart from works is dead. That's James chapter 2, verse 22 212 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,720 to 26. You see, Abraham believed God's 213 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,280 promise and his words and did what God called him to do. 214 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,800 Your faith produces righteous works, but apart from God, any 215 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:31,480 good works you do are meaningless. 216 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,760 You can give to all the organizations you want, but that 217 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,680 will do nothing to contribute your right to your righteousness 218 00:12:37,680 --> 00:12:40,320 in the sight of God. You will be judged either by 219 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:45,840 having faith in God or not. So he expounds on what pure and 220 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:47,760 genuine religion looks like, right? 221 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:52,040 And that's not just saying you're a Christian, that's 222 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:55,800 trusting in His word and doing His work and in completing what 223 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,720 He's called you to do. You will see the acts that pour 224 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,680 out of you because you're clearly committed to God. 225 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:03,560 It's like what CS Lewis was saying. 226 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,240 Those of us that say thy will be done, we lean on God, we lean on 227 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:12,160 the Holy Holy Spirit, and those righteous acts pour out of us. 228 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:15,480 It's not something that comes necessarily naturally out of us, 229 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:18,000 but it pours out of us through the Holy Spirit. 230 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,640 And this is not about, well, you doing the works, doing the 231 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:23,600 works, doing the works. No, that's not what I'm saying. 232 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,160 I'm saying that if you are truly bought in, and this is something 233 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,120 that me and my wife were talking about recently being bought in, 234 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,640 if you're truly bought in into the things of Christ, in the 235 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:38,720 things of God, if you're truly bought in, there's a natural 236 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:43,120 reciprocity that happens, right? There's things that change in 237 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:46,120 within you and you get called into the things of God and a 238 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,480 passion begins to grow in you for the things of God. 239 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:50,880 And you say to yourself, well, what do I need to do? 240 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:52,880 What do I need? How do I need to speak? 241 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:56,120 How do I need to act? What are the things I need to be 242 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,920 speaking to people about? You know, the Great Commission 243 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,280 is just not something that God is in the Bible. 244 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,480 It's a command. And you start to say to 245 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:07,680 yourself, wait a minute, that's a command. 246 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:10,560 And you should say, well, I have peace and joy. 247 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:15,720 God has changed me, who I am. I was destined for hell and he 248 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:17,800 saved me. And I would want to share that 249 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:19,840 with the world. And those are the types of 250 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,200 things that we're talking about. That should be something that's 251 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:26,320 that's just boiling out of you. Just as this, this desire to 252 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,960 share the word of God, to share the gospel because it's what 253 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,760 saved you. It is the good news, and if not, 254 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,480 you have to ask yourself, why is it not burning inside of me? 255 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,520 Why is this passion not within me? 256 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,600 The disciples, the apostles, they gave their lives, they laid 257 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,280 down their lives for Jesus. Why am I not? 258 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,760 If I'm a disciple of Jesus, why am I not desiring to go out and 259 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:52,520 give the word as much as possible #4 God's judgment 260 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:57,400 reveals the seriousness of sin. Romans chapter 6 verse 23 says 261 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:02,360 for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is 262 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:04,880 eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. 263 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:10,280 Sin is not a small thing, it is rebellion against a holy God. 264 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:15,400 Judgment reveals how seriously God takes sin, not because he is 265 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:19,520 cruel, but because he is holy. Because sin is a rebellion 266 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:23,120 against God, we deserve judgment. 267 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,200 We deserve it because we've rebelled against God the same 268 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,440 way when your children rebelled against you, you punish them, 269 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:32,440 right? You punish them because they've, 270 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:34,280 they've committed an act of rebellion. 271 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,520 Now, of course, there are times where we extend grace to our 272 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,480 children like God extends grace to us. 273 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:41,800 And by the way, parents, that's a great lesson to give your 274 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,760 children. If I sometimes the girls will do 275 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:47,160 something and I'll be like, you know what? 276 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:49,920 It's OK. You can have it because God is 277 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:51,960 gracious to me. I'm going to be gracious to you. 278 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,800 Not always, but you know, every now and then you throw that in 279 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:58,200 there. If sin were harmless, there 280 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,160 would be no cross. There would be no need for a 281 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,960 cross. If sin were trivial, there would 282 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:06,640 be no judgment. The reality of judgment shows us 283 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,280 the death of our need for redemption. 284 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:14,320 Now listen to this. RC Spro once said every sin is 285 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:18,840 an act of cosmic treason, a willful act of defiance against 286 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,160 the authority of God. And when I read that, I thought 287 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:23,960 to myself, wow, that is powerful. 288 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,280 An act of cosmic treason. In other words, this doesn't 289 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:32,600 this doesn't isn't a mean thing. Sin is a rebellion against God 290 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:35,960 on a cosmic level. We know that to be true because 291 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:41,000 when Adam sinned and he fell, didn't God curse the earth? 292 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:46,720 This affected not only Adam, this affected Adam, this 293 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:50,560 affected Eve, this affected everyone after Adam. 294 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:54,000 This affected the ground, this affected the earth, affected 295 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:55,880 everything. And when you So when you think 296 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:58,200 about that sin, it's just not something trivial. 297 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,160 It's not just something that we all do. 298 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,320 This is not just an act, a throwaway act. 299 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:03,760 Oh, I made a mistake, I messed up. 300 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,359 Oh, I'm so no big deal. I'll just ask for forgiveness 301 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,680 later. No, this is an act of cosmic 302 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:14,440 treason on a level of divine and a level of of of beyond our 303 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,359 rationale that we can even understand against God. 304 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,880 Isaiah 59 two says, but your iniquities have made a 305 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,880 separation between you and God and your God, and your sins have 306 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:28,880 hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. 307 00:17:29,360 --> 00:17:33,360 Those who continue and sin separate themselves from God to 308 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:36,560 the point where he can't even hear them anymore if they don't 309 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:40,200 turn to Christ. James chapter one verse 15 says 310 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:44,920 then the desire then desires when it is has conceived gives 311 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:49,280 birth to sin and when it is fully grown brings forth death. 312 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:52,080 We all know that the wages of sin is what death. 313 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:58,120 Habakkuk chapter one verse 13 says You are of purer eyes than 314 00:17:58,120 --> 00:18:02,040 to behold evil. God judges sin because His 315 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:07,280 Holiness cannot coexist with it. Judgment is proof that sin 316 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,800 matters. It should matter to us also. 317 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,680 If it matters to God and we are Christians, it should matter to 318 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:15,720 us. And we should say to ourselves, 319 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,800 we need to not do those things that cause us to be in 320 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:26,640 separation with God #5 God's judgment is tempered by mercy. 321 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:32,160 James chapter 2 verse 13 says for judgment will be merciless 322 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:36,120 to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. 323 00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:42,440 Judgment is not God's desire, it is His response to unrepentant 324 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,800 sin. God's heart is mercy. 325 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:50,400 That is why he sent his Son, because He's merciful and He 326 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,600 wants us to be in a right relationship with Him at the 327 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:57,320 cross. Judgment fell on Jesus so mercy 328 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:01,840 could fall on us. Every sin was judged either on 329 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,400 Christ at the Calvary, at Calvary, or on the Sinner at 330 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:07,640 final judgment. There is no third option. 331 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,160 There is no third option. It's either we put our sins on 332 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:17,200 Jesus or the sins fall on us. We let him wash us clean, or we 333 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:18,600 pay for the things that we have done. 334 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,440 Those who trust in Christ do not escape judgment because they are 335 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,080 innocent. They escape because Christ was 336 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:30,560 judged in their place. The chief end of mercy is not 337 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:34,200 that man may be relieved, but that God may be glorified. 338 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,320 It is not sufficient to dwell and be satisfied satisfied with 339 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,200 God's mercy. We must glorify Him in 340 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,120 everything we do because of His mercy. 341 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:48,160 So when we're talking about sin and sinning against God on a 342 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,360 cosmic scale, how much more is His mercy for us? 343 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,680 When we think about that, when we think about the the the how 344 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:01,920 grand sinning against God is how much more is his mercy for us 345 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:05,560 that he sent his one and only son to die on the cross for us, 346 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:10,040 that those of us who were in active rebellion against him can 347 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:15,360 be made whole, can be brought into the family, can be adopted 348 00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:19,760 into Christ. Ezekiel chapter 33 verse 11 349 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,600 says. I have no pleasure in the death 350 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:24,960 of the wicked. He doesn't want to send the 351 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:26,960 people down there. They have chosen that. 352 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:28,800 And that's the thing that people forget. 353 00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:32,760 They think that it's it's not, it's not an act of grace when 354 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,920 Jesus gives the people over to God, gives them over to their 355 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,600 hearts desire, but it is it is an act of grace because he 356 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,280 wouldn't be a merciful God if he just stood there and said no, 357 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:46,680 you're going to serve me right. Nobody likes to be told what to 358 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:49,000 do, right? Us, man, we don't like to be 359 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:50,880 when our boss says, when you walk through the door and you're 360 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:53,240 like, this is what you're going to do today, right? 361 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:55,480 You know, hey, let me get in, let me get my cup of coffee. 362 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,600 Let me sit down, let me look at what I got going on. 363 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:59,600 We don't like to be told what to do. 364 00:21:00,360 --> 00:21:03,240 It's better when the boss comes and says, hey, man, come on, let 365 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,880 me come to my desk. Let me here's what we got going 366 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,440 on and you guys work it out together and you say, OK, this 367 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,280 is what I'm going to do. Here's the game plan is what I'm 368 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:13,000 going to do. Nobody likes to be, hey, did you 369 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:14,880 get those things done? Hey, did you get that? 370 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:17,760 Imagine if God was like that. Imagine if God was like, you're 371 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:21,880 going to serve me because I said so, because I'm God. 372 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:24,920 Is that mercy? Is that grace? 373 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,960 Is that loving? That's not loving. 374 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:29,680 And we know that God is love, right? 375 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,920 Psalm chapter 103, verse 8 says the Lord is compassionate and 376 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:39,800 gracious, slow to anger and abounding and loving kindness. 377 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,600 The cross is where justice and mercy meet. 378 00:21:45,360 --> 00:21:48,520 Judgment was satisfied so mercy could be extended. 379 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:53,120 God is not only the God of mercy, He is the God who 380 00:21:53,120 --> 00:21:56,800 delights to show mercy even at great cost to Himself. 381 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:03,520 Number six, God's judgment calls us to repentance. 382 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:07,760 Acts chapter 17, verse 30. And we're going to park here for 383 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:12,280 a little bit, so bear with me. Judgment is not meant to terrify 384 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:14,240 us into despair. It's not meant to you to be 385 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:18,400 scared and say, Oh no. It is meant to awaken us to 386 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,320 repentance. God warns because he loves, He 387 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,160 delays judgment because he desires salvation. 388 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,600 Today is the day of grace. Tomorrow is not promised. 389 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:33,200 I don't think I have to remind all of us are. 390 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:36,840 Most of us are adults here. And even for the children that 391 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,280 are here, not nothing is promised. 392 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:45,080 Tomorrow's not promised. I know that there are people 393 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:47,840 here who are actively dealing with loss. 394 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,640 I know enough people here that are actively like, as we speak, 395 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:56,320 have lost somebody recently. So we know that tomorrow is not 396 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:59,200 promised. Don't wait for tomorrow to get 397 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,080 right with God. Don't wait for next week to get 398 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:05,560 right with God. Tomorrow, today, you don't even 399 00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:08,240 my dad always used to say when he preaches, he'd be like, I'm 400 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:09,840 not even promised the next minute. 401 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:13,040 I could lose my breath up here and pass away right in front of 402 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:17,920 you guys and then my mom would be like, no, no, he says that 403 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,120 all the time too. I'm like, mom, we're good. 404 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:26,360 So God's patience has a purpose. The times of ignorance. 405 00:23:26,360 --> 00:23:28,760 God winked that. That's in Acts chapter 17 verse 406 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,760 30. This does not mean God approved 407 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,000 the sin or overlooked it without concern. 408 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:37,080 It means God exercised forbearance. 409 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:42,120 He restrained immediate judgment to allow time for revelation and 410 00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:46,120 repentance. Romans chapter 3 verse 25 says 411 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:49,840 for God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. 412 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:54,320 People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus 413 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:56,880 sacrificed his life shedding his blood. 414 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:01,320 This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back 415 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,560 and did not punish those who sinned in times past. 416 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:07,480 I don't need how much how much more clear it has to be. 417 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,800 God's justice and mercy meet in the cross. 418 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:15,480 In Christ. God dealt with sin once for all, 419 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,400 satisfying His righteous judgment while offering 420 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:20,400 forgiveness to those who believe. 421 00:24:21,360 --> 00:24:24,160 For those of us who believe, our sins are washed away. 422 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:28,480 That's glorious. You guys look so excited. 423 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:35,640 There we go. All those who cling out to Jesus 424 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:37,520 are made righteous in the sight of God. 425 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:42,520 My filthy rags are made new, there's a new wineskin on my 426 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:45,360 heart and I am indwelled with the Holy Spirit. 427 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:52,040 That's amazing that we are indwelled with God because of 428 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:54,440 our our belief, our faith in God. 429 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:56,720 That's it. All it takes is faith in God 430 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,600 that to believe is in who he says he is. 431 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,600 Now there's a new era of accountability that has arrived, 432 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:08,880 it says. But now this phrase marks a 433 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,000 turning point in redemptive history. 434 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:14,520 With the coming of Christ, ignorance is no longer an 435 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:18,040 excuse. Truth has been revealed, the 436 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:21,360 gospel proclaimed, and responsibility increased. 437 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:25,240 That's for everyone. Everyone in this room has heard 438 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:28,800 the gospel message. Nobody has an excuse. 439 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:32,520 Nobody has an excuse before God. Everyone here has heard the 440 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:37,240 gospel, and if not, I'll present it in a little bit so that then 441 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:38,520 nobody can really have an excuse. 442 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:43,360 God's patience in the past doesn't give us permission to 443 00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:49,520 keep sinning, but now at the right time, His call to turn to 444 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:55,440 Him is clear, urgent, and for everyone from the youngest to 445 00:25:55,480 --> 00:26:00,040 the oldest. Our responsibility is now to 446 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,840 turn to Christ. Hear what God says. 447 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,680 When the time came for me to show you favor, I heard you. 448 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:11,480 When the day arrived for me to saved you, I helped you. 449 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,240 Listen. This is the hour to receive 450 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,880 God's favor. Today is the day to be saved. 451 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,960 2nd and Corinthians chapter 6, verse 2. 452 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:26,240 Repentance is a command, not a suggestion. 453 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:30,360 God now commands. That's in Acts Chapter 7. 454 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:35,760 In the verse of Acts we read. Repentance is not optional 455 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,520 advice. It is the divine command. 456 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:43,080 God does not negotiate with sin, He demands repentance. 457 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,600 God once overlooked the ignorance of past generations, 458 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:52,640 but now He calls everyone everywhere to turn from sin and 459 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:57,440 to follow Him. The right time has come, he 460 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,200 said, and the Kingdom of God is near. 461 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:03,120 Turn away from your sins and believe the good news. 462 00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:06,280 Mark chapter one, verse 15. So what is the good news? 463 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:11,120 What is the good news? The good news is this, that God, 464 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,440 knowing from the beginning of time that we would be sinners 465 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:18,760 and that we would turn to sin, sent His one and only Son who 466 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:23,840 took the form of a man and lived amongst men and was sinless. 467 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:29,480 And for us, even though he we didn't exist at the time, He 468 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:33,160 knew that you, each and everyone of you would exist. 469 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,440 And He wanted to love you and he wanted you to be in good 470 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:40,920 standing with God himself. And He knew that you would rebel 471 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:43,320 against him. He knew that you would turn to 472 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,800 your sinful ways. He knew that you would invent 473 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:47,600 ways in your heart to sin against Him. 474 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,840 But in his omniscience, in his omniscience, He wanted to love 475 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:55,800 you. And so as Jesus, he came down 476 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,200 and he lived amongst men and he was sinless. 477 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,080 And the only thing that can wash away sin is blood. 478 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:06,360 Because again, it's cosmic defiance, it's cosmic rebellion. 479 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:10,400 And in order to be washed away, they had to be perfect blood. 480 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:15,240 And Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary to wash away 481 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:19,960 not only my sins, my acts of rebellion, but yours too. 482 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:24,720 And the only thing that's required for you is to believe 483 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,120 what He said and what he did. That's it. 484 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:32,760 In your heart, you believe that he died on the cross of Calvary 485 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,680 and that he resurrected. And he sits at the right hand of 486 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:41,720 the Father currently, in all his righteousness, in all his glory. 487 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:44,520 He's not dead. He is alive. 488 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:47,520 And we wait for the day that we can be united to Him. 489 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,280 That is the good news of Jesus Christ. 490 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:55,320 And if you believe in your heart and you confess with your mouth, 491 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:59,680 you will be saved. You will be saved for the day of 492 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:01,080 redemption. That's it. 493 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,800 That's it. Doesn't require you to crawl on 494 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:07,600 your knees. It doesn't require you to lash 495 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:09,240 yourself in the back. None of that. 496 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:15,520 John chapter 15 verse 22 says if I had not come and spoken to 497 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:17,280 them, they would not have sinned. 498 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:22,640 But now they have no excuse. We have no excuse. 499 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,120 Turn to Jesus, repent of your sins. 500 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:33,440 The command is universal. It says all men everywhere, not 501 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:37,200 just some, all men everywhere. And by all men he means all 502 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:39,880 women too. No one is exempt. 503 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:47,120 Repentance is required of every nation, culture, class, race and 504 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,320 individual. Everyone. 505 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:54,440 Children, adults, old people, young people, white, black, 506 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:58,760 Hispanic, Gloucester, New York, Newport News, doesn't matter. 507 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:03,600 The Gospel knows no boundaries. What God commands is for 508 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:09,200 everyone in every place at every time, because God's revelation 509 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,840 in Christ has exposed ignorance and called all to 510 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:15,000 responsibility. Paul declares that now God 511 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:19,240 commands everyone everywhere to repent, a universal summons in 512 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:25,360 the light of the gospel. Again, we're talking about on a 513 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:27,680 cosmic scale. He did something for us on a 514 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:30,120 cosmic scale. Of course the weights are 515 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:35,760 measured by that, but he's not asking for your sacrifice of 516 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:40,240 your children, which strangely enough, some people are more 517 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:42,600 willing to do. And I mean that genuinely some 518 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:44,760 people are more willing to do than turn to Christ. 519 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:48,520 They would rather genuinely literally sacrifice their 520 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,200 children. I don't mean that 521 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,920 metaphorically, I mean that literally kill their children 522 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:56,720 for whatever God they believe in rather than turn to Christ. 523 00:30:57,320 --> 00:31:02,680 That's a that's just profound. Romans chapter 3 verse 23 says 524 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:05,680 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 525 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:10,280 The Lord is not slow to do what He has promised as some think. 526 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:14,840 Instead He is patient with you because He does not want anyone 527 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:18,480 to be destroyed but wants all to turn away from their sins. 528 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:20,600 Second of Peter chapter 3 verse 9. 529 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:25,600 I didn't say that the Bible says that seek the Lord while He may 530 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:27,480 be found. Again I didn't say that. 531 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:30,280 Isaiah chapter 55. That's verse 6 and 7. 532 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:35,880 Luke chapter 13, verse 3 says unless you repent, you will all 533 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:38,560 likewise perish. Again, I didn't say that. 534 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:42,000 The Scripture says that grace has an expiration date. 535 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:50,000 Repentance must happen before judgment, not after seven, God's 536 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:54,080 final judgment. Then I saw a great white throne 537 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:57,760 and Him who sat on it. Revelation chapter 20 verse 11, 538 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:01,960 there is a final irreversible judgment. 539 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:05,960 This is not correction, it is conclusion. 540 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:09,840 In other words, you don't go to this judgment to sit there and 541 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:12,240 be corrected. This is the final judgment. 542 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:19,080 John chapter 5 verse 22 says the Father judges no one, but has 543 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:21,240 committed all judgment to the Son. 544 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:29,480 Jesus Christ Himself will judge. The Savior becomes the judge for 545 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:33,480 those who rejected salvation. Jesus, being fully God and fully 546 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,600 man, is perfectly righteous and impartial. 547 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:41,000 Unlike human judges who are fallible, he judges with 548 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:45,360 absolute justice and holiness. Because Jesus is the judge, 549 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:52,480 everyone is accountable to him. This includes believers and non 550 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:55,800 believers. Good news for those of us in 551 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:59,000 Christ, right? Because we are in communion with 552 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:03,640 Christ, because the Holy Spirit dwells with us, we will be 553 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:06,880 judged like if we were being judged by our own brother, by 554 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:10,960 our own Father, right? And what mercy would he give us? 555 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:14,560 I know that if my children were sitting before me and I was the 556 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:17,800 judge, I'd be like, free, get out of here. 557 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:21,600 You know I right, we wouldn't judge our own children that 558 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:25,960 harshly. But how much would you judge the 559 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:29,400 enemy, the person against you, the person who's done nothing 560 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,200 but bad towards you, the person who's done nothing but 561 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:35,440 rebellious acts towards you, who's done evil towards you? 562 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:38,080 If you had the ability to judge them, what would you do? 563 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,480 Now everybody's going to get on their Christian high horse and 564 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:43,680 be like, no, I'd be gracious. I'd be, I'd be so loving, right? 565 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:46,680 Yeah, yeah. If we had the opportunity, we'd 566 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:55,800 be like 30 years, right? He is merciful and has has 567 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,040 already borne the penalty for sin. 568 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:00,560 And that's for those of us that are believers. 569 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:02,120 He's borne the penalty of our sin. 570 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:07,200 We deserve judgment. We deserve to be righteously 571 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:12,000 judged, but God in his grace has taken that penalty for us. 572 00:34:13,639 --> 00:34:19,400 Then the books Revelation 20 verse 12 says the books were 573 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:23,040 opened and another book was opened which is the book of 574 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:26,360 life. Every life is recorded. 575 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:30,600 Deeds prove guilt. The book of life determines 576 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:33,719 destiny. So where will you be when he 577 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:35,800 opens the book of life? Where will your name be? 578 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:38,920 Will your name be on it? Will your name be on the good 579 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:40,800 side or on the wrong side of that? 580 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:49,400 The verdict Revelation 20 verse 15 says anyone not found written 581 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:54,239 in the book of life was what cast into the lake of fire. 582 00:34:55,760 --> 00:35:00,640 Matthew chapter 25 verse 46 says these then will be sent off to 583 00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:04,280 eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal 584 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:07,800 life. This judgment is eternal, final 585 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:11,240 and unappealable. There's no appellate court. 586 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:14,320 There's no I think they made a mistake. 587 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:19,320 There's no, can I get another one or there's no null process 588 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:22,680 like they do here in in Virginia where you can say, well, they 589 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:24,400 didn't have enough evidence against me. 590 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:28,080 God is going to have all the evidence he needs, whether 591 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,800 whether you live the right way or the wrong way, whether you 592 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:35,440 turn to him or you rejected him. He knows your heart. 593 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:40,120 He knows what's really in there. And you can lie to man all you 594 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:43,640 want, but God knows. It's amazing how people think 595 00:35:43,640 --> 00:35:46,840 they can lie to God and they just, they continue to think 596 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:47,880 they're going to get away with it. 597 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:51,280 You can lie to your parents, you can lie to your spouse, you can 598 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:54,320 lie to your coworkers, you can lie to to anyone you come 599 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:56,960 across. You can put up this facade, but 600 00:35:56,960 --> 00:36:01,480 God knows your heart. God's judgment is not 601 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:04,280 speculation. It is not cruelty. 602 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:09,000 It is justice and it's not and it's not hopeless because mercy 603 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:12,160 is still available. Today is the day you can still 604 00:36:12,160 --> 00:36:16,600 turn to the Lord. Now is the accepted, accepted 605 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:18,920 time. Behold, now is the day of 606 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:21,800 salvation. Second of Corinthians chapter 6, 607 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:24,840 verse 2. And this is not meant to scare 608 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:26,720 anyone. This is not, this is reality. 609 00:36:26,720 --> 00:36:29,200 This is the truth. I'm not saying this because I 610 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:32,520 want people to scare you into coming to Jesus. 611 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:34,120 That's not how it works anyway, right? 612 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:38,920 You have to genuinely love the things of God and you don't do 613 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:41,560 that out of fear. You don't marry someone out of 614 00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:44,000 fear. You develop love for that 615 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,680 person. That's afterwards. 616 00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:48,400 You get the fear after you're married. 617 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:57,680 She's laughing a little too hard over this. 618 00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:00,680 If Christ is your savement, if I'm sorry, if Christ is your 619 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:03,560 savior, judgment holds no terror. 620 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:06,440 For those of us that are Christian, we look forward for 621 00:37:06,440 --> 00:37:08,360 this day. We look forward for his return. 622 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:12,200 We look forward for the day that we can stand before our God and 623 00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:14,320 He accepts us and He calls us in there. 624 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:18,800 If Christ is not your Savior, judgment holds no escape. 625 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:25,320 That was my time. It's all good. 626 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:30,240 Choose mercy while it is offered because judgment is certain. 627 00:37:30,240 --> 00:37:35,240 And again, the message is in to bring one of fear is for you to 628 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:39,120 contemplate and to pray and to think about where you stand with 629 00:37:39,120 --> 00:37:41,560 God and your walk with God. Where are you? 630 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:45,040 Are you truly walking as God has intended you to be? 631 00:37:45,320 --> 00:37:48,480 It's a new year, right? And we should be praying for his 632 00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:53,160 will to be done in our lives. And like CS Lewis said, there's 633 00:37:53,160 --> 00:37:55,120 going to be some of us that God is going to. 634 00:37:55,360 --> 00:37:58,760 You're going to look to God and say that will be done. 635 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:02,360 And there's some of us probably here that God is going to say, 636 00:38:03,240 --> 00:38:04,680 I'm giving you over to your will. 637 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:08,320 This is what you desire. And I pray that there's nobody 638 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:10,720 in here that's like that. But you know who knows? 639 00:38:10,720 --> 00:38:12,640 I don't know the hearts of man. God knows the heart of man. 640 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:18,880 So that being said, let's pray. Dear Lord, we come before your 641 00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:20,560 presence, Lord, and we thank you for today. 642 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:23,640 Lord, we thank you for this time that you have allowed us to come 643 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:25,880 and fellowship. Lord, we thank you for this 644 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:28,920 congregation. Lord, these believers and and 645 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:31,120 those that are here today. Lord, I ask that you just 646 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:34,760 penetrate their hearts and their minds with this thought, Lord. 647 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:38,120 And I just know that this is meant not only for them, but for 648 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:39,920 me as well, Lord. And I thank you, Lord, for 649 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:42,800 speaking truths and revealing truths to us when we need it, 650 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:46,480 Lord, I pray that if there's anyone here amongst us, Lord, 651 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:49,400 that has not turned to you, Lord, that you just open their 652 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:51,240 minds and their hearts to run towards you. 653 00:38:51,240 --> 00:38:54,400 And it's just desire to have you in their lives or that they may 654 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:58,160 profess that you are not only their savior, but their God, and 655 00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:00,480 that you are Christ the King, Lord in their lives. 656 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,280 Lord, going forward, Lord, I pray for the people in this 657 00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:06,280 church that you know what's going on in their families and 658 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:08,840 in their devotional times and whatever is going on that you 659 00:39:08,840 --> 00:39:10,560 just continue to draw them closer to you. 660 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:13,760 Lord, I pray for each and every person here that they just be a 661 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:15,920 beacon of light to the community around there. 662 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:19,520 Lord, in this church, just continue to grow in everything 663 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:21,240 that it does. Lord, I pray for Pastor John 664 00:39:21,240 --> 00:39:24,120 Michael and his family, Lord, that you continue to bless him, 665 00:39:24,120 --> 00:39:28,040 strengthen him, be with him, lead him, help him, guide him as 666 00:39:28,040 --> 00:39:30,800 well as his wife and his children, Lord, and everybody 667 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:33,920 here that helps him. Lord Adam and all the leaders in 668 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:36,760 this church as well, Lord and their families that you just 669 00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:39,080 guide them and strengthen them as they go forward, Lord. 670 00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:43,680 Lord, I know that you give these type of sermons to help us. 671 00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:47,240 Just re center Lord and just remind us of who you are Lord, 672 00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:51,520 that you are just not a God of a book, but that you are the God 673 00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:54,480 of all creation, Lord. And I just ask that you just 674 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:58,240 help us, Lord, and just in reminding us of who you are, a 675 00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:01,560 righteous God who not only gives us mercy and grace, but judges 676 00:40:01,560 --> 00:40:03,960 us, Lord, that we just be reminded of that constantly. 677 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:07,560 Not out of fear, but out of love for you, Lord, that you just 678 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:11,280 continue to just drive us as we go forward loving you and the 679 00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:14,160 things of God. Lord, I pray that you just take 680 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:17,240 each and every person here home today safely Lord, and that we 681 00:40:17,240 --> 00:40:19,280 may go forward this week and in this year. 682 00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:21,840 Lord, just desiring you and all that we do. 683 00:40:21,840 --> 00:40:25,440 Lord, we ask you all this in Jesus name we pray, Amen and 684 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:25,720 Amen.