Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Doctrines of Grace: Irresistible Grace

Transcript

Doctrines of Grace: Irresistible Grace · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
All right.
0:02
Well, we...
0:04
JoJo, you by yourself?
0:08
Did you say we're coming?
0:10
! Did you say we're coming tonight?
0:12
!
0:30
We have tonight, and we have one more.
0:33
This tonight, we're looking at the saving act of the Spirit.
0:36
So that's kind of where we've been so far.
0:38
If you, by way of reminder, we talked about sin, depravity, the shattered image of God.
0:44
We kind of did a little bit of a history lesson on what the church has taught historically.
0:52
Then three weeks ago, before Easter, we did the saving work of the Father,
0:58
which is election, planning our salvation, that sort of thing.
1:04
Then last week, we did the work of the Son, which we talked about atonement and what that meant.
1:11
And this week, the saving work of the Spirit.
1:13
And it's really crazy, because I always grew up not hearing that salvation was Trinitarian.
1:18
I always just thought, Jesus saved me.
1:20
And it's true.
1:21
But it's just cool how the Scripture, in detail,
1:25
talks about how each member of the Trinity had a role in our salvation.
1:31
And so, just sort of connecting the dots,
1:35
because, like I've kind of, just kind of sarcastically joked a little bit,
1:40
there's no such thing as a three-point Calvinist or a five-point Calvinist.
1:45
They may say that, but what they're really saying is they're disconnecting these doctrines.
1:51
So, like the Father planned our salvation, and by His grace and by His mercy chose an elect people to be saved,
2:01
the Son then dies for those elect, right?
2:07
Just for the elect about that last time.
2:10
And so, and then now the Spirit is the one who applies that work.
2:15
He takes what Jesus did, and He applies it to the individual.
2:19
So, that's kind of what we're going after tonight.
2:23
So, but, just to kind of make it, you know, a little more personal,
2:33
we, I usually give you one quote from somebody in the past who's taught this,
2:40
and this is from William Tyndale.
2:42
This was the man who wasn't the first to translate the Bible into English,
2:47
of course that was John Wycliffe, but Wycliffe translated from the Latin into English,
2:52
because he didn't speak Greek or Hebrew.
2:55
But Tyndale translated the New Testament from Greek and from Hebrew.
3:00
The whole Bible, eventually.
3:03
And so, yeah, he was the English reformer.
3:06
Eventually, he was, you know, caught and betrayed.
3:10
But he spent, like, I think seven years on the run as a fugitive translating the Bible,
3:15
while both the English crown and Rome was, like, hunting him down all simultaneously.
3:20
But eventually, he was caught and executed for translating the Bible into English.
3:29
And so, yeah, thanks to him, we have much of what we have in our modern-day English translations.
3:34
But he believed in what we're talking about, God's election,
3:42
the atoning work of the Son for the elect, and then the regenerating power of the Spirit.
3:47
And this is what he actually wrote about the work of the Spirit.
3:50
And he says,
3:52
Note now the order, meaning, like, this is how Scripture talks about how this happens.
3:57
First, God gives me light to see the goodness and righteousness of the law,
4:03
and my own sin and unrighteousness, out of which knowledge springs repentance.
4:08
Then the Spirit works in the heart, trust and confidence,
4:12
to believe the mercy of God and His truth,
4:16
that He will do so as He promised, which belief saves me.
4:20
And so here's how you know what he means.
4:24
Just as a child does not cause the conception of his father, or even of himself,
4:31
and an unsaved person does not initiate salvation,
4:34
the work is done upon him by the Spirit of God.
4:37
So, just a little blast from the past.
4:41
Just good to kind of keep reminding ourselves this isn't new stuff.
4:44
So, but, have you ever just sort of been, I guess, amazed by the Spirit's regenerating power in your life,
4:55
or in somebody else's life, where they weren't who they used to be?
5:00
And sometimes it happens overnight, like Saul of Tarsus, quickly.
5:05
You know, he struck down, and there's a different guy the next morning when he woke up.
5:10
And some people have explained their salvation that way.
5:13
Others, it was more, God saved them.
5:16
But that change was, then sanctification was sort of slower.
5:21
But I just want to emphasize, like, the power of God to save anybody tonight.
5:26
He can save whoever He wants to.
5:29
And He can do it fully and completely.
5:32
And just a reminder that He saved you to rejoice in your own salvation,
5:38
that He can save anybody.
5:39
Like, the worst of the worst.
5:41
And we see that everywhere in the Scripture.
5:44
But I thought I would give you, like, a fun, more modern-day example.
5:49
This would probably lead to more conversation, but I just, like, won't for sake of time.
5:54
But, how many of you remember this guy?
6:00
Anybody remember that name?
6:01
Some of the older folks might.
6:05
Well, this guy, David Berkowitz, was a serial killer in the late 70s.
6:14
And he murdered six people in New York City and became known as the Son of Sam.
6:20
Was eventually arrested.
6:22
Cops surrounded his car.
6:24
Guns pointed at him.
6:26
And he's like, they should have blown me away.
6:28
Like, the cops said, like, we were that close just to, like, letting, you know, loose on you.
6:35
So, basically, God sent us to life in prison.
6:41
And, but, he tells the story.
6:44
He was actually interviewed many years ago by Focus on the Family.
6:47
And he basically talks about how he came to know Christ while he was in prison.
6:54
And it's a pretty incredible story.
6:56
And it seems genuine.
6:58
A lot of guys in prison fake their conversion or just kind of, like, put it on to, like, gain favor with guards or gain favor with the authorities.
7:06
And, but, in his case, like, he's got nothing to gain.
7:12
He's in prison forever.
7:13
He's not getting out.
7:14
He's not getting any favors.
7:16
And, and some of the guards in this interview, they had two guards that they interviewed.
7:21
And the guard said, yeah, he's, it's real.
7:24
Like, it's not, he's not, this isn't a game.
7:26
It's not, like, a show to him.
7:28
And there's been some mainline news people who have interviewed him.
7:32
And they were, like, really nervous about me.
7:34
And he was just a really nice guy and just came up and just greeted them and talked to them about Jesus when they got there.
7:40
And that's what it kind of looks like today.
7:44
But a guy started sharing the gospel with him in the workout yard at the prison.
7:50
And eventually, the guy gave him a pocket New Testament with the Psalms.
7:55
And he actually has a Jewish background.
7:59
And so the guy really encouraged him, as he was sharing the gospel, to read the Psalms.
8:02
And, and at some point, you know, alone in his cell, he said he got, the lights were out and he got by himself where no one was watching.
8:12
Because he didn't want anybody to see him, you know, what he was doing.
8:14
But he just began to pray and pour his heart out to the Lord.
8:18
And this is kind of what he said in the interview.
8:20
I told him that I was sick and tired of doing evil and asked Jesus to forgive me for all my sins.
8:26
I spent a good while on my knees praying to him.
8:29
And when I got up, it was, it felt as a very heavy but invisible chain that had been around me for so many years was broken.
8:38
A piece flooded over me.
8:40
I did not understand what was happening.
8:42
Meaning like, now I know I was, I was, the Lord was saving me.
8:46
Like he was, I was born again.
8:47
I just didn't know what was happening in that moment.
8:50
But, but in my heart, I just knew that my life somehow was going to be different.
8:55
And so I have that interview thing.
8:58
If you ever want to hear, I can try to get it to you somehow.
9:00
But he just shares the gospel of people in prison, the guards, the prisoners.
9:04
But it is how the Lord can completely, you know, alter somebody.
9:10
So, just to connect, remember, as we did this in our first week, we kind of went over just how, not just our condition is kind of bad.
9:22
Our condition is awful.
9:24
And our condition is desperate, is desperate.
9:27
Apart from God's saving grace.
9:29
This is what scripture says, right?
9:31
We look at it all.
9:32
Born spiritually dead.
9:34
Our minds darkened by sin.
9:35
Our hearts corrupted by evil.
9:38
Slaves to sin.
9:39
Children of the devil.
9:41
None good or righteous.
9:43
Our will is in bondage to sin.
9:46
And we're unable to improve upon our condition.
9:48
And that last one is important.
9:49
We can't just like wake up one day and just decide to change.
9:53
On our own power and our own strength.
9:55
And so, but really quickly, like, before you were a believer, can you like now go back and sort of retrace your steps to see how God was pursuing you?
10:11
Like, looking back at it?
10:12
To see God's grace, God sort of, in His own gentle way, sort of pursuing you by putting people around you.
10:23
By putting books into your hands.
10:24
By putting a Bible in your hands.
10:26
Parents.
10:27
Friends that were just sharing with you.
10:29
And at the time, you were like, whatever.
10:31
But now you're like, wow, He was like, He was on top of me.
10:34
Like, He was chasing me.
10:36
He was pursuing me.
10:37
And at some point, the Lord overcame me, you know, and saved me.
10:46
I just want you to think about that while we're meeting.
10:49
Like, God's pursuit of you.
10:53
Alright?
10:54
Because we tend to get it backwards.
10:56
Like, we just woke up today and decided to start pursuing God.
10:59
And it doesn't really work that way.
11:01
So, in what way did the Holy Spirit bring the Gospel message to you when you believe?
11:07
So, think about where it was.
11:09
Was it at home?
11:10
Was it reading the Bible somewhere?
11:12
Was it a conversation with a family member?
11:14
Or a friend?
11:15
And like, how did He use that moment to bring you to faith?
11:21
That's some of the stuff to kind of think on personally in the background.
11:25
As we're going forward.
11:26
So, can we think about being regenerated?
11:36
What particularly stands out to you?
11:38
Like, what does regeneration...
11:40
What need does it meet in our spiritual condition before Christ?
11:46
What do you think?
11:51
Every one of these things are needs that we had when we weren't in Christ.
11:56
And regeneration meets a particular...
12:00
Well, it meets a few of these, but...
12:02
Which one kind of stands out to you?
12:05
What need does it meet?
12:17
Born again?
12:20
Why do we need to be born again?
12:22
Why do we need to be born again?
12:26
Anybody?
12:30
Because we were spiritually dead.
12:33
So, if you're spiritually dead, you need to be resurrected.
12:37
You need new life.
12:38
You need a second birth.
12:40
So, it meets that need in particular.
12:42
But then, that new birth renews our minds, gives us new hearts,
12:47
frees us from sin,
12:49
makes us children of God,
12:51
makes us righteous before God,
12:53
sets our wills free,
12:56
and then,
12:57
God is the one who initiates and changes us.
13:00
So, here's sort of a definition for you,
13:03
just for regeneration.
13:05
The Greek just means a new birth.
13:07
Reproduction, renewal, recreation,
13:09
often denotes the restoration of a thing
13:13
to its original, pristine state.
13:16
Or a renewal or restoration of life after death.
13:22
And so, just a quick textbook definition.
13:25
Taking that.
13:27
Regeneration is the secret act of God
13:29
in which He imparts new spiritual life to us.
13:33
As the gospel comes to us,
13:35
God speaks through it
13:37
to summon us to Himself.
13:39
That's the effective calling.
13:41
And to give us new spiritual life regeneration.
13:45
So that we are enabled to respond in faith.
13:49
Right?
13:50
I mean, these are just a few terms
13:52
I'd like to understand
13:53
that we'll be using throughout the night.
13:57
So, we've heard the term irresistible grace.
13:58
And if you're familiar with
13:59
the five points of Calvinism,
14:01
this is the eye, the two lip.
14:04
It really is just a term that refers to the fact
14:07
that God effectively calls people
14:09
and also gives them regeneration.
14:13
And then, effective or internal gospel call
14:17
is the act of God speaking
14:20
through human proclamation of the gospel
14:22
in which He summons the elect to Himself
14:25
in which that they respond in saving faith.
14:30
So, the term itself can sometimes lead
14:34
to misunderstanding
14:34
because it seems to imply
14:37
that man doesn't make at some point
14:39
a voluntary, willful choice
14:41
to respond to the gospel.
14:44
He does.
14:45
Alright?
14:45
So, don't...
14:46
They're not at odds with each other.
14:48
What we're saying is
14:49
the man has to be born again first.
14:52
And when he is,
14:54
the inevitable outcome of that is faith.
14:57
And he willingly and gladly
14:59
puts his faith in Christ
15:01
as a result of being born again.
15:03
And he will.
15:04
It's an effective, irresistible call
15:07
that God puts on him.
15:10
So, it doesn't negate faith.
15:12
But we're just saying
15:13
that a dead man cannot have faith
15:15
in God.
15:18
So, I'm just trying to save some time.
15:22
But, like, just so you know,
15:24
there is also a general
15:25
or external gospel call
15:27
which refers to the general
15:30
gospel invitation
15:31
to all people
15:32
that comes through
15:33
human proclamation
15:34
of the gospel.
15:35
So, you'll see all this
15:37
when we're reading here
15:38
in a minute.
15:39
But this is just the idea
15:41
that, like, we go out
15:41
and we preach the gospel
15:42
to all people.
15:44
It's just this general call
15:45
that goes out
15:46
to all men
15:47
regardless of who they are.
15:50
And that particular call
15:52
can be rejected.
15:55
So, save some time.
15:58
Alright.
15:59
So, let's get into our outline.
16:06
Alright.
16:08
So, just simply pointing out
16:10
that the Father saves,
16:13
the Spirit saves,
16:14
and the Holy Spirit saves.
16:17
Alright.
16:17
So, point number one.
16:19
Sinners, through regeneration,
16:23
are brought into God's kingdom
16:25
and are made His children.
16:26
The author of this new birth
16:29
is the Holy Spirit.
16:31
And the instrument
16:32
in which He uses
16:33
is the Word of God.
16:36
Alright.
16:37
So, just a couple verses
16:39
so that we can see that.
16:42
John says,
16:43
but to all who did receive Him,
16:45
who believed in His name,
16:46
He gave them the right
16:47
to become children of God.
16:48
That's what we just read.
16:50
Who were born,
16:51
not of blood,
16:52
nor of the will of the flesh,
16:54
nor of the will of man.
16:56
So, that's basically saying
16:57
not out of any desire
16:59
or willful act
17:00
that we put into it,
17:01
but of God.
17:05
Right?
17:05
And Jesus talks about
17:07
being born again there
17:08
in John 3,
17:09
Titus 3.
17:10
He saved us,
17:11
not because of works
17:12
done in righteousness,
17:13
but according to His own mercy
17:14
by the washing of regeneration
17:16
and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
17:20
So, meaning,
17:22
like the instrument
17:23
that the Spirit uses to save us
17:26
is the Word of God.
17:27
So, when we speak the Word of God
17:29
in the Gospel,
17:30
and the Holy Spirit uses that
17:32
to regenerate somebody,
17:34
it's crazy.
17:36
So, it's a mysterious work.
17:38
That's why Jesus said
17:39
in John 3,
17:41
you hear the wind blow,
17:44
you see its effects,
17:46
right?
17:46
But you don't know
17:47
where it's coming from.
17:49
So, meaning that
17:50
you can see the work
17:51
of the Spirit,
17:51
but you can't see the Spirit.
17:53
You can't, like,
17:54
it's a mysterious work
17:55
that the Spirit does.
17:57
And Paul remarks that
17:58
for some reason,
18:00
God has ordained
18:01
to accomplish this,
18:03
bringing people
18:03
to the kingdom
18:04
through the foolishness
18:05
of preaching.
18:06
That's what he says.
18:07
Like, it doesn't make sense
18:09
that God would use
18:10
my words,
18:11
my sloppy,
18:14
imperfect,
18:14
but truthful
18:15
Gospel presentation.
18:17
He uses that
18:17
to save someone.
18:19
Or it can be just reading
18:20
the Word of God,
18:21
you know.
18:22
But,
18:23
so it's a mysterious work.
18:25
So the instrument
18:26
uses the Word of God.
18:27
And we know that
18:27
not just based on
18:30
acts and seeing people
18:32
preach the Word,
18:33
but in 1 Peter here,
18:35
it says,
18:37
He has caused us
18:38
to be born again
18:39
to a living hope
18:41
through the resurrection
18:42
of Jesus Christ
18:43
from the dead.
18:43
Look at verse 23.
18:45
Since you have been
18:46
born again,
18:46
not a perishable seed,
18:49
but imperishable
18:50
through the living
18:51
and abiding Word
18:52
of God.
18:55
Should I share with them
18:58
what this actually means?
18:59
Yeah, okay.
19:02
I just don't want
19:03
to torture Jojo twice.
19:05
So,
19:05
so what,
19:07
I want you to think about
19:09
human anatomy
19:11
and biology
19:12
for a second.
19:13
I promise not to get
19:14
graphic, parents.
19:16
But,
19:16
the word seed
19:17
is what you think it is.
19:19
It's not pumpkin seed,
19:21
it's,
19:22
it's a male
19:23
reproductive thing.
19:25
And saying that God
19:26
plants His Word
19:27
in you.
19:29
And at some point,
19:30
that grows
19:31
and there's a birth
19:32
that happens.
19:33
Right?
19:34
And,
19:36
and at some point,
19:37
that person is born again.
19:39
If God indeed
19:40
plants His Word
19:41
in them.
19:42
And,
19:44
we kind of remark
19:45
at the apprenticeship,
19:47
like just as there's
19:48
like a season
19:49
where a woman
19:49
doesn't know
19:50
that she's pregnant
19:51
just yet,
19:52
there,
19:52
there may be a period
19:53
where God is actually
19:54
working that
19:55
in the person's heart.
19:56
working His Word
19:58
in their,
19:58
in their soul.
19:59
And at some point,
20:00
it will result
20:01
in a new birth.
20:04
So,
20:04
I'll just stop there
20:05
before I get any more graphic.
20:06
But,
20:06
you get the point.
20:07
That's just what the word means,
20:09
you know.
20:09
So,
20:09
anyway,
20:10
I always joke about it.
20:12
You know,
20:12
you remember it.
20:12
You don't remember it
20:13
because of what we talked about.
20:15
But,
20:15
another way
20:16
that
20:17
the Bible talks
20:18
about regeneration
20:19
is this idea
20:21
of being born again,
20:22
a second Genesis.
20:23
being a new creature.
20:27
A new creature,
20:28
excuse me.
20:29
Next part.
20:30
I'll stop in a minute.
20:32
Ask questions.
20:32
But,
20:33
through the work
20:33
of the Holy Spirit
20:34
in the new
20:36
and everlasting covenant,
20:38
the dead sinner
20:39
is given a new heart
20:40
or nature
20:41
and is enabled
20:43
to walk in obedience
20:44
to God's law.
20:46
In Christ,
20:47
He becomes a new creation
20:48
with new affections
20:50
and desires
20:51
to love God.
20:52
Okay.
20:53
So,
20:53
remember,
20:54
before we were in Christ
20:57
in the fallen state,
20:59
we had no desire for God.
21:01
Right?
21:02
We didn't love God.
21:03
We didn't obey God.
21:05
And,
21:05
the result,
21:07
though,
21:07
of the Holy Spirit's work
21:08
in us
21:09
is that we
21:10
are new creations.
21:12
That we're given
21:13
a heart
21:14
to actually love God.
21:15
And,
21:16
what I love about this
21:17
is it was prophesied
21:18
about in the Old Testament
21:19
the Spirit would come
21:20
and do this work.
21:22
He talks about it
21:22
in Jeremiah
21:23
where He says
21:25
that He will write
21:25
His law upon their hearts.
21:28
And then,
21:28
in Ezekiel,
21:30
let's look at this one.
21:32
He says,
21:32
I will give them
21:33
one heart
21:34
and a new spirit
21:35
I will put within them.
21:36
I will remove
21:37
their heart of stone
21:38
from their flesh
21:39
and give them
21:40
a heart of flesh
21:41
so that,
21:43
right,
21:43
they may walk
21:44
in My statues
21:45
and keep My rules
21:46
and obey them
21:47
and I shall be,
21:49
they shall be My people
21:50
and I will be
21:50
their God.
21:51
Then,
21:52
a little later on
21:53
in Ezekiel,
21:55
I will give you
21:56
a new heart
21:56
and a new spirit
21:57
I will put within you.
21:58
I will remove
21:59
the heart of stone
22:01
from your flesh
22:02
and give you
22:03
a heart of flesh.
22:04
And listen to this.
22:05
This is,
22:05
this is a prophecy
22:06
of the Holy Spirit
22:07
coming.
22:09
Now,
22:09
we're studying
22:12
the Old Testament
22:12
right now
22:13
in my men's
22:14
discipleship group.
22:16
We just finished
22:16
reading 1 Samuel.
22:18
Saul.
22:20
Right?
22:21
So in the Old Covenant,
22:22
the Holy Spirit
22:22
rested and empowered
22:24
prophets,
22:26
priests,
22:27
kings
22:27
to do His work.
22:28
He rested on them
22:30
and empowered them
22:31
to accomplish a mission.
22:32
But,
22:33
that Holy Spirit
22:33
could be taken away
22:34
and that's what happens
22:35
to Saul.
22:35
Like,
22:35
once he disobeys God,
22:37
it says that he took
22:38
his spirit from him
22:39
and then an evil spirit
22:40
came to torture him,
22:42
to torment him.
22:43
And that's why David
22:44
prays in Psalm 51,
22:46
like,
22:46
God,
22:47
do not take
22:47
your Holy Spirit
22:48
from me.
22:50
Alright?
22:50
So,
22:51
these are prophecies
22:52
that that's going
22:53
to change one day.
22:54
That one day
22:55
the Holy Spirit
22:56
is going to come
22:56
and take up
22:58
residence
22:58
inside
22:59
His people.
23:01
Like,
23:01
take out
23:03
their sinful heart,
23:04
their sinful desires,
23:05
their sinful flesh,
23:07
and give them
23:08
a heart
23:08
of flesh
23:09
so that they
23:10
will love God.
23:11
You see that?
23:12
So they will know God
23:13
and love Him.
23:14
And then he says
23:15
in this last part,
23:16
verse 27,
23:17
I will put
23:18
My Spirit
23:19
within them
23:20
and cause you
23:23
to walk in My statues
23:24
and be careful
23:25
to keep My rules.
23:26
So there's a prophecy
23:27
that like,
23:28
one day,
23:29
My Spirit's going to come
23:30
and dwell in people
23:31
and I'm going to give them
23:31
a new heart.
23:33
And of course,
23:33
there's a very familiar one
23:34
in 2 Corinthians 5.
23:35
If anyone's in Christ,
23:36
a new creation.
23:38
The old is past.
23:39
Come back to this one
23:40
for a second.
23:41
The Holy Spirit
23:42
raises the dead
23:43
sinner
23:44
from a state
23:44
of spiritual death
23:45
and makes them
23:47
alive.
23:48
Right?
23:49
Those are
23:49
very clear passages
23:51
on that one.
23:52
But John 5,
23:53
for as the Father
23:54
raises the dead
23:55
and gives them life,
23:57
so also the Son
23:58
gives life
23:58
to whom He will.
23:59
Don't forget
24:00
that last part.
24:01
To whom He will.
24:03
Whoever He wants to.
24:05
So,
24:06
then we get that
24:06
Ephesians 2.
24:08
We were dead
24:09
in our trespasses.
24:11
Right?
24:12
We were made alive
24:14
together with Christ.
24:16
By grace,
24:16
you have been saved.
24:17
So,
24:17
you get the point here.
24:20
But here's what's
24:21
critical to understand,
24:22
particularly in the way
24:23
we're talking about it.
24:25
If you're in a state
24:26
of spiritual death,
24:28
maybe a better analogy.
24:30
So,
24:31
if most of us
24:32
have been to a funeral
24:33
before,
24:34
family member,
24:35
friend,
24:37
that dead corpse
24:38
is not breathing.
24:39
It's not,
24:40
no air is going in,
24:41
no air is coming out.
24:42
It's like life has ceased.
24:45
That's the word dead.
24:46
That word dead
24:47
means corpse.
24:49
Spiritually speaking,
24:50
like a corpse.
24:53
So,
24:53
spiritually speaking,
24:55
the air you would be
24:56
breathing is faith.
24:57
Right?
24:58
In relationship to God.
24:59
If you were alive,
25:00
you would have faith.
25:02
And so,
25:03
what happens is,
25:04
God raises the dead sinner,
25:07
gives them life,
25:09
puts the spirit with them.
25:10
You know what the outcome is?
25:12
Faith.
25:13
Like,
25:14
the air that they breathe
25:15
following that resurrection
25:17
is faith in Christ.
25:19
So,
25:20
that analogy works true.
25:21
but the way
25:23
I was taught it was,
25:25
I exercise faith first
25:26
and then God rewards me
25:28
with being born again.
25:30
But,
25:30
but according to what we're just reading,
25:31
the order in which it's laid out,
25:33
that's not how it's laid out.
25:34
It's,
25:35
he regenerates us,
25:36
he raises us,
25:37
and then,
25:38
and then we have,
25:40
we have faith
25:40
as a result of that.
25:42
And so,
25:44
but it's basically,
25:45
if you can imagine
25:46
going to the tomb of Lazarus,
25:48
what if Jesus said,
25:50
Lazarus,
25:51
if you want me to make you alive,
25:53
come out first,
25:54
and then I'll make you alive.
25:55
It's sort of a,
25:57
instead he said,
25:57
no,
25:58
come out.
25:58
and because of his
26:00
omnipotent command,
26:02
he comes out.
26:03
It's a very,
26:04
it's a metaphor for us,
26:06
spiritually,
26:07
you know.
26:08
So,
26:08
any questions
26:09
or comments?
26:12
I may not know the answer to everything.
26:14
You said,
26:15
you said that you can take
26:16
his spirit from you
26:18
like,
26:18
like that,
26:20
and you can't
26:21
become
26:22
not a believer.
26:24
Mm-hmm.
26:25
So,
26:25
what's the difference between this?
26:26
Yep.
26:27
The difference is,
26:28
to put it in very familiar terms,
26:31
the difference between
26:32
what the spirit did
26:32
in the Old Testament
26:33
and what the spirit does now
26:35
in the New Testament.
26:37
In the Old Testament,
26:39
he did not come up
26:40
and take residence
26:40
inside people.
26:42
He just,
26:43
he,
26:44
God anointed people.
26:45
Remember,
26:45
he anointed Saul,
26:46
he anointed Samuel,
26:48
he anointed different people,
26:50
and the spirit came
26:51
and empowered them,
26:53
gave them the strength
26:53
to accomplish a mission.
26:55
Does that make sense?
26:56
So,
26:56
in this case,
26:56
he anointed,
26:57
King Saul
26:59
and empowered Saul
27:00
to be the king,
27:01
to triumph over the pagan enemies,
27:04
to bring the people together.
27:07
Did the same thing
27:07
with King David.
27:09
But Saul,
27:10
if you remember the stories,
27:11
I mean,
27:11
he just,
27:11
he just disregarded God's commands.
27:14
He rebelled against God.
27:16
God would say,
27:16
hey,
27:16
here's what I want you to do
27:17
through Samuel.
27:18
He'd be like,
27:19
God wants you to
27:19
do this,
27:21
this,
27:21
and this,
27:22
and this,
27:22
very particular way.
27:24
And Saul kept amending
27:25
what God said,
27:26
like,
27:26
well,
27:27
I'll do that and that,
27:28
but I won't do this.
27:29
You know,
27:29
and he kept doing it
27:30
and disobeying God.
27:32
And the consequence was,
27:33
he was warned not,
27:34
he was warned not to stop,
27:35
and he kept doing it.
27:36
And then,
27:37
Samuel finally confronted him
27:39
and said,
27:40
the Lord has torn your power
27:42
from you.
27:43
Like,
27:43
it's over for you.
27:45
And so the Spirit
27:46
was taken away from him.
27:52
No.
27:53
But so,
27:54
so what we just read
27:55
in Jeremiah and Ezekiel
27:57
are prophecies
27:58
that one day
27:58
the Holy Spirit
27:59
is going to come
28:00
and he'll do something different
28:01
and seal them,
28:03
right?
28:03
And,
28:04
and not,
28:04
not go away,
28:06
like remain,
28:07
take up residence
28:08
so that,
28:09
you know,
28:09
1 Corinthians,
28:10
we are now the temple
28:11
of the Holy Spirit,
28:12
like the Spirit lives
28:13
and dwells in us.
28:14
As believers.
28:16
So,
28:17
so if you truly are
28:18
saved,
28:19
then no,
28:20
the Spirit's not
28:21
going to leave you.
28:22
But,
28:23
we're speaking
28:24
in a different context.
28:24
Good question, buddy.
28:30
Yeah,
28:30
that's actually
28:31
what we read this morning
28:31
about how
28:32
God took the Holy Spirit
28:33
away from Saul.
28:35
And so David saw that.
28:36
Like,
28:36
David saw what happened
28:37
to Saul.
28:39
And so that's why
28:40
he prayed
28:40
after he had
28:41
committed adultery
28:42
with Bathsheba,
28:43
like,
28:43
Lord,
28:43
do not take
28:44
your Holy Spirit
28:45
from me.
28:45
Like,
28:45
that was the context
28:46
in which the Spirit
28:47
operated.
28:51
Yeah,
28:51
anything else?
29:00
Oh.
29:02
Next week.
29:03
I'm just kidding.
29:06
Perseverance of the saints
29:07
next week.
29:07
Well,
29:08
I mean,
29:10
so,
29:12
I think some of that
29:14
will be answered
29:14
in what we're talking
29:15
about tonight.
29:16
But,
29:16
but in general,
29:17
the Holy Spirit
29:18
has the ability
29:19
to make people feel
29:19
bad about their sin,
29:21
to make them feel
29:23
guilty about stuff.
29:24
But that's different
29:25
than repentance.
29:27
It's different.
29:28
So,
29:28
so some people that,
29:30
you know,
29:30
you may share the gospel
29:31
with,
29:31
they feel bad
29:32
about what they've done.
29:32
They have a sense
29:34
of guilt
29:34
about what they've done,
29:36
but it falls short.
29:37
It doesn't actually
29:38
go to true repentance.
29:39
It's like a worldly sorrow.
29:41
They hate
29:41
how it makes them feel.
29:43
They hate
29:44
what it's done
29:44
to their friends
29:45
and family,
29:46
but it falls short
29:47
of like true repentance.
29:49
And so,
29:50
but,
29:52
but yeah,
29:53
I mean,
29:53
if indeed
29:54
they walk away
29:56
and kind of prove
29:57
that they're not
29:58
in the faith
29:59
and the spirit
29:59
was never
30:00
in them
30:01
in the first place,
30:02
you know,
30:03
so.
30:13
Yeah.
30:16
Yeah.
30:23
Yep.
30:24
So meaning,
30:25
like next week,
30:26
just a glance
30:28
at next week,
30:28
perseverance
30:29
of the saints
30:29
means that those
30:31
who are truly saved,
30:33
truly born again,
30:35
even though they,
30:36
they struggle
30:36
and have battles
30:38
and sometimes sin,
30:41
like the overall
30:42
projectile is
30:43
they will persevere
30:44
until the end,
30:45
like they will make it
30:46
and,
30:47
and be saved.
30:48
And what Ernie's saying
30:48
is like there are
30:49
some people
30:50
who come around
30:50
and they look like Christians,
30:52
they talk like Christians,
30:53
they hold their heads right,
30:54
they sing all the songs,
30:56
but,
30:56
but eventually
30:57
they fall away
30:58
just proving
30:59
that they were
30:59
never of
31:00
the faith anyway.
31:02
That's what he just read.
31:03
Like,
31:04
they went out from us
31:05
and they left us,
31:06
but that was to show
31:08
that they were
31:08
never of us.
31:10
Sort of think about
31:11
Judas a little bit,
31:12
like how he was
31:13
around Christ
31:14
all the time
31:14
and he'd be like,
31:15
yeah,
31:15
Judas is one of,
31:16
Judas is one of
31:16
Jesus' boys.
31:18
Not really.
31:19
Jesus,
31:19
Jesus said
31:19
that he never
31:20
belonged to them
31:21
and so,
31:22
I don't know,
31:27
you'll have to ask him
31:27
one day.
31:31
I mean,
31:31
one clear answer,
31:32
Jesus says
31:33
the scripture will be fulfilled
31:34
like it was written
31:35
that the Messiah
31:36
would be betrayed one day.
31:38
Yeah.
31:51
Oh,
31:52
don't get that personal.
31:55
I'm just kidding.
31:57
You mean,
31:58
you mean Derek Webb?
31:59
Yeah.
32:01
Well,
32:01
when we were in college,
32:04
we loved Derek Webb.
32:06
Like,
32:07
he said a lot,
32:08
we loved his music,
32:09
he wrote a lot of
32:09
really good things,
32:11
true things,
32:12
and then is now
32:13
apostate,
32:15
renouncing the faith.
32:17
At least what you told me,
32:18
like actually trying
32:19
to deconstruct it,
32:20
you know.
32:23
We don't know,
32:24
like I'm really hesitant now,
32:26
I used to do this all the time,
32:27
but really hesitant now
32:28
to say that person
32:29
is not,
32:32
or that person will not,
32:33
because I don't know.
32:35
I will say right now
32:36
it doesn't seem like they are,
32:38
and they continue in that path,
32:39
they,
32:40
they,
32:41
it'll lead to destruction,
32:42
but,
32:43
could God,
32:44
if he wants to,
32:45
like grab Derek Webb's
32:48
soul?
32:48
He could,
32:49
if he wants to,
32:50
but as for now,
32:51
it really does seem
32:53
like he has,
32:54
that he never had it
32:55
to begin with,
32:56
like it was never a real thing,
32:57
he knew a lot in his head,
32:59
and he,
33:00
he had this outward show
33:01
of being a follower of Jesus,
33:02
but,
33:03
but deep down,
33:04
it never was like real
33:05
to begin with,
33:06
so,
33:08
but maybe,
33:08
maybe he'll come back around,
33:10
and that doesn't change
33:11
anything that he's saying
33:12
that was true
33:13
to be untrue though,
33:14
like,
33:14
he still said a lot of good things,
33:16
and,
33:17
it all was truthful things,
33:18
but,
33:19
it kind of started with his divorce,
33:28
when you say,
33:29
with Sandra McCracken,
33:32
yeah,
33:32
and you see the difference
33:33
in how both of them handled it,
33:35
she's handled it by drawing nearer to Christ,
33:38
and he's kind of handled it
33:39
by running away,
33:41
so,
33:43
yeah,
33:43
Josh Harris is another one,
33:46
yeah,
33:46
this is all getting into,
33:47
like,
33:47
the next week,
33:48
but,
33:48
yeah,
33:48
just like,
33:49
you just don't ever know,
33:51
like,
33:52
Lord,
33:52
just help us persevere,
33:54
no matter what,
33:55
all right,
33:59
this next point,
34:01
we can get through,
34:03
pretty quickly,
34:04
but,
34:04
but think about this,
34:06
who is the,
34:07
the one who reveals,
34:09
the truth about God to us,
34:12
it's the Holy Spirit,
34:13
he is the one who like,
34:14
teaches us about who God actually is,
34:17
truthfully is,
34:19
that's his role,
34:20
that's what he does,
34:22
so,
34:23
the next part,
34:23
revealing the things of God,
34:24
the Holy Spirit reveals,
34:25
the deep and secret things of God,
34:27
to man,
34:29
man's intellect,
34:30
and self exertion,
34:31
may attain,
34:33
a certain knowledge of God,
34:35
but not a saving knowledge,
34:36
meaning like,
34:37
there are unbelievers,
34:39
there's,
34:39
there's religious professors,
34:41
who know a lot of true things,
34:42
about the Bible,
34:43
but they don't believe it,
34:45
they're not like,
34:46
actually saved by it,
34:48
so,
34:49
they can have an intellectual assent,
34:51
to the truth,
34:53
but then the Holy Spirit,
34:54
enables man not merely,
34:55
to reach an intellect,
34:57
so,
34:58
let's just pick one of these,
35:00
um,
35:03
hmm,
35:05
now they're both good,
35:06
yeah,
35:08
let's look at,
35:16
the last part of Matthew there,
35:18
he says,
35:19
all things have been handed over to me,
35:20
by my Father,
35:22
no one knows the Son,
35:23
except the Father,
35:24
and no one knows the Father,
35:25
except the Son,
35:27
and anyone to whom the Son,
35:28
chooses to reveal,
35:30
so you see some kind of,
35:31
election idea there,
35:33
right,
35:33
yeah,
35:37
so what the Spirit does,
35:39
he's the one,
35:40
who reveals us,
35:41
the knowledge,
35:41
about who Jesus is,
35:43
so it's true,
35:44
to actually kind of,
35:45
say both,
35:46
but I guess,
35:46
a big distinguishing,
35:47
one would be here,
35:48
in first Corinthians,
35:49
so let's look at that one,
35:51
these things,
35:51
God has revealed to us,
35:53
through his Spirit,
35:54
for the Spirit,
35:55
searches everything,
35:56
even the depths of God,
35:58
for who knows,
35:59
a person's thoughts,
36:00
except the Spirit,
36:01
of that person,
36:02
which is in him,
36:04
so also,
36:05
no one comprehends,
36:06
the thoughts of God,
36:07
except the Spirit,
36:08
of God,
36:09
now we have received,
36:10
not a spirit of the world,
36:12
but the Spirit,
36:13
who is from God,
36:14
that we might understand,
36:15
the things freely,
36:16
given to us,
36:17
by God,
36:18
which is also,
36:19
a knowledge of Jesus,
36:20
the Son,
36:21
so going back to your,
36:22
question,
36:23
so,
36:24
and we impart this,
36:26
in words not taught,
36:27
by human wisdom,
36:29
but taught,
36:30
by the Spirit,
36:31
interpreting spiritual truths,
36:32
to those who are spiritual,
36:34
and here's a really,
36:35
critical verse,
36:35
don't miss this one,
36:36
verse 14,
36:37
the natural person,
36:38
okay,
36:38
so the,
36:38
the fallen,
36:40
sinful person,
36:42
without,
36:42
without God,
36:44
does not,
36:45
accept,
36:45
understand them,
36:46
because they are,
36:46
spiritually discerned,
36:48
you see that,
36:48
so,
36:49
so man left to himself,
36:50
can't come to that kind of knowledge,
36:53
again,
36:54
some,
36:54
some intellectual knowledge,
36:55
sure,
36:55
but not a saving knowledge,
36:59
man left to himself,
37:00
a natural person,
37:01
it's,
37:01
it's silly to him,
37:02
it doesn't make sense to him,
37:04
like,
37:04
yeah,
37:04
I get it,
37:05
but,
37:05
I'm not there,
37:07
so,
37:08
the Spirit is the one,
37:09
who teaches us,
37:10
about who Jesus is,
37:12
the gospel,
37:14
yeah,
37:14
all right,
37:16
so now,
37:18
getting to the,
37:19
the general call,
37:20
of the gospels,
37:21
what we kind of referred to earlier,
37:23
we see in such passages,
37:26
in scripture,
37:27
God summoning,
37:28
men and women,
37:28
to repent,
37:29
and believe the gospel,
37:30
right,
37:30
so,
37:31
Paul goes out,
37:31
and he preaches to a large crowd,
37:34
what's going on,
37:36
when he does that,
37:37
this is referred to,
37:38
as the gospel call,
37:40
which is the general invitation,
37:41
that goes out to all people,
37:43
by way of human proclamation,
37:45
other terms,
37:48
used for this,
37:48
are the external call,
37:49
so meaning like,
37:51
of the gospel message,
37:53
this doctrine,
37:54
of the gospel call,
37:55
is important,
37:55
because if there were,
37:57
no external proclamation,
37:59
of the good news,
38:00
no one would be saved,
38:01
so,
38:01
so again,
38:02
this goes back to the idea,
38:03
that God has chosen,
38:05
so try to remember,
38:06
if you have your notes,
38:08
from like last Sunday,
38:09
I did a whole,
38:09
the whole sermon was about this,
38:11
like,
38:11
it was about how,
38:13
like God has chosen,
38:15
the means,
38:16
to reach his people,
38:18
and that means,
38:18
is the preaching of the gospel,
38:20
right,
38:21
so,
38:21
that message goes out,
38:22
to all people,
38:24
without any kind of distinction,
38:27
we preach the gospel,
38:27
to all people,
38:29
we have a,
38:30
you know,
38:30
obviously a lot of examples,
38:31
of that,
38:32
Romans 10,
38:35
how they call upon him,
38:37
whom they have not believed,
38:39
and how are they to believe in him,
38:40
of whom they have never heard,
38:41
and,
38:42
and how are they to hear,
38:44
without someone preaching,
38:46
how,
38:47
are they to preach,
38:48
unless they are sent,
38:49
so you get the,
38:50
the picture there,
38:52
so God has,
38:54
ordained our ends,
38:56
which is our salvation,
38:57
but he's also ordained,
38:59
the way that's to happen,
39:00
the means,
39:00
which is,
39:01
the proclamation of the gospel,
39:02
that's why we go,
39:03
we do it,
39:03
remember,
39:10
just by way of reminder,
39:12
we'll look at,
39:13
Acts 18 again,
39:15
real quick,
39:18
Acts chapter 18,
39:20
when Paul's in Corinth,
39:22
not to give you the whole sermon,
39:23
we did last week,
39:25
but remember,
39:25
Paul,
39:28
stresses a,
39:30
personal responsibility,
39:33
to preach the gospel,
39:34
he takes it personally,
39:35
he says like,
39:36
you know what,
39:37
blood be on your own heads,
39:38
I'm innocent,
39:39
I'm free,
39:40
I've warned you,
39:41
I've told you,
39:42
and you haven't listened to me,
39:44
so,
39:45
it's the same guy,
39:46
Romans 9,
39:47
you know,
39:47
he gets it,
39:49
but then after that,
39:51
again,
39:51
he's sort of discouraged,
39:52
and in verse 9,
39:54
chapter 18,
39:55
he says,
39:55
the Lord said to Paul,
39:56
one night,
39:57
in a vision,
39:58
do not be afraid,
40:00
but go on speaking,
40:01
do not be silent,
40:03
for I am with you,
40:04
and no one will attack you,
40:05
to harm you,
40:06
for I have many,
40:07
in this city,
40:08
who are my people,
40:10
alright,
40:11
and we talked about,
40:12
what that actually meant,
40:14
last week,
40:15
how that's an encouragement,
40:16
for evangelism,
40:17
that knowing,
40:19
that God has a people,
40:21
empowers you to go,
40:22
it doesn't make you lazy,
40:24
it gives you confidence,
40:26
to go,
40:27
and reach them,
40:28
I've kind of,
40:29
I did the analogy already,
40:30
you can,
40:32
when I got invited,
40:33
to the Gay Straight Alliance,
40:35
on campus,
40:36
yeah,
40:38
and God was like,
40:39
my God,
40:40
what's going to happen,
40:40
I don't know,
40:41
what's going to happen,
40:41
I hope you're just a good,
40:43
I hope you do a good job,
40:44
I hope you can convince people,
40:46
don't mess it up,
40:48
yeah,
40:50
yeah,
40:53
if they were angry,
41:00
they didn't show it to us,
41:02
I think,
41:04
they were shocked,
41:06
that,
41:07
we used to just hearing,
41:10
you queers,
41:11
you're going to hell,
41:11
which is true,
41:15
if they don't repent,
41:17
but,
41:18
yeah,
41:20
but,
41:21
the difference is,
41:22
I brought myself,
41:23
under that umbrella too,
41:24
I'm like,
41:25
you're under condemnation,
41:27
I'm under condemnation,
41:28
I'm a sinner,
41:29
you're a sinner,
41:30
like we're all guilty,
41:31
before God,
41:32
like I need a savior,
41:33
you need a savior,
41:35
my sin is appalling to God,
41:37
your sin is appalling to God,
41:38
so I kind of put myself,
41:39
they weren't used to that,
41:40
they're used to more of a self-righteous condemning,
41:43
versus like,
41:44
hey,
41:44
like,
41:46
we're all screwed,
41:46
and we all need a savior,
41:48
they're not used to kind of hearing that,
41:49
that's not the same,
41:49
but,
41:50
yeah,
41:53
it is true,
41:56
those people weren't wrong,
41:57
who say that,
41:58
but they're not preaching the gospel in humility,
42:00
and they're not putting themselves in,
42:02
with someone who also needs Jesus,
42:04
you know,
42:04
that's the difference,
42:06
so,
42:07
but yeah,
42:09
so that,
42:09
God has chosen the means,
42:11
alright,
42:11
so listen to this though,
42:13
that general gospel call,
42:16
is often rejected,
42:17
right,
42:19
so you preach,
42:20
you see Paul preaching to,
42:21
people in Corinth,
42:22
and the Jews say,
42:23
yeah right,
42:24
get out of here,
42:25
we don't believe,
42:26
we don't believe Jesus was the Messiah,
42:28
so,
42:29
so let's look at this,
42:33
though the,
42:35
re-burble,
42:36
oh my gosh,
42:37
yep,
42:39
though expressing the gospel in words,
42:41
of the gospel message,
42:43
is powerful,
42:44
not all people who hear it,
42:46
receive it,
42:47
we often can see in scripture,
42:49
and in our own lives,
42:50
that people perish,
42:51
even after hearing,
42:52
and knowing the gospel,
42:54
those who do resist,
42:55
the spirit's influence,
42:56
do so,
42:57
because God has justly,
42:59
underlined justly,
43:01
decided not,
43:03
to change their hearts,
43:05
look at Acts,
43:06
7,
43:08
51,
43:09
you stiff neck people,
43:10
uncircumcised,
43:11
and heartened ears,
43:12
you always resist,
43:13
the Holy Spirit,
43:15
as your fathers did,
43:17
so do you,
43:19
and,
43:20
all the day long,
43:21
I've held out my hands,
43:22
to disobedient,
43:23
and contrary people,
43:25
so meaning,
43:25
like,
43:26
you know,
43:27
this was a verse,
43:28
that I had a hard time,
43:29
reckoning,
43:30
what we would call,
43:31
irresistible grace,
43:31
it says right here,
43:32
that like people are resisting,
43:34
the grace of God,
43:35
so,
43:35
what's going on,
43:37
what does that mean,
43:37
but,
43:40
this is,
43:41
the contrast,
43:42
right,
43:43
go to the next section,
43:46
like sadly,
43:48
many reject,
43:49
the general,
43:51
external call,
43:52
of the gospel,
43:54
however,
43:55
in addition,
43:55
to this external call,
43:57
the Holy Spirit,
43:58
extends a special,
44:00
inward call,
44:01
to the elect only,
44:04
the special call,
44:05
the spirit,
44:05
cannot,
44:06
cannot,
44:06
and will not be,
44:07
rejected,
44:09
it is an effectual call,
44:11
and always results,
44:12
in the conversion,
44:13
of those,
44:14
to whom it is made,
44:16
and in an act,
44:17
of mercy,
44:17
the Holy Spirit,
44:18
effectually calls,
44:19
the elect,
44:19
by overcoming,
44:20
all resistance,
44:22
and making his influence,
44:23
irresistible,
44:24
to them,
44:26
at the appointed time,
44:27
the spirit,
44:28
regenerates all,
44:29
that the father,
44:29
has chosen,
44:30
or elected,
44:31
to salvation,
44:32
those who do respond,
44:34
in faith,
44:34
to the gospel call,
44:36
though not perhaps,
44:36
right away,
44:37
so it doesn't mean,
44:38
like the first time,
44:38
they hear it,
44:38
they're just going to go,
44:39
oh,
44:39
I'm saved,
44:40
like it may be a while,
44:42
are those,
44:43
that God is predestined,
44:44
to believe,
44:45
all those,
44:46
that God,
44:47
predestined,
44:47
he effectually calls,
44:49
by his spirit,
44:50
all right,
44:51
now here's a bunch,
44:51
of scriptures,
44:52
about that,
44:53
so we read,
44:54
here,
44:55
and Paul,
44:57
Paul writing to Romans,
44:59
all right,
45:00
Jesus,
45:00
very clearly,
45:01
he goes,
45:01
many are called,
45:03
but few are chosen,
45:04
meaning like,
45:05
many people hear the gospel message,
45:07
but of those people,
45:09
few are chosen,
45:12
Romans 1,
45:13
6 and 7,
45:15
he says,
45:16
who you were called,
45:18
remember,
45:18
all these letters,
45:19
were to Christians,
45:19
right,
45:20
including you,
45:22
who were called,
45:23
to belong,
45:24
to Jesus Christ,
45:25
to those in Rome,
45:26
who were loved by God,
45:28
and called,
45:28
to be saints,
45:30
it's this effectual,
45:32
calling idea,
45:33
Romans 8,
45:34
38,
45:35
does not be predestined,
45:36
he called,
45:37
does not be called,
45:38
he justified,
45:41
um,
45:43
that's 8,
45:46
38,
45:47
yeah,
45:47
my bad,
45:48
uh,
45:48
at least we got it right on here,
45:52
then you look at,
45:53
um,
45:54
Romans 9,
45:55
which we went over,
45:57
in order to make known,
45:57
the riches of his glory,
45:59
for vessels of mercy,
46:00
which he prepared beforehand,
46:01
for glory,
46:02
even us,
46:03
whom he has called,
46:05
not from the Jews only,
46:07
but also from the Gentiles,
46:08
right,
46:09
so,
46:09
just to give you a few,
46:10
um,
46:13
verses for that,
46:16
uh,
46:16
there's a lot,
46:18
but when God,
46:18
when they mention in the letters,
46:20
that,
46:20
that,
46:20
that,
46:20
you who are called,
46:22
he's talking about to the Christians,
46:23
you who are,
46:24
um,
46:25
God has affectionately called to himself,
46:27
and as Jesus said,
46:29
many are called,
46:31
the general call of the gospel,
46:33
but few are chosen,
46:35
right,
46:36
now,
46:36
now look,
46:37
many of us in here,
46:39
including me,
46:40
we heard the gospel growing up,
46:41
and we're like,
46:41
nah,
46:43
like,
46:44
no thanks,
46:45
I'm going to have a good time,
46:46
I'm going to go and have,
46:48
you know,
46:48
figure out life on my own,
46:49
my parents are telling me this,
46:51
my pastor is,
46:52
my grandparents,
46:53
but I kind of want to have a good time,
46:54
I kind of want to sin for a while,
46:56
and,
46:57
uh,
46:57
try that out,
46:58
see how that goes,
46:59
um,
47:00
we've all,
47:01
some of us have lived that life,
47:03
so at that point,
47:05
we were being stiff-necked,
47:08
and we were resisting the Holy Spirit,
47:11
but,
47:13
I think you'll agree,
47:14
there was an appointed time,
47:17
when God said,
47:18
enough,
47:20
you're done,
47:22
you're done rebelling against me,
47:24
and you're done running,
47:27
and that gets to our next part,
47:28
the Spirit imparts saving faith and repentance,
47:31
so at the appointed time,
47:34
the Holy Spirit imparts saving faith,
47:37
to the elect,
47:38
upon hearing the external call,
47:40
of the gospel,
47:42
these are verses,
47:43
I just read over,
47:44
and never saw,
47:45
until I just sort of,
47:46
put them together,
47:47
I'm like,
47:47
what?
47:47
yeah,
47:48
they're everywhere,
47:49
so Acts 11,
47:51
we see this idea,
47:53
that,
47:54
um,
47:56
then to the Gentiles,
47:57
also given,
47:58
excuse me,
47:59
also God has granted,
48:01
repentance,
48:03
leading to life,
48:04
um,
48:05
Acts 13,
48:06
this one's,
48:07
very real,
48:09
alright,
48:10
now look,
48:10
they're preaching the gospel,
48:12
to a large crowd of Gentiles,
48:14
okay,
48:16
it says,
48:16
when the Gentiles heard this,
48:17
they began rejoicing,
48:18
glorifying the word of the Lord,
48:20
and underline this,
48:21
and as many,
48:22
who were appointed,
48:24
to eternal life,
48:25
believed,
48:26
pfft,
48:27
what?
48:28
you know,
48:29
I,
48:29
I just never saw that,
48:31
so what was the difference?
48:33
They were appointed,
48:34
to our eternal life,
48:35
and in that moment,
48:37
God used that preaching,
48:38
of the gospel,
48:39
by the apostle,
48:41
and he used that,
48:41
to regenerate them,
48:42
and it resulted,
48:44
in saving faith,
48:46
uh,
48:47
we see a picture,
48:47
of Lydia here,
48:48
in Acts 16,
48:50
the Lord opened her heart,
48:53
to pay attention,
48:55
to what was said by Paul,
48:56
see that,
48:58
an access,
49:00
we see in Philippians 1,
49:01
God has granted to you,
49:04
that for the sake of Christ,
49:05
that you should not only believe in him,
49:07
so he,
49:07
look,
49:08
belief in Christ,
49:09
has been granted,
49:10
you see that,
49:12
God has allowed it,
49:14
not only to believe in him,
49:16
but also suffer for his sake,
49:18
and we see it again,
49:20
in 2nd Timothy,
49:22
that God may,
49:24
perhaps,
49:25
grant them repentance,
49:27
leading to a knowledge of the truth,
49:29
and they may come to their senses,
49:32
and escape,
49:34
the snare of the devil,
49:35
after being captured by him,
49:36
to do his will,
49:38
very chill,
49:38
awakening,
49:39
where you come to your senses,
49:41
like spiritually speaking,
49:43
not just like,
49:43
yeah,
49:43
I need to quit,
49:44
doing this,
49:45
it's like God shows you,
49:47
your desperate need for Christ,
49:49
and,
49:50
regenerates you,
49:52
so,
49:54
yeah,
49:54
does that make sense?
49:59
yep,
50:00
so at some point,
50:02
me who heard the gospel,
50:04
a lot growing up,
50:06
had an intellectual understanding,
50:08
of it,
50:08
I could explain it to you,
50:10
I could talk about it,
50:12
and at least at the time,
50:13
I thought I believed it,
50:14
but there wasn't a lot of real evidence,
50:15
behind that,
50:17
but at some point,
50:18
God,
50:20
at an appointed time,
50:21
was like,
50:21
that's it,
50:22
that's enough,
50:23
and he,
50:23
he took what I knew,
50:25
about the gospel,
50:26
and he saved me,
50:27
and sometimes,
50:28
that can be,
50:30
you might not fully,
50:31
you know,
50:32
it's an instantaneous event,
50:33
when the Holy Spirit,
50:34
regenerates you,
50:35
but,
50:36
it may not be,
50:37
just like a,
50:37
a pinpoint moment,
50:39
that you can say,
50:40
I can,
50:40
I can probably pin it down,
50:41
to like a four,
50:42
or five month period,
50:44
where I knew God,
50:44
was doing something,
50:45
and working in me,
50:47
to where I was never,
50:48
the same again,
50:49
but a lot of people,
50:51
want that Damascus road experience,
50:52
like Saul,
50:53
he's on the horse,
50:54
and Jesus goes,
50:54
I am Jesus,
50:55
and he goes,
50:56
oh I'm your,
50:56
you know,
50:57
so,
50:57
we all,
50:58
we all don't have that,
50:59
so don't,
50:59
don't think,
51:00
because you don't,
51:01
that you're not,
51:01
in the faith,
51:03
but,
51:05
lastly,
51:09
I kind of already,
51:10
I kind of jumped ahead,
51:11
didn't I,
51:11
I'm sorry,
51:12
so,
51:13
missions and evangelism,
51:15
are commanded by God,
51:16
because he's chosen,
51:17
the preaching of the gospel,
51:18
as the means,
51:19
in which to bring salvation,
51:21
to his people,
51:22
who are scattered abroad,
51:24
God's election ensures,
51:26
that our efforts,
51:26
of evangelism,
51:27
and missions,
51:28
are not left to chance,
51:31
and it emboldens Christians,
51:32
knowing,
51:33
that God has a definite people,
51:35
that he will save,
51:36
by the power of his spirit,
51:37
I read Acts 18,
51:40
about,
51:42
John 10,
51:45
Jesus says,
51:45
I have other sheep,
51:46
who are not of this fold,
51:47
and what he means,
51:48
by this fold,
51:49
is like,
51:49
Israel,
51:50
like,
51:50
I have people,
51:53
who belong to me,
51:54
who are not a part,
51:54
of this fold,
51:55
and he goes beyond that,
51:58
and he goes,
51:59
I must bring them in also,
52:00
he means Gentiles,
52:01
and they will listen,
52:03
to my voice,
52:04
so there will be one flock,
52:05
with one shepherd,
52:08
alright,
52:11
my beatings,
52:13
and my imprisonments,
52:14
my starvation,
52:15
my torture,
52:16
that I've been through,
52:18
I endure all that,
52:19
because I know,
52:20
that God has,
52:20
an alike people out there,
52:22
that's what he's saying,
52:23
so that they will obtain,
52:25
the salvation,
52:26
that is in Christ Jesus,
52:27
with eternal glory,
52:29
so,
52:30
again,
52:33
just imagine like,
52:34
being,
52:35
going out into,
52:37
a closed country,
52:39
like,
52:39
somewhere in the Middle East,
52:40
or somewhere in Asia,
52:41
where you could be killed,
52:43
or imprisoned for the gospel,
52:45
and,
52:45
and God was just like,
52:47
good luck buddy,
52:49
go get them,
52:50
don't mess it up,
52:51
you know,
52:51
make sure you practice,
52:52
that gospel presentation,
52:54
and,
52:55
if they have questions,
52:55
you better be able to answer them,
52:57
because their soul is,
52:58
kind of in your hands,
52:59
that would be kind of scary,
53:01
but instead,
53:02
it's like,
53:02
God's saying,
53:03
hey,
53:03
I have people go,
53:05
like,
53:05
I have people,
53:06
that I'm going to use,
53:07
your foolish preaching,
53:08
to save,
53:10
and,
53:10
one,
53:13
example was,
53:16
good many years ago,
53:17
when I was like,
53:18
in Canvas Outreach,
53:20
we were down in,
53:21
down in Florida,
53:22
and,
53:23
I met with this one student,
53:26
I think he was from UGA,
53:28
and,
53:29
I shared the gospel with him,
53:31
it was like,
53:31
the perfect gospel presentation,
53:32
it was like,
53:33
and I was like,
53:35
you know,
53:36
like,
53:36
nailed it,
53:37
and,
53:38
like,
53:38
it was just crystal clear,
53:39
I laid it out perfectly,
53:41
and,
53:42
I was like,
53:42
does that make sense,
53:42
and he was like,
53:43
not really,
53:44
and I'm like,
53:46
huh?
53:46
And so,
53:47
I spent,
53:48
you know,
53:48
at the ticky stand,
53:49
just talking to him for,
53:50
an hour,
53:51
and I'm like,
53:51
man,
53:51
this is just like,
53:52
this is ridiculous,
53:54
and like,
53:55
I don't,
53:55
I don't really know,
53:56
where that guy is spiritually,
53:58
and then,
53:59
maybe,
54:00
a few days later,
54:01
another guy,
54:04
also with me at GA,
54:06
I didn't sleep well,
54:08
the night before,
54:09
and I was just like,
54:11
groggy,
54:11
and tired,
54:12
and discouraged,
54:13
and,
54:13
and,
54:14
and he's like,
54:15
man,
54:15
just explain the gospel to me,
54:16
like,
54:17
that's what we're talking about,
54:17
a lot,
54:18
what is it,
54:18
and I'm like,
54:19
you know,
54:21
and I just tried to,
54:22
went through a very sloppy gospel presentation,
54:26
and I was like,
54:27
does that make sense,
54:30
and he goes,
54:31
I've never heard anything so clear,
54:34
and I'm like,
54:35
huh?
54:36
So,
54:36
again,
54:37
so,
54:38
like,
54:39
so the power is resting on God's spirit,
54:41
not on my ability to,
54:43
communicate something,
54:45
clearly or unclearly,
54:47
to,
54:48
I mean,
54:48
you have to speak truth,
54:49
then like,
54:50
you can just make up stuff,
54:50
you've got to share the gospel message,
54:52
you know,
54:53
but,
54:53
but,
54:54
but ultimately,
54:56
it's the spirit convincing them,
54:57
and showing them,
54:59
right,
54:59
that,
55:00
he means business,
55:03
um,
55:04
did we ever look at,
55:06
John 6,
55:08
did we ever look at John 6,
55:17
I can't remember,
55:18
John 6,
55:19
44,
55:20
we did,
55:23
we did,
55:24
all right,
55:27
did we,
55:34
yeah,
55:38
there we go,
55:39
just look at this one real quick,
55:41
um,
55:41
this one was always,
55:43
one of those that just made me scratch my head a little bit,
55:45
uh,
55:47
verse 44,
55:48
Jesus says,
55:50
okay,
55:50
this is important,
55:51
no one can come to me,
55:54
all right,
55:54
so,
55:54
we would call that an absolute condition,
55:57
like,
55:58
Jesus saying,
55:59
no one can come to me,
56:01
unless,
56:03
the Father who sent me,
56:05
draws him,
56:07
and I will raise him up on the last days,
56:11
as the prophet says,
56:12
they will be taught by God,
56:14
and everyone who has heard and learned from the Father,
56:16
comes to me,
56:17
all right,
56:19
so,
56:21
the,
56:21
opposition,
56:25
I would just call it friendly opposition,
56:26
other,
56:27
other believers who don't believe this,
56:29
they would,
56:30
look at that word,
56:31
draw,
56:31
that's the,
56:32
that's the word,
56:32
right,
56:34
that we need to think about,
56:35
what does it mean for the Holy Spirit to draw somebody,
56:38
um,
56:39
well,
56:41
they would interpret it as,
56:43
woo,
56:44
like,
56:45
the Holy Spirit saying,
56:46
hey,
56:46
come on,
56:48
look at Jesus,
56:48
he's great,
56:49
look at your life,
56:50
you're a mess,
56:50
like,
56:51
come on,
56:51
like,
56:51
just,
56:52
it'll be,
56:53
you'll have a great life,
56:54
you know,
56:54
it'll make you happy,
56:55
and,
56:56
just come on,
56:56
come to Jesus,
56:58
and you're like,
56:58
no,
56:59
you know,
56:59
kind of,
57:01
yeah,
57:01
kind of,
57:02
yeah,
57:02
good point,
57:03
I'll take that,
57:05
it could be like a drug dealer,
57:07
but basically,
57:07
just the Spirit wooing somebody,
57:10
um,
57:10
to come and believe,
57:12
and,
57:13
uh,
57:14
I won't steal the story,
57:16
but R.C.
57:16
Spurl,
57:17
a long time ago,
57:19
um,
57:19
was debating,
57:20
uh,
57:21
a guy,
57:22
who was a professor of Greek,
57:24
at some,
57:25
some Bible college,
57:26
or seminary,
57:27
who wasn't in the Reformed Calvinistic camp,
57:30
and this was the verse that,
57:32
they were basically asked to give their interpretation of,
57:34
what does this mean,
57:36
and,
57:36
um,
57:38
so,
57:39
Spurl pointed out,
57:40
that,
57:41
the Greek word,
57:42
is actually,
57:43
drag,
57:45
like,
57:45
literally means drag,
57:47
that's a forceful word,
57:49
um,
57:51
I don't really know why we write draw,
57:53
to be honest,
57:53
maybe like we're too nervous about offending somebody,
57:56
so we write draw,
57:57
um,
57:58
but,
57:59
so,
57:59
it talks about,
58:00
the same word is used in James,
58:02
about dragging your neighbor in the court,
58:04
you know,
58:05
it's the same,
58:06
same Greek word,
58:08
and so,
58:09
this other guy said,
58:11
like,
58:12
it means to woo,
58:13
he said,
58:14
in other,
58:16
classical Greek literature,
58:17
so meaning not inside the Bible,
58:18
but outside the Bible,
58:20
the people who wrote,
58:21
you know,
58:21
in Greek,
58:22
and,
58:23
and he says to him,
58:25
you see,
58:25
so the word means,
58:27
like,
58:27
to draw,
58:29
okay,
58:30
and so he was like,
58:32
because you don't drag water out of a well,
58:33
you draw water out of a well,
58:35
and,
58:36
so,
58:38
Spurl,
58:38
Spurl admits in the moment,
58:39
he was just sort of stumped by that,
58:41
like,
58:41
I didn't know that,
58:42
I didn't know that,
58:43
there was extra biblical sources that use it to draw water out of a well,
58:46
but then he kind of paused,
58:47
he's like,
58:48
well,
58:49
well,
58:49
what do you do to get water out of a well?
58:51
Do you stand at the top of a well?
58:53
Here,
58:53
water,
58:54
water,
58:54
water.
58:55
See what he's talking about?
58:56
Like,
58:57
like,
58:57
willing the water to come up?
58:59
Or is he saying,
59:00
you,
59:00
you do something to compel water to come up?
59:04
And like,
59:05
to go against gravity and come up?
59:07
And so that's what he means by,
59:09
the Spirit.
59:10
The Spirit has to do something,
59:12
contrary to our nature,
59:13
and like,
59:14
drags us to himself.
59:16
Thank goodness.
59:17
You know,
59:19
so,
59:20
but no one can,
59:21
unless,
59:23
the Father who sends me draws him.
59:26
Yeah.
59:29
Because we,
59:30
so meaning,
59:30
believers,
59:31
saints,
59:32
are also gods by conquest.
59:36
Right?
59:37
What a battle he had in us before we would be won.
59:41
How long,
59:42
he gives you like a castle,
59:44
battle,
59:44
siege analogy.
59:46
He says,
59:47
how long had he laid siege to our hearts?
59:51
How often he sent us terms of capitulation,
59:55
but we barred our gates and fenced our walls against him.
1:00:00
Do we not remember that glorious hour when he carried our hearts by storm?
1:00:06
So meaning like,
1:00:07
okay,
1:00:08
I'm done sending you like terms.
1:00:11
I'm just going to go over your wall,
1:00:12
you know,
1:00:13
and conquer you.
1:00:14
He says,
1:00:16
do you remember that glorious hour when he carried our hearts by storm?
1:00:20
When he placed his cross against the wall and scaled our ramparts,
1:00:26
planting on our strongholds,
1:00:28
the blood red flag of his omnipotent captives,
1:00:31
of his omnipotent love,
1:00:34
thus chosen,
1:00:35
purchased,
1:00:36
subdued,
1:00:37
the rights of our divine possessor are inalienable.
1:00:41
we rejoice that we,
1:00:42
we never can be our own.
1:00:45
And we desire day by day to do his will and to show forth his glory.
1:00:49
So you see that at some point,
1:00:52
God was like,
1:00:54
we had this,
1:00:54
I had this,
1:00:55
this image growing up of like Jesus is going,
1:00:58
please let me in.
1:01:00
And we were like,
1:01:02
no.
1:01:02
And at some point Jesus goes,
1:01:05
all right.
1:01:07
And like,
1:01:08
says,
1:01:08
I'm coming in and,
1:01:10
and captures us.
1:01:12
And then like,
1:01:13
when he actually comes in,
1:01:13
we're like,
1:01:14
oh,
1:01:14
thank you for doing that.
1:01:15
I never would have opened the door.
1:01:17
Like,
1:01:17
thank you for saving me.
1:01:20
Thank you for overcoming all the sinful resistance.
1:01:24
I was throwing to you.
1:01:25
You could have walked away.
1:01:26
Yeah,
1:01:29
that's right.
1:01:29
We can't.
1:01:31
And like,
1:01:31
so thank goodness he didn't just say,
1:01:33
okay,
1:01:33
well,
1:01:34
stay in there then and walk away.
1:01:36
Point over came that resistance.
1:01:38
And that's what the spirit of God does.
1:01:43
He's the,
1:01:43
the instrument.
1:01:45
So really quickly,
1:01:47
here's a few ways like this,
1:01:50
why this is so great.
1:01:52
It glorifies the saving work of the Holy spirit.
1:01:55
So yeah,
1:01:55
he had a great work.
1:01:57
He took what Jesus did and he brought it home to us.
1:01:59
He applied the blood to us.
1:02:02
He applied the work that Jesus accomplished to us.
1:02:07
It demonstrates the power of God's word.
1:02:09
So meaning like God's word is so powerful that the Holy spirit can use it to
1:02:14
actually bring us from death to life.
1:02:16
That's like how powerful his word is.
1:02:19
it frees us from,
1:02:22
uh,
1:02:24
de,
1:02:25
deforming evangelism into man-made devices.
1:02:27
This is what I meant earlier.
1:02:28
So if this wasn't true,
1:02:30
it'd be like,
1:02:30
man,
1:02:30
how can we trick people into believing in Jesus?
1:02:33
Like,
1:02:33
do we just need to have a bunch of beers and get people to come in?
1:02:36
Like,
1:02:37
you know,
1:02:38
yep.
1:02:41
Yep.
1:02:41
Bow your head,
1:02:42
close your eyes,
1:02:43
um,
1:02:44
and tell the big guy to block the door.
1:02:47
Don't let anybody out.
1:02:49
You may have ever been to a youth meeting like that.
1:02:51
Like,
1:02:51
I know there's somebody out there and we are not leaving until that person
1:02:54
comes forward.
1:02:55
And it's like,
1:02:57
I remember one guy,
1:02:58
my buddy,
1:02:59
uh,
1:02:59
he's still probably isn't a believer.
1:03:01
He said,
1:03:01
I've went forward and I'm like,
1:03:02
really,
1:03:02
man,
1:03:03
I thought you were,
1:03:03
he's like,
1:03:03
nah,
1:03:03
I just want to get out of there.
1:03:05
They weren't letting us out.
1:03:06
So he just pretended that he was that guy.
1:03:09
Um,
1:03:10
which I don't blame him.
1:03:11
Like,
1:03:12
you know,
1:03:12
serves him right,
1:03:13
manipulating people the way they were.
1:03:15
But,
1:03:15
um,
1:03:17
it,
1:03:18
it freezes from that.
1:03:19
Like,
1:03:19
Hey,
1:03:20
you know what?
1:03:21
The gospel is powerful.
1:03:23
The word of God is powerful.
1:03:24
And I'm going to pray that he uses that through his Holy spirit to save somebody
1:03:28
and just let it loose.
1:03:31
You know,
1:03:32
like,
1:03:32
let it go.
1:03:33
Um,
1:03:34
God's spirit applying the word of God is powerful.
1:03:38
So it frees us from like putting all that into like man-made devices to save
1:03:42
people.
1:03:43
Uh,
1:03:44
it assures us that God will finish the saving work.
1:03:46
He began.
1:03:47
So yeah,
1:03:47
he sealed us with the Holy spirit.
1:03:52
I need time for this or not.
1:03:55
Um,
1:03:56
yeah.
1:03:59
Okay.
1:03:59
Um,
1:03:59
you want to look in Ephesians.
1:04:10
Ephesians chapter one.
1:04:11
Um,
1:04:15
this could be a whole sermon.
1:04:18
I'm not going to try to really condense it.
1:04:20
Uh,
1:04:20
uh,
1:04:20
there's a lot of marriage imagery in our relationship with God and salvation a lot.
1:04:32
And,
1:04:33
and then the traditional Hebrew way of like getting betrothed,
1:04:38
engaged and married,
1:04:40
what would happen is,
1:04:41
um,
1:04:42
a man would ask permission,
1:04:44
obviously from the dad.
1:04:45
And he was a,
1:04:46
you know,
1:04:47
yay or nay.
1:04:48
Um,
1:04:49
and if he granted permission,
1:04:51
where he would go is he would go to the woman and he would,
1:04:53
you know,
1:04:55
he would have something,
1:04:57
a token.
1:04:58
And he would say,
1:05:00
I go to prepare a place for you.
1:05:02
Sound familiar.
1:05:04
And that he would take his father's ring or something,
1:05:08
something from his father,
1:05:09
not his,
1:05:10
his father.
1:05:11
He would take it to that girl.
1:05:12
And he would say,
1:05:13
like,
1:05:14
I promise this,
1:05:16
this,
1:05:16
this is a pledge to you that my father will bring you into his house one day.
1:05:23
You see that?
1:05:23
So what is that pledge for the believer?
1:05:31
Anybody?
1:05:34
I've been talking about it.
1:05:38
Yes.
1:05:39
Yes.
1:05:40
So that,
1:05:40
that,
1:05:40
that the promise is that we will be with our father one day in heaven.
1:05:44
That's the promise.
1:05:46
What is the token of that promise?
1:05:51
Yeah.
1:05:53
Ephesians one.
1:05:55
Look at verse 13 in him.
1:05:59
You also,
1:06:00
when you heard the word of truth,
1:06:02
the gospel of your salvation and believe in him,
1:06:04
you were sealed with the promised Holy spirit who is a guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory.
1:06:15
So see that.
1:06:17
So it's the promise that we're given that one day we will be with the Lord.
1:06:22
Like we will inherit internal life.
1:06:26
And the analogy goes on and on and on.
1:06:29
Eventually,
1:06:30
like the son had no idea when he would go for his bride.
1:06:35
It was really up to the father to decide his dad would be like,
1:06:39
Hey,
1:06:39
go get your bride.
1:06:40
You know?
1:06:41
So he could just be like,
1:06:42
all right,
1:06:42
I've got the place ready.
1:06:44
I've got the stuff like dad,
1:06:45
when am I going to go do this?
1:06:46
And in meanwhile,
1:06:48
the bride doesn't know either.
1:06:49
She just has to ready herself.
1:06:52
Like physically,
1:06:53
spiritually prepare herself for this marriage.
1:06:58
You imagine that not like,
1:07:00
Hey,
1:07:00
let's set the date.
1:07:01
It wasn't that it was like,
1:07:02
she waits and she prepared herself.
1:07:05
How many like parables sound familiar?
1:07:08
Like the virgins lighting their lamps like that.
1:07:11
Be ready.
1:07:12
You don't know the day or the hour.
1:07:13
Right.
1:07:14
And then,
1:07:15
and then when the father gave permission,
1:07:18
remember Jesus said that he goes,
1:07:19
no one knows the time except the father.
1:07:21
Right.
1:07:22
Then you go on.
1:07:23
And then he would get some,
1:07:25
once the father gave permission to go get his bride,
1:07:28
he would have his buddies go down the street with blowing trumpets.
1:07:32
And carrying torches announcing that he was coming to get his bride.
1:07:39
It says that when Christ returns,
1:07:41
the,
1:07:41
the trumpets will sound like the,
1:07:44
the cry of the angels will sound before he comes to get his bride.
1:07:47
But in all this,
1:07:49
the promise that we've been given that the father will come and get us is the Holy Spirit.
1:07:54
That's what he's,
1:07:55
he's sealed us.
1:07:56
He's given us a guarantee of our inheritance.
1:07:59
Jesus says like,
1:07:59
I'm,
1:08:00
he's,
1:08:00
he's coming here to remind you of these things and to be that pledge.
1:08:05
Remember when Jesus said,
1:08:06
the spirit will remind you of all that I've taught you.
1:08:09
So when that girl gets nervous,
1:08:10
like he's not going to come get me,
1:08:12
she goes,
1:08:13
Oh,
1:08:13
wait a minute.
1:08:13
His father promised to come get me.
1:08:17
See that?
1:08:18
Like the,
1:08:18
the picture there.
1:08:21
So that's the role of the spirit plays in,
1:08:23
in our salvation.
1:08:25
A lot there.
1:08:29
All right.
1:08:29
That's all I got.
1:08:30
Wait,
1:08:30
no,
1:08:31
one more thing.
1:08:31
He gives us the ability to know and enjoy the love of God.
1:08:35
So yeah,
1:08:35
he's the one who makes all that real to us.
1:08:37
Um,
1:08:38
being filled with the Holy spirit.
1:08:40
Right.
1:08:41
Um,
1:08:42
yeah,
1:08:43
you see,
1:08:43
you see Newton talking about this was grace that taught my heart to fear.
1:08:49
And grace,
1:08:50
my fears relieved how precious did that grace appear the hour.
1:08:53
I first believed.
1:08:54
So.
1:08:54
So.
1:08:54
So.
1:08:59
Hmm.
1:09:02
Yep.
1:09:03
Grace taught you and grace will keep you.
1:09:05
So.
1:09:07
The goal of it.
1:09:09
Yep.
1:09:10
So any other thoughts or questions?
1:09:15
So I have a real quick one.
1:09:17
Or comments even.
1:09:18
Yeah.
1:09:19
Yeah,
1:09:19
I was thinking about your comment about,
1:09:21
um,
1:09:22
drawing from John 6.
1:09:24
Mm-hmm.
1:09:25
And so,
1:09:26
I just kind of used my,
1:09:28
I changed.
1:09:29
Of course you did.
1:09:30
Let's see the other places in John where that work draw.
1:09:33
It's really interesting.
1:09:34
Earth and New Testament.
1:09:36
Yeah.
1:09:36
Yeah.
1:09:37
But they're like the,
1:09:38
the haul of fish that,
1:09:41
um,
1:09:42
that Simon Peter had after Jesus.
1:09:45
Yeah.
1:09:46
Dragon,
1:09:47
drag the fish in.
1:09:48
Yeah.
1:09:48
That's the same word,
1:09:49
right?
1:09:50
Mm-hmm.
1:09:50
So that,
1:09:51
that's a cool one.
1:09:52
But then the other one in John 12,
1:09:54
32 says,
1:09:55
and I,
1:09:56
when I'm lifted up from the earth,
1:09:59
will withdraw all people to myself.
1:10:02
I just love the imagery there,
1:10:04
because it's the,
1:10:05
it's the resurrection,
1:10:08
and the,
1:10:09
the conquering of death,
1:10:11
that is guaranteed.
1:10:14
Yeah.
1:10:14
But the company is that,
1:10:16
is Christ will then apply,
1:10:19
by drawing everybody,
1:10:20
to enjoy his victory.
1:10:23
Right.
1:10:24
And so there's,
1:10:25
that has nothing to do with wooing,
1:10:27
that is a,
1:10:28
a work of a company,
1:10:30
victorious gathering,
1:10:33
the spoils of what he did.
1:10:35
I love why he said that,
1:10:36
yeah.
1:10:38
It's good.
1:10:39
And based on what we were talking about last week,
1:10:41
what does draw all men unto myself mean?
1:10:46
Just connecting the dots.
1:10:48
Does it mean every single individual?
1:10:52
No.
1:10:53
But all types of people,
1:10:55
Gentiles,
1:10:56
Jews,
1:10:57
rich,
1:10:57
poor,
1:10:59
rejected people,
1:11:00
accepted people,
1:11:02
God,
1:11:02
saving all men without,
1:11:06
distinction,
1:11:07
not all men without,
1:11:07
exception.
1:11:09
Jesus is saying,
1:11:10
and for a Jew to read that,
1:11:11
that would be crazy.
1:11:12
Like, wait a minute,
1:11:12
all people?
1:11:13
Not just us?
1:11:14
Yep.
1:11:15
Not just you.
1:11:16
Gentiles too.
1:11:18
Creating a people,
1:11:19
for himself,
1:11:20
that are scattered abroad,
1:11:22
that will be,
1:11:23
gathered one day,
1:11:23
before the throne,
1:11:24
right?
1:11:24
The multitude,
1:11:25
and revelation,
1:11:27
praising God.
1:11:29
Yeah.
1:11:31
Good.
1:11:31
Yeah,
1:11:32
I love that.
1:11:34
Anything else?
1:11:36
Comments?
1:11:36
Questions?
1:11:37
I have a big goal to help you put all this together,
1:11:44
like each little thing building on the other.
1:11:46
Is that making sense so far?
1:11:48
Like how all this is coming together?
1:11:50
It's all connected.
1:11:51
It's not separate things that are on their own.
1:11:56
All little different links in the chain.
1:11:58
All right.
1:12:03
Well,
1:12:03
I'll be here for a little while longer,
1:12:05
if you want to ask something or talk.
1:12:09
Have you ever read this one?
1:12:10
John Piper's book,
1:12:11
Finally Alive?
1:12:13
I really love the title.
1:12:16
This is a book about regeneration itself.
1:12:19
So,
1:12:20
if you want to read just a good book about
1:12:21
what it means to be born again,
1:12:23
this is a good one.
1:12:24
I read,
1:12:26
man,
1:12:26
where did I get this?
1:12:27
How many years ago?
1:12:28
Yep.
1:12:29
These are just books in general
1:12:30
that are about all this stuff.
1:12:32
But,
1:12:32
let's pray together.
1:12:33
Let's pray together.