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GTM - The Love That Saves The World - By Albert Jones - June 16, 2023So our mess our message tonight that I prepared is that love that saves the world. And yes, we are caught up in that as well because of God; we are in the world. We're not of it, but we're in the world. So God's love came into the world, and we were able to access that relationship through Christ. So you might think that I would start my message in John three 16, but not tonight.
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GTM - The Love That Saves The World - By Albert Jones - June 16, 2023So our mess our message tonight that I prepared is that love that saves the world. And yes, we are caught up in that as well because of God; we are in the world. We're not of it, but we're in the world. So God's love came into the world, and we were able to access that relationship through Christ. So you might think that I would start my message in John three 16, but not tonight.
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The message is about the love of God that saves the world. We are able to access this love through Christ and it is through this love that we have hope and salvation. We were once dead in sin and under the influence of Satan, but God's love and grace brought us out of that state. Through Christ, we have been made alive and saved by grace. This love is available to all of mankind, not just those in the church. We are called children of God and with the indwelling of God's spirit, we are able to purify ourselves and overcome sin. Christ came to take away our sins and destroy the works of the devil. As children of God, we have a repentant mind and a commitment to righteousness. God's spirit dwells in us, making us a part of Him. So a message tonight that I've prepared is that love that saves the world. And yes, we are caught up in that as well because we are in the world. We're not of it, but we're in the world. So God's love came into the world and we were able to access that relationship through Christ. So you might think that I would start my message in John 3.16, but not tonight. We're not going to start there, and we'll get there. We'll get to John 3.16, we'll get to 1 John, and we'll get into those scriptures, but we'll get there before the message is over. It's important to remember that those scriptures are very important to us because unless that wonderful gift of grace had occurred and had been extended to us, no one would have access to salvation. So we are indeed grateful to God. We rejoice in our knowledge and understanding of that truth, that it is that relationship, that act of grace that he sent forth that made that possible. So yes, we would not have a Savior if it wasn't for that. We would not have hope. We at this point in time would still be walking dead, the walking dead in the world. But we do have hope, and God has extended that hope to us, and so we're not the walking dead as described there in Ephesians 2. Turn to Ephesians 2. Let's remind ourselves of the state that God brought us out of. Indeed, God's act of love saved us and rescued us from this state of existence. Starting in verse 1, he tells us through Paul, and he helps us to comprehend, and he doesn't want us to forget this true fact that he brought us out and unto himself, and he saved us for a purpose in which he originally created man to start with. That purpose is going to be fulfilled in God's overall plan. But before that happened, this was our state. Ephesians 2 and verse 1, we were literally the walking dead. There was no hope for us. There was no means by which we could get freed from that penalty, from that verdict of death which we had incurred going all the way back to the Garden of Eden. So we were dead in trespasses and sins in which, verse 2, according to the course of this world. And, yes, we were just going along in this state as the rest of the world, oblivious to anything for true salvation. According to the prince of the power of the air, yes, Satan was leading us around, the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had once had our conduct in the lust of our flesh, and just the stately flesh, the condition of man, the state of man, doing the things willed by the flesh and by the mind and more by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world. But our gracious, loving God, who is rich in mercy here, but God who is rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were in that state, brethren, he loved us first, even when we were dead, verse 5, in our trespasses, and made us alive together with Christ. For you have been saved by grace. Yes, this incredible act of grace extended to mankind, not just us in the church, but all of mankind. If it wasn't for that, we would be like the rest of the world. And God has revealed this truth to us, and made this truth available for us to comprehend, which is also a part of his grace, which was also made possible by what Christ did. Yes, we would still be like those who have no hope in the world if it wasn't for that act of grace extended to us. But brethren, we have hope. We have hope. We have a sure anchor. We have a savior. And I say that not just to us in the church, but mankind can rejoice and celebrate access to the Messiah, that life, death, and resurrection is made possible salvation for mankind. That great light as it was came into this world and to this physical realm to save his creation. And because of that great love with which he loved us, this is why he came. His act covers us from all the way from Abel to the two witnesses. All the way from Abel, from Adam and Eve even, all the way to the two witnesses. We are familiar with the two laws as described and instructed about during the days of Pentecost. So his work was that act that sealed the victory for us. It sealed victory over us. And that victory was over the enemy and that bondage that Satan had upon us. That bondage that was held over all of God's creation. This bondage to death, the law of sin and death, which can be defined and summed up, of course, as the law of death, which is a result of sin and Satan. So, yes, we have the problem of sin. So how do we address that problem of sin? So now we're ready to start this message about the love that saves the world. Let's start in 1 John 3. 1 John 3. But that is a backdrop. I think we can begin to comprehend even more abundantly with joy this great love that God has extended to us. In 1 John 3, and let's pick it up in verse 1. So this is the expression of it from John, the Apostle John. And he describes it as glorious. So, verse 1. Behold, what glorious love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God. For this very reason, the world does not know us because it did not know him. But brethren, that's going to change. That's going to change. Whether it be in the millennium, or coming through the tribulation into the millennium, or in the Great White Throne Judgment, that is going to change. Verse 2. Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when he is manifested, we shall be like him, because we shall see him exactly as he is. And everyone who has this hope, everyone who has this hope in him, purifies himself, even as he is pure. Purifies himself. And this is not just a purification that comes from the idea or the knowledge. It is an active work on your part that is fueled by the indwelling of God's spirit within you. Everyone who has this hope in himself purifies himself, even as he is pure. So we start our life a different in this hope that we have in Christ. Those who don't have this hope within them continue to walk in that darkness and that death. But we, having this knowledge of truth and understanding, recognize that with the indwelling of God's spirit, we are moved from unrighteousness into the realm of righteousness. We act accordingly. We believe and we act accordingly. Belief and faith in Jesus Christ actually produces action on our part. We begin that purification process in Christ. We begin that purification process by allowing God's spirit to do its great work within us, even as Christ is pure. Verse 4. Everyone who practices sin is also practicing lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. And you know that he appeared. Christ came into the world in order that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. Everyone who dwells in him does not practice sin. Anyone who practices sin has not seen him nor has known him. And he again refers to us lovingly as little children. Do not allow anyone to deceive you. The one who practices righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. So our walk with God is one in truth, in love, in obedience. We strive after that which is of God. We strive after righteousness. This is the indwelling of God within us, the new person that we have become, so that we can be with him where he is. So it's not just having the hope or knowledge, but it's a realization now that you can overcome. You can defeat sin. You can have the victory. You don't have to struggle in futility without hope, without help, without strength, which was our state prior to our calling. All of this was made possible by that gracious, loving act of love that God performed. So another aspect of that love is manifested with his spirit. We then have power. Yes, the power to defeat the flesh and the law of sin and death. You see, the problem again is sin. And the answer is Christ. Let's go to verse four here now. Everyone who practices sin is also practicing lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. And you know that he appeared in order that he might take away our sins in order, and him is no sin. Everyone who dwells in him does not practice sin. Anyone who practices sin has not seen him nor has known him. Little children, do not allow anyone to deceive you. The one who practices righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous. The one who practices sin is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose, the son of God appeared that he might destroy the works of the devil. So this is not just an accident. This is not just some passing occurrence. This was preordained and planned out by God the Father and Jesus Christ for us. For this purpose, it says there in verse eight, the latter part, for this purpose, the son of God appeared that he might destroy the works of the devil. So yes, we have hope in him. He achieved the victory so that we could have access to victory. Christ is that way. Verse nine, everyone who has been begotten by God does not practice sin. Why? Because his seed of begettal is dwelling within him. And he is not able to practice sin because he has been begotten by God. Now, this is an incredible gift of love toward us. A begotten son of God is always in a spirit of repentance toward sin. Any sin, all its forms and variations, we have a repentant mind where our inclination is to righteousness. Therefore, any sin that we see or in our prayers, we ask God to forgive us, even of those sins that we're not aware of, the hidden things, the deep things. God is washing and cleansing us. This repentance is a true repentance, not just sorrow of the world even. It's a true repentance. It is a commitment on our part to overcome and change and turn from a way that is contrary to God to a way that is from God. True repentance. And why is that important? Because God's very own spirit dwells in us. Think about it, brethren. God dwells in you. Not just with you as a physical people, but in you as a called and begotten son of God. You become part of him and he becomes part of us. Now, let's go to 1 John 3. 1 John 3. 1 John 3. In 1 John 3, let's pick it up in verse 10. 1 John 3 in verse 10. So here we are in this state of salvation having been saved, right, from our trespasses and sins. Those three stages of salvation, remember? You have been saved. You are being saved. And you shall be saved. So in this state of having been saved and then having repented, committed ourselves to this way of life through a covenant relationship of death and water and grace, and we are raised a new person in Christ, and now we are aspiring to righteousness, aspiring to the perfection, aspiring to godliness, doing those things which are of God. We no longer relate to the world. We no longer relate to the things of Satan the devil. We have cast those things away from us. We are walking anew in Christ. Our lives, our lives are in him and he and us. So this is that walk that we now find ourselves in. So this true repentance then that we walk in, always checking and examining and understanding and studying and praying and trying to do those things which are pleasing to God. So as God's people, this is a spiritual relationship, not a physical one. And so God then is dwelling in you as a begotten son. You become again part of him. So verse 10, he says then by this standard are manifest the children of God and the children of the devil. Everyone who does not practice righteousness, again, does not practice righteousness is not of God. A very simple equation. We cannot be of God and be a part of God's family while we embrace Satan. That is just an incompatibility and the spirit of God will not have it. It will not allow it. It gets your attention. So if sin comes around, the spirit makes you aware. If sin raises its ugly head in your thoughts, in your heart, in your mind, in your life, the spirit gets your attention. And it drives you to that spirit of repentance, prayer, study, those things which help you to overcome. So another aspect of this as described here in verse 10 is that connectivity to the brethren and the body. Because everything that I'm describing to you for myself or for one individual applies to the other. That God is working this out in us. So he says in the latter part of verse 10, and neither is the one who does not love his brother. So you're not of God if you're not loving your brother. John has made that clear. Christ made that clear. Verse 11, but this is the message that you heard from the beginning that we should love one another. And this is a love that keeps us bound together in this walk with Christ. It's a love that keeps us on the right path. It's a love that keeps us pointed toward the light and the kingdom of God and faith and hope and love. In verse 12, he says that it is a true love, not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, verse 12, and murdered his own brother. And what was the reason that he murdered him? Because his own words were wicked, but his brother's words were righteous. So this being of one mind in the body of Christ toward righteousness, toward the light, toward Christ, toward God, is what we're all striving after. And we are lifting each other up in the journey as we go toward that. Verse 13, my brethren, he says, do not be amazed that the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death into life from that state of the world into the state with Christ and God, the father of life. We've passed from death into life because the love, because we love the brethren. The one who does not love his brother is dwelling in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life dwelling within him. So the act of love that God has for us is one of love. Let's pick it up here in verse 16 now. So he says, by this very act, we know the love of God because he laid down his life for us. Now, this laying down of his life, Christ didn't do it just for the church. Christ did it for his creation in order that the creation might have access to life. And this is something to keep in mind. We often think of these scriptures as though they're just written for the called and the elect. Yes, we are the only ones who truly have a full understanding and comprehension of God's plan because we keep the Sabbath. We keep the holy days. We're studying God's word. God's spirit is dwelling in us. And we have a more profound understanding. But we need to understand the big picture from God's point of view. His creation, all of mankind, was made for the purpose of being born into his family. And God is going to fulfill that purpose in his creation as he's going to fulfill it in each and every one of us. Verse 17 now. So he says, Whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need and shuts up his feelings of compassion from him, how can the love of God be dwelling in it? Once again, my little children, we should not love in word, nor with our tongues, whether we should love in deed and truth. And this, it says, and in this way, we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him that if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. Beloved, if our hearts condemn us, then we have confidence toward God. If our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we may ask, whatever we may ask, we receive from him because we keep his commandments and we practice those things that are pleasing in his sight. This is the commandment that we believe on the name of his son, Jesus Christ, and that we love one another exactly as he gave commandment to us. So here is a call to comprehension here, that it is in Christ, as I've said, that this entire hope lies. It is because of that that he did, that act of love that he did, and that act of love that the father put forth in him by sending him to do it, that we have this promise of eternal life. Verse 24, and the one who keeps his commandments is dwelling in him and he in him. And by this, we know that he is dwelling in us by the spirit which he has given us. So yes, we are his brothers and sisters. That is, we are the brothers and sisters of Christ. And his, as our elder brother, he voluntarily came forth to save us. And he exemplified that love in his relationship with the apostles as he walked with them, calling them friend, serving them, being a servant. Yes, the relationship that we have in God's church, in God's family, supersedes anything that's in the world. And so in the world we'll experience, or have an opportunity to experience it. Let's go to Hebrews 2. In Hebrews 2. In Hebrews 2, let's read something here. Hebrews 2, verse 1. For this reason, it is imperative that we give much greater attention to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should slip away. And so we're in this relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ because God the Father called us to it and we accepted it. And here we are in it, standing in it, experiencing it. God's spirit is in us. We are in the body of Christ. And so it really motivates us to stay connected to this truth, to this way of life. My wife often mentions the importance of having a routine of study, having a routine of prayer. Because we have seen others kind of miss the mark. How easy it is to get caught up and slip away. And God tells us that we need to stay connected to Christ as well through study, through prayer. Right? So we need to give greater attention, as it says in verse 1, to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should slip away. For if the word spoken to angels was enforced without fail, and every transgression and disobedience received just recompense, how shall we escape if we have neglected so great a salvation, which was first received when it was spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him? God also bearing witness with them by both signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his own will. For it is not to the angels that he has placed in subjection the world that is to come, of which we are speaking, he says here, But in a certain place one fully testified, saying, What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you visited? You did make him, that is mankind, a little lower than the angels. You did crown him with glory and honor. And you did set him over the works of your hands. Again, God, creation, and their purpose was being fulfilled even in the physical. He says you did put all things in subjection under his feet. For in subjecting all things to him he left nothing that was not subjected to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. But here is what we see, brethren. We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor on account of suffering the death, in order that by the grace of God he himself might taste death for everyone. Because it was fitting for him for whom all things were created, and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons into glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. So God is perfecting us, and we all know that trials and testings are a part of that perfecting process. Verse 11. For both he who is sanctifying and those who are sanctified are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, or call us brethren. Saying, and here is something that should be very much in tune in our minds at this time, in terms of where we are in the plan of God, in keeping the holy days. That is, understanding what is represented after the day of Pentecost. Saying, I will declare your name to my brethren, and in the midst of the church I will sing praises to you. Verse 13. And again, I will be trusting in him. And again, behold I and the children whom God has given me. And so verse 14. Therefore, since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, and life manner, he also took part in the same. In order that through death he might annul him. Annul, take the tooth right out of him. Take the power out of his hand. Annul him who has the power of death. That is the devil. You see, Satan holds that over our heads. He pushes at us with that. He keeps us in despair and doubt because he recognizes that sinful flesh must die. But Christ freed us from that bondage and made a way of escape. That is the devil. Verse 15. And that he might deliver those who were subject to bondage all their lives by their fear of death. Verse 16 says, for surely he is not taking upon himself to help the angels. But he is taking upon himself to help the seed of Abraham. For this reason, he says, it was obligatory for him to be made like his brethren. Flesh. This is God coming in the form of flesh and fulfilling that purpose for us. Not that he fulfilled it now that we don't have anything to do. That knowledge and that truth moves us now, as I said earlier, to righteousness. Motivates us in love toward God. Not out of fear. We don't obey God because we're scared of him. We obey God because we love him. And he loved us first. So verse 17 again. For this reason, it was obligatory for him to be made in them like his brethren. And everything that he might be a merciful and a faithful high priest in all things pertaining to God. In order to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered, having been tempted in like manner. He is able to help those who are being tempted. So not only did he come and succeed in being our savior. He was placed at the right hand of the father as high priest. And he continues to do a great work for us on our behalf. So we continue to walk in that way. Yes, we are Abraham's seed. What does that mean, brethren? That means that we are the children of faith. We are the children of faith. Faith is a very important aspect of grace. Romans 4, let's go there. Go to Romans 4. And I'm elevating this entire aspect of this relationship on the spiritual plane. Yes, we are Abraham's seed. In chapter 4, verse 1. What then shall we say that our father Abraham is found with respect to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works of law, he has a basis for boasting. Yes, I would also say so does Job and some others who lived righteously. But not before God. That boasting would not be before God. You see, that salvation, as I said, is all the way from Adam and Eve to the two witnesses. Verse 2. For if Abraham was justified by works of law, he would have a basis for boasting, but not before God. So what does the scripture say? And Abraham believed God. So this knowledge of truth that we have been given, he had. He believed God. And it was reckoned to him for righteousness. Now to the one who has works of law, the reward is not reckoned according to grace. Rather, it is reckoned according to a debt. But to the one who does not do works of law, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. Now this is not saying that salvation doesn't require works. But this is a truth about justification before God for salvation versus just living a righteous life. Living a righteous life is what we all aspire to and we all strive for. But we do it because we love God. And we love God because he loved us first and saved us through his son. He applies righteousness to us. You see, we are being equipped and supplied with the wherewithal to achieve eternal life in God's kingdom. Through this relationship made possible by this great act of love in which God sent forth. This great act of love and grace which we stand in. All of these things are made possible because God himself deemed it so. He deemed it so. This is what God is doing. And we are graciously given an opportunity to be a part of it as a first fruit. But brethren, oh what joy there will be in the kingdom of God. What joy will there be in the great white throne judgment when we with Christ and God the Father bring everybody else in. That is the thing that God has in his heart to save mankind when he sent his son. Christ came to save not just you and me but all of God's creation. This is that great love that I am talking about. It is huge. It is enormous. We can't comprehend it but it is poured out upon us. Let's go on here to verse 5 now. But to the one who does not do works of law but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. Even as David also declares the blessedness of a man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from, that is separate from works of law. Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon any sin. Now then does this blessedness come upon the circumcision only or also upon the uncircumcision? We see the context of this conversation, the latter part of verse 9 now. For we are saying that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. In what condition therefore was it reckoned? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Brethren, not in circumcision but in uncircumcision. And afterwards he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of his covenant relationship with God. As a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had in the condition of uncircumcision. That he might become the father of all those who believe. So yes, with my believing father Abraham so I walk in faith is how I express that. I believe God's word. I believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. I believe that he died and rose the third day. I believe that he's at the right hand of the father. That's the belief that we in God's family walk in. And that is why we obey him because of these truths. We're not trying to earn anything. We are trying to express from within the love of God that he has given to us back to him with respect and honor and glory. All of those things that we attribute to him. So let's see. The latter part of verse 11 now. That he might become the father of all those who believe though they have not been circumcised. Or that the righteousness of faith might also be reckoned to them. And that he might become the father of the circumcision. Not to those who are of the circumcision only. But also to those who walk in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham. Which he had during his uncircumcision. You know when he was being instructed by God, called out, he responded. He didn't question. He went. And he did those things because he believed God. Verse 13 now. For the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world was not given through works of law. Rather it was through the righteousness of faith. Because if those of the works of the law be the heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is made of no effect. So the law works out last because it says because where no law is, there is no transgression. So for this reason it is of faith. In order that it might be by grace. To the end that the promise might be certain to all the seed. Not to the one who is of the law only. But also to the one who is of the faith of Abraham. Who is the father of us all. And so yes brethren. I walk in the faith of my father Abraham. Believing the promise that God the father and Jesus Christ has put forth. Believing the gospel. Believing the word of God. And walking and hoping and knowing with certainty. That if I endure to the end. So that when Christ returns I will be there in his presence. A resurrected saint. Or a changed individual from flesh to spirit. So we have this relationship from God. Let's move down to verse. Let's see. Let's move down to verse 21 now. For he was fully persuaded. That what he had promised he is also able to do. And as a result it was also reckoned to him for righteousness. But it was not written. It wasn't written for his sake alone. But that it was reckoned for him. Brethren it was written for our sake. All of us. As we read these words of inspiration from God. It gives us encouragement and a determination to keep going forward. It was written for our sake. To whom it shall be reckoned. To those who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. Who was delivered for our offenses. And was raised for our justification. So God sent him for us. So brethren this hope. This faith. Has been made available. To all of God's creation. The door to the father has been opened. Reconciliation. Is the one to the one and only true God. Is now accessible. So now the father. Has the father. So now the father. And all that he does for us. He has the means to save mankind. The father can call. And offer life. Because before. We wouldn't have had access to it. Let's go to John six. John six. And this is the gospel of John. Chapter six. And this is the realization that. We understand as well in verse 37. For he says. All whom the father gives me. Christ says. Shall come to me. And the one who comes to me. I will in no wise cast out. So it's a calling. We are given to Christ. Now God is going to do all things. You know decently in an order. There is a time. And a season for all things. And God is going to work it out. And we just have to be patient with that. Verse 38 now. I did not come down from heaven to do my own will. He says. But the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of the father who sent me. That of all whom he has given me. I should not lose any. But should raise them up. In the last day. This is God's. Desire. His good desire to give us the kingdom of God. Not that we should be lost. See we have a willing participant. From God to us. We have to be willing. And trusting. And walking in faith with him. If we believe him. He'll get us there. Verse 40. And this is the will of him who sent me. That everyone who sees the son. And believes in him. May have eternal life. May. It is work on our part. There is continued faith. There is continued effort. Commitment. And work on our part spiritually with the. Through the power of God's spirit within us. To again study, pray, overcome, grow in knowledge and grace. Do those things which God instructs us to do. And he says. And I will raise him up. The last day. And then the Jews. Were complaining against him because he said. I am the bread that came down from heaven. And they were saying. Is this not Jesus the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know. Why then does he say I came down from heaven. But this reason Jesus says to them and said do not become. Complaining among one another. He makes it clear. No one can come to me unless the father. Who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up at the last day. It is written. In the prophets. And they shall all be taught by God. Therefore. Everyone who has heard from the father. Everyone who has heard from the father. Has learned. Comes to me. No one has seen the father except he. Who is from the father. That is he who is from. Who is from God. He has seen the father. Truly I say to you the one who believes in me. Has eternal life. There is that trusting in beliefs and faith. Right. He believed God. We believe God. We trust God. He says I am the bread of life. And so we embrace him and everything that is from him. We incorporate that into our lives. As truth in one true way. So. What did the angels say? What did the angels say when they were announcing his birth? Let's go to Luke 2. Luke 2. In Luke 2 in verse 11. Luke 2 verse 11. Says. For today. In the city of David. A savior was born to you. Who is Christ. The Lord. Now this is the sign for you. You shall find a baby wrapped in the swallowing clothes lying in a manger. So yes. A savior has come into the world. And the verse 13. And suddenly there was with the angels. A. There. There. There was suddenly there. Was with the angels. A multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying. Glory to God in the highest. And peace on earth among men of goodwill. And this is the rejoicing that we have in this knowledge and in this truth, brethren. That we are part of this great and magnificent. Act. As first roots now. But we're going to help Christ. Take it to the rest of mankind. In an appropriate time. Let's turn to Isaiah 60. Let's get at least one Old Testament. The scripture in here. To help support this in Isaiah 60. In verse one. He says arise. Shine. For your light has come. And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, that darkness shall cover the earth. And gross darkness, the people. But the Lord shall arise. Upon you. And his glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light. And the king. To the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around and see. All of them gathered themselves together. They come to you. Your son shall come from afar. And your daughter shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant. And your heart shall throb and swell for joy. Because the abundance of the sea shall turn to you. The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. A host of camels shall cover you. The camels of Midian and Esau. All of them from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and incense. They shall proclaim the praises of the Lord. This day is coming. And this is a millennial thing. And this is that which we are looking forward to as well. Verse 19 of Isaiah 60. The sun will no more be your light by day. Nor the brightness of the moon give light to you. But the Lord will be to you for an everlasting light. And your God, your glory. Your sun will no more go down. Nor your moon withdraw. For the Lord will be your everlasting light. And the days of your murmuring shall be ended. Your people also will all be righteous. They will all be righteous. They will inherit the land forever. The branch of my planting. The work of my hand. So that I may be glorified. The smallest will become a thousand. And the least one, strong nation, a strong nation. I the Lord will hasten it to its time. So there is much yet out in front of us in terms of what we have to look forward to. In John 3. Now let's read John 3. Gospel of John chapter 3. John 3 and we'll start in verse 5. John 3 verse 5. Jesus answered, truly I say to you, unless anyone has been born of water and of spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh. And that which has been born of the spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, it is necessary for you to be born again. The wind blows where it wills. And you hear it sound. But you do not know the place from which it comes. And the place of which it goes, so also is everyone who has been born of spirit. So Nicodemus then answered and said to him, how can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, you are a teacher in Israel and you do not know these things. Truly I say to you, we speak that which we know. And we testify of that which we have seen. But you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? And no one has ascended into heaven except he who came down from heaven. That is the son of man, even the son of man who is in heaven. And even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness in the same way, it is ordained that the son of man be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but may have everlasting life. So we're continuing to see the plan of God unfold. We're continuing to see the act of love bear fruit. Those whom God calls now have access to eternal life, may have eternal life, can have eternal life. But it is no such thing as once saved, always saved. We have to stay on this path of faith and walk in faith just like our father Abraham did. Verse 17, for God sent not his son into the world that he might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. The one who has believed in him is not judged, but the one who does not believe has already been judged because he's not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God. And this is the judgment that the light has come into the world, but men love darkness rather than light because their works were evil. For everyone who practiced evil hates the light and does not come to the light so that his works may not be exposed. But the one who practiced the truth comes to the light so that his words may be manifested, that they have been accomplished by the power of God. And this is the journey that you and I are on. This is the walk that we are on, this walk of righteousness. We go to the light. We seek the light. We want the light in our life. We pray for the light of God to be poured out upon us so that our eyes are open, our minds are open, our understanding is open, that the spirit of God is growing in us so that we can do the things of God. Turn to Romans 8. Romans 8. So in Romans 8, we have this summation, if you will, of this truth so that this walk that we have, this faith that we are exercising, that has been made possible for us and, again, all mankind at some point. Verse 8. Consequently, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ, those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh but according to the spirit because the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has delivered me from the law of sin and death. Yes, there is life in Christ. He came to bring it. Turn to John now, John 1, for the last series of Scripture here. So let's read these verses with a good understanding, if you will, and we will continue to ask God to help us to comprehend this love that he has expressed to us in this way. In John 1, 1 through 5, In the beginning, right, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, it, that is, he, was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and not even one thing that was created came into being without him. In him was life, as has been described in the verses we have read, and the life was the light of man. And so we seek after life, and we are drawn to that light of God because there is life in him. In verse 5, And the light shines in the darkness, and it pulled us out of darkness, into his light, but the darkness does not comprehend it. And then let's go to 1 John. 1 John 1. I'm sorry, 1 John 3. 1 John 3. And let's pick it up in verse 1. 1 John 3, verse 1. Behold what glorious love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God. For this very reason the world does not know us, because it did not know him. Beloved, we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when he is manifested, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. We read that earlier. And then John 3. Gospel of John 3. John 3, and we'll pick it up in verse 1. John 3, verse 1. I'm sorry, John 3, verse 3. Jesus answered and said to him, Truly I say to you, unless anyone is born again, he is not able to see the kingdom of God. And so this rebirth, this life in Christ that is a result of that relationship, is what we're looking for. And then 1 Timothy 3, verse 16. 1 Timothy 3, verse 16. 1 Timothy 3, verse 16. It says, And undeniably great is the mystery of godliness. And so here is it kind of summed up. This mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the Gentiles, was believed on in the world, was received up in glory. So that's a summary of that act itself. And then my final scripture is in Philippians 2. In Philippians 2. And let's pick it up in verse 5 here. Philippians 2, verse 5. So we stand here in this relationship with God. We've celebrated the spring festivals. We renewed our covenant relationship and walked with God at Passover. We came through the days of unleavened bread. We recognize that we've got to get sin out of our life. We can only do that through the power that God gives us to get it done. And so we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, recognizing that the spirit of God was given to the church on that day, and God continues to work with us through his spirit. In Philippians 2, verse 5. Let this mind be in you in which was also in Christ Jesus, who although he existed in the form of God, did not consider it lawful to be equal with God, but emptied himself and was made in the likeness of men. Again, God, born in the flesh, took the form of a servant, as I said earlier, and being found in the manner of man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God has also highly exalted him and bestowed upon him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of beings in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. You see, brethren, verse 13 reminds us, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do according to his good pleasure. God is going to continue to fulfill that purpose for which he made mankind, and he's going to see it through to the end. And here is the realization that we have to keep in our minds, that we, being firstfruits of God, will have a part in the fulfilling, the final fulfillment, of that great plan unto the rest of mankind. Yes, the love that saved the world was that the Father and his Son saw fit to act for us. So continue to keep your focus on that, brethren. Continue to walk in that hope and that faith, and don't let, as the scripture says, don't let anything turn you from that hope that is within you. That's Lindsay. Here's a closing prayer. Lindsay?
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