1 00:00:13,091 --> 00:00:18,126 ...Christian assurance. 2 00:00:18,126 --> 00:00:22,604 And I want to because it seems like 3 00:00:22,604 --> 00:00:25,126 I've just been getting a number of questions 4 00:00:25,126 --> 00:00:27,232 asked about it lately. 5 00:00:27,232 --> 00:00:31,217 I've been receiving emails. 6 00:00:31,217 --> 00:00:41,294 And I guess that's what I want to talk about tonight. 7 00:00:41,294 --> 00:00:45,452 Assurance. 8 00:00:45,452 --> 00:00:47,475 What do we mean when we say that? 9 00:00:47,475 --> 00:00:50,190 Christian context - what do we mean by that? 10 00:00:50,190 --> 00:00:52,619 Assurance. 11 00:00:52,619 --> 00:00:53,642 (from the room) 12 00:00:53,642 --> 00:00:56,255 Assurance of salvation? 13 00:00:56,255 --> 00:00:57,673 Tim: Right. 14 00:00:57,673 --> 00:00:59,302 What do we mean? 15 00:00:59,302 --> 00:01:01,586 That we can be sure of it. 16 00:01:01,586 --> 00:01:03,940 That we can be sure that we're saved. 17 00:01:03,940 --> 00:01:07,976 Anybody say it a different way? 18 00:01:07,976 --> 00:01:11,292 Know with confidence 19 00:01:11,292 --> 00:01:13,965 that we're saved. 20 00:01:13,965 --> 00:01:17,407 Anybody say it another way? 21 00:01:17,407 --> 00:01:19,430 It's confirmed. 22 00:01:19,430 --> 00:01:21,204 There's confidence. 23 00:01:21,204 --> 00:01:25,907 There's surety. 24 00:01:25,907 --> 00:01:28,435 Evidence - we might say that. 25 00:01:28,435 --> 00:01:33,998 Evidence. 26 00:01:33,998 --> 00:01:38,434 Assurance has to do with the confidence; 27 00:01:38,434 --> 00:01:43,214 a certainty. 28 00:01:43,214 --> 00:01:45,068 Ok. 29 00:01:45,068 --> 00:01:49,783 I can tell you this. 30 00:01:49,783 --> 00:01:52,407 I've told you folks this before, 31 00:01:52,407 --> 00:01:55,269 but I remember when I was first converted. 32 00:01:55,269 --> 00:01:56,480 I went to a church: 33 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:00,424 Calvary Bible Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. 34 00:02:00,424 --> 00:02:02,896 And in fact, when I was back up there, 35 00:02:02,896 --> 00:02:04,768 Ruby and I and the children, 36 00:02:04,768 --> 00:02:06,327 we went back and we visited 37 00:02:06,327 --> 00:02:09,235 in Kalamazoo, MI. 38 00:02:09,235 --> 00:02:12,160 We went to church back there 39 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,321 at Calvary in August. 40 00:02:14,321 --> 00:02:15,823 When I was first converted 41 00:02:15,823 --> 00:02:18,541 and I was in that church, 42 00:02:18,541 --> 00:02:21,622 typically at the end of the sermon, 43 00:02:21,622 --> 00:02:23,415 they had a sound booth 44 00:02:23,415 --> 00:02:25,385 positioned right in the middle 45 00:02:25,385 --> 00:02:27,634 of this auditorium. 46 00:02:27,634 --> 00:02:29,921 It seated about 1,200 people, 47 00:02:29,921 --> 00:02:31,083 had a balcony, 48 00:02:31,083 --> 00:02:32,436 a lot of people. 49 00:02:32,436 --> 00:02:34,548 They would have a guy in the sound room. 50 00:02:34,548 --> 00:02:35,794 And right at the end, 51 00:02:35,794 --> 00:02:37,898 you know, he would work this thing up 52 00:02:37,898 --> 00:02:41,355 and he would get people where 53 00:02:41,355 --> 00:02:44,952 he'd try to get the emotions moving, 54 00:02:44,952 --> 00:02:47,717 and the guy would have the sound dial 55 00:02:47,717 --> 00:02:50,742 (probably more linear). 56 00:02:50,742 --> 00:02:52,560 He would start moving that thing up. 57 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,639 So you would have this very enchanting music 58 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,770 begin to come in. 59 00:02:57,770 --> 00:02:59,499 And he would say, 60 00:02:59,499 --> 00:03:02,214 "Just believe. Just believe." 61 00:03:02,214 --> 00:03:03,837 And I can remember at those times 62 00:03:03,837 --> 00:03:05,429 I would have my eyes wide open. 63 00:03:05,429 --> 00:03:08,039 I know I've told this story before. 64 00:03:08,039 --> 00:03:09,639 I'd have my eyes wide open 65 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:11,859 and I'd be looking around at all those people. 66 00:03:11,859 --> 00:03:14,816 And of course, I was a product. 67 00:03:14,816 --> 00:03:17,648 I was saved in 1990. 68 00:03:17,648 --> 00:03:20,162 John MacArthur came out with his book: 69 00:03:20,162 --> 00:03:21,780 "The Gospel According to Jesus." 70 00:03:21,780 --> 00:03:26,650 I think it was released publicly in '88. 71 00:03:26,650 --> 00:03:29,468 So that book was kind of at its prime. 72 00:03:29,468 --> 00:03:31,423 He was writing the Gospel 73 00:03:31,423 --> 00:03:33,809 according to Jesus as he saw it 74 00:03:33,809 --> 00:03:37,443 coming out of the Gospels. 75 00:03:37,443 --> 00:03:41,226 God used that book to save me. 76 00:03:41,227 --> 00:03:43,318 That book was largely about 77 00:03:43,318 --> 00:03:46,682 the necessity of repentance 78 00:03:46,682 --> 00:03:47,963 in being converted. 79 00:03:47,963 --> 00:03:50,868 It was about the whole Lordship controversy. 80 00:03:50,868 --> 00:03:52,943 And of course, there were a lot of people 81 00:03:52,943 --> 00:03:54,209 writing against him 82 00:03:54,209 --> 00:03:56,452 that were denying the necessity of repentance. 83 00:03:56,452 --> 00:03:58,458 Denying that you had to bow the knee 84 00:03:58,458 --> 00:03:59,427 to Jesus Christ. 85 00:03:59,427 --> 00:04:00,990 They were saying that was adding 86 00:04:00,990 --> 00:04:02,398 something to salvation. 87 00:04:02,398 --> 00:04:03,555 So here I am, 88 00:04:03,555 --> 00:04:05,109 saved right in the heart 89 00:04:05,109 --> 00:04:06,705 of that controversy 90 00:04:06,705 --> 00:04:09,347 through the materials of John MacArthur. 91 00:04:09,347 --> 00:04:11,750 So you know where my bias was. 92 00:04:11,750 --> 00:04:14,972 And you can imagine what I was convinced 93 00:04:14,972 --> 00:04:16,236 was the truth. 94 00:04:16,236 --> 00:04:17,593 And I was convinced of that 95 00:04:17,593 --> 00:04:18,925 not just MacArthur said it 96 00:04:18,925 --> 00:04:20,741 but because when I went to the Bible, 97 00:04:20,741 --> 00:04:21,492 I saw it there. 98 00:04:21,492 --> 00:04:23,244 And so now when this guy is up here 99 00:04:23,244 --> 00:04:25,983 saying, "just believe, just believe, just believe," 100 00:04:25,983 --> 00:04:28,385 and I'm going to the Sunday school class - 101 00:04:28,385 --> 00:04:30,232 the singles Sunday school class 102 00:04:30,232 --> 00:04:31,296 in that church, 103 00:04:31,296 --> 00:04:32,677 and I got this girl over here 104 00:04:32,677 --> 00:04:34,145 coming to me and talking to me 105 00:04:34,145 --> 00:04:36,028 telling me she's sleeping with her boyfriend. 106 00:04:36,028 --> 00:04:38,048 And that guy over there, I'm talking to him, 107 00:04:38,048 --> 00:04:40,174 and he says he's got a drinking problem. 108 00:04:40,174 --> 00:04:41,369 I'm thinking, well, what? 109 00:04:41,369 --> 00:04:43,186 You got saved and now once in a while 110 00:04:43,186 --> 00:04:43,927 you go back? 111 00:04:43,927 --> 00:04:46,345 The guy's getting drunk every day. 112 00:04:46,345 --> 00:04:48,018 I got another guy over here, 113 00:04:48,018 --> 00:04:51,061 he invites me to his bachelor party. 114 00:04:51,061 --> 00:04:53,000 And I'm thinking, wow, this is great. 115 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:54,429 Now it's not going to be like 116 00:04:54,429 --> 00:04:55,849 the ones I knew when I was lost. 117 00:04:55,849 --> 00:04:56,847 We're going to go over there, 118 00:04:56,847 --> 00:04:58,566 probably exhort the guy from the Scriptures. 119 00:04:58,566 --> 00:04:59,608 We pull in his yard. 120 00:04:59,608 --> 00:05:00,422 There's a keg. 121 00:05:00,422 --> 00:05:01,543 And I'm thinking, 122 00:05:01,543 --> 00:05:03,106 something is wrong here. 123 00:05:03,106 --> 00:05:04,548 I joined the softball team. 124 00:05:04,548 --> 00:05:05,896 There's a guy on the team. 125 00:05:05,896 --> 00:05:08,931 His mouth is so filthy and so foul. 126 00:05:08,931 --> 00:05:10,565 And I said something to the coach. 127 00:05:10,565 --> 00:05:12,244 Isn't that guy supposed to be a Christian? 128 00:05:12,244 --> 00:05:13,427 "Well, he's a Christian. 129 00:05:13,427 --> 00:05:15,367 He just fell in with a bad crowd." 130 00:05:15,367 --> 00:05:16,811 And I got looking at all that 131 00:05:16,811 --> 00:05:18,666 and I thought something is wrong here. 132 00:05:18,666 --> 00:05:20,976 They asked me to write an article for the paper. 133 00:05:20,976 --> 00:05:22,520 I wrote it about the nature 134 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:23,651 of biblical repentance. 135 00:05:23,651 --> 00:05:24,580 They shot it down 136 00:05:24,580 --> 00:05:26,830 and would not publish it. 137 00:05:26,830 --> 00:05:28,898 Well, now here's this guy in this pulpit 138 00:05:28,898 --> 00:05:30,187 every week saying, 139 00:05:30,187 --> 00:05:32,951 "Just believe, just believe, just believe." 140 00:05:32,951 --> 00:05:35,663 And I wanted to stand up and shout, 141 00:05:35,663 --> 00:05:37,378 (and I almost did)... 142 00:05:37,378 --> 00:05:39,288 If the Spirit of God had moved upon me 143 00:05:39,288 --> 00:05:41,713 a little bit more, I probably would have. 144 00:05:41,713 --> 00:05:43,468 But I wanted to shout, 145 00:05:43,468 --> 00:05:49,035 "No! It's repent and believe!" 146 00:05:49,035 --> 00:05:54,595 Well, that's basically where my beginnings were. 147 00:05:54,597 --> 00:05:58,324 And so, I have been adamant 148 00:05:58,324 --> 00:05:59,954 about Lordship. 149 00:05:59,954 --> 00:06:02,638 I mean, here I was in the tensions 150 00:06:02,638 --> 00:06:05,291 when I was under conviction. 151 00:06:05,291 --> 00:06:06,859 What does it profit a man 152 00:06:06,859 --> 00:06:08,517 if he gains the whole world 153 00:06:08,517 --> 00:06:10,276 and loses his own soul? 154 00:06:10,276 --> 00:06:12,185 What's Christ saying there? 155 00:06:12,185 --> 00:06:14,527 He's saying unless a man forsakes 156 00:06:14,527 --> 00:06:15,885 the whole world, 157 00:06:15,885 --> 00:06:18,043 he will lose his own soul. 158 00:06:18,043 --> 00:06:19,345 That's what that means. 159 00:06:19,345 --> 00:06:21,302 That's the tension I was in. 160 00:06:21,302 --> 00:06:23,363 I mean, I've told some of you before, 161 00:06:23,363 --> 00:06:25,395 I had "The Gospel According to Jesus" 162 00:06:25,395 --> 00:06:26,922 and I had the forty ouncer, 163 00:06:26,922 --> 00:06:29,098 and I'm telling you, I was trying to run. 164 00:06:29,098 --> 00:06:31,287 I was being drawn, 165 00:06:31,287 --> 00:06:32,734 but at the same time 166 00:06:32,734 --> 00:06:34,102 I was trying to run. 167 00:06:34,102 --> 00:06:36,359 "God, leave me alone!" 168 00:06:36,359 --> 00:06:38,275 If you'll just let me enjoy my sin 169 00:06:38,275 --> 00:06:39,400 like I used to, 170 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:40,693 I'll get rid of this book. 171 00:06:40,693 --> 00:06:41,666 I'll go back. 172 00:06:41,666 --> 00:06:43,366 Just let me... 173 00:06:43,366 --> 00:06:45,530 But there's this tension, 174 00:06:45,530 --> 00:06:46,958 this pulling. 175 00:06:46,958 --> 00:06:48,540 And I knew it. 176 00:06:48,540 --> 00:06:49,766 It was like in one ear 177 00:06:49,766 --> 00:06:51,976 I could hear the devil saying to me, 178 00:06:51,976 --> 00:06:53,662 "You can't give up your life. 179 00:06:53,662 --> 00:06:55,311 You can't give up that lifestyle. 180 00:06:55,311 --> 00:06:56,897 You can't give up those friends. 181 00:06:56,897 --> 00:06:59,372 You can't give those things up. 182 00:06:59,372 --> 00:07:00,467 All your idols. 183 00:07:00,467 --> 00:07:01,769 That's who you are. 184 00:07:01,769 --> 00:07:03,113 That's what you're known for. 185 00:07:03,113 --> 00:07:04,473 That's your reputation. 186 00:07:04,473 --> 00:07:07,494 You don't want to live without that reputation." 187 00:07:07,494 --> 00:07:08,687 And I would think, 188 00:07:08,687 --> 00:07:10,113 yeah, you're right. 189 00:07:10,113 --> 00:07:12,106 And then I would hear that Word: 190 00:07:12,106 --> 00:07:14,361 What will it profit you if you gain 191 00:07:14,361 --> 00:07:15,754 all that reputation 192 00:07:15,754 --> 00:07:16,678 and all those idols 193 00:07:16,678 --> 00:07:17,667 and all those things 194 00:07:17,667 --> 00:07:19,074 and lose your own soul? 195 00:07:19,074 --> 00:07:22,517 And so this battle back and forth... 196 00:07:22,517 --> 00:07:25,829 I was birthed into the Kingdom through that. 197 00:07:25,829 --> 00:07:28,581 I knew Christ would forgive me 198 00:07:28,581 --> 00:07:29,600 if I came to Him. 199 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,324 I knew there was rest there. 200 00:07:31,324 --> 00:07:34,222 But I knew what He was going to require of me. 201 00:07:34,222 --> 00:07:43,056 And when I finally let go, 202 00:07:43,056 --> 00:07:45,246 and said, "Lord, help me." 203 00:07:45,246 --> 00:07:51,445 He saved me in a moment. 204 00:07:51,445 --> 00:07:56,530 Here's what it seems like happened. 205 00:07:56,530 --> 00:07:58,686 You had everybody talking about 206 00:07:58,686 --> 00:08:01,101 the carnal Christian heresy. 207 00:08:01,101 --> 00:08:03,564 What's the carnal Christian heresy? 208 00:08:03,564 --> 00:08:05,863 Well, basically, it goes right along 209 00:08:05,863 --> 00:08:07,243 with this whole deal. 210 00:08:07,243 --> 00:08:08,804 What is it? 211 00:08:08,804 --> 00:08:10,482 Well, it's basically saying this: 212 00:08:10,482 --> 00:08:12,648 That there were guys that were 213 00:08:12,648 --> 00:08:17,457 actually even responding to MacArthur - 214 00:08:17,457 --> 00:08:18,870 you know some of the names. 215 00:08:18,870 --> 00:08:19,791 They're out there. 216 00:08:19,791 --> 00:08:22,596 Most of them came from Dallas Theological Seminary. 217 00:08:22,596 --> 00:08:24,889 They wrote books against MacArthur. 218 00:08:24,889 --> 00:08:27,163 Back and forth. 219 00:08:27,163 --> 00:08:29,081 They were saying things like this: 220 00:08:29,081 --> 00:08:32,844 You could actually at one point in time believe, 221 00:08:32,844 --> 00:08:34,728 and because you made that 222 00:08:34,728 --> 00:08:37,182 one-time decision, you could actually 223 00:08:37,182 --> 00:08:39,637 fall into all sorts of notorious sins. 224 00:08:39,637 --> 00:08:42,208 You could even actually fall 225 00:08:42,208 --> 00:08:45,173 eventually into atheism. 226 00:08:45,173 --> 00:08:47,373 And I remember MacArthur saying 227 00:08:47,373 --> 00:08:49,350 these guys are advocating you can become 228 00:08:49,350 --> 00:08:51,718 an unbelieving believer. 229 00:08:51,718 --> 00:08:53,982 And he's like what is that? 230 00:08:53,982 --> 00:08:54,709 Exactly. 231 00:08:54,709 --> 00:08:55,920 What is that? 232 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,103 What in the world is that? 233 00:08:58,103 --> 00:09:00,133 And so what happens is 234 00:09:00,133 --> 00:09:02,114 trying to put away these errors; 235 00:09:02,114 --> 00:09:04,037 trying to put away this idea 236 00:09:04,037 --> 00:09:05,662 that you can be a Christian 237 00:09:05,662 --> 00:09:07,812 and live any way you want, 238 00:09:07,812 --> 00:09:09,410 which is basically a denial 239 00:09:09,410 --> 00:09:10,746 of regeneration. 240 00:09:10,746 --> 00:09:12,147 That's basically what it is. 241 00:09:12,147 --> 00:09:14,118 Because God says if He saves you, 242 00:09:14,118 --> 00:09:15,936 He's going to give you a new heart. 243 00:09:15,936 --> 00:09:17,433 God says if He saves you, 244 00:09:17,433 --> 00:09:19,369 He's going to put His Spirit within you. 245 00:09:19,369 --> 00:09:22,727 God says if He saves you, 246 00:09:22,727 --> 00:09:27,032 He's going to write that law on your heart. 247 00:09:27,032 --> 00:09:28,547 That's what it says. 248 00:09:28,547 --> 00:09:30,724 The Scripture says if by the Spirit 249 00:09:30,724 --> 00:09:32,906 you don't put to death the deeds of the body, 250 00:09:32,906 --> 00:09:34,818 you're going to die. 251 00:09:34,818 --> 00:09:36,360 This is a life and death thing. 252 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,133 Jesus Christ comes along and He says 253 00:09:38,133 --> 00:09:40,740 it's not anybody and everybody that says to Me, "Lord, Lord," 254 00:09:40,740 --> 00:09:42,436 that's going to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. 255 00:09:42,436 --> 00:09:44,053 He says it's the ones that do the will 256 00:09:44,053 --> 00:09:44,931 of My Father in Heaven. 257 00:09:44,931 --> 00:09:45,957 Basically, if there is not such 258 00:09:45,957 --> 00:09:47,572 a radical transformation in your life 259 00:09:47,572 --> 00:09:49,152 that old things pass away, 260 00:09:49,152 --> 00:09:50,531 all things become new, 261 00:09:50,531 --> 00:09:52,313 and you're a new creation in Christ, 262 00:09:52,313 --> 00:09:53,901 keeping the will of the Father, 263 00:09:53,901 --> 00:09:55,330 if that's not true about you, 264 00:09:55,330 --> 00:09:58,322 you haven't been born again. 265 00:09:58,322 --> 00:10:01,445 I mean, that is where repentance flows from. 266 00:10:01,445 --> 00:10:05,964 Repentance flows from a renewed man or woman. 267 00:10:05,964 --> 00:10:08,390 It flows from one who is born again; 268 00:10:08,390 --> 00:10:10,616 radically transformed by God - 269 00:10:10,616 --> 00:10:13,201 by the power of God. 270 00:10:13,201 --> 00:10:17,322 And we have undoubtedly in our church 271 00:10:17,322 --> 00:10:19,291 and folks like you that gather here 272 00:10:19,291 --> 00:10:20,576 for the Bible study, 273 00:10:20,576 --> 00:10:22,808 you have embraced these things. 274 00:10:22,808 --> 00:10:24,795 I think most of you have. 275 00:10:24,795 --> 00:10:26,963 You like these things. 276 00:10:26,963 --> 00:10:31,252 But I'll tell you, 277 00:10:31,252 --> 00:10:33,521 what I think is happening - 278 00:10:33,521 --> 00:10:34,860 now listen to me, 279 00:10:34,860 --> 00:10:37,211 Satan is cunning. 280 00:10:37,211 --> 00:10:39,595 Oh, he is cunning. 281 00:10:39,595 --> 00:10:43,178 There is a text - now listen to this. 282 00:10:43,178 --> 00:10:47,769 Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 11:3. 283 00:10:47,769 --> 00:10:50,452 I'm going to read the ESV. 284 00:10:50,452 --> 00:10:52,816 And then I'm going to read the New King James. 285 00:10:52,816 --> 00:10:55,017 2 Corinthians 11:3. 286 00:10:55,017 --> 00:11:00,260 By the way, the NAS, the old King James 287 00:11:00,260 --> 00:11:03,106 are virtually the same; pretty close 288 00:11:03,106 --> 00:11:04,868 to the New King James. 289 00:11:04,868 --> 00:11:06,480 So you'll get the flavor there. 290 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,834 Listen to the ESV first. 291 00:11:08,834 --> 00:11:12,354 "I am afraid that as the serpent 292 00:11:12,354 --> 00:11:14,259 (there's the devil) 293 00:11:14,259 --> 00:11:16,772 as the serpent deceived Eve 294 00:11:16,772 --> 00:11:19,322 by his cunning, 295 00:11:19,322 --> 00:11:22,677 your thoughts be led astray 296 00:11:22,677 --> 00:11:25,089 from a sincere and pure 297 00:11:25,089 --> 00:11:26,620 devotion to Christ." 298 00:11:26,620 --> 00:11:27,956 Now the New King James: 299 00:11:27,956 --> 00:11:29,741 "I fear lest somehow as the serpent 300 00:11:29,741 --> 00:11:33,108 deceived Eve by his craftiness, 301 00:11:33,108 --> 00:11:36,355 so your minds may be corrupted 302 00:11:36,355 --> 00:11:39,803 from the simplicity that is in Christ." 303 00:11:39,803 --> 00:11:42,244 The reason I wanted to use that one; 304 00:11:42,244 --> 00:11:43,676 the NAS, the New King James, 305 00:11:43,676 --> 00:11:44,691 the old King James, 306 00:11:44,691 --> 00:11:47,652 they all use that word: simplicity. 307 00:11:47,652 --> 00:11:49,436 Listen. 308 00:11:49,436 --> 00:11:53,143 There is a simplicity in Christ. 309 00:11:53,143 --> 00:11:55,828 What is the craftiness 310 00:11:55,828 --> 00:11:57,362 that Paul's worried about? 311 00:11:57,362 --> 00:12:00,024 The cunning of the devil? 312 00:12:00,024 --> 00:12:03,417 It is to move us away from Christ. 313 00:12:03,417 --> 00:12:05,466 And I'll tell you this, 314 00:12:05,466 --> 00:12:07,958 if all of a sudden, 315 00:12:07,958 --> 00:12:09,718 the movement in the church 316 00:12:09,718 --> 00:12:13,899 is to reintroduce and reemphasize repentance, 317 00:12:13,899 --> 00:12:17,499 guess what his craftiness will be? 318 00:12:17,499 --> 00:12:20,901 Guess where the danger is? 319 00:12:20,901 --> 00:12:23,800 He would gladly have us to believe 320 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:28,186 you can be a Christian and live like hell. 321 00:12:28,186 --> 00:12:31,736 But ok, if they're not going to buy that, 322 00:12:31,736 --> 00:12:34,453 if they're going to move back to Lordship 323 00:12:34,453 --> 00:12:37,031 and there's going to be a resurgence 324 00:12:37,031 --> 00:12:39,112 of repentance, 325 00:12:39,112 --> 00:12:41,823 then let's do this: 326 00:12:41,823 --> 00:12:46,322 let's get them so focused on repentance; 327 00:12:46,322 --> 00:12:50,739 let's get them so focused on themselves 328 00:12:50,739 --> 00:12:52,901 bending the knee to Christ 329 00:12:52,901 --> 00:12:56,092 and what that looks like 330 00:12:56,092 --> 00:12:58,465 that they're no longer setting their eyes 331 00:12:58,465 --> 00:13:00,469 simply on Christ. 332 00:13:00,469 --> 00:13:02,138 You see, there is a simplicity 333 00:13:02,138 --> 00:13:03,803 in the Gospel. 334 00:13:03,803 --> 00:13:06,012 And there is a simplicity in what it is 335 00:13:06,012 --> 00:13:08,353 coming to Christ in the beginning. 336 00:13:08,353 --> 00:13:11,561 And there is a simplicity of where 337 00:13:11,561 --> 00:13:14,121 our strength as a Christian comes from 338 00:13:14,121 --> 00:13:16,043 in the Christian life; 339 00:13:16,043 --> 00:13:18,637 in Christ. 340 00:13:18,637 --> 00:13:22,391 And Satan will seek to divert us away 341 00:13:22,391 --> 00:13:25,209 in his craftiness all the time. 342 00:13:25,209 --> 00:13:29,456 Oh, let us go back to repentance. 343 00:13:29,456 --> 00:13:34,083 But if he's going to have us go back there 344 00:13:34,083 --> 00:13:39,492 then he would have us look away from Christ 345 00:13:39,492 --> 00:13:42,215 in the midst of our repentance. 346 00:13:42,215 --> 00:13:45,452 Now, you say, wait a second, 347 00:13:45,452 --> 00:13:48,436 I thought you were going to speak 348 00:13:48,436 --> 00:13:50,503 on assurance. 349 00:13:50,503 --> 00:13:55,063 Oh yeah. 350 00:13:55,063 --> 00:13:58,452 Think with me here. 351 00:13:58,452 --> 00:13:59,841 You know what? 352 00:13:59,841 --> 00:14:04,314 Satan - basically his strategies: 353 00:14:04,314 --> 00:14:08,440 keep the lost lost. 354 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:12,328 If somebody is saved, 355 00:14:12,328 --> 00:14:17,760 keep them powerless. 356 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:19,003 And you know what? 357 00:14:19,003 --> 00:14:21,462 You keep the lost lost 358 00:14:21,462 --> 00:14:24,152 when you keep them blind to Christ, 359 00:14:24,152 --> 00:14:28,207 and you keep the saved powerless 360 00:14:28,207 --> 00:14:32,959 when you keep their eyes off of Christ. 361 00:14:32,959 --> 00:14:36,314 How does that relate to assurance? 362 00:14:36,314 --> 00:14:42,065 Folks, let me ask you this: 363 00:14:42,065 --> 00:14:46,131 Have any of you ever asked a Catholic 364 00:14:46,131 --> 00:14:49,874 if they know they're going to heaven? 365 00:14:49,874 --> 00:14:51,712 I have. 366 00:14:51,712 --> 00:14:53,371 And you know what? 367 00:14:53,371 --> 00:14:56,810 Now you may prove me wrong on this, 368 00:14:56,810 --> 00:14:58,967 and somebody watching is going to say, 369 00:14:58,967 --> 00:15:00,695 "Wait a second! I'm a Catholic 370 00:15:00,695 --> 00:15:02,500 and I wouldn't answer that way." 371 00:15:02,500 --> 00:15:03,623 And you know what? 372 00:15:03,623 --> 00:15:04,794 That may be. 373 00:15:04,794 --> 00:15:06,415 You may find exceptions. 374 00:15:06,415 --> 00:15:07,825 But I can tell you this, 375 00:15:07,825 --> 00:15:09,395 I've talked to many Catholics 376 00:15:09,395 --> 00:15:11,043 and I've asked them this question. 377 00:15:11,043 --> 00:15:13,484 And I have never found one answer 378 00:15:13,484 --> 00:15:16,305 to the contrary. 379 00:15:16,305 --> 00:15:21,513 Do you know you're going to heaven? 380 00:15:21,513 --> 00:15:23,672 Do you know what they say? 381 00:15:23,672 --> 00:15:25,966 Have you ever asked one? 382 00:15:25,966 --> 00:15:28,334 What do they say? 383 00:15:28,334 --> 00:15:29,688 I hope so. 384 00:15:29,688 --> 00:15:30,984 I've gotten that answer 385 00:15:30,984 --> 00:15:32,264 from almost everyone. 386 00:15:32,264 --> 00:15:33,912 If not exactly that answer, 387 00:15:33,912 --> 00:15:37,682 something that's basically comparable 388 00:15:37,682 --> 00:15:39,439 to that answer. 389 00:15:39,439 --> 00:15:40,983 I hope so. 390 00:15:40,983 --> 00:15:42,746 You know where that comes from? 391 00:15:42,746 --> 00:15:44,424 That comes from the top. 392 00:15:44,424 --> 00:15:45,769 What do I mean by that? 393 00:15:45,769 --> 00:15:50,899 Have you ever heard of the Council of Trent? 394 00:15:50,899 --> 00:15:53,427 Basically, many of the Catholic dogmas 395 00:15:53,427 --> 00:15:55,804 were asserted or reasserted 396 00:15:55,804 --> 00:15:57,700 in that council. 397 00:15:57,700 --> 00:15:58,854 Let me tell you this, 398 00:15:58,854 --> 00:16:00,912 Council of Trent; 399 00:16:00,912 --> 00:16:05,922 16th Canon, 6th Session, says this: 400 00:16:05,922 --> 00:16:08,367 Now listen to this very carefully: 401 00:16:08,367 --> 00:16:15,564 "If anyone saith that he will for certain 402 00:16:15,564 --> 00:16:19,773 of an absolute and infallible certainty 403 00:16:19,773 --> 00:16:22,567 have the great gift of perseverance 404 00:16:22,567 --> 00:16:26,493 unto the end, 405 00:16:26,493 --> 00:16:29,019 unless he have learned this 406 00:16:29,019 --> 00:16:32,165 by special revelation, 407 00:16:32,165 --> 00:16:34,198 let him be anathema." 408 00:16:34,198 --> 00:16:35,651 In other words, 409 00:16:35,651 --> 00:16:38,404 if you say that you have confidence 410 00:16:38,404 --> 00:16:41,481 and assurance of salvation 411 00:16:41,481 --> 00:16:43,891 in the end of this life, 412 00:16:43,891 --> 00:16:46,667 they say we pronounce our curse 413 00:16:46,667 --> 00:16:50,712 of damnation on you. 414 00:16:50,712 --> 00:16:52,066 That's what they say. 415 00:16:52,066 --> 00:16:53,494 Now, isn't it interesting, 416 00:16:53,494 --> 00:16:56,305 they give that exception, 417 00:16:56,305 --> 00:16:59,124 "unless he have learned this 418 00:16:59,124 --> 00:17:00,659 by special revelation." 419 00:17:00,659 --> 00:17:05,454 Why do you think they added that? 420 00:17:05,454 --> 00:17:07,193 I'll tell you why they added it, 421 00:17:07,193 --> 00:17:08,883 because it helps them explain 422 00:17:08,883 --> 00:17:11,571 somebody like Paul. 423 00:17:11,571 --> 00:17:13,537 Because if they can't explain 424 00:17:13,537 --> 00:17:16,251 some of the things Paul says about himself 425 00:17:16,251 --> 00:17:19,617 they're in real trouble. 426 00:17:19,617 --> 00:17:22,280 Like what does Paul say? 427 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,117 "I am not ashamed..." 428 00:17:24,117 --> 00:17:25,547 2 Timothy 1:12 429 00:17:25,547 --> 00:17:28,453 "...for I know Whom I have believed 430 00:17:28,453 --> 00:17:31,327 and I am convinced (or persuaded) 431 00:17:31,327 --> 00:17:34,020 that He is able to guard until that day 432 00:17:34,020 --> 00:17:36,146 what has been entrusted to me." 433 00:17:36,146 --> 00:17:37,472 Galatians 2:20 434 00:17:37,472 --> 00:17:39,868 "I have been crucified with Christ. 435 00:17:39,868 --> 00:17:41,837 It is no longer I who live, 436 00:17:41,837 --> 00:17:43,440 but Christ Who lives in me, 437 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:45,259 and the life I now live in the flesh, 438 00:17:45,259 --> 00:17:47,223 I live by faith in the Son of God 439 00:17:47,223 --> 00:17:51,179 Who loved me and gave Himself for me." 440 00:17:51,179 --> 00:17:54,218 There is no doubt in that man... 441 00:17:54,218 --> 00:17:55,997 that man has assurance. 442 00:17:55,997 --> 00:17:57,952 Does he not? 443 00:17:57,952 --> 00:17:59,902 Ok, what is assurance? 444 00:17:59,902 --> 00:18:01,415 You want to define assurance? 445 00:18:01,415 --> 00:18:02,810 It's that right there. 446 00:18:02,810 --> 00:18:04,813 I know Whom I've believed. 447 00:18:04,813 --> 00:18:06,948 I am persuaded He is able 448 00:18:06,948 --> 00:18:09,659 to keep that which I've committed to Him 449 00:18:09,659 --> 00:18:11,547 against that day. 450 00:18:11,547 --> 00:18:13,127 I know it. I believe it. 451 00:18:13,127 --> 00:18:14,545 I'm persuaded. 452 00:18:14,545 --> 00:18:18,432 I know that the Christ Himself loved me 453 00:18:18,432 --> 00:18:20,576 and I know He gave Himself for me. 454 00:18:20,576 --> 00:18:24,814 Listen folks, that's assurance. 455 00:18:24,814 --> 00:18:27,290 That's assurance. 456 00:18:27,290 --> 00:18:30,789 The Catholics basically say you're cursed 457 00:18:30,789 --> 00:18:33,607 if you say that you can know 458 00:18:33,607 --> 00:18:36,754 that you're going to have eternal life 459 00:18:36,754 --> 00:18:38,032 in the end of this 460 00:18:38,032 --> 00:18:40,348 with the assurance that Paul has, 461 00:18:40,348 --> 00:18:42,862 unless you've had special revelation. 462 00:18:42,862 --> 00:18:44,381 And they would basically say 463 00:18:44,381 --> 00:18:46,005 yes, Paul has it, 464 00:18:46,005 --> 00:18:49,862 and yes, maybe certain select saints - 465 00:18:49,862 --> 00:18:52,899 super Christians have been given 466 00:18:52,899 --> 00:18:57,090 special revelation. 467 00:18:57,090 --> 00:19:01,725 Listen to this text. 468 00:19:01,725 --> 00:19:04,805 1 John 5:13 469 00:19:04,805 --> 00:19:07,157 The Apostle John says 470 00:19:07,157 --> 00:19:09,253 after he gets done writing 471 00:19:09,253 --> 00:19:13,241 the first epistle. 472 00:19:13,241 --> 00:19:17,112 "I write these things to you who believe..." 473 00:19:17,112 --> 00:19:20,941 Not just to those who have special revelation. 474 00:19:20,941 --> 00:19:27,122 To every single person who believes. 475 00:19:27,122 --> 00:19:30,536 "I write these things to you who believe 476 00:19:30,536 --> 00:19:33,612 in the name of the Son of God 477 00:19:33,612 --> 00:19:35,867 that you may know 478 00:19:35,867 --> 00:19:39,647 that you have eternal life." 479 00:19:39,647 --> 00:19:42,996 Oh, my brothers and sisters, 480 00:19:42,996 --> 00:19:46,301 God wants us to know we have eternal life. 481 00:19:46,301 --> 00:19:48,301 He's not playing some game with us 482 00:19:48,301 --> 00:19:50,774 where He dangles a carrot before our eyes 483 00:19:50,774 --> 00:19:52,737 and says, I never want you to be sure 484 00:19:52,737 --> 00:19:55,780 that you have it. 485 00:19:55,780 --> 00:20:02,035 Brethren, the very Spirit He gave us 486 00:20:02,035 --> 00:20:04,820 is a Spirit of adoption 487 00:20:04,820 --> 00:20:07,692 by which we cry, 488 00:20:07,692 --> 00:20:10,416 "Abba, Father." 489 00:20:10,416 --> 00:20:13,530 The Spirit speaks to us 490 00:20:13,530 --> 00:20:16,726 in ways that resonate within us 491 00:20:16,726 --> 00:20:19,394 that we're children of God. 492 00:20:19,394 --> 00:20:21,040 What does John say? 493 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:24,588 "Behold what manner of love 494 00:20:24,588 --> 00:20:28,139 the Father hath bestowed upon us 495 00:20:28,139 --> 00:20:30,763 that we should be called the children of God." 496 00:20:30,763 --> 00:20:33,021 Does he say, oh, He wants us to doubt? 497 00:20:33,021 --> 00:20:34,386 He wants us to fret? 498 00:20:34,386 --> 00:20:35,627 He wants us to worry? 499 00:20:35,627 --> 00:20:37,246 He wants us filled with anxiety? 500 00:20:37,246 --> 00:20:40,970 He wants us filled with uncertainty? 501 00:20:40,970 --> 00:20:44,112 Brethren, He doesn't want that. 502 00:20:44,112 --> 00:20:46,833 Why? 503 00:20:46,833 --> 00:20:49,199 Listen. 504 00:20:49,199 --> 00:20:54,544 When you lack assurance, 505 00:20:54,544 --> 00:20:57,669 what are you doing? 506 00:20:57,669 --> 00:21:02,401 (Unintelligible) 507 00:21:02,401 --> 00:21:08,519 But if you lack assurance... 508 00:21:08,519 --> 00:21:13,310 Look, if we said we lacked faith, 509 00:21:13,310 --> 00:21:17,076 I would say you're right on. 510 00:21:17,076 --> 00:21:19,834 Lacking faith - faith and assurance 511 00:21:19,834 --> 00:21:24,273 are not exactly the same. 512 00:21:24,273 --> 00:21:26,583 Because you can have saving faith 513 00:21:26,583 --> 00:21:27,812 and lack assurance. 514 00:21:27,812 --> 00:21:30,282 You all agree with that right? 515 00:21:30,282 --> 00:21:34,170 I mean a person can truly be converted 516 00:21:34,170 --> 00:21:37,145 and wrestle with whether or not 517 00:21:37,145 --> 00:21:39,203 he's truly saved. 518 00:21:39,203 --> 00:21:41,063 So they're not exactly the same. 519 00:21:41,063 --> 00:21:45,339 Faith is believing what God has said. 520 00:21:45,339 --> 00:21:46,796 It's believing His character. 521 00:21:46,796 --> 00:21:49,739 It's believing His promises. 522 00:21:49,739 --> 00:21:56,633 Assurance is that confidence 523 00:21:56,633 --> 00:21:58,969 that I truly belong to God. 524 00:21:58,969 --> 00:22:00,178 I'm truly saved. 525 00:22:00,178 --> 00:22:03,766 I'm truly going to receive eternal life 526 00:22:03,766 --> 00:22:05,244 at the end of this. 527 00:22:05,244 --> 00:22:07,792 And those are two different things. 528 00:22:07,792 --> 00:22:10,649 So if I'm lacking assurance, 529 00:22:10,649 --> 00:22:13,167 what am I doing? 530 00:22:13,167 --> 00:22:14,833 Now look, a lost person can 531 00:22:14,833 --> 00:22:16,294 lack assurance. 532 00:22:16,294 --> 00:22:19,144 And a saved person can lack assurance. 533 00:22:19,144 --> 00:22:20,785 So think with me here, 534 00:22:20,785 --> 00:22:23,181 what is it that whether you're saved 535 00:22:23,181 --> 00:22:28,298 or lost if you lack assurance, 536 00:22:28,298 --> 00:22:29,680 what are you doing? 537 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:31,633 Totally separate from whether you have 538 00:22:31,633 --> 00:22:33,298 saving faith or not. 539 00:22:33,298 --> 00:22:37,313 What are you doing when you lack assurance? 540 00:22:37,313 --> 00:22:39,078 What is that? 541 00:22:39,078 --> 00:22:41,133 (unintelligible) 542 00:22:41,133 --> 00:22:44,542 But what is it you're thinking about yourself? 543 00:22:44,542 --> 00:22:49,494 (unintelligible) 544 00:22:49,494 --> 00:22:51,640 Well, not so much that necessarily. 545 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:53,609 (from the room): Am I going to heaven? 546 00:22:53,609 --> 00:22:54,864 Tim: Exactly. 547 00:22:54,864 --> 00:22:57,447 You're in a quandary. 548 00:22:57,447 --> 00:22:59,226 I'm not positive I'm going to heaven. 549 00:22:59,226 --> 00:23:01,404 Right? Isn't that what lacking assurance is? 550 00:23:01,404 --> 00:23:04,187 I'm not positive that I'm saved. 551 00:23:04,187 --> 00:23:06,856 I'm not positive that I've actually had 552 00:23:06,856 --> 00:23:07,930 saving faith. 553 00:23:07,930 --> 00:23:10,146 I'm not positive if I'm going to go to heaven. 554 00:23:10,146 --> 00:23:12,588 I'm not positive if I'm going to go to hell. 555 00:23:12,588 --> 00:23:15,554 I'm not positive if I'm one of God's children or not. 556 00:23:15,554 --> 00:23:16,737 I'm not positive. 557 00:23:16,737 --> 00:23:17,879 I don't have confidence. 558 00:23:17,879 --> 00:23:19,590 That's what it is to lack assurance. 559 00:23:19,590 --> 00:23:21,646 And to have assurance is to say, 560 00:23:21,646 --> 00:23:24,947 yes, I know that I'm one of His. 561 00:23:24,947 --> 00:23:26,209 Paul had that assurance. 562 00:23:26,209 --> 00:23:27,891 I know Whom I've believed. 563 00:23:27,891 --> 00:23:28,938 I'm confident. 564 00:23:28,938 --> 00:23:30,214 I know He died for me. 565 00:23:30,214 --> 00:23:32,344 I know He loved me. 566 00:23:32,344 --> 00:23:34,578 Now listen, assurance, like I said 567 00:23:34,578 --> 00:23:35,734 is not faith. 568 00:23:35,734 --> 00:23:40,640 A person can have great assurance. 569 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:45,271 These folks in Matthew 7 seem quite certain. 570 00:23:45,271 --> 00:23:47,983 "Lord, Lord..." We were there. 571 00:23:47,983 --> 00:23:49,341 Many mighty works. 572 00:23:49,341 --> 00:23:50,616 Remember all those? 573 00:23:50,616 --> 00:23:52,283 Remember the demons we cast out? 574 00:23:52,283 --> 00:23:54,869 Remember us prophesying? 575 00:23:54,869 --> 00:23:56,434 And they were pretty confident. 576 00:23:56,434 --> 00:23:58,014 Look, you can have assurance 577 00:23:58,014 --> 00:24:00,277 and not be saved. 578 00:24:00,277 --> 00:24:02,148 There are a lot of people, Christ says, 579 00:24:02,148 --> 00:24:07,925 many in that day are going to say to Me... 580 00:24:07,925 --> 00:24:09,791 You see the second soil type 581 00:24:09,791 --> 00:24:11,439 in the parable of the soils. 582 00:24:11,439 --> 00:24:13,138 They receive the Word gladly. 583 00:24:13,138 --> 00:24:14,189 There's a time there, 584 00:24:14,189 --> 00:24:15,731 they're thinking they're in. 585 00:24:15,731 --> 00:24:17,254 They're pretty confident people. 586 00:24:17,254 --> 00:24:19,932 They receive these things. 587 00:24:19,932 --> 00:24:22,422 There's a confidence there. 588 00:24:22,422 --> 00:24:25,001 Trials come and they fall away. 589 00:24:25,001 --> 00:24:30,376 But we're speaking about assurance. 590 00:24:30,376 --> 00:24:32,642 And of course, I'm wanting us 591 00:24:32,642 --> 00:24:36,317 to give consideration to the Christian 592 00:24:36,317 --> 00:24:37,902 and assurance. 593 00:24:37,902 --> 00:24:39,474 (Incomplete thought) 594 00:24:39,474 --> 00:24:41,454 What are some big indicators 595 00:24:41,454 --> 00:24:43,155 that a person - even if they have 596 00:24:43,155 --> 00:24:44,487 tremendous confidence, 597 00:24:44,487 --> 00:24:46,869 that they're a Christian? 598 00:24:46,869 --> 00:24:51,074 What are some big indicators that they're not? 599 00:24:51,074 --> 00:24:53,865 They don't desire the Word of God. 600 00:24:53,865 --> 00:24:56,043 Fruits. 601 00:24:56,043 --> 00:24:57,534 They don't pray. 602 00:24:57,534 --> 00:24:59,289 Again, all these things. Fruits. 603 00:24:59,289 --> 00:25:00,931 These have to do maybe 604 00:25:00,931 --> 00:25:02,405 with the fruits of repentance. 605 00:25:02,405 --> 00:25:04,386 Maybe with the fruits of regeneration. 606 00:25:04,386 --> 00:25:05,991 And see, we're coming back now, 607 00:25:05,991 --> 00:25:08,738 to where I really wanted to go. 608 00:25:08,738 --> 00:25:12,719 Folks, let me tell you something. 609 00:25:12,719 --> 00:25:16,926 My fear that there's a danger - 610 00:25:16,926 --> 00:25:18,333 there's always a danger 611 00:25:18,333 --> 00:25:20,380 with everything, 612 00:25:20,380 --> 00:25:23,668 and it's missing the simplicity of Christ. 613 00:25:23,668 --> 00:25:26,585 The danger is forgetting Christ. 614 00:25:26,585 --> 00:25:28,886 Listen. 615 00:25:28,886 --> 00:25:30,862 Think with me here. 616 00:25:30,862 --> 00:25:33,540 That as we stress and we stress, 617 00:25:33,540 --> 00:25:35,668 and I'm hearing some of you do this, 618 00:25:35,668 --> 00:25:37,342 I'm hearing this happen. 619 00:25:37,342 --> 00:25:39,104 I'm hearing it in the church. 620 00:25:39,104 --> 00:25:40,678 I hear it in this Bible study. 621 00:25:40,678 --> 00:25:42,743 I hear you folks when you tell me 622 00:25:42,743 --> 00:25:44,146 what you're telling people, 623 00:25:44,146 --> 00:25:45,756 when you're out on the streets, 624 00:25:45,756 --> 00:25:47,163 and listen, I'm not saying 625 00:25:47,163 --> 00:25:48,983 that what you're saying is wrong 626 00:25:48,983 --> 00:25:50,759 about repentance and about looking 627 00:25:50,759 --> 00:25:51,825 for the fruits; 628 00:25:51,825 --> 00:25:53,601 obviously, they're there. 629 00:25:53,601 --> 00:25:57,869 Obviously, the great evidences 630 00:25:57,869 --> 00:25:59,890 of regeneration need to be true 631 00:25:59,890 --> 00:26:01,038 in our lives. 632 00:26:01,038 --> 00:26:02,900 But let me tell you this. 633 00:26:02,900 --> 00:26:04,982 Why is it that the Catholic 634 00:26:04,982 --> 00:26:08,619 doesn't have confidence? 635 00:26:08,619 --> 00:26:10,993 Why? 636 00:26:10,993 --> 00:26:13,444 I mean, yes, they said it in the Council of Trent, 637 00:26:13,444 --> 00:26:18,635 but practically, why do they lack confidence? 638 00:26:18,635 --> 00:26:21,889 (unintelligible) 639 00:26:21,889 --> 00:26:24,231 They're trusting their works. 640 00:26:24,231 --> 00:26:27,791 And what's wrong when you trust your works? 641 00:26:27,791 --> 00:26:31,862 (unintelligible) 642 00:26:31,862 --> 00:26:33,979 You never know if you've done enough. 643 00:26:33,979 --> 00:26:35,065 That's the problem. 644 00:26:35,065 --> 00:26:36,613 The problem with works is 645 00:26:36,613 --> 00:26:38,771 you never know when you've done enough. 646 00:26:38,771 --> 00:26:40,445 If you've ever been part of a religion 647 00:26:40,445 --> 00:26:44,407 that is based on works, 648 00:26:44,407 --> 00:26:46,443 you never know when you've done enough. 649 00:26:46,443 --> 00:26:48,691 And so if you're always looking at your works, 650 00:26:48,691 --> 00:26:50,384 you're always looking at yourself. 651 00:26:50,384 --> 00:26:52,463 And the problem with looking at yourself 652 00:26:52,463 --> 00:26:55,337 is your self is bad. 653 00:26:55,337 --> 00:26:56,482 You are bad. 654 00:26:56,482 --> 00:26:57,760 By nature, you are bad. 655 00:26:57,760 --> 00:26:59,666 By nature, you are full of imperfection. 656 00:26:59,666 --> 00:27:02,890 By nature, you fall short of the glory of God. 657 00:27:02,890 --> 00:27:05,205 (Incomplete thought) 658 00:27:05,205 --> 00:27:06,246 And you know what? 659 00:27:06,246 --> 00:27:08,081 Even whatever religion it is 660 00:27:08,081 --> 00:27:10,207 and no matter whatever code they stick up, 661 00:27:10,207 --> 00:27:12,086 nobody ever keeps the code 662 00:27:12,086 --> 00:27:13,309 of any religion. 663 00:27:13,309 --> 00:27:14,704 They always have a standard 664 00:27:14,704 --> 00:27:16,420 that even when they bring it down; 665 00:27:16,420 --> 00:27:18,578 even when they back off God's Word, 666 00:27:18,578 --> 00:27:20,774 nobody ever keeps any of the standards 667 00:27:20,774 --> 00:27:23,279 of any of their religions. 668 00:27:23,279 --> 00:27:26,900 And so whenever they look at themselves, 669 00:27:26,900 --> 00:27:29,283 they are always shaken. 670 00:27:29,283 --> 00:27:30,663 They don't know. 671 00:27:30,663 --> 00:27:34,717 They don't have confidence 672 00:27:34,717 --> 00:27:38,109 because they're always looking at themselves. 673 00:27:38,109 --> 00:27:40,564 You know why they don't have confidence? 674 00:27:40,564 --> 00:27:44,568 Because they can't say, 675 00:27:44,568 --> 00:27:49,459 Jesus Christ perfectly kept the law 676 00:27:49,459 --> 00:27:51,479 in my spot. 677 00:27:51,479 --> 00:27:54,290 And my acceptance with the living God 678 00:27:54,290 --> 00:27:56,668 is not based on my performance. 679 00:27:56,668 --> 00:27:58,625 He did it! 680 00:27:58,625 --> 00:28:00,535 And you see, as soon as faith 681 00:28:00,535 --> 00:28:01,865 turns away from self 682 00:28:01,865 --> 00:28:03,012 and our works, 683 00:28:03,012 --> 00:28:04,589 you know what happens? 684 00:28:04,589 --> 00:28:06,286 Folks, there's a lot of attention; 685 00:28:06,286 --> 00:28:07,818 a lot of emphasis being given 686 00:28:07,818 --> 00:28:11,285 with regards to repentance. 687 00:28:11,285 --> 00:28:12,627 (incomplete thought) 688 00:28:12,627 --> 00:28:17,437 Listen, we've got a lot of people saying; 689 00:28:17,437 --> 00:28:18,928 well, let me just tell you what 690 00:28:18,928 --> 00:28:20,907 some people are saying. 691 00:28:20,907 --> 00:28:25,673 Let me tell you some emails that I've received. 692 00:28:25,673 --> 00:28:27,169 Here's an email. 693 00:28:27,169 --> 00:28:29,179 I'm going to read two emails to you 694 00:28:29,179 --> 00:28:33,148 that I've just received in the last week or so. 695 00:28:33,148 --> 00:28:34,300 First guy says - 696 00:28:34,300 --> 00:28:35,991 and these are shortened versions 697 00:28:35,991 --> 00:28:37,508 of actually what I got. 698 00:28:37,508 --> 00:28:38,387 First guy says, 699 00:28:38,387 --> 00:28:40,849 "I have to confess 700 00:28:40,849 --> 00:28:42,525 that I am not so sure 701 00:28:42,525 --> 00:28:44,350 I've been genuinely converted. 702 00:28:44,350 --> 00:28:45,297 I'm so confused, 703 00:28:45,297 --> 00:28:47,640 and I honestly do not have assurance 704 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:48,902 of salvation. 705 00:28:48,902 --> 00:28:51,212 Every day is miserable for me. 706 00:28:51,212 --> 00:28:53,255 I have no peace, 707 00:28:53,255 --> 00:28:54,714 joy, 708 00:28:54,714 --> 00:28:56,284 or love. 709 00:28:56,284 --> 00:28:58,127 Let me tell you why I'm so confused 710 00:28:58,127 --> 00:29:00,071 about my salvation. 711 00:29:00,071 --> 00:29:02,670 In the past, 712 00:29:02,670 --> 00:29:05,340 I've been more devoted to reading the Word 713 00:29:05,340 --> 00:29:07,855 and I truly loved it. 714 00:29:07,855 --> 00:29:10,605 I had a prayer life. 715 00:29:10,605 --> 00:29:12,962 I felt clean and free. 716 00:29:12,962 --> 00:29:15,268 And I knew I was born again. 717 00:29:15,268 --> 00:29:17,340 But I've compromised in many ways. 718 00:29:17,340 --> 00:29:19,082 If you knew who I used to be, 719 00:29:19,082 --> 00:29:20,629 you would say without any doubt 720 00:29:20,629 --> 00:29:22,029 that I had a radical change 721 00:29:22,029 --> 00:29:24,445 that had occurred in my life. 722 00:29:24,445 --> 00:29:26,230 I know I've changed, 723 00:29:26,230 --> 00:29:29,329 but now I'm unsure I'm truly saved. 724 00:29:29,329 --> 00:29:30,487 I want to be free. 725 00:29:30,487 --> 00:29:31,954 I want to have peace with God. 726 00:29:31,954 --> 00:29:34,220 I want to rejoice in what God has done for me 727 00:29:34,220 --> 00:29:35,262 through Jesus Christ. 728 00:29:35,262 --> 00:29:36,483 I want to shout for joy. 729 00:29:36,483 --> 00:29:39,324 I want to be a bold witness for Christ. 730 00:29:39,324 --> 00:29:41,100 I can't. 731 00:29:41,100 --> 00:29:43,689 Oh, I've wrestled with God in prayer. 732 00:29:43,689 --> 00:29:46,022 I've begged Him to help me. 733 00:29:46,022 --> 00:29:48,106 To set me free. 734 00:29:48,106 --> 00:29:50,603 To give me assurance. 735 00:29:50,603 --> 00:29:54,072 But I still can't say with joy I'm saved. 736 00:29:54,072 --> 00:29:55,799 I want to so badly. 737 00:29:55,799 --> 00:29:57,926 If I do say that, I feel like a hypocrite 738 00:29:57,926 --> 00:29:58,664 and a liar. 739 00:29:58,664 --> 00:30:00,487 I think I've grieved the Holy Spirit. 740 00:30:00,487 --> 00:30:02,505 And His manifest presence is no longer 741 00:30:02,505 --> 00:30:04,244 in my life." 742 00:30:04,244 --> 00:30:05,493 Here's the second email: 743 00:30:05,493 --> 00:30:07,548 "I've been a Christian for over two years 744 00:30:07,548 --> 00:30:09,728 but so often I still struggle with assurance 745 00:30:09,728 --> 00:30:12,701 which may mean that I'm not truly saved. 746 00:30:12,701 --> 00:30:15,139 I have no doubt about the truth of Scripture, 747 00:30:15,139 --> 00:30:17,013 about who God is, who Christ is, 748 00:30:17,013 --> 00:30:18,145 and that to be saved 749 00:30:18,145 --> 00:30:21,515 one must repent and put full trust in Him. 750 00:30:21,515 --> 00:30:24,219 (Referring to a particular time in his past, he says...) 751 00:30:24,219 --> 00:30:27,456 My entire life was changed. 752 00:30:27,456 --> 00:30:29,379 My mom tells me that she remembers 753 00:30:29,379 --> 00:30:31,103 the transformation that took place. 754 00:30:31,103 --> 00:30:32,898 I remember talking about how God 755 00:30:32,898 --> 00:30:34,210 gave me a new heart. 756 00:30:34,210 --> 00:30:36,194 Now over the past year, 757 00:30:36,194 --> 00:30:38,905 I've been blessed to be under good teaching, 758 00:30:38,905 --> 00:30:41,006 and I know all the right answers 759 00:30:41,006 --> 00:30:43,104 to the questions that someone would ask 760 00:30:43,104 --> 00:30:47,995 concerning how you can know you are saved. 761 00:30:47,995 --> 00:30:50,281 (But he says) I can't get assurance 762 00:30:50,281 --> 00:30:52,060 from those answers. 763 00:30:52,060 --> 00:30:53,432 I look back at my conversion 764 00:30:53,432 --> 00:30:55,166 and I can't remember a single moment 765 00:30:55,166 --> 00:30:57,621 where I placed my trust in Christ. 766 00:30:57,621 --> 00:30:59,535 I know that I must trust in Christ alone 767 00:30:59,535 --> 00:31:01,116 for the forgiveness of my sins 768 00:31:01,116 --> 00:31:03,524 and that I cannot trust even a shred in myself. 769 00:31:03,524 --> 00:31:04,786 I know that to be true. 770 00:31:04,786 --> 00:31:06,049 I see my sinfulness. 771 00:31:06,049 --> 00:31:07,949 I understand my weakness and inability, 772 00:31:07,949 --> 00:31:10,081 but I fear that because I didn't understand 773 00:31:10,081 --> 00:31:12,276 that then, that I never really put my trust 774 00:31:12,276 --> 00:31:14,726 in Christ and just don't know what to do. 775 00:31:14,726 --> 00:31:16,468 I don't know if I should seek God 776 00:31:16,468 --> 00:31:18,499 for assurance or seek Him to save me. 777 00:31:18,499 --> 00:31:19,957 Sometimes, I share the Gospel 778 00:31:19,957 --> 00:31:22,739 and I completely forget about my assurance problem. 779 00:31:22,739 --> 00:31:24,482 Other times, I'm sitting alone. 780 00:31:24,482 --> 00:31:25,715 Tears well up in my eyes 781 00:31:25,715 --> 00:31:27,302 because I'm simply not sure if 782 00:31:27,302 --> 00:31:28,758 I truly belong to Him. 783 00:31:28,758 --> 00:31:30,324 I cannot go living like this. 784 00:31:30,324 --> 00:31:31,754 It's so taxing. 785 00:31:31,754 --> 00:31:34,209 I don't know if I truly am His. 786 00:31:34,209 --> 00:31:36,339 I know all the tests from 1 John. 787 00:31:36,339 --> 00:31:38,716 When I hear an exposition of 1 John, 788 00:31:38,716 --> 00:31:41,780 and I ask myself, ok, does my life 789 00:31:41,780 --> 00:31:43,381 stand the assurance test? 790 00:31:43,381 --> 00:31:45,727 I simply cannot place any trust 791 00:31:45,727 --> 00:31:47,999 in my own reasoning 792 00:31:47,999 --> 00:31:50,633 to answer that question. 793 00:31:50,633 --> 00:31:53,848 I fear so immensely for my salvation." 794 00:31:53,848 --> 00:31:58,492 Folks, we've got people running around, 795 00:31:58,492 --> 00:31:59,748 and I'll tell you, 796 00:31:59,748 --> 00:32:02,064 some of them probably aren't true Christians, 797 00:32:02,064 --> 00:32:05,637 but we've got true Christians running around. 798 00:32:05,637 --> 00:32:08,175 And you know, they're there 799 00:32:08,175 --> 00:32:14,597 and they're just wondering. 800 00:32:14,597 --> 00:32:16,474 Does He love me? 801 00:32:16,474 --> 00:32:18,824 Does He love me not? 802 00:32:18,824 --> 00:32:21,068 Am I in? Am I out? 803 00:32:21,068 --> 00:32:24,039 Am I saved? Am I not? 804 00:32:24,039 --> 00:32:32,777 Back and forth they go. 805 00:32:32,777 --> 00:32:36,910 Brethren, I'll just tell you this. 806 00:32:36,910 --> 00:32:41,870 If you don't have assurance, 807 00:32:41,870 --> 00:32:43,949 guess what else you don't have? 808 00:32:43,949 --> 00:32:46,337 Both these guys hit on it. 809 00:32:46,337 --> 00:32:47,443 The first guy said, 810 00:32:47,443 --> 00:32:50,097 "every day is miserable for me. 811 00:32:50,097 --> 00:32:56,394 I have no peace, joy, or love." 812 00:32:56,394 --> 00:33:00,378 The second guy hits on it. 813 00:33:00,378 --> 00:33:11,069 (incomplete thought) 814 00:33:11,069 --> 00:33:14,644 He says, "I cannot go on living like this. 815 00:33:14,644 --> 00:33:19,335 It is so taxing." 816 00:33:19,335 --> 00:33:20,866 Both of these guys hit on 817 00:33:20,866 --> 00:33:23,223 no joy. 818 00:33:23,223 --> 00:33:25,784 No peace. 819 00:33:25,784 --> 00:33:28,142 So taxing. 820 00:33:28,142 --> 00:33:31,103 I can't go on living like this. 821 00:33:31,103 --> 00:33:36,691 What happens when you lack assurance? 822 00:33:36,691 --> 00:33:38,587 You have no what? 823 00:33:38,587 --> 00:33:42,423 Joy. 824 00:33:42,423 --> 00:33:44,245 Let me read an Old Testament passage 825 00:33:44,245 --> 00:33:47,827 to you from Nehemiah 8:10. 826 00:33:47,827 --> 00:33:55,635 "The joy of the Lord is your strength." 827 00:33:55,635 --> 00:34:00,765 No assurance. No joy. 828 00:34:00,765 --> 00:34:05,492 No joy. No strength. 829 00:34:05,492 --> 00:34:09,982 "The joy of the Lord is your strength." 830 00:34:09,982 --> 00:34:12,324 Brethren, let me tell you something. 831 00:34:12,324 --> 00:34:17,182 Confidence makes you brave. 832 00:34:17,182 --> 00:34:25,191 You think a person can run headlong 833 00:34:25,191 --> 00:34:28,538 into heavy Muslim population 834 00:34:28,538 --> 00:34:30,662 where they very well may lose their life 835 00:34:30,662 --> 00:34:33,273 and preach the Gospel boldly? 836 00:34:33,273 --> 00:34:35,275 If they're there and they're wondering, 837 00:34:35,275 --> 00:34:36,354 am I in? Am I out? 838 00:34:36,354 --> 00:34:38,184 Does He love me? Does He love me not? 839 00:34:38,184 --> 00:34:39,444 Am I the real thing 840 00:34:39,444 --> 00:34:40,501 or am I fake? 841 00:34:40,501 --> 00:34:41,909 Am I going to go to heaven? 842 00:34:41,909 --> 00:34:43,362 Or am I going to go to hell? 843 00:34:43,362 --> 00:34:44,943 Am I still in my sin? 844 00:34:44,943 --> 00:34:47,861 Am I not? 845 00:34:47,861 --> 00:34:51,289 Is my name graven upon His palm? 846 00:34:51,289 --> 00:34:54,773 Or is it not? 847 00:34:54,773 --> 00:34:57,765 You cannot be brave. 848 00:34:57,765 --> 00:35:00,496 You cannot charge off into the world 849 00:35:00,496 --> 00:35:03,091 and battle for Christ 850 00:35:03,091 --> 00:35:05,812 if you have no assurance. 851 00:35:05,812 --> 00:35:06,916 No assurance. No joy. 852 00:35:06,916 --> 00:35:08,001 No joy. No strength. 853 00:35:08,001 --> 00:35:10,581 No strength. Folks, you've got no boldness. 854 00:35:10,581 --> 00:35:12,071 You've got no confidence. 855 00:35:12,071 --> 00:35:13,480 You've got to have confidence 856 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:15,755 if you're going to be bold as a lion 857 00:35:15,755 --> 00:35:16,678 for Christ. 858 00:35:16,678 --> 00:35:18,425 You will not be. 859 00:35:18,425 --> 00:35:22,343 See, folks, you cannot scare 860 00:35:22,343 --> 00:35:24,770 a person with assurance 861 00:35:24,770 --> 00:35:27,244 with death. 862 00:35:27,244 --> 00:35:28,849 You can't. Why? 863 00:35:28,849 --> 00:35:31,103 Because they're confident that at the end 864 00:35:31,103 --> 00:35:34,467 of this life, there is joy everlasting. 865 00:35:34,467 --> 00:35:37,168 There is an eternal weight of glory. 866 00:35:37,168 --> 00:35:40,058 You don't scare Christians 867 00:35:40,058 --> 00:35:42,927 with that assurance of that joy 868 00:35:42,927 --> 00:35:44,791 and that eternal weight of glory 869 00:35:44,791 --> 00:35:47,303 with death. 870 00:35:47,303 --> 00:35:50,092 But if you're wondering... 871 00:35:50,092 --> 00:35:52,512 "I don't know." 872 00:35:52,512 --> 00:35:53,910 I may come in here 873 00:35:53,910 --> 00:35:55,195 claiming to be a Christian, 874 00:35:55,195 --> 00:35:56,552 but if they put me to death, 875 00:35:56,552 --> 00:35:58,324 I may go straight to hell. 876 00:35:58,324 --> 00:36:01,648 I may not be any better off than them. 877 00:36:01,648 --> 00:36:03,394 You don't have boldness to go out 878 00:36:03,394 --> 00:36:04,465 on the East side. 879 00:36:04,465 --> 00:36:07,402 Well, what if this happens to me? 880 00:36:07,402 --> 00:36:08,667 Folks, you don't know 881 00:36:08,667 --> 00:36:10,461 if you're a child of God or not, 882 00:36:10,461 --> 00:36:13,245 you're trying to protect everything. 883 00:36:13,245 --> 00:36:19,018 (incomplete thought) 884 00:36:19,018 --> 00:36:23,473 Folks, what do we say to people like this? 885 00:36:23,473 --> 00:36:25,709 And I'll tell you what, 886 00:36:25,709 --> 00:36:30,355 we need to be really careful. 887 00:36:30,355 --> 00:36:34,958 You know what I'm hearing a lot of times? 888 00:36:34,958 --> 00:36:37,957 Well, that person fell into... 889 00:36:37,957 --> 00:36:40,123 Look, one of these guys, 890 00:36:40,123 --> 00:36:45,399 he's been falling into masturbation. 891 00:36:45,399 --> 00:36:48,073 He had such assurance in the beginning. 892 00:36:48,073 --> 00:36:49,597 And I'm telling you, we can take 893 00:36:49,597 --> 00:36:52,099 all these tests from 1 John, 894 00:36:52,099 --> 00:36:54,694 and look, we don't dismiss them. 895 00:36:54,694 --> 00:36:55,763 They're valid. 896 00:36:55,763 --> 00:36:58,326 Regeneration looks like something. 897 00:36:58,326 --> 00:36:59,728 But I'll tell you this folks, 898 00:36:59,728 --> 00:37:02,330 if we start keying in on repentance 899 00:37:02,330 --> 00:37:04,524 and on the fruits 900 00:37:04,524 --> 00:37:06,318 and on all these things 901 00:37:06,318 --> 00:37:08,600 that ought to be true of the Christian life, 902 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:10,328 and you're not constantly taking people 903 00:37:10,328 --> 00:37:11,388 to the cross; 904 00:37:11,388 --> 00:37:12,686 taking people to Christ, 905 00:37:12,686 --> 00:37:13,696 you know what? 906 00:37:13,696 --> 00:37:15,297 You're going to be tearing down 907 00:37:15,297 --> 00:37:16,585 people's assurance. 908 00:37:16,585 --> 00:37:19,194 Because there isn't a one of you in this room, 909 00:37:19,194 --> 00:37:20,808 truly and genuinely converted, 910 00:37:20,808 --> 00:37:22,459 that isn't going to fall into sin 911 00:37:22,459 --> 00:37:26,624 and sometimes majorly in your Christian life. 912 00:37:26,624 --> 00:37:29,766 And if we're setting up this standard 913 00:37:29,766 --> 00:37:31,648 that is unreal; 914 00:37:31,648 --> 00:37:32,742 that is not right; 915 00:37:32,742 --> 00:37:33,983 that is not biblical... 916 00:37:33,983 --> 00:37:35,451 Listen, if you're in Christ, 917 00:37:35,451 --> 00:37:36,792 definitely, by the Spirit, 918 00:37:36,792 --> 00:37:39,610 you're going to be putting to death the deeds of the body. 919 00:37:39,610 --> 00:37:41,674 You will be practicing righteousness. 920 00:37:41,674 --> 00:37:44,308 But we have to be confident, folks, 921 00:37:44,308 --> 00:37:47,479 of texts like "therefore there is now 922 00:37:47,479 --> 00:37:48,995 no condemnation for those 923 00:37:48,995 --> 00:37:50,355 who are in Christ Jesus." 924 00:37:50,355 --> 00:37:52,015 We've got texts in the Scripture. 925 00:37:52,015 --> 00:37:53,741 "Who shall bring any charge 926 00:37:53,741 --> 00:37:55,055 against God's elect? 927 00:37:55,055 --> 00:37:57,359 It is God Who justifies." 928 00:37:57,359 --> 00:37:59,320 We have to be turning our eyes 929 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:02,114 again and again and again 930 00:38:02,114 --> 00:38:06,602 back to that cross. 931 00:38:06,602 --> 00:38:10,392 Now look, if people struggle with assurance, 932 00:38:10,392 --> 00:38:11,536 and some do, 933 00:38:11,536 --> 00:38:14,832 and some do more than others, 934 00:38:14,832 --> 00:38:16,474 what we want to do is we want to 935 00:38:16,474 --> 00:38:18,134 take them to the cross. 936 00:38:18,134 --> 00:38:20,379 We want to take them to passages like this: 937 00:38:20,379 --> 00:38:22,168 Romans 8:34 938 00:38:22,168 --> 00:38:23,819 "Who is to condemn? 939 00:38:23,819 --> 00:38:25,631 Christ Jesus is the One Who died. 940 00:38:25,631 --> 00:38:27,326 More than that, Who was raised. 941 00:38:27,326 --> 00:38:28,902 Who is at the right hand of God. 942 00:38:28,902 --> 00:38:30,726 Who indeed is interceding for us." 943 00:38:30,726 --> 00:38:35,853 Brethren, we are not Catholics! 944 00:38:35,853 --> 00:38:38,353 Our performance is not what gets us 945 00:38:38,353 --> 00:38:41,198 into Heaven. 946 00:38:41,198 --> 00:38:43,900 Our acceptance before God Almighty 947 00:38:43,900 --> 00:38:49,253 is based on the perfect work of Christ. 948 00:38:49,253 --> 00:38:52,935 Brethren, He came to save sinners. 949 00:38:52,935 --> 00:38:55,837 And you are at best in this room 950 00:38:55,837 --> 00:38:58,130 a saved sinner. 951 00:38:58,130 --> 00:38:59,707 And you are not perfect. 952 00:38:59,707 --> 00:39:02,000 And practicing righteousness does not 953 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:03,228 mean perfection. 954 00:39:03,228 --> 00:39:04,731 And it doesn't mean that you're 955 00:39:04,731 --> 00:39:05,650 not going to fall. 956 00:39:05,650 --> 00:39:07,949 And it doesn't mean that even some of the best 957 00:39:07,949 --> 00:39:10,046 Christians we read about in the Scriptures 958 00:39:10,046 --> 00:39:11,865 didn't have terrible falls. 959 00:39:11,865 --> 00:39:15,898 And the way to heal such wounds 960 00:39:15,898 --> 00:39:18,440 is to take the balm of Gilead 961 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:22,623 to the hurting Christian. 962 00:39:22,623 --> 00:39:25,181 It isn't simply to beat them over the head 963 00:39:25,181 --> 00:39:27,666 with a standard of righteousness 964 00:39:27,666 --> 00:39:30,354 that is unbiblical and not real. 965 00:39:30,354 --> 00:39:31,920 Yes, we come to them and we say, 966 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:33,695 brethren, we want to exhort you. 967 00:39:33,695 --> 00:39:34,963 We want to encourage you 968 00:39:34,963 --> 00:39:36,175 that you not sin. 969 00:39:36,175 --> 00:39:37,795 But if you do sin, 970 00:39:37,795 --> 00:39:39,755 you have an Advocate with the Father. 971 00:39:39,755 --> 00:39:42,469 Does that sound familiar to us? 972 00:39:42,469 --> 00:39:44,487 That comes at us from John. 973 00:39:44,487 --> 00:39:47,568 In all of John's tests, 974 00:39:47,568 --> 00:39:49,656 in all of 1 John, 975 00:39:49,656 --> 00:39:52,527 in all the marks of true Christianity, 976 00:39:52,527 --> 00:39:54,802 he says, brethren, I'm telling you this; 977 00:39:54,802 --> 00:39:56,875 I'm writing this to you 978 00:39:56,875 --> 00:39:59,260 that you might have assurance; 979 00:39:59,260 --> 00:40:02,186 that you might know. 980 00:40:02,186 --> 00:40:03,867 And I'm writing all this to you 981 00:40:03,867 --> 00:40:06,220 that you sin not. 982 00:40:06,220 --> 00:40:08,384 And yes, the standard is high. 983 00:40:08,384 --> 00:40:10,275 And yes, it's radical 984 00:40:10,275 --> 00:40:13,056 when you've been truly born again. 985 00:40:13,056 --> 00:40:15,345 And it's going to do something to your life. 986 00:40:15,345 --> 00:40:17,112 And your life is going to be affected 987 00:40:17,112 --> 00:40:18,892 by the cross of Jesus Christ. 988 00:40:18,892 --> 00:40:20,796 And if you truly have a faith in Him, 989 00:40:20,796 --> 00:40:23,760 it's going to turn your life upside down. 990 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:25,612 And he says, brethren, I write to you 991 00:40:25,612 --> 00:40:28,686 that you not sin. 992 00:40:28,686 --> 00:40:31,101 But he knows... 993 00:40:31,101 --> 00:40:33,112 He says if you sin, 994 00:40:33,112 --> 00:40:34,887 we have an Advocate. 995 00:40:34,887 --> 00:40:36,729 And you see when the devil rushes in 996 00:40:36,729 --> 00:40:38,946 and says, "look at you." 997 00:40:38,946 --> 00:40:42,229 "You've got all this teaching on repentance. 998 00:40:42,229 --> 00:40:44,159 Hey, don't you hear what they're saying? 999 00:40:44,159 --> 00:40:46,133 If repentance isn't true in your life; 1000 00:40:46,133 --> 00:40:49,988 if radical bowing to the Lordship of Christ isn't real; 1001 00:40:49,988 --> 00:40:52,341 if there isn't some pattern 1002 00:40:52,341 --> 00:40:55,024 of righteousness in your life, 1003 00:40:55,024 --> 00:40:56,440 who do you think you are 1004 00:40:56,440 --> 00:40:58,697 saying you're a Christian?" 1005 00:40:58,697 --> 00:40:59,619 But you see, 1006 00:40:59,619 --> 00:41:02,493 if you can say, 1007 00:41:02,493 --> 00:41:04,970 "devil, you're right... 1008 00:41:04,970 --> 00:41:09,062 what you say is right. 1009 00:41:09,062 --> 00:41:12,528 But I can tell you this, 1010 00:41:12,528 --> 00:41:16,303 I'm not perfect. 1011 00:41:16,303 --> 00:41:18,017 But I know this, 1012 00:41:18,017 --> 00:41:20,326 I'm not what I once was. 1013 00:41:20,326 --> 00:41:23,805 I'm not perfect, and I fall, 1014 00:41:23,805 --> 00:41:26,986 and I struggle and I fight 1015 00:41:26,986 --> 00:41:29,496 and I wish I could be perfect, 1016 00:41:29,496 --> 00:41:33,288 but I know I have desires I didn't have before. 1017 00:41:33,288 --> 00:41:36,272 And I know I love Christ in a way I didn't before. 1018 00:41:36,272 --> 00:41:38,367 And my life has been transformed. 1019 00:41:38,367 --> 00:41:39,274 You're right. 1020 00:41:39,274 --> 00:41:41,774 I've sinned. I've fallen. 1021 00:41:41,774 --> 00:41:43,417 But I'll tell you this. 1022 00:41:43,417 --> 00:41:46,090 I didn't come to Christ in the first place 1023 00:41:46,090 --> 00:41:48,056 dependent on my works. 1024 00:41:48,056 --> 00:41:49,917 And I don't stay there now 1025 00:41:49,917 --> 00:41:51,377 dependent on my works. 1026 00:41:51,377 --> 00:41:54,380 There is no condemnation 1027 00:41:54,380 --> 00:41:56,127 to those who are in Christ. 1028 00:41:56,127 --> 00:41:59,641 Devil, all you're telling me right now 1029 00:41:59,641 --> 00:42:01,357 all the more assures me 1030 00:42:01,357 --> 00:42:03,173 that I need to trust Christ 1031 00:42:03,173 --> 00:42:05,935 and not look at my own life. 1032 00:42:05,935 --> 00:42:07,104 What you're saying to me 1033 00:42:07,104 --> 00:42:11,087 only drives me back under His wing." 1034 00:42:11,087 --> 00:42:12,763 Brethren, that's got to be so. 1035 00:42:12,763 --> 00:42:14,003 And I'll tell you this, 1036 00:42:14,003 --> 00:42:16,608 that's where our assurance comes from. 1037 00:42:16,608 --> 00:42:18,067 We've got to be running back 1038 00:42:18,067 --> 00:42:20,524 again and again and again. 1039 00:42:20,524 --> 00:42:22,814 And I would say this to any of you, 1040 00:42:22,814 --> 00:42:24,992 you get where you're struggling 1041 00:42:24,992 --> 00:42:25,927 at a point in life 1042 00:42:25,927 --> 00:42:27,867 where you're struggling with assurance. 1043 00:42:27,867 --> 00:42:29,446 I would ask you this: 1044 00:42:29,446 --> 00:42:32,344 Did you ever have assurance? 1045 00:42:32,344 --> 00:42:36,972 Because listen, why would I say that? 1046 00:42:36,972 --> 00:42:40,329 Why would I ask that? 1047 00:42:40,329 --> 00:42:47,520 The Spirit of God is a Spirit of adoption. 1048 00:42:47,520 --> 00:42:52,559 By that Spirit, we cry, "Abba, Father." 1049 00:42:52,559 --> 00:42:56,536 [Romans] 8:16 - He bears witness 1050 00:42:56,536 --> 00:42:58,647 with our spirit. 1051 00:42:58,647 --> 00:43:01,001 Now listen. 1052 00:43:01,001 --> 00:43:05,337 Do not grieve the Spirit 1053 00:43:05,337 --> 00:43:08,330 by which you've been sealed. 1054 00:43:08,330 --> 00:43:11,800 The Spirit seals us. 1055 00:43:11,800 --> 00:43:15,347 The Spirit seals. 1056 00:43:15,347 --> 00:43:20,767 When you sealed a document - 1057 00:43:20,767 --> 00:43:27,977 if a president puts his seal on something, 1058 00:43:27,977 --> 00:43:31,625 it's a sign of ownership. 1059 00:43:31,625 --> 00:43:33,814 The Spirit of God is given. 1060 00:43:33,814 --> 00:43:37,460 That is a seal. 1061 00:43:37,460 --> 00:43:38,951 Where the Spirit of God is 1062 00:43:38,951 --> 00:43:40,826 there are definite evidences. 1063 00:43:40,826 --> 00:43:43,391 What's one of the things the Spirit of God does? 1064 00:43:43,391 --> 00:43:45,361 Bears witness with our spirit. 1065 00:43:45,361 --> 00:43:47,540 Pours the love of God into our heart. 1066 00:43:47,540 --> 00:43:49,142 Now listen to me. 1067 00:43:49,142 --> 00:43:52,149 If that Spirit is resident, 1068 00:43:52,149 --> 00:43:54,502 that person is going to have assurance 1069 00:43:54,502 --> 00:43:57,162 at least at some time. 1070 00:43:57,162 --> 00:44:00,070 Now, it's possible to grieve the Spirit 1071 00:44:00,070 --> 00:44:01,745 by which you've been sealed. 1072 00:44:01,745 --> 00:44:06,994 And if you grieve Him, or as 1 Thessalonians 5, 1073 00:44:06,994 --> 00:44:12,414 quench, then yes, the witness of the Spirit 1074 00:44:12,414 --> 00:44:14,518 may go silent. 1075 00:44:14,518 --> 00:44:17,214 If you're a person who has never known 1076 00:44:17,214 --> 00:44:19,187 the witness of the Spirit, 1077 00:44:19,187 --> 00:44:21,364 you have never had assurance 1078 00:44:21,364 --> 00:44:23,523 of your salvation, 1079 00:44:23,523 --> 00:44:26,470 I don't believe you're saved. 1080 00:44:26,470 --> 00:44:28,827 By the testimony of the Scriptures. 1081 00:44:28,827 --> 00:44:30,014 I don't believe that. 1082 00:44:30,014 --> 00:44:34,367 But if at seasons, you have indeed had it, 1083 00:44:34,367 --> 00:44:35,841 well, then look, 1084 00:44:35,841 --> 00:44:38,015 people can have false assurance. 1085 00:44:38,015 --> 00:44:39,558 There's no question about it. 1086 00:44:39,558 --> 00:44:41,673 And that definitely needs to be examined. 1087 00:44:41,673 --> 00:44:42,839 But I can tell you this, 1088 00:44:42,839 --> 00:44:45,418 it's definitely as a true Christian 1089 00:44:45,418 --> 00:44:48,727 possible to have that resident 1090 00:44:48,727 --> 00:44:51,227 Spirit of adoption 1091 00:44:51,227 --> 00:44:53,239 by which we cry, "Abba, Father," 1092 00:44:53,239 --> 00:44:55,863 and at seasons because we've quenched Him 1093 00:44:55,863 --> 00:44:58,222 or grieved Him, have Him go silent. 1094 00:44:58,222 --> 00:44:59,511 And so what I would ask: 1095 00:44:59,511 --> 00:45:04,745 have you had seasons where you've known assurance? 1096 00:45:04,745 --> 00:45:06,705 And if you tell me yes, 1097 00:45:06,705 --> 00:45:10,797 then I would ask you, 1098 00:45:10,797 --> 00:45:12,524 have you done anything in your life 1099 00:45:12,524 --> 00:45:14,717 to grieve the Spirit? 1100 00:45:14,717 --> 00:45:16,568 And typically, we know. 1101 00:45:16,568 --> 00:45:18,341 We've allowed something. 1102 00:45:18,341 --> 00:45:20,582 The Spirit has prodded us to repent 1103 00:45:20,582 --> 00:45:23,063 of something that we've resisted. 1104 00:45:23,063 --> 00:45:25,761 You've allowed some sin or worldliness 1105 00:45:25,761 --> 00:45:27,847 or idol into your life 1106 00:45:27,847 --> 00:45:34,162 that you're not repenting of. 1107 00:45:34,162 --> 00:45:40,759 Brethren, the Spirit bears witness. 1108 00:45:40,759 --> 00:45:44,408 Look, I can't tell you 1109 00:45:44,408 --> 00:45:47,279 about what you've experienced. 1110 00:45:47,279 --> 00:45:50,476 But I can tell you, I've experienced it. 1111 00:45:50,476 --> 00:45:52,035 I've experienced it in a way 1112 00:45:52,035 --> 00:45:55,341 I never experienced it when I was lost. 1113 00:45:55,341 --> 00:45:56,891 I mean, I never experienced it 1114 00:45:56,891 --> 00:45:58,645 when I was lost. 1115 00:45:58,645 --> 00:46:00,448 Look. 1116 00:46:00,448 --> 00:46:03,182 The witness of the Holy Spirit 1117 00:46:03,182 --> 00:46:06,265 is different than assurance 1118 00:46:06,265 --> 00:46:10,404 that's gotten from other things. 1119 00:46:10,404 --> 00:46:13,274 Like there are people who are certain 1120 00:46:13,274 --> 00:46:14,896 they're going to go to heaven. 1121 00:46:14,896 --> 00:46:15,761 Why? 1122 00:46:15,761 --> 00:46:17,967 Because (have you guys ever come across this?) 1123 00:46:17,967 --> 00:46:19,041 God healed me. 1124 00:46:19,041 --> 00:46:20,422 I'm certain everything's ok. 1125 00:46:20,422 --> 00:46:21,938 We were just talking about this 1126 00:46:21,938 --> 00:46:23,607 at the campus today at Palo Alto, 1127 00:46:23,607 --> 00:46:25,245 that many people have an assurance 1128 00:46:25,245 --> 00:46:27,206 that everything's ok. Why? 1129 00:46:27,206 --> 00:46:29,530 Because they got sick and God healed them. 1130 00:46:29,530 --> 00:46:31,961 Because they were in a car accident 1131 00:46:31,961 --> 00:46:33,728 where they should have been killed 1132 00:46:33,728 --> 00:46:34,923 and they walked away. 1133 00:46:34,923 --> 00:46:36,803 You guys have heard things like that? 1134 00:46:36,803 --> 00:46:38,446 Listen. 1135 00:46:38,446 --> 00:46:40,357 The kindness of God 1136 00:46:40,357 --> 00:46:41,837 is meant to do what? 1137 00:46:41,837 --> 00:46:43,697 Assure us we're Christians? 1138 00:46:43,697 --> 00:46:45,809 Is that what the Bible says? 1139 00:46:45,809 --> 00:46:47,013 Lead you to repentance. 1140 00:46:47,013 --> 00:46:49,699 Right. The kindness of God is meant 1141 00:46:49,699 --> 00:46:52,138 to lead you to Christ. 1142 00:46:52,138 --> 00:46:55,695 Not confirm that you're in Christ. 1143 00:46:55,695 --> 00:46:57,133 In fact, the fact is 1144 00:46:57,133 --> 00:47:00,196 that many who are in Christ, 1145 00:47:00,196 --> 00:47:04,052 don't avert the accident or the sickness 1146 00:47:04,052 --> 00:47:07,332 or the trial or the tears 1147 00:47:07,332 --> 00:47:09,912 or the death... 1148 00:47:09,912 --> 00:47:15,171 in fact, through many tribulations... 1149 00:47:15,171 --> 00:47:18,865 Why do other people have assurance 1150 00:47:18,865 --> 00:47:21,229 that's no good? 1151 00:47:21,229 --> 00:47:23,199 Not based on good foundations. 1152 00:47:23,199 --> 00:47:27,919 Where does other false assurance come from? 1153 00:47:27,919 --> 00:47:29,412 Emotions. 1154 00:47:29,412 --> 00:47:31,075 People feel like they're saved. 1155 00:47:31,075 --> 00:47:33,825 But why would people feel like they're saved 1156 00:47:33,825 --> 00:47:35,868 when they're not truly saved? 1157 00:47:35,868 --> 00:47:37,064 And I'll tell you this, 1158 00:47:37,064 --> 00:47:38,444 if they're not truly saved, 1159 00:47:38,444 --> 00:47:42,220 it's not the witness of the Holy Spirit. 1160 00:47:42,220 --> 00:47:45,222 What is it? 1161 00:47:45,222 --> 00:47:48,446 Where would emotions come from? 1162 00:47:48,446 --> 00:47:50,064 Let's go through a list of things. 1163 00:47:50,064 --> 00:47:52,518 Maybe false teaching, right? 1164 00:47:52,518 --> 00:47:54,377 People assure you that you're saved 1165 00:47:54,377 --> 00:47:56,084 when there's really no evidence. 1166 00:47:56,084 --> 00:47:57,854 How many men are out there 1167 00:47:57,854 --> 00:48:00,302 telling men they're saved? 1168 00:48:00,302 --> 00:48:02,041 How many preachers stand in pulpits 1169 00:48:02,041 --> 00:48:04,462 and say if you say this little prayer, 1170 00:48:04,462 --> 00:48:06,279 you're saved? 1171 00:48:06,279 --> 00:48:08,586 Basically if you did this, you're saved. 1172 00:48:08,586 --> 00:48:10,188 We've got men all over the place 1173 00:48:10,188 --> 00:48:12,119 telling people that. 1174 00:48:12,119 --> 00:48:13,723 How about something else? 1175 00:48:13,723 --> 00:48:16,124 How about people who just 1176 00:48:16,124 --> 00:48:17,989 get emotionally stirred up? 1177 00:48:17,989 --> 00:48:18,798 They weep tears. 1178 00:48:18,798 --> 00:48:20,577 They were greatly affected. 1179 00:48:20,577 --> 00:48:22,856 And because of bad teaching, again, 1180 00:48:22,856 --> 00:48:24,793 they don't understand what true 1181 00:48:24,793 --> 00:48:26,248 saving faith looks like. 1182 00:48:26,248 --> 00:48:27,365 They don't understand 1183 00:48:27,365 --> 00:48:29,480 the nature of biblical repentance, 1184 00:48:29,480 --> 00:48:30,986 and so they're led to believe 1185 00:48:30,986 --> 00:48:38,443 (incomplete thought) 1186 00:48:38,443 --> 00:48:40,122 Can you think that maybe the devil 1187 00:48:40,122 --> 00:48:41,600 would try to convince people 1188 00:48:41,600 --> 00:48:44,623 that they're saved when they're not saved? 1189 00:48:44,623 --> 00:48:46,949 How? 1190 00:48:46,949 --> 00:48:48,959 Let me give you an example. 1191 00:48:48,959 --> 00:48:52,945 We were just talking about this at Mark's. 1192 00:48:52,945 --> 00:48:55,763 I remember as a Catholic having a dream 1193 00:48:55,763 --> 00:48:59,138 on Christmas Eve about Mary. 1194 00:48:59,138 --> 00:49:01,975 And I felt so much assurance 1195 00:49:01,975 --> 00:49:04,774 and warmth from that dream. 1196 00:49:04,774 --> 00:49:07,760 I went and visited my Roman Catholic 1197 00:49:07,760 --> 00:49:10,130 great uncle. 1198 00:49:10,130 --> 00:49:11,705 A week before I went there 1199 00:49:11,705 --> 00:49:13,864 to preach the Gospel to him, 1200 00:49:13,864 --> 00:49:17,552 an angel appeared in his dining room 1201 00:49:17,552 --> 00:49:19,040 in the middle of the night; 1202 00:49:19,040 --> 00:49:20,642 lit up the whole house. 1203 00:49:20,642 --> 00:49:22,936 He said it was the most beautiful creature 1204 00:49:22,936 --> 00:49:24,744 he ever laid his eyes on. 1205 00:49:24,744 --> 00:49:27,323 I said, "Uncle Tom, Satan comes 1206 00:49:27,323 --> 00:49:28,967 as an angel of light." 1207 00:49:28,967 --> 00:49:30,498 You know when I told that story 1208 00:49:30,498 --> 00:49:31,697 at church one night, 1209 00:49:31,697 --> 00:49:33,123 Carlos turned and looked at me 1210 00:49:33,123 --> 00:49:34,254 and he said, 1211 00:49:34,254 --> 00:49:37,530 "My parents had the same thing happen." 1212 00:49:37,530 --> 00:49:39,788 They saw an angel in the doorway 1213 00:49:39,788 --> 00:49:41,084 of their bedroom 1214 00:49:41,084 --> 00:49:42,398 in the middle of the night. 1215 00:49:42,398 --> 00:49:44,614 Listen to me, folks. 1216 00:49:44,614 --> 00:49:47,355 The devil will seek to give men 1217 00:49:47,355 --> 00:49:50,551 false assurance. 1218 00:49:50,551 --> 00:49:52,033 Many different ways. 1219 00:49:52,033 --> 00:49:53,766 Through false religion. 1220 00:49:53,766 --> 00:49:57,975 Through various manifestations. 1221 00:49:57,975 --> 00:49:59,479 But true assurance - 1222 00:49:59,479 --> 00:50:02,144 listen to me. 1223 00:50:02,144 --> 00:50:05,572 The Spirit of God bears witness 1224 00:50:05,572 --> 00:50:08,239 with our spirit. 1225 00:50:08,239 --> 00:50:12,001 When God Almighty wants to speak 1226 00:50:12,001 --> 00:50:13,767 to the soul of a man, 1227 00:50:13,767 --> 00:50:16,846 do you think He's impotent in doing it? 1228 00:50:16,846 --> 00:50:19,018 He pours the love of God 1229 00:50:19,018 --> 00:50:22,665 into the heart. 1230 00:50:22,665 --> 00:50:24,083 How? 1231 00:50:24,083 --> 00:50:26,529 Well, the Scripture tells us. 1232 00:50:26,529 --> 00:50:28,542 God's love poured into our hearts 1233 00:50:28,542 --> 00:50:30,162 through the Holy Spirit Who has 1234 00:50:30,162 --> 00:50:31,696 been given to us, 1235 00:50:31,696 --> 00:50:34,889 for (fuller explanation)... 1236 00:50:34,889 --> 00:50:36,652 for while we were still weak, 1237 00:50:36,652 --> 00:50:37,682 at the right time, 1238 00:50:37,682 --> 00:50:39,496 Christ died for the ungodly. 1239 00:50:39,496 --> 00:50:41,649 Do you know what the expressions of love 1240 00:50:41,649 --> 00:50:43,331 are that are poured into the heart 1241 00:50:43,331 --> 00:50:45,059 of God's people? 1242 00:50:45,059 --> 00:50:47,726 They're expressions of the love of God 1243 00:50:47,726 --> 00:50:49,846 as shown through us. 1244 00:50:49,846 --> 00:50:51,768 In a time of weakness, 1245 00:50:51,768 --> 00:50:53,784 His Son died for us. 1246 00:50:53,784 --> 00:50:57,028 (Incomplete thought) 1247 00:50:57,028 --> 00:50:58,893 Listen. 1248 00:50:58,893 --> 00:51:03,231 The Spirit bears testimony 1249 00:51:03,231 --> 00:51:06,338 not as you gaze at yourself. 1250 00:51:06,338 --> 00:51:08,964 Brethren, you can gaze at yourself. 1251 00:51:08,964 --> 00:51:10,907 If we get a church that's gazing 1252 00:51:10,907 --> 00:51:14,876 on ourselves where the talk is, 1253 00:51:14,876 --> 00:51:18,633 am I a Christian or am I not a Christian? 1254 00:51:18,633 --> 00:51:23,610 Well, have you masturbated? 1255 00:51:23,610 --> 00:51:26,900 Well, is this true? 1256 00:51:26,900 --> 00:51:30,499 Well, is there that sin in your life? 1257 00:51:30,499 --> 00:51:33,141 Look, there's a place for practicing righteousness. 1258 00:51:33,141 --> 00:51:34,866 There's a place for these tests. 1259 00:51:34,866 --> 00:51:36,746 We need to examine ourselves. 1260 00:51:36,746 --> 00:51:39,276 Folks, there's no proper examination 1261 00:51:39,276 --> 00:51:43,427 except looking at the cross. 1262 00:51:43,427 --> 00:51:47,063 True repentance is, 1263 00:51:47,063 --> 00:51:49,857 see, so often, 1264 00:51:49,857 --> 00:51:56,167 (incomplete thought) 1265 00:51:56,167 --> 00:51:58,860 is missed because what repentance 1266 00:51:58,860 --> 00:52:01,777 is viewed at is more like, 1267 00:52:01,777 --> 00:52:04,662 imagine a human scale. 1268 00:52:04,662 --> 00:52:09,742 Imagine I've got a big human yard stick. 1269 00:52:09,742 --> 00:52:13,998 And we say, well, am I up here? 1270 00:52:13,998 --> 00:52:15,345 Am I full of pride? 1271 00:52:15,345 --> 00:52:16,985 Am I lifted up? 1272 00:52:16,985 --> 00:52:21,635 Am I high and haughty? 1273 00:52:21,635 --> 00:52:25,910 Versus, am I low? 1274 00:52:25,910 --> 00:52:27,685 Am I broken? 1275 00:52:27,685 --> 00:52:29,218 Am I repentant? 1276 00:52:29,218 --> 00:52:30,681 And you see, the whole time, 1277 00:52:30,681 --> 00:52:34,071 we're looking at ourselves. 1278 00:52:34,071 --> 00:52:38,805 Versus being done with the yard stick 1279 00:52:38,805 --> 00:52:42,387 and looking at Christ. 1280 00:52:42,387 --> 00:52:43,248 You see, folks, 1281 00:52:43,248 --> 00:52:46,696 repentance, so often what happens 1282 00:52:46,696 --> 00:52:50,503 is just in religion - 1283 00:52:50,503 --> 00:52:52,981 every human type of religion - 1284 00:52:52,981 --> 00:52:56,418 what they do is they put the yard stick up 1285 00:52:56,418 --> 00:52:59,660 and they say you've go to go from here 1286 00:52:59,660 --> 00:53:01,336 to here. 1287 00:53:01,336 --> 00:53:03,316 Or from here to here. 1288 00:53:03,316 --> 00:53:04,809 However you want to look at it. 1289 00:53:04,809 --> 00:53:08,226 Either from pride to humility 1290 00:53:08,226 --> 00:53:10,591 or from this low, debauched state 1291 00:53:10,591 --> 00:53:12,362 to this high moral standard. 1292 00:53:12,362 --> 00:53:14,185 Whichever way you want to invert it. 1293 00:53:14,185 --> 00:53:15,566 But what is it? 1294 00:53:15,566 --> 00:53:18,151 The whole time you're looking at the yard stick. 1295 00:53:18,151 --> 00:53:19,760 Where what the Bible says 1296 00:53:19,760 --> 00:53:23,352 is repentance - true, biblical repentance 1297 00:53:23,352 --> 00:53:26,700 is throwing that thing away altogether 1298 00:53:26,700 --> 00:53:30,039 and looking at Christ. 1299 00:53:30,039 --> 00:53:36,325 And see, when you pull the yard stick back, 1300 00:53:36,325 --> 00:53:38,426 and now as a Christian - 1301 00:53:38,426 --> 00:53:39,871 see, the Bible doesn't say, 1302 00:53:39,871 --> 00:53:42,651 examine yourself and now 1303 00:53:42,651 --> 00:53:45,029 pull the yard stick back. 1304 00:53:45,029 --> 00:53:47,105 And look at it again. 1305 00:53:47,105 --> 00:53:48,587 Well, where am I at on here? 1306 00:53:48,587 --> 00:53:50,794 That's not the examining of yourself. 1307 00:53:50,794 --> 00:53:55,781 If you ever take your eyes off of Christ, 1308 00:53:55,781 --> 00:53:57,148 I'll tell you this, 1309 00:53:57,148 --> 00:53:58,907 the Spirit of God came into the world 1310 00:53:58,907 --> 00:54:00,208 to exalt Christ. 1311 00:54:00,208 --> 00:54:01,542 Where does the Spirit of God 1312 00:54:01,542 --> 00:54:03,090 bear witness with our spirit 1313 00:54:03,090 --> 00:54:04,502 that we're children of God? 1314 00:54:04,502 --> 00:54:05,916 As we gaze at Christ. 1315 00:54:05,916 --> 00:54:08,753 Looking to Christ in faith. 1316 00:54:08,753 --> 00:54:10,462 The love of God is poured abroad 1317 00:54:10,462 --> 00:54:11,371 in our heart. 1318 00:54:11,371 --> 00:54:14,757 It's shed abroad when we're looking to Christ. 1319 00:54:14,757 --> 00:54:16,897 It's shed abroad when we see ourselves 1320 00:54:16,897 --> 00:54:20,993 as weak, as ungodly, and Christ dying for us. 1321 00:54:20,993 --> 00:54:23,771 That's where the assurance comes in. 1322 00:54:23,771 --> 00:54:26,474 It's not looking at our works. 1323 00:54:26,474 --> 00:54:28,164 (incomplete thought) 1324 00:54:28,164 --> 00:54:30,826 You say, well, how do I measure up then? 1325 00:54:30,826 --> 00:54:32,202 How do I look? 1326 00:54:32,202 --> 00:54:34,904 How do I do that? 1327 00:54:34,904 --> 00:54:36,761 If this indeed is true; 1328 00:54:36,761 --> 00:54:41,743 if there's got to be this radical change, 1329 00:54:41,743 --> 00:54:43,933 well how can I not see that? 1330 00:54:43,933 --> 00:54:45,565 Or how can I see that? 1331 00:54:45,565 --> 00:54:48,691 How can I measure myself 1332 00:54:48,691 --> 00:54:51,593 against that 1333 00:54:51,593 --> 00:54:55,151 if I'm not pulling the yard stick back? 1334 00:54:55,151 --> 00:54:57,073 But you go look at those things. 1335 00:54:57,073 --> 00:54:59,925 Go look at the biblical yard sticks. 1336 00:54:59,925 --> 00:55:01,577 And I'll tell you what happens. 1337 00:55:01,577 --> 00:55:04,610 Yes, there has to be a look 1338 00:55:04,610 --> 00:55:06,408 at what God has done in my life. 1339 00:55:06,408 --> 00:55:08,015 There's going to be that evidence 1340 00:55:08,015 --> 00:55:09,692 of what God has done in my life, 1341 00:55:09,692 --> 00:55:11,808 but what is basically at the root 1342 00:55:11,808 --> 00:55:12,821 of the evidence? 1343 00:55:12,821 --> 00:55:14,691 What is the heart of repentance? 1344 00:55:14,691 --> 00:55:15,575 It's a turning. 1345 00:55:15,575 --> 00:55:17,023 it's a turning away from what? 1346 00:55:17,023 --> 00:55:18,934 It's a turning away from the yard stick. 1347 00:55:18,934 --> 00:55:20,142 Because what happens, 1348 00:55:20,142 --> 00:55:21,546 if you look at the yard stick 1349 00:55:21,546 --> 00:55:23,464 by itself, even as a Christian, 1350 00:55:23,464 --> 00:55:25,383 what are you doing? 1351 00:55:25,383 --> 00:55:27,118 You're saying well, 1352 00:55:27,118 --> 00:55:28,316 am I doing this? 1353 00:55:28,316 --> 00:55:30,692 Have I lived righteously enough? 1354 00:55:30,692 --> 00:55:33,769 Have I lived perfectly enough? 1355 00:55:33,769 --> 00:55:35,190 Have I prayed enough? 1356 00:55:35,190 --> 00:55:36,435 Have I loved enough? 1357 00:55:36,435 --> 00:55:37,969 It says if I don't do that - 1358 00:55:37,969 --> 00:55:39,440 have I done this enough? 1359 00:55:39,440 --> 00:55:40,870 And you start looking there 1360 00:55:40,870 --> 00:55:42,285 and you start looking there, 1361 00:55:42,285 --> 00:55:43,406 and I'll tell you what, 1362 00:55:43,406 --> 00:55:45,741 the poor Christian is just getting 1363 00:55:45,741 --> 00:55:46,964 beat up by the law again. 1364 00:55:46,964 --> 00:55:48,943 They're getting beat up by the standard. 1365 00:55:48,943 --> 00:55:50,769 They're getting beat up by this thing. 1366 00:55:50,769 --> 00:55:54,962 And then, suddenly they're floundering around. 1367 00:55:54,962 --> 00:55:56,416 Am I in? Am I out? 1368 00:55:56,416 --> 00:56:01,467 Because I have sinned. 1369 00:56:01,467 --> 00:56:06,319 Brethren, this is why 1370 00:56:06,319 --> 00:56:09,672 whenever these standards of Christianity 1371 00:56:09,672 --> 00:56:12,885 are held out, 1372 00:56:12,885 --> 00:56:14,559 you look biblically, 1373 00:56:14,559 --> 00:56:16,728 they are just impacted, 1374 00:56:16,728 --> 00:56:17,962 they are surrounded, 1375 00:56:17,962 --> 00:56:19,427 they are encompassed 1376 00:56:19,427 --> 00:56:21,139 with lookings to Christ. 1377 00:56:21,139 --> 00:56:22,693 Looking to Christ. 1378 00:56:22,693 --> 00:56:24,359 The cross of Christ. 1379 00:56:24,359 --> 00:56:27,974 Do you see what the problem can be folks? 1380 00:56:27,974 --> 00:56:29,910 Is when we begin to pull 1381 00:56:29,910 --> 00:56:32,005 these things out of Scripture. 1382 00:56:32,005 --> 00:56:35,529 And you begin to pull them away. 1383 00:56:35,529 --> 00:56:37,747 You begin to set up 1384 00:56:37,747 --> 00:56:39,994 this standard before people. 1385 00:56:39,994 --> 00:56:43,678 Practice righteousness. Practice righteousness. 1386 00:56:43,678 --> 00:56:47,435 You fall into this thing of masturbation; 1387 00:56:47,435 --> 00:56:49,221 you fall into this thing over here, 1388 00:56:49,221 --> 00:56:51,664 it's practice righteousness; practice righteousness. 1389 00:56:51,664 --> 00:56:53,091 And we can get to where we're 1390 00:56:53,091 --> 00:56:56,219 hammering people and hammering people.... 1391 00:56:56,219 --> 00:56:58,302 We hammer them with holiness. 1392 00:56:58,302 --> 00:57:02,216 Folks, we're under the New Covenant. 1393 00:57:02,216 --> 00:57:05,370 What is the New Covenant? 1394 00:57:05,370 --> 00:57:07,561 The New Covenant is God saying, 1395 00:57:07,561 --> 00:57:13,361 "I will forgive their sins." 1396 00:57:13,361 --> 00:57:16,269 Blessed is the man - 1397 00:57:16,269 --> 00:57:17,575 blessed is the man, folks, 1398 00:57:17,575 --> 00:57:20,559 whose transgressions are not held against him. 1399 00:57:20,559 --> 00:57:23,791 David went in with another man's wife 1400 00:57:23,791 --> 00:57:26,419 and he killed that man. 1401 00:57:26,419 --> 00:57:28,233 And he could come before God 1402 00:57:28,233 --> 00:57:34,874 and say, "Blessed is the man..." 1403 00:57:34,874 --> 00:57:37,646 Folks, we've got to be there all the time. 1404 00:57:37,646 --> 00:57:39,807 We've got to be there. 1405 00:57:39,807 --> 00:57:42,607 I tell you, brethren, don't sin. 1406 00:57:42,607 --> 00:57:45,076 But if you sin, we have an Advocate. 1407 00:57:45,076 --> 00:57:45,950 Do you see? 1408 00:57:45,950 --> 00:57:47,512 We've got to take these letters 1409 00:57:47,512 --> 00:57:48,442 in their entirety. 1410 00:57:48,442 --> 00:57:49,783 Yes, you've got Romans 8. 1411 00:57:49,783 --> 00:57:52,374 Yes, yes, yes. 1412 00:57:52,374 --> 00:57:54,731 By the Spirit, you put to death 1413 00:57:54,731 --> 00:57:56,013 the deeds of the flesh. 1414 00:57:56,013 --> 00:57:57,418 But remember how he started 1415 00:57:57,418 --> 00:57:59,551 that same chapter. 1416 00:57:59,551 --> 00:58:03,120 There is no condemnation. 1417 00:58:03,120 --> 00:58:05,135 Remember how he's hitting at this 1418 00:58:05,135 --> 00:58:07,883 when he gets to v. 33-34, 1419 00:58:07,883 --> 00:58:10,467 Nobody can bring an accusation 1420 00:58:10,467 --> 00:58:12,495 against God's elect. 1421 00:58:12,495 --> 00:58:14,476 There is no condemnation. 1422 00:58:14,476 --> 00:58:16,679 No one can condemn. 1423 00:58:16,679 --> 00:58:18,456 It's freeing. 1424 00:58:18,456 --> 00:58:20,916 Brethren, I've been hearing a lot 1425 00:58:20,916 --> 00:58:22,084 about repentance. 1426 00:58:22,084 --> 00:58:23,673 And I hear some of you guys, 1427 00:58:23,673 --> 00:58:25,175 and you're hammering it, 1428 00:58:25,175 --> 00:58:26,343 hammering it, 1429 00:58:26,343 --> 00:58:28,827 you're hammering it... 1430 00:58:28,827 --> 00:58:31,159 but folks, we've got to take people 1431 00:58:31,159 --> 00:58:33,741 to the cross. 1432 00:58:33,741 --> 00:58:35,289 What we're going to do, 1433 00:58:35,289 --> 00:58:36,686 if we don't keep taking 1434 00:58:36,686 --> 00:58:38,831 the brethren to the cross, 1435 00:58:38,831 --> 00:58:41,449 we're not going to outfit people 1436 00:58:41,449 --> 00:58:42,769 for the mission field. 1437 00:58:42,769 --> 00:58:44,161 What we're going to do is 1438 00:58:44,161 --> 00:58:45,993 we're going to have them wondering, 1439 00:58:45,993 --> 00:58:48,913 Am I in? Am I out? 1440 00:58:48,913 --> 00:58:50,645 Does He love me? 1441 00:58:50,645 --> 00:58:52,909 We've got to take them to the cross. 1442 00:58:52,909 --> 00:58:55,949 Say your acceptance is here. 1443 00:58:55,949 --> 00:58:58,654 We know you've fallen into sin. 1444 00:58:58,654 --> 00:59:01,719 We've fallen there ourselves. 1445 00:59:01,719 --> 00:59:03,912 We're not advocating a life 1446 00:59:03,912 --> 00:59:06,613 that is habitual sin. 1447 00:59:06,613 --> 00:59:08,545 There's got to be victory. 1448 00:59:08,545 --> 00:59:12,288 There's got to be righteousness, 1449 00:59:12,288 --> 00:59:14,338 but it is a righteousness that flows 1450 00:59:14,338 --> 00:59:17,041 out of a life that is constantly 1451 00:59:17,041 --> 00:59:18,760 resting in the cross. 1452 00:59:18,760 --> 00:59:21,494 When I came to Christ in the beginning, 1453 00:59:21,494 --> 00:59:23,619 yes, there was radical transformation 1454 00:59:23,619 --> 00:59:24,740 in the beginning, 1455 00:59:24,740 --> 00:59:27,100 but I fell into some horrible sins 1456 00:59:27,100 --> 00:59:28,213 in the beginning. 1457 00:59:28,213 --> 00:59:30,456 My wife fell into some horrible sins 1458 00:59:30,456 --> 00:59:31,492 in the beginning. 1459 00:59:31,492 --> 00:59:32,822 And I'll tell you what, 1460 00:59:32,822 --> 00:59:34,422 in the midst of that, 1461 00:59:34,422 --> 00:59:37,461 I didn't fall into despair 1462 00:59:37,461 --> 00:59:39,479 for this reason: 1463 00:59:39,479 --> 00:59:41,139 Because when Satan would rush in 1464 00:59:41,139 --> 00:59:43,311 and say, "look at you. 1465 00:59:43,311 --> 00:59:46,427 You wretch. 1466 00:59:46,427 --> 00:59:48,589 You think God wants anything to do with you? 1467 00:59:48,589 --> 00:59:51,523 How could you claim you're saved?" 1468 00:59:51,523 --> 00:59:52,886 And I could say, 1469 00:59:52,886 --> 00:59:57,016 "Devil, you can slander me day and night. 1470 00:59:57,016 --> 00:59:59,017 But I came to Christ in the beginning 1471 00:59:59,017 --> 01:00:01,123 because I was a wretch. 1472 01:00:01,123 --> 01:00:04,581 And I know, all I am right now 1473 01:00:04,581 --> 01:00:07,267 is a saved sinner. 1474 01:00:07,267 --> 01:00:09,273 And all you're proving to me 1475 01:00:09,273 --> 01:00:10,943 all the more is I need to run 1476 01:00:10,943 --> 01:00:13,430 back to Him again. 1477 01:00:13,430 --> 01:00:15,178 And I'm going to head back there." 1478 01:00:15,178 --> 01:00:16,659 Folks, we've got to be heading 1479 01:00:16,659 --> 01:00:17,750 back to the cross. 1480 01:00:17,750 --> 01:00:19,430 Because that's where our assurance 1481 01:00:19,430 --> 01:00:20,343 is going to come. 1482 01:00:20,343 --> 01:00:23,379 And it's only when we're confident: 1483 01:00:23,379 --> 01:00:28,112 Yes. I am not accepted by God because 1484 01:00:28,112 --> 01:00:29,774 of my own works, 1485 01:00:29,774 --> 01:00:31,499 even as a Christian. 1486 01:00:31,499 --> 01:00:34,801 I am not accepted because of my own works. 1487 01:00:34,801 --> 01:00:38,623 And my own failings as a Christian 1488 01:00:38,623 --> 01:00:41,252 don't sever the way I'm received 1489 01:00:41,252 --> 01:00:42,987 by the Lord. 1490 01:00:42,987 --> 01:00:44,666 And I run back there again 1491 01:00:44,666 --> 01:00:46,256 for healing, 1492 01:00:46,256 --> 01:00:47,959 for the blood, 1493 01:00:47,959 --> 01:00:49,639 back again, 1494 01:00:49,639 --> 01:00:51,953 where I know there is full forgiveness 1495 01:00:51,953 --> 01:00:53,601 and no condemnation. 1496 01:00:53,601 --> 01:00:55,011 Back to that cross. 1497 01:00:55,011 --> 01:00:56,656 Over and over and over. 1498 01:00:56,656 --> 01:00:58,295 And I set my eyes there. 1499 01:00:58,295 --> 01:01:03,104 And that Spirit will breathe in 1500 01:01:03,104 --> 01:01:06,541 such loving expressions of the Father 1501 01:01:06,541 --> 01:01:09,068 to me as His son - 1502 01:01:09,068 --> 01:01:10,734 expressions of love, 1503 01:01:10,734 --> 01:01:12,292 bearing witness, 1504 01:01:12,292 --> 01:01:14,006 and in those expressions 1505 01:01:14,006 --> 01:01:15,532 there will be assurance. 1506 01:01:15,532 --> 01:01:17,184 There will be confidence. 1507 01:01:17,184 --> 01:01:18,908 Where there is confidence, 1508 01:01:18,908 --> 01:01:22,058 there will be strength. 1509 01:01:22,058 --> 01:01:24,997 There will be boldness. 1510 01:01:24,997 --> 01:01:28,259 We will be bold as lions. 1511 01:01:28,259 --> 01:01:31,034 We will have a church of lion-hearts. 1512 01:01:31,034 --> 01:01:32,863 Brave-hearts 1513 01:01:32,863 --> 01:01:36,003 where there's confidence. 1514 01:01:36,003 --> 01:01:41,269 Oh, it comes in Christ alone. 1515 01:01:41,269 --> 01:01:43,296 That is my word for us tonight. 1516 01:01:43,296 --> 01:01:45,721 Brethren, go to the cross. 1517 01:01:45,721 --> 01:01:50,251 Brethren, when you see others struggling, 1518 01:01:50,251 --> 01:01:51,764 take them to the cross. 1519 01:01:51,764 --> 01:01:55,428 Don't beat them up, 1520 01:01:55,428 --> 01:01:59,879 but take them to the healing wounds. 1521 01:01:59,879 --> 01:02:02,853 Take them. 1522 01:02:02,853 --> 01:02:06,417 Back again and again. 1523 01:02:06,417 --> 01:02:09,056 And amen. 1524 01:02:09,056 --> 01:02:12,709 Any last comments or questions 1525 01:02:12,709 --> 01:02:17,359 or anything tonight? 1526 01:02:17,359 --> 01:02:22,042 What will help us look to Christ? 1527 01:02:22,042 --> 01:02:24,748 Fair question, right? 1528 01:02:24,748 --> 01:02:27,129 I would say this. 1529 01:02:27,129 --> 01:02:29,917 (incomplete thought) 1530 01:02:29,917 --> 01:02:31,962 Look, if my eyes need to be there, 1531 01:02:31,962 --> 01:02:33,648 then my eyes need to not be 1532 01:02:33,648 --> 01:02:36,079 on other things. 1533 01:02:36,079 --> 01:02:40,676 (incomplete thought) 1534 01:02:40,676 --> 01:02:43,079 We don't have spider eyes. 1535 01:02:43,079 --> 01:02:44,721 We don't have fly eyes. 1536 01:02:44,721 --> 01:02:46,404 We don't have compound eyes. 1537 01:02:46,404 --> 01:02:49,268 I mean, basically, God has designed us - 1538 01:02:49,268 --> 01:02:53,812 we can basically look in one direction 1539 01:02:53,812 --> 01:02:55,207 at a time, 1540 01:02:55,207 --> 01:02:58,068 and maybe that's true spiritually 1541 01:02:58,068 --> 01:03:00,706 to a great degree as well. 1542 01:03:00,706 --> 01:03:03,447 We need to set our minds on things above. 1543 01:03:03,447 --> 01:03:06,376 Folks, it's very difficult to fix your gaze 1544 01:03:06,376 --> 01:03:07,871 upon Jesus Christ, 1545 01:03:07,871 --> 01:03:09,261 when your gaze is on 1546 01:03:09,261 --> 01:03:11,073 a thousand other things. 1547 01:03:11,073 --> 01:03:12,185 And so, I realize, 1548 01:03:12,185 --> 01:03:13,803 there are things we need to give 1549 01:03:13,803 --> 01:03:15,148 our attention to in life. 1550 01:03:15,148 --> 01:03:16,800 Gazing on Christ means 1551 01:03:16,800 --> 01:03:18,306 I'm thinking on Christ. 1552 01:03:18,306 --> 01:03:20,825 (incomplete thought) 1553 01:03:20,825 --> 01:03:24,850 Have you ever read Psalm 1? 1554 01:03:24,850 --> 01:03:28,546 What does that godly man, 1555 01:03:28,546 --> 01:03:29,825 that righteous man, 1556 01:03:29,825 --> 01:03:31,954 that upright man of Psalm 1 - 1557 01:03:31,954 --> 01:03:33,387 what is his relationship 1558 01:03:33,387 --> 01:03:34,416 to the Word of God? 1559 01:03:34,416 --> 01:03:36,732 There's something he does with the Word of God. 1560 01:03:36,732 --> 01:03:38,257 He meditates on it. 1561 01:03:38,257 --> 01:03:40,734 Folks, you've got to meditate. 1562 01:03:40,734 --> 01:03:41,853 You've got to chew. 1563 01:03:41,853 --> 01:03:43,826 The little, flippant reading of Scripture 1564 01:03:43,826 --> 01:03:44,941 isn't going to get it. 1565 01:03:44,941 --> 01:03:46,493 You need to be in the Word 1566 01:03:46,493 --> 01:03:49,253 long enough, well enough, 1567 01:03:49,253 --> 01:03:51,271 where you're able to meditate 1568 01:03:51,271 --> 01:03:54,135 and chew and think. 1569 01:03:54,135 --> 01:03:57,138 The Spirit of God begins to work 1570 01:03:57,138 --> 01:04:00,034 and drive those thoughts deep. 1571 01:04:00,034 --> 01:04:02,766 Go deep with God. 1572 01:04:02,766 --> 01:04:05,623 I mean, you're not going to go deep 1573 01:04:05,623 --> 01:04:06,813 with God in the Word; 1574 01:04:06,813 --> 01:04:08,935 you're not going to go deep with Christ 1575 01:04:08,935 --> 01:04:10,343 in visions of the cross; 1576 01:04:10,343 --> 01:04:11,658 you're not going to go deep 1577 01:04:11,658 --> 01:04:13,305 into those realms of Christianity, 1578 01:04:13,305 --> 01:04:16,296 where the Spirit of God really breathes, 1579 01:04:16,296 --> 01:04:18,379 where you just do flippant reading 1580 01:04:18,379 --> 01:04:19,309 in the Scriptures. 1581 01:04:19,309 --> 01:04:21,269 You've got to get in there. 1582 01:04:21,269 --> 01:04:23,068 A lot of you guys listen to sermons. 1583 01:04:23,068 --> 01:04:23,935 You know what? 1584 01:04:23,935 --> 01:04:25,697 Sometimes we can get where 1585 01:04:25,697 --> 01:04:28,017 we can really like a certain kind of sermon. 1586 01:04:28,017 --> 01:04:30,670 We really like the kind of sermons 1587 01:04:30,670 --> 01:04:32,155 where we get all beat up. 1588 01:04:32,155 --> 01:04:34,224 I know in the beginning, 1589 01:04:34,224 --> 01:04:35,199 I like that. 1590 01:04:35,199 --> 01:04:37,145 I like sermons that really beat me up, 1591 01:04:37,145 --> 01:04:38,107 but I tell you what, 1592 01:04:38,107 --> 01:04:39,916 a lot of times, we need to listen 1593 01:04:39,916 --> 01:04:41,499 to good sermons that just take us 1594 01:04:41,499 --> 01:04:43,335 to the cross. 1595 01:04:43,335 --> 01:04:44,756 And you find a good preacher. 1596 01:04:44,756 --> 01:04:46,601 Go read some good Spurgeon sermons. 1597 01:04:46,601 --> 01:04:51,175 When you guys find a good sermon 1598 01:04:51,175 --> 01:04:52,034 on the cross, 1599 01:04:52,034 --> 01:04:55,353 begin to recommend it to one another. 1600 01:04:55,353 --> 01:04:56,274 I'll tell you this, 1601 01:04:56,274 --> 01:04:58,628 avoid legalism. 1602 01:04:58,628 --> 01:05:00,065 Avoid it among yourselves. 1603 01:05:00,065 --> 01:05:01,624 Avoid it in your own thinking. 1604 01:05:01,624 --> 01:05:04,151 Don't go to a church that is legalistic. 1605 01:05:04,151 --> 01:05:05,011 Why? 1606 01:05:05,011 --> 01:05:07,834 Because legalistic churches set up standards. 1607 01:05:07,834 --> 01:05:09,261 They set up rules. 1608 01:05:09,261 --> 01:05:10,295 They press it. 1609 01:05:10,295 --> 01:05:11,453 Press it. Press it. 1610 01:05:11,453 --> 01:05:12,252 That's no good. 1611 01:05:12,252 --> 01:05:15,134 That is not good to assurance. 1612 01:05:15,134 --> 01:05:17,555 Don't go where they're legalistic. 1613 01:05:17,555 --> 01:05:19,467 Don't go where there's preaching 1614 01:05:19,467 --> 01:05:22,489 that hammers law and responsibility 1615 01:05:22,489 --> 01:05:28,632 and holiness where Christ isn't constantly mixed in. 1616 01:05:28,632 --> 01:05:30,660 Where Christ isn't central in the singing; 1617 01:05:30,660 --> 01:05:32,190 central in the preaching.