Title: Amazing Access to the Father Meta: The Gospel gets us all the way to having access with God the Father. This access to God is the summit of it all. It does not get any better than this. We are not talking about some access to riches on earth, but access to God. We are not talking about momentary access and then you have to leave, but rather you will never be uninvited. Tags: access,Ephesians,Father,God,Jehovah 1 00:00:01,145 --> 00:00:03,560 This morning, I'd like to have us 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:07,627 return to our ongoing series 3 00:00:07,627 --> 00:00:10,144 in the book of Ephesians. 4 00:00:10,144 --> 00:00:13,428 So, if you would all turn to Ephesians 2, 5 00:00:13,428 --> 00:00:20,115 we're going to pick up where we left off. 6 00:00:20,115 --> 00:00:22,897 The text that I want to deal with this morning 7 00:00:22,897 --> 00:00:27,283 is found in Ephesians 2, 8 00:00:27,283 --> 00:00:39,232 specifically verse 18. 9 00:00:39,232 --> 00:00:46,117 "For through Him..." 10 00:00:46,117 --> 00:00:50,315 We find Who fits this pronoun 11 00:00:50,315 --> 00:00:52,772 all the way back in v. 13. 12 00:00:52,772 --> 00:00:55,893 It's Christ Jesus. 13 00:00:55,893 --> 00:00:58,673 "...been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 00:00:58,673 --> 00:01:02,775 For He Himself is our peace." 15 00:01:02,775 --> 00:01:06,282 Anyway, He is the subject matter 16 00:01:06,282 --> 00:01:19,953 of all these pronouns in v. 14-17. 17 00:01:19,953 --> 00:01:21,317 And again here in v. 18, 18 00:01:21,317 --> 00:01:22,850 "For through Him..." 19 00:01:22,850 --> 00:01:24,876 Through Christ. 20 00:01:24,876 --> 00:01:27,750 "We both (Jew and Gentile)..." 21 00:01:27,750 --> 00:01:32,197 We both together 22 00:01:32,197 --> 00:01:33,827 "have access 23 00:01:33,827 --> 00:01:37,125 in one Spirit 24 00:01:37,125 --> 00:01:43,037 to the Father." 25 00:01:43,037 --> 00:01:49,562 Now brethren, if we dive in right here at v. 18, 26 00:01:49,562 --> 00:01:52,096 it's somewhat like turning on the radio. 27 00:01:52,096 --> 00:01:57,651 Have you ever heard Handel's Messiah? 28 00:01:57,651 --> 00:02:00,349 It's like coming to the classical radio station 29 00:02:00,349 --> 00:02:01,661 and you turn it on 30 00:02:01,661 --> 00:02:03,019 and there right at the end, 31 00:02:03,019 --> 00:02:04,584 "Forever, forever... 32 00:02:04,584 --> 00:02:07,663 Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah..." 33 00:02:07,663 --> 00:02:09,087 And then there's the pause, 34 00:02:09,087 --> 00:02:10,459 and then, "...hallelujah!" 35 00:02:10,459 --> 00:02:11,845 If you've heard that, 36 00:02:11,845 --> 00:02:13,875 you turn on the radio, 37 00:02:13,875 --> 00:02:15,952 you're hearing the exact same thing 38 00:02:15,952 --> 00:02:17,471 that you would have heard 39 00:02:17,471 --> 00:02:19,010 if you heard the whole song, 40 00:02:19,010 --> 00:02:20,307 and yet, you're not hearing 41 00:02:20,307 --> 00:02:21,675 the exact same thing. 42 00:02:21,675 --> 00:02:23,071 Because it's different. 43 00:02:23,071 --> 00:02:24,709 If you didn't hear the whole song, 44 00:02:24,709 --> 00:02:26,593 and you just turned it on right there, 45 00:02:26,593 --> 00:02:28,781 it's like singing "And Can It Be." 46 00:02:28,781 --> 00:02:29,882 You come to church late 47 00:02:29,882 --> 00:02:31,421 and you walk through the door, 48 00:02:31,421 --> 00:02:32,417 and they're saying, 49 00:02:32,417 --> 00:02:34,723 "My chains fell off. 50 00:02:34,723 --> 00:02:36,423 My heart was free. 51 00:02:36,423 --> 00:02:38,533 I rose, went forth, and followed Thee." 52 00:02:38,533 --> 00:02:40,159 You come in right at that time, 53 00:02:40,159 --> 00:02:42,538 you can hear the glory of the brethren singing, 54 00:02:42,538 --> 00:02:44,499 but if you walk in right at that moment, 55 00:02:44,499 --> 00:02:46,528 it's not quite the same 56 00:02:46,528 --> 00:02:47,950 as if you sang the whole song 57 00:02:47,950 --> 00:02:49,124 from the beginning. 58 00:02:49,124 --> 00:02:51,724 That's kind of like what we have going on here. 59 00:02:51,724 --> 00:02:55,130 To dive in right at this place in v. 18, 60 00:02:55,130 --> 00:02:58,761 it's like Paul has this whole symphony 61 00:02:58,761 --> 00:03:00,214 that he's putting together 62 00:03:00,214 --> 00:03:03,688 and he's been building up to this crescendo. 63 00:03:03,688 --> 00:03:06,199 You can kind of see it as that. 64 00:03:06,199 --> 00:03:09,073 It's like line after line of this music 65 00:03:09,073 --> 00:03:11,347 of Paul's symphony has been coming out. 66 00:03:11,347 --> 00:03:12,933 And if we jump in right at v. 18, 67 00:03:12,933 --> 00:03:15,200 you hear what it says, 68 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:24,232 but brethren, this is the great point 69 00:03:24,232 --> 00:03:28,759 to which the Gospel leads us to. 70 00:03:28,759 --> 00:03:31,759 He's been piling truth upon truth. 71 00:03:31,759 --> 00:03:32,879 Think with me here, 72 00:03:32,879 --> 00:03:34,699 I don't want to go back to chapter 1, 73 00:03:34,699 --> 00:03:37,618 but just think with me about chapter 2. 74 00:03:37,618 --> 00:03:39,933 Dead in trespasses and sins, 75 00:03:39,933 --> 00:03:43,828 but God in richness of mercy, 76 00:03:43,828 --> 00:03:45,884 in love, what does He do? 77 00:03:45,884 --> 00:03:47,891 Even while we were yet 78 00:03:47,891 --> 00:03:49,291 dead in our trespasses? 79 00:03:49,291 --> 00:03:51,634 Brethren, the thing that we need to recognize about this, 80 00:03:51,634 --> 00:03:53,861 and we heard about the love of God in the first hour. 81 00:03:53,861 --> 00:03:56,194 His love, brethren, that love came to us 82 00:03:56,194 --> 00:03:58,338 when we didn't love Him. 83 00:03:58,338 --> 00:04:00,247 God loved first. 84 00:04:00,247 --> 00:04:01,587 Rich mercy. 85 00:04:01,587 --> 00:04:04,010 Even when we were dead in our trespasses and sins, 86 00:04:04,010 --> 00:04:04,880 what does He do? 87 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:05,772 He makes us alive, 88 00:04:05,772 --> 00:04:06,832 even when we're dead; 89 00:04:06,832 --> 00:04:08,355 even when we were children of wrath 90 00:04:08,355 --> 00:04:09,817 like the rest of mankind. 91 00:04:09,817 --> 00:04:12,760 We're just living filthy lives, 92 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,058 and even if it's moral, 93 00:04:14,058 --> 00:04:15,332 even if it's religious, 94 00:04:15,332 --> 00:04:18,171 we sought to suppress the knowledge, 95 00:04:18,171 --> 00:04:19,656 we turned our back on Him, 96 00:04:19,656 --> 00:04:21,465 we were glad to go our own way, 97 00:04:21,465 --> 00:04:24,691 and in rich mercy, 98 00:04:24,691 --> 00:04:26,168 He raises us up. 99 00:04:26,168 --> 00:04:27,427 We didn't deserve it. 100 00:04:27,427 --> 00:04:28,978 By grace you have been saved, 101 00:04:28,978 --> 00:04:29,705 through faith, 102 00:04:29,705 --> 00:04:31,181 and that is not of yourselves. 103 00:04:31,181 --> 00:04:33,315 He did this apart from us. 104 00:04:33,315 --> 00:04:34,457 What does He do? 105 00:04:34,457 --> 00:04:35,833 He makes us alive. 106 00:04:35,833 --> 00:04:36,927 He raises us up 107 00:04:36,927 --> 00:04:39,609 and He seats us together with Christ. 108 00:04:39,609 --> 00:04:42,949 And He makes us the workmanship 109 00:04:42,949 --> 00:04:44,959 to where we do good works. 110 00:04:44,959 --> 00:04:46,087 And then what He does 111 00:04:46,087 --> 00:04:48,028 is He takes us from this condition 112 00:04:48,028 --> 00:04:50,212 of being separated from Christ 113 00:04:50,212 --> 00:04:52,044 and aliens to Israel, 114 00:04:52,044 --> 00:04:55,012 strangers to God's covenants, 115 00:04:55,012 --> 00:04:57,212 no God, no hope, 116 00:04:57,212 --> 00:04:59,559 miserable... 117 00:04:59,559 --> 00:05:00,979 And what does He do? 118 00:05:00,979 --> 00:05:04,617 He lifts us up out of that cesspool, 119 00:05:04,617 --> 00:05:07,376 and we're brought near by the blood of Christ. 120 00:05:07,376 --> 00:05:11,263 And Christ knocks down all the barriers! 121 00:05:11,263 --> 00:05:13,058 And He makes peace. 122 00:05:13,058 --> 00:05:15,655 And He creates - there's a recreation. 123 00:05:15,655 --> 00:05:19,762 One new man in place of the two. 124 00:05:19,762 --> 00:05:22,526 And brethren, He kills the hostility on the cross. 125 00:05:22,526 --> 00:05:24,045 He reconciles us to God. 126 00:05:24,045 --> 00:05:26,241 And you see, that's where we've been going. 127 00:05:26,241 --> 00:05:28,550 He's been building up, building up, building up. 128 00:05:28,550 --> 00:05:30,098 And then you get to v. 18, 129 00:05:30,098 --> 00:05:32,283 and what do we have? 130 00:05:32,283 --> 00:05:34,347 Brethren, we have access to the Father. 131 00:05:34,347 --> 00:05:35,781 What you need to recognize is 132 00:05:35,781 --> 00:05:37,885 there's nothing beyond this. 133 00:05:37,885 --> 00:05:39,541 What's beyond it? 134 00:05:39,541 --> 00:05:42,351 You take the Gospel all the way 135 00:05:42,351 --> 00:05:47,044 to us having access into the very presence of God. 136 00:05:47,044 --> 00:05:48,728 It's there. 137 00:05:48,728 --> 00:05:51,904 And we stand before Him. 138 00:05:51,904 --> 00:05:53,802 Where are you going to go further? 139 00:05:53,802 --> 00:05:55,125 Are you going to go up? 140 00:05:55,125 --> 00:05:56,941 Are you going to look over the fence 141 00:05:56,941 --> 00:05:59,073 and say the grass is greener over there? 142 00:05:59,073 --> 00:06:02,585 It gets better than this somewhere else. 143 00:06:02,585 --> 00:06:04,406 No, you don't say that. 144 00:06:04,406 --> 00:06:07,374 This is it. 145 00:06:07,374 --> 00:06:09,567 The apostle's been climbing higher and higher 146 00:06:09,567 --> 00:06:12,884 and here's the summit of it all: 147 00:06:12,884 --> 00:06:16,353 access to God. 148 00:06:16,353 --> 00:06:19,826 Beloved people of God, 149 00:06:19,826 --> 00:06:24,150 listen. 150 00:06:24,150 --> 00:06:26,480 You know there was a day when our Lord 151 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,794 was speaking to His disciples. 152 00:06:30,794 --> 00:06:35,776 And He said to them, 153 00:06:35,776 --> 00:06:39,439 "Leap for joy!" 154 00:06:39,439 --> 00:06:42,267 "Jump for joy!" 155 00:06:42,267 --> 00:06:47,112 "Because your reward in heaven is great." 156 00:06:47,112 --> 00:06:49,937 You look at the parallel passage in Matthew. 157 00:06:49,937 --> 00:06:51,354 We're told this: 158 00:06:51,354 --> 00:06:53,315 "Rejoice and be... " 159 00:06:53,315 --> 00:06:55,051 Our ESV leaves this out. 160 00:06:55,051 --> 00:06:56,108 KJV has it. 161 00:06:56,108 --> 00:06:58,009 "...exceedingly glad!" 162 00:06:58,009 --> 00:07:00,730 It's not because there's any adjective there 163 00:07:00,730 --> 00:07:01,847 in the original. 164 00:07:01,847 --> 00:07:04,064 It's because the word for joy here 165 00:07:04,064 --> 00:07:06,599 is a surpassing joy! 166 00:07:06,599 --> 00:07:09,364 Brethren, leap for joy! 167 00:07:09,364 --> 00:07:11,590 Just stop right there. 168 00:07:11,590 --> 00:07:13,436 What are the kinds of things 169 00:07:13,436 --> 00:07:16,451 that have made you jump up and down for joy? 170 00:07:16,451 --> 00:07:18,308 We're talking about that level of joy. 171 00:07:18,308 --> 00:07:19,767 We're talking about the kind 172 00:07:19,767 --> 00:07:21,486 where you can't stay on the ground. 173 00:07:21,486 --> 00:07:22,649 Where you have to jump! 174 00:07:22,649 --> 00:07:24,029 You have to jump up and down! 175 00:07:24,029 --> 00:07:25,777 What you need to recognize is this: 176 00:07:25,777 --> 00:07:29,263 Jesus can see what we can't see. 177 00:07:29,263 --> 00:07:31,001 He can look where we can't look. 178 00:07:31,001 --> 00:07:34,025 You know what He does? 179 00:07:34,025 --> 00:07:35,726 He is God. 180 00:07:35,726 --> 00:07:37,393 He's been there from the beginning. 181 00:07:37,393 --> 00:07:39,102 In the beginning was the Word, 182 00:07:39,102 --> 00:07:40,172 the Word was with God, 183 00:07:40,172 --> 00:07:41,403 He is God. 184 00:07:41,403 --> 00:07:42,314 And He knows. 185 00:07:42,314 --> 00:07:43,786 And He came from paradise. 186 00:07:43,786 --> 00:07:46,243 He came from the halls of glory. 187 00:07:46,243 --> 00:07:48,878 And He is able to look behind that veil, 188 00:07:48,878 --> 00:07:52,299 and come back to us and say, 189 00:07:52,299 --> 00:07:56,100 Oh, if you could see what I see, 190 00:07:56,100 --> 00:07:59,171 you would not be able to remain in your seats. 191 00:07:59,171 --> 00:08:03,914 That's the reality of Christianity. 192 00:08:03,914 --> 00:08:05,560 If we really knew. 193 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:07,934 Jesus is saying I know what you don't know. 194 00:08:07,934 --> 00:08:09,239 And based on what I know, 195 00:08:09,239 --> 00:08:10,110 I'm telling you, 196 00:08:10,110 --> 00:08:11,802 you ought to be jumping for joy. 197 00:08:11,802 --> 00:08:16,060 You ought to be full with exceeding joy. 198 00:08:16,060 --> 00:08:18,342 Exceeding. 199 00:08:18,342 --> 00:08:19,752 You ought to jump! 200 00:08:19,752 --> 00:08:22,066 Christian, do you realize this about yourself? 201 00:08:22,066 --> 00:08:24,165 Do you realize the most wondrous, 202 00:08:24,165 --> 00:08:26,306 marvelous, magnificant, 203 00:08:26,306 --> 00:08:28,079 absolutely unspeakable thing 204 00:08:28,079 --> 00:08:29,900 that can ever be had in this world, 205 00:08:29,900 --> 00:08:32,128 is to become a Christian? 206 00:08:32,128 --> 00:08:34,654 It is not to come into a fortune 207 00:08:34,654 --> 00:08:36,214 of an inheritance. 208 00:08:36,214 --> 00:08:38,790 It's not that. 209 00:08:38,790 --> 00:08:41,240 So often we can judge life by money. 210 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,154 And has God blessed me with money or not. 211 00:08:44,154 --> 00:08:45,693 Or has He blessed me with 212 00:08:45,693 --> 00:08:47,054 some kind of victory or not. 213 00:08:47,054 --> 00:08:48,262 Or has He blessed me with 214 00:08:48,262 --> 00:08:50,387 some kind of promotion or not. 215 00:08:50,387 --> 00:08:52,677 Brethren, to be a Christian; 216 00:08:52,677 --> 00:08:55,800 to be a pilgrim, 217 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,075 a true heaven-bound pilgrim, 218 00:08:58,075 --> 00:08:59,942 this is it. 219 00:08:59,942 --> 00:09:01,653 It doesn't get any better. 220 00:09:01,653 --> 00:09:03,082 It doesn't get any higher. 221 00:09:03,082 --> 00:09:05,237 To be a Christian, that's it! 222 00:09:05,237 --> 00:09:06,097 Nothing greater! 223 00:09:06,097 --> 00:09:07,574 This is the most privileged, 224 00:09:07,574 --> 00:09:08,417 most blessed, 225 00:09:08,417 --> 00:09:10,814 most exceptionally exalted position 226 00:09:10,814 --> 00:09:13,385 that any son of man could have. 227 00:09:13,385 --> 00:09:14,706 And I'll tell you this, 228 00:09:14,706 --> 00:09:17,146 we have the red carpet 229 00:09:17,146 --> 00:09:20,977 just laid out for us. 230 00:09:20,977 --> 00:09:24,129 It's coming right from the throne of God. 231 00:09:24,129 --> 00:09:26,142 And He lays it out for us and He says, 232 00:09:26,142 --> 00:09:30,281 "Christian, that red carpet... 233 00:09:30,281 --> 00:09:33,022 that is red in the blood of My Son. 234 00:09:33,022 --> 00:09:35,546 Now, come on. Come to Me. 235 00:09:35,546 --> 00:09:36,890 Take Me. 236 00:09:36,890 --> 00:09:43,313 I give Myself to you." 237 00:09:43,313 --> 00:09:46,656 Brethren, we've won it! 238 00:09:46,656 --> 00:09:51,340 We've won the great thing of life. 239 00:09:51,340 --> 00:09:54,410 We've won the prize. 240 00:09:54,410 --> 00:09:56,998 Have you ever heard the NAS? 241 00:09:56,998 --> 00:09:59,814 "The nearness of God is my good." 242 00:09:59,814 --> 00:10:01,211 We've gotten the good. 243 00:10:01,211 --> 00:10:02,779 Goodness and mercy follow us 244 00:10:02,779 --> 00:10:04,042 all the days of our lives 245 00:10:04,042 --> 00:10:05,566 and out on into history. 246 00:10:05,566 --> 00:10:08,033 And brethren, it comes back to this: 247 00:10:08,033 --> 00:10:09,690 "Blessed are the pure in heart." 248 00:10:09,690 --> 00:10:12,188 And the thing is it's not just that we will see God, 249 00:10:12,188 --> 00:10:14,212 it's that we have access to God now. 250 00:10:14,212 --> 00:10:17,489 And He bids us boldly approach the throne of grace. 251 00:10:17,489 --> 00:10:18,756 You can come. 252 00:10:18,756 --> 00:10:23,118 You can walk right into My presence. 253 00:10:23,118 --> 00:10:25,553 Greater and greater manifestations of glory 254 00:10:25,553 --> 00:10:28,398 right off into eternity. 255 00:10:28,398 --> 00:10:31,313 I have access to God. 256 00:10:31,313 --> 00:10:32,295 And the thing is, 257 00:10:32,295 --> 00:10:37,647 this text says access not just to God, 258 00:10:37,647 --> 00:10:42,026 access to the Father. 259 00:10:42,026 --> 00:10:52,466 Brethren, think about this. 260 00:10:52,466 --> 00:10:58,312 After all the things I've done, 261 00:10:58,312 --> 00:11:01,300 God has responded by doing such things 262 00:11:01,300 --> 00:11:03,198 that I could enter into His presence 263 00:11:03,198 --> 00:11:05,381 and be accepted and be loved 264 00:11:05,381 --> 00:11:11,339 and be treated absolutely contrary 265 00:11:11,339 --> 00:11:15,829 to what my sins deserve. 266 00:11:15,829 --> 00:11:17,183 I have access to God 267 00:11:17,183 --> 00:11:18,614 and you have access to God 268 00:11:18,614 --> 00:11:21,580 if we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. 269 00:11:21,580 --> 00:11:24,498 And to have access to Him means 270 00:11:24,498 --> 00:11:27,977 I have Him. 271 00:11:27,977 --> 00:11:29,096 I have God. 272 00:11:29,096 --> 00:11:31,649 He's given Himself to me. 273 00:11:31,649 --> 00:11:36,295 The door is open. 274 00:11:36,295 --> 00:11:37,970 You hear the psalmist, 275 00:11:37,970 --> 00:11:41,777 "one thing have I desired of the Lord," 276 00:11:41,777 --> 00:11:44,986 he says, "that will I seek after, 277 00:11:44,986 --> 00:11:49,983 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord 278 00:11:49,983 --> 00:11:52,993 all the days of my life 279 00:11:52,993 --> 00:11:59,655 and behold the beauty of the Lord." 280 00:11:59,655 --> 00:12:02,047 And God says to the Christian, 281 00:12:02,047 --> 00:12:05,639 "You have access." 282 00:12:05,639 --> 00:12:08,168 "Come behold." 283 00:12:08,168 --> 00:12:11,717 "Come enjoy." 284 00:12:11,717 --> 00:12:14,458 And we're even commanded in Scripture: 285 00:12:14,458 --> 00:12:16,920 Draw near to God. 286 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:18,673 Go. 287 00:12:18,673 --> 00:12:22,383 Go. 288 00:12:22,383 --> 00:12:25,995 Ruby and I 289 00:12:25,995 --> 00:12:30,145 recently stayed at what they call a flat 290 00:12:30,145 --> 00:12:32,919 in London. 291 00:12:32,919 --> 00:12:37,358 It was ten stories, 292 00:12:37,358 --> 00:12:40,339 the way it went up like this. 293 00:12:40,339 --> 00:12:41,646 It was crazy. 294 00:12:41,646 --> 00:12:43,363 Just steps going all the way up. 295 00:12:43,363 --> 00:12:45,619 We stayed in this place. 296 00:12:45,619 --> 00:12:49,455 It was in one of the wealthiest parts of London. 297 00:12:49,455 --> 00:12:55,218 Charity and Evan took an Uber to this place 298 00:12:55,218 --> 00:12:58,750 and the driver couldn't believe 299 00:12:58,750 --> 00:13:05,977 that they knew people who lived here. 300 00:13:05,977 --> 00:13:11,969 Brethren, for three days and two nights 301 00:13:11,969 --> 00:13:15,093 we had access to this home. 302 00:13:15,093 --> 00:13:17,324 And I mentioned this on Wednesday. 303 00:13:17,324 --> 00:13:21,640 Right next to where John Wesley was converted 304 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,924 at Aldersgate Street. 305 00:13:24,924 --> 00:13:31,653 We had front row seat to the church building 306 00:13:31,653 --> 00:13:33,629 where Bunyan would preach 307 00:13:33,629 --> 00:13:38,267 when he was in London. 308 00:13:38,267 --> 00:13:46,547 We were in the middle of the business district. 309 00:13:46,547 --> 00:13:51,560 We had access three days and two nights. 310 00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:55,252 Do you realize what the Lord is saying? 311 00:13:55,252 --> 00:14:00,051 Come into the house of the Lord, 312 00:14:00,051 --> 00:14:02,871 and you have access here right before Me, 313 00:14:02,871 --> 00:14:07,067 right before My face. 314 00:14:07,067 --> 00:14:09,112 Forever. 315 00:14:09,112 --> 00:14:10,633 Not an expensive part of London, 316 00:14:10,633 --> 00:14:12,267 close to where Wesley was saved 317 00:14:12,267 --> 00:14:14,078 and Bunyan preached. 318 00:14:14,078 --> 00:14:17,990 You have access in the very holy of holies. 319 00:14:17,990 --> 00:14:22,638 Right where God Himself dwells. 320 00:14:22,638 --> 00:14:24,700 You have access. 321 00:14:24,700 --> 00:14:27,645 Day or night. 322 00:14:27,645 --> 00:14:29,884 When things are going good and not good. 323 00:14:29,884 --> 00:14:32,726 When the sun shines and when the clouds are thick. 324 00:14:32,726 --> 00:14:36,644 He says, "Dwell here right before Me." 325 00:14:36,644 --> 00:14:38,689 And you don't have to go 326 00:14:38,689 --> 00:14:40,582 after three days and two nights. 327 00:14:40,582 --> 00:14:42,290 You see, if we went over there now 328 00:14:42,290 --> 00:14:44,060 and we were banging on the door, 329 00:14:44,060 --> 00:14:46,810 it would be like, why are you here? 330 00:14:46,810 --> 00:14:50,206 You're not invited anymore. 331 00:14:50,206 --> 00:14:52,115 And God says, 332 00:14:52,115 --> 00:14:53,970 You keep coming. 333 00:14:53,970 --> 00:14:55,322 This is yours. 334 00:14:55,322 --> 00:14:58,028 My Son bought this place for you. 335 00:14:58,028 --> 00:15:00,907 You have access. 336 00:15:00,907 --> 00:15:02,891 Someone asked, 337 00:15:02,891 --> 00:15:04,251 What is Christianity? 338 00:15:04,251 --> 00:15:05,225 What is the church? 339 00:15:05,225 --> 00:15:07,476 What's it all about? 340 00:15:07,476 --> 00:15:08,958 Oh, how many see the church 341 00:15:08,958 --> 00:15:10,775 as something they might do 342 00:15:10,775 --> 00:15:12,415 on a Sunday morning, 343 00:15:12,415 --> 00:15:13,758 or they might not do 344 00:15:13,758 --> 00:15:15,071 depending on how they feel 345 00:15:15,071 --> 00:15:17,486 or how late they were up the night before. 346 00:15:17,486 --> 00:15:19,978 To some, it's just an automatic thing. 347 00:15:19,978 --> 00:15:21,709 They just do it without thinking. 348 00:15:21,709 --> 00:15:23,640 It's like a habit. 349 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,108 We go to church. 350 00:15:25,108 --> 00:15:26,334 It's Sunday, of course. 351 00:15:26,334 --> 00:15:27,966 That's what we do. 352 00:15:27,966 --> 00:15:31,002 Or, it's some sort of duty. 353 00:15:31,002 --> 00:15:32,858 Or, it's some sort of social thing. 354 00:15:32,858 --> 00:15:34,381 I hope to see my friends there. 355 00:15:34,381 --> 00:15:35,811 Or I'm interested in a girl, 356 00:15:35,811 --> 00:15:37,375 hopefully, I'll see her there. 357 00:15:37,375 --> 00:15:39,472 What a massive contrast 358 00:15:39,472 --> 00:15:41,390 to what Paul says here. 359 00:15:41,390 --> 00:15:43,823 Paul describes this whole thing. 360 00:15:43,823 --> 00:15:45,424 What is Christianity? 361 00:15:45,424 --> 00:15:46,926 What is the church? 362 00:15:46,926 --> 00:15:48,871 Brethren, this is the big thing. 363 00:15:48,871 --> 00:15:49,984 This is it. 364 00:15:49,984 --> 00:15:51,793 To have access to God. 365 00:15:51,793 --> 00:15:55,132 A people that have been redeemed. 366 00:15:55,132 --> 00:15:58,333 A people whose sins have been washed away. 367 00:15:58,333 --> 00:15:59,706 This is the genuine thing. 368 00:15:59,706 --> 00:16:01,867 This is what the church is all about. 369 00:16:01,867 --> 00:16:04,509 It's man being confronted by God, 370 00:16:04,509 --> 00:16:06,735 having been made right with God, 371 00:16:06,735 --> 00:16:07,825 experiencing God, 372 00:16:07,825 --> 00:16:10,836 enjoying God, 373 00:16:10,836 --> 00:16:13,350 knowing God. 374 00:16:13,350 --> 00:16:15,174 The presence, 375 00:16:15,174 --> 00:16:19,326 the face... 376 00:16:19,326 --> 00:16:20,729 Having access to God. 377 00:16:20,729 --> 00:16:24,821 How little, how little do people think about this! 378 00:16:24,821 --> 00:16:26,885 How little does this matter to people! 379 00:16:26,885 --> 00:16:28,924 How little do men value this! 380 00:16:28,924 --> 00:16:31,601 Sinful man imagines God 381 00:16:31,601 --> 00:16:37,874 to just be so absolutely approachable. 382 00:16:37,874 --> 00:16:40,405 In fact, sinful man typically views God 383 00:16:40,405 --> 00:16:42,198 as just kind of wringing His hands. 384 00:16:42,198 --> 00:16:47,237 "Oh, I just hope they'll come to Me." 385 00:16:47,237 --> 00:16:49,135 Brethren, turn in your Bibles 386 00:16:49,135 --> 00:16:54,984 to Jeremiah 30:21. 387 00:16:54,984 --> 00:16:58,287 I just want you to read this, 388 00:16:58,287 --> 00:17:00,387 and see it with your own eyes, 389 00:17:00,387 --> 00:17:07,012 and have it go into your own minds. 390 00:17:07,012 --> 00:17:13,118 Jeremiah 30:21 391 00:17:13,118 --> 00:17:17,232 Brethren, do you realize the privilege that we have? 392 00:17:17,232 --> 00:17:19,267 Mankind at large is lost. 393 00:17:19,267 --> 00:17:20,785 "Few there be that find it." 394 00:17:20,785 --> 00:17:23,215 That means the vast majority are on the broad way. 395 00:17:23,215 --> 00:17:25,443 And do you know what it means to be on the broad way? 396 00:17:25,443 --> 00:17:28,018 Do you know what it means to be the vast majority of mankind? 397 00:17:28,018 --> 00:17:29,716 It means they have no access. 398 00:17:29,716 --> 00:17:31,323 The way is barred. 399 00:17:31,323 --> 00:17:35,304 They cannot come to God. 400 00:17:35,304 --> 00:17:37,656 And men know it not. 401 00:17:37,656 --> 00:17:39,524 Look at Jeremiah 30:21. 402 00:17:39,524 --> 00:17:48,238 "Who would dare of himself to approach Me?" 403 00:17:48,238 --> 00:17:50,483 "Who would dare...?" 404 00:17:50,483 --> 00:17:53,007 Oh, men don't think this way. 405 00:17:53,007 --> 00:17:57,107 What soft, shallow views they have 406 00:17:57,107 --> 00:17:59,157 of the Almighty. 407 00:17:59,157 --> 00:18:01,964 "'Who would dare of Himself to approach Me?' 408 00:18:01,964 --> 00:18:02,998 declares the Lord." 409 00:18:02,998 --> 00:18:04,754 You see what Scripture tells us? 410 00:18:04,754 --> 00:18:07,097 Your iniquities have made a separation 411 00:18:07,097 --> 00:18:08,797 between you and your God. 412 00:18:08,797 --> 00:18:10,467 And it's your sins that have hidden 413 00:18:10,467 --> 00:18:14,480 His face from you so that He does not hear. 414 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:15,974 You know what Scripture says? 415 00:18:15,974 --> 00:18:21,969 The Lord is far, far from the wicked. 416 00:18:21,969 --> 00:18:23,914 Many of you know this text 417 00:18:23,914 --> 00:18:25,875 in Psalm 5, 418 00:18:25,875 --> 00:18:29,629 "You are not a God Who delights in wickedness. 419 00:18:29,629 --> 00:18:32,286 Evil may not dwell with You. 420 00:18:32,286 --> 00:18:35,263 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes. 421 00:18:35,263 --> 00:18:39,134 You hate all evildoers." 422 00:18:39,134 --> 00:18:40,482 What you need to recognize - 423 00:18:40,482 --> 00:18:41,576 we often quote that: 424 00:18:41,576 --> 00:18:42,890 "God hates evildoers." 425 00:18:42,890 --> 00:18:44,359 But what you need to recognize 426 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:46,357 is that it is in the very context, 427 00:18:46,357 --> 00:18:47,796 it's in the very verse, 428 00:18:47,796 --> 00:18:49,264 it's in the very thought 429 00:18:49,264 --> 00:18:51,969 of the fact that evil cannot dwell with Him. 430 00:18:51,969 --> 00:18:54,292 It's not just that God hates the evildoers. 431 00:18:54,292 --> 00:18:55,662 It's because of His hatred, 432 00:18:55,662 --> 00:18:57,213 they cannot approach Him. 433 00:18:57,213 --> 00:18:58,950 Their sins have made a separation. 434 00:18:58,950 --> 00:19:00,850 The way is barred. 435 00:19:00,850 --> 00:19:02,929 There is no access. 436 00:19:02,929 --> 00:19:05,286 People out here by the multitudes, 437 00:19:05,286 --> 00:19:07,447 they imagine that God is there; 438 00:19:07,447 --> 00:19:08,916 God is at their beck and call. 439 00:19:08,916 --> 00:19:12,054 Don't you believe that, brethren. 440 00:19:12,054 --> 00:19:13,677 And you try to approach Him 441 00:19:13,677 --> 00:19:15,184 without the Lord Jesus Christ - 442 00:19:15,184 --> 00:19:17,093 if you try to approach Him any other way 443 00:19:17,093 --> 00:19:18,386 than by the blood, 444 00:19:18,386 --> 00:19:21,701 you have no access. 445 00:19:21,701 --> 00:19:24,046 Men imagine they do. 446 00:19:24,046 --> 00:19:25,276 But, they don't. 447 00:19:25,276 --> 00:19:27,935 And when they speak, God does not hear. 448 00:19:27,935 --> 00:19:30,044 They are not in His presence. 449 00:19:30,044 --> 00:19:32,232 Oh, I know you cannot escape His presence 450 00:19:32,232 --> 00:19:33,352 in one sense, 451 00:19:33,352 --> 00:19:35,012 but they have no access 452 00:19:35,012 --> 00:19:39,553 in the way that men think 453 00:19:39,553 --> 00:19:46,772 that they would have access. 454 00:19:46,772 --> 00:19:52,476 Brethren, go back to Ephesians now. 455 00:19:52,476 --> 00:19:55,711 Go back to Ephesians 2:18. 456 00:19:55,711 --> 00:20:01,854 Do you recognize where the Gospel takes us? 457 00:20:01,854 --> 00:20:04,637 Do you know - 458 00:20:04,637 --> 00:20:05,935 think with me here - 459 00:20:05,935 --> 00:20:07,286 if you've been here 460 00:20:07,286 --> 00:20:10,018 since the beginning of this series, 461 00:20:10,018 --> 00:20:15,213 if you let your mind run. 462 00:20:15,213 --> 00:20:16,860 Do you know there's nowhere 463 00:20:16,860 --> 00:20:20,181 as Paul is just exploding 464 00:20:20,181 --> 00:20:22,032 this glorious Gospel before us - 465 00:20:22,032 --> 00:20:22,953 like I said, 466 00:20:22,953 --> 00:20:25,266 line after line of this great symphony 467 00:20:25,266 --> 00:20:27,568 of the Gospel being played, 468 00:20:27,568 --> 00:20:28,486 note after note, 469 00:20:28,486 --> 00:20:31,581 chord after chord... 470 00:20:31,581 --> 00:20:33,914 nowhere in all the glories of this Gospel 471 00:20:33,914 --> 00:20:35,116 does he say, 472 00:20:35,116 --> 00:20:37,072 look how wonderful it is 473 00:20:37,072 --> 00:20:39,441 that you've been spared from hell. 474 00:20:39,441 --> 00:20:42,189 Oh, I know I talked about children of wrath in there, 475 00:20:42,189 --> 00:20:43,750 and separated from God, 476 00:20:43,750 --> 00:20:44,730 and no hope... 477 00:20:44,730 --> 00:20:47,703 I know it speaks that way. 478 00:20:47,703 --> 00:20:53,354 But brethren, Paul is not telling us 479 00:20:53,354 --> 00:20:57,420 that the great object of the Gospel 480 00:20:57,420 --> 00:21:01,366 is that we might be saved from hell. 481 00:21:01,366 --> 00:21:04,883 The great object of the Gospel is positive. 482 00:21:04,883 --> 00:21:06,527 It's not that negative. 483 00:21:06,527 --> 00:21:12,910 It is that we might behold the face of God 484 00:21:12,910 --> 00:21:15,730 and that we might dwell in the house of God. 485 00:21:15,730 --> 00:21:17,032 And even more than that, 486 00:21:17,032 --> 00:21:24,107 that God might dwell in this very temple of God 487 00:21:24,107 --> 00:21:27,051 that is made up with living stones. 488 00:21:27,051 --> 00:21:29,092 He's going to dwell in the church. 489 00:21:29,092 --> 00:21:30,683 And you know what it says there 490 00:21:30,683 --> 00:21:32,226 at the end of Revelation? 491 00:21:32,226 --> 00:21:33,828 We're not going to need the sun 492 00:21:33,828 --> 00:21:36,314 and we're not going to need the moon. 493 00:21:36,314 --> 00:21:38,673 He's going to be the light for us 494 00:21:38,673 --> 00:21:40,066 and there's no more temple. 495 00:21:40,066 --> 00:21:40,886 Why? 496 00:21:40,886 --> 00:21:42,834 The temple was the dwelling place of God. 497 00:21:42,834 --> 00:21:44,104 That's gone. 498 00:21:44,104 --> 00:21:46,461 As we're going to see right here in Ephesians 2. 499 00:21:46,461 --> 00:21:50,014 Where is the dwelling place of God 500 00:21:50,014 --> 00:21:52,458 under the new covenant? 501 00:21:52,458 --> 00:21:54,662 Brethren, we're being built together 502 00:21:54,662 --> 00:21:57,666 into a dwelling place for God. 503 00:21:57,666 --> 00:21:59,199 We, the people of God, 504 00:21:59,199 --> 00:22:01,553 are that dwelling place. 505 00:22:01,553 --> 00:22:03,937 It is man dwelling with God 506 00:22:03,937 --> 00:22:05,804 and God dwelling with man, 507 00:22:05,804 --> 00:22:07,981 and Him as a Father 508 00:22:07,981 --> 00:22:09,566 and smiling on us 509 00:22:09,566 --> 00:22:11,952 and us of His household. 510 00:22:11,952 --> 00:22:13,706 Brethren, we are going to be able 511 00:22:13,706 --> 00:22:15,221 to jump and delight 512 00:22:15,221 --> 00:22:16,554 and walk in His presence. 513 00:22:16,554 --> 00:22:17,678 And no hint of sin. 514 00:22:17,678 --> 00:22:18,517 All washed away 515 00:22:18,517 --> 00:22:19,652 by the blood of Christ. 516 00:22:19,652 --> 00:22:21,209 We'll be able to play in His presence 517 00:22:21,209 --> 00:22:22,515 and rejoice in His presence 518 00:22:22,515 --> 00:22:24,316 and worship in His presence. 519 00:22:24,316 --> 00:22:28,147 And we will be overwhelmed in His presence 520 00:22:28,147 --> 00:22:30,359 and overawed in His presence 521 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:32,859 and filled to overflowing 522 00:22:32,859 --> 00:22:36,302 with His beauty and with His glory. 523 00:22:36,302 --> 00:22:39,918 Brethren, this is it! 524 00:22:39,918 --> 00:22:42,758 This is the great object of our salvation. 525 00:22:42,758 --> 00:22:44,771 Brethren, it's nothing less than this. 526 00:22:44,771 --> 00:22:46,434 It's nothing short of that. 527 00:22:46,434 --> 00:22:48,618 That is the fullness. 528 00:22:48,618 --> 00:22:51,924 We need to recognize: access to God. 529 00:22:51,924 --> 00:22:52,929 Access. 530 00:22:52,929 --> 00:22:55,896 But notice this, 531 00:22:55,896 --> 00:23:00,669 notice what or Who is involved 532 00:23:00,669 --> 00:23:03,109 in us having access to the Father. 533 00:23:03,109 --> 00:23:04,700 Read the text with me. 534 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:09,284 "For through Him (that's Christ), 535 00:23:09,284 --> 00:23:11,120 we both (Jew and Gentile), 536 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:17,492 have access in one Spirit 537 00:23:17,492 --> 00:23:20,121 to the Father." 538 00:23:20,121 --> 00:23:25,685 Through the Son of God 539 00:23:25,685 --> 00:23:29,972 we have access in the Holy Spirit - 540 00:23:29,972 --> 00:23:33,257 the one Spirit - 541 00:23:33,257 --> 00:23:38,578 to the Father. 542 00:23:38,578 --> 00:23:44,976 We might call this Trinitarian access. 543 00:23:44,976 --> 00:23:46,314 The whole Godhead's involved 544 00:23:46,314 --> 00:23:48,045 in our having access to the Father. 545 00:23:48,045 --> 00:23:49,660 Brethren, what we have before us 546 00:23:49,660 --> 00:23:55,371 is one of the great Trinitarian statements of Scripture. 547 00:23:55,371 --> 00:23:58,478 And I have a feeling 548 00:23:58,478 --> 00:24:00,963 that if you have studied 549 00:24:00,963 --> 00:24:04,539 the verses and the portions of Scripture 550 00:24:04,539 --> 00:24:11,603 that most readily capture the doctrine of the Trinity, 551 00:24:11,603 --> 00:24:14,198 if I were to venture a guess, 552 00:24:14,198 --> 00:24:16,850 I would say this is one of the least known 553 00:24:16,850 --> 00:24:21,429 of all of them. 554 00:24:21,429 --> 00:24:24,438 Yet all three Persons are here. 555 00:24:24,438 --> 00:24:27,975 This is one of the great Trinitarian statements of Scripture. 556 00:24:27,975 --> 00:24:30,760 Make no mistake about it, 557 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:35,097 the doctrine of the Trinity is not artificial 558 00:24:35,097 --> 00:24:37,520 as many would claim it to be. 559 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,581 It's not some invention of the minds of men or devils. 560 00:24:40,581 --> 00:24:42,429 The doctrine of the Trinity 561 00:24:42,429 --> 00:24:44,586 is that teaching of the Christian faith 562 00:24:44,586 --> 00:24:49,260 which really sets Christianity apart. 563 00:24:49,260 --> 00:24:51,570 Catholicism. 564 00:24:51,570 --> 00:24:53,334 They may not speak this way, 565 00:24:53,334 --> 00:24:56,175 but they give us a quadrinity. 566 00:24:56,175 --> 00:25:06,217 Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and mother. 567 00:25:06,217 --> 00:25:11,608 Or think about Islam. 568 00:25:11,608 --> 00:25:15,397 I actually pulled something out here 569 00:25:15,397 --> 00:25:18,501 from their Koran. 570 00:25:18,501 --> 00:25:20,677 Now somebody that actually owns the Koran 571 00:25:20,677 --> 00:25:22,288 and read the Koran 572 00:25:22,288 --> 00:25:24,702 might take issue as they often do 573 00:25:24,702 --> 00:25:26,567 with any kind of translations from it, 574 00:25:26,567 --> 00:25:31,915 but basically, this gives you the idea. 575 00:25:31,915 --> 00:25:33,594 They say to affirm the Trinity, 576 00:25:33,594 --> 00:25:37,215 hell will be your home. 577 00:25:37,215 --> 00:25:42,082 And this is a rough quote 578 00:25:42,082 --> 00:25:44,436 from the Koran itself: 579 00:25:44,436 --> 00:25:48,180 "To say Allah has begotten a Son, 580 00:25:48,180 --> 00:25:52,296 indeed ye have put forth a thing most monstrous. 581 00:25:52,296 --> 00:25:54,870 At it the skies are ready to burst, 582 00:25:54,870 --> 00:25:56,536 the earth to split asunder, 583 00:25:56,536 --> 00:26:00,057 and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin, 584 00:26:00,057 --> 00:26:02,841 that they should invoke a Son for Allah. 585 00:26:02,841 --> 00:26:05,236 For it is not consonant with the majesty of Allah 586 00:26:05,236 --> 00:26:07,826 that he should beget a Son." 587 00:26:07,826 --> 00:26:10,521 You want to know the truth? 588 00:26:10,521 --> 00:26:12,628 The mountains are ready to rejoice 589 00:26:12,628 --> 00:26:14,412 and the trees to clap. 590 00:26:14,412 --> 00:26:16,476 Did you hear that in Isaiah 55? 591 00:26:16,476 --> 00:26:17,407 At what? 592 00:26:17,407 --> 00:26:20,795 At the very exaltation of Jesus Christ 593 00:26:20,795 --> 00:26:23,771 to redeem a people for God. 594 00:26:23,771 --> 00:26:25,778 "Ho, everyone that's thirsty! 595 00:26:25,778 --> 00:26:27,160 Come to the waters!" 596 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,277 Where are the living waters? 597 00:26:30,277 --> 00:26:32,179 Christ said to the woman at the well, 598 00:26:32,179 --> 00:26:36,414 "I have those living waters." 599 00:26:36,414 --> 00:26:40,941 Brethren, Islam says it's monstrous. 600 00:26:40,941 --> 00:26:42,609 How about Mormonism? 601 00:26:42,609 --> 00:26:44,779 Joseph Smith said that 602 00:26:44,779 --> 00:26:46,403 "if God is Trinitarian, 603 00:26:46,403 --> 00:26:48,184 that is a strange God - 604 00:26:48,184 --> 00:26:49,901 a monster." 605 00:26:49,901 --> 00:26:51,625 Mormons believe Jesus is created 606 00:26:51,625 --> 00:26:53,115 and that both Father and Son 607 00:26:53,115 --> 00:26:54,626 are men of flesh and bone 608 00:26:54,626 --> 00:26:56,155 and cannot be considered one. 609 00:26:56,155 --> 00:26:57,900 JW's, most of you know, 610 00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:00,639 they affirm Jehovah to be the only God 611 00:27:00,639 --> 00:27:02,256 and Jesus Christ is created, 612 00:27:02,256 --> 00:27:04,634 He is not Jehovah, 613 00:27:04,634 --> 00:27:06,972 rather a created being. 614 00:27:06,972 --> 00:27:09,803 Large segments of the Pentecostal charismatic movement, 615 00:27:09,803 --> 00:27:11,510 this Oneness Pentecostal, 616 00:27:11,510 --> 00:27:13,492 do you know what they believe? 617 00:27:13,492 --> 00:27:16,007 Yes, they will say they believe 618 00:27:16,007 --> 00:27:17,809 in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 619 00:27:17,809 --> 00:27:19,754 but they believe that it is one person 620 00:27:19,754 --> 00:27:21,401 and that these are different modes 621 00:27:21,401 --> 00:27:24,591 or different manifestations of one person. 622 00:27:24,591 --> 00:27:28,980 Not three Persons. 623 00:27:28,980 --> 00:27:31,044 They baptize in the name of Jesus, 624 00:27:31,044 --> 00:27:39,539 not in THE name - singular - 625 00:27:39,539 --> 00:27:42,346 of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 626 00:27:42,346 --> 00:27:44,508 Hinduism: polytheistic. 627 00:27:44,508 --> 00:27:48,207 330 million - whoever came up with that number. 628 00:27:48,207 --> 00:27:49,154 Who knows? 629 00:27:49,154 --> 00:27:52,306 But 330 million supposed gods. 630 00:27:52,306 --> 00:27:54,489 Brethren, it's the doctrine of the Trinity 631 00:27:54,489 --> 00:27:56,686 that causes Christianity to stand apart 632 00:27:56,686 --> 00:27:58,571 from all the rest. 633 00:27:58,571 --> 00:28:02,788 We believe there is one God. 634 00:28:02,788 --> 00:28:04,372 Not three. 635 00:28:04,372 --> 00:28:06,251 We believe there is one God. 636 00:28:06,251 --> 00:28:08,745 Brethren, why do we believe that? 637 00:28:08,745 --> 00:28:12,122 We believe it because Scripture affirms it. 638 00:28:12,122 --> 00:28:13,761 Isaiah 44:6 639 00:28:13,761 --> 00:28:18,206 "I am the first and I am the last. 640 00:28:18,206 --> 00:28:23,801 Besides Me there is no god." 641 00:28:23,801 --> 00:28:26,958 There's one. 642 00:28:26,958 --> 00:28:30,563 And we believe that this one God 643 00:28:30,563 --> 00:28:37,098 is a being Who - 644 00:28:37,098 --> 00:28:42,706 I know the term subsists - 645 00:28:42,706 --> 00:28:46,295 He exists 646 00:28:46,295 --> 00:28:51,956 as three distinct Persons: 647 00:28:51,956 --> 00:28:54,236 The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 648 00:28:54,236 --> 00:28:59,093 Why do we believe that? 649 00:28:59,093 --> 00:29:01,154 Why do we believe that God 650 00:29:01,154 --> 00:29:02,747 is three distinct Persons? 651 00:29:02,747 --> 00:29:05,579 Because that's what Scripture teaches. 652 00:29:05,579 --> 00:29:09,732 Do you know what I mean by distinct persons? 653 00:29:09,732 --> 00:29:13,366 Three distinct centers of consciousness. 654 00:29:13,366 --> 00:29:15,949 That's what we mean by different people. 655 00:29:15,949 --> 00:29:18,537 Are they all the same Person? 656 00:29:18,537 --> 00:29:21,608 Just different titles given to the same Person 657 00:29:21,608 --> 00:29:23,318 at different times? 658 00:29:23,318 --> 00:29:25,163 No way. 659 00:29:25,163 --> 00:29:26,479 Why don't we believe that? 660 00:29:26,479 --> 00:29:29,996 Because brethren, Scripture shows us 661 00:29:29,996 --> 00:29:34,496 three separate Persons interacting with each other. 662 00:29:34,496 --> 00:29:39,538 The Father sent the Son. 663 00:29:39,538 --> 00:29:41,736 Does that mean He sent Himself? 664 00:29:41,736 --> 00:29:44,331 No, it does not mean He sent Himself. 665 00:29:44,331 --> 00:29:47,083 Scriptures says that the Father loves the Son. 666 00:29:47,083 --> 00:29:49,654 Scripture says that the Son loves the Father. 667 00:29:49,654 --> 00:29:50,934 You know what Jesus said? 668 00:29:50,934 --> 00:29:52,846 Jesus said to His disciples, 669 00:29:52,846 --> 00:29:54,880 "It is more profitable for Me to go 670 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:56,208 and be with My Father, 671 00:29:56,208 --> 00:29:57,315 than for Me to stay, 672 00:29:57,315 --> 00:29:58,163 because if I go, 673 00:29:58,163 --> 00:30:01,313 I'm going to send the Comforter to you." 674 00:30:01,313 --> 00:30:05,013 That is absolutely ridiculous nonsense 675 00:30:05,013 --> 00:30:06,998 if He's saying I need to go to Myself 676 00:30:06,998 --> 00:30:10,091 and it's more advantageous for Me to go to Myself 677 00:30:10,091 --> 00:30:11,912 so that I can send Myself back 678 00:30:11,912 --> 00:30:14,109 than having Me remain with you. 679 00:30:14,109 --> 00:30:15,550 That's ridiculous. 680 00:30:15,550 --> 00:30:17,525 That's nonsense. 681 00:30:17,525 --> 00:30:21,705 The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus Christ. 682 00:30:21,705 --> 00:30:24,728 The Spirit descends on the Son. 683 00:30:24,728 --> 00:30:26,877 The Father says, "This is My Son, 684 00:30:26,877 --> 00:30:29,032 in Whom I'm well pleased." 685 00:30:29,032 --> 00:30:31,307 Jesus says that when the Spirit comes, 686 00:30:31,307 --> 00:30:33,704 He will glorify Me." 687 00:30:33,704 --> 00:30:37,753 Brethren, these are three distinct Persons. 688 00:30:37,753 --> 00:30:40,810 Jesus said that I go to be with My Father. 689 00:30:40,810 --> 00:30:44,894 The Spirit is the promise of the Father. 690 00:30:44,894 --> 00:30:46,558 You have three Persons 691 00:30:46,558 --> 00:30:47,917 interacting with each other. 692 00:30:47,917 --> 00:30:48,780 And somebody says, 693 00:30:48,780 --> 00:30:50,697 OK, there are three Persons, 694 00:30:50,697 --> 00:30:52,728 but we don't believe that They're one God. 695 00:30:52,728 --> 00:30:54,452 Yeah, but here's the thing, 696 00:30:54,452 --> 00:30:57,013 Scripture tells us there's only one God. 697 00:30:57,013 --> 00:30:58,527 And Scripture tells us 698 00:30:58,527 --> 00:31:02,572 that all three of these Persons are God. 699 00:31:02,572 --> 00:31:04,433 You say it does? 700 00:31:04,433 --> 00:31:06,235 Yeah, Philippians 4:20, 701 00:31:06,235 --> 00:31:09,803 "To our God and Father be glory forever and ever, Amen." 702 00:31:09,803 --> 00:31:11,982 The Father is God. 703 00:31:11,982 --> 00:31:15,973 "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." 704 00:31:15,973 --> 00:31:17,534 Is the Son God? 705 00:31:17,534 --> 00:31:20,310 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, 706 00:31:20,310 --> 00:31:23,102 and the Word was God." 707 00:31:23,102 --> 00:31:28,274 Thomas: "My Lord and my God!" 708 00:31:28,274 --> 00:31:29,295 Romans 9:5 709 00:31:29,295 --> 00:31:31,190 "Christ, Who is God over all, 710 00:31:31,190 --> 00:31:32,729 blessed forever, Amen." 711 00:31:32,729 --> 00:31:35,204 You say, 712 00:31:35,204 --> 00:31:36,596 OK, we see it. 713 00:31:36,596 --> 00:31:40,544 The Father, the Son... 714 00:31:40,544 --> 00:31:42,220 what about the Spirit? 715 00:31:42,220 --> 00:31:45,549 Well, you remember what Peter said to Ananias. 716 00:31:45,549 --> 00:31:48,374 He said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart 717 00:31:48,374 --> 00:31:50,348 to lie to the Holy Spirit? 718 00:31:50,348 --> 00:31:53,431 You've not lied to men, but to God." 719 00:31:53,431 --> 00:31:56,680 The Spirit at the end of 2 Corinthians 3 720 00:31:56,680 --> 00:32:00,389 is called the Lord. 721 00:32:00,389 --> 00:32:04,069 Thomas calls Christ Lord. 722 00:32:04,069 --> 00:32:08,226 The Father is called Lord. 723 00:32:08,226 --> 00:32:12,419 Why do we teach the Trinity? 724 00:32:12,419 --> 00:32:15,648 Because Scripture attests to it. 725 00:32:15,648 --> 00:32:18,048 That's why we go there. 726 00:32:18,048 --> 00:32:19,476 The proud unbeliever says, 727 00:32:19,476 --> 00:32:21,290 how can this be? 728 00:32:21,290 --> 00:32:24,144 How can there be one God yet three Persons? 729 00:32:24,144 --> 00:32:27,201 How can God forsake God? 730 00:32:27,201 --> 00:32:29,208 Did Jesus not hang on that cross 731 00:32:29,208 --> 00:32:31,549 and say, "My God, My God, 732 00:32:31,549 --> 00:32:33,895 why have You forsaken Me?" 733 00:32:33,895 --> 00:32:36,040 How can God forsake God? 734 00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:39,595 Listen, we will say this, 735 00:32:39,595 --> 00:32:41,460 this stretches our minds 736 00:32:41,460 --> 00:32:45,636 and beyond our minds. 737 00:32:45,636 --> 00:32:47,578 We don't have an answer for everything. 738 00:32:47,578 --> 00:32:50,903 There is mystery here. 739 00:32:50,903 --> 00:32:55,150 But, you cannot possibly understand your Bibles 740 00:32:55,150 --> 00:33:01,077 until you understand that there is a Trinity. 741 00:33:01,077 --> 00:33:03,783 You cannot possibly understand Christian doctrine, 742 00:33:03,783 --> 00:33:05,255 Christian teaching, 743 00:33:05,255 --> 00:33:07,945 until you come to grasp 744 00:33:07,945 --> 00:33:12,461 this doctrine and believe it; 745 00:33:12,461 --> 00:33:14,303 and if I could say it this way, 746 00:33:14,303 --> 00:33:17,338 bow to it. 747 00:33:17,338 --> 00:33:20,713 Humble yourself before it. 748 00:33:20,713 --> 00:33:22,443 It's proud men who say 749 00:33:22,443 --> 00:33:23,610 I cannot understand it, 750 00:33:23,610 --> 00:33:25,421 so it cannot be. 751 00:33:25,421 --> 00:33:26,400 As though what? 752 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:30,439 Your brain and your reasoning faculties are God? 753 00:33:30,439 --> 00:33:32,631 As though they're the ultimate 754 00:33:32,631 --> 00:33:35,760 in what truth is? 755 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:37,436 As though that's the standard? 756 00:33:37,436 --> 00:33:43,532 You being able to figure it out? 757 00:33:43,532 --> 00:33:45,907 Brethren, Ephesians 4, 758 00:33:45,907 --> 00:33:47,922 we're going to get there very quickly, 759 00:33:47,922 --> 00:33:52,629 but turn over there. 760 00:33:52,629 --> 00:33:56,447 Notice chapter 4:4. 761 00:33:56,447 --> 00:33:59,314 "There is one body and one Spirit." 762 00:33:59,314 --> 00:34:01,161 You see, that's what we're being told. 763 00:34:01,161 --> 00:34:03,587 "Through Christ, we both have access 764 00:34:03,587 --> 00:34:07,203 in one Spirit." 765 00:34:07,203 --> 00:34:08,834 We may need to look at that 766 00:34:08,834 --> 00:34:10,493 in a future message. 767 00:34:10,493 --> 00:34:14,024 Why one Spirit? 768 00:34:14,024 --> 00:34:15,903 There's significance to that. 769 00:34:15,903 --> 00:34:18,426 One Spirit. 770 00:34:18,426 --> 00:34:20,432 "Just as you were called to the one hope 771 00:34:20,432 --> 00:34:21,839 that belongs to your call. 772 00:34:21,839 --> 00:34:25,960 One Lord, 773 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:27,518 one faith, one baptism. 774 00:34:27,518 --> 00:34:31,426 One God and Father of all, 775 00:34:31,426 --> 00:34:32,573 Who is over all, 776 00:34:32,573 --> 00:34:33,753 and through all, 777 00:34:33,753 --> 00:34:35,076 and in all." 778 00:34:35,076 --> 00:34:38,045 Brethren, this Trinitarian concept 779 00:34:38,045 --> 00:34:42,635 just comes at us over and over again in Scripture. 780 00:34:42,635 --> 00:34:46,133 Brethren, I desire that we be gripped by it. 781 00:34:46,133 --> 00:34:47,009 You know what? 782 00:34:47,009 --> 00:34:49,030 There may be things that stretch our mind. 783 00:34:49,030 --> 00:34:50,047 You may look and say, 784 00:34:50,047 --> 00:34:51,525 well, if Jesus is God - 785 00:34:51,525 --> 00:34:52,510 well, He is God - 786 00:34:52,510 --> 00:34:54,607 in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God 787 00:34:54,607 --> 00:34:56,146 and the Word was God. 788 00:34:56,146 --> 00:34:59,004 Scripture repeatedly - there are 8 verses 789 00:34:59,004 --> 00:35:00,278 in the New Testament 790 00:35:00,278 --> 00:35:03,598 that specifically ascribe the Greek term "theos" 791 00:35:03,598 --> 00:35:05,979 to Jesus Christ. 792 00:35:05,979 --> 00:35:08,160 He is God. 793 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:12,035 The mighty God, Isaiah says. 794 00:35:12,035 --> 00:35:14,409 You say, but how could He not know 795 00:35:14,409 --> 00:35:16,500 the time of His second coming? 796 00:35:16,500 --> 00:35:18,244 Brethren, there is mystery. 797 00:35:18,244 --> 00:35:20,860 How could He be a young man growing up 798 00:35:20,860 --> 00:35:22,902 and increasing in wisdom? 799 00:35:22,902 --> 00:35:26,317 Brethren, there's mystery. 800 00:35:26,317 --> 00:35:29,803 There is mystery. 801 00:35:29,803 --> 00:35:33,062 But this is what Scripture teaches 802 00:35:33,062 --> 00:35:35,374 and so we bow to this. 803 00:35:35,374 --> 00:35:37,363 And I'll tell you this, 804 00:35:37,363 --> 00:35:39,380 that as we seek to study this 805 00:35:39,380 --> 00:35:41,279 and ponder this and know this 806 00:35:41,279 --> 00:35:43,119 and delve into the depths of it, 807 00:35:43,119 --> 00:35:44,829 brethren, it is in this truth 808 00:35:44,829 --> 00:35:47,101 that our worship will expand 809 00:35:47,101 --> 00:35:49,963 and grow and be full of awe 810 00:35:49,963 --> 00:35:53,027 and glory and majesty in this church. 811 00:35:53,027 --> 00:35:56,814 The more we recognize these three Persons 812 00:35:56,814 --> 00:35:59,064 and Who they are 813 00:35:59,064 --> 00:36:00,940 and this great Godhead, 814 00:36:00,940 --> 00:36:06,244 this Triunity in being 815 00:36:06,244 --> 00:36:08,101 that we call Yahweh 816 00:36:08,101 --> 00:36:10,434 or Jehovah. 817 00:36:10,434 --> 00:36:12,871 The great Three-in-One. 818 00:36:12,871 --> 00:36:14,997 We sing these songs that 819 00:36:14,997 --> 00:36:17,675 go from Father to Son to Spirit. 820 00:36:17,675 --> 00:36:19,485 Do you ever notice them? 821 00:36:19,485 --> 00:36:21,377 We sang one today. 822 00:36:21,377 --> 00:36:23,194 Or we sing, "Holy, Holy, Holy." 823 00:36:23,194 --> 00:36:26,783 One of the great Trinitarian hymns. 824 00:36:26,783 --> 00:36:29,090 Brethren, as this fills our worship, 825 00:36:29,090 --> 00:36:32,267 we will find there to be a glory 826 00:36:32,267 --> 00:36:35,239 as we regard the three Persons 827 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:37,429 as Scripture regards Them. 828 00:36:37,429 --> 00:36:38,969 We must try to grasp this. 829 00:36:38,969 --> 00:36:41,024 We must worship the true and the living God 830 00:36:41,024 --> 00:36:41,913 in this fashion: 831 00:36:41,913 --> 00:36:43,652 Three-in-One. 832 00:36:43,652 --> 00:36:45,268 Brethren, do you know this? 833 00:36:45,268 --> 00:36:47,046 The Father is not the Son. 834 00:36:47,046 --> 00:36:48,556 The Son is not the Father. 835 00:36:48,556 --> 00:36:51,064 The Son is not the Spirit. 836 00:36:51,064 --> 00:36:53,015 The Spirit is not the Father. 837 00:36:53,015 --> 00:36:55,228 You say why does Jesus say 838 00:36:55,228 --> 00:36:58,548 that I and my Father are one? 839 00:36:58,548 --> 00:36:59,963 Yes, but Scripture also says 840 00:36:59,963 --> 00:37:02,360 a man and a woman who are married are one. 841 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:05,927 And it also says that we together, 842 00:37:05,927 --> 00:37:09,535 Jesus is praying that we would be one 843 00:37:09,535 --> 00:37:14,823 as He and His Father are one. 844 00:37:14,823 --> 00:37:16,376 Unity does not mean 845 00:37:16,376 --> 00:37:18,236 we're exactly the same person. 846 00:37:18,236 --> 00:37:19,491 My wife and I are one, 847 00:37:19,491 --> 00:37:21,585 but we are not the same person. 848 00:37:21,585 --> 00:37:24,582 That concept exists in Scripture. 849 00:37:24,582 --> 00:37:26,271 Now can we fully comprehend? 850 00:37:26,271 --> 00:37:27,536 Because at the same time, 851 00:37:27,536 --> 00:37:29,725 Jesus could say My Father is greater than I. 852 00:37:29,725 --> 00:37:34,175 You say, there it is, He can't be God then. 853 00:37:34,175 --> 00:37:35,605 Yes, but in the same way, 854 00:37:35,605 --> 00:37:39,273 my wife and I who are equal 855 00:37:39,273 --> 00:37:42,699 in being heirs of glory, 856 00:37:42,699 --> 00:37:44,925 there's a role variance, 857 00:37:44,925 --> 00:37:48,612 and we know that. 858 00:37:48,612 --> 00:37:53,838 Scripture says that Jesus called God His Father 859 00:37:53,838 --> 00:37:58,959 making Himself equal to God. 860 00:37:58,959 --> 00:38:02,926 There's an equality between these three Persons. 861 00:38:02,926 --> 00:38:09,633 But there's a diversity in the Godhead of roles. 862 00:38:09,633 --> 00:38:15,143 But brethren, what you need to comprehend is this: 863 00:38:15,143 --> 00:38:18,409 When you get saved, 864 00:38:18,409 --> 00:38:23,655 all three Persons put Their eyes straight on you. 865 00:38:23,655 --> 00:38:26,813 And They work together 866 00:38:26,813 --> 00:38:32,845 to bring you right to the very heart and presence of God. 867 00:38:32,845 --> 00:38:35,354 That's what this verse is telling us. 868 00:38:35,354 --> 00:38:39,756 This Triunity is interested in you. 869 00:38:39,756 --> 00:38:41,634 And They've set their affections 870 00:38:41,634 --> 00:38:42,965 and Their love on you 871 00:38:42,965 --> 00:38:45,784 to bring you. 872 00:38:45,784 --> 00:38:47,634 Brethren, if you read, 873 00:38:47,634 --> 00:38:53,063 there are such statements that are said, 874 00:38:53,063 --> 00:38:56,406 about the Father having a love for us 875 00:38:56,406 --> 00:38:58,109 that it's the same as the love 876 00:38:58,109 --> 00:39:02,188 that He has for His Son. 877 00:39:02,188 --> 00:39:08,394 And Jesus prays not just for our unity between us, 878 00:39:08,394 --> 00:39:11,217 but our unity with Them, 879 00:39:11,217 --> 00:39:15,232 even as the Father and the Son are one. 880 00:39:15,232 --> 00:39:18,480 It's as though there's this glory 881 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:20,310 to be revealed to us 882 00:39:20,310 --> 00:39:25,208 or for us, it says in Romans 8. 883 00:39:25,208 --> 00:39:28,420 We get pulled right into it. 884 00:39:28,420 --> 00:39:31,514 We get pulled into the very love 885 00:39:31,514 --> 00:39:36,872 and the very presence of this Triune love 886 00:39:36,872 --> 00:39:40,753 and unity and harmony. 887 00:39:40,753 --> 00:39:45,504 All three Persons working together 888 00:39:45,504 --> 00:39:48,759 through Jesus Christ. 889 00:39:48,759 --> 00:39:50,739 You think about Him. 890 00:39:50,739 --> 00:39:53,390 The equality that He had with God. 891 00:39:53,390 --> 00:39:57,172 It says there in Philippians 2. 892 00:39:57,172 --> 00:40:01,855 He found it a thing not to be grasped. 893 00:40:01,855 --> 00:40:04,664 When you think of Him letting go 894 00:40:04,664 --> 00:40:06,993 of His equality with God, 895 00:40:06,993 --> 00:40:08,648 that doesn't mean that He then 896 00:40:08,648 --> 00:40:11,515 drifts over in not being equal. 897 00:40:11,515 --> 00:40:15,661 The idea is He didn't grab hold 898 00:40:15,661 --> 00:40:17,420 of His equality with the Father 899 00:40:17,420 --> 00:40:18,954 and say because I'm equal, 900 00:40:18,954 --> 00:40:23,762 I will not empty Myself. 901 00:40:23,762 --> 00:40:26,863 I will not humble Myself 902 00:40:26,863 --> 00:40:28,571 and go to the cross. 903 00:40:28,571 --> 00:40:34,771 I will not endure the contradiction of sinners. 904 00:40:34,771 --> 00:40:40,387 I will not endure the shame. 905 00:40:40,387 --> 00:40:45,263 It wasn't something to be grasped. 906 00:40:45,263 --> 00:40:48,011 He let go. 907 00:40:48,011 --> 00:40:50,795 Not of His deity, 908 00:40:50,795 --> 00:40:55,703 but His rights in being deity. 909 00:40:55,703 --> 00:40:58,663 And He emptied Himself. 910 00:40:58,663 --> 00:41:00,989 Why? 911 00:41:00,989 --> 00:41:04,953 So that that red carpet could be rolled out. 912 00:41:04,953 --> 00:41:07,137 He endured the shame of the cross. 913 00:41:07,137 --> 00:41:10,274 He endured men hanging Him naked 914 00:41:10,274 --> 00:41:15,411 on a cross. 915 00:41:15,411 --> 00:41:16,914 He endured men to inflict 916 00:41:16,914 --> 00:41:21,958 suffering and pain on Him. 917 00:41:21,958 --> 00:41:28,604 And He was willing to put the cup 918 00:41:28,604 --> 00:41:30,602 that God would serve up for us 919 00:41:30,602 --> 00:41:32,256 and for our sins, 920 00:41:32,256 --> 00:41:34,533 and He became sin. 921 00:41:34,533 --> 00:41:36,528 That's what He did to make way, 922 00:41:36,528 --> 00:41:39,598 to make access. 923 00:41:39,598 --> 00:41:42,974 It's in one Spirit, 924 00:41:42,974 --> 00:41:45,392 or, by one Spirit. 925 00:41:45,392 --> 00:41:47,309 Now it's very interesting. 926 00:41:47,309 --> 00:41:51,815 I look at maybe 10 or 12 English translations. 927 00:41:51,815 --> 00:41:53,933 About half of them said, "in the Spirit," 928 00:41:53,933 --> 00:41:55,739 half of them said, "by the Spirit." 929 00:41:55,739 --> 00:42:01,153 Even you go back to some of the earliest, 930 00:42:01,153 --> 00:42:03,579 back to the Geneva and to the Tyndale, 931 00:42:03,579 --> 00:42:05,990 one says "in," one says, "by." 932 00:42:05,990 --> 00:42:07,867 There's a difference. 933 00:42:07,867 --> 00:42:12,946 "In" is locational. 934 00:42:12,946 --> 00:42:17,342 "By" is instrumental. 935 00:42:17,342 --> 00:42:21,950 Is this saying that it's being in the realm 936 00:42:21,950 --> 00:42:26,287 of the Spirit positionally 937 00:42:26,287 --> 00:42:27,819 that I have access? 938 00:42:27,819 --> 00:42:37,976 Or is it saying that the Spirit is the Agent? 939 00:42:37,976 --> 00:42:40,472 Probably both. 940 00:42:40,472 --> 00:42:42,744 Because to be in the realm of the Spirit 941 00:42:42,744 --> 00:42:46,264 is to be under the influence of the Spirit. 942 00:42:46,264 --> 00:42:48,493 In the Spirit. 943 00:42:48,493 --> 00:42:52,563 The Spirit is life 944 00:42:52,563 --> 00:42:53,935 because of righteousness, 945 00:42:53,935 --> 00:42:55,685 we're told in Scripture. 946 00:42:55,685 --> 00:42:58,834 The Spirit is life. 947 00:42:58,834 --> 00:43:01,502 The Son - He paves the way, 948 00:43:01,502 --> 00:43:03,312 by the shedding of His blood. 949 00:43:03,312 --> 00:43:05,024 It's through the blood of Christ 950 00:43:05,024 --> 00:43:06,883 that we enter the holy of holies. 951 00:43:06,883 --> 00:43:09,870 Where does the Spirit come in? 952 00:43:09,870 --> 00:43:13,114 The Spirit breathes life into us. 953 00:43:13,114 --> 00:43:16,257 We're no longer that old dead thing. 954 00:43:16,257 --> 00:43:18,185 Can you imagine throwing a dead corpse 955 00:43:18,185 --> 00:43:20,161 before God? 956 00:43:20,161 --> 00:43:21,475 Our sins - they were vile, 957 00:43:21,475 --> 00:43:22,585 they were disgusting. 958 00:43:22,585 --> 00:43:24,380 What's happened is 959 00:43:24,380 --> 00:43:26,077 Christ has washed them away, 960 00:43:26,077 --> 00:43:28,913 and the Spirit has given us life. 961 00:43:28,913 --> 00:43:31,532 We're no longer that old dead thing. 962 00:43:31,532 --> 00:43:32,843 We're now alive. 963 00:43:32,843 --> 00:43:34,716 We're new creations 964 00:43:34,716 --> 00:43:37,863 made in the image of God. 965 00:43:37,863 --> 00:43:40,150 Righteous. 966 00:43:40,150 --> 00:43:41,343 Holy. 967 00:43:41,343 --> 00:43:44,684 That's what Paul says about the new man. 968 00:43:44,684 --> 00:43:46,572 You say, 969 00:43:46,572 --> 00:43:48,840 it doesn't seem like the Father's actively 970 00:43:48,840 --> 00:43:50,117 doing anything here. 971 00:43:50,117 --> 00:43:52,279 But don't see Him as passive. 972 00:43:52,279 --> 00:43:54,109 Because you need to remember this: 973 00:43:54,109 --> 00:43:57,979 God so loved... that He sent His Son. 974 00:43:57,979 --> 00:44:02,547 You don't want to see God as being passive in this. 975 00:44:02,547 --> 00:44:05,186 You also don't want to see the Son 976 00:44:05,186 --> 00:44:07,153 or the Spirit twisting His arm 977 00:44:07,153 --> 00:44:09,794 to let us into His presence. 978 00:44:09,794 --> 00:44:13,990 It is the Father Who sent the Son. 979 00:44:13,990 --> 00:44:18,530 The Spirit is the promise of the Father. 980 00:44:18,530 --> 00:44:21,380 Do you remember back earlier? 981 00:44:21,380 --> 00:44:24,029 "Blessed be the God and Father 982 00:44:24,029 --> 00:44:25,790 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 983 00:44:25,790 --> 00:44:31,282 Who has blessed us in Christ 984 00:44:31,282 --> 00:44:33,149 with every spiritual blessing 985 00:44:33,149 --> 00:44:34,289 in the heavenly places, 986 00:44:34,289 --> 00:44:37,060 even as He (this is the Father) 987 00:44:37,060 --> 00:44:43,763 chose us in Christ, 988 00:44:43,763 --> 00:44:46,503 that we should be holy and blameless..." 989 00:44:46,503 --> 00:44:48,555 Remember those last two words? 990 00:44:48,555 --> 00:44:51,391 "...before Him." 991 00:44:51,391 --> 00:44:52,884 You see, the Father does this 992 00:44:52,884 --> 00:44:58,474 that we might be "before Him." 993 00:44:58,474 --> 00:45:03,474 The whole Triune Godhead 994 00:45:03,474 --> 00:45:05,810 is all actively involved. 995 00:45:05,810 --> 00:45:09,450 Christian, have access. 996 00:45:09,450 --> 00:45:11,308 And the question is, 997 00:45:11,308 --> 00:45:13,130 do you know this? 998 00:45:13,130 --> 00:45:15,443 And are you enjoying this? 999 00:45:15,443 --> 00:45:18,110 Is this what your Christianity is all about? 1000 00:45:18,110 --> 00:45:22,010 You have access! 1001 00:45:22,010 --> 00:45:24,329 If this is not what your Christianity is, 1002 00:45:24,329 --> 00:45:29,412 oh, I don't want to leave you hopeless, 1003 00:45:29,412 --> 00:45:33,147 but you need to go to God 1004 00:45:33,147 --> 00:45:37,479 and ask Him to save you and give you this. 1005 00:45:37,479 --> 00:45:39,638 Because this is it. 1006 00:45:39,638 --> 00:45:41,190 This is the heart and soul. 1007 00:45:41,190 --> 00:45:43,233 This is the reality. 1008 00:45:43,233 --> 00:45:46,400 This is the all in all of Christianity. 1009 00:45:46,400 --> 00:45:47,886 It is to have God. 1010 00:45:47,886 --> 00:45:49,536 It is to come into His presence. 1011 00:45:49,536 --> 00:45:51,396 It is to behold Him. 1012 00:45:51,396 --> 00:45:56,876 It is to have the manifest expressions 1013 00:45:56,876 --> 00:46:01,481 of the love of God that we heard about. 1014 00:46:01,481 --> 00:46:04,900 You have access. 1015 00:46:04,900 --> 00:46:07,503 That is a privilege 1016 00:46:07,503 --> 00:46:11,130 that the vast majority of mankind does not have. 1017 00:46:11,130 --> 00:46:13,983 Or has ever had. 1018 00:46:13,983 --> 00:46:18,573 To be a Christian... 1019 00:46:18,573 --> 00:46:21,770 it doesn't get any better than that. 1020 00:46:21,770 --> 00:46:26,365 Because to have God. 1021 00:46:26,365 --> 00:46:28,349 That's it. 1022 00:46:28,349 --> 00:46:31,223 That's the prize. 1023 00:46:31,223 --> 00:46:32,926 And the only reason, 1024 00:46:32,926 --> 00:46:36,155 brethren, we are too used to drinking 1025 00:46:36,155 --> 00:46:41,713 from the broken cisterns. 1026 00:46:41,713 --> 00:46:44,685 Those who have ever truly drunk 1027 00:46:44,685 --> 00:46:48,088 from these cups that are to be found 1028 00:46:48,088 --> 00:46:50,699 in the very presence of God, 1029 00:46:50,699 --> 00:46:52,848 there's nothing more satisfying. 1030 00:46:52,848 --> 00:46:54,094 You don't want to move on. 1031 00:46:54,094 --> 00:46:55,501 In this world, we taste... 1032 00:46:55,501 --> 00:46:57,519 OK, what's next? 1033 00:46:57,519 --> 00:46:58,914 That's not the way. 1034 00:46:58,914 --> 00:47:00,676 Jesus says you drink of these waters, 1035 00:47:00,676 --> 00:47:03,989 you're not going to thirst anymore. 1036 00:47:03,989 --> 00:47:04,956 And the thing is, 1037 00:47:04,956 --> 00:47:06,262 as Christians, you're bid, 1038 00:47:06,262 --> 00:47:07,158 Come. 1039 00:47:07,158 --> 00:47:08,075 Drink. 1040 00:47:08,075 --> 00:47:10,769 Eat. 1041 00:47:10,769 --> 00:47:14,292 Be satiated. 1042 00:47:14,292 --> 00:47:17,078 You have access. 1043 00:47:17,078 --> 00:47:20,632 Are you enjoying this? 1044 00:47:20,632 --> 00:47:24,782 May God help us all to. 1045 00:47:24,782 --> 00:47:27,675 Father, we thank You, 1046 00:47:27,675 --> 00:47:32,396 for such realities as this. 1047 00:47:32,396 --> 00:47:34,581 Lord, I pray that my brothers and sisters 1048 00:47:34,581 --> 00:47:37,306 would know this reality to the full, 1049 00:47:37,306 --> 00:47:40,459 more and more. 1050 00:47:40,459 --> 00:47:43,219 We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1051 00:47:43,219 --> 00:47:45,777 Amen.