Title: How Alive is Alive? Seated With Christ in The Heavenly Places (Part 3) 
Meta: This passage is the very pinnacle of what God has already done for the believer. The Apostle is giving us this great reality about who we are as Christians; and we need to know who we are. We don't always know. This reminder in Scripture tells us: Christian, you are seated with Christ in the heavenly places.
Tags: regeneration,heaven,places,Ephesians 2:6,Christian,Tim Conway

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Let's turn in our Bibles to Ephesians 2

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Verse 6

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God is the subject.

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Paul gave us the subject

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back in the beginning of verse 4.

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God seated us.

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Remember he's speaking to those,

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to the saints who are in Ephesus.

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Likewise, I'm speaking to the saints

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who are on the east side of San Antonio

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gathered within these walls.

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God seated us.

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That's the "us."

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It's not universal.

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It's the saints.

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God seated us with Him.

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God seated us together with Christ

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in the heavenly places

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in Christ Jesus.

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That's what I want to deal with today.

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This series: How Alive is Alive?

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This is life.

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This is being alive.

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That's the question.

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How alive?

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The four-fold risenness

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of the Christian.

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This is part 3.

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We've dealt with being made alive

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together with Christ.

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Raised up together with Christ.

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Today: seated together with Christ.

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Next week, it's going to be verse 7.

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These first three are about

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what God has already done for us.

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Next week is going to be

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what is yet future for the Christian.

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So, what we've come to now

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is the very pinnacle of what God

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has already done for the believer.

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The apostle is giving us 
this great reality;

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this great statement

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about who we are as Christians.

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And we need to know.

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Because we don't always know.

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You would think we would know,

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because it's true of 
us if we're Christians.

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But isn't it amazing how often

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the Scriptures deal with us about

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the very realities that we need to be told

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are real, because we don't really get it

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that it's real.

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And the thing is,

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being told that which we have

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a difficult time comprehending,

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we're being told that

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so that our faith might latch on to it,

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actually believe it,

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because there's something to that

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in the Christian life.

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There's something 
about reckoning yourself

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to be what you really are

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that will help you to be what you are.

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And to live up to what you are.

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And to strive and live in that reality

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of what we are.

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Brethren, we're looking at

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an almost unbelievable truth.

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You think about it.

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Christian,

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you are seated with Christ

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in the heavenly places.

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We can almost subliminally read this

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and make it future.

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Oh, I see...

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we're going to be seated with Christ.

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Have you ever talked to somebody

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or you watch a conversation

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where somebody is 
being told something

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and they keep responding back
with an answer that's wrong?

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And it's like why are 
they not getting it?

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It's because they can't hear it.

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It's amazing to me,

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I really don't think 
people can hear this.

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And listen,

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I'm going to say 
some things today

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and I know I'm going 
to be misunderstood.

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I'll just tell you right up front.
I am going to be misunderstood

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about some of the things
that I say to you.

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But I am convinced,

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especially in reformed circles,

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we can't hear this.

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In fact, we have been so programmed

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by so much of the reformed teaching

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not to be able to hear this,

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that I'm going to be misunderstood.

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But if you will try to hear me,

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if you will try to hear what I'm saying.

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Brethren, this says you already are

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seated with Christ in 
the heavenly places.

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This is not talking 
about something

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that's going to happen 
in the future.

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He is talking about that 
which is a reality already

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if you have been made alive.

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In the future, God will grant us

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to sit with Christ upon His throne.

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Yes, that's true,

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but that's not the truth here.

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Don't read it that way.

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No, no, no, no, no!

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The apostle does not use

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his verbs indiscriminately.

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This is a tense in the Greek

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that is equivalent to our past tense

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in the English. Period.

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There is no textual issue here.

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There is no debate.

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Nobody debates that this is past tense.

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It's already been done.

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And we can say, yes...

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Well, yes, we see that there.

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Of course.

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Seated. That's past.

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-ed right?

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You put an -ed on the end of a verb

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because it's past.

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Yes, we can say it,

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but I'm telling you brethren,

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you start going and looking
at the commentaries,

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it is amazing.

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They all want to 
look to the future.

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All want to look to the future.

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Why?

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Because they are so programmed

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to do that.

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It's like you can't even hear it.

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Well, no, Paul just 
said that's past tense.

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Well, yes, I know that,

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but this is about the future.

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No, no, he said it's past tense.

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Yes, but let's talk about the future.

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It's amazing.

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There was no slip of the pen here.

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None.

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You are already in the same realm

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that Christ is,

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and you have the same posture that He has.

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What's the realm?

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Heavenly places.

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What's the posture?

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Sitting.

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What's the time?

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Past tense.

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Lay it down, brethren.

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That's the truth.

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This is the sort of thing

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we need to repeat to ourselves.

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Brethren, I can remember when

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I was preaching through Romans.

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I got to Romans 6:2,

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Christian, you have died to sin.

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Verse 11: Reckon or you need to consider

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yourselves dead to sin, alive to God.

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When I got there,

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I said, church,

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I was convinced, again,

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I think it's part of the influence

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of the reformed circles.

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There's so much that's positive

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about the influence of 
the reformed movement,

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and the reformers.

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Don't get me wrong there.

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But there is an influence

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concerning the depravity 
and the corruption

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of Christians that is emphasized

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in the reformed movement,

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that I just do not believe 
squares with Scripture.

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And you can hear it so often

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and so regularly,

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that you can't even 
process certain truths.

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I said to the church,

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because I knew about the influence,

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and I said, brethren,

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I want you to say this out loud:

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"I am dead to sin."

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And I wanted them to really say it.

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And I think this is 
the same kind of truth.

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I think we need to say this.

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We need to repeat this to ourselves.

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Not in the future, at some point,

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when Christ returns,

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He's going to take me with Him

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and sit me on His throne.

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That's not it.

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We need to say it like Paul says it.

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We need to say:

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"I am seated together with Christ

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in the heavenly places."

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Why? Why should we say that?

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Because it's an almost 
incomprehensible concept

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if we don't actually verbalize it.

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Brethren, God's children have a hard time

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believing certain things.

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And here's what happens.

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When you start saying 
something to yourself;

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when you start reciting 
something to yourself,

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you have to start to 
grapple with the reality of it.

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You just write it off.

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But say that.

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Say it to yourself.

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If you're a Christian...

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if you're not a Christian, 
this isn't true of you.

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But if you have 
been made alive

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together with Christ,

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bank on it,

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this is true past tense.

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You are seated together

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with Jesus Christ in the heavenly places.

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What God has done in our salvation

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is so high and lofty,

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we often have a very difficult time

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comprehending just how 
glorious all of this is.

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Now listen, brethren.

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The reformed movement

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tends to put an 
emphasis in certain places,

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and there's reasons why they do it.

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There's a history.

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When I first got saved,

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I heard regularly Jeremiah 17:9 quoted

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as though it was a truth

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that pertained to Christians.

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Anybody know what Jeremiah 17:9 says?

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It's "the heart is 
deceitful above all things,

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and desperately sick..."

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The ESV says "desperately wicked."

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"Who can understand it?"

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I heard that text repeatedly applied

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to Christians.

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And isn't it interesting,

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when you go to Jeremiah,

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what do we find?

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We find that a new covenant is given

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and within the very realm,

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within the very identifying characteristics

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of the new covenant,

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you don't find that under the new covenant

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God's people have a desperately wicked heart.

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What do you find is true about the heart

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under the New Covenant?

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We have a new heart.

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God writes His law on our heart.

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He puts His Spirit within us.

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He causes us to keep His statutes.

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We all know Him.

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There's nothing about this desperately wicked.

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I heard this applied.

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Now listen to me.

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If you basically do a little bit of study,

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here's what you'll find.

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The early Greek church fathers

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all believed Paul in Romans 7

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was man under the Law.

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Augustine believed that 
in the beginning too,

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but you know what happened?

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He had an axe to grind with Pelagius.

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Now, Pelagius, with all 
of his errors and heresy,

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and I'm not standing behind what

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he believed at all,

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but you know what he saw,

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he saw so much immorality.

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And you know what happened?

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Constantine took Christianity

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and made it state religion.

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You know what happens

275
00:11:59,656 --> 00:12:00,830
as soon as you do that?

276
00:12:00,830 --> 00:12:03,013
You defile Christianity.

277
00:12:03,013 --> 00:12:06,262
Suddenly, it's a state religion

278
00:12:06,262 --> 00:12:09,198
and there's corruption 
and immorality everywhere.

279
00:12:09,198 --> 00:12:10,196
And you know what?

280
00:12:10,196 --> 00:12:11,970
Pelagius saw that.

281
00:12:11,970 --> 00:12:14,708
And he pointed it out.

282
00:12:14,708 --> 00:12:16,790
Well, Augustine to come along and

283
00:12:16,790 --> 00:12:20,385
help define that and explain that

284
00:12:20,385 --> 00:12:25,216
changed his position to counter Pelagius

285
00:12:25,216 --> 00:12:27,099
and said, ok, I'm changing my mind.

286
00:12:27,099 --> 00:12:28,925
Paul's not under the Law there.

287
00:12:28,925 --> 00:12:31,734
Paul's actually a Christian there.

288
00:12:31,734 --> 00:12:33,249
And that helps explain why

289
00:12:33,249 --> 00:12:35,807
there's so much immorality and corruption

290
00:12:35,807 --> 00:12:38,168
in Christianity.

291
00:12:38,168 --> 00:12:40,142
And here's the thing,

292
00:12:40,142 --> 00:12:43,776
the reformers...

293
00:12:43,776 --> 00:12:46,398
Brother Kevin sent me a quote

294
00:12:46,398 --> 00:12:47,831
from Conrad Murrell.

295
00:12:47,831 --> 00:12:49,722
I'm going to loosely 
paraphrase this,

296
00:12:49,722 --> 00:12:51,290
but Murrell said this,

297
00:12:51,290 --> 00:12:52,797
I am more and more confident

298
00:12:52,797 --> 00:12:54,695
that the reformers and their successors

299
00:12:54,695 --> 00:12:59,071
in the Puritans went astray on the matter

300
00:12:59,071 --> 00:13:01,752
of the extent of depravity.

301
00:13:01,752 --> 00:13:02,827
And he said this,

302
00:13:02,827 --> 00:13:07,167
they had two axes to grind.

303
00:13:07,167 --> 00:13:09,220
Augustine had one with Pelagius.

304
00:13:09,220 --> 00:13:11,136
But now he's talking about the

305
00:13:11,136 --> 00:13:13,564
reformers and the Puritans.

306
00:13:13,564 --> 00:13:15,322
Here's what they had.

307
00:13:15,322 --> 00:13:18,346
On the one hand, Catholicism.

308
00:13:18,346 --> 00:13:21,260
And see, the reformers so wanted

309
00:13:21,260 --> 00:13:24,311
to emphasize their 
doctrine of justification.

310
00:13:24,311 --> 00:13:28,231
A good doctrine. Right doctrine. 
Right emphasis.

311
00:13:28,231 --> 00:13:33,793
But see, the Catholics 
wanted to talk about

312
00:13:33,793 --> 00:13:37,131
infused righteousness - not imputed,

313
00:13:37,131 --> 00:13:38,681
but infused.

314
00:13:38,681 --> 00:13:41,794
They actually wanted to produce works.

315
00:13:41,794 --> 00:13:45,538
Now they thought they were saved by them,

316
00:13:45,538 --> 00:13:47,157
but they saw the importance.

317
00:13:47,157 --> 00:13:49,017
And the reformers downplayed that

318
00:13:49,017 --> 00:13:52,101
with their doctrine of justification,

319
00:13:52,101 --> 00:13:54,593
which is a good doctrine.

320
00:13:54,593 --> 00:13:55,591
On the other hand,

321
00:13:55,591 --> 00:13:57,216
there were the Anabaptists.

322
00:13:57,216 --> 00:13:58,951
And the reformers are confronted

323
00:13:58,951 --> 00:13:59,978
by the Anabaptists,

324
00:13:59,978 --> 00:14:02,058
and you know what they wanted?

325
00:14:02,058 --> 00:14:04,122
They wanted a regenerate 
church membership.

326
00:14:04,122 --> 00:14:06,078
Again, the reformers 
are playing it down

327
00:14:06,078 --> 00:14:08,528
because they have state religion too,

328
00:14:08,528 --> 00:14:10,718
just like Constantine 
back in the beginning.

329
00:14:10,718 --> 00:14:14,070
And so here's the anabaptists,

330
00:14:14,070 --> 00:14:16,341
and they're saying we want a pure church.

331
00:14:16,341 --> 00:14:18,744
Well, the reformers and the Puritans

332
00:14:18,744 --> 00:14:21,007
have all these lost people, lost children,

333
00:14:21,007 --> 00:14:23,190
all sorts of lost people in the church,

334
00:14:23,190 --> 00:14:26,562
and so, you see, both with Catholicism

335
00:14:26,562 --> 00:14:28,747
and with the Anabaptists,

336
00:14:28,747 --> 00:14:31,814
the reformers and their 
successors the Puritans

337
00:14:31,814 --> 00:14:33,623
are put in a place

338
00:14:33,623 --> 00:14:38,045
where really emphasizing the corruption

339
00:14:38,045 --> 00:14:41,207
and the depravity of Christians

340
00:14:41,207 --> 00:14:43,591
became necessary.

341
00:14:43,591 --> 00:14:46,086
And you know what?

342
00:14:46,086 --> 00:14:52,289
We are still influenced 
by their emphasis now.

343
00:14:52,289 --> 00:14:53,746
Listen to what Murrell says.

344
00:14:53,746 --> 00:14:58,293
Murrell said

345
00:14:58,293 --> 00:15:00,497
This caused the reformers 
to make much more

346
00:15:00,497 --> 00:15:03,138
of corruption and depravity 
in the believer himself

347
00:15:03,138 --> 00:15:04,620
than the Scriptures do.

348
00:15:04,620 --> 00:15:05,862
At any rate,

349
00:15:05,862 --> 00:15:07,817
I am having a joyful time

350
00:15:07,817 --> 00:15:10,449
ridding myself of being chained

351
00:15:10,449 --> 00:15:12,639
to the old Puritan mindset

352
00:15:12,639 --> 00:15:14,665
for many years and going back

353
00:15:14,665 --> 00:15:18,534
to letting the Bible 
say what it actually says.

354
00:15:18,534 --> 00:15:22,019
It also seems this 
is powerfully liberating

355
00:15:22,019 --> 00:15:24,169
to the saints of God.

356
00:15:24,169 --> 00:15:29,133
I know the Puritans were great souls,

357
00:15:29,133 --> 00:15:31,477
but they were only men.

358
00:15:31,477 --> 00:15:33,395
And you know, 
I think some reformers

359
00:15:33,395 --> 00:15:35,592
have a problem hearing that.

360
00:15:35,592 --> 00:15:36,681
They were only men.

361
00:15:36,681 --> 00:15:38,263
They're not God.

362
00:15:38,263 --> 00:15:39,856
And the writings of the Puritans

363
00:15:39,856 --> 00:15:43,100
are not equal to Scripture.

364
00:15:43,100 --> 00:15:46,267
Oh, some of the Puritans,

365
00:15:46,267 --> 00:15:48,428
their writings are glorious.

366
00:15:48,428 --> 00:15:49,423
And I commend them.

367
00:15:49,423 --> 00:15:51,465
And they can be helpful 
in so many ways.

368
00:15:51,465 --> 00:15:53,420
But I think he's dead on here.

369
00:15:53,420 --> 00:15:54,624
They were only men,

370
00:15:54,624 --> 00:15:56,632
dealing with the 
problems of their times

371
00:15:56,632 --> 00:15:58,306
that they faced.

372
00:15:58,306 --> 00:15:59,738
We're thankful for them.

373
00:15:59,738 --> 00:16:01,825
And so am I.

374
00:16:01,825 --> 00:16:05,889
But let's not let them 
rewrite the Bible for us.

375
00:16:05,889 --> 00:16:08,815
Brethren, we need to breathe

376
00:16:08,815 --> 00:16:13,869
the free, triumphant air of Scripture.

377
00:16:13,869 --> 00:16:15,601
Texts like this:

378
00:16:15,601 --> 00:16:20,559
You are seated together with Christ

379
00:16:20,559 --> 00:16:23,593
in the heavenly places.

380
00:16:23,593 --> 00:16:27,790
And brethren, you do not 
want to come along

381
00:16:27,790 --> 00:16:30,779
and just say that's theoretical

382
00:16:30,779 --> 00:16:36,127
or that's a legal reality.

383
00:16:36,127 --> 00:16:40,023
Like Craig and I were 
talking the other night: forensic

384
00:16:40,023 --> 00:16:42,718
You can just say that about stuff.

385
00:16:42,718 --> 00:16:45,977
Oh, it's forensic.

386
00:16:45,977 --> 00:16:47,977
Which means what?

387
00:16:47,977 --> 00:16:49,642
Well, there's a legal reality

388
00:16:49,642 --> 00:16:51,294
in the courtroom of God somewhere,

389
00:16:51,294 --> 00:16:53,337
but it doesn't really 
have any practical,

390
00:16:53,337 --> 00:16:57,178
it doesn't really have any
experiential impact on my life.

391
00:16:57,178 --> 00:17:04,015
You don't want to do that with this.

392
00:17:04,015 --> 00:17:05,597
We're going to look at this

393
00:17:05,597 --> 00:17:07,247
more closely in a second.

394
00:17:07,247 --> 00:17:08,983
Brethren,

395
00:17:08,983 --> 00:17:13,176
You know what you can say as a Christian?

396
00:17:13,176 --> 00:17:17,077
You can say what Scripture says,

397
00:17:17,077 --> 00:17:18,822
and you can dogmatically,

398
00:17:18,822 --> 00:17:20,812
you can repeat it to yourselves;

399
00:17:20,812 --> 00:17:22,161
you can say,

400
00:17:22,161 --> 00:17:27,308
"I am alive together with Christ."

401
00:17:27,308 --> 00:17:32,831
"I am raised up together with Christ."

402
00:17:32,831 --> 00:17:36,505
"I am seated together with Christ."

403
00:17:36,505 --> 00:17:39,891
"I am dead to sin."

404
00:17:39,891 --> 00:17:43,204
"I have died to the Law."

405
00:17:43,204 --> 00:17:44,596
You can say that!

406
00:17:44,596 --> 00:17:49,258
I have come to Mount Zion,

407
00:17:49,258 --> 00:17:51,470
and to the city of God,

408
00:17:51,470 --> 00:17:53,591
and to the New Jerusalem,

409
00:17:53,591 --> 00:17:55,619
and to innumerable ages,

410
00:17:55,619 --> 00:17:58,367
and the souls of just men made perfect,

411
00:17:58,367 --> 00:18:00,521
and I have come to God the Judge,

412
00:18:00,521 --> 00:18:02,084
and I have come to Christ,

413
00:18:02,084 --> 00:18:03,607
the mediator of a new covenant,

414
00:18:03,607 --> 00:18:05,426
and I have come to the blood.

415
00:18:05,426 --> 00:18:06,771
I already have.

416
00:18:06,771 --> 00:18:08,023
That's a reality.

417
00:18:08,023 --> 00:18:12,027
I am presently a 
citizen of another country.

418
00:18:12,027 --> 00:18:13,522
Of the heavenly Kingdom.

419
00:18:13,522 --> 00:18:16,665
You can say those 
realities about yourself.

420
00:18:16,665 --> 00:18:21,796
It is a very triumphant 
picture in Scripture.

421
00:18:21,796 --> 00:18:24,947
Very triumphant.

422
00:18:24,947 --> 00:18:26,857
Seated together with Christ.

423
00:18:26,857 --> 00:18:28,028
That's our focus.

424
00:18:28,028 --> 00:18:32,742
So let's look at this one great statement.

425
00:18:32,742 --> 00:18:41,767
God seated you together with Christ.

426
00:18:41,767 --> 00:18:43,610
I don't think you can even think

427
00:18:43,610 --> 00:18:45,573
of a higher statement that could be made;

428
00:18:45,573 --> 00:18:47,658
a more wonderful, a 
more glorious statement

429
00:18:47,658 --> 00:18:49,333
concerning the Christian than that.

430
00:18:49,333 --> 00:18:51,359
Brethren, can it even possibly get

431
00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:53,657
higher than that?

432
00:18:53,657 --> 00:18:59,247
As high as the man Jesus Christ

433
00:18:59,247 --> 00:19:02,281
has been exalted,

434
00:19:02,281 --> 00:19:04,145
Paul says,

435
00:19:04,145 --> 00:19:06,751
that's where you are.

436
00:19:06,751 --> 00:19:08,014
That is your place.

437
00:19:08,014 --> 00:19:09,904
That is your position.

438
00:19:09,904 --> 00:19:13,008
That's where you are already.

439
00:19:13,008 --> 00:19:15,514
Not will be.

440
00:19:15,514 --> 00:19:17,737
This is the highest glory.

441
00:19:17,737 --> 00:19:25,095
And there's hardly a statement

442
00:19:25,095 --> 00:19:28,062
that could be higher.

443
00:19:28,062 --> 00:19:29,198
This is our position.

444
00:19:29,198 --> 00:19:30,406
So what does it mean?

445
00:19:30,406 --> 00:19:33,237
That's the issue.

446
00:19:33,237 --> 00:19:34,418
What does it mean?

447
00:19:34,418 --> 00:19:37,750
Well, here's the thing.

448
00:19:37,750 --> 00:19:40,655
Certainly, we're required 
to walk by faith.

449
00:19:40,655 --> 00:19:42,166
And there's really two issues

450
00:19:42,166 --> 00:19:45,825
concerning faith here.

451
00:19:45,825 --> 00:19:48,224
On the one hand,

452
00:19:48,224 --> 00:19:51,955
there's where you are now.

453
00:19:51,955 --> 00:19:54,850
We don't walk by sight,

454
00:19:54,850 --> 00:19:56,714
we walk by faith.

455
00:19:56,714 --> 00:19:59,341
There's the believing where you are now.

456
00:19:59,341 --> 00:20:01,674
But he ties it together with another fact

457
00:20:01,674 --> 00:20:05,993
that we believe by faith.

458
00:20:05,993 --> 00:20:11,664
That's that Christ actually ascended

459
00:20:11,664 --> 00:20:14,815
and sat down on His throne.

460
00:20:14,815 --> 00:20:17,020
And so basically, I just want to develop

461
00:20:17,020 --> 00:20:20,653
a theology of this ascension of Christ

462
00:20:20,653 --> 00:20:22,832
to His throne.

463
00:20:22,832 --> 00:20:24,299
Let's just see it.

464
00:20:24,299 --> 00:20:26,921
Because, by the way, when it says

465
00:20:26,921 --> 00:20:29,880
you're raised together with Christ,

466
00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:31,442
the assumption is

467
00:20:31,442 --> 00:20:34,434
you're raised together with Him,

468
00:20:34,434 --> 00:20:36,327
you're seated with Him,

469
00:20:36,327 --> 00:20:37,570
in the heavenly places.

470
00:20:37,570 --> 00:20:40,603
The assumption is that He ascended

471
00:20:40,603 --> 00:20:42,392
and He sat down,

472
00:20:42,392 --> 00:20:43,962
and we do it with Him.

473
00:20:43,962 --> 00:20:45,368
So, let's look at Him,

474
00:20:45,368 --> 00:20:47,324
which took place 2,000 years ago,

475
00:20:47,324 --> 00:20:52,167
actually taking His throne.

476
00:20:52,167 --> 00:20:54,563
That's what we want to see.

477
00:20:54,563 --> 00:20:57,121
So turn in your Bibles to Luke 24.

478
00:20:57,121 --> 00:20:58,591
I'm just going to very quickly

479
00:20:58,591 --> 00:21:00,519
move through some verses

480
00:21:00,519 --> 00:21:08,385
that show us this reality.

481
00:21:08,385 --> 00:21:11,220
We're called to believe something

482
00:21:11,220 --> 00:21:17,439
that is true about ourselves,

483
00:21:17,439 --> 00:21:20,952
and has been since we've been saved.

484
00:21:20,952 --> 00:21:22,952
We're called on to believe something

485
00:21:22,952 --> 00:21:24,421
that is true of Christ

486
00:21:24,421 --> 00:21:28,186
and has been for 2,000 years.

487
00:21:28,186 --> 00:21:31,143
And Paul ties them together.

488
00:21:31,143 --> 00:21:32,748
Where we are now has to do

489
00:21:32,748 --> 00:21:34,969
with where He went back then.

490
00:21:34,969 --> 00:21:37,493
So where did He go back then?

491
00:21:37,493 --> 00:21:41,772
Where He is still and now
where we are with Him.

492
00:21:41,772 --> 00:21:42,593
Let's see it.

493
00:21:42,593 --> 00:21:45,950
Luke 24:36

494
00:21:45,950 --> 00:21:48,544
I'm just going to kind 
of jump through here.

495
00:21:48,544 --> 00:21:55,281
But Jesus Himself stood 
among His disciples.

496
00:21:55,281 --> 00:21:56,544
You see the picture.

497
00:21:56,544 --> 00:21:58,103
A real day.

498
00:21:58,103 --> 00:21:59,993
A real first day of the week,

499
00:21:59,993 --> 00:22:01,580
if you wanted to dive into it.

500
00:22:01,580 --> 00:22:03,338
Just like this day.

501
00:22:03,338 --> 00:22:05,689
The first day of the week.

502
00:22:05,689 --> 00:22:08,927
The day that Jesus Christ 
has risen from the dead.

503
00:22:08,927 --> 00:22:10,207
And what happened?

504
00:22:10,207 --> 00:22:13,815
His disciples are gathered together,

505
00:22:13,815 --> 00:22:16,815
and suddenly there 
is Christ in their midst.

506
00:22:16,815 --> 00:22:19,776
He didn't come through the door.

507
00:22:19,776 --> 00:22:20,903
There He is.

508
00:22:20,903 --> 00:22:23,485
And what does He say?

509
00:22:23,485 --> 00:22:29,085
What words to an anxiety-filled soul.

510
00:22:29,085 --> 00:22:32,274
And He still speaks 
them today to His people.

511
00:22:32,274 --> 00:22:40,679
Peace. Just be at peace.

512
00:22:40,679 --> 00:22:42,807
They were startled!

513
00:22:42,807 --> 00:22:44,745
They were frightened.

514
00:22:44,745 --> 00:22:46,142
Verse 39, He says,

515
00:22:46,142 --> 00:22:48,660
"See My hands and My feet,

516
00:22:48,660 --> 00:22:50,453
that it is I Myself."

517
00:22:50,453 --> 00:22:52,446
He's bearing the wounds.

518
00:22:52,446 --> 00:22:54,070
He's been to the cross.

519
00:22:54,070 --> 00:22:57,752
"Touch Me and see."

520
00:22:57,752 --> 00:22:58,684
You go to 42,

521
00:22:58,684 --> 00:23:00,598
"They gave Him a piece of broiled fish."

522
00:23:00,598 --> 00:23:02,618
He's showing He's a man.

523
00:23:02,618 --> 00:23:05,161
He's risen now.

524
00:23:05,161 --> 00:23:09,154
I don't know to what degree glorified.

525
00:23:09,154 --> 00:23:11,831
He's risen.

526
00:23:11,831 --> 00:23:14,453
He certainly didn't have the appearance

527
00:23:14,453 --> 00:23:18,027
that He had on the 
Mount of Transfiguration.

528
00:23:18,027 --> 00:23:19,395
But He's alive.

529
00:23:19,395 --> 00:23:20,768
He still bears the wounds.

530
00:23:20,768 --> 00:23:24,395
He's eating as a man eats.

531
00:23:24,395 --> 00:23:25,378
Verse 44

532
00:23:25,378 --> 00:23:26,481
"Then He said to them,

533
00:23:26,481 --> 00:23:28,298
'thus it is written,

534
00:23:28,298 --> 00:23:29,917
that the Christ should suffer

535
00:23:29,917 --> 00:23:32,104
and on the third day rise from the dead.'"

536
00:23:32,104 --> 00:23:33,255
You go to 47.

537
00:23:33,255 --> 00:23:34,954
Repentance, forgiveness of sins

538
00:23:34,954 --> 00:23:36,800
should be proclaimed in His name

539
00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,430
to all nations beginning from Jerusalem.

540
00:23:39,430 --> 00:23:42,143
48: You are witnesses of these things.

541
00:23:42,143 --> 00:23:44,349
49: Behold, I am sending the promise

542
00:23:44,349 --> 00:23:45,677
of My Father.

543
00:23:45,677 --> 00:23:46,659
So you see this.

544
00:23:46,659 --> 00:23:48,517
He appears to them.

545
00:23:48,517 --> 00:23:50,754
He's telling them about witnesses,

546
00:23:50,754 --> 00:23:52,355
about the fact that this Gospel's

547
00:23:52,355 --> 00:23:53,651
going to go forward.

548
00:23:53,651 --> 00:23:55,205
And then about 
how He's going to

549
00:23:55,205 --> 00:23:56,345
empower the church.

550
00:23:56,345 --> 00:23:58,447
I'm going to send 
the promise of My Father.

551
00:23:58,447 --> 00:24:00,451
I'm going to send 
the Holy Spirit to you.

552
00:24:00,451 --> 00:24:02,077
That's what He said.

553
00:24:02,077 --> 00:24:03,689
And He blessed them.

554
00:24:03,689 --> 00:24:05,041
And He parted from them.

555
00:24:05,041 --> 00:24:06,335
Verse 51

556
00:24:06,335 --> 00:24:08,519
and was carried up into heaven.

557
00:24:08,519 --> 00:24:09,516
There it is.

558
00:24:09,516 --> 00:24:11,582
Carried up into heaven.

559
00:24:11,582 --> 00:24:13,350
You don't need to turn to this one,

560
00:24:13,350 --> 00:24:14,960
but Mark 16:19 says,

561
00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:16,569
"So then the Lord Jesus,

562
00:24:16,569 --> 00:24:18,014
after He had spoken to them,

563
00:24:18,014 --> 00:24:19,368
was taken up into heaven

564
00:24:19,368 --> 00:24:23,294
and sat down at the right hand of God."

565
00:24:23,294 --> 00:24:26,543
Now turn in your Bibles to Acts.

566
00:24:26,543 --> 00:24:29,435
Luke writes Acts.

567
00:24:29,435 --> 00:24:31,990
Luke wrote Luke. Luke wrote Acts.

568
00:24:31,990 --> 00:24:34,618
It's basically a two-parter.

569
00:24:34,618 --> 00:24:36,662
You've got the first part in Luke.

570
00:24:36,662 --> 00:24:40,439
You've got the second part in Acts.

571
00:24:40,439 --> 00:24:42,745
And basically what Luke does

572
00:24:42,745 --> 00:24:47,048
is in Acts, he picks up where he left off

573
00:24:47,048 --> 00:24:48,864
in his Gospel.

574
00:24:48,864 --> 00:24:52,371
Namely, with Christ making the promise

575
00:24:52,371 --> 00:24:54,200
of the Spirit of God,

576
00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:56,376
telling them they're 
going to be witnesses.

577
00:24:56,376 --> 00:24:57,550
And then being taken up.

578
00:24:57,550 --> 00:24:59,842
And you see this here in Acts 1.

579
00:24:59,842 --> 00:25:01,971
Verse 3

580
00:25:01,971 --> 00:25:05,774
"Jesus presented Himself alive to them

581
00:25:05,774 --> 00:25:10,796
after His sufferings by many proofs."

582
00:25:10,796 --> 00:25:12,069
What were the proofs?

583
00:25:12,069 --> 00:25:15,062
Well, He appeared to nigh unto 500 people.

584
00:25:15,062 --> 00:25:17,633
Remember, He cooked breakfast for them

585
00:25:17,633 --> 00:25:20,342
on one occasion.

586
00:25:20,342 --> 00:25:23,398
But many proofs.

587
00:25:23,398 --> 00:25:25,080
He presented Himself alive.

588
00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:26,042
He proved to them.

589
00:25:26,042 --> 00:25:27,521
He ate.

590
00:25:27,521 --> 00:25:29,685
He had them look at the wounds.

591
00:25:29,685 --> 00:25:33,277
Many proofs.

592
00:25:33,277 --> 00:25:36,746
Appearing to them during 40 days.

593
00:25:36,746 --> 00:25:38,445
So from the time that He was arisen

594
00:25:38,445 --> 00:25:39,684
from the dead,

595
00:25:39,684 --> 00:25:43,118
He was among His disciples for 40 days.

596
00:25:43,118 --> 00:25:45,598
And He spoke to them 
about the Kingdom of God.

597
00:25:45,598 --> 00:25:47,380
If you jump down to verse 8.

598
00:25:47,380 --> 00:25:48,992
And He said to them,

599
00:25:48,992 --> 00:25:51,441
You will receive power.

600
00:25:51,441 --> 00:25:53,011
See, this is the promise.

601
00:25:53,011 --> 00:25:55,110
...When the Holy Spirit 
has come upon you,

602
00:25:55,110 --> 00:25:57,106
and you will be My 
witnesses in Jerusalem

603
00:25:57,106 --> 00:25:58,791
and all Judea, Samaria,

604
00:25:58,791 --> 00:26:00,446
and to the end of the earth.

605
00:26:00,446 --> 00:26:02,121
And when He had 
said these things

606
00:26:02,121 --> 00:26:03,395
as they were looking on,

607
00:26:03,395 --> 00:26:05,542
He was lifted up 
and a cloud took Him

608
00:26:05,542 --> 00:26:07,651
out of their sight.

609
00:26:07,651 --> 00:26:08,395
So this is it.

610
00:26:08,395 --> 00:26:09,760
This is the ascension.

611
00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:15,644
Taken up.

612
00:26:15,644 --> 00:26:19,138
Now, jump over to Acts 2.

613
00:26:19,138 --> 00:26:21,985
Now, here's Peter.

614
00:26:21,985 --> 00:26:24,699
What has happened is exactly

615
00:26:24,699 --> 00:26:26,475
what Jesus promised.

616
00:26:26,475 --> 00:26:27,606
What's that?

617
00:26:27,606 --> 00:26:29,519
The day of Pentecost was upon them.

618
00:26:29,519 --> 00:26:33,363
The Spirit of God was 
poured out upon them.

619
00:26:33,363 --> 00:26:34,960
Just as Christ said.

620
00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:36,657
The promise of the Father.

621
00:26:36,657 --> 00:26:39,676
And now, full of the Spirit of God,

622
00:26:39,676 --> 00:26:43,034
the disciples break forth 
onto the streets of Jerusalem

623
00:26:43,034 --> 00:26:45,191
in the power of the Spirit.

624
00:26:45,191 --> 00:26:46,228
And what happens?

625
00:26:46,228 --> 00:26:48,617
They begin to witness of Jesus Christ,

626
00:26:48,617 --> 00:26:51,748
His sufferings, His resurrection,

627
00:26:51,748 --> 00:26:53,528
just like He said,

628
00:26:53,528 --> 00:26:55,272
they would be witnesses of Him.

629
00:26:55,272 --> 00:26:58,955
And so here in Acts 2:32,

630
00:26:58,955 --> 00:27:02,474
"This Jesus God raised up

631
00:27:02,474 --> 00:27:05,989
and of that we are all witnesses."

632
00:27:05,989 --> 00:27:07,851
There it is. He's witnessing.

633
00:27:07,851 --> 00:27:09,773
"Being therefore exalted..."

634
00:27:09,773 --> 00:27:12,392
Notice this.

635
00:27:12,392 --> 00:27:14,996
He's not just raised from the dead.

636
00:27:14,996 --> 00:27:18,136
He's exalted at the right hand of God.

637
00:27:18,136 --> 00:27:19,832
And having received from the Father

638
00:27:19,832 --> 00:27:21,525
the promise of the Holy Spirit,

639
00:27:21,525 --> 00:27:23,671
He has poured out this

640
00:27:23,671 --> 00:27:27,366
that you yourselves 
are seeing and hearing.

641
00:27:27,366 --> 00:27:29,756
For David did not ascend into the heavens.

642
00:27:29,756 --> 00:27:32,366
But he himself says,

643
00:27:32,366 --> 00:27:34,762
'The Lord said to My Lord,

644
00:27:34,762 --> 00:27:36,850
sit at My right hand,

645
00:27:36,850 --> 00:27:42,250
and I will make your 
enemies your footstool.'

646
00:27:42,250 --> 00:27:44,124
Now, brethren,

647
00:27:44,124 --> 00:27:45,567
let me tell you something.

648
00:27:45,567 --> 00:27:47,297
You know where that comes from?

649
00:27:47,297 --> 00:27:51,399
It comes from Psalm 110:1.

650
00:27:51,399 --> 00:27:56,309
That is the most often quoted

651
00:27:56,309 --> 00:27:59,663
Old Testament passage 
in the New Testament.

652
00:27:59,663 --> 00:28:02,650
That ought to come with some weight.

653
00:28:02,650 --> 00:28:04,843
What?

654
00:28:04,843 --> 00:28:10,552
The Lord said to My Lord,

655
00:28:10,552 --> 00:28:12,616
sit at My right hand until I make

656
00:28:12,616 --> 00:28:14,691
your enemies a footstool.

657
00:28:14,691 --> 00:28:19,120
Just think about this.

658
00:28:19,120 --> 00:28:22,666
Christ sitting.

659
00:28:22,666 --> 00:28:24,861
That is the most often referred to

660
00:28:24,861 --> 00:28:26,669
Old Testament passage.

661
00:28:26,669 --> 00:28:32,937
Christ sitting down at the 
right hand of the Father.

662
00:28:32,937 --> 00:28:34,892
The Lord said unto My Lord.

663
00:28:34,892 --> 00:28:37,699
If you know your Hebrew,

664
00:28:37,699 --> 00:28:40,088
in fact, one of the brothers 
came up this morning

665
00:28:40,088 --> 00:28:42,326
and said you know 
in the Spanish it said,

666
00:28:42,326 --> 00:28:44,893
"Jehovah said to My Lord."

667
00:28:44,893 --> 00:28:46,941
In the original, it's this way.

668
00:28:46,941 --> 00:28:52,648
Jehovah said to Adonai,

669
00:28:52,648 --> 00:28:54,393
sit at my right hand.

670
00:28:54,393 --> 00:28:56,744
Peter defines this for us.

671
00:28:56,744 --> 00:28:59,868
Jehovah is God.

672
00:28:59,868 --> 00:29:02,092
It is God the Father.

673
00:29:02,092 --> 00:29:08,296
The Adonai is the Lord Jesus Christ.

674
00:29:08,296 --> 00:29:12,897
What Jehovah is saying 
to this one called Adonai.

675
00:29:12,897 --> 00:29:15,039
Adonai.

676
00:29:15,039 --> 00:29:19,648
It's a word that means one with authority.

677
00:29:19,648 --> 00:29:22,049
One who is in power.

678
00:29:22,049 --> 00:29:24,263
One who reigns. One who rules.

679
00:29:24,263 --> 00:29:25,986
One who has possession.

680
00:29:25,986 --> 00:29:28,106
One who is master.

681
00:29:28,106 --> 00:29:30,975
Jehovah is saying to Christ,

682
00:29:30,975 --> 00:29:35,245
the Father saying to His Son,

683
00:29:35,245 --> 00:29:39,986
Sit at My right hand.

684
00:29:39,986 --> 00:29:44,234
The right hand is a position of honor.

685
00:29:44,234 --> 00:29:47,614
It is a position of rank.

686
00:29:47,614 --> 00:29:50,096
But brethren, more than this,

687
00:29:50,096 --> 00:29:52,882
to sit -

688
00:29:52,882 --> 00:29:55,389
that has significance.

689
00:29:55,389 --> 00:29:56,977
Brethren, do you know when you go

690
00:29:56,977 --> 00:29:59,523
to the book of Hebrews,

691
00:29:59,523 --> 00:30:01,489
the author of Hebrews loves

692
00:30:01,489 --> 00:30:03,310
to make a big deal out of the fact

693
00:30:03,310 --> 00:30:04,889
that Jesus Christ is sitting

694
00:30:04,889 --> 00:30:06,481
at the right hand of the Father.

695
00:30:06,481 --> 00:30:08,507
And you know what's interesting?

696
00:30:08,507 --> 00:30:14,193
He also is emphasizing 
the priesthood of Christ.

697
00:30:14,193 --> 00:30:20,712
And he likes to talk to 
you about earthly priests.

698
00:30:20,712 --> 00:30:24,064
And how they're inferior to Christ.

699
00:30:24,064 --> 00:30:26,483
And you know one of 
the things that he says,

700
00:30:26,483 --> 00:30:32,453
they stand daily ministering.

701
00:30:32,453 --> 00:30:35,975
You know what else he says?

702
00:30:35,975 --> 00:30:38,263
He says that their offerings

703
00:30:38,263 --> 00:30:40,482
never did anything for sin.

704
00:30:40,482 --> 00:30:44,683
That's why they kept standing.

705
00:30:44,683 --> 00:30:50,436
You don't keep standing 
when the job's done.

706
00:30:50,436 --> 00:30:52,251
And you keep standing as long as

707
00:30:52,251 --> 00:30:54,313
there is more of a job to be done.

708
00:30:54,313 --> 00:30:56,147
The reality is,

709
00:30:56,147 --> 00:30:59,101
you know what the author of Hebrews says,

710
00:30:59,101 --> 00:31:03,255
after having made purification for sins,

711
00:31:03,255 --> 00:31:06,662
He sat down at the right hand

712
00:31:06,662 --> 00:31:08,733
of the Majesty on high.

713
00:31:08,733 --> 00:31:09,714
That's what you do.

714
00:31:09,714 --> 00:31:13,912
After having made purification for sins.

715
00:31:13,912 --> 00:31:14,851
Done.

716
00:31:14,851 --> 00:31:15,808
Finished.

717
00:31:15,808 --> 00:31:19,717
A man sits as a sign that the work

718
00:31:19,717 --> 00:31:23,346
that he has been 
commissioned to do is done.

719
00:31:23,346 --> 00:31:26,803
It means Christ has completed the work

720
00:31:26,803 --> 00:31:28,613
and brought it to an end.

721
00:31:28,613 --> 00:31:30,458
This is the picture of a king

722
00:31:30,458 --> 00:31:32,932
who has returned from battle

723
00:31:32,932 --> 00:31:35,144
and been victorious.

724
00:31:35,144 --> 00:31:36,754
The battle is won.

725
00:31:36,754 --> 00:31:39,262
He takes His throne of dominion.

726
00:31:39,262 --> 00:31:40,654
He sits down.

727
00:31:40,654 --> 00:31:45,321
Brethren, this is a posture of victory.

728
00:31:45,321 --> 00:31:49,055
When Christ had offered for all time

729
00:31:49,055 --> 00:31:53,741
a single sacrifice for sin,

730
00:31:53,741 --> 00:31:57,685
He sat down at the right hand

731
00:31:57,685 --> 00:31:59,106
of God.

732
00:31:59,106 --> 00:32:00,748
Jesus endured the cross,

733
00:32:00,748 --> 00:32:02,799
despising the shame.

734
00:32:02,799 --> 00:32:04,940
Isn't that what the 
author of Hebrews says?

735
00:32:04,940 --> 00:32:06,895
And is seated at the right hand

736
00:32:06,895 --> 00:32:11,698
of the throne of God.

737
00:32:11,698 --> 00:32:13,360
He did the work.

738
00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:15,254
He sat down.

739
00:32:15,254 --> 00:32:17,195
See, we're just developing a theology

740
00:32:17,195 --> 00:32:22,178
of this whole seating of Christ.

741
00:32:22,178 --> 00:32:23,846
It happened.

742
00:32:23,846 --> 00:32:25,443
That's where He is.

743
00:32:25,443 --> 00:32:27,044
Seated at the right hand

744
00:32:27,044 --> 00:32:28,821
of the Majesty on high.

745
00:32:28,821 --> 00:32:33,494
Brethren, do you recognize 
the man Jesus Christ?

746
00:32:33,494 --> 00:32:35,864
And see, this is what 
the author of Hebrews

747
00:32:35,864 --> 00:32:38,383
is arguing for too.

748
00:32:38,383 --> 00:32:40,328
He's a man, made for a little while

749
00:32:40,328 --> 00:32:43,697
lower than angels.

750
00:32:43,697 --> 00:32:46,330
He was made like us in every respect.

751
00:32:46,330 --> 00:32:47,882
See, He became one of us.

752
00:32:47,882 --> 00:32:51,091
He calls us His brothers

753
00:32:51,091 --> 00:32:54,165
in that book.

754
00:32:54,165 --> 00:32:58,647
What we have to recognize is

755
00:32:58,647 --> 00:33:02,334
the Man.

756
00:33:02,334 --> 00:33:07,547
This last Adam.

757
00:33:07,547 --> 00:33:10,717
This one who represents us.

758
00:33:10,717 --> 00:33:13,898
Bone of our bone.

759
00:33:13,898 --> 00:33:16,557
Think where He is.

760
00:33:16,557 --> 00:33:20,784
He's been exalted to the absolute highest

761
00:33:20,784 --> 00:33:23,841
place in the universe.

762
00:33:23,841 --> 00:33:26,208
If you can even call 
that "in the universe."

763
00:33:26,208 --> 00:33:28,044
It's probably outside the universe.

764
00:33:28,044 --> 00:33:29,869
But where is there a higher,

765
00:33:29,869 --> 00:33:31,320
more exalted place

766
00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:34,303
than at the right hand 
of the Majesty on high?

767
00:33:34,303 --> 00:33:37,062
There is none.

768
00:33:37,062 --> 00:33:38,841
Brethren, you have to recognize...

769
00:33:38,841 --> 00:33:43,175
We would not have 
ever even dreamed this up.

770
00:33:43,175 --> 00:33:44,885
To have Paul come along

771
00:33:44,885 --> 00:33:48,141
and say in the first place,

772
00:33:48,141 --> 00:33:51,164
you will be there with Christ.

773
00:33:51,164 --> 00:33:52,977
Which Scripture does speak that way.

774
00:33:52,977 --> 00:33:56,942
But for him to come along and say,

775
00:33:56,942 --> 00:34:03,921
God has already seated you there.

776
00:34:03,921 --> 00:34:07,943
What is that?

777
00:34:07,943 --> 00:34:10,067
There He is.

778
00:34:10,067 --> 00:34:15,511
There He sits.

779
00:34:15,511 --> 00:34:18,693
But it's not just that He's sitting.

780
00:34:18,693 --> 00:34:21,494
He says You sit there until I make

781
00:34:21,494 --> 00:34:23,578
all your enemies a 
footstool for Your feet.

782
00:34:23,578 --> 00:34:26,588
A footstool.

783
00:34:26,588 --> 00:34:30,087
Have you ever read when Joshua

784
00:34:30,087 --> 00:34:32,049
went into the land of Canaan

785
00:34:32,049 --> 00:34:37,098
and began to defeat the kings?

786
00:34:37,098 --> 00:34:40,941
And he called the leaders of Israel.

787
00:34:40,941 --> 00:34:43,506
And he had those kings brought.

788
00:34:43,506 --> 00:34:46,027
Before they executed them,

789
00:34:46,027 --> 00:34:48,547
he had the men of Israel

790
00:34:48,547 --> 00:34:51,503
place their feet on their necks.

791
00:34:51,503 --> 00:34:55,981
Did you ever read that?

792
00:34:55,981 --> 00:34:57,649
In David's day, back in the day

793
00:34:57,649 --> 00:35:01,720
when Psalm 110 was written,

794
00:35:01,720 --> 00:35:04,144
it was common for a king to show

795
00:35:04,144 --> 00:35:06,509
that he had conquered another kingdom

796
00:35:06,509 --> 00:35:09,460
by bringing the king of that kingdom

797
00:35:09,460 --> 00:35:12,071
and placing his foot on the neck

798
00:35:12,071 --> 00:35:14,785
of that conquered enemy.

799
00:35:14,785 --> 00:35:17,619
You knew which king was reigning.

800
00:35:17,619 --> 00:35:22,219
And you know which king had been defeated,

801
00:35:22,219 --> 00:35:25,328
by their position in that whole scene.

802
00:35:25,328 --> 00:35:26,717
You know what we are told?

803
00:35:26,717 --> 00:35:30,186
We are told in 1 Corinthians 15

804
00:35:30,186 --> 00:35:34,132
that Christ must reign until He has put

805
00:35:34,132 --> 00:35:37,448
all His enemies under His feet.

806
00:35:37,448 --> 00:35:40,189
Picture it.

807
00:35:40,189 --> 00:35:44,029
The devil and all of his angels.

808
00:35:44,029 --> 00:35:48,903
Brethren, think about what this is saying.

809
00:35:48,903 --> 00:35:52,929
Every single defiant human being

810
00:35:52,929 --> 00:35:56,211
is going to have their 
neck under His heel.

811
00:35:56,211 --> 00:35:59,556
Every devil, every one of his angels,

812
00:35:59,556 --> 00:36:01,812
every man, woman, and child

813
00:36:01,812 --> 00:36:03,939
who remains defiant to Christ.

814
00:36:03,939 --> 00:36:07,653
Their necks are all 
headed toward one place.

815
00:36:07,653 --> 00:36:09,734
All of them.

816
00:36:09,734 --> 00:36:11,312
He is reigning.

817
00:36:11,312 --> 00:36:12,424
He is ruling.

818
00:36:12,424 --> 00:36:15,484
Put away this garbage that Jesus Christ

819
00:36:15,484 --> 00:36:18,583
is not yet reigning and will not reign

820
00:36:18,583 --> 00:36:21,457
until He sets up a Kingdom in Jerusalem,

821
00:36:21,457 --> 00:36:23,506
in the physical Jerusalem

822
00:36:23,506 --> 00:36:26,362
over on the other side of the world

823
00:36:26,362 --> 00:36:28,082
in the Near East.

824
00:36:28,082 --> 00:36:29,236
Don't buy that.

825
00:36:29,236 --> 00:36:30,814
Christ is reigning now.

826
00:36:30,814 --> 00:36:32,694
Christ is on His throne now.

827
00:36:32,694 --> 00:36:33,700
He is reigning.

828
00:36:33,700 --> 00:36:34,822
He is ruling.

829
00:36:34,822 --> 00:36:36,776
His enemies are being subdued.

830
00:36:36,776 --> 00:36:39,126
Bank on it. Count on it.

831
00:36:39,126 --> 00:36:41,231
We see Him seated.

832
00:36:41,231 --> 00:36:43,666
Do you know,

833
00:36:43,666 --> 00:36:45,475
Peter said it in that day.

834
00:36:45,475 --> 00:36:48,902
You can let all the house of Israel

835
00:36:48,902 --> 00:36:50,750
know some truth.

836
00:36:50,750 --> 00:36:52,442
What truth was that?

837
00:36:52,442 --> 00:36:54,376
Let them know therefore for certain

838
00:36:54,376 --> 00:36:58,172
that God has made 
Him both Lord and Christ.

839
00:36:58,172 --> 00:36:59,148
He is Lord.

840
00:36:59,148 --> 00:37:00,144
He reigns.

841
00:37:00,144 --> 00:37:01,769
And every one of His enemies are

842
00:37:01,769 --> 00:37:03,428
being subdued before Him.

843
00:37:03,428 --> 00:37:05,780
Let there be no question, brethren,

844
00:37:05,780 --> 00:37:08,781
for a moment as to who exactly

845
00:37:08,781 --> 00:37:10,648
is on the throne of this world.

846
00:37:10,648 --> 00:37:11,977
Oh, the devil may be real;

847
00:37:11,977 --> 00:37:13,108
he may be strong;

848
00:37:13,108 --> 00:37:14,742
he may be influencing this world,

849
00:37:14,742 --> 00:37:16,144
but you make no mistake about

850
00:37:16,144 --> 00:37:17,765
who is on that throne.

851
00:37:17,765 --> 00:37:19,818
Jesus Christ is on that throne.

852
00:37:19,818 --> 00:37:21,387
And though He be seated,

853
00:37:21,387 --> 00:37:22,639
make no mistake about it,

854
00:37:22,639 --> 00:37:24,349
He is still a Man of war,

855
00:37:24,349 --> 00:37:26,138
and there are pictures that portray

856
00:37:26,138 --> 00:37:28,427
that reality just as well,

857
00:37:28,427 --> 00:37:30,714
not the least of which 
are some of the pictures

858
00:37:30,714 --> 00:37:33,399
that you get in the book of Revelation.

859
00:37:33,399 --> 00:37:35,359
People may go wrong on Revelation

860
00:37:35,359 --> 00:37:36,648
in all sorts of places,

861
00:37:36,648 --> 00:37:39,325
but I'll tell you one place 
you never want to go wrong

862
00:37:39,325 --> 00:37:41,623
is who it is that's on a white horse,

863
00:37:41,623 --> 00:37:43,793
and goes forth conquering to conquer.

864
00:37:43,793 --> 00:37:45,224
That is not the anti-Christ,

865
00:37:45,224 --> 00:37:47,854
no matter what the 
dispensationalists might say.

866
00:37:47,854 --> 00:37:49,302
That is Jesus Christ.

867
00:37:49,302 --> 00:37:51,247
And He goes forth 
on that white horse.

868
00:37:51,247 --> 00:37:52,958
And brethren, there is another place

869
00:37:52,958 --> 00:37:56,427
in Revelation that speaks the same truth.

870
00:37:56,427 --> 00:38:00,824
I saw in heaven opened and behold,

871
00:38:00,824 --> 00:38:03,285
a white horse, and the one sitting on it

872
00:38:03,285 --> 00:38:04,942
called Faithful and True,

873
00:38:04,942 --> 00:38:06,677
and in righteousness He judges

874
00:38:06,677 --> 00:38:08,615
and makes war.

875
00:38:08,615 --> 00:38:10,395
He is making war.

876
00:38:10,395 --> 00:38:12,521
He is defeating His enemies.

877
00:38:12,521 --> 00:38:16,059
He is ruling the nations 
with a rod of iron.

878
00:38:16,059 --> 00:38:19,559
And He is beating down His enemies

879
00:38:19,559 --> 00:38:21,092
into submission.

880
00:38:21,092 --> 00:38:22,837
You don't see it.

881
00:38:22,837 --> 00:38:25,241
But I'll tell you this,

882
00:38:25,241 --> 00:38:31,429
every time a sinner unrepentant dies,

883
00:38:31,429 --> 00:38:38,157
place another neck right under His heel.

884
00:38:38,157 --> 00:38:41,544
No more fight left in that person.

885
00:38:41,544 --> 00:38:45,918
He is subduing one 
after another after another.

886
00:38:45,918 --> 00:38:47,697
You can talk about the fact that

887
00:38:47,697 --> 00:38:49,911
two people die every second.

888
00:38:49,911 --> 00:38:52,508
(snapping)

889
00:38:52,508 --> 00:38:53,976
That fast.

890
00:38:53,976 --> 00:38:55,697
And you know what's happening?

891
00:38:55,697 --> 00:38:57,145
The vast majority of them,

892
00:38:57,145 --> 00:38:59,188
they're being subdued for good.

893
00:38:59,188 --> 00:39:02,548
Enemies brought totally into subjection.

894
00:39:02,548 --> 00:39:06,144
They will not mock.

895
00:39:06,144 --> 00:39:09,860
They will not resist any longer.

896
00:39:09,860 --> 00:39:11,306
They will not be defiant.

897
00:39:11,306 --> 00:39:12,751
They will not say any longer

898
00:39:12,751 --> 00:39:14,958
"we will not have this 
man to rule over us."

899
00:39:14,958 --> 00:39:17,510
It's done.

900
00:39:17,510 --> 00:39:19,449
He is ruling over them.

901
00:39:19,449 --> 00:39:23,304
And He has subjected them completely.

902
00:39:23,304 --> 00:39:27,638
They will not bow willingly.

903
00:39:27,638 --> 00:39:31,343
Now their knee will bend unwillingly.

904
00:39:31,343 --> 00:39:32,411
Be certain, brethren.

905
00:39:32,411 --> 00:39:35,186
Be certain.

906
00:39:35,186 --> 00:39:37,808
So how does this connect with us?

907
00:39:37,808 --> 00:39:40,881
Brethren, for one thing,

908
00:39:40,881 --> 00:39:43,497
we need to let Scripture speak.

909
00:39:43,497 --> 00:39:45,284
Let's go back to Ephesians,

910
00:39:45,284 --> 00:39:46,338
if you're not there.

911
00:39:46,338 --> 00:39:48,342
Go back to Ephesians.

912
00:39:48,342 --> 00:39:50,804
Because the real issue in all of this,

913
00:39:50,804 --> 00:39:52,991
is how does this connect with you and me

914
00:39:52,991 --> 00:39:55,216
who are Christians?

915
00:39:55,216 --> 00:39:59,451
I mean, if we're seated 
together with Christ...

916
00:39:59,451 --> 00:40:05,382
Pastor, you've painted this picture,

917
00:40:05,382 --> 00:40:07,525
and He's triumphant and He's seated.

918
00:40:07,525 --> 00:40:10,118
The right hand of majesty.

919
00:40:10,118 --> 00:40:11,146
That's where He is.

920
00:40:11,146 --> 00:40:14,087
The place of honor.

921
00:40:14,087 --> 00:40:15,332
Ruling.

922
00:40:15,332 --> 00:40:16,743
Reigning.

923
00:40:16,743 --> 00:40:17,872
Dominion.

924
00:40:17,872 --> 00:40:19,855
He is the Adonai.

925
00:40:19,855 --> 00:40:23,942
Who sits at the right hand of Jehovah.

926
00:40:23,942 --> 00:40:26,021
What does that mean for us?

927
00:40:26,021 --> 00:40:28,514
Is that just forensic?

928
00:40:28,514 --> 00:40:29,915
Well, now we go on our way

929
00:40:29,915 --> 00:40:37,073
with our legal reality.

930
00:40:37,073 --> 00:40:42,273
Brethren, that is not 
what Paul has in mind.

931
00:40:42,273 --> 00:40:44,435
You say, how do you know?

932
00:40:44,435 --> 00:40:48,738
Brethren, Ephesians 1:19,

933
00:40:48,738 --> 00:40:52,151
go back there.

934
00:40:52,151 --> 00:40:54,342
Because this isn't the first time

935
00:40:54,342 --> 00:40:58,702
we're getting hit with this reality.

936
00:40:58,702 --> 00:41:02,204
It was said a little bit different before.

937
00:41:02,204 --> 00:41:07,251
"That you may know,

938
00:41:07,251 --> 00:41:11,729
what is the immeasurable greatness

939
00:41:11,729 --> 00:41:14,804
of God's power toward us who believe."

940
00:41:14,804 --> 00:41:17,418
You see what the issue is?

941
00:41:17,418 --> 00:41:21,392
It's power towards us.

942
00:41:21,392 --> 00:41:24,563
"According to the working 
of God's great might,

943
00:41:24,563 --> 00:41:28,634
that He worked in 
Christ when He raised Him

944
00:41:28,634 --> 00:41:31,895
from the dead and seated Him

945
00:41:31,895 --> 00:41:34,345
at His right hand in the heavenly places."

946
00:41:34,345 --> 00:41:36,712
Where are we?

947
00:41:36,712 --> 00:41:38,878
With Him

948
00:41:38,878 --> 00:41:42,320
in the heavenly places.

949
00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:44,585
"Far above all rule and authority

950
00:41:44,585 --> 00:41:46,184
and power and dominion,

951
00:41:46,184 --> 00:41:48,196
and above every name that is named,

952
00:41:48,196 --> 00:41:50,763
not only in this age, but 
also in the one to come."

953
00:41:50,763 --> 00:41:52,919
Here's what I want you to see,

954
00:41:52,919 --> 00:41:56,238
is Paul, doesn't want 
you to think about this

955
00:41:56,238 --> 00:41:59,322
as some forensic, legal reality

956
00:41:59,322 --> 00:42:01,767
that has no practical implications.

957
00:42:01,767 --> 00:42:03,704
What he's saying is,

958
00:42:03,704 --> 00:42:06,520
your being bound together with Christ

959
00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:09,910
has everything to do with power

960
00:42:09,910 --> 00:42:15,418
towards you.

961
00:42:15,418 --> 00:42:17,983
That's the connection.

962
00:42:17,983 --> 00:42:19,535
Don't miss that.

963
00:42:19,535 --> 00:42:22,966
Don't lose that.

964
00:42:22,966 --> 00:42:26,340
Remember, Paul's praying for them.

965
00:42:26,340 --> 00:42:29,028
He wants them to be able to comprehend.

966
00:42:29,028 --> 00:42:31,131
And as he's talking about this

967
00:42:31,131 --> 00:42:34,422
being seated together with Christ

968
00:42:34,422 --> 00:42:37,005
in the heavenly places,

969
00:42:37,005 --> 00:42:39,257
the very context,

970
00:42:39,257 --> 00:42:43,326
he's still formulating his argument

971
00:42:43,326 --> 00:42:45,412
from that verse.

972
00:42:45,412 --> 00:42:47,413
That's what all of 
this has been about.

973
00:42:47,413 --> 00:42:49,459
Showing you the power of God.

974
00:42:49,459 --> 00:42:51,656
Whereas once you were dead in

975
00:42:51,656 --> 00:42:52,928
trespasses and sins,

976
00:42:52,928 --> 00:42:54,621
following the course of this world,

977
00:42:54,621 --> 00:42:56,341
the prince of the power of the air,

978
00:42:56,341 --> 00:42:59,450
all that, lust, and sons of disobedience

979
00:42:59,450 --> 00:43:01,227
and under God's wrath...

980
00:43:01,227 --> 00:43:03,377
God has powerfully,

981
00:43:03,377 --> 00:43:05,928
this is the power towards you,

982
00:43:05,928 --> 00:43:08,471
He has powerfully brought you out

983
00:43:08,471 --> 00:43:11,075
and put you in this exalted position.

984
00:43:11,075 --> 00:43:13,279
Don't lose the reality of that.

985
00:43:13,279 --> 00:43:17,655
Brethren, great demonstrations of power

986
00:43:17,655 --> 00:43:19,538
have come to pass in all this.

987
00:43:19,538 --> 00:43:22,834
Jesus Christ went to that cross

988
00:43:22,834 --> 00:43:24,601
and there was power.

989
00:43:24,601 --> 00:43:27,772
It says He disarmed His enemies.

990
00:43:27,772 --> 00:43:29,694
He ripped the arms from them.

991
00:43:29,694 --> 00:43:30,949
He took their swords.

992
00:43:30,949 --> 00:43:32,241
He took their guns.

993
00:43:32,241 --> 00:43:34,748
He disarmed those enemies.

994
00:43:34,748 --> 00:43:36,943
He subdued them,

995
00:43:36,943 --> 00:43:40,594
and put them to open shame.

996
00:43:40,594 --> 00:43:42,625
Does that have anything to do with you?

997
00:43:42,625 --> 00:43:45,916
Your life and power in your life?

998
00:43:45,916 --> 00:43:48,154
Brethren, it has everything to do with it.

999
00:43:48,154 --> 00:43:49,866
Everything.

1000
00:43:49,866 --> 00:43:51,684
Don't lose this.

1001
00:43:51,684 --> 00:43:53,406
Christ has taken such a position

1002
00:43:53,406 --> 00:43:56,006
above demonic powers and will continue

1003
00:43:56,006 --> 00:43:59,796
to wage war from His exalted position.

1004
00:43:59,796 --> 00:44:04,100
Every one of these rebels 
being entirely destroyed.

1005
00:44:04,100 --> 00:44:06,150
That's what's basically in process.

1006
00:44:06,150 --> 00:44:08,788
That is Christ's position,

1007
00:44:08,788 --> 00:44:11,571
and that is the Christian position.

1008
00:44:11,571 --> 00:44:17,895
So, again, what does it mean?

1009
00:44:17,895 --> 00:44:22,393
Brethren,

1010
00:44:22,393 --> 00:44:26,394
I come to the commentaries.

1011
00:44:26,394 --> 00:44:28,579
So, let me just give you an example.

1012
00:44:28,579 --> 00:44:31,241
One commentator says,

1013
00:44:31,241 --> 00:44:33,898
"Jesus' entrance into the heavenly places

1014
00:44:33,898 --> 00:44:41,973
is a pledge that we 
shall also enter there."

1015
00:44:41,973 --> 00:44:46,453
That we shall also enter there.

1016
00:44:46,453 --> 00:44:51,257
What's the basic problem with that?

1017
00:44:51,257 --> 00:44:55,831
Paul isn't saying we shall enter there.

1018
00:44:55,831 --> 00:44:57,505
He says we're already there.

1019
00:44:57,505 --> 00:44:59,317
Now, look,

1020
00:44:59,317 --> 00:45:03,180
These statements that 
I'm going to tell you here,

1021
00:45:03,180 --> 00:45:05,018
I don't disagree with them,

1022
00:45:05,018 --> 00:45:06,758
I just disagree that this is what

1023
00:45:06,758 --> 00:45:09,314
Paul's main point is right here.

1024
00:45:09,314 --> 00:45:10,797
Are there future realities?

1025
00:45:10,797 --> 00:45:12,014
Yes.

1026
00:45:12,014 --> 00:45:13,652
Obviously.

1027
00:45:13,652 --> 00:45:16,218
Because physically, I'm not 
seated on that throne.

1028
00:45:16,218 --> 00:45:18,153
Obviously.

1029
00:45:18,153 --> 00:45:19,608
Physically, you're here.

1030
00:45:19,608 --> 00:45:20,771
You're seated here.

1031
00:45:20,771 --> 00:45:23,103
You're looking this way.

1032
00:45:23,103 --> 00:45:25,478
We recognize that.

1033
00:45:25,478 --> 00:45:28,728
You don't have to be convinced of that.

1034
00:45:28,728 --> 00:45:30,365
Here's another commentator.

1035
00:45:30,365 --> 00:45:33,785
"Christ has entered into heaven

1036
00:45:33,785 --> 00:45:35,583
as the forerunner,

1037
00:45:35,583 --> 00:45:37,867
to take possession of 
heaven for His people

1038
00:45:37,867 --> 00:45:42,863
in their name, in their behalf."

1039
00:45:42,863 --> 00:45:45,611
But see, again, this does not properly

1040
00:45:45,611 --> 00:45:47,483
stress the past tense of our

1041
00:45:47,483 --> 00:45:52,502
already being seated with Christ.

1042
00:45:52,502 --> 00:45:54,650
We come behind.

1043
00:45:54,650 --> 00:45:55,746
He's the forerunner.

1044
00:45:55,746 --> 00:45:57,344
We come behind in the future.

1045
00:45:57,344 --> 00:45:59,031
But that's not what he's saying.

1046
00:45:59,031 --> 00:46:04,167
He says we are there together with Him.

1047
00:46:04,167 --> 00:46:06,423
Here's another commentator.

1048
00:46:06,423 --> 00:46:08,840
"We are made to sit already."

1049
00:46:08,840 --> 00:46:12,997
See that's doing justice,

1050
00:46:12,997 --> 00:46:15,509
but then listen to what 
he says right after.

1051
00:46:15,509 --> 00:46:17,377
"...which is so said because of

1052
00:46:17,377 --> 00:46:20,918
the certainty of it.

1053
00:46:20,918 --> 00:46:24,901
For the same glory Christ has,

1054
00:46:24,901 --> 00:46:26,892
we shall have."

1055
00:46:26,892 --> 00:46:28,337
But see, as soon as he says,

1056
00:46:28,337 --> 00:46:30,153
we're already there,

1057
00:46:30,153 --> 00:46:31,850
he right off to the future he goes.

1058
00:46:31,850 --> 00:46:34,107
I'm telling you,

1059
00:46:34,107 --> 00:46:38,897
it is really difficult for reformed people

1060
00:46:38,897 --> 00:46:41,207
to really lay hold on
some of the realities

1061
00:46:41,207 --> 00:46:43,422
that are true about our life right now.

1062
00:46:43,422 --> 00:46:45,560
And to stay there without immediately

1063
00:46:45,560 --> 00:46:49,062
running off to the future.

1064
00:46:49,062 --> 00:46:51,224
Another commentator says,

1065
00:46:51,224 --> 00:46:53,024
"Christ rose from the dead

1066
00:46:53,024 --> 00:46:54,979
and ascended up into heaven,

1067
00:46:54,979 --> 00:46:57,998
not as a private person,

1068
00:46:57,998 --> 00:47:00,637
but as the common Head and Parent,

1069
00:47:00,637 --> 00:47:03,352
root and representative of 
His church and people,

1070
00:47:03,352 --> 00:47:05,102
so that what He has done,

1071
00:47:05,102 --> 00:47:07,810
the Christian may be said to have done.

1072
00:47:07,810 --> 00:47:11,350
They rose in Him and are 
sat down in Heaven in Him.

1073
00:47:11,350 --> 00:47:15,379
And blessed be God for 
the well-grounded hopes."

1074
00:47:15,379 --> 00:47:17,803
See, it's future.

1075
00:47:17,803 --> 00:47:19,925
"That as we now sit together in Christ,

1076
00:47:19,925 --> 00:47:22,859
so ere long, we shall forever sit together

1077
00:47:22,859 --> 00:47:24,362
with Christ."

1078
00:47:24,362 --> 00:47:25,475
You see what he says?

1079
00:47:25,475 --> 00:47:27,888
He says now we sit together in Christ.

1080
00:47:27,888 --> 00:47:31,417
In the future, we'll sit 
together with Christ.

1081
00:47:31,417 --> 00:47:34,112
What's the problem with that?

1082
00:47:34,112 --> 00:47:36,584
It's not what Paul's saying.

1083
00:47:36,584 --> 00:47:39,444
Paul isn't saying we 
sit together in Christ.

1084
00:47:39,444 --> 00:47:42,069
And then it will be with Christ.

1085
00:47:42,069 --> 00:47:43,530
He's saying,

1086
00:47:43,530 --> 00:47:46,022
we're already seated with Him.

1087
00:47:46,022 --> 00:47:48,005
Together with Him.

1088
00:47:48,005 --> 00:47:51,608
See I agree with what 
these guys are saying.

1089
00:47:51,608 --> 00:47:53,605
Don't get me wrong.

1090
00:47:53,605 --> 00:47:56,979
They just keep going to the future.

1091
00:47:56,979 --> 00:47:59,160
That's the problem.

1092
00:47:59,160 --> 00:48:02,501
Listen, what Paul is vitally wanting you

1093
00:48:02,501 --> 00:48:05,132
to feel and comprehend

1094
00:48:05,132 --> 00:48:07,858
is the power of this reality

1095
00:48:07,858 --> 00:48:09,722
for now.

1096
00:48:09,722 --> 00:48:14,482
The power that has been revealed

1097
00:48:14,482 --> 00:48:18,522
from God towards you as a believer

1098
00:48:18,522 --> 00:48:22,116
being this power that raises Christ

1099
00:48:22,116 --> 00:48:24,739
and seats Him at His right hand

1100
00:48:24,739 --> 00:48:26,530
in the heavenly places.

1101
00:48:26,530 --> 00:48:28,948
That is the vital link.

1102
00:48:28,948 --> 00:48:30,688
It is a present reality.

1103
00:48:30,688 --> 00:48:32,983
Brethren, I know.

1104
00:48:32,983 --> 00:48:35,004
There is much that we hope for

1105
00:48:35,004 --> 00:48:37,237
and wait in anticipation of,

1106
00:48:37,237 --> 00:48:40,828
but all these future references

1107
00:48:40,828 --> 00:48:46,189
miss something that has already happened.

1108
00:48:46,189 --> 00:48:48,432
And is happening.

1109
00:48:48,432 --> 00:48:49,934
Look,

1110
00:48:49,934 --> 00:48:52,874
here's what's being said,

1111
00:48:52,874 --> 00:48:56,739
God has given us,

1112
00:48:56,739 --> 00:48:59,069
you and me Christian,

1113
00:48:59,069 --> 00:49:01,907
joint seat,

1114
00:49:01,907 --> 00:49:03,734
together,

1115
00:49:03,734 --> 00:49:06,931
in the heavenly regions,

1116
00:49:06,931 --> 00:49:10,819
so that we have part.

1117
00:49:10,819 --> 00:49:14,038
Now get this.

1118
00:49:14,038 --> 00:49:16,585
We have part.

1119
00:49:16,585 --> 00:49:21,459
We have a shared lot

1120
00:49:21,459 --> 00:49:24,400
in the reign of Christ

1121
00:49:24,400 --> 00:49:27,467
and the possession of Christ

1122
00:49:27,467 --> 00:49:30,020
and the dominion of Christ

1123
00:49:30,020 --> 00:49:33,623
and the power of Christ.

1124
00:49:33,623 --> 00:49:35,336
Brethren, when you go look at those

1125
00:49:35,336 --> 00:49:38,076
verses in Revelation,

1126
00:49:38,076 --> 00:49:41,080
there's an army riding behind Him.

1127
00:49:41,080 --> 00:49:42,667
You don't want to write that off

1128
00:49:42,667 --> 00:49:44,369
to simply what happens to you after

1129
00:49:44,369 --> 00:49:48,233
you have died.

1130
00:49:48,233 --> 00:49:52,637
That's a reality that's true of you now.

1131
00:49:52,637 --> 00:49:56,632
Brethren,

1132
00:49:56,632 --> 00:50:03,080
the world, sin, death,

1133
00:50:03,080 --> 00:50:06,420
hell, the flesh, Satan

1134
00:50:06,420 --> 00:50:08,292
with all of their misery

1135
00:50:08,292 --> 00:50:10,320
and all of their wretchedness,

1136
00:50:10,320 --> 00:50:17,371
they have come under the feet of Christ.

1137
00:50:17,371 --> 00:50:21,208
But they have come under our feet too.

1138
00:50:21,208 --> 00:50:22,714
And if you don't believe that,

1139
00:50:22,714 --> 00:50:24,619
you're not paying 
close enough attention.

1140
00:50:24,619 --> 00:50:26,449
And one of the reasons 
you don't believe it,

1141
00:50:26,449 --> 00:50:27,619
if you just heard me say it,

1142
00:50:27,619 --> 00:50:28,583
and you don't believe it,

1143
00:50:28,583 --> 00:50:29,945
is because you've 
been so programmed

1144
00:50:29,945 --> 00:50:31,005
not to believe it,

1145
00:50:31,005 --> 00:50:32,028
that when you actually come across

1146
00:50:32,028 --> 00:50:33,416
those verses when you're reading,

1147
00:50:33,416 --> 00:50:34,914
you don't believe them.

1148
00:50:34,914 --> 00:50:36,284
You just go right past them.

1149
00:50:36,284 --> 00:50:37,519
It's like saying to them,

1150
00:50:37,519 --> 00:50:38,903
we're already seated.

1151
00:50:38,903 --> 00:50:40,405
Well, I know we 
will be seated.

1152
00:50:40,405 --> 00:50:41,518
No, we're already seated.

1153
00:50:41,518 --> 00:50:43,009
Well, I know we will be seated.

1154
00:50:43,009 --> 00:50:44,179
We're dead to sin.

1155
00:50:44,179 --> 00:50:45,794
I know we will be dead to sin.

1156
00:50:45,794 --> 00:50:47,414
No, we're dead to sin.

1157
00:50:47,414 --> 00:50:49,421
You see, you read these verses

1158
00:50:49,421 --> 00:50:53,174
in Scripture and they just 
go right past your head.

1159
00:50:53,174 --> 00:50:53,937
You say,

1160
00:50:53,937 --> 00:50:55,303
what are you talking about?

1161
00:50:55,303 --> 00:50:59,382
What sort of verses are you talking about?

1162
00:50:59,382 --> 00:51:04,379
Well, how about this?

1163
00:51:04,379 --> 00:51:06,755
They sang a new song,

1164
00:51:06,755 --> 00:51:08,013
in Revelation,

1165
00:51:08,013 --> 00:51:10,181
Worthy are You to take the scroll

1166
00:51:10,181 --> 00:51:11,598
and open its seals.

1167
00:51:11,598 --> 00:51:13,655
For You were slain and by Your blood

1168
00:51:13,655 --> 00:51:16,110
you ransomed people for God,

1169
00:51:16,110 --> 00:51:17,926
from every tribe and language

1170
00:51:17,926 --> 00:51:19,550
and people and nation.

1171
00:51:19,550 --> 00:51:21,958
And You have made them...

1172
00:51:21,958 --> 00:51:22,984
It's interesting.

1173
00:51:22,984 --> 00:51:25,765
KJV, NKJV says that we have been made

1174
00:51:25,765 --> 00:51:28,755
kings and priests.

1175
00:51:28,755 --> 00:51:30,857
Now I know there's a textual issue.

1176
00:51:30,857 --> 00:51:32,435
you want to say a 
kingdom of priests.

1177
00:51:32,435 --> 00:51:33,167
Ok.

1178
00:51:33,167 --> 00:51:34,141
But you know what,

1179
00:51:34,141 --> 00:51:35,825
whichever way you 
want to go on that,

1180
00:51:35,825 --> 00:51:37,828
you know what it says right after that?

1181
00:51:37,828 --> 00:51:38,828
Priests to our God

1182
00:51:38,828 --> 00:51:42,876
and they shall reign on earth.

1183
00:51:42,876 --> 00:51:48,464
You are reigning on earth.

1184
00:51:48,464 --> 00:51:51,882
We are the reigning ones,

1185
00:51:51,882 --> 00:51:53,969
together with Christ.

1186
00:51:53,969 --> 00:51:56,630
Do you ever read there at the end of Mark?

1187
00:51:56,630 --> 00:52:01,167
They went forth and 
they were evangelizing,

1188
00:52:01,167 --> 00:52:03,050
and they were doing miracles,

1189
00:52:03,050 --> 00:52:07,722
and Christ was working together with them,

1190
00:52:07,722 --> 00:52:09,542
through them.

1191
00:52:09,542 --> 00:52:11,042
How about this?

1192
00:52:11,042 --> 00:52:12,760
Revelation 20:6

1193
00:52:12,760 --> 00:52:14,349
"Blessed and holy is the one who

1194
00:52:14,349 --> 00:52:16,258
shares in the first resurrection."

1195
00:52:16,258 --> 00:52:18,200
Brethren, what's the first resurrection?

1196
00:52:18,200 --> 00:52:20,409
"You've been made 
alive together with Christ."

1197
00:52:20,409 --> 00:52:21,546
If you share in that,

1198
00:52:21,546 --> 00:52:23,773
over such the second death has no power,

1199
00:52:23,773 --> 00:52:24,837
but more than that,

1200
00:52:24,837 --> 00:52:26,667
they will be priests of God

1201
00:52:26,667 --> 00:52:28,402
and of Christ - that's us.

1202
00:52:28,402 --> 00:52:30,231
We can make offerings,

1203
00:52:30,231 --> 00:52:31,414
we are priests.

1204
00:52:31,414 --> 00:52:32,933
We can offer praise.

1205
00:52:32,933 --> 00:52:34,500
We can offer sacrifices.

1206
00:52:34,500 --> 00:52:37,029
And they will reign with Him for

1207
00:52:37,029 --> 00:52:38,689
a thousand years.

1208
00:52:38,689 --> 00:52:40,378
That thousand years, I say,

1209
00:52:40,378 --> 00:52:43,389
brethren, is symbolic.

1210
00:52:43,389 --> 00:52:45,637
I don't think you want 
to take that literally.

1211
00:52:45,637 --> 00:52:47,314
You say, well, that's Revelation

1212
00:52:47,314 --> 00:52:50,256
and that's a hard book to understand.

1213
00:52:50,256 --> 00:52:51,555
Ok.

1214
00:52:51,555 --> 00:52:54,923
How about when Paul 
comes to the Corinthians?

1215
00:52:54,923 --> 00:52:57,049
And he says this to them?

1216
00:52:57,049 --> 00:53:03,945
All things are yours.

1217
00:53:03,945 --> 00:53:08,020
You possess everything.

1218
00:53:08,020 --> 00:53:10,015
Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas

1219
00:53:10,015 --> 00:53:12,049
or the world or life or death

1220
00:53:12,049 --> 00:53:14,373
or present or future,

1221
00:53:14,373 --> 00:53:16,364
all are yours,

1222
00:53:16,364 --> 00:53:18,293
and you are Christ's,

1223
00:53:18,293 --> 00:53:20,069
and Christ is God's.

1224
00:53:20,069 --> 00:53:21,974
How about this?

1225
00:53:21,974 --> 00:53:24,831
Romans 5:17 says,

1226
00:53:24,831 --> 00:53:27,971
"Much more will those who receive

1227
00:53:27,971 --> 00:53:29,734
the abundance of grace

1228
00:53:29,734 --> 00:53:32,290
and the free gift of righteousness

1229
00:53:32,290 --> 00:53:37,065
reign in life."

1230
00:53:37,065 --> 00:53:39,181
You've been justified?

1231
00:53:39,181 --> 00:53:41,638
You are reigning.

1232
00:53:41,638 --> 00:53:44,323
How about this?

1233
00:53:44,323 --> 00:53:45,663
Romans 8:37

1234
00:53:45,663 --> 00:53:47,225
"No, in all these things we are

1235
00:53:47,225 --> 00:53:49,949
more than conquerors 
through Him who loved us."

1236
00:53:49,949 --> 00:53:51,284
Brethren, what you have is

1237
00:53:51,284 --> 00:53:53,559
you possess all,

1238
00:53:53,559 --> 00:53:56,627
you are reigning,

1239
00:53:56,627 --> 00:54:00,248
you are more than conquerors.

1240
00:54:00,248 --> 00:54:03,054
You know this verse.

1241
00:54:03,054 --> 00:54:06,861
Paul says to the Christians,

1242
00:54:06,861 --> 00:54:11,793
God of peace is shortly going to

1243
00:54:11,793 --> 00:54:16,882
crush Satan's head under your foot.

1244
00:54:16,882 --> 00:54:21,009
Under your feet.

1245
00:54:21,009 --> 00:54:24,968
Brethren, evangelizing 
this world out here.

1246
00:54:24,968 --> 00:54:27,130
Christ says this,

1247
00:54:27,130 --> 00:54:28,997
Lo, I am with you always,

1248
00:54:28,997 --> 00:54:31,701
to the end of the world.

1249
00:54:31,701 --> 00:54:33,833
I reign.

1250
00:54:33,833 --> 00:54:35,664
You have free reign.

1251
00:54:35,664 --> 00:54:37,548
Go witness, go make disciples,

1252
00:54:37,548 --> 00:54:39,421
and go baptize them.

1253
00:54:39,421 --> 00:54:41,844
You have power to go make disciples.

1254
00:54:41,844 --> 00:54:44,803
Go make them.

1255
00:54:44,803 --> 00:54:46,067
Brethren,

1256
00:54:46,067 --> 00:54:49,026
think about what this says

1257
00:54:49,026 --> 00:54:51,810
concerning our vantage point.

1258
00:54:51,810 --> 00:54:53,101
You say, what do you mean?

1259
00:54:53,101 --> 00:54:56,102
I mean this, you know what?

1260
00:54:56,102 --> 00:55:00,241
So often, and brethren, 
it's this reformed influence.

1261
00:55:00,241 --> 00:55:01,940
Again, the reformed movement,

1262
00:55:01,940 --> 00:55:03,442
the reformed thinking,

1263
00:55:03,442 --> 00:55:05,238
so much of the reformed doctrine.

1264
00:55:05,238 --> 00:55:06,997
Brethren, I embrace,

1265
00:55:06,997 --> 00:55:10,348
I use that title,

1266
00:55:10,348 --> 00:55:12,646
but let me tell you this.

1267
00:55:12,646 --> 00:55:16,206
With this emphasis on 
corruption and depravity

1268
00:55:16,206 --> 00:55:17,193
of the believer,

1269
00:55:17,193 --> 00:55:19,760
we can be made to see the Christian

1270
00:55:19,760 --> 00:55:20,912
as being like this

1271
00:55:20,912 --> 00:55:22,945
Oh, wretched man that I am.

1272
00:55:22,945 --> 00:55:27,608
Wallowing in this mire of stuff

1273
00:55:27,608 --> 00:55:29,601
and pollution and filth

1274
00:55:29,601 --> 00:55:31,529
and always reaching up.

1275
00:55:31,529 --> 00:55:34,504
You see the vantage point Paul gives you?

1276
00:55:34,504 --> 00:55:37,350
You are seated together with Christ.

1277
00:55:37,350 --> 00:55:38,745
Notice the vantage point.

1278
00:55:38,745 --> 00:55:40,639
Notice how we approach everything.

1279
00:55:40,639 --> 00:55:41,914
You approach sin.

1280
00:55:41,914 --> 00:55:43,356
You approach the flesh.

1281
00:55:43,356 --> 00:55:44,820
You approach the world.

1282
00:55:44,820 --> 00:55:46,280
You approach Satan.

1283
00:55:46,280 --> 00:55:49,004
All from above.

1284
00:55:49,004 --> 00:55:52,896
All from the position of triumph.

1285
00:55:52,896 --> 00:55:54,485
So that what?

1286
00:55:54,485 --> 00:55:58,005
So that you get verses in Scripture like,

1287
00:55:58,005 --> 00:56:01,554
You are no debtor to the flesh.

1288
00:56:01,554 --> 00:56:03,249
You're above it.

1289
00:56:03,249 --> 00:56:04,902
You owe it nothing.

1290
00:56:04,902 --> 00:56:09,594
The flesh that you still have hanging on?

1291
00:56:09,594 --> 00:56:11,937
You're no debtor to it.

1292
00:56:11,937 --> 00:56:13,983
You owe it nothing.

1293
00:56:13,983 --> 00:56:15,990
When it says do 
this for me, do that.

1294
00:56:15,990 --> 00:56:17,425
Remember when you were lost?

1295
00:56:17,425 --> 00:56:18,406
Yes, yes...

1296
00:56:18,406 --> 00:56:21,701
you just went where it led.

1297
00:56:21,701 --> 00:56:23,231
I'm no debtor to you.

1298
00:56:23,231 --> 00:56:24,898
Sit down.

1299
00:56:24,898 --> 00:56:29,521
I rule and I reign with 
my Lord Jesus Christ.

1300
00:56:29,521 --> 00:56:32,010
I'm seated together in that place

1301
00:56:32,010 --> 00:56:33,284
of dominion.

1302
00:56:33,284 --> 00:56:36,369
I approach life from that perspective.

1303
00:56:36,369 --> 00:56:38,314
That's the right way.

1304
00:56:38,314 --> 00:56:41,520
Brethren, we're seated together.

1305
00:56:41,520 --> 00:56:43,503
What does Scripture say?

1306
00:56:43,503 --> 00:56:49,364
Sin no longer has dominion.

1307
00:56:49,364 --> 00:56:51,620
What are you told to do?

1308
00:56:51,620 --> 00:56:56,012
Do not let sin reign 
in your mortal bodies.

1309
00:56:56,012 --> 00:56:57,394
You can just say that?

1310
00:56:57,394 --> 00:56:59,591
Isn't it amazing, Paul 
can come along and say,

1311
00:56:59,591 --> 00:57:01,314
any of you used to steal?

1312
00:57:01,314 --> 00:57:02,829
Any of you used to be a thief?

1313
00:57:02,829 --> 00:57:05,276
Let the thief no longer steal.

1314
00:57:05,276 --> 00:57:06,433
What?

1315
00:57:06,433 --> 00:57:07,800
Is that it?

1316
00:57:07,800 --> 00:57:09,939
I mean, some people are shocked.

1317
00:57:09,939 --> 00:57:11,399
Are you viewing pornography?

1318
00:57:11,399 --> 00:57:12,232
Stop.

1319
00:57:12,232 --> 00:57:12,927
What?

1320
00:57:12,927 --> 00:57:14,424
I need a book.

1321
00:57:14,424 --> 00:57:17,840
It's got to have like 6 or 8 chapters.

1322
00:57:17,840 --> 00:57:22,960
You've got to give me the plan.

1323
00:57:22,960 --> 00:57:24,577
Paul goes around and he says,

1324
00:57:24,577 --> 00:57:27,892
stop it.

1325
00:57:27,892 --> 00:57:29,218
What?

1326
00:57:29,218 --> 00:57:30,228
Do you just say that?

1327
00:57:30,228 --> 00:57:31,807
No, he doesn't just say that.

1328
00:57:31,807 --> 00:57:34,475
He says things like that after he says,

1329
00:57:34,475 --> 00:57:39,302
you're seated with Christ 
in the heavenly places.

1330
00:57:39,302 --> 00:57:42,852
Sin. Stop.

1331
00:57:42,852 --> 00:57:44,358
The world.

1332
00:57:44,358 --> 00:57:45,963
Brethren, have you ever read?

1333
00:57:45,963 --> 00:57:48,202
We've actually been translated out of

1334
00:57:48,202 --> 00:57:49,724
the kingdom of darkness,

1335
00:57:49,724 --> 00:57:52,281
into the kingdom of His dear Son.

1336
00:57:52,281 --> 00:57:54,950
You're in a different realm now.

1337
00:57:54,950 --> 00:57:56,623
You don't live there anymore.

1338
00:57:56,623 --> 00:57:59,502
The world has no say on you anymore.

1339
00:57:59,502 --> 00:58:01,528
You're not controlled by it.

1340
00:58:01,528 --> 00:58:03,789
Jesus Christ said of His disciples,

1341
00:58:03,789 --> 00:58:05,761
They're not of the world,

1342
00:58:05,761 --> 00:58:08,506
even as I'm not of the world.

1343
00:58:08,506 --> 00:58:10,119
They're not of the world.

1344
00:58:10,119 --> 00:58:12,132
You're not of the world.

1345
00:58:12,132 --> 00:58:14,129
You conquer the world.

1346
00:58:14,129 --> 00:58:15,497
What conquers the world?

1347
00:58:15,497 --> 00:58:18,052
Your faith conquers the world.

1348
00:58:18,052 --> 00:58:20,493
You overcome.

1349
00:58:20,493 --> 00:58:24,364
Brethren, when you see sin in Scripture,

1350
00:58:24,364 --> 00:58:26,051
no dominion.

1351
00:58:26,051 --> 00:58:29,876
When you see Law; not under it.

1352
00:58:29,876 --> 00:58:31,564
When you see the flesh,

1353
00:58:31,564 --> 00:58:33,889
no debtor to it.

1354
00:58:33,889 --> 00:58:35,122
When you see everything,

1355
00:58:35,122 --> 00:58:38,453
Paul says, it's all yours.

1356
00:58:38,453 --> 00:58:41,163
Scripture says you reign.

1357
00:58:41,163 --> 00:58:43,201
Scripture says, the world,

1358
00:58:43,201 --> 00:58:45,520
you're not of it.

1359
00:58:45,520 --> 00:58:47,058
The kingdom of darkness,

1360
00:58:47,058 --> 00:58:49,254
you've been translated out of it.

1361
00:58:49,254 --> 00:58:50,060
All of this.

1362
00:58:50,060 --> 00:58:51,842
The devil...

1363
00:58:51,842 --> 00:58:53,342
The God of peace will soon

1364
00:58:53,342 --> 00:58:57,940
crush Satan under your feet.

1365
00:58:57,940 --> 00:58:59,320
Under your feet.

1366
00:58:59,320 --> 00:59:02,075
You say, why didn't He say Christ?

1367
00:59:02,075 --> 00:59:03,277
Exactly.

1368
00:59:03,277 --> 00:59:04,984
Are you not getting it?

1369
00:59:04,984 --> 00:59:08,098
He says, resist the devil,

1370
00:59:08,098 --> 00:59:10,415
and he will flee from you.

1371
00:59:10,415 --> 00:59:12,331
That's the kind of 
stuff Scripture says.

1372
00:59:12,331 --> 00:59:13,732
Put on the whole armor of God

1373
00:59:13,732 --> 00:59:15,584
that you will be able to stand against

1374
00:59:15,584 --> 00:59:17,389
the schemes of the devil.

1375
00:59:17,389 --> 00:59:19,764
Have you ever read there in 1 John 5?

1376
00:59:19,764 --> 00:59:22,473
The evil one does not touch him.

1377
00:59:22,473 --> 00:59:23,173
Who?

1378
00:59:23,173 --> 00:59:24,499
You.

1379
00:59:24,499 --> 00:59:27,194
Doesn't touch you.

1380
00:59:27,194 --> 00:59:30,007
Wow.

1381
00:59:30,007 --> 00:59:31,427
I'm writing to you young men,

1382
00:59:31,427 --> 00:59:36,152
because you've overcome the evil one.

1383
00:59:36,152 --> 00:59:40,788
You think about the Gospel.

1384
00:59:40,788 --> 00:59:43,405
Make disciples?

1385
00:59:43,405 --> 00:59:45,077
I'm with you?

1386
00:59:45,077 --> 00:59:48,217
Go.

1387
00:59:48,217 --> 00:59:53,327
You see, Paul is clearly saying

1388
00:59:53,327 --> 00:59:58,994
there's a power that is towards you.

1389
00:59:58,994 --> 01:00:01,577
But you see the vantage point?

1390
01:00:01,577 --> 01:00:05,068
You're going along and you're struggling

1391
01:00:05,068 --> 01:00:06,994
with whatever...

1392
01:00:06,994 --> 01:00:10,454
sexual sin seems to be a big one.

1393
01:00:10,454 --> 01:00:12,741
But, there are the sins of the mind,

1394
01:00:12,741 --> 01:00:15,040
there's pride, there's jealousy.

1395
01:00:15,040 --> 01:00:16,615
You're going along.

1396
01:00:16,615 --> 01:00:19,481
Brethren, you're not like some

1397
01:00:19,481 --> 01:00:22,025
pig wallowing in the mire

1398
01:00:22,025 --> 01:00:26,475
trying to figure out how 
to get up out of it.

1399
01:00:26,475 --> 01:00:30,095
Paul says don't you know who you are?

1400
01:00:30,095 --> 01:00:31,219
Where you are?

1401
01:00:31,219 --> 01:00:35,177
And what posture you have?

1402
01:00:35,177 --> 01:00:36,689
This is how you approach life.

1403
01:00:36,689 --> 01:00:37,889
This is how you 
approach sin.

1404
01:00:37,889 --> 01:00:39,535
This is how you 
approach the flesh.

1405
01:00:39,535 --> 01:00:41,092
This is how you 
approach the world.

1406
01:00:41,092 --> 01:00:42,687
This is how you 
approach the devil.

1407
01:00:42,687 --> 01:00:45,934
This is how you approach 
evangelizing out there.

1408
01:00:45,934 --> 01:00:47,885
Brethren,

1409
01:00:47,885 --> 01:00:51,151
you think about this,

1410
01:00:51,151 --> 01:00:56,377
you are seated where God is.

1411
01:00:56,377 --> 01:00:58,385
Basically, the reality that we find

1412
01:00:58,385 --> 01:00:59,520
is therefore brothers,

1413
01:00:59,520 --> 01:01:02,066
since we have confidence 
to enter the holy place

1414
01:01:02,066 --> 01:01:03,732
the holy place,

1415
01:01:03,732 --> 01:01:05,424
by the blood of Jesus,

1416
01:01:05,424 --> 01:01:06,944
by the new and living way,

1417
01:01:06,944 --> 01:01:07,980
that He opened for us

1418
01:01:07,980 --> 01:01:09,144
through the curtain,

1419
01:01:09,144 --> 01:01:10,556
that is, through His flesh,

1420
01:01:10,556 --> 01:01:12,153
since we have a great high priest

1421
01:01:12,153 --> 01:01:13,384
over the house of God,

1422
01:01:13,384 --> 01:01:15,446
let us draw near.

1423
01:01:15,446 --> 01:01:18,360
The Christian is there.

1424
01:01:18,360 --> 01:01:20,786
Seated. Right hand of majesty.

1425
01:01:20,786 --> 01:01:24,059
We are there!

1426
01:01:24,059 --> 01:01:26,690
We are in the inner sanctum.

1427
01:01:26,690 --> 01:01:29,553
We are where the shekinah glory is.

1428
01:01:29,553 --> 01:01:34,542
You are seated together 
in that heavenly place.

1429
01:01:34,542 --> 01:01:37,448
You are able to find the living God.

1430
01:01:37,448 --> 01:01:39,294
You have access.

1431
01:01:39,294 --> 01:01:40,412
You're there.

1432
01:01:40,412 --> 01:01:41,603
Right hand.

1433
01:01:41,603 --> 01:01:42,917
A place of intimacy.

1434
01:01:42,917 --> 01:01:44,345
A place of closeness.

1435
01:01:44,345 --> 01:01:46,398
You should have that, brethren,

1436
01:01:46,398 --> 01:01:49,016
if you're seated together with Christ

1437
01:01:49,016 --> 01:01:50,282
in the heavenly places.

1438
01:01:50,282 --> 01:01:51,951
We need to realize our position.

1439
01:01:51,951 --> 01:01:53,739
We need to live accordingly.

1440
01:01:53,739 --> 01:01:55,455
Scripture's all the time telling us,

1441
01:01:55,455 --> 01:01:56,690
draw near.

1442
01:01:56,690 --> 01:01:58,171
Draw near to God.

1443
01:01:58,171 --> 01:02:00,715
How many times Hebrews says that.

1444
01:02:00,715 --> 01:02:02,594
Draw near, draw near.

1445
01:02:02,594 --> 01:02:04,499
There's access.

1446
01:02:04,499 --> 01:02:06,033
That's where we are.

1447
01:02:06,033 --> 01:02:07,612
Together. We're seated.

1448
01:02:07,612 --> 01:02:12,050
We're at that place of privilege.

1449
01:02:12,050 --> 01:02:13,792
Now.

1450
01:02:13,792 --> 01:02:16,659
Right now.

1451
01:02:16,659 --> 01:02:18,873
And I just leave you with this word.

1452
01:02:18,873 --> 01:02:21,455
Because it's similar, but 
it's not exactly the same.

1453
01:02:21,455 --> 01:02:25,681
But what Paul says to the Colossians.

1454
01:02:25,681 --> 01:02:30,345
He says if then you have 
been raised with Christ,

1455
01:02:30,345 --> 01:02:35,791
seek the things that are above

1456
01:02:35,791 --> 01:02:38,788
where Christ is

1457
01:02:38,788 --> 01:02:42,266
seated at the right hand of God.

1458
01:02:42,266 --> 01:02:45,729
Think about that.

1459
01:02:45,729 --> 01:02:48,494
If you have been raised

1460
01:02:48,494 --> 01:02:50,524
with Christ,

1461
01:02:50,524 --> 01:02:57,073
seek the things

1462
01:02:57,073 --> 01:03:01,711
that are above where Christ is

1463
01:03:01,711 --> 01:03:03,278
at the right hand of God.

1464
01:03:03,278 --> 01:03:04,786
Seek the things that are there

1465
01:03:04,786 --> 01:03:06,107
where Christ is.

1466
01:03:06,107 --> 01:03:08,568
If you say, well,

1467
01:03:08,568 --> 01:03:11,252
what's there to be sought?

1468
01:03:11,252 --> 01:03:13,075
Well, he tells you.

1469
01:03:13,075 --> 01:03:15,188
That's where Christ is.

1470
01:03:15,188 --> 01:03:18,223
At the right hand of God.

1471
01:03:18,223 --> 01:03:20,057
What things are there?

1472
01:03:20,057 --> 01:03:31,890
Primarily, God and Christ.

1473
01:03:31,890 --> 01:03:35,768
The vantage point of the Christian.

1474
01:03:35,768 --> 01:03:38,392
Brethren, this is, like Conrad said,

1475
01:03:38,392 --> 01:03:45,292
it's very freeing to the people of God.

1476
01:03:45,292 --> 01:03:49,018
This is the mindset.

1477
01:03:49,018 --> 01:03:51,952
You need to go out of here saying that.

1478
01:03:51,952 --> 01:03:56,116
I am raised together with Christ.

1479
01:03:56,116 --> 01:03:59,683
I am seated together with Christ.

1480
01:03:59,683 --> 01:04:01,623
I am dead to sin.

1481
01:04:01,623 --> 01:04:03,382
I have died to the Law.

1482
01:04:03,382 --> 01:04:07,032
I am a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.

1483
01:04:07,032 --> 01:04:09,531
I have come to Mount Zion.

1484
01:04:09,531 --> 01:04:11,739
I have come to God the Judge

1485
01:04:11,739 --> 01:04:13,167
and Christ the Mediator

1486
01:04:13,167 --> 01:04:15,870
and the blood that speaks better things

1487
01:04:15,870 --> 01:04:17,611
that the blood of Abel.

1488
01:04:17,611 --> 01:04:19,428
I have come there.

1489
01:04:19,428 --> 01:04:20,479
I am there.

1490
01:04:20,479 --> 01:04:22,239
I am seated there.

1491
01:04:22,239 --> 01:04:24,384
I do reign.

1492
01:04:24,384 --> 01:04:26,414
I do have dominion.

1493
01:04:26,414 --> 01:04:28,420
I do conquer.

1494
01:04:28,420 --> 01:04:30,631
I do overcome.

1495
01:04:30,631 --> 01:04:35,800
That's the power of God.

1496
01:04:35,800 --> 01:04:38,723
That you might know

1497
01:04:38,723 --> 01:04:42,645
what is the immeasurable 
greatness of His power

1498
01:04:42,645 --> 01:04:45,572
toward you, believer.

1499
01:04:45,572 --> 01:04:47,481
That's the issue.

1500
01:04:47,481 --> 01:04:49,245
Do you know it?

1501
01:04:49,245 --> 01:04:51,162
Tell yourself.

1502
01:04:51,162 --> 01:04:53,215
Get to know it.

1503
01:04:53,215 --> 01:04:58,518
And live in the reality of it.

1504
01:04:58,518 --> 01:05:01,569
Well, may God help us, brethren.

1505
01:05:01,569 --> 01:05:04,189
It will free you.

1506
01:05:04,189 --> 01:05:07,194
Don't view the Christian life

1507
01:05:07,194 --> 01:05:09,623
as always wallowing in the depths,

1508
01:05:09,623 --> 01:05:14,482
trying to climb up out of the gutter.

1509
01:05:14,482 --> 01:05:16,290
If you've been made alive with Christ,

1510
01:05:16,290 --> 01:05:18,601
that's not your vantage point to this life

1511
01:05:18,601 --> 01:05:21,850
or to anything in it.

1512
01:05:21,850 --> 01:05:26,239
Live like free men.

1513
01:05:26,239 --> 01:05:27,120
More than that,

1514
01:05:27,120 --> 01:05:35,538
live as a ruler and a 
conqueror with Christ.

1515
01:05:35,538 --> 01:05:41,151
You're no dupe to the devil anymore.

1516
01:05:41,151 --> 01:05:45,132
Listen, he full well is aware of language

1517
01:05:45,132 --> 01:05:48,112
in the Bible about his own head

1518
01:05:48,112 --> 01:05:50,110
being under your feet,

1519
01:05:50,110 --> 01:05:51,910
which by the 
way is the fulfillment

1520
01:05:51,910 --> 01:05:54,536
of a promise made way back

1521
01:05:54,536 --> 01:05:56,638
concerning Christ.

1522
01:05:56,638 --> 01:05:58,408
Do you think Paul means us to

1523
01:05:58,408 --> 01:05:59,390
make a connection?

1524
01:05:59,390 --> 01:06:01,255
You better believe it.

1525
01:06:01,255 --> 01:06:02,689
It is together with Christ.

1526
01:06:02,689 --> 01:06:03,609
You try to do any of this

1527
01:06:03,609 --> 01:06:04,345
on your own,

1528
01:06:04,345 --> 01:06:06,710
you will be chewed up and spit out.

1529
01:06:06,710 --> 01:06:10,265
You will be damned and destroyed.

1530
01:06:10,265 --> 01:06:14,487
It is only the power of God.

1531
01:06:14,487 --> 01:06:17,361
The same power that raised Christ

1532
01:06:17,361 --> 01:06:19,186
from the dead and seated Him

1533
01:06:19,186 --> 01:06:22,268
at the right hand 
in the heavenly places.

1534
01:06:22,268 --> 01:06:25,247
Brethren, live like you believe

1535
01:06:25,247 --> 01:06:28,181
such power is towards you.

1536
01:06:28,181 --> 01:06:31,019
Not like you're some defeated,

1537
01:06:31,019 --> 01:06:33,905
ball of corruption,

1538
01:06:33,905 --> 01:06:38,784
massive failure, wretched man.

1539
01:06:38,784 --> 01:06:41,368
You are approaching the Christian life

1540
01:06:41,368 --> 01:06:47,201
all wrong if that's your mindset.

1541
01:06:47,201 --> 01:06:50,169
Father, I pray

1542
01:06:50,169 --> 01:06:57,101
these truths would master us.

1543
01:06:57,101 --> 01:06:58,464
I pray in Christ's name,

1544
01:06:58,464 --> 01:06:59,188
Amen.