1 00:00:24,985 --> 00:00:26,903 Some of you might be thinking right now, 2 00:00:26,903 --> 00:00:28,367 What was that video about? 3 00:00:28,367 --> 00:00:29,844 What was the point of that? 4 00:00:29,844 --> 00:00:33,351 It's to show you the situation that you are in right now. 5 00:00:33,351 --> 00:00:36,206 You are charging head on against your sin, 6 00:00:36,206 --> 00:00:38,615 and you think you're going to beat it. 7 00:00:38,615 --> 00:00:40,725 The kid on the train tracks - that's you. 8 00:00:40,725 --> 00:00:42,274 The train is your sin. 9 00:00:42,274 --> 00:00:43,852 And for some absurd reason, 10 00:00:43,852 --> 00:00:45,848 you believe that you can kill sin; 11 00:00:45,848 --> 00:00:47,329 you can kill pornography; 12 00:00:47,329 --> 00:00:49,354 you can kill masturbation. 13 00:00:49,354 --> 00:00:51,505 After we put the video up a couple days ago 14 00:00:51,505 --> 00:00:53,776 we got so many responses from different people. 15 00:00:53,776 --> 00:00:55,975 And the biggest thing we want to watch out for 16 00:00:55,975 --> 00:00:57,837 is that people don't go head on 17 00:00:57,837 --> 00:00:59,644 into a works-based salvation 18 00:00:59,644 --> 00:01:02,157 of trying to kill sin through self-effort. 19 00:01:02,157 --> 00:01:04,003 And we mention that some in the video. 20 00:01:04,003 --> 00:01:06,498 But I want to emphasize that again. 21 00:01:06,498 --> 00:01:09,527 This is not about what you can do in your own strength. 22 00:01:09,527 --> 00:01:12,772 It's totally about what Jesus Christ did on that cross, 23 00:01:12,772 --> 00:01:15,438 and having faith and looking to that. 24 00:01:15,438 --> 00:01:18,012 Many people will hear: Well, I've got to repent. 25 00:01:18,012 --> 00:01:21,428 But instead of looking to Christ, you're looking at your repentance. 26 00:01:21,428 --> 00:01:23,127 You're looking at your work to see, 27 00:01:23,127 --> 00:01:24,543 am I doing the right works? 28 00:01:24,543 --> 00:01:26,671 Does my life look like someone who is saved? 29 00:01:26,671 --> 00:01:28,593 Now yes, we should examine our lives, 30 00:01:28,593 --> 00:01:30,223 but more importantly, we should be 31 00:01:30,223 --> 00:01:32,131 staring at the glory of God. 32 00:01:32,131 --> 00:01:34,063 My friend, the simple fact, 33 00:01:34,063 --> 00:01:35,271 what happened in my life 34 00:01:35,271 --> 00:01:37,181 and every other person who's been saved 35 00:01:37,181 --> 00:01:38,638 is that we saw Christ. 36 00:01:38,638 --> 00:01:40,878 We saw what truly happened on that cross. 37 00:01:40,878 --> 00:01:43,057 And there is no way I'm going to turn around 38 00:01:43,057 --> 00:01:44,358 and look the other way 39 00:01:44,358 --> 00:01:45,721 once I've seen Christ. 40 00:01:45,721 --> 00:01:48,149 I'm going to gaze upon Him. 41 00:01:48,149 --> 00:01:50,029 I see the glory of God. 42 00:01:50,029 --> 00:01:51,568 And the reality is, as a sheep, 43 00:01:51,568 --> 00:01:53,292 we might fall into the mud at times. 44 00:01:53,292 --> 00:01:55,224 But we are going to get out of that mud 45 00:01:55,224 --> 00:01:57,299 because it's not our nature to stay there, 46 00:01:57,299 --> 00:02:00,524 and we're going to continue on the narrow way by the grace of God. 47 00:02:00,524 --> 00:02:02,446 He will break us. He will discipline us. 48 00:02:02,446 --> 00:02:03,405 He will chastise us. 49 00:02:03,405 --> 00:02:05,379 And maybe God used that very video 50 00:02:05,379 --> 00:02:06,406 to break some of you; 51 00:02:06,406 --> 00:02:07,584 to chastise you; 52 00:02:07,584 --> 00:02:10,161 to show you you have got to get desperate. 53 00:02:10,161 --> 00:02:11,731 There's a war out there to fight. 54 00:02:11,731 --> 00:02:14,008 If you're still going home and looking at pornography 55 00:02:14,008 --> 00:02:15,549 and living in masturbation, 56 00:02:15,549 --> 00:02:17,363 and maybe some of you are truly born again, 57 00:02:17,363 --> 00:02:19,791 this is the time, this is the hour to get desperate; 58 00:02:19,791 --> 00:02:22,018 to realize you have got to get free of this 59 00:02:22,018 --> 00:02:23,313 and leave it in the past 60 00:02:23,313 --> 00:02:25,023 and run faster for Christ. 61 00:02:25,023 --> 00:02:26,819 As it says in Hebrews 12:1, 62 00:02:26,819 --> 00:02:28,504 we've got to let go of the weight. 63 00:02:28,504 --> 00:02:30,093 What's entangling you? 64 00:02:30,093 --> 00:02:33,074 And some of you, what will entangle you from running this race; 65 00:02:33,074 --> 00:02:35,169 what is entangling your legs right now 66 00:02:35,169 --> 00:02:37,413 is your self-effort, your self-reliance. 67 00:02:37,413 --> 00:02:39,191 So let it all go. 68 00:02:39,191 --> 00:02:41,148 Please, just give up. 69 00:02:41,148 --> 00:02:42,854 It's incredible the freedom you get 70 00:02:42,854 --> 00:02:45,296 when you finally give up on trying to free yourself 71 00:02:45,296 --> 00:02:46,834 and you look to Christ. 72 00:02:46,834 --> 00:02:49,091 You look to faith in Christ 73 00:02:49,091 --> 00:02:52,019 and you rely solely upon Him. 74 00:02:52,019 --> 00:02:53,751 So we just felt like sending this out. 75 00:02:53,751 --> 00:02:55,505 Some people also asked the question: 76 00:02:55,505 --> 00:02:59,531 "Well, if I masturbate again, am I saved still? 77 00:02:59,531 --> 00:03:02,095 My friend, you don't lose salvation if you have it. 78 00:03:02,095 --> 00:03:05,126 The question is not: can I lose my salvation? 79 00:03:05,126 --> 00:03:07,627 It is: were you ever truly saved? 80 00:03:07,627 --> 00:03:09,641 Have you truly had the grace of God 81 00:03:09,641 --> 00:03:11,069 shed abroad in your life? 82 00:03:11,069 --> 00:03:14,572 And if you have, justification by faith is true. 83 00:03:14,572 --> 00:03:16,406 It is a reality. 84 00:03:16,406 --> 00:03:18,189 And this week, we had Tim answer 85 00:03:18,189 --> 00:03:19,633 an "Ask Pastor Tim" question. 86 00:03:19,633 --> 00:03:21,181 And at the end of the question, 87 00:03:21,181 --> 00:03:23,881 he hit hard on justification by faith. 88 00:03:23,881 --> 00:03:25,888 So we want to show that to you right now 89 00:03:25,888 --> 00:03:28,658 because we want to have a massive emphasis on this. 90 00:03:28,658 --> 00:03:30,602 We are saved by faith alone; 91 00:03:30,602 --> 00:03:32,858 by looking unto Christ, looking unto Him, 92 00:03:32,858 --> 00:03:34,903 not relying on our own strength; 93 00:03:34,903 --> 00:03:36,115 not our self-effort, 94 00:03:36,115 --> 00:03:38,813 but it's in Christ and Christ alone. 95 00:03:38,813 --> 00:03:40,395 So all of you guys out there, 96 00:03:40,395 --> 00:03:41,761 all you girls as well - 97 00:03:41,761 --> 00:03:43,598 we had many girls sending us emails 98 00:03:43,598 --> 00:03:45,016 who are in bondage to pornography. 99 00:03:45,016 --> 00:03:46,245 And if you're someone else 100 00:03:46,245 --> 00:03:48,126 and you haven't contacted us yet, feel free. 101 00:03:48,126 --> 00:03:50,110 Give us an email. We want to talk. 102 00:03:50,110 --> 00:03:51,690 I care about you guys. 103 00:03:51,690 --> 00:03:52,783 This is real. 104 00:03:52,783 --> 00:03:54,606 There's true freedom and more important 105 00:03:54,606 --> 00:03:56,295 there's true salvation in Christ. 106 00:03:56,295 --> 00:03:57,815 So I pray you'll be blessed 107 00:03:57,815 --> 00:03:59,931 by Tim exhorting on justification 108 00:03:59,931 --> 00:04:02,912 as all of us at the Bible study were. 109 00:04:02,912 --> 00:04:05,540 May God have mercy. 110 00:04:06,807 --> 00:04:09,155 Tim: If indeed that man 111 00:04:09,155 --> 00:04:11,594 had ever truly trusted Jesus Christ - 112 00:04:11,594 --> 00:04:13,973 let me tell you about the doctrine of justification. 113 00:04:13,973 --> 00:04:17,338 Basically, justification - 114 00:04:17,338 --> 00:04:19,895 probably one of the most precious verses 115 00:04:19,895 --> 00:04:22,197 on justification in all the Bible 116 00:04:22,197 --> 00:04:28,849 is found in Romans 4:5. 117 00:04:28,849 --> 00:04:32,702 Let me read it to you. 118 00:04:32,702 --> 00:04:36,974 Romans 4:5 119 00:04:36,974 --> 00:04:39,148 "To the one who does not work 120 00:04:39,148 --> 00:04:42,823 but trusts Him who justifies the ungodly..." 121 00:04:42,823 --> 00:04:44,125 Listen to that right there. 122 00:04:44,125 --> 00:04:47,683 "...Him who justifies the ungodly." 123 00:04:47,683 --> 00:04:49,590 If you don't understand what that means, 124 00:04:49,590 --> 00:04:50,786 let me tell you about it. 125 00:04:50,786 --> 00:04:52,154 The "Him" is God. 126 00:04:52,154 --> 00:04:53,743 What does He do? He justifies. 127 00:04:53,743 --> 00:04:56,592 Who does He justify? He justifies the ungodly. 128 00:04:56,592 --> 00:04:58,037 Who are the ungodly? 129 00:04:58,037 --> 00:04:59,778 Ungodly people are people 130 00:04:59,778 --> 00:05:02,100 who are not in submission to God. 131 00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:03,613 They're in rebellion against Him. 132 00:05:03,613 --> 00:05:04,901 They're people that hate God. 133 00:05:04,901 --> 00:05:06,429 They're people that don't keep His commandments. 134 00:05:06,429 --> 00:05:07,942 They're people that basically live their own life 135 00:05:07,942 --> 00:05:09,571 selfishly to themselves 136 00:05:09,571 --> 00:05:11,009 and with no respect to the fact 137 00:05:11,009 --> 00:05:12,752 that God ever gave them any commandments. 138 00:05:12,752 --> 00:05:14,160 They don't have fear of God in their heart. 139 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:15,387 They don't seek God. 140 00:05:15,387 --> 00:05:17,228 They're ungodly wretches. 141 00:05:17,228 --> 00:05:18,970 They're ungodly people. 142 00:05:18,970 --> 00:05:21,290 "Him" - God - justifies them. 143 00:05:21,290 --> 00:05:22,579 What is justification? 144 00:05:22,579 --> 00:05:26,460 It means a legal declaration 145 00:05:26,460 --> 00:05:29,380 basically in the courtroom of Heaven. 146 00:05:29,380 --> 00:05:32,184 God is declaring the ungodly person 147 00:05:32,184 --> 00:05:34,164 absolutely perfect. 148 00:05:34,164 --> 00:05:36,036 That's what the Gospel is all about. 149 00:05:36,036 --> 00:05:38,897 The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. 150 00:05:38,897 --> 00:05:41,838 In it, we find revealed 151 00:05:41,838 --> 00:05:43,423 the righteousness of God. 152 00:05:43,423 --> 00:05:44,183 What is that? 153 00:05:44,183 --> 00:05:47,112 It's the righteousness that God requires in you, 154 00:05:47,112 --> 00:05:48,302 that you never kept - 155 00:05:48,302 --> 00:05:50,080 perfect law obedience. 156 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:51,820 And Jesus Christ came here 157 00:05:51,820 --> 00:05:54,952 and He lived perfectly under that law. 158 00:05:54,952 --> 00:05:58,710 He earned, He sweat, He fought out, 159 00:05:58,710 --> 00:06:02,449 He battled, He sweat, He bled, 160 00:06:02,449 --> 00:06:05,526 He took that obedience all the way to the cross, 161 00:06:05,526 --> 00:06:08,737 and He earned a righteousness for His people. 162 00:06:08,737 --> 00:06:11,751 And the first moment that true faith 163 00:06:11,751 --> 00:06:13,844 is exercised in Christ, 164 00:06:13,844 --> 00:06:16,646 that righteousness becomes mine. 165 00:06:16,646 --> 00:06:18,405 And nothing takes it away. 166 00:06:18,405 --> 00:06:24,069 Listen, God justifies the ungodly, 167 00:06:24,069 --> 00:06:26,997 and because I was ungodly to start, 168 00:06:26,997 --> 00:06:30,490 when Christ died for me and earned that, 169 00:06:30,490 --> 00:06:32,105 and it's given to me, 170 00:06:32,105 --> 00:06:34,709 and the ungodly are justified, 171 00:06:34,709 --> 00:06:37,200 if that happens when I'm ungodly, 172 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:41,709 certainly, no ungodliness can take it away. 173 00:06:41,709 --> 00:06:43,171 He does it by faith. 174 00:06:43,171 --> 00:06:44,634 It's not by works. 175 00:06:44,634 --> 00:06:46,479 Works doesn't get it for me 176 00:06:46,479 --> 00:06:49,497 and works can't lose it. 177 00:06:49,497 --> 00:06:53,040 And suicide is a work. 178 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,452 And in the same way that no positive works - 179 00:06:56,452 --> 00:06:58,068 no baptism, no good work, 180 00:06:58,068 --> 00:06:59,578 no helping little old ladies, 181 00:06:59,578 --> 00:07:02,465 no giving money can ever get me justified, 182 00:07:02,465 --> 00:07:03,617 only faith - 183 00:07:03,617 --> 00:07:05,262 in the same way, no work 184 00:07:05,262 --> 00:07:08,054 can ever cause me to be unjustified. 185 00:07:08,054 --> 00:07:09,594 No suicide. 186 00:07:09,594 --> 00:07:11,449 Listen to me, 187 00:07:11,449 --> 00:07:13,767 justification is so thorough, 188 00:07:13,767 --> 00:07:15,300 it is so certain, 189 00:07:15,300 --> 00:07:17,991 it is so radical, 190 00:07:17,991 --> 00:07:20,135 it is so much a clean slate, 191 00:07:20,135 --> 00:07:21,741 that the moment you're justified, 192 00:07:21,741 --> 00:07:24,919 all your sin - past, yes - 193 00:07:24,919 --> 00:07:27,553 and all the sins you will ever commit 194 00:07:27,553 --> 00:07:29,330 are totally forgiven. 195 00:07:29,330 --> 00:07:31,758 They're totally erased. 196 00:07:31,758 --> 00:07:34,206 That's what justification is all about. 197 00:07:34,206 --> 00:07:37,023 It is taking a righteousness from Christ 198 00:07:37,023 --> 00:07:39,896 for yourself in the courtroom of Heaven. 199 00:07:39,896 --> 00:07:43,204 God looks at you and says, "Perfect." 200 00:07:43,204 --> 00:07:45,871 Even though practically you will commit 201 00:07:45,871 --> 00:07:47,331 more sins in your life. 202 00:07:47,331 --> 00:07:48,404 And so what? 203 00:07:48,404 --> 00:07:50,594 I was saved 19 years ago. 204 00:07:50,594 --> 00:07:52,879 Have I committed any sins in that 19 years? 205 00:07:52,879 --> 00:07:54,301 You better believe I have. 206 00:07:54,301 --> 00:07:56,479 But you know what? They're all under the blood. 207 00:07:56,479 --> 00:07:59,397 And even if I've committed adultery 208 00:07:59,397 --> 00:08:01,418 and murder like David did, 209 00:08:01,418 --> 00:08:02,935 they're under the blood. 210 00:08:02,935 --> 00:08:05,999 How in the world do you think David's in glory right now? 211 00:08:05,999 --> 00:08:08,718 How do you think he could say what he said in Psalm 32 212 00:08:08,718 --> 00:08:10,936 or in Psalm 51? 213 00:08:10,936 --> 00:08:13,772 That's repeated, by the way, in Romans 4. 214 00:08:13,772 --> 00:08:18,288 "Blessed is the man whose transgressions are forgiven." 215 00:08:18,288 --> 00:08:20,020 Folks, why is it so blessed? 216 00:08:20,020 --> 00:08:22,193 Why did he even say those words? 217 00:08:22,193 --> 00:08:23,671 Because he had committed sin 218 00:08:23,671 --> 00:08:25,751 and they were under there. 219 00:08:25,751 --> 00:08:27,675 Look, there are Christians in this room 220 00:08:27,675 --> 00:08:29,652 that have committed some pretty bad sins 221 00:08:29,652 --> 00:08:31,270 while they've been Christians - 222 00:08:31,270 --> 00:08:33,452 not just before. 223 00:08:33,452 --> 00:08:35,926 The fact is a man can commit suicide 224 00:08:35,926 --> 00:08:37,667 and if he's a true Christian, 225 00:08:37,667 --> 00:08:42,664 he will go straight to glory. 226 00:08:42,664 --> 00:08:44,672 But the truth is, 227 00:08:44,672 --> 00:08:48,661 he wasn't characterized as a murderer. 228 00:08:48,661 --> 00:08:50,677 He may have fallen. 229 00:08:50,677 --> 00:08:55,055 A righteous man can fall. 230 00:08:55,055 --> 00:08:56,970 But I mean, that's the story on the guy. 231 00:08:56,970 --> 00:08:58,870 Can a true Christian commit suicide? 232 00:08:58,870 --> 00:09:00,918 Well, of course they can. 233 00:09:00,918 --> 00:09:02,432 They can. 234 00:09:02,432 --> 00:09:04,200 Just like they can commit any other sin 235 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,144 and it's still under the blood. 236 00:09:06,144 --> 00:09:08,669 Now, they can't practice that. 237 00:09:08,669 --> 00:09:11,010 Our prayer is that in one of these clips of exhortation, 238 00:09:11,010 --> 00:09:13,176 God will use something to hit you in an area 239 00:09:13,176 --> 00:09:14,443 that is the stumbling block for you. 240 00:09:14,443 --> 00:09:15,456 May the Lord have mercy! 241 00:09:15,456 --> 00:09:17,290 In Acts 20:21 242 00:09:17,290 --> 00:09:19,263 it says repentance towards God 243 00:09:19,263 --> 00:09:20,967 and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 244 00:09:20,967 --> 00:09:22,357 Now think about this. 245 00:09:22,357 --> 00:09:24,029 Repentance towards God - 246 00:09:24,029 --> 00:09:26,167 it's not repentance towards your repentance. 247 00:09:26,167 --> 00:09:27,922 It's never a looking at self. 248 00:09:27,922 --> 00:09:30,262 It's never a relying on our own strength. 249 00:09:30,262 --> 00:09:32,268 Remember the psalm? Psalm 116:6, 250 00:09:32,268 --> 00:09:34,305 "The Lord preserves the simple. 251 00:09:34,305 --> 00:09:37,275 When I was brought low, He saved me." 252 00:09:37,275 --> 00:09:40,522 God saves those who get this simple mindset 253 00:09:40,522 --> 00:09:43,002 that come as a child calling "Abba, Father." 254 00:09:43,002 --> 00:09:44,266 "I need Christ." 255 00:09:44,266 --> 00:09:46,120 "I can't do this on my own strength." 256 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,306 And they give up on self. 257 00:09:48,306 --> 00:09:49,756 It can be so easy to sit here 258 00:09:49,756 --> 00:09:51,453 and to analyze, to think of things, 259 00:09:51,453 --> 00:09:53,122 to look at ourselves and go, 260 00:09:53,122 --> 00:09:54,396 is everything okay? 261 00:09:54,396 --> 00:09:56,026 Am I right before God? 262 00:09:56,026 --> 00:09:58,861 You're not right before God if you're looking at self. 263 00:09:58,861 --> 00:10:01,074 But when you're looking in faith at Christ, 264 00:10:01,074 --> 00:10:03,170 oh, you are going to be right before God. 265 00:10:03,170 --> 00:10:04,887 Because it's not a matter of self-effort. 266 00:10:04,887 --> 00:10:06,157 It's not a matter of works. 267 00:10:06,157 --> 00:10:08,650 But it's a matter of: this is what Jesus Christ did 268 00:10:08,650 --> 00:10:11,150 and I'm looking unto Christ. 269 00:10:11,150 --> 00:10:12,963 We try to kill sin on our own effort. 270 00:10:12,963 --> 00:10:14,794 We try to rely on our own strength 271 00:10:14,794 --> 00:10:16,761 because we believe that in ourselves 272 00:10:16,761 --> 00:10:19,189 we have some ability to kill sin. 273 00:10:19,189 --> 00:10:21,103 My friends, that is works salvation. 274 00:10:21,103 --> 00:10:22,364 And Romans 3 is clear. 275 00:10:22,364 --> 00:10:25,160 "No human being is justified by works of the law." 276 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:26,765 So you have to give up on that. 277 00:10:26,765 --> 00:10:28,117 You have to let it go. 278 00:10:28,117 --> 00:10:29,795 It's very easy to say, 279 00:10:29,795 --> 00:10:31,321 well, I'm saved by faith alone. 280 00:10:31,321 --> 00:10:33,139 I know it's believing in Jesus Christ. 281 00:10:33,139 --> 00:10:35,034 Repenting and believing in Him. 282 00:10:35,034 --> 00:10:36,096 We can say that. 283 00:10:36,096 --> 00:10:38,501 I mean, I can ask tons of people out here in this world, 284 00:10:38,501 --> 00:10:39,549 are we saved by faith? 285 00:10:39,549 --> 00:10:40,754 And they will say yes. 286 00:10:40,754 --> 00:10:41,978 But when you look at their life, 287 00:10:41,978 --> 00:10:44,684 they're living in a works-based salvation. 288 00:10:44,684 --> 00:10:46,109 They believe they are saved 289 00:10:46,109 --> 00:10:47,668 because of what they do. 290 00:10:47,668 --> 00:10:49,126 It's not about Christ. 291 00:10:49,126 --> 00:10:51,371 And so many people are entangled up in this. 292 00:10:51,371 --> 00:10:53,215 Some of you guys like me and my friends, 293 00:10:53,215 --> 00:10:55,425 you've grown up in the church your whole life, 294 00:10:55,425 --> 00:10:58,644 and that is the big stumbling block you're tripping on. 295 00:10:58,644 --> 00:11:00,996 Because you've got to let all that past stuff go 296 00:11:00,996 --> 00:11:04,028 and you've got to look ahead to Christ right now. 297 00:11:04,028 --> 00:11:05,438 So look at Christ. 298 00:11:05,438 --> 00:11:07,530 There's life. There's freedom. 299 00:11:07,530 --> 00:11:11,449 And there's this life where it's not about 300 00:11:11,449 --> 00:11:13,571 what do I have in myself? 301 00:11:13,571 --> 00:11:15,711 What can I muster my own strength up? 302 00:11:15,711 --> 00:11:17,286 Because my friend, your performance 303 00:11:17,286 --> 00:11:18,853 on killing sin in your own strength 304 00:11:18,853 --> 00:11:20,536 is absolutely pathetic 305 00:11:20,536 --> 00:11:22,963 and it will get your nowhere. 306 00:11:22,963 --> 00:11:24,478 But when you rely on the Spirit of God, 307 00:11:24,478 --> 00:11:25,788 you look to Him 308 00:11:25,788 --> 00:11:27,400 for your salvation more importantly, 309 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,962 and then once you're saved, you continually look to Him, 310 00:11:29,962 --> 00:11:31,421 as He breaks you down to the ground 311 00:11:31,421 --> 00:11:32,977 and humbles you and shatters your life 312 00:11:32,977 --> 00:11:35,380 to mold you to His image... 313 00:11:35,380 --> 00:11:37,793 there's freedom, there's life. 314 00:11:37,793 --> 00:11:39,496 Look to Christ. 315 00:11:39,496 --> 00:11:41,527 Read the Word of God. 316 00:11:41,527 --> 00:11:42,555 And think about this. 317 00:11:42,555 --> 00:11:43,968 If you're in love with someone, 318 00:11:43,968 --> 00:11:45,196 and they send you an email 319 00:11:45,196 --> 00:11:46,397 or they send you a letter, 320 00:11:46,397 --> 00:11:48,371 right when you get that email, you're going to read it. 321 00:11:48,371 --> 00:11:50,346 Right when you get that letter, you're going to read it 322 00:11:50,346 --> 00:11:51,807 because you care about the person 323 00:11:51,807 --> 00:11:53,129 and you want to know them. 324 00:11:53,129 --> 00:11:55,712 But many of you here today, 325 00:11:55,712 --> 00:11:57,916 rather than reading God's Word, 326 00:11:57,916 --> 00:12:00,269 rather than opening that letter of the Bible, 327 00:12:00,269 --> 00:12:01,680 you're going to man first. 328 00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:04,004 You're going to someone else first for help. 329 00:12:04,004 --> 00:12:06,930 If you truly love God and you want to know Him, 330 00:12:06,930 --> 00:12:10,020 oh, I plead with you, open the Word of God. 331 00:12:10,020 --> 00:12:11,157 It's real. 332 00:12:11,157 --> 00:12:12,459 It's incredible. 333 00:12:12,459 --> 00:12:13,526 It's loving. 334 00:12:13,526 --> 00:12:16,460 Isaiah 43:4 "Because you are precious in My eyes 335 00:12:16,460 --> 00:12:17,769 and loved and honored, 336 00:12:17,769 --> 00:12:19,707 I give men in return for you; 337 00:12:19,707 --> 00:12:22,318 peoples in exchange for your life." 338 00:12:22,318 --> 00:12:23,828 Have you ever heard that verse? 339 00:12:23,828 --> 00:12:26,022 I heard that verse - it blew my mind away. 340 00:12:26,022 --> 00:12:27,466 It punctured my heart. 341 00:12:27,466 --> 00:12:29,199 It ruptured it with this reality. 342 00:12:29,199 --> 00:12:31,735 God, not only did He send His Son on the cross, 343 00:12:31,735 --> 00:12:34,861 He gave other men in return for me. 344 00:12:34,861 --> 00:12:37,367 That's incredible. That's love. 345 00:12:37,367 --> 00:12:38,765 But how did I find it out? 346 00:12:38,765 --> 00:12:40,930 We have to read the love letter from God - 347 00:12:40,930 --> 00:12:43,198 His Bible that He has given us. 348 00:12:43,198 --> 00:12:44,230 So I plead with you, 349 00:12:44,230 --> 00:12:45,727 don't run to me first. 350 00:12:45,727 --> 00:12:47,228 Don't run to man for answers. 351 00:12:47,228 --> 00:12:49,090 Run to God. 352 00:12:49,090 --> 00:12:51,063 Look unto Christ. 353 00:12:51,063 --> 00:12:53,768 Because the Lord has given us the Word for a reason. 354 00:12:53,768 --> 00:12:55,970 And if you're reading it and it feels like it's dull; 355 00:12:55,970 --> 00:12:57,807 it feels like I'm not getting anything out of this, 356 00:12:57,807 --> 00:12:59,310 I'm reading the Bible and there's nothing, 357 00:12:59,310 --> 00:13:02,061 oh, my friend, just keep pounding into the Word of God. 358 00:13:02,061 --> 00:13:04,602 The simple fact is if someone called you right now 359 00:13:04,602 --> 00:13:06,238 and you didn't pick up the phone, 360 00:13:06,238 --> 00:13:08,806 but they really, really wanted to talk to you, 361 00:13:08,806 --> 00:13:09,944 they would call you back. 362 00:13:09,944 --> 00:13:11,256 They would never stop calling 363 00:13:11,256 --> 00:13:13,361 until you picked up that phone. 364 00:13:13,361 --> 00:13:15,152 And the same you should be with Christ. 365 00:13:15,152 --> 00:13:16,590 If you truly want God; 366 00:13:16,590 --> 00:13:18,659 if you're truly calling unto Jesus Christ, 367 00:13:18,659 --> 00:13:20,510 don't stop after one call. 368 00:13:20,510 --> 00:13:21,918 You call until He answers 369 00:13:21,918 --> 00:13:24,438 because He says He will answer. 370 00:13:24,438 --> 00:13:27,567 "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." 371 00:13:27,567 --> 00:13:29,775 You can bank on that promise 372 00:13:29,775 --> 00:13:32,235 because it's from God. 373 00:13:32,235 --> 00:13:33,393 And you can bank on the promise 374 00:13:33,393 --> 00:13:34,667 that if you have faith in Christ, 375 00:13:34,667 --> 00:13:35,818 you will be changed. 376 00:13:35,818 --> 00:13:37,047 You will be free. 377 00:13:37,047 --> 00:13:38,748 And you will be walking in the light. 378 00:13:38,748 --> 00:13:41,401 And yes, my friend, a sheep will fall in the mud at times, 379 00:13:41,401 --> 00:13:42,950 but you are no longer a pig. 380 00:13:42,950 --> 00:13:44,311 You will not live in it. 381 00:13:44,311 --> 00:13:46,152 You will walk in the light as He is in the light. 382 00:13:46,152 --> 00:13:48,577 And you will have fellowship with Him. 383 00:13:48,577 --> 00:13:50,734 Praise the Lord for what He's done. 384 00:13:50,734 --> 00:13:53,153 God is so good. 385 00:13:53,153 --> 00:13:54,866 Listen, so many of you out there, 386 00:13:54,866 --> 00:13:55,978 you feel empty inside. 387 00:13:55,978 --> 00:13:57,592 You're just depressed. 388 00:13:57,592 --> 00:13:58,975 You just can't believe that you keep 389 00:13:58,975 --> 00:14:00,575 falling back into this sin 390 00:14:00,575 --> 00:14:02,185 and the depression, the emptiness, 391 00:14:02,185 --> 00:14:03,850 it's just overwhelming you. 392 00:14:03,850 --> 00:14:06,049 You know what? The sin you might be holding on to, 393 00:14:06,049 --> 00:14:08,021 if you realize you're lost and you're not in Christ, 394 00:14:08,021 --> 00:14:10,075 it can be the sin of self-pity. 395 00:14:10,075 --> 00:14:12,080 What can keep you from coming to Christ, 396 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:13,406 and I know many people 397 00:14:13,406 --> 00:14:14,556 who are in this situation, 398 00:14:14,556 --> 00:14:15,957 what keeps them from coming to Christ 399 00:14:15,957 --> 00:14:16,908 is their self-pity. 400 00:14:16,908 --> 00:14:18,741 They feel so bad about their emptiness, 401 00:14:18,741 --> 00:14:19,871 about their bondage. 402 00:14:19,871 --> 00:14:21,075 They have all the head knowledge. 403 00:14:21,075 --> 00:14:22,084 They've got the doctrine. 404 00:14:22,084 --> 00:14:24,570 But what they're not doing is looking unto Christ. 405 00:14:24,570 --> 00:14:25,802 And some people will sit back 406 00:14:25,802 --> 00:14:27,269 and they know the doctrines of grace, 407 00:14:27,269 --> 00:14:28,368 and they sit here and they go 408 00:14:28,368 --> 00:14:29,646 "Oh, I'm not elect." 409 00:14:29,646 --> 00:14:32,245 "Oh, God's not drawing me." 410 00:14:32,245 --> 00:14:34,307 My friend, if you realize your state, 411 00:14:34,307 --> 00:14:37,501 if you have some type of grief for your sin, 412 00:14:37,501 --> 00:14:38,894 how can you sit here and go, 413 00:14:38,894 --> 00:14:40,183 "Oh, I'm hardened to my sin." 414 00:14:40,183 --> 00:14:42,029 That's absurd. That's ridiculous. 415 00:14:42,029 --> 00:14:43,175 Run to Christ. 416 00:14:43,175 --> 00:14:45,675 Run to Him and come as a child. 417 00:14:45,675 --> 00:14:46,891 When we were kids, 418 00:14:46,891 --> 00:14:49,104 we didn't know how to cook our food. 419 00:14:49,104 --> 00:14:51,108 We didn't know how to go to the refrigerator. 420 00:14:51,108 --> 00:14:52,676 We didn't know where the food came from. 421 00:14:52,676 --> 00:14:54,565 We were totally blind to those things. 422 00:14:54,565 --> 00:14:56,392 All we knew is that if we called upon 423 00:14:56,392 --> 00:14:58,060 our father or our mother, 424 00:14:58,060 --> 00:14:59,830 they would give us the food. 425 00:14:59,830 --> 00:15:01,311 They would watch out for us. 426 00:15:01,311 --> 00:15:02,931 Do you look at Christ like that? 427 00:15:02,931 --> 00:15:04,298 Do you come to Him as a child? 428 00:15:04,298 --> 00:15:05,929 Because it says in the Word of God, 429 00:15:05,929 --> 00:15:07,267 if you don't come as a child, 430 00:15:07,267 --> 00:15:08,769 you're not going to Heaven. 431 00:15:08,769 --> 00:15:10,050 Why? 432 00:15:10,050 --> 00:15:11,396 Pride. 433 00:15:11,396 --> 00:15:13,837 The pride of man says, "I don't need anyone's help. 434 00:15:13,837 --> 00:15:15,533 I can do all this on my own. 435 00:15:15,533 --> 00:15:16,906 You know what? Who cares? 436 00:15:16,906 --> 00:15:18,891 I don't need help. I got it. I got it." 437 00:15:18,891 --> 00:15:19,934 You don't have it. 438 00:15:19,934 --> 00:15:21,678 You might have it for a month - the self-effort, 439 00:15:21,678 --> 00:15:23,458 but then you fall right back into your sin, 440 00:15:23,458 --> 00:15:25,054 right back into the bondage. 441 00:15:25,054 --> 00:15:27,140 It's all about giving up on self 442 00:15:27,140 --> 00:15:28,566 and looking unto Christ 443 00:15:28,566 --> 00:15:30,179 and truly seeing what He did. 444 00:15:30,179 --> 00:15:31,326 While you were weak, 445 00:15:31,326 --> 00:15:33,048 He bore the wrath of God on that cross 446 00:15:33,048 --> 00:15:34,565 and became sin for you. 447 00:15:34,565 --> 00:15:36,854 And if your faith is in that, 448 00:15:36,854 --> 00:15:38,186 oh, my friends, 449 00:15:38,186 --> 00:15:39,708 not only will you be saved, 450 00:15:39,708 --> 00:15:40,995 you'll have an assurance 451 00:15:40,995 --> 00:15:44,029 and a confidence and a joy and peace 452 00:15:44,029 --> 00:15:46,184 while you're walking in that light 453 00:15:46,184 --> 00:15:49,140 with Christ and Him alone. 454 00:15:49,140 --> 00:15:51,955 When I was brought low, He truly did save me. 455 00:15:51,955 --> 00:15:54,965 And if you haven't been brought low of all your pride, 456 00:15:54,965 --> 00:15:56,773 and you're still living in your pride, 457 00:15:56,773 --> 00:15:58,444 how do you profess to know Christ? 458 00:15:58,444 --> 00:16:00,310 Because you've got to come as a child. 459 00:16:00,310 --> 00:16:02,508 And more importantly, you have to come to Him. 460 00:16:02,508 --> 00:16:03,636 Don't look at your state and go, 461 00:16:03,636 --> 00:16:04,500 am I a child? 462 00:16:04,500 --> 00:16:05,769 Am I walking like a child? 463 00:16:05,769 --> 00:16:08,605 Just rely on Him. Look to Christ. 464 00:16:08,605 --> 00:16:10,770 May God have mercy on you. 465 00:16:10,770 --> 00:16:12,109 Again, we're here for you, 466 00:16:12,109 --> 00:16:13,444 but first I plead with you, 467 00:16:13,444 --> 00:16:14,568 go to the Word of God 468 00:16:14,568 --> 00:16:17,145 and go to God in prayer. 469 00:16:17,145 --> 00:16:18,190 Call out to Him. 470 00:16:18,190 --> 00:16:20,531 If you really want Him just call! 471 00:16:20,531 --> 00:16:21,828 Don't stop. 472 00:16:21,828 --> 00:16:23,238 You truly want Christ? 473 00:16:23,238 --> 00:16:25,168 Don't sit there and try to pray for 30 seconds 474 00:16:25,168 --> 00:16:26,797 or even 30 minutes and just go, 475 00:16:26,797 --> 00:16:28,344 "God didn't come" and give up. 476 00:16:28,344 --> 00:16:29,435 You cling to Him. 477 00:16:29,435 --> 00:16:31,162 You call to Him. 478 00:16:31,162 --> 00:16:33,538 You will not be put to shame. 479 00:16:33,538 --> 00:16:35,630 The only excuse - if you say, 480 00:16:35,630 --> 00:16:36,834 "Oh, God didn't come," 481 00:16:36,834 --> 00:16:37,978 you cannot blame God. 482 00:16:37,978 --> 00:16:39,905 God says if you call, He will come. 483 00:16:39,905 --> 00:16:41,693 And if you say you called and He did not come, 484 00:16:41,693 --> 00:16:43,825 it's because you truly did not call. 485 00:16:43,825 --> 00:16:45,262 You might say, "I called." 486 00:16:45,262 --> 00:16:46,890 What you're saying is calling 487 00:16:46,890 --> 00:16:48,801 is not what the Bible says is calling. 488 00:16:48,801 --> 00:16:51,477 You might be calling fully out of some worldly grief 489 00:16:51,477 --> 00:16:52,850 and it's all about self. 490 00:16:52,850 --> 00:16:54,904 It's so selfish that you don't even realize 491 00:16:54,904 --> 00:16:56,373 you're not calling on God, 492 00:16:56,373 --> 00:16:58,830 you're calling on the idol of a god. 493 00:16:58,830 --> 00:17:04,028 Again, don't get confused with analysis, 494 00:17:04,028 --> 00:17:05,995 get brought to your knees 495 00:17:05,995 --> 00:17:07,755 and look to Christ 496 00:17:07,755 --> 00:17:11,195 and plead with God for mercy. 497 00:17:11,195 --> 00:17:12,904 As it says in Matthew 11:28, 498 00:17:12,904 --> 00:17:15,213 we're coming to Christ. 499 00:17:15,213 --> 00:17:17,334 We're taking this burden of our sin, 500 00:17:17,334 --> 00:17:19,170 this grief, this realization 501 00:17:19,170 --> 00:17:20,748 that we've sinned before a holy God, 502 00:17:20,748 --> 00:17:22,058 we're taking it to Christ. 503 00:17:22,058 --> 00:17:24,295 It can be very easy to run to people, 504 00:17:24,295 --> 00:17:25,739 to confess to people. 505 00:17:25,739 --> 00:17:27,914 It's very easy to send me an email 506 00:17:27,914 --> 00:17:29,440 and say I'm going through this, 507 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,070 and I'm not saying not to send me emails. 508 00:17:31,070 --> 00:17:32,740 That is fine. Praise the Lord. 509 00:17:32,740 --> 00:17:35,525 We've got to be authentic, we've got to take the mask off 510 00:17:35,525 --> 00:17:37,315 and live in a transparent world 511 00:17:37,315 --> 00:17:39,812 and a transparent lifestyle by the grace of God. 512 00:17:39,812 --> 00:17:41,666 But, the important thing is 513 00:17:41,666 --> 00:17:43,221 I can't save you. 514 00:17:43,221 --> 00:17:44,498 I can send you some verses 515 00:17:44,498 --> 00:17:46,409 and you can read that and you can know Christ, 516 00:17:46,409 --> 00:17:48,038 and in that knowing of Christ, 517 00:17:48,038 --> 00:17:50,231 it should spur you on to a love of God, 518 00:17:50,231 --> 00:17:52,747 to look to Him and God will save your soul. 519 00:17:52,747 --> 00:17:54,666 Jesus Christ is the only way. 520 00:17:54,666 --> 00:17:57,252 Repentance towards Him. Faith in Christ. 521 00:17:57,252 --> 00:18:00,395 Just resting on Him, knowing He's watching over us. 522 00:18:00,395 --> 00:18:03,132 And He has put these promises in the Word of God 523 00:18:03,132 --> 00:18:05,095 that are real. 524 00:18:05,095 --> 00:18:06,837 I mean, you heard me testify about it 525 00:18:06,837 --> 00:18:08,028 in the other video. 526 00:18:08,028 --> 00:18:09,872 You've heard other people testify about it. 527 00:18:09,872 --> 00:18:11,277 I mean, this is real. 528 00:18:11,277 --> 00:18:13,103 God will save you. 529 00:18:13,103 --> 00:18:14,665 Don't let this conviction - 530 00:18:14,665 --> 00:18:17,126 maybe you've seen the other video or other videos - 531 00:18:17,126 --> 00:18:20,104 don't let that conviction just die away. 532 00:18:20,104 --> 00:18:21,320 Don't just go a week 533 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,082 and you're running for a week 534 00:18:23,082 --> 00:18:24,059 and then you fall. 535 00:18:24,059 --> 00:18:26,276 Listen, you might be two years down the road 536 00:18:26,276 --> 00:18:27,417 and you might be in the same boat 537 00:18:27,417 --> 00:18:28,972 you are right now watching this video, 538 00:18:28,972 --> 00:18:31,725 because you're unwilling to let go of your self-effort 539 00:18:31,725 --> 00:18:33,987 and submit to God and be humble. 540 00:18:33,987 --> 00:18:36,027 You've got to get brought low 541 00:18:36,027 --> 00:18:37,833 and realize I've got nothing. 542 00:18:37,833 --> 00:18:40,327 My total and sole reliance 543 00:18:40,327 --> 00:18:42,633 is upon Jesus Christ my King. 544 00:18:42,633 --> 00:18:44,193 That's it. 545 00:18:44,193 --> 00:18:47,251 So may God help you guys. 546 00:18:47,251 --> 00:18:49,200 I mean, this is such a war. 547 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,528 And I know. I was there. 548 00:18:51,528 --> 00:18:53,557 I mean, something I think I mentioned on the other video, 549 00:18:53,557 --> 00:18:56,301 I spent three years straight 550 00:18:56,301 --> 00:18:58,459 in my self-effort. 551 00:18:58,459 --> 00:19:00,914 I spent three years of my life 552 00:19:00,914 --> 00:19:02,833 trying to free myself from my pornography 553 00:19:02,833 --> 00:19:04,735 and my masturbation as a lost person. 554 00:19:04,735 --> 00:19:06,490 I had the filters. I did the courses. 555 00:19:06,490 --> 00:19:08,098 I had it all. I was authentic. 556 00:19:08,098 --> 00:19:09,815 I had accountability partners. 557 00:19:09,815 --> 00:19:12,015 But what I did not have is Jesus Christ, my friend. 558 00:19:12,015 --> 00:19:13,334 I did not have Christ. 559 00:19:13,334 --> 00:19:15,477 And I spent three years. 560 00:19:15,477 --> 00:19:17,891 That is a long time once I think about it. 561 00:19:17,891 --> 00:19:19,582 And then finally, one night, 562 00:19:19,582 --> 00:19:20,742 I leave a Bible study. 563 00:19:20,742 --> 00:19:23,244 I get home and God smashed me to the ground 564 00:19:23,244 --> 00:19:24,342 and He broke me 565 00:19:24,342 --> 00:19:27,873 and I finally had that godly grief 566 00:19:27,873 --> 00:19:29,904 and I finally looked to Christ 567 00:19:29,904 --> 00:19:32,194 and I stopped looking to my own strength. 568 00:19:32,194 --> 00:19:34,327 I gave up. 569 00:19:34,327 --> 00:19:35,634 So give up. 570 00:19:35,634 --> 00:19:37,303 And you might say, "oh, he's saying to give up. 571 00:19:37,303 --> 00:19:39,331 I've already tried that. I've already tried giving up. 572 00:19:39,331 --> 00:19:40,981 It sounds so easy, but it's so hard 573 00:19:40,981 --> 00:19:42,644 when it comes to the action." 574 00:19:42,644 --> 00:19:46,199 My friend, giving up is looking to Christ. 575 00:19:46,199 --> 00:19:47,871 It's very easy to look to Christ, 576 00:19:47,871 --> 00:19:49,966 to pray, to read the Word of God, 577 00:19:49,966 --> 00:19:52,202 to be around those who love Christ. 578 00:19:52,202 --> 00:19:53,735 It's real easy to look at yourself and go, 579 00:19:53,735 --> 00:19:55,065 well, I'm looking to Christ, 580 00:19:55,065 --> 00:19:57,323 when you're looking to yourself to see if you're looking to Christ 581 00:19:57,323 --> 00:20:00,149 you're not looking to Christ. 582 00:20:00,149 --> 00:20:01,528 Look to Christ. 583 00:20:01,528 --> 00:20:03,551 He will save your soul. 584 00:20:03,551 --> 00:20:05,353 He'll put you in that light. 585 00:20:05,353 --> 00:20:09,645 And to have joy - God saves! 586 00:20:09,645 --> 00:20:12,625 Praise the Lord for what He's done. 587 00:20:12,625 --> 00:20:14,811 Run to Him. 588 00:20:14,811 --> 00:20:17,430 Run to Him. Get that rest. 589 00:20:17,430 --> 00:20:18,832 I mean, this is the day. 590 00:20:18,832 --> 00:20:20,612 If you're not going to turn today, 591 00:20:20,612 --> 00:20:22,028 will you ever turn? 592 00:20:22,028 --> 00:20:24,873 Now or never.