1 00:00:05,129 --> 00:00:07,244 This is from Will. 2 00:00:07,244 --> 00:00:08,842 "Hi Pastor Tim, 3 00:00:08,842 --> 00:00:13,233 My pastor in my local church 4 00:00:13,233 --> 00:00:17,595 taught us in one of our Bible studies 5 00:00:17,595 --> 00:00:24,349 to focus not on the cross, 6 00:00:24,349 --> 00:00:30,003 but on the resurrection of Christ. 7 00:00:30,003 --> 00:00:34,869 The reason he gave is that the cross 8 00:00:34,869 --> 00:00:40,670 is a picture of suffering and punishment 9 00:00:40,670 --> 00:00:43,779 while resurrection is the victory 10 00:00:43,779 --> 00:00:48,415 of Jesus over death. 11 00:00:48,415 --> 00:00:50,862 I somehow feel wrong about that 12 00:00:50,862 --> 00:00:53,025 because I know that when I look to the cross, 13 00:00:53,025 --> 00:00:55,351 I see the love of God for me, 14 00:00:55,351 --> 00:00:56,576 humility of Jesus, 15 00:00:56,576 --> 00:00:58,234 and the forgiveness of my sins. 16 00:00:58,234 --> 00:00:59,798 I know that looking to the cross 17 00:00:59,798 --> 00:01:01,902 and seeing what God did for me 18 00:01:01,902 --> 00:01:03,904 is what saved me 19 00:01:03,904 --> 00:01:06,689 and made me born again. 20 00:01:06,689 --> 00:01:12,163 Please can you give your insight over this? 21 00:01:12,163 --> 00:01:13,700 Thank you and God bless. 22 00:01:13,700 --> 00:01:15,038 Will." 23 00:01:15,038 --> 00:01:17,071 Let's think about this. 24 00:01:17,071 --> 00:01:20,003 What he says is happening is he feels like 25 00:01:20,003 --> 00:01:26,548 his pastor is putting the resurrection - 26 00:01:26,548 --> 00:01:29,575 Christ rising from the dead - 27 00:01:29,575 --> 00:01:33,898 that he's making that more important 28 00:01:33,898 --> 00:01:43,178 than what Christ did on the cross. 29 00:01:43,178 --> 00:01:51,425 Now, what I would say is this: 30 00:01:51,425 --> 00:01:57,139 To this pastor's benefit, 31 00:01:57,139 --> 00:01:59,258 I have a hard time believing 32 00:01:59,258 --> 00:02:01,389 that the pastor was actually teaching 33 00:02:01,389 --> 00:02:04,792 what this guy says. 34 00:02:04,792 --> 00:02:05,976 Listen to him again. 35 00:02:05,976 --> 00:02:08,838 "My pastor in my local church taught us in one Bible study, 36 00:02:08,838 --> 00:02:11,883 to focus not on the cross, but on the resurrection of Christ." 37 00:02:11,883 --> 00:02:15,334 Okay, I can recognize 38 00:02:15,334 --> 00:02:17,386 that somebody might say that. 39 00:02:17,386 --> 00:02:18,747 But then he says this: 40 00:02:18,747 --> 00:02:21,375 "The reason he gave is that the cross 41 00:02:21,375 --> 00:02:25,685 is a picture of suffering and punishment." 42 00:02:25,685 --> 00:02:28,765 See, I don't think the pastor probably said that. 43 00:02:28,765 --> 00:02:32,745 The cross is a picture. 44 00:02:32,745 --> 00:02:37,958 When I hear picture, I hear like a shadow. 45 00:02:37,958 --> 00:02:41,447 Like it portrays something. 46 00:02:41,447 --> 00:02:43,886 There was actual suffering and punishment 47 00:02:43,886 --> 00:02:46,569 that took place - I doubt his pastor 48 00:02:46,569 --> 00:02:53,155 said it exactly like this. 49 00:02:53,155 --> 00:03:00,747 But just to his pastor's credit, 50 00:03:00,747 --> 00:03:03,449 listen, 51 00:03:03,449 --> 00:03:08,827 I heard a beloved brother 52 00:03:08,827 --> 00:03:14,196 speak on the garden of Gethsemane. 53 00:03:14,196 --> 00:03:18,635 And he made comments 54 00:03:18,635 --> 00:03:21,196 that made it sound like in his estimation 55 00:03:21,196 --> 00:03:24,883 the garden was more important than the cross. 56 00:03:24,883 --> 00:03:27,603 Now, I didn't chalk that up 57 00:03:27,603 --> 00:03:30,243 to this brother being a heretic. 58 00:03:30,243 --> 00:03:32,827 I chalked it up to the fact 59 00:03:32,827 --> 00:03:37,081 that he was preaching two or three messages 60 00:03:37,081 --> 00:03:40,252 at this conference on the Garden of Gethsemane. 61 00:03:40,252 --> 00:03:42,838 He had been immersing himself 62 00:03:42,838 --> 00:03:46,453 in Christ in the Garden 63 00:03:46,453 --> 00:03:49,747 and His sorrows and His sweating blood 64 00:03:49,747 --> 00:03:52,393 and the turmoil in His soul. 65 00:03:52,393 --> 00:03:56,019 He was feeling it. 66 00:03:56,019 --> 00:03:58,078 And so it was fresh. 67 00:03:58,078 --> 00:04:00,508 And so the comments that he made 68 00:04:00,508 --> 00:04:04,085 I have a feeling were influenced by that. 69 00:04:04,085 --> 00:04:08,047 I would venture out and say probably, 70 00:04:08,047 --> 00:04:11,871 this pastor was studying the resurrection. 71 00:04:11,871 --> 00:04:16,197 If you get all embroiled in a study of the resurrection, 72 00:04:16,197 --> 00:04:21,160 you can come forth: everything is resurrection! 73 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:27,018 That's probably what happened. 74 00:04:27,018 --> 00:04:28,885 But grab your Bibles. 75 00:04:28,885 --> 00:04:32,537 Go to the book of Acts. 76 00:04:32,537 --> 00:04:35,605 I mean, I want you to see something here about the resurrection. 77 00:04:35,605 --> 00:04:37,553 What's important about the book of Acts? 78 00:04:37,553 --> 00:04:41,000 Well, the book of Acts is the book 79 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,866 of church history following immediately 80 00:04:45,866 --> 00:04:49,553 on the heels of Christ coming 81 00:04:49,553 --> 00:04:53,706 out of that tomb alive. 82 00:04:53,706 --> 00:04:57,502 This is fresh with those guys. 83 00:04:57,502 --> 00:05:00,324 And I'll tell you this, 84 00:05:00,324 --> 00:05:02,012 they were blown away by the fact 85 00:05:02,012 --> 00:05:04,705 Christ came out of that grave. 86 00:05:04,705 --> 00:05:09,985 (incomplete thought) 87 00:05:09,985 --> 00:05:11,839 You could tell, 88 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:13,799 they were absorbed with this. 89 00:05:13,799 --> 00:05:16,486 They were rocked by this. 90 00:05:16,486 --> 00:05:19,417 So you go to the book of Acts. 91 00:05:19,417 --> 00:05:23,142 I'm trying to get there. 92 00:05:23,142 --> 00:05:24,937 Just start right in the beginning. 93 00:05:24,937 --> 00:05:34,547 Acts 1:22. 94 00:05:34,547 --> 00:05:36,220 I mean right from the beginning, 95 00:05:36,220 --> 00:05:39,954 they wanted somebody to replace Judas. 96 00:05:39,954 --> 00:05:41,872 They wanted somebody that was there 97 00:05:41,872 --> 00:05:45,614 from the baptism of John. 98 00:05:45,614 --> 00:05:49,872 A witness to His resurrection. 99 00:05:49,872 --> 00:05:51,592 From the baptism of John all the way 100 00:05:51,592 --> 00:05:52,595 to the ascension, 101 00:05:52,595 --> 00:05:54,346 but somebody that was a witness 102 00:05:54,346 --> 00:05:56,466 specifically of His resurrection. 103 00:05:56,466 --> 00:06:01,288 You go to chapter 2:23. 104 00:06:01,288 --> 00:06:03,105 "This Jesus delivered up according to 105 00:06:03,105 --> 00:06:05,107 the definite plan and foreknowledge of God 106 00:06:05,107 --> 00:06:06,789 you crucified and killed 107 00:06:06,789 --> 00:06:08,241 by the hands of lawless men." 108 00:06:08,241 --> 00:06:13,025 I hope you hear: there's the cross. 109 00:06:13,025 --> 00:06:15,675 V. 24, "God raised Him up 110 00:06:15,675 --> 00:06:17,379 loosing the pangs of death 111 00:06:17,379 --> 00:06:21,187 because it was not possible for Him to be held by it." 112 00:06:21,187 --> 00:06:24,841 You keep going. Go on in chapter 2:31. 113 00:06:24,841 --> 00:06:27,626 "He foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of Christ 114 00:06:27,626 --> 00:06:29,716 that He was not abandoned to Hades, 115 00:06:29,716 --> 00:06:33,504 nor did His flesh see corruption." 116 00:06:33,504 --> 00:06:36,976 V. 32, "This Jesus God raised up, 117 00:06:36,976 --> 00:06:39,819 and of that we are all witnesses." 118 00:06:39,819 --> 00:06:44,706 You keep going. Go to chapter 3. 119 00:06:44,706 --> 00:06:47,498 You see, you go to chapter 3:14, 120 00:06:47,498 --> 00:06:49,384 "you denied the Holy and Righteous One 121 00:06:49,384 --> 00:06:51,903 and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 122 00:06:51,903 --> 00:06:55,335 and you killed (there's the cross) 123 00:06:55,335 --> 00:06:57,405 the Author of life whom God raised 124 00:06:57,405 --> 00:06:59,943 from the dead." 125 00:06:59,943 --> 00:07:01,662 You see, the thing is, 126 00:07:01,662 --> 00:07:03,705 we don't want to separate 127 00:07:03,705 --> 00:07:06,990 what God has joined together. 128 00:07:06,990 --> 00:07:08,508 You don't want to say: 129 00:07:08,508 --> 00:07:14,276 Oh, this one's more important than this one. 130 00:07:14,276 --> 00:07:17,825 Listen, you know what Paul said? 131 00:07:17,825 --> 00:07:22,624 Paul said that he would glory in nothing 132 00:07:22,624 --> 00:07:28,293 but the cross of Jesus Christ. 133 00:07:28,293 --> 00:07:31,364 He talks repeatedly about this cross 134 00:07:31,364 --> 00:07:34,119 and about the blood. 135 00:07:34,119 --> 00:07:38,059 Look, what we need to recognize is this, 136 00:07:38,059 --> 00:07:40,522 is the resurrection important? 137 00:07:40,522 --> 00:07:45,864 You better believe it's important. 138 00:07:45,864 --> 00:07:47,655 Just look at this. 1 Corinthians. 139 00:07:47,655 --> 00:07:49,850 We're not going to keep going through the book of Acts 140 00:07:49,850 --> 00:07:51,239 because it's everywhere. 141 00:07:51,239 --> 00:07:54,008 The resurrection is everywhere, 142 00:07:54,008 --> 00:07:56,012 but so is the cross. 143 00:07:56,012 --> 00:08:03,334 But when you go to 1 Corinthians 15, 144 00:08:03,334 --> 00:08:07,901 look with me here. 145 00:08:07,901 --> 00:08:09,956 V. 1, "Now I would remind you, brothers, 146 00:08:09,956 --> 00:08:12,314 of the Gospel I preached to you, 147 00:08:12,314 --> 00:08:15,528 which you received and in which you stand." 148 00:08:15,528 --> 00:08:17,443 If you're saved, 149 00:08:17,443 --> 00:08:20,325 you stand on this truth. 150 00:08:20,325 --> 00:08:22,009 What? 151 00:08:22,009 --> 00:08:23,965 "...By which you're being saved." 152 00:08:23,965 --> 00:08:24,923 Being saved. 153 00:08:24,923 --> 00:08:28,924 You are presently being saved. 154 00:08:28,924 --> 00:08:30,435 Not just: you were. 155 00:08:30,435 --> 00:08:32,655 It's not a one time thing. 156 00:08:32,655 --> 00:08:34,559 These are truths we rest in, 157 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:35,569 we stand in, 158 00:08:35,569 --> 00:08:38,594 and we're being saved on a regular basis, 159 00:08:38,594 --> 00:08:40,795 day by day, moment by moment. 160 00:08:40,795 --> 00:08:42,782 We live from faith to faith 161 00:08:42,782 --> 00:08:45,228 in these realities. 162 00:08:45,228 --> 00:08:47,359 What? 163 00:08:47,359 --> 00:08:49,951 "I delivered to you as of first importance..." 164 00:08:49,951 --> 00:08:53,124 What's the first, most important 165 00:08:53,124 --> 00:08:55,297 aspect of the Gospel? 166 00:08:55,297 --> 00:08:59,937 He's telling us right here. 167 00:08:59,937 --> 00:09:03,383 "Christ died for our sins 168 00:09:03,383 --> 00:09:06,125 in accordance with the Scriptures. 169 00:09:06,125 --> 00:09:08,149 He was buried. 170 00:09:08,149 --> 00:09:10,556 He was raised on the third day 171 00:09:10,556 --> 00:09:12,598 in accordance with the Scriptures." 172 00:09:12,598 --> 00:09:14,575 You see, both these truths 173 00:09:14,575 --> 00:09:18,492 are at the heart of this message. 174 00:09:18,492 --> 00:09:20,860 Now if we keep going, 175 00:09:20,860 --> 00:09:23,893 look at v. 12. 176 00:09:23,893 --> 00:09:27,895 "If Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, 177 00:09:27,895 --> 00:09:29,220 how can some of you say 178 00:09:29,220 --> 00:09:32,813 that there's no resurrection of the dead? 179 00:09:32,813 --> 00:09:34,946 If there's no resurrection of the dead, 180 00:09:34,946 --> 00:09:38,797 then not even Christ has been raised. 181 00:09:38,797 --> 00:09:42,066 And if Christ has not been raised, 182 00:09:42,066 --> 00:09:44,446 our preaching is in vain 183 00:09:44,446 --> 00:09:47,542 and your faith is in vain." 184 00:09:47,542 --> 00:09:50,292 You see, our faith is in vain 185 00:09:50,292 --> 00:09:54,308 if Christ isn't raised. Why? 186 00:09:54,308 --> 00:09:57,102 Because if Christ isn't raised, 187 00:09:57,102 --> 00:10:02,318 keep reading. 188 00:10:02,318 --> 00:10:06,668 V. 16, "If the dead are not raised, 189 00:10:06,668 --> 00:10:09,317 not even Christ has been raised. 190 00:10:09,317 --> 00:10:11,300 And if Christ has not been raised, 191 00:10:11,300 --> 00:10:13,051 your faith is futile 192 00:10:13,051 --> 00:10:16,997 and you're still in your sins." 193 00:10:16,997 --> 00:10:19,226 Why? 194 00:10:19,226 --> 00:10:21,258 Well, think with me. 195 00:10:21,258 --> 00:10:26,358 The wage of sin is death. 196 00:10:26,358 --> 00:10:32,779 Christ became sin and died. 197 00:10:32,779 --> 00:10:40,344 But the moment sin is fully paid for, 198 00:10:40,344 --> 00:10:42,661 death has no claim on Him. 199 00:10:42,661 --> 00:10:44,344 It can't. 200 00:10:44,344 --> 00:10:48,226 The very proof He paid for sins. 201 00:10:48,226 --> 00:10:50,643 If those sins never got paid, 202 00:10:50,643 --> 00:10:53,183 He's in hell right now. 203 00:10:53,183 --> 00:10:56,131 The only way He comes out of the grave 204 00:10:56,131 --> 00:10:59,592 is if my sin - all those He's died for - 205 00:10:59,592 --> 00:11:02,003 if that sin is paid. 206 00:11:02,003 --> 00:11:05,403 But you see, here's the thing, 207 00:11:05,403 --> 00:11:08,652 on the cross, He paid the debt. 208 00:11:08,652 --> 00:11:10,419 Not in the garden. 209 00:11:10,419 --> 00:11:12,062 Scripture doesn't say that. 210 00:11:12,062 --> 00:11:14,077 It's by the shedding of His blood 211 00:11:14,077 --> 00:11:18,504 on that cross that there is atonement 212 00:11:18,504 --> 00:11:21,706 for my soul and your soul. 213 00:11:21,706 --> 00:11:25,242 It's by His blood. 214 00:11:25,242 --> 00:11:27,810 It's by His death. 215 00:11:27,810 --> 00:11:29,953 He had to become sin. 216 00:11:29,953 --> 00:11:32,228 He had to be crushed. 217 00:11:32,228 --> 00:11:34,588 He had to be forsaken. 218 00:11:34,588 --> 00:11:40,597 He had to suffer my punishment there. 219 00:11:40,597 --> 00:11:43,166 And that's what happened on that cross. 220 00:11:43,166 --> 00:11:47,854 That cross. 221 00:11:47,854 --> 00:11:52,422 That's where the payment was made. 222 00:11:52,422 --> 00:11:54,865 That's where the ransom price was paid. 223 00:11:54,865 --> 00:11:58,543 It comes by blood. 224 00:11:58,543 --> 00:12:02,452 We are cleansed by the shedding of blood. 225 00:12:02,452 --> 00:12:04,003 Without the shedding of blood, 226 00:12:04,003 --> 00:12:05,884 there's no remission. 227 00:12:05,884 --> 00:12:07,692 (incomplete thought) 228 00:12:07,692 --> 00:12:09,847 But you see, 229 00:12:09,847 --> 00:12:13,723 if He didn't come out of the grave, 230 00:12:13,723 --> 00:12:16,838 our faith is hopeless, 231 00:12:16,838 --> 00:12:19,000 because it means that He didn't accomplish 232 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,887 anything redemptive on that cross. 233 00:12:22,887 --> 00:12:24,939 Both are necessary. 234 00:12:24,939 --> 00:12:28,611 Both are of first importance. 235 00:12:28,611 --> 00:12:30,294 We want to preach them both. 236 00:12:30,294 --> 00:12:33,627 We want to be dogmatic about both. 237 00:12:33,627 --> 00:12:35,712 Because if He didn't come out of the grave 238 00:12:35,712 --> 00:12:39,943 you're still dead in your sins and so am I. 239 00:12:39,943 --> 00:12:41,448 But He did rise. 240 00:12:41,448 --> 00:12:43,617 You see, this is his argument. 241 00:12:43,617 --> 00:12:46,661 He says if Jesus didn't come out of that grave, 242 00:12:46,661 --> 00:12:50,970 we of all people are most to be pitied. 243 00:12:50,970 --> 00:12:53,165 Why? 244 00:12:53,165 --> 00:12:54,971 Because we're living our life 245 00:12:54,971 --> 00:12:56,870 following this Christ, 246 00:12:56,870 --> 00:12:59,683 turning our backs to the world, 247 00:12:59,683 --> 00:13:02,494 enduring the persecution - 248 00:13:02,494 --> 00:13:04,522 by the way, that's what Scripture said. 249 00:13:04,522 --> 00:13:08,344 If you're determined to live a godly life, you're going to suffer persecution. 250 00:13:08,344 --> 00:13:11,438 Through many tribulations, you enter the kingdom. 251 00:13:11,438 --> 00:13:14,251 Jesus said I didn't come to bring peace. 252 00:13:14,251 --> 00:13:20,352 I came to bring a sword. 253 00:13:20,352 --> 00:13:21,619 He says it. 254 00:13:21,619 --> 00:13:26,177 Did I fight with beasts in Ephesus? 255 00:13:26,177 --> 00:13:31,954 What's this sacrifice in this Christian life worth 256 00:13:31,954 --> 00:13:34,728 if in the end I go to hell? 257 00:13:34,728 --> 00:13:37,016 He says of all people, 258 00:13:37,016 --> 00:13:39,003 we're most miserable. 259 00:13:39,003 --> 00:13:42,110 We're most to be pitied. 260 00:13:42,110 --> 00:13:44,140 Why? 261 00:13:44,140 --> 00:13:47,074 Because if the dead didn't rise, 262 00:13:47,074 --> 00:13:49,151 we all ought to go out this door right now 263 00:13:49,151 --> 00:13:52,754 and eat and drink and be merry, 264 00:13:52,754 --> 00:13:54,220 because this is all there is 265 00:13:54,220 --> 00:13:57,424 and tomorrow we die and we go to hell. 266 00:13:57,424 --> 00:14:01,182 Which, by the way, if you're in this room 267 00:14:01,182 --> 00:14:03,472 and you have not embraced 268 00:14:03,472 --> 00:14:07,948 this sacrificial death on that cross 269 00:14:07,948 --> 00:14:10,958 and this hope of resurrection, 270 00:14:10,958 --> 00:14:14,878 that's exactly - we aren't the most to be pitied. 271 00:14:14,878 --> 00:14:16,782 You know why? 272 00:14:16,782 --> 00:14:18,683 Christ did come out of the grave. 273 00:14:18,683 --> 00:14:20,376 (incomplete thought) 274 00:14:20,376 --> 00:14:23,777 You know who's most to be pitied in reality? 275 00:14:23,777 --> 00:14:25,962 You are. 276 00:14:25,962 --> 00:14:28,836 You know why? 277 00:14:28,836 --> 00:14:33,701 Because you are under the sound 278 00:14:33,701 --> 00:14:35,908 of the Gospel 279 00:14:35,908 --> 00:14:41,448 and Jesus said to His disciples, 280 00:14:41,448 --> 00:14:44,021 if they hear you preach 281 00:14:44,021 --> 00:14:47,135 and they don't receive it, 282 00:14:47,135 --> 00:14:48,819 it's going to be more tolerable 283 00:14:48,819 --> 00:14:54,548 for Sodom and Gomorrah than for them. 284 00:14:54,548 --> 00:14:59,412 You know who is most miserable? 285 00:14:59,412 --> 00:15:03,614 You know who's most miserable? 286 00:15:03,614 --> 00:15:06,469 It really isn't the guy out there 287 00:15:06,469 --> 00:15:09,185 who doesn't know any of this. 288 00:15:09,185 --> 00:15:11,042 And I know that. 289 00:15:11,042 --> 00:15:14,565 When I was lost, I could sin. 290 00:15:14,565 --> 00:15:19,332 I could sin. I could drink it like water. 291 00:15:19,332 --> 00:15:21,431 But you know what? 292 00:15:21,431 --> 00:15:24,622 I thought it was okay. 293 00:15:24,622 --> 00:15:31,619 I thought well, I'm not that good, 294 00:15:31,619 --> 00:15:34,427 but I'm not that bad. 295 00:15:34,427 --> 00:15:36,654 And I'm going to get this right. 296 00:15:36,654 --> 00:15:38,440 I'm going to play the religious game. 297 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,333 I'm going to get this right. 298 00:15:40,333 --> 00:15:42,862 And so you know what? Even while I'm living it up, 299 00:15:42,862 --> 00:15:45,911 and I'm living this crazy life, 300 00:15:45,911 --> 00:15:49,650 I really thought I was going to heaven. 301 00:15:49,650 --> 00:15:51,528 But you know what? 302 00:15:51,528 --> 00:15:56,502 I recognize this with my son Joshua. 303 00:15:56,502 --> 00:16:01,461 He knew so much truth, 304 00:16:01,461 --> 00:16:03,341 when he tried to play with sin, 305 00:16:03,341 --> 00:16:06,032 it was right there all the time: "You're going to hell." 306 00:16:06,032 --> 00:16:09,150 You know what he told Ruby and I? 307 00:16:09,150 --> 00:16:13,511 He just tried to convince himself 308 00:16:13,511 --> 00:16:16,574 hell was endurable; 309 00:16:16,574 --> 00:16:18,696 that he could endure it. 310 00:16:18,696 --> 00:16:21,100 That's what he tried to convince himself. 311 00:16:21,100 --> 00:16:23,644 Because you know what, if you've sat under the truth, 312 00:16:23,644 --> 00:16:25,554 you of all people are most miserable - 313 00:16:25,554 --> 00:16:27,308 if you're going out there in the world 314 00:16:27,308 --> 00:16:28,875 and you're trying to drink your sin, 315 00:16:28,875 --> 00:16:31,368 because you know there's a hell. 316 00:16:31,368 --> 00:16:33,861 And you know there's a God. 317 00:16:33,861 --> 00:16:39,898 There is a God who deals - it seems severe. 318 00:16:39,898 --> 00:16:42,634 Scripture says so. 319 00:16:42,634 --> 00:16:44,972 The severity of God. 320 00:16:44,972 --> 00:16:47,259 His justice is severe. 321 00:16:47,259 --> 00:16:50,983 Not that it's unjust. 322 00:16:50,983 --> 00:16:52,288 But I'll tell you what, 323 00:16:52,288 --> 00:16:53,885 for any infraction of His law 324 00:16:53,885 --> 00:16:57,588 to be sent to hell forever, 325 00:16:57,588 --> 00:16:58,784 that ought to tell you, 326 00:16:58,784 --> 00:17:00,848 all you have to do is look at that cross 327 00:17:00,848 --> 00:17:01,929 and hear Christ: 328 00:17:01,929 --> 00:17:05,726 "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" 329 00:17:05,726 --> 00:17:07,932 You look at that cross and it will tell you 330 00:17:07,932 --> 00:17:12,211 what sin deserves. 331 00:17:12,211 --> 00:17:14,411 You of all people are most miserable 332 00:17:14,411 --> 00:17:18,411 if you have not embraced this Christ. 333 00:17:18,411 --> 00:17:21,406 Because while you're trying to drink your sin, 334 00:17:21,406 --> 00:17:25,169 you can't do it freely. 335 00:17:25,169 --> 00:17:28,274 There's always a shadow. 336 00:17:28,274 --> 00:17:30,390 There's always your conscience 337 00:17:30,390 --> 00:17:32,792 beating this drumbeat: 338 00:17:32,792 --> 00:17:36,345 hell, hell, hell... 339 00:17:36,345 --> 00:17:42,165 it's forever, forever, forever. 340 00:17:42,165 --> 00:17:44,516 No, those of us that have embraced Christ, 341 00:17:44,516 --> 00:17:47,366 we of all people are not most miserable. 342 00:17:47,366 --> 00:17:49,979 We are the most to be envied, 343 00:17:49,979 --> 00:17:52,517 not the most to be pitied. 344 00:17:52,517 --> 00:17:53,677 Because we found it! 345 00:17:53,677 --> 00:17:56,742 We've found the Treasure of all treasures. 346 00:17:56,742 --> 00:17:59,288 We have found pardon for our sin 347 00:17:59,288 --> 00:18:03,845 and it opens the way to eternal paradise. 348 00:18:03,845 --> 00:18:08,090 And you go on your way in your sin, 349 00:18:08,090 --> 00:18:10,523 and it's only going to open 350 00:18:10,523 --> 00:18:13,181 into eternal despair. 351 00:18:13,181 --> 00:18:14,668 Live it up now. 352 00:18:14,668 --> 00:18:17,150 That's what Paul says. 353 00:18:17,150 --> 00:18:21,069 Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die - 354 00:18:21,069 --> 00:18:23,874 if the dead aren't raised. 355 00:18:23,874 --> 00:18:24,908 But you know what? 356 00:18:24,908 --> 00:18:26,557 That's what you ought to do 357 00:18:26,557 --> 00:18:28,865 if you're just going to go on rejecting Christ. 358 00:18:28,865 --> 00:18:31,141 Go eat and drink. 359 00:18:31,141 --> 00:18:33,616 Live it up. 360 00:18:33,616 --> 00:18:35,141 Don't play the game. 361 00:18:35,141 --> 00:18:39,891 Don't play at Christianity. 362 00:18:39,891 --> 00:18:41,936 One foot in, one foot out. 363 00:18:41,936 --> 00:18:45,032 You are most miserable 364 00:18:45,032 --> 00:18:46,987 among the children of men. 365 00:18:46,987 --> 00:18:49,594 Why? Because you're trying to play the Christian, 366 00:18:49,594 --> 00:18:51,639 and all the time you want the world. 367 00:18:51,639 --> 00:18:53,476 So you're not really accepted by both. 368 00:18:53,476 --> 00:18:54,998 The world looks at you and says 369 00:18:54,998 --> 00:18:56,453 you're a religious nut. 370 00:18:56,453 --> 00:18:58,870 Christians look at you and they say 371 00:18:58,870 --> 00:19:02,668 you don't smell right. 372 00:19:02,668 --> 00:19:06,327 You constantly have your eyes on the world. 373 00:19:06,327 --> 00:19:08,909 And you of all people will be most miserable 374 00:19:08,909 --> 00:19:12,366 because you're trying to play the Christian game 375 00:19:12,366 --> 00:19:16,528 and in the end, you're going to lose your soul. 376 00:19:16,528 --> 00:19:18,208 What you want to do is see Christ 377 00:19:18,208 --> 00:19:20,396 dying on that cross 378 00:19:20,396 --> 00:19:22,501 and know this, 379 00:19:22,501 --> 00:19:24,263 He became sin. 380 00:19:24,263 --> 00:19:29,081 God laid sin on Him. 381 00:19:29,081 --> 00:19:33,791 And He suffered and He died. 382 00:19:33,791 --> 00:19:37,193 Scripture says He was crushed. 383 00:19:37,193 --> 00:19:41,798 God crushed Him on that cross. 384 00:19:41,798 --> 00:19:45,606 God put Him in the vice of His wrath 385 00:19:45,606 --> 00:19:48,931 and He squeezed 386 00:19:48,931 --> 00:19:51,822 until His soul ran out of Him. 387 00:19:51,822 --> 00:19:55,310 Spilled - that's what Psalm 22 says. 388 00:19:55,310 --> 00:19:57,791 Poured out like water. 389 00:19:57,791 --> 00:20:00,616 He just wrung Him out. 390 00:20:00,616 --> 00:20:02,959 Why? In the place of sinners. 391 00:20:02,959 --> 00:20:05,567 But then He burst forth from that grave 392 00:20:05,567 --> 00:20:08,950 to show it was paid. 393 00:20:08,950 --> 00:20:11,810 Satisfied. 394 00:20:11,810 --> 00:20:14,879 We don't want to let go of either of those truths. 395 00:20:14,879 --> 00:20:18,509 They are both of principal, 396 00:20:18,509 --> 00:20:22,179 primary importance. 397 00:20:22,179 --> 00:20:26,979 First magnitude when it comes to the Gospel. 398 00:20:26,979 --> 00:20:27,986 Amen.