1 00:00:01,295 --> 00:00:05,286 So brethren, if you would, 2 00:00:05,286 --> 00:00:09,671 I too would have you open to the book of Hebrews 3 00:00:09,671 --> 00:00:13,273 just as a launching place 4 00:00:13,273 --> 00:00:22,734 for the message this morning. 5 00:00:22,734 --> 00:00:25,281 In our theology class a week ago 6 00:00:25,281 --> 00:00:29,552 we got to talking about judgment day. 7 00:00:29,552 --> 00:00:32,144 And I thought not only because questions 8 00:00:32,144 --> 00:00:37,783 came up then pertaining to judgment day, 9 00:00:37,783 --> 00:00:40,568 but I think also as we draw 10 00:00:40,568 --> 00:00:44,657 to the close of another year, 11 00:00:44,657 --> 00:00:50,782 perhaps, there are few better ways 12 00:00:50,782 --> 00:00:56,731 that we can test ourselves, 13 00:00:56,731 --> 00:01:01,704 no better test maybe that we can apply to ourselves 14 00:01:01,704 --> 00:01:04,811 in order to discover the true quality 15 00:01:04,811 --> 00:01:06,942 of our present Christian life, 16 00:01:06,942 --> 00:01:10,362 and to evaluate where we are 17 00:01:10,362 --> 00:01:13,500 in the sight of God 18 00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:16,101 than to examine ourselves 19 00:01:16,101 --> 00:01:19,681 in light of the reality 20 00:01:19,681 --> 00:01:22,141 of the coming judgment. 21 00:01:22,141 --> 00:01:25,592 Judgment day. 22 00:01:25,592 --> 00:01:27,751 The author of Hebrews. 23 00:01:27,751 --> 00:01:37,643 Hebrews 9. 24 00:01:37,643 --> 00:01:42,711 Hebrews 9:27 - 25 00:01:42,711 --> 00:01:45,412 familiar to many of us. 26 00:01:45,412 --> 00:01:48,752 Often quoted by many of us. 27 00:01:48,752 --> 00:01:52,922 And yet, it's interesting that in the context, 28 00:01:52,922 --> 00:01:56,345 the fact it's appointed to man once to die 29 00:01:56,345 --> 00:01:57,601 and then the judgment 30 00:01:57,601 --> 00:02:00,668 isn't the primary thought. 31 00:02:00,668 --> 00:02:04,813 The primary thought is that Jesus came 32 00:02:04,813 --> 00:02:08,731 once already and died for sin once, 33 00:02:08,731 --> 00:02:10,772 and that He's going to come again 34 00:02:10,772 --> 00:02:14,941 to save, to retrieve His people. 35 00:02:14,941 --> 00:02:17,913 That's what you find in Hebrews 9:27. 36 00:02:17,913 --> 00:02:20,031 Christ appeared once to suffer. 37 00:02:20,031 --> 00:02:21,740 He'll appear a second time 38 00:02:21,740 --> 00:02:23,714 to retrieve His people. 39 00:02:23,714 --> 00:02:26,901 And the point of the author here is this: 40 00:02:26,901 --> 00:02:29,734 that His first suffering, 41 00:02:29,734 --> 00:02:31,709 then coming to save His people - 42 00:02:31,709 --> 00:02:35,094 that sequence, 43 00:02:35,094 --> 00:02:40,142 the one following after the other 44 00:02:40,142 --> 00:02:44,384 is just as certain. 45 00:02:44,384 --> 00:02:48,693 It's almost like the fact we're going to die 46 00:02:48,693 --> 00:02:50,422 and then face the judgment 47 00:02:50,422 --> 00:02:52,270 is the thing that we already know. 48 00:02:52,270 --> 00:02:55,081 It's already established. 49 00:02:55,081 --> 00:02:57,065 It's the thing that he's seeking to prove 50 00:02:57,065 --> 00:02:59,070 is that Christ died once for sin 51 00:02:59,070 --> 00:03:01,820 and then after that, He's going to come for His people. 52 00:03:01,820 --> 00:03:06,760 And it's just as certain 53 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:13,343 as judgment follows death. 54 00:03:13,343 --> 00:03:22,671 And notice, "it is appointed for man 55 00:03:22,671 --> 00:03:25,980 once to die, and after that comes judgment." 56 00:03:25,980 --> 00:03:30,444 Obviously judgment upon everyone 57 00:03:30,444 --> 00:03:33,039 who is in that category of man. 58 00:03:33,039 --> 00:03:39,799 Man is a general term. 59 00:03:39,799 --> 00:03:42,402 I think every one of us should say 60 00:03:42,402 --> 00:03:45,280 and come really face to face with this. 61 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:46,973 Man - it's so easy to say that. 62 00:03:46,973 --> 00:03:50,537 "Appointed to man once to die..." 63 00:03:50,537 --> 00:03:56,061 You say it to yourself. 64 00:03:56,061 --> 00:04:03,205 It's appointed for me to die. 65 00:04:03,205 --> 00:04:05,032 There's going to be that first Sunday 66 00:04:05,032 --> 00:04:08,043 many of you meet together 67 00:04:08,043 --> 00:04:11,463 after my funeral. 68 00:04:11,463 --> 00:04:13,814 I am going to die 69 00:04:13,814 --> 00:04:18,282 and after that, my judgment. 70 00:04:18,282 --> 00:04:22,370 This is a very individual and sobering reality. 71 00:04:22,370 --> 00:04:26,370 And we're all moving on to that. 72 00:04:26,370 --> 00:04:27,752 All of us. 73 00:04:27,752 --> 00:04:34,124 We shall all stand face to face with that. 74 00:04:34,124 --> 00:04:37,252 What's that? 75 00:04:37,252 --> 00:04:40,542 I mean, there is a white throne. 76 00:04:40,542 --> 00:04:42,792 There is a great throne. 77 00:04:42,792 --> 00:04:47,634 We are going to stand face to face with God, 78 00:04:47,634 --> 00:04:49,271 with the greatness of God, 79 00:04:49,271 --> 00:04:50,904 with the justice of God, 80 00:04:50,904 --> 00:04:53,600 with the holiness and righteousness of God 81 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,013 and you can't run away from that reality. 82 00:04:56,013 --> 00:04:57,394 You cannot run away from it. 83 00:04:57,394 --> 00:05:00,204 You can try to convince yourself it's not going to happen, 84 00:05:00,204 --> 00:05:02,582 but that doesn't free you from this. 85 00:05:02,582 --> 00:05:04,511 You can put it off. You can ignore it. 86 00:05:04,511 --> 00:05:06,084 You can put your head in the sand 87 00:05:06,084 --> 00:05:07,532 like the proverbial ostrich. 88 00:05:07,532 --> 00:05:09,655 It's not going to help. 89 00:05:09,655 --> 00:05:12,171 We are moving on and on. 90 00:05:12,171 --> 00:05:16,214 It's like the sands of time are sinking. 91 00:05:16,214 --> 00:05:17,502 They're sinking. 92 00:05:17,502 --> 00:05:18,627 They're going. 93 00:05:18,627 --> 00:05:20,875 Just the last moments since we've been in here, 94 00:05:20,875 --> 00:05:22,273 you can't stop time. 95 00:05:22,273 --> 00:05:23,251 It's moving. 96 00:05:23,251 --> 00:05:25,930 We move to that appointed time. 97 00:05:25,930 --> 00:05:29,472 This appointed reality. 98 00:05:29,472 --> 00:05:31,581 And the plain teaching of the Bible 99 00:05:31,581 --> 00:05:36,972 is that my eternal destiny 100 00:05:36,972 --> 00:05:41,611 is going to be proclaimed on that day. 101 00:05:41,611 --> 00:05:44,123 Now your eternal destiny 102 00:05:44,123 --> 00:05:46,502 and my eternal destiny, 103 00:05:46,502 --> 00:05:50,792 they are being established and fixed 104 00:05:50,792 --> 00:05:54,640 now in this life, 105 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,010 but on that day, 106 00:05:58,010 --> 00:06:01,334 it is going to be proclaimed. 107 00:06:01,334 --> 00:06:05,491 That's the reality of Scripture. 108 00:06:05,491 --> 00:06:08,062 There's a verdict. 109 00:06:08,062 --> 00:06:11,131 We are all going to stand trial. 110 00:06:11,131 --> 00:06:13,103 I know some don't like this teaching, 111 00:06:13,103 --> 00:06:16,490 but we can't escape this reality. 112 00:06:16,490 --> 00:06:18,873 Look, the Jews in the Old Testament, 113 00:06:18,873 --> 00:06:21,141 they were familiar with this reality. 114 00:06:21,141 --> 00:06:23,134 You can read through the Psalms. 115 00:06:23,134 --> 00:06:25,842 I don't want you to turn there, but just listen to this. 116 00:06:25,842 --> 00:06:26,993 Psalm 96, 117 00:06:26,993 --> 00:06:29,053 "The Lord comes, 118 00:06:29,053 --> 00:06:31,665 for He comes to judge the earth. 119 00:06:31,665 --> 00:06:38,482 He will judge the world in righteousness." 120 00:06:38,482 --> 00:06:45,103 And this is just such a powerful text. 121 00:06:45,103 --> 00:06:48,904 We hear this quoted from time to time. 122 00:06:48,904 --> 00:06:52,845 Solomon gives us this one. 123 00:06:52,845 --> 00:06:54,415 We just sang in that song: 124 00:06:54,415 --> 00:06:59,092 "careless sinner." 125 00:06:59,092 --> 00:07:02,051 Listen to what Scripture says. 126 00:07:02,051 --> 00:07:05,634 "Rejoice," somewhat in a sarcastic tone. 127 00:07:05,634 --> 00:07:10,980 "Rejoice, O young man, in your youth. 128 00:07:10,980 --> 00:07:13,691 Let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. 129 00:07:13,691 --> 00:07:17,572 Walk in the ways of your heart." 130 00:07:17,572 --> 00:07:21,431 Just do your heart's desire. 131 00:07:21,431 --> 00:07:27,151 Fulfill the lusts, the desires of your heart. 132 00:07:27,151 --> 00:07:28,412 Just do that. 133 00:07:28,412 --> 00:07:30,171 "Walk in the ways of your heart. 134 00:07:30,171 --> 00:07:31,773 Walk in the sight of your eyes." 135 00:07:31,773 --> 00:07:33,503 Just whatever you think looks good - 136 00:07:33,503 --> 00:07:34,741 you see a beautiful woman, 137 00:07:34,741 --> 00:07:35,963 you see money looks good, 138 00:07:35,963 --> 00:07:38,001 you see a beautiful car, beautiful stuff. 139 00:07:38,001 --> 00:07:42,540 Just pursue it all. 140 00:07:42,540 --> 00:07:45,671 "But know that for all these things, 141 00:07:45,671 --> 00:07:49,085 God will bring you into judgment." 142 00:07:49,085 --> 00:07:51,343 Have you ever read that text? 143 00:07:51,343 --> 00:07:55,193 There's another place in Ecclesiastes 144 00:07:55,193 --> 00:08:00,244 where the preacher says this: 145 00:08:00,244 --> 00:08:08,714 "God will bring every deed into judgment." 146 00:08:08,714 --> 00:08:10,352 Wow! 147 00:08:10,352 --> 00:08:12,651 Just in the time I've been here at church, 148 00:08:12,651 --> 00:08:14,052 I walked through the door, 149 00:08:14,052 --> 00:08:18,173 I talked with Brother Jonathan Sanguinetti. 150 00:08:18,173 --> 00:08:22,834 That conversation is going to be brought. 151 00:08:22,834 --> 00:08:28,273 I went out and got a bag of golf balls for Steve. 152 00:08:28,273 --> 00:08:32,725 I filled my coffee. 153 00:08:32,725 --> 00:08:36,091 I talked with some sisters out here. 154 00:08:36,091 --> 00:08:38,762 I talked with David over here. 155 00:08:38,762 --> 00:08:40,101 You think about that. 156 00:08:40,101 --> 00:08:43,662 Every deed. 157 00:08:43,662 --> 00:08:47,815 God will bring every deed into judgment 158 00:08:47,815 --> 00:08:50,306 with every secret thing. 159 00:08:50,306 --> 00:08:52,745 So it's not like it's just going to be the deed. 160 00:08:52,745 --> 00:08:55,435 It's going to be my mind, my motives. 161 00:08:55,435 --> 00:08:57,892 It's going to be opened up. 162 00:08:57,892 --> 00:09:03,152 Every secret thing whether good or evil. 163 00:09:03,152 --> 00:09:05,181 No foreign doctrine in the Old Testament. 164 00:09:05,181 --> 00:09:07,992 Of course, you know, when we move into the New Testament, 165 00:09:07,992 --> 00:09:09,222 our Lord Jesus Christ - 166 00:09:09,222 --> 00:09:12,581 He doesn't even seek to prove this. 167 00:09:12,581 --> 00:09:14,299 It's a given. 168 00:09:14,299 --> 00:09:16,963 He just expected that the Jews knew their Old Testament. 169 00:09:16,963 --> 00:09:19,403 So this was already a given in the Old Testament. 170 00:09:19,403 --> 00:09:21,182 Listen to how He speaks. 171 00:09:21,182 --> 00:09:23,862 "Truly, I say to you, 172 00:09:23,862 --> 00:09:27,882 it will be more bearable 173 00:09:27,882 --> 00:09:32,291 for Sodom and Gomorrah" 174 00:09:32,291 --> 00:09:34,023 than for that town. 175 00:09:34,023 --> 00:09:36,241 What's He talking about? 176 00:09:36,241 --> 00:09:37,881 I'll tell you this, 177 00:09:37,881 --> 00:09:39,221 that when people come under 178 00:09:39,221 --> 00:09:40,481 the sound of the Gospel 179 00:09:40,481 --> 00:09:41,872 and they refuse the Gospel, 180 00:09:41,872 --> 00:09:44,470 it's going to be more tolerable on the day of judgment 181 00:09:44,470 --> 00:09:45,811 than for Sodom and Gomorrah. 182 00:09:45,811 --> 00:09:47,601 And we often think "Sodomites!" 183 00:09:47,601 --> 00:09:48,782 Boy, they're bad! 184 00:09:48,782 --> 00:09:51,470 God burned up the whole city. 185 00:09:51,470 --> 00:09:53,841 It's going to be more bearable 186 00:09:53,841 --> 00:09:56,741 it says in one place, more tolerable, 187 00:09:56,741 --> 00:09:58,821 on the day of judgment - it's just a given. 188 00:09:58,821 --> 00:10:00,302 There's a day of judgment coming 189 00:10:00,302 --> 00:10:02,391 and it is going to be more tolerable for some 190 00:10:02,391 --> 00:10:04,461 than for others on that day, 191 00:10:04,461 --> 00:10:10,208 which means some are going to be punished more. 192 00:10:10,208 --> 00:10:11,331 How about this? 193 00:10:11,331 --> 00:10:16,331 "I tell you..." Jesus, again, just speaking truth. 194 00:10:16,331 --> 00:10:20,581 "I tell you on the day of judgment 195 00:10:20,581 --> 00:10:22,151 people will give account 196 00:10:22,151 --> 00:10:28,559 for every careless word they speak." 197 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:30,220 Boy, there is something about that 198 00:10:30,220 --> 00:10:31,232 for every one of us 199 00:10:31,232 --> 00:10:37,819 that ought to make us tremble. 200 00:10:37,819 --> 00:10:43,520 And listen, I think that's our Lord's point. 201 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,450 This is serious stuff. 202 00:10:45,450 --> 00:10:49,611 How you live here is serious 203 00:10:49,611 --> 00:10:50,972 because there's coming a day 204 00:10:50,972 --> 00:10:53,312 when we have to give an account for all of this. 205 00:10:53,312 --> 00:10:54,441 You know what? 206 00:10:54,441 --> 00:11:00,760 This, I'm certain, is the primary motivation for atheism 207 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:04,551 and for wanting to believe that we evolved from apes. 208 00:11:04,551 --> 00:11:06,499 You've got to push God out of the picture 209 00:11:06,499 --> 00:11:08,211 because this is unsettling, 210 00:11:08,211 --> 00:11:10,012 and it is especially unsettling 211 00:11:10,012 --> 00:11:14,540 if you have spent your whole life just pursuing sin. 212 00:11:14,540 --> 00:11:15,831 Jesus says this, 213 00:11:15,831 --> 00:11:19,092 "The men of Nineveh will rise up 214 00:11:19,092 --> 00:11:21,612 at the judgment with this generation 215 00:11:21,612 --> 00:11:23,501 and condemn it, for they repented 216 00:11:23,501 --> 00:11:25,031 at the preaching of Jonah, 217 00:11:25,031 --> 00:11:27,281 and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 218 00:11:27,281 --> 00:11:30,022 The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment..." 219 00:11:30,022 --> 00:11:31,632 You get the point. 220 00:11:31,632 --> 00:11:36,291 This flowed from Jesus' preaching and teaching. 221 00:11:36,291 --> 00:11:39,451 In John 16:8, speaking of the Holy Spirit, 222 00:11:39,451 --> 00:11:42,062 the Comforter - 223 00:11:42,062 --> 00:11:44,250 "...Who is to come, 224 00:11:44,250 --> 00:11:45,951 when He comes..." 225 00:11:45,951 --> 00:11:48,508 what was He going to convict the world of? 226 00:11:48,508 --> 00:11:54,893 Sin and righteousness and judgment. 227 00:11:54,893 --> 00:11:56,681 And I'll tell you this, 228 00:11:56,681 --> 00:11:59,381 the Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost. 229 00:11:59,381 --> 00:12:03,481 And when those apostles took forth the Gospel 230 00:12:03,481 --> 00:12:06,321 there in the book of Acts, 231 00:12:06,321 --> 00:12:08,452 what sort of things did they say? 232 00:12:08,452 --> 00:12:10,361 In the power of the Holy Spirit, 233 00:12:10,361 --> 00:12:11,681 here's Paul declaring, 234 00:12:11,681 --> 00:12:13,450 "God has fixed a day on which 235 00:12:13,450 --> 00:12:15,832 He will judge the world in righteousness 236 00:12:15,832 --> 00:12:17,936 by a Man whom He has appointed 237 00:12:17,936 --> 00:12:19,881 and of this He has given assurance 238 00:12:19,881 --> 00:12:23,332 to all by raising Him from the dead." 239 00:12:23,332 --> 00:12:25,172 And you know, 240 00:12:25,172 --> 00:12:27,851 out of all the things that Paul could have talked about, 241 00:12:27,851 --> 00:12:30,282 he comes face to face with that ruler 242 00:12:30,282 --> 00:12:31,961 Felix the governor, 243 00:12:31,961 --> 00:12:34,683 and it says that he reasoned with him 244 00:12:34,683 --> 00:12:37,112 about righteousness and self-control 245 00:12:37,112 --> 00:12:39,672 and the coming judgment. 246 00:12:39,672 --> 00:12:44,111 Felix was alarmed. 247 00:12:44,111 --> 00:12:45,649 And he had a right to be. 248 00:12:45,649 --> 00:12:47,971 The idea of judgment is alarming. 249 00:12:47,971 --> 00:12:49,351 And I'll tell you this, 250 00:12:49,351 --> 00:12:52,513 we should be a church, 251 00:12:52,513 --> 00:12:54,652 we should be a group of people 252 00:12:54,652 --> 00:12:59,151 who lives governed by this reality. 253 00:12:59,151 --> 00:13:00,981 We should think about this. 254 00:13:00,981 --> 00:13:04,301 And we should live in light of this reality; 255 00:13:04,301 --> 00:13:08,082 not be ignorant to it. 256 00:13:08,082 --> 00:13:10,552 Nothing we do is done in secret. 257 00:13:10,552 --> 00:13:13,583 Everything is going to be brought out into the open 258 00:13:13,583 --> 00:13:15,861 and each of us is going to answer 259 00:13:15,861 --> 00:13:18,282 for what he or she has done. 260 00:13:18,282 --> 00:13:20,862 Listen to our Lord plainly, 261 00:13:20,862 --> 00:13:24,451 and He said this to His disciples, 262 00:13:24,451 --> 00:13:29,153 "Nothing... nothing is covered 263 00:13:29,153 --> 00:13:34,653 that will not be revealed, 264 00:13:34,653 --> 00:13:38,882 or hidden that will not be made known." 265 00:13:38,882 --> 00:13:42,292 Brethren, the certainty of it, 266 00:13:42,292 --> 00:13:44,633 the reality of it. 267 00:13:44,633 --> 00:13:46,582 Paul says, "knowing therefore 268 00:13:46,582 --> 00:13:49,752 the terror of the Lord" in speaking about this. 269 00:13:49,752 --> 00:13:52,982 The impossibility of escaping this. 270 00:13:52,982 --> 00:13:55,702 Should that not appeal to every single one of us? 271 00:13:55,702 --> 00:13:57,853 Does that not demand the attention 272 00:13:57,853 --> 00:13:59,212 of every single one of us? 273 00:13:59,212 --> 00:14:01,052 Should this not govern the life 274 00:14:01,052 --> 00:14:02,342 of every single one of us? 275 00:14:02,342 --> 00:14:06,052 God help us to not live sloppy and carelessly 276 00:14:06,052 --> 00:14:09,109 in light of this sobering reality. 277 00:14:09,109 --> 00:14:11,224 I have to die. 278 00:14:11,224 --> 00:14:19,892 And then... then, my judgment. 279 00:14:19,892 --> 00:14:22,401 Judgment. 280 00:14:22,401 --> 00:14:24,331 Look, you can't say: 281 00:14:24,331 --> 00:14:25,890 "Oh, well, I'm a Christian." 282 00:14:25,890 --> 00:14:28,651 "I'm somehow exempted." No, you're not. 283 00:14:28,651 --> 00:14:30,004 No, you're not. 284 00:14:30,004 --> 00:14:33,332 And the Apostle Paul was especially clear 285 00:14:33,332 --> 00:14:35,122 on this reality. 286 00:14:35,122 --> 00:14:36,992 Listen. 287 00:14:36,992 --> 00:14:39,650 Listen to how he speaks to the Corinthians. 288 00:14:39,650 --> 00:14:42,992 And notice the use of the pronouns. 289 00:14:42,992 --> 00:14:46,323 "Yes, we are of good courage." 290 00:14:46,323 --> 00:14:47,582 You need to ask yourself: 291 00:14:47,582 --> 00:14:48,891 who is he talking to? 292 00:14:48,891 --> 00:14:51,323 "We are of good courage. 293 00:14:51,323 --> 00:14:54,212 We would rather be away from the body 294 00:14:54,212 --> 00:14:55,683 and at home with the Lord." 295 00:14:55,683 --> 00:14:56,831 Who are the "we" 296 00:14:56,831 --> 00:14:58,752 who when they're absent from the body 297 00:14:58,752 --> 00:15:01,320 are at home with the Lord? 298 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:02,732 We. 299 00:15:02,732 --> 00:15:05,222 "So whether we are at home or away, 300 00:15:05,222 --> 00:15:10,501 we make - we - make it our aim 301 00:15:10,501 --> 00:15:14,551 to please Him 302 00:15:14,551 --> 00:15:18,311 because - for we must all appear 303 00:15:18,311 --> 00:15:23,820 before the judgment seat of Christ." 304 00:15:23,820 --> 00:15:29,462 That's why we make it our aim. 305 00:15:29,462 --> 00:15:31,343 See, that's a motivation. 306 00:15:31,343 --> 00:15:32,692 You recognize that. 307 00:15:32,692 --> 00:15:37,591 That's how you use that conjunction there. 308 00:15:37,591 --> 00:15:40,043 Because. We aim to please Him, because... 309 00:15:40,043 --> 00:15:41,953 You say, well, that's the word "for." 310 00:15:41,953 --> 00:15:44,582 Yeah, it's because. 311 00:15:44,582 --> 00:15:46,502 We aim to please Him, because... 312 00:15:46,502 --> 00:15:48,512 And then in the very next verse, it says, 313 00:15:48,512 --> 00:15:50,932 "knowing therefore the terror of the Lord." 314 00:15:50,932 --> 00:15:53,532 That's how the King James reads. 315 00:15:53,532 --> 00:15:56,566 "...We persuade men." 316 00:15:56,566 --> 00:15:59,545 Because we know. We know. 317 00:15:59,545 --> 00:16:04,251 That is a day of terror. 318 00:16:04,251 --> 00:16:06,661 If you are outside of Christ, 319 00:16:06,661 --> 00:16:11,142 that is not a good day for you. 320 00:16:11,142 --> 00:16:13,463 The certainty of all this. 321 00:16:13,463 --> 00:16:19,793 And listen, you remember in Romans 14, 322 00:16:19,793 --> 00:16:24,063 Paul's distinctly speaking to Christians. 323 00:16:24,063 --> 00:16:26,062 And he's saying, look, 324 00:16:26,062 --> 00:16:28,902 you shouldn't be judging each other. 325 00:16:28,902 --> 00:16:30,083 Remember? 326 00:16:30,083 --> 00:16:31,522 They were wrestling over 327 00:16:31,522 --> 00:16:33,403 the observance of a day. 328 00:16:33,403 --> 00:16:35,504 They were wrestling over whether they should 329 00:16:35,504 --> 00:16:38,412 eat meat or should not eat meat. 330 00:16:38,412 --> 00:16:40,802 He says this, "Why do you pass judgment 331 00:16:40,802 --> 00:16:42,162 on your brother?" 332 00:16:42,162 --> 00:16:45,282 See, he's clearly speaking to Christians here. 333 00:16:45,282 --> 00:16:47,322 "Or why do you despise your brother? 334 00:16:47,322 --> 00:16:52,622 For we will all stand 335 00:16:52,622 --> 00:16:56,831 before the judgment seat of God." 336 00:16:56,831 --> 00:17:01,902 You know there in Matthew 25, it says, 337 00:17:01,902 --> 00:17:05,423 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory," 338 00:17:05,423 --> 00:17:06,631 what is going to happen? 339 00:17:06,631 --> 00:17:07,860 "The angels with Him," 340 00:17:07,860 --> 00:17:10,763 He's going to sit upon a glorious throne 341 00:17:10,763 --> 00:17:13,072 and all the nations are going to be 342 00:17:13,072 --> 00:17:14,462 brought before Him. 343 00:17:14,462 --> 00:17:16,171 And you see He divides them. 344 00:17:16,171 --> 00:17:17,674 Both are there. 345 00:17:17,674 --> 00:17:19,362 Both. 346 00:17:19,362 --> 00:17:22,252 Those on the right. Those on the left. 347 00:17:22,252 --> 00:17:23,632 They're all there. 348 00:17:23,632 --> 00:17:26,401 None exempted. None excepted. 349 00:17:26,401 --> 00:17:30,271 Christian, we're not exempted from this. 350 00:17:30,271 --> 00:17:33,103 There's no way out. 351 00:17:33,103 --> 00:17:35,789 It says of Jesus Christ 352 00:17:35,789 --> 00:17:37,566 that He is ready to judge 353 00:17:37,566 --> 00:17:40,671 the living and the dead - 354 00:17:40,671 --> 00:17:42,492 those who are alive in Christ, 355 00:17:42,492 --> 00:17:46,382 those who are dead in their sins. 356 00:17:46,382 --> 00:17:53,451 We must all appear. 357 00:17:53,451 --> 00:17:57,432 All must appear 358 00:17:57,432 --> 00:18:00,971 before the judgment seat of Christ. 359 00:18:00,971 --> 00:18:04,569 And you just imagine that in your minds. 360 00:18:04,569 --> 00:18:08,011 All must appear. 361 00:18:08,011 --> 00:18:10,871 What a vast assembly! No one missing. 362 00:18:10,871 --> 00:18:12,202 It made me think. 363 00:18:12,202 --> 00:18:15,652 Sometimes I'll ask is Darrell here? 364 00:18:15,652 --> 00:18:16,592 Is Matt here? 365 00:18:16,592 --> 00:18:19,102 If there's a question about what the deacons are doing, 366 00:18:19,102 --> 00:18:20,150 and no hand comes up. 367 00:18:20,150 --> 00:18:22,090 Somebody says oh, his family's sick. 368 00:18:22,090 --> 00:18:23,663 Not on that day. 369 00:18:23,663 --> 00:18:25,491 Nobody's missing. 370 00:18:25,491 --> 00:18:27,241 Nobody's out. 371 00:18:27,241 --> 00:18:30,359 Nobody happened to be late or family's sick. 372 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:34,662 None excepted. None. 373 00:18:34,662 --> 00:18:37,011 Can you imagine Adam and Eve? 374 00:18:37,011 --> 00:18:39,062 They're in there too. 375 00:18:39,062 --> 00:18:40,113 Can you imagine? 376 00:18:40,113 --> 00:18:42,161 I don't know how much they'll look around. 377 00:18:42,161 --> 00:18:45,032 I don't know how much they'll be able to take this in. 378 00:18:45,032 --> 00:18:46,401 I don't even know honestly 379 00:18:46,401 --> 00:18:47,791 where they're at spiritually. 380 00:18:47,791 --> 00:18:49,362 I have my theories on that. 381 00:18:49,362 --> 00:18:55,051 But I can just imagine them. 382 00:18:55,051 --> 00:18:58,921 What have we done? 383 00:18:58,921 --> 00:19:03,992 Vast ocean of humanity, 384 00:19:03,992 --> 00:19:08,792 and they condemned that whole human race 385 00:19:08,792 --> 00:19:14,942 aside from those who have been rescued out. 386 00:19:14,942 --> 00:19:17,261 What have we done? 387 00:19:17,261 --> 00:19:19,281 Think about it. 388 00:19:19,281 --> 00:19:21,901 The Romans will be there. 389 00:19:21,901 --> 00:19:24,002 Pilate will be there. Nero will be there. 390 00:19:24,002 --> 00:19:26,312 Caligula will be there. Claudius will be there. 391 00:19:26,312 --> 00:19:27,861 Tiberias will be there. 392 00:19:27,861 --> 00:19:30,660 All the Caesars will be there. 393 00:19:30,660 --> 00:19:33,230 Those who sat on the Roman senate. 394 00:19:33,230 --> 00:19:36,024 Those who were the slaves. 395 00:19:36,024 --> 00:19:39,912 Remember all those when Jerusalem fell, 396 00:19:39,912 --> 00:19:43,682 they led away multitudes - captive Jews - 397 00:19:43,682 --> 00:19:44,923 they'll all be there. 398 00:19:44,923 --> 00:19:48,503 The Jews that exodus-ed out of Egypt. They'll be there. 399 00:19:48,503 --> 00:19:50,961 Those that came out of Babylon. They'll be there. 400 00:19:50,961 --> 00:19:53,343 David will be there. Goliath will be there. 401 00:19:53,343 --> 00:19:56,002 Guys with five fingers - remember them? 402 00:19:56,002 --> 00:19:59,432 the Anakim, the Nephilim - they'll be there. 403 00:19:59,432 --> 00:20:03,143 The giants. The vikings. 404 00:20:03,143 --> 00:20:05,693 The Persians. The Nazis. 405 00:20:05,693 --> 00:20:07,342 Those under the British Empire. 406 00:20:07,342 --> 00:20:08,863 Those under the Japanese Empire. 407 00:20:08,863 --> 00:20:10,704 All our presidents. 408 00:20:10,704 --> 00:20:12,493 The governors. 409 00:20:12,493 --> 00:20:14,262 The mechanic. The housewife. 410 00:20:14,262 --> 00:20:15,592 I mean, they're all there. 411 00:20:15,592 --> 00:20:18,423 These multitudes of people. 412 00:20:18,423 --> 00:20:20,182 There's Herod. 413 00:20:20,182 --> 00:20:22,563 Those who pierced Him. 414 00:20:22,563 --> 00:20:24,641 Judas is in that crowd. 415 00:20:24,641 --> 00:20:27,102 Demas - we heard about him. 416 00:20:27,102 --> 00:20:28,403 He'll be there. 417 00:20:28,403 --> 00:20:31,691 Those from Sentinel island. They're there. 418 00:20:31,691 --> 00:20:33,212 Those from India are there. 419 00:20:33,212 --> 00:20:34,730 Those from China are there. 420 00:20:34,730 --> 00:20:36,543 Those from the Soviet Union are there. 421 00:20:36,543 --> 00:20:39,021 The Brazilians are there. The Canadians are there. 422 00:20:39,021 --> 00:20:40,393 The Nicaraguans are there. 423 00:20:40,393 --> 00:20:42,072 There's no one excepted. 424 00:20:42,072 --> 00:20:43,192 Do you see them all? 425 00:20:43,192 --> 00:20:44,933 Can you imagine them in your mind? 426 00:20:44,933 --> 00:20:47,392 The Assyrians, the Babylonians. 427 00:20:47,392 --> 00:20:49,133 Pharaoh - proud Pharaoh. 428 00:20:49,133 --> 00:20:50,731 All his Egyptians. 429 00:20:50,731 --> 00:20:52,547 They're all there. The Ethiopians. 430 00:20:52,547 --> 00:20:53,574 Those that were there 431 00:20:53,574 --> 00:20:55,892 in the days of Queen of Sheba. 432 00:20:55,892 --> 00:20:59,881 South Africa, Australia, New Zealand. 433 00:20:59,881 --> 00:21:02,422 They're all there. None's missing. 434 00:21:02,422 --> 00:21:04,303 I've thought often about the Popes. 435 00:21:04,303 --> 00:21:05,783 They're there. The priests. 436 00:21:05,783 --> 00:21:08,712 Those that push their priestcraft. 437 00:21:08,712 --> 00:21:13,133 All those that bow the knee to Allah - they're all there. 438 00:21:13,133 --> 00:21:15,041 They're there. 439 00:21:15,041 --> 00:21:17,762 Those who followed Buddha - they're there. 440 00:21:17,762 --> 00:21:19,473 All of them, the masses. 441 00:21:19,473 --> 00:21:22,512 Those who sat on benches and judged others. 442 00:21:22,512 --> 00:21:25,150 We just heard about a sister 443 00:21:25,150 --> 00:21:28,962 down in the church at Monterrey. 444 00:21:28,962 --> 00:21:32,964 The judge got bought off when her husband beat her. 445 00:21:32,964 --> 00:21:34,922 That judge is going to be there. 446 00:21:34,922 --> 00:21:37,402 And that husband is going to be there. 447 00:21:37,402 --> 00:21:41,023 And you are going to be there. 448 00:21:41,023 --> 00:21:42,502 The rich, the poor, 449 00:21:42,502 --> 00:21:43,952 the plumbers, the mechanics, 450 00:21:43,952 --> 00:21:46,700 the tax collectors, the prostitutes. 451 00:21:46,700 --> 00:21:47,981 They're all there. 452 00:21:47,981 --> 00:21:49,962 Can you see them all in your mind? 453 00:21:49,962 --> 00:21:52,633 And you are there. 454 00:21:52,633 --> 00:21:56,890 That is the sobering reality. 455 00:21:56,890 --> 00:21:59,571 And there is that point in time 456 00:21:59,571 --> 00:22:02,941 when you've got to stand there 457 00:22:02,941 --> 00:22:08,121 and it's all brought out. 458 00:22:08,121 --> 00:22:13,742 We must all appear. 459 00:22:13,742 --> 00:22:17,260 You just think about that: appear. 460 00:22:17,260 --> 00:22:22,021 You're going to appear exactly as you are. 461 00:22:22,021 --> 00:22:24,961 Here people can't see in here. 462 00:22:24,961 --> 00:22:26,731 They don't know what we're thinking 463 00:22:26,731 --> 00:22:28,062 when we do the things we do. 464 00:22:28,062 --> 00:22:31,500 They don't know what motives drive us. 465 00:22:31,500 --> 00:22:33,782 We posture ourselves. 466 00:22:33,782 --> 00:22:36,055 We smile at people 467 00:22:36,055 --> 00:22:37,942 when we're not smiling inside. 468 00:22:37,942 --> 00:22:41,963 We say we're doing well when that's not true. 469 00:22:41,963 --> 00:22:44,690 We disguise. 470 00:22:44,690 --> 00:22:46,891 But in that day, no disguises. 471 00:22:46,891 --> 00:22:50,652 No disguises. 472 00:22:50,652 --> 00:22:52,700 None. 473 00:22:52,700 --> 00:22:54,963 It says that in that day 474 00:22:54,963 --> 00:22:56,500 when everything is dissolved, 475 00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:59,173 Peter tells us the earth is dissolved 476 00:22:59,173 --> 00:23:04,221 and the works that are done on it 477 00:23:04,221 --> 00:23:08,702 will be exposed. 478 00:23:08,702 --> 00:23:10,332 What a word! 479 00:23:10,332 --> 00:23:16,921 We talk about: man, he was exposed. 480 00:23:16,921 --> 00:23:19,261 "God will bring every deed into judgment 481 00:23:19,261 --> 00:23:25,172 (Ecclesiastes) with every secret thing." 482 00:23:25,172 --> 00:23:26,910 Luke: "Nothing is covered up 483 00:23:26,910 --> 00:23:28,210 that will not be revealed, 484 00:23:28,210 --> 00:23:29,861 or hidden that will not be known." 485 00:23:29,861 --> 00:23:31,761 1 Corinthians 4:5, Paul says, 486 00:23:31,761 --> 00:23:33,194 "The Lord will bring to light 487 00:23:33,194 --> 00:23:34,940 the things now hidden in darkness 488 00:23:34,940 --> 00:23:41,061 and will disclose the purposes of the heart." 489 00:23:41,061 --> 00:23:47,072 Now look, I'm like you. 490 00:23:47,072 --> 00:23:49,581 I mean, if you're saved, 491 00:23:49,581 --> 00:23:51,590 I'm very much like you. 492 00:23:51,590 --> 00:23:56,391 If you're not saved... (incomplete thought) 493 00:23:56,391 --> 00:23:57,643 But I know this, 494 00:23:57,643 --> 00:23:59,861 we're from Adam's stock, 495 00:23:59,861 --> 00:24:02,492 and I know we're sinners. 496 00:24:02,492 --> 00:24:04,632 And I know that when we come face to face 497 00:24:04,632 --> 00:24:11,162 with these realities it's unsettling. 498 00:24:11,162 --> 00:24:13,605 It's a serious thing. 499 00:24:13,605 --> 00:24:16,593 Exposed says Peter. 500 00:24:16,593 --> 00:24:18,562 No costumes. 501 00:24:18,562 --> 00:24:23,062 No masquerading. 502 00:24:23,062 --> 00:24:25,083 None of that. No hypocrisy. 503 00:24:25,083 --> 00:24:28,201 The eyes of the One there upon that throne 504 00:24:28,201 --> 00:24:30,703 are going to see everything 505 00:24:30,703 --> 00:24:32,102 for what it is. 506 00:24:32,102 --> 00:24:33,843 Our hearts, our motives, 507 00:24:33,843 --> 00:24:35,332 our secret desires 508 00:24:35,332 --> 00:24:40,144 brought out into the blazing sun. 509 00:24:40,144 --> 00:24:43,382 That's the reality of Scripture. 510 00:24:43,382 --> 00:24:46,543 Now here's the thing, 511 00:24:46,543 --> 00:24:48,703 here's the thing we need to ask ourselves. 512 00:24:48,703 --> 00:24:55,913 What, when we come before God, 513 00:24:55,913 --> 00:25:01,412 what evidence is it that God is looking for? 514 00:25:01,412 --> 00:25:03,332 Because we know this, 515 00:25:03,332 --> 00:25:10,223 we know that some go to the right 516 00:25:10,223 --> 00:25:12,483 and some go to the left. 517 00:25:12,483 --> 00:25:13,762 What makes the difference? 518 00:25:13,762 --> 00:25:15,152 We've all committed sin. 519 00:25:15,152 --> 00:25:17,903 So it's not just a matter of whether you committed sin. 520 00:25:17,903 --> 00:25:20,630 What is it that Scripture says? 521 00:25:20,630 --> 00:25:23,342 What is the evidence 522 00:25:23,342 --> 00:25:25,902 that's going to be brought out 523 00:25:25,902 --> 00:25:30,403 and looked at very closely on that day? 524 00:25:30,403 --> 00:25:33,442 What are the terms of our judgment? 525 00:25:33,442 --> 00:25:36,303 Or what is the basis upon which we'll be judged? 526 00:25:36,303 --> 00:25:39,973 Listen carefully to what Scripture says. 527 00:25:39,973 --> 00:25:43,662 Listen. 528 00:25:43,662 --> 00:25:46,682 Romans 2:6 says, 529 00:25:46,682 --> 00:25:50,242 "He will render to each one 530 00:25:50,242 --> 00:25:54,778 according to his works." 531 00:25:54,778 --> 00:25:56,633 Now hear that. 532 00:25:56,633 --> 00:26:01,023 When you think of judgment day: 533 00:26:01,023 --> 00:26:03,972 works. 534 00:26:03,972 --> 00:26:05,171 Works. 535 00:26:05,171 --> 00:26:09,002 That repeatedly comes at us in Scripture. 536 00:26:09,002 --> 00:26:10,093 Listen again. 537 00:26:10,093 --> 00:26:13,071 2 Corinthians 5:10 from which I've already been quoting. 538 00:26:13,071 --> 00:26:16,030 "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ 539 00:26:16,030 --> 00:26:19,832 so that each one may receive 540 00:26:19,832 --> 00:26:26,631 what is due for what he has done in the body 541 00:26:26,631 --> 00:26:32,063 whether good or evil." 542 00:26:32,063 --> 00:26:35,103 See, when your life is lived, 543 00:26:35,103 --> 00:26:39,171 you are due something. 544 00:26:39,171 --> 00:26:43,933 That's the way Scripture speaks. 545 00:26:43,933 --> 00:26:45,803 Matthew 16:27, "The Son of Man 546 00:26:45,803 --> 00:26:47,382 is going to come with His angels 547 00:26:47,382 --> 00:26:49,090 in the glory of His Father 548 00:26:49,090 --> 00:26:53,433 and then He will repay each person 549 00:26:53,433 --> 00:26:57,901 according to what he has done." 550 00:26:57,901 --> 00:26:59,812 Look at your life. 551 00:26:59,812 --> 00:27:02,453 You are going to be repaid 552 00:27:02,453 --> 00:27:04,093 for what you have done. 553 00:27:04,093 --> 00:27:05,860 That includes today and yesterday, 554 00:27:05,860 --> 00:27:08,943 this last week, this last year. 555 00:27:08,943 --> 00:27:11,183 You are going to be repaid 556 00:27:11,183 --> 00:27:12,532 for what you have done. 557 00:27:12,532 --> 00:27:16,502 That's what Scripture says. 558 00:27:16,502 --> 00:27:18,774 We can't get away from that. 559 00:27:18,774 --> 00:27:20,750 The Bible closes out - 560 00:27:20,750 --> 00:27:22,873 listen, if there's something that the Lord 561 00:27:22,873 --> 00:27:24,173 wants to leave us with 562 00:27:24,173 --> 00:27:27,319 as the book of Revelation is coming to a close, 563 00:27:27,319 --> 00:27:29,462 this is what He says: 564 00:27:29,462 --> 00:27:35,993 "Behold, I am coming soon 565 00:27:35,993 --> 00:27:38,071 bringing My recompense with Me 566 00:27:38,071 --> 00:27:44,391 to repay each one for what he has done." 567 00:27:44,391 --> 00:27:48,263 Now listen to me very carefully. 568 00:27:48,263 --> 00:27:51,964 These are clearly from Scripture 569 00:27:51,964 --> 00:27:57,032 the terms of judgment. 570 00:27:57,032 --> 00:28:00,122 Pay close attention to what I'm about to say. 571 00:28:00,122 --> 00:28:06,662 These are not the terms of salvation. 572 00:28:06,662 --> 00:28:08,733 Now look, if you're baffled 573 00:28:08,733 --> 00:28:12,143 by why the terms of one are not the terms of the other 574 00:28:12,143 --> 00:28:14,223 we're going to look at that. 575 00:28:14,223 --> 00:28:17,772 Don't just jump to the conclusion that can't be. 576 00:28:17,772 --> 00:28:22,562 No, you have to pay attention to what Scripture says. 577 00:28:22,562 --> 00:28:25,643 These verses are not talking about 578 00:28:25,643 --> 00:28:27,813 how a man is saved. 579 00:28:27,813 --> 00:28:32,891 They're talking about how a man is judged. 580 00:28:32,891 --> 00:28:35,032 That's the situation. 581 00:28:35,032 --> 00:28:36,641 What they teach us 582 00:28:36,641 --> 00:28:39,543 is that on the day of judgment 583 00:28:39,543 --> 00:28:42,331 nothing is going to be considered 584 00:28:42,331 --> 00:28:44,473 except a man's works. 585 00:28:44,473 --> 00:28:47,842 And it's no use saying: I believe in God. 586 00:28:47,842 --> 00:28:49,631 I believe this. I believe that. 587 00:28:49,631 --> 00:28:51,802 It will be no use saying you profess Christ. 588 00:28:51,802 --> 00:28:54,233 No use saying you belong to a certain church. 589 00:28:54,233 --> 00:28:56,491 The question will be this and this alone 590 00:28:56,491 --> 00:28:57,893 on judgment day: 591 00:28:57,893 --> 00:29:00,546 What were your works? 592 00:29:00,546 --> 00:29:02,702 That's what Scripture says. 593 00:29:02,702 --> 00:29:05,111 You cannot get away from that. 594 00:29:05,111 --> 00:29:10,822 The question is how did you live? 595 00:29:10,822 --> 00:29:12,335 Hear me. 596 00:29:12,335 --> 00:29:15,411 I'm using biblical terms here. 597 00:29:15,411 --> 00:29:19,791 The standard for justification 598 00:29:19,791 --> 00:29:26,319 or condemnation in that day 599 00:29:26,319 --> 00:29:28,744 will be one of works. 600 00:29:28,744 --> 00:29:32,281 Matthew 12 is crystal clear on this. 601 00:29:32,281 --> 00:29:34,164 Now open your Bibles there. 602 00:29:34,164 --> 00:29:41,196 Matthew 12:33. 603 00:29:41,196 --> 00:29:43,343 And you're going to see the connection. 604 00:29:43,343 --> 00:29:46,705 I hope this takes shape and form 605 00:29:46,705 --> 00:29:49,202 in your mind and in your thinking 606 00:29:49,202 --> 00:29:55,462 how the Lord's logic runs through these verses. 607 00:29:55,462 --> 00:30:00,561 Matthew 12:33, 34, 35, 36, 37. 608 00:30:00,561 --> 00:30:02,732 There is a flow of thought here. 609 00:30:02,732 --> 00:30:04,343 And I want you to see. 610 00:30:04,343 --> 00:30:06,881 Just so you recognize, right at the beginning, 611 00:30:06,881 --> 00:30:08,182 look at verse 36. 612 00:30:08,182 --> 00:30:11,131 "I tell you on the day of judgment..." 613 00:30:11,131 --> 00:30:12,653 I just want you to see 614 00:30:12,653 --> 00:30:15,970 this has to do with the day of judgment. 615 00:30:15,970 --> 00:30:20,791 Now back up to v. 33. 616 00:30:20,791 --> 00:30:25,525 "Either make the tree good 617 00:30:25,525 --> 00:30:29,651 and its fruit good 618 00:30:29,651 --> 00:30:32,272 or make the tree bad 619 00:30:32,272 --> 00:30:35,122 and its fruit bad." 620 00:30:35,122 --> 00:30:37,773 This is taught in other places in our New Testament. 621 00:30:37,773 --> 00:30:39,433 But here's the reality, 622 00:30:39,433 --> 00:30:41,851 I can always look at the fruit 623 00:30:41,851 --> 00:30:44,641 and see what kind of tree it is. 624 00:30:44,641 --> 00:30:46,591 Always. 625 00:30:46,591 --> 00:30:50,232 And that's what's going to happen on judgment day. 626 00:30:50,232 --> 00:30:53,142 Your fruit will be evaluated 627 00:30:53,142 --> 00:30:59,102 and it will prove who and what you are. 628 00:30:59,102 --> 00:31:01,372 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good 629 00:31:01,372 --> 00:31:04,492 or make the tree bad and its fruit bad. 630 00:31:04,492 --> 00:31:09,710 For the tree is known by its fruit." 631 00:31:09,710 --> 00:31:13,232 So what are you going to be judged on on that day? 632 00:31:13,232 --> 00:31:15,391 You're going to be judged on your works. 633 00:31:15,391 --> 00:31:17,884 That's another way of saying fruit. 634 00:31:17,884 --> 00:31:21,674 The fruit of your life is going to be 635 00:31:21,674 --> 00:31:25,441 the evidence brought into the courtroom. 636 00:31:25,441 --> 00:31:27,061 Now notice this. 637 00:31:27,061 --> 00:31:29,384 "You brood of vipers! 638 00:31:29,384 --> 00:31:31,291 How can you speak good...?" 639 00:31:31,291 --> 00:31:35,763 Okay, these vipers are brought up on that day. 640 00:31:35,763 --> 00:31:39,772 Their time of judgment comes. 641 00:31:39,772 --> 00:31:42,453 And their works are looked at. 642 00:31:42,453 --> 00:31:44,892 But you see what Jesus is saying here? 643 00:31:44,892 --> 00:31:47,502 They can't have good fruit on that day. 644 00:31:47,502 --> 00:31:49,284 Why? 645 00:31:49,284 --> 00:31:52,654 Because at the heart level, 646 00:31:52,654 --> 00:31:55,544 it's impossible to bring forth good fruit 647 00:31:55,544 --> 00:31:57,272 from a bad heart. 648 00:31:57,272 --> 00:32:00,035 That's the logic here. 649 00:32:00,035 --> 00:32:01,316 "How can you speak good? 650 00:32:01,316 --> 00:32:03,832 How can you bear good fruit 651 00:32:03,832 --> 00:32:06,976 when you are evil?" 652 00:32:06,976 --> 00:32:09,242 The tree's bad. 653 00:32:09,242 --> 00:32:11,682 "For out of the abundance of the heart 654 00:32:11,682 --> 00:32:14,143 the mouth speaks." 655 00:32:14,143 --> 00:32:15,682 And I could say this, 656 00:32:15,682 --> 00:32:22,115 out of the abundance of the heart, you act. 657 00:32:22,115 --> 00:32:25,142 I mean, what is Romans 6? 658 00:32:25,142 --> 00:32:28,005 We thank God that you've become obedient 659 00:32:28,005 --> 00:32:30,525 from the heart. 660 00:32:30,525 --> 00:32:31,612 Obedience. 661 00:32:31,612 --> 00:32:34,263 Didn't Jesus teach in another place? 662 00:32:34,263 --> 00:32:35,932 Murders and fornications - 663 00:32:35,932 --> 00:32:41,942 it all comes out of here. 664 00:32:41,942 --> 00:32:46,873 Now, look. Watch. 665 00:32:46,873 --> 00:32:49,634 "The good person (v. 35) 666 00:32:49,634 --> 00:32:52,592 out of his good treasure 667 00:32:52,592 --> 00:32:54,305 brings forth good." 668 00:32:54,305 --> 00:32:56,481 So when God's judging, 669 00:32:56,481 --> 00:32:59,783 your works are brought out. 670 00:32:59,783 --> 00:33:04,372 Listen, this is an infallible test. 671 00:33:04,372 --> 00:33:07,172 If your works are good, you are good. 672 00:33:07,172 --> 00:33:11,683 If your works are bad, you are bad. 673 00:33:11,683 --> 00:33:13,549 Infallible. 674 00:33:13,549 --> 00:33:16,255 Everyone is going to be judged on that basis 675 00:33:16,255 --> 00:33:18,149 on judgment day. 676 00:33:18,149 --> 00:33:22,151 Let's keep going here. 677 00:33:22,151 --> 00:33:25,042 "The good person out of the good treasure brings forth good. 678 00:33:25,042 --> 00:33:29,151 The evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil." 679 00:33:29,151 --> 00:33:33,153 See, this has everything to do with judgment day. 680 00:33:33,153 --> 00:33:36,313 "I tell you, on the day of judgment, 681 00:33:36,313 --> 00:33:38,014 people will give account 682 00:33:38,014 --> 00:33:42,471 for every careless word they speak." 683 00:33:42,471 --> 00:33:43,694 Now notice this. 684 00:33:43,694 --> 00:33:47,171 Here is the basis of judgment. 685 00:33:47,171 --> 00:33:52,204 "By your words, you will be justified, 686 00:33:52,204 --> 00:33:56,184 and by your words, you will be condemned." 687 00:33:56,184 --> 00:34:00,416 You have to recognize how "justified" is being used there. 688 00:34:00,416 --> 00:34:02,455 That is a word that He is applying 689 00:34:02,455 --> 00:34:04,722 to what happens on judgment day - 690 00:34:04,722 --> 00:34:06,375 not when you first get saved. 691 00:34:06,375 --> 00:34:08,811 That's what happens on judgment day. 692 00:34:08,811 --> 00:34:10,383 That is the basis upon which 693 00:34:10,383 --> 00:34:12,593 you are going to be justified or condemned, 694 00:34:12,593 --> 00:34:15,132 by the evidence brought forth on that day 695 00:34:15,132 --> 00:34:17,141 in your works. 696 00:34:17,141 --> 00:34:20,104 And if your words are good, 697 00:34:20,104 --> 00:34:23,254 it proves the tree was good. 698 00:34:23,254 --> 00:34:27,993 Listen, this is just as possible right now. 699 00:34:27,993 --> 00:34:30,652 You recognize in that day, 700 00:34:30,652 --> 00:34:33,211 you're going to be judged for what you say today. 701 00:34:33,211 --> 00:34:35,024 Your words today will prove 702 00:34:35,024 --> 00:34:37,551 whether you're going to be justified 703 00:34:37,551 --> 00:34:39,093 or condemned on that day. 704 00:34:39,093 --> 00:34:41,653 That means that when we open our ears 705 00:34:41,653 --> 00:34:43,583 and we listen to each other speak, 706 00:34:43,583 --> 00:34:46,922 the proof of who and what we are is there already. 707 00:34:46,922 --> 00:34:48,729 We can see it in people's words. 708 00:34:48,729 --> 00:34:50,866 We can see it in people's actions. 709 00:34:50,866 --> 00:34:54,852 And that is going to be the basis of judgment in that day. 710 00:34:54,852 --> 00:34:57,620 "By your words you will be justified; 711 00:34:57,620 --> 00:35:01,186 by your words you will be condemned." 712 00:35:01,186 --> 00:35:03,253 Now, here's what you don't want to do. 713 00:35:03,253 --> 00:35:05,731 You don't want to let bad logic 714 00:35:05,731 --> 00:35:08,653 lead you to explain away the reality 715 00:35:08,653 --> 00:35:12,174 and importance of what judgment day is all about. 716 00:35:12,174 --> 00:35:17,222 For example, here is really bad logic. 717 00:35:17,222 --> 00:35:19,025 This is bad logic. 718 00:35:19,025 --> 00:35:22,425 You don't want to think this way. 719 00:35:22,425 --> 00:35:27,262 One: we're saved by faith. 720 00:35:27,262 --> 00:35:29,901 Yes, we are. Not by works. 721 00:35:29,901 --> 00:35:31,381 But that's your starting point. 722 00:35:31,381 --> 00:35:34,942 I'm saved by faith, not by works. 723 00:35:34,942 --> 00:35:43,424 Two: I have faith since I believe. 724 00:35:43,424 --> 00:35:47,650 I'm a Christian. 725 00:35:47,650 --> 00:35:50,911 One: We're saved by faith. 726 00:35:50,911 --> 00:35:54,194 Two: I have faith. 727 00:35:54,194 --> 00:35:59,062 Three: Since I believe, I must be saved. 728 00:35:59,062 --> 00:36:01,592 Four: If I'm saved, I'm forgiven of all my sins. 729 00:36:01,592 --> 00:36:04,152 Five: Since I'm saved and forgiven of all my sins 730 00:36:04,152 --> 00:36:05,843 and not saved by works, 731 00:36:05,843 --> 00:36:08,423 well, therefore, I'm not really worried about my works 732 00:36:08,433 --> 00:36:10,503 since they cannot really matter in the end. 733 00:36:10,503 --> 00:36:12,721 That is bad logic. 734 00:36:12,721 --> 00:36:14,736 That is not biblical logic. 735 00:36:14,736 --> 00:36:16,492 Or here's another: 736 00:36:16,492 --> 00:36:20,494 We're justified by faith. That's one. 737 00:36:20,494 --> 00:36:21,692 Not by works. 738 00:36:21,692 --> 00:36:24,898 Two: To be justified means 739 00:36:24,898 --> 00:36:27,461 that the righteousness of Christ is mine. 740 00:36:27,461 --> 00:36:29,691 Christ's obedience has been imputed to me. 741 00:36:29,691 --> 00:36:31,535 It's been laid to my account. 742 00:36:31,535 --> 00:36:34,263 So three: When I stand before God on judgment day, 743 00:36:34,263 --> 00:36:35,891 nothing I've done will matter; 744 00:36:35,891 --> 00:36:37,974 only what Christ did will matter. 745 00:36:37,974 --> 00:36:41,261 That too is bad logic. 746 00:36:41,261 --> 00:36:43,991 That is not what Scripture teaches. 747 00:36:43,991 --> 00:36:46,453 The reason we know that they're both faulty 748 00:36:46,453 --> 00:36:50,054 is because Matthew 12 is crystal clear. 749 00:36:50,054 --> 00:36:51,891 Look at it. 750 00:36:51,891 --> 00:36:55,462 Now look, judgment day is not about 751 00:36:55,462 --> 00:37:00,352 the perfect obedience that Jesus wrought. 752 00:37:00,352 --> 00:37:02,961 You don't see that in those texts there. 753 00:37:02,961 --> 00:37:04,152 Jesus doesn't say: 754 00:37:04,152 --> 00:37:05,913 Don't worry about what you've said 755 00:37:05,913 --> 00:37:09,252 because in the end when judgment day comes 756 00:37:09,252 --> 00:37:10,462 it really won't matter 757 00:37:10,462 --> 00:37:12,442 what careless word you spoke 758 00:37:12,442 --> 00:37:14,002 if after all you're a Christian 759 00:37:14,002 --> 00:37:16,166 and My righteousness has been imputed to you. 760 00:37:16,166 --> 00:37:17,463 Then it doesn't matter. 761 00:37:17,463 --> 00:37:19,924 That's not what He says. 762 00:37:19,924 --> 00:37:22,463 What He is very clear to say 763 00:37:22,463 --> 00:37:25,611 is how you speak - 764 00:37:25,611 --> 00:37:29,233 see, when He talks to those vipers, 765 00:37:29,233 --> 00:37:31,294 He's talking about what they said; 766 00:37:31,294 --> 00:37:32,954 not what He said. 767 00:37:32,954 --> 00:37:34,672 This has to do with you and me. 768 00:37:34,672 --> 00:37:37,133 This has to do with our language. 769 00:37:37,133 --> 00:37:38,835 The clear meaning of Matthew 12 770 00:37:38,835 --> 00:37:41,264 is that if you are a good tree, 771 00:37:41,264 --> 00:37:43,574 a good tree bears good fruit. 772 00:37:43,574 --> 00:37:45,434 God is looking for good and bad people 773 00:37:45,434 --> 00:37:46,480 on judgment day, 774 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:48,804 and if we want to know if a person is truly good 775 00:37:48,804 --> 00:37:49,764 at the heart level, 776 00:37:49,764 --> 00:37:53,555 then examine how he speaks. 777 00:37:53,555 --> 00:37:55,263 Examine a man's words. 778 00:37:55,263 --> 00:37:56,801 That's what Jesus is saying. 779 00:37:56,801 --> 00:38:00,536 Listen, when we take the words 780 00:38:00,536 --> 00:38:02,835 that are spoken in secret; 781 00:38:02,835 --> 00:38:04,023 when we take the words 782 00:38:04,023 --> 00:38:08,863 when you're with your lost friends, 783 00:38:08,863 --> 00:38:12,003 lost people at work, school; 784 00:38:12,003 --> 00:38:15,502 when we examine your words that are spoken 785 00:38:15,502 --> 00:38:17,774 when you don't think Christians are listening; 786 00:38:17,774 --> 00:38:19,816 when we take all those and sum them up; 787 00:38:19,816 --> 00:38:21,457 when we take up the words of a man's life, 788 00:38:21,457 --> 00:38:23,904 that doesn't mean that Christians will not be found 789 00:38:23,904 --> 00:38:26,623 to have had some careless words. 790 00:38:26,623 --> 00:38:30,463 But the reality is that when you sum all those words up, 791 00:38:30,463 --> 00:38:33,623 the words of a Christian are so starkly different 792 00:38:33,623 --> 00:38:35,121 than the words of the lost man 793 00:38:35,121 --> 00:38:38,881 that you are able to be judged on that basis 794 00:38:38,881 --> 00:38:43,043 and on that basis you will be justified or condemned. 795 00:38:43,043 --> 00:38:44,975 That's what Jesus is teaching. 796 00:38:44,975 --> 00:38:48,904 That's clearly His teaching. 797 00:38:48,904 --> 00:38:51,442 Sometimes we talk about 798 00:38:51,442 --> 00:38:53,482 there being enough evidence. 799 00:38:53,482 --> 00:38:54,765 Have you ever heard that? 800 00:38:54,765 --> 00:38:56,574 Somebody talks about is there enough 801 00:38:56,574 --> 00:38:58,052 evidence in your life 802 00:38:58,052 --> 00:39:00,176 of convicting you of being a Christian? 803 00:39:00,176 --> 00:39:03,834 Suppose you lived in communist Soviet Union 804 00:39:03,834 --> 00:39:05,382 or communist China 805 00:39:05,382 --> 00:39:07,594 or you lived in the days of the Nazi's 806 00:39:07,594 --> 00:39:10,092 and Christianity is heavily being persecuted, 807 00:39:10,092 --> 00:39:13,423 and they bust in and they take you 808 00:39:13,423 --> 00:39:14,812 and they bring you to court 809 00:39:14,812 --> 00:39:17,122 and you're put there on the stand. 810 00:39:17,122 --> 00:39:19,361 You're the one on trial. 811 00:39:19,361 --> 00:39:22,402 Is there going to be enough evidence to condemn you? 812 00:39:22,402 --> 00:39:25,784 Well, that's exactly what judgment day is. 813 00:39:25,784 --> 00:39:27,076 And I say "condemn you" 814 00:39:27,076 --> 00:39:29,082 because in this world, that's condemnation 815 00:39:29,082 --> 00:39:30,826 if you're found to be the Christian. 816 00:39:30,826 --> 00:39:33,334 But in that day, that will be your justification 817 00:39:33,334 --> 00:39:37,451 if there's enough evidence in your life. 818 00:39:37,451 --> 00:39:40,155 Brethren, this is exactly the truth 819 00:39:40,155 --> 00:39:42,924 that we find taught in Matthew 25. 820 00:39:42,924 --> 00:39:44,304 Turn there. 821 00:39:44,304 --> 00:39:46,121 What a glorious picture! 822 00:39:46,121 --> 00:39:49,433 Here is Christ. The Son of Man comes. 823 00:39:49,433 --> 00:39:53,804 Matthew 25:31 through the end of this chapter. 824 00:39:53,804 --> 00:39:56,503 You have this picture of Christ 825 00:39:56,503 --> 00:39:58,372 with His angels. 826 00:39:58,372 --> 00:39:59,831 This is amazing! 827 00:39:59,831 --> 00:40:02,153 You see pictures of this in 2 Thessalonians. 828 00:40:02,153 --> 00:40:05,176 He comes in this power! 829 00:40:05,176 --> 00:40:07,034 And He is going to wreak vengeance 830 00:40:07,034 --> 00:40:09,232 upon those who did not obey the Gospel. 831 00:40:09,232 --> 00:40:11,940 And He comes and He comes in this glory. 832 00:40:11,940 --> 00:40:14,211 He comes and He sits down 833 00:40:14,211 --> 00:40:16,722 on that judgment throne. 834 00:40:16,722 --> 00:40:19,226 "And before Him (in v. 32) 835 00:40:19,226 --> 00:40:22,243 will be gathered all the nations. 836 00:40:22,243 --> 00:40:24,534 And He will separate people one from another 837 00:40:24,534 --> 00:40:26,951 as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." 838 00:40:26,951 --> 00:40:28,603 Now here's what I want you to see. 839 00:40:28,603 --> 00:40:31,761 He does not say to us here: 840 00:40:31,761 --> 00:40:34,663 What I'm looking for is who's justified and who's not. 841 00:40:34,663 --> 00:40:36,032 He does not say to us: 842 00:40:36,032 --> 00:40:38,642 I'm going to look for who has faith and who doesn't. 843 00:40:38,642 --> 00:40:41,723 Now look, obviously if you're one on the right, 844 00:40:41,723 --> 00:40:44,092 you are justified and you have faith. 845 00:40:44,092 --> 00:40:45,392 That isn't the issue. 846 00:40:45,392 --> 00:40:48,122 The issue here is on what basis 847 00:40:48,122 --> 00:40:50,416 does He separate them? 848 00:40:50,416 --> 00:40:56,198 What is the basis for judgment here? 849 00:40:56,198 --> 00:40:57,552 What is the basis? 850 00:40:57,552 --> 00:41:00,873 What is that which distinguishes those 851 00:41:00,873 --> 00:41:02,894 who go to the right 852 00:41:02,894 --> 00:41:05,102 from those who go to the left? 853 00:41:05,102 --> 00:41:08,163 V. 33, "He will place the sheep on His right, 854 00:41:08,163 --> 00:41:10,203 but the goats on the left." 855 00:41:10,203 --> 00:41:12,164 Well, this is interesting. 856 00:41:12,164 --> 00:41:14,580 It's like He looks - 857 00:41:14,580 --> 00:41:17,662 we know sheep look different from goats - 858 00:41:17,662 --> 00:41:20,323 and He separates them. 859 00:41:20,323 --> 00:41:24,000 See, the very nature of that is our tree illustration. 860 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:26,252 One is a good tree. One's a bad tree. 861 00:41:26,252 --> 00:41:32,233 One's a sheep. One's a goat. 862 00:41:32,233 --> 00:41:35,754 But what is it that evidences? 863 00:41:35,754 --> 00:41:38,522 What is the fruit that evidences 864 00:41:38,522 --> 00:41:43,499 the reality of who and what they are? 865 00:41:43,499 --> 00:41:47,033 Notice, "The King will say to those on His right, 866 00:41:47,033 --> 00:41:49,564 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, 867 00:41:49,564 --> 00:41:51,373 inherit the Kingdom prepared for you 868 00:41:51,373 --> 00:41:55,890 from the foundation of the world, for...'" 869 00:41:55,890 --> 00:41:58,122 Listen. 870 00:41:58,122 --> 00:42:02,415 That is "because," again. 871 00:42:02,415 --> 00:42:05,994 For. Here's the reason. 872 00:42:05,994 --> 00:42:10,863 "For I was hungry, 873 00:42:10,863 --> 00:42:15,893 and you gave Me food." 874 00:42:15,893 --> 00:42:18,761 Listen to what He doesn't say. 875 00:42:18,761 --> 00:42:21,062 He doesn't say it doesn't matter 876 00:42:21,062 --> 00:42:22,622 whether you gave Me food or not 877 00:42:22,622 --> 00:42:24,734 because after all, My righteousness 878 00:42:24,734 --> 00:42:26,212 is being imputed to you. 879 00:42:26,212 --> 00:42:28,652 And since I did good to the poor, 880 00:42:28,652 --> 00:42:31,142 that's credited to you. 881 00:42:31,142 --> 00:42:33,213 Now look, there may be a reality to that, 882 00:42:33,213 --> 00:42:35,703 but that's not the basis of judgment. 883 00:42:35,703 --> 00:42:39,400 The basis of judgment is whether you fed. 884 00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:42,082 Because you know what they say? 885 00:42:42,082 --> 00:42:45,943 "Lord, when did we do that?" 886 00:42:45,943 --> 00:42:47,551 And you know what He doesn't say? 887 00:42:47,551 --> 00:42:49,273 "Well, you actually didn't do that. 888 00:42:49,273 --> 00:42:51,795 I did it in your place." 889 00:42:51,795 --> 00:42:53,303 Uh huh. 890 00:42:53,303 --> 00:42:55,692 Because if you didn't do it, 891 00:42:55,692 --> 00:42:58,072 you end up on the left. 892 00:42:58,072 --> 00:42:59,261 What He says is, 893 00:42:59,261 --> 00:43:00,743 "As much as you did it unto 894 00:43:00,743 --> 00:43:02,772 one of the least of these My brothers, 895 00:43:02,772 --> 00:43:06,378 you did it unto Me." 896 00:43:06,378 --> 00:43:07,412 You did it. 897 00:43:07,412 --> 00:43:09,772 This is your life. 898 00:43:09,772 --> 00:43:12,653 And I'll just tell you this, one thing you want to notice 899 00:43:12,653 --> 00:43:14,461 is that people are judged on that day 900 00:43:14,461 --> 00:43:16,472 for what they did not do 901 00:43:16,472 --> 00:43:18,352 as well as what they did do. 902 00:43:18,352 --> 00:43:20,322 Because He turns to those on the left 903 00:43:20,322 --> 00:43:23,123 and He says - it's amazing - 904 00:43:23,123 --> 00:43:25,714 one of the broadest, 905 00:43:25,714 --> 00:43:29,721 most comprehensive pictures 906 00:43:29,721 --> 00:43:34,222 of judgment day that we have in our Bibles 907 00:43:34,222 --> 00:43:36,783 and not a single thing is said 908 00:43:36,783 --> 00:43:39,653 to those on the left 909 00:43:39,653 --> 00:43:42,013 about the fornication they did do, 910 00:43:42,013 --> 00:43:44,031 the drunkenness they did do, 911 00:43:44,031 --> 00:43:46,631 the idolatry they were involved with. 912 00:43:46,631 --> 00:43:48,012 Isn't it amazing? 913 00:43:48,012 --> 00:43:50,463 The primary thing the Spirit of God 914 00:43:50,463 --> 00:43:52,423 would have us to know about that day 915 00:43:52,423 --> 00:43:54,873 and about those on the left 916 00:43:54,873 --> 00:43:59,791 is what they did not do. 917 00:43:59,791 --> 00:44:05,164 Wow. 918 00:44:05,164 --> 00:44:11,010 My brothers, "as much as you did it 919 00:44:11,010 --> 00:44:14,373 unto one of the least of these My brothers, 920 00:44:14,373 --> 00:44:22,564 you did it unto Me." 921 00:44:22,564 --> 00:44:26,761 If they hadn't actually done it, 922 00:44:26,761 --> 00:44:28,490 they would have been just like those 923 00:44:28,490 --> 00:44:29,802 who are being condemned. 924 00:44:29,802 --> 00:44:31,010 That's the difference. 925 00:44:31,010 --> 00:44:32,392 The condemned didn't do it. 926 00:44:32,392 --> 00:44:34,202 You can't say, well, the righteous, 927 00:44:34,202 --> 00:44:36,643 they did do it, but only through the imputation... 928 00:44:36,643 --> 00:44:38,581 That's not the issue there. 929 00:44:38,581 --> 00:44:41,552 It's what they actually did. 930 00:44:41,552 --> 00:44:46,540 Now listen, of course when it comes to salvation, 931 00:44:46,540 --> 00:44:48,712 Scripture's plain. 932 00:44:48,712 --> 00:44:54,233 We are saved by grace through faith 933 00:44:54,233 --> 00:44:57,182 and it is not according to our works. 934 00:44:57,182 --> 00:44:58,962 The method of our salvation 935 00:44:58,962 --> 00:45:03,190 is justification by faith only. 936 00:45:03,190 --> 00:45:04,842 But we need to recognize 937 00:45:04,842 --> 00:45:09,454 how vigorously the Scriptures fight 938 00:45:09,454 --> 00:45:13,132 to show us that if our faith is real faith - 939 00:45:13,132 --> 00:45:16,013 the real, saving faith - 940 00:45:16,013 --> 00:45:22,483 it always results in good works. 941 00:45:22,483 --> 00:45:26,521 And this is that vast argument 942 00:45:26,521 --> 00:45:28,560 brought forth by James. 943 00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:30,642 Now even though James isn't specifically 944 00:45:30,642 --> 00:45:33,122 speaking about judgment day, 945 00:45:33,122 --> 00:45:36,061 he is specifically speaking about the works 946 00:45:36,061 --> 00:45:39,321 that are going to be evaluated at judgment day. 947 00:45:39,321 --> 00:45:42,084 Look at that. James 2. 948 00:45:42,093 --> 00:45:45,092 We need to follow James' logic here. 949 00:45:45,092 --> 00:45:47,539 Scripture fights to show 950 00:45:47,539 --> 00:45:55,670 that if faith is real, 951 00:45:55,670 --> 00:45:58,011 there will be works. 952 00:45:58,011 --> 00:46:00,352 And if there are not works, 953 00:46:00,352 --> 00:46:05,711 that faith is useless and cannot save. 954 00:46:05,711 --> 00:46:07,912 That is the teaching of Scripture. 955 00:46:07,912 --> 00:46:12,852 James 2:14 - 956 00:46:12,852 --> 00:46:19,290 I'll let you all get there. 957 00:46:19,290 --> 00:46:22,893 I want you to see this with your own eyeballs. 958 00:46:22,893 --> 00:46:26,682 James 2:14 - 959 00:46:26,682 --> 00:46:28,192 rhetorical question: 960 00:46:28,192 --> 00:46:30,153 "What good is it, my brothers, 961 00:46:30,153 --> 00:46:32,493 if someone says he has faith 962 00:46:32,493 --> 00:46:36,913 but does not have works?" 963 00:46:36,913 --> 00:46:38,983 Another rhetorical question: 964 00:46:38,983 --> 00:46:41,753 "Can that faith save him?" 965 00:46:41,753 --> 00:46:46,084 What answer is he obviously looking for? 966 00:46:46,084 --> 00:46:50,752 It can't. 967 00:46:50,752 --> 00:46:57,764 And judgment day is going to bear out this reality. 968 00:46:57,764 --> 00:46:59,993 You know what's interesting? 969 00:46:59,993 --> 00:47:10,712 In verse 15, this is Matthew 25, is it not? 970 00:47:10,712 --> 00:47:13,342 "As much as you did it unto one of the least of these, 971 00:47:13,342 --> 00:47:15,083 you did it unto Me." 972 00:47:15,083 --> 00:47:17,023 Here it is. Look at it. 973 00:47:17,023 --> 00:47:19,613 "If a brother or sister - 974 00:47:19,613 --> 00:47:21,804 (one of Jesus' little ones) - 975 00:47:21,804 --> 00:47:23,512 is poorly clothed 976 00:47:23,512 --> 00:47:27,041 and lacking in daily food, 977 00:47:27,041 --> 00:47:28,501 and one of you says to them, 978 00:47:28,501 --> 00:47:32,222 'Go in peace; be warmed; be filled;' 979 00:47:32,222 --> 00:47:36,672 without giving them the things needed for the body, 980 00:47:36,672 --> 00:47:40,014 what good is that?" 981 00:47:40,014 --> 00:47:44,494 Answer that question. What good is that? 982 00:47:44,494 --> 00:47:50,504 It's not good. 983 00:47:50,504 --> 00:47:52,385 "So also, faith by itself 984 00:47:52,385 --> 00:47:58,232 if it does not have works is dead." 985 00:47:58,232 --> 00:48:02,506 People who want to argue that dead faith saves, 986 00:48:02,506 --> 00:48:07,843 that is twisting Scriptures to your own destruction. 987 00:48:07,843 --> 00:48:09,535 "Someone will say, 988 00:48:09,535 --> 00:48:11,442 'You have faith; I have works.' 989 00:48:11,442 --> 00:48:14,012 Show me your faith apart from your works; 990 00:48:14,012 --> 00:48:17,122 I will show you my faith by my works." 991 00:48:17,122 --> 00:48:22,812 See, there is judgment day. 992 00:48:22,812 --> 00:48:26,955 Faith working through love. 993 00:48:26,955 --> 00:48:29,745 None of those works 994 00:48:29,745 --> 00:48:33,519 which will justify the redeemed on that day 995 00:48:33,519 --> 00:48:35,832 are separate from faith. 996 00:48:35,832 --> 00:48:39,351 They're the completion of faith. 997 00:48:39,351 --> 00:48:40,944 Watch. 998 00:48:40,944 --> 00:48:42,824 v. 19, "You believe that God is one? 999 00:48:42,824 --> 00:48:43,837 You do well." 1000 00:48:43,837 --> 00:48:46,454 He's being sarcastic. 1001 00:48:46,454 --> 00:48:49,541 I mean you do as well as the demons do. 1002 00:48:49,541 --> 00:48:53,972 And shudder. They believe. 1003 00:48:53,972 --> 00:48:56,343 "Do you want to be shown, you foolish person 1004 00:48:56,343 --> 00:48:59,023 that faith apart from works is useless?" 1005 00:48:59,023 --> 00:49:00,270 And isn't it interesting? 1006 00:49:00,270 --> 00:49:01,592 Abraham who was set forth 1007 00:49:01,592 --> 00:49:02,940 as the father of faith, 1008 00:49:02,940 --> 00:49:04,623 the one who is justified by faith, 1009 00:49:04,623 --> 00:49:07,333 the one who is declared righteous because of his faith - 1010 00:49:07,333 --> 00:49:08,514 isn't it interesting? 1011 00:49:08,514 --> 00:49:12,403 He is the very one - the father of the faithful - 1012 00:49:12,403 --> 00:49:16,104 "Was not Abraham our father justified by works 1013 00:49:16,104 --> 00:49:18,511 when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?" 1014 00:49:18,511 --> 00:49:19,955 You see this? 1015 00:49:19,955 --> 00:49:22,844 This is key. 1016 00:49:22,844 --> 00:49:25,882 What you do with your life 1017 00:49:25,882 --> 00:49:30,051 shows what you really believe. 1018 00:49:30,051 --> 00:49:33,331 Listen, if you say God is my portion, 1019 00:49:33,331 --> 00:49:36,933 God is my treasure, 1020 00:49:36,933 --> 00:49:39,011 and God says: 1021 00:49:39,011 --> 00:49:41,529 then I want you to sacrifice that thing 1022 00:49:41,529 --> 00:49:43,531 that I know is an idol in your life. 1023 00:49:43,531 --> 00:49:46,245 You say nope I'm not going to do it. 1024 00:49:46,245 --> 00:49:48,141 You've immediately said whether you think 1025 00:49:48,141 --> 00:49:49,774 Jesus Christ is most precious. 1026 00:49:49,774 --> 00:49:51,180 And you know why people walk away 1027 00:49:51,180 --> 00:49:53,552 who don't have any root when persecution comes? 1028 00:49:53,552 --> 00:49:56,043 Because Jesus really wasn't their portion. 1029 00:49:56,043 --> 00:49:57,751 Their own comfort was. 1030 00:49:57,751 --> 00:50:02,950 Their own convenience. Their own pleasure. 1031 00:50:02,950 --> 00:50:06,134 v. 22, "You see that faith was active 1032 00:50:06,134 --> 00:50:07,527 along with his works." 1033 00:50:07,527 --> 00:50:08,914 You see, that's the thing. 1034 00:50:08,914 --> 00:50:12,462 Faith working out 1035 00:50:12,462 --> 00:50:15,855 by our words, by our actions. 1036 00:50:15,855 --> 00:50:21,402 Faith was completed by his works. 1037 00:50:21,402 --> 00:50:23,322 "And the Scripture was fulfilled 1038 00:50:23,322 --> 00:50:24,802 that said Abraham believed God 1039 00:50:24,802 --> 00:50:26,856 and it was counted to him as righteousness 1040 00:50:26,856 --> 00:50:28,474 and he was called a friend of God. 1041 00:50:28,474 --> 00:50:31,044 You see that a person is justified by works 1042 00:50:31,044 --> 00:50:33,315 and not by faith alone. 1043 00:50:33,315 --> 00:50:34,903 And in the same way, was not also 1044 00:50:34,903 --> 00:50:37,722 Rahab the prostitute justified by works 1045 00:50:37,722 --> 00:50:39,522 when she received the messengers 1046 00:50:39,522 --> 00:50:41,653 and sent them out by another way? 1047 00:50:41,653 --> 00:50:44,012 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, 1048 00:50:44,012 --> 00:50:48,222 so also faith apart from works is dead." 1049 00:50:48,222 --> 00:50:49,442 And I'll tell you this, 1050 00:50:49,442 --> 00:50:52,472 this should affect our disciple-making. 1051 00:50:52,472 --> 00:50:55,122 We're to make disciples of all the nations. 1052 00:50:55,122 --> 00:50:56,774 We don't want to be so quick 1053 00:50:56,774 --> 00:51:00,104 to get people in 1054 00:51:00,104 --> 00:51:02,471 before we've allowed the Holy Spirit 1055 00:51:02,471 --> 00:51:04,870 to do His work on people. 1056 00:51:04,870 --> 00:51:07,642 What happens is that we say to people: 1057 00:51:07,642 --> 00:51:11,692 Well, you know, it's simple. 1058 00:51:11,692 --> 00:51:13,904 Just believe. 1059 00:51:13,904 --> 00:51:16,743 Just believe. 1060 00:51:16,743 --> 00:51:18,965 Yes, they say, I believe. 1061 00:51:18,965 --> 00:51:20,803 And we say, oh great! 1062 00:51:20,803 --> 00:51:22,415 Then everything's good! 1063 00:51:22,415 --> 00:51:23,575 Everything's well! 1064 00:51:23,575 --> 00:51:25,725 When the truth is all may not be well. 1065 00:51:25,725 --> 00:51:27,762 Yes, we must tell people to believe, 1066 00:51:27,762 --> 00:51:29,333 but we must never stop at that. 1067 00:51:29,333 --> 00:51:31,559 Yes, we must stress to people that they can never be saved 1068 00:51:31,559 --> 00:51:33,547 by their own efforts, their own works. 1069 00:51:33,547 --> 00:51:35,869 They can only be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ 1070 00:51:35,869 --> 00:51:37,939 and by His merits, His death on the cross, 1071 00:51:37,939 --> 00:51:39,630 His shed blood. Yes. 1072 00:51:39,630 --> 00:51:41,481 But we must also stress to people 1073 00:51:41,481 --> 00:51:44,147 how Jesus saves. 1074 00:51:44,147 --> 00:51:47,479 Did He give Himself to redeem us 1075 00:51:47,479 --> 00:51:51,097 from all our unlawlessness? Yes. 1076 00:51:51,097 --> 00:51:55,188 But did He give Himself to purify us 1077 00:51:55,188 --> 00:51:59,159 to be a people of His particular possession, 1078 00:51:59,159 --> 00:52:02,050 zealous of good works? 1079 00:52:02,050 --> 00:52:04,887 You better add that part to His salvation 1080 00:52:04,887 --> 00:52:10,829 or you just chopped it in half. 1081 00:52:10,829 --> 00:52:13,587 Have you not heard our Lord say, 1082 00:52:13,587 --> 00:52:18,618 "I am the vine. You are the branches. 1083 00:52:18,618 --> 00:52:22,499 Whoever abides in Me and I in him, 1084 00:52:22,499 --> 00:52:25,161 he it is that bears much fruit." 1085 00:52:25,161 --> 00:52:26,489 You need to get this. 1086 00:52:26,489 --> 00:52:36,157 "Apart from Me you can do nothing." 1087 00:52:36,157 --> 00:52:38,769 You see, judgment day, 1088 00:52:38,769 --> 00:52:40,230 good works are brought out, 1089 00:52:40,230 --> 00:52:41,579 good fruit. 1090 00:52:41,579 --> 00:52:45,059 You know what's true of all that good fruit? 1091 00:52:45,059 --> 00:52:47,208 None of it was accomplished 1092 00:52:47,208 --> 00:52:50,461 separated from Christ. 1093 00:52:50,461 --> 00:52:56,338 Not the tiniest fruit. 1094 00:52:56,338 --> 00:52:59,129 "You bear much fruit 1095 00:52:59,129 --> 00:53:03,418 and so prove to be My disciples," 1096 00:53:03,418 --> 00:53:05,919 is what Jesus said. 1097 00:53:05,919 --> 00:53:07,818 That's how you prove. 1098 00:53:07,818 --> 00:53:09,758 That's what judgment day is. 1099 00:53:09,758 --> 00:53:12,667 You prove who you are, 1100 00:53:12,667 --> 00:53:16,161 whether you are real and genuine 1101 00:53:16,161 --> 00:53:19,980 by the fruit. 1102 00:53:19,980 --> 00:53:21,429 These are the only works 1103 00:53:21,429 --> 00:53:23,469 which are going to count on that day. 1104 00:53:23,469 --> 00:53:25,309 And little is more dangerous 1105 00:53:25,309 --> 00:53:26,788 than leading people to think 1106 00:53:26,788 --> 00:53:28,675 that a mere belief of certain truths 1107 00:53:28,675 --> 00:53:30,457 or acceptance of certain teachings 1108 00:53:30,457 --> 00:53:33,717 or simply making a profession of faith 1109 00:53:33,717 --> 00:53:36,730 in and of itself saves. 1110 00:53:36,730 --> 00:53:39,322 There's danger in giving people the impression 1111 00:53:39,322 --> 00:53:41,157 that as long as they say they believe, 1112 00:53:41,157 --> 00:53:42,508 all is well. 1113 00:53:42,508 --> 00:53:49,078 If the works that will always be present 1114 00:53:49,078 --> 00:53:52,847 when the faith is real, if they're absent, 1115 00:53:52,847 --> 00:53:58,602 brethren, antinomianism is fatal to men's souls. 1116 00:53:58,602 --> 00:53:59,936 What's antinomianism? 1117 00:53:59,936 --> 00:54:02,897 It means that people are relying 1118 00:54:02,897 --> 00:54:05,279 on the fact that they've made 1119 00:54:05,279 --> 00:54:06,619 some sort of decision, 1120 00:54:06,619 --> 00:54:08,436 or they rely on the fact 1121 00:54:08,436 --> 00:54:11,019 that they make certain statements of faith, 1122 00:54:11,019 --> 00:54:14,341 but that's all divorced from their practical life. 1123 00:54:14,341 --> 00:54:17,089 It's the idea that starts by assuming: 1124 00:54:17,089 --> 00:54:21,473 well, I'm saved, so my sins are forgiven, 1125 00:54:21,473 --> 00:54:24,461 so it must not really matter what I do. 1126 00:54:24,461 --> 00:54:26,878 It doesn't matter if my life conforms 1127 00:54:26,878 --> 00:54:30,162 to the commandments of Jesus Christ or not. 1128 00:54:30,162 --> 00:54:31,889 But we know that. 1129 00:54:31,889 --> 00:54:34,082 We know what it says. 1130 00:54:34,082 --> 00:54:36,768 That if we're not keeping His commandments, 1131 00:54:36,768 --> 00:54:39,407 if we're not bearing that fruit, 1132 00:54:39,407 --> 00:54:43,345 we're liars. The truth isn't in us. 1133 00:54:43,345 --> 00:54:46,080 That faith that never evidences itself 1134 00:54:46,080 --> 00:54:49,170 by works is a dead faith 1135 00:54:49,170 --> 00:54:51,829 and a faith that will never save a soul. 1136 00:54:51,829 --> 00:54:54,959 Oh brethren, folks, friends, 1137 00:54:54,959 --> 00:54:57,917 those of you that don't know the Lord, 1138 00:54:57,917 --> 00:55:01,997 what I ask you is this: 1139 00:55:01,997 --> 00:55:06,137 Will there be any evidence of the sincerity of your faith? 1140 00:55:06,137 --> 00:55:09,299 On that day when your whole life 1141 00:55:09,299 --> 00:55:11,579 is put on the table? 1142 00:55:11,579 --> 00:55:13,917 If grace does not make us differ 1143 00:55:13,917 --> 00:55:18,629 from other men, it's not the grace of God 1144 00:55:18,629 --> 00:55:21,296 that He gives to men when He saves them. 1145 00:55:21,296 --> 00:55:23,299 Lay that down. 1146 00:55:23,299 --> 00:55:24,987 We're not perfect. 1147 00:55:24,987 --> 00:55:26,217 But I'll tell you this, 1148 00:55:26,217 --> 00:55:28,930 though we not be perfect, 1149 00:55:28,930 --> 00:55:33,588 we are people - the Spirit has opened our eyes 1150 00:55:33,588 --> 00:55:37,659 and there is a preciousness in this unseen Jesus Christ 1151 00:55:37,659 --> 00:55:42,122 and our eyes go upon the One who is perfect 1152 00:55:42,122 --> 00:55:44,749 and He's our example and He goes before us. 1153 00:55:44,749 --> 00:55:48,086 And He bids us to follow Him. 1154 00:55:48,086 --> 00:55:50,860 And His sheep hear His voice 1155 00:55:50,860 --> 00:55:52,321 and we know that voice. 1156 00:55:52,321 --> 00:55:53,940 We know the tenderness of it. 1157 00:55:53,940 --> 00:55:58,270 We know the omnipotence of it. 1158 00:55:58,270 --> 00:56:01,012 Brethren, the thing is 1159 00:56:01,012 --> 00:56:04,249 the reality is we aim to walk worthy 1160 00:56:04,249 --> 00:56:10,891 of the high calling to which God has brought us. 1161 00:56:10,891 --> 00:56:13,058 The reality is this: 1162 00:56:13,058 --> 00:56:15,488 Look, if you come to judgment day 1163 00:56:15,488 --> 00:56:17,700 and your actions are no better 1164 00:56:17,700 --> 00:56:20,545 than those of the lost, 1165 00:56:20,545 --> 00:56:25,158 you can profess whatever you want about your faith, 1166 00:56:25,158 --> 00:56:26,750 but you're deceived. 1167 00:56:26,750 --> 00:56:30,330 And it's going to be discovered on that last great day. 1168 00:56:30,330 --> 00:56:33,309 Your deeds, your deeds, your deeds. 1169 00:56:33,309 --> 00:56:37,398 Not merely the profession, but your deeds. 1170 00:56:37,398 --> 00:56:39,349 Not the mere talk. 1171 00:56:39,349 --> 00:56:45,228 It's deeds shall be the evidence of grace. 1172 00:56:45,228 --> 00:56:47,307 If your actions are no better 1173 00:56:47,307 --> 00:56:51,089 than those of the lost, 1174 00:56:51,089 --> 00:56:52,500 if they're no different, 1175 00:56:52,500 --> 00:56:55,218 if you are no different 1176 00:56:55,218 --> 00:56:57,356 than the lost on judgment day, 1177 00:56:57,356 --> 00:56:58,859 then listen, 1178 00:56:58,859 --> 00:57:01,851 you are no different from the lost 1179 00:57:01,851 --> 00:57:03,658 and just because you went to church 1180 00:57:03,658 --> 00:57:08,719 and had a profession... 1181 00:57:08,719 --> 00:57:12,096 By your works you will stand 1182 00:57:12,096 --> 00:57:15,257 or you will fall on that day. 1183 00:57:15,259 --> 00:57:18,247 I mean, suppose you join the church, 1184 00:57:18,247 --> 00:57:20,939 but you remain a fornicator in the heart. 1185 00:57:20,939 --> 00:57:23,259 You get on the Internet. You do things you shouldn't do. 1186 00:57:23,259 --> 00:57:26,519 You do things in your mind even during services like this you shouldn't do. 1187 00:57:26,519 --> 00:57:28,008 Yet you joined the church. 1188 00:57:28,008 --> 00:57:32,628 But you remain a fornicator. 1189 00:57:32,628 --> 00:57:34,868 Suppose you get baptized. 1190 00:57:34,868 --> 00:57:37,728 You constantly cheat on your taxes. 1191 00:57:37,728 --> 00:57:41,368 Suppose you profess with the most glowing testimony 1192 00:57:41,368 --> 00:57:42,800 that amazes many of us, 1193 00:57:42,800 --> 00:57:47,418 but you remain the most vicious slanderer. 1194 00:57:47,418 --> 00:57:55,587 Do you think that God will never require that of you? 1195 00:57:55,587 --> 00:58:04,658 Sir, ma'am, brother, sister, 1196 00:58:04,658 --> 00:58:08,507 if you're no better than other men in your conduct, 1197 00:58:08,507 --> 00:58:11,178 then you're no better than other men. 1198 00:58:11,178 --> 00:58:14,888 And you're going to stand no better off on that day. 1199 00:58:14,888 --> 00:58:17,418 And if Christ once says to you: 1200 00:58:17,418 --> 00:58:22,508 "Cursed. Depart from Me, you cursed." 1201 00:58:22,508 --> 00:58:26,347 Cursed you will be and must be forever. 1202 00:58:26,347 --> 00:58:27,986 Now if you can stand here and say, 1203 00:58:27,986 --> 00:58:29,618 well, that's fine. Bring it on. 1204 00:58:29,618 --> 00:58:31,227 I'm not really concerned. 1205 00:58:31,227 --> 00:58:32,348 I'm not afraid. 1206 00:58:32,348 --> 00:58:34,989 Somehow it's all going to work out. 1207 00:58:34,989 --> 00:58:40,139 Then I'll leave you now to your insanity. 1208 00:58:40,139 --> 00:58:44,087 But to those of you - I know you - 1209 00:58:44,087 --> 00:58:46,138 you're not perfect, 1210 00:58:46,138 --> 00:58:49,528 but you are obedient from the heart. 1211 00:58:49,528 --> 00:58:52,789 You have a love for the Lord. 1212 00:58:52,789 --> 00:58:57,477 We sing a song: "More love to Thee." 1213 00:58:57,477 --> 00:58:59,958 We sing another song: 1214 00:58:59,958 --> 00:59:01,142 "The Beauty of Holiness" 1215 00:59:01,142 --> 00:59:03,060 is that the one that speaks about 1216 00:59:03,060 --> 00:59:07,409 that desire to love more - we feel that! 1217 00:59:07,409 --> 00:59:11,889 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. 1218 00:59:11,889 --> 00:59:14,359 We don't want it. We don't like it. 1219 00:59:14,359 --> 00:59:16,788 We know we're not perfect. 1220 00:59:16,788 --> 00:59:20,859 But we do know that we're different than we were. 1221 00:59:20,859 --> 00:59:23,137 We know that old things have passed away. 1222 00:59:23,137 --> 00:59:25,168 We know that we do have a love for Christ. 1223 00:59:25,168 --> 00:59:26,779 We do have a love for His people. 1224 00:59:26,779 --> 00:59:28,048 Oh, it's not perfect. 1225 00:59:28,048 --> 00:59:30,426 It's not. We know it's not. 1226 00:59:30,426 --> 00:59:32,379 But we have those longings. 1227 00:59:32,379 --> 00:59:35,029 We have a new heart. 1228 00:59:35,029 --> 00:59:38,689 We have the law of God written within us. 1229 00:59:38,689 --> 00:59:42,949 We do long and we hunger and thirst after righteousness. 1230 00:59:42,949 --> 00:59:45,189 We have a true love for others, 1231 00:59:45,189 --> 00:59:50,287 a sincere desire to please Him. 1232 00:59:50,287 --> 00:59:54,619 I know we've got people like that here. 1233 00:59:54,619 --> 00:59:56,789 And you may be just like those people: 1234 00:59:56,789 --> 01:00:00,150 Lord, when did we feed You? 1235 01:00:00,150 --> 01:00:02,460 And it's probably good we forget 1236 01:00:02,460 --> 01:00:03,729 a lot of the things we do. 1237 01:00:03,729 --> 01:00:07,299 I think the redeemed will be really surprised on that day - 1238 01:00:07,299 --> 01:00:09,279 the things that will be brought back 1239 01:00:09,279 --> 01:00:12,089 that you will have forgotten that you did. 1240 01:00:12,089 --> 01:00:14,228 But I have a word for you 1241 01:00:14,228 --> 01:00:16,098 from the Lord. 1242 01:00:16,098 --> 01:00:17,951 Listen to this. 1243 01:00:17,951 --> 01:00:20,689 Isaiah. 1244 01:00:20,689 --> 01:00:25,079 "Tell the righteous 1245 01:00:25,079 --> 01:00:29,998 that it shall be well with them." 1246 01:00:29,998 --> 01:00:35,079 In other words, this coming judgment 1247 01:00:35,079 --> 01:00:38,337 is going to be well with you. 1248 01:00:38,337 --> 01:00:43,118 Oh, a fearful, awesome day - 1249 01:00:43,118 --> 01:00:45,150 it's healthy to tremble. 1250 01:00:45,150 --> 01:00:46,699 It's healthy to talk like Paul: 1251 01:00:46,699 --> 01:00:49,518 knowing therefore the fear of the Lord. 1252 01:00:49,518 --> 01:00:52,281 But the Lord wants me to tell you this: 1253 01:00:52,281 --> 01:00:56,178 "Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, 1254 01:00:56,178 --> 01:01:04,344 for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds." 1255 01:01:04,344 --> 01:01:07,308 And there's that text there in Revelation 14 1256 01:01:07,308 --> 01:01:12,712 that says, "Blessed indeed says the Spirit, 1257 01:01:12,712 --> 01:01:15,101 you will rest from your labors 1258 01:01:15,101 --> 01:01:18,968 and their deeds shall follow them." 1259 01:01:18,968 --> 01:01:21,009 The things you do - how does that happen? 1260 01:01:21,009 --> 01:01:22,799 How do your deeds follow you? 1261 01:01:22,799 --> 01:01:25,840 Because you're storing up treasure in heaven. 1262 01:01:25,840 --> 01:01:28,640 And He will repay. Remember? 1263 01:01:28,640 --> 01:01:30,380 When you have a meal, 1264 01:01:30,380 --> 01:01:35,125 invite the people that can't pay you back. 1265 01:01:35,125 --> 01:01:36,509 Because in that day, 1266 01:01:36,509 --> 01:01:37,920 you're going to be repaid. 1267 01:01:37,920 --> 01:01:40,451 Your deeds are going to follow you 1268 01:01:40,451 --> 01:01:44,407 out into eternity with this treasure. 1269 01:01:44,407 --> 01:01:46,229 You have but little. 1270 01:01:46,229 --> 01:01:48,010 Look, you don't have to have a lot. 1271 01:01:48,010 --> 01:01:50,668 You can be like that widow. You can have your two mites. 1272 01:01:50,668 --> 01:01:52,548 You may have a little, but hear this. 1273 01:01:52,548 --> 01:01:54,149 Hear this: 1274 01:01:54,149 --> 01:01:59,549 "Well done, good and faithful servant. 1275 01:01:59,549 --> 01:02:03,600 You've been faithful over a little..." 1276 01:02:03,600 --> 01:02:09,579 Luke 19 says "a very little." 1277 01:02:09,579 --> 01:02:11,791 But you were faithful. 1278 01:02:11,791 --> 01:02:13,659 You were faithful. 1279 01:02:13,659 --> 01:02:16,609 You may not have the greatest spiritual gifts in the world. 1280 01:02:16,609 --> 01:02:19,240 You may not have the most amount of money in the world. 1281 01:02:19,240 --> 01:02:21,359 But whatever God has given you, 1282 01:02:21,359 --> 01:02:24,840 you were faithful. 1283 01:02:24,840 --> 01:02:30,400 "Enter into the joy of your Master." 1284 01:02:30,400 --> 01:02:34,629 No one is going to be there on that day to answer for you, but you. 1285 01:02:34,629 --> 01:02:38,400 Everyone else gets out of the way when it's your turn. 1286 01:02:38,400 --> 01:02:40,419 You will stand. 1287 01:02:40,419 --> 01:02:42,261 Total exposure. 1288 01:02:42,261 --> 01:02:45,452 It's just you and the Judge 1289 01:02:45,452 --> 01:02:48,411 and the works that you have done. 1290 01:02:48,411 --> 01:02:50,942 And you're going to be tested by fire. 1291 01:02:50,942 --> 01:02:53,001 Scripture tells us it's going to burn up 1292 01:02:53,001 --> 01:02:55,470 a whole bunch of stuff - wood, hay, and stubble. 1293 01:02:55,470 --> 01:02:58,434 It goes. 1294 01:02:58,434 --> 01:02:59,740 Nothing hidden. 1295 01:02:59,740 --> 01:03:01,572 Nothing forgotten. 1296 01:03:01,572 --> 01:03:03,022 Every thought, every word, 1297 01:03:03,022 --> 01:03:04,540 every deed, every motive, 1298 01:03:04,540 --> 01:03:09,851 every intention - all laid bare. 1299 01:03:09,851 --> 01:03:12,505 But we thought the sins of the righteous 1300 01:03:12,505 --> 01:03:14,673 being pardoned and forever blotted out, 1301 01:03:14,673 --> 01:03:16,601 we could never come into judgment. 1302 01:03:16,601 --> 01:03:19,540 And beloved, the reality is 1303 01:03:19,540 --> 01:03:21,210 they are pardoned 1304 01:03:21,210 --> 01:03:23,071 and they are blotted out. 1305 01:03:23,071 --> 01:03:24,531 And that is why the righteous 1306 01:03:24,531 --> 01:03:27,250 need not fear the coming day of judgment. 1307 01:03:27,250 --> 01:03:30,750 But brethren, the truth is we must be tried too. 1308 01:03:30,750 --> 01:03:33,664 And we have this hope. 1309 01:03:33,664 --> 01:03:37,319 We will stand the trial. 1310 01:03:37,319 --> 01:03:38,933 That is our hope. 1311 01:03:38,933 --> 01:03:39,933 That is it. 1312 01:03:39,933 --> 01:03:42,751 The way of the righteousness by Jesus Christ 1313 01:03:42,751 --> 01:03:45,770 allows us to submit ourselves 1314 01:03:45,770 --> 01:03:47,742 to the most tremendous test. Why? 1315 01:03:47,742 --> 01:03:50,270 Remember both parts - both parts. 1316 01:03:50,270 --> 01:03:52,522 On the one hand, 1317 01:03:52,522 --> 01:03:56,500 He gave Himself up 1318 01:03:56,500 --> 01:04:00,819 to redeem us from all our lawlessness. 1319 01:04:00,819 --> 01:04:03,101 And on the other hand, 1320 01:04:03,101 --> 01:04:04,949 to purify a people 1321 01:04:04,949 --> 01:04:06,800 who are zealous of good works. 1322 01:04:06,800 --> 01:04:09,541 And so, that good work you did 1323 01:04:09,541 --> 01:04:11,703 is going to brought up. 1324 01:04:11,703 --> 01:04:17,218 Any hint of lawlessness - it's forgiven. 1325 01:04:17,218 --> 01:04:20,111 Who can bring a charge against God's elect? 1326 01:04:20,111 --> 01:04:24,200 Nobody. Not even on that day. 1327 01:04:24,200 --> 01:04:28,982 And Jesus is going to look at all of His children, 1328 01:04:28,982 --> 01:04:30,894 all of the sheep, 1329 01:04:30,894 --> 01:04:33,400 to all of us: 1330 01:04:33,400 --> 01:04:34,909 "Well done." 1331 01:04:34,909 --> 01:04:37,019 Because this is the reality, 1332 01:04:37,019 --> 01:04:39,210 He's gone to work in His people 1333 01:04:39,210 --> 01:04:41,411 and they will be zealous of good works. 1334 01:04:41,411 --> 01:04:42,862 They will be. 1335 01:04:42,862 --> 01:04:45,351 And so prove to be His disciple. 1336 01:04:45,351 --> 01:04:48,831 Because if those good works aren't there, He's failed. 1337 01:04:48,831 --> 01:04:51,080 But He never fails. 1338 01:04:51,080 --> 01:04:53,229 And those works are going to dictate 1339 01:04:53,229 --> 01:04:57,559 and bear witness to what you are 1340 01:04:57,559 --> 01:05:00,252 in that day - that great day. 1341 01:05:00,252 --> 01:05:02,802 Brethren, we must not be afraid 1342 01:05:02,802 --> 01:05:06,291 to be put in the balances 1343 01:05:06,291 --> 01:05:10,311 because the blood removes every blemish. 1344 01:05:10,311 --> 01:05:12,691 You say it says every careless word... 1345 01:05:12,691 --> 01:05:15,589 Yep, if you spoke a careless word 1346 01:05:15,589 --> 01:05:17,629 and there was any sin attached to that, 1347 01:05:17,629 --> 01:05:21,902 which I take it there is if it's a careless word - 1348 01:05:21,902 --> 01:05:28,242 blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven. 1349 01:05:28,242 --> 01:05:32,190 It will go well in that day. 1350 01:05:32,190 --> 01:05:37,690 Brethren, blessed are the merciful. 1351 01:05:37,690 --> 01:05:39,569 When the works that come out show 1352 01:05:39,569 --> 01:05:41,291 that you were one of His little ones 1353 01:05:41,291 --> 01:05:42,942 who showed mercy to others, 1354 01:05:42,942 --> 01:05:45,598 versus being the self-seeking, 1355 01:05:45,598 --> 01:05:47,034 the disobedient - 1356 01:05:47,034 --> 01:05:50,259 no, you showed mercy. 1357 01:05:50,259 --> 01:05:52,331 Blessed are the merciful 1358 01:05:52,331 --> 01:05:54,848 because they shall be shown mercy. 1359 01:05:54,848 --> 01:05:56,193 They shall receive it. 1360 01:05:56,193 --> 01:05:57,940 And if Christ calls you blessed, 1361 01:05:57,940 --> 01:06:00,331 just like if He calls you cursed, you're cursed. 1362 01:06:00,331 --> 01:06:04,293 If He calls you blessed, oh, you are blessed indeed. 1363 01:06:04,293 --> 01:06:08,727 And you will be blessed forever. 1364 01:06:08,727 --> 01:06:10,639 Just remember, brethren, 1365 01:06:10,639 --> 01:06:14,299 remember as we come into this new year, 1366 01:06:14,299 --> 01:06:18,713 Scripture ends on this note. 1367 01:06:18,713 --> 01:06:21,858 "Behold, I am coming soon, 1368 01:06:21,858 --> 01:06:24,610 bringing My recompense with Me 1369 01:06:24,610 --> 01:06:31,659 to repay everyone for what he has done." 1370 01:06:31,659 --> 01:06:33,750 That day hastens. 1371 01:06:33,750 --> 01:06:39,019 It is appointed to you to die 1372 01:06:39,019 --> 01:06:43,681 and then the judgment. 1373 01:06:43,681 --> 01:06:46,661 Behold, we can cry out, 1374 01:06:46,661 --> 01:06:53,981 Lord, come quickly. 1375 01:06:53,981 --> 01:06:56,330 Lord, I pray that You would give this church 1376 01:06:56,330 --> 01:06:58,729 a healthy sense of what Paul 1377 01:06:58,729 --> 01:07:01,030 was trying to express to the Corinthians there 1378 01:07:01,030 --> 01:07:04,152 that our aim is to please You, 1379 01:07:04,152 --> 01:07:06,611 because we know that we must all stand 1380 01:07:06,611 --> 01:07:09,217 before the judgment seat of God, 1381 01:07:09,217 --> 01:07:11,620 and that we're going to receive a recompense. 1382 01:07:11,620 --> 01:07:12,900 We're going to be repaid. 1383 01:07:12,900 --> 01:07:14,791 We're going to have to give an account. 1384 01:07:14,791 --> 01:07:16,499 We're going to be judged according to the things 1385 01:07:16,499 --> 01:07:17,782 that we've done in our body, 1386 01:07:17,782 --> 01:07:19,941 whether they've been good or bad. 1387 01:07:19,941 --> 01:07:22,960 Lord, I pray - 1388 01:07:22,960 --> 01:07:25,299 I pray that You'd cause the careless here 1389 01:07:25,299 --> 01:07:27,038 to flee to Your Son. 1390 01:07:27,038 --> 01:07:30,389 I pray that You would quicken consciences. 1391 01:07:30,389 --> 01:07:31,852 I pray that the Spirit of God 1392 01:07:31,852 --> 01:07:35,961 would do that very thing that was promised - 1393 01:07:35,961 --> 01:07:39,470 that He would convict men of sin 1394 01:07:39,470 --> 01:07:43,060 and righteousness and judgment. 1395 01:07:43,060 --> 01:07:48,409 Bring a healthy conviction into our midst, Lord. 1396 01:07:48,409 --> 01:07:50,995 I pray this in Christ's name, amen.