26-0920sc Transcript

(0:04) Let’s go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. Most gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you so much (0:09) for this day. We thank you for the opportunity we have to be able to come together on the first (0:15) day of the week.

We’re grateful for the government in which we live that provides this as a safety (0:24) and unmolested. We’re very grateful for the privilege of being able to be in a government (0:32) like this. We thank you for your love.

We thank you for you providing us with your word. We pray (0:40) that you give us wisdom in order to be able to know how to make application of Paul’s writings. (0:50) We pray that you provide us with understanding and insight so that we can comprehend the things (0:58) that Paul is trying to get across to us through the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Spirit is trying to (1:02) get across to us through Paul’s writings.

We pray that you bless us in every way. This is a prophet (1:10) in Jesus' name. Amen.

As I mentioned last week, my experience in all the 85 years that I’ve lived on (1:23) the space of this earth, I find that the things that Paul is bringing forth here in chapters 13, (1:32) 14, and 15 are basically things that we try to rationalize, try to adjust to. (1:42) Well, in my mind, rationalizing is trying to get out of doing what is being advocated for us to do (1:52) because it goes against our skin, I guess, if that’s the right word to use. (2:03) And it makes it very difficult because of the way we were raised and (2:11) we’re definitely having to understand what God wants us to do.

So as I was rereading (2:20) Romans the other day, I ran across the part where it says that, and you’re familiar with it too, (2:33) we have been removed from the law and are now under grace. And I got to thinking about that. (2:44) What does that mean? We’re no longer under law.

We are under grace. (2:51) Help me with my thinking in this way. That’s a blessing, apparently.

(3:00) And when you stop and think about the promise that God gave to Abram, that through his seed, (3:06) the world would be blessed. And so Jesus has come, and we recognize Jesus as being (3:15) that promise. He is of the seed of Abraham, and it’s through him that we are being blessed.

(3:24) And it’s through Jesus that we are being removed from the law and are now going to be (3:30) provided God’s grace. (3:34) So what transpired there? What is the blessing to us for having now grace? Am I understandable? (3:52) What is it? I’m asking. (3:56) I’ve got an idea.

(3:57) Okay. (4:03) Romans 1, all the way that he deals with specific topics, and Paul mentions it at the end of chapter (4:16) 1. He says, I’m not ashamed of the gospel, for it’s the power of God to take away sin. (4:23) Then he goes on to say, for in it is revealed the righteousness of God.

(4:33) All eight chapters are dealing with the doctrine of righteousness. (4:39) It comes out of Hebrews 5, where the author there is chastising the Christians (4:51) for only knowing the elementary principles. If all you know are the elementary principles, (4:59) then you are an infant, indeed still, of the elementary principles.

And you are not acquainted (5:08) with, you can put all kinds of stuff, there’s grace, faith, all kinds of stuff. But the writer (5:16) says, you’re not acquainted with the doctrine of righteousness. That’s what Paul’s talking about (5:22) in the whole beginning of Romans 1 through 8, and he culminates that in, (5:32) there’s now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

(5:45) And then chapter 4, talking about Abraham, because these are the two songs that make a (5:54) difference. When David says, blessed is he whom God takes away of sin, that’s when we become a (6:02) Christian. And that’s where most of us stay.

We don’t get to that second part of the verse. (6:10) We, our sins are forgiven, and now we get caught up with what John says, and it’s right what John (6:17) says. If you walk in the light, if you eat in the light, your sins are forgiven, and if you ask for (6:23) forgiveness, that’s an okay thing to do.

And so we get into that cycle of our sins, and we gotta (6:34) ask for forgiveness, and that’s where we come up with those ideas that, so if I do something, (6:44) I’m sinning, I lose my temper, I do something, and then all of a sudden I die, and I don’t have a (6:51) chance to ask for forgiveness, am I forgiven? And that’s what you get into, that’s all you know of (6:58) the elementary teachings, because the elementary teachings tell us you have to hope, you have to (7:05) believe that I lay down my hands for the resurrection and eternal judgment, that’s what we (7:16) read. So the second part, Paul says, let’s suppose David’s saying, not just that, you know, (7:25) such as is the man of God, take away his sin, the second part is, such as is the man of God, (7:33) never out to give forgiveness. We’re still sinners, we’re still sinners, (7:43) but what has changed there is God, after the three of Romans, has given us his righteousness, (7:53) really what does righteousness mean? He’s right with the law, he makes you right with the law, (7:58) is what righteousness is.

And so he gives, and I’m kind of working on this idea, (8:08) Abraham, he credited his righteousness to us, he gives us his righteousness, what’s the difference? (8:17) Abraham, he has credited his righteousness, why? Because it hasn’t been paid, the debt hasn’t been (8:25) paid. So he credits Abraham with righteousness, and that’s why chapter 3 says that God was justified, (8:35) God gets justification for Jesus' death on the cross, why? Because beforehand he left the sins (8:43) committed on an example. So he was justified by Jesus, that’s the difference, and so as he gives (8:54) us his righteousness, and who does he do that as to? And he died with him, and the likeness of his (9:02) death, raised, crucified as death actually.

Verse 7, I believe it’s chapter 6, Romans says he wanted (9:15) to die as a free from sin, so if you don’t have any sin, that’s when he gives us his righteousness. (9:25) We are right with the law when we don’t have any sin. So he gives us that righteousness, (9:31) and then if we are walking in the light, earnestly, what we’re doing now, (9:41) earnestly trying to figure out what God wants us to do, that’s what we’re being in the light for.

(9:50) This is the light. So walking in, if we say we love them, I love the verse before that, (9:57) if we say we love them, we’ll walk in darkness. What’s that? Anybody who doesn’t know this? (10:05) And there’s a lot of Christians that don’t know this, they say they love God, (10:10) and that’s walking in, that’s gotta be walking in darkness.

So if we walk in the light, (10:19) I liken it to God, once we’re baptized, we continue on our path, and Christ becomes, (10:27) we transform from the world, we differ from the world, this is more for the likeness of Christ, (10:33) that’s what Romans tells us. But that’s walking in the light, and at that point, (10:41) we are the blessed people that God has ever chosen us to be. (10:51) I agree with the things that you were talking about.

I have every reason to believe that you (10:59) are on the right track, there’s no question about it. What is the primary concept or the thought (11:07) that Paul’s talking about here, especially in chapter 13 and 14 as he’s coming up? (11:13) He’s talking about judging. The law judges.

What about grace? Grace does not judge. Grace (11:29) gives us room to grow. Grace gives us room to know better, and to, one of my teachers used to say, (11:40) when you know better, you’ll do better.

Yeah, that’s basically, but he loved Ephesians, (11:49) the fourth chapter also, and I like Ephesians, the fourth chapter, where it talks about how (11:53) Jesus is giving everybody these particular gifts for what reason? To help us to grow and to be (12:00) united and grow in the faith, and so it’s giving us the opportunity. But we’re being asked not to (12:07) judge. In order to not to judge, you need to then throw away the law because the law is what gives (12:18) you the power to judge.

So when we think in terms of various activities that we’re involved in that (12:26) require judging, such as dog shows, car shows, the fair, you bring your cow, your sheep, your dog, (12:39) your pig, and what do they do? They judge for the best to show, right? What are they using? (12:47) They’re using a law. They’re using something to do that with, and so we’re being taken out of the law (12:54) which the law is designed to judge. What does Paul say in the Romans about the law? (13:02) It brings about wrath, and so when we’re being judged, and like I said last week, (13:12) the average person who comes here is not coming to be judged.

They’re not coming to be condemned. (13:19) So there is now therefore no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. Why? Because they’re (13:24) no longer under the law.

They’re no longer being judged. Jesus did not condemn the individuals. (13:32) When he was approached with a lady who had been caught in adultery and they wanted him to (13:38) cast the first stone, they were asking him to judge.

He said, I’m not going to judge. (13:49) I didn’t come to condemn the world. Isn’t that what John says in 3.16-17, (13:53) for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son? He did not send his son into the (13:58) world to condemn it.

He did not send him into the world to judge. So he was giving people a period (14:06) to grow. So we’re talking about a liberty, and that’s what I like about John, or James rather.

(14:13) He’s talking about us being willing to judge or to deal with one another as (14:21) Christians. James, the first chapter, take a look at that. Let’s read the whole paragraph, (14:39) verse 19.

I’m reading from the New International Version. (14:45) You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, (14:52) slow to anger.

For a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. Therefore, (14:58) ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness in humility, (15:06) receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word (15:13) and not just hearers who deceive themselves.

This is what Scott was talking about. (15:21) We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to do what we’re expected to do, what God wants us to do.

(15:30) Prove yourselves doers of the word and not just hearers who deceive themselves. (15:31) Picking up at verse 23. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, (15:36) he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror.

For once he has looked at himself (15:41) and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of a person he was. Now, verse 25. (15:49) But one who looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, which I believe is (15:57) under grace and not under law, the law of freedom has continued and has continued in it.

(16:06) Having become a forgetful hearer and an active doer, this person will be blessed (16:10) in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious yet does not bridle his tongue (16:16) but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Fear an undefiled religion in the (16:24) sight of God and Father is this, to visit orphans, widows in their distress and to keep oneself (16:32) unstained by the world.

So he’s asking us to realize that we’re not to condemn ourselves (16:40) and no one else can condemn us. And as Paul points out in the Roman letter, (16:45) I believe it’s in the fifth chapter or sixth chapter, where he says, (16:50) Who’s to condemn you? It’s not going to be God because he created you. (16:55) It’s not going to be Jesus because he died on the cross to save you.

So who’s going to condemn you? (17:04) They’re the Supreme Court. I’d like to use that. They’re the Supreme Court.

You take your issues to (17:11) them. And as Paul says, and I believe it’s going to be in this chapter, chapter 13, that (17:21) if it’s not, it’s in Hebrew and it’s in Romans, I can tell you. (17:27) That’s the only thing I’ve been studying.

(17:39) So anyway, you can’t condemn yourself. (17:50) So you can’t allow yourself to condemn yourself. (18:00) I think of the parable that Jesus gave about a master who had a servant he opposed a lot (18:11) and forgave him.

And then that servant went out and then considered his fellow servant and (18:23) required of them to pay him. To me, that’s us judging others. He was exacting from them (18:35) after he had been forgiven a great debt.

And that’s how we should be. We should forgive others (18:43) as they’ve been forgiven. So God is not going to be judging us anymore per se.

(18:52) To condemn us. He’s judging us for obedience. There’s no question about that.

He’s judging (18:58) us for obedience because he told even David that his kids will be on the throne, but if they sin (19:08) and if they do things, they’re going to be punished. But I won’t forget my promise to you (19:14) that they will reign on the throne, but they will be punished. And so that leaves the door open for (19:21) God to punish us, but it also leaves the road for him to be our father.

I like that relationship, (19:29) parent to child, father to us. He’s going to deal with us mercifully. He’s going to deal with us (19:39) on the umbrella of grace.

And that’s the reason why he gives us room to forget. (19:47) There’s as long as we walk in the light as he is in the light, his blood will continue to cleanse us. (19:53) In other words, are we still striving? Are we presenting ourselves as living (20:00) sacrifices unto him? Paul encourages us to do in chapter 12, present yourself as a living sacrifice.

(20:09) And that’s what he’s talking about here too, isn’t it? So as we reflect upon that. So I think (20:18) so he’s bringing us out of law and he’s putting us in a new system. We’re no longer subject to the (20:24) law.

We’re no longer subject to the system. The system when we’re born into the world is the (20:31) default. I like that.

I asked Gene about that the other day. What is that computer talk? (20:41) The computer talk is that’s default. You walk into the law.

You are under the law regardless (20:47) until you actually make that decision to be a disciple of Jesus and become his disciple, (20:57) be baptized for the remission of your sins and become a member of his church. And their sins (21:02) are being forgiven by God because Jesus is paying a course. So summarized.

Anyway, (21:10) we’re no longer in that system. We’re in a brand new system. You and I as Christians are in a new system. (21:16)

(21:16) We’re under grace. And that’s what I asked. What is the difference between grace and law? (21:24) And law condemns.

Grace loves, gives room for love. And so that’s, I think, (21:34) reason why Paul points out to us in Romans that love fulfills the law. (21:41) And so if we can bring ourselves to love one another and really understand what it means to love (21:50) one another, then we are fulfilling the law because we cannot or will not be committing (21:56) these particular sins.

And I think that’s the whole point of this whole thing from Adam (22:04) all the way to now. The whole point was how do we become righteous now that we’re not? (22:19) We do it on ourselves. And all the way up to Christ, everybody’s trying to do it themselves.

(22:26) Then through Christ, we find out we don’t have to do this. In fact, you can’t do that. (22:31) God, you can only get it from God’s righteousness.

(22:44) But the whole point of being righteous with the law is to allow, now, God can use us for one, (22:52) because we’re really free from sin.

We’re cleansed. He can use us. And I think this is the most, (23:00) this is the ultimate, what’s the point of all of this? And it’s that, it’s love.

We want to (23:09) love our neighbor as ourselves, and that you want us to get to the end. (23:17) Against love, there is no love. The whole point is to get us to the point where we love (23:24) our fellow neighbor, that we don’t sin.

It’s to make us conform more and more to how God and Jesus (23:39) and the epitome of that is to truly love you and me. (23:44) Right. So, as we have started the 13th chapter, I know that we have started it.

(23:51) And the point that I made back last week, and I want to make it again, (23:56) is that the Holy Spirit has searched the mind of God, and he’s provided that information to Paul. (24:05) And Paul’s writing it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (24:08) And this is really what God and how God wants us to interact with the world, (24:17) regardless.

This is how he wants us to interact. And he’s challenging us, and he’s testing us to (24:23) see if we really will. That’s one of the things that I like about Judges, under the book of the (24:32) Judges.

I think it’s in the third chapter where God says, okay, (24:38) he’s got the Israelites in the promised land. Now, he wants them to do his will. (24:50) And they’ve been doing anything but his will.

He says, I’m going to start testing them. (24:58) I’m going to test them. And I think God tests us.

I really do, to see whether or not we’re going to (25:07) approach it the way he suggests that we approach it. He really would not just suggest, but the (25:15) Ten Commandments are not suggestions. But he really wants us to try our level best to do it his way.

(25:27) And that’s what he wants. He’s testing us to see if we will approach the particular trials and (25:33) tribulations that he’s providing us, that we will approach and deal with them in the way that he has (25:41) told us to do it. And he’s assuring us that if we do it his way, it’ll come out right.

(25:49) We’ve got to believe that. That’s where he keeps talking about faith. We’ve got to have faith that (25:56) we’re no longer being judged under the law, that we are being given room to grow.

And (26:06) he’s testing us, and we have to have faith that God is not condemning us. There is now therefore (26:12) no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. And then Jesus, and in Romans 8, I believe he’s (26:21) really telling us we don’t have to sin.

Jesus condemns sin in the flesh. He’s giving us the (26:30) strength to do things God’s way. We can say no to sin, period.

And sin doesn’t have that power (26:42) to entice us. The Holy Spirit will help us get past that enticement. (26:51) This idea of, we sin and we feel guilty.

We should. But we want to conform more to God. (27:05) So once we have an understanding of what God’s doing for righteousness, (27:12) once we understand that our righteousness doesn’t come from anything that we do, (27:17) right, right, right.

He’s given us, and he’s asking us then to grow in a kind of a penalty-free (27:26) environment where you’re allowed to make mistakes, but that’s not going to be counted against you. (27:33) At that point, we no longer have to worry about whether we’re righteous or not. We are, (27:42) because God gave us His righteousness.

That was the point of, I want to please you, and I want to (27:52) conform to your ways. Help me do that. But it’s not without righteousness.

You’ve made me righteous. (28:01) Right. I like the way the Hebrew writer, and I believe it’s Paul, I like the way the Hebrew (28:07) writer is dealing with Jeremiah 31, 31.

And if you’re not familiar with that, that’s the New (28:14) Testament. That’s the New Testament. Take a look at Hebrews, the eighth chapter, and (28:23) you’ll see the Hebrew writer is dealing with Jeremiah 31, 31, the new covenant.

(28:31) Hebrews, the eighth chapter. It’s also dealt with in chapter 10, but I like the way it’s treated (28:39) in both chapters. Hebrews, the eighth chapter, verse 7. (29:22) And this is the new covenant.

(29:30) I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they will not teach each one his fellow (29:37) citizens, and each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they will all know me, (29:44) from the least to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful towards their wrongdoings, (29:51) and their sins I will no longer remember.

When he said a new covenant, he has made (29:59) the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear. (30:07) So what is the quote? I will be merciful towards their wrongdoings, (30:13) and their sins I will no longer remember.

That’s the new covenant. And that’s what we’re under. (30:21) So God is promising us He will forget our sins, He will remember them no more, (30:26) especially when we ask Him for forgiveness of our sins.

And I think that’s what 1 John (30:32) is talking about when he says, As long as we walk in the light, as he is in the light, (30:36) his blood will continue to cleanse us. But if we make mistakes, all we got to do is say, (30:43) Please forgive me, and he will be able to forgive you. That’s paraphrasing 1 John.

(30:51) So let’s get back to Romans with the amount of time that I have left. It’s not much. (30:58) Anyway, those are my favorite.

I chase rabbits all the time. You got to understand this. I chase (31:10) rabbits.

That’s what my teachers used to say. I’m chasing rabbits today. As we go back to 13.

(31:20) So he’s asking us to have this mind in us. And so let’s pick up a verse one and reread it and go (31:30) all the way down to where we haven’t been. And this is God sharing with us how he wants us to (31:40) deal with our fellow mankind.

And we know that the world is full of all different kinds of governments. (31:49) But we also know that the world has Christians in it, and they all have to somehow, some way, (31:55) survive under those conditions. And so this is one of the ways in which if we were under those (32:03) conditions, we would have to try to survive.

God is promising us we will survive. And he’s (32:13) telling us what the purpose of those governments serve. They’re all ordained by God.

Every one of (32:20) those governments that are in this world have been ordained by God. They’re there because he (32:27) wills it to be. It’s hard for me to justify them.

I can’t justify them. (32:34) But that’s God to do. Let’s let God justify their existence.

(32:40) Every person has to be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from (32:46) God. And those which exist are established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority has opposed (32:56) the ordinance of God.

And they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers (33:06) are not a cause of fear, for good behavior, but for evil. Let me rephrase that.

For rulers are not (33:16) a cause for fear, for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? (33:25) Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For it is a servant of God to you for good.

(33:34) But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it does not bear the sword for nothing, (33:42) for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. (33:51) Therefore, it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of (34:00) conscience.

For because of this, you also pay taxes for rulers are servants of God, (34:08) devoting themselves to this very thing. Pay to all what is due them. Pay taxes to whom taxes due, (34:18) custom to whom custom, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor.

(34:26) Now, when I was growing up as a teenager in Nashville, Ohio, we would go to Jerry City, (34:34) the church, and we would have men’s class, women’s would have a class, the kids would be in the back, (34:42) and someone like myself would stand up and say, what do you think about that? (34:48) And then someone would say, it means what it means. (34:53) And I said, yep, it says what it says, and it means what it says. (34:59) And so no more, no further discussion.

That’s assuming that you understood exactly what it (35:06) says. It means what it says, and it says what it means. And so that’s what I’m going to stand on.

(35:14) It says what it says, and it means what it means. Don’t argue with it. (35:18) God doesn’t want you to argue with him.

He doesn’t want you to rationalize. (35:23) Rationalizing, to me, is a sin. He’s just trying to justify a position against whatever God wants (35:30) you to do so we can rationalize all we want.

You can argue with him all you want, but he’s (35:38) going to change it. That’s what he wants you to do. Any questions or any observations? (35:46) It means what it means.

It says what it says. Okay. Verse 8. (35:55) Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.

That’s what we’re talking about. (36:02) For the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law for this. And he’s going to quote the law, (36:11) the partial of the Ten Commandments.

You shall not commit adultery. You shall not murder. You (36:19) shall not steal.

You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment, and there is, (36:27) it is summed up in this saying. Yep.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (36:36) Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

(36:47) Come to fulfill the law. And what does God have as for expectation for us to become like Christ? (37:01) Yes. That’s the point.

Right. That’s what God has as expectation for us to become Christ-like. (37:12) Well, you know, on Wednesday night, the neighbor re-apologized and fell back in.

(37:19) This must have been the teacher for that. And he makes the point when he was going through, (37:27) how do we engage with people that are hard to reason with today? (37:34) And he was making the point. I think I just lost.

(37:42) Joined a crowd. (37:43) I know. He was making the point.

What is God’s end game? Why is God doing what he’s, why does (37:58) he sacrifice for us? Is this to redeem us? That’s a big thing. But that’s not the end game. That’s (38:07) not the end result that he wants, just to save us.

If it was just to save us, then why doesn’t (38:12) he take us after we’re saved? But he’s sending quotes to Jeremiah. Jeremiah 31. That says, (38:26) I’m a man of unclean lips.

And he’s taken up. Isaiah, yeah. The angel took an ember from the (38:34) altar, and by God’s throne, and touched his lips, and said, now you are clean.

(38:41) So, God is saving us. Redemption is cleansing us. The work God has prepared for us to do before (38:55) time begins.

The purpose for why he did that. And it’s not just to be saved. Being saved is the (39:01) beginning.

But the point is, of your neighbor is yourself. No. Chase, you can wrap it again.

(39:12) Part of, you know, what happens when we’re baptized into Christ. We’re being justified (39:18) because Jesus is dying on our behalf, and he’s paying our debts. So we’re being justified.

(39:26) But the next thing he says, we’re being sanctified. We’re being sanctified. So, (39:36) what does that mean? We’re being set apart for a particular purpose.

Just like I used it the other (39:42) day, this collection plate. This collection plate has been sanctified. We’re not going to eat out (39:49) of it.

We have no other use for it, other than to collect money in it. But there’s nothing wrong (39:57) with you doing it, but he doesn’t want us to be used for any other reason. He doesn’t want us, (40:03) as he points out in Revelation letter, or not Revelation, the Roman letter, (40:09) that he wants us to be dedicated to God, and not allow our conversation, our thoughts, (40:17) or anything to be an instrument of Satan.

In other words, don’t curse, don’t have dirty thoughts, (40:26) you know, clean thoughts. Love your neighbor. Love your neighbor.

That’s what you’ve been (40:33) sanctified. So you’ve been set aside. You’re now a child of God.

So don’t be used for any other (40:42) reason. Don’t allow yourself to be a precursor. Got a couple minutes left.

Let’s finish out the (40:49) chapter. Verse 11. Do this, knowing the time that is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep, (41:02) for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.

The night is almost gone, (41:11) and the day is near. Therefore, let’s rid ourselves of the deeds of darkness, (41:17) and put on the armor of light. Let’s behave properly as in the day, (41:26) not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and (41:34) jealousy, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its (41:44) lusts.

And he talks, one of the reasons he says properly as in the day is because (41:50) when our dastardly deeds are done, generally during the night, (41:58) we’re going to be open and above board during the day. The day provides light. So that’s why I like (42:10) John’s gospel starting out.

He says he was the light, and in the world he became the light, (42:17) and the people did not recognize him, but he revealed darkness. Light reveals darkness, (42:24) and that’s one of the reasons why I think Jesus was put on the cross was because he was revealing (42:32) the sins of the Israelites, especially the leaders. And so they didn’t like that, (42:42) and they were repelling him.

That’s right. Yeah, I don’t think that’s exactly what’s (42:47) happening in our government today. You know, exactly what’s happening.

(42:55) Well, you know, we can rationalize all we want, but the thing is, it’s true. The other day, (43:07) I was in a discussion. I was with fellow preachers in Medina, and we were talking about (43:16) Lazarus and the rich man.

The rich man and Lazarus get turned around. But anyway, (43:22) the rich man is pleading with Abraham, let the rich man, Lazarus, go back. I have brothers who are (43:36) just like me, and if he can come back from the grave, he can prove to them that they need to (43:42) be changing their ways in their lives.

And what was Abraham’s response? They won’t listen. (43:51) Even if one comes back from the grave, they will not listen to him. They have (43:58) Isaiah in the scriptures, the prophets in the scriptures, to teach them.

If they won’t hear (44:04) them, they won’t hear a man coming back from the grave. And they’re not listening to him. (44:12) Abraham was right.

Exactly. My time is up. (44:21) My time is up. (44:22)