The Resurrection and the Life - 5

Today we come to number five in the series on the seven great iambs of the gospel of John. Today we are considering this statement by Christ, I am the resurrection and the life we have previously considered his statements. I am the bread of life. I am the light of the world.

I am the door.

I am the good shepherd. Now I am the resurrection and the life. Each one of these statements gets us a little bit closer to the cross of Christ. All of them can be dated with a reasonable degree of certainty within a certain range and some of the statements can be dated quite precisely because of the context in which they are found. For example, the second one I am the light of the world we know was said in context of the feast of Tabernacles. The last one before the crucifixion of Christ we can date that and know that that state was statement was made about six months before the cross statement I am the good shepherd we know, was spoken in connection with the feast of dedication and we know when that was that's in our December the course Christ was crucified in around our March so we know that particular statement was made about three months prior to the cross of Christ.

Now we come to this one.

I am the resurrection and the life and that we cannot produce dated with exact precision. It has to be really just a matter of days to three weeks of the most but a matter of days before Jesus Christ went to the cross in all of these statements, the context, the setting is significant to our full understanding, but in this one, perhaps more than any of the others. It is found in John chapter 11 one of the great chapters of God's word. There are two chapters of the Bible that are sometimes called the great resurrection chapter 1 that is the most doctrinal is first Corinthians chapter 15 the entire chapter is given to the doctrine of the resurrection so wonderful chapter, wonderful truth, nearly 16 verses I think in the chapter and so much insight into the doctrine of the resurrection that is often used during times of funeral services for believers, but this is the other one. This is another great resurrection chapter in the Bible. This one that is not so overtly doctrinal, though it certainly is. It is filled with doctrine, as will see. But this one that is primarily a narrative tells us a story and account an historical account of Jesus and some of the people that he dearly loved in this world and how he raised Lazarus from the dead will widen wonderful truths and wonderful encouragement we received from this account. All of these great iambs statements Telus important things about Christ. They tell us something about the work of salvation. Something about what he has done. But even more than that every one of them tells us something about who he is, we learn more of who he is. In addition to what he has done and that is never more true than in this fifth statement were Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life were going to examine this in four parts today and we begin by what we will call delay. The narrative opens with an account of Christ delay in coming to Mary and Martha as they sent messengers to him to tell him about the death of their brother Lazarus, Mary and Martha, and Lazarus in his weeks put the pieces together, some of which we really don't understand until we come to chapter 11, but others of which we were introduced to earlier in the account. But as we put the pieces together.

We realize that they constituted the family living together in the same home in Bethany 2 miles or less from the city of Jerusalem. We don't know anything about their background or history by two sisters and a brother were living together were either Mary and Martha wonder of the other. Both of them windows. We do not know was was Lazarus, a widower has he been married and lost his wife again. We do not know so many things we do not know but we do know that they work followers of Jesus Christ and dearly loved by the Lord Jesus Christ and now the report comes to Jesus by messengers which have been sent by his sisters, Mary and Martha to impart to Jesus Christ the simple information that Lazarus is sick in my notes.

I've entitled these verses that tell what I've just recounted a humble request but in actuality there is no request. It is simply a statement an implied request, but simply a statement of information.

The messengers came and they communicated this information that he whom you love is sick, behold the one that you love is sick.

That's all they needed to tell him. Perhaps we can learn something important about prayer as we see how it was that Mary and Martha approached Christ they didn't presume to tell him what he ought to do what they thought he ought to do. They just simply made aware of the situation and therefore indicated that they were satisfied with whatever he chose to do.

They trusted him completely. Just make sure he knows the need. Just make sure he knows the situation and we will rest all the rest in his care.

Lord, the one whom you love is sick. Jesus at this time was quite some distance from Bethany. We read in chapter 10. The previous chapter that contains a statement about I am the door and I'm the good Shepherd, both of which in check were in chapter 10. You may remember that that chapter closed with Jesus escaping from Jerusalem because the Jews were determined to killing because they thought that what he was speaking in claiming to be the son of God was in fact blasphemy when he was not. Not at all. So we read in verse 4040 and he went out way again beyond the Jordan to a place where John was baptizing at the first and there he stayed students of Bible geography have attempted to locate the exact position. The exact place where John baptized that evidently John baptizing more than one place. This is the place where John baptized at the first of that he must've moved baptized in another location, but in both cases somewhere along side the Jordan River so we know where Jerusalem is and we know the Jordan River is about 20 miles east of Jerusalem.

If you go from Jerusalem to Jericho, that's a journey of 20 miles to take you to Jericho, which is located on the Jordan River where the children of Israel first entered into the promised land when they cross the Jordan God held back the waters in the in a similar miracle to holding back the waters of the Red Sea.

The cross that swollen Jordan came to the city of Jericho.

We know where that was. And were quite confident that John baptized in a rural not a metropolitan area network quite certain that he baptized some place north of Jericho in a more rural setting and soak.

We think the Jesus was probably about 30 well about tender 20 mile somewhere between 10 and 20 miles north of Jerusalem north of Jericho, which would put him somewhere between 20 and between 30 and 40 miles of Jerusalem. This helps us understand the four days that we get to later in the account how all that comes together. So these messengers fat found him out.

They they know where he was now the Jewish couldn't find one to put into death, but his friends knew they knew where he was. Messengers came and they said to Jesus and his disciples who were ministering in this location but also hiding out to this location. They were hiding from their enemies, and yet they were ministering in doing so unhindered because the Jews were unable to stop them they were unable to find them.

They were unable to stop them. But these friends, these messengers found Jesus and they just simply said to him, Lord, one whom you love is sick, humble request to a humble implied witness, but the response of Jesus to this is very puzzling to us. What did Jesus do well. First he made a statement in verse four. This sickness is not of the death, but for the glory of God the son of God may be glorified through it. Sickness is not of the death and yet he died. So what is he mean the sickness is not of the death well part of the answer is found in the translation. The Greek language in the translation and it has a meaning something like this sickness is not with death. In view, it's not the death will not occur. But that's not what is really in view with the sickness, there's something more or something beyond this sickness is not with death.

In view, as we learned in the chapter unfolds the sickness is with life in this sickness is with the resurrection. In view the sicknesses with divine power. In view of this sickness is with great encouragement to God's people. In view, this sickness is to bring honor and glory to God and great encouragement to the people of God. So we learned the purpose of the sickness was not death. It was something else. We also are assured in verse five of Christ's love for Mary and Martha, and Lazarus stuck in here kind of a strange place this little statement in verse five, and yet we can see very obviously the reason for it because what comes next seems so contrary to our idea of how one manifests of, but first the assurance, Jesus loves Mary Martha and Lazarus know that market down.

Don't let it go, no matter what happens next. You can be sure of this.

Whatever happens next.

What happens next is going to be a bit puzzling, but whatever happens next is not contrary to this fact Jesus loves Mary and Martha, and Lazarus. So he delayed two days that's what's puzzling that doesn't make sense to us. But you see an awful lot of what God does doesn't make sense to us, but that doesn't mean it doesn't make sense. It does make sense.

In fact, in this case before the chapters over we know exactly what sense it makes we know exactly why it unfolded this way, but most of the time we don't.

In this case we do, but most of the time we don't most of the time when we are perplexed and puzzled by what God is doing, which isn't what we wanted.

This is what we expect.

It isn't what we prayed for.

We don't know what God is doing. But mark this down your child of God.

God loves you relentlessly pursued your soul in ages past, God set his love on you is love in spite of you is nothing to do with your goodness nothing to do with your anything nothing to do with your good works and doesn't have anything to do with your faith. Faith is the product of God loving you, not the reason why God loves you.

God love you from eternity past and God's love never changes relentless love eternal love. That's what is communicated here.

Whatever happens next.

Don't doubt the love of God for his own, but after this wonderful statement that the sickness is not unto death, but to the glory of God and Jesus take two more days working wise and then he said let's go, let's go to Lazarus.

It makes no sense to us. But in the next several verses. Verses eight through 16.

There is some helpful explanation. The disciples are hesitant to go the reason they are where they are now kind of a wilderness area along the Jordan River north of Jericho. The reason that there now is because they escaped the area of Jerusalem, where there was a very intent plot organized and being carried out by scores and maybe hundreds of people to put him to death.

They do that and so that's why they left that area and now Jesus says were going to go back to that area back to Bethany, less than 2 miles from Jerusalem.

Are you sure Lord that's what were going to do. They're trying to put you to death. Yes of the Lord. That's what were going and the statement that he makes about his going this about walking the like 12 hours in the day and so forth is simply a way of him saying don't fear I'm walking in the light not walking in darkness. I'm not I'm not blind to what's happening here. I'm walking in light imperfect like I know what I'm doing.

Don't fear. I know what I'm doing so I'm going to go to Lazarus who sleeping to go to wake him out of his sleep the night disciples response as well. If he's sleeping, that's probably the best thing when people are sick. A lot of times the problem is they can't sleep their illness keeps them from being able to sleep and what they need more than anything else is to be able to sleep and that promotes healing and so if he's come to the place in his illness or he's now sleeping that's good. Let's let him please you'll probably recover if he is sleeping and Jesus then makes it plain know what I'm saying is he's dead I I noticed this when I read through the Gospels, I notice it now much more more often that I use to my earlier days, but it just jumps out at me. How many times the Disciples of Christ missed understand Christ because they take his statements as literally as possible, and they're not supposed to be taken that way is a little insight here. For those of you who have have the ability to see it. This is just one of many examples. This was pretty obvious to us. Jesus said I'm going to wake him out of sleep. The disciples said he's sleeping, literally sleeping. No, I wasn't talking about sleep. That's figurative language. I'm talking about death. Death is a is a term for sleep. For the believer.

It's not literal sleep. It is, it is something more but it teaches us about death teaches us that death has been transformed for the believer. It's more like sleep and it is like that it's it's it's not a bad leg.

It's a good thing, but because the disciples had this narrow focus that everything should be taken as literally as possible.

They had trouble so many of the statements of Christ, and he had to come back and explain to them know I'm speaking figuratively here I'm speaking figuratively here I'm speaking figuratively. Here we find this again and again and again to the Gospels and those who miss that. I'm afraid to miss a lot of what Jesus is teaching and so they said he sleeping that's good. Jesus said he's glad that's what I'm telling you he's bad when I said he sleeping I met it's the sleep of the Christians death, which is different from the death of an unbeliever. But he's dead and I'm glad I wasn't there.

He said glad I wasn't that for your sakes for your sakes because you're gonna learn a whole lot out of this because we weren't there, and so he says let's go in Thomas. Thomas gets a bad rack basic is a courageous guy.

He may be a gloomy guy. He may be a doubting guy, but he's a courageous guy. He says all right let's go dine with them. They were right when he went to Jerusalem for the last time. How do they leave their by way of the resurrection had to go to the cross. They were they were exactly right.

We go to Jerusalem you're gonna die in Jesus that I'm going Thomas said come on let's go dine with him, well this explains the delay we need to understand that in God's dealings with us. They are always wise reasons for his seeming delay and they are only delays from our standpoint, not from his he's always on schedule exactly perfectly to the second always is God always. But they seem like difficult delays to us. Sometimes many of you remember that way back in the early years of our church.

Becky spun seller used to sing, I will trust when I cannot see the one faced with adversity and I know his will is always best for me. I will trust when I cannot see that's the lesson we don't know the reason for the delays. We don't need to know the reason for the delays. If we focus on the delays will get ourselves in a big conniption if we trust him, trust him to leave him, trust him. His wisdom is power is love is justice. Trust him.

Then we can be content during ladies delay. That's the first part the second part of the account. I called dealings and I'm I'm focusing upon Christ dealings first with Martha and then with Mary. We read in verses 17 through 19 that he arrived and learned that Lazarus had been dead for days now.

Follow the sequence here. He is a full day's journey along the hard day's journey away from Jerusalem. Let's say 30 some miles that's about the most. A person can reasonably expect to walk in the day.

Most of us don't know because we don't do that kind walking but they did it in those days, all the time so let's hear peers when I think the sequence indicates shortly after the messengers were dispatched. Lazarus died they did know that because they were a mile away, but they had a day to travel. That's day one they got to Jesus and they delivered the message that they were supposed to deliver. He whom you love is sick. Jesus said okay will stay here.

Two more days. That's day one is a messengers travel day to his Jesus first day delay day three of Jesus second day of delight cheat day four is the day that Jesus and his disciples traveled to Bethany. Now that's four days and when he gets there. Sure enough, Lazarus has been dead four days event buried for four days he's in the tomb the Jews are coming out of Jerusalem is close by less than 2 miles and are coming to extend their comfort to the family.

This is evidently there's a lot of clues that this is evidently a very prominent family family of some substance, I mean some prominence because there are Jews coming out of Jerusalem, many of them coming out of Jerusalem to come and extend comfort to the family. That's one indication the tomb that he was buried in which is like Christ tomb that was in a common grave that was that was a cave with a rock in front of a rich man strewn the tomb that Lazarus was buried in is another indication of the prominence of his family member, Mary is one who poured the alabaster box of ointment on Jesus in a previous occasion in that was was worth about one year salary of poor people don't do that poor people can't do that date she did that prominent family who devoted their resources to Christ. The home was open to him the resources were open to him. I gave him whatever he had blessed them with that could be useful in his kingdom. They realized that the blessings are to come to them were not for their own comfort and luxury, but they work to advance the cause of Christ and to honor and glorify God and so they gave generously of their substance but they will prominent family. Jesus comes in.

Martha was the woman of action she knows is coming and she runs out the medium effect in dealing with Martha, we see that she is a woman of action woman of faith, the will and the privilege of compassion. She gets a bad rap sometimes because remember when Jesus was was a teaching in the home. Martha was busy, busy, busy preparing the meal and Mary was sitting at his feet and Jesus said, Bill, Mary, chosen the better part that doesn't mean that Martha wasn't a godly woman. In fact, it turns out she's a very godly woman in woman of great faith. She comes out to meet Jesus and she says to him, simply another indication of her faith more if you had been here are our brother had not died. There's no scolding, no recrimination, just just a simple fact it really is a statement of faith. She she knows the power of Christ. She believes in who he is and what he can do and it's sort of a statement of regret. If only he could have been if she knows of my scenario was correct.

She knows that Lazarus was dead before the messengers even when Jesus shows so she's not saying all if we can evolve if you if you would only not delayed two days. This would've happened. That's not what you say she knows that it was too late by then she just simply making a statement of faith. If you had been here, my brother had not died because you are able to heal any illness whatsoever.

She's a woman of faith, she's a woman of privilege because this struck me. I hadn't really thought about this Jesus in dealing with her made this great statement.

I am the resurrection of the life he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die believes now this who did Jesus make that statement to Martha alone. It was a private message. None of the others. Jesus said I'm the door was spoken to a multitude I am the good shepherd multitude by the bread of life multitude are the light of the world multitude.

I am thinking I am the way the truth and the life multitude. I am the vine, the disciples I am the resurrection and the life was spoken to one person and one person alone spoke. She's privileged to have received a message from Christ to nobody else received but she's also woman compassion.

She runs to married on the encounter with Christ is over. And since the Masters asking. She's concerned about her sister Mary comes in verities immediate response is to go to Jesus which is understood the point in coming to Jesus before he reached the home was to allow for some privacy. Because the home is crowded with comforters is crowded with guests and so Martha made her way outside the home to have a private encounter with Jesus, and she tries to secretly did you see that word secretly. There she secretly calls for for Martha Mary to come and meet with Jesus she wants for him for her to have a private encounter with Jesus as well, but not to be because the guests see Mary leaving and they assume she's going to the tomb to weep and so they follow when she gets to Jesus she makes a statement identical to Martha. Lord, if you had been here, our brother had not died. Same statement of faith. Now this indicates to me that they'd made the statement to themselves.

They been talking about this when they were talking about their bereavement. Jesus had been her brother would've died. I wish Jesus had been her brother died. They made the statement, no doubt, several times and it comes out the conversation with Christ.

And while they're talking Jesus and Mary is loud wailing going on because that's the customer date, the louder you weigh old, the more honored was the person who died.

In fact, they would even hire professional mourners to make as much noise as possible. I don't know that they did on this occasion that was common in that day and so if there a lot of Jews there, you can be sure that they were put in on the show. The way that was expected in their culture and their Jesus was moved by the was. He was very deeply moved in his spirit.

That's when Jesus asked for the location of the community comes before the tomb to be read in the shortest verse of the Bible. I remember as a boy when I was told one time, but instead memorize a verse you pick the person say it next week.

That didn't happen very often but when that happened, we all think the same one John 1135 Jesus wept. That was easy to memorize. Jesus wept that word for weeping is different. This is not loud wailing. This is quiet quiet tears cursing down street he was touched by the burden by the sorrow by the grief by the crushing weight of the death touched that family. Jesus was touched even knowing that it wasn't going to last even knowing that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Nevertheless, Jesus entered into the feelings of their infirmities Jesus went. You can be sure dear friends that he not only loves you but he understands you he enters in to your emotions, your feelings he cares for you. He cares for you, Jesus loves and cares for you. He'll do what no one else can do for Jesus cares for and he shows that he wept at the and the Jews saw it didn't escape their attention. They say, oh how he loved him.

Lazarus and couldn't this one who has even healed a man born blind. Couldn't he have Lazarus from dying could leave healed that illness their puzzled not only a Mary Martha puzzled, but the. The bystanders are also possible and that tells me dear friend when you're hurting your anguish and grief and pain. When your emotions are running Rob because of the difficulties of life.

What do you do recount the evidences of his love for you and trusting and if you're a child of God. You have got a whole list of the evidences of his love for you so just as the song says, count your blessings name them one by one, count the reminders of his love for you name them one by one, just remind yourself of his love for you and trust him because you can be sure that he is fully aware of what you are going through. She with Mary and Martha, and he is a high priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities and we can be sure that dealings number three demonstration and for this. I'm looking at the resurrection of Lazarus from the grave.

This was a great demonstration.

It begins with death in the tomb of prominent tombs we've already seen a rich man's tomb, but nevertheless a tumor place of death and decay a testimony to the power of death, and is a great power. We see not only death in the tomb we see death in the Liberator Jesus that steps up to that tomb.

Now everything is different.

A liberator with divine glory. If you believe in me will see the glory of God, a liberator with divine authority. I didn't need to pray, but I did so you could see me praying to the father and know that I have my authority from him a liberator with divine power. He steps up to the two says a lot. Somebody said of Jesus had said Lazarus come forth every person in that cemetery would have come forth. But he said Lazarus come forth, and death was conquered by life death was overcome by life. This is a demonstration of Christ power. Lazarus came forth, shuffling still bound shuffling, even at his eyes covered hands bound, but shuffling shuffles his way out of the cave and Jesus said Lucian and let him go. Jesus spoke the life and power parting word and Lazarus sprang to life and he came forth, demonstrating that life which leads me finally to what I've called declaration takes us back to our text for closer examination. Jesus said to her verse 25 I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.

And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this. This declaration tells us number one who Jesus is a number two what Jesus does number three what our response should be to Jesus tells us who Jesus is. I am the resurrection, I am the life. The statements of Christ in some ways are that the simplest ones in the Bible, and yet the most perplexing and profound in the Bible, we can understand what he saying I am the resurrection and the life was not difficult words and yet, what does that mean exactly. And I must confess to you today.

I don't know that I understand fully what it means. But this much I do understand is I understand it, in part, and that is he is the source of life and what he says I am the resurrection and then says I'm a life it's not like that's two different things. It's like being the life Explains helps explain what he means by I am the resurrection is the one who is able to raise the dead. He is the one who is able to give life to the dead.

I am the resurrection and the life I am the source of it. I am the source of overcoming life that overcomes death tells us who Jesus is. This is his power.

This is his person.

This is who he is Almighty God create tour of the universe and the one who is the source of all life of everything that lives if it were possible.

Thank God it is not, but if it were possible for God to die.

Everything else is the source of life constantly.

I'm the resurrection and the life tells us what he does.

He overcomes death with life. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.

And with that statement. He's talking about his power over physical death, though he may die.

They will be a generation that won't one that's alive when Jesus returns but everybody else is going to die, but I am the resurrection and the life of you may die so you probably will die. I don't know the day the time the hour when Christ will return but I've known a lot of people who worship the Christ was going to return during their lifetime and he didn't put a few people who made foolish predictions about the exact time of Christ return. They were wrong every time though your loved one who's in Christ has died, yet shall he live physically that the physical death that overcame him and put him in the grave is going to be overcome by this one. Who is the resurrection and the life. This is what Jesus does.

He overcomes death with life. He has victory over physical death, but there's more than that. And whoever lives, spiritual life and believes in me shall never die a different kind of life he not only overcomes physical death with life, but he grants a form of life that is impervious to death that cannot either. Death cannot touch that the grave cannot touch that it cannot affect he grants a life that cannot die life, that death cannot defeat so he has the life that can defeat the death takes us to the grave. But even better than that. He bestows a life that death can never touch. So what he does. He overcomes death with life. What he does. He grants life that cannot die what he does. He stimulates faith, he said to Martha do you believe this, you believe that that's the whole key. If this is going to be your possession. If this is going to be a promise that applies to you if this is going to be a power that you enjoy it all depends upon my words do you believe this. He's not asking her. Do you believe that I will raise Lazarus from the dead. That's not what he's saying though he's planning to do that, but he's asking do you believe I have the power of eternal life. Do you believe that I am the one who is the source of all life life. The conquered difference faith in the Lord Jesus Christ connects one to the source of eternal life. It connects one to divine life connects one to the ever living God, who cannot die. Who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God, the one who is impossible to die and faith in Jesus Christ joins you in some mysterious way to that person and to that life you drawing life from him is a vital union that draws that life from him into your soul into your being you believe this. I hope you do you believe this, so I urge you to this is the whole issue, do you believe do you believe do you believe so. This tells us what our response should be Martha's great confession, verse 27 she said to him, yes, I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God was to come into the world. I believe you are the Christ, the Messiah, the promised Messiah that we been looking for all these centuries.

I believe you are the son of God, I've come to believe that you are going to son. She understood that in the sense of deity.

I believe that I believe that you are the Christ. I believe that you are God come in the flesh. I believe that you are from another work realm because you are the Christ. You should come you don't say that of of human beings we don't come from anyplace but from this world were going someplace beyond the world, but we start right here but not this one. You are from another realm. You have come on a divine mission into this world of sin and darkness and death and condemnation to bring light and life in victory and reformation and restoration and redemption. You are the one, the Christ, the son of the living God, the one who is come into this confession beautiful, powerful, two things that I would like to take away from this passage for myself.

Number one is a correct perspective on death. This difference between unbelievers and believers when it comes to death for unbelievers death is the great reality and whatever is beyond death is very dim, very murky people have different ideas, something is nothing beyond the grave. Other state. While there may be something beyond the grade. We have no idea what it is and there's no way that we could ever know, and for unbelievers.

Death is the great reality. Death is the great enemy. Death is the thing to be feared. Death ends at all and death is an awesome awesome foe that cannot be defeated. You go out to the cemetery. As I've done several times over the last few weeks and you look at all of the graves of the large cemetery hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of waves that's is one cemetery out of many hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of graves and it's a reminder of the power of death. It's reminder that every one of us are headed to the great for the unbeliever set at the end of life is death.

No wonder there's a lot of despair in this world. No wonder there's a lot of turmoil a lot of what difference does it make really how you live believers. What a difference for the believer life is the great reality, not death. Life is the great reality and death has grown. We understand not fully only apartment we understand that the grave is simply the door into eternal glory and oh what a difference that makes. The question is how do you view death. People who say they are Christians, but they seem to be just almost traumatized by the thought of death, something's wrong here, you're not listening to Jesus said I'm the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall I guess if you like it like it a whole different perspective on death.

The second thing I think we ought to take away from this passage is entrance into life. How do we how do we enter from death into life.

How are we transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. How do we come from the state of certain death.

Because we are dead men dying. How do we come from death into life and the answer is very clear.

But it is so important. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever believes in me, what is that mean well, it certainly means abandon faith and everything else you can't believe in Jesus and believe in the rituals of religion. I'm a good person. I I outright obey the 10 Commandments on the good neighbor. I go to church.

That's not believing in Jesus believe in me alone for salvation.

You must abandon all faith and self I a pretty good person.

Just ask my friends ask my neighbors better you better let that go. You better stop believing in his that's not going to take you beyond the grave into eternal life in glory, you must abandon faith and everything else including and this is the most difficult of all abandoning faith and self we do acknowledge and renounce our sins.

The ones that we understand to be sinful, but this may be the most simple one of all. And that is our dependence upon our own self-righteousness and we don't even see that is sent.

I do this I do that I'm a good person I'm relying on that most of the people you talk to the world. If you talk to them about about dying in heaven and they have any concept of that at all and you ask them if they're going to have it almost always the response has to be all I think so because I'm a pretty good person, you've got to read the house number one.

You're not a good person you misunderstanding the political perspective that all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, but granting for a moment that from a human perspective, relatively speaking, comparing with others you may be a pretty good person.

Now if you're going to be saved. Abandon all that count.

That is nothing like Paul did all of his good works are just done counted all but loss for Christ. Abandon all that trusting in your sales and trust in Christ alone. That's the way to glory. Only God make that clear to every heart shall we pray. Father, we thank you for the truth of your word how we thank you for Jesus Christ who is the way the truth and the life how we thank you that death has been conquered. Oh death where is your sting Ò where is your victory. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ