The Glory of the Gospel - 6

Well as you know, the apostle Paul, among other things, addresses his critics in the second epistle to the Corinthians. He does so not because his personal feelings have been hurt because the truth of the gospel is at stake very much at stake and with it the souls of men. We understand that the critics of Paul in the city of Corinth, who also are the false teachers. They are one in the same were Judaizers. They were Jews who had professed faith in Christ but were trying to take Christians back to the Mosaic covenant, the Mosaic covenant, the Old Testament, the old covenant. Various terms that are given to it properly understood points to Christ now that Jesus Christ has come the old covenant is fulfilled and laid aside. It served its original purpose.

The purpose for which God intended it, but it is no longer central to the worship of understanding of God's people. Now God's people must look to the New Testament or the new covenant for spiritual understanding. This is what Paul is dealing with in second Corinthians chapter 3.

So we come now to the last portion of the chapter looking primarily today in verses 12 through 18 in the glory of the gospel how a proper understanding of the gospel engenders hope and transformation, something that the old covenant did not do. We shall look at these three areas number one Paul's gospel hope.

Number two Israel's mistaken hope number. Third, the believers. Gloria spoke first. Paul's gospel hope in verse 12.

Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech. Therefore, since we have such hope. What is Paul talking about. We need to understand what that word hope means in the Bible, hope is an earnest expectation is one definition short, but to the point and very effective. Hope is an earnest expectation is a great deal of of strength and earnestness and vitality to it is an expectation which has a future element to it though, it very much draws upon the present, but it is something that gathers up the truth of the president and looks to the future and derives great quote great energy, great understanding from all of these things.

It is our hope. Paul had a great hope. Therefore, since we have such hope. He tells us in verse 12 someone else's described hope as present enjoyment of future realities taking what God is revealed to us in his word, believing it to be true. Looking at the promises that pertain to the future we can draw great strength and help from those now present present enjoyment of future realities in the scope of Paul was all based upon the superior status of the new covenant. That's what he's talking about when he says therefore, since we have such hope is basing this hope and the understanding that gives him this hope upon what is said in the first part of the chapter the port we looked at last Lord's day, and that is the reason for the word therefore, therefore, because of these things that we have already discussed, we need the other missionary team members and all believers actually. Therefore, we have such hope to understand Paul's gospel hope we need to look at least a few of the elements that were in the first part of the chapter to see what this hope consistent so we look at a description of gospel hope hanging upon that word. Therefore therefore the previous context of what verse 12 introduces to us. Therefore we have such hope. So what is it about the new covenant that is different from the old covenant and gives believers in Christ that is believers in the new covenant. Such greater hope of three things in particular, number one, the gospel imparts life verse six, Paul says, who also made us.

Speaking of what God has done, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the spirit. For the letter kills, but the spirit gives life of this is drawing the contrast and comparison between the old covenant and the new covenant, and Paul tells us of the old covenant condemns and slays, but in itself has no ability to impart life.

The old covenant to boil it down into simplistic terms, but nevertheless of a very special part of the old covenant was filled with thou shalt not's. Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet all you broke one of those commandments you are condemned you are condemned to die. The old covenant ministers death, condemnation, its slayings, but there's nothing in that covenant in and of itself that is able to impart life, but the new covenant includes the power to impart life. That's what he tells us in verse six.

The letter kills, that is the letter of the old covenant kills, but the spirit gives life that he is contrasting the letter. Speaking of the old covenant with the spirit that he relates to the new covenant, and he tells us the spirit gives life. When is talking about the new covenant is talking about the gospel he's talking about New Testament truth, and Paul elsewhere says the same thing were all familiar with the first chapter of the book of Romans where Paul says I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is what the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes there's power in the gospel. Now, it has to be mixed with the work of the Holy Spirit. But there is life-giving power in the gospel in the new covenant, and so the gospel imparts life. Unlike the old covenant. What else about this gospel hope will number two the gospel its sales in glory.

Verses seven and eight. But if the ministry of death again description of the old covenant ministry of death. That's how he describes it, it kills but if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones.

That's the old. That's the 10 Commandments, the center of the old covenant written and engraved on stones, was glorious. We were expecting that there is we are to we are to denigrate it.

We are to to 22. Think of it in in bad terms. It was glorious as government and for the purpose for which it was given. If that was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away. How will the ministry of the Spirit be more glorious again. He's equating the work of the spirit with the new covenant. He says the old covenant was glorious in its day, and as designed by God but by comparison, the new covenant is even more glorious.

What is he saying releasing a course that the gospel excels in glory over the old covenant, but the old covenant was glorious and Moses face demonstrated this.

He makes reference to it here. Moses went in to talk to God face to face, as he did. One of the few, if not the only man ever allowed to do that to Gwen and actually talk to God face to face what, precisely, that means I don't think anybody can explain in detail, but there was there was a presence of God that Moses was allowed to draw near to you in a way that nobody else was.

And when Moses came away from those conversations with God's face shown because of the Shekinah glory of God's face shone brightly in fact so brightly that we read in the Old Testament that the children of Israel requested that Moses would veil his face because his face was so bright that it blinded that his face was so bright that they winced in the glory of it not think about this Moses was able to go into the presence of God into this full glory. Look at it without any harm without wincing without any any difficulty or problem, but the people of Israel that he was ministering to. Couldn't even look at the reflected glory on Moses face. They did have an opportunity to see that the reflected face-to-face glory that Moses saw but they couldn't even look at the reflected glory on Moses face without shrinking back from it. What was the difference between Moses ability to look at the glory of God full on and the children of Israel not being able to look at the reflected glory in the face of Moses. The only thing I can figure out is it has a difference. It is the difference between their devotion to God, the purity of their heart, the fullness of their faith in God and their commitment to him. There was just not that same level of devotion on the parts of the others and therefore they shrank back from this evidence of the holiness of the thrice holy God and his glory. But that's all proof that the old covenant was glorious Moses face demonstrates this, but the new covenant. Paul tells us, is even more glorious than the old covenant because of the very reason he gave us a moment before it has life-giving power.

The old covenant was glorious because it was given by God.

The old covenant was glory glorious because a revealed God, he reveals the holiness of God. What he think those commandments are what you think those thou shalt not's. Are they reveal to us the character and nature of God, the holiness of God. The old covenant was glorious in many respects we can see that in the glory that shown on the face of Moses.

But Paul tells us the new covenant is even more glorious than that is what we talking about Paul's gospel hope and the description of the gospel hope is number one. The gospel imparts life. Unlike the old covenant number two the gospel excels in glory greater than the old covenant number three. The gospel endures forever. Another comparison that makes the gospel greater than more glorious than the old covenant with verse 11 for if what is passing away was glorious what was passing away the old covenant if what is passing away was glorious and it was what remains. It is not passing away is therefore more glorious. That's Paul's logic. The gospel hope is get better because the gospel endures forever. If the old covenant was glorious, in spite of its impermanence, in spite of the fact that it was passing away as it was designed to do. But even if in that condition.

It was glorious as it was, than the new covenant is even more glorious because unlike the old covenant. It is permanent.

It remains forever. It never passes away. Therefore, it is more glorious of the old covenant that we can read his descriptions of glory and Moses face of the old covenant and we can say and we can see the old covenant was glorious. Can we understand by the revelation of Scripture and by the eye of faith can we understand that the new covenant is even more glorious. Even though we've never seen it any of this Shekinah glory in connection with the new covenant, but yes the old covenant was glorious that Shekinah glory was a demonstration of it, but please understand that the new covenant is even more glorious. You understand that you believe that you act as if you understand and believe the greater glory of the gospel not clear in what Paul is telling us here that there are aspects of new covenant glory that are yet future. The glory that is talking about is a present reality will see more about that in just a moment, but the fullness of it awaits the future and there is a day when we will see both the physical glory.

This resplendent your kind of glory that Moses saw order to see it to a greater degree number three of the disciples saw that on the Mount of Transfiguration didn't Christ was transfigured before them and began to shine and they saw that Gloria physical Gloria a genuine glow visible glory about Christ and will see that someday, but what we need to understand is that the greatest greatness. If I can put it that way of the new covenant glory has to do with the truth that it entails, and we need by by faith to understand how wonderful how glorious is this truth and to let that minister to our hearts in such a way that we understand that we know that we that we agree that it is indeed more glorious than what Moses demonstrated in his shining face, but we only know that by the revelation of God's word so by faith we believe these things are true because the Bible tells us so and by faith, we can experience some of the glory.

Now what we await the fullness of it later and how do we experience some of the glory. Now what we do so in a manner that's appropriate to the new covenant because part of the glory of the new covenant is that it is I can put it this way more spiritual than the old covenant the old covenant certainly had spiritual elements to it, but so much of it had to do with the visible of the physical things you could see the priest with their garments.

The sacrifices being made upon the altar. The temple of a physical location where one could worship and things that we could sense in other ways. The incense that was wafting up to God from the golden altar. We could smell that in the end the burning flesh on the altar. The animals that was a different kind of smell, not nearly so pleasant, but all of these work were things that appeal to sensory perceptions and that was the one to say the heart of the old covenant, but that was a great deal of what was going on in the old covenant, but by contrast, what we have in the new covenant is a greater revelation of truth less that is visible less that is physical, less that appeals to our senses and more that appeals to our spiritual sense to our soul and that's the glory that we can appropriate now in a greater way because the glory that we can appropriate. Now the truth of the gospel is appropriate to the character of the new covenant in comparison with the character of the old covenant the old covenant was characterized by greater appeals to physical and set forth in the five senses the new covenant is characterized by the greater appeal to our mind to our heart to our soul to things that are not visible and physical and that glory, we can understand and appreciate. Now we can experience it now so we have this description of gospel hope hinging upon that word.

Therefore, in verse 12 and then we have the result of gospel hope in the last part of verse 12 and it's very simple pulses. Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech we use great boldness of speech a greater hope. The greater hope of the new covenant as compared to the hope of the old covenant, a greater hope in genders greater confidence in our souls and consequently greater ability and desire to proclaim the message we understand we know that the Old Testament people of God were not commanded to go throughout the world and preach the old covenant of Moses to all the world.

Now they were to demonstrate that God Jehovah God God the one true God. The invisible God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was there God and is the one true God by their loyalty to him their obedience to him by their carrying out the worship which he gave. They were to be a testimony to the world, but they really were never commanded to go throughout all the world and preach Moses, but we are commanded to go throughout all the world and preach Christ. What's the difference.

A part of its right here in front of us.

The old covenant message didn't really engender a lot of confidence and then it really was the kind of message that lend itself to proclamation to all the peoples of the world, but the new covenant gospel does in pulses since we have this new hope is greater hope it gives us great boldness of speech, Paul's gospel hope that we look in the next few verses in Israel's mistaken hope and what we see in verses 13 through 15 is number one hope in a temporary covenant number two, hope, and a Chrysler salvation. A number three hope in an empty ritual and all of those hopes are mistaken, ill founded and of no value.

See the only value when hope is not in how much you believe it, but in whether or not it's true in Paul's gospel hope was powerful because it was based upon truth in Israel's hope was defective because it was based upon a misunderstanding of the word which God had given to them. And so Israel's mistaken hope. First of all, was related to a temporary covenant verse 13. Unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. Unlike Moses, whose scope was less than Paul's. That's the contrast here Paul, who has this great hope.

Unlike Moses, who had a lesser hope in spite of his being in the presence of God in his face shining with great glory. But his hope was less than Paul's because all he had was the old covenant. He didn't have the new and Moses who failed his face for the purpose of hiding God's glory. And we asked the question what was the reason for Moses veiling his face.

And here's reason number one to hide God's glory. As I've already explained because it overcame the children of Israel. They couldn't stand to see it but had a second purpose which was to conceal the fading of that glory. Why did Moses veiling space of the keep is the glory from blinding the children of Israel. It was a testimony to the greatness of God's glory and the greatness of the glory of the old covenant when it was used for the purpose for which it was intended. But Moses also availed his face so that they couldn't see that the glory that reflected from his face whenever he went to the presence of God faded away and when he went back to the presence of God. He took the veil off his face and got a new dose of glory. There was again, and then he had to veil his face again to two shelter the glory for the people of Israel but he kept that veil on his face so they wouldn't see that it faded away and it was gone that was repeated over and over and over again great glory fades away great glory fades away and Moses had that veil on his face so number one, they wouldn't be blinded by the initial glory number two that they wouldn't be discouraged by the fading glory.

What's wrong with this glory did it just luck doesn't lasted fades away is the way the English standard version translates verse 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. He put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze of the outcome of what was being brought to an end. So this fading glory on Moses face was a symbol of the fading nature of the old covenant. It was designed to be temporary, not permanent, and the very fading of Moses face was a picture of that and therefore those who hope listen to make in the old covenant alone.

Have a mistaken hope those who hope in the old covenant alone. That is the old covenant without the addition of Christ, who is revealed in the old covenant in some of security, but is revealed in the new covenant in his fullness and it's only when Christ is brought into the old covenant that it produces. The purpose actually for which God intended it, but those who hope in the old covenant alone, apart from Christ our resting their hopes upon a fading foundation. It is going away. So Israel's mistaken hope. Number one is hope in a temporary covenant number two. It is hope in a Chrysler salvation. Verse 14. But their minds were blinded. That is the children of Israel from verse 13 that's that they are, but the children of Israel's minds were blinded for until this day. The same veil remains unlisted in the reading of the Old Testament because the veil is taken away in Christ. Their minds were blinded or that same word is translated and some prefer to translate it hardened their minds work hardened their inability and we would have to couple that with their unwillingness to see the message in the old covenant of Christ of the promised Savior to come in the. The passing away of the old covenant to usher in something that is better and if I had time this morning I could take you to Old Testament texts that did tell them exactly that. It's not like it wasn't revealed to them of the Old Testament was with the prophets told them that God said I will write a new covenant in your heart, not like the old one that was written on stones but a new one written in your heart. It goes on to describe the difference that the new covenant will bring to them and it's all there in the Old Testament, but they didn't catch on to that because in many cases they didn't want to. They were very emotionally attached to the old covenant, and to the rituals. The physical elements.

The, the parts that were there designed to be object lessons, but they latched onto them as if that was the the basis that was the essence of God honoring religion and it wasn't so.

Their hope was in this old covenant and all of its external rituals and look into it to save them and it can't, it won't. It wasn't designed to a Christ list old covenant has no salvation there hope was in a Chrysler salvation and that veil that seemed to obscure the truth from them during the old covenant the Old Testament era remains today said Paul over the minds and hearts of many of the Jews. It obscures the understanding today because that covenant is only removed. It's only lifted in Christ. The old covenant apart from Christ is unable to save when Christ is acknowledged only when he is acknowledge the old covenant. The Old Testament becomes clear that all that it was teaching begins to make sense, it becomes clear and Moses prepared their hearts to receive Christ. Moses understood about Christ and he prepared the hearts of the people to receive Christ and what he gains. If they had received it properly had truly believed it, they, that would've prepared them for Christ. In fact that's what Jesus himself said to the religious leaders of his day that if you had believed Moses, you would believe in me, because he spoke of is that what Jesus said to them, that's exactly what he said if you had believed Moses, you believe in May, which makes it clear that they were really believing Moses they were believing the ritual of the externals and they were they were they were seeing the Col. and missing the heart of Moses and the old covenant, but this is telling us it apart from Christ, Israel's hope is sadly mistaken. So Israel's mistaken hope is first of all, hope in a temporary covenant. That's no good it is.

Secondly, hope in a Chrysler salvation. That's no good. It is third hope in an empty ritual. That's no good. Verse 15 for even to this day, when Moses is read of veil lies on their hearts.

Jewish cart surveilled so they cannot see Christ in the Old Testament Jewish religion is ritual without salvation there willing for Moses to be read there willing to go to their places of worship in here. Moses read there willing to listen to it and say that's my religion that's my heritage that's that's what was given to my forefathers. That's the word of God that came to me there willing to do all that, but they are unwilling to see Christ in all of that and therefore they camped there. Hope becomes an empty ritual Jewish religion is a ritual without salvation because they fail to comprehend the transitory and preparatory nature of the old covenant.

It was designed to be temporary like Moses glory that faded away. It was designed to be preparatory to prepare them for the coming of Christ who would bring in the greater truth, the greater life and then set aside the old covenant in the ushering in of the new covenant. That's what it was designed for, but instead the Jews treat the old covenant as the full and final revelation of God in the whole Jewish religion was based upon what the old covenant Scriptures and they would cling to them and stick to them and study them and dice them in and split them down endlessly into little details that they would they would argue and fight over and that was their religion that was all other religion that was the essence of the religion. They were all bound up in this ritual and never came to understand salvation in Christ. Even though it was all there. It was given to them the. The Old Testament Scriptures was given to them to prepare them for the coming of Christ, but they missed it because they clung to the ritual and failed to see the essence of it all spiritually failed to see the spiritual in the details of the ritual. This is a very strong human tendency is not just the Jews. How many today have an equally empty religion ritual without salvation. Look at the non-Christian religions of the world and that's what you have the rituals differ, but it's essentially the same. They all have their set of rituals and this is their religion.

This is their hope of salvation. If they have entertainment such hope it all.

It's all bound up in this that has no salvation and not only non-Christian religions of the world, but distorted versions of the Christian religion. People take Christianity the new covenant with with all of its enlightened life and salvation in Christ and they will push Christ aside and cling to the external elements of Christianity and make that into an empty religion which the following and hoping to save them and New Testament Christianity, apart from Christ will save anybody any better than Old Testament Christophe Old Testament old covenant Scripture without Christ could save anybody. It's Christ alone. If Jews who strove to keep God's law and trusted circumcision to might stand before God's throne in all what then would God was Gentiles. Do our gospel simply Christ alone for we know God sent him to give a righteousness that is not our own.

In holiness, that we might live Christ. Christ alone is what we saying our praise address to heaven's throne and to the world this morning. Bring no boasting, save in Christ alone.

That's it.

That's it. Then we move quickly and thirdly to the believers glorious hope in verses 16 through 18, the believers glorious hope is based upon spiritual enlightenment. Verse 16 rejoices in spiritual liberation. Verse 17 is and is engaged in spiritual transformation. Verse 18 is based upon spiritual enlightenment. Verse 16. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil was taken away. There is when anyone believes in Jesus Christ. That is when anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. That's true of the Jews whenever they turned Christ when they acknowledge Jesus as their Christ. When they acknowledge Jesus Christ as the God-given Messiah, the veil is taken away and now those Old Testament Scriptures all become clear, they can realize why that's all pointing to Christ. It has been all along.

I just didn't see it but non-Jews who turn to the Lord, have the veil of darkness taken away from their hearts as well. When anyone turns the Lord spiritual blindness is dispelled, the veil is taken away and that's why we need to preach Christ and that's why we can preach Christ and that's why we ought to have boldness to preach Christ because when people turn to Christ, then all of the darkness flees away now with eyes defiled and dim. We see the signs. But see, not him, obey his love. The scales displace and bitter see him face-to-face Road, Spurgeon.glorious bridegroom of our hearts died presence smile. I have and imparts a lift the veil if they will there be that every saint I beauties so the believers glorious hope is based upon spiritual enlightenment, and enlightenment that comes by the spirit of God. When we trust in Christ. Number two it is rejoicing in spiritual liberation. Verse 17 now the Lord is the spirit and with the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. The Lord is the spirit of the Lord here. Clearly, as you reach back into verse 16 is clearly Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ therefore is the spirit now there's a lot to dig around in that particular phrase into tried to determine whether were talking here about the Holy Spirit. What were talking about the spirit of the new covenant as opposed to the letter of the old covenant. I don't know that it makes a great deal of difference. It's clear that where Jesus Christ is you have the new covenant and its life in light of the spirit of the night of the new covenant where Christ is, it's also clear that where Christ is, you have the Holy Spirit, they are working together, these two of the three members of the triune Godhead, so I don't know that it makes a great deal of difference. So it's a very interesting study to try to dig into that but for the spirit of the Lord as we read there is liberty. We might say it this way where Jesus is understood and acknowledged as Lord, there is liberty.

The bondage is broken spiritual darkness flees ignorance is dispelled superstition is abandoned works based salvation is no longer looked upon favorably where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty that we've all heard that phrase quoted in a political context, and taken out of context and that's not what this is saying at all. This is in talking about political liberty, though I do think that the effects of of Christ at work in human hearts produces that eventually I think we see that the history of our nation. That's not what this is talking about where the spirit of the Lord is with the spirit of Jesus Christ is at work then spiritual bondage is broken and light and life come in its place and there is liberty glorious liberty as we are no longer trusting in ritual were no longer trusting in a dead religion were no longer trusting in our human efforts to try to save his or trusting in Christ and Christ alone as our Savior as the one who earned righteousness for us is the one who took our judgment upon himself as the one who gave us his imputed righteousness and know what liberty there is an old aunt and the believers glorious hope is engaged in spiritual transformation. Verse 18 of this very complicated verse and I can only touch on it lightly.

I could easily and would like to.

Maybe I will take just verse 18 is a sermon text is more than enough and that verse to break down into a very valuable sermon, but I've only got two minutes to explain this transformation of verse 18.

But here's what it says but we all all believers in Jesus Christ. Everyone that's important. We all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the spirit of the Lord. What we have here we have the beholding glory of new covenant believers. Believers who don't have a veiled face like Moses had to hide the glory of God. We have an unveiled face in order to see and receive the glory of God in Jesus Christ, but we don't see him face-to-face. This is a difference. Moses did look at it. God did not face-to-face fashion. We don't we look at Christ as this is a comparison but it helps us understand, as in a mirror and that day mirrors were polished brass so they weren't even quite as good as our mirrors today.

So what a person sought a mayor was a reflection depending upon the quality of the polished brass.

It could be a pretty good reflection but it was a reflection one step away from the real thing but we are beholding this glory, as in a mirror, but it is transforming us by looking at it. We are looking into the image of Christ and we are being changed from glory to glory, by the spirit of God. In essence, what this is saying there's so much you but I don't have time to get into it. This is saying that all believers who look into the mirror of God's word to see Jesus Christ are thereby being changed into the image that is in two Christ likeness by that exercise of looking into the mirror of God's word to find Christ to worship Christ to commune with Christ, learn about Christ. This is what Paul talks about in Romans 829 for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, in whom he predestinated them. He also called them he called them he also justified and I missed it.

It's the image for the we might be of them find, for whom he for note foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son.

There it is predestined to be conformed to the image of God's son. How does that happen by looking into the glory of Christ in the mirror of God's word and sent happens.

This is the progressive thing from glory to glory, which is probably talking about various steps and stages of our sanctification or development in all of this empowered by the spirit of God so here's what we have the unveiled glory that we have now is the glory of Christ revealed in Scripture and the gradual transformation of New Testament believers into the likeness of Christ. That's the glory for the greater glory, greater glory than the old covenant and Moses with his glowing face, but the unveiled future glory that we have not yet attained unto is the glory of the presence of Christ in the fullness of his unmedicated glory without looking as it were in a mirror, but looking at Jesus Christ directly. So what do we say to wrap this up will question for you. You trusting in Christ alone. You trusting in church membership. Are you trusting in baptism. Are you trusting in ritual you trusting in religion.

If you are you've missed it misted badly in your leasing your salvation, your hope of salvation upon a mistake and hope you not trusting in Christ alone. Go to him now and another question, are you being transformed are you being transformed into the likeness of Christ. If you belong to Christ, you are we all, with unveiled face, are being transformed into the same image by the spirit of God all of God's true children are being ever more gradually but ever more transformed into the likeness of Christ. Do you see that going on in your life. If not, you should be concerned your your hope of heaven is not based upon a decision you made sometime or another because sometimes those decisions are empty and fruitless and have nothing to do with the work of the spirit of God in the new birth. Obviously, if you are going to heaven, there was such a time of the Holy Spirit brought you like and you certainly made a decision. As a result of his work in your heart but your hope of heaven, must not be based upon a decision because that can very well be trusting in a religious ritual you walk. Denial you raised a hand. You prayed a prayer lobby.the question is have you been born again. How do I know because all of God's people will be born again are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. You can see that going on in your life. There's only one explanation for that's the work of God's spirit in the heart of a true believer.

That's not going on in your life should be very, very concerned. You need to go to the Lord and ask him to bring you the life that brings transformation into the likeness of Christ. Let's pray father, thank you for your word. Use it in every heart and life. This morning we pray.

Amen