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December 14, 2021 7:00 am
Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. You have to go through you have to do works best basis of religion worldwide in the question I would have it, how well is he done with anybody in the world.
Religious is attacking the grace of God.
Now in America even another's religion round and all that is decided on a different strategy and one that works very well in Europe and America right now that is going to attack the truth that I'm going to attack this concept. Truth joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now again he shows us God's word meets our work like last a long time.
It never seems to be able to but I love you thought about this but Christmas is the most profound event in the history of man. God became a man, so that is overwhelming, the son of God becomes a man who was born in Bethlehem when we read the stories, especially in Matthew and Luke.
We love the stories throughout the Christmas stories all the plays are about those and we have angels and shepherds and mangers in all those kind of things and we truly enjoy that what I had to do first this morning's have you look at it from heaven's perspective. Let's see the Christmas story from that perspective. So, I invite you to open your Bibles to John chapter 1 John chapter 11. A different take on this the John has versus anyone else.
John John one says this in the beginning was the word. Now it's interesting about that from a great point of view is the word the is not in the text. It doesn't say in the beginning it says in beginning. The reason is there's no beginning, really, for the word is just in beginning in beginning was the word. Then he says the Word was God and the word was with God and the Word was God. And then he changes pronouns and says he was in the beginning with God. So the word which is Mildred now becomes a he. We know this is all the incarnation of the son of God Jesus Christ our Lord. Then he adds a little bit. And since all things that came into being through him, and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being a citizen in him was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not comprehend it.
That's important understand you get over to verse 11 it says and it came to his own and those who were his own did not receive them. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And then this very interesting verse in the word became flesh, that's exactly what happened in Bethlehem. The word was God became flesh and dwelt among us. John says we saw his glory is the only begotten of the father and then he describes it full of grace and truth. What is the essence of Jesus Christ. Grace and truth. That's the essence of Jesus Christ. This become very important as a going. He is full of grace and he is full of truth.
Let me divert in Ezekiel chapter 28 in Isaiah chapter 14 we are introduced to Lucifer we are introduced to Ezekiel 28 tells you of his magnificence and that he became infatuated with himself. That was the heart of us in Isaiah 14 tells of his sin five times in Isaiah 14 Jesus, I will be like the most high.
I will sit on and that started what we call the angelic conflict one third of the heavenly host left with Lucifer and the rest stayed with God. Now that conflict begins and mankind is then placed on the earth, and I don't forget the son of God, and in essence is full of grace and truth. So we got to the garden of Eden in the fall of man and you remember the words of the serpent to the woman, has God said it, has God said this, what is he attacking the truth is attacking the truth.
You see, the whole idea is his implication is God's lying to you, but who's lying to serpent receipt and that begins the way he often operates in this case. These two virtues of Jesus Christ.
Grace and truth become the subject of almost every single demonic activity against the grace and truth of God.
Now let me explain even half as we go on. How does the attack grace well continue to reprint past the garden of Eden he attacks grace with religion. That's how he attacks grace. You see, when attack grace what is grace the unmerited favor of God knows unmerited what you do to get grace. Nothing you receive it. So what is religion religion is what you do to get in favor with God and if you do enough things to put God in your favor and you'll be okay. Every religion of the world's absence of grace. There's no grace. Why, that's the attack.
What is the essence of the son of God grace and truth. So how has if you look through the whole Old Testament over and over again, even for the nation Israel. What was the great apostasy of the nation Israel over and over again and worship God. They worship what idols over and over again a Mickey religious. This is how this works to make you religious. No matter what. And as I said they relived the idea religion comes back to this whole concept of what you do to gain favor with God. Almost all religions have the same sort of MO one, you have to make sacrifices.
In fact, even in the Old Testament. You had to sacrifice her own children or babies. That's a mole like admitted. You have to make sacrifices you have to give offerings you have to go through ritual you have to do works that's that's basis of religion worldwide in the question I would have is how well was he done with any of this anybody in the world. Religious always has been always will be is attacking the grace of God. Now in America. Here even know there is religion around all that is decided on a different strategy and one that works very well in Europe and America right now and that is going to attack the truth. That's what I'm going to service my tax on I'm going to attack truth. This whole concept of truth not go with me to John 18 the source. This is not new is attack both throughout history, but predominantly now in America. The attack is against truth. Jesus is about to be crucified so he has to stand before Pilate in verse 33 it says this. Therefore, Pilate entered again into the praetorian and summoned Jesus and he said to him, are you King of the Jews.
Have a great question yet understand this pilot care, no not at all. Pilate as governor of Judah and them explain it. That's the worst job in the Roman Empire.
The Jews are a pain in the neck and the only thing that Tiberius, the Emperor doesn't want is to hear bad news about Judah. So if you're the governor of Judah, you just don't you want to keep the Jews up East Romans didn't care what the Jews believe that in care what anybody believed and so he said are you the king of the Jews.
Interesting question why because the Jews told Pilate that Jesus Christ claimed to be king, not the Emperor. Now Rome is interested, you can't do that what you believe about your Messiah and at woman, but this is something different.
Notice then Jesus answered and said, are you saying this on your own initiative or did others tell you about me, but you did you come up with this on your own care funding imagers. Somebody told you I'm king of the Jews had love Pilate's response.
I'm not a Jew like you said.
I'm not a Jew your own nation and chief priest delivered you to me what have you done Jesus, then the truth speaks this way, he said, my kingdom is not of this world.
If my kingdom were of this world and my servants would be fighting, that I would not be a hand over hand it over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not of this realm.
I'm sure the extra confuse Pilate lately so he says dorm.
Pilate says, so you are king.
Jesus says that you said correctly that I'm a king, he said. For this I have been born and for this I have come into the world. I watch to testify to what truth why Jesus coming to the world with Jesus for the truth.
This is the truth now understand what I'm saying here all the different religious perspectives all over the world according to Jesus in the word of God in our lives is that I coming to the world bring the truth I testify to the truth to testify. He says everyone who is in the truth hears my voice is pretty exclusive and then Pilate says something really interesting what is truth. That's an interesting statement that's a statement of our day by the winners truth. The pilot is well educated. He's political is devious is a cynical man and he has the power to just be the judge, jury and executioner.
Anybody he said to Jesus, what is truth. Notice what he didn't say what is the truth that's a different question. Pilate skeptical of the whole idea of truth what is truth.
Just like today Pilate is skeptical completely of this whole idea that there would be truth.
The mantra of our academic world.
From the time we go to first grade on is there is no such thing as truth, the most consistent factor in American education is there is no such thing. Kids are taught that all the way through school you go to college where the professor said no such thing as truth. The attack is on the truth about the problem when it is and what he left with Sir John Eccles who was a Nobel prize-winning pioneer in brain research.
He made this observation that science, he said in trying to answer questions way beyond its competence. He said science. It asked questions about something it cannot possibly understand this just become superstition. He said science.
He says cannot explain the existence of each of us is a unique self, nor can answer such fundamental questions as who am I why am I here, how did I come to be at this place and this time what happens after death is that these are all mysteries beyond science. He said with the Enlightenment science replace Christianity as the intellectual 40 but one science now has failed to provide ultimate answers, relativism has now replaced science were that's a statement about America. Some, yes, the question what what is truth is what Pilate said would go with me now to John 14 John 14 and I went to see first the context Jesus is about to be crucified.
That means for sure they know is going to die. Disciples are visibly upset. So Jesus says this. Do not let your heart be troubled.
Believe in God believe in me.
Now I want to understand Jesus about the speak about a subject that's pretty important. Jesus wants to speak to his disciples about death. This is Jesus speaking I remember, he's the word he's full of truth. Jesus wants to speak about death. Who would want answers on that you wanted what we have in common. We've all been born in Robin Ngai, so who doesn't want to know about death will want to know about Jesus in Ocala speak, don't get upset at me speak. So Jesus is in my father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so I would've told you guys talking about heavenly scissors many many dwelling places or if that were the truth I don't already told you this, he says so he says, for I going I prepare a place for you at 3000 is the cycle I'm in a go first and then I'll prepare a place for you, and you've heard me say this in the past, the dwelling place idea, but it's always reassuring thing for me that metaphorically somewhere in heaven right now is a place of dwelling place, and on the door, but it says bill with one L Jesus prepared. That's where I'm going. Jesus itself and he's the truth is the truth. This is an opinion.
So what else he does. He was on. He said if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, so that where I am, there you will be also whole.
So I love that Paul wrote to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord Jesus shall receive you to myself wherever I I'm only going there to receive me to itself as Jesus speaking okay and he says and you know the way were going to love Thomas Thomas as a more and the quicker going we do not know the way we get what that's all noted, something Jesus said is no Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life and no one comes to the father but through me. There's a statement in Jesus. This is a statement by the way, that is not very popular in the culture we live or can't be the only way no no no no no I can't be true know that's what he said I am the way. Then he said I am the truth I am the truth, I'm full of grace and truth. I am the truth, he didn't say I know the truth.
You see you and say I know I am the truth. Now just imagine the day one of you stood up here and you just made that statement. What would we think lunatic man's a lunatic is on medication nor makes that statement someone stands upset.
I am the way, I am the truth I am the life and no one goes to heaven unless I go through me soonest. The profound this of this statement, I am the truth.
The truth here is personified in me. You see I am the truth I am the only way I am the truth and I am life you see and think about that from that point of view level what I just read in John one while you and I hear Christ created the son of God. All things were created by I created everything I am life the reasoner's life on this planet as I created it. But these are the words of Jesus who is full of truth. You see, that's a statement.
Jesus says these things over and over again only a pathological liar could have these words. That's why always get so upset when I hear, especially college professors. Jesus was a wonderful just regular human being was a really great teacher. No great teacher say it says this, you can't say that you not talking about moral principles. He said I am the truth is he that's what Jesus is saying here now it makes sense because he is the word of God.
Now the next question is, is it is there more to it than that. Yes, it's also propositional for you and me go to John 17 with me for a moment and in verse 15, John 17 in verse 15 Jesus is praying for his followers the night before, was crucified to great prayer if you want to know where the Lord's prayer is this is it.
This is the Lord's prayer prays for all of us. He says in verse 15. I did not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one is that they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. And then he says this sanctify them in the truth. Sanctify the truth now sanctifies a religious words are and what you think will sanctify me and set them apart set them apart as two aspects to it.
If you're a believer in Jesus Christ.
When we first set apart by Jesus. When you believe the gospel when you believe the gospel.
You were set apart your child of God. Why gospel truth to the Gospels, the truth now, as believers, how do we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. How do I get more more conformed I will have a life for peace and joy and hope I get that truth. You see, said set them apart in the truth then notice what he says after that word is truth to the words truth. How does a person get saved according to God's word. How do you personal growth, according to God's word.
What because it's the truth.
I think about it. John one in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the Word was God and he you see, so the truth of the word is propositional because the truth of the truth of God is in the person of Jesus Christ is truth. This is the truth.
This is the way we operate now. Why is it then that so many people rejected over and over again all the time go with me to John eight John eight verse 31 John eight verse 31 so Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed in him. If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine and you will know what the truth and the truth will make you free. Now I know we've used that in civil rights, and all that stuff but that's not the context of Jesus is using one of my freedom condemnation when my free of sin. When my free of purposeless life. No meaning.
I'm free of all that how if I know the truth because he says if you do that you will know the truth and the truth will make you free. Now he's talking to religious Jews. That's always talking to know you would've thought I watch what happens. Here's the response to him. What's their answer. They answered and said we are Abraham's descendents and have never been enslaved anyone. How is that you say you become free. What's the answer. Religion chosen people, religious Jews tell us that our religion is alive, alive, pastoral gift card on the radio ministry or fellowship nor if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you dislike of a smoother message one more time remembering a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen to Fellowship in the Word online that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of her previous audio program at Fellowship in the Word.
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