He Confounds The World Part 2

Rain forests looking to Jesus. When you read the words of Jesus, you find some radical sayings and confounding people of his day. His mother Mary had insight into the effect her son would have spoke about this in her Magnificat from the Moody Church in Chicago running with Dr. Sir clear teaching helps us make certain you're telling us about the baby change the world. There is no doubt Mary was given an almost incalculable measure of grace that Mary was given grace and when the angel came to her and said you are full of grace you have received grace. Did you know that there's only one other place in the New Testament where that is mentioned or that expression is mentioned, I should say and that's in Ephesians chapter 1, in which the Bible says that God has graced us in the beloved one.

Absolutely Mary was special, but isn't it wonderful that we also through the son that she bore receive grace. I'm so excited this Christmas is just around the corner and I am holding in my hands at resource the likes of which we have not really had before. It's a book of about 400 pages.

Most of the pages have pictures but it was written by two scientists that help us to understand the intricacies of God's creation. Now you parents and grandparents your kids come home from school and they ask about the fossil record. They ask about why it is that evolution is wrong while you have it right here. It's entitled a closer look at the evidence and for a gift of any amount.

It can be yours. Here is what you do good RTW offer.com RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 after this message, I'll be giving you this information again. A closer look at the evidence. Now back to the Christmas story. Now what I like to do is to step back and ask ourselves why should our lives be changed forever. Why should our lives be changed forever because we've gathered together today and we have read this: we have meditated upon it. How does this changes I want to give you several statements that will help us. I believe in the first statement is simply this, that Mary's blessing and listen to this very carefully. Mary's spiritual blessings are our spiritual blessings Mary's spiritual blessings are our spiritual blessings. You know I'm as I mentioned in the New Testament.

At times there were those who wanted to make a trip. Mary and Jesus wouldn't have. For example, here's the story in the third chapter of the book of Mark, I'm picking it up at verse 31. There are those who think that Jesus is insane they are accusing him of being demon possessed. That's the context and apparently his family wanted to rescue him. So this is what happened. Chapter 3 verse 31, and his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside. They sent to him and told him in a crowd was sitting around Jesus and they said to him, your mother and your brothers are outside seeking you Jesus I okay now make a way for them to get to me because after all they are my mother and my brothers noticed Jesus Christ response. It isn't bad at all and he answered them who are my mother and my brothers and looking about as those who sat around him.

He said, here are my mother and my brothers.

Whoever does the will of God. He is my brother, my sister and my mother Jesus wanted to make sure that no one thought that the earthly relationship he had with his mother somehow gave her superiority are put into a different category that does did the will of God is brothers.

They were his sister's, and they were his mother. Jesus knew that the blessings he would bestow upon those who came to know him would be the same blessings that were given to his mother. Now of course I don't mean to say that we bear the Christ child or that all generations. Call us blessed, but spiritually we inherit the same blessings as members of God's blessed family. Now how do we know that to be true. Are there other passages that teach you member when the angel Gabriel came to Mary. He said he'll favored one or he'll Mary, full of grace, we graced you here. I am the angel. Did you know that that expression hail favored one or full of grace occurs only one other time in the New Testament. Don't you think that every Christian in the world should know where that is. Wouldn't that be important to know where that other than a same expression occurs in the New Testament because it's only there twice and send the angel story and it's in one other place in the New Testament, and that is in Ephesians chapter 1 verse six for the apostle Paul is talking about all the blessings given to those who believe on Christ, how they are predestined to be like him, and they are to the praise of the glory of his grace, and now I'm quoting who where grace blessed in the beloved one in Christ you received the same spiritual blessing as the angel gave to Mary is not worth knowing is a Christian that you have been so highly favored of the Lord.

I think so. That's why throughout the New Testament it speaks about those who trust Christ and it talks about their blessedness fact that Jesus will someday say to his people come.

Be blessed and inherit the kingdom. I think of the 14th chapter of Revelation. Verse 13. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth for their works to follow the Scripture goes on to encourage they are less you get to Revelation chapter 20.

Blessed are those who rule with Jesus Christ want you to think about this with me. Okay, can we just think about this together. I think it probably is true that when Jesus was on earth he looked like his mother. Not like Joseph of course because Jesus was virgin born but theologians may differ about it, but I think that people who looked at them said when he when he turns his head.

He reminds me of his mother, Mary, or maybe when he when looking at him. His eyes you know you look at his eyes, and you say wow that really reminds me of what an honor it was that he would look like his mother catch this. The Bible says behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed that we should be called children of and such. We are, and then it says that when he appears, we shall be like him. We shall see him as he is. In other words, Jesus was like Mary physically, but the day is coming when those who have received Christ as Savior and he comes for them at the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ and we are raised from the dead. The apostle Paul said we will have bodies like unto his glorious body. Imagine that that I don't mean to say that we will actually have the very same physical features but will have the same the same eternal, indestructible body. The Bible says like on to that of Christ. I look around today and I see the bodies you brought with you and by the way, that is a requirement to attend the church.

You do have to bring your body. I know many of you are looking very good today. Always do in your refinery, whatever that word specifically but the day is going to come when you as a sister and a brother in Christ are going to have the body like unto his body with all of its glory with all of its ability will never be Jesus. Don't misunderstand, will have a body like onto his because he has graced us in the beloved one in Jesus Christ our Lord.

There's a second lesson to be learned from Mary and that is this that will you remember that it is Jesus Christ who gives us all of these blessings, it is because he's the Christ child you see other religions have their those who say here's an eightfold path.

You do this all of them, though.

Assume that we can in and of ourselves draw ourselves to God and then drawing ourselves to God.

The somehow we can achieve the kind of perfection that we need to enter into heaven not found in the Bible. What we need is a Savior, who is able to scoop us up from our sins declares as righteous as God himself is and present us to the father and the father will accept us because he will look around.

If we had come close in his righteousness receiving the work that Jesus did on the cross, dying in our place when we get to heaven.

The father will say to us, come in blessed and then he'll say to the son. I have carefully inspected all those you have brought with you and as I have looked at them I find no fault in them because the Bible says or as we seen a scriptural concept, we remind ourselves that before the throne, we will come close in his righteousness along follow us to stand before only Jesus. No other teacher. No other Guru because the Bible represents the intervention of God. Earlier I wanted to quote the words of Martin Luther, but they come to mind.

Now where he said that Mary was the workshop in whom the incarnation was fashioned and that's what she wants. As a result of that we can be saved from our sins belong to Christ forever and ever. There's a final lesson and it is critical and that is according to Mary's Pro-Am. The one thing that keeps people from believing on Jesus's pride or receiving the favor of God. Don't think to yourself that this means that everyone who listens to the Scripture is all they're all participating in the favor of God. The Bible teaches that is not true. It happens as a result of faith, as many as received him, to those he gives the authority to become the children of God, even to those who believe on his name and what is it that hinders people from believing on his name.

The greatest hindrance is cry confident in my own ability to please God, like a man said to me on an airplane one time as I was explaining the gospel to him. He said that is that. Oh don't worry about me. I'm going to do okay standing before God on the basis of my own record is about like saying I'm going to stand 10 feet from the sun. Don't worry about me.

I'm going to be okay.

No, you won't be okay. Only Jesus was okay and trusting him is the way or their those who believe that Jesus is necessary for salvation. They're going to be hundreds of people attending attending Moody church.

Maybe Moody church but other churches here in Chicago today who are going to be convinced that Jesus is necessary for salvation, but the one thing they may not be convinced about is that Jesus himself is not an Jesus is enough, the Savior, Lord God. Years ago I told you the story of Dwight L.

Moody, who was at a meeting and a man stood up and said you know it took me 42 years to learn three things I'm going to tell you what they are including was all ears if it took this guy 42 years to learn this.

Why not learn a just listening to him save you a lot of time. I can save you today an awful lot of time the man said. First of all conclusion wise that I cannot save myself the first conclusion the first thing he learned and some people don't learn it in 72 years. Secondly, he said, I learned that God doesn't expect to do that because he knows I can't. He said the third thing I learned is that God has done it all for those who receive Christ as Savior. It comes as a free gift when you come to saving faith in Christ your whole life will begin to radiate around the words of the blessed my soul magnifies the Lord, and I rejoice in God my Savior, which is the message of Christmas you know Christ as Savior. If not, even while I pray and I'm gonna pray in a moment. You may be listening by radio.

You may be listening on the Internet no matter where you are today you bow your head and say I know I'm a sinner and I received the gift of eternal life that Jesus died to give to all those who believe on him. Let's pray. Father, we want to thank you so much today for your grace that is been given to us in Jesus our Lord. Thank you that because of Jesus to our greatest in the beloved one now.

I pray that your Holy Spirit might work mightily in the lives of those who heard this message. I pray that they may come to saving faith in Christ. And if you're listening to this today. Now I'm speaking to you when you pray right now and say Jesus. I receive you as my Savior.

I know my need the spirit has shown me. I cannot save myself. I received your grace, your forgiveness, thank you for the work that you did on my behalf. Help us now, Lord God, we asked to worship you acceptably through Jesus's name we pray for my friend, this is Pastor Luther before I got a bed this morning I prayed a prayer and said oh God, glorify yourself in my life today at my expense. I pray that prayer because I always want to remind myself that it's not about me it's about God. And isn't it wonderful that at this Christmas season. We can say with Mary that our soul rejoices and we magnify the Lord God. And if you're like me and I've mentioned this before, I am so ready for Christmas. We had a very rough year but isn't it wonderful that now we focus on the fact that we have a Redeemer actually saves us from our sins. I have in my hand a resource that you're going to be excited about. It's a book with full-color pictures almost all the way through.

It's a reading for every single day of the coming year. For example, if you were to read.

March 25, you would find an article on archaeology.

There is also articles on such things as logic and the evidence for the New Testament. This is a great book for your children and your grandchildren and for all of us. It's entitled a closer look at the evidence and for a gift of any amount.

This book can be yours and I need to tell you that during this particular season. We appreciate so much the continued gifts given to the ministry of running to win. If you have a pen or pencil. Write this down. Connect with us RT W offered.com that's RT W offered.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 could I let you know in advance. We are deeply thankful for your generosity 1-888-218-9337 ask for a closer look at the evidence. Now for another chance for you to ask Pastor look certain question about the Bible or the Christian life. Some Bible passages are easy to grasp. Others leave us not just wondering what they mean. But even fearful of what they might mean Adam has located such a passage which raises for him some very serious issues. He writes Hebrews chapter 6 verses four through six says this, for it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened with tasted the heavenly gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

First, if we are preordained by God. Already as to whether we are going to heaven or hell. How can we have fallen away from God and not be able to repent not be able to regain our salvation.

How can we fall away at all. Also does falling away here mean a certain level of sinfulness after we been born again or does it mean that such a person no longer has faith in God or no longer believes in him let them first of all I want to commend you for asking a question, a question about which whole books have been written books to try to answer your question. And the point of view that I'm going to give you is a little different than most. It's probably a minority opinion but I'm satisfied with it. Here it is the bottom line.

I do not believe the falling away of Hebrews chapter 6 is a falling away into hell. Remember that the people to whom the book of Hebrews were written they were tempted to go back to Old Testament sacrifices because some of them were losing confidence in Jesus Christ alone as their means of salvation and that they thought what's wrong with re-offering some of these sacrifices going back to them and what I think the writer is saying is this, that if you do that, that's the falling away. You cannot be restored to repentance. While you are crucifying the son of God afresh.

That is to say while you're also depending on these sacrifices is not to say that they couldn't be restored to repentance if they left those sacrifices behind and again put their faith and trust in Jesus alone. So I think that the falling away is a falling away like the children of Israel in the desert doesn't mean that all the children of Israel went to hell. It means that they did not enter into the blessedness of the promised land. And if you go back to dead works and if you go back to reoffering sacrifices, you cannot enter into everything that God has planned for you. So I think that that is what he is saying, of course, it would need a much longer exposition, but I hope this helps. I do not believe that a true Christian can ever fall away to hell, but they can fall away into dead works into sin.

And that's the kind of falling away that is spoken of and if the focus is incorrect. If it is on such things as sacrifices that they themselves give, they can't under those conditions be restored to repentance. But of course we can always be restored to God. If we desire to, and we understand the issues. Thank you Adam and thank you Dr. lutes are if you like to hear your question answered. Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor look certain or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago line 60614. The brightness of Jesus made clear blackness of sin. Those who encountered him either repentance or rebel. Next time the prophecy of an old man in the temple and Jerusalem a man who knew all too well the divisions Jesus would bring. This is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the Moody church