Participants: John Lomacang (Host), John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL120018
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00:01 Hello friends, grab your Bible
00:02 and a friend and sit back as we explore God's word 00:04 together on this edition of House Calls. 00:21 Hello and welcome, to the best Bible program 00:25 this side of this side which means anywhere. 00:28 And my name is John and this is John Stanton my good friend. 00:31 Good to have here John. It's good to be here John. 00:33 Yeah, I am John Lomacang 00:34 just in case you don't know what I mean. 00:36 If you're tuning in for the first time 00:37 you may say okay John and John. 00:39 John Lomacang, John Stanton and we have both 00:41 been in this side--for how many years now has it been? 00:44 Seven, going on eight. 00:45 Wow, it's amazing. God is really good. 00:48 To give us the desires of our heart 00:49 that is to share his word and so you've tuned in today. 00:52 Here is the requirement for this program. 00:54 Get your Bibles. Get your pens. 00:56 Sit down for the next hour or so. 00:58 Because we always like to dive into topics 01:00 that agitate the mind. 01:01 Sometimes you may agree. Sometimes you may disagree. 01:04 That's why we always like to give an email. 01:05 We'll give you that in just a moment. 01:07 But before we do anything invite your family 01:10 bow your heads so that we can ask 01:12 for the Lord's presence to be with us in this Bible study. 01:15 John prays for us. Let's do that. 01:17 Father, in heaven we're so thankful 01:19 for another day of life and a day 01:21 that we can rely on you, depend upon you for everything. 01:25 Lord we wanna have a Bible study 01:27 that is Spirit filled here today. 01:29 So we seek your presence, 01:30 we ask for your blessing here upon our minds, our hearts 01:34 and all those that are viewing, 01:35 that are watching, that are listening. 01:37 We pray for special presence by your Spirit here 01:40 to help them and to help us search your word for truth. 01:44 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. 01:48 As, you know, you send Bible questions to us 01:51 sometimes they come via email, 01:54 sometimes they come via snail mail. 01:57 We've got them both today. Snail mail is not a bad thing. 02:00 You just have to pay 20 cents, I guess or 22 cents for postage. 02:04 And we do appreciate you being diligent 02:05 to get those messages to us. 02:08 But we do have some questions today that we're gonna answer. 02:11 And John, what do you have for us? 02:12 What's one of our first questions? 02:14 I got a question from Georgette. Georgette. 02:16 And she writes, really good question 02:19 actually something that I think is very, very, important 02:21 for all of us to consider. 02:24 She says you mentioned that we should search our Bibles 02:27 to know the truth. 02:28 I was born into an Adventist family. 02:30 I read the Bible daily 02:32 but I don't seem to be arming myself 02:33 with knowledge I need for the spiritual strength, 02:36 especially, for the time of trouble ahead. 02:39 Could you suggest how I should study my Bible? 02:42 And if I don't seem to understand the passage, 02:44 where do I go for explanation? 02:47 I have read the Bible a few times over. 02:49 But haven't acquired the knowledge I think I--I need. 02:53 As I listen to you explain the passages from the Bible. 02:55 I am amazed at your explanations 02:56 and would wanna have that same kind of knowledge 02:58 base that you have. So how do I get that? 03:02 You know, that I see Georgette's heart. 03:05 She wants to be, Georgette, you want to be 03:08 a Bible worker for the Lord. 03:09 You wanna be able to give Bible studies to share truth. 03:12 To share knowledge that God has given us through his word. 03:15 And I'll tell you what a privilege 03:17 it is to be able to do that. That's right. 03:19 But it definitely takes some application some commitment 03:23 and some time to read the word, to study the word, 03:27 and to put those things to memory. That's right. 03:29 You know, often John we think of memorization 03:31 is just reading a Bible text 03:33 and then just putting it in your mind. 03:34 But there is so much more to Bible study 03:36 than just memorization. That's right. 03:38 It's being familiar with the text and the passages. 03:41 And so one of the texts that comes to mind 03:43 is from Second Timothy. 03:47 Chapter 2, verse 15 it says 03:49 "Be diligent to present yourselves approved to God, 03:53 a worker who does not need to be ashamed 03:56 rightly dividing the word of truth." 03:58 Now, there's a general application 04:01 there of study the Bible 04:02 then you can rightly divide the word of truth. 04:04 But the word there in the middle I think is really important. 04:07 A worker. God wants workers. 04:11 He wants us to study the Bible in such a way 04:13 where we can become an effective worker for him 04:15 in the field in his harvest field. 04:18 And one of the ways that I found was best 04:20 and John you probably have had a same, a similar experience. 04:23 Best to kind of put on myself with the word of God is to-- 04:28 I want through a period of creating my own Bible studies. 04:32 Now, picking a topic getting a free 04:34 from page out on my computer and just going questions 04:38 and putting this verse in there for the answer. 04:40 The next question the next answer 04:42 and as I did that I ran through that process. 04:45 I found that my mind didn't just learn the text 04:47 but I learnt the question along with the text 04:50 and as I heard questions later on 04:52 that text will come back to mind. 04:54 And my mind would think in terms of Bible study 04:57 kind of language where I could hear a question 05:01 be able to respond to that question with a verse. 05:03 And the more I did it the more I threw myself 05:06 into a Bible study situation 05:07 the more I remembered the things that I had read. 05:10 So two things I kind of began to put to paper, 05:14 to redo, to type, myself to put in my own Bible study. 05:20 The truth the word-- but then I threw myself 05:23 out there to begin to do Bible studies 05:25 with that to sit down across from somebody 05:27 to teach somebody the word to go through these studies 05:30 on my own with somebody. 05:32 You know, one of things that we did 05:34 early on John in Fairfield, back in Fairfield days. 05:39 Was you had me help to teach the class, 05:42 the Sabbath school class. 05:43 So during Sabbath school we are spending a lot of time 05:45 on the major doctrines of our faith. That's right. 05:48 And I would field questions and I'd, 05:50 you know, wouldn't always have the answers right there. 05:53 But they started coming to me more and more freely 05:56 as I spent more time in a classroom setting. 05:58 Or in a one to one setting in Bible study, 06:01 that is so invaluable to learn as a worker. 06:04 You can know and you can memorize text over and over 06:08 but they seem a bit stale 06:10 not in your relationship with Jesus. 06:11 Just a bit stale outside of the application 06:13 of the one to one Bible study. 06:15 And there is nothing more like that, 06:17 equipping you for that truth with that truth 06:20 than a one to one Bible study. 06:21 And, you know, there is really no shortcut 06:25 to understanding and studying the Bible 06:28 and having it remembered over and over again. 06:31 One of the things that repetition you say 06:34 and you've heard the phrase before is the best teacher. 06:37 But repetition not in the sense of sitting there 06:39 and like a monitor over that's not the repetition 06:42 we're talking about. Right. 06:44 But the more you share about the Bible with someone else 06:47 the Lord puts into your mind 06:49 the things that the Lord had taught you as matter fact. 06:53 The Holy Spirit is the one that brings back to your mind 06:56 the things that you've learned in the word of God. John 14:26. 07:00 "But the helper or the comforter the Holy Spirit 07:05 whom the Father will send in my name 07:07 he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance 07:12 all things that I have said to you." 07:14 And so you want to remember who's in charge of that 07:17 the Holy Spirit but is he gone to bring to-- 07:19 bring it to your remembrance if you're not exercising it. 07:23 If you're not for example, 07:25 John one of the great examples I have here is. 07:27 I use to take electronics I had these math problems, 07:33 they'll give us six math problems. 07:35 And they give us an hour-and-a-half 07:37 to do only six math problems, 07:39 well, the formulations were a page and a half. 07:42 And we have to show all the work 07:43 I mean just symbols now a day that I don't even recognize. 07:47 And the real reason is back then 07:49 I was right on the top of my game. 07:51 We started in class of 42 students. 07:53 Only seven of them sailed through 07:55 every phase of this class. 07:57 Because if you didn't remember you couldn't go forward. 08:00 I was one of the seven that sailed 08:02 through every phase of this electronic class. 08:04 And got my degree in that area 08:06 and but the key is after I left school 08:09 I never used that again. 08:11 It was just a matter of time 08:12 I went to a completely different area of business. 08:14 Completely different concentration 08:15 in the Wall Street area. 08:17 And never used all those things that I got. 08:18 A degree for in it and so 08:20 out of exercise in the Bible talks about that. 08:22 Out of the exercise our minds are made to be place 08:26 where these things are right at the front. 08:29 Like the more-- in your medicine cabin 08:32 or may be in your-- if you have a brush. 08:34 The brush that you use everyday you could find it. 08:37 The column you use everyday you can toothbrush 08:40 hopefully you can find it everyday. 08:41 'Cause you put it in the same place. 08:43 Right. And used it. 08:44 And so when you continue 08:45 by exercise of any particular thing 08:47 your car keys when you have a pattern in your life 08:49 that thing that you use the most will be easy 08:52 to be found but in this case 08:53 the Holy Spirit will be the one to bring back to your mind. 08:57 Those things that are being exercised 09:00 and the physiological sense-- if you do 09:04 anything for 21 days it becomes a habit. 09:06 So if you think about that I just mentioned this 09:09 John before we got on the air. 09:11 Whenever I will do a six week evangelistic series. 09:14 You can ask me a question. 09:15 Boom right at the front the text and verse and the line 09:17 and everything is right there almost quoting verbatim 09:20 and so with our Bible studies the more you do that 09:23 the easy it's going to get. 09:25 You know-- There's no short cut. 09:26 And don't be afraid of some un-comfortableness 09:29 or may be even failure with recalling something 09:32 because if we don't recall something 09:34 if we can't find something. 09:36 The best thing to do in a Bible study situation 09:39 is so, you know, I will find a text for you in the next time 09:41 we get together we'll spend some time on that. 09:44 I am not recalling right now where that passage is 09:47 but I know there's an answer in God's word. 09:49 We'll come back to that next time. 09:51 And I find that creates, 09:53 you know, it becomes more uncomfortable John 09:55 when you get in the situation. 09:57 You're not remembering something if you keep harboring 09:59 on the fact that you're not remembering 10:01 then you get a little nervous about it 10:02 and then you just its not coming. 10:04 Oh, I am not sure I am good at this 10:05 and you get discouraged about it. 10:06 Don't get discouraged about it. Just be persistent. 10:09 Spend time on what you don't know. 10:11 Let him know that you're discovering 10:12 you'll find out lets get together again. 10:14 And the more you do this 10:16 the more you get in involved with this. 10:17 You'll give become better and better 10:18 because the Holy Spirit will use you as his tool 10:21 to impart truth to others. That is right. 10:23 And so anyway keep at it. 10:25 Keep at it and the Lord will continue to use you Georgette. 10:30 Okay, thank you. 10:32 I have a question here that I wanna invite you 10:36 to turn with me to Revelation 17 10:39 and we're going to look just at one verse. 10:41 Verse 11, Revelation 17 and verse 11. 10:47 Now where is Revelation? 10:50 Where is it? It's in the Bible somewhere. 10:53 Is it the last book I think? I know where it is. 10:55 You know they're at least 2 books 10:57 every one can find Genesis and Revelation. 11:00 Revelation 17, verse 11, I will go ahead and read this. 11:05 And then I will read the question 11:06 and then we'll give the answer. 11:09 It reads as follows, 11:11 "And the beast that was and is not is himself 11:17 also the eighth and is of the seventh 11:21 and is going to perdition." 11:25 All right, but we've to get the context together 11:28 let me just go ahead and read the question 11:30 and then I'll read a few more verses 11:31 to put this in the context that I feel gives us the answer. 11:36 All right, John Lomacang this is written in pencil 11:41 on House Calls said, 11:43 the power that was is not in yet is was Satan. 11:48 And this is that I want to quote this now-- 11:51 but my Bible says it's the Pope, 11:54 or antichrist power of the Catholic Church. 11:59 I am continuing to read the note. 12:00 Yes, Satan is behind it. 12:04 But Satan is not that power 12:06 found in Revelation 17, verse 11. 12:10 I think they put 1 to 11. 12:12 So let me read a few more let me read 12:15 a few more verses here to show you 12:17 why I concluded that this power couldn't be anyone 12:21 other than it could be it represents powers 12:23 that Satan works through but specifically this power here 12:27 spoken about the key element that makes me know 12:31 that it's Satan that's been talked about 12:32 is the Bible speaks about three powers 12:35 that oppose God and it speaks 12:37 about where each one of those powers is from. 12:39 And like a false trinity. 12:41 Exactly, you have the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. 12:43 But then you also have the dragon, 12:46 the beast and the false prophet. 12:49 Now, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 12:53 You have these powers simply talked about here 12:56 and when you pull them all together you clearly see 12:59 that in a particular passage and let me give you these examples. 13:03 Throughout Revelation the word lamb is used. 13:06 Over and over and over again. 13:07 And we know that the word lamb over 13:09 and over again, represents whom? Jesus. 13:12 Okay, but Revelation 13, speaks about one like a lamb. 13:17 But it doesn't use the designation lamb 13:20 that refers to Christ but one like a lamb or lamb like. 13:24 And that's the one reference in Revelation 13:26 where that lamb does not represent Jesus, 13:29 But lamb like that was to have characteristics 13:32 that apparently are Christian 13:34 but is not that particular reference is not about Christ. 13:37 But a power that seeking to duplicate the things 13:41 that belong to Christ 13:42 and make a person think that that is Christ. 13:45 And the very same way what you've to look at is 13:47 where this beast comes from. 13:49 Now, Revelation 13 speaks of a beast rising above the sea. 13:55 We know that clearly that beast is designated 13:57 in the first part of Revelation chapter 13 13:59 as the power of Rome. 14:03 Pagan Rome later becomes Papal Rome. 14:06 Then you have the beast rising above the earth. 14:08 People identify that in prophecy as the United States. 14:12 Okay the correlation there in the Revelation chapter 13 14:15 but this beast is ascending out of the bottomless pit. 14:19 And then is gonna later go into perdition. 14:22 This beast is the one that comes and pulls 14:24 all the other seven heads together. 14:28 This beast is the one that the ten horns 14:31 that are spoken about here in Revelation chapter 17 14:34 stand behind in this last push 14:37 when Babylon is finally formulated and completed. 14:40 So clearly who is this and I like the fact 14:43 that they I mean if you're listening 14:45 you actually acknowledge that Satan is behind this 14:48 and that's my very point. 14:50 Because throughout history I don't want to 14:53 offend anybody by mentioning different movements. 14:55 But let's just go ahead and make it wide. 14:58 Spiritualism we can say, 15:00 well, the seed of spiritualism is in the Far East. 15:02 You know Zen Buddhism, Shakti, Yoga all the different arts 15:08 that are connected to spiritualism. 15:10 But who is behind that, Satan is, 15:13 then you can go to powers that 15:15 and I am not gonna go any further 15:17 because I am not going to offend anybody. 15:18 Not getting time to put the whole thing together. 15:20 But Satan is used throughout history. Right. 15:23 All of these different things to appeal 15:25 to the minds and hearts of people. 15:26 Yeah, and the unfortunate thing that I have seen happening 15:29 and believe me I am a strong Bible believer. 15:31 I teach the place that Rome has and the place 15:34 that the pope has in Bible prophecy. 15:37 Clearly point it out in Daniel. 15:39 Clearly point it out in Revelation. 15:41 So you have here, these seven heads. 15:45 But, what you also have is the one who is behind it all. 15:49 And the great controversy is not between Rome and Christ, 15:54 it's between Satan and Christ. 15:57 And so you find here 15:58 in the final correlation of Babylon 16:01 the final pulling together of all these powers 16:04 that Satan has worked 16:05 through in the course of human history. 16:07 He comes out of the bottomless pit. 16:09 That's the terminology used here and links himself 16:13 for the final push of the formation of Babylon 16:17 and that is when verse 14. 16:19 And you said from verse 1 to 11 16:20 but you got to go all the way through 16:22 because the key here is in verse 11, 16:24 "The beast that was and is not is himself 16:27 also the eight and is of the seventh." 16:29 He is identified as the beast--who was 16:31 and is not and yet is Christ is identifies 16:35 He who was and is and is to come. 16:38 So you have the comparisons here 16:39 so you say one who was and is and is to come. 16:42 The other one who was and is not and yet is. 16:45 And is going into perdition or going into destruction. 16:48 So that's the way I have come up with the conclusion 16:50 that one definitely represents Satan. 16:53 Who was and his foremost state in heaven. Right. 16:56 Who is not he lost his authority and he's bound right now 16:59 by the powers of heaven. 17:01 He can only do but so much 17:02 and yet is but is still is in operation. 17:06 And he'll ascend out of the bottomless pit 17:08 when he comes to impersonate Christ. Yeah. 17:10 You know, The other part of this too that helped to me 17:12 is that it says that the woman, 17:18 let's see in verse 4. 17:21 "The woman is seen later as been carried by this beast 17:27 that ascends from the bottomless pit." Right. 17:29 So if the beast from the bottomless pit is Rome. 17:33 But who is the woman? Okay. 17:35 And I know that we have typically identified the woman 17:38 as papal and the beast power as civil power. 17:42 Now that's the typically been many of our explanations here 17:45 but that doesn't fit either. 17:47 Because it doesn't carry through the end 17:48 with what this beast from the bottomless pit does. 17:51 So anyway we see a much better fit here 17:55 with this beast that ascends the third beast 17:58 that ascends in the overall picture of Revelation. 18:01 This time from the bottomless pit-- 18:02 it's been Satan himself. 18:04 And of course, revelation 12 identifies 18:06 Satan directly as a beast. Right. 18:09 So there's no problem with that 18:11 because that's his first real introduction here 18:14 in Revelation where it says. 18:17 Revelation 12:3, "Another sign appeared in heaven 18:20 behold a great firey red dragon 18:22 having seven heads and ten horns." 18:24 Ah, okay, you know. 18:26 So anyway this is prophecy is not easy. It is complicated. 18:32 But yet there is I believe it's very important 18:35 to stick to the passage and make sure 18:37 that the passage does it speaking. 18:39 I think you said something about you said 18:41 that his Bible tells him that its. Right. 18:44 And the person who got this is my Bible 18:47 tells me that it's the pope. 18:48 Well the Bible doesn't say that. 18:49 I know, yeah, that's not something 18:51 that we find in the Bible here at least 18:53 in this part of prophecy. Yeah. 18:55 So anyway, we appreciate your question 18:57 and we see things a little differently 18:59 but there's room to differ. 19:01 And, you know, the thing that we have to keep in mind 19:03 and I said the word, you know, may not know 19:05 but the thing we have to keep in mind 19:07 is through out human history 19:09 we find the power is spoken about in the Bible. 19:11 If you look at the first-- 19:12 if you look at the four kingdoms. 19:14 Babylon, Medes of Persia, Greece, and Rome, 19:16 through the papacy plays a significant 19:19 probably one of the largest rolls 19:20 of any religious movement on earth. 19:23 Ever since the days of John the Revelator. 19:25 Ever since the days of the New Testament Church 19:27 Rome has been playing this last role 19:30 in the four beast of Bible prophecy. 19:32 But who comes up and this is the one thing 19:34 that many people when the Bible talks about 19:37 the appearing of Satan the Bible does talk about that. 19:41 We kind of left Satan out and the only place 19:44 that Satan often included in Revelation is in Revelation 12. 19:47 You know, the war in heaven cast to the earth 19:49 and in Revelation chapter 21, 19:51 "he's bound in the bottomless pit." 19:53 But the question if you ask yourself is 19:54 if he was cast out of heaven 19:57 and delivered in chains of darkness as Peter says. 20:01 Chained at what point will he be released 20:03 because he's gonna be bound again 20:05 at the beginning of the thousand years. Right. 20:08 Cast out of heaven bound and delivered 20:10 in the chains of darkness. 20:11 So, he can only exercise the power 20:13 the God allows him to-- 20:14 then he's gonna be released for short season. 20:18 That is when he impersonates Christ. 20:20 That is when the world believes that Christ has come 20:23 but we know as Mathew 24 says 20:25 it won't be Christ because Christ comes 20:27 and doesn't touch the earth as lightening shines 20:30 from the east end to the west. 20:31 So shall be the Son of man be. 20:33 So if they say, that is the Christ don't believe it 20:35 if he's in the secret chamber don't go out, 20:37 as if he is the desert don't go out. 20:39 We have to clearly see that. 20:40 So this I believe is talking about when Satan comes 20:43 and impersonates Christ and all the power 20:46 that's he has set up throughout human history 20:48 that are antichrist systems. 20:51 Stand behind him in that final push 20:54 religio-political push motivated by 20:57 one who people believe is the Christ 20:59 is what this is talked about here. 21:00 That's why he's ascends out of the bottomless pit. 21:04 And, you know, when you do your research 21:06 just do some homework here. 21:07 And look up at that phrase bottomless pit. 21:09 And you'll discover it appears only seven times in Revelation. 21:13 That's another seven that most people don't often find. 21:17 That's another group of seven's. 21:18 One more question there? 21:19 Yeah, I do have another question here. 21:21 It says and this one I know we field it before. 21:24 We have answered this one before. 21:25 But it continues to come up so we will continue 21:27 to answer it. Okay. 21:29 At, you know, when we think it's really important 21:32 but I have been hearing a bit about it 21:33 so that's why I wanted to share this. 21:36 Females for females preaching with their head uncovered 21:39 wearing of trousers is that right? 21:41 For men to preach with a cap on their head is that right? 21:46 Please clarify. And this comes from Obeena from Nigeria. 21:52 Okay. Well, good question. 21:54 And I know that there is much confusion. 21:56 John, you especially have worked with groups 22:00 that have really read literally the passages spoken up 22:05 with where woman shouldn't speak in church. 22:07 Woman should always have their head covered 22:10 and churches have been based 22:11 on those kinds of rules and structure. 22:15 One of the things that I think is missing in that is 22:17 there's a diverging here from and understanding 22:21 of the cultural application of much of the scriptures here. 22:24 The cultures that Paul was speaking to in his day 22:27 and understanding that culture 22:29 and what it was going on behind this scenes for that culture 22:32 in its interaction between men and woman 22:34 is a very important part in what Paul was saying. Exactly. 22:37 In many of these things. 22:38 If you gonna just eliminate that cultural aspect 22:41 and you're going to read everything literally 22:44 then you going to find that woman 22:47 shouldn't even speak ever in church. Right. 22:49 But then you can find the situations 22:51 where woman are prophetess at times in the church. 22:54 They're chosen to be a prophetess. 22:56 What does the prophetess do? She speaks. Right. 22:58 She speaks on behalf of God to the church. 23:01 So you cannot say that she should not speak 23:04 but yet if you read literally the Bible seems to indicate, 23:06 well, woman shouldn't speak in the church. Right. 23:08 That is not what its saying. 23:10 So understanding there's a cultural aspect 23:12 here is very important. 23:14 And I believe that Paul was speaking 23:17 about the culture of that day 23:18 into woman having their head covered 23:20 and of course men, you know, even today we'll find. 23:23 We find ourselves caring little of this forward 23:27 where we don't wear our hats in church. Right. 23:29 Because it's out of respect. It's a respect issue. 23:32 It's not necessary so much of abominations issue 23:35 from scripture telling us not to do that 23:37 but I find that when I come into the church 23:39 I always make sure if I got anything or I take my hat off. 23:42 You know, that the big 23:44 and I think you put this in a right setting. 23:45 The context here in First Corinthians Chapter 11, 23:49 is where this is particularly talked about I think 23:52 one of the things we have to stop 23:53 from verse 16 and go back. 23:56 If you read first Corinthians Chapter 11. 23:58 If you look at verse 16 and then we'll uncover 24:02 from verse 1 from 1 to 15. 24:05 Paul is addressing this issue about the head being covered. 24:08 And he's addressing the issue about the woman 24:11 not covering her head. 24:13 But now let's look at verse 16, very quickly. 24:16 "But if anyone seems to be contentious, 24:18 we have no such customs, nor do the churches of God." 24:23 So right away, Paul is talking about a custom 24:26 he's in essence clarifying this 24:29 and I did some research into this John a few years ago. 24:31 Because somebody brought this to my attention. 24:34 And I looked at the way that 24:36 a lot of synagogues used to be set up. 24:39 Where the man sat down on the lower floor 24:43 and the woman sat in the balcony or in some fellowships, 24:47 the men sat on the left side of the church 24:51 and the women sat on the right with a curtain between them. 24:54 And they were keeping they were keeping a barrier 24:59 between the men and women 25:01 so that there will be no distraction 25:02 in the worship services and then in the custom of the practice 25:06 in a synagogue sense-- 25:08 women always came with their head covered. 25:11 And it was not customarily acceptable 25:14 as is the case today in some cultures. 25:16 As you find in some Islamic countries 25:19 it clearly out of respect 25:21 for that cultural norm woman cover their hair. 25:24 Even when American woman 25:25 go to some of these places around the world. 25:27 It's imperative that they not offend the culture. 25:31 In the very same way-- I know as a preacher sometimes 25:34 I would go to a part of the world 25:36 and I was in Africa a few times. 25:38 And I know that they said well if you gonna preach, 25:43 black suit and a tie. 25:47 And then a whole lot of latitude in that respect. 25:49 Even if it's outside black suit and tie. 25:51 Unless you could not afford one, 25:53 that's a different setting all together. 25:54 But the cultural norm is what is being talked about here 25:57 and the traditions that kept on being applied 26:01 and the reason why Paul is talking 26:02 about this in the Corinthians. 26:03 In the book of Corinthians is because there were quite 26:06 a few controversies in the Corinthian church. 26:09 One of them was over 26:10 the whether or not the resurrections occurred. 26:12 One of them was over whether not people 26:13 should speak in their own language 26:15 when they gather together in large worship services 26:17 this were the issue is spoken and tongues coming to play. 26:19 And this is one is particular Paul is addressing 26:22 the issue of tradition and customs. 26:24 So look at verse 1 very quickly. 26:26 Verse 2 "Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ." 26:30 Verse 2, "Now I praise you brethren that you remember me 26:33 in all things and keep the traditions 26:36 as I deliver them to you. 26:39 But I want you to know that 26:40 the head of every man is Christ. 26:43 The head of woman is man and the head of Christ is God." 26:47 He's talking about positions of authority. 26:50 "Every man praying or prophesying 26:53 having his head covered dishonors his head." 26:57 Follow very carefully, "But every woman 27:01 who prays or prophesies 27:02 whether head uncovered dishonors her head. 27:06 For that one and the same as if a head were shaved. 27:12 For if a woman is not covered 27:14 let her also be shorn, that is shaved. 27:17 " But if it is shameful for a woman 27:22 to be shorn or shaved let her be covered." 27:26 So if you stop there you think okay, 27:28 well, either to cover your head or shave it and then cover it. 27:31 That's the inference that seems to be suggesting. 27:33 But if you look further down. 27:35 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head 27:38 since he's the image of the glory of God. 27:40 But woman is the glory of man. 27:43 For man is not from woman but woman from man. 27:46 Know as man created from woman but woman for the man." 27:49 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority 27:54 over her because of the angels. 27:57 Now when it says covering there's a phrase 28:00 that often used covering. 28:03 It's used lot in Christian churches nowadays. 28:06 They use that phrase in the sense of authority 28:07 in the sense of someone covering a ministry. 28:10 But let's go on further on and see what this is saying. 28:12 And now verse 11, "Nevertheless rather 28:16 nevertheless neither is man independent of woman 28:20 nor man nor woman independent of man in the Lord. 28:24 For as the woman was from the man 28:27 even so the man also is through the woman 28:31 but all things are from God." 28:32 But in essence he's saying here is even though 28:35 they're not in subjection to each other 28:37 they can't exist without each other 28:39 but now here's how he winds it up. 28:42 "Judge among yourselves." 28:43 He's saying you got to make 28:45 the decision when the time comes. 28:47 That is in the customary traditions 28:48 and practices of that setting. 28:50 "Judge among yourselves". 28:52 But here's is what it says "Is it proper for a woman 28:55 to pray to God with her head uncovered. 28:58 Does not even nature itself teach you 29:00 that if a man has long hair it is a dishonor to him 29:04 but if a woman has long hair it is a glory to her 29:10 for her hair is given to her for a covering." 29:14 Long and short, is it necessary to cover a woman head 29:19 he said if he if she has hairs all ready covered. 29:22 That nutshell of it. 29:23 It is still some customs even in some apostolic churches 29:26 today they wear this little small doily type of thing. 29:29 They though never come to church without your covered. 29:31 It's the understanding of this particular passage. 29:34 And they're judging in that particular sense. 29:36 Whether or not that church will adopt that tradition 29:38 or that custom but it is not a custom nor is it something 29:43 that God demands in his churches. 29:46 That's the Paul says in verse 16. 29:47 So when you go to a custom 29:49 and I think this is coming from Nigeria. 29:51 It is important that you not offend the culture 29:54 because your ability to get access 29:57 to the people of that culture 29:58 comes on the heels of respecting their culture. 30:01 So I never go and disrespect somebody's culture. 30:04 I had never go to Nigeria and try to teach or preach 30:06 a sermon in shorts and thongs 30:09 like somebody in southern California 30:11 might do on a sunny day outside. Or Hawaii. 30:14 Or Hawaii, see you got to understand the culture 30:17 and stay within the confines of the culture and not to offend 30:20 and that's why Paul says to put this to sleep. 30:23 "I have become all things to all men that I may win some." 30:27 And he's this no admonition. No, command here. 30:32 To have anything covered or uncovered. 30:34 It is purely what the custom has been 30:36 and adapting to that custom. 30:38 And the custom of the people that you're trying to reach. 30:41 Very important to understand. Yeah. 30:42 Because if you weigh out of the custom and the culture 30:47 you have no appeal there's no way to reach them 30:49 with the gospel so you have to as Paul says 30:52 he works in accordance with that custom, with that culture. 30:56 Cultural custom that allows him to be appealing 30:59 to make the gospel appealing to them. 31:01 And to reach the hearts of the people if they see 31:02 that you're not offending their cultural stand. Yeah. 31:04 They're more likely listen to you. 31:06 Now I think she was the mention woman preaching with pants on. 31:09 And in some cultures and I would say that 31:11 in America and some cultures 31:13 you have the African American culture. 31:15 You have the West Indian culture. 31:17 It would be a no, no, in the West Indian culture 31:19 to have a woman preaching in churches with pants on. 31:21 It just not gonna happen. Right. 31:23 And in some of the other cultures 31:25 it may be admissible but you have some cultures 31:27 that are strong and their traditions will say, 31:30 no this is the way its gonna be. 31:31 If they'd no modification I remember growing up, 31:34 John, I got to say this before we end this question part. 31:38 The church I was raised in the New York 31:41 there was a sign at the entrance of a 1,200 member church. 31:45 No slacks, no hot pants, you know, we wear hot pants. 31:49 You know, about modesty for woman 31:52 when they came in to the church--it was clearly. 31:54 It was a sign when you walked in right on the wall. 31:56 No pants no slacks, you know, about modesty. 32:00 Lot of the issues on modesty and that's a big part of it. 32:04 When it comes to the culture that we're living in. 32:06 And modesty is so widely important. 32:08 And that's why Paul says, we have to dress 32:10 as woman professing godliness. 32:12 That's how it has to be woman must dress that way. 32:15 Anyway we've taken little extra time today 32:17 but if you have any more questions 32:19 you like to sent to us. 32:20 Send those questions to the email that we give to you, 32:22 housecalls@3abn.org. That's housecalls@3abn.org. 32:28 And we appreciate so much all you do for the cause of God. 32:31 Now, John, take us to our subject for today. 32:34 We're gonna spend sometime in the next couple of programs 32:36 talking about the difference between 32:40 the Law of God and the Law of Moses. 32:44 You might wonder, well, you know, 32:46 when it speaks of the law can we just say 32:49 that we just know the Law of God is Law of God. 32:51 Well, there is throughout scripture a clear distinguishing 32:54 between these two laws because they have 32:56 very different roles in the life of the Christians 33:00 and has been that way since the very beginning. 33:03 God gave the Ten Commandments his law--his eternal law. 33:08 And he'd if that was clearly in place 33:10 as we read from scripture. 33:12 Even before the entrance of sin yet we will find 33:16 that the Law of the Moses was given afterward. 33:18 We'll talk about when that was given why that was given 33:21 and show clearly the delineation 33:23 between the two and their functions. 33:26 So we'll spend time doing that 33:27 and the reason we're doing that, John, is 33:29 you and I know as pastors that there is a confusion 33:32 that comes about when you don't understand 33:33 the differences between the two. That's right. 33:35 Because in the New Testament when the Paul speaks of the law. 33:39 And its not just Paul but when there's commentary 33:44 on the law you have to read the context of the passages 33:46 understand what law he's talking about. 33:48 Its the ceremonial law, the laws that Jews 33:50 practiced throughout history. 33:52 Or is the law speaking of the Ten Commandments. That's, right. 33:55 Well, it doesn't always say clearly 33:56 so you have to really get into 33:58 what he's talking about there to understand 34:00 which law is spoken of. 34:02 Because if you misinterpret that just a clear quick thing 34:05 if you interpret the law spoken of 34:08 as being say the Ten Commandments. 34:12 And it says there that it was nailed to the cross 34:15 and done away with 34:16 then what you gonna do with the Ten Commandments. 34:18 You throw them away. Right. 34:19 You'll toss them out. 34:20 There is no obligation for the Christian to keep them. 34:22 So you have to understand what law we are talking about here. 34:26 What law Paul is talking about here and other writers. 34:28 To be able to owe to your life in harmony 34:32 with what God's will is for each Christian. 34:35 And, you know, John, the very huge issue here 34:38 and I am so glad we're talking about this topic 34:40 because this is the very thing that some pastors cite 34:43 as the reason why they don't honor the Bible Sabbath. 34:46 Because they say the law was nailed to the cross. 34:50 And they pull a verse out of its context 34:52 and choose not to go beyond what they have read. 34:55 And they'll conclude that, well, hey there it is. 34:58 Just taken out the other way and nailed to the cross. 35:01 And so we don't have to keep any longer. 35:03 The problem with that is you cannot take 35:06 a portion of God's law and get rid of it 35:09 and keep the rest of it intact because its one whole unit. 35:13 It's not a ten pack of soda that you take one soda out 35:18 and sell nine packs of soda. 35:19 And sell it that way. No. 35:21 the commandments of God are the Pentateuch, 35:24 you got to get that. 35:26 And sorry not the Pentateuch but the Decalogue. 35:29 The Pentateuch is of the five books. 35:30 The Decalogue, dec-ten, 35:33 from the word decimal, the Decalogue. 35:36 So ten, laws its one whole unit it's not separated. 35:41 So you cannot get rid of one of them 35:43 and still call it a Decalogue. It's not possible. 35:46 And that brings into mind because I know 35:47 where your confusion was 35:49 they are real quick and misspeaking 35:50 because Pentateuch is another law. 35:52 It's spoken the Law of Moses. 35:54 Sometimes you can refer just 35:56 the five first books in Moses. That's right. 35:58 So its really-- this is so important to do 36:00 because you can get so off 36:01 on your teaching, on your doctrines. 36:03 Entire churches get off on this because they don't understand 36:08 exactly how the law fits in to the life of the Christian. 36:12 And what is intended by Paul words and that of other writers 36:17 when they speak of the Ten Commandments. 36:19 So or the law of the God. 36:21 So, anyway we're gonna spend some time 36:22 on this very important topic and hope to provide 36:25 some clarification now. As we do that. 36:28 Can we agree on one thing, John? Sure. 36:30 You and I--we aren't gonna make up our mind 36:35 prior to reading the scriptures 36:36 and letting the Bible do its talking for us. 36:38 And here's, here's why I say that. 36:40 You know, I have already said that 36:41 and you've already said that. 36:42 And you're studying your right at the conclusion 36:44 that you've arrived at because of our commitment 36:47 to follow the truth. Exactly. 36:49 I am saying this some factiously 36:50 because some people read the Bible 36:52 to prove what they're doing is right. 36:56 And you have to be very careful about doing that. 36:58 Every time you're reading the Bible 37:00 don't predetermine the conclusion. 37:02 Now don't say, well, I don't use the Sabbath as an example. 37:07 I don't keep the seventh day Sabbath. 37:10 So I got to find scripture that affirms 37:13 and allows me to continue 37:16 on that road of keeping the first day 37:18 that we can settle at the seventh day of the week. 37:19 And therefore, all I am gonna do 37:21 if I arrive with that conclusion before time 37:23 is perhaps before hand is to look for scriptures 37:26 that will allow me to throw out the law. 37:29 We can't do that we got to make sure that the law of-- 37:32 if the law, the words speak for its self 37:34 and then the law will find its proper place 37:36 in the life of the Christian and God's will for that life. 37:41 Right because that's like getting a map and say 37:43 well, I know I am headed 37:44 hope the map to read with me. You know. 37:46 I want to go this way so I am determined 37:48 to make the map read that. 37:49 And there are people that say 37:50 there's something wrong with my GPS. It's not working. 37:54 Why? because it's saying go that way, 37:56 but I am going this way. Hey, turn around. 37:59 So this this topic could also be called 38:01 now is the good time to make a 'U-turn.' Yeah. 38:04 Let the word of God speak for yourself 38:05 and you know what I like to start on, John. 38:07 Before we look at the law of God and Law of Moses 38:09 one of the points I want to make 38:10 is the law that God delivered 38:13 to Moses became it became known as the law of the Moses. 38:17 But it had a particular reason why it was called that way. 38:20 God told them it to write down. 38:22 But it's became the Law of Moses. 38:24 And we'll get those specifics real quickly 38:26 but most of the time when we look 38:28 at the Commandments of God we often begin 38:29 in Exodus chapter 20. 38:31 But today, I want to go to Deuteronomy chapter 5 38:35 and show a significant verse here. 38:36 and this gonna lay some good foundation 38:39 as to when we get into the laws 38:40 and begin to compare them the Law of Moses 38:43 and the law of God see which one is still in effect today 38:46 and how we come to those conclusions. 38:48 Now, Deuteronomy chapter 5 you'll find 38:54 starting with verse 6 down to verse 22. 39:00 From verse 6 to verse 21 39:02 you'll find the Ten Commandments. 39:03 But then in verse 22 you find these words. 39:08 "These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly. 39:13 In the mountain from the midst of the fire in the cloud 39:18 and the thick darkness with a loud voice." 39:22 And I don't want you to miss this next phrase. 39:25 "And he added no more and he wrote them 39:30 on two tablets of stone and gave them to me." 39:35 So after the Ten Commandments were written 39:37 after there were Ten Commandments, 39:39 how much did he add? Nothing more. 39:41 He added no more the new world translation 39:45 which is the Jehovah's Witness Bible said 39:47 and he added nothing more. 39:50 See so you clearly see was anything more added 39:53 to the Ten Commandments as they were written. 39:55 No. No. 39:56 The word of God says, nothing more was added. 39:58 Back up a chapter and read verses. 40:00 Verse 4 chapter 4 verse 2. 40:02 Okay, chapter 4 verse 2, here it is. 40:09 Beautiful, "You shall not add to the word 40:12 which I command you nor take anything from it. 40:17 That you may keep the Commandments 40:19 of the Lord your God which I command you." okay. 40:22 So not only came to you would have to add it. 40:24 You can't remove any other. 40:25 That's right. Beautiful I got to circle that. 40:29 I got lot of circles stuff in my Bible that's not one of them. 40:32 But that's a beautiful context. 40:34 We can't add to it, we can't take away from it. That's right. 40:37 The Commandments of God when he gave them to Moses. 40:40 And he delivered them to Moses. He added nothing more 40:43 and get this they were on tablets of stones. 40:45 So John lets start breaking them down together 40:48 lets go through some of the comparisons. Yeah. 40:50 And see what the Bible says. 40:51 We're gonna compare and contrast 40:55 the Law of Moses and the Law of God. 40:58 And we're gonna see the differences clearly 41:00 throughout scripture in which the way they were used. 41:04 In not only where there were placed and the picture 41:07 of the sanctuary message the sanctuary service 41:09 that God gave the Nation of Israel as a picture 41:13 as a shadow of things to come 41:15 but also in the context of today in which we live. 41:19 What that means to the life of the Christians? 41:21 That is living in the New Testament era onward. 41:24 And I say New Testament era not in the Old Testament 41:26 doesn't apply but in that Christ is--he has become 41:31 and has fulfilled the law that pointed to him. 41:34 That ceremonial law that pointed to him. 41:36 Which was the Law of Moses? 41:39 Where the portion of Law of Moses 41:40 that ceremonially pointed to Jesus. 41:43 And what he would accomplish. 41:45 So anyway we will look at those differences 41:47 and we'll compare and contrast that. 41:49 Ah there's a passage in the Bible 41:51 that says Christ is the end of the law to those who believe 41:55 and some people read that passage and say, 41:57 see there you go. 41:59 If you believe in Christ the law has ended 42:01 that's not what the verse said. 42:03 It says that Christ is the end of the law. 42:05 If you will walk down a long path 42:07 and end of that path is a house. 42:11 The path does not get rid of the house. 42:13 The path leads you to the house. 42:15 What that verse is in essence saying 42:17 is if you follow the law and you clearly understand 42:20 what the Bible speaks about 42:21 the law in this particular context, 42:24 in the context of everything 42:25 that had to do with the ceremonial law. 42:28 It all ended in Christ. 42:30 If they were taking lives of lambs 42:31 through thousands of years, 42:33 well, where did that lamb lead you 42:35 to the lamb of God eventually, 42:36 introduced by the John of Baptist. Okay. 42:38 So it wasn't the end of the law. 42:42 In that sense which people often apply to the Ten Commandments 42:46 but the ceremonial law all ended in Christ. Yes. 42:50 That is right to him. 42:51 The longer needing to proceed beyond him. 42:54 As we look at our first text here which is Luke 2:22. 42:57 Okay. Okay, let's go there. 42:59 Just to give you some background 43:01 the Jews have been living or have been keeping 43:06 the ceremonial parts, all the parts of the Law of Moses. 43:09 Specifically, we're talking about now 43:11 the ceremonial parts which point to Jesus. 43:13 Such as--there's few things one of the things that comes 43:19 to mind is John proclamation when he saw Jesus 43:21 coming down to be baptized. What did he say? 43:23 "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away sin of the world." 43:25 "Behold the Lamb of God 43:26 which takes away the sin of the world." 43:28 So what were--what were the people around there? 43:31 Assuming the ones the that had heard him thinking about 43:33 when he said behold the Lamb of God. 43:36 The lamb, they were taking of the sacrifice-- 43:37 The lamb that was slain. 43:39 The lamb that was-- whose life was taken 43:42 to be offered then on the altar in that ceremonial system. 43:47 And John points to Jesus, and said Jesus is that lamb. 43:50 That's essentially, what he's saying. 43:51 And so, the language spoken 43:53 there is in terms of the ceremonies 43:55 that they have been keeping for centuries. 43:57 And they know right away. 43:58 They knew exactly what he meant. 44:00 They knew exactly what he meant 44:01 and so what we find here in Luke 2:22. 44:04 Read verse 21 of the Luke. 44:05 Oh, Luke okay I will start with the verse 21 here 44:07 and it says and "when eight days where compelled 44:09 for the circumcision of the child." 44:11 That is Jesus. "His name was called Jesus. 44:14 The name given by the angel 44:16 before he was conceived in the womb. 44:18 Now, when the days have purification 44:20 according to the Law of Moses 44:22 were completed they brought him to Jerusalem 44:24 to present him to the Lord." 44:26 So what where they doing. 44:28 And verse 23 because here's the key 44:30 He's gonna even cite the law. 44:31 Okay. "As it is written in the Law of the Lord 44:34 every male opens-- who opens the womb 44:36 shall be called holy to the Lord." Uh-huh. Okay. 44:40 So the Law of Moses here which is given 44:43 by the Lord himself to Moses 44:44 that's why its called also the Law of the Lord, 44:47 is in regard to here now 44:49 a ceremony of purification. That's right. 44:52 And they were keeping that ceremony here as they had been 44:55 for millennia before. That's right. 44:57 And so we find here that the Law of Moses is clearly referenced. 45:02 And was part of the key 45:03 part of what they did in their religious rights 45:07 in ceremonies Sin the following of God. 45:11 And in the other things we have to point out 45:13 is really this topic is important 45:16 but its also the very same time you have to walk through 45:18 it very carefully because they are in the books 45:22 Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, 45:26 in those books you find very carefully 45:29 that there are principles that don't need, 45:31 they are laws that don't nee don't need to be done away with. 45:34 And had no purpose of being done away with. 45:37 For example, we also have... 45:38 you had civil laws, you had agricultural laws, 45:43 you had dietary laws, you had moral law, 45:49 and you had ceremonial law. 45:52 We're specifically, talking about the ceremonial law. 45:55 Because you had the agricultural laws that even 45:59 if they follow them to this very day 46:01 which meant every seven years. 46:03 They will allow that particular piece of land to rest 46:05 so it replenishes itself. 46:07 So they had seven acres of land, 46:09 every year they would in some sort of a wave 46:12 they'd leave that parts to rest. 46:14 Because after the seventh years rested rest 46:16 and then it replenishes itself with nutrients naturally 46:20 then they plant it again 46:21 and they let another part of the parts of the land rest. 46:25 You had dietary laws which were established 46:28 before the Moses Law was put into place. 46:31 Which was established in the book of Genesis, 46:34 when Adam and Eve where created. 46:35 What to eat and what to not eat. 46:37 The unclean and unclean the clean and the unclean. 46:39 So those were reiterated 46:41 in the first five books of the Bible. 46:44 So, the key element here is when anything is nailed to the cross 46:47 we're specifically as John is gonna point out here 46:50 that's the Bible is gonna point out. 46:52 We're specifically, talking about 46:53 the ceremonial laws. Right. 46:55 All those things that pointed to the work of Christ. Okay. 46:59 This law of and I like the way this is being pointed out. 47:03 Because according to the Law of Moses. 47:05 This Law of purification wasn't necessarily done away with. 47:10 Because purification still in the culture of setting 47:14 there is timeframe that the woman in those 47:17 who honor this law-- they consider, okay, 47:19 right after the time of birth 47:22 you have to give a period of time 47:23 before all that happens to the human body-- 47:26 to the female body now rights itself. 47:29 They call that the period of purification. 47:32 And so but this law here according to the Law of Moses. 47:36 The part of that law wasn't pointing just to Christ. 47:40 But simply saying in essence as it relates to Christ. 47:44 This is the holy child that was being talked about. 47:47 We'll find it even in--even in dietary research. Yeah. 47:51 And other things that what God has instituted, 47:54 what he had put in that law of that overall Laws of Moses. 47:58 But the different parts the dietary part 48:01 and some others are true and accurate 48:04 they hold still the principles hold to this day. 48:07 And while we don't think of them 48:08 as being the Law of Moses aspects 48:12 that we need to keep today the principles 48:14 carried forward right on into. 48:16 What we do that scientifically is proving out today. 48:20 So, you know, it's very important to understand 48:22 that and these weren't necessarily salvation of laws 48:27 at all none of the laws where intended to save us 48:31 but that we shall live our life in harmony with them. 48:33 Because it is best for us. Right. 48:36 So anyway let's look at another text 48:39 here Luke 24, verse 44. Okay 24:44 48:44 Speaks again of the Law of Moses. 48:50 Okay go for it. Okay it says, Then He said to them. 48:56 "And this is the great commission 48:58 according to Doctor Luke, as he recorded it. 49:01 "These are the words which I spoke to you 49:03 while I was still with you. 49:05 That all the things must be fulfilled which were written 49:08 in the Law of Moses and the prophets 49:10 and the Psalms concerning me." Uh-huh. 49:13 So Jesus is saying that these things will be fulfilled, 49:17 now that word fulfilled is what? They reached their fullness. 49:21 That's right. They're filled up. That's right. 49:24 These laws that were ceremonial 49:26 pointed to the coming of a Messiah, of Jesus 49:29 who would in fact John fulfill all the aspects of the Law. 49:34 And so, when the Jesus came and he went through 49:37 his life fulfilling these things 49:38 especially culminating at the cross 49:41 was there a need then to continue 49:43 to perform them afterward. 49:44 No. Not at all. 49:46 The whole book of Hebrews is dedicated 49:47 to the fact that Jesus is now our high priest according, 49:51 to the sanctuary that they had understood 49:53 the Tabernacle they've erected way back. 49:57 After, their deliverance from Egypt from slavery, uh, 50:00 so you have now the writer of Hebrews saying no. 50:05 we follow Jesus, He is the one that 50:07 we serve not those ceremonial laws. Right. 50:09 It's a clear breaking of that--anyway 50:12 this is what Jesus is speaking up here. 50:15 That those things were fulfilled. 50:16 And I like the way it's also written here, 50:19 written in the Law of Moses and the prophets 50:22 and the Psalms concerning me. 50:24 Because these books said so much about the Lord coming, 50:29 Isaiah 53 is one of the prophets. 50:31 You know, "He's led as lamb to the slaughter 50:34 yet he open not his mouth. 50:36 By his stripes, we're healed." 50:38 David and Psalmist talked about not one of his bones 50:41 would be broken, all these things. 50:42 Every aspect of this 50:44 and when people look back at these prophecies 50:47 you see them all being fulfilled in Christ. 50:50 All those verses now brought to nil 50:52 or no effect at all absolutely not, 50:54 because even to this very day 50:56 when we preach about Christ 50:58 we could say look at what David and the Psalmist says. 51:00 Look what Hosea says look what Isaiah the prophets says. 51:04 You know, the government shall be upon his shoulder. 51:06 Well, who was that? He rules all nations 51:08 with the rod of iron well who was that. 51:10 The Lamb of God that was sacrificed on the altar, 51:13 who was that? Who was that? Jesus on the cross. 51:15 That's right. The bread.... People figured 51:16 Christ death on the cross. 51:17 The bread of life. 51:19 Well, in the temple they had show bread 51:20 well who is that representing. 51:22 The bread of life. They had a water, 51:24 a laver where the priest washed his hands. 51:25 Well, who is that? Jesus the water of life. 51:28 They had a candle lobe of seven golden candle sticks. 51:31 Seven golden lamp stands. 51:32 Well, who was that Jesus the light of the world? Yeah. 51:35 All pointed to Christ. 51:37 Yet, you show us a few more. 51:39 I like the one here in Ephesians 2:15. 51:41 Well, let's go to that one. 51:43 Because that one is showing the Law of Moses. 51:44 And this is a very significant passage here. 51:47 When you look at Ephesians 2:15 51:48 Well, do you want to contrast side by side? 51:50 Yeah let's do. The Law of God. 51:52 Okay, if you look at Roman 7:22 it calls 51:55 the Law of God or specifically the Commandments the Law of God. 51:58 Do that. So, let's do that. 52:00 Because we wanna compare and contrast. 52:03 So, if you look at Roman 7, verse 22. That's right. 52:12 It reads, "For I delight in the law of God 52:16 according to the inward man." 52:18 So here he's referencing clearly the Law of God. 52:24 In fact if you look at verse 12 back up just little bit. 52:27 For the law to understand that which law he's talking about, 52:29 "For the law is holy 52:31 and the commandment holy and just and good." 52:35 So we need to ask what Law is Moses speaking 52:39 of here when he's talking about this law that's holy. 52:42 This Commandment that's holy just 52:43 and good the law of God. Well, it's the Ten Commandments. 52:46 And he makes that clear in the verse 7 that's the key. 52:48 Okay, back in verse 7. 52:50 What shall we say then? 52:51 Is the law sin? Certainly not, on the contrary 52:54 I would not have kept sin except through the law. 52:56 And not at all known of sin. 52:57 Not of known sin I am sorry. 52:59 Except of the law for I would not have known 53:01 covetousness unless the law had said you shall not covet. 53:04 And which commandment is that? Number ten. 53:06 The Tenth Commandment. So there's a clear reference 53:08 here to the Ten Commandments. 53:09 And so from verse 7 down to verse 22 53:13 which you talked about. 53:15 Paul is talking about the important nature of the Law. 53:18 He says that the law is spiritual 53:20 but I am carnal. That's right. 53:22 The law is holy I'm unholy. 53:25 I delight according to the law. 53:27 I delight after the law of God according to the inward man. 53:30 But there's another problem and he brings it to the picture. 53:33 Now his human nature another law warring in my members. 53:37 That's that human nature. 53:39 Well, and that's why if he speaks 53:40 a lot about the commandments here. Right. 53:42 It's the Roman's the letter to the Roman church in Rome. 53:46 The Romans really spends a lot of time on the law of God. 53:50 The Ten Commandments of God because 53:52 if you look at Romans 3:31. 53:55 You will see here where he writes, 53:57 "Do we then make void the law." 53:59 That is Commandments through faith. 54:00 Certainly, not on the contrary 54:03 we established the Law. That's right. 54:05 So, by faith now God writes that Law the Ten Commandments 54:10 in our heart and enables us to keep that law. 54:13 He never says we'll do away with it now do what you want. 54:16 He takes a law that was written on stone 54:18 and he writes on our heart and establishes it. 54:20 He establishes that there as a part 54:22 of our everyday life. Uh-huh 54:24 So, we can't make it make void by what Jesus did. 54:27 That's not what the law of God 54:28 the Ten Commandments was intended for. 54:30 But now if he had been speaking of the Law the ceremonial law. 54:35 He would be saying do we make void 54:36 the law through faith in Christ 54:39 who now has come the answer would have been, 54:41 yes. We do because now Jesus has come. 54:45 And, you know, what Paul was trying to get here. 54:47 This whole book of Romans is a book of righteousness. 54:50 Bringing Christ to the forefront. 54:52 But there was so much controversy because 54:54 the Jews where trying to force the gentiles 54:57 to be circumcised to keep 54:59 the traditions of the Law of Moses. 55:03 Which had been fulfilled in the life of Christ 55:05 which had been fulfilled in the crucifixion, 55:08 burial, and resurrection of Christ. 55:09 Everything pointed to the messiah 55:11 and everything fulfilled. 55:13 Let me give an example and look at Romans chapter 3, 55:16 Romans chapter 3 and how Paul is making these comparisons here 55:23 and he's referring to indeed verse 17, 55:26 "You're called a Jew and rest on the law. 55:30 And make your boast in God. 55:32 And know his will and approve the things 55:34 that are excellent being instructed of the law. 55:36 And a confident that you yourself 55:38 are a guide to the blind. 55:39 And light those who are in darkness. 55:41 And instructed of the foolish, to teach to the babes. 55:43 Having a form of knowledge and truth and the law. 55:46 You therefore, who teach 55:47 and now the do you not teach yourself. 55:50 You preach that a man should not steal. 55:52 Do you steal? You who will say do not commit a adultery. 55:54 Do you commit adultery? 55:56 You who are poor idols do you rob temples? 55:59 You who make your boast in Law 56:00 do you dishonor God through breaking the Law? 56:02 For the name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles 56:05 because of you as it is written." 56:07 Notice what it says, 56:09 for circumcision is indeed profitable 56:11 if you keep the Law." Now he's going to another Law. 56:14 He's speaking of the Commandments 56:16 on the top Ten Commandments 56:17 then he goes to the ceremonial law because 56:19 there's no Ten Commandments 56:20 that talks about circumcision. 56:22 But notice what he says, 56:23 "But if you are a breaker of the law 56:26 you're circumcision has become un-circumcision." 56:29 Here's what Paul is saying. 56:30 You're boasting and keeping the commandments of God. 56:33 But if you break the commandments of God, 56:36 circumcision or not doesn't even make a difference. 56:39 Does it? And we're what circumcised we must be saved. 56:41 He says it doesn't even matter 56:43 if you violate the commandments of God. 56:44 The highest law is the Decalogue. Exactly 56:47 It's the eternal law of God. Uh-huh. 56:48 And that we, will, find in other scriptures 56:50 that talk about the eternal nature of that Law. 56:53 By the way, it just so they understand 56:54 that was chapter 2 of Romans. That's right. 56:56 Not 3. See you better find as chapter 2. 56:59 Starting with verse 27. In verse 28 it says, 57:00 "for he is not a Jew who is one outwardly 57:03 nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh." 57:06 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly." 57:09 So it's about what's happening on the inside. 57:10 We're gonna cover more of this in the next program. 57:12 We're just getting started. We're just getting started. 57:14 We're so sorry that we have to build you up 57:16 to let you down so quickly but next week 57:19 when we come on again we're gonna be talking 57:20 about the Law of God. 57:22 And the Law of Moses contrasted 57:25 and here at House Calls we believe 57:26 the most important thing 57:28 is the lifting up Christ as the standard. 57:30 May Christ abide in your life 57:32 and have a great day in Christ. |
Revised 2014-12-17