Participants: Jim Reinking
Series Code: LDS
Program Code: LDS000003
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00:34 This is gonna be one of the most important
00:35 presentations I'm gonna be making 00:37 during the course of this seminars series. 00:40 It's a vital subject and certainly if you were 00:42 with us last night we discovered in our study 00:46 that a cosmic war involving the angelicas of heaven 00:49 broke out in the very presence of God himself. 00:53 And at the head of the forces of evil 00:55 was one of the highest ranking angels. 00:59 Remember, his name as studied it in Isaiah Chapter 14. 01:03 What was his name? 01:04 Lucifer, and in initial conflict Lucifer 01:07 and a third, we discovered from Revelation 12, 01:10 a third of the angels numbering in the tens 01:14 if not in the hundreds of millions were defeated 01:18 and forced to continue their struggle here on planet earth. 01:21 Where they usurp dominion over the planet from the human race. 01:25 God had a problem. 01:29 For now humanity was infected with the spirit of the evil one 01:34 instead to remain true to him 01:36 they had rebelled and accepted Satan's lies. 01:40 And in His love God sort to find a means 01:45 to not only defeat the forces of the evil 01:48 but to save mankind from the ravages of rebellion. 01:52 His solution was to send a powerful magnificent being 01:56 to our planet to engage and defeat the forces of evil. 02:01 And we find a description 02:03 on this extraordinary being in the Book of Revelation. 02:07 In Revelation Chapter 1 and beginning with verse 12 02:10 we're gonna move through verse 18. 02:12 As he appears to John envision 02:15 you will find that in the New Testament, 02:17 the New Testament page 189, 189, Revelation 1 02:24 and as I said we're gonna begin with verse 12 02:27 moving right on down to verse 18. 02:30 And as very typical to Book of Revelation 02:32 we're gonna find that the language is prophetic 02:35 and in many ways symbolic. 02:38 But this is how it reads. 02:39 It says "Then I turned to see the voice 02:41 that was speaking with me. 02:43 And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands 02:48 and in the middle of the lampstands 02:49 I saw one like a son of man, 02:52 clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, 02:54 and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 02:58 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow 03:02 and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 03:06 His feet were like burnished bronze, 03:09 when it has been made to glow in a furnace, 03:12 and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 03:15 And in His right hand He held seven stars, 03:18 and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword 03:22 and His face was like 03:23 the sun shining in its strength." 03:25 I mean this is quite a description isn't it. 03:28 And then it says verse 17 "When I saw Him, 03:30 I fell at His feet like a dead man. 03:32 And He placed His right hand on me, saying, 03:34 'Do not be afraid I am the first and the last, 03:37 and the living one and I was dead, behold 03:42 I am alive forevermore, 03:44 and I have the keys of death and of Hades." 03:48 That is of the grave. 03:50 "I have the keys of death and of Hades." 03:54 Well, who is this being in whose overpowering presence 03:58 John felt prostrate like a dead man. 04:02 Well, the answer tonight will give us 04:03 a thrilling new insight into God's immeasurable love. 04:07 For you see it-- certainly tonight is 04:10 one of love it is through a revelation of God's love 04:14 that the race was to be rescued from the power of the evil one. 04:19 So let us talk about that love, shall we. 04:22 You know, it cost us something to love. 04:24 That always cost us something to love. 04:27 There's always a price to be paid 04:29 when we truly love someone, 04:30 genuine love is a giving of ourselves to another 04:34 and to give ourselves 04:36 to another will costs us something. 04:39 Love is willing to sacrifice, willing to endure hardship, 04:44 dwell in pain for the sake of another, 04:47 as the Apostle Paul put it 04:48 so very beautifully in 1 Corinthians 13. 04:51 Love bears all things, believes all things, 04:55 hopes all things, endures all things, 04:59 love never fails. 05:02 But love must go beyond mere words 05:04 which can be meaningless and empty. 05:07 Love always reveals itself in practical 05:11 and meaningful ways. 05:13 And so we asked the question, 05:16 what did it costs God to love us? 05:19 Remember what Jesus said in John 3:16 05:23 "For God so loved the world, 05:24 that He gave His only begotten Son, 05:26 that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, 05:29 but have eternal life." 05:32 My friend, God's love is measured 05:34 by His gift to us in Jesus. 05:37 And we can appreciate God's love for us 05:40 and that's break the power the evil one over us 05:43 only as we comprehend 05:45 and accept this gift of His love. 05:47 His love was and continues to be manifest 05:51 to us through His Son in giving us His Son 05:55 to come to this earth to live and die among us. 05:58 He was really giving us Himself. 06:01 Who is this Jesus? 06:04 Who is this person who was willing 06:05 to die that we might have life? 06:08 And if you think you've heard it all before you want 06:11 to take a new fresh look with me tonight. 06:14 And interestingly we're going to begin as we get 06:16 to the heart of our subject now. 06:18 We're gonna begin in the Old Testament in the Book of Micah. 06:22 I invite you turn you to turn to the Old Testament page 660. 06:26 Micah 5:2, as we come to Micah 5, 06:32 Micah towards the end of the Old Testament. 06:36 We're going to, beginning with Micah, 06:38 we're going to be looking at a series of prophecies. 06:41 We call them messianic prophecies 06:44 that are embedded in the Old Testament. 06:48 And when we talk about messianic prophecies, 06:50 we are talking about specifically 06:51 those prophecies in the Old Testament 06:54 that predicted the coming of Jesus. 06:57 In fact, our word Christ really is the word Messiah, 07:03 Messiah the anointed one. 07:05 So in actuality when we talk about Jesus Christ 07:08 we actually are saying Jesus the Messiah. 07:13 As we come the Micah 5:2 it says 07:15 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 07:18 too little to be among the clans of Judah, 07:22 from you one will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. 07:26 His goings forth are from long ago, 07:29 the days of eternity." 07:32 That's what the prophecy tells us. 07:35 Now I remind you, I remind you of the story 07:38 of how the wise men came from the east. 07:40 Remember, they were following that star 07:42 they have been studying the prophecies 07:45 and they had comprehended 07:47 that there was going to be a new born king. 07:50 That's why they were following that star. 07:53 And eventually that star led them to Jerusalem 07:55 and then it disappeared. 07:57 And so they came into the city 07:58 and they were asking the question where is He. 08:02 And, you know, King Herod finally got word 08:04 that they were these fascinating individuals 08:08 from the east that were creating quite a stir in Jerusalem 08:12 with the questions about where is the new born king 08:14 and they asked him the question, 08:16 where is he to be born. 08:19 And Herod turned to his counselors 08:23 and some of them were Jewish counselors 08:25 and they referred to this specific prophecy. 08:29 They said the prophecy said He will be born in Bethlehem. 08:32 And that's exactly where we found 08:35 but there is something else that is important 08:36 as we're looking at this prophecy 08:39 and it tells us something about where He came from. 08:42 Notice, what it says here. 08:44 "His goings forth are from long ago, 08:46 from the days of" what? 08:50 The days of eternity." 08:54 Now that's just kind of may be a little bit difficult for us 08:56 to wrap our minds around, isn't it, 08:58 this idea of coming from the days of eternity. 09:02 I don't know if you are like me 09:03 that I have much easier time comprehending forever 09:08 into the future that is you'll never die, always existing. 09:13 It's harder for me to grasp the idea 09:17 that there is something or someone in this case 09:21 in the universe that has always existed. 09:25 And I think we struggle with that 09:26 because in our existence everything seems 09:29 to have a beginning, right. 09:32 But nevertheless when we think about it philosophically 09:35 at least we know that there's had 09:37 a there's has to be something that has always been. 09:41 Here, we talked about this a little bit on Friday night 09:43 when we talked about the origins of the universe. 09:45 If we go back in time to when there was nothing 09:48 you can't get something out of nothing. 09:52 There had to be something that was always there. 09:54 It just has to be. 09:55 Science doesn't really have an answer for that 09:58 but the Bible gives us the answer, doesn't it. 10:00 God has always been 10:02 and, my friend, Jesus has always been. 10:06 And we're gonna be looking at part 10:07 at in part again tonight at the preexistence of Jesus. 10:11 And why I say preexistence? 10:13 We're talking about His existence 10:15 before He was born as that baby in Bethlehem 10:19 when He came to this earth. 10:21 It's a fascinating story as we take a look at it. 10:24 Turn with me to Isaiah 7, the Old Testament page 492, 10:30 492 Isaiah 7:14, 10:34 Isaiah is often described as the gospel writer 10:38 of the Old Testament. 10:41 And that's because much of the Book of Isaiah we'll find 10:45 in this book many of these messianic prophecies 10:49 referring to the coming of Jesus. 10:51 And we find one right here 10:52 will be in Isaiah several times tonight 10:55 but we find one of those messianic prophecies 10:58 right here Isaiah 7:14 where it says 11:01 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign Behold, 11:06 a virgin will be with child and bear a son, 11:09 and she will call His name Immanuel." 11:13 Now, we know for certain that these prophecies of Isaiah 11:19 were given 700 years before the coming of Jesus. 11:25 And that was so great fascinating 11:27 as you look at prophecy, were among the things 11:30 that we discover here is that it predicts 11:32 the virgin birth of Jesus 700 years before it happened. 11:38 And it also speaks of a very unique name 11:41 in association with Jesus 11:43 and that is His name would be called Immanuel. 11:46 There are number of names actually associated with Jesus 11:50 as you look at it scripturally 11:51 but this is really an important and vital one. 11:55 Let's compare this passage to Matthew Chapter 1 11:59 that's gonna be the New Testament and page 1. 12:04 Matthew 1:22, 23 12:10 because this prophecy is referred 12:12 to right here in Matthew 1 12:14 and we're given some important insights 12:18 into the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. 12:22 So Matthew 1 and beginning with verse 22 12:25 where it says "Now all this took place 12:27 to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord 12:29 through the prophet Behold, the virgin shall be 12:33 with child and shall bear a Son, 12:35 and they shall call His name" what? "Immanuel." 12:40 There is the reference. 12:41 "Which translated means, 'God with us.'" 12:48 I say it again there are some interesting names 12:51 associated with the Lord Jesus Christ. 12:53 But this is a unique one as you take a look at it 12:56 because, you know, and the meaning behind the name. 13:00 You know, names particularly in a Jewish economy 13:04 had very deep meanings. 13:07 When a, a Jewish couple when a man and woman anticipated 13:12 the birth particularly at the first born son 13:15 they very carefully considered the name 13:18 that they chose for that first born boy. 13:21 And they often would choose a name with meanings 13:25 that represented the hopes of those parents 13:27 for that child and for its future life. 13:30 I think probably we all of us gone through this. 13:32 I, you know, my wife and I have been married 13:35 some 12 years before we decided 13:37 either we're going to have children or we're not. 13:40 You know we just went put it off. 13:42 You know all the schooling we have to go through 13:45 and getting establishing the ministry 13:48 and but here we found ourselves in our early 30s 13:51 my wife is a couple of years older than I 13:53 so she was beginning to reach here mid 30s 13:57 and we knew either we're gonna have children 13:59 or it just wasn't going, we're just, we're gonna do it. 14:02 And so we made that decision. 14:03 And it was a wonderful decision. 14:05 And it was one of the best decisions that we probably 14:07 have made outside our commitment to Jesus Christ. 14:11 And I remember as we found that Donna 14:14 was expecting our first born 14:16 she had an amniocentesis she is little bit older. 14:19 And you know they want to be sure 14:22 that the child was gonna be all right 14:24 and so we knew it was gonna be a boy 14:27 and so we begin to go through the name books. 14:31 Anybody else gone through the name books 14:33 or this process so you know what I'm talking about. 14:36 So we have got number of name, name books 14:38 and we were going through all of these names. 14:40 And we're looking only name that sounds good 14:43 but we're looking at the meanings of the name. 14:46 And finally, my wife and I agreed that we were 14:50 going to name him David which means beloved. 14:55 And we took this solemn oath 14:57 that it was gonna be David not Dave, 15:00 not Davy it's gonna be David. 15:02 Now taking into account that in time 15:04 you know many of his classmates so called him Dave or Davy 15:09 but he is still David to us. 15:11 And we chose for a middle name that name Michael 15:15 which means who is like God. 15:19 Okay, so names, names to us are important. 15:23 In fact, we ask what is in, the name. 15:26 Well, the name comes to stand for the character 15:29 and the personality of the individual, right 15:34 and how true that has to be 15:35 when we talk about this name as it relates to Jesus. 15:39 We find two important things in this name Immanuel. 15:42 First of all, it identifies who He is. 15:44 It identifies Him as God and it identifies 15:48 the purpose for which He would come 15:49 that is He would come to be with us. 15:52 God was not satisfied to love us from afar. 15:56 This was a part of the divine plan that Jesus would come. 16:01 He who was one with God to come 16:05 to represent the God had as He came to this planet 16:10 and to reveal to us what God was really like. 16:16 And that's vitally important as you think about it 16:19 to know who God really is like. 16:21 Take a look at Colossians 2:9 16:23 and you have been looking at your notes 16:25 you know we are gonna covering some territory 16:27 in the meaning tonight, aren't we. 16:29 In Colossians 2:9 it says, of Jesus 16:32 "For in him dwelleth 16:33 all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." 16:39 In bodily form we call this the incarnation. 16:44 This process by which God in the person of Jesus 16:49 took upon himself our humanity, this was, 16:56 you know, this was well part of the divine plan 16:58 in which God determined to identify himself 17:02 very specifically with us in our need. 17:06 And in the midst of this tragedy 17:08 that it overcome us this matter of sin. 17:12 And I would add to this Hebrews Chapter 1 17:15 turn with me to the New Testament page 169 to Hebrews 1 17:21 and we are gonna be looking at verses 1-3. 17:26 Hebrews 1, we're gonna find this 17:30 to be a fascinating book in nights to come. 17:34 It's a book I find that many Christians 17:36 really haven't spent much time in 17:38 but here we are, 17:39 we are looking at Hebrews Chapter 1 17:40 as I said we're gonna be looking at verses 1-3. 17:44 Where it says, "God, after He spoke long ago 17:47 to the fathers in the prophets 17:50 in many portions and in many ways, 17:52 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son." 17:58 And it's true. 17:59 I mean we have the record of the prophets 18:01 and the things that will reveal to them by God. 18:04 That's what we're studying as we open 18:06 the Word of God night by night. 18:07 But it says in verse 2 18:09 that God now has spoken to us in His Son. 18:11 That is that God has a message for us in the person of Jesus 18:18 when He came to this planet of ours. 18:21 And it goes on to speak of Jesus 18:23 "Whom He appointed heir of all things, 18:25 through whom also He made the world. 18:28 And He is the radiance of His glory." 18:31 This is speaking of the relationship 18:33 between the Father and the Son. 18:35 Jesus "is the radiance of His glory 18:38 and the exact representation of His nature." 18:45 And I want to prattle little bit at this matter 18:47 of the relationship between God 18:50 as we call Him God the Father and God the Son." 18:55 He is the radiance of His glory and immediate illustration 18:59 that comes to mind is that of the sun. 19:02 The sun, you know, some 93 million miles away 19:06 from this planet traveling at a speed of light 19:08 186,000 miles a second. 19:10 It takes a beam of like eight and a half minutes 19:13 to reach the earth 19:14 ones it leaves that, that heavenly body. 19:17 So that is a long distance out there. 19:20 Now here is the question 19:21 how do we know that the sun is out there. 19:25 That's not tricky question. 19:28 How do we know that it's out there 19:31 because it emanates light, right. 19:35 It provides light. 19:37 And further more, light radiates 19:40 particularly in the summer time heat. 19:44 As that ray stands in relationship to the sun 19:49 so Jesus stands in relationship to the Father. 19:54 He is the radiance of His glory. 19:58 He is the Revelation of the person of God. 20:02 He is the Revelation of what is 20:04 within the heart of God towards us as sinners. 20:08 And that is the message it's a vital one. 20:12 In 1 Timothy 3:16 its says of Jesus 20:14 "He was revealed in the flesh." 20:18 He came and took our humanity upon Himself 20:20 and as I mentioned we call this the incarnation, 20:23 the process by which God took upon Himself 20:26 the lamentations of our humanity. 20:29 And I don't think you and I can be really begun 20:31 to appreciate what God was willing to do, 20:35 God in giving his Son and God the Son as we know Him. 20:40 What it meant for them to put into place 20:45 the plan of salvation that required Jesus 20:48 to come down here to this earth 20:51 and to take our form upon Him. 20:54 Probably the best illustration I could share with you 20:57 is the story about Marilyn Laszlo 21:00 and that may not be name that your acquainted with 21:01 but Marilyn and this is story 21:03 that happened just in recent times. 21:04 But Marilyn as a young person had this burning desire 21:09 to get involved in missionary work. 21:12 And she made the determination 21:14 I'm not sure how that all came about. 21:16 She made the determination 21:17 that she was going to go specifically 21:19 to this epic one tribe in Papua New Guinea 21:25 and she spent the next 20 years among this primitive people. 21:31 She had this burning desire 21:32 to share the love of God with them. 21:34 And in the process she determined 21:36 that she was going to put the Bible, 21:39 translate the Bible into their language. 21:42 Now that was gonna be a tough thing to do 21:44 because among the other things she had to do 21:46 she had to learn the language and furthermore 21:50 they didn't have a written, they have the alphabet, 21:54 they didn't have a written language. 21:56 She had to spend time to develop a written language 21:59 which also met that if she was going to translate 22:02 the Bible into that, that language 22:05 she was going to have to teach them 22:07 how to read that language. 22:09 Think of, think of the dedication 22:12 and the commitment that, that meant for her. 22:15 In fact it was in 1990 that it was published 22:21 the Bible in the language of this people. 22:23 But think what she was, 22:25 think about what she was willing to do. 22:27 She was willing uproot herself from her culture. 22:30 From, you know, from the United States 22:32 she was willing to go 22:34 and live in a very primitive society. 22:39 And I tell you, that's a represents our power 22:42 for motivation doesn't it. 22:44 But my friend, that is just a faith representation 22:48 of what Jesus did for us when He left the courts of glory 22:52 and came down to this earth. 22:56 He did that of course because He loves us. 23:00 Now while we are still in Hebrews in chapter 1 23:03 and if you've missed and watch your place 23:06 it's a New Testament page 169 we find in Hebrews 1:5 23:11 it says "For to which of the angels did He ever say, 23:15 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You?' 23:19 And again, 'I will be a Father to Him 23:21 and He shall be a Son to Me?'" 23:25 Now this idea of Jesus being the only begotten of the Father. 23:30 This phrase we find several times in the New Testament. 23:33 This idea of the only begotten Son 23:36 that He is the Son, He God is the Father 23:40 is one that has been confusing for lot of people. 23:44 I have to mean even in my early ministry 23:46 I still was pondering this even though 23:47 I knew in the Greek the word actually meant the unique one 23:51 and He is very unique but this idea that began 23:54 because just a suffice reading of it seems 23:57 to give the impression that He had a beginning of days 24:02 and there is some take that position. 24:05 But then as I, you know in time it began 24:09 to become clearly this is talking about 24:12 when Jesus came to this earth and was incarnated. 24:17 When He was born that helpless baby in Bethlehem 24:22 taking our human nature upon Himself. 24:24 He was begotten of the Father in that sense. 24:28 And that just pulled up on 24:30 you know it just cleared up the whole issue for me. 24:33 And that's what it is talking about 24:35 because as we already read in Micah 5:2 24:38 He comes from the days of eternity 24:40 I mean that's the dimension of time 24:42 without beginning or end. 24:45 Because again as we know He is always existed. 24:49 Another text I would share with you is here on the screen 24:52 Philippians Chapter 2 and beginning with verse 5. 24:56 As we try to take some measurement 24:59 of what it meant for Jesus to come. 25:02 It says "Have this attitude in yourselves 25:05 which was also in Christ Jesus, 25:07 who, although He existed in the form of God, 25:10 did not regard equality with God 25:12 a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself." 25:15 Just think about that phrase. 25:16 Jesus was willing empty Himself empty Himself 25:19 of all of those prerogatives that were His by nature. 25:24 Those prerogatives that have belong to God alone. 25:27 And it goes on say, 25:28 "Taking the form of a bondservant, 25:32 and being made in the likeness of men." 25:37 Interesting term, in the likeness of men 25:39 because there is something again very unique about Jesus. 25:43 Yes, He had our humanity. 25:46 He took our humanity but He was human 25:50 but yet He was God. 25:54 So it took "the likeness of men. 25:56 And being found in appearance as a man, 25:58 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient 26:00 to the point of death, even death on a cross." 26:06 Oh, my friend, there is sense 26:07 in which the incarnation of Jesus 26:09 must always remain a mystery for how can we explain 26:14 how the all powerful eternal God 26:16 could take upon Himself the lamentations of human flesh. 26:21 But that's exactly what He did. 26:23 Think of what He was willing to do out of His love for us. 26:26 Think of it being conceived in the womb of Mary 26:29 that nine-month gestation period as His human body was forming. 26:34 This is God and then to be born to be that 26:39 and as I've said several times that help us little baby. 26:43 You know did He need to have diapers changed? 26:46 Do they have diapers back then? 26:48 Well, he must have something. 26:51 And to be as totally depended upon His parents 26:54 as any other little baby this was God. 26:57 And again we ask the question what was the motivation 27:01 that God will be willing to do that for you and for me? 27:04 And, my friend, it is in one word it is out of love 27:08 that He was willing to do that. 27:11 And then to grow and mature and then finally you know, 27:16 finally they took Him and crucified Him 27:19 and put Him to death. 27:22 It just kind of takes your breath away 27:23 when you begin to really think about it. 27:25 So how far is it from sitting in throne 27:28 the majesty of the universe 27:30 to be in that little baby in Bethlehem? 27:33 Well, my friend, it is immeasurable 27:36 and yet it is the measure of God's love 27:38 for the human race. 27:40 It is the measure of God's love for you and for me. 27:45 My friend, nobody has ever loved us 27:47 as fully and as completely as God has loved us. 27:51 And its humbling its, its breathtaking, 27:54 its hard to really wrap on minds around that God, 27:58 the eternal one, all powerful one 28:01 that He would love me that I would manner 28:04 that He would be willing to sacrifice 28:06 and give off Himself as only He could do 28:09 and as He has done and continues to do. 28:13 I'll tell you its understanding that, 28:15 that wins so many hearts over 28:20 because as I have been saying it's a revelation of love. 28:23 Take a look at John 1, the New Testament page 71. 28:27 John 1:18. 28:31 Another interesting, I will tell you the Bible 28:33 is just full of interesting truths and revelations. 28:38 And one of the things we're gonna be discovering 28:40 and may be you have discovered already. 28:42 This book is such a dynamic book. 28:46 You can spend a lifetime studying this book 28:48 and yet there will be new, new answers and new revelations 28:53 that will come as the Holy Spirit 28:56 opens our understanding about what God, 29:01 who God is and what He has done for us. 29:03 Here in John 1:18, 29:05 we find this verse, this statement. 29:09 "No one has seen God at any time, 29:11 the only begotten God 29:13 who is in the bosom of the Father, 29:16 He has explained Him." 29:19 You see because of sin we were separated from God. 29:24 And sin, you know, sin always does us, 29:27 sin always separates. 29:30 And so God became, you know, I share with you 29:33 in Genesis Chapter 3 29:35 when Adam and Eve sinned the first thing 29:37 that we'd know that took place is their whole view about God 29:40 went through a fundamental change. 29:42 When we remember when they heard God 29:44 coming into the garden in the cool part of the day 29:47 they found themselves running from Him. 29:49 They would overcome with fear. 29:53 And so God, you know, this whole misapprehension 29:57 of who God is, 29:58 God seems so distant and so far removed. 30:03 And that's one of the fundamental reasons 30:05 why God had to act to reveal and Satan was throwing 30:09 all of these lies out of who God was, 30:12 all of these misrepresentations about God 30:15 that He was a stern judge and He was harsh 30:18 and all of these things and arbitrary. 30:22 And so part of why Jesus came was 30:24 to set the records straight about who really God is 30:28 and what He is like and how He relates to you 30:31 and how He relates to me as marvelous revelation. 30:36 "No one has seen God at any time the only begotten God 30:40 who is in the bosom of the Father." 30:42 That's speaking of the intimate relationship 30:46 between God the Father as we know Him and God the Son. 30:51 "Has explained Him." 30:52 In the King James Version you will find 30:54 that it says "The only begotten Son." 30:57 And I'm gonna share a little bit up with you 30:58 about the Greek and Hebrew. 31:00 You know, back and they didn't have xerox machines 31:02 they didn't have printers they had scribes. 31:07 This was a profession that was dedicated 31:09 producing documents in a secular setting 31:12 and in a religious setting, 31:14 the scribes were used to copy the scriptures, 31:18 the words of the prophets. 31:21 And so what we really have 31:22 when we go back to look the original languages 31:25 what we really have our copies of copies of copies. 31:29 And in the process of time, inadvertently no matter 31:32 how carefully they were encopying the scriptures 31:36 inadvertently and they were some changes, 31:38 there were some differences not changes, 31:40 they were some differences 31:41 as you compare some of the manuscripts. 31:44 And I will tell you when you go through this 31:46 it doesn't fundamentally affect the message 31:50 that we find in the Bible whatsoever. 31:52 And this is gonna be good illustration of it. 31:54 Five hundred years ago when the King James translators 31:57 where going through this text 31:58 as they were seeking to translate it. 32:00 The very best manuscripts of that day 32:03 seem to point to the fact that the word in the Greek 32:06 was probably originally the word huios 32:09 that we translate son and so it went 32:11 into the King James Version as the only begotten son. 32:16 However in 500 years we have made further discoveries 32:21 of other manuscripts that are considered 32:24 to be even more accurate and in those manuscripts 32:28 the word is the word theos the word we translate God 32:33 our word theology comes from this, 32:35 from this word God. 32:36 It's the study of God 32:39 that's the theology is the study of God. 32:42 And so that's what the New American Standard translates 32:44 it the only begotten God that says something 32:52 because only He who was one with God 32:56 in that you know not only new God 32:58 but He was God could come 33:01 to explain or reveal Him to us, right. 33:08 Now could have angels been sent to this earth 33:11 to reveal something towards about God, 33:13 would they have anything to say towards about who God is? 33:16 Of course, they you know, they didn't have Him, 33:19 they know Him face to face. 33:21 They certainly would have something to reveal 33:23 but they're not one with God in the sense 33:25 that Jesus is one with God. 33:29 So whether it's to be only begotten God 33:31 or the only begotten Son, 33:32 does it make a fundamental difference. 33:35 No we know its talking about Jesus 33:37 whichever whatever term that you use. 33:40 But again the point is only He who was one with God to come 33:44 and really reveal what was in the heart of God 33:47 that's the point that we are making. 33:50 And I will take you on to John 14:8, 9 on the screen. 33:56 Where it says "Thomas said to Him." 33:59 Remember Thomas we call him doubting Thomas 34:01 but "Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, show us the Father, 34:04 and it is enough for us.' 34:07 And 'Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, 34:10 and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? 34:13 He who has seen Me has'" seen whom. 34:17 "Has seen the Father how do you say, 34:19 'Show us the Father'"? 34:21 Again it's an understanding of the fundamental mission 34:25 that brought Jesus to this earth. 34:28 "For God so loved the world 34:29 that He sent his only begotten son." 34:34 He was a divine emissary sent from heaven 34:38 to this earth with a message to all of us. 34:42 And Jesus said it "if you've seen Me 34:44 you have seen the Father." 34:46 If you want to know what the God the Father 34:48 is like my friend, 34:49 get acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ. 34:52 And if you know anything about Jesus 34:53 you know something about what is within the heart of God. 34:56 Because what we see revealed in Jesus 34:58 is love and compassion and mercy and tenderness, 35:02 patience and kindness, 35:05 right, is that what we find in Jesus. 35:08 My friend, that comes straight out of the heart of God. 35:12 God is exactly like that which means 35:19 that it could have been God the Father 35:22 as we know Him that came to the earth 35:25 and God the Son, Jesus that remained in heaven 35:28 and if that had happened would the Revelation have been 35:31 any different than what it is in the person of Jesus? 35:36 Of course, not 35:39 because it's all about who He is. 35:42 And my friend, if we truly understand this 35:46 whatever doubts we have about God in His attitude 35:49 of towards us are to be cleared this, 35:53 this shadow of misapprehension about God 35:55 ought to be removed when we truly understand 35:58 the relationship between the Father and the Son 36:01 and the divine mission 36:03 that brought Jesus to this planet. 36:07 And by the way remember the title of the subject 36:10 Revelation Cosmic Warrior. 36:12 Who would the Revelations Cosmic Warrior be? 36:15 The son of God. 36:17 Remember, I mean again we were just saying last night 36:20 this whole mess begin in heaven, 36:22 this conflict broke out there in heaven, 36:24 this rebellion, this sin. 36:26 It came down to this earth. 36:28 It's a God to human race. 36:31 He was defeated in heaven. 36:32 He was forced out, He was forced down 36:34 to this earth but my friend, 36:36 God was not content just to let this thing play out 36:41 without His intervention. 36:43 God stepped right in the middle of the situation 36:47 and that is one of the fundamental reasons 36:48 why Jesus came to this earth to deal with it on our behalf. 36:54 And in the end to bring an end to it. 36:56 My friend, He was defeated in heaven 36:58 and let me tell you it is a given 37:02 because of the victory that Jesus gained 37:04 at the Cross of Cavalry 37:05 He is going to be defeated 37:07 in the end here upon this planet. 37:09 Amen. 37:10 And so Jesus came, came to reveal 37:13 you know again to set a record straight about who God was. 37:17 Jesus came to remove, remove this misapprehension 37:21 about God this shadow 37:23 that keeps from really understanding 37:25 who God is and He came and He removed the shadow 37:30 by the Revelation of God's incomprehensible love. 37:35 And my friend, its promise to come in our hearts 37:37 and remove that shadow misapprehension 37:39 about who God really is. 37:41 He will do that for us. 37:43 And that's why it says in 2 Corinthians 5:19 37:46 "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself." 37:50 And let me tell you God took the first steps. 37:52 Sin had separated us 37:54 God stepped right into the breach. 37:56 He said this is not going to stand. 37:59 I'm gonna intervene in this whole situation. 38:02 You guess because remember He could not let you and me go. 38:07 Amen. 38:10 It's fantastic when you really begin to take, 38:13 again the measure of it. 38:15 And so much that could be really said about this 38:17 and yet we just fall short of really, 38:20 you know, I think we'll spend the ages of eternity, 38:24 you know, deepening our understanding 38:27 of what God has done for us. 38:29 Take a look at Isaiah 40 the Old Testament page 513, 38:35 513, we're gonna be looking 38:36 at another messianic prophecy right here. 38:40 Isaiah 40, I told you we're gonna be in Isaiah 38:43 several times tonight 38:46 and this is an interesting prophecy 38:48 as you will see the 40th chapter that we're coming to, 38:54 and verse 3 this is what we find. 38:56 It says "A voice is calling, 38:59 'Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness, 39:02 make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.'" 39:07 Now I want you take a look at the word LORD. 39:10 Take a look at it. 39:12 Notice that the letters are all uppercase. 39:17 Whenever in the Old Testament 39:19 in the New American Standard or in the King James 39:22 when you see the word LORD written that way 39:26 know that in the original language it would be Hebrew 39:29 the word is actually the word Jehovah, 39:32 one of the unique names associated with God. 39:36 Probably, better pronounced, Jehovah. 39:40 So again it's talking about 39:42 "A voice is heard, clear the way for Jehovah," 39:47 His voice is heard in the wilderness. 39:49 "Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God." 39:52 Compare this now to John 1 39:55 we will find this in the New Testament page 71, 39:57 page 71, John 1:21. 40:03 Now as we come to this chapter and to this text 40:06 the background of this is a story of John the Baptist 40:10 and I will tell you this spirit filled man preaching a message 40:15 of repentance with creating quite a stir 40:19 among the people of God. 40:21 And finally a delegation was set by the leaders 40:25 there in Jerusalem out into the wilderness 40:27 they saw John the Baptist out 40:28 and they had some questions for him. 40:30 Who are you anyway and what you're about? 40:33 And I want you to notice how he responded 40:36 as we come to verse 23, he said. 40:39 This is what he said to them 40:40 "I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, 40:43 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' 40:45 as Isaiah the prophet said." 40:47 John clearly understood that his mission 40:50 was a fulfillment of this prophecy 40:52 that we just read in Isaiah 40. 40:56 And then we drop on down 40:57 in context of verse 27 because it goes on. 41:00 He bears witness to them 41:03 "It is He who comes after me, 41:05 the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." 41:09 It says "These things took place in Bethany 41:11 beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 41:14 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, 41:17 'Behold, the Lamb of God 41:18 who takes away the sin of the world.' 41:20 This is He on behalf of whom I said, 41:24 'After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, 41:28 for He existed before me.' 41:30 I did not recognize Him, 41:32 but so that He might be manifested to Israel, 41:36 I came baptizing in water." 41:39 Clearly John when he saw Jesus 41:43 he recognized the uniqueness of Jesus. 41:46 He recognized Him as the Lamb of God. 41:50 He recognized that this was the reason 41:52 why He was sent with this message to His people. 41:56 It was to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. 41:59 And when you put these two verses together 42:03 my friend, it clearly identifies Jesus as Jehovah God. 42:09 Right, absolutely. 42:11 A name which we usually associate with God the Father 42:14 that often these names are actually 42:16 used interchangeably in the Godhead. 42:20 He is Jehovah God that came down to this earth 42:26 as we have already noted 42:28 on this divine mission on our behalf. 42:31 In Hebrews 2:14 it says 42:34 "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, 42:37 He Himself likewise also partook of the same, 42:40 that through death He might render powerless him 42:43 who had the power of death, that is, the devil." 42:47 And my friend, this is one of the fundamental reasons 42:49 another that is given to us in the scriptures 42:52 why Jesus took our humanity upon Himself. 42:54 It was for the purpose of the fact 42:56 that as a representative of the human race 43:00 that He would die as the divine substitute in our place. 43:06 He will take the consequences of sin upon Himself 43:09 so that we might have life. 43:11 But the problem was God 43:13 in His divinity cannot die, right. 43:19 God cannot die. 43:21 It is again one of the fundamental reasons 43:23 why He took our humanity upon Himself. 43:27 It was in our humanity that He offered up 43:31 His life as a sacrifice on Cavalry. 43:35 This is really fantastic stuff 43:37 that has been revealed to us in the Word of God. 43:39 And then I take you back to John 1 back 43:41 because we were there just on Friday night 43:44 in the different context as you may remember. 43:47 But in John 1 it says that 43:48 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, 43:51 and the Word was God. 43:53 He was in the beginning with God." 43:55 And then it says "All things came into being by Him," by Him 44:01 "and apart from Him nothing came into being 44:03 that has come into being." 44:05 And remember, we dropped down to verse 14 44:06 as we are gonna do again 44:08 because it identifies who the word is this, 44:11 you know, all things came into be by Him it says. 44:15 It says "And the Word became flesh, 44:16 and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, 44:19 glory as of the only begotten from the Father, 44:22 full of grace and truth." 44:24 And currently we understand that the word was Jesus. 44:29 But verse 3 again indicates that all things 44:32 came into being by Him. 44:35 And apart from Him nothing came into being into existence 44:40 that exists which means He is the Creator, 44:44 that's the point we made on Friday night. 44:47 It means that He is the source of our life 44:52 which helps us to comprehend how it could be 44:55 that the forfeiture of that life on the Cross of Cavalry 44:59 could stand in substitution for the billions 45:01 that would inhabit this planet. 45:04 My friend, it was not a mere man 45:06 that hung upon the Cross of Cavalry it was God. 45:10 It was He who was the source of all life 45:13 that you led up Himself upon the Cross of Cavalry. 45:16 That is powerful, isn't it? Amen. 45:18 The life giver yielding up His life for us 45:22 and again the depths of love that it speaks of in 1 John 3:8. 45:28 It says "The Son of God appeared for this purpose, 45:31 that He might destroy the works of the devil." 45:36 Again on they are just really we could spend a couple hours 45:40 really going into this even into greater detail 45:43 looking on what the Bible reveals to us 45:46 about why Jesus came. 45:48 But it is fundamental He came to destroy 45:50 the works of the devil. 45:53 Satan has come into this world and he sowed all of these, 45:57 you know, the seeds of sin 45:59 and disruption and rebellion upon this planet. 46:02 Jesus followed, He came to this planet 46:06 and He sowed the seeds of love, 46:08 than of truth and of revelation of who God really is. 46:11 And my friend, the consequences of what Jesus 46:15 has done for us had been reverberating down 46:18 through the ages of time to our own day 46:22 and will continue I believe to do so 46:24 down to the ages of eternity. 46:29 Let me take you to Hebrews 3 46:30 you're gonna find this to be an interesting passage. 46:32 Hebrew, Hebrews 3 the New Testament page 170 46:37 beginning with verse 14. 46:38 We're gonna be looking at verses 14-17. 46:42 Now, you know, I think most of us 46:43 know this,by the way when we study the Bible 46:47 there are just some verses they're so clear, 46:49 you know, the gems in truth 46:50 you can just pick them up 46:52 and then there're other passages of scriptures 46:54 you have to do a little bit of digging. 46:57 You have to, you know, examine it 46:59 in light of, what the Bible has taught 47:00 and I tell you when you dig and really find out 47:04 what really is been taught often. 47:06 You know just these wonderful revelations 47:08 and I think you will find this to be one of those verses. 47:11 So Hebrews 3:14 it says 47:14 "For we have become partakers of Christ." 47:19 And notice the object here right off is who, is Christ. 47:25 Okay, I want you to follow this. 47:27 "For we have become partakers of Christ, 47:28 if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance 47:31 firm until the end, while it is said 47:35 'Today if you hear His voice,'" 47:38 whose voice would that be? 47:40 Has the object changed? 47:43 So it's speaking of whose voice? 47:45 Of Christ voice, Jesus voice. 47:48 "'Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, 47:51 as when they provoked Me.'" 47:54 Again the object has not changed 47:56 and then take a look at verse 16 talking about provocation. 48:00 "For who provoked Him." Who can them be? 48:05 Again the object has not changed has it, 48:07 it still is talking about Jesus about Christ. 48:09 "For who provoked Him when they had heard?" 48:12 Now what is this talking about? 48:14 "Indeed, did not all those 48:15 who came out of Egypt led by Moses?" 48:21 Jesus had something to do with those Israelites 48:27 that had been locked in Egyptian bondage 48:30 and delivering them from bondage 48:33 that's exactly what the text is indicating 48:38 and it is verified, its verified as we go to statement 48:43 that Paul makes in his letter 48:44 to the Corinthians, the first letter. 48:46 Its chapter 10 and beginning with verse 1 48:49 now this is what Paul says. 48:50 "For I do not want you to be unaware, 48:52 brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud." 48:56 Remember, as they were traveling through the wilderness 48:58 say have gone through the Red Sea, 49:00 the path had been opened the Egyptians had tried 49:03 to follow through and then, 49:04 you know, the waters engulfed them 49:06 and the whole army was destroyed. 49:09 And so they are out into the desert, 49:11 interesting they-- it calls the desert of sin. 49:15 Hot dreary place and there was this cloud 49:18 that God provided for them as they were traveling 49:21 some two million of them 49:23 on their way to the Promise Land. 49:25 The cloud provided shade, a cover for them, okay. 49:31 So that's what he is talking about. 49:32 "Our fathers were all under the cloud 49:34 and all passed through the sea." 49:36 The Red Sea. 49:38 "And all drank the same spiritual." 49:40 the same spiritual rock. 49:43 "For they were drinking from a spiritual rock 49:46 which followed them." 49:47 Remember that when they needed water, 49:49 you know, they began to complaint of Moses 49:51 and he took the staff the first time 49:53 and struck the rock and water followed out for them. 49:56 Well, Paul is making his spiritual application here. 49:59 "Were drinking from a spiritual rock 50:01 which followed them and the rock was" 50:04 Whom? "Was Christ." 50:06 So who was with His people in the wilderness 50:10 as they were wandering on their way to the Palestine? 50:13 It was Jesus which brings up some fascinating views 50:19 as we put this all together from the Word of God. 50:22 Jesus was the appointed agency 50:25 through which God interacted with creation. 50:29 When it came to the creation of this planet 50:31 it was through Jesus that God acted. 50:35 And so with the universe when it came to creation 50:37 of the universe because all things came into being 50:39 by Him and it was through Jesus that God acted. 50:42 As we just read when we came to bringing His people 50:45 and delivering the mount of Egyptian bondage 50:47 it was through Jesus that God acted. 50:50 When it came to the salvation 50:52 and the redemption of the human race 50:54 it was through Jesus that God acted. 50:57 When it comes to the destruction of sin and rebellion 50:59 and darkness and pain and suffering 51:02 it is through Jesus that God will act. 51:05 When it comes to the establishment 51:07 of the everlasting kingdom 51:09 it is through Jesus that God will act. 51:13 And one more messianic prophecy again back to Isaiah Chapter 33 51:19 and we're gonna be looking at verse 22. 51:24 And this one is packed full we're going to see 51:26 the corresponding text in the New Testament 51:29 but Isaiah 33 and here it is as we come to verse 22. 51:34 And again notice how the word Lord is written here. 51:37 The word is actually Jehovah Yahweh. 51:39 It says "For the Lord is our judge, 51:41 the Lord is our lawgiver, 51:44 the Lord is our king, He will save us." 51:48 So let's take those elements 51:49 and look at the corresponding text in the New Testament. 51:53 The Lord beginning with the Lord is our judge 51:55 take a look at John 5, the New Testament page 75, 51:59 page 75 John 5:22. 52:03 It's a statement that Jesus makes. 52:06 It is astounding this statement that Jesus makes. 52:12 John the 5th chapter 52:14 make your way right down there to verse 22 52:17 where he says "For not even the Father judges anyone." 52:22 Did you know that statement was in the Bible? 52:26 It's not the God the Father that's going to judge us. 52:30 Jesus says that clearly for he it says, 52:33 has given all judgment to whom? 52:38 To the Son. 52:39 So you see the one who created us 52:41 is the one who died for us. 52:43 And is the one, who in the end who will judge us. 52:48 And my friend, does that term 52:49 because that gives us a deeper understanding 52:51 about the judgment. 52:54 My friend, do we need to worry 52:56 and concern ourselves about the judgment? 52:58 Oh, my friend, if He loved us enough 53:00 to give up His life for us 53:02 we can trust Him that He is going 53:05 to take us through the judgment. 53:08 And then remember it says "the Lord is out judge. 53:10 The Lord is our lawgiver." 53:11 I am sorry. 53:12 Take a look at that one as turn to James 4:12 53:17 the New Testament page 178, 178 James 4. 53:22 It's just past the Book of Hebrews 53:24 where we were earlier. 53:27 And notice what we find here James 4:12 it says 53:34 "There is only one Lawgiver and" what? 53:39 "Judge." What does that mean? 53:41 There's only one lawgiver and judge. 53:43 It means that one and the same. 53:45 So who is the judge? Jesus would be the judge. 53:49 Which means who was the Lawgiver? 53:52 Jesus. 53:53 It was Jesus. 53:54 It's because of the transgression of the law 53:57 that is on that basis that we'll be judged. 54:00 "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, 54:01 the One who is able to save and to destroy." 54:06 The power of the description 54:07 of our God came down upon that mountain 54:10 the hosts of Israelites who gathered around Mount Sinai 54:13 that talks about how the mountain 54:15 just shook at the presence of God. 54:17 How the rocks and the mountains melted in His presence. 54:21 And then God spoke one of the most unique things 54:24 that have ever happened in history. 54:26 God audibly spoke to His people 54:28 and what He gave them as He spoke was 54:31 what we called the Ten Commandments, right. 54:34 And then He wrote them on tablets of stone 54:36 with His own finger, who was it. 54:40 My friend, it was Jesus. 54:44 This is, you know, I said again 54:46 it's just a powerful thing 54:47 when you study this from the Bible. 54:50 And then let's look at Revelation 19, 54:52 the New Testament page 199, Revelation 19:16 for it say 54:57 "The Lord is our king." 55:00 And I know, you know, where I'm going with this 55:02 but lets, lets get the passage together revelation 19:16 55:06 where it says "And on His robe" 55:08 its speaking of Jesus " 55:09 and on His thigh He has a name written, 55:12 'King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.'" 55:16 Indeed, He is our King. 55:18 And then He is one that will save us 55:20 and when I think about that I think of Acts 4:12 55:23 where it says "There is no other name under 55:26 having given among men." 55:27 Speaking of Jesus "by which we must be saved." 55:32 He is the only name that is been given 55:34 to us by which we must be saved that worthy name of Jesus. 55:42 You see my friend, it is Jesus from Genesis 55:45 to Revelation from that first record of creation, 55:49 well, without him was about anything made 55:51 to the closing promise in Revelation 22 55:54 "Behold I come." 55:55 Quickly we're reading of His words 55:58 and missing to His voice. 56:00 It was Jesus the one who in the very beginning 56:03 created this world in His primeval beauty 56:06 and lovingly and tenderly breeding the man 56:08 the breath of light that yielding in Himself 56:11 as an atonement for sins 56:13 so that we might have life though Him. 56:15 It is Jesus one with the Father 56:17 that led His people from Egyptian bondage. 56:21 Who were yet deliver His people from the slavery of sin. 56:26 It was Jesus who descendant upon Sinai 56:29 in awesome glory to record the commandments 56:32 on tablets of stone with His own finger 56:34 who then returned again to this earth 56:37 to reveal those principles through His life 56:42 who finally died on the Cross of Cavalry 56:47 because of the consequences of our transgressions. 56:51 It is this Jesus both Lawgiver and Savior 56:55 who will at last damned as judge of all of the earth. 56:59 It is Jesus that one who declared 57:01 that if you have seen Me you have seen the Father. 57:05 They're laid aside the regal robes of the sovereignty. 57:09 The diatom of His glory to be born a helpless baby 57:14 in Bethlehem to trot this earth the lovely son of a carpenter 57:19 and finally to submit Himself to the cruel mockings 57:22 of the people that He come to save 57:25 who ended His life on the Cross of Cavalry. 57:28 It is the same Jesus who will return in all power 57:32 and glory to this earth to destroy sin and rebellion 57:36 and to establish the everlasting kingdom. 57:39 So what did it cost God to love us and to save us? 57:44 And my friend, the answer clearly 57:46 is it cost Him His very self. 57:49 For in giving Jesus He was giving us Himself. 57:52 Notice what it says in 1 John 4:9, 10 57:55 "By this the love of God was manifested in us, 57:59 that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world 58:03 so that we might live through Him. 58:05 In this is love, not that we loved God, 58:08 but, that He loved us 58:10 and sent His Son to be the propitiation." 58:13 The sacrifice, the substitution if you please. 58:16 "For our sins." 58:19 And then I would add 1 John 3:16 58:22 "We know love by this, 58:25 that He laid down His life for us." 58:28 Amen. 58:30 And so my friend, the question is do we know Him tonight? 58:34 That's the question to be answered, 58:35 do we trust Him, do we love Him? 58:38 And so I invite you, 58:41 I invite you to look into the face of Jesus. 58:43 If I not only a loving and dependable friend 58:47 but a compassionate and understanding God. |
Revised 2014-12-17