The Lamb of God #2

Who Takes Away the Sin of the World #2

Fred R. Coulter—March 14, 2009

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I'm going to be stressing quite often the three most important days;

  • Sabbath, to know Who God is,
  • Passover, to be in covenant with Him,
  • Holy Days, to understand His plan.

Now let's come to Titus 1 (pg 1,224). Let's understand something about true Christianity and true covenant with God. That's why I already gave the messages on The Covenant of Eternal Life and The Covenant of Lies and Death—because true Christianity, as we saw in the first message, is not a movement. It's not a gathering of people because they want to do good things. It is a calling of God. Now we'll look at the calling here in just a little bit. I want you to pay attention to the words here, because most of the time the first two verses, you think, 'Oh, well, those are just the greetings.' It's actually not only a greeting, but it is a blessing that is written.

Titus 1:1: "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect… [Now we also know that without faith it's impossible to please God. So you cannot have the kind of faith which is, 'Oh, I believe that Jesus is the Savior.' Or, 'I believe in God.' Because James said, 'If you believe in God, you do well, even the demons do and tremble.' To believe in God really means you have to act upon it, you have to live by it, and your life has to reflect the qualities and characters of God, as described in the Bible and through His Holy Spirit.] …and the knowledge of the Truth…" That's the separator. People don't want the Truth; they want to be told what they want to hear.

  • The Truth is the Word of God.
  • The Truth is the commandments of God.
  • The Truth is the laws of God.
  • The Truth is every precept of God.

Now why is that? Because God is perfect, His way is perfect, and He would give nothing to us that is not perfect.

Now even when He dealt with Israel in the flesh, and they were not called to salvation because He never gave the Holy Spirit to them, He gave them a perfect system for carnal people. I need to bring a sermon again some time which talks about the criminal penalties in the Old Testament and how, if they were used today, we would have no jails. It costs to put someone in prison, say at the age between twenty and thirty, to put them in prison for life costs 700-thousand dollars. Now because of the budget problems that they're having in the various states (a little sidebar here) some of the states are going to do away with the death penalty, because they have automatic appeal and it costs 1.3 million-dollars on the average going through all the appeals to finally get to the point that they can say, 'You're worthy of death.' God's way, perfect under the Old Covenant for carnal people, would completely do away with jails. Because either (and I'll just summarize it here) you commit a crime for which there is restitution available that you have to make, or you commit a crime worthy of death. That's it! No plea for insanity, because insanity does not take away from what the person did in the sense of murder. The first thing, today, most defense attorneys will seek out, 'Well, I wonder if we can cop the insanity plea, or temporary insane plea?'

"…knowledge of the Truth that is according to Godliness; in the hope of eternal life… [because we

  • stand in grace,
  • walk in faith,
  • believe in hope
  • we live in love.]

…In the hope of eternal life… [And that's why we're here and that's why Jesus did what He did, and that's why we keep the Passover.] …which God Who cannot lie… [So always remember this: when everything else fails and there are problems and difficulties that you cannot answer yourself, you go to God and claim His promises, because God cannot lie. And He's going to answer that prayer and He's going to work it out in His way, in His time, maybe entirely differently than you think, but for the best in the long run.] …Who cannot lie promised before the ages of time" (vs 1-2). It says there in Revelation 13:8 that Christ was slain from the foundation of the world.

So God had His plan already worked out, ready to go. I'm sure that's one of the reasons why Satan the devil rebelled, because he saw that the human beings that God was going to create would replace him and his angels. He didn't like that, so they rebelled.

Now notice v 3: "But revealed in its own set time… [God has a time for doing it. Now what shows us the time? The Holy Days, times and seasons.] …in the proclamation of His Word… [That's both Old and New Testament.] …with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior." Now that tells us an awful lot here.

Titus 2:11: "For the grace of God, which brings salvation for all men… [Now remember, in its own set time. As we will see, now is not the time of salvation for everybody in the world. That comes later. That can't be accomplished until the Kingdom of God is on the earth, and we qualify first to be in the Kingdom of God through God's Spirit and His way, and living God's way, and then the Kingdom of God that is set up—then salvation will be open to all people and Satan will have been removed.] …For the grace of God, which brings salvation for all men, has appeared… [And that is through Christ, because the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, died once for all time for all sin. That covers going clear back from the time of creation to the end.] …teaching us that, having denied ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live moderately and righteously and Godly in this present world, Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our Savior and great God, Jesus Christ" (vs 11-13).

Question: is Jesus God? Yes. Was Jesus God? Yes, He was God manifested in the flesh. So all of these people that come along and say, 'Well, Jesus was not God until after the resurrection and He didn't exist until He was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary.' And unfortunately, even some who supposedly—and I use the word supposedly—are in the Church of God believe that. Remember, why do false doctrines come along? To test you whether you believe or not. That's why doctrine is important.

Verse 14: "Who gave Himself for us… [Because He laid His life down and He had commandment to receive it back.] …so that He might redeem us from all lawlessness… [And that means every kind of sin, except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.] …and might purify… [Because there's a work to do after we have been redeemed.] …purify for Himself a unique people, zealous of good works." Unique means that of all human beings on earth, those who have the Holy Spirit are the only ones who are truly connected to God. Now you can get near to God, but you can't be connected to God without His Spirit.

And there was an interesting study that was done, which I'll have to some day after we get through all of the economic ups and downs get back to the series, Controlling the Human Mind: The Last Frontier. But they're doing an awful lot of research on the human brain. They're doing an awful lot of scans on the brain, and MRI's on the brain. Guess what they found out? When God is talked about or people read the Bible, or they listen to sermons—I don't know if they've done in prayer, but it probably would in prayer—that certain areas of the brain light up, that means there's a lot of activity in that part of the brain. Now the Holy Spirit is light.

Each human being has a 'spirit of man' in him or her. That 'spirit of man' is designed to receive the Holy Spirit to unite with it, so then there is a begettal for eternal life. We were made

  • by God
  • for God
  • for His purpose

—His way, not our way. That's why we have the Passover, and that's why Jesus did what He did.

Let's continue on here. Let's see some things. Come to Matthew 22, and here is a good example of God showing that in order to receive eternal life you have to answer His invitation. You have to show up with the right garments; that is clothing. That's likened to the righteousness of the saints.

Matthew 22:1: "And again Jesus answered and spoke to them in parables, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was a king, who made a wedding feast for his son… [Now in this case the king is God the Father, and the son is Jesus Christ. The wedding is going to be for the Church and every indication is that it's going to be for a special part of the Church, what is generally called the Church, and all the rest of the Church will be guests.] …and sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast; but they refused to come'" (vs 1-3). Now the parable is this: if you refuse God's invitation, because He sent His son, and God's invitation is (as we will see) that He calls you, because 'many are called but few are chosen,' then you're going to be left out. Now this has directly to do with the Jews, in the time of Jesus, who refused.

Verse 4: "'Afterwards he sent out other servants, saying, "Say to those who have been invited, 'Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and the fatted beasts are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast.'" But they paid no attention and went away, one to his farm, and another to his business. And the rest, after seizing his servants, insulted and killed them…. [the apostles] …Now when the king heard it, he became angry; and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city'" (vs 4-7). Now did that happen to Jerusalem? Yes, it did, 70 A.D.

"'Then he said to his servants, "The wedding feast indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy; Therefore, go into the well-traveled highways, and invite all that you find to the wedding feast."…. [In inviting them, there are conditions, we'll see that in just a minute.] …And after going out into the highways, those servants brought together everyone that they found, both good and evil… [Now there are varying degrees of what you might say good and evil in human nature, but you still have to repent. Those who think they are good, because they haven't transgressed very seriously in their own minds, need to understand that the real repentance is in the mind, because as we saw in the first message, you have evil works in the mind. Your thoughts constitute works and the beginning of your actions. Because you have to think of it first before you do it. So we'll see that there are things they had to do.] (v 11):…And when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not dressed in proper attire for the wedding feast…'" (vs 8-11).

Now hold on here and come back to Revelation 19:5: "And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, 'Praise Our God, all His servants, and all who fear Him, both small and great.' And I heard a voice like that of a great multitude, and like the sound of many waters, and the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Hallelujah! For the Lord God Almighty has reigned. Let us be glad and shout with joy; and let us give glory to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.' And it was granted to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, pure and bright; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he said to me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb'…. [So you have the bride and then those who are called to the supper.] …And he said to me, 'These are the true words of God'" (vs 5- 9).

Let's come back to Matthew 22. So in order to show that there were requirements for it, you have the situation in a parable, which may not necessarily follow in exact sequence of everything, but to show a story. You're not going to get to the first resurrection unless you're qualified through repentance and living, and by God the Father to receive the wedding garments.

Matthew 22:12: "'And he said to him, "Friend, how did you enter here without a garment fit for the wedding feast?" But he had no answer. Then the king said to the servants, "Bind his hands and feet, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness." There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth'" (vs 12-13). This also tells us another thing—doesn't it? You're not going to approach God your way. Even though God invites you, you come to God His way.

Verse 14: "'For many are called, but few are chosen.'" Now the ones that God chooses are those who repent. That's why in the Church experience we've been through, and it's happened in every age of the Church, that the Church gets scattered. The evil ones are rooted out, the false brethren and false ministers are rooted out, and those who are true and faithful will be true and faithful.

Now let's come to John 14 and we're going go through various parts of John 14, 15, and 16. Let's see how Jesus also brought this out. John 14:1: "'Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me…. [Now He wouldn't say that unless He were God manifested in the flesh—correct? Otherwise that would be idolatry.] …In My Father's house are many dwelling places… [That's new Jerusalem.] …if it were otherwise, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you'" (vs 1-2). So everyone that is faithful is going to have a place prepared by Christ. So that shows that Jesus came from heaven and knew what the Father was doing and what He's doing, and He's going back to prepare a place for you.

Verse 3: "'And if I go and prepare a place for you… [Now remember, every Word of God is true and everything Jesus spoke was the Truth. So this means whatever He spoke is going to happen.] …if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; so that where I am, you may be also. And where I am going you know, and the way you know.' Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we do not know where You are going; how then can we know the way?.... [Now here is a fundamental verse which is important.] …Jesus said to him, 'I am the way… [Walk in the way of Christ.] …and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me'" (vs 3-6).

So whoever rejects Jesus Christ, and says, 'Oh, I worship the Father without Jesus.' Not so, you cannot do that. God is very exclusive in His calling, but He's also very forgiving for anyone who truly repents. So the invitation goes out in the way of preaching the Gospel and those who hear the Word and really repent, are the ones then who are fruitful and productive, and they come to the Father through Christ.

Now we saw this morning that no one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him. So it's a dual operation that takes place. So think of this: wherever you are, whoever you are—and this is why God has called the weak and the base and the lowly of the world, because He's going to do the calling. We don't see prominent men in the Church of God. Because God calls those that He calls, we also have a few more troubles, because we're the weak of the world. So we need to understand that, too. But no one is going to come to the Father, except through Christ. And you can remember these things:

  • the way
  • the truth
  • the life

Verse 7: "'If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. But from this time forward, you know Him and have seen Him'…. [Now the disciples really didn't quite get it at this point. But He was also talking about what was going to happen, as we'll see a little later, after He was resurrected.] …Philip said to Him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and that will be sufficient for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long a time, and you have not known Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; why then do you say, "Show us the Father"? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?.… [Now we're going to see a little later on that this is very important, and that is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit.] …The words that I speak to you, I do not speak from My own self… [Which then is the Truth up here, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.] …but the Father Himself, Who dwells in Me, does the works'" (vs 7-10).

Now hold your place here and come back to John 5:19 (pg 1,059): "Therefore, Jesus answered and said to them, 'Truly, truly I say to you, the Son has no power to do anything of Himself…'" Now that was part of the covenant that God the Father and Jesus Christ had when one of Elohim, Who became Jesus, came to the earth and was born of the virgin Mary. Part of the covenant was: When You're in the flesh, though You have human nature, and You have the same nature as other human beings—except You'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from conception—You cannot do anything of your own. Which means: You're not going to add to what We've already agreed to; You're not going to take away from what We've already agreed to—in the covenant before He came to the earth.

So we need to ask the question: if Jesus did not do anything of Himself, that also has to be part of our covenant with God, too—doesn't it? Because we have nothing we didn't receive. We have no goodness apart from God, and all of those things are true.
"'…but only what He sees the Father do. For whatever He does, these things the Son also does in the same manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him everything that He Himself is doing. And He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may be filled with wonder'" (19-20). So that's quite a thing—isn't it?

Let's come back here to John 14:11. Now because of that: "'Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; but if not, believe Me because of the works themselves.'" And all the things that He did. Just think of this, because He's calling then to their remembrance the whole three and half-year ministry that He had with the twelve who became the apostles.
"'Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me shall also do the works that I do; and greater works than these shall he do because I am going to the Father'" (vs 12). And you can read in book of Acts the tremendous works and miracles that followed, especially in the first part of Acts. Miracles were taking place and things were happening in such a fantastic way. There were greater works than what Jesus was doing, because Jesus said that they would.

We'll talk a little bit about answered prayer here beginning with this one—v 13: "'And whatever you shall ask in My name, this will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it'" (vs 13-14). That's one of those promises that Jesus gave, Who is God Who cannot lie. Now use this understanding in your prayers. When you're beseeching God for intervention for you, claim the promise. And even claim the promise and say, 'God, You cannot lie.' Of course, there's one other caveat with this: it has to be according to His will.

Let's come to John 16:23: "'And in that day… [Now remember, John 14, 15, 16, and 17 were the last words of Jesus before He went out to be arrested when Judas betrayed Him, and then led off for the trials and crucifixion.] …in that day you shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly I tell you, whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you…. [Now that's why the model prayer in Matt. 6 starts out, 'Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.' And then we ask all prayers in Jesus' name.] …Until this day, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.'" Now joy does not mean necessarily a state of happiness that the world thinks of on an emotional basis. The joy that we are to have comes from the confidence and faith that we are in Christ, and that we can pray directly to God the Father. God is there, Jesus is there, He is at the right hand of God the Father, He is our Intercessor. We'll see how this works out in just a bit.

Verse 26: "'In that day… [That is after He's resurrected.] …you shall ask in My name; and I do not tell you that I will beseech the Father for you, For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God'" (vs 26-27). So this is parts of the words of the covenant of life. So these are the promises that we need to really hold on to and claim.

Hold you place, because we'll come back to the Gospel of John and let's come to Hebrews 4:12 (pg 1208) and let's see how this works, because remember: there are two things for the Word of God.

  • The literal Word of God, spoken and written.
  • Christ, Who was the Word of God. He spoke everything that the Father commanded Him to speak.

Even the Word of God on the written page, and when you read the Bible it has an effect on your mind, and it has and effect on you that no other book can have. It can bring you conviction and can bring you faith and understanding because of it.

Hebrews 4:12: "For the Word of God is living and powerful… [And Jesus said in John 6, 'The words that I speak to you, they are Spirit and they are life.' Now notice, there's no way around it, it is not a novel. It is the Truth of the Word of God and so therefore, Paul writes here:] …and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of both soul and spirit, and of both the joints and the marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." And because that is a fact, you need to have a lot of grace. So we'll see that's provided here, too.

Verse 13: "And there is not a created thing that is not manifest in His sight… [Because He created them all.] …but all things are naked and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account. Having therefore a great High Priest, Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we should hold fast the confession of our faith. For we do not have a high priest who cannot empathize with our weaknesses… [Or the difficulties and problems we are going through, whatever it may be.] …but one Who was tempted in all things according to the likeness of our own temptations; yet He was without sin…. [Now this is to encourage us.] …Therefore, we should come with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (vs 13-16). That ties right in with praying directly to the Father and that's a tremendous privilege; and having God's Spirit which connects us with God.

I don't know in the survey that they did in scanning the brain, but I wonder what it would really be like to see what part of the brain is really activated with God's Spirit when you're thinking on God's Word, when you're speaking God's Word, when you are praying, and all of those sort of things. I imagine that it would be, I don't know, you can only reflect it in the physical brain that we have as what the Spirit does, because you can't see the Spirit. But what the Spirit does in activating the brain and the mind is what they would see. That would be interesting, indeed.

Now let's come back to John 14—we're going to see what Jesus was teaching them concerning the Holy Spirit. If you believe the Holy Spirit is one God in a trinity, you know nothing about the Bible. We have appendix in the back of the Bible you can go through and understand why it was translated this way, which, by the way, is the correct translation. And even Daniel B. Wallace, the foremost syntax expert of the Greek New Testament says there is no reason to give personality to the Holy Spirit—none.! And he laments the fact that theologians do it. It shouldn't be translated that way.

As I read it, if you've got a King James Version, it won't read exactly like the King James, because the Holy Spirit

  • comes from God,
  • it is the power of God,
  • it is not a third God.

John 14:15: "'If you love Me… [We'll come back to this in just a minute, because it flows right along here.] …keep the commandments—namely, My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another comforter, that it may be with you throughout the age… [Meaning, as long as you live in the flesh, in this current age, the Holy Spirit will be with you.] …Even the Spirit of the Truth, which the world cannot receive because it perceives it not, nor knows it… [And can't receive it, because they won't repent.] …but you know it because it dwells with you, and shall be within you'" (vs 15-17).

Now let's just stop right here and think about those two verses that we covered earlier. The Father has to draw. How does He draw? With His Spirit. You have to come to Jesus and then you have access to the Father—and this is done by the Holy Spirit. Now before they receive the Holy Spirit, which they did not receive until Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was with them, guiding them, helping them, inspiring them. But after they received the Holy Spirit, the begettal from the Father, it was within them, inside their minds, uniting with the 'spirit of man' that they have.

Now let's look at some other things concerning the Holy Spirit, let's see what it does—v  26:"'But when the Comforter comes, even the Holy Spirit, which… [That's the correct translation, too.] …the Father will send in My name… [Now we are going to see the Holy Spirit is sent by the Father and by Christ, so it's a joint decision to do so.] …which the Father will send in My name, that one shall teach you all things… [Now especially to the apostles. This means not everything in the world, as far as worldly knowledge is concerned, but this is all things necessary for salvation.] …teach you all things, and shall bring to your remembrance everything that I have told you." And that's why they wrote the New Testament and put in there the things that they did.

Let's come over here to John 16:7 and see what else the Holy Spirit will do. "'But I am telling you the truth. It is profitable for you that I go away because if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. However, if I go, I will send it to you.'" Now notice over here it says in John 14:26, "…which the Father will send in My name..." So they both participate in sending the Holy Spirit.

Now let's come back to John 15:26. another one about the Holy Spirit. "'But when the Comforter has come, which I will send to you from the Father… [and it says down here that the Holy Spirit would be sent from the Father.] …even the Spirit of the Truth, which proceeds from the Father… [Because it's the power of God.] …that one shall bear witness of Me.'" So that ties right in with John 16:7 that we just read.

John 16:8: "'And when that one has come, it will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment: Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me… [Think what the world is going through now. I'm getting information on what is called the emergent church. The emergent church is a feel-good, get-along go-along Christianity, which does not believe in doctrine. So I'm going to have to give a sermon on doctrine, why it's important.] …they do not believe in Me; concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer will see Me… [Because righteousness and justification has to come from God.] …and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged…. [but not yet removed] …I have yet many things to tell you, but you are not able to bear them now. However, when that one has come, even the Spirit of the Truth, it will lead you into all Truth… [That is concerning salvation. And in the case of prophecy, too.] …because it shall not speak from itself, but whatever it shall hear, it shall speak'" (vs 8-13).

Now we can understand that more than ever before, because right now I'm recording on a tape recorder. Whenever the tape recorder hears through the microphone, it records on the tape. Whatever I'm speaking is recorded. If you take and play back the cassette, what are you going to hear? Exactly what I've said. So when the Holy Spirit is sent to inspire, God also sends the words, via the Holy Spirit, so it will inspire our minds, and especially them for writing the New Testament.

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Let's review John 16:12: "'I have yet many things to tell you, but you are not able to bear them now.'" What was one of the most important things that they couldn't bear and He didn't tell them? When He was going to return. It would not have been very profitable to say, 'Well, guys, go out there with all kinds of zeal, and after you die it's going to be another two-thousand years before I return.' Never happen, couldn't bear that. And they couldn't bear some of the things of the prophecies that were going to happen. And it was very difficult for them to even conceive that though He talked about Jerusalem being destroyed, it really sunk into their minds that it was going to happen.

Now v 13, concerning the Holy Spirit: "'However, when that one has come, even the Spirit of the Truth… [That's why I emphasize so many times: what about the Bible, is it the Word of God, etc., etc.? Yes! because truly spirit-motivated or spirit-inspired; but the word for inspiration is 'God breathed.' It's going to be the Truth.] …it will lead you into all Truth because it shall not speak from itself, but whatever it shall hear, it shall speak. And it shall disclose to you the things to come.'" Now this was especially to the apostles. The way we understand things to come today is:

  • we watch as Jesus said
  • we read and study the Scriptures
  • we read and study the prophecies

and then God gives us the understanding of it with His Spirit. Now this was especially fulfilled in particularly to whom? John, the one who wrote the Gospel of John. Because why? He wrote the book of Revelation. Now if you want a very interesting read in the book of Revelation, read it from this point of view. Read it from John's perspective. He was one of the first apostles called, Peter and Andrew and then James and John. He was with Jesus all the years during His preaching. He was an apostle all of his life. He'd seen all the miracles. He'd seen all the miracles that they performed, and the preaching of the Word of God, and the writing of the Word of God. Then he was arrested and, if history is correct, he was thrown into a boiling cauldron of oil and he did not get a burn—nothing! Very much like the fiery furnace of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel.

So then after that he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos, and here he is at ninety-five. Then Christ gives him the book of Revelation. So read it from that point of view. So when Jesus is talking and John is writing—because He commanded him to write—I thought about that the other day. I wonder what he was thinking when he was writing (Rev. 2 & 3) the message to the seven churches. Then he got to see in vision the throne of God, which no one has seen, except John. And that was in vision because it was in spirit, (Rev. 4 & 5). Then the seven seals (Rev. 6 & 7) seeing all these world events taking place. Now I don't know how he saw them, I don't know if it was kind of like in vision where he saw the whole world, or he saw parts of the world. He had to have in order to see the armies, in order to see the things that were taking place. And just carry that right on down through to the very end of the book of Rev., and you will see that that must have been some tremendous experience for John to go through while he was writing these things, and God was revealing them with His Spirit to him. So he was the greatest recipient of this verse here, John 16:13, "…it shall disclose to you the things to come."

Let's look at another thing that's important. Come back here concerning the love of God. John 14:15: "'If you love Me, keep the commandments—namely, My commandments.'" And here again, this is reflected also in the Epistles of 1st, 2nd, 3rd-John about loving God and keeping His commandments. What did He say 1-John 5:3, 'Herein is the love of God that we keep His commandments and His commandments are not burdensome.' So here we have it right here, a very succinct summary of it.

Now John 15—here's some more about the love of God and the kind of love, as we saw, we need to have for each other, and the kind of love that we need to have toward God and Jesus Christ. John 15:9: "'As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; live in My love.'" So our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ is based not only on commandment-keeping, that's the start. But the love of God brings us to a higher level of serving Him and loving Him, and also keeping the commandments, because it enables us to love God

  • with all our heart
  • with all our mind
  • with all our soul
  • with all our being

to love our neighbor as ourselves, to love each other as Christ has loved us and to know that that all comes from God.

After what Christ has done for us, in giving His life in the way that He has, that will inspire us more to love and understand what God has done for us. Now notice v 10: "'If you keep My commandments, you shall live in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and live in His love.'" So that's quite a situation—isn't it?

So remember this: you get discouraged, you get down and things are really going tough, Jesus died for you. Think about how He died. Think about the way that it happened. He was betrayed by a friend. Now if you've had problems with friendship and people betraying you, Christ went through that. That's one of the most devastating things that can happen to you in your life. What we would say today: it knocks the props right out from underneath your feet. This is why we must always have a total commitment to God the Father and Jesus Christ.

One of the problems that too many people have, not only in this world but also in the Church, they do not have that total devotion and love to God the Father and Jesus Christ the way that they need to, because that's the only thing that is going to sustain you when problems and difficulties arise and some of them are more than you can bear. That's why Jesus went through the scourging, the crucifixion, and submitted Himself willingly to the most evil perpetration against Him by men, inspired by Satan the devil. He had to do that, as I covered before, because He gave from the sin of Adam and Eve to all men the law of sin and death, and human nature that is evil and deceitful. And He had to come to save His whole creation, to receive in His human flesh, human nature like we have—but with God's Spirit, did not sin once. That's so tremendous! Do you understand that? So that He could redeem us. In other words, He took upon Himself the very judgment that He gave upon all mankind. That's why He was beaten nearly beyond recognition and shed His blood. That's why when you read the account, which we will on the Passover night, when Jesus went to pray before He was arrested, He prayed and great drops of sweat filled with blood were dripping down from Him, because He knew that the whole salvation of the world and mankind was coming to a climax here. And this was the ultimate test! That's why the Passover is so important, because this is what God has done for everyone individually, because He created every one of us individually, and eventually is going to apply it to the rest of humanity in the unfolding of His plan, as we know how it's going to work out. So this is His love to us. This is His love to the Father.

He says here, v 12: "'This is My commandment: that you love one another, as I have loved you.'" Now we could have a full discussion on what this means, too. If you love someone:

  • Are you going to gossip about them? No.
  • Are you going to talk about them? No.
  • Are you going to do things to them that you would not have done to you? No.

So it works both ways, you see. If we're going to love one another, and we all have enough problems that we have ourselves to overcome, we have our weaknesses to overcome, we have the difficulties of the world to overcome, Satan to overcome, ourselves to overcome, that's why we need the encouragement and love of each other which comes from God. So if you're not going every day to God on your knees, and praying to God on your knees, and asking for His help, asking for His Spirit, because He promises that He will give His Spirit to those who ask Him. You put that together with study, with prayer, with meeting together, with being with brethren. Think about that!

"'This is My commandment: that you love one another, as I have loved you…. [Then as I covered in the one, Jesus is Your Friend] …No one has greater love than this: that one lay down his life for his friends'" (vs 12-13). Jesus is your friend.

  • He will not betray you.
  • He will not leave you.
  • He will not forsake you.

It reminds me of that hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus. That's true.

Now come down to v 16. This gets right back to where we started. "'You yourselves did not choose Me… [Because the Father had to draw you and you had to come through Christ.] …but I have personally chosen you…'" Now this is part of the New Testament that you really need to think on, and meditate on, and ask God for understanding. Because God has given the invitation to come, and that invitation you have to answer with prayer, with repentance and baptism, and continually walking in God's way—because He has personally chosen you. Now you think: 'Man, isn't that something?' Think of it this way: the two greatest Beings—God the Father and Jesus Christ—have intervened in your life

  • to call you,
  • to choose you,
  • to give you understanding,
  • to lead you in the way,

and that's what God has done for you.

Furthermore, Christ is your friend and He died for you. Furthermore, He was resurrected from the dead to show that you will have the opportunity to overcome death yourself, through Him. That's a tremendous amount of love, isn't it? And He has "'…personally chosen you and ordained you… [Especially the apostles and those who are teachers.] …that you should go forth and bear fruit...'" (v 16). Now for the apostles and the teachers and elders, that is you bear fruit in your teaching and preaching to the brethren, and for all of us individually, we bear fruit, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the character of God that He is molding in us with His Spirit, preparing us for eternal life. So don't equate the weakness of the flesh, or getting old, as somehow you're losing it. You're not, because God designed us so we would die. What did He tell Peter? He told Peter, 'When you're young, you did what you wanted to do (I'm paraphrasing John 21), you went where you wanted to go, when you are old you're going to be led about.' And also signifying what death he would die, which was probably by crucifixion.

So when you're old and you're weak, God is with you, because Jesus said, 'I will never forsake you.' And when we come to the end of our lives, we are going to be helpless, corrupting, physically and mentally deteriorating to where you come to the point that you breathe your last breath. Remember this, God will not abandon you even in those circumstances. People may, but God won't.
"'…that your fruit should remain; so that whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another'" (vs 16-17). And this is where it has to be in everything that we do, 'love one another.' Sometimes it gets hard, because why? We still have carnal nature. I don't know about you, I find myself more imperfect every day, rather than becoming more perfect, because I can see the stupidity of my human nature and the things that cause me to sin and do wrong, because I'm able to understand them in my mind more than just look at the behavior of what I do. But, nevertheless, we have to pray, 'Oh, God, don't let us do dumb things'—because human beings do dumb things. You've done them; I've done them. Even this week I did something, I said, 'Now that was stupid.'

Let's see something else that God has done here. Let's see some of the things that we will experience, because not everything that we go through in our Christian life is going to be fun and joyous and wonderful and good. A lot of them are going to be trials and difficulties. So Jesus wanted to prepare the apostles, and those of us who follow, to realize the consequences of our actions as Christians in the world, and what the world is going to react to us.

So let's begin right here, v 18: "'If the world hates you… [Because you don't go along with them, because you don't keep their days, because you're not glad-handing with them, and partying with them, and doing all these things. And because you keep the Sabbath, and Passover, Holy Days of God.] …you know that it hated Me before it hated you.'" And the ones who should have received Jesus didn't, the scribes and Pharisees. They had the law, they had the Word of God, they knew it, but as I mentioned in the first message, they hated Him because He didn't join them. They didn't understand that they had to repent. So they hated Him! They hated Him for everything that He did! Every time He did a miracle, they sought ways, 'How we going to get rid of Him?' When He raised Lazarus from the dead, that was the final straw. They said to one another, 'Look, the whole world's going after Him. We're losing.' So they hated Him!

"'…you have that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. However, because you are not of the world… [We live in it, but we're not part and parcel of the world.] …but I have personally chosen you out of the world, the world hates you for this…. [We're going to see this even more. Just think about all the hatred toward even the name of Christ now by so many people. And they are going to hate us for even speaking the slightest truth.] …Remember the word that I spoke to you: a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also…. [He didn't say where the persecution would come from. Some of it will come from within, because you're not willing to compromise. Some of it will come from the world, because you won't join them or agree with them.] (But remember this): …If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also…. [On the other hand] …If they kept My word, they will keep your word also. But they will do all these things to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him Who sent Me'" (vs 18-21).

They don't know the Father. No religion in the world knows the Father, because they are a religion, they are a movement. Only those who have the Spirit of God know the Father. Verse 22: "'If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have nothing to cover their sin…. [Because of everything that He did, and they rejected Him.] …The one who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no other man has done, they would not have had sin; but now they have both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But this has happened so that the saying might be fulfilled which is written in their law, "They hated Me without a cause"'" (vs 22-25).

Now let's come down here to John 16; let's see what else would happen, so what we're going to do is this: we are going to see, as you go through and read this—and we will read these words at the Passover, too—what Jesus is telling us beginning in John 13, then 14-17, He's telling us where we begin, what's going to happen to us until we come to the end, which we'll read in John 17 in a little bit.

John 16:1: "'I have spoken these things to you so that you will not be offended.'" In other words, you're not going to say, 'Oh, Lord, why is this happening?' And I never will forget in the movie, The Robe, where they were persecuting the Christians and throwing them to the lions in the coliseum, and they had a lot of Christians in the holding cell to be thrown into the lions, and the movie had this: there were those praying and saying, 'Oh, God, you didn't tell us that this would happen.' But, yes, Jesus did tell them that would happen.

Verse 2: "'They shall cast you out of the synagogues… [And we could also say, they'll cast you out of the Church. Has that happened to you because you wanted to hold to the Truth? Sure.] …furthermore, the time is coming that everyone who kills you will think that he is rendering service to God…. [Wasn't that what Paul was doing? Yes.] …And they shall do these things to you because they do not know the Father, nor Me…. [So that's quite a thing, the experiences going through.] …But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you may remember that I said them to you…. [Not like the movie, 'Lord, you didn't tell us.'] …However, I did not say these things to you at the beginning because I was with you…. [And probably some of them would have—because they weren't yet on the way to being converted—would have left Him. And even remember, after Jesus was raised from the dead, Peter said, 'I go fishing.' And Peter denied Him three times, so he said, 'Lord, I'll never deny You. I'll go to the death and go to prison with You.' And He says, 'I say to you before the cock crows twice, today in this very night, you will deny me three times.' Now He's telling them.] …I did not say these things to you at the beginning because I was with you'" (vs 2-4).

Now let's come over here to v 32: "'Listen, the time is coming, and has already come, that you shall be scattered each to his own… [And that happened when He was arrested; they all left. That has happened also down through time. When the Church has had to be scattered to preserve the Truth, to get rid of the false ministers, false brethren, and so forth, be scattered.] …and you shall leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace…. [Meaning, that regardless of what the circumstances are, you will have peace of mind, strength of character, to know that whatever comes you will be able to endure and survive, and be in the first resurrection.] (So He says here): …In the world you shall have tribulation…. [And sometimes we think, 'Oh, Lord, let's not have quite so much.' Sometimes it comes that way.] …But be courageous! I have overcome the world'" (vs 32-33).

And remember, that Paul wrote, 'All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.' It will all work together for good in the long run, because God does not think in the way that we think, and our thoughts are not His thoughts; so we commit ourselves totally to God. This is the whole purpose of the Passover, that we are in a covenant with God for eternal life. So what we have through here, Jesus told them all the things that they would go through and experience in outline.

And then chapter 17 brings us to the point, and I think this is very profound in where it's placed in the Bible and the sequence that everything is done on the Passover night; because this is Jesus' prayer. So when things are difficult, keep your mind on the goal. Keep your mind on what you need to do.

Hold your place here. We'll come back to John 17. Come to Hebrews 12 and we will see another thing concerning Jesus' thoughts.

  • What was He thinking when He was going through all of this?
  • What was in His mind?
  • Why would He so willingly lay down His life to be absolutely beaten within an inch of His life and then be crucified?

Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great throng of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight… [Don't worry; don't be anxious. That's doesn't mean you throw caution to the wind.] …and the sin that so easily entraps us… [Whoop, bam, there you go, you sinned.] …and let us run the race set before us with endurance… [Here's how: always keep your mind on the goal. And this goes right back to the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus said, 'Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.'] …having our minds fixed on Jesus, the Beginner and Finisher of our faith… [Because He is the One Who has personally chosen us, and He is the One that will see us to the end.] …Who for the joy that lay ahead of Him endured the cross…" (vs 1-2)

So whenever you're going through something that is really difficult, keep your mind on the goal. Jesus kept His mind on being the firstborn among many brethren; kept His mind on all of those that would be called between the time that He would be crucified, resurrected, and ascended to the Father, and His return; kept His mind on the coming Kingdom of God when He would bring peace and prosperity to the whole world through the sons of God who would rule and reign with Him.

"…the joy that lay ahead of Him endured the cross, although he despised the shame… [because the truth is He was hung up their naked.] …and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Now meditate deeply on Him Who endured such great hostility of sinners against Himself so that you do not become weary and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted to the point of losing blood in your struggle against sin" (vs 2-4)—and in your fight against the world, but those days are coming.

Now let's come back to John 17:1 and see the joy that Jesus was looking to when He was facing the crucifixion. "Jesus spoke these words, and lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, 'Father, the hour has come… [It's here.] …glorify Your own Son, so that Your Son may also glorify You… [And that was through His death and crucifixion.] …Since You have given Him authority over all flesh, in order that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. For this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You did send. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work that You gave Me to do'" (vs 1-4). And we all have work that we need to finish.

"'And now, Father, glorify Me with Your own self, with the glory that I had with You before the world existed…. [And that's a proper translation of it. So this is another proof that Jesus was God before He became human.] …I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world…. [And the name was what? Our Father. That's a New Testament sacred name, by the way.] …They were Yours, and You have given them to Me, and they have kept Your Word. Now they have known that all things that You have given Me are from You. For I have given them the words that You gave to Me… [Part of the covenant agreement that They had before He became human.] …and they have received them and truly have known that I came from You; and they have believed that You did send Me. I am praying for them… [Not only for the apostles there, but we'll see a little later, also for those who believe through their preaching, and that means everyone who comes to Christ, because they're personally chosen.] …I am not praying for the world… [So any movement that comes along that's going to make the world a better place, and even though they use the name of Jesus, God didn't send them. The world's salvation comes at the return of Christ, not now.] …but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. All Mine are Yours, and all Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them'" (vs 5-10).

"'And I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, those whom You have given Me, so that they may one, even as We are one…. [Keeping His mind on the goal, the purpose, the plan, the fulfillment, you see. That's how you endure all these things.] …When I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. I protected those whom You have given Me, and not one of them has perished except the son of perdition, in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to You; and these things I am speaking while yet in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in them'" (vs 11-13). And the joy, when that is going to be completely fulfilled, is at the resurrection. Think what a fantastic thing that's going to be:

  • to be a spirit being
  • to be a son or daughter of God
  • to be raised from the dead

—and the angels are carrying you up to the Sea of Glass. And as I mentioned earlier, one of the things we're going to say, 'Oh, you're an angel. What is your name?' Oh, well, I've known you since I was assigned to you by God the Father and Jesus Christ. 'Really.' Yeah, and I know all about you. 'Oh, really, aren't we glad that's all gone now.'

Verse 14: "'I have given them Your words, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world…. [So if you kind of feel like a misfit in the world—Hooray! you should be.] …I do not pray that You would take them out of the world… [though we desire that many times] …but that You would keep them from the evil one…. [And that's also in the outline of the daily prayer.] …They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world…. [Though we live in the world.] …Sanctify them in Your Truth… [That's why Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We are sanctified with God's Spirit, which is the Spirit of Truth, we are sanctified through the Word of God, which is the Truth of God. All of those come together, you see—put all the Scriptures together.] …Your Word is the Truth… [Never forget that.] …Even as You did send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they also may be sanctified in Your Truth. I do not pray for these only, but also for those who shall believe in Me through their word" (vs 18-20).

Now here's the goal:

  • This is the purpose of why there is the Passover.
  • This is the purpose of the covenant of eternal life.
  • This is the whole purpose and goal of what God wants for us

"That they all may one, even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us… [Completion of God's plan. He finished it up to that point, but He had to go through the crucifixion and the resurrection to bring the door to open the rest of it.] …in order that the world may believe that You did send Me…. [They're not going to believe it until the second return of Christ. (And we'll talk about that as we get down toward Pentecost), because that's going to be an event that the world is not going to like and it's going to astonish the world.] …And I have given them the glory that You gave to Me… [That is the receiving of God's Spirit.] …in order that they may be one, in the same way that We are one: I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected into one; and that the world may know that You did send Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that those whom You have given Me may also be with Me where I am, so that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me; because You did love Me before the foundation of the world'" (vs 22-24).

  • This is why we are to also keep our minds on the goal, the whole purpose.
  • This is why we have the Passover every year.
  • This is why it's a covenant of eternal life.
  • This is why we do the footwashing, because it renews our baptism,
  • This is why we eat the unleavened bread because that's the broken body of Christ, applied to our lives and our sins.
  • This is why we drink the wine, which symbolizes His blood, because He gave His very life and His blood so that we could be saved.

"'Righteous Father, the world has not known You; but I have known You, and these have known that You did send Me. And I have made known Your name to them… [The Father] …and will make it known; so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them'" (vs 25-26).

So this is why every year we keep the Passover and there has never been a time that I have not learned more things when it comes to time for the Passover and Unleavened Bread, and that's just the way it goes with the Spirit of God and the Word of God. So I hope every one of you have a very outstanding Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Scriptural References:

  • Titus 1:1-3
  • Titus 2:11-14
  • Matthew 22:1-11
  • Revelation 19:5-9
  • Matthew 22:12-14
  • John 14:1-10
  • John 5:19-20
  • John 14:11-14
  • John 16:23-24, 26-27
  • Hebrews 4:12-16
  • John 14:15-17, 26
  • John 16:7
  • John 15:26
  • John 16:8-13
  • John 14:15
  • John 15:9-10, 12-13; 16-25
  • John 16:1-4, 32-33
  • Hebrews 12:1-4
  • John 17:1-26

Scriptures References, not quoted:

    • James
    • Revelation 13:8
    • Acts
    • Matthew 6
    • John 6
    • Revelation 2-7
    • 1-John 5:3
    • John 21

Also referenced:

Sermons:

  • The Covenant of Eternal Life
  • The Covenant of Lies & Death
  • Series: Controlling the Human Mind
  • Jesus is Your Friend

FRC:lp
Transcribed: 7-13-09
Formatted: bo—7/20/09

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