Nov 15, 2020 Sunday Morning Worship Service

a song of invitation b129

Good morning, everybody. Some have asked me about My Thai.

They have said why are you wearing a Christmas time? If you own a Christmas, this is actually not a Christmas tie. These are the colors of the Italian flag. So I stand up here. That's a spicy meatball.

Walking in sunlight. That's what this series of lesson is about being in like being in Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is life. And if he's like, he's also what the Bible tells us in the beginning was the word was with God Word was God. He was in the beginning with God and with he made the world's and nothing without him that was made was made. He is the life get it now. He is the life and the life was the light of men the life was the light and Jesus provides both those aspects to us and to the world life and light and so it's imperative that we understand that we need to walk in that lie, what does it mean to walk in Jesus Christ? What means to walk in the light? Don't say what does it mean to walk in or what? It means to walk in Jesus Christ. What does those things mean? What does it mean to walk in Christ? What does it mean to walk in the Life? What does it mean to walk in the spirit? What does it mean to walk in God? It simply means this walking in his word the light of his word. You can't be in the light of Jesus. And not be in the light of his word. I have to be in the light of Jesus if you're walking in the light of his word. They go hand-in-hand. You can't separate the two. So when we hear phrases such as anyone about everywhere preaching Christ, but what were they do they were preaching the word of Christ is what they were doing now, certainly they were preaching the man because without the man you don't have a plan. But you have to have the plan in order to be with a man because the plan comes from the man, right? You can't separate the two just like you can't separate the head from the body. He's the head of his church, which is his body. A lot of people want their head, but they don't want the Buddy a lot of people want Christ, but they don't want to work but you can't have one without the other and dare. I say we must love both. Love both we need to love the word of God as much as we love Jesus Christ. You know, why some Jose doesn't that sound Blasphemous. Are we worship Worden and not Jesus Christ if you say that I refer you to God himself. Psalm 138 verse 2 He has magnified his word above his own name. Friends that powerful the tells us about the power of His word but it tells us where God puts the emphasis on his word and we know how powerful and how dignified and how glorifying and how holy his name is. And yet he says his word is above his name mine at something. That's all we need to understand. The importance of God's word. Paul talks about those who did not receive the love of the truth because they were rather be in unrighteousness rather than righteousness. We find that the second Thessalonians chapter 2 beginning about verse 10 and so they they were there in that condition that state of sin because they did not receive the love of the truth the word of God the love of the word of God. Oh what a blessing we have with the word of God. He hasn't left us to our own standards. He hasn't left us by ourselves. He has not left the left as or orphan. He has left us with his word. You know some might say well, this is the guide our guide to Heaven. This is the road map. This is the blueprint. However you want to It's the way to heaven because Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except by me, which is what brother Roy just quoted. But what does he mean? I am the way the truth and he is the way the truth and the life, but how do you know that you would know it any other way? And not only that he says the word that I have spoken the same will judge you in the last day. And then he goes on to tell us about the fact that his words that he has spoken. He said they are spirit and they are was spirit and life and if their spirit in life they have light, which is the whole point of the idea of walking in the light. We said last week Psalm 119 vs. 130 and 31 tells us that his word gives us Enlightenment. His word gives us illumination. That is his word gives us understanding. What does that mean gives us light when you look at God's word and you begin to read God's word you begin to understand the information in it. It's like someone had just switched on the left and there it is. You can understand it. So we find that there is life in Leiden Christ because there's light and life in his word. We have been begotten by the word of God James chapter 1 verse 18 He says receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your soul just down the road in verse 21. We have been purified. He says you were sold have been purified by the word of God. And so all of that goes together with the fact that we're saved by his word purified by his word. But what is that? Intimated to us. What is that subtly? Say to us? It means his word does those things only if we allow it? Right, that's where our faith comes in faith comes by what hearing hearing by the word of God. So if you're putting your trust, which is your faith in God, you're putting trust in his word. That's where the promises of God are found. That's where his his his words of Hope his words of comfort the Bible tells us that the Bible that his word Comforts us, you know, you talked about in a next chapter 13 assessment and they want to talk to every city in the comfort of the Holy Spirit by the spirit Paul and Barnabas. They were the spokesman of God, but we also learned that it's the word of God that Comforts us. It's the spirit that Comforts us through his word. God is always use the means and the means is always been his word the word of God. And in this case as we consider the light of God's word and first John chapter 1 which is what we just read a little bit ago. He says this is the message we have received from him and declare unto you that God is light and in him, there is no Darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him. And walk in darkness.

We lie and do not practice the truth noticed that and right after that. What is the first say first seven? We know it well, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with God we have fellowship with one another and we have fellowship with God. Beautiful, but I want us to go back. He says if we say if we allege if we claim we have fellowship with him, but walk in darkness we lie because we're not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light there for Ally walking in the lot is equivalent to practicing the truth. Now someone will say boy that's sounds good in one way, but it sounds pretty bad in another because if I send I'm in darkness, that's not what he's talking about. That's not what he's talking about. Rico's on the first date. He says if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. So what's he say? He sang this if you practice singing You're not practicing the truth, which means you're not walking in the light, but if you practice truth and you still send you're still walking in the light. Did you get that? he says no matter what happens you're going to send. The Bible tells us there are none righteous. No, not one. There is none that are good. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Some of us need to hear this lesson this morning. Right. It's not about our sin. Sin does not make you who you are saying. It's not your character. Send is what we do sometimes but the character in our identity is in the line of Jesus Christ. And so we continue to walk in the light doesn't mean we're going to be sending this. It means that we still have a remedy for the sin in our life. Right big difference. So a lot of us need to understand and take the Yoke of Burden off our minds. And of course understand. Yes one occasion. We said, But no matter what we do no matter the sin. They're still remedy. Why because we're walking in the light. That is we continue to do our very best for Jesus Christ. We continue to devote ourselves our hearts and our minds but along the way sometimes we we stumble right? That's the point.

Jesus talks about stumbling he says you will stumble. He makes a statically clear. He says you will stumble but woe to the man who stumbles and actually that's present tense, but woe to the man who keep on stumbling that's a condition. That's a state of heart a state of mine. That means I rather to do send. Then righteousness, I'd rather to do my own will then his will. I'd rather do the wheel the devil cuz that's who's real. You're actually doing then God's will. That's what that means. So he says remember if you walk in the light you have fellowship with one another and with God, but if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and we left.

Walking in the light means if we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There's the remedy if you have been baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins Acts, 2:38, Mark chapter 16 verse 16, if you've done that the remedy for you or send you you not going to you're not going to do away with your shed. the blood of Christ washes us away to the Waters of baptism and that our passions are past their taken out of the way on them to the Cross, but we continue walking in the light and so he said if we confess Well, that's also present tense as a present tense participle there. Therefore he says if we keep on confessing our sins that tells me something it's not a one-time. Send. But it's an attitude and a way of life that keeps me away from God. That's the point. So the burden I pray for some here has been lifted, but you're not going to be perfect. You're not ever going to be sinless if that was the case. There was no point for the cross. There was no need for a Plan of Salvation and there was no desire to have a savior but not sent. And he sent life. And he sent light. So he is the way the truth and the life the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are alive. Sent speaks the words of God for God does not give the Spirit by measure. What is he talking about? He's talking about the fact that Jesus Christ was a man. He was a human being and he needed help. So he sent them the Holy Spirit and he says he presented a message. That message was Spirit given Another words Jesus the man gave a message, but it was the spirit through Jesus that actually gave the message to be spoken. And he talks about that. There's a relationship there just as the apostles who were human needed the spirit Jesus Christ who was human needed. It's almost any to live like a man. He had to be a man. in all facets of human kind of us You something above us? But the Bible doesn't say that he says he the Bible says he's one of us. We are on the same level. There is no difference which makes his accomplishment of never sitting. incredible we appreciate it even more the fact that this man went out of his way not to sin because of you and me and top of that since he was innocent and he was unspotted with sin, but he was entirely all lie he desired still to die on a cross not for his sin, but for yours, and mice

so these are the things we need to consider as we consider Jesus as black. He who believes in the son has everlasting life and he who does not obey the son. Shall not see life. So here we have a connection between Belief, he who does not believe he who believes in the son has life. By the way, this is John chapter 3 verse 36. Says he who believes in the son has life, but he who does not obey the son shall not see life. You see there's a connection between belief and obedience. The belief that says I Believe In Christ, but I don't care to obey that's a devil level belief. That's what James spoke about in James chapter 2, even the demons believe that he's the son of God. But what makes the difference between us and a demon? Our fight our obedience.

Same idea so that we consider what John tells us and what Jesus says it says this in John chapter 12, nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in him notice, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him. Tell me something. Are we saved by belief only?

This one pass is alone. We don't have to go to any other. Even those passes just dealing with that prism this one passage. Alone says, that is a lie.

We believe and we obey that's the idea of Bible belief though. There were some who believe in Christ, but they would not confess them as the Christ. Lest they should be put out of the synagogue. Now, we know where their heart is. They'd rather have the praise and the glory and the attachment with human and with the things of the world rather than Jesus the Messiah will they loved the praise of man more than a praise of God? Then Jesus cried out and said he who believes in me. Please not in me button him that me and he or she is Macy's him whom he said, I have come as a light into the world that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness should not. A lot of people think once saved always saved right this this particular versus what they call the subjunctive mood. It's the mood of mine or maybe you might or you might not that's why it's a should not abide in darkness your might abide in darkness, but your mind based upon your belief. See you believe in me depends on how much you believe in him that keeps you out of darkness. And if anyone hears my words does not believe I do not judge him for I did not come to judge the world. But to save the world he who rejects me and does not receive my words has that which judge has him the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day for I have not spoken of my own authority. But the father sent me gave me a command what I should say and what I should speak and I know that his command is Everlasting there for whenever I speak just as the father has told me so speak. Come along introduction. I know but we're shutting yourself because here's something that's vitally important. Jesus is the light of what the world.

John chapter 8 verse 12. We know that verse we've quoted at first. We've heard it read over our lifetimes Jesus is the light of the world. But what is the context in which that verse Falls in? What helps explain the meaning of that verse with take a moment and watch?

You have had that has been said and I found I had a tooth for a tooth.

I need you to use this song to you.

He that is without sin among you. the Hempfest costume

Well, there's your context. same chapter first 12 follows that whole context so let's go back. And see it from God's perspective rather than from some movie clip. John says no early in the morning. He came into the temple and all the people came to him and he sat down and talked to him then the scribes and the Pharisees brought to him a woman. a woman caught in adultery now you and I both know that somewhere in the definition of adultery means to people at least two people.

Right off the bat. There's a problem here. They brought a woman as opposed to a woman and a man. caught in adultery and when they had said her in the midst They said to him teacher. This woman was caught in adultery in the very act now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be Stone, but what do you say? This they said testing him that they might have something to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger is so when they continued asking him. He raised himself up and said to them he who is without sin among you let him throw a stone at her first and Jesus are in a Gatti's stoop down and wrote on the ground.

Oops, then those who heard it being convicted by their conscious went out one by one beginning with the oldest even to the last and Jesus was left alone in the woman standing in the Mist when Jesus had raised himself up and saw no one but the woman he said to her woman, where are those accusers of yours has no one condemned. She said no one Lord. And Jesus said to her neither do I condemn you go and sin no more then Jesus spoke to them again saying I am the light of the world he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

There's this woman. Can you imagine the shame of being brought for your family and your friends and what's called the family Square within the temple? Probably half naked if not naked.

Being thrown in front of other people even while there's worship in the temple going on. First thing we need to understand is that cuz he's Pharisees did not care one Whit about this woman. They did not care about the law. And I certainly did not care what they were doing. That's how fragrant they were. They can't trust in Jesus. In other words. What do you say about this Moses says one thing but what do you say because if you say that you should Stone her. Then away with your new law about love mercy and forgiveness. your new law of life and Light but if you say let's forgive her. Well, then you're blaspheming Moses because Moses said killer. Actually Moses said kill them both, right? so what did Jesus write in the sand? We don't know. But the word therefore, right this is what gives some inclination to the thought. The word there means to record. What he wrote he was recording referring to something. What I don't know maybe he was referring to the law. Maybe he brought them back to Deuteronomy. What they needed to do because Jesus was not the one in authority to make such a decision in the first place. They had to bring those people who were guilty of adultery to the hedron. He was not the one to make the choice that's their first mistake. They violated Moses law themselves. And of course, they already violated law by not a man and a woman but just a woman so there's two count two strikes against them. And of course the third one is is that they were trying to set him up.

That's not love, you know, the law of Moses did teach love one another.

So as we consider this text, I want to talk quickly about law love and lie. Traffic is civil law. I want us to understand something this might offend some of you I don't mean to offend you, but I do know this that what she did was wrong. It was sinful. She was deserving death. Even though the other guy wasn't there. She was deserving death. God wanted her dead. Can I say that way I can because he made the law. It's explicit in the law of Moses. If you're guilty of this you will die this way. so but we come to the story and we look at the film clip and we just can't help but have compassion for that woman. Even though we know she deserves death. So they were right. They were right at least in that aspect, but everything else about the story is wrong and they were innocent.

So Jesus is going to point out. but they're simple to and whether or not he wrote down the law that they needed to follow properly. I don't know. Maybe he recorded their own sins since he was capable of knowing their hearts and minds and knowing all about them.

Don't know it doesn't matter but I do know this. He says you who are without sin and the word therefore without sin mean sinless. You who have never sinned and cannot sit that's the idea and that's exactly the way some of these Pharisees lived were the chosen people of God. We cannot send whatever we do we do and that's it. It doesn't affect my soul lo and behold let me read from the book of 1st John there were gnostics at that time who said that their sins do not affect their soul. So they could do what they pleased they can live a life of debauchery and still be a child of God going to heaven. That's why John says if we say we have no sin like those people. We deceive ourselves and the truth is not in his. But understanding that we have sin in our life requires a change requires us to say if we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. So there's responsibility to be taken among all of us. We asked you the question. How many here? Have ever lied.

Don't live in church now.

How many of us have ever stolen something?

I remember as a child going through Mom's purse looking for a dollar to get an ice-cream and I never told Mom about it mom's watching. I'm sorry, Mom.

How many of us are I'm not going to ask you raise your head how many of us have never lusted in their heart after somebody?

It's easy to do. You know why? We're human. We're Frodo. We are finer God is infinite Warfare.

You heard? Some time ago. We did a lesson on the 23rd psalm.

talking about sheep It's so easy for us to sin and God describes us as sheep because sheep are dumb and smelling we do our own things and we go astray. We leave the Sheepfold often. That's why we need a shepherd. And some of you need to hear that this morning. We need to rely upon the shepherd. Even when we're walking in the light, even when we're doing God's will we still stumble?

Someone will say well that's true. But as long as it's not real.

I guess they get that from he was chapter 10 verse 26 for if we sin willfully. Right if we sin willfully will be separated from God. Well, that's true. But what it's literally saying is is it is if we continue willfully City its present tense. It's a state. Imagine if all of us were condemned to hell because once in our life we decided we wanted to do it. We're all going to hell there rain a lot of us who hasn't done something we wanted to do right if we wanted to do something. We were going to do it with her. God wanted us to do it or not. But the point is the light that's been revealed to us is that if we continue willfully sinning if we continue living to ourselves if we continue living apart from God and I understand the hours late and we're coming to the end and I have two more points to go which will probably last another half hour. So let me say this brother--and walk in the light as the title is go into the light. That's where Jesus is. That's where the word is. And if you stumble while in the light, we still know and we can be assured of having a remedy by confessing our sins. So if we want to go into the light and to be with Jesus Christ, he simply says he that believes and is baptized shall be saved you have entered into life and you have entered into light.

Some of us have done that some of us have been in the life and been in the life, but he's wandered way like sheep, but we keep on wondering because we don't want any part of Christ. Why because perhaps were so guilty of the sin in our lives that we can't return. Or that we feel that we shouldn't return or somehow. We're just out of the reach of God's grace.

What is it saying about Jesus says they were accusing him and they were accusing her. Who's the great accuser Satan. We read that in Revelation chapter 12, he accuses you. You're too bad. What you've done in your life is just too awful. But Jesus the life in the light comes in and he shines his light on the matter. He says you're always good enough to enter the light. if you want to do that this morning your subject and imitation of Jesus Christ Our Lord won't you come forward as together we stand