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one announcement this morning a reminder that you may have seen the email um but if you uh did not or even if you did here's a reminder um we have the uh Lynnwood home uh hymn sing this evening after the evening service so if you are at the evening service uh uh or if you'd like to attend that the Lynwood home is just uh less than a kilometer away uh just around the corner on Coral uh near the end um and uh we're going there after the evening service uh 7 :00 there will be some sandwiches and soup uh after the evening service up here so from about uh 6 uh 19 until about 6:55 we can enjoy sandwiches and soup and then we can head over to the lywood what we do is we we sing some uh Incarnation themed hymns uh with the uh the old folks there uh about 15 hymns who read a little bit of scripture and uh and and talk to them afterwards uh uh converse with them for a little bit so if you'd like to attend all of that to say 7:00 Lynwood home after the evening service uh sandwiches and soups prior up in the fellowship luncheon Hall let's begin our worship then if you want to turn in your Bibles with me to uh Micah chapter 5 uh Micah 5 as we begin worship um Micah 5 and verse one excuse me Micah 5 beginning in verse two finishing in verse 5 this is the word of the living and true God but you Bethlehem EPA though you are little among the thousands of Judah yet out of you shall come forth to me the one to be ruler in Israel whose goings forth are from of old from Everlasting therefore he shall give them up until the time that she who is in labor has given birth then the remnant of his Brethren shall return to the children of Israel and he shall stand feed his flock in the strength of the Lord in the Majesty of the name of the Lord his God and they shall abide for now he shall be great to the ends of the Earth and this one shall be peace amen well let's stand and sing together our first hymn is 145 uh your larger hym books Let's stand and sing 145 [Music] Jesus to set [Music] freear our rest in is the strength and [Music] cons of all Earth [Music] ofy of [Music] to to us [Music] [Music] for eternal spirit all our [Music] hearts us [Music] glor please be seated let's go to our Lord in prayer let us let's pray Heavenly Father we rejoice in this Lord's Day Sabbath we thank you that your Saints can gather together in this place to uh rejoice in you and to rejoice in the Gospel of Jesus Christ Our Savior we do Gather in his name in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to worship you are Triune god father Son and Holy Spirit we do pray that you would help us to do so that you would uh give us that measure of your spirit that our souls might be stirred unto a proper hallowing of your most high and precious name we do always desire to gather together as your people and to give you that praise and honor that is your due and we do pray that you would help us in this that we would rejoice in you that we would be found to have that Godly fear and reverence and that we would have that a cheerful compliance that is to mark your Saints as we gather together to rightfully and biblically worship our blessed God we do pray that you would help us to rejoice in Salvation by such a savior the Lord Jesus Christ we rejoice in your gospel we rejoice in the saving work of the Lord Jesus we do know as your word sets forth that you did send him in the fullness of the times born of a woman and born under the law to redeem those who are under the law and we thank you for that precious truth and we know that it is a faithful saying worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into this world Sinners to save and and we recognize that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of of God yet you have sent your son to die for Sinners to rise again and to by that perfect work save a multitude that no man can number we thank you that we can be called among that number not by virtue of works of Holiness which we have done but according to your mercy and Grace and kindness through the perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the perfect application of all of the uh his Blessings by the Holy Spirit to our souls and we do pray that you would cause us to rejoice in you this day that we would sing your praises and that Saints around the world not only in this place but that all of your Saints gathered together might rejoice in their God and sing the Praises of Christ we would ask that you would be with those who need prayer for physical things there are many who are sick and unwell and injured and uh recovering from surgery injury and all these things Lord those uh who suffer disease and sickness we do pray that you would strengthen each and every one we do pray that you would watch over them that you would heal them that you would not uh uh uh that that they would not be found to be anxious that they would not be found to be uh in Gloom uh but rather that you would lift them up and stir them up in the inner man that in even in the midst of Affliction they might rejoice in their God and be wholly resigned unto your will in all things we do pray that you would be uh with those who are with child we thank you that you give those uh blessings of uh of children in the womb and we do pray that you would bring them forth in due time uh that each would be born uh without issue and we do pray Lord that you would cause mother and father to rejoice in these gifts and God we would pray that in due time all of our young ones would come to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that you by spirit and word would conquer their hearts and cause them uh to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ unto the saving of their souls we do pray God that you would help us uh to be in prayer for those who are persecuted for their belief in the Lord Jesus Christ we know that there are many uh in Nations around the world who suffer persecution for the cause of Christ we pray that you would be with our dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ and we would ask again that you would lift them up that you would strengthen them that you would give them the daily grace to be able uh to lay hold of the the hope of their calling without wavering that they would be steadfast in the faith unto the very end and we do pray that you would uh that you would conquer their uh persecutors we would ask that you would even save those who are presently the the persecutors of your people and we know with regards to the New Testament that Saul was uh such a persecutor but you by your grace and For Your Glory brought him from the The Madness of his uh persecuting acts to belief in the Savior and uh to propagate the truth of the gospel and we do pray that you would do this with those who presently persecute that you would save many and uh cause them uh to be the friends of Those whom they formerly persecuted we do know that many will remain in opposition though Lord God those who uh have hardened their hearts against you and uh Lord God we do pray for those who are rebellious and who will not believe and bend a need to the king of kings and Lord of lords who uh bring violence against your people that you would bring judgment upon them uh that you would judge them from on high that you would take them even out of the way that you would remove their fangs from them and cause them to wither away like the snail that they may no longer bring violence Upon Our precious fellow Saints we do pray that you would uh as well be with those who rule over us we pray for those who are in Authority that they would uh exercise law and Rule according to your word and according to your will they would not uh rule against the uh the proper things of righteousness Equity uh and justice but rather would uphold these things so we do pray that you would cause them to do so that they would uh not sanction wickedness and vice but rather would sanction virtue and those things which are in accordance with your word and we do pray anyone who opposes uh Your Righteous rule in such a way that you would take them out of the way you would cause them to stumble like drunken men that they may no longer pervert the Nations and we would ask that you would be with us now Lord God in worship we know that we require aid from on high especially the preacher Lord we do pray for pastor Butler that you would strengthen him that you would cause him as he comes up to the pulpit that he would know the aid of the Triune God here as he opens up his Bible give him what he requires to Proclaim richly the things of our glorious Christ and we do pray that you would uh just give him much confidence and comfort in the Pulpit we pray for those of us in the pews that for your gathered people that you would cause us to be well instructed by your spirit that we would by this act of worship the preaching of the word grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our savior we do pray that we would be equipped to leave this place to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ and finally we would pray that you would be Mighty for salvation this morning we would pray that you would come upon the wings of Victorious Grace and cause those who have entered in these two doors outside of Christ to leave these two doors singing the Praises of his most high name we pray that all is that is done this morning and this evening would be done to the praise of your most glorious name we pray in the name of our savior the Lord Jesus Christ amen well let's stand and sing our second hymn then if you'll turn with me to 168 we'll stand and sing 168 together let's sing as a church Church [Music] Nation the tri [Music] [Applause] [Music] ofr Angel sing glory [Music] to high ad Christ [Music] everting to Jesus [Music] theal Angels Sing [Music] [Applause] [Music] glory and to all he in his his [Music] glory son [Music] Earth Angels Sing glory to the new [Music] please be seated you can turn in your Bibles to Revelation 14 Revelation chapter 14 our New Testament scripture reading Revelation 14 beginning in verse 1 on once again the word of the living and true God then I looked and behold a lamb standing on Mount Zion and with him 144,000 having his father's name written on their foreheads and I Heard a Voice from heaven like the voice of many Waters and like the voice of loud thunder and I heard the sound of harpists playing their Harps they sang as it were a new song Before the Throne before the four living creatures and the elders and no one could learn learn that song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth these are the ones who were not defiled with women for they were virgins these are the ones who follow the lamb wherever he goes these were redeemed from among men being first fruits to God and to the lamb and in their mouth was found no deceit for they are without fault Before the Throne of God then I saw another Angel flying in the midst of Heaven having the Everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every tribe Nation tribe uh excuse me to Every Nation tribe tongue and people saying with a loud voice fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment has come and worship him who made Heaven and Earth the sea and springs of water and another angel angel followed saying Babylon is Fallen is Fallen that great City because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication then a third Angel followed them saying with a loud voice if anyone worships the beast in His image and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out full strength into the cup of his indignation he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the lamb and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever and they have no rest day or night who worship the Beast and His Image and whoever receives the mark of his name here is the patience of the Saints here are those who keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus then I Heard a Voice from Heaven saying to me write blessed are the Dead who die in the Lord from now on yes says the spirit that they may rest from their labors and their Works follow them then I looked and behold a white cloud and on the cloud Sat one like the son of man having on his head a Golden Crown and in his hand a sharp sickle and another angel came out of the temple crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud thrust in your sickle and reap for the time has come for you to reap for the Harvest of the earth is ripe so he who sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the Earth and the Earth was reaped then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven he also having a sharp sickle and another angel came out from the altar who had power over fire and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle saying thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the cluster of the vine of the Earth for her grapes are fully ripe so the angel thrust the sickle into the Earth and gathered the vine of the earth and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God and the wine press was trampled outside the city and blood came out of the The Wine Press up to the horses Bridal for 1,600 furlongs amen well again there is a lot of uh language with respect to symbology a lot of emblematic things in this Vision that John is truly employing in order to speak concerning Earthly judgments one of the things we see here is a a wonderful description of Christians if we uh come to Revelation 14 what the first thing we ought to see again by contrast is the Lamb standing on Mount Zion in contrast to the two beasts of chapter 13 there is the the beast from the sea and the Beast from the land that are wreaking havoc upon the Earth but the Lord then is brought into view our Lord Jesus Christ Our Victorious champion in verse 141 then I looked and behold a lamb standing on Mount Zion and with him 144,000 there is victory in Christ Jesus though the two beasts May rage they cannot overcome the glory and the majesty and the power of the Risen Christ we have this description of Christians here in verse four these are the ones who were not defiled with women for they are virgins these are the ones who follow the lamb wherever he goes these were redeemed from among men being first fruits to God and to the lamb and in their mouth was found no deceit for they are without without fault Before the Throne of God something that might be a text to read in concert with such language as the stuff of Ephesians 5 25-27 husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of Water by the word that he might present her to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that she should be holy and without blemish this is a picture of or this is language that pertains to the church language of spiritual Fidelity to the Lamb of God to Jesus Christ to the Triune God and this language is uh is added to in verse 12 where we read more description of a Christian here is the patience of the Saints here are those who keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus as those saved by grace alone through through faith alone in Christ alone we are not saved of course by the Deeds of the law but as Christians we have cheerful compliance to the law of God we are those who keep the Commandments of God being saved by such a glorious God by such a glorious gospel we see in the law that pattern and that uh that um uh proper uh standard by which we order our lives in cheerful compliance to the Risen Christ and to our glorious God I think when we come and we'll repeat this time and again as we come to the Book of Revelation reading through it when we come away from a reading of it we ought to come away with this that though Earthly rulers and enemies of the Gospel May rage Christ is victorious in accordance with his promise I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not Prevail against it we see that he is and he always will be Victorious and by virtue of our Union with him so too will we be victorious in that blessed and conquering Christ well let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for your word we thank you for what it reveals concerning the glory of our Christ in his saving work and in his conquering work and in his work too as the judge of the living and the dead and we do pray that you would cause us to rejoice in our savior to sing his Praises uh to always see in him our all in all the one in whom we have all spiritual blessings in the Heavenly places and we do pray that you'd help us now as we continue worship help our minds to be focused cause Us by your spirit to not wander off to thoughts of anything save for those things that now pertain to your worship and to the preaching of your most holy word we pray in Christ's name amen well let's stand and sing then our last hymn before the preaching in the larger hym book again 147 let's stand and sing 147 together [Music] we ex until Son of God re [Applause] [Music] re to [Music] the of [Music] in and [Music] mesty you shall come to the [Music] [Applause] [Music] of and them Victory the [Music] to [Music] the and US th [Music] and our shadows [Music] to to the [Music] and [Applause] [Music] [Applause] our and [Music] please be seated we'll turn with me in your Bibles to John chapter 18 John chapter 18 we're going to consider Jesus Christ before Pontius Pilate specifically verses 33 to 40 but I do want to read the larger context so I'll begin reading in chapter 18 of John's gospel at verse 28 just to sort of set the stage to let you know what is going on in this particular instance the Lord Jesus had two trials he stood first before the Jews and then before the Romans the Jewish trial again with an informal examination by Annis probably in front of the members of the Sanhedrin or the religious Council the Sanhedrin then made a formal decision concerning jesus' guilt and sent him to pilate in the morning and that's what we see in this section now John does not record but Luke does that between verses or chapters 18 and 19 pilate sends Jesus over to see Herod and then of course Herod sends Jesus back to pilate and that takes up chapter 19 so that's sort of the context and what we're looking at as I said is the king before the governor in verses 33-38 but beginning beginning in verse 28 then they LED Jesus from Caiaphas to the ptor and it was early morning but they themselves did not go into the ptor lest they should be defiled but that they might eat the Passover pilate then went out to them and said what accusation do you bring against this man they answered and said to him if he were not an evildoer we would not have delivered him up to you then pilate said to them you take him and judge him according to your law therefore the Jews said to him it is not lawful for us to put anyone to death that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which he spoke signifying by what death he would die then pilate entered the ptor him again called Jesus and said to him are you the king of the Jews Jesus answered him are you speaking to yourself uh for yourself about this or did others tell you this concerning me pilate answered am I a Jew your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me what have you done Jesus answered my kingdom is not of this world if my kingdom were of this world my servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now my kingdom is not from here pilate therefore said to him are you a king then Jesus answered you say rightly that I am a king for this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth everyone who is of the truth hears my voice pilate said to him what is truth and when he had said this he went out again to the Jews and said to them I find no fault in him at all but you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover do you therefore want me to release to you the king of the Jews and they all cried again saying not this man but barabus now barabus was a robber amen well let us pray Our Father we thank you for the written word of the Living God we thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ this one prophesied in the in second Samuel 7 the the the the man to Reign from the line of David to be the king of kings and Lord of lords we thank you for his life and his death and his resurrection on behalf of Sinners we thank you that you've included Us in his gracious Kingdom we ask God that more and more people today would be uh moved upon by the Holy Spirit and brought under conviction of sin and would be able to see the glory and the sufficiency of Jesus Christ to save to the uttermost all who draw nigh unto God through him we pray that for our meeting here this morning we pray that the truth of the Gospel would be attended powerfully by the holy spirit of God that you would bring Salvation to Bear upon men and women and boys and girls in this place this morning we pray for the saints that you would strengthen and encourage us cause us to reflect upon the glory of our King cause us to reflect upon this one who loved us and who gave himself for us even now now we pray for the ministry of your spirit we pray for the Forgiveness of our sins we pray for cleansing through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and it's in his name that we pray amen well as I said our focus is verses 33-38 but just a couple of pre preliminary observations in the first section the Jews before Pilate in verses 28-32 you need to notice something about these particular persons they are not concerned with truth they are not concerned with Biblical accuracy they are not concerned with the law of the Living God notice their hypocrisy in verse 28 says then they LED Jesus from Caiaphas to the pretorium and it was early morning but they themselves did not go into the pretorium lest they should be defiled but that they might eat the Passover on the one hand they want to maintain ceremonial or ritual cleanliness on the other hand they're offering up the Lord Of Glory for crucifixion it is absolutely inconsistent on the one hand we don't want to defile ourselves with reference to the pretorium but on the other hand Away With Jesus crucify him crucify him notice as well as they present before Pilate pilot asks the very specific question what accusation do you bring against this man verse 29 notice in verse 30 they answered and said to him if he were not an evildoer we would not have delivered him up to you friends that is called begging the question they present no evidence they give no facts whatsoever they simply assert he's guilty because we say he's guilty this is a mock trial these men are not concerned at all with the truth of scripture with the truth of their own holy law it is according to the will of God that that his son be delivered up to die for the sins of his people and to rise again on that third day now notice as we look at Jesus before Pilate we'll look at four things here first the issue concerning kingship secondly the clarification concerning the question third the response given by Christ and fourth the question of truth but notice this issue is concerning kingship verse 33 then pilate and entered the pretorium again called Jesus and said to him are you the king of the Jews now you need to understand that Jesus beef or Jesus dispute or Jesus confrontation with the the Jewish religious leaders was theological in nature he claimed to be the king according to Old Testament prophecy in other words he claimed to be David's son he made himself equal with God he claimed to be the Divine Messiah we certainly know that that was an accurate claim but the Jews couldn't turn Jesus over on a theological matter uh pilate and the Romans would never crucify a man or execute a man for an intramural debate concerning theology so the Jews had to present Jesus as a contender for the Roman Crown in other words he asserts he has said he has demonstrated that he is a king the idea being that he then presents himself self as a challenge to the existing political order in Rome so you see the Jews are are actually diabol diabolically wise in all of this they deliver Jesus up they say to pilate he claims to be a king pilate has a responsibility before his King to make sure that any usurper and or any attempted usur usurper to the throne is crushed and is smashed so that's the nature of the debate in this particular instance or in this particular place now notice specifically pilate has asked him are you the king of the Jews secondly Jesus clarifies this question are you speaking for yourself about this or did others tell you this concerning me it's very intriguing because earlier in John's gospel specifically in John 6 the Jews tried to take Jesus by force and make him a king that's the context where Jesus Jesus is feeding the multitudes with bread where the Lord Jesus is taking care of the economic needs where Jesus is satisfying the physical requirement for food when that is in play the people say we want to take him and make him a king now that he's a threat to their theological order they want to deliver him up so that he would be crucified at the hands of a Godless state so Jesus says are you speaking for yourself about this or did others tell you this concern in me he wants to fet this out he wants to discover he wants to put the onus upon pilate in this instance are you simply a puppet Governor working for the this sort of proprietary people that live under your realm and it is the case that he is working as a puppet governor for these people pink says he was sent to be the governor of these Jews they nevertheless compelled him to be their slave the execution ER of their wrath pilate responds notice in verse 35 am I a Jew your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me what have you done am I a Jew am I part of this theological debate is this something that concerns me I simply need to know the political ramifications here if you assert that you are in fact a king then I as pilate need to deal with you but if it's just a matter of theology between you and the Jews well then hopefully we can just let you all work it out you see what's pressing upon pilate here you see what's moving him he is a wimp he is a coward is a populist he simply wants to serve these people in this particular instance as I said the Jews aren't concerned about the truth pilate isn't concerned about the truth there is one in this section that is concerned about the truth and he says that his kingdom is defined accordingly to truth now notice the response given by Christ verses 36 and 37 it's both negative and positive he will answer pilate's question but it is important that we understand how he answers Pilot's question as I said it's negative in verse 36 and then a positive statement in verse 37 and what Jesus is doing is stressing to pilate that his kingdom is not an immediate political threat to Rome I say immediate because Daniel's prophecy tells us that the stone strikes the image and it's crushed it's not an immediate threat to pilate it's not an immediate threat to Caesar but that doesn't mean the Roman Empire will be around forever it's not the fact that Jesus and his servants are going to launch an armed revolt against the Roman Empire that's what he stresses here in order to present himself before this particular man notice we learn two things in this section something concerning the character of his kingdom and secondly the character of the king the first place the existence of his kingdom notice in verse 36 my kingdom is not of this world what does he answer pilate yes pilate I am a king yes pilate I am a king now imagine pilate here for a moment what do you think he's thinking if you were a king you'd have a big Crown if you were a king you would be wielding a royal scepter if you were a king you would be sitting on a royal Throne pilate witnessed firsthand what Isaiah prophesy there is no form there is no Majesty there is no comeliness that when we see him we desire him he presents himself as an ordinary normal sort of a man and nevertheless he claims entitlement to and the rights of kingship my kingdom is not of this world notice that the second place the Kingdom's origin now his kingdom is not of the world but the kingdom certainly includes the world think sometimes we miss that we read this passage and we say well Jesus kingdom is not of the world so therefore Jesus doesn't have Reign and rule over the world that is not a logical conclusion it doesn't derive from it isn't according to in other words Jesus wasn't voted into office there was no political process that established Jesus upon the throne what process establish Jesus upon the throne was a covenant God who gave him as the head to his people in the in the function of mediator as Prophet priest and King but my kingdom is not of this world it is not over going to this world it is not derived from the world Riyal defines it belonging to dependent upon springing from or connected with and now Jesus affirms this or proves this by an appeal to his servants note the logic verse 35 my kingdom is not of this world how do we know that if my kingdom were of this world my servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now my kingdom is not from here what's proof positive that his kingdom is not from the world if his kingdom was from the world pilate and his minions would be dead the Jews would never get their bloodthirsty hands upon the Lord Jesus Christ it would never be the case that this would be occurring as it is presently in other words Jesus negative response affirms to pilate that no immediate immediate political overthrow is in view at this particular time it's as if Jesus is saying you need to just relax you're not going to be overthrown you're not going to be overwhelmed you're not going to be violently overo uh uh opposed if my kingdom were of this world my servants would fight and what's the implication and they would win he's Jesus his servants win he's the Lord Christ almighty his servants carry out his will perfectly and effectively and efficiently so pilate doesn't have anything to worry about with reference to the Lord Jesus so Christ is answering the charge in a very wise and calculated manner so that everything will transpire according to plan now notice positively the character of the king he positively affirms notice in verse 37 pilate therefore said to him are you a king then it's not the brightest bulb in the chandelier is he I mean Jesus just said he is a king are you a king then he just didn't have the categories to process this information because Kings in this realm simply try and kill other kings and competitors so that Kings in this realm can take their territory pilate's not trafficking in the kingdom of God neither are the Jews but pilate is certainly missing the point and so he asked candidly and clearly to the Lord Jesus are you a king then now note Jesus affirms this and then he highlights something concerning his glorious person he says you say rightly that I am a king for this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world that a beautiful statement this is the only reference in John's gospel to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and it's an intriguing reference isn't it now I'm not suggesting the Incarnation is not mentioned you remember John 1:14 I suspect I believe Pastor cam did he preach on that last Sunday night yes he's nodding back there John 1114 the Incarnation well picking up in John 1:1 in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God who is this word verse 14 and the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the father father full of grace and truth it's a reference to the Incarnation the second person of the Trinity comes into this world he takes on the likeness of sinful flesh accepting sin to be sure he assumes Humanity assumes our nature he becomes identified with us he is like us in all points yet without sin the Incarnation is that blessed beautiful doctrine that the son comes into this world World in order to save his people from the from their sins the Son of God becomes the son of man in order that the sons of men can become the sons of God Augustine said that it's been repeated throughout church history and it certainly affirms the doctrine or the idea of the Incarnation but notice in John 18 for this cause I was born not so you could have a warm fuzzy time each year not so you could glut yourself on eggnog and you know giftgiving I'm not here to condemn anybody I'm not here to rain on anybody's parade but why was Jesus born to be a king it's an amazing reality at this time of year persons like Jesus in the manger I think this is where Sinners always want Jesus in a manger he's controlled he's confined he's tame he's little we're not afraid of something we can pick up are we and in the minds of many Christ is in that position at this time of the year he's this little swaddled baby cing while the the while the animals low and and moo and do whatever they do that was one time Christ comes as a man Christ lives in obedience to The Father's Law Christ dies as a substitute and sacrifice at Calvary Christ R uh raises on the third day Christ ascends on high Christ is currently enthroned at the right hand of of the Majesty on high where Christ is promised to come again in glory to judge the living and the dead he will not come tame he will not come small he will not come manageably he will not come in a way that is pleasing to us the Apostle up to us outside of him for those inside in Christ they will look at that day and Marvel Paul tells us that he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead now if you're a sinner who do you prefer this little baby in the womb that or this little baby in the manger that you can pick up and set somewhere else or the King of Kings and the Lord of lords who wages war and opposes his enemies through his truth you see Jesus says for this cause I was born now there are other causes he was born in order to teach the truth he was born in order to live in obedience to the law he was born in order to die he was born in order to die and be raised the third day but with reference to pilate and this question of kingship when pilate says are you then a King Jesus says you you say rightly I am a king for this cause I was born that's the whole purpose that's the function that's the view Christ as mediator Prophet priest and King to fulfill all that the father gave him in the salvation of his elect the Lord Christ came with Mission he came with purpose he was defined he was focused he didn't just sort of bounce around and let the Winds of uh uh the winds take them where it wished everything is according to plan I said after this section Jesus is sent to Herod he comes back from Herod and he stands before Pilate and later on pilate asks are you not speaking to me do you not know that I have power to crucify you and power to release you don't you love jesus' response in 1911 you could have no power at all against me unless it had been given you from above therefore the one who delivered me to you has the greater sin Christ knew every step of the way what was happening Christ was the son of God and when he says I was born to be king he's referring to the mediatorial office Christ is the second person of the Trinity is God Christ is second person of the Divine Trinity is Creator he is Lord he is Governor he is King he's talking about the Messianic kingship he's talking about the mediatorial Reign he is talking about what he will alert us to in Matthew 28 remember I said he does not his kingdom does not originate from the world but it certainly includes the world because Jesus will say to his disciples all authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to me go therefore and Make Disciples of what of all the nations those Nations given to me by my Father Allah Psalm 2 those Nations that I have absolute authority over as king of kings and Lord of lords go and make disciples of them baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and lo I uh teaching them to observe all that I have commanded and lo I Am With You Always even to the End of the Age The Point Brethren of this particular section is that Christ is King Christ is King just by way of a of an aside doesn't that encourage you doesn't that make you happy there's a couple of fellows in the church and myself talk about politics that can be discouraging can't it come on if you talk about politics you follow it at all it can be discouraging I mean people lie people cheat people deceive and people say things that are just the opposite of what you believe how dare them right it is very discouraging or do you use a renahan ISM it's discouraging what do we always come back to that vision of Christ in Revelation one how does John describe him before he looks to these beastly kingdoms of men before he looks to these anti-christian systems what does he do in Revelation 1 he tells us that Jesus is the ruler over the kings of the earth whatever men may do in this world now I'm not suggesting we don't pray we don't encourage we don't try and telling telling people you know that's just a foolish path to consider but in the final analysis Christ is ruler over the kings of the earth isn't that afford Comfort or doesn't that afford Comfort to the weary Saint doesn't that encourage you that as bad as man may be and as wretched and as Reckless as he may be nevertheless God is in control I mentioned that Jesus was not a present political threat to the Roman Empire not a present political threat to the Roman Empire when he stood before Pilate but where's the Roman Empire now where are the kingdoms of men who oppose the Lord Christ they end they cease they become a part of his foot stol this this is what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 he must Reign till he makes all of his enemies his foot stol you can rest assured brothers and sisters that everyone that opposes everyone that violates everyone that Rebels against the kingdom of Christ will ultimately be put under his rule it's beautiful isn't it it's encouraging isn't it it's a blessing isn't it for this cause I was born you can get out of bed tomorrow because Jesus was born to be king you can carry on in your day because Jesus was born to be king you can carry on on Thursday because Jesus was born to be king why do we need a king the catechism asks he defends us he protects us he rules over us and He commands us on how to live we need that King and Christ is that King and he promises or he asserts or he declares as much in this instance you say rightly that I am a king for this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world now notice his method of Conquest how does he operate his kingdom how does he successfully wage war how does he engage in the activity of Kingdom he tells us he says and for this cause I have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth it's the primary vehicle for the advancement of God's kingdom your testimony might be an encouragement to others your backyard barbecue might gather them together it is the truth of God's holy word is that encouraging too in this political cycle or in these political Cycles or election Cycles what do they do the next morning or probably even you know a minute after the debate ends they fact check don't they they fact checked the candidates they fact checked to make sure that what they claimed or said was in fact accurate every time you fact check the Lord Jesus Christ it's accurate every time you fact check the Lord Of Glory it's true every time you fact check something that comes out of his holy mouth it is on spot he On Target he says this is the means by which his kingdom advances that I should bear witness to the truth he Bears witness to the truth John 1:14 to8 no one has seen God at any time but the only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father has what he has declared him he has expounded him literally he has exed him he Bears witness to the truth According To Jesus in John 8: 31-36 he saves Sinners by his truth if you know the truth the truth shall what it'll set you free you want to be free today you want to continue in your Rebellion against God do you want to continue in your sin against God or do you want freedom blessed Freedom blessed Liberty it's not going to come through a moral reform I'm not going to go do those bad things anymore it's not going to come through money I'm going to throw some money in the box and that's going to get me out of the predicament that I'm in it's not going to come through an ex external form of religion if I just come to church tonight like Pastor Cam said in the confession study well then I'm then I'm going to be fine with with God no you want freedom today believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you want freedom from your sin Liberation Redemption reconciliation with God do you want those things today if you don't you should because if you are in your sin you are under the wrath of God presently he who believes the son shall not see uh shall H has everlasting life but he who does not believe the son shall not see life but what happens the wrath of God abides on him do you know that right now if you're not a Christian the wrath of God abides on you right now if you are not a Christian the wrath of God abides on you you think how can that possibly be I'm in the church because God's Wrath doesn't respect roofs do you want freedom you know in just a few moments we'll see where pilate says what is truth commentators wonder how did he say that is he in Earnest what is truth I used to think there was a bit more to it you know he's kind of wrestling with all this because Thrice he confesses concerning Jesus I find no fault in him he knew that Jesus was not guilty of the crime for which they presented him but I'm more inclined to follow the reformed follow the commentators that say it was just a shrug what is truth the reason why is he doesn't wait for an answer is that your attitude this morning what is truth I've heard this before we get this every Sunday e we're going to get this into the new year what is truth why do I care what does it matter if you are under the wrath of God most high you presently do not understand what that means but if you should breathe your last under the wrath of God you will understand what that means you will understand Fury you will understand judgment you will understand hell you will understand the Wrath of the Living God you don't want to die that way you don't want to exit the world that way you don't want to continue that way so look to him who is truth look to the one who defines his kingdom in this particular manner he says specifically and for this cause I have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth Spurgeon says our Lord in effect tells us that truth is the preeminent characteristic of his kingdom and that his royal power over men's Hearts is through through the truth you see in the first instance being a Christian does not mean doing the right things now don't take this and go out and do the wrong things because Butler said so in the first instance it's believing the right things do you think you are going to stand before God on that day and here well done good and faithful servant because of your exemplary performance do you think on that day you're going to be welcomed into heaven and be promised the cessation of your labors and the Beatitudes given to you because you're a great guy or a great girl no it's because of what Christ has done it's because of who Christ is it's because of his life his death his resurrection what is the means by which we appropriate those blessings faith we believe the truth as it is in Jesus by the grace of God certainly there is repentance certainly there is Reformation in terms of morality certainly if we were crack smoking prostitute visiting wretches before we will not do that as Christ's disciples or if we were self-righteous empty formalists we will not do that anymore when we are Christ's disciples but in the first place what makes us to differ from the unconverted it is the Christ in whom we believe truth is absolutely crucial and this is what our Lord highlights wat says he rules the world with what with truth and Grace and makes the Nations prove the glories of his righteousness Jesus says the primary instrument of the vehicle by which his King om advances is the truth it is not political immediate political revolution with reference to pilate and that world's Empire but it is the truth as it is in Jesus now notice he describes his loyal subjects the end of verse 37 that I should bear witness to the truth everyone who is of the truth hears my voice isn't that beautiful he hear we hear his voice do he say this in John 10 I know my sheep and my sheep know me they they know their Shepherd's voice do you know the voice of Christ this morning do you know the voice of the Redeemer this morning do you know the truth of Jesus this morning because Jesus says everyone who is of the truth hears my voice they follow him as cam read in Revelation 14 how does it describe the conduct of the followers of the Lamb they follow him on Sunday yeah they follow him not just just on Sunday morning it doesn't say that it says they follow him wherever he goes when Christ gives the command to the disciples with reference to the Great Commission in Matthew 28 28 teaching them to observe some of the things that I have commanded you teaching to observe those things that are Pleasant to you teaching to observe those things that you approve of no teaching to observe all that I have commanded you you see the loyal subject of Jesus Christ is one who is of the truth the loyal subject of Jesus Christ is one who is conquered by truth and the loyal subject of Jesus Christ hears his voice and does what he says and doesn't whine or Grumble or complain or snivel how does this self-same John described commandment keeping in his go in his first epistle the Commandments are not burdensome the Commandments aren't Grievous boy John come and preach to our churches today because people whine and Grumble and complain when you preach basic commandment keeping oh no we're not under law we're under grace whatever that means it doesn't mean go ahead and sin we're not under law we're under grace so I can fornicate with whoever I want I can put what into into my body whatever I want I can always claim Christian liberty no you can't that may be the spawn of some Modern theologians but it's not what our Lord Christ says he says very clearly everyone who is of the truth hears my voice now the implication isn't just hey that's Jesus but hey we do what Jesus says we follow the lamb wherever he bids us we don't pick and choose we don't say thus far and no further does this Define your Christianity does this Define the way that you live before a holy God as Pastor Porter said we're not saved by lawke keeping no one would ever be saved Paul underscores that in Romans 3:20 therefore by the Deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight why for by the law is or comes a knowledge of sin but we know as well when Christ saves Us by his grace through faith he points us to the law as that standard uh standard as that rule of life as that pattern for good works do you know what a good work is the law specifies when the Bible tells you you need to be zealous for good works do you think God wants you to go out and be Innovative or God wants you to be obedient to what he's already said like it or not Brethren God's not looking for Innovation or creativity he is looking for obedience we are not smarter than God we are not better than God we have not arrived more than God we don't know our culture better than God God knows all things always it's always present before him and God has commanded and God is stipulated and God has said do it this way Jesus kingdom is about truth notice pilate's question already touched on this what is truth and when he had said this he went out against again to the Jews and said to them I find no fault in him at all which by the way he says three times verse 4 chapter 19 I find no fault in him verse 6 I find no fault in him what does this indicate concerning pilate he's a wimp he is a coward he is afraid because if he has found no fault in Jesus that that should be it but in typical political correctness manner he lets the mob dictate what he's going to do he is par paradigmatic or arch typal of the sorts of political jelly fishery we see in witness today what happened to men that took a scan men that said no you're only out out because you are wretched you only want him to be dead because you're wretched just put the onus where it belongs in this particular instance but notice his compromise verses 39 and 40 do you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover do you therefore want me to release to you the king of the Jews it's almost like he's going over just you know come on let's not keep doing this remember pilate's wife had a pretty disturbing dream as well and she says to him have no dealings with this just man pilot 100 yards is probably not too little to be away from this just man you have a a custom at the Passover do do you want me to release to you Jesus the king of the Jews notice what they say they all cried again saying not this man but barabus now barabus was a robber chrysostom says oh cursed decision they demanded those like mannered with themselves and let the guilty go but bid him punish the innocent now we often times think that barabus his crime was that he wandered into a Walmart and he took a DVD or whatever the equivalence of that was in their setting he'd boost a fish from the marketplace or he would boost an apple from wherever he was during his daily ritual he was a murderer most likely he was what was called a zealot a terrorist against the Roman State and the two men that were crucified on either side of Jesus were most likely his companions in other words barabus was a right wretch and yet these people say give us barabus what do I do with the king of the Jews away with him away with him crucify him now you have to appreciate the emblem here don't you in many respects verse 40 sets before our eyes the entirety of the Gospel the just sent to his death the unjust released from his punishment now I'm not suggesting barabus is necessarily saved but I am suggesting that the emblem is strong in this passage the just one goes to the cross and the unjust one is released from his debt you see for us that's precisely why Jesus does what he does here let's just bring it from barabus to our own selves let's just bring it into our own context we are the unjust one who has benefited from the just one going to the cross on our behalf I love the way Gil says it he says barabus was an emblem of God's elect in a state of nature released and set free when Christ was condemned isn't that the gospel isn't that what it's all about God made him Christ who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him the Lord Jesus goes to the Cross having done no sin committing no crime engaged in no Revolution against Rome and barabus who engaged in Revolution against Rome barabus who didn't care about human life barabus who was indeed a notorious threat to the Empire I'm sure I've told you before Brethren that the the the cross the crucifixion was reserved for the most notorious criminals not somebody that boosts a candy bar from Walmart but from an insurrectionist from a political Zealot from somebody that no doubt marched against Rome and yet these Jews say these unbelieving Jews say give us barabus it's terrible isn't it now remember I said in Matthew 21 when Jesus comes into Jerusalem and they're crying out Hosanna Hosanna to the son of David was primarily G galileans the galileans that came down to the Passover they were the primary spokesman saying Hosanna Hosanna so we mustn't say well you know the beginning of the week they're crying Hosanna Hosanna and now they're crying away with him away with him it's probably not the case the galileans cried hosanah hosan to to the son of David these religious leaders and the people that followed them under their particular sway they say not this man but barabus and John wants to remind us that barabus was a robber what do we learn from this passage we learn a lot of things but we'll just confine ourselves to a few in the first place the instruction concerning Christ's Kingdom the Bible elsewh where tells us that Christ's kingdom is gracious you should love Colossians 13 go love it I listened to a sermon by Ralph Davis last night and he cited a very interesting thing I had never heard the man who authored hymn number 270 in our Trinity Himel the church's One Foundation was a minister by the name of Samuel J Stone and St Samuel J Stone was one time walking in East London and he saw this girl being accosted by three Ruffians and Davis's point was God communicates to us at times his power in other instances he communicates to us his mercy so Stone Witnesses what's happening in this particular instance and Davis Muses and says you know the girl didn't need to hear from Samuel stone that he was a poet that he was a hyw writer that he was a pastor all valid information and data to be sure but if she's about to be raped by three Ruffians that's information that she probably didn't care a whole lot about in instead Samuel Stone took the first Ruffian and gave him an uppercut so hard he knocked him out see the Ruffians and the girls didn't a girl didn't realize that he was in a school that taught boxing and apparently he was just ripped so he smacks the one guy number two he lays into him guy number three runs off girl's free girl isn't raped the girl isn't attacked Dr Davis says isn't that glorious isn't it we need to check our hearts Brethren if we don't say yes praise God he saved that girl David says it is glorious I believe it is and you should too the point is Colossians 1:13 he has transferred us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the son of his love the kingdom of Christ is gracious how do we enter it is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone we are blessed immeasurably we have received everything at the hands of this King by his grace as well this kingdom is spiritual to be sure it does have physical ramifications though it is spiritual Christ saves us but it has physical ramifications I've told you before Martin Lloyd Jones says that when a man is converted the cat in his house benefits why is that because as an unconverted man he'd come stumbling home from the bar and he'd kick the cat as if it was a ball now that he's converted he doesn't kick the cat perhaps he hearkens to Solomon that a righteous man has regard for his Beast a man enters into this Kingdom he doesn't abuse his family anymore a man enters into this Kingdom he seeks to be faithful a man enters into this Kingdom he leads his family a man enters into this Kingdom it is spiritual in nature but it has physical effects on the more comprehensive level as I said Daniel 2 Daniel is told to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream Nebuchadnezzar has this dream of this great big image it is constructed of various materials it is representative of world Empires there is this one small Stone however that is able to fall that great image what's Daniel's interpretation for in the days of these Kings Daniel 244 I'll read it to you so we can see it's spiritual but it has physical real life application 244 and in the days of these Kings the god of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be Destro destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to other people it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it shall shall stand forever and that brings us to that reality it is eternal isn't this what is for told with reference to jesus' birth in John 1 John 1:31 and behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus he will be great and will be called the son of the highest and the Lord God will give him the Throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there will be no end you get the privilege of voting out terrible political leaders no one can vote out Christ not that he's a terrible political leader there is no end to his monarchy there is no end to his Reign you ever read the Old Testament and you say how did the people fall function and we get 8 years with the same President we start to get very very weary Manassa reigned for 55 years in Israel you imagine that wow terrible the point is 55 years is a drop in the bucket compared to what Christ will ring forever and ever and ever World Without End Amen this is a Most Blessed and most wonderful and most comprehensive and eternal Kingdom the way of entrance is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus in the second place we consider something concerning the Incarnation of our beloved Lord we just sang veiled in flesh the godhead sea hail the Incarnate deity when he says for this cause I was born who's the eye in that statement it is the second person of the Trinity from Everlasting to Everlasting Thou Art God the second person of the Trinity instrumental in the creation of this World instrumental in the government of this world in that in trinitarian Bliss with father and spirit it is this that is the eye of this statement for this cause I was born for this cause I left heaven for this cause I assumed human human nature for this cause I took on the seed of of Abraham for this cause I did that Christ was born Marvel of Marvels our confession says the Son of God the second person in the Holy Trinity being very and eternal God the brightness of the father's Glory I suspect that Pastor cam read this last week it Bears repetition this is Caledonian christology in 7 17th century form the Son of God the second person in the Holy Trinity being very and eternal God the brightness of the father's Glory of one substance and equal with him who made the world do you understand that the second person of the Trinity is of one substance and equal with the father who upholds and governs all things he hath made did when the fullness of time was come take upon Him man's nature with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof is that marvelous Jesus crawled Jesus toddled Jesus ate Jesus wept Jesus drank according to his Humanity Jesus was weary Jesus was angry yet without sin everything that is common two men was common to Christ except of course sin you appreciate that reality [Music] it's not you or I becoming a servant is not you or I taking a lower place is not you or I humbling ourselves to go hang out with the Riff Raff it is the second person of the Triune God God of God light of light True Light from True light goes on to say yet without sin being conceived by the Holy Spirit In the Womb of the Virgin Mary the Holy Spirit coming down upon her in the power of the most high overshadowing her and so was made of woman of the tribe of Judah of the Seed of Abraham and David according to the scriptures so that two whole perfect and distinct Natures were inseparably joined together in one person without conversion composition or confusion which person is very God and very man yet one Christ the only mediator between God and man that's enough to ponder and meditate on for a whole lot of Sundays for a whole lot of time love the way the ni scene conf uh Creed States it who for us men and for our Salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man and was crucified also for us under pontious pilate he suffered and was buried in the third day day he rose again according to the scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of the father and he shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead whose kingdom shall have no end so we see something concerning instruction of his kingdom incarnation of the person of Christ secondly the uh thirdly the instrum instrumentality of the truth you just love passages that combine the kingly office of Jesus and Truth those are encouraging things Brethren that we should never get tired of Truth is what advances his kingdom truth is what we must desperately have to be saved truth is what you should be under every Lord's day and every day if you're not a Believer the best thing for you is to be reading scripture your parents encouragements your pastors pre a Ms your friends prayers are all helpful but of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth I have the great privilege of knowing a particular man thought he was converted till he went away and he had some time and he said I was going to use that time to read my Bible I read Matthew I read Mark I read Luke I got to John in the upper room discourse and this man said everything made sense everything made sense salvation the Trinity the Lord Jesus Christ it was contact with the truth I know there is the Temptation I know there is the tendency suffered even by pastors to say you know I don't really feel like going to church today but we need to be under the truth we need to be under the word we need to hear it preached we need to read it take your Bible seriously you young people and children not going to just assume that you're Christians because you're brought up in a Christian home we're going to press upon you the necessity to find Christ in the Bible to find Jesus the Savior to find this one who for this reason was born that he should be king get into the scriptures resolve January 1st is coming person say I want to lose weight I want to stop this I want to do that just read the Bible do you ever get that when somebody says oh the Bible is filled with errors they think they have sufficiently fact checked Jesus and proved him to be in wanting just hand him the Bible and say read it the persons who haven't read the Bible know the most about it they know the inconsistencies they know the errors they know the inaccuracies I love it to ask them have you read the Bible no I got it off a website the Christian has no fear of handing the scriptures to anyone and everyone and saying take read the same is true with you young people take and read read the scriptures be in the scriptures survey search the scriptures don't saywell I'm too busy you're 15 you're eight you're not too busy Joshua was a military commander tasked with going in and executing Canaanites and yet daily he was to be meditating on the law of God he says at the end of his life as for me in my house we will serve Yahweh the Lord Jesus was busy so what does he do he gets up a long while before day break and he goes and he prays brotherr the I'm busy thing is a terrible excuse why do we have all the modern appliances why do we have all these modern conveniences for the very fact that we so so that we won't be too busy well now I've got a washing machine I can go and sin no that's not the point now that you have a washing machine this is a little dated I'm sorry you can read your Bible parents read to your children take the religion of Christ more seriously because it is the truth it is the vehicle by which that Kingdom expands and extends that's what our beloved Christ says and finally some commentators suggest that in Jesus words here is even a hint even an illusion even a bit of an invitation to pilate himself see Jesus is answering pilate's question Jesus gives them some concrete information Jesus ends with this statement in verse 37 everyone who is of the truth here's my voice Jesus according to the form of a servant according to his Humanity as an evangelist as a soul winner perhaps he sets that forth so that pilate will say what is truth but not to shrug it off are you with pilate this morning are you just watching the clock at least in your head it's almost 12:30 I get to go is not amazing that we can do things we like for hours at a time and never think twice about it if you're a hockey fan you can spend Untold amount of hours watching a game where men are pushing a puck on the ice and you're not thinking is it 10 is it 10:14 is it 10:18 is it 10:33 you're not thinking that I I would imagine if you are you'd probably say I'm going to leave the game because I don't like this tedium and yet in the church man to go over by one minute doesn't he realize and yet he would be heralded as a champion if he scored the the the the point that brought them even and then extended the game further you see I think parents can often times set the tone with reference to an appreciation for the truth to their young people the parent is wondering where the clock is if the parent is fidgeting if the parent can't stay awake then why would the child ever take these things seriously why why would they but if a parent says on a Sunday morning I was glad when they said unto me let us go to the house of the Lord kids get up eat your Cheerios brush your hair scrub your fangs get in the car we get to go to the house of God we get to worship the god of the house and as they're sitting there you're watching one eye this way one eye that way you're saying pay attention listen why daddy why Mommy because Christ extends his kingdom through its truth and there is nothing more that I want in this world than that you are a part of that kingdom is that it parents isn't that what you most want yes you want them to be successful you don't want them to live under a bridge you don't want them to eat cat food or dog food for a life you want them to be saved isn't that it isn't that the goal isn't that what parenting as a Christian is all about yes try to make them responsible humans yes try to make them show up on time all those things to be sure but press them toward the kingdom press them toward Christ and the means by which we press them is the truth as it is in Jesus we ought to have a high View and a high regard and a and a and a cherishing of the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ do not shrug it off today do not say with Pilate what is truth and then wander out of here if you have a question what is truth talk to us sit with us we will explain to you the truth as it is in Jesus the gospel not my feelings not my ideas not my desires the gospel is none of those things the gospel is the message concerning Jesus that he lived that he died that he rose again and the response to that is that everyone who looks to him in faith will have everlasting life well let us pray and ask the Lord God of Truth to seal these things to our hearts father we thank you for our lord Jesus we thank you for this cause he was born we thank you for his current session at the right hand of God most high and we praise you that he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and our hearts desire and Earnest pleas that everybody here would be ready for that day that each of us would be found clothed than a righteousness that was imputed to us and received by faith alone that each of us would have received the Forgiveness of sins even cleansing through the blood of our Lord Jesus we ask that you would go with us now cause us not to just shrug off the truth but cause us to think about it to be concerned about it to read the truth each and every day to come and attend where the truth is preached and may this be for your glory and for our souls Everlasting well-being and we pray through Christ Our our Lord amen