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foreign well good morning welcome to Free Grace Baptist Church if you're new or visiting today and you did not know there's a luncheon after the morning service so you're certainly welcome to stay even if you don't have any food there's always extra the idea is that people come and bring for themselves as well as a little extra for people new visitors or for people who perhaps forget so that's immediately following the morning service as well as Wednesday night the regular Bible study prayer meeting that starts at 7 30. it goes to about eight and then Bible study from eight until nine o'clock so you're out of here by nine o'clock sharp so that's it for announcements if you'd turn to your Bibles please to Psalm 84 psalm 84. foreign 84 is our call to worship to the chief musician on an instrument of gath a Psalm of the sons of Korah how lovely is your Tabernacle O Lord of hosts my soul Longs yes even faints for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cry out for the Living God even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young even your altars O Lord of hosts my king and my God blessed are those who dwell in your house they will still be praising you Salah blessed is the man whose strength is in you whose heart is set on pilgrimage as they pass through the valley of baka they make it a spring the rain also covers it with pools they go from strength to strength each one appears before God in Zion oh Lord God of hosts hear my prayer give ear o God of Jacob Selah oh God Behold our shield and look upon the face of your anointed for a day in your courts is better than a thousand I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness for the Lord God as a son and shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly O Lord of hosts blessed is the man who trusts in you amen well please turn with me in your hymn books to the first hymn which is 23b 23 B as in Bob and I'll ask you to please stand [Music] thank you forever [Music] my Waters [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] let's go to God in prayer and ask his Blessing to be upon our morning worship let's pray our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father we come into your holy presence on this beautiful Lord's day we thank you Lord for the presence that you have promised to be with your people when we gather together in your house you promised to be there with us and fathers with delight We Gather this day on such a beautiful fall morning with the sun shining the mountains all around us displaying the Beauty and the Grandeur of the god whom we love the god whom we serve the god whom we worship here this morning Lord we praise you that you have gifted us with yet another day of breath and life that we might find ourselves here in the house of the Lord to to bring our praises and to bring our our adoration before you the true and living God the Triune Father Son and Holy Spirit and father how we praise you that you are gracious that you bend your your holy ear towards your people to hear the Praises of your people Lord we truly do adore you we thank you for the blessing of our Salvation the Lord we find ourselves here this day delighting in you because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done on behalf of his people thank you Father that you did see a people you set apart a people for yourself and you sent your son your one and only son the Lord Jesus Christ to come into this Earth to die for Sinners and to rise again to uh with that blessed promise of the Resurrection for all those who are in Christ Jesus that that our sins are forgiven that we have the hope of eternal life forever and ever with you in heaven that the Lord Jesus Christ has gone to prepare a place for all those whom uh who who have trusted or believe in the Lord Jesus the Lord is with delight that we come here this day to to sing our prayer sing praises to you to Delight ourselves in you to hear your holy word opened up and we pray Lord that you would be gracious to us that you would send your holy spirit that he would be uh like like the wind we do not see where the wind comes or where it goes but father we know the effect we can see the effect of the spirit of the Living God as it makes the word of God clear and and evident in the lives of his people Lord we pray that you would present yourself here this day and we do thank you Father that you that you Delight in in the Praises and the adorations of your people Lord how we pray that you would be pleased to to forgive us our sins we recognize father although we are forgiven in the Beloved yet father we we do sin constantly against that a holy God and even when we rise from our bet our beds father we sin against you so forgive us even in this day father we pray at the Precious Blood of your son the Lord Jesus Christ would forgive us of all our sins and cleanses afresh this day in that precious blood of your son the Lord Jesus Christ Lord how we pray your blessing to be upon any and all in this place this day who perhaps have have Sorrows who have difficulties who have much on their heart or their mind we pray Lord that the spirit of the Living God would would Minister to them that you would be gracious to them Father that you would cause the word of God to to take root and and to to provide comfort and Aid and help to any and all Lord we pray for any who who are here who do not know the things of Christ who do not know forgiveness of sins who are not Redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ how we pray Lord that you be gracious to them and cause your word to uh to to to to to find them out cause your word father to to to to bring conviction but but even more to bring Delight in the Savior that they would trust in the Lord Jesus Christ it was they would look and believe and it's as simple as that how we pray Lord that you would be pleased to even bring Salvation to this place this day and father what we pray for ourselves we pray for all the churches uh here in in in this community of Chilliwack and throughout the Lower Mainland Across the Nation around the world father this day that you would be pleased to to to to draw Sinners to yourself and and edify Saints this day we do pray Lord that you would be enthralled by the Praises of your people all around this world Lord how we praise you for the gift of other fellow churches and we pray your blessing upon those whom we pray for those whom are dear to us we think of the Surry church we think of the the church in in Armstrong as well as in Ontario and and uh and down in Honduras Lord we we pray that each one might know uh your your help and your Aid each preacher who stands in the pull in those pulpits this day would know your help your Aid and that you would be pleased to give unction and we pray that your that your word is it's opened up might find its Mark in each heart that listens we pray we praise you father for the gift of baptisms we thank you for those baptisms that are that will occur uh in the in in the Armstrong church this day we thank you also for the number of baptisms that are happening this Day in Honduras father it truly is a delight when we hear that the that uh that that the the people are trusting in the Savior and are seeking baptism uh to be obedient to the things of Christ and and to join themselves to their local churches Lord we we Delight in that we know father that you Delight in as well we pray that you would give them unity in these churches give them a love for their Savior and we pray that you would be pleased to to continue to add to these churches as many as are to be saved and we do pray the gospel will continue to go forth from those places bless those men of God we know that they are but flesh and blood and we know they can they can grow weary they can grow discouraged and so Lord we pray that you would encourage their hearts and cause them to continue on and and to to find Delight in you father that they serve a true and living God and it truly is a delight to serve you by by holding forth the word of God in pulpits and Lord we pray that you would be pleased to revive your churches across this nation as well we know there are many churches who do not preach a true gospel Lord how we pray that you'd be gracious and be gracious to us as a nation and how we pray Lord that you would be pleased to to bless us with with those who govern over us that Lord they would that they would allow us to to continue to meet and to Worship in Freedom we pray Lord that you would be pleased to to uh to to cause those who who want to legislate evil who want to legislate things that that are not of you father they're not of that are not of the word of God and and that are unto evil and and wickedness how we pray Lord that even the sin of abortion as we reminded yesterday in the in the walk uh here in the rally here in Chilliwack father it's a reminder to the world that that what they do they they kill the innocent and that is a stain against the the God Almighty and how we pray Lord that you would cause even what was what was demonstrated yesterday to uh to to to to to to bring to bring to bear in their in their conscience said that they are that they are taking life that is made in the image of God how we pray Lord that you're your will would be done on Earth as it is in heaven where there is no killing where we do not take innocent within the womb and and Destroy and and and and and tear them apart Lord this is a great stain Upon Our Nation and we do confess it to you we pray Lord that you would move with great mercy upon our nation and cause uh cause men and women uh to to see the the evil of such a practice and we pray for its ending father because we know In Heaven There is no murder there is no destruction and we pray that again that the the things on earth might reflect might reflect about the things that that are that are in heaven the things that you that you find lovely and the thing the things that you adore so Lord we do pray your rich blessing to be upon our time here today bless our pastor strengthen him cause him Lord to know your help your age your unction hearing the pulpit to to declare your word and we pray Lord that that word might be a mighty word not because it's been preached mightily but because your spirit has come and taken that word and and rightly divided that that word of Truth and uh to each and every heart here this day so Lord we just pray that you would be pleased to bless us now in our worship cause us to be thinking Heavenly and uh cause us to to be to leave the thoughts of the weak past or the week ahead behind us and may our focus and attention be taken up with the things of Eternity and the things of great worth this day again we prayed you'd forgive us of all of our sins and cleanses afresh in that precious blood of your son on the Lord Jesus Christ and it's in his name we pray amen well please turn with me hymn books to the second hymn which is 476 476. and I'll ask you to please stand is [Music] foreign [Music] in my soul [Music] everybody [Music] foreign [Music] praise the Lord [Music] praise [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] and please turn with me in your Bibles to First Peter chapter 3. First Peter chapter three just a comment at the beginning in regards to what the the chapter is continuing from chapter two submission and it's a government submission to Masters in chapter two now submission to husbands and wives or husbands two wives how they ought to how they ought to treat their wives and continues on it's all about all through the chapter and and for a good part Peter is all about putting on something that's not corruptable uh corruptable being it's not subject to death we want to put on things that are Incorruptible not corruptable things that will not Decay that are rather Everlasting the way we would treat one another is very much a part of what that is about and there's four paragraphs here in this in this chapter possibly four paragraphs depending on how you break it up and all four paragraphs there's something in each paragraph that references the Old Testament so that's certainly what Peter was doing in his preaching or teaching here in the book of Peter is he opens up the scriptures he's opening up the Old Testament because that's of course what they had in the New Testament times he was opening up the Old Testament and ultimately that's that's what preaching that's what teaching is uh even today it's it's highlighting it's interpreting the scriptures and that's certainly what we uh what Pastor brother what we attempt to do here at free Grace Baptist Church it's it's not moralistic Ted Ted Talks but rather it's looking at the scriptures it's opening up those scriptures what does the scripture say what's what's saith the Lord in regards to our lives and how we ought to behave how we ought to concern ourselves in this lower world so as we read this chapter chapter 3 just keep that in mind that's that's what Peter is attempting to do open up the Old Testaments that's what we attempt to do is open up the scriptures and shine light upon the scriptures and not not Pastor Butler's preferences not some some moral teaching but rather what saith the Lord that's that's what we come here each and every Lord's day to to participate and and to see happen so keep that in mind as we read chapter three of First Peter wives likewise be submissive to your own husbands that even if some do not obey the word they without a word may be won by the conduct of their wives when when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear do not let your adornment be merely outward arranging the hair wearing gold or putting on fine apparel rather let it be the hidden person of the heart with The Incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet Spirit which is very precious in the sight of God for in this manner in former times the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves being submissive to their own husbands as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any Terror husbands likewise dwell with them with understanding give honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel and as being heirs together of the grace of life that your prayers may not be hindered finally all of you be of one mind having compassion for one another love as brothers be tenderhearted be courteous not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling but on the contrary blessing knowing that you were called to this that you may inherit a blessing for he who would love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit let him turn away from Evil and do good let him seek peace and pursue it for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil and who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good but even if you should suffer for righteousness sake you are blessed and do not be afraid of their threats nor be troubled but sanctify the Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear having a good conscience that when they defame you as evildoers those who revile your Good Conduct in Christ may be ashamed for it is better if it is the will of God to suffer for doing good than for doing evil for Christ also suffered once First Once for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but Made Alive by the Spirit by whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who formerly were disobedient when Once the Divine lung suffering waited in the days of Noah while the art was being prepared in which a few that is eight Souls were saved through water there is also an anti-type which now saves us baptism not the removal of the fills of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God angels and authorities and Powers having been made subject to him amen well let's pray our gracious and our loving heavenly father it's again father with anticipation that we come before you a holy God seeking seeking an audience with you father that you'd be pleased to open up the word of God cause it to in the next hour as we hear it preach we pray Lord that you would be pleased to send your spirit again to take that word and may it be unto edification and and sanctification as well as even salvation to any who do not trust in the Lord Jesus Christ here in this place father we desire to to see the word of God to hear the word of God opened up and we pray that your spirit might apply it to each and every life here this day we thank you Lord for your word you've not left us to ourselves but whether you've given us the word of God in order to in order to to to to to to to to seek out truth from your word we thank you you've also blessed with pastors with teachers uh in in Pastor Butler we pray Lord that you would strengthen him now as he opens up your word give to him all that he stands in need of Father we pray that you would be pleased to bless us now in the next hour as we all open up and hear from you and we pray these things in Jesus precious name amen well please turn with me in your hymn books to him number 381 381 in Alaska once again a please stand [Music] Glory Jesus Christ [Music] three foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] John 8 I'll read beginning in verse 1. we'll read to verse 20 and then our Focus will be on verse 12. so beginning in John chapter 8 at verse 1. but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives now early in the morning he came again into the temple and all the people came to him and he sat down and taught them then the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery and when they had set her in the midst they said to him teach her this woman was caught in adultery in the very act now Moses and the law commanded us that such should be stoned but what do you say this they said testing him that they might have something of which to accuse him but Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger as though he did not hear 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 again he stooped down and wrote on the ground then those who heard it being convicted by their conscience went out one by one beginning with the oldest even to the last and Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst when Jesus had raised himself up and saw no one but the woman he said to her woman where are those accusers of you does no one condemned you she said no one Lord 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 the Pharisees therefore said to him you bear witness of yourself your witness is not true Jesus answered and said to them even if I bear witness of myself my witness is true for I know where I am where I came from and where I am going but you do not know where I come from and where I am going you judge according to the flesh I judge no one and yet if I do judge my judgment is true for I'm not alone but I am with the father who sent me it is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true I am one who Bears witness to of myself and the father who sent me Bears witness of me then they said to him where is your father Jesus answered you know neither me nor my father if you had known me you would have known my father also these words Jesus spoke in the treasury as he taught in the temple and no one laid hands on him for his hour had not yet come amen let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for this time to gather together for your word we pray that the ministry of the Holy Spirit would be amongst us that he would guide us now that he would Shine the Light upon the passage of scripture and even more so upon our blessed Lord Jesus Christ who is in fact the light of the world we ask again for the Forgiveness of all of our sin and unrighteousness and we pray that we would see Christ as altogether lovely and as Chief among ten thousand that we would know the the blessedness of being found in him not having our own righteousness which is of the law but that righteousness which is from you granted by grace through faith as well we pray for the proclamation of your truth throughout the Earth that your gospel would run swiftly and be glorified and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well remember he Jesus was in the temple in Jerusalem according to John chapter seven at what was called the Feast of Tabernacles it was a seven-day feast and at the conclusion of the feast according to chapter 8 verse one he went to the Mount of Olives most likely he stayed with uh Lazarus and Mary and Martha they lived in Bethany which was near there um and now he comes back early morning to the temple and we saw last week that they bring this woman that was caught in adultery not because they're concerned with the law of Moses not because they're concerned with this particular woman but because they wanted to test Jesus they hated him they despised him there's a growing animosity against him and the gospel record is clear concerning that reality now on the heels of that after he had forgiven that woman we see what he says in verse 12. as I had intended we were going to go from 12 to 20 but there's a lot going on in verse 12 consistent with John's purpose in his gospel as a whole notice then Jesus spoke to them again saying I am the the light of the world he who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life so in this particular response Jesus highlights something that has been argued about he highlights his identity he highlights his authority as well he signifies his mission and so John as I said in this gospel record wants us to understand who Jesus is was Jesus just a good religious teacher was he just a fellow that lived in Nazareth in the Nazareth in the first century and did you know some some amazing things was he just like us in all points well John in his gospel wants us to understand that while Jesus is truly man Jesus is the second person of the Trinity there's an old teaching tool called a catechism it's the Westminster Shorter Catechism and there's a children's version and it asks the question are there more Gods than one the answer is there's but one only the living and true God and then the second question says or uh how many persons are in the god hat and it says there are three persons in the godhead the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit these three are one God the same in substance equal in power and Glory now the men at Westminster didn't make that up they didn't just say wouldn't it be wonderful to invent the doctrine of the Trinity they're reflecting upon the Bible the Bible tells us that there is but one only the living and true God Deuteronomy 6 verse 4. that was the central confession of Israel's faith we see that repeated in First Corinthians chapter 8 but as well as we move through the sacred witness we see that the father is God the son is God and the spirit is God yet not three Gods one God so they're one in one sense according to substance or Essence and three in another sense according to person or subsistence so it's not contradictory to say that God is one and three it would be contradictory to say that he's one and three in the same way he's one in one sense he's three in another sense and as I said John wants us to get this turn back to John chapter 1 in what we call the prologue so the prologue is verses 1 to 18. and what John does as a gospel writer he gives us theology before he gets to the economy of redemption and what Christ does for his people he first lets us go as it were behind the scenes and learn something of the true and living God so notice in 1 1 he begins the gospel record this way in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God so we see that the word there is distinct from God the father and yet he is the same as God the father so again there is distinction among the persons in the Trinity and yet there is Identity or Unity now the uh the Apostle here doesn't leave us wondering who this word is notice in verse 14. the word the one he mentioned in verse one that word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of of the father full of grace and truth so he wants us to know that in this true and living God there exists eternally three persons Father Son and Holy Spirit and the second person of the Trinity the word here takes on our Humanity in order to come into this world to live to die and to be raised again well why does he do that because we are sinful people and in order for us to enter into the presence of a holy God there's only one means there's only one way there's only one remedy and that's through our Lord Jesus Christ because Christ assumed our Humanity he lived in perfect obedience to the law he went to the Cross as a sacrifice and a substitute and then he was raised again the third day so that every sinner who by the grace of God looks to him in faith will have everlasting life will be forgiven of our sins based on the blood shed at the cross that perfect atoning sacrifice but will also have a righteousness the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us it is given to us received by faith alone own so that we'll be able to enter into the presence of our great God so John the Apostle wants us to know that Jesus is the son of God not by creation not by adoption but rather by Nature the father communicates the Divine Essence to the son in the the manner of Eternal generation so John 1 1 highlights the deity or the Divinity of Christ turn to John 20. John 20 is the formal end of the book verse or chapter 21 functions is a bit of an epilogue but the formal ending of the book and not saying that 21 isn't true it's not formal it's not right it's just simply more of an epilogue it summarizes some things the the reader wants to know but the formal end is in his dealings with Thomas after the resurrection remember Thomas was a doubter Thomas said unless I see unless I touch unless my desire for empirical satisfaction is met I'll never believe so Jesus meets with him notice in verse 26 and John 20 and after eight days his disciples were again inside and Thomas with that Jesus came the doors being shot and stood in the midst and said peace to you then he said to Thomas incidentally the exact thing that Thomas had said in the absence of our blessed savior Jesus says specifically that reach your finger here and look at my hands and reach your hand here and put it into my side do not be unbelieving but believing now notice the the response from Thomas Thomas answered and said to him my Lord and my God so in the beginning was the word the word was with God the Word was God what does John want us to know he wants us to know that Jesus is God he begins the gospel that way he ends the gospel that way and all throughout the gospel he emphasizes that and John chapter 8 is no exception so please turn back there and we'll look at verse 12 the Declaration of the lord we see that declaration first in the first part of the verse and then the second part of the verse gives us an implication but in terms of the Declaration notice what Jesus says Jesus spoke to them again saying I am the light of the world now in John's gospel this is another vehicle by which he communicates to us the Divinity of Jesus when Jesus says I am there are several places in John's gospel where Jesus uses that phrase with reference to himself he says I am and we'll look at that in just a moment but it's very important that we understand the Old Testament background what's the significance in the Savior confessing himself as I am well if you turn back to the Old Testament both of Exodus you can see this Exodus chapter 3 Exodus chapter 3 the children of Israel are in bondage they are in slavery in Egypt the Lord God most high calls Moses commissions Moses to be the man to lead his people out of that bondage in other words Moses will function sort of like Christ Moses will be the mediator between God and these people Moses will be the man that goes to pharaoh and Moses will be the man that ultimately does deliver it's God does it but does it through the instrumentality of Moses and so in Chapter 3 of Exodus Moses has demonstrated a bit of an unwillingness to go in other words I'm not skilled I'm not an orator I don't have all this ability so so he asks this question of God after receiving the commission notice in chapter 3 verse 11 Moses said to God who who am I that I should go to pharaoh and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt so he said I will certainly be with you and this shall be assigned to you that I have sent you when you have brought the people out of Egypt You Shall Serve God on this mountain then Moses said to God indeed when I come to the children of Israel and say to them the god of your fathers has sent me to you and they say to me what is his name what what shall I say to them now notice the response from the most I in verse 14 and God said to Moses I am who I am and he said thus you shall say to the children of Israel I am has sent me to you now that's an intriguing name it's a bit different I don't think we'd name our child I am but it reflects who God is turton says since or rather since Eternal existence omnipotent power and immutable truth belongs to God Alone the name I am which Embraces these things ought to be peculiar to him alone in other words there is great significance and meaning we've often translated that word as Jehovah better translated as I uh Yahweh but it expresses who God is it is an identification God is what he is I am or Yahweh is who he is and again the idea of eternality omnipotent sense Glory Majesty power all those things are conveyed in that particular title now turn over to the prophet Isaiah Isaiah we see that the most high refers to himself using this same identification so in Isaiah chapter 43 Verse 10 a passage unfortunately utilized by Jehovah's Witnesses they get I am absolutely positively wrong because they deny the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ but their sort of text is 43 10. it says you are my Witnesses that's why they call themselves Jehovah's Witnesses again they're bad ones they're horrible ones they're heretical ones at witnessing and testifying to the Lord but notice you are my Witnesses says the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he before me there was no God formed nor shall there be after me I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no savior I have declared and saved I have proclaimed and there and there was no foreign God among you therefore you are my witness that says the Lord that I am God indeed before the day was I am e and there is no one other or no one who can deliver out of my hand I work and who will reverse it turn over to verse 25 in the same chapter I even I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and I will not remember your sins turn over to chapter 45 and verse 22 look to me and be saved all you ends of the Earth for I am God and there is no other 40 46 uh nine we see the same or a similar emphasis in terms of the I am and who is most high and most glorious I'm sorry 46 9. remember the former things of old for I am God and there is no other I am God and there is none like me declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure so going back to John's gospel when Jesus uses this convention to describe himself as I am he is asserting Unity or consubstantiality that means being of the same substance with the father and that's precisely how the Jews understand this because at the end of John chapter 8 when Jesus says before Abraham was I am what do the Jews do they pick up stones to throw at him because he being a man made himself equal with God so when we come to John's gospel and we see in verse 1 of chapter one and we see a verse 28 and chapter 20 that John's Great intention is that we understand the Divinity of our Lord Jesus that again he's not the Son of God by creation he's not the Son of God by adoption but he's the son of God by Nature when we compare that with all of these I am statements in John's gospel it's overwhelming we might say of John if he was is a hammer everything looks like a nail in other words he wants us to get who Jesus is and if you look at our context in John chapter 8 well if we go back into John chapter 7 this was the issue who is he how does he have this Authority who does he think he is in fact after teaching for a time here notice in verse 25 then they said to him who are you they're ignorant not from a lack of being instructed they just won't receive it they won't listen they won't believe they won't come to appreciate that he is in fact God of God light from light true God from true God begotten not made one in being with the father through whom all things were made who for us men and for our Salvation came down from heaven in order to live to die and to rise again so back to John's gospel there are several of these I am statements that all suggest are with predicate now a predicate for you adults kids not learn this in school is something that describes the the subject of a sentence so if we have the ball is red or the ball is big or the ball is small the red the big the small is a predicate it tells us something about the subject which is the ball and then you have sentences where there's no predicate if you just had this the ball is tells us something there's a ball but we know not much about it there's two classes of I am statements that that we see in John's gospel there's these IMS with a predicate and then these IMS without a predicate with a connection to Exodus 3 14 is very strong and very solid but with reference to the I am with a predicate Jesus in John 6 says I am the bread of life in other words if you don't eat from me if you don't eat me he says specifically and he's speaking metaphorically he doesn't want us to take a bite out of him he's speaking metaphorically for belief but he is the bread of life here he says I am the light of the world in John 10 he'll say I am the door of the sheep in John 10 he'll say I am the Good Shepherd in John 11 he will say I am the resurrection and the life in John 14 he will say I am the way the truth and the life and then in John 15 he will say I am the True Vine so all of these statements again enforce the idea that there is this identity between the father and the son distinction to be sure the father is not the son the son is not the father but they have the same Divine Essence they have the same nature now these I AMS without a predicate you can turn back to John chapter 4 John chapter 4 where you see this and again the people that he was speaking to at times understood all too well what he said and instead of bowing to him instead of confessing him as Lord and savior they got upset with him they got irritated with him and they accused him of being a blasphemer not so in this instance with the woman at the well but notice in John 4 verse 25 the woman said to him I know that Messiah is coming who is called Christ when he comes he will tell us all things Jesus said to her I who speak to you and he uses that same conventions two Greek words ego Amy I am again the woman may not have gotten the significance of this but we should we should understand that in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the Word was God not the son by creation not the son by adoption but the son by Nature so that when he says I am he is equal in power and glory with the father notice in John uh John chapter 6. this is interesting if you read mcshane's calendar you read Psalm 77 today and Psalm 77 tells us that Yahweh makes his path through the sea he's he walks upon the sea well in John 6 Jesus does that very are you saying and then notice when they see him they're obviously surprised verse well let's just pick up the narrative therefore verse 15 when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take him by force to make him King he departed again to the mountain by himself alone now when evening came his disciples went down to the Sea got into the boat and went over the sea toward caperna and it was already dark and Jesus had not come to them then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing so when they had rode about three or four miles they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat and they were afraid you get that right you saw somebody walking on the sea you'd you'd be afraid I've never seen that I've never witnessed that I've certainly never done that and so if I saw that I would be afraid but notice how Jesus Comforts them he said to them verse 20 in his eye literally he says I I am now these guys knew Psalm 77 they knew Job they knew the Old Testament where God most I was the ruler over the seas they're watching Jesus walk on the sea and then he identifies his self-identification is I am he is associating himself with the I am of Exodus chapter 3 and verse 14. you see it in John 8 our very passage John 8 18 I am one who Bears witness of myself and the father who sent me Bears witness of me now that's not just a literary thing it's not just well that's the only way he could have answered the very subject of discussion the very animosity of these people it hinges on who he is and as I said the chapter ends with his assertion that before Abraham was I am and they take up stones to throw at him he is doing this specifically he is doing this in a self-conscious way in order that they may know that he's the only begotten son of the father who came into this world Sinners to say but they will not receive it notice what he says in verse 23 he said to them you are from beneath I am from above you are of this world I am not of this world before I got in the the ministry and I lived in California I worked at Northrop Grumman it was an aerospace contractor and one of my buddies there was a big fan of you know aliens and all these sorts of things and he was just enamored with aliens and life and you know other planets and whatnot I remember he had a book and he brought it to work one night and I was kind of scanning through it and these people that are obsessed with aliens or you know life forms elsewhere took this particular passage to underscore that Jesus himself was was something of an alien he was you know from the stars and his origin was from there and he he comes down here that's not the point that's not what he's saying he's come from the father in the Incarnation and he will return to the father in the Ascension but notice even more significantly verse 24 therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins for if you do not believe that I am now the translators Supply he because English demands it but he says if you do not believe that I am you will die in your sins so you see it's not just oh Butler needs to fill an hour if we don't get who Jesus is we die in our sins and to die in one's sins means Everlasting hell it means separation from the goodness of God it means that place of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth it means the reality that sin against an infinitely holy God receives an infinitely wretched curse and that curse is described in scripture as hell itself so if we do not believe that Jesus is I am then we will die in our sins but notice it doesn't stop there look at chapter eight as I said or in verse 28 then Jesus said to them when you lift up the son of man then you will know that I am and that I do nothing of myself but as my father taught me I speak these things when he says I don't do nothing of myself that doesn't mean you know that he he is is is not a able it shows her it's it's designed to underscore the unity he has with his father father and son work according to the same divine nature inseparably but then notice in verse 58 I've already mentioned this most assuredly well verse 57 then the Jews said to him you are not yet 50 years old he was about 33. I guess being a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief ages one doesn't it and just had an incident recently I don't want to look in the direction but how old were you on your recent birthday well I'm 56. that's it that's it how old did you think I was 66 I mean come on there's this idea here that they're like you're not yet 50. he was 33. and notice what he says you are not yet 50 years old and have you seen Abraham Jesus said to them most assuredly I say to you before Abraham was what's he do I am then they took up stones to throw at him but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple going through the midst of them and so passed by see Brethren if he is a fake if he is a fraud if he is a lunatic if he just has this Messianic complex without any substance then it would have been legit for them to take up stones and to throw at him because blasphemy was a capital offense but if he's true if he is God from God light from light true God from true God begotten not made one in being with the father then all men everywhere should bow to him and should worship Him and should confess him as Lord and Savior and should receive the benefits that he secures for his people forgiveness of sins and a righteousness by which we can enter into the presence of God look at one other instance of this use of the I am without the predicate there's others but I want to point us to one more place in John 18. John chapter 18. this is where he is betrayed this is where the soldiers come to arrest him now remember he'd done nothing wrong nothing at all he's the only man that ever lived that was wholly harmless undefiled that always did what was pleasing to the father he kept civil ethics he kept you know religious ethics he did everything properly but again that animosity Rises to a fever pitch to the point now where they want to abduct him or they want to capture him and they want to uh bring him before a mock trial and they want to deliver him up to be crucified so notice in John 18 1 when Jesus had spoken these words he went out with his disciples over the book Brook Kidron where there was a garden which he and his disciples enter and Judas who betrayed him also knew the place because Judas had gone with him to that Garden before or they would pray and where he would teach for Jesus often met there with his disciples then Jews Judas having received a Detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees came there with lanterns torches and weapons that's like like the fads you know invading the home of that pro-life guy yesterday that's terrible Jesus therefore knowing all things that would come upon him went forward and said to them whom are you seeking they answered him Jesus of Nazareth now notice Jesus said to them I am and Judas who betrayed him also stood with them now notice verse 6 this is not just the disciples because they're not present here they are but they're not it's more comprehensive there's there's soldiers here they're Pagan there's either so when he said to them I am they drew back and fell to the ground why do you think they fell to the ground why do you think they drew back because they were in the presence of God most high remember those men of Beth Shemesh who who dared to open up the Ark of the Covenant to look inside how'd that work out for them how did that go with reference to them did God say oh go ahead take a peek in oh no they were killed they were slaughtered what about nadab and abbay who when they offered up Strange Fire To The Lord a good commentator suggests they were trying to go into the holy of holies that was their crime that was the Prohibition that was the issue what happens God kills you must regard God as holy because he is Holy so when these men hear the Revelation the self-revelation of Our Lord who says I am they draw back and they fall to the ground and again these aren't religious men these aren't this isn't a worship service this is not everybody waving their hands and praise to Jesus these were pagans these were men that were that were skilled in the art of killing people and yet they fall to the ground because of the manifestation of his glory then he asked them again verse 7 whom are you seeking and they answer and they said Jesus of Nazareth Jesus answered I have told you that I am therefore if you seek me let these go their way that he that the saying might be fulfilled which he spoke of Those whom you gave me I have lost none so going back to John chapter 8 when Jesus says I am the light of the world we need to understand that in the larger context of John's gospel distress upon the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ the word became flesh and dwelt among among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth he is The Great I Am one God one living and true God three persons Father Son and Holy Spirit equal in power and in glory now back to 8 12 what's the significance of his statement I am the light of the world will the Old Testament background not just the the the the Exodus 3 14 reference with reference to the I am but why light you can go back to Exodus we're going to look at a lot of passages and I think it will hopefully Shine the Light on 8 12. in Exodus chapter 13 the Lord God is going to guide his people the Lord God delivers his people from their bondage in Egypt how do you think the Lord God's going to do that well it's going to be through a manifestation of of light light is often associated with the Divine glory and you see that in Exodus 13 at verse 21 the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light so as to go by day and night he did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of Fire by night from before the people you can turn to the Psalms The Book of Psalms the psalter we sing some of those psalms in a modern sort of a meter but there are several instances associating light with the Divine Glory just a couple that we'll look at Psalm 27 a Psalm of David verse 1 the Lord is my light and my salvation Whom Shall I Fear now I should suggest or I should say when the the new King James for instance capitalizes that name l-o-r-d it refers to Yahweh it refers to what God reveals himself to be in Exodus 3 14. when you see capital L capital O capital r capital d That's the name Yahweh it's a covenant name of God most high when you see capital L and then lowercase o r d that's used of God also that's a reference to him as Adonai or as Lord properly so he is saying the Lord Jehovah Yahweh the I am of Exodus 3 14 the Lord is my light and my salvation Whom Shall I Fear the Lord is the strength of my life of of whom shall I be afraid turn over to the prophet Isaiah several instances here we see that light Associated not only with the Divine Glory but specifically with the mission of the Messiah who was promised by God to come notice in Isaiah chapter 9 9 chapter 9 verse 1. we always think of verses six and seven six and 7 is the response to the problem of verses one and two notice in nine one and two nevertheless the Gloom will not be upon her who is distressed as when at first he lighten the esteem the land of zebulun and the land of naphtali and afterward more heavily oppressed her by the way of the sea beyond the Jordan in Galilee of the Gentiles the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death upon them a light has shined do you know what author in the New Testament takes that passage the uh Apostle Matthew in Matthew chapter 4 when Jesus begins his public Ministry he begins it in Galilee of the Gentiles so what is Matthew telling us the dawn of the Messianic light has come the one promised in in the prophet Isaiah not just at verse two but nine six and seven for unto us a son is given unto us a child is born the government shall be upon his shoulders when Jesus begins his public Ministry in Matthew 4 Matthew connects that with the prophet Isaiah and he underscores the light that Christ will bring to the world notice in Isaiah 42 one of the servant songs of Isaiah Isaiah 42 there's four servant songs 42 49 50 and 53. these are facets of the work of the Messiah facets of the work of the servant of the Lord that servant of the Lord is Jesus Christ the Messiah of God sent by God notice in 42 6 I the Lord have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people as a light to the Gentiles see that's one of the functions of Messiah notice in 49 6 Isaiah chapter 49 specifically at verse 6. same thing indeed he says it is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be my salvation to the end of the Earth and then in the prophet Ezekiel we won't look there but in chapter one Ezekiel gets a vision of the glory of God and over and over again guess what is highlighted the light the radiance the dazzling Glory the beauty the Majesty the Excellence so in John 8 at verse 12 notice that Jesus says I am the light of the world John in the prologue has already tipped his hand look at John chapter one he's already given us this information concerning the Lord Jesus in John 1 verse 4 in him was life and the life was the light of men and the light shines in the darkness and the Darkness did not comprehend it there was a man sent from God whose name was John this man came for a witness to Bear witness off the light that all through him might believe he was not that light but was sent to Bear witness of that light that was the True Light which gives light to every man coming into the world so we see here that when Jesus says I am the light of the world it connects us to Exodus 3 14 in terms of the I am but this light of the world connects us to Yahweh in the Old Testament but as well it shows us something of the nature of the messiah's work he will be a light under the Gentiles and then one more thing before we move on look at what Jesus says I I am the light of the world he doesn't say light dwells in me but rather he is light this is consistent with theology proper God is his attributes God is his Perfections all that is in God is God and in first John 1 5 John tells us concerning God that he is light he doesn't have light it's not that light dwells in him but he is light John tells us in first John 4 that God is love you can't say that about human nature you can't say that about you you can love you should probably love more but definitionally you're not love God is his attributes God is his Perfections all that is in God is God and so when Jesus says I am the light of the world he's not saying I'm a good man and I happen to have some of God's light dwelling in me no he identifies himself as as God with this statement I am the light of the world there is no wonder Brethren why at the end of the chapter it ends with them with stones in their hand wanting to kill him because they understood all too well his claims they understood all too well what he was saying they understood it because they knew the Old Testament and this Association of him as I am with Yahweh and then this association with him as the light of the world again not possessing it but rather being light I am the light of the world so back to 8 12 what he does essentially is that he reveals two things first is identity and secondly his mission who is he that's the question again notice in verse 25 then they said to him who are you go back to John chapter 7 at verse 14 or verse 15 and and the Jews marveled saying how does this man know letters having never studied notice in verse 25 now some of them from Jerusalem said is this not he who may seek to kill but look he speaks boldly and they say nothing to him do the rulers know indeed that he is true that this is truly the Christ however we know where this man is from but when the Christ comes no one knows where he is from the Pharisees heard this the Pharisees understood this the Pharisees are are put off by his language notice in verse 35 Jesus said to them I shall be with you a little while longer and then I go to him who sent me you will seek me and not find me and where I am you cannot come then the Jews sat among themselves where does he intend to go that we shall not find him does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and and teach the Greeks you see this is essentially the issue who is he how did he get this Authority imagine if you will you're a Jew in the first century and you're in the temple you've got your Rabbi teaching you things and then all of a sudden this man shows up and he starts teaching people and everybody comes to him but he's not like you're a rabbi he teaches with authority he teaches as one who who knows that word better than any Rabbi ever has and then he has the the gall if you're an unbeliever to suggest that he's equal with God to suggest that he is God again you can see their response picking up stones to throw at him because they thought he was a blasphemer so when he says what he says in John 8 12 I am the light of the world he underscores once again for them who he is and what he's come to do who he is is God he is the Son of God again distinction between the persons one in essence three in person father son and spirit yet he is God by Nature so I am the light of the world when he says I am the light of the world secondly he is describing something of his mission something that they were very much opposed to remember back I just read it where does he intend to go that we shall not find him 735. does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks yeah that's precisely what he's going to do when he says I am the light of the world he's saying what we saw in 49 6 of the prophet Isaiah it's too small a thing that he simply come to the to the to the Lost tribes of Jacob but I'm going to give you as a light to the Gentiles World in John means typically Jew and Gentile so this would have been a further offense to these people you're the light of the world you're supposed to be the light of Israel You're supposed to be the light of Jacob you're supposed to be our our special life but it was always God's purpose that through Israel's Messiah the world would be blessed to Abraham Isaac and Jacob in you all the nations of the Earth shall be blessed the Jews missed that they excluded that they didn't appropriate that they didn't have faith in that and as a result they treat the bringer of light the one who is light as if he's an enemy so when he says I am the light of the world he's identifying his person and he is describing his mission in fact Cyril of Alexandria makes this observation he is cleverly threatening to depart from Israel and transfer his grace to the whole world and finally spread the ray of the knowledge of God on others if you think there was an enmity between Jew and Gentile in the first century come to church tonight because that's what Paul is dealing with in Ephesians chapter 2. he is telling us and he is there exclaiming to us that the Gentiles were far off they were strangers to the covenants of Promise they were aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel they had no hope they had no God they had nothing in this world but now in Christ Jesus Through the blood of his cross those Gentiles had been brought an eye now we have not two peoples of God but one peoples of God one new Man created from the two Jew Gentile brought together under the banner of our blessed savior so when Jesus says I am the light of the world as we Trace through this particular chapter we'll notice they are angry they are upset when they say in verse 25 who are you I doubt it's like that who are you it's probably like who are you who do you think you are stand in our Temple and arrogate your to yourself the the properties of divinity claiming that you are God most high claiming that you are Yahweh claiming you're the I am of Exodus 3 14 who revealed himself to our father Moses this is what's Happening Here his identity is driving them bananas his mission would have furthered that I am the light of the world there are going to be people from every tribe telling people and Nation gathered Before the Throne on that day a great multitude that no man can number Jesus ends Matthew's gospel on that high note go therefore and Make Disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit teach them to observe all things that I have commanded and lo I Am With You Always even to the end of the age that's the Lord Christ that is going head-to-head with these people and he is not backing down he is not trying to be politically correct he's not sort of saying well I'm going to just Veil my glory I'm going to obscure myself so as not to offend I am the light of the world I am the one promised in the scripture I am the one revealed in the scripture I am God and I am the one who has come to save his people from their sins and if you do not believe that verse 24 then you will die in your sins it's a pretty strong warning that he gives that he's not saying I know we have our differences in theology I know you got some eyes cross some T's in a bit of a different way than I do but you know let's just Live and Let Live no and neither does he do it in John 14 6 I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me Brethren Christians are oftentimes accused of being prejudicial or or exclusionary or or bigoted or whatever it may be Christ is the one who laid down the gauntlet Christ is the one who defines the terms Christ is the one who says unless you come through me to the father there is no hope of Salvation again in Ephesians 2 18 the Apostle says forth through him Christ by one Spirit we come to the father this is consistent with what we find in scripture one living and true God Father Son and Holy Spirit so back to 8 12 the Lord Jesus declares who he is he declares what his mission is and then he draws out an implication of that in the latter part of the verse so he says I am the light of the world he who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of Life the one who follows Jesus does so not by grit of determination not by pulling up their bootstraps and committing or resolving I'm going to follow Jesus they follow by grace through faith it is to believe on the Lord Jesus look back in John 7 at verse 37. on the last day that great day of the feast Jesus stood and cried out saying if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink he who believes in me so the metaphor is drink from him the literal meaning is believe in him second John 6 you've got to eat my flesh and drink my blood he's not endorsing cannibalism he's not endorsing the ingestion of blood he's endorsing Faith the Bible uses metaphors for Faith so everyone who thirsts Isaiah 55 1 let him come to me and drink so this following Jesus again doesn't happen by by just determination well I heard a sermon today and I'm going to just resolve now to follow Jesus you need to believe the gospel you need to look to him in faith that's what it means to follow when you by Grace believe on him then by Grace you will follow him wherever he bids you to go and that blessed statement that he gives us he who follows me shall not walk in darkness now the darkness here isn't the absence of light you know he's not saying if you happen to have a bit of a phobia about the night and you need a a night light you're you know I'm the one for you that's not the point again it's metaphorically used by John for evil darkness is oftentimes in John's gospel ethically it is an ethical reference it has to do with evil go back to John 1. go back to the prologue you see this clearly John chapter 1. I'm sorry John John 3 John John 3 John 3 at verse 18. he who believes in Him is not condemned but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God and this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world and Men loved Darkness rather than light again that's not a you know I like the dark it's just a beautiful time of the day that's not it it's sin it's evil it's depravity it's wickedness it's lawlessness it's the transgression of the the Commandments of God this is the condemnation that the lightest common of the world and Men love Darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil when you do evil Deeds you prefer the light or the dark when you prefer when you engage in evil Deeds you you want to be hidden you don't typically do that out in the open we don't say hey Brethren let's meet at the church I got a sin I want to engage in I I want everybody to see it no you try to hide that sort of thing so the light has come from God most high he is light from life right true God from true God and he comes into this world what happens it's kind of like when you have a kitchen full of cockroaches I've never experienced this personally but I've seen it when those cockroaches are covering that kitchen in the darkness the moment you turn on the light guess what they do they all scatter they all Scurry they all run away so the light comes from on high into a world filled with something worse than cockroaches which is Sinners and that light shines and what does the evil do they want to hide they want to run they want to question they want to suggest that he's not really who he thinks he is they want to call him a Madman they want to call him a lunatic they ultimately want to deliver them up put him on a cross and crucify him why not because he was a criminal not because he was a sinner not because he had done anything but because they're criminals their Sinners and he exposes them that's how the Lord Jesus is using light in John 8 I am the light of the world he who follows me shall not walk in darkness turn over to First John chapter one first John chapter one I mentioned this earlier contacts Bears some repetition notice in first John chapter 1 at verse 5. this is the message which we have heard from him and declared to you that God is light again not God has light not you know light wells in him God is light just like Jesus is the light of the world there's a big difference there Brethren again we may have some light in Us by God's grace but we're not light if you think you are light see me afterwards because all disavow you of that notion but notice this is the message we have we have heard from him and declared to you that God is light and in him is no Darkness at all if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not practice the truth in other words if you confess faith in Christ it will affect the way that you live you're not going to be perfect there's going to be remaining karob shed you're not going to be firing on all cylinders every moment of the day I only ever do what God has called me to do no Romans 7 Galatians 5 tells us there is still that remaining corruption but in principle in terms of the overarching trajectory of a of a new man's life what does he do he dwells in that light if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not practice the truth but if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin carry a statement isn't it he acknowledges the reality that they'll be remaining corruption but God and His grace is even provided for that we walk in that Fellowship we walk in that light but when we stumble when we trip when we have issues when we have problems there is built into the gospel that provision for ongoing forgiveness praise be to God most high John will later say my little children I write these things so that you may not sin but if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous we cannot Slug It Out we cannot make it on our own there's no such thing as a Maverick that makes it to Heaven unaided by God's grace It's Always by God's grace through faith in our blessed Lord Jesus Christ and that's the emphasis in John 8 12. I am the light of the world he who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life this is given by our blessed savior it is afforded by his work on our behalf in terms of Life Death and Resurrection well hopefully this makes sense in terms of the larger biblical narrative with reference to the Old Testament the significance of the I am the fact that Jesus is identifying himself as God from God light from light true God from true God and that Jesus specifies the dimension of his mission I am the light of the world everybody every sinner everywhere needs to hear this gospel they need to believe on this savior they need to have this message or else they will die in their sins that's the emphasis in this section of John's gospel I think John 8 12 is helpful first to explain the wickedness that we find in the world I mean if we're not in Christ if we're not living in Union with Christ if we're not Believers in Christ what's the flip side to that the world's a mess Brethren I don't know if you've seen that I don't know if you've looked out a little bit I don't know if you you appreciate the the Wayward Nest the the pravity the the new ways they're thinking up to to do evil it's like every new day it's something else isn't it it's like wow that now this now it's almost like they they destabilize and demoralize You by coming at you at every level I mean not even talking about the first table of the law which this this culture absolutely repudiates having no other gods before God not being an idolater not blasphemy keeping the Sabbath day holy come on they don't even give thought to that first table but when we turn to the second table we talked about this on Wednesday night do you know that that dishonoring parents striking a parent according to the the Mosaic code in Exodus chapter 21 cursing a parent was a capital offense we say oh that's barbaric is it the kid curses his parent or strikes his parent do you want to work with him do you want to educate him do you want to serve him at McDonald's I mean if you get his order wrong what's he going to do to you the kid that doesn't have regard for the parental Authority that God has established in his life is pretty consistent with what we see in this world what about murder oh they're thinking of new ways to murder all the time we marched yesterday about abortion there's euthanasia I mean youth in Asia the abortion is is sickening the thought of it the most vulnerable Among Us is being terminated for Destruction the euthanasia that they're expanding the net there was an article recently not in one of the right wing conspiracy Nut Job Rags I read CTV CTV or CBC you know what the headline was we've saved this much money through Maine you're saving money through euthanasia you're not supposed to admit that I mean we all suspected it they're saying the secret things out loud now we we saved all this money we've we've raised the burden on the Health Care System wait a minute I thought a Health Care system was to provide health for the people oh no no not now the people are to protect the system and if the people get in the way they're better off gone that's a pretty Brave New World we've entered into the seventh commandment mutilation of children Brethren I don't know if you're not reading this or you don't know that this is happening teenagers are being castrated Top surgery these things are happening not for consenting adults which is wrong and a violation of the seventh commandment all all together but but kids children little ones like I think John 7 or 8 12 really does describe things for us John 3 19 does describe things for us the eighth commandment you shall not steal that applies to governments too sorry if I'm getting political but they're not supposed to steal from us that is wrong it's condemned by God people say well the Bible doesn't produce an economic theory oh it most certainly does it dismisses socialism and it dismisses communism in the eighth commandment there's a right to personal property you shall not steal that is mandated by God most high no one can counteract that or contradict that what we have is an expression of what it looks like to have a world that walks in darkness it is Bleak it is miserable it is something that should evoke prayer from the part of God's Church Lord God send the light of the Gospel Lord God open hardened hearts Lord God caused them to see the glory of Jesus Christ as the one alone in whom there is salvation God bless the preaching of the word send forth the holy spirit so that when we get together it's not just a religious exercise it's not just a rite of passage but it's God coming in power to save to the uttermost all who draw an eye unto God through his son the Lord Jesus Christ so we can build the ranks so that we can witness something of Colossians 1 where Jesus Christ transferred us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the son of his love Brethren you have to believe that if God is able to do that for you he's able to do it for the Apostle Paul who described himself as the chief of Sinners he's able to do it for a great multitude that people the Earth right now the gospel is the power of God unto salvation we have a dark world we have a sinful world we have a morally perverse world what's the answer better politicians more gospel more Glory of Christ more Jesus being pro claimed and believed on certainly we want good politicians I'm not bypassing that but the primary emphasis necessary for today is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek for in that gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith that as it is written the just shall live by faith that truth needs to be thunder it needs to be heralded and it needs to be proclaimed from every rooftop when we look at a world that has gone nuts when we look at a world that has gone mad when we look at a world that is further untethered from the glory of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ and for the believer this is the pathway we confess faith in Jesus we're supposed to live in a manner that is consistent with that right Paul says that let your conduct be worthy of the Gospel don't murder don't commit adultery don't steal don't uh uh uh uh of it don't lie don't do those things that are condemned and forbidden by God put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts if we say we are in him we have fellowship with him in the light not continuing in darkness not continuing in Rebellion not continuing in a path in you know abject Rebellion again remaining corruption there's that provision for forgiveness from God in the gospel of our salvation but the overarching tendency of the people of God is to follow the lamb to follow the Savior wherever he bids us well how do we know we read his Bible we come to his church we listen to the sermons and we understand what God calls us to so that we can be faithful in this world and then by extension do what Jesus did he was a light unto the Gentiles intriguingly the Apostle Paul and Silas on the first missionary journey when they were rejected by the Jews they invoked that passage and they see themselves as a light on the to the Gentiles because you Jews reject it we're going to go to the Gentiles and we're going to preach the gospel to them by further extension you know what Paul tells the church in Philippi you're to shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation holding forth the word of truth if you are in the light then by God's grace it is your privilege to seek to extend that light and may God help us because this world is in a desperate desperate condition let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for your truth we thank you that Jesus is the light of the world and we praise you that by your grace you have saved us we know it wasn't good decision making on our part or or wisdom or Ingenuity or better better performance than our neighbors you reach down and pulled us out of the grave and gave us new life in Jesus and we know that you can do this for a great multitude we have the promise that you will do this for a great multitude that no man can number we pray this would obtain even today through the preaching of the Cross we pray that you would strengthen the people of God and help us to be faithful in our mission to shine his lights in a crooked and perverse generation and to hold forth your word of Truth and we pray this in Jesus name amen will stand and close by singing a praise to our Triune God number 568 number 568 please stand with me [Music] foreign [Music] prayer I'll also pray and thank God for the food and then everybody can go upstairs and we can enjoy some food and fellowship second Corinthians 13 14 the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen Our Father we thank you that you are God most high Father Son and Holy Spirit we thank you that the second person of the Trinity came into this world Sinners to save and we thank you that you've counted Us in that lot we pray now that you would be glorified in our local church we pray again that you'd bless the preaching of the word as it goes forth through this Earth today and we thank you as well for the good food that you've provided the benefit the blessing the just the abundance that you have given to us in terms of food and drink may you be with us now may it cause us to rejoice in your goodness as we eat and drink and cause us to encourage one another and we pray through Christ Our Lord amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation [Music]