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b welcome everyone we can uh begin our service this morning with our call to worship with psalm 30. so if you have your bibles if you'd like to follow along turn to psalm 30. a psalm a song at the dedication of the house of david i will extol you o lord for you have lifted me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me o lord my god i cried out to you and you healed me o lord you brought my soul up from the grave you have kept me alive that i should not go down to the pit sing praise to the lord you saints of his and give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name for his anger is but for a moment his favor is for life weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning now in my prosperity i said i shall never be moved lord by your favor you have made my mountain stand strong you hid your face and i was troubled i cried out to you oh lord and to the lord i made supplication what prophet is there in my blood when when i do when i go down to the pit will the dust praise you will it declare your truth hear o lord and have mercy on me lord be my helper you have turned for me my morning into dancing you have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness to the end that my glory may sing praise to you and not be silent o lord my god i will give thanks to you forever amen well you can take your hymnals and turn to psalm 110 a 110a stand and sing together please [Music] me [Music] is [Music] is [Music] [Music] oh is [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] is [Music] is [Music] thank you you may be seated but let us go to our god in prayer our great god and our holy father in heaven again we are so thankful and so glad to come into your house on your day to worship you together with your people so lord we we give you praise this morning as we come before you and lord we praise you for creation we praise you for for the the the entire created order that speaks of a good god and of a and of a personal god a god that a god that is intimately involved with his creation and lord we praise you for redemption we praise you that you that you determined in eternity past to save a multitude of people that no man can number from every tribe tongue people and nation who whom you would call to yourself and that you would make this possible by the work of your son the lord jesus lord we praise you for the gospel of our lord jesus christ lord we are we are humbled that you in your in your love would choose us before time began and that and that you would call us and that you would open our hearts to understand the things of the gospel of jesus christ and that you would give us that faith that is that is the means by which we are justified we by which we are made right with you and placed into good standing with you all because of the work of your son the lord jesus father we praise you for for the lord jesus for his life on this earth a life of perfect obedience to perfectly perfectly fulfill your law keep it perfectly to earn eternal life because we have fallen so short all have fallen short of the glory of god your word tells us and lord and by our own experience we know that we have all sinned and we and we feel that sin and we know that we have broken your law but lord we thank you that your son the lord jesus kept that law perfectly lord we thank you for his death on the cross that in our place condemned he stood sealed our pardon with his blood and hallelujah what a savior lord we we are so thankful for that we and our hearts are filled with love and with with rejoicing and with praise at the for our for your son our savior the lord jesus father i pray this morning that you would be pleased to be among us as we worship you that your spirit would be here in a powerful way that that that would be here to to fill our hearts in praise for you in in adoration of of you the high king of heaven and that that your holy spirit would be upon our pastor as he delivers a message this morning lord we pray for the for the power from on high the the unction of the holy spirit to to enable him to rightly divide the word of truth and that through his preaching that sinners would be saved lord we we saw this morning in our in our confession study that that paul or that that you open the heart of lydia to heed the things that were spoken by paul so lord we pray that same thing this morning that you would open the hearts of sinners here among us to heed the things spoken by our pastor and as he proclaims the gospel of jesus christ that gospel that is the power of god unto salvation that that today would be the day of salvation lord for for all who have come here among us today who do not know christ as savior who do not understand the gospel the simplicity of the gospel as it is in jesus that he lived he died and he rose again and by that we can have access to the father and we can be we can be justified and made right with with you so lord i pray for your your spirit to be among us today lord we do pray these same things for our fellow churches as well that that we associate with and and have fellowship with lord we think of the church in surrey we ask that you bless them in that same manner lord we pray for your blessing to be upon pastor mike as he delivers a message today and this afternoon again as well lord we just ask that that you would be pleased to to bless the word there that sinners would be saved that your saints there would be edified and built up in their most holy faith and that and that that that that church would be a light in the in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation in in that part of the of the world and that and that sinners would come to the knowledge of of the of the truth through through the means of the faithful proclamation of the word there so we we do also think of of the church in vernon the group there and and lord we ask that your blessing upon them as well we ask your blessing as they come together this morning and and gather there to to tune in to a service and we just pray that you would be pleased to bless them as well that we do thank you for the technology that that is sometimes needed and and and lord that they can that they can still worship there even without a pastor in their midst at this point so lord we do thank you for that we ask that they would be edified today and lord we do ask that you would would be pleased to bring about the establishing of a of a biblically ordered church there in vernon and armstrong we just thank that thank you that things are progressing towards that that that goal and that you're that you are seem to be leading us in that direction and we thank you and we praise you for that lord so we just ask that you continue to give wisdom and direction and guidance that you would make your will clear to all of us involved and we we look forward to the establishment of a biblically ordered church there in the in the future so lord we we do also think of the group in dryden ontario as well we just ask your blessing upon them and these same things for them lord that that they would be that they would in time if it is your will and that uh that a a reformed baptist church may be planted in that town as well we just pray for your will to be made clear there that you would provide provide all things necessary for that church plant as well a man whom you have called and you have qualified and and is ordained to to preach the word and to lead the church there as well so we do ask your blessing on on that group we thank you lord for for your church as a whole that your people are are all over this world that and that that your church you're building your church and that that it is marching on and that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it lord that is our only hope in such a a world as we find ourselves in now the truth that you have revealed to us that that the kingdom of darkness cannot prevail against the kingdom of light the kingdom of the son of your love and lord we we praise you that that that you call sinners out of that kingdom and bring them transfer them into the kingdom of of your son and lord we we are greatly encouraged that that not one not one who has been taken from the kingdom of darkness and brought into your kingdom can be snatched out of your hand and brought back so lord we we are so encouraged by that we we thank you for that doctrine that we are kept by the power of god unto salvation as peter tells us lord i i pray for the persecuted church around this world so many who suffer so much lord at the for the for the name of christ we just pray that that you would would comfort you would encourage and that you would strengthen these dear brethren of ours as they suffer lord we pray that you would that that you would bring an uh an end to the to the sufferings lord and end to the persecution and and but yet lord we we know through history the that the people the of of the the kingdom of darkness hates you the kingdom of darkness hates your people and and since they cannot attack you they attack your people so lord we do pray that you would vindicate your people that you would that you would protect them and that you would would strengthen them and and that these sufferings and trials would be a means of them of their faith being strengthened and being purified and being and and that they would know you more and that know your your intimacy and and your your care over them lord we do we do thank you for the the good news that we have received in the past couple days out of myanmar just just a couple days of reprieve from such such atrocities and horrible fighting that's going on all around them lord we thank you that they were able to to bring a significant amount of of more orphaned children into their compound and we thank you that you so far thus far have kept that compound safe from in the in in the in the very heat of the in heart of the of the hottest battle that it seems to be lord that you have surrounded that compound with your with your protection so far and lord we do pray that you would continue that continue to bless them continue to protect them and continue that they would be able to to to be a neutral ground there and and be able to to have access with both sides of this conflict and just to be able to to um be on good terms with each and ever with with both sides to know that they can that they are not targeted and that they will not be targeted in any in any way so lord we do ask that you would be with those who lead there the the the helpers the nurses the um the man peter in charge there we just pray that you give them much strength lord with bringing in again so many more children who are so who have seen so much who have seen things that that no child no person should ever see and coming in very troubled and and damaged and hurt and lord we just pray that you would help these leaders to to to deal with these children and to point them to christ lord we know that that the gospel is the only answer for our for our problems and in our troubles and and and lord we know that that doesn't take the pain away it doesn't take suffering away but yet it gives us the hope of glory and and and the comfort of knowing that we are christ and and he is ours so lord that is our encouragement as well and our our comfort that that the the that you have revealed to us in your word the future that we have as believers that we are headed for emmanuel's land we are headed for for a new heavens a new earth in which wherein righteousness dwells and and we have and there's it is incorruptible and undefiled and will not fade away as peter tells us the lord that is our our hearts are greatly encouraged by that by that thought and i pray that you would help each one of us here to be focused on that to think to set our minds on things above not on earthly things as paul tells us and that and that by doing so that our hearts would be encouraged as we as we go about this world wherein so much unrighteousness is going on so many discouraging things so lord i do pray for those among us in our own church who are suffering we think especially of don neufeld again we just pray that you would that you would heal him and that you would bring bring um that you would take away this pain again that he is experiencing and and lord we just look to you and ask that you would by by your grace would provide healing for him that the doctors whether it be through the means of the doctors or whatever whatever means you see fail or that you would that you would that there would be solutions found to the to the this constant pain that he is enduring so lord we just pray we lift him up before you and and and ask that you would strengthen him and that you would heal him and and be with his family as well and just encourage them as they as they go through through this lord we also think of of little casey butler in the hospital and we just we thank you for that that he is stable and that he seems to be doing okay and we just pray that you would for we pray for continued um healing or not not healing but just that you would continue to protect him and strengthen him that that his little body would grow and become stronger and and we just pray for for chloe for micah for the family there that you would bless them and encourage them help them to look to you for for as as their only comfort in life and death and we just pray that that you would would strengthen them and and strengthen this little this this little baby and we do pray that there would not be any sort of restrictions imposed upon them where that would that would cause any sort of uh separation of mother and baby or anything like that we just pray that that you would protect them in that way as well lord we ask now that you continue to bless us as we as we bless us as we continue in worship lord to you receive our praises receive our prayers for we come to you not in our own our own righteousness but we come to you in the righteousness of our lord and savior jesus christ amen our next hymn you can stand and sing together is number 460 460 please stand is [Music] [Music] is [Music] [Music] is [Music] [Music] oh [Music] my [Music] is [Music] righteousness [Music] is [Music] our scripture reading this morning as we consecutively read through the new testament in our morning worship is from colossians chapter four you can turn to colossians chapter four we'll read the entire chapter colossians chapter four masters give your bond servants what is just and fair knowing that you also have a master in heaven continue earnestly in prayer being vigilant in it with thanksgiving meanwhile praying also for us that god would open to us a door for the word to speak the mystery of christ for which i am also in chains that i may make it manifest as i ought to speak walk in wisdom toward those who are outside redeeming the time let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer each one tychicus a beloved brother faithful minister and fellow servant in the lord will will tell you all the news about me i am sending him to you for this very purpose that he may know your your circumstances and comfort your hearts with onesimus a faithful and beloved brother who is one of you they will make known to you all things which are happening here aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you with mark the cousin of barnabas about whom you rece about whom you received instructions if he comes to you welcome him and jesus who is called justice these are my fel these are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of god who are of the circumcision they have proved to be a comfort to me epaphras who is one of you a bond servant of christ greets you always laboring fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of god for i bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you and those who are in laodicea and those in hieropolis luke the beloved physician and demas greet you greet the brethren who are in laodicea and nymphus and the church that is in his house now when this epistle is read among you see that it is read also in the church of the laodiceans and that you likewise read the epistle from laodicea and say to archipelas take heed to the ministry which you have received in the lord that you may fulfill it this salutation by my own hand paul remember my chains grace be with you amen well in the book of colossians i think it's as we've gone through it's very evident to see paul is really highlighting the the preeminence of christ that christ is he doesn't use the words but that christ is king of kings lord of lords he is he is over all things that he is not a not a a created being but that he is he he is creator and that and then not only is christ creator he's also christ is also the answer to to our our our problems the answer to our our sin problem as he as he says in in chapter one there that that that we are reconciled through um through through his through his death through the body of his flesh through death and we see that again in chapter in chapter two that we um that that he has taken our all of those the the handwriting of requirements that was against us that he which was contrary to us that is that is the our sin that christ has taken that and nailed it to his cross paid for it there we he also says see uh tells us how christ is is the answer to true wisdom that we're not to get caught up in philosophy that that tries to to dis um disregard the the the creator and not only uh or or or maybe a creator but that in personal creators many of the philosophers of paul's day were were teaching you know there was a there was a logos concept but it was not a personal being but he's saying no christ is christ is that so so christ is the answer to to to to wisdom and that christ is also the answer to the law that christ has fulfilled that law in in our place and then in light of that then um not in our place but in in because we couldn't christ has fulfilled that his we we just sung about it as well is his his works um that he has done to earn eternal life and then in light of that then that he closes the book with these with these um practical applications how do we then in light of such a great savior that we have how do we live our lives and he gives these very practical applications in in chapter three and then again in in chapter four and he and he he closes here with um with one about how we are to interact with the world outside here in in verse five walk in wisdom toward those who are who are outside redeeming the time he says let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer each one and i think in a world that we find ourselves in right right now very very divisive very um very polarized that we always remember this as we as we interact with others now paul did there was no facebook there's no social media in the days when paul wrote this but i think this is one of the most the easiest ways for us where we can really um forget about the these types of this instruction here to that our speech is always with grace and i think that um you know as we as we that we keep that in mind as we interact with those who are outside those who are not part of the church and those who are as well but um but just a very practical application that paul gives us here and then he and then he and then he closes the book with just some some final greetings and and those types of things so again just a very a book that really highlights for us the the preeminence the glory the majesty of our savior the lord jesus well let us pray father we thank you for your word we thank you for this book of colossians and and how it how it really highlights for us lord the glory the majesty the preeminence of our savior and again lord as we as we see that we are humbled as as man that that you that you would save us that you would by by by the work of your son would would would bring us into a right restored relationship with you again so lord i pray that our hearts would be would be filled with adoration and love for our savior the lord jesus and it's in his name that we pray amen well our final hymn before the preaching is 388 388 we'll sing it to a different tune you can stand and sing together [Music] is [Music] is is [Music] [Music] is [Music] is [Music] is [Music] is [Music] [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Music] is [Music] [Music] you made me see this bibles to john's gospel john chapter 3. john 3 our focus will be on verses 31 to 36 but i do want to read the chapter as i believe the apostle is bringing it back around and we'll see consistency throughout this chapter concerning the salvation of god with reference to his people so i'll begin reading in chapter 3 at verse 1. there was a man of the pharisees named nicodemus a ruler of the jews this man came to jesus by night and said to him rabbi we know that you are a teacher come from god for no one can do these signs that you do unless god is with him jesus answered and said to him most assuredly i say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of god nicodemus said to him how can a man be born when he is old can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born jesus answered most assuredly i say to you unless one is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of god that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit do not marvel that i said to you you must be born again the wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes so is everyone who is born of the spirit nicodemus answered and said to him how can these things be jesus answered and said to him are you the teacher of israel and do not know these things most assuredly i say to you we speak what we know and testify what we have seen and you do not receive our witness if i have told you earthly things and you do not believe how will you believe if i tell you heavenly things no one has ascended to heaven but he who came down from heaven that is the son of man who is in heaven and as moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the son of man be lifted up that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life for god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life for god did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved 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 because their deeds were evil for everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed but he who does the truth comes to the light that his deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in god after these things jesus and his disciples came into the land of judea and there he remained with them and baptized now john was also john also was baptizing in aenon near salim because there was much water there and they came and were baptized for john had not yet been thrown into prison then there arose a dispute between some of john's disciples and the jews about purification and they came to john and said to him rabbi he who is with you beyond the jordan to whom you have testified behold he is baptizing and all are coming to him john answered and said a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven you yourselves bear me witness that i said i am not the christ but i have been sent before him he who has the bride is the bridegroom but the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled he must increase but i must decrease he who comes from above is above all he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth he who comes from heaven is above all and what he has seen and heard that he testifies and no one receives his testimony he who has received his testimony has certified that god is true for he whom god has sent has speaks the words of god for god does not give the spirit by measure the father loves the son and has given all things into his hand he who believes in the son has everlasting life and he who does not believe the son shall not see life but the wrath of god abides on him amen well let us pray our father in heaven we thank you for the written word of the true and living god we thank you for the voice of christ as it comes to us so clearly in the pages of holy scripture from genesis to revelation truly the sheep hear and know his voice and we give thanks and praise to you for this word and we pray now that the holy spirit who gave us the word would guide us and illumine our minds and hearts as we study it we pray that christ would be exalted and glorified in our minds and hearts that you would be merciful to those who are dead in their trespasses and sins and may they be born of the spirit may they believe the gospel of our lord and savior jesus christ and as a result may they see and have everlasting life and god forgive us again for all sin and unrighteousness and everything that darkens our minds and hearts and just grant us help now as we come to your word and we pray through jesus christ our lord amen well we are in jesus public ministry and at the end of john chapter 2 john makes a statement concerning jesus that he knew what was in man and here in john 3 he meets with this man nicodemus and gets right to the point he says to nicodemus unless a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of god nicodemus is not a humble inquirer rather nicodemus comes on behalf of the sanhedrin and he is trying to shame our lord jesus christ thankfully nicodemus ends at the right side that of confessing christ at the end of the gospel narrative but here he is genuinely trying to show jesus as being a sham notice specifically in verse 4 how can a man be born when he is old can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born and then in verse 9 how can these things be and then the nature of our lord's rebuke indicates that nicodemus should have known what jesus was talking about this act of the new birth the regeneration is not unique to the new covenant but rather deuteronomy 10 and verse 16 deuteronomy or 10 6 in deuteronomy 30 or 10 16 and then deuteronomy 30 verse 6 and then ezekiel the prophet in chapter 36 25 to 27 spoke of the birth from above by the power of the holy spirit so this leads jesus then into a discourse concerning god's salvation and that starts at verse 11 and ends at verse 21 and then the scene shifts to jesus baptism jesus baptizing people with his disciples and then of course john the baptist and that leads to a bit of controversy at least in terms of john's disciples notice in verse 26 they came to john and said to him rabbi he who is with you beyond the jordan to whom you have testified behold he is baptizing and all are coming to him what's the supposition of the implication if all come to him john then none will come to you john doesn't have a problem with that john understands that's the purpose for which he was sent and he answers to that effect in the following verses notice in verse 27 he says a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven in other words the success that jesus has has been given by god from heaven and that is where the whole drift of the prophetic word has come to land as well john understands that he was preparatory for the work of the redeemer so if all are coming to jesus as far as john is concerned he's done his job in pointing them there notice in verse 28 he denies that he and that he is in fact the christ you yourselves bear me witness that i said i am not the christ but i have been sent before him again the voice of one crying in the wilderness the one who prepared the way of god and then in verse 29 john says he who has the bride is the bridegroom the church has the bride grown but the friend of the bridegroom the best man john the baptist who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice in other words john says my joy is fulfilled in just getting to stand near jesus in just getting to listen to jesus voice as far as john is concerned that's everything as far as we as god's people are concerned that should be everything we get to stand in the presence of christ we get to hear the voice of christ we get to worship the true and the living god and then he ends this particular testimony with verse 30. he must increase but i must decrease he doesn't say that jesus must increase while i stay the same he doesn't say that jesus must increase while i increase just a little bit no jesus must increase but john the baptist must decrease in other words the one announced by the prophets and the prophet john the baptist has arrived on the scene and therefore men should come after him men should believe on him men should know and understand that he is in fact the christ of god the one in whom there is salvation now in verses 31 to 36 some take this as the apostle john's further commentary others refer to it as john the baptist further commentary i'm going to side with john the baptist at this particular time so in verses 31 to 36 amplifying what he has said in verse 30 he first gives an explanation concerning christ's supremacy he does that in verses 31 to 34 and then he makes a declaration concerning christ's authority and he does that in verses 35 and 36. so the baptist has testified concerning the preeminence of the savior he has finished at least that part with he must increase but i must decrease and now he's going to affirm and confirm for us with reference to christ's supremacy and authority so let's look first at the explanation of christ supremacy in verses 31 to 34. and he does this in two ways first knowing or or understanding where christ came from and secondly knowing something of the testimony of our lord jesus christ but notice in the first place he highlights the origin of christ now when i use origin with reference to christ you're not to think like that heretic that new judas that was called arius who thought that there was a time when the son was not i do not use origin in that way but rather place or location because john the baptist testifies that jesus comes from above jesus is the second person of the trinity john 1 1 tells us in the beginning was the word the word was with god and the word was god there are eternal relations of origin that we speak of jesus is begotten by the father sent from the father for the particular task of redemption of his people but there's no origin to jesus like there's an origin for us i happen to be born in 1966 in long beach california you cannot say that about jesus from everlasting to everlasting thou art god so know that when i use origin with reference to jesus i'm simply understanding what john is getting at in verse 31 he makes a contrast between him and the savior verse 31 he says he who comes from above is above all he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth he who comes from heaven is above all now coming from the earth isn't bad it isn't ethically perverse but rather it's limited and finite john the baptist according to 1 6 was a man sent by god for the particular purpose of announcing the arrival of the son of god in order to save his people from their sins so now as he's showing the supremacy of jesus he does so by looking heavenward he does so by looking at theology proper he does so by transcending the economy of redemption and underscoring the origin of our blessed savior and that's what he indicates in verse 31 he who comes from above is above all and again that emphasis is replete in these first couple of chapters of john's gospel turn to john 1. in the prologue john the apostle does the same thing before he starts to expound on the economy of redemption he shows us something true concerning the father and the son and the spirit and in john 1 1 he says in the beginning was the word the word was with god and the word was god he was in the beginning with god all things were made through him and without him nothing was made that was made and then in verse 14 that word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth and then notice in john 1 18 no one has seen god at any time the only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father he has declared him so the baptist learned his theology from the lord jesus christ and it's consistent with the apostle john it's consistent with what we would later see in the history of the church called the council of nicaea as i've tried to show you the council of nicaea didn't make this stuff up they didn't stress the co-eternality of the of the son with the father or the consubstantiality of the son with the father just out of thin air they were reflecting upon texts of scripture they were reflecting upon john 1 1 in the beginning was the word that means he's co-eternal with the father the word was with god that means he's distinct from the father and the word was god that means he's consubstantial with the father so the baptist understood this as did the apostle and it was the right way to see jesus as having come from the hand or from the presence of god almighty and then notice in john 1 34 what john the baptist says there and i have seen and testified that this is the son of god so going back to 331 the disciples of john are saying all are coming to him so john is underscoring the supremacy of jesus and demonstrating that it should be this way it shouldn't be the case that persons follow the baptist and that's it the baptist functioned to point men to the savior john 1 29 he says behold the lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world john 3 he says i'm not the bridegroom i'm the friend of the bridegroom i'm just happy to stand in his presence and i'm just happy to hear his voice he comes from above he comes on this mission of mercy from god most high in order to save his people from their sins john gill glosses he says he came from heaven in his divine person not by change of place he being god immense and infinite but by assumption of human nature which he took upon him in order to do his father's will and the work of our salvation so the baptist in 331 is saying what the apostle said essentially in 1 14 he became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth now practically brethren let's just bring this home this underscores or indicates to us that both for john the baptist and john the apostle christ was everything christ was all in all they with the bride in the song of solomon would gaze upon him and say he is chief among ten thousand he is altogether lovely that ought to be the report in the church of christ today remember back way back when to last sunday when we saw this dispute between john's with reference to john the baptist disciples they evidenced something of a party spirit they're suggesting to john that if everybody goes after jesus there'll be no more for you john and that party spirit manifests itself today now i'm not suggesting we should just you know as long as somebody can say jesus they're in the big tent and we have fellowship with them no doctrine is absolutely crucial first corinthians chapter 13 the love chapter one thing that doesn't typically get enough to detail or attention is that love rejoices in what in truth if you look at the modern church that's not always evident that's not always obvious that's not always the case oh it's all about feeling it's all about emotion it's all sort of wishy-washy but brethren when it comes to this we need to make sure that christ is the defining doctrine or person relative to the church and if in other churches they have a proper understanding of jesus they confess him as lord and savior praise god almighty we shouldn't have a party spirit with that we may disagree in some doctrine that's okay it's not the case that every single one of us is going to dot every eye and cross every t the same there's diversity in this room right now but the bottom line for all of us is that he must increase and we must decrease john the baptist evidences for us who is supreme and it's not john the baptist it's certainly not us but it is the one who's altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand so he comes from above and as a result he is above all same emphasis in the prologue same emphasis in colossians one same emphasis in hebrews chapter one same emphasis throughout the bible it ain't about us brethren it's about jesus christ and john the baptist understood that and john the baptist busied himself with teaching others that great truth now notice not only in the origin of christ as he displays supremacy but in the testimony the very words that he speaks notice in verses 32 and 33 and what he has seen and heard that he testifies and no one receives his testimony but he who has received his testimony has certified that god is true so the source of his testimony or again the origin of his testimony is experiential it's first-hand knowledge now john the baptist was a prophet of god isaiah and moses were prophets of god the apostles spoke the words of god but by way of revelation jesus spoke the words of god by way of intimacy by way of first-hand knowledge notice what john says concerning him in verse 32 and he or rather and what he has seen and heard that he testifies so the one who is from above the one who was with god in the beginning the one who is in the bosom of the father he is the one that speaks the word of god and so john is declaring again the supremacy of the savior pointing his disciples not to his own party or camp but rather pointing him to jesus what you have when you come to jesus is the word of god now that doesn't mean john's words given by inspiration the spirit are not the word of god but he's underscoring that difference that contrast look back at chapter 1 and verses 32 to 34 chapter 1 at verses 32 to 34. john bore witness saying i saw the spirit descending from him from heaven like a dove and he remained upon him i did not know him but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me upon whom you see the spirit descending and remaining on him this is he who baptizes with the holy spirit and i have seen and testified that this is the son of god so do you think when john's disciples come to him and they express their grief or they're concerned that all are coming to him that john cares he cares in the right direction he wants all to come to him he wants sinners to see him as altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand while john the baptist is content to stand in his present and hear his voice the one who comes from above he's heard the voice of god most high he speaks the words of god most high in other words hear him that's the emphasis of the apo of the baptist jesus says the same thing in john 3 11. look at look at what he says to nicodemus most assuredly i say to you we speak what we know and testify what we have seen and you do not receive our witness i think i explained there some suggest that he's speaking about himself and the prophets himself and men like john the baptist no it's a reference to the trinity it's a reference to the father and the son most assuredly i say to you we speak what we know and testify what we have seen and you do not receive our witness so in 332 what he has seen and heard that he testifies matthew poole says that he john the baptist and so all other ministers of the gospel testify by revelation christ testifies not by revelation but from his own personal knowledge that or what himself has seen and heard from his father and then notice and again we'll see how this connects back to the prologue look at what the baptist says in verse 32 after that he says and no one receives his testimony that doesn't mean in a universal way no one at all but rather it's a contrast and it reflects the prologue in john 1. go back to john 1 at verse 10. john 1 at verse 10. he the word described or given us in verses 1 to 3. he was in the world and the world was made through him and the world did not know him he came to his own end his own did not receive him you see when jesus came he came in the first coming in a lowly manner he came into jerusalem riding on a donkey he didn't come with a crown of a regal crown or a royal crown and scepter in his first coming he took on our humanity and in the words of the prophet isaiah he was a man of sorrows he was acquainted with grief acquainted with grief there was no form no comeliness in him there was no halo around his head there weren't the 18-inch guns that the jehovah's witness jesus has in their writings rather he was one that assumed our humanity he had all the essential properties of our humanity yet without sin and all the common infirmities associated with it and so there was nothing in him that the naked eye would see wow he's great and glorious but we know that he was the word verses one to three who became flesh and dwelt among us and the baptist says the same thing when that obtains or when that occurs people didn't believe in him people resisted him people rejected him brethren you know the story you know where this is going it's not going to a crown of glory in jerusalem it's going to a cro a cross of shame and ignominy it's going to desertion it's going to judicial abandonment it's going to all sorts of penalty and punishment that christ must pay for the sins of his people and so the baptist here understands the mission of messiah he comes to his own and his own do not receive him but then notice there are those that do receive him and this reflects john 1 verses 12 to 13. but as many as received him to them he gave the right to become children of god to those who believe in his name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of god that's further explained in jesus discussion with nicodemus in john 3 verses 1 and following that born of godness specifically the third person of the trinity they are born of the spirit according to john 3 8. you notice what john does a lot here he speaks of the trinity he points his readers constantly to the triune god so for john it's not only important to understand that we are forgiven by god that we receive a righteousness from god that we will go to heaven to be with god for john it's not only the whatness of god in terms of his gift but it's the who-ness of god it's who he is in other words marvel at the god that saved you marvel at the father the son and the spirit marvel at the reality that in the beginning was the word the word was with god and the word was god and that word became flesh he in the language of nicaea came down from heaven for us men and for our salvation so see brethren it's not only an appreciation for what we have in terms of salvation but who we have in terms of the savior from our sins john wants you constantly and often to behold your god that's the emphasis the apostle and the baptist share that same common perspective in terms of our blessed savior notice verse 33 he who has received his testimony has certified that god is true there were those there are those that reject there were those there are those that resist there were those and are those that will continue to say and mock and and and disbelieve and say oh there was no jesus of nazareth and that whole spiel but there are those who do receive his testimony by the power of the spirit of god so verse 33 he who has received his testimony has certified that god is true calvin makes the comment they have something on which they may safely rest when they know that to believe the gospel is nothing else than to ascent to the truth which god has revealed there's safety there's blessing there's provision there's comfort there's security and stability for those in verse 33 but notice when we receive that testimony we not only receive the benefits that accrue but we also certify that god is true so what's the converse for those who reject christ those who resist the gospel those who continue in unbelief and i might be describing some of you all here you are certifying that god is a liar you are suggesting not outwardly or verbally because men typically don't have that kind of bravado or that kind of courage some in history have but you are tacitly suggesting that god is not to be believed in other words a rejection of the son is a rejection of god most high the father as well notice in first john 5 at verse 10 john the apostle says he who believes in the son of god has the witness in himself he who does not believe god has made him a liar because he has not believed the testimony that god has given of his son so you see with reference to you this morning if you're not a believer in christ you may think you're neutral you may think that you're okay just as you are you may think it's not really a big deal i i wasn't raised religious i i wasn't brought to church i really don't know much about this stuff this religious stuff i'm just kind of in that neutral no man's land well the apostle tells you in first john 5 10 that if you resist or reject the son you're calling god a liar you are suggesting that the lord god of truth is a deceiver that he does not speak the truth matthew poole comments this saying does notably command faith and defame unbelief faith in christ as the only true mediator and savior gives testimony to the truth of god and seals it unbelief defames god and does in effect say that god is a liar the apostle in second corinthians 1 verse 20 describes jesus as the one in whom all the promises of god are yea and amen you'll meet these people sometimes oh yeah i believe in god i think everything's going to work out well for me in the end well what thank you of christ well i'm not a christian but you know don't all roads lead to heaven not according to the baptist not according to john the apostle not according to our lord jesus christ it's not some sort of generic undefined nebulous thought that there might be something somewhere out there that's not biblical jesus will later say i am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me it's christ who is exclusive christians are accused today of being narrow and bigoted and prejudicial it's the savior who said no one comes to the father except through me it's the apostle peter in acts 4 who says there's no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved the emphasis the drift of scripture is that it's salvation by grace alone through faith alone in christ alone and that to the glory of god alone so this generic well i have a relationship with god well today it's not so much a relationship with god that was you know that was so 20 years ago it's not about a religion it's about a relationship now people say i don't like religious but i'm spiritual i'm spiritual and again that's tantamount to saying i think there might be something somewhere out there but when we ask them repress them concerning jesus well i'm not a christian i'm not one of those born again nuts i'm not one of those you know flat earthers i'm not a bible thumper i'm not one of those well listen to what the baptist says if you deny the savior calling god a liar that's horrible that's wretched that is damnable and that's where this moves forward notice he goes on with reference to the testimony of christ the veracity of it or the truthfulness of it notice in verse 34 for he whom god has sent speaks the words of god this is a reference to the incarnation so in verse 31 john the baptist is dealing with theology theo theologia the imminent trinity now in verse 34 is dealing with the economy the economy of redemption the father sends the sun the word became flesh and dwelt among us there's movement from the word in eternity past to history present and the apo the baptist here underscores that same thing so with reference to his testimony notice the veracity of it it is grounded upon the incarnation and the presence of the spirit in jesus again trinity brethren i didn't see this when i preached through john many years ago now i can't not see it you've heard that right you show somebody an odd picture and they say i i can't unsee that it's you can't unring that bell there's certain things that that they that just don't aren't pleasant but with reference to the trinity and the way that john the apostle is setting it setting him forth it's glorious he moves back and forth between imminent trinity and the economic trinity the economic reflects or rather demonstrates or illustrates the imminent trinity doesn't exhaust it but does show us something about those relations between the persons the father's unbegotten the son is begotten the spirit proceeds from the father and the son that's all here that's all developed by the baptist by the apostle reflecting rightly the whole drift of holy scripture concerning our true and living god it's not the case that monotheism generically defined is somehow acceptable that somehow jews and christians and muslims are all going to the same place because they all have this confession of one god it's not a confession of one god that is tantamount or of of most importance it's the confession of the the true and living god you'll get that sometimes well you know it doesn't matter what you believe in as long as you have faith that's wrong i'm sorry i don't want to burst anybody's humanistic bubble but it's not the virtue of faith undefined it's the object of faith believed in and it's christ alone for salvation and his testimony is truthful in light of the incarnation of the son the father sent the son of course the son is gonna speak truly again john 1 18 no one has seen god at any time but the only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father has done what he has declared him he has exegeted him he has expounded him when you listen to jesus you're hearing truth you're hearing the truth of god most high and then notice in verse 34 that he does not give the spirit by measure that's not reflective of the baptist of the apostle or of us because when the spirit comes to give gifts to the church we see that to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of christ's gift when it comes to jesus as mediator when it comes to jesus as prophet priest and king when it comes to jesus assuming our humanity the father fills him gives him the spirit without measure to fit him for the task of the ministry that was given to him the baptist needed the spirit to preach the word the apostle needed the spirit to preach the word and to write the word jesus needed the spirit again according to his humanity in order to undergo on our behalf to live the life of obedience that we fail he needed the spirit in order to die the death of sacrifice and blood atonement that we desperately need he was raised by the spirit of holiness according to the apostle in romans chapter one and i want to read a statement from our confession of faith because i i'm i'm very jealous that when we read that confession or we appeal to that confession you see that the confession was not made up out of thin air that it's biblical it's robust it's truthful because it reflects holy scripture in the chapter of christ the mediator in chapter eight paragraph three it says the lord jesus in his human nature and that's what's being referred to here because in verse 33 he who has received his testimony has certified that god is true for he whom god has sent speaks the words of god it's a reference to the incarnation so the lord jesus in his human nature thus united to the divine he never ceased being the word in the beginning was the word the word was with god and the word was god the word became flesh and dwelt among us the word became flesh not by disavowing the word ness not by emptying himself of the divinity by but by the union of the humanity with the divinity so the lord jesus in his human nature thus united to the divine in the person of the son was sanctified and anointed with the holy spirit above measure what do you think the divines are thinking what do you think they're thinking they're thinking in passages like these they're thinking in terms of john 1 32-34 the father who sent the baptist says that you'll see the spirit descend upon him and remain on him why is that so that he according to his humanity could do the work of mediation it goes on to say having in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in whom it pleased the father that all fullness should dwell to the end that being holy harmless undefiled and full of grace and truth he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a mediator and surety which office he took not upon himself but was there unto called by his father who also put all power and judgment in his hand and gave him commandment to execute the same so we see from john's explanation something concerning christ's supremacy in verses 31 to 34. now let's finish on the authority of christ according to verses 35 and 36. notice we have the reception of authority by jesus and the execution of that authority by jesus verse 35 the father loves the son and has given all things into his hand again the fact that the persons of the trinity love each other is settled the father the son and the spirit have ever been together in a mutual bond of love and fellowship and bliss god didn't make us because he was deficient god didn't make us in order to add to him god didn't make us so that he could be complete god is complete in himself father son and spirit again the referent is to the word who became flesh and dwelt among us the father loves the son and as a result the father gives all things into his hand you see that in ephesians in fact let's turn there ephesians chapter one and the same sort of emphasis is found in that passage as well ephesians chapter 1 while you're turning there if i were to ask you what do you think about jesus life death and resurrection you'd probably say it's wonderful it's great it's glorious it's awesome if you're a believer if you're not a believer you might say well i don't know a whole lot about it i just know that i've heard those terms i've i've heard them explained a bit i know there was a man named jesus of nazareth and that he lived and that he died and that he rose again you might know those historical facts but you need the theological interpretation which the bible gives why why did jesus live because we need a righteousness we need a righteousness by which we are accepted by god because we're sinners we're bad people again i don't want to trigger anybody i don't want you to lose your mind but as we saw at the end of chapter chapter 3 verses 19 to 21 the need for the the the regenerating power of the holy spirit is because we're dead in our trespasses and sins men loved darkness rather than light they hate the light they despise the light we are sinners transgressors rebels against god almighty when you read psalm 2 next time notice what the kings and the judges and the the leaders of the world sort of powers do they raise their fist at yahweh and against it and it is christ they want his fetters removed they want him to to be out of the picture as it were they engage in mutiny we're messed up all of us the heidelberg catechism says how do you know your sin and misery by the law of god the law of god shows us how sinful and miserable we are we're supposed to not engage in idolatry we're not supposed to be blasphemers we're not supposed to be sabbath breakers we're not supposed to be insubordinate to governing authority or to parental authority we're not supposed to be murderers and adulterers and liars and and and thieves and covetous people but we are you know that right i'm i i hope you're not puzzled what who's he talking about here yes i'm talking about myself but i'm certainly including all of us we're messed up but you see nothing unholy nothing defiled nothing polluted nothing wicked nothing vile will enter into the presence of god so we need to have a righteousness that's why jesus lived jesus always did the will of his father jesus in the language of hebrews 7 is holy harmless and undefiled jesus never transgressed jesus never rebelled jesus never lacked conformity unto the law of god he never had a lustful thought he never had murderous rage he never had the things that are that are typical and characteristic of us so that when he fulfills the law of god when by grace we believe the gospel of our salvation that righteousness of jesus is given to us it's imputed to us and received by faith alone that's why jesus needed to live but he also needed to die that's the emphasis in john 1 29 when the baptist lays eyes upon jesus he says behold the lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world that evokes the old covenant sacrificial system how does sinful man dwell in the presence of a holy god how does the defiled enter into the pure it's through blood atonement so through his life we receive righteousness through his death we receive forgiveness the westminster shorter catechism asks the question what is justification justification is an act of god's free grace wherein he pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of christ imputed to us and received by faith alone so there are persons that may know of the occasion of jesus life death and resurrection but they don't necessarily know that theology they don't understand the various emphases that we find in the bible well when jesus does what jesus does life death resurrection jesus people rejoice jesus people delight jesus people extol that they worship him as a result but with reference to the father he is well pleased also with the work of the son so notice in ephesians chapter 1 specifically at verse 19 paul is demonstrating the power of god here he says i want you to know what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he worked in christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion every name that his name not only in this age but also in that which is to come see jesus always had this as the word of god the second person of the trinity but when that second person of the trinity becomes flash assumes our humanity when he finishes the work of mediation he is crowned as a result of his having accomplished that and one of the aspects of that royal privilege now is the authority to rule to reign that's what the baptist says the father loves the son and as a result the father has given all things into his hand and then notice in ephesians 1 it continues and he put all things under his feet and gave him to be had over all things see that think about this for just one moment all things have been given to jesus he has all authority he says that in the great commission go uh all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me therefore go and make disciples of all the nations so jesus has absolute comprehensive universal authority as the mediator so verse 22 again and he put all things under his feet and gave him to be had over all things now notice to the church which is his body the fullness of him who fills all in all so go back to john 3. but stop at john 17 first it's going to bring this to a conclusion to show you how the reception of authority and the exercise of authority are hand in hand in the baptist's testimony notice in john 17. this is what's called the high priestly prayer of our lord jesus christ it's after the upper room discourse it's when he comes to the father and prays to him and then notice in verse 1 jesus spoke these words lifted up his eyes to heaven and said father the hours come glorify your son that your son may ha that your son may glorify you as you have given him authority over all flesh all things given into his hand that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him now go back to john 3. so jesus has has received from the father all things into his hand jesus is over right now the prime minister jesus is over right now the biden administration jesus is over right now the things going on in myanmar jesus is over right now the things going on in china revelation 1 5 tells us that jesus presently is the ruler over the kings of the earth that's a truism that's the reality but notice what the apostles do they acknowledge that comprehensive rule of christ but then they hone in on salvation they hone in on jesus authority with reference to the church and that's what the baptist does in verse 36. so verse 35 the father loves the son and has given all things into his hand now verse 36 is the exercise of that authority he who believes in the son has everlasting life and he who does not believe the son shall not see life but the wrath of god abides on him in other words the greatest display of authority with reference to our lord jesus christ is the eternal destiny of people like you and me that displays his authority it displays his power it displays his glory and again the baptist the apostle bring to conclusion what has been the recurring emphasis in the chapter a man must be born again he must be made alive he is dead because of his sin his rebellion against god his his in adamness he must be born of the spirit when he's born of the spirit the reflex act on his part is to believe the gospel just as moses lifted up the serpent so also must the son of man be lifted up that whoever believes in the son shall have eternal life 3 15. so you see the apostle and the baptist bring this to a conclusion in verse 36 deals with the salvation of sinners and with the damnation of sinners i didn't mean to look like these are the saved i went salvation and damnation don't fear if you're on that side but you're believing in jesus but fear if you're not believing in jesus because a chapter charged with teaching how men how women how boys how girls enter into the presence of god the chapter that has the the most popular bible verse in all of the bible john 3 16 everybody knows that verse it ends on a note of warning listen to what john says he who has the son has everlasting life right we know that we were dead in our trespasses and sins the spirit made us alive we were born again we were regenerated we were born from above that reflex act was to look in faith to our lord jesus we understood experientially if not able to say it catechetically that justification consists in both the pardon of our sins and the reception of christ's righteousness received by faith alone it's the most blessed and wonderful thing on the face of this earth that when sinners believe by the grace of god they have everlasting life notice the present possession of god's people whatever may happen in this world whatever suffering whatever grief whatever hardship whatever ever turmoil whatever trial whatever challenge you know what can never happen is to be separated from the love of god which is in christ jesus our lord that's paul's emphasis at the end of romans 8 i am convinced there's nothing out there in the created order that shall separate us from the love of god which is in christ jesus our lord it's at this point that the people of god are joyful they're rejoicing they're happy they're content while they may have some misery and pain and some issues here in this life who doesn't in this world jesus says later in john's gospel you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for i've overcome the world so no matter what our circumstances whatever our situations whatever our trials and hardships are we can be of good cheer because jesus has overcome the world so he who has believed the son has everlasting life but then notice what john the baptist goes on to say but he who does not believe the son receives a two-fold punishment now some of your translations might say obey the son the esv and the nasb have the word obey if you don't obey the son then you shall not see life some have suggested that that indicates its faith plus works in order to be saved while the verb there can be rendered obey or be obedient i think it's to be taken in its larger context relative to the gospel of justification by faith alone i think what the baptist is saying is what we have translated in the new king james he who does not believe shall not see life that's the punishment of loss he shall not see life he will not enter into the beatitude and the blessing of heaven to come he doesn't receive that that that new jerusalem wherein righteousness dwells where there's no more sorrow and no more pain where there's no more death or tears where god himself is said to be the one that wipes every tear from our eyes and for those who may be struggling well it says obedient there john 6 verse 40 jesus says this is the will of god that you believe in him whom the father has sent first john 3 and verse 23 says and this is his commandment that we should believe on the name of this of his son jesus christ so this idea of faith plus works in order to be saved is absolutely contrary to the whole drift of john 3 but it's not just a punishment of loss see think about that for just a moment in terms of the punishment of lost this isn't jim butler this is puritan i saw it in a medieval commentator as well it goes back in terms of the history of the church the two-fold sense of punishment relative to those who resist those who reject those who do not believe the son you'll not see life you see right now you have to admit if you're not a believer in christ you still benefit you still have joy you still have good things to come right you have are good things presently you may go home today and eat a steak you you're certainly breathing air you're certainly going to drink water you you have to have bed or else you wouldn't be here with us now you wouldn't be sentient if you hadn't been receiving some of the good gifts of god almighty but there is a day coming when there will be this punishment of loss that does not mean god is absent from hell god keeps hell going but there's no goodness of god in hell there's goodness in this world there's stakes there's water there's air there's the marriage relationship there's children there's work there's fun there's joy but in hell there's no more stakes in hell there's no more marital bliss in hell there's no more joy that god gives to image bearers as image bearers in this world so there's this punishment of loss but notice that john doesn't stop there the baptist brings it home with power there's also a punishment of sense s e n s e he who believes in the son has everlasting life and he who does not believe the son shall not see life but the wrath of god abides on him now just as eternal life is a present possession for the believer so is the wrath of god a present possession for the unbeliever so though you're eating a good steak and you're having your water and you're having your marital bliss and you're playing board games with your children that's good but nevertheless god wrath abides on you you don't see it you can't quantify it but you know this or rather you should know this that if you breathed your last you choked on that stake you fell over when you were playing the board game and you broke your neck and you then enter into the presence of god it's not for joy it's not for blessing it's not for celebration it is rather the wrath of god abides on him this is the punishment of sense not only is hell a deprivation of all the goodness of god but hell is a positive infliction of justice and retribution upon them that know not god and on them that do not obey the gospel it is a terrifying way to end chapter 3 if you think about it all of this stuff about the new birth all of this stuff about jesus being raised up like the serpent all of this information converging on people to look unto the lord jesus christ but john doesn't do what so many evangelical preachers do today all it is is love love love love love never wrath never justice never fury never righteousness never the vindication of his bride never the punishment of his enemies never the the cry of asaph in psalm 74 take your hand from your bosom and destroy the enemies of god most high that is foreign and contrary to our way of thought at this day and age but that's not so for the baptist or the apostle if you do not believe the son you'll not see life and as well the wrath of god presently abides on you if we were to spray paint above your head if it was some sort of a of a solution or some sort of a vapor and we could see it and quantify it hopefully it would be alert to the to the to the problem that you face on this side of god's judgment but knowing what jesus says or what jesus says in john 3 19 to 21 even if you had that because you do have it you still wouldn't flee to the savior so again john the apostle john the baptist and on a note that underscores for us that a man must be born again a man must be born from above the spirit must do the work of regeneration in your heart so that reflexively will believe the gospel and receive both the forgiveness of sins and the righteousness of god that avails of the righteousness of christ that avails with god in conclusion we should listen to the testimony of the baptist not only concerning his role in redemptive history as a man sent from god in accordance with isaiah 40 verse 3 as the forerunner to testify make straight the way of yahweh but we should listen to his specific testimony concerning the lord jesus christ christ is the lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world john 1 29 so there's a warning in john 3 36 but the remedy the solution the antidote has been prescribed over and over again in other words if for a moment it has come into your heart to say you know i'm not right with god things aren't well with my soul i'm headed to a christless eternity and to the wrath and fury of god whatever shall i do listen to the baptist he says behold the lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world if your problem is sin guess what there's a remedy there's a solution this is why the church cripples herself when she redefines sin when she says it's a disease or it's a sickness that implies there may be no benefit no help but there is a savior for sinners and he is the lamb of god who takes away the sin christ is the son of god according to john the baptist in 134 christ is the bridegroom of the church according to john 3 29 christ is the one who is supreme over all things it's seen in his origin from above it's seen in his testimony that he speaks the very words of god most high not second hand not mediated but rather firsthand intimate knowledge he he has seen and he speaks what he has seen and knows and as well christ is the one who has authority over all things yes to damn sinners but don't miss the first part of the verse to save sinners he who believes the son has everlasting life guess what you should do right now believe the son look to him and then look in the context the larger context the analogy of the serpent tells you to look to the sun the greatest and most popular bible verse in all of scripture tells you to look to the sun john's warning in 336 tells you to look to the sun if you take one message away from here today may it be this look to the sun believe in him rejoice with the baptist who found his highest privilege and his highest joy to stand in the presence of the bridegroom and to hear his voice that one big sinners needy sinners guilty sinners vile sinners wretched sinners to come to him and be saved so don't tarry don't wait don't resist don't reject but rather look in faith to jesus and you by grace will be saved let us pray our father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for the clarity at the point of salvation it is by grace alone through faith alone in christ alone and that to the glory of god alone and we praise you that you've included us in this redemptive plan we know from the last hour we know from our bible study we know from just a basic understanding of the truth involved that it wasn't us it wasn't our works it wasn't our righteousness that commended us to you but you chose us in him before the foundation of the world and you sent your son and it's in his blood that we have redemption and god we know that if you're able to save us you can certainly save other sinners in this room and whoever may be tuning in or whatever churches people find themselves in today may they understand that just as the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness so must the son of man be lifted up that whoever believes in him will have everlasting life bless your word most high god and may it redound to the praise and to the glory and the honor of your great and awesome name and we pray through jesus christ our lord amen well please take your hymn books and turn to 568 we'll close our service by singing the doxology of praise to our triune god 568 you can stand as we sing together [Music] uh [Music] [Music] [Music] praise [Music] the lord bless you and keep you the lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you the lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace father may this be true for us today and throughout the rest of our time here on earth may you cause that face to shine upon us may we know your nearness as our good and may you bless and strengthen each one of us and build us up in our most holy faith and god be merciful to save to the uttermost all who draw nigh unto you through jesus christ our lord bless our church bless us now we pray through his most blessed name amen we'll please be seated for a brief time of meditation you