1 00:00:00,350 --> 00:00:01,590 I'd like you to turn to Romans chapter 2 00:00:01,590 --> 00:00:02,490 11, please. 3 00:00:04,390 --> 00:00:06,950 The Apostle Paul to the Romans, chapter 11. 4 00:00:12,020 --> 00:00:14,220 Let's begin reading from verse 25. 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,360 Romans chapter 11, verse 25. 6 00:00:17,740 --> 00:00:20,360 For I would not, brethren, that ye should 7 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,660 be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should 8 00:00:23,660 --> 00:00:26,320 be wise in your own deceits. 9 00:00:27,220 --> 00:00:30,900 The blindness, or hardness in part, is happened 10 00:00:30,900 --> 00:00:33,960 to Israel until the time of the fullness 11 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:35,820 of the Gentiles be come in. 12 00:00:37,100 --> 00:00:40,360 And so all Israel shall be saved, as 13 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:42,820 it is written, There shall come out of 14 00:00:42,820 --> 00:00:46,380 Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness 15 00:00:46,380 --> 00:00:47,640 from Jacob. 16 00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:51,260 For this is my covenant unto them, when 17 00:00:51,260 --> 00:00:53,600 I shall take away their sins. 18 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,140 Turn, please, to 1 Corinthians chapter 10. 19 00:01:05,700 --> 00:01:08,780 1 Corinthians chapter 10, begin from verse 1, 20 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:09,240 please. 21 00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:12,220 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should 22 00:01:12,220 --> 00:01:15,020 be ignorant, How that all our fathers were 23 00:01:15,020 --> 00:01:16,980 under the cloud, and all passed through the 24 00:01:16,980 --> 00:01:20,840 sea, Were all baptized unto Moses in the 25 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,460 cloud and in the sea, And did all 26 00:01:23,460 --> 00:01:26,400 eat the same spiritual meat, and did all 27 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,420 drink the same spiritual drink. 28 00:01:28,420 --> 00:01:31,420 For they drank of that spiritual rock that 29 00:01:31,420 --> 00:01:34,460 followed them, and that rock was Christ. 30 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,320 But with many, or with the greater part, 31 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,140 the most of them, God was not well 32 00:01:41,140 --> 00:01:44,800 pleased, For they were overthrown in the wilderness. 33 00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:49,340 Now these things were our examples to the 34 00:01:49,340 --> 00:01:52,940 intent that we should not lust after evil 35 00:01:52,940 --> 00:01:56,200 things, as they also lusted. 36 00:01:57,020 --> 00:01:59,420 And then we have the verses following that 37 00:01:59,420 --> 00:02:00,700 continue that theme. 38 00:02:01,980 --> 00:02:04,020 Chapter 12, verse 1. 39 00:02:06,770 --> 00:02:11,250 Now concerning spirituals, brethren, I would not have 40 00:02:11,250 --> 00:02:12,030 you ignorant. 41 00:02:12,910 --> 00:02:16,390 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away 42 00:02:16,390 --> 00:02:19,150 unto these dumb idols, even as ye were 43 00:02:19,150 --> 00:02:19,550 led. 44 00:02:20,710 --> 00:02:22,990 Wherefore, I give you to understand that no 45 00:02:22,990 --> 00:02:25,910 man speaking by the Spirit of God called 46 00:02:25,910 --> 00:02:27,630 Jesus accursed. 47 00:02:28,690 --> 00:02:30,390 And that no man can say that Jesus 48 00:02:30,390 --> 00:02:34,050 is Lord, but by the Holy Spirit. 49 00:02:35,350 --> 00:02:37,210 And so on, there are diversities of gifts, 50 00:02:37,390 --> 00:02:38,990 but the same Spirit. 51 00:02:39,950 --> 00:02:43,110 Turn, please, to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 52 00:02:50,430 --> 00:02:59,970 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 53 00:02:59,970 --> 00:03:00,570 13. 54 00:03:01,190 --> 00:03:02,990 But I would not have you to be 55 00:03:02,990 --> 00:03:07,050 ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, or 56 00:03:07,050 --> 00:03:08,150 have fallen asleep. 57 00:03:08,710 --> 00:03:11,290 That ye sorrow not, even as others which 58 00:03:11,290 --> 00:03:12,310 have no hope. 59 00:03:13,290 --> 00:03:15,970 For if we believe that Jesus died and 60 00:03:15,970 --> 00:03:19,770 rose again, even so them also which be 61 00:03:19,770 --> 00:03:24,250 asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 62 00:03:25,270 --> 00:03:27,590 For this we say unto you by the 63 00:03:27,590 --> 00:03:30,250 word of the Lord, that we which are 64 00:03:30,250 --> 00:03:32,290 alive and remain under the coming of the 65 00:03:32,290 --> 00:03:36,730 Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 66 00:03:37,570 --> 00:03:39,970 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 67 00:03:39,970 --> 00:03:43,050 with a shout with voice of the archangel, 68 00:03:43,050 --> 00:03:45,670 and with trump of God and the dead 69 00:03:45,670 --> 00:03:47,430 in Christ shall rise first. 70 00:03:48,350 --> 00:03:50,510 That we which are alive and remain shall 71 00:03:50,510 --> 00:03:53,290 be caught up together with them in the 72 00:03:53,290 --> 00:03:56,410 clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 73 00:03:57,230 --> 00:03:59,330 And so shall we ever be with the 74 00:03:59,330 --> 00:03:59,630 Lord. 75 00:04:00,110 --> 00:04:04,130 Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. 76 00:04:05,010 --> 00:04:06,990 I have one more passage to read in 77 00:04:06,990 --> 00:04:09,290 2 Peter chapter 3. 78 00:04:21,029 --> 00:04:24,730 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 8. 79 00:04:24,870 --> 00:04:26,770 But beloved, be not ignorant of this one 80 00:04:26,770 --> 00:04:29,270 thing, that one day is with the Lord 81 00:04:29,270 --> 00:04:32,690 as a thousand years, and a thousand years 82 00:04:32,690 --> 00:04:33,630 as one day. 83 00:04:34,210 --> 00:04:38,270 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, 84 00:04:38,930 --> 00:04:40,850 as some men count slackness. 85 00:04:41,110 --> 00:04:43,490 But his long-suffering to us were not 86 00:04:43,490 --> 00:04:46,250 willing that any should perish, but that all 87 00:04:46,250 --> 00:04:48,330 should come to repentance. 88 00:04:48,330 --> 00:04:51,030 But the day of the Lord will come 89 00:04:51,030 --> 00:04:54,010 as a thief in the night, in the 90 00:04:54,010 --> 00:04:56,030 which the heavens shall pass away with a 91 00:04:56,030 --> 00:04:59,190 great noise, and the elements shall melt with 92 00:04:59,190 --> 00:05:02,210 fervent heat, the earth also and the works 93 00:05:02,210 --> 00:05:04,690 that are therein shall be burned up. 94 00:05:05,590 --> 00:05:07,430 Seeing then that all these things shall be 95 00:05:07,430 --> 00:05:10,870 dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to 96 00:05:10,870 --> 00:05:16,170 be in all holy conversation and godliness? 97 00:05:18,290 --> 00:05:21,870 I've read five scriptures together, and I have 98 00:05:21,870 --> 00:05:23,110 a reason for doing so. 99 00:05:23,810 --> 00:05:26,070 I want you to notice this expression that 100 00:05:26,070 --> 00:05:29,210 has been impressed upon my mind, where Paul 101 00:05:29,210 --> 00:05:30,810 says, be not ignorant. 102 00:05:31,590 --> 00:05:33,210 I would not that you would be ignorant. 103 00:05:34,130 --> 00:05:36,090 We believe, don't we, that God does not 104 00:05:36,090 --> 00:05:37,770 desire ignorant believers. 105 00:05:38,570 --> 00:05:42,730 We have a 66 book that is intended 106 00:05:42,730 --> 00:05:44,750 to instruct us in the things of God, 107 00:05:44,750 --> 00:05:47,570 and give us a material that would give 108 00:05:47,570 --> 00:05:51,530 us all the ability to understand, to be 109 00:05:51,530 --> 00:05:55,250 intelligent, and to be spiritually enlightened about divine 110 00:05:55,250 --> 00:05:55,790 truth. 111 00:05:57,150 --> 00:05:59,290 And I don't think anybody here wants to 112 00:05:59,290 --> 00:05:59,770 be ignorant. 113 00:06:02,370 --> 00:06:05,290 I just spent about eight months homeschooling my 114 00:06:05,290 --> 00:06:06,510 oldest granddaughter. 115 00:06:08,590 --> 00:06:10,570 And that's a trial, I can tell you 116 00:06:10,570 --> 00:06:10,870 that. 117 00:06:11,890 --> 00:06:14,070 It's not enjoyable, I guess, to be a 118 00:06:14,070 --> 00:06:14,670 schoolteacher. 119 00:06:14,830 --> 00:06:16,030 I found out I didn't really want to 120 00:06:16,030 --> 00:06:18,030 be a teacher at all after a few 121 00:06:18,030 --> 00:06:20,170 months of doing that, especially one-on-one. 122 00:06:21,390 --> 00:06:23,530 And anyway, we passed through it, and we 123 00:06:23,530 --> 00:06:24,630 learned a little bit anyway. 124 00:06:25,110 --> 00:06:26,650 But I certainly didn't want her to be 125 00:06:26,650 --> 00:06:26,910 ignorant. 126 00:06:27,070 --> 00:06:28,190 I put every effort in. 127 00:06:28,290 --> 00:06:30,650 Sometimes I thought I was putting more effort 128 00:06:30,650 --> 00:06:31,630 in than she was. 129 00:06:32,310 --> 00:06:34,990 But at least I passed her and got 130 00:06:34,990 --> 00:06:35,710 her into the school. 131 00:06:35,950 --> 00:06:38,190 So God doesn't want you and me ignorant. 132 00:06:38,450 --> 00:06:39,590 We are in school. 133 00:06:39,590 --> 00:06:40,570 We're here to learn. 134 00:06:40,730 --> 00:06:41,710 We're here to progress. 135 00:06:43,150 --> 00:06:46,950 And I think it's an abysmal insult to 136 00:06:46,950 --> 00:06:48,870 the spirit of God when we are ignorant 137 00:06:48,870 --> 00:06:49,990 of divine truth. 138 00:06:51,290 --> 00:06:55,830 Paul said to Timothy, he said, Hold fast 139 00:06:55,830 --> 00:06:57,810 the form of sound doctrine. 140 00:06:58,590 --> 00:07:00,930 That is, to get the pattern firmly in 141 00:07:00,930 --> 00:07:06,410 your mind and understand its truth so carefully 142 00:07:07,210 --> 00:07:09,270 that you can handle it properly. 143 00:07:09,830 --> 00:07:11,570 It teaches us in chapter 2 and verse 144 00:07:11,570 --> 00:07:15,630 14, Study or be diligent to show thyself 145 00:07:15,630 --> 00:07:16,630 approved unto God. 146 00:07:16,970 --> 00:07:18,790 A workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 147 00:07:19,310 --> 00:07:21,810 handling correctly the word of truth. 148 00:07:22,730 --> 00:07:24,890 And if nothing else, a conference should enlighten 149 00:07:24,890 --> 00:07:26,290 us about divine truth. 150 00:07:26,850 --> 00:07:29,230 But dear brother or sister, it is not 151 00:07:29,230 --> 00:07:32,890 enough to depend on conferences to learn the 152 00:07:32,890 --> 00:07:33,990 truth of God's word. 153 00:07:33,990 --> 00:07:36,290 God wants each one of us to be 154 00:07:36,290 --> 00:07:37,970 students of the scripture. 155 00:07:38,830 --> 00:07:40,430 And the devil wants to put everything in 156 00:07:40,430 --> 00:07:43,190 your mind, everything in your pathway, everything in 157 00:07:43,190 --> 00:07:45,970 your time schedule to keep you from studying 158 00:07:45,970 --> 00:07:46,950 the word of God. 159 00:07:48,310 --> 00:07:49,330 Be diligent. 160 00:07:50,370 --> 00:07:51,130 Be diligent. 161 00:07:52,350 --> 00:07:54,730 And I'm noticing four or five times Paul 162 00:07:54,730 --> 00:07:57,090 says to these believers, Be not ignorant. 163 00:07:57,170 --> 00:07:58,650 I don't want you to be ignorant. 164 00:07:58,650 --> 00:08:02,330 I want you to understand clearly the truth 165 00:08:02,330 --> 00:08:03,990 that I'm seeking to impart to you in 166 00:08:03,990 --> 00:08:05,130 these particular passages. 167 00:08:05,970 --> 00:08:08,170 Granted that Peter writes the last one, 2 168 00:08:08,170 --> 00:08:09,130 Peter chapter 3. 169 00:08:09,370 --> 00:08:12,390 I know the authors, but nevertheless, we have 170 00:08:12,390 --> 00:08:14,590 these five times that he tells us, Be 171 00:08:14,590 --> 00:08:15,210 not ignorant. 172 00:08:16,470 --> 00:08:18,010 First of all, I want you to notice, 173 00:08:18,090 --> 00:08:20,710 he said, be not ignorant about Israel's blindness. 174 00:08:22,230 --> 00:08:24,810 And I'll tell you that will preserve us 175 00:08:24,810 --> 00:08:25,610 from pride. 176 00:08:26,550 --> 00:08:31,130 He said, just remember, just remember, Israel's been 177 00:08:31,130 --> 00:08:32,970 set aside for the time being. 178 00:08:33,610 --> 00:08:35,710 But remember, you've been brought in on the 179 00:08:35,710 --> 00:08:36,710 principle of grace. 180 00:08:37,230 --> 00:08:40,510 And you have no reason for pride whatsoever. 181 00:08:40,770 --> 00:08:43,630 It will preserve you and me from pride. 182 00:08:44,550 --> 00:08:46,210 We have nothing to boast of. 183 00:08:47,330 --> 00:08:51,590 In 1 Corinthians chapter 10, I think of 184 00:08:51,590 --> 00:08:53,610 that passage where it reminds him of Israel's 185 00:08:53,610 --> 00:08:54,110 example. 186 00:08:54,110 --> 00:08:56,630 He said, I don't want you to be 187 00:08:56,630 --> 00:08:58,490 ignorant about Israel's example. 188 00:08:59,990 --> 00:09:01,650 Remember all their benefits. 189 00:09:02,430 --> 00:09:04,750 And then remember all the corresponding failures. 190 00:09:05,090 --> 00:09:07,570 He says, I want to preserve you from 191 00:09:07,570 --> 00:09:08,570 presumption. 192 00:09:10,090 --> 00:09:10,650 Presumption. 193 00:09:11,090 --> 00:09:12,850 That's what they were doing in Corinth. 194 00:09:14,570 --> 00:09:16,810 1 Corinthians chapter 12, he said, I would 195 00:09:16,810 --> 00:09:19,850 not you be ignorant concerning spirituals. 196 00:09:20,890 --> 00:09:23,130 And in the case of that context in 197 00:09:23,130 --> 00:09:26,170 the situation in Corinth, it would preserve them 198 00:09:26,170 --> 00:09:29,990 from carelessness in the use of spiritual gift. 199 00:09:31,190 --> 00:09:32,450 As proper application. 200 00:09:34,070 --> 00:09:36,950 In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, he says, I 201 00:09:36,950 --> 00:09:38,910 would not have you to be ignorant concerning 202 00:09:38,910 --> 00:09:41,570 those that have fallen asleep, because it would 203 00:09:41,570 --> 00:09:43,990 preserve you from sorrow. 204 00:09:45,690 --> 00:09:48,150 So we sorrow not, even as others have 205 00:09:48,150 --> 00:09:48,550 no hope. 206 00:09:48,550 --> 00:09:50,250 Preserve you from sorrow. 207 00:09:51,250 --> 00:09:53,710 Intelligent understanding of the subject my brother has 208 00:09:53,710 --> 00:09:56,170 been dealing with will preserve you and me 209 00:09:56,170 --> 00:09:57,410 from sorrow. 210 00:09:58,250 --> 00:10:00,190 And there are those that have passed away. 211 00:10:01,710 --> 00:10:04,050 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse 18, I 212 00:10:04,050 --> 00:10:04,510 take it. 213 00:10:05,090 --> 00:10:07,850 He says, be not you ignorant. 214 00:10:08,470 --> 00:10:10,070 It's a different word, I know, but it 215 00:10:10,070 --> 00:10:11,330 has the same thought in mind. 216 00:10:11,730 --> 00:10:14,770 Don't be ignorant as the world deliberately is 217 00:10:14,770 --> 00:10:18,150 ignorant about the coming judgment of God to 218 00:10:18,150 --> 00:10:20,350 set things right and to deal with the 219 00:10:20,350 --> 00:10:22,890 sin and the iniquity of this world. 220 00:10:23,230 --> 00:10:26,930 He says, I'm telling you this to preserve 221 00:10:26,930 --> 00:10:28,390 you from discouragement. 222 00:10:30,270 --> 00:10:32,250 Intelligence in the things of God, I believe, 223 00:10:32,350 --> 00:10:35,510 will preserve us in a multitude of ways. 224 00:10:36,590 --> 00:10:38,690 And God knows we need to be preserved 225 00:10:38,690 --> 00:10:39,170 today. 226 00:10:40,910 --> 00:10:42,630 Assemblies need to be preserved. 227 00:10:43,290 --> 00:10:45,230 And believers need to be preserved. 228 00:10:46,070 --> 00:10:47,610 I need to be preserved. 229 00:10:48,590 --> 00:10:50,850 And we trust that we might preserve testimony 230 00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:53,470 for God until the Lord comes. 231 00:10:54,590 --> 00:10:56,790 Very briefly, just notice with me these five 232 00:10:56,790 --> 00:10:57,250 portions. 233 00:10:57,410 --> 00:10:59,410 I know I don't have time to look 234 00:10:59,410 --> 00:11:00,430 at them in any detail. 235 00:11:01,870 --> 00:11:03,570 But you know, the chapter 9, 10, and 236 00:11:03,570 --> 00:11:05,670 11 of Romans, I take it anyway to 237 00:11:05,670 --> 00:11:07,110 be a parenthetical section. 238 00:11:07,990 --> 00:11:11,570 Paul very clearly and without any question, I'm 239 00:11:11,570 --> 00:11:16,290 sure, he knew the objections of Jewish religious 240 00:11:16,290 --> 00:11:18,990 people to the gospel of grace that he'd 241 00:11:18,990 --> 00:11:19,630 been preaching. 242 00:11:20,370 --> 00:11:23,650 The justification by faith alone of the Lord 243 00:11:23,650 --> 00:11:26,190 Jesus on the assurance of salvation. 244 00:11:26,710 --> 00:11:29,670 No condemnation, he says in chapter 8, on 245 00:11:29,670 --> 00:11:31,370 the assurance that there's a God in heaven 246 00:11:31,370 --> 00:11:32,370 that is for us. 247 00:11:32,970 --> 00:11:34,090 Christ is for us. 248 00:11:34,350 --> 00:11:35,910 The Spirit of God is for us. 249 00:11:35,910 --> 00:11:37,990 He says, I know there are going to 250 00:11:37,990 --> 00:11:39,130 be objections to that. 251 00:11:39,910 --> 00:11:42,210 And the objections are going to come from 252 00:11:42,210 --> 00:11:46,050 those who are steeped in religion, steeped in 253 00:11:46,050 --> 00:11:48,850 the law keeping, and persuaded that that is 254 00:11:48,850 --> 00:11:51,090 the only right thing because that was given 255 00:11:51,090 --> 00:11:53,950 by Moses, by divine inspiration. 256 00:11:55,170 --> 00:11:57,730 Unwilling to set it aside and to recognize 257 00:11:57,730 --> 00:11:59,270 it served for a time. 258 00:11:59,670 --> 00:12:01,910 But now God has brought in something far 259 00:12:01,910 --> 00:12:02,250 better. 260 00:12:02,850 --> 00:12:04,990 And from the very beginning of Romans, he 261 00:12:04,990 --> 00:12:07,850 makes it very clear that it's not a 262 00:12:07,850 --> 00:12:09,730 new thing in the mind of God. 263 00:12:09,790 --> 00:12:12,390 It's the gospel of God that is really 264 00:12:12,390 --> 00:12:13,170 from eternity. 265 00:12:13,870 --> 00:12:16,190 It's what God has been moving toward. 266 00:12:16,290 --> 00:12:19,830 He shows in the entire outworking of his 267 00:12:19,830 --> 00:12:23,030 dealings until he's come to the point where 268 00:12:23,030 --> 00:12:24,850 now he's made known unto us to the 269 00:12:24,850 --> 00:12:25,710 preacher of the gospel. 270 00:12:26,910 --> 00:12:30,210 He says, Israel for this time because of 271 00:12:30,210 --> 00:12:32,070 their unbelief has been set aside. 272 00:12:33,770 --> 00:12:35,850 You know, this idea in the world today 273 00:12:35,850 --> 00:12:37,890 that God is totally finished with the Jew 274 00:12:37,890 --> 00:12:40,310 and there's no future for them, I think 275 00:12:40,310 --> 00:12:42,350 is totally denied by these three chapters. 276 00:12:43,550 --> 00:12:45,750 I can't reconcile that with what the word 277 00:12:45,750 --> 00:12:46,530 of God says. 278 00:12:47,490 --> 00:12:49,070 Neither with what we have in terms of 279 00:12:49,070 --> 00:12:51,830 the promises that God made to Abraham way 280 00:12:51,830 --> 00:12:52,710 back in Genesis. 281 00:12:53,730 --> 00:12:55,590 God is always true to his word and 282 00:12:55,590 --> 00:12:56,550 he's going to fulfill it. 283 00:12:57,590 --> 00:12:59,550 But so that we have in chapter 9, 284 00:12:59,550 --> 00:13:03,850 he surveys their past and their objections would 285 00:13:03,850 --> 00:13:08,610 be, well, we as Jews really stand on 286 00:13:08,610 --> 00:13:09,490 a higher position. 287 00:13:09,730 --> 00:13:12,050 We have a different standing than those Gentiles 288 00:13:12,050 --> 00:13:12,350 do. 289 00:13:13,270 --> 00:13:16,210 After all, you know, we were children of 290 00:13:16,210 --> 00:13:16,690 Abraham. 291 00:13:17,750 --> 00:13:19,050 You know what he says, if they're children 292 00:13:19,050 --> 00:13:21,130 of Abraham, remember Ishmael was a child of 293 00:13:21,130 --> 00:13:21,710 Abraham too. 294 00:13:21,870 --> 00:13:22,410 He was a son. 295 00:13:23,250 --> 00:13:24,770 So you got to include Ishmael. 296 00:13:25,830 --> 00:13:27,790 Well, now he says, what about Jacob? 297 00:13:28,170 --> 00:13:29,510 Well, Jacob had two sons. 298 00:13:29,510 --> 00:13:31,850 I mean, Isaac had two sons. 299 00:13:33,690 --> 00:13:37,770 Well, you know, God really didn't choose the 300 00:13:37,770 --> 00:13:41,110 more attractive man in the sense of choosing 301 00:13:41,110 --> 00:13:41,590 Jacob. 302 00:13:42,570 --> 00:13:44,010 But God chose Jacob. 303 00:13:45,090 --> 00:13:48,810 And he chose the younger and the elder 304 00:13:48,810 --> 00:13:49,530 would serve him. 305 00:13:50,810 --> 00:13:52,630 So it's really not a matter of those 306 00:13:52,630 --> 00:13:54,630 who were so good or beneficial in themselves 307 00:13:54,630 --> 00:13:58,350 or so attractive in their own personal character. 308 00:13:59,590 --> 00:14:01,030 No, he says it's a matter of God's 309 00:14:01,030 --> 00:14:01,430 choice. 310 00:14:02,990 --> 00:14:04,530 Then he said, what about the nation of 311 00:14:04,530 --> 00:14:04,750 Israel? 312 00:14:04,870 --> 00:14:06,170 If you're going to stand on the ground 313 00:14:06,170 --> 00:14:08,170 of the righteousness that you have by the 314 00:14:08,170 --> 00:14:10,150 law, just remember that when the law was 315 00:14:10,150 --> 00:14:11,490 given, you failed right away. 316 00:14:12,730 --> 00:14:14,070 And God was going to cut off the 317 00:14:14,070 --> 00:14:17,550 nation and destroy it had not Moses interceded 318 00:14:17,550 --> 00:14:18,090 for you. 319 00:14:18,630 --> 00:14:20,150 It was a man up in the presence 320 00:14:20,150 --> 00:14:22,350 of God that interceded for them, that preserved 321 00:14:22,350 --> 00:14:22,650 them. 322 00:14:23,910 --> 00:14:26,650 I said, you know, it's only the mercy 323 00:14:26,650 --> 00:14:28,170 of God that you were preserved in the 324 00:14:28,170 --> 00:14:28,710 very beginning. 325 00:14:29,990 --> 00:14:31,430 So what do you have to boast about? 326 00:14:33,130 --> 00:14:36,810 And if God had his exercise, his rights 327 00:14:36,810 --> 00:14:40,450 to preserve the nation, not because they had 328 00:14:40,450 --> 00:14:42,750 obeyed the law and carried it out in 329 00:14:42,750 --> 00:14:44,070 the way it should have been, but all 330 00:14:44,070 --> 00:14:46,630 because of a man who was interceding for 331 00:14:46,630 --> 00:14:48,790 you, cannot he do the same for the 332 00:14:48,790 --> 00:14:49,370 Gentile? 333 00:14:50,730 --> 00:14:53,350 Doesn't he have the potter of the right 334 00:14:53,350 --> 00:14:55,090 over the lump to make of one lump 335 00:14:55,650 --> 00:14:57,910 a vessel of beauty and a vessel of 336 00:14:57,910 --> 00:14:58,610 dishonor? 337 00:14:59,610 --> 00:15:01,550 Well, God has every right to do everything 338 00:15:01,550 --> 00:15:03,490 according to his own will. 339 00:15:04,490 --> 00:15:05,950 So he looks at their past and he 340 00:15:05,950 --> 00:15:09,470 simply erases every ground that they have to 341 00:15:09,470 --> 00:15:12,670 argue that they have a higher standing or 342 00:15:12,670 --> 00:15:16,350 deserve preferential treatment, so far as God is 343 00:15:16,350 --> 00:15:16,850 concerned. 344 00:15:16,850 --> 00:15:20,730 Or will somehow come into God's favor in 345 00:15:20,730 --> 00:15:21,450 a different way. 346 00:15:21,950 --> 00:15:23,390 No, he says, you're all set up to 347 00:15:23,390 --> 00:15:26,470 grace, all under God's righteous judgment. 348 00:15:27,430 --> 00:15:29,330 Then he looks at the present in chapter 349 00:15:29,330 --> 00:15:29,770 10. 350 00:15:30,250 --> 00:15:31,710 What about the present of the nation? 351 00:15:32,210 --> 00:15:34,230 All the gospels being preached to them. 352 00:15:34,990 --> 00:15:37,190 And the clarity of the message is that 353 00:15:37,190 --> 00:15:38,990 there's no need to call for God to 354 00:15:38,990 --> 00:15:40,750 send down one from heaven because he's already 355 00:15:40,750 --> 00:15:41,430 come down. 356 00:15:42,030 --> 00:15:44,870 I need no need as well for one 357 00:15:44,870 --> 00:15:46,170 to go down the deep and bring him 358 00:15:46,170 --> 00:15:48,070 up for the dead because he's already risen. 359 00:15:49,410 --> 00:15:50,950 But he says the gospel is naive. 360 00:15:51,330 --> 00:15:52,530 Neither the word is neither. 361 00:15:53,770 --> 00:15:56,790 And yet he says Israel won't believe all 362 00:15:56,790 --> 00:15:57,290 day long. 363 00:15:57,370 --> 00:15:59,810 I stretched my hand out to a game 364 00:15:59,810 --> 00:16:02,110 saying I'm a disobedient people. 365 00:16:02,650 --> 00:16:04,610 So you have no ground to the present 366 00:16:04,610 --> 00:16:07,390 either because the same gospel is being preached 367 00:16:07,390 --> 00:16:09,570 to you and you're rejecting it out of 368 00:16:09,570 --> 00:16:10,390 your unbelief. 369 00:16:11,850 --> 00:16:13,370 But he says let me tell you about 370 00:16:13,370 --> 00:16:13,890 the future. 371 00:16:15,430 --> 00:16:18,030 Right now Israel he said is set aside 372 00:16:18,030 --> 00:16:19,870 so far as God's dealings are concerned. 373 00:16:20,310 --> 00:16:21,750 They can come in on the same ground 374 00:16:21,750 --> 00:16:22,670 as a Gentile. 375 00:16:23,230 --> 00:16:26,290 Trusting Christ, believing the word of God, resting 376 00:16:26,290 --> 00:16:27,650 upon his work at Calvary. 377 00:16:29,090 --> 00:16:30,550 He says there's going to come a day 378 00:16:31,670 --> 00:16:36,330 when that nation pictured by the vine in 379 00:16:36,330 --> 00:16:39,610 this chapter, he says they've been grafted, they've 380 00:16:39,610 --> 00:16:41,190 been cut off, but they can be grafted 381 00:16:41,190 --> 00:16:41,830 back in again. 382 00:16:42,810 --> 00:16:44,610 You've been brought in and you stand by 383 00:16:44,610 --> 00:16:45,090 grace. 384 00:16:45,470 --> 00:16:48,370 He said don't boast against the root because 385 00:16:48,370 --> 00:16:51,230 the root beareth you, not you the root. 386 00:16:53,570 --> 00:16:56,150 He looks at the Gentiles, not individuals here. 387 00:16:56,150 --> 00:16:58,190 I've had men try to use this to 388 00:16:58,190 --> 00:17:03,030 prove that eternal security is not a scriptural 389 00:17:03,030 --> 00:17:03,550 doctrine. 390 00:17:03,869 --> 00:17:04,609 That's not true. 391 00:17:05,550 --> 00:17:09,270 He's not speaking about individual believers here, genuine 392 00:17:09,270 --> 00:17:10,369 believers in Christ. 393 00:17:10,630 --> 00:17:13,030 He's speaking about the Gentiles as a group. 394 00:17:14,109 --> 00:17:15,790 He says you've been brought in to the 395 00:17:15,790 --> 00:17:17,910 mainstream of God's great purposes today. 396 00:17:18,390 --> 00:17:21,349 Don't boast because there will become a time 397 00:17:21,349 --> 00:17:23,849 because of your unbelief you'll be cut off 398 00:17:23,849 --> 00:17:26,490 as well because God is going to bring 399 00:17:26,490 --> 00:17:28,770 the Jew back in and he's going to 400 00:17:28,770 --> 00:17:31,130 fulfill his purpose to the nation of Israel. 401 00:17:33,490 --> 00:17:37,270 Wonderful to realize that the promises, the covenants 402 00:17:37,270 --> 00:17:43,610 of God stand regardless of the failure of 403 00:17:43,610 --> 00:17:43,930 man. 404 00:17:45,310 --> 00:17:46,770 My dear brothers and sisters, you and I 405 00:17:46,770 --> 00:17:48,550 have no ground to boast whatsoever. 406 00:17:49,550 --> 00:17:52,650 I sometimes think about Israel's failure, their sinfulness 407 00:17:52,650 --> 00:17:56,510 in the wilderness and their awful departures and 408 00:17:56,510 --> 00:17:58,270 I ask myself are we really any better 409 00:17:58,270 --> 00:17:58,690 today? 410 00:18:01,490 --> 00:18:02,750 Are we really any better? 411 00:18:03,650 --> 00:18:05,430 If we're living under the law and the 412 00:18:05,430 --> 00:18:07,090 conditions of the law, would we do any 413 00:18:07,090 --> 00:18:07,930 better than they did? 414 00:18:08,590 --> 00:18:09,510 No, I don't think so. 415 00:18:10,990 --> 00:18:12,370 We feel miserably. 416 00:18:13,250 --> 00:18:16,970 It should keep us humble to thank God 417 00:18:16,970 --> 00:18:22,690 that we're preserved by an infinite capable intercessor 418 00:18:22,690 --> 00:18:24,490 at God's right hand. 419 00:18:24,570 --> 00:18:27,430 We owe so much not only in salvation 420 00:18:27,430 --> 00:18:31,510 but in preservation to the present ongoing work 421 00:18:31,510 --> 00:18:33,570 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 422 00:18:34,870 --> 00:18:35,930 But don't boast. 423 00:18:36,650 --> 00:18:38,690 God still has purposes for the Jew. 424 00:18:39,210 --> 00:18:41,730 God is going to make that nation the 425 00:18:41,730 --> 00:18:42,610 head of the nations. 426 00:18:43,610 --> 00:18:44,690 The source of blessing. 427 00:18:45,250 --> 00:18:47,090 The center of his seat of power. 428 00:18:47,750 --> 00:18:50,130 He's going to rule and reign from Jerusalem 429 00:18:50,130 --> 00:18:51,590 to the end of the earth. 430 00:18:52,290 --> 00:18:54,550 Don't take that symbolically, that's literal. 431 00:18:54,750 --> 00:18:55,610 I believe that's true. 432 00:18:57,610 --> 00:19:01,050 And so he says, not ignorant of this 433 00:19:01,050 --> 00:19:03,510 truth will preserve us from pride. 434 00:19:04,470 --> 00:19:07,210 And brethren, you know, even in any aspect 435 00:19:07,210 --> 00:19:09,510 of a Christian's life, pride is one thing 436 00:19:09,510 --> 00:19:10,210 God hates. 437 00:19:11,450 --> 00:19:13,230 And I have no reason to have it. 438 00:19:13,770 --> 00:19:14,690 Sadly we do. 439 00:19:15,490 --> 00:19:16,890 We have more pride than we want to 440 00:19:16,890 --> 00:19:17,390 acknowledge. 441 00:19:18,470 --> 00:19:20,450 We have no basis for it whatsoever. 442 00:19:21,950 --> 00:19:24,690 We stand by the grace of God and 443 00:19:24,690 --> 00:19:25,990 on the merits of the Lord Jesus. 444 00:19:26,830 --> 00:19:28,970 But quickly going over to 1 Corinthians chapter 445 00:19:28,970 --> 00:19:33,790 10, Paul is writing this assembly and we 446 00:19:33,790 --> 00:19:36,390 think of the many difficulties he seeks to 447 00:19:36,390 --> 00:19:37,270 address in it. 448 00:19:37,730 --> 00:19:39,050 And he does it out of a compassionate 449 00:19:39,050 --> 00:19:41,630 heart with a longing that they might be 450 00:19:41,630 --> 00:19:46,250 restored to proper condition, maintained as a vibrant, 451 00:19:46,570 --> 00:19:49,210 faithful testimony for the Lord Jesus. 452 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:55,560 He said, just let me remind you about 453 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:56,880 the nation of Israel again. 454 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,160 He says, they were brought out of the 455 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:01,900 land of Egypt. 456 00:20:03,300 --> 00:20:05,420 And there were five different areas in which 457 00:20:05,420 --> 00:20:08,340 God displayed his kindness and mercy to them. 458 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:10,420 I would call them areas of privilege. 459 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:12,940 They were all under the cloud. 460 00:20:13,060 --> 00:20:15,020 They were all baptized unto Moses in the 461 00:20:15,020 --> 00:20:15,840 cloud of the sea. 462 00:20:16,300 --> 00:20:17,440 They all ate of the manna. 463 00:20:17,500 --> 00:20:18,760 They all drank of the rock. 464 00:20:19,340 --> 00:20:21,820 They all had these great spiritual privileges which 465 00:20:21,820 --> 00:20:24,460 are symbolic and speak to us of all 466 00:20:24,460 --> 00:20:26,080 that we have received through our Lord Jesus. 467 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:30,660 And yet he says, just remember that despite 468 00:20:30,660 --> 00:20:34,380 all the privileges they had received, they sinned 469 00:20:34,380 --> 00:20:35,600 in five different ways too. 470 00:20:37,460 --> 00:20:40,660 They sinned in five different ways that corresponded, 471 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,360 I take it, to the condition that Paul 472 00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:46,080 was pointed out in the assembly here in 473 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:46,660 Corinth. 474 00:20:47,420 --> 00:20:48,700 The idolatry. 475 00:20:49,980 --> 00:20:51,000 The fornication. 476 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,520 The departure from the truth. 477 00:20:53,740 --> 00:20:56,520 The murmuring against God and the different attitudes 478 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:57,220 that they had. 479 00:20:57,820 --> 00:21:01,620 He says, just remember this. 480 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,140 The privileges that a believer has received does 481 00:21:05,140 --> 00:21:09,160 not preserve them from falling, from failure. 482 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,120 They were presuming upon all they had received 483 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:15,380 so abundantly by the grace of God, all 484 00:21:15,380 --> 00:21:17,380 the gifts that they had and all the 485 00:21:17,380 --> 00:21:20,000 positions they enjoyed and all the abilities they 486 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:20,380 had. 487 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:24,120 And they're forgetting that there was a movement 488 00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:27,860 within them of a departure and a failure 489 00:21:27,860 --> 00:21:30,720 that corresponded to what was seen in the 490 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:32,300 history of Israel. 491 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:37,120 He says, you need to remember that. 492 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,080 There were those that came out of Egypt. 493 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,300 They were brought out to enjoy the blessings 494 00:21:43,300 --> 00:21:43,920 of God. 495 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,140 They were identified with God and the covenant 496 00:21:47,140 --> 00:21:48,740 that was made with them on the mount. 497 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:50,420 They received the voice of God. 498 00:21:50,500 --> 00:21:51,760 They heard the voice of God. 499 00:21:52,540 --> 00:21:54,520 They had all these things brought to their 500 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:57,640 advantage, all that they had received. 501 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:01,660 And yet, he says, they failed in five 502 00:22:01,660 --> 00:22:02,320 different ways. 503 00:22:06,780 --> 00:22:08,780 He says, they failed because they did not 504 00:22:08,780 --> 00:22:11,720 respond to the faithfulness of God to them. 505 00:22:14,460 --> 00:22:17,260 So, listen, brethren, I won't do that. 506 00:22:17,660 --> 00:22:18,880 I probably better not do that. 507 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:21,060 I better quit trying to play like Mr. 508 00:22:21,140 --> 00:22:21,460 Scherzinger. 509 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:24,260 I can't shout. 510 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,080 He can't shout much more anymore either, so. 511 00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:30,140 I'm not a shouter. 512 00:22:31,360 --> 00:22:32,100 Give me a minute. 513 00:22:34,980 --> 00:22:37,560 It reminds him that there's a need for 514 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,100 realization. 515 00:22:40,900 --> 00:22:43,500 That all the privileges that a believer receives 516 00:22:43,500 --> 00:22:46,200 demand a response. 517 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:51,240 A response, a recognition that I owe everything 518 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:52,860 to the one who has given it. 519 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:55,100 I owe everything to him. 520 00:22:55,980 --> 00:22:57,900 I can't presume that here I am. 521 00:22:57,940 --> 00:22:59,320 I'm a child of God on the way 522 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:00,060 to heaven. 523 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,260 I'm secured by the blood of the Lord 524 00:23:02,260 --> 00:23:03,120 Jesus Christ. 525 00:23:03,260 --> 00:23:04,660 I'm indwelled by the spirit of God. 526 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:05,920 I'm going to be in heaven. 527 00:23:06,660 --> 00:23:08,500 Doesn't make any difference what I do along 528 00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:08,920 the way. 529 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:10,040 Nonsense. 530 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:11,640 Be careful. 531 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:14,440 Because that's the kind of thing that will 532 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:15,700 ruin a believer's life. 533 00:23:16,700 --> 00:23:19,360 And Paul says, you believers in that assembly 534 00:23:19,360 --> 00:23:22,120 that think you're standing, you think you're so 535 00:23:22,120 --> 00:23:25,040 capable, you may be referring to some that 536 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:26,900 just thought they were saved and they really 537 00:23:26,900 --> 00:23:28,140 weren't. 538 00:23:28,140 --> 00:23:29,060 He says, be careful. 539 00:23:29,500 --> 00:23:31,360 Take heed as you fall. 540 00:23:33,020 --> 00:23:34,800 And so we need to be very careful 541 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:35,760 about presumption. 542 00:23:37,740 --> 00:23:41,800 Presumption can entrap a believer and cause ruin 543 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:42,460 to the life. 544 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,640 It was on the verge of causing a 545 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:50,140 ruinous condition in Corinth that would be without 546 00:23:50,140 --> 00:23:50,680 a remedy. 547 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:54,560 But thank God Paul applied the truth of 548 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:56,720 God in a way that had its results. 549 00:23:58,020 --> 00:23:59,960 But then I think of 1 Corinthians chapter 550 00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:00,440 12. 551 00:24:00,580 --> 00:24:02,240 He says, I don't want you to be 552 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,040 ignorant about spiritual things. 553 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:06,520 We know that gifts here is really not 554 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:08,620 the actual word that is used, but it's 555 00:24:08,620 --> 00:24:09,440 in the context. 556 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,460 I take it not only the spiritual gift, 557 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,900 but the entire use of spiritual gift, the 558 00:24:14,900 --> 00:24:16,840 entire sphere of all that is spiritual. 559 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:20,220 He says, don't dabble in these spiritual things 560 00:24:20,220 --> 00:24:23,080 that God has endowed you with and do 561 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:24,380 it in a careless way. 562 00:24:25,140 --> 00:24:26,320 You say, what were they doing? 563 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:30,200 They're using spiritual gift or an imitation of 564 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,860 spiritual gift to call attention to themselves. 565 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,260 And instead of uniting the believers by the 566 00:24:37,260 --> 00:24:39,860 exercise of that gift, they were dividing them. 567 00:24:40,360 --> 00:24:42,780 And they're causing disunity among the saints. 568 00:24:44,500 --> 00:24:46,560 Says those gifts have been given by the 569 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:47,360 spirit of God. 570 00:24:49,740 --> 00:24:52,640 I remember they're given through the administration of 571 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:53,340 God in heaven. 572 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:57,900 And they're divided to every man sovereignly according 573 00:24:57,900 --> 00:24:58,760 to his will. 574 00:24:59,180 --> 00:25:01,000 They're not for self-glorification. 575 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,460 Spiritual ability and whatever capacity might be given 576 00:25:05,460 --> 00:25:08,120 to you and me is not for self 577 00:25:08,120 --> 00:25:10,460 -enhancement. 578 00:25:10,460 --> 00:25:13,840 It's not for display of self and making 579 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,980 someone think how wonderful he is or how 580 00:25:16,980 --> 00:25:18,200 wonderful she is. 581 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:22,480 It's for the purpose of building up and 582 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,240 putting forward the work of God in an 583 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:30,500 assembly, in individuals, in the gospel, in relation 584 00:25:30,500 --> 00:25:32,420 to those who are not saved, building up 585 00:25:32,420 --> 00:25:35,020 the kingdom of God and bringing souls to 586 00:25:35,020 --> 00:25:36,480 a saving knowledge of Christ. 587 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:41,320 The gift is essential for Christian service in 588 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:42,800 a spiritual sphere. 589 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:46,180 It's given to you and me that we 590 00:25:46,180 --> 00:25:47,540 might use it with wisdom. 591 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:50,280 He says don't be ignorant about how you 592 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:51,600 handle these things. 593 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:54,300 He reminds him that there was a time, 594 00:25:54,860 --> 00:25:57,280 he says, when you were unsaved. 595 00:25:57,700 --> 00:25:59,980 Back in your Gentile days, let your mind 596 00:25:59,980 --> 00:26:01,460 go back there and think about it. 597 00:26:01,460 --> 00:26:05,820 You were led about, you were controlled by 598 00:26:05,820 --> 00:26:06,600 these demons. 599 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:09,660 You were led about in these different ways 600 00:26:09,660 --> 00:26:13,720 and you were carried away repetitiously under these 601 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:14,380 dumb idols. 602 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,040 Your involvement was all directed toward them. 603 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:19,200 And I would take it that he is 604 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,240 telling them that that was the kind of 605 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:23,780 thing that they did then. 606 00:26:25,580 --> 00:26:27,340 Because you know the devil is good at 607 00:26:27,340 --> 00:26:27,820 imitation. 608 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:30,640 He's very adept at imitation. 609 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:33,460 He says there was a time when you 610 00:26:33,460 --> 00:26:35,040 were doing that kind of thing and you 611 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:36,940 were calling Jesus accursed. 612 00:26:37,780 --> 00:26:39,660 You were going along with the attitude of 613 00:26:39,660 --> 00:26:41,840 the world around us that had no time 614 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:43,140 and interest in the Lord Jesus. 615 00:26:43,980 --> 00:26:45,660 He said, but it's the spirit of God. 616 00:26:45,780 --> 00:26:48,900 If he is controlling and using your abilities 617 00:26:48,900 --> 00:26:51,520 that he has given you, you will call 618 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:52,540 Jesus Lord. 619 00:26:52,660 --> 00:26:54,380 You will acknowledge him as Lord. 620 00:26:55,180 --> 00:26:57,080 He will not only do so, I take 621 00:26:57,080 --> 00:26:59,140 it, with his words that he speaks, but 622 00:26:59,140 --> 00:27:00,800 he will express it in his life. 623 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:02,880 And even in the way that he uses 624 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:03,420 gift. 625 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,580 He says no man controlled or directed by 626 00:27:06,580 --> 00:27:10,560 the spirit of God can call Jesus accursed. 627 00:27:11,540 --> 00:27:15,840 But he says in chapter 12, he says 628 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,920 that no man can say that Jesus is 629 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:20,800 Lord, but by the Holy Spirit. 630 00:27:21,940 --> 00:27:23,560 I would take it that as he goes 631 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:27,800 down through these gifts, he's instructing them that 632 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:33,300 they might realize that it's the purpose of 633 00:27:33,300 --> 00:27:34,700 God giving that gift. 634 00:27:34,940 --> 00:27:36,900 And listen brother, you and I have a 635 00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:37,200 gift. 636 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:39,300 I wonder if you found out what it 637 00:27:39,300 --> 00:27:40,500 is and how to use it. 638 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,360 He says the purpose of God giving that 639 00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:45,620 gift is that it might enable you to 640 00:27:45,620 --> 00:27:48,460 function like the members of a body physically. 641 00:27:48,460 --> 00:27:52,940 That you might move harmoniously and in unity 642 00:27:52,940 --> 00:27:55,560 with others even though they do something that's 643 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:56,260 different than you. 644 00:27:57,180 --> 00:27:59,000 You know it's a wonderful thing to see 645 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,660 an assembly functioning under the control of the 646 00:28:01,660 --> 00:28:02,400 spirit of God. 647 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:06,660 Wonderful thing to see the harmony and the 648 00:28:06,660 --> 00:28:09,080 enjoyment of fellowship that is expressed. 649 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:12,600 That's really what is honoring the Lord Jesus. 650 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:15,340 That's what's a delight to the spirit of 651 00:28:15,340 --> 00:28:17,600 God to see that be worked out in 652 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:20,800 a practical way in a local assembly setting. 653 00:28:21,900 --> 00:28:24,360 He said don't be ignorant of these things. 654 00:28:25,420 --> 00:28:28,040 Don't be ignorant of the reality of spiritual 655 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:28,460 gift. 656 00:28:29,300 --> 00:28:32,300 Don't be ignorant of the manner in which 657 00:28:32,300 --> 00:28:33,380 it is to be used. 658 00:28:34,420 --> 00:28:36,660 And don't be ignorant of the purpose that 659 00:28:36,660 --> 00:28:37,700 God has for it. 660 00:28:38,340 --> 00:28:39,800 It would preserve us from carelessness. 661 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:44,080 Do we ever get careless in divine things? 662 00:28:45,940 --> 00:28:47,620 I'll let you answer that question. 663 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:50,740 Personally I think we do. 664 00:28:51,820 --> 00:28:53,160 We can get very careless. 665 00:28:53,540 --> 00:28:57,240 We lose the recognition of a need to 666 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:01,260 have carefulness in how we conduct ourselves in 667 00:29:01,260 --> 00:29:02,120 the house of God. 668 00:29:02,860 --> 00:29:05,660 How we function in the house of God. 669 00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:07,960 How we act toward other believers. 670 00:29:09,300 --> 00:29:11,800 He says I want to preserve your carelessness. 671 00:29:12,820 --> 00:29:14,240 But I quickly go on. 672 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:19,100 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 obviously is to preserve 673 00:29:19,100 --> 00:29:19,900 the root sorrow. 674 00:29:21,380 --> 00:29:23,100 Now our brother has already touched on that 675 00:29:23,100 --> 00:29:24,080 passage so well. 676 00:29:24,700 --> 00:29:26,040 Even though he didn't read it. 677 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:28,120 He was talking about it. 678 00:29:29,180 --> 00:29:31,020 You think of these believers and they had 679 00:29:31,020 --> 00:29:33,460 buried some of the members of their assembly. 680 00:29:33,700 --> 00:29:34,700 Some had gone on. 681 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,000 And they'd heard Paul preaching about the kingdom 682 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,980 and the responsibilities in the coming kingdom. 683 00:29:41,140 --> 00:29:42,880 And the glories of the kingdom when Christ 684 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:44,000 is going to come to reign. 685 00:29:44,420 --> 00:29:47,340 And establish his righteous rule upon the earth. 686 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:51,320 I take it personally that they had in 687 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:52,540 their own minds the question. 688 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:55,020 Well these believers that have died. 689 00:29:56,220 --> 00:29:57,400 What about them? 690 00:29:58,060 --> 00:29:59,760 What part will they have in that? 691 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:01,800 Have they lost all their hope? 692 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:06,520 They have no possibility of participating in the 693 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:09,200 glories of that millennial reign of Christ. 694 00:30:09,660 --> 00:30:11,740 That had joined his presence in that way. 695 00:30:12,580 --> 00:30:13,800 He says I don't want you to be 696 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:15,800 ignorant about those that have fallen asleep. 697 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:18,020 So that you sorrow not. 698 00:30:18,820 --> 00:30:20,660 Even as others who have no hope. 699 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:24,840 Those who were all around them in Thessalonica. 700 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,180 Had put away loved ones in the grave. 701 00:30:28,180 --> 00:30:30,700 Or perhaps in other ways they had disposed 702 00:30:30,700 --> 00:30:31,740 of the body. 703 00:30:32,700 --> 00:30:34,660 And so far as they were concerned they 704 00:30:34,660 --> 00:30:35,400 had no hope. 705 00:30:36,340 --> 00:30:38,660 Beyond that point they had no knowledge of 706 00:30:38,660 --> 00:30:39,060 anything. 707 00:30:39,980 --> 00:30:41,660 It was all a dark void. 708 00:30:42,940 --> 00:30:44,080 He says I don't want you to be 709 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:44,600 like that. 710 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:49,780 An intelligent believer can face the reality of 711 00:30:49,780 --> 00:30:50,200 death. 712 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:54,080 Or the aspect of a believer and a 713 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:55,180 loved one being put away. 714 00:30:55,180 --> 00:30:58,360 Or one that is in the assembly. 715 00:30:58,560 --> 00:30:59,760 Or one that we know about. 716 00:31:00,540 --> 00:31:02,240 And we recognize the fact that. 717 00:31:02,900 --> 00:31:04,520 That one has only been. 718 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:07,100 The body is put in the grave for 719 00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:09,060 temporary rest. 720 00:31:09,540 --> 00:31:10,920 Until the Lord comes. 721 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:14,280 He says I don't want you to worry 722 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:15,120 about these things. 723 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:17,320 Because first of all. 724 00:31:18,260 --> 00:31:20,000 When the Lord comes to the air. 725 00:31:20,100 --> 00:31:22,220 He says those that have died in Christ. 726 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:23,700 They'll rise first. 727 00:31:24,340 --> 00:31:25,780 They have priority. 728 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:27,540 Isn't that tremendous? 729 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:28,960 Wouldn't that encourage them? 730 00:31:29,500 --> 00:31:30,860 We're not going to go ahead of them. 731 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:31,520 He says no. 732 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:33,560 They will be the ones that will be 733 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:34,900 acted upon first. 734 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:37,500 They will be raised again first. 735 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:43,440 And wherever their bodies might be found today 736 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:44,620 in this wide world. 737 00:31:45,020 --> 00:31:46,240 Will be brought back. 738 00:31:47,140 --> 00:31:49,480 Because God has saved not only body. 739 00:31:49,780 --> 00:31:51,620 Not only spirit and soul. 740 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:53,060 But he's also saved the body. 741 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:55,400 He's going to gather it all together. 742 00:31:56,820 --> 00:31:58,900 And those that have died in Christ will 743 00:31:58,900 --> 00:31:59,880 be raised first. 744 00:32:01,820 --> 00:32:03,980 And then we which are alive and remain 745 00:32:03,980 --> 00:32:05,020 shall be caught up. 746 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:05,960 With them. 747 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:08,020 To meet the Lord in the air. 748 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:10,540 I think it was Mr. Paisley. 749 00:32:10,660 --> 00:32:12,080 So I'm on good ground if I quote 750 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:12,440 this. 751 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:14,960 I think it was Mr. Paisley that said 752 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:15,320 that. 753 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:17,720 The dead in Christ will be raised first. 754 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:23,000 So that the entire body of Christ together 755 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:24,920 will go up as one great. 756 00:32:27,990 --> 00:32:29,210 I want to say group. 757 00:32:29,330 --> 00:32:30,790 But that doesn't sound right to me. 758 00:32:31,150 --> 00:32:33,370 One great mass of believers. 759 00:32:35,430 --> 00:32:36,630 I'm not too sure. 760 00:32:36,750 --> 00:32:38,750 I agree with my brother that the passage 761 00:32:38,750 --> 00:32:40,530 of 1 Corinthians chapter 15. 762 00:32:40,650 --> 00:32:42,510 Has to do with the change that will 763 00:32:42,510 --> 00:32:43,250 take place. 764 00:32:44,170 --> 00:32:46,110 Not the rapture going up. 765 00:32:46,110 --> 00:32:48,570 I sometimes wonder if the body of Christ 766 00:32:48,570 --> 00:32:51,190 will go up in one great mass of 767 00:32:51,190 --> 00:32:51,570 believers. 768 00:32:52,910 --> 00:32:54,530 And the world will see them go. 769 00:32:56,170 --> 00:32:57,230 What a testimony. 770 00:32:58,170 --> 00:33:00,070 What a verification of the word of God. 771 00:33:00,230 --> 00:33:00,890 I may be wrong. 772 00:33:00,990 --> 00:33:01,430 That's alright. 773 00:33:01,550 --> 00:33:02,350 If I'm wrong, that's alright. 774 00:33:03,230 --> 00:33:04,150 You don't have to agree with me. 775 00:33:04,850 --> 00:33:06,270 But I like to think about that. 776 00:33:07,230 --> 00:33:08,730 What a marvel to see. 777 00:33:09,490 --> 00:33:12,070 All the believers in one great body. 778 00:33:12,270 --> 00:33:13,910 They've been divided over the world. 779 00:33:14,290 --> 00:33:15,270 Everywhere today. 780 00:33:15,270 --> 00:33:17,030 All together. 781 00:33:17,870 --> 00:33:19,050 To go to be with the Lord. 782 00:33:19,310 --> 00:33:20,350 Responding to the shout. 783 00:33:20,990 --> 00:33:22,010 The call of God. 784 00:33:22,830 --> 00:33:24,310 Caught up to meet the Lord in the 785 00:33:24,310 --> 00:33:24,590 air. 786 00:33:25,450 --> 00:33:26,970 And there to be forever with the Lord. 787 00:33:27,270 --> 00:33:28,770 What a wonderful day that's going to be. 788 00:33:32,570 --> 00:33:33,770 My brother has spoken. 789 00:33:34,750 --> 00:33:36,730 Has spoken about the marvel it will be 790 00:33:36,730 --> 00:33:37,810 to see His face. 791 00:33:38,730 --> 00:33:40,390 And look upon the Lord Jesus for the 792 00:33:40,390 --> 00:33:41,110 first time. 793 00:33:42,110 --> 00:33:43,070 Hear His voice. 794 00:33:44,270 --> 00:33:45,910 I sometimes wonder what it will be like. 795 00:33:46,630 --> 00:33:48,370 To be caught up with all the saints 796 00:33:48,370 --> 00:33:48,890 of God. 797 00:33:49,050 --> 00:33:51,950 From all this entire dispensation. 798 00:33:52,530 --> 00:33:54,090 To be forever with the Lord. 799 00:33:55,510 --> 00:33:57,290 I don't think you and I even have 800 00:33:57,290 --> 00:34:00,170 a capacity now to appreciate. 801 00:34:00,650 --> 00:34:01,350 What it will be like. 802 00:34:02,270 --> 00:34:04,190 It will be beyond our expectations. 803 00:34:05,370 --> 00:34:07,290 And it could take place at any moment. 804 00:34:08,170 --> 00:34:09,590 I trust we live with that in view. 805 00:34:10,290 --> 00:34:12,810 Because following we have this 2 Peter chapter 806 00:34:12,810 --> 00:34:13,210 3. 807 00:34:13,210 --> 00:34:15,730 He says there are those that the truth 808 00:34:15,730 --> 00:34:16,770 is hidden from them. 809 00:34:17,989 --> 00:34:20,510 And earlier he says it's deliberately hidden from 810 00:34:20,510 --> 00:34:20,650 them. 811 00:34:20,909 --> 00:34:22,010 They don't want to know it. 812 00:34:23,270 --> 00:34:25,190 He says when they speak about the coming 813 00:34:25,190 --> 00:34:25,670 of Christ. 814 00:34:25,810 --> 00:34:27,850 They say where is the promise of His 815 00:34:27,850 --> 00:34:28,210 coming? 816 00:34:29,070 --> 00:34:30,710 That's the world's attitude today. 817 00:34:30,929 --> 00:34:32,150 The world just goes on. 818 00:34:32,810 --> 00:34:34,190 We're doing our own thing. 819 00:34:34,330 --> 00:34:35,530 We're enjoying our lives. 820 00:34:35,610 --> 00:34:37,449 And we're trying to get things in order. 821 00:34:37,870 --> 00:34:39,670 We're trying to make society better. 822 00:34:39,670 --> 00:34:43,030 I read just the other day that divisions 823 00:34:43,030 --> 00:34:45,370 in this nation in which we live. 824 00:34:45,650 --> 00:34:46,909 Are deeper now. 825 00:34:47,830 --> 00:34:49,730 Or the same as when they were during 826 00:34:49,730 --> 00:34:50,650 the Vietnam War. 827 00:34:51,949 --> 00:34:52,570 Divided. 828 00:34:53,550 --> 00:34:56,710 And problems that prevail in our nation. 829 00:34:56,930 --> 00:35:00,210 That honest men realize are beyond their capability 830 00:35:00,210 --> 00:35:00,770 to handle. 831 00:35:02,750 --> 00:35:04,950 And righteousness does not reign. 832 00:35:05,890 --> 00:35:07,690 From the government to the individual. 833 00:35:09,310 --> 00:35:11,190 Unrighteousness is the character of our day. 834 00:35:12,430 --> 00:35:14,310 And they say where is the promise of 835 00:35:14,310 --> 00:35:14,770 His coming? 836 00:35:16,390 --> 00:35:18,170 In other words, everything can go on. 837 00:35:18,910 --> 00:35:20,350 God didn't create the world. 838 00:35:20,490 --> 00:35:21,450 He never intervened. 839 00:35:21,970 --> 00:35:23,990 There was a time when God stepped into 840 00:35:23,990 --> 00:35:25,390 the affairs of man. 841 00:35:26,030 --> 00:35:28,330 If He made the world, He's withdrawn Himself. 842 00:35:29,450 --> 00:35:30,210 That's deism. 843 00:35:31,050 --> 00:35:32,470 Contrary to the Word of God. 844 00:35:33,030 --> 00:35:34,790 Where He says they forget one thing. 845 00:35:34,790 --> 00:35:37,410 There was a time when God intervened. 846 00:35:38,150 --> 00:35:40,430 There was a time when God moved against 847 00:35:40,430 --> 00:35:42,430 a world of ungodliness and righteousness. 848 00:35:43,290 --> 00:35:45,830 And He brought the flood upon the entire 849 00:35:45,830 --> 00:35:47,410 world during the time of Noah. 850 00:35:47,590 --> 00:35:49,270 Preserving eight persons out of it. 851 00:35:49,630 --> 00:35:51,050 Peter has a lot to say about the 852 00:35:51,050 --> 00:35:51,370 flood. 853 00:35:51,770 --> 00:35:52,690 In his two epistles. 854 00:35:55,210 --> 00:35:56,830 So that's the world's attitude. 855 00:35:57,110 --> 00:35:57,610 Scoffing. 856 00:35:58,770 --> 00:36:00,570 Making fun of the coming of the Lord. 857 00:36:00,790 --> 00:36:01,790 That's not the rapture. 858 00:36:01,790 --> 00:36:03,310 That's His coming back to the earth. 859 00:36:04,730 --> 00:36:06,590 He says don't you be ignorant. 860 00:36:07,830 --> 00:36:09,150 He says the day of the Lord will 861 00:36:09,150 --> 00:36:09,550 come. 862 00:36:10,210 --> 00:36:12,890 It's just as certain as every other promise 863 00:36:12,890 --> 00:36:14,390 God has given in this book. 864 00:36:15,210 --> 00:36:16,830 And you and I can rest upon it. 865 00:36:17,990 --> 00:36:19,790 That following the coming of the Lord Jesus, 866 00:36:20,010 --> 00:36:21,030 He is coming again. 867 00:36:22,030 --> 00:36:24,270 He's coming back to establish His rule. 868 00:36:25,030 --> 00:36:25,550 Righteously. 869 00:36:26,630 --> 00:36:27,150 Universally. 870 00:36:28,030 --> 00:36:28,550 Peacefully. 871 00:36:28,990 --> 00:36:30,490 Over the entire world. 872 00:36:31,430 --> 00:36:32,710 He says in view of that. 873 00:36:32,790 --> 00:36:33,010 Listen. 874 00:36:33,170 --> 00:36:34,130 Here's the agitation. 875 00:36:35,490 --> 00:36:36,270 In view of that day. 876 00:36:36,390 --> 00:36:38,370 What manner of persons ought you and I 877 00:36:38,370 --> 00:36:38,790 to be. 878 00:36:40,010 --> 00:36:40,230 Listen. 879 00:36:40,350 --> 00:36:41,990 If we don't go away from this conference 880 00:36:41,990 --> 00:36:43,510 different from how we came. 881 00:36:44,270 --> 00:36:45,710 We have not gained a whole lot. 882 00:36:46,770 --> 00:36:47,330 Or He says. 883 00:36:47,870 --> 00:36:48,470 What manner. 884 00:36:48,630 --> 00:36:50,550 What kind of persons ought we to be 885 00:36:50,550 --> 00:36:53,810 in all godliness and holy conversation. 886 00:36:54,610 --> 00:36:57,190 And if we're really anticipating that day when 887 00:36:57,190 --> 00:36:58,530 righteousness will reign. 888 00:36:59,330 --> 00:36:59,930 And peaceful. 889 00:37:01,190 --> 00:37:02,930 Surround the earth and Christ. 890 00:37:03,410 --> 00:37:04,690 And His name will be known. 891 00:37:05,510 --> 00:37:06,070 Universally. 892 00:37:06,930 --> 00:37:08,650 What manner of persons ought we be. 893 00:37:09,250 --> 00:37:09,910 In our life. 894 00:37:10,010 --> 00:37:10,830 In our conversation. 895 00:37:11,990 --> 00:37:14,030 May God help us to be intelligent believers. 896 00:37:15,230 --> 00:37:16,830 Enlightened in the truth of the word of 897 00:37:16,830 --> 00:37:17,250 God. 898 00:37:18,090 --> 00:37:20,030 Receiving instruction from the book. 899 00:37:20,550 --> 00:37:22,430 As well as by the spirit of God 900 00:37:22,430 --> 00:37:24,090 opening it to us. 901 00:37:26,270 --> 00:37:28,290 Most of all may we become more and 902 00:37:28,290 --> 00:37:29,170 more intelligent. 903 00:37:29,870 --> 00:37:31,590 About the person of our Lord Jesus.