1 00:00:02,310 --> 00:00:06,110 Now, today our subject is the glorification of 2 00:00:06,110 --> 00:00:09,570 man, and we're going to talk this evening 3 00:00:09,570 --> 00:00:12,030 about the glorification of man. 4 00:00:12,510 --> 00:00:14,070 Sometimes we say physically. 5 00:00:14,270 --> 00:00:16,310 I realize that's an inadequate word. 6 00:00:16,410 --> 00:00:18,110 It may be better to say bodily. 7 00:00:18,930 --> 00:00:21,130 And perhaps most of us, when we think 8 00:00:21,130 --> 00:00:23,590 of the coming glory that God has in 9 00:00:23,590 --> 00:00:26,310 store for us, we think of it in 10 00:00:26,310 --> 00:00:28,230 terms of a changed body. 11 00:00:28,830 --> 00:00:31,850 For Paul at the end of Philippians chapter 12 00:00:31,850 --> 00:00:34,470 3, that we will be changed. 13 00:00:34,610 --> 00:00:38,470 He shall change our lowly bodies so that 14 00:00:38,470 --> 00:00:41,890 they will be fashioned like unto his body 15 00:00:41,890 --> 00:00:42,590 of glory. 16 00:00:43,330 --> 00:00:45,870 Well, we will talk about that this evening. 17 00:00:46,830 --> 00:00:48,930 This morning I would like to talk to 18 00:00:48,930 --> 00:00:52,150 you on another aspect of our coming glory, 19 00:00:52,210 --> 00:00:56,270 and that is the moral aspect, that God 20 00:00:56,270 --> 00:00:59,390 will glorify us in the moral sense. 21 00:01:00,370 --> 00:01:02,410 Let me read to you this morning just 22 00:01:02,410 --> 00:01:04,330 two portions from Romans. 23 00:01:04,330 --> 00:01:07,350 Now, many portions could be read, but I 24 00:01:07,350 --> 00:01:10,130 would like to read from Romans chapter 14, 25 00:01:11,250 --> 00:01:13,730 a verse that we referred to yesterday. 26 00:01:14,750 --> 00:01:18,530 Romans chapter 14, and verse 17. 27 00:01:21,670 --> 00:01:25,090 For the kingdom of God is not meat 28 00:01:25,090 --> 00:01:32,070 and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy 29 00:01:32,070 --> 00:01:33,750 in the holy spirit. 30 00:01:34,430 --> 00:01:35,710 May I read it once more? 31 00:01:36,330 --> 00:01:38,470 For the kingdom of God is not meat 32 00:01:38,470 --> 00:01:44,130 and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy 33 00:01:44,130 --> 00:01:47,010 in the holy spirit. 34 00:01:47,490 --> 00:01:50,110 Then turn back for that great portion in 35 00:01:50,110 --> 00:01:55,030 Romans chapter 8, beginning with verse 31. 36 00:01:59,970 --> 00:02:03,890 What shall we say, then, to these things? 37 00:02:04,410 --> 00:02:07,630 If God be for us, who can be 38 00:02:07,630 --> 00:02:08,550 against us? 39 00:02:09,169 --> 00:02:12,810 He that spared not his own son, but 40 00:02:12,810 --> 00:02:15,930 delivered him up for us all, how shall 41 00:02:15,930 --> 00:02:18,730 he not with him also freely give us 42 00:02:18,730 --> 00:02:19,430 all things? 43 00:02:20,570 --> 00:02:23,230 Who shall lay anything to the charge of 44 00:02:23,230 --> 00:02:24,070 God's elect? 45 00:02:24,930 --> 00:02:26,990 It is God that justifies. 46 00:02:28,030 --> 00:02:29,450 Who is he that condemns? 47 00:02:29,950 --> 00:02:33,790 It is Christ that died, yet rather that 48 00:02:33,790 --> 00:02:36,510 is risen again, who is even at the 49 00:02:36,510 --> 00:02:40,130 right hand of God, who also makes intercession 50 00:02:40,130 --> 00:02:40,990 for us. 51 00:02:42,010 --> 00:02:44,390 Who shall separate us from the love of 52 00:02:44,390 --> 00:02:44,830 Christ? 53 00:02:45,690 --> 00:02:49,950 Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, 54 00:02:50,510 --> 00:02:53,450 or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 55 00:02:54,530 --> 00:02:57,250 As it is written, For thy sake we 56 00:02:57,250 --> 00:02:58,870 are killed all the day long. 57 00:02:59,570 --> 00:03:01,990 We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 58 00:03:03,230 --> 00:03:05,830 Nay, in all these things we are more 59 00:03:05,830 --> 00:03:08,490 than conquerors through him that loved us. 60 00:03:09,270 --> 00:03:13,230 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor 61 00:03:13,230 --> 00:03:18,170 life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor power, nor 62 00:03:18,170 --> 00:03:21,930 things present, nor things to come, nor height, 63 00:03:22,470 --> 00:03:27,010 nor depth, nor any other creature shall be 64 00:03:27,010 --> 00:03:29,310 able to separate us from the love of 65 00:03:29,310 --> 00:03:33,130 God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 66 00:03:34,350 --> 00:03:37,070 We trust that God will bless this portion 67 00:03:37,070 --> 00:03:39,570 of his word in our hearts today. 68 00:03:40,790 --> 00:03:43,130 Now, when we think of the moral aspect 69 00:03:43,130 --> 00:03:46,890 of our glorification, the words that you have 70 00:03:46,890 --> 00:03:50,490 in Romans chapter 14, I think, are very 71 00:03:50,490 --> 00:03:51,170 appropriate. 72 00:03:51,310 --> 00:03:54,430 The kingdom of God is not meat and 73 00:03:54,430 --> 00:03:54,770 drink. 74 00:03:55,290 --> 00:04:00,830 Rather, it is righteousness, and peace, and joy 75 00:04:00,830 --> 00:04:02,590 in the Holy Spirit. 76 00:04:03,190 --> 00:04:06,390 This is what the kingdom of God is 77 00:04:06,390 --> 00:04:09,590 all about, and we have been born into 78 00:04:09,590 --> 00:04:11,030 the family of God. 79 00:04:11,030 --> 00:04:15,089 We belong to the Lord Jesus, and already 80 00:04:15,089 --> 00:04:20,529 today we know something of righteousness, something of 81 00:04:20,529 --> 00:04:22,850 peace, and something of joy. 82 00:04:23,810 --> 00:04:28,150 Now, the moral aspect of our glorification is 83 00:04:28,150 --> 00:04:31,810 that we will understand and appreciate and know 84 00:04:31,810 --> 00:04:38,230 righteousness in its fullness, peace in its fullness, 85 00:04:38,810 --> 00:04:41,030 and joy in its fullness. 86 00:04:41,410 --> 00:04:43,510 Now, let me take this with you this 87 00:04:43,510 --> 00:04:45,070 morning step by step. 88 00:04:45,170 --> 00:04:48,930 When it comes to righteousness, the scriptures unite 89 00:04:48,930 --> 00:04:52,310 in telling us that we look forward to 90 00:04:52,310 --> 00:04:55,690 a new heaven and a new earth in 91 00:04:55,690 --> 00:04:58,150 which dwells righteousness. 92 00:04:58,830 --> 00:05:02,510 So, our hope is that we anticipate even 93 00:05:02,510 --> 00:05:06,010 now new heavens and a new earth in 94 00:05:06,010 --> 00:05:09,370 which the atmosphere, unlike the atmosphere of our 95 00:05:09,370 --> 00:05:13,490 world today, will be righteousness, perfect righteousness. 96 00:05:14,410 --> 00:05:17,210 Again, Paul reminds us that God has not 97 00:05:17,210 --> 00:05:22,430 appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation 98 00:05:22,430 --> 00:05:24,850 by our Lord Jesus Christ. 99 00:05:24,970 --> 00:05:27,690 Now, I'm sure many preachers many times have 100 00:05:27,690 --> 00:05:31,250 reminded you that there is a future aspect 101 00:05:31,250 --> 00:05:32,650 to our salvation. 102 00:05:33,370 --> 00:05:37,190 You see, God has not appointed us to 103 00:05:37,190 --> 00:05:37,610 wrath. 104 00:05:37,750 --> 00:05:40,250 That points to the future, but rather to 105 00:05:40,250 --> 00:05:43,270 salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 106 00:05:44,310 --> 00:05:46,110 So, I would like you this morning to 107 00:05:46,110 --> 00:05:47,590 turn with me just for a moment to 108 00:05:47,590 --> 00:05:50,550 the fifth chapter of Romans, and you'll notice 109 00:05:50,550 --> 00:05:55,170 how our present blessings in a sense are 110 00:05:55,170 --> 00:05:58,210 linked to our future blessings. 111 00:05:58,390 --> 00:06:00,150 Now, Paul does this many times. 112 00:06:00,990 --> 00:06:03,410 I'm only choosing one portion this morning in 113 00:06:03,410 --> 00:06:06,910 Romans chapter 5, and we will read verse 114 00:06:06,910 --> 00:06:14,270 8, but God commended his love toward us 115 00:06:14,270 --> 00:06:18,510 in that while we were yet sinners, Christ 116 00:06:18,510 --> 00:06:19,530 died for us. 117 00:06:19,630 --> 00:06:23,190 Now, on that foundation, Paul goes on to 118 00:06:23,190 --> 00:06:28,130 this reasoning, much more than, being now justified 119 00:06:28,130 --> 00:06:32,890 by his blood, we shall be saved from 120 00:06:32,890 --> 00:06:34,650 wrath through him. 121 00:06:35,210 --> 00:06:39,390 Verse 10, For if when we were enemies, 122 00:06:39,570 --> 00:06:42,950 that was our present, our former situation here 123 00:06:42,950 --> 00:06:43,730 in this world. 124 00:06:44,230 --> 00:06:47,950 When we were enemies, we were reconciled to 125 00:06:47,950 --> 00:06:51,070 God by the death of his son, much 126 00:06:51,070 --> 00:06:54,870 more being reconciled right now. 127 00:06:55,210 --> 00:06:59,250 We shall be saved by his life. 128 00:07:00,190 --> 00:07:03,130 Now, on those two verses, we establish this 129 00:07:03,130 --> 00:07:05,770 morning that in the grace of God he 130 00:07:05,770 --> 00:07:08,170 has come to us, to each one of 131 00:07:08,170 --> 00:07:11,390 us, and he has given us a technical 132 00:07:11,390 --> 00:07:16,710 term, eternal juridical exoneration. 133 00:07:17,170 --> 00:07:20,130 It doesn't matter what you've done, doesn't matter 134 00:07:20,130 --> 00:07:21,230 who you were. 135 00:07:21,810 --> 00:07:25,590 When you committed yourself to Jesus Christ, he 136 00:07:25,590 --> 00:07:26,530 gave you... 137 00:07:26,530 --> 00:07:29,850 Now, the emphasis, Paul, in my reasoning this 138 00:07:29,850 --> 00:07:35,190 morning on the first word, eternal juridical exoneration. 139 00:07:35,730 --> 00:07:38,590 Not salvation for a moment, a week, a 140 00:07:38,590 --> 00:07:41,970 day, a year, a lifetime, but God has 141 00:07:41,970 --> 00:07:45,170 made us right with himself forever. 142 00:07:46,230 --> 00:07:49,330 Now, in verses 9 and 10, Paul takes 143 00:07:49,330 --> 00:07:50,750 this line of argument. 144 00:07:51,450 --> 00:07:55,730 He begins with the greater, and he moves 145 00:07:55,730 --> 00:07:56,970 to the lesser. 146 00:07:57,670 --> 00:08:00,630 Now, the greater, in verse 9, is that 147 00:08:00,630 --> 00:08:05,510 right now we have been justified by the 148 00:08:05,510 --> 00:08:08,350 blood of God's Son, our Lord and Savior 149 00:08:08,350 --> 00:08:09,450 Jesus Christ. 150 00:08:10,650 --> 00:08:14,070 You know, sometimes even as Christians we become 151 00:08:14,070 --> 00:08:20,010 so unconscious of how awful sin is that 152 00:08:20,010 --> 00:08:24,050 we forget the greatness of this truth, that 153 00:08:24,050 --> 00:08:25,950 God has come down to us on a 154 00:08:25,950 --> 00:08:30,330 righteous basis, and even though we were sinners. 155 00:08:30,410 --> 00:08:32,590 You read all about it in verses 6, 156 00:08:32,669 --> 00:08:34,929 7, and 8, what we were. 157 00:08:35,190 --> 00:08:38,090 God came to us in love, and he 158 00:08:38,090 --> 00:08:40,669 has made us right, and he's done that 159 00:08:40,669 --> 00:08:41,370 right now. 160 00:08:42,230 --> 00:08:44,210 Now, if God can take up a person 161 00:08:44,210 --> 00:08:47,910 like you, and a person like me, and 162 00:08:47,910 --> 00:08:53,330 justify us now in our present situation right 163 00:08:53,330 --> 00:08:56,950 here in the world, then from this great 164 00:08:56,950 --> 00:09:00,790 fact we move to a lesser fact, that 165 00:09:00,790 --> 00:09:04,770 in the future we shall be saved from 166 00:09:04,770 --> 00:09:05,870 wrath through him. 167 00:09:06,650 --> 00:09:08,530 Thus, we look out into the future. 168 00:09:08,930 --> 00:09:12,190 Many people have fears about coming wrath, about 169 00:09:12,190 --> 00:09:15,690 the coming judgment of God, but if God 170 00:09:15,690 --> 00:09:19,490 can justify you now, then there is no 171 00:09:19,490 --> 00:09:22,710 thought of coming judgment or wrath. 172 00:09:22,930 --> 00:09:24,570 Let me read the verse again. 173 00:09:25,110 --> 00:09:30,410 Much more, then, being now justified by his 174 00:09:30,410 --> 00:09:34,290 blood, we shall be saved from wrath through 175 00:09:34,290 --> 00:09:34,670 him. 176 00:09:35,050 --> 00:09:37,990 Now, the wrath of God, I always take 177 00:09:37,990 --> 00:09:43,590 it to mean God's holiness excited because of 178 00:09:43,590 --> 00:09:44,270 our sin. 179 00:09:44,390 --> 00:09:45,790 That is the wrath of God. 180 00:09:46,450 --> 00:09:49,330 That is why when the Israelites drew near 181 00:09:49,330 --> 00:09:52,290 to the presence of God, God gave the 182 00:09:52,290 --> 00:09:55,610 word they must not come any closer, and 183 00:09:55,610 --> 00:10:00,110 the boundary was set because the shortcomings, the 184 00:10:00,110 --> 00:10:03,690 sins of the people of Israel excited the 185 00:10:03,690 --> 00:10:06,870 holiness of God, and the result is wrath, 186 00:10:06,870 --> 00:10:07,850 judgment. 187 00:10:08,530 --> 00:10:11,670 But now the blood of Jesus Christ, God's 188 00:10:11,670 --> 00:10:14,910 Son, has cleansed us from all sin. 189 00:10:15,630 --> 00:10:18,370 We have been justified now. 190 00:10:18,970 --> 00:10:22,510 Thus, we look out into the future, unknown, 191 00:10:23,030 --> 00:10:27,010 and there is no uncertainty because, having been 192 00:10:27,010 --> 00:10:31,290 justified, we shall be saved from the wrath 193 00:10:31,290 --> 00:10:31,910 to come. 194 00:10:32,870 --> 00:10:36,550 Verse 10 takes a similar line of argument. 195 00:10:37,010 --> 00:10:41,130 Paul says, "'For if, when we were enemies, 196 00:10:41,550 --> 00:10:44,750 we were reconciled to God by the death 197 00:10:44,750 --> 00:10:48,290 of his Son,' that's the great fact that 198 00:10:48,290 --> 00:10:51,550 even though we were enemies, even though through 199 00:10:51,550 --> 00:10:55,550 the representatives of our humanity we stood around 200 00:10:55,550 --> 00:10:59,070 Calvary and we clenched our fists in the 201 00:10:59,070 --> 00:11:02,490 face of God, and we rejected his Son, 202 00:11:02,950 --> 00:11:05,470 and we said we will not have this 203 00:11:05,470 --> 00:11:08,650 man to reign over us, well, even when 204 00:11:08,650 --> 00:11:12,010 we were enemies, if now we have been 205 00:11:12,010 --> 00:11:15,430 reconciled to God by the death of his 206 00:11:15,430 --> 00:11:20,410 Son, well then, much more being reconciled, we 207 00:11:20,410 --> 00:11:23,530 shall be saved by his life. 208 00:11:23,730 --> 00:11:27,390 His life of intercession today is our guarantee 209 00:11:27,390 --> 00:11:30,750 that there will be no future wrath, no 210 00:11:30,750 --> 00:11:32,330 future judgment." 211 00:11:33,630 --> 00:11:36,130 Having said this, let me take you again 212 00:11:36,130 --> 00:11:39,750 then to Romans chapter 8, and follow this 213 00:11:39,750 --> 00:11:42,810 great theme that Paul has in the closing 214 00:11:42,810 --> 00:11:44,390 verses of the chapter. 215 00:11:44,950 --> 00:11:49,210 In verse 31, Paul writes, "'What shall we 216 00:11:49,210 --> 00:11:51,070 then say to these things? 217 00:11:51,570 --> 00:11:54,770 If God be for us, who can be 218 00:11:54,770 --> 00:11:58,530 against us?' That means God has come down, 219 00:11:59,130 --> 00:12:03,790 and he has made our cause his cause. 220 00:12:04,670 --> 00:12:08,150 God was moved by compassion and by love, 221 00:12:08,710 --> 00:12:11,850 and seeing us in our need, God made 222 00:12:11,850 --> 00:12:14,770 our cause his cause. 223 00:12:15,150 --> 00:12:18,410 So then, if God be for us, who 224 00:12:18,410 --> 00:12:19,930 can be against us? 225 00:12:20,350 --> 00:12:23,270 And, of course, the answer is obvious, no 226 00:12:23,270 --> 00:12:23,610 one. 227 00:12:24,250 --> 00:12:27,710 There is no obstacle, then, in the way 228 00:12:27,710 --> 00:12:31,750 to future blessing in the thought of righteousness." 229 00:12:31,750 --> 00:12:34,030 And you come on to verse 32, and 230 00:12:34,030 --> 00:12:35,790 this is a logical argument. 231 00:12:36,590 --> 00:12:40,310 "'He that spared not his own son, but 232 00:12:40,310 --> 00:12:44,170 delivered him up for us all, how shall 233 00:12:44,170 --> 00:12:46,770 he not with him also freely give us 234 00:12:46,770 --> 00:12:49,670 all things?' Notice again that the line of 235 00:12:49,670 --> 00:12:53,990 reasoning moves from the greater to the lesser. 236 00:12:54,570 --> 00:12:57,650 Now, God already has done the greater. 237 00:12:57,890 --> 00:12:58,830 What was the greater? 238 00:12:59,170 --> 00:13:01,050 He spared not his son. 239 00:13:01,490 --> 00:13:04,150 Now, if God did that, then you move 240 00:13:04,150 --> 00:13:05,230 down to the lesser. 241 00:13:05,410 --> 00:13:08,050 Well, then, surely he will give us all 242 00:13:08,050 --> 00:13:11,830 things with his son, and of this there 243 00:13:11,830 --> 00:13:12,690 is no doubt. 244 00:13:13,190 --> 00:13:16,610 Looking back and thinking what we were in 245 00:13:16,610 --> 00:13:21,190 our sin, verse 33 reminds us, "'Who shall 246 00:13:21,190 --> 00:13:24,170 lay anything to the charge of God's elect? 247 00:13:24,710 --> 00:13:28,610 It is God that justifies.' That is our 248 00:13:28,610 --> 00:13:34,690 eternal, juridical exoneration, and because God has done 249 00:13:34,690 --> 00:13:37,950 it, no one can come and lay any 250 00:13:37,950 --> 00:13:40,770 charge against his people." 251 00:13:40,770 --> 00:13:44,190 Now, in verse 34, and this is something 252 00:13:44,190 --> 00:13:48,210 we must always remember, even as Christians, none 253 00:13:48,210 --> 00:13:52,130 of us here this morning are justified because 254 00:13:52,130 --> 00:13:55,510 of what we are or what we have 255 00:13:55,510 --> 00:13:55,870 done. 256 00:13:56,670 --> 00:14:02,130 The foundation is always and exclusively the death 257 00:14:02,130 --> 00:14:04,630 and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 258 00:14:05,170 --> 00:14:07,830 So, verse 34 reads, "'Who is he that 259 00:14:07,830 --> 00:14:08,430 condemns? 260 00:14:09,170 --> 00:14:12,990 It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that 261 00:14:12,990 --> 00:14:16,190 is risen again, who is even at the 262 00:14:16,190 --> 00:14:20,310 right hand of God, who also maketh intercession 263 00:14:20,310 --> 00:14:23,430 for us.'" So, we have no boast in 264 00:14:23,430 --> 00:14:24,050 ourselves. 265 00:14:24,550 --> 00:14:28,290 We glory in Jesus Christ, and we have 266 00:14:28,290 --> 00:14:32,910 the sense of security and of certainty because 267 00:14:32,910 --> 00:14:37,690 he died, he rose again, and he lives 268 00:14:37,690 --> 00:14:40,650 today at the right hand of the majesty 269 00:14:40,650 --> 00:14:41,570 on high. 270 00:14:42,230 --> 00:14:47,510 Now, the guard, the guarantee of a future 271 00:14:47,510 --> 00:14:52,850 in which we will always enjoy eternal, juridical 272 00:14:52,850 --> 00:14:57,130 exoneration is the love of God expressed in 273 00:14:57,130 --> 00:14:58,050 the Lord Jesus. 274 00:14:58,270 --> 00:15:01,730 Verse 35, "'Who shall separate us from the 275 00:15:01,730 --> 00:15:02,650 love of Christ? 276 00:15:03,470 --> 00:15:07,950 Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, 277 00:15:08,370 --> 00:15:13,050 or nakedness, or peril, or sore?' Paul says, 278 00:15:13,110 --> 00:15:15,090 "'As it is written, for thy sake we 279 00:15:15,090 --> 00:15:17,190 are killed all the day long, we are 280 00:15:17,190 --> 00:15:19,410 accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 281 00:15:20,070 --> 00:15:22,430 Nay, in all these things we are more 282 00:15:22,430 --> 00:15:24,990 than conquerors through him that loved us. 283 00:15:25,650 --> 00:15:30,030 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor 284 00:15:30,030 --> 00:15:33,750 life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor 285 00:15:33,750 --> 00:15:37,590 things present, nor things to come, nor height, 286 00:15:37,730 --> 00:15:41,090 nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be 287 00:15:41,090 --> 00:15:44,850 able to separate us from the love of 288 00:15:44,850 --> 00:15:48,490 God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'" 289 00:15:49,430 --> 00:15:50,830 Let me put it like this. 290 00:15:51,050 --> 00:15:53,590 We go back in our communion services to 291 00:15:53,590 --> 00:15:54,030 Calvin. 292 00:15:54,990 --> 00:15:59,490 Now, beyond the greatest things that men could 293 00:15:59,490 --> 00:16:05,410 do, beyond the greatest expression of the evilness 294 00:16:05,410 --> 00:16:10,070 of human beings, beyond the greatest power of 295 00:16:10,070 --> 00:16:15,030 death or Satan, beyond it all, the ultimate 296 00:16:15,030 --> 00:16:19,930 reality is the love of God, and nothing 297 00:16:19,930 --> 00:16:23,390 can triumph over the love of God. 298 00:16:24,130 --> 00:16:27,250 That's because God has come to us in 299 00:16:27,250 --> 00:16:27,750 love. 300 00:16:28,350 --> 00:16:31,970 Our guard for the future is not our 301 00:16:31,970 --> 00:16:35,610 sound, it is not what we do, it 302 00:16:35,610 --> 00:16:37,030 is not what we say. 303 00:16:37,310 --> 00:16:38,990 It is the love of God. 304 00:16:39,670 --> 00:16:42,070 God has come to us in love. 305 00:16:42,890 --> 00:16:46,030 Nothing can go beyond the love of God, 306 00:16:46,690 --> 00:16:49,570 so we look into the future and there 307 00:16:49,570 --> 00:16:53,110 is nothing that can separate us from the 308 00:16:53,110 --> 00:16:55,770 love of God which has come to us 309 00:16:55,770 --> 00:16:58,350 in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 310 00:16:58,790 --> 00:17:02,170 So, the kingdom of God is righteousness. 311 00:17:02,830 --> 00:17:06,550 We have it now, and we shall have 312 00:17:06,550 --> 00:17:10,109 it forever in the person of God's Son, 313 00:17:10,510 --> 00:17:14,290 and no one now and no one then 314 00:17:14,290 --> 00:17:17,650 will ever come and lay any charge to 315 00:17:17,650 --> 00:17:19,210 those that belong to God. 316 00:17:20,390 --> 00:17:24,190 Now, when it comes to our glorification, the 317 00:17:24,190 --> 00:17:29,390 emphasis falls not on eternal juridical exoneration. 318 00:17:29,790 --> 00:17:30,850 It doesn't fall there. 319 00:17:31,610 --> 00:17:34,610 It falls, rather, on the fact of our 320 00:17:34,610 --> 00:17:41,450 complete moral faultlessness in that coming day. 321 00:17:41,850 --> 00:17:43,090 Let me repeat it to you. 322 00:17:43,130 --> 00:17:45,630 I hope you can remember, because you never 323 00:17:45,630 --> 00:17:47,650 believe it today as we look at each 324 00:17:47,650 --> 00:17:47,950 other. 325 00:17:48,750 --> 00:17:52,630 Usually, we see the spots and the blemishes 326 00:17:52,630 --> 00:17:55,730 and the shortcomings in our brethren and our 327 00:17:55,730 --> 00:17:56,110 sisters. 328 00:17:56,710 --> 00:17:59,890 In that coming day, when we stand beside 329 00:17:59,890 --> 00:18:04,390 the Lord Jesus, we will be surrounded in 330 00:18:04,390 --> 00:18:10,550 all that we are by complete moral faultlessness. 331 00:18:10,990 --> 00:18:12,130 There won't be a spot. 332 00:18:12,830 --> 00:18:14,190 There won't be a blemish. 333 00:18:14,690 --> 00:18:17,270 There won't even be the memory of those 334 00:18:17,270 --> 00:18:20,410 things that today cause so much sorrow in 335 00:18:20,410 --> 00:18:22,710 our fellowship with each other. 336 00:18:22,710 --> 00:18:27,410 Paul writes in Ephesians, according as he has 337 00:18:27,410 --> 00:18:32,070 chosen us in him before the foundation of 338 00:18:32,070 --> 00:18:38,190 the world, that we should be holy and 339 00:18:38,190 --> 00:18:41,890 without blame before him in love. 340 00:18:42,230 --> 00:18:47,410 Now, that term without blame is translated in 341 00:18:47,410 --> 00:18:49,630 a number of ways in the New Testament. 342 00:18:49,850 --> 00:18:53,730 Sometimes, without blemish, Ephesians 5. 343 00:18:54,390 --> 00:18:58,290 Sometimes, unblameable, Colossians 1. 344 00:18:59,070 --> 00:19:02,710 Sometimes, like in Jude and that great doxology, 345 00:19:03,390 --> 00:19:04,250 faultless. 346 00:19:05,030 --> 00:19:07,030 So, when we look to the future and 347 00:19:07,030 --> 00:19:09,450 the coming of the Lord Jesus and our 348 00:19:09,450 --> 00:19:13,250 glorification with him, we will stand with him 349 00:19:13,250 --> 00:19:20,030 without blame, without blemish, unblameable, and faultless. 350 00:19:20,370 --> 00:19:23,590 Now, the marvel of this is that this 351 00:19:23,590 --> 00:19:25,590 is the word that is used of the 352 00:19:25,590 --> 00:19:29,790 Lord Jesus when he came into our situation 353 00:19:29,790 --> 00:19:33,270 and, as the perfect man, did the great 354 00:19:33,270 --> 00:19:34,490 work at Calvary. 355 00:19:35,130 --> 00:19:38,990 So, you read in Hebrews that Christ offered 356 00:19:38,990 --> 00:19:42,950 himself without spot to God. 357 00:19:43,610 --> 00:19:46,170 When you look at the Lord Jesus, you 358 00:19:46,170 --> 00:19:47,770 can't find any blemish. 359 00:19:48,290 --> 00:19:50,450 You can't find any stain. 360 00:19:51,010 --> 00:19:52,290 There was no sin. 361 00:19:52,510 --> 00:19:53,750 There was no fault. 362 00:19:54,390 --> 00:19:58,970 Christ offered himself without spot to God. 363 00:19:59,530 --> 00:20:01,890 And, again, Peter writes that as a lamb 364 00:20:01,890 --> 00:20:06,950 without blemish, he offered himself in that great 365 00:20:06,950 --> 00:20:07,730 sacrifice. 366 00:20:08,250 --> 00:20:11,070 So, we look back this morning, and we 367 00:20:11,070 --> 00:20:13,350 can read through the Gospels, and we see 368 00:20:13,350 --> 00:20:17,090 a man, a perfect man, our Lord and 369 00:20:17,090 --> 00:20:18,630 Savior Jesus Christ. 370 00:20:19,070 --> 00:20:21,570 You can study him, the people did of 371 00:20:21,570 --> 00:20:22,450 that generation. 372 00:20:22,850 --> 00:20:25,370 You can observe him from every angle. 373 00:20:26,010 --> 00:20:27,750 When you do so, and it doesn't matter 374 00:20:27,750 --> 00:20:30,670 how critical you are, you will have to 375 00:20:30,670 --> 00:20:33,750 stand beside Pilate and say over and over 376 00:20:33,750 --> 00:20:37,310 again, I find no fault in this man. 377 00:20:38,030 --> 00:20:43,470 Now, the wonder of God's love and marvel 378 00:20:43,470 --> 00:20:45,790 to us is that in that coming day, 379 00:20:46,270 --> 00:20:48,730 we are going to stand with the Lord 380 00:20:48,730 --> 00:20:52,950 Jesus, and we will be without blemish. 381 00:20:53,330 --> 00:20:56,930 No one will see any spot or any 382 00:20:56,930 --> 00:20:57,650 blemish. 383 00:20:58,510 --> 00:21:01,090 Again, the word that is often used of 384 00:21:01,090 --> 00:21:03,850 the Christian in that sense is the word 385 00:21:03,850 --> 00:21:08,430 holy, for we will be presented before God 386 00:21:08,430 --> 00:21:14,190 in holiness to the degree that will completely 387 00:21:14,190 --> 00:21:17,410 satisfy the holiness of God. 388 00:21:17,870 --> 00:21:20,970 Now, dear Christian friend, this morning, unless I 389 00:21:20,970 --> 00:21:23,850 am very different than you are, I am 390 00:21:23,850 --> 00:21:28,130 often aware, acutely aware, of things that are 391 00:21:28,130 --> 00:21:32,390 not right in my life, of shortcomings, the 392 00:21:32,390 --> 00:21:35,070 longing to be more like the Lord Jesus. 393 00:21:35,590 --> 00:21:37,650 I remember once, as a young man years 394 00:21:37,650 --> 00:21:41,070 ago in Vancouver, I quoted the words of 395 00:21:41,070 --> 00:21:43,450 Paul in a little sermon I gave, and 396 00:21:43,450 --> 00:21:45,290 in the audience my father was there. 397 00:21:45,730 --> 00:21:47,830 The words of Paul that I used were 398 00:21:47,830 --> 00:21:50,650 those well-known words, I know that in 399 00:21:50,650 --> 00:21:53,530 me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no 400 00:21:53,530 --> 00:21:54,250 good thing. 401 00:21:55,550 --> 00:21:57,790 I said it, I guess, rather lightly. 402 00:21:58,370 --> 00:22:00,830 When I went home, my father took me 403 00:22:00,830 --> 00:22:01,770 into his study. 404 00:22:01,990 --> 00:22:04,330 He said, Jim, there are not very many 405 00:22:04,330 --> 00:22:08,550 people who can really say with great honesty 406 00:22:08,550 --> 00:22:12,590 and sincerity what Paul wrote in those words. 407 00:22:13,130 --> 00:22:15,710 Not many of us really believe it. 408 00:22:16,210 --> 00:22:17,830 You see, we're often offended. 409 00:22:18,470 --> 00:22:21,670 We know a great deal about pride, but 410 00:22:21,670 --> 00:22:24,870 Paul knew what he was without God, and 411 00:22:24,870 --> 00:22:27,610 Paul says, I know that in me, that 412 00:22:27,610 --> 00:22:31,610 is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. 413 00:22:32,810 --> 00:22:35,190 The more we come into a knowledge of 414 00:22:35,190 --> 00:22:38,570 God, the more we come into a knowledge 415 00:22:38,570 --> 00:22:39,510 of ourselves. 416 00:22:40,250 --> 00:22:41,490 May I turn that around? 417 00:22:42,270 --> 00:22:45,790 If we have great thoughts about ourselves of 418 00:22:45,790 --> 00:22:50,150 pride and selfishness and self-interest, it only 419 00:22:50,150 --> 00:22:52,890 goes to say how little we know of 420 00:22:52,890 --> 00:22:55,150 the glory and the holiness of God. 421 00:22:55,530 --> 00:22:59,010 The more you know about him, the more 422 00:22:59,010 --> 00:23:00,810 you know about yourself. 423 00:23:01,130 --> 00:23:03,310 So, then you come back, as I do 424 00:23:03,310 --> 00:23:07,370 day by day, and I thank God that 425 00:23:07,370 --> 00:23:09,750 in virtue of the blood of the Lord 426 00:23:09,750 --> 00:23:16,590 Jesus, I have been given eternal juridical exoneration. 427 00:23:16,930 --> 00:23:20,190 No one will ever point the finger because 428 00:23:20,190 --> 00:23:21,390 of what Christ did. 429 00:23:21,390 --> 00:23:25,490 But not only that, I anticipate the moment 430 00:23:25,490 --> 00:23:28,510 with great longing when I shall see the 431 00:23:28,510 --> 00:23:32,750 Lord Jesus, and will be transformed and surrounded 432 00:23:32,750 --> 00:23:36,850 with complete moral faultlessness. 433 00:23:37,470 --> 00:23:41,570 Then I will be truly Christ-like, and 434 00:23:41,570 --> 00:23:44,170 no one will point the finger, no one 435 00:23:44,170 --> 00:23:46,490 will see a spot, there will be no 436 00:23:46,490 --> 00:23:49,550 blemish, and thank God there will not even 437 00:23:49,550 --> 00:23:52,530 be the memory of all those things we 438 00:23:52,530 --> 00:23:55,810 have experienced in our lives and in our 439 00:23:55,810 --> 00:23:58,030 relationship with each other. 440 00:23:58,330 --> 00:24:02,170 So, the kingdom of God is righteousness, and 441 00:24:02,170 --> 00:24:06,210 part of our moral glorification is that we 442 00:24:06,210 --> 00:24:09,670 will have righteousness not only in the sense 443 00:24:09,670 --> 00:24:13,310 of exoneration, but also in the sense of 444 00:24:13,310 --> 00:24:15,010 moral faultlessness. 445 00:24:15,670 --> 00:24:17,670 Now, the kingdom of God is righteousness. 446 00:24:18,310 --> 00:24:19,890 It is also peace. 447 00:24:21,310 --> 00:24:24,450 We experience today something of peace. 448 00:24:24,570 --> 00:24:28,830 The Jewish people, with that famous word shalom, 449 00:24:29,270 --> 00:24:32,310 they used it in connection with the individual 450 00:24:32,310 --> 00:24:35,150 of a healthy, good life. 451 00:24:35,610 --> 00:24:37,930 So when they would say peace, as they 452 00:24:37,930 --> 00:24:41,190 did in their common salutation, they were wishing 453 00:24:41,190 --> 00:24:44,610 to a friend a healthy and good life. 454 00:24:45,130 --> 00:24:47,370 When they used it in the national sense, 455 00:24:47,750 --> 00:24:50,890 they were speaking of the desire, the longing 456 00:24:50,890 --> 00:24:54,930 for national prosperity and security. 457 00:24:55,310 --> 00:24:57,250 You read through the Old Testament, and of 458 00:24:57,250 --> 00:25:00,610 course peace blows through the whole book. 459 00:25:01,310 --> 00:25:04,410 And so you can understand that the Messianic 460 00:25:04,410 --> 00:25:09,290 longing of the people of Israel, individually and 461 00:25:09,290 --> 00:25:11,910 nationally, was for peace. 462 00:25:12,850 --> 00:25:16,390 Now, the Lord Jesus came, and he said, 463 00:25:16,590 --> 00:25:19,910 as you know, on that great occasion, My 464 00:25:19,910 --> 00:25:22,810 peace I leave with you. 465 00:25:23,150 --> 00:25:24,150 My peace. 466 00:25:24,590 --> 00:25:27,530 I give not as the world gives, but 467 00:25:27,530 --> 00:25:29,750 I give you my peace. 468 00:25:30,050 --> 00:25:31,770 That was the Messianic peace. 469 00:25:32,230 --> 00:25:36,750 That was the wholeness, the stability, the order, 470 00:25:37,170 --> 00:25:41,170 the prosperity of the people of Israel longed 471 00:25:41,170 --> 00:25:41,270 for. 472 00:25:41,770 --> 00:25:43,850 Now, we who have come into a knowledge 473 00:25:43,850 --> 00:25:47,330 of the Lord Jesus, we have in a 474 00:25:47,330 --> 00:25:49,170 measure that peace today. 475 00:25:49,610 --> 00:25:51,410 I would like to put it like this. 476 00:25:51,890 --> 00:25:54,350 You live, even here in Keystone Heights in 477 00:25:54,350 --> 00:25:56,630 Park of the Palm, in a little part 478 00:25:56,630 --> 00:26:00,390 of the world which is characterized by chaos 479 00:26:00,390 --> 00:26:01,690 and disorder. 480 00:26:02,410 --> 00:26:05,430 You came to God sometime in your life, 481 00:26:05,710 --> 00:26:07,670 and when you came to God through the 482 00:26:07,670 --> 00:26:09,970 Lord Jesus Christ, he gave you peace. 483 00:26:10,310 --> 00:26:13,610 That is, he gave you order, and the 484 00:26:13,610 --> 00:26:16,270 longing of God's heart today is that you, 485 00:26:16,450 --> 00:26:19,510 wherever you live and whatever you do, will 486 00:26:19,510 --> 00:26:23,830 manifest in your life something of the order, 487 00:26:24,070 --> 00:26:26,550 the stability that comes from God. 488 00:26:26,610 --> 00:26:28,810 That reminds you of Paul's words again. 489 00:26:29,250 --> 00:26:32,950 God is not the author of confusion, but 490 00:26:32,950 --> 00:26:33,570 of peace. 491 00:26:34,010 --> 00:26:36,770 For in contrast to all the confusion and 492 00:26:36,770 --> 00:26:39,670 chaos of the world is the peace of 493 00:26:39,670 --> 00:26:43,170 God, the order, the stability of God. 494 00:26:43,930 --> 00:26:46,950 Now, how do we understand peace today? 495 00:26:47,690 --> 00:26:49,870 Well, we have it in a measure, and 496 00:26:49,870 --> 00:26:55,310 one has defined peace negatively and positively, and 497 00:26:55,310 --> 00:26:57,170 I would like to share it with you. 498 00:26:58,050 --> 00:27:01,370 I do this this morning, acutely aware of 499 00:27:01,370 --> 00:27:04,610 how much in my own life right now 500 00:27:04,610 --> 00:27:06,610 I understand this. 501 00:27:07,810 --> 00:27:13,030 Negatively, peace is the absence of all that 502 00:27:13,030 --> 00:27:15,690 disturbs and distress. 503 00:27:16,830 --> 00:27:18,650 Now, you may not know it, but I'm 504 00:27:18,650 --> 00:27:22,550 deeply disturbed and distressed this weekend to have 505 00:27:22,550 --> 00:27:25,110 someone that is so close to you, and 506 00:27:25,110 --> 00:27:28,150 that you love so much, and for whom 507 00:27:28,150 --> 00:27:32,330 you feel so weak and unable to do 508 00:27:32,330 --> 00:27:35,190 anything to alleviate the situation. 509 00:27:35,990 --> 00:27:38,890 One is deeply disturbed and distressed. 510 00:27:39,390 --> 00:27:44,770 Now, peace in its fullness is the absence 511 00:27:44,770 --> 00:27:52,150 of all that disturbs and distress, but positively 512 00:27:52,150 --> 00:27:58,890 peace is the presence of everything necessary for 513 00:27:58,890 --> 00:28:03,170 the completeness and the wholeness of life. 514 00:28:03,950 --> 00:28:07,070 You see, peace is not just removing that 515 00:28:07,070 --> 00:28:11,490 which distresses and disturbs, but it's also the 516 00:28:11,490 --> 00:28:15,150 bringing into our lives all that is necessary 517 00:28:15,150 --> 00:28:18,430 for perfection and wholeness. 518 00:28:18,510 --> 00:28:23,490 Now, today, in a measure, we enjoy peace, 519 00:28:24,170 --> 00:28:27,570 but even because of our present situation in 520 00:28:27,570 --> 00:28:30,650 the world, there are things that distress and 521 00:28:30,650 --> 00:28:34,090 disturb, and there is the absence of that 522 00:28:34,090 --> 00:28:37,850 which we need to make life full and 523 00:28:37,850 --> 00:28:38,390 whole. 524 00:28:38,990 --> 00:28:42,150 Well, in that coming day of our glorification, 525 00:28:42,730 --> 00:28:46,490 we will have peace in its wholeness, in 526 00:28:46,490 --> 00:28:49,890 its completion, and there will be nothing to 527 00:28:49,890 --> 00:28:53,570 disturb and distress, and all will be present 528 00:28:53,570 --> 00:28:57,150 for a full and active life in the 529 00:28:57,150 --> 00:29:00,610 service of God, and in the worship of 530 00:29:00,610 --> 00:29:00,870 God. 531 00:29:02,170 --> 00:29:06,050 Then our moral glorification is peace. 532 00:29:06,530 --> 00:29:10,350 It is also righteousness, and it is joy. 533 00:29:10,890 --> 00:29:13,270 Now, I've got two girls, and we gave 534 00:29:13,270 --> 00:29:15,830 them special permission not to be here this 535 00:29:15,830 --> 00:29:16,090 morning. 536 00:29:16,190 --> 00:29:17,430 They're down in the swimming pool. 537 00:29:18,170 --> 00:29:20,270 You'll forgive them, but they have a very 538 00:29:20,270 --> 00:29:22,450 close friend, and they're with her just for 539 00:29:22,450 --> 00:29:24,410 a day or two, and they're taking advantage 540 00:29:24,410 --> 00:29:25,830 to be together. 541 00:29:26,430 --> 00:29:29,070 These two teenage daughters of mine, because they're 542 00:29:29,070 --> 00:29:30,810 not here this morning, I can tell you 543 00:29:30,810 --> 00:29:31,070 this. 544 00:29:31,470 --> 00:29:34,670 Sometimes in our home, the radio is on, 545 00:29:34,710 --> 00:29:37,810 or there may be a record, and if 546 00:29:37,810 --> 00:29:40,410 there is music with just a little life 547 00:29:40,410 --> 00:29:43,510 or beat, as they say, they are quite 548 00:29:43,510 --> 00:29:47,290 capable as two young teenagers to move in 549 00:29:47,290 --> 00:29:48,690 rhythm with the music. 550 00:29:49,530 --> 00:29:51,610 And then they'll turn, and they'll look at 551 00:29:51,610 --> 00:29:55,410 me, and they'll say, Dan, you sure are 552 00:29:55,410 --> 00:29:57,930 square and conservative. 553 00:29:58,370 --> 00:29:59,670 You never move. 554 00:30:00,070 --> 00:30:02,550 You sit there reading all the time, and 555 00:30:02,550 --> 00:30:05,570 there's never any movement in your life. 556 00:30:06,650 --> 00:30:08,570 Well, you know, when you come back to 557 00:30:08,570 --> 00:30:12,530 the Old Testament, you'll find that men who 558 00:30:12,530 --> 00:30:16,430 walked in fellowship with God were men who 559 00:30:16,430 --> 00:30:18,830 expressed joy in their lives. 560 00:30:19,010 --> 00:30:20,850 Now, you won't misunderstand me this morning. 561 00:30:21,370 --> 00:30:24,730 David comes with the people of Israel, and 562 00:30:24,730 --> 00:30:26,770 with the ark of the Lord, and he 563 00:30:26,770 --> 00:30:28,650 brings it up to the place where it 564 00:30:28,650 --> 00:30:31,770 ought to be, and David is leaping and 565 00:30:31,770 --> 00:30:32,330 jumping. 566 00:30:32,510 --> 00:30:34,690 He is dancing before the Lord. 567 00:30:35,210 --> 00:30:37,430 He is filled with the joy of the 568 00:30:37,430 --> 00:30:37,750 Lord. 569 00:30:38,490 --> 00:30:40,850 Now, I'm not suggesting to you folks this 570 00:30:40,850 --> 00:30:43,650 morning that we should jump and leap in 571 00:30:43,650 --> 00:30:47,730 that thing, but I am suggesting that there 572 00:30:47,730 --> 00:30:50,810 is a joy that ought to be in 573 00:30:50,810 --> 00:30:55,250 our lives that is far deeper and far 574 00:30:55,250 --> 00:30:58,450 richer than any movement in our bodies. 575 00:30:58,910 --> 00:31:01,610 And so, you read in that portion in 576 00:31:01,610 --> 00:31:04,350 Ephesians chapter 5, and I will read it 577 00:31:04,350 --> 00:31:04,890 to you. 578 00:31:05,070 --> 00:31:09,630 Verse 18, "'Be not drunk with wine, for 579 00:31:09,630 --> 00:31:12,630 in his excess, but be filled with the 580 00:31:12,630 --> 00:31:17,830 Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns 581 00:31:17,830 --> 00:31:22,530 and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in 582 00:31:22,530 --> 00:31:25,870 your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always 583 00:31:25,870 --> 00:31:29,090 for all things unto God and the Father 584 00:31:29,090 --> 00:31:32,370 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 585 00:31:32,490 --> 00:31:36,110 submitting yourselves one to another in the fear 586 00:31:36,110 --> 00:31:40,510 of God.' There must be joy if you 587 00:31:40,510 --> 00:31:42,630 walk in fellowship with God. 588 00:31:42,890 --> 00:31:45,090 I'm sure here at the Park of the 589 00:31:45,090 --> 00:31:48,950 Frogs you wouldn't have in this beautiful situation 590 00:31:48,950 --> 00:31:52,010 any like a friend of mine in Vancouver 591 00:31:52,010 --> 00:31:55,750 whom I have known as long as I 592 00:31:55,750 --> 00:31:58,030 can remember, though not a member of the 593 00:31:58,030 --> 00:31:58,390 family. 594 00:31:58,450 --> 00:32:01,690 We call him Uncle Bill, and every time 595 00:32:01,690 --> 00:32:05,090 we ask him how he is, he always 596 00:32:05,090 --> 00:32:09,330 speaks of his complaints and his problems, and 597 00:32:09,330 --> 00:32:13,470 he gives the attitude, the impression that he 598 00:32:13,470 --> 00:32:17,390 lives a life of despondency and of sorrow. 599 00:32:18,130 --> 00:32:21,070 Some people, perhaps, are naturally built like that, 600 00:32:21,350 --> 00:32:23,710 but when you walk in fellowship with God, 601 00:32:23,710 --> 00:32:24,990 there must be joy. 602 00:32:25,930 --> 00:32:27,730 Now, we experience joy. 603 00:32:27,950 --> 00:32:29,970 We experienced it in our singing this morning. 604 00:32:30,570 --> 00:32:32,870 We experienced it in our fellowship with each 605 00:32:32,870 --> 00:32:36,110 other, but dear Christian friend, I don't know 606 00:32:36,110 --> 00:32:39,910 what you consider the greatest pinnacle of your 607 00:32:39,910 --> 00:32:43,750 Christian joy so far in your Christian life, 608 00:32:43,810 --> 00:32:47,910 but whatever that pinnacle may be, I assure 609 00:32:47,910 --> 00:32:50,690 you this morning that on that day of 610 00:32:50,690 --> 00:32:55,590 our coming glorification, we will experience joy in 611 00:32:55,590 --> 00:32:59,910 a measure that really today is beyond our 612 00:32:59,910 --> 00:33:00,810 comprehension. 613 00:33:00,970 --> 00:33:03,290 That is part of our glorification. 614 00:33:04,050 --> 00:33:08,330 We will be fully morally righteous. 615 00:33:09,070 --> 00:33:11,810 We will be at peace with God and 616 00:33:11,810 --> 00:33:15,690 with each other, and we will experience the 617 00:33:15,690 --> 00:33:18,390 joy of God in a measure we have 618 00:33:18,390 --> 00:33:23,090 never yet been able to understand or experience. 619 00:33:23,330 --> 00:33:26,690 I think the Lord Jesus knew, of course, 620 00:33:26,730 --> 00:33:29,330 of that joy when you read in Hebrews 621 00:33:29,330 --> 00:33:31,810 that for the joy that was set before 622 00:33:31,810 --> 00:33:36,310 him, he endured the cross and despised the 623 00:33:36,310 --> 00:33:36,630 shame. 624 00:33:36,910 --> 00:33:39,450 The reason I quote the verse is that 625 00:33:39,450 --> 00:33:42,810 it gives you the sense that that joy 626 00:33:42,810 --> 00:33:48,210 which he knew and could anticipate was far, 627 00:33:48,450 --> 00:33:49,410 far greater. 628 00:33:50,190 --> 00:33:53,950 It, so to speak, overwhelmed all that he 629 00:33:53,950 --> 00:33:58,190 was about to experience in the horror of 630 00:33:58,190 --> 00:34:01,690 the crump and the shame that men heaped 631 00:34:01,690 --> 00:34:05,270 upon him, and so for that joy he 632 00:34:05,270 --> 00:34:08,489 endured the cross and he despised the shame. 633 00:34:08,489 --> 00:34:11,130 That gives us just a little insight into 634 00:34:11,130 --> 00:34:14,610 how great and wonderful it would be. 635 00:34:15,190 --> 00:34:19,630 So, we will be glorified morally in righteousness, 636 00:34:20,350 --> 00:34:22,690 in peace, and in joy. 637 00:34:23,110 --> 00:34:25,889 Now, as I close this morning, I would 638 00:34:25,889 --> 00:34:28,389 like to leave with you one other aspect 639 00:34:28,389 --> 00:34:32,750 of that moral glorification that awaits us, and 640 00:34:32,750 --> 00:34:35,250 I can think of no better word than 641 00:34:35,250 --> 00:34:36,650 the word freedom. 642 00:34:37,330 --> 00:34:40,150 I know it's a great word in the 643 00:34:40,150 --> 00:34:41,010 world today. 644 00:34:41,790 --> 00:34:45,370 It's a word that is greatly abused, but 645 00:34:45,370 --> 00:34:48,310 in the Bible it is a very important 646 00:34:48,310 --> 00:34:50,389 word, the word freedom. 647 00:34:51,130 --> 00:34:52,449 Let me put it like this. 648 00:34:53,130 --> 00:34:56,050 The Lord Jesus, when he was here, he 649 00:34:56,050 --> 00:35:01,510 said, Whosoever committed sin is the servant of 650 00:35:01,510 --> 00:35:01,890 sin. 651 00:35:02,570 --> 00:35:06,690 Then he added, If the Son therefore shall 652 00:35:06,690 --> 00:35:11,930 make you free, you shall be free indeed. 653 00:35:13,170 --> 00:35:16,410 Now, in our flag in the Dominican Republic, 654 00:35:16,550 --> 00:35:18,490 right in the center is the National Coat 655 00:35:18,490 --> 00:35:19,090 of Arms. 656 00:35:19,570 --> 00:35:22,190 In the very center of the National Coat 657 00:35:22,190 --> 00:35:26,870 of Arms is a white cross on which 658 00:35:26,870 --> 00:35:30,010 there is an open Bible, and the Bible 659 00:35:30,010 --> 00:35:34,790 is open in John's Gospel, chapter 8, and 660 00:35:34,790 --> 00:35:38,270 the verse that appears in that page is 661 00:35:38,270 --> 00:35:42,950 this, You shall know the truth, and the 662 00:35:42,950 --> 00:35:45,050 truth shall make you free. 663 00:35:45,850 --> 00:35:50,070 Now, it's ironic, but truth and freedom have 664 00:35:50,070 --> 00:35:53,710 been conspicuous by their absence in the history 665 00:35:53,710 --> 00:35:55,910 of the Dominican Republic, but there it is 666 00:35:55,910 --> 00:35:58,430 in the center of our flag and our 667 00:35:58,430 --> 00:36:00,070 National Coat of Arms. 668 00:36:00,190 --> 00:36:02,890 You shall know the truth, and the truth 669 00:36:02,890 --> 00:36:04,410 shall make you free. 670 00:36:04,810 --> 00:36:07,010 Now, that's not abstract truth. 671 00:36:07,630 --> 00:36:10,030 You read that in the context here of 672 00:36:10,030 --> 00:36:10,710 John 8. 673 00:36:11,050 --> 00:36:13,670 It is to know the Son, the Lord 674 00:36:13,670 --> 00:36:17,610 Jesus, and if you know him, then he 675 00:36:17,610 --> 00:36:22,350 will make you free indeed, and that freedom 676 00:36:22,350 --> 00:36:26,310 is freedom from the power and the authority 677 00:36:26,310 --> 00:36:26,990 of sin. 678 00:36:27,530 --> 00:36:30,450 For, the Bible says in that chapter, whosoever 679 00:36:30,450 --> 00:36:33,130 committed sin is a servant of sin. 680 00:36:33,530 --> 00:36:35,570 Now, when we came to the Lord Jesus, 681 00:36:36,030 --> 00:36:39,310 we were given in a measure that freedom 682 00:36:39,310 --> 00:36:43,690 from sin and the authority of sin, but 683 00:36:43,690 --> 00:36:46,010 I doubt if there's a person here this 684 00:36:46,010 --> 00:36:49,870 morning who has not sensed in their Christian 685 00:36:49,870 --> 00:36:55,450 life many times the compulsion to sin, and 686 00:36:55,450 --> 00:36:59,010 those who in all honesty recognize before God 687 00:36:59,010 --> 00:37:02,330 that as Christians they have sinned. 688 00:37:02,790 --> 00:37:06,090 Well, when we talk about our moral glorification, 689 00:37:06,830 --> 00:37:10,150 we will have freedom from sin. 690 00:37:10,710 --> 00:37:14,350 That is, freedom from the compulsion to sin. 691 00:37:14,990 --> 00:37:18,410 There will no longer be any compulsion in 692 00:37:18,410 --> 00:37:22,110 us to do that which is displeasing to 693 00:37:22,110 --> 00:37:26,010 God, but not only freedom from the compulsion 694 00:37:26,010 --> 00:37:29,430 to sin, but there will be freedom, how 695 00:37:29,430 --> 00:37:33,270 precious this is, from the deception of sin. 696 00:37:33,810 --> 00:37:36,690 You know, Philippians chapter 3, you have the 697 00:37:36,690 --> 00:37:37,650 story of Paul. 698 00:37:38,830 --> 00:37:41,370 Paul was a man who believed. 699 00:37:45,550 --> 00:37:48,050 He went outside of Damascus, his eyes were 700 00:37:48,050 --> 00:37:52,330 open, he realized he was the chiefest of 701 00:37:52,330 --> 00:37:52,770 sinners. 702 00:37:53,690 --> 00:37:57,070 Now, how can a man honestly believe he 703 00:37:57,070 --> 00:38:01,410 is righteous, only to have his eyes open 704 00:38:01,410 --> 00:38:03,590 to find that he is a great sinner? 705 00:38:03,790 --> 00:38:06,550 Well, the answer is simply, he has been 706 00:38:06,550 --> 00:38:08,190 deceived by sin. 707 00:38:08,970 --> 00:38:11,570 Paul goes on in that chapter to tell 708 00:38:11,570 --> 00:38:14,350 us that he believed he was blameless. 709 00:38:15,130 --> 00:38:18,530 Then his eyes were open, and he realized 710 00:38:18,530 --> 00:38:21,190 that his whole life was a series of 711 00:38:21,190 --> 00:38:22,790 faults before God. 712 00:38:23,330 --> 00:38:24,950 Now, how can that happen? 713 00:38:25,170 --> 00:38:28,870 Because a man was deceived by sin, and 714 00:38:28,870 --> 00:38:31,670 of course the greatest sorrow in Philippians chapter 715 00:38:31,670 --> 00:38:35,930 3 is that you have Paul persecuting the 716 00:38:35,930 --> 00:38:40,630 followers of Jesus Christ, and honestly believing he 717 00:38:40,630 --> 00:38:44,070 was doing a great service for God. 718 00:38:44,930 --> 00:38:48,170 Then his eyes were open to find out 719 00:38:48,170 --> 00:38:52,230 that it was a tragic disservice for God. 720 00:38:52,670 --> 00:38:53,930 Now, how can that happen? 721 00:38:54,390 --> 00:38:56,730 He was deceived by sin. 722 00:38:57,430 --> 00:39:00,970 Now, not only can the natural man be 723 00:39:00,970 --> 00:39:04,430 deceived by sin, but the Christian can be 724 00:39:04,430 --> 00:39:05,530 deceived by sin. 725 00:39:05,730 --> 00:39:07,570 Let me share with you some of my 726 00:39:07,570 --> 00:39:09,770 experiences without being specific. 727 00:39:10,290 --> 00:39:12,670 Many times in my life as a Christian, 728 00:39:12,970 --> 00:39:15,130 I have come to the word of God, 729 00:39:15,510 --> 00:39:17,970 and I've come to some verse, some portion, 730 00:39:17,970 --> 00:39:22,050 some truth, and I have seen it as 731 00:39:22,050 --> 00:39:24,830 I have never seen it or understood it 732 00:39:24,830 --> 00:39:29,710 before, and it has changed my thinking, and 733 00:39:29,710 --> 00:39:32,390 I have recognized that for a period of 734 00:39:32,390 --> 00:39:36,190 time I was under the deception of sin. 735 00:39:36,810 --> 00:39:41,610 I had erroneous thoughts about certain things, for 736 00:39:41,610 --> 00:39:44,410 sin is so subtle it can come in 737 00:39:44,410 --> 00:39:47,410 even to the Christian's life and deceive him, 738 00:39:47,850 --> 00:39:49,990 and that's why we come back to the 739 00:39:49,990 --> 00:39:53,250 word of God, because it has that continuing 740 00:39:53,250 --> 00:39:57,030 corrective influence in our lives. 741 00:39:57,790 --> 00:40:00,370 Well, in that coming day we will be 742 00:40:00,370 --> 00:40:05,070 freed forever from the deception of sin, and 743 00:40:05,070 --> 00:40:07,750 the last thought leads us now into our 744 00:40:07,750 --> 00:40:09,490 theme for this evening. 745 00:40:10,230 --> 00:40:15,190 We will have freedom from the consequences of 746 00:40:15,190 --> 00:40:15,610 sin. 747 00:40:16,630 --> 00:40:22,310 The wages of sin is death, and so 748 00:40:22,310 --> 00:40:26,270 our Christian friends, they slip away one by 749 00:40:26,270 --> 00:40:29,030 one, and I think I can be honest 750 00:40:29,030 --> 00:40:31,450 and open with you this morning. 751 00:40:31,650 --> 00:40:33,730 I've been away from Park of the Palms 752 00:40:33,730 --> 00:40:37,810 less than two years, and since coming back 753 00:40:37,810 --> 00:40:40,290 this weekend and in talking with the friends 754 00:40:40,290 --> 00:40:45,290 and noticing in the audience the absence of 755 00:40:45,290 --> 00:40:47,990 people we knew before, I have understood and 756 00:40:47,990 --> 00:40:49,930 been told that some who were here less 757 00:40:49,930 --> 00:40:52,990 than two years ago have now gone through 758 00:40:52,990 --> 00:40:54,750 the experience of death. 759 00:40:55,210 --> 00:40:57,790 They have left us, and their presence have 760 00:40:57,790 --> 00:40:58,090 gone. 761 00:40:58,610 --> 00:41:00,870 Thank God that in on that day of 762 00:41:00,870 --> 00:41:04,210 coming glory we will be free, not only 763 00:41:04,210 --> 00:41:07,350 from the compulsion to sin, not only from 764 00:41:07,350 --> 00:41:10,670 the deception of sin, but forever from the 765 00:41:10,670 --> 00:41:12,390 consequences of sin. 766 00:41:12,770 --> 00:41:16,030 No more separation caused by death, but that 767 00:41:16,030 --> 00:41:20,150 great united fellowship around the presence of our 768 00:41:20,150 --> 00:41:22,690 Lord Jesus Christ forever. 769 00:41:23,070 --> 00:41:24,250 So, I summarize. 770 00:41:24,950 --> 00:41:29,870 Our moral glorification means that we will have 771 00:41:29,870 --> 00:41:35,370 righteousness in its fullness, peace in its fullness, 772 00:41:35,930 --> 00:41:40,710 joy in its fullness, and freedom in its 773 00:41:40,710 --> 00:41:41,210 fullness. 774 00:41:41,410 --> 00:41:44,190 That will be a glorious day. 775 00:41:45,170 --> 00:41:49,490 Charles Spurgeon once said, As for me, I 776 00:41:49,490 --> 00:41:52,610 cannot say that I will speak of the 777 00:41:52,610 --> 00:41:56,630 glory, but I will try to stammer about 778 00:41:56,630 --> 00:41:59,570 it, for the best language to which a 779 00:41:59,570 --> 00:42:04,150 man can reach concerning glory must be a 780 00:42:04,150 --> 00:42:05,730 mere stammering. 781 00:42:06,550 --> 00:42:09,590 So, speaking to you this morning of our 782 00:42:09,590 --> 00:42:14,290 moral glorification, I have only stammered. 783 00:42:14,390 --> 00:42:18,530 For Paul says, He saw things for which 784 00:42:18,530 --> 00:42:22,030 there is no adequate language on earth to 785 00:42:22,030 --> 00:42:22,670 describe. 786 00:42:23,470 --> 00:42:26,430 All we know is that we shall be 787 00:42:26,430 --> 00:42:30,830 like him, for we shall see him as 788 00:42:30,830 --> 00:42:31,370 he is. 789 00:42:31,430 --> 00:42:34,210 Not just in the bodily sense, but in 790 00:42:34,210 --> 00:42:35,330 the moral sense. 791 00:42:36,070 --> 00:42:38,670 And I think the psalmist, and you read 792 00:42:38,670 --> 00:42:41,790 in some of the psalms those truths that 793 00:42:41,790 --> 00:42:45,290 are really New Testament truths, but they appear 794 00:42:45,290 --> 00:42:48,250 in the Old Testament, and especially in the 795 00:42:48,250 --> 00:42:48,750 psalms. 796 00:42:49,330 --> 00:42:52,830 The psalmist wrote, As for me, I will 797 00:42:52,830 --> 00:42:55,410 behold thy face in righteousness. 798 00:42:56,270 --> 00:43:01,570 I shall be satisfied when I awake with 799 00:43:01,570 --> 00:43:03,030 thy likeness. 800 00:43:03,450 --> 00:43:05,950 Now, I never take that to mean exclusively 801 00:43:06,690 --> 00:43:10,990 any bodily likeness of the Lord Jesus, though 802 00:43:10,990 --> 00:43:13,130 that, no doubt, is inferred. 803 00:43:13,490 --> 00:43:15,850 But I take it in the moral sense. 804 00:43:16,650 --> 00:43:20,910 The mature Christian, the spiritual Christian, knows what 805 00:43:20,910 --> 00:43:22,350 the psalmist means. 806 00:43:23,150 --> 00:43:28,110 I shall be satisfied when I awake in 807 00:43:28,110 --> 00:43:30,070 his likeness. 808 00:43:30,870 --> 00:43:33,890 Let us sing just two verses as we 809 00:43:33,890 --> 00:43:37,370 close this morning the beautiful hymn, hymn number 810 00:43:37,370 --> 00:43:39,790 413. 811 00:43:39,930 --> 00:43:43,310 A little while our Lord shall come and 812 00:43:43,310 --> 00:43:45,530 we shall wander here no more. 813 00:43:46,190 --> 00:43:49,230 He'll take us to our Father's home where 814 00:43:49,230 --> 00:43:52,510 he for us has gone before, to dwell 815 00:43:52,510 --> 00:43:56,630 with him, to see his face, and sing 816 00:43:56,630 --> 00:43:59,010 the glory of his grace. 817 00:43:59,370 --> 00:44:02,870 Let's remain seated, and I suggest we sing 818 00:44:02,870 --> 00:44:06,850 the first and the last verses of hymn 819 00:44:06,850 --> 00:44:09,310 number 413. 820 00:44:09,630 --> 00:44:10,890 We shall remain seated. 821 00:46:08,440 --> 00:46:12,040 Longings of our hearts today, and we thank 822 00:46:12,040 --> 00:46:15,200 you for that blessed hope that we shall 823 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:19,180 see the Lord face to face, and on 824 00:46:19,180 --> 00:46:23,380 that glorious moment we shall then be like 825 00:46:23,380 --> 00:46:24,320 him forever. 826 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:27,560 In the meantime, we pray that you will 827 00:46:27,560 --> 00:46:31,380 give us the grace to grow in the 828 00:46:31,380 --> 00:46:34,600 grace and in the knowledge of our Lord 829 00:46:34,600 --> 00:46:36,600 and Savior Jesus Christ. 830 00:46:37,380 --> 00:46:40,760 As we wait for that great moment, Lord, 831 00:46:40,860 --> 00:46:44,100 do give us the interest, the inner courage, 832 00:46:44,620 --> 00:46:47,540 and the grace to become more like him 833 00:46:47,540 --> 00:46:50,800 day by day while we wait for his 834 00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:51,220 coming. 835 00:46:52,020 --> 00:46:54,440 And now we pray for a good day. 836 00:46:55,040 --> 00:46:57,440 We pray that you will bless our fellowship 837 00:46:57,440 --> 00:47:01,800 together and bring us back this evening for 838 00:47:01,800 --> 00:47:04,320 another message from your word, and we give 839 00:47:04,320 --> 00:47:07,360 you our thanks now in his worthy and 840 00:47:07,360 --> 00:47:08,440 precious name. 841 00:47:09,140 --> 00:47:09,440 Amen.