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🎵Piano music plays🎵 🎵Piano music continues🎵 🎵Piano music continues🎵 🎵Piano music continues🎵 🎵Piano music continues🎵 🎵Piano music continues🎵 🎵Piano music plays🎵 🎵Piano music continues🎵 🎵Piano music continues🎵 🎵Piano music continues🎵 Alrighty, good evening everyone. Good to see you all in the house of God. Can I get you to grab your hymnals and turn to hymn number 162? Hymn number 162, To God Be the Glory. Hymn number 162. And when you found it, can I get you to stand please? Hymn number 162. 🎵Piano music plays🎵 🎵To God be the glory, great things he hath done, so loved in the world that he gave us his Son. He lived his life without turning for sin, and opened the right gate that all may believe. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice. Show down to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. For perfect redemption the purchase of love to every believer. The promise of God, the virus defamed him, who truly believes. And stolen from Jesus, a thousand receives. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice. Show down to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. Great things he hath bought us, great things he hath done, and great are rejoicing through Jesus the Son. A fewer and higher and greater will be our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice. Show down to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. Our brother Jason, do you mind opening in a word of prayer? We love you tonight Lord and we thank you that we can all meet together in your household. We pray you just be with us and if you're pleased and if you're with Pastor Kevin and you're filling with the Holy Spirit, Lord, and we thank you just for your grace and your blessing and your salvation, in Jesus' name, Amen. Amen. Can I get you to turn now to hymn number 19? Hymn number 19, There is a Fountain. Hymn number 19. There is a fountain filled with blood, torn from Amanda's veins. It's in his blood, it's beneath the flood, whose all the guilty stains. Whose all the guilty stains, whose all the guilty stains. It's in his blood, beneath the flood, whose all the guilty stains. The kind he rejoiced to see that fountain in his day. With day may I the violet see, wash all my sins away. Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away. With day may I the violet see, wash all my sins away. His dying claim, thy precious blood, shall never lose its power. Through all the ransom, church of God, be saved to sin no more. Be saved to sin no more, be saved to sin no more. Through all the ransom, church of God, be saved to sin no more. This is my faith, I saw the stream, my flowing moon so far. Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die. And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die. Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die. And in a noblest sweet song, I'll sing thy power to sing. With this voice mixed every time, thy silence in the grave. Thy silence in the grave, thy silence in the grave. With this voice mixed every time, thy silence in the grave. Okay, for our final hymn before the Bible reading, can I get you to turn to hymn number 145? Number 145, It Is Well With My Soul. Number 145. When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea fill us wrong, Whatever my love thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should die, and though trials should come, Let this bless the soul, and control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed his own blood for my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. My sin over this, of his glorious store, My sin not in part, but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord of my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. Praise the day when my faith shall be signed, The clouds be rolled back as the scroll, The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall be saved. It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. John chapter 8 Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives, And early in the morning he came again into the temple, And all the people came unto him, and he sat down and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, And when they had set her in the midst, they said unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery in the very act. Now Moses and the Lord commanded us that such should be stoned, but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stripped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stripped down and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, Went out one by one, beginning at their elders, even unto the last, And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou barest record of thyself, thy record was not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bare record of myself, yet my record is true. For I know what I came, and whither I go, but ye cannot tell what I come, and whither I go. Ye judge unto the flesh, I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bare witness to myself, and the Father that has sent me bareth witness for me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me nor my Father. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple, and no man laid hands on him, for his eye was not yet come. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and ye shall die in your sins. Whither I go ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will it kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are born from beneath, I am from above. Ye are of this world, I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins, for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus said unto them, Even they are saying that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you, but he that sent me is true, and I speak to the world of those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that they speak to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as my Father had taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me, the Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those things that please him. As he spoke these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue my word, then ye are my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and we were never in bondage to any man. How sayest thou, ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whose will thou commit sin is a servant of sin, and the servant abideth not in the house forever, but the Son abideth forever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed, but ye seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my father, and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, I may that have told you the truth, which I have heard of God. This did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then they said to him, We be not born of fornication. We have one father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your father, ye would love me, for I proceedeth forth and came from God. Me neither came out of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech, even because ye cannot hear my word? Ye are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do. He was the murderer from the beginning, and born not of the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you conviceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words. Ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answereth the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast the devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil, but I honour my father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek nor mine own glory, there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then saith the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast the devil. Abraham is dead, and thy prophets, as thou sayest, if a man keep my saying, ye shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? And the prophets are dead, who makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing. It is my father honoureth me, of whom ye say, that he is your God. Yet ye have not known him, but I know him. And if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you. But I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. Then saith the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast I seen Abraham? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they upstones to cast him. But Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of the temple, until he passed by. Let's pray. Dear Lord, thank you that we could all come here tonight. And I pray that everyone learn something from this sermon, that my dad is filled with the Holy Ghost. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Amen. Okay, thank you Matthias. Thank you Caleb for the song leading as well. And thank you for the cleaners as well. There's a lot of people that get involved in church and ministry and even things that are behind the scene. I appreciate each one of you that serve in the house of God. But this is the big chapter, so let's just get straight into it there. John chapter 8, let's start there, verse number 56. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad. The total for the sermon tonight is, Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus. Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus. We'll get to that in a moment. But let's start there in verse number 1. It's a big chapter, so I'm going to speed through it. We look at the story of the woman caught in adultery. This story alone can essentially be an entire sermon. Okay, so there's a lot to get through. Apologies if it sounds like I'm rushing. But verse number 1, it says, Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him, and he sat down and taught them. So just bringing you back up to speed, remember Jesus Christ has gone down into Jerusalem because of the Feast of the Tabernacles, and that feast is over. But instead of going back to Galilee at this point in time, he goes to the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is just on the eastern side of Jerusalem. He stays there the night, he sleeps there. And then in the morning he comes back into Jerusalem and starts to teach in the temple. Now, we're still about six months, you may recall, on the sermon on Sunday night, or Sunday afternoon I should say. It's about six months until the time when Christ would be crucified, but on that final week known as the Passion Week of Christ, this becomes his practice. He goes early in the morning into the temple, he teaches, and then he retires at the night. He goes to the Mount of Olives and stays there the night. This is what he does the final week before his crucifixion, and so he's kind of setting a pattern here. This is what he does later on toward the end of his ministry. Verse number three. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, and when they had set her in the midst, they said unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery in the very act. Now Moses in the Lord commanded us that such should be stoned, but what sayest thou? So these guys, these scribes and Pharisees, obviously they're not believers of Christ. Obviously they're doing a bad thing here. They find a woman in adultery, and yes, she has committed adultery, but in order to commit adultery, there must be someone you're committing adultery with. They just bring the woman. Where's the man? Where's the guy? Anyway, they bring the woman to Jesus Christ, say look, Moses said to stone her. And you know what, sometimes churches like ours, believers like us, that actually believe the Bible, actually believe the commandments of God, right, actually believe in the death penalty that the government should put certain people to death, you know, we kind of get mocked, and sometimes that gets thrown in our face. This doctrine of the death penalty is essentially being thrown in Jesus' face. Well Moses said to stone her, what do you say, Jesus? I mean, why would Jesus say anything different? I mean, Jesus Christ is the Lord God. Okay, God gave Moses these commandments. These are the commandments of Christ. Why would Jesus say anything different to what Moses said in the law? Why would we say anything different? Does an adultery deserve to be put to death? Even today? Correct? Yes. Why not? That's what the Bible says. Okay, and what Christ is doing here, he's teaching us a principle. You need to understand that Israel are under the power of a foreign, they're under a foreign power. They're under the Roman Empire. They cannot put into practice the things that God has commanded of them in their law, in their nation, because Roman Empire has taken over them. That they've lost their power in the same sense, okay. If the Jews, and I'll prove this later, if the Jews put someone to death, okay, they would get in trouble. It would be against the law of the Roman Empire. And so they're actually doing this to Jesus. They're trying to put him in a hard place. Is Jesus Christ going to acknowledge the laws of Moses? Or is he going to cave in and give in to the law of the Romans? Okay, so what's Jesus Christ going to do in this situation? Now, I like this example, because we too, we live in a nation, we live in Australia, where Australia does not have a covenant with God like the Old Testament nation of Israel had a covenant with God. We live in a power, in a system, a government system, that does not honour the law of God. They do not honour the law of Moses, okay. They do not view adultery as a criminal offence. Yes, our nation would see adultery as something wrong, as something that is not moral, but they would not look at it as a criminal offence, and our nation definitely does not look at it as a criminal offence worthy of death, okay. So what do we do in that situation? If someone goes to you and says, hey, the laws of God has all these death penalties for all these crimes, what are you going to do about it? What do you have to say about that? Unfortunately, there are many pastors that can't answer the way Christ answers. They'll be afraid of what God's word says. They'll try to make excuses for God's word. Oh, that's how God felt in the Old Testament, but he's changed his mind in the New Testament. Don't make any kind of excuse. God's changed his mind about that, okay. But no, you know, there is a way, and this is the example that Christ gives us, there is a way to honour the laws of God as well as be subject under a power that is not honouring the laws of God. So Christ is sending us the example here. And as we keep going there, I'll just quickly read to you from Leviticus 20.10, because this is indeed in the Law of Moses. It says, and the man in Leviticus 20.10, and the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer, and the adulteress, both of them, shall surely be put to death. Now there's another passage straight after that, verse 11, which says, and the man that life with his father's wife have uncovered his father's nakedness, both of them shall surely be put to death, their blood shall be upon them. I want to read that one to you as well, because it's saying that if a man takes his father's wife, of course, speaking about a step-mother or something like that, a second wife that the man might have, if that took place, that person should also be put to death. Now I want you to just keep that in mind, because that is worthy of the death penalty, and it's within the same context of this commandment, that adulterers are to be put to death. Now, in John chapter 8, verse number 6, it says this, This they said, tempting him. They were putting him to the test. They were trying to make him fall. They're not just looking for an honest answer. Look, tempting him that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. Okay, so how can they accuse him? Well, if he says, yes, uphold the law of Moses, let's stone her, they can accuse him to the Romans, and say, look, this man is breaking Roman law. What are you going to do about him? Or, if he says, no, according to Roman law, we can't stone her, oh, this man does not uphold the law of Moses, let's accuse him because of that. This so-called prophet, he can't even keep true to the scriptures, they try to put him in a tough place. And it is tough, I think it is a tough place to be at. But Jesus stooped down with his finger, wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. Now, if you can keep your finger there, come with me to John chapter 18, come with me to John chapter 18, and verse number 31, I just want to prove to you that the Jews were not allowed to just put any random person to death, okay? They had to get permission by the Roman Empire, alright? John 18, verse number 31, this is when the Jews are trying to kill Jesus Christ. In John 18, 31, it says, Then said Pilate unto them, take ye him, that's take Jesus, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, it is not lawful for us to put any man to death. Now, they're not saying that it is against the law of Moses to put anyone to death, because we know, of course, in the law of Moses, there is a death penalty. What they're saying is, when they say it's not lawful, they say it's not lawful, it's against Roman law for us to be able to put someone to death. In other words, the reason they brought him to Pilate is because they needed Christ crucified, and the only one that had the authority to do that was the Roman Empire, alright? So I just want to prove that point to you there. So Jesus Christ was put into this tough place, do we start making excuses now? Will God change his mind? You know, that was just the Old Testament, that's how God felt about the Old Testament. You know, I'll just quickly read to you these very beautiful words in Psalm 19, verse 7. The law of the Lord is perfect. Perfect. Converting the soul. Reverend, the law of God is perfect. It converts the soul. It's got power to make you reassess, you know, a sin and understand righteousness and understand what is wicked. You know, when you're confronted with the law of God, you realise you're a sinner and that you need a saviour. The law of God is perfect. Is God going to say, ah, that's the Old Testament? No, the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. You want something that is sure, something that is unmovable, something that never changes? The testimony of the Lord. Verse number 8 says, the statutes of the Lord are right. Look, death penalty for adultery is right. Rejoice in the heart. Rejoice in the heart. Rejoice in the heart. Boy, when we see the laws of God being carried out and the correct punishment for God's laws being carried out, it should cause us to rejoice. Woo, yes! You know, justice has been served according to God's ways. And then it says the commandment of the Lord is pure and lightening the eyes. Reverend, the words of God, the laws of God, perfect, sure, right, pure. And there are pastors today making excuses, oh, yeah, that's God's calm down now. Or read the book of Revelation and tell me God's calmed down. That's still coming. God's judgment on this wicked world is still coming. So, you know, as a church, we don't make excuses, you know, for God's laws. Okay, we're going to teach it right. You know, and we see this example of Christ. Now, Christ is not looking for trouble. I mean, Christ is trying to preach the gospel. He's trying to get people saved, all right. Trouble finds Him, all right. You know, I'll just give you an example. You guys know that I'm doing a job now and I was working at someone's house and they know I'm a preacher and, you know, sometimes it's hard to realise, you know, where do I mix my faith and my position as a pastor with the job that I also have on the side. And, you know, I was getting my job, doing the job done and I try to be pleasant, try to have a good report, whatever I'm doing, you know, whoever I interact with. I'm trying to just have a good report amongst the other people. Anyway, the person brings up the topic of, you know, church and, you know, the Bible's a bit tough in these areas against these sins. You know, I say live and let live. You know, everyone's just free to decide how they want to live their lives and the Bible's just open to interpretation, however you want it to be, you know. And they brought up the LGBT and, you know, these people, you know, they can't change and I said, yep, they can't change, that's for sure. You know, I just wanted to get my job done and I'm like, how much do I get into this? Because I'm not here representing New Life Baptist Church, I'm representing my employer, you know. And then anyway, we got talking, I said look, and we get along, you know, if she's listening right now, you know, we get along. But I'm like, look, you might like me as your cleaner but you won't like me as your pastor. You won't like me as a preacher, okay. Because as good of a job that I'm trying to do to clean your house is as good of a job that I'm trying to do to preach God's word, even if it offends people. You know, even if it's not compatible with society. You know, it's my job to make sure I do the best that I can do and it's my job to make sure I do the best job I possibly can with God's word, even if it offends. And you know, am I out there trying to find trouble? Am I trying to get out there and just cause controversy? No. But sometimes controversy and trouble follows you, doesn't it? Just for standing for God's word. Just for saying God's law is perfect. You know, even where society might disagree. I mean society, I mean just adultery, death or adultery, yeah. That's right. That's what God says. So what are you gonna do, Pastor Kevin? You gonna take vigilante behaviour? You know, you gonna go against the laws of the land and get your church to round up everybody that deserves death penalty, you know, and execute them, vigilante behaviour? Some people are just insane and they think that's how you wanna act or behave. No, we're following the steps of Christ. What's Christ gonna do? Is he gonna take vigilante behaviour? Is he going to put this woman to death even though it's against Roman laws? You know, is he going to make excuses for the laws of God? Well, let's keep going to verse number seven, John chapter eight, verse number seven. So when they continued asking him, they just, they keep bothering him, right? He lifted up himself and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again, he stooped down and rolled on the ground. What did Christ just do there? He just upheld the law of Moses. He says, all right, let's stone her. But the one that is without sin, you go first. Who is without sin? No one is without sin, okay? But look, Christ does not make an excuse. Oh, that's the Old Testament. Oh, come on guys, we're under Roman law now. You know, I've cooled down my wrath against such sin and I'm no longer vengeful to all these things or Jesus Christ, no, he upholds it. So yeah, you know what, she does this with her penalty. But the one that is without sin, let you be the first to cast a stone at her. Is Jesus Christ taking vigilante behaviour? No, because nobody's without sin, right? Verse number nine, and they which heard it being convicted by their own conscience went out one by one, beginning at the eldest even until the last. And they which heard it being convicted went out one by one, beginning at the eldest even until the last. And Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst. So they all go, man, they all realise if I pick up the stone, everyone's going to think, everyone's going to see me as a hypocrite because they know I'm a sinner. How can I pick up that first stone and cast it at her? So Jesus Christ puts them in a tough place. Are they right with God? They're not right with God either. And by the way, when it says that they, it says when Jesus was left alone, these people, these Pharisees, the scribes, they're still there. They're still lurking about. They're just not right there in the direct vicinity because Christ continues the conversation with them as time goes on. We'll soon see this, okay? But verse number 10. When Jesus had lifted up himself and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, woman, where are those thine accusers? Have no man condemned thee? And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more. Look, does Jesus Christ address her sin? Yes. Go and sin no more. Stop committing adultery. All right? And say, why isn't Christ able to condemn her? Because remember, Christ is honouring, he is fulfilling the laws of Moses. Number one, he upholds the law. She does deserve the death penalty. But which of you are going to carry it out? Number two, he can't condemn her because now all her accusers are gone. And according to the Bible, in Deuteronomy chapter 17 verse 6, it says at the mouth of two witnesses or three witnesses shall he that is worthy of death be put to death, but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. Christ gets rid of all the accusers, all the witnesses. Now there's none to accuse her. Now she cannot be put to death. So Christ cannot condemn her. Go and sin no more. Go and sin no more. All right? Now brethren, you know, do people still commit crimes today worthy of death penalty? Of course they do. Are you going to get out there and pick up that stone? Of course you're not because you are not without sin and neither am I. We do not condone vigilante behaviour. We call the laws of God. We preach the laws of God. I was once asked, you know, if they're not going to put, look, if our government will never put adulterers to death, why bother preaching it behind the pulpits? Because the law of the Lord is perfect. That's why. We need to know what God says. We need to know God's standards. You know, you, as married men and married women, you need to know just how wicked adultery is. You need to realise if I've committed such thing and I lived under God's laws, I would be put to death. So I better stick around with my wife and love her and improve our marriage if I have to. I've got to stop looking at the opposite sex and have my eyes only on my spouse alone. God's not changed his mind. But you see, Christ is able to uphold the law of Moses and able to navigate a society whose laws are not in line with God's laws. And Brevin, that's what we have to do. We've got to preach a truth without compromise. Our nation will probably never change its laws. It will probably never align itself any closer to God's laws than what it is today. But we still preach a truth. We still uphold God's laws and we don't take vigilante behaviour. If the governments are not doing what they're required to do, you're leaving it in God's hands. Verse number 12. Now, I told you these guys, they're still lurking about. It's not like they've disappeared and gone home. They're still lurking about trying to cause trouble. Because then in verse number 12 it says, Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, see, they've not gone anywhere. He says, I am the light of the world and he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. So now, what's he doing? What are the accusers? And I guess there's probably a great number, not necessarily those that are against Christ but those that are just, you know, it's a public space here teaching in the temple. Probably a great number of Jews listening in looking at what Christ has done here, Christ is merely turning the attention back to preaching the gospel. Verse number 13. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou barest record of thyself. Thy record is not true. So they're actually understanding when Christ said he could not condemn her because that's only one. You need two or three witnesses and they had to turn against him and say, well, you know what you're teaching is not true because you're teaching of yourself. Like what other Pharisees and scribes, what other religious leaders are teaching what you teach Jesus is what they're saying, right? What other Pharisees and scribes and religious leaders are teaching salvations by believing on you Jesus so your witness is not true? They're trying to turn tables. Like what you see in this chapter, which is a smart thing to do, generally speaking, is when you're trying to use someone's logic against them. I try to do that a lot but if you're trying to turn the logic of Jesus against him, you're not gonna win. Jesus Christ is already 10 steps ahead of you in the game of chess, all right? Forget about it. That's what they're trying to do. They're trying to turn the logic back onto Christ. Now, again, I don't wanna go too much into this. I just wanna understand exactly this idea of the record of Christ and why if only one says such, it's not true. Go back to John chapter five. I cover that in great depth that there are many witnesses. There are much record of Jesus Christ and we've been given the best record of all which is the word of God to teach us of the words of God. Verse number 14. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true, for I know whence I came and whither I go, so he came from heaven, he knows where he's going, he's going back to heaven, but ye cannot tell whence I come or whither I go, ye judge after the flesh, I judge no man. Verse number 15. What Christ is saying there is this, that they, because they're unsaved, Christ says that he's returning back to heaven, but they don't know where it's come from. He says, look, you judge after the flesh. Meaning that their judgment, when they assess the situation, they're not judging according to God's laws or God's word. They're judging according to their flesh. They're making carnal decisions in life. They look at someone else and judge according to mankind. They judge according to society, okay? But then Christ says, I judge no man. Meaning that he doesn't judge according to the flesh. He does judge, we'll keep going, but he doesn't judge according to an earthly, carnal perspective because he's from above and he's returning from above and so the judgment of Christ is spiritual, it is righteous, it is heavenly. He judges according to the word of God. These people that he's speaking to are not saved. Some of them are about to get saved and some are not, okay? We'll keep going with this. He says in verse number 16, and yet I judge, right? So he does judge. But he doesn't judge according to the flesh, all right? And yet I judge, and yet if I judge, sorry, my judgment is true for I am not alone but I am the father that sent me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. So he's talking about the two men. Who are the two men? Well, Jesus and the father. He says, hey, my judgment and the father's judgment is the same, okay? This is the testimony of two men. Two men. We do not believe in oneness. Jesus is not the father. Jesus is not the Holy Spirit because if Jesus was the son, the father and the Holy Spirit, that's one man, all right? No, two men, okay? The son and the father, all right? Testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself and the father that sent me bear witness of me. So I'm a witness of myself and so is my father. Again, if you want to go into this in greater depth, John chapter five, the sermon that I did in John chapter five, go back and pick that up, okay? But don't forget what the Bible says and remember I said that, I mentioned this on Sunday that when I get through John then we're tackling 1 John, and if you guys know this, the Bible says for there are three that bear record in heaven. The father, the word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one. And so when it says bear records, again, it's bearing witness. Christ says himself, the father, but 1 John then also mentions the Holy Spirit. See, we serve a triune God, okay? Three men, in fact, okay? That bear record of the truth. Verse number 19. Then said they unto him, and this is so important, ye neither know me nor my father, for if ye had known me, ye should have known my father also. Look, these unbelieving Jews, and I mentioned this last week, on Sunday afternoon, okay, last chapter. These unbelieving Jews, they don't know the father, okay? Because they don't know the son, okay? The Jews in the Middle East today that are worshipping, you know, are bowing their head to a wall, okay? Judaism, they don't serve, they don't love, they don't worship the father because they don't have the son. What Christ is teaching us here is that if these people were saved in the Old Testament days, which is the Old Testament days on the time when Christ was walking on the surface, they would have automatically accepted Christ. We've already seen this as this walkthrough, right? And once they realize they hear Christ, they see his miracles, they see his works, they hear his teaching, they're like, this is the Christ! This is the son of God, this is the Messiah! They automatically know because they're already saved, they're already children of the father. But these people resist Christ because they've resisted the father. They're not even saved. You know, I'm talking about this because some people, they get confused, you know? If you're saved in the Old Testament and Christ got in the scene just to like then believe on him and get saved again, they would have automatically believed on him. They would have like, this is the son of God, this is the one we've been waiting for this whole time! They were looking forward to it. John the Baptist was preaching that Christ was coming, the Lamb which take away the sin of the world. You know, it's not like people in the Old Testament got saved like some other salvation and when the New Testament came into being, now they really have to get saved and you know, just very quickly, I'll just read to you. Turn there, you actually keep your finger there. Come to John 10. It's not far away. John 10, 27. John 10, 27. Which says, My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. So those that are saved already, those that are really sheep, okay? As soon as they hear Jesus, they see him walking, they see him, that's the Messiah! Those that are already saved automatically believe in Christ and these Jews that have given Christ a hard time, they're not saved. They're not believers, they don't worship the Father. They have a false religion. Pharasitical Judaism, Judaism today, any form of religion that rejects Christ as Saviour is a false religion. They do not worship God. They don't worship the Father in any sense of the word. These words spake Jesus in the treasury as he taught in the temple. So you can see all these events are still in the temple, okay? And no man laid hands on him for his hour was not yet come. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way and ye shall seek me and shall die in your sins. Whither I go ye cannot come. See, Christ has given them this sort of final chance. Look, I'm going. He already mentioned he's going back to heaven and look, there's coming a time if they start to seek him, he can't be found. Look, this is the doctrine of reprobates. Just so you know, okay? People can get to a point where they rejected Christ over and over and over again. They cross the line and even if they now, I just want to make sure I'm going to heaven. I want to see Christ. They can't find him. It's over. They can't believe, in fact. Christ has given this final warning. You're going to die in your sins, all right? You're going to die in your sins. Whither I go ye cannot come. That's if you die in your sins. You die in your sins, you go to hell. You can't go to heaven. Verse number 22, because it said, whither I go ye cannot come. And he said unto them, ye are from beneath. I am from above. Ye are of this world, I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. He's given them this last chance. Guys, believe on me. Believe that I am he. He says, you're from beneath or from the earth? I'm from above. Okay, so we're all from beneath. We're all from here. We're all earthly. We're all human beings, okay? Not Christ, okay? He's from above. What's he saying that he's God? He said, look, you've got to believe that I'm God, is what he's saying. You've got to believe that I am he. You've got to believe that I'm from above, not from this earth, or you're dying of sins, okay? Guys, this is it. This is your chance, okay? Verse number 25. Then said unto him, who art thou? And Jesus said unto them, even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I've been saying this all along, right? Verse number 26, I have many things to say and to judge of you, but he that sent me is true and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him they understood not that he speak to them of the Father. Now before I keep going, when you see Jesus Christ preaching, especially in a temple or amongst a great number of people, you need to always understand that amongst a multitude of people, number one, there are going to be those that are believers of him, that are disciples, all right? You're going to have people that are unsaved but genuinely looking for salvation, trying to be convinced, is this salvation, and then you have those that are the outright enemies of God, those that are reprobates, those that are trying to turn people's hearts away from the Lord God, okay? So as Christ says these words, you need to just understand there are different people that make up this multitude that are listening to him, seeing the events of the woman that are caught in adultery, et cetera, et cetera, all right? Now verse number 28, it says here, Then said Jesus unto them, of course talking about his crucifixion there, being lifted up, Then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as my Father have taught me I speak these things, and he that sent me is with me. The Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those things that please him. I want you to notice that Jesus Christ says that he does, he always does the things that pleases the Father, and that's why he says, in verse number 29, and he that sent me is with me, all right? Now, you know, just a reminder, I won't go into this integrate there because I can preach a whole sermon. In fact, I have preached a whole sermon on this recently, okay? We know that God will never leave us nor forsake us, okay? We know that will never happen, okay? But again, that is positionally. In Christ Jesus, you will never be forsaken, okay? Otherwise, it's the same as forsaking his Son because we are in the Son. We are in Christ Jesus. But I want you to notice that Jesus Christ says, and he that sent me is with me, the Father hath not left me alone, for or because I do always those things that please him. You see, when we please the Lord, when we keep his commandments, when we walk in his ways, we have a fellowship with God, right? We're with him in the sense that we are walking in fellowship. We can enjoy each other's company. But when we start to do things in our life, our daily life where we please the Lord, like sin, obviously, then we break that fellowship. Now, Jesus Christ never broke that fellowship in that sense. We know that the Father forsook the Son on the cross because Jesus Christ became sin for us. Not that Christ had any sin, but that he took our sins upon his body, okay? But positionally, you cannot lose your salvation. God will never leave you and forsake you, okay? He's always available to you. But in our walk, we can lose that sweet fellowship if we do things that does not please the Father. But Christ is saying that everything he does pleases the Father. Let's keep going there. Verse number 30. As he spake these words, many believed on him. Okay? As he spake these words, many believed on him. So did some of these Jews get saved? Obviously, because they believed on him. They trusted him. That's it. Okay, you're gonna die on your sins. If you die on your sins, you cannot go where I go. You can't go to heaven. And he's saying these words, many believed on him. Again, there's a portion. So if many believed on him, did all believe on him? No. Okay? Now, let's keep going there. Verse number 31. So now he's speaking to those who want to go to heaven. I want to be saved. I don't want to die on my sins. I want to accept Christ as the Messiah, as the Son of God, as my Saviour. They put their trust on him. Jesus Christ then turns to these people and it says, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. Alright. So notice that there is a difference between being a believer of Christ and being a disciple. You see that? You become my disciples indeed. So is he saying, if you don't continue, you're not really saved and you're still going to die on your sins? That says if you continue, you become my disciples. Disciples just means discipline. If you discipline your life according to the teachings of Christ, you become a disciple of Christ. Okay? But notice it's different from believing. Okay? So which one's going to have a pastor? Christ. But I don't continue in his words. Am I still going to die on my sins? Well don't forget, we're now up to John chapter 8. Okay? John chapter 8. Now look, there are many churches that say you've got to become a disciple to be saved. Well you've got to continue in his word. That's pretty hard. That's a lot of work. You sure you're able to do that? You know, because the moment you sin, you're at John chapter 8. Okay, what must we do to be saved? You know, it's so clear, it's so obvious. Okay, John chapter 1. John chapter 1 verse 12. But as many as received him, to them gave you power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Not as many as become disciples. If you believe in his name, you become a son of God. John chapter 3, 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. That's a true statement. If you believe in him, you will not perish, but have everlasting life, eternal life. So those that believe on him, are they saved? Well if the rest of the book's correct, John 3, 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever becomes a disciple in him, that whosoever believeth in him shall not be condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God. John 3, 36. He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 5, 24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life John 6, 35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6, 40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6, 47. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me shall never last in life. John 7, 38. He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. And that's just some, I just got the clearest ones. There's many more in the book of John and then you get to John chapter 8. Oh, you really have to become a disciple. Believing's not enough. Then all these verses, they're all lies. Salvation is believing in Christ, discipleship. Now, salvation is Christ giving his life to you. Discipleship is you giving your life to Christ. Saying, God, I'm gonna follow your ways. I'm gonna give myself over to you. In fact, brethren, we need to fix our terminology. When someone gets saved, don't say they gave their life to Christ. It's incorrect. That's discipleship, okay? Hey, say, they got saved. God, I don't know. What else can we say? You know, they become a believer. They got saved, whatever. There's other ways that we can describe this. They've trusted Christ as their savior. They've been born again. So many ways to describe salvation. Now, let's get that terminology they gave their life to Christ out of. It's wrong. That's not how you get saved. What can you offer Christ? Oh, I'm gonna offer him my life. Your life is filthy. You wanna go to heaven based on your life? Good luck. In fact, it's not gonna happen. You're not dying of sins. You accept Christ gave his life for you. That he's our sacrifice. That he's been sent by the father to give us salvation. But should we become disciples? Of course. Should we continue in the word? Of course, okay? And what's the advantage if we continue in God's word? We continue to grow. We continue to learn the laws of God and to live a righteous life. He says in verse number 32. And you shall know the truth. See, the more you know God's word, you know more truth. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. I've preached on this recently. Individual soul liberty. Christ has not only given us liberty or freedom. He wants us to live a life of liberty. He wants us to go on in liberty. As we know the laws of God. As we are able to conform ourselves with the power of the Spirit to be more like Christ Jesus. There is freedom in Jesus. And the more you know his ways, all the rules know it makes you even more free. To break away from this world system, the brainwashing of this world. The freedom to know what offends God. Look at verse number 33. Look how they answer. They answered him. This is not the ones that just believed. The reason I'm saying this again, I mean there's a multitude. There's a lot of them. Some of them have brought an adulterous woman before him. Things like that. But there are those that believed. He's speaking to those that believe. He's like guys continue my word so you can become disciples. But they're in a mix of people. The Pharisees and the scribes, etc. They're Abraham's seed. And were never in bondage to any man. How sayest thou? Ye shall be made free. Is Jesus Christ speaking physically here? Bondage? Spiritual lessons right? But these unbelieving Jews, Christ rejecting Jews, they only think carnally. They cannot break out of the carnal thinking. Oh we're Abraham's seed. We're special because of our heritage. We're special because of our ancestors. We're special because of our blood and our DNA. What boggles my mind is still we've been independent Baptist churches. They still think like these Jews. Oh those guys there in the Middle East. Those, Israel. Oh they're Abraham's children. They're special. Is that what Christ is all about? Is there anything wrong with being a descendant of Abraham? Of course not. What a privilege. What an honour to be part of the physical lineage. To be part of that physical nation. You know where God instructed this nation to be a shining light to this world. That God will use this nation to bring forth the Saviour. What an honour. But it's always been about Christ. Not a physical descendancy. Get out of here. What is wrong? We've preached today. I don't understand. But this is how the unbelieving Jews respond. Oh we're Abraham's seed. And there are Baptist pastors right now. Oh they're special. They're Abraham's seed. Carnal. Carnal thinking. Carnal minded people. Now they brought up Abraham. There's something that we start to see in this passage and I wish I could expand on it Brethren. We're limited on time. But we see a fleshly descendancy. A fleshly seed. Nothing wrong with that. We're all flesh and blood. All of us. We've all been descended from flesh. We're all children of mum and dad in the flesh. But as this chapter goes on, Christ then teaches us deeper spiritual truths here. It's one thing to be born in the flesh. There's something else spiritual though. You see you can either decide in this life and you'll soon see. And this is why we're dealing with reprobates in this passage. Where someone, and we say this all the time, once you're born into God's family, you can never be unborn. There are some of these Jews that are fighting Christ that have been born in the devil's family and they can never be unborn out of that family. They're reprobate. They're done for. There's no chance. So Christ takes this thing that they throw at him, about being Abraham's seed and then Christ delves in deeper on a spiritual level. About having the right spiritual birth here. Verse number 34, Jesus answered them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Whose servant commit of sin is the servant of sin? He goes, I don't care if you're Abraham's seed. If you commit sin, you're a servant to sin. Your nationality doesn't matter. Your DNA doesn't matter. Everybody's under sin. And so Jesus Christ is telling, look, and by the way, when we teach that Christ has given us liberty, you see, Christ is not saying, I've given you liberty to sin because if you commit sin, you're a servant of sin. He doesn't want us to be servants. He doesn't want to be in subjection under the power of sin. Not only have we been saved from our sins but Christ wants us to walk a victorious life. Having victory over our sin. I'm all for repenting of your sins. But that's what makes you a disciple. I'm not a saved person. Salvation comes by believing in Christ. See, if we continue in God's word, we will find ourselves having greater victory over the sins that bother us every single day. The moment you stop continuing God's words, you'll find your flesh very quickly takes over and you become a servant to sin. Verse number 35. Jesus Christ says, and the servant, so again, he's using the illustration of the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house forever, but the son abideth ever. If the son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed, but you seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you. So what's the point of being Abraham's physical seed if Christ's word has no place in them? What is Christ saying about these people that say they're Abraham's seed? He says, look, you're not a son. You're a servant. You're a servant of sin. You're under the bondage of sin. You've not been made free by the son. And then Christ gives this illustration. Remember, in the temple, in the house of God, he uses this illustration of a house. Let's read it again, verse number 35. And the servant abideth not in the house forever, meaning you guys are in the temple right now. You guys are in the house of God right now, but you are not a son. You're God's family. You're a servant. You're here for a period and then you're going. Because the children of God, they abide forever. See, God has made us his children. We're going to be in the presence of God forever. We can go where Christ has gone. We will go to heaven. We will be with our Father for all eternity. But you must become a son. A servant is not going to, yeah, you can be in church. A servant can do seemingly righteous things, but once the period's over, once they've clocked out, that's it. They're not abiding in the house of the Lord. Verse number 38. He says, I speak that which I've seen with my Father and you do that which you have seen with your Father. So remember, many believed on him. Now there's a leftover that have not believed on him. What is Christ saying to these people? He says, look, I'm doing what my Father says of me and you're doing what your Father says. Who's their Father? Who's their Father? Okay, verse number 39. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our Father. Jesus saith unto them, if ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham, but now ye seek to kill me. So they're trying to kill Christ. He says if you were Abraham's children, you'd do the works of Abraham. Abraham never sought to kill God. Abraham never sought to kill God. Abraham never sought to rebel against the Lord in that sense. But these people are trying to kill the Son. He says, you're not Abraham's children. Verse number 40 again. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God. This did not Abraham. Abraham did not seek to go and kill the Lord. Abraham did not go and seek to kill the Son of God. But you're doing that. So are you really Abraham's children? Verse number 41. Ye do the deeds of your Father. You are doing the works of your Father. Then they said it to him, sorry, then said they to him, we be not born of fornication. We have one Father, even God. Now they're getting that Christ is not talking about just Abraham here. There's something much deeper. And they're, oh, yeah, yeah, but we're really children of God. God's our Father. Look, there are many people in this world that claim that they love the Lord, they're children of God, they're saved. But if they've not received Christ by faith alone, they are not of the Father, as much as they can claim they are. They are not of the Father if they have not trusted Christ alone. So they kind of get it now. They realise Christ is actually teaching something more than just physical lineage here. I mean, Christ has always been teaching about the spiritual, salvation, going to heaven, receiving him as the saviour. Verse number 42, Jesus said unto them, if God were your Father, you would love me. Brethren, do we love Christ? I mean, just the fact that you're here tonight tells me you love the Lord. You want to be in his house. You want to hear his word. And I praise God for you. I pleaded forth and came from God. Neither came I of myself, but he sent me. And Christ is constantly talking about being sensed by the Father, doing the works of the Father, preaching the words of the Father. He's an obedient son. But look at verse number 43. Why do ye not understand my speech even because ye cannot hear my word? Wow. Look, these guys, Christ is already, he's about to tell them, look, your Father is the devil. Look, they cannot hear the words. They can't. They can't understand it. I mean, obviously they get some parts of it. Obviously they get that we're physically part of Abraham. Obviously they get that, you know, we ought to be children of the Father. But when Christ speaks, they can't understand it. They can't comprehend it. Remember Christ says, you're going to seek me, but you're not. It's going to be too late. For these people here that he's dealing with right now, it's too late for them. Even if they tried, it's too late. You know, I remember as a child just reading my Bible, a teenager reading my Bible and seeing these stories of how Christ would deal with certain people because, you know, I'd go to church and I'd constantly hear that everyone's got to their final breath to trust Christ. You know, that God never gives up on anybody. I mean, it's a beautiful thing to hear and look, for the majority of people, that is the truth. The majority of people, you have your life. You know, the thief on the cross is the perfect example. Literally on the same day that he died, he trusted Christ as his saviour. It's a beautiful thing. It tickles the ears. Everyone's got to their final breath. But for some people, it's too late. You see, if you become a child of the devil, it's too late for you. You've been born into that family. You cannot be unborn. And no matter how much Bible preaching, it goes in one ear, out the other. It won't make any sense. And this is a controversial doctrine. But I've heard it in many Baptist churches. I've heard it growing up, which is today, for some reason, people don't want to hear it. People don't like it. But it's the Bible. Okay? It's the Bible. Christ says, look, it's too late for you guys. It's done. You're children of the devil. We'll have a look at this in a moment. Brevin, just help me out. What verse am I up to? Yeah, that's right, 44. That's where he says it right there. Ye are of your father the devil. See, there's one thing to have your father Abraham, a physical image, great, that's all of us. We all have a physical image. And ideally you get saved and you become a child of God, you become a child of the father. But for these Jews, the ones that did not believe in him, these guys that are still fighting him, still pushing against him, they become children of the devil. Jesus. They're not just regular unbelievers in the world that are just going about life, you know, hopeful one day to know the truth maybe, you know, these people hate God. These people hate Jesus. They hate his teaching. They hate salvation by faith alone. Their father is the devil. They've been born into that family. Whatever that family is, they've crossed the line. Once you're born into a family, you cannot be unborn. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. And you know, as I said to you, as you go through the book of John, the books of John, you need to understand, you know, the previous books to really appreciate the next books in the book of John. Because just very quickly, in 1 John chapter 3, that's 1 John, so that's going to be the next book of John that we tackle. He says in 1 John 3 verse 10, In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil. Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. You see, there is a manifestation. Manifest means to reveal. We don't need to reveal fleshly people, people that are of the flesh, because we all know we're of the flesh. We all know we have earthly parents. That doesn't need to be manifested. That's obvious. But spiritually speaking, there is a manifestation of whether someone is a child of God or someone is a child of the devil. When you understand that in 1 John 3, then you can go back to the book of John and see how these people are acting. What are they doing? What makes them children of the devil? And they're trying to kill Jesus. So that's why it's important that you not only keep things within context, but when you're trying to compare scripture with scripture, always go back to the same author, because they usually are tackling the same things. Verse number 45, And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not, which of you convinceth me of sin, and I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? In fact, these repulates, they're incapable of believing. Verse number 47, He that is of God heareth God's words, ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, he's been the same group of people, not the ones that believe in him, but the ones that aren't believing in him, then answered the Jews and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast the devil? You're a Samaritan, because they're racist against Samaritans, and you've got a devil. It's kind of this, oh you said our father's a devil, you're the devil Jesus. Verse number 49, Jesus answered, I have not a devil, but I honour my father, and ye do dishonour me, and I seek not mine own glory. There is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Okay, let's understand that verse. Which of you guys think that's about a physical, like when it says never see death, does that mean we're never gonna see a physical death? Let me see a show of hands. Alright. What about when it says spiritual death? Yeah, why do you have that right? Because it's a spiritual death. It's a spiritual death. It's a spiritual death. It's a spiritual death. It's a spiritual death. It's a spiritual death. Do I have to even explain that to you? Because you're children of God. Okay, because you have the Holy Spirit. And you're like, well that's so obvious, pastor. Yeah, it's so obvious. You're right, it's so obvious, alright? But how do these reprobates respond? Verse number 52, Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets, and thou sayest, if a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. They're like thinking he's talking about carnal things again. You're saying what? Look at all these other people that you so-called believed on you. But they all died. Now we know you're just telling lies. Now we know you're a devil. You're a Samaritan. See, you have the, it seems so obvious, but you've been privileged to be able to understand God's Word. And you go, man, of course never see death as format spiritually speaking. Of course that's speaking about dying because that's not going to be me. I'm going to live forever. I don't care about this physical body perishing. We're not carnally minded. We're hopeful for eternity. Verse number 53, they don't get it. They say, are thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? Do these guys believe in eternal life? Or the resurrection? And the prophets are dead? Who makest thou thyself? Reverend, I know Abraham and Moses and the prophets are all dead, but I thank God for them because God used them to give us the scriptures. Look how they mock the prophets of God. Look how the prophets, look how these rebbeites act. Yeah, they're in the temple of God. Yeah, they're religious leaders, scribes and Pharisees, oh, look at me, wow. But you see their hearts. They hate the Bible. They hate the prophet. They hate men. Oh, the Bible's just written by men and those people are dead. Let's move on in the world. The Bible's just open to any interpretation. Let's interpret the Bible in light of society. No, let's understand society in light of the Bible. How many pastors and preachers are out there changing God's word? God changed his mind. Oh, the Bible can be interpreted however he wants. Oh, it's written by men, who cares? They're dead anyway. Start to show themselves to be children of the devil. Really? So again, they're trying to, I mentioned this before, they're attempting to attack Jesus by his own logic. He said they'll never die, but they did die. Oh, you stupid idiots. You don't get it. Jesus Christ is not talking about physical death. He's talking about spiritual death. Verse number 54, Jesus answered, if I honor myself, my honor is nothing. It is my Father that honored for me, of whom ye say that he is your God. But ye have not known him, but I know him. I love that. Brethren, we know God. We know him. You know, when you go door to door soul wedding and someone's trying to challenge you, you're trying to get them saved. You know, you're loving lost souls, right? You're using your personal time to get out there and try to see that person get saved. And they challenge you. They want to debate. And like, oh, the Bible says, how many Muslims have I come across? All the Muslims, by the way, they've all read the Bible cover to cover, according to their words. Like, even Christians are willing to admit, yeah, I've not read the cover to cover. But all the Muslims have read the Bible cover to cover, apparently. And they want to tell you what the Bible says. No, we know God. They don't know God. If they don't accept Christ as God, if they don't know him as a son of God, as a saviour, they do not know God. You know God. Brethren, you've got amazing wisdom, amazing knowledge. You know how to go to heaven. Boy, if you're just saved and you don't know the Bible, you still know what this world does not know. You know God. You know salvation, salvation found in Christ alone. So use that knowledge, that wisdom, and get out there and win souls. Go and teach people. You know God. He's your father. Some will believe in him. Some will fight you back. Some people will reprobate. You don't necessarily know that. We just go out there, we knock every door, we give every door the opportunity to hear the word of God. We're not trying to find trouble, but if trouble finds us, what are you going to do? Okay, we quickly try to get back to the important thing which Christ got back to, preaching the gospel. Verse number 55, sorry. Have ye not known him, but I know him, and I should say I know him, sorry, and if I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you, but I know him, and keep his saying. There are many liars on the Sunshine Coast. There are many liars on the Sunshine Coast. Are you sure you're going to heaven? Yep, I'm a Christian, I'm a believer, I'm saved. So what do you have to do? Well, you've got to keep the commandments. You're a liar. They've got the confidence. You're a liar. Verse number 56, your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad. So we've got the title of that, Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus. See, Abraham was not saved. This is sensational salvation. People are getting saved some other way. Abraham rejoiced in Christ Jesus. Abraham's salvation was always Christ Jesus, and even though he's physically dead, he still saw the day when Christ came, because Abraham's alive, because Abraham is in heaven right now, okay, and he was in heaven right then when Christ came into this world. You know what Abraham did? Yes, woo, yes, excited. Abraham's alive. Our God is a God of the living. Verse number 57, then to the Jews, unto him, thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? These guys don't get it. Jesus Christ came from heaven. Guess who was in heaven with him? Abraham. Of course he's seen Abraham. Of course Abraham's seen Christ already, because, oh, but you haven't seen him on the earth, because you're not even fifty years old. Abraham lived thousands of years ago. You're here to tell us you know about Abraham. You've seen him? Verse number 58, Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am. What a statement. He goes, yeah, on this earth, in his flesh, I'm less than fifty years old, but I am before Abraham. I've been before Abraham. I'm from eternity. I am. He doesn't say I was. Christ has always been. He's from everlasting. What a statement. Because even before Abraham was born, even before he came into existence, Christ is I am. Again, who is he? He's God. He's God Almighty. He's the God of Abraham. Christ is from everlasting, the mighty God. Verse number 59, then took up stones to cast at him. They tried to kill him, even though they're not allowed to. We saw that earlier. According to Roman law, they could put no one to death, but they're so enraged that Christ is saying that he's God. They tried to kill him. They took up stones to cast at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them and so passed by. I don't know how he does that. Another miracle. Maybe becomes invisible. I don't know. Maybe just transports somehow, but somehow he goes through them as they seek to kill him and he passes by. All right, brethren. Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus. Look, I have no doubt that you rejoice in Jesus and his salvation. But you know, let's not forget that we have a lost and dying world. You know what? Some people that are just rejecting Jesus and they become reprobate, they become children of the devil. It's too late for them, but the vast majority of people here are just lost. You know God. You know salvation. You have the gospel. We need to get out there and see souls saved. And don't get involved in salvation. Because no one gets saved by the law anyway. We all get saved by Christ who kept the law perfectly for us. All right, brethren, let's pray. Heavenly Father, Lord, I want to thank you for this great story in the book of John. It's such an exciting book to study and preach from. Lord, please continue to give us wisdom and understanding. Lord, thank you for the understanding that you've already given us to appreciate your word and thank you so much for being our Father. We love you, Lord, because you first loved us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. All right, let's take our Bibles once again and let's go to Psalm 19. Just because I kind of did read that passage a little bit in this sermon. Let's sing Psalm 19. Psalm 19. All right, Psalm 19 As you guys know, we start there in verse number seven. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. Psalm 19, ready? The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoice in the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure and light in the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Verse nine. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Verse 14. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Verse 15.