Religion Says ‘Try Harder,’ The Gospel Says ‘Trust Deeper’: Unpacking the Lie of Legalism

[00:05:38] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Good morning and welcome to worship at First Baptist Church of Mooresburg.
[00:06:21] We are so delighted that you have chosen to be with us.
[00:06:26] We have prayed over and prepared this service, but we know beyond all of our preparation, we know that God has something special for you today.
[00:06:35] So we encourage you to open your hearts and your minds to hear the still small voice of God speaking into your life, encouraging you and challenging you today as we walk through Acts 15 together.
[00:06:47] If you are a guest with us, thank you so much for being here.
[00:06:50] We would love the opportunity to be able to get to know you a little bit more.
[00:06:54] And so what we would ask you to do, if you would be so kind as to fill out a Connect card.
[00:06:59] You can find those in the queue in front of you.
[00:07:02] And at the conclusion of our service, if you would just bring that Connect card back to the Welcome Center.
[00:07:06] We have a small gift to give to you.
[00:07:09] Again, we would love that opportunity to meet you.
[00:07:11] And just to be able to give that gift to you as a way of saying thank you for worshiping with us at First Baptist Church.
[00:07:19] Also, for anyone that's a regular attender or if you are a long-term member, whatever it may be, if you would just like to communicate with us as a staff, prayer concerns, prayer needs, or just ask questions about how you can get more connected, you can also use that connect card and just place it in the offering plate as it is passed around.
[00:07:37] But again, today God has something special for us.
[00:07:41] And so again, let's now open our hearts and our minds to hear what God wants to speak into our lives.
[00:07:46] Thank you for worshiping with us.

[00:07:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Good morning everybody.
[00:07:58] First of all, let me say thank you.
[00:08:01] For the month of October in Pastor Appreciation Month, it was an awesome time that coincided, ended, I guess, last week with the luncheon.
[00:08:11] But extremely, extremely heartfelt, thank you.
[00:08:15] It was a very meaningful time for the pastoral staff here at First Baptist.
[00:08:21] Well, we come this morning from busy lives.
[00:08:23] We have scattered thoughts this morning.
[00:08:25] We have wandering minds, but God meets us where we are.
[00:08:31] So we come this morning to worship Him.
[00:08:34] We're going to sing a new song this morning.
[00:08:36] And if these are words that are unfamiliar to you, the chorus is, Our God Saves.
[00:08:43] Our God Saves.
[00:08:44] Isaiah 43, 11, I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior.
[00:08:54] So if you only get three words,
[00:08:56] Words out of our new song, Our God Saves.
[00:08:59] If you're able, I invite you to stand as we sing together.

[00:09:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
In the name of the Father, in the name of the Son
[00:09:35] In the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, in the name of the Spirit, Lord, we come and gather together
[00:10:02] All of your praise Hear the joyful sound of our offering As your saints bow down, as your people sing We will rise with you, lifted on your wings
[00:10:19] and the world will see that our God saves our God saves there is hope in your name in the name of the Father in the name of the
[00:10:49] In the name of the Spirit, Lord, we come, we gather together, to lift up your name, to call on your name, Lord, to call on your praise.
[00:11:04] Hear the joyful sound on our offering As your saints bow down, as your people sing We will rise with you, lifted on your wings And the world will see that Our God saves Our God saves
[00:11:44] To stones I'll pray
[00:12:15] Hear the joyful sound of our offering As your saints bow down, as your people sing We will rise with you, lifted on your wings And the world will sing
[00:12:44] Our God saves There is hope In Your name Morning turns To songs of praise Our God saves
[00:13:27] Let's pray together.

[00:13:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Heavenly Father prepare us quiet the noise within us open our eyes to your glory tune our hearts to sing your praise for Lord we cannot worship as we ought to without you so we ask that you would ready us we stand on the promises of your word that this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations
[00:14:08] Lord, we declare that salvation is found in no other name under heaven.
[00:14:13] Jesus came to seek and save the lost, to bring light into darkness, to offer forgiveness and a new life to all who would receive him.
[00:14:22] Lord, as witnesses to your grace, empower us to carry this message to the ends of the earth until every tribe, every tongue, every nation has heard the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:14:35] In his mighty name we pray.

[00:14:37] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[00:14:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
The story to tell to the nations That shall turn their hearts to the right A story of truth and sweetness A story of peace and love
[00:15:23] God's great kingdom shall come to earth, the kingdom of love and light.
[00:15:47] Lead the song to each song to the nations that shall lift their hearts to the Lord.
[00:15:48] The song that shall conquer evil and shatter the spirit.
[00:16:00] And the dawning's to new day bright That Christ's great kingdom shall come to earth The kingdom of love and light With a message to give to the nations From the Lord who reigneth above Has sent us His Son to save
[00:16:33] And show us that God is God For the darkness shall turn to dawning And the dawning to new day bright And Christ's great kingdom shall come to earth A kingdom of love and light
[00:17:08] and all of the world's great peoples I come to the truth of God I come to the truth of God For the darkness shall turn to dawning And the dawning to noonday bright
[00:17:32] Christ's great kingdom shall come to earth, the kingdom of God and light.

[00:17:44] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.
[00:17:44] Please be seated.

[00:17:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Good morning church.
[00:17:59] We've come to the time in our service where we'll continue our worship through our giving, but first I'd like to share some announcements that's going on in the life of our church.
[00:18:07] There are so many ways to get involved, to grow, and to both serve our church community and beyond these walls, and these opportunities are made possible by your giving.
[00:18:18] Right after worship this morning, we'll be having a business meeting during which the bylaws committee will make a motion to update the bylaws.
[00:18:25] Immediately following that, we'll have church council in the fellowship hall.
[00:18:30] The students will be meeting today at 1 o'clock for a Panthers tailgate.
[00:18:34] We'll have lots of food and at halftime we'll continue our study of chapter 3 in the book of Daniel and then we'll worship through the leadership of our praise team and then we'll finish the day watching the Panthers upset the Packers.
[00:18:53] Time for prayer.
[00:18:56] Wednesday will be a busy day at First Baptist.
[00:18:59] Our outreach choir will be headed to Cadence this Wednesday at 10 a.m. to share music and joy with the residents there.
[00:19:07] Let's be in prayer for this ministry as they take the light of Christ beyond our walls.
[00:19:12] That evening we'll be hosting a meal honoring our veterans and first responders at 5 p.m. in the fellowship hall.
[00:19:21] Please call the church office to make your complimentary reservations.
[00:19:25] And if you need a ride, just let us know and we'll make sure to get you here.
[00:19:30] Wednesday night live events will follow, including Pastor Seth's new study on the Church of Antioch.
[00:19:38] Next Sunday morning at 8 45 we'll gather for a church-wide brunch in the fellowship hall.
[00:19:44] Bring your favorite breakfast dish to share.
[00:19:46] There'll be no Sunday school that day or child care during the Sunday school hour.
[00:19:53] Carl Nichols will be our guest speaker and share about our Honduras missions.
[00:19:59] The Circle of Faith will meet Tuesday, November 11th at 2 p.m. to visit and encourage our homebound members.
[00:20:06] Come be a blessing and you'll be blessed in return.
[00:20:09] And finally, Operation Christmas Child continues at First Baptist.
[00:20:14] Pick up a shoebox, fill it with small gifts.
[00:20:16] With school supplies, hygiene items, bring it back to church by Wednesday, November 12th and bless children around the world.
[00:20:25] Each box will be a tangible expression of First Baptist love and see Nettie Gamble if you have any questions.
[00:20:34] Now let's go to the Lord in prayer.
[00:20:37] Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time to gather as your people.
[00:20:42] To worship, to grow, and to serve together.
[00:20:47] Lord, every good gift comes from you, and as we give back a portion of what you've blessed us with, we ask that you use these tithes and offerings to advance your kingdom and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, both here in Wardsville and around the world.
[00:21:06] In Jesus' name we pray.

[00:21:08] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[00:21:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
There's a lighthouse on a hillside That overlooks life's sea
[00:21:53] And the light that shines through the darkness now will safely take us all

[00:22:57] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:23:03] Amen.

[00:24:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
We praise Thee in this moment.
[00:25:31] When would this ship be?

[00:25:51] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
If it wasn't for the lighthouse, when would this ship be?

[00:26:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Mark, children are leaving for Children's Church.
[00:26:25] If you're visiting with us today, you can pick them up by going this way.
[00:26:31] Behind the piano, turn right down the steps and turn right again and you will find them at the base of the steps.
[00:26:38] When you came in this morning, you may have seen the prayer lists that are in the back.
[00:26:43] We email them out.
[00:26:44] We encourage you.
[00:26:45] Please let us know if you or someone you know is in the need of prayer.
[00:26:51] And at this time, let's go to the Lord in prayer.
[00:26:56] Heavenly Father, we come before you today just as we are.
[00:27:00] Broken, weary, searching, yet filled with hope because of your great love.
[00:27:09] We bow our heads in humility knowing that you are the God who sees us, the God who knows us, and the God who loves us with an everlasting love.
[00:27:20] Lord, we thank you that in the midst of all our trials, you are there for the breath in our lungs, for the promise of your presence, for the cross of Jesus Christ that stands between us and our sin.
[00:27:35] We thank you.
[00:27:36] Lord, we thank you that your mercies are new every morning, that your faithfulness is greater than all our fears.
[00:27:45] Father, we lift up to you today those who walk through the valley of doubt, those who lie awake at night wondering if you hear them, if you see them, if you care.
[00:27:57] Lord Jesus, you met Thomas in his doubt.
[00:28:00] You showed him your hands and your side.
[00:28:03] We ask that you meet these precious ones in their questioning.
[00:28:06] Strengthen their faith.
[00:28:08] Help them cry out with the honest Father in the Gospels who said, Lord, I believe.
[00:28:13] Help my unbelief.
[00:28:16] Lord, we pray for those gripped by fear.
[00:28:19] Fear of tomorrow.
[00:28:21] Fear of what the doctor might say.
[00:28:23] Fear of failure.
[00:28:25] Fear of being alone.
[00:28:27] Your word tells us that perfect love casts out fear.
[00:28:33] Pour out your perfect love upon them now.
[00:28:35] Remind them that you have not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, of love and a sound mind.
[00:28:43] Be their shield and their fortress.
[00:28:47] Lord, we bring before you those bowed down with grief, those who've lost loved ones or whose hearts are shattered, whose tears have been constant day and night.
[00:29:01] Draw near to the brokenhearted as your word promises.
[00:29:05] Save those crushed in spirit, Jesus, for you wept at Lazarus' tomb.
[00:29:11] You understand our sorrows.
[00:29:13] We ask for your comfort for those in a way that only you can give.
[00:29:19] And Lord, give them hope, the blessed hope that separation is not forever, that because you live, we also live.
[00:29:30] Lord, we lift up our members that are going through trials.
[00:29:36] We think of Barry Caldwell, Marissa Snyder, David Lynch, Vicki Brawley, and Jim and Judith Lotz.
[00:29:49] Lord, we pray for those battling disease, for those in pain, for those facing long roads of treatment.
[00:29:56] For recovery, you are Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals.
[00:30:01] We ask for your healing touch according to your will.
[00:30:05] Give them strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
[00:30:09] Sustain them through the difficult hours, and whether you heal on this side of heaven or the next, help them to trust that your grace is sufficient.
[00:30:19] And Lord, even in our sorrow, even in our trials, we choose to rejoice.
[00:30:23] Not because everything is easy but because you are good.
[00:30:27] Not because we understand your ways but because we trust your heart.
[00:30:32] You have given us joy unspeakable and full of glory.
[00:30:38] A joy that the world cannot give and the world cannot take away.
[00:30:42] Help us to hold fast to that joy knowing that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.
[00:30:49] Lord we know that this world is not our home we're just passing through but while we're here hold us close carry us when we cannot walk speak when we cannot find the words and use even our deepest valleys to draw us closer to you to point others to the hope we have in Christ Jesus we pray all these things in the mighty saving and beautiful name of Jesus Christ our Lord and all who agree say

[00:31:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
We now turn to a reading from God's Word from Acts chapter 15, and if you are able, I invite you to stand.
[00:31:41] But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.
[00:31:51] And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
[00:32:05] So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles and brought great joy to all the brothers.
[00:32:17] When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
[00:32:26] But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.
[00:32:37] The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
[00:32:42] And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them,
[00:32:47] Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
[00:32:57] And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us.
[00:33:05] And he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
[00:33:11] Now therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
[00:33:22] But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.
[00:33:29] And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
[00:33:40] After they finished speaking, James replied, Brothers, listen to me.
[00:33:45] Simon has related how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for his name.
[00:33:53] and with this the words of the prophets agree.
[00:33:57] Just as it is written, after this I will return and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen.
[00:34:04] I will rebuild its ruins and I will restore it.
[00:34:07] That the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord and all the Gentiles who are called by my name says the Lord who makes these things known from old.
[00:34:17] The word of God for the people of God.
[00:34:20] Amen.
[00:34:20] You may be seated.

[00:34:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Well, good morning everyone.
[00:34:31] I'm so glad you guys are here.
[00:34:32] If you will, continue to keep your Bibles open to Acts chapter 15.
[00:34:37] And hopefully when you came in, you've got a bulletin and there's some sermon notes in there.
[00:34:42] So if you want to get your pens ready, I'll have a couple of film of blanks for you in just a little bit.
[00:34:48] We're in a series called Core.
[00:34:50] Where we are just tracking through the book of Acts together.
[00:34:55] Really just chapter by chapter, verse by verse.
[00:34:57] And today, chapter 15, is quite an extensive chapter.
[00:35:01] So you'll notice that I'm going to try to do this in a couple different parts.
[00:35:04] We're not going to get through it all today.
[00:35:06] But just between you and I, even this morning when I was looking over, I don't know if I'm going to be able to get through even part one today.
[00:35:13] This is so extensive.
[00:35:15] The deacons told me, though, that since we had a time change, I had an extra hour to preach this morning, so not to worry too much about it.
[00:35:23] I'm joking.
[00:35:24] Don't be that nervous.
[00:35:27] The passage that BJ just read is a passage about a church meeting.
[00:35:33] Now, if you've ever been to church...
[00:35:35] You know, any time at all, you know, boy, Christians love their meetings, don't they?
[00:35:40] Today, after this service, we have a business meeting.
[00:35:44] After that business meeting, we have a church council meeting.
[00:35:49] Because Christians love their meetings.
[00:35:50] And these meetings are important.
[00:35:52] Well, the meeting in Acts 15 is probably the most important church meeting that's ever existed.
[00:35:59] I would actually say that First Baptist in Mooresville would not exist
[00:36:05] If it was not for this church meeting in Acts 15.
[00:36:09] I wouldn't go so far as saying outside the resurrection of Jesus, this is the most important thing that's ever happened.
[00:36:18] In the early church, the meeting that took place in Jerusalem in Acts 15.
[00:36:23] Well, let me just share with you a little bit about the context of what's happening here.
[00:36:28] For a while, we've been studying the church in Antioch that started first in Acts chapter 11.
[00:36:34] By the way, quick plug.
[00:36:35] This Wednesday we start a new Bible study just on that church.
[00:36:39] There's some sign-up sheets out there in the foyer.
[00:36:42] If you would, please make sure you sign up because the workbook for this is quite extensive and Karen has to print those off.
[00:36:49] So it would really help her to know exactly how many people are coming.
[00:36:52] But anyways, when we started talking about the church at Antioch, remember Antioch is the first New Testament church that's Gentile.
[00:36:59] Gentile is anyone that's not Jewish, right?
[00:37:03] So quite diversity here in the church in Antioch.
[00:37:06] Antioch, by the way, is in modern-day Turkey.
[00:37:10] It's an ancient Asian minor.
[00:37:12] And it's in the region, this is important to the story later on, it's in the region of Galatia.
[00:37:18] Well, when the Church of Antioch comes into existence, they are the first church that sends out missionaries.
[00:37:25] Now, Pastor BJ actually mentioned this last week.
[00:37:29] Acts 13, verse 2.
[00:37:31] When the Church of Antioch sent out Paul and Barnabas, as the Holy Spirit had commanded them, to go and be missionaries.
[00:37:37] Paul and Barnabas they go to be missionaries they go on this missionary journey all of Acts chapter 14 and at the end of this journey they come back to the church at Antioch so look at this Acts 14 starting in verse 26 it actually says this and from there they sailed to Antioch right that's the home church
[00:37:56] Where they had been commanded to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.
[00:38:01] I just love that saying.
[00:38:02] They went out.
[00:38:02] They've been missionaries like God told them to be.
[00:38:05] Now they're coming back.
[00:38:06] Look at this.
[00:38:08] Chapter 15, verse 1.
[00:38:10] But some men came down from Judea and were teaching...
[00:38:16] By the way, Heather, I've lost connection again, so you won't have to follow me.
[00:38:19] And they were teaching that unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.
[00:38:28] Y'all ever heard that saying in the South, when the cat's away, the mice will play?
[00:38:33] Well, that's exactly what happens in Antioch.
[00:38:37] You see, when Paul and Barnabas are out on this mission trip, they get back and they're sharing all the good things that's happened, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, there's some men who have come, and when these men come, they start preaching a false gospel, a false message, saying that, well, you're not really saved unless you're first circumcised.
[00:38:58] because you've got to follow the law of Moses.
[00:39:02] These people from Judea, listen, they said they were believers.
[00:39:07] They're not denying Jesus by any means, but what they're saying is that before you can become a Christian, you've got to first become Jewish.
[00:39:15] Now there's a term for these men that we have.
[00:39:17] We call them Judaizers.
[00:39:19] That's what they were known as, Judaizers.
[00:39:21] Will you say that with me on the count of three?
[00:39:23] One, two, three.
[00:39:24] Judaizers.
[00:39:26] And Judaizers taught...
[00:39:28] You've got to become Jewish before you can become Christian.
[00:39:31] These Judaizers are going to be a pain in the neck throughout the rest of the New Testament.
[00:39:36] And what they're giving is truly a false gospel.
[00:39:40] This is not true.
[00:39:41] Remember, Antioch is full of what?
[00:39:43] Gentiles.
[00:39:44] Greeks, who were not circumcised, they were telling the men, you've got to do this first.
[00:39:49] Now, why in the world would they say that?
[00:39:52] Now, I thought, you know, I could just easily say that, well, in the Old Testament, this was a requirement, but in the New Testament, that changes and move on.
[00:40:00] But I'm not going to do that.
[00:40:01] I want to go into a little bit more detail because I want you to understand how powerful this is.
[00:40:05] You see, in the Old Testament, God did tell the Jewish people that if you're going to follow me, you need to be circumcised.
[00:40:11] And here's why.
[00:40:11] Here's why, okay?
[00:40:13] Because God, from the very beginning, wanted his people to be different.
[00:40:18] He wanted them to be different.
[00:40:20] You see, by the way, different literally means holy.
[00:40:23] And God just cannot use you if you're not different.
[00:40:26] Doesn't that make sense?
[00:40:28] What good news does a gossiping church have to give to a gossiping world?
[00:40:33] None.
[00:40:34] Be different.
[00:40:35] Right?
[00:40:36] What testimony does a vindictive congregation have to give to an angry and easily offended society?
[00:40:45] None.
[00:40:46] Be different.
[00:40:47] What message of hope does an unpure Christian have to preach to a sexually depraved and confused generation?
[00:40:55] None.
[00:40:56] So be different.
[00:40:58] God can't use you unless you're different.
[00:40:59] So God wanted his people to be different.
[00:41:01] And for them to be different, God gave them a law.
[00:41:05] Everyone say law on the count of three.
[00:41:07] One, two, three.
[00:41:08] Law.
[00:41:08] This is the law of Moses.
[00:41:10] Like the Ten Commandments.
[00:41:12] And your job is to follow this law so you can live up to the standards of God and therefore you can be different.
[00:41:19] Well, as a reminder that you're called to be different, as a reminder that you're called to follow the law, God told Moses to make sure that all the male Israelites were circumcised because it was going to be a physical mark, a reminder to them that you're supposed to be different and you're not supposed to be like everyone else.
[00:41:38] Does that make sense?
[00:41:40] Well, the problem is it doesn't work.
[00:41:42] Prophets, you know why?
[00:41:44] Because you can't follow the law.
[00:41:46] And they couldn't follow the law.
[00:41:48] It's the best they tried.
[00:41:49] They just constantly failed at this.
[00:41:52] So here's what God ended up doing.
[00:41:54] God ended up sending himself through his son Jesus to this world.
[00:41:59] And he didn't just follow the law.
[00:42:01] Listen to me.
[00:42:01] He fulfilled it.
[00:42:03] which means that he lived a perfect life there was no immorality in him he never had a bad thought he never said a curse word he was blameless absolutely perfect but at the end of his life instead of being rewarded for fulfilling the law he was cursed for it he was cursed on a bloody cross on top of a hill called calvary you see jesus who followed the law perfectly who really is different
[00:42:32] Instead of now getting the glory of God in that moment, took the punishment of us sinners upon himself.
[00:42:40] Paul says it this way, he says, He who knew no sin became sin so we can be the righteous of God.
[00:42:48] And here's the way we say it at First Baptist, Jesus who is completely innocent,
[00:42:53] Now became utterly guilty on that cross.
[00:42:56] So you and I who are utterly guilty can now be completely innocent as we stand before God the Father.
[00:43:02] Amen?
[00:43:03] That's the gospel.
[00:43:05] You see, we couldn't fulfill the law, we couldn't follow the law, we couldn't be different.
[00:43:09] So now, now listen, listen, now we don't try to follow the law, now we're not trying to be different.
[00:43:15] What we do is we surrender to the one who is different, the one who is holy, and that's Jesus and Jesus alone.
[00:43:25] See, brothers and sisters, the good news of the gospel is we don't have rules we have to follow.
[00:43:30] And this isn't a checklist, and it isn't behavior modification.
[00:43:35] It's surrender to the one who is perfect.
[00:43:37] In other words, you don't have to be perfect.
[00:43:39] You just trust in the one who is.
[00:43:41] Amen?
[00:43:41] That is the gospel.
[00:43:43] So now everything has changed.
[00:43:45] We don't need a mark on our body to remind us that we're different.
[00:43:49] Now we have a new symbol, a new mark that reminds us we follow the one that's different, and that isn't circumcision, that's baptism.
[00:43:57] So in the New Testament, circumcision changes to baptism.
[00:44:00] So now when people give their hearts to Christ, and we saw this last Sunday, we're getting ready to see it next Sunday,
[00:44:05] We'll have brothers and sisters walk through these waters here.
[00:44:07] They go into the water symbolizing the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus because now we claim that over our lives.
[00:44:15] Y'all with me so far this morning?
[00:44:17] That's your quick theology lesson for today.
[00:44:20] And if that doesn't make sense, if you have any more questions about circumcision or Old Testament laws, if you'll just go to the back of your bulletin and get the email address bdillard at fbcmorrison.com.
[00:44:31] He would be more than happy to answer any questions that you have, okay?
[00:44:38] Well...
[00:44:39] Well, these Judaizers, they say they believe this.
[00:44:42] They say we believe that only Jesus can change our lives, but they're certainly not living that way.
[00:44:48] So they go to the region of Galatia where Paul and Barnabas is at.
[00:44:52] Heather, see if you can find me in verse 2 up here.
[00:44:54] Look at this, verse 2, when Paul and Barnabas get back here.
[00:44:57] They had no small dissension and debate with them.
[00:45:01] You know what that means?
[00:45:02] It means they blow a gasket here.
[00:45:04] They lie to fuse.
[00:45:05] Are you kidding me?
[00:45:06] This is what you're teaching?
[00:45:08] No way!
[00:45:09] No way is this true!
[00:45:11] And this is such a big deal that Antioch actually sends out Polybarbs and some other leaders to go to Jerusalem to address this issue.
[00:45:23] Now, let me just explain.
[00:45:25] When you preach a message like this,
[00:45:27] That before you become Christian, you have to X, Y, Z.
[00:45:32] You have to do something.
[00:45:32] This is what we call legalism, okay?
[00:45:36] Now, sometimes people use the definition of legalism as just someone who's more strict or more disciplined than I am.
[00:45:42] But the actual definition of legalism, if you'll write this down just real quick, is when you're trying to earn God's approval through human effort.
[00:45:51] And what these Judaizers were telling them is, see, you've got to earn God's approval.
[00:45:55] Yes, Jesus can save you, but first, X, Y, Z, you've got to follow the law of Moses.
[00:46:01] First, X, Y, Z, you've got to follow these dietary rules or honor these festivals or be circumcised.
[00:46:08] Well, that's not the gospel.
[00:46:10] So Paul and Barnabas, they hear this, they flip a lid, blow a gasket, get mad, and now they're going to Jerusalem for this massive church council meeting.
[00:46:20] Well, when they get there, there's some opposition.
[00:46:22] If you will, jump down to verse 5 in Acts 15.
[00:46:27] But some believers who belong to the party of the Pharisees...
[00:46:31] That's the Judaizers right there.
[00:46:33] That's part of the Pharisees.
[00:46:35] And they said it is necessary to circumcise them in order that they may keep the law of Moses.
[00:46:42] See, they have to go through this first before Jesus can save them.
[00:46:47] But brothers and sisters, that's just not true.
[00:46:51] Jump down to verse 7, because these apostles and these elders, they're going to stick up.
[00:46:54] They're going to guard the gospel.
[00:46:56] Here, look at this in verse 7.
[00:46:57] And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up.
[00:47:01] Can I share with you something kind of nerdy here?
[00:47:04] Peter's standing up to speak, and this is going to be the last time Peter speaks in the book of Acts.
[00:47:10] It's kind of sad, isn't it?
[00:47:12] It's the last time we're going to hear from Peter.
[00:47:14] But there's two things I love about this.
[00:47:16] Number one, good leaders always know how to train good leaders.
[00:47:20] And after this moment, the spotlight kind of leaves Peter and it starts shining more on Paul and Barnabas.
[00:47:26] The second thing I love about this is the first time we read about Peter in Acts, what's he doing?
[00:47:31] Acts 2.
[00:47:32] He's standing up to share the gospel.
[00:47:35] And now the very last thing we're going to read about him, he's standing up to guard the gospel.
[00:47:40] Look at this.
[00:47:41] And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and he said to them, Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
[00:47:55] And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them.
[00:47:59] By the way, will you just underline verse 8 in your Bible?
[00:48:02] We'll come back to that later.
[00:48:03] God knows their heart.
[00:48:05] See, that's all that matters.
[00:48:06] It's not what they do on the outside, it's what's in here.
[00:48:08] God knows their heart by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us.
[00:48:12] Verse 9.
[00:48:13] And he made no distinction between us and them.
[00:48:16] having cleansed their hearts by faith verse 10 now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear you you you stupid stupid Judaizers you're making them follow a law but the problem is you're not able to follow the law
[00:48:40] We've never been able to follow the law, so why are you asking them to do this now?
[00:48:46] But by the Jew here, he says, you're making it hard for them to know Jesus.
[00:48:51] Can I ask you a question, First Baptist, do you ever do that?
[00:48:55] I mean, this is a legit question every person needs to ask themselves, and we as a church need to ask ourselves.
[00:49:03] Do we make it easy for people who don't know Jesus to know Jesus?
[00:49:09] Or do we make it hard for them?
[00:49:11] We say you've got to look a certain way, you've got to act a certain way, you've got to change certain things, you've got to vote a certain way, you've got to behave a certain way.
[00:49:18] Is that what we do?
[00:49:20] Or are we making it easy, listen, for those who don't know Jesus to know?
[00:49:25] It's a question.
[00:49:28] Verse 11, But we believe, underline this one, but we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.
[00:49:38] What saves us?
[00:49:40] It is grace, and it is grace and grace alone.
[00:49:43] It is not our works.
[00:49:44] Look at this, verse 12, And the assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.
[00:49:54] In other words, all of chapter 14, that mission trip that they had been on.
[00:49:57] Verse 13, And after they had finished speaking, James replied,
[00:50:02] Now, this can be confusing because didn't James die in Acts 12?
[00:50:06] Well, that was a different James.
[00:50:08] You see, in Acts 12, that was James the Apostle.
[00:50:10] This James is the half-brother of Jesus who's standing up to speak.
[00:50:15] By the way, this is the most convincing evidence for me that Jesus really is who he says he is.
[00:50:22] I mean, this sounds a little immature, but I'm serious.
[00:50:24] The fact that his half-brother believed that he was God
[00:50:28] I mean, he must have been God.
[00:50:30] Can I ask you a question?
[00:50:30] How many of you in here have brothers?
[00:50:33] What would it do for them to convince you that they were God?
[00:50:38] I mean, seriously, think about that.
[00:50:40] My brothers, it doesn't matter how many dead people they brought back to life, how many miracles, there's nothing they could do to convince me that they were God.
[00:50:48] And the fact that James, the half-brother of Jesus, was convinced that he is God, for me, is just evidence.
[00:50:53] He must have been God.
[00:50:54] Seriously.
[00:50:55] Look at this.
[00:50:56] James, he replied, Brothers, listen to me.
[00:50:59] Simon has related how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for his name.
[00:51:06] Did you hear what he said?
[00:51:07] Simon's given his testimony.
[00:51:09] You've also heard Paul's testimony, and you've heard Barnabas' testimony.
[00:51:13] Verse 15.
[00:51:14] And with the words of the prophets, did you see what happened there?
[00:51:17] We'll get more into this later.
[00:51:19] But they start with testimony.
[00:51:22] They're going to be guided by the Spirit, but where are they anchored at?
[00:51:25] In the Word.
[00:51:28] Yeah, see, I hear what these other people are saying, which is good, but what does God Himself say in the Word of God?
[00:51:35] Do you see what the early church does?
[00:51:37] Their foundation is always the Word of God, and that's what He does here.
[00:51:41] What verse am I on?
[00:51:42] I forgot.
[00:51:43] Verse 15.
[00:51:44] And with the words of the prophets agree.
[00:51:45] He's actually quoting here Amos chapter 9.
[00:51:48] He said, just as it is written, verse 16.
[00:51:50] After this I will return and I will rebuild the tin of David that has fallen.
[00:51:55] I will rebuild its ruins and I will restore it.
[00:51:58] The remnant of all mankind may seek the Lord and all the Gentiles who are called by my name.
[00:52:07] See, from the very beginning, God was planning to reach these Gentiles, and how dare you Judaizers try to add to this gospel?
[00:52:15] Y'all, I have no control over our technology today, so I think I'm just going to go a little bit off the cuff, and we'll see where the Holy Spirit decides to end this plane.
[00:52:23] Let me tell you quickly the dangers of what happens when you start adding to a gospel like this.
[00:52:29] The dangers of what happens, and this is what happened in Galatia, it's what happened in Antioch, when people tried to make something more than what the gospel really is.
[00:52:40] There's two things that take place.
[00:52:41] Write this down.
[00:52:42] Number one, when you start adding to the gospel, it always, always, always leads to hopelessness.
[00:52:51] Because there's people out there who are just going to say, I can't do this.
[00:52:55] I can't follow Jesus.
[00:52:57] I'm just not worthy enough.
[00:52:59] Two ways this hopelessness shows up.
[00:53:01] Write this down in your sermon notes.
[00:53:02] Number one, legalism always ends in despair.
[00:53:06] Do you know that?
[00:53:08] It always ends in despair.
[00:53:09] These Judaizers who are coming in, they're not denying Jesus.
[00:53:15] And they're not saying that Jesus can't save you.
[00:53:17] They're just saying, before he saves you, do this.
[00:53:20] X, Y, Z.
[00:53:21] First.
[00:53:23] They're adding to him.
[00:53:25] And these men probably thought that they were protecting the gospel, but you know what they're really doing, First Baptist?
[00:53:31] They're just poisoning it.
[00:53:34] Their message sounds good and it sounds holy.
[00:53:37] We want to obey the law.
[00:53:40] But in reality, it's deadly because they're making it hard for people to come to Jesus.
[00:53:47] If Jesus isn't enough, if that's the gospel you're preaching, the gospel is always going to crumble.
[00:53:55] And if this church council meeting never happened, I'm telling you, the gospel would have crumbled and it would have never went past anyone.
[00:54:04] Here's the second thing I want you to write down.
[00:54:06] False gospels like this always create defeated people.
[00:54:13] Brothers and sisters, there's going to be people who walk away from the church and it's not because they hate Jesus.
[00:54:20] It's just because they're so exhausted in trying to earn Him.
[00:54:25] When grace becomes performance, the gospel stops sounding like good news and it starts sounding like bad math.
[00:54:32] And when you start to add to the gospel, you're not making it stronger, you're making it heavier.
[00:54:36] Here's what legalism is.
[00:54:39] Imagine you're drowning, you're gasping for air, and a rescue boat comes up, and a guy leans over the rails and says, Hey, I had this life preserver for you, but first... And he throws you an instruction manual on how to swim.
[00:54:53] That's legalism.
[00:54:57] And it's never going to work.
[00:54:58] It's just going to create this despair for people.
[00:55:03] Write this down.
[00:55:03] What's my third point?
[00:55:04] I forgot.
[00:55:07] You got it, Heather?
[00:55:08] Yeah.
[00:55:09] When you make people earn what Jesus already paid for, you drive them away.
[00:55:14] Because it's not about you learning how to swim.
[00:55:16] It's not about you learning how to do good works.
[00:55:19] It's not what you do.
[00:55:21] It's what Jesus Christ has already done.
[00:55:23] Amen?
[00:55:25] Brothers and sisters, when you start adding to the gospel and you start creating legalism, I'm telling you, this is when Christianity becomes religion.
[00:55:34] And Christianity was never supposed to be religion.
[00:55:36] Number four, religion versus Christianity.
[00:55:39] And I've explained this a couple of times, so let me just explain this quickly.
[00:55:43] All religion out there has the same kind of basic mode where we're going to do whatever we can to get closer to God.
[00:55:52] or perfection or peace or you know whatever so that's Islam Hinduism Buddhism Confucianism Judaism whatever it is it's all about how can we be better right so if you're Muslim then your whole objective in your life is can I follow the teachings of Muhammad can I submit to Allah and can I do that well enough that eventually Allah will accept me I give you an analogy a couple weeks ago it's about so imagine like trying to climb up a mountain
[00:56:20] And God's on top of that mountain.
[00:56:21] Our spiritual peace is on top of that mountain.
[00:56:23] And you've got to do the best you can to climb up to it so you can get to that place where you can be accepted.
[00:56:30] But see, that's not the way the gospel works.
[00:56:31] By the way, you know the word gospel in Greek is the word euangelion.
[00:56:35] and it literally means good news and here's why it's good news because it's not about you and I trying to get up a mountain the gospel is that Jesus Christ came down that mountain to get us and then to bring us where he's at it's not what we do it's what he's already done so maybe this would be helpful kind of write this down religion always says this I obey and then I can be accepted obey and then be accepted
[00:57:05] Obey!
[00:57:06] Obey!
[00:57:06] And then, then after you're good enough, then after you got it together, then after you behave, then after you kind of clean some things up, then maybe, then maybe you can get where you want to go.
[00:57:15] Not the gospel.
[00:57:15] You know what the gospel says?
[00:57:17] You are accepted.
[00:57:19] Now obey.
[00:57:20] You remember the story in John chapter 8?
[00:57:22] The woman who was caught in adultery?
[00:57:24] Remember that?
[00:57:26] Everyone wanted to kill her and Jesus comes up and he says, He without sin cast the first stone.
[00:57:31] They all begin to walk away, the oldest ones first, until it was only Jesus left there with the woman.
[00:57:35] Which is quite a predicament because Jesus is the only one rightfully without sin.
[00:57:41] And actually he is the only one who could pour out his wrath on her.
[00:57:45] But instead he looks at her and says, Woman, does no one here condemn you?
[00:57:49] No, sir, she said.
[00:57:51] Then neither do I.
[00:57:53] Go and leave your life of sin.
[00:57:54] Do you notice the progression?
[00:57:57] I don't condemn you.
[00:57:59] Now sin no more.
[00:58:01] It wasn't, go lead your life of sin and then I won't condemn you.
[00:58:05] No, first you're accepted and now because you're accepted, you can obey.
[00:58:11] See, religion says, I serve to get something from God, but the gospel says I serve because I already have God.
[00:58:17] I've already received Jesus.
[00:58:19] Religion says my identity is in what God can do for me.
[00:58:23] But gospel says my identity is what Jesus has already done for me.
[00:58:28] Religion says my failure means that God may reject me, but the gospel says that my failure in the first place is why God ran after me.
[00:58:37] Religion says I follow rules to prove that I'm righteous, but the gospel says I follow Jesus because He's the one that's righteous.
[00:58:46] Religion says God blesses me when I do good, but the gospel says God is good even when I'm not.
[00:58:52] Religion says my worth depends on my performance, but the gospel, the good news says my worth depends on Christ's perfection.
[00:59:01] Religion says I fear punishment.
[00:59:04] Gospel says I rest in forgiveness.
[00:59:06] Write this down.
[00:59:07] Religion says try harder.
[00:59:10] Gospel says trust deeper.
[00:59:14] There is a difference.
[00:59:16] And whenever we start adding legalism to the gospel message, it no longer becomes the gospel, and it becomes religion.
[00:59:27] Y'all, I've kind of lost control about the structure of how I wanted to do this sermon.
[00:59:34] And I've got a long way to go in Acts 15.
[00:59:37] So I'm just going to kind of call it quits right here.
[00:59:39] I want to pick up next Sunday.
[00:59:40] I just feel like the Holy Spirit's maybe wanting us to kind of focus a little bit more just on this point.
[00:59:46] We'll pick it back up.
[00:59:47] I want to ask Bethany.
[00:59:48] She'll come up because I want to tell you this is the area I've struggled in probably more of my life than any other area.
[00:59:58] If I can be honest with you and kind of transparent this morning, I was saved when I was 16 years old.
[01:00:05] 16 years old.
[01:00:07] It's a Thursday night.
[01:00:09] I've shared with you before, I was raised in church, but I wasn't necessarily raised in Christ, okay?
[01:00:15] I mean, I'd heard about Jesus, knew lots of Bible verses and stuff like that, but man, when I was 16 years old, I heard the gospel like I had never heard it before.
[01:00:26] I surrender my life to God.
[01:00:27] I said, Jesus, I want you to be my Savior.
[01:00:29] I trust in you.
[01:00:31] As of Thursday night, on Saturday night, literally two days later, I preached my first sermon.
[01:00:38] You see, I read where God told us to go and tell people about Him.
[01:00:41] I don't know.
[01:00:43] I guess I thought the only way I could do that was standing behind a pulpit.
[01:00:47] Somebody was foolish enough to let me do it.
[01:00:49] So I preached that Saturday.
[01:00:52] I've told you that before.
[01:00:53] You know what I don't think I've ever told you?
[01:00:55] Two weeks later, we're sitting in church.
[01:00:59] Music's playing.
[01:01:02] I come back up to the altar, and when the pastor leaned down and asked me what I wanted to pray for, you know what I told that pastor?
[01:01:10] I said, well, I need to get saved.
[01:01:13] And he said, no, wait a second.
[01:01:16] I thought you got saved like two weeks ago.
[01:01:19] I said, no, I don't think I was really saved.
[01:01:21] I didn't get saved.
[01:01:23] So I gave my heart to Jesus again.
[01:01:27] About a month later, I came back to the altar.
[01:01:33] I said, Pastor Frank, I gotta get saved again.
[01:01:37] The church I grew up in, whenever somebody gave their hearts to Jesus, they would turn them around, announce it, and everybody would give a big hand clap.
[01:01:46] Well, with me, it got to the point where nobody was clapping anymore.
[01:01:50] It was honestly kind of awkward.
[01:01:53] I'm ashamed to tell you I have been baptized six times.
[01:01:58] Six times.
[01:01:59] Because for me, I just never felt like I was good enough to be declared righteous before God.
[01:02:09] I don't want to get too personal with you, but I grew up in two different church traditions.
[01:02:13] I didn't grow up Baptist, so if you're in here and you didn't grow up Baptist, you're in good company.
[01:02:16] I didn't either.
[01:02:18] The church we went to until I was like 12 years old was a church that was kind of charismatic.
[01:02:23] I know some of you are thinking, it makes a lot of sense right now.
[01:02:28] It was a church that really focused on the gifts of the Spirit.
[01:02:32] And if you're going to be saved, then you're going to see the Holy Spirit do things in your life.
[01:02:37] Well, we left that church, and then we went to another church, and this tradition taught us that
[01:02:42] Well, if we're not careful, we can kind of lose our salvation.
[01:02:45] And so what happened when I was 16, those two doctrines created a theological hurricane in my heart.
[01:02:52] Because here's what happened.
[01:02:53] I didn't feel the Holy Spirit doing all these incredible things.
[01:02:57] And I just assumed, well, maybe it's because I've lost my salvation and I'm not really saved.
[01:03:02] And maybe it's because I'm not good enough to be saved.
[01:03:04] So I just kept on going back to the altar and kept asking to be baptized.
[01:03:08] Because that has been the greatest temptation that the enemy has given me.
[01:03:13] I'm just not good enough to belong to God.
[01:03:18] I'm 38 right now, which means I've actually lived more life saved than I have lost.
[01:03:26] And I wish I could tell you that after living longer saved than lost, and after almost nearly 20 years of being a pastor, that that temptation has went away.
[01:03:38] But it has not.
[01:03:40] Can I just be real transparent with you?
[01:03:41] I mean, it looks a little bit different, you know?
[01:03:44] Early on, I would say this, okay?
[01:03:46] If I'm really saved, why do I still have so much lust in my heart?
[01:03:50] Why do I still have so much greed in my heart?
[01:03:53] Why am I still so selfish?
[01:03:54] Now, now it looks a little bit different, but now here's what the devil tempts me with.
[01:04:00] The devil will say things like this, like, you know, if you was really saved, you won't be such a jerk to Wendy and those kids.
[01:04:10] You know, if you was really saved and really called to be a pastor, by now wouldn't you just quit caring what other people thought?
[01:04:19] Wouldn't you just kind of let go of desperately caring about other people's opinions the way you do?
[01:04:23] I mean, if you was really saved, if you was really saved, really called to be a pastor, I mean, I don't know, wouldn't you be living in Cambodia?
[01:04:34] Smuggling Bibles into Burma?
[01:04:37] Living in...
[01:04:39] Living in Yemen where less than 1% are Christian and the majority of death is children 5 years old or younger dying from malnutrition.
[01:04:50] I mean if you was really saved would you really be in this big beautiful church?
[01:04:54] Second oldest church in Morrisville or wouldn't you be like on the front lines risking life and limb?
[01:05:01] Oh that is a temptation I've had to deal with over and over and over because legalism
[01:05:10] God put in my heart and I've had a hard time getting rid of it because I grew up with a lot of people adding to the gospel and even now it has still stained me and maybe you're like that and maybe for you being a part of church has created a sense of brokenness and despair and you just felt defeated
[01:05:39] I can relate to that.
[01:05:40] So I want to tell you what I do.
[01:05:42] I want to tell you what I do every morning.
[01:05:44] I mean, this helps me.
[01:05:46] My solution has just been this.
[01:05:49] I got to start caring more about what God says about me than what I think about me.
[01:05:58] Because we have a habit of caring more about what we say
[01:06:04] And then what God says, right?
[01:06:06] You ever hear, I hear this a lot as a pastor, people come in and they'll say, well, Pastor, I know the Lord forgives me, but I just can't forgive myself.
[01:06:15] You ever hear somebody say that?
[01:06:16] That sounds real humble, it's not, it's real prideful.
[01:06:20] Because what you're saying is that your opinion of you is more important than your Creator's opinion of you.
[01:06:27] So I'm just having to learn this lesson every day, every day when I wake up, Lord,
[01:06:32] What do you say about me?
[01:06:33] What do you say?
[01:06:35] Listen to this.
[01:06:37] Romans 8, verse 1.
[01:06:41] There's therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
[01:06:48] Did you hear that?
[01:06:48] There's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
[01:06:56] That means if you trust in Him,
[01:06:59] If you confess Him as Lord, He says, I saved you.
[01:07:02] You don't have to do anything.
[01:07:04] You don't have to earn this.
[01:07:06] It's not what you do.
[01:07:07] It's what I've already done for you.
[01:07:08] What about this?
[01:07:09] Romans chapter 8 verse 31.
[01:07:12] What then shall we say about these things?
[01:07:14] If God is for us, who can be against us?
[01:07:19] He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
[01:07:27] Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?
[01:07:31] Now see, I used to think those who would bring a charge, well, that's those out there.
[01:07:35] It's those Judaizers.
[01:07:36] What I'm learning the older I get, it's not them out there, it's what's stirring in here.
[01:07:41] It's not the Judaizers, it's Seth.
[01:07:44] I'm the one who brings that charge against myself.
[01:07:46] But God says, you can't do that.
[01:07:48] Here's why.
[01:07:49] It is God who justifies.
[01:07:52] Who is to condemn?
[01:07:53] Jesus Christ is the one who died, and more than that, he was raised.
[01:07:58] Who is at the right hand?
[01:07:59] Who indeed is interceding for us?
[01:08:01] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
[01:08:04] Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword, as it is written, for your sake we're being killed all the day long, we're regarded as sheep going to the slaughter, because that's the way it feels sometimes.
[01:08:17] But Paul says, no!
[01:08:18] And all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
[01:08:22] For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor heights, nor deaths, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate me from the love of Jesus Christ.
[01:08:36] Brothers and sisters, I just want to talk, maybe there's someone in here today, and today you know what that's like, thinking you're not good enough.
[01:08:45] Are you somehow going to earn this?
[01:08:47] You've somehow got to be better.
[01:08:51] This isn't behavior modification.
[01:08:53] This is surrender.
[01:08:55] And don't you let anyone add to this gospel.
[01:08:57] You keep the gospel pure.
[01:08:59] It's not about you being better.
[01:09:00] It's not about you being perfect.
[01:09:02] You submit it to the one who is perfect.
[01:09:04] So here's what we're going to do today.
[01:09:07] We're going to start to sing.
[01:09:09] And as we start to sing, I want to ask you to do two things.
[01:09:11] BJ is going to the overflow.
[01:09:13] By the way, thank you for those in the overflow who graciously give up your seats every Sunday.
[01:09:20] BJ is going there right now.
[01:09:22] And I want to ask you this question.
[01:09:23] When we start to sing, if this is you, this altar is going to be open.
[01:09:31] And I want to ask you to come and do two things.
[01:09:33] Maybe one is just come and repent.
[01:09:37] because you have made it tough for other people to know the gospel and maybe that wasn't even other people you've made it tough for you to know the heart of the gospel you've put a burden on yourself because you think you've got to earn this you think you got to be perfect but you don't
[01:09:56] It's not what you do, it's what Jesus has already done.
[01:10:00] Maybe for you, you're in here and you've never actually given your heart to Jesus.
[01:10:05] You feel like you can never measure up.
[01:10:08] You say this, you know, once I get it all together, once I get that worked out, once I get this worked out, then I'll come.
[01:10:13] No, it's never going to happen that way.
[01:10:16] Today is the day you say, no, Lord, I come just as I am without one plea.
[01:10:21] Lord, I got one shed for me.
[01:10:24] I want to trust you, Jesus.
[01:10:26] Jesus, you died for me at my worst.
[01:10:27] You're not going to abandon me now.
[01:10:29] You are with me.
[01:10:31] Lord, you want me just the way I am.
[01:10:36] You're accepted.
[01:10:38] Then you obey.
[01:10:41] Maybe you're here and you've been pretending.
[01:10:43] You've been pretending that you're a follower, but you're really not.
[01:10:47] Maybe you've been apprehensive about truly trusting Jesus.
[01:10:52] You've been scared to do that.
[01:10:54] Can I read one more verse to you?
[01:10:55] I just want to share this with you.
[01:10:58] In Revelation 21, John talks about what's going to happen when God makes all things right.
[01:11:07] When earth and heaven collide.
[01:11:09] He says this,
[01:11:12] I am making all things new.
[01:11:15] He said, write these words down for they are true and trustworthy.
[01:11:19] He said, it is done for I am the Alpha and the Omega.
[01:11:24] Amen?
[01:11:26] But, as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, the murderers, the sexual, immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, the liars, their portion will be the lake of fire.
[01:11:42] It'll be the second death.
[01:11:44] Did you hear that?
[01:11:45] When God makes all things right, those who go to hell, listen to the list here, the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, the murderers, the sexual immoral, the liars.
[01:12:02] Now, you know, the first time I read that, I thought, well, that makes sense.
[01:12:04] Of course, adulterers and immoral people and murderers and all of them, of course, everyone would go to hell.
[01:12:09] Did you hear what the first one was on the list?
[01:12:12] Cowards.
[01:12:14] A coward.
[01:12:18] Being a coward.
[01:12:21] Being a coward is enough to send you to hell.
[01:12:25] And if you're in here and you never trusted Jesus as your Savior because you never felt good enough, but in this moment you feel too scared to get up, too scared to trust Jesus with your life, too scared about what other people may think,
[01:12:42] There's one place that's going to end up there.
[01:12:46] So in this moment, Jesus says, don't be a coward.
[01:12:49] You be brave, and you stand up before your spouse, and you stand up before your kids, and you stand up before the people in this church, and you let them know that you're tired of pretending, and you let them know that you're tired of being something you're not, and you let yourself know you're tired of trying to be better.
[01:13:05] Instead, instead, today's the day you surrender.
[01:13:09] to the one who's already defeated death.
[01:13:12] This altar is going to be open.
[01:13:15] If today's the day you need to be honest and take the courage of the one who's defeated death, the one who is perfect, then today's the day I want to ask you to come and give your life to Jesus.
[01:13:26] Won't you stand right where you're at?
[01:13:27] Let's sing together.
[01:13:28] Father, we thank you for who you are.
[01:13:31] We thank you for your mercy and for your grace.
[01:13:35] And Father, we ask in this moment that you would help us
[01:13:41] She would help us trust you, not in our works, not in what we do, but Father, in what you've already done.
[01:13:50] Father, if there is someone in here this morning who's not truly
[01:13:56] Truly giving their hearts to you.
[01:13:58] If there's someone in here this morning who feels like they gotta be better before they can come to you, that they gotta obey, obey before they can be accepted, oh Lord, I just pray that you convict them this morning because they've been trusting in their opinion more than your opinion and that today would be the day of salvation.
[01:14:15] That they would not be afraid, that they wouldn't be cowardly about this, but with courage and with braveness, they would come and they would surrender their lives to you.
[01:14:26] May this be the day where new life is given.
[01:14:29] Father, we repent for thinking that what you did wasn't enough.
[01:14:33] We repent for ever adding on to this gospel.
[01:14:37] Father, bring healing this morning.
[01:14:38] We pray this in your holy name.

[01:14:40] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[01:15:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
The Holy Spirit, Son of the Lord, Lord of all grace, Let us show that He has changed us, Let us reveal the sense of love,
[01:15:34] Let us share our life together as we share our life with God.
[01:15:55] of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Christ of Latter-day Saints

[01:16:23] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy,

[01:16:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[01:17:28] of Christ, Seek of God to be part of God's will.

[01:17:52] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
We are all to be God's people, showing by our lives His grace.

[01:17:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
of the Holy Spirit, Son of God for all the race.
[01:18:22] Let us show Him the changes that He made for us as His own.
[01:18:23] Let us share our lives together

[01:18:44] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In Jesus' name we pray.
[01:19:08] Amen.

[01:19:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
If today you made a decision, either to...
[01:19:33] Recommit yourself to Jesus.
[01:19:36] Maybe for someone here, you made a decision today to become a Christian, start a relationship with Jesus.
[01:19:41] Maybe you've been a Christian for a while, but today you decided to renew that commitment, renew your faithfulness to the Lord.
[01:19:52] Would you not leave today until you let me, Pastor BJ, Pastor Alan, one of us know we just want to be praying for you and we want to rejoice with you in that moment.
[01:20:01] I want to pray for us right now.
[01:20:02] This altar is still open.
[01:20:05] And so if you want to pray, if you want to talk, there's still plenty of people, plenty of pastors, plenty of deacons around who's willing to do that.
[01:20:12] And do not leave here today.
[01:20:14] Don't leave here until you know that your confidence and your assurance, listen,
[01:20:20] It's not in what you do, it's in what Jesus has already done 2,000 years ago.
[01:20:26] Amen?
[01:20:27] Lord Jesus, we thank you for who you are.
[01:20:30] We thank you for your grace.
[01:20:32] We thank you, Father, that when temptation comes, when temptation comes that tries to give despair, when temptation comes that makes us feel like we can't measure up, Lord, would you just remind us
[01:20:54] We cannot follow the law.
[01:20:55] That's what Peter said in verse 11.
[01:20:57] We just can't follow it.
[01:21:01] But Father, we don't have to because you fulfilled it.
[01:21:05] So now we surrender to you.
[01:21:06] We trust in you and you alone.
[01:21:08] Father, I pray that you bring healing today.
[01:21:11] I pray that you bring confidence today.
[01:21:15] Father, I pray that you bring such confidence today that now instead of beating ourselves up that we won't measure up, now we can rest in our salvation so much so that we can use that energy to now go tell others the grace and the mercy of Jesus Christ.
[01:21:31] So Father, continue to lead God and guide us.
[01:21:35] Father, as we leave here, bless us and keep us.
[01:21:38] Make your face shine upon us and give us travel and mercies until we meet again.
[01:21:43] Father, we pray all of these things in your holy and most exalted name.
[01:21:47] And all those who agreed said, Amen.