1 00:00:00,020 --> 00:00:02,200 Thank you so much for being here this evening. 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:06,600 You know, I've got a great privilege in front of me to speak about the Church of Christ. 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:10,440 I want us to take a look at the Church of Christ. 4 00:00:10,756 --> 00:00:21,442 The Bible speaks about it of course where the body of Christ, the family of God, the kingdom of God is referenced as the church of Christ as His bride. 5 00:00:21,983 --> 00:00:24,485 And it goes to the love that Christ has for His church. 6 00:00:24,485 --> 00:00:34,070 And we read about that of course in Ephesians chapter 5 starting with verse 23, husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it. 7 00:00:35,372 --> 00:00:36,532 And he says, 8 00:00:36,704 --> 00:00:41,706 the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he is the Savior of the body. 9 00:00:41,706 --> 00:00:48,650 Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the church be, the wives be, to their own husbands and everything. 10 00:00:48,650 --> 00:00:59,154 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it to himself, and cleanse it with the washing of water by the 11 00:00:59,154 --> 00:01:03,006 word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church." 12 00:01:03,208 --> 00:01:14,646 having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish." So here the Lord likens the Church of Christ to the Bride of Christ showing His love for 13 00:01:14,646 --> 00:01:18,709 us, His sacrificial love for us, gave Himself for it. 14 00:01:18,709 --> 00:01:23,082 It one thing for a man to love his wife, it is another thing for him to die for her. 15 00:01:23,082 --> 00:01:25,543 That is what Jesus did for His Bride the Church. 16 00:01:25,543 --> 00:01:33,288 So when we talk about the Church of Christ it is a great privilege to talk about something that the Lord loves so much that He gave Himself to bring it into its existence. 17 00:01:33,838 --> 00:01:36,980 And in our talk just now, I'd like to bring out a couple of points. 18 00:01:36,980 --> 00:01:41,373 One has to do with the nature of the church being unique. 19 00:01:41,593 --> 00:01:49,819 When you survey the religious landscape, for example, if you Google something, we talked about what an inaccurate process that might be, but let's say you Google how many churches 20 00:01:49,819 --> 00:01:50,679 are there. 21 00:01:50,679 --> 00:01:53,982 You'll come back with a number that'll knock you out of your socks. 22 00:01:53,982 --> 00:01:58,624 There'll be 45,000 different churches in our world. 23 00:01:58,745 --> 00:02:03,824 Many different names, creeds, practices, purposes, all sorts of things. 24 00:02:03,824 --> 00:02:06,285 calling themselves a church. 25 00:02:06,686 --> 00:02:11,509 But when we come to the New Testament we find out the exclusive nature of the church. 26 00:02:11,810 --> 00:02:15,091 It being the bride of Christ, Jesus has one bride. 27 00:02:15,472 --> 00:02:23,137 Our denominational friends have missed this and they have Christ being one of the greatest adulterers ever lived beyond Solomon with wives. 28 00:02:23,978 --> 00:02:28,001 Forty-five thousand different churches all claiming to be associated with Christ. 29 00:02:28,001 --> 00:02:31,763 Christ has one bride to church, one church, one body. 30 00:02:31,763 --> 00:02:33,072 This is one 31 00:02:33,072 --> 00:02:37,254 22 and 23, the church which is His body. 32 00:02:38,074 --> 00:02:43,984 Jesus said out in His personal ministry to get everybody conditioned to the idea that it's not just any way you're going to do. 33 00:02:43,984 --> 00:02:48,518 You're going to have to please God and do what He wants walking His way. 34 00:02:48,959 --> 00:02:53,220 In Matthew chapter 7 in the great sermon on the mount, Jesus said, 35 00:03:02,050 --> 00:03:10,977 And narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." It won't be the broad way, it will be the straight and narrow way. 36 00:03:10,977 --> 00:03:12,309 Straight meaning difficult. 37 00:03:12,309 --> 00:03:14,050 We hear about straight of hormones lately. 38 00:03:14,050 --> 00:03:15,491 Ever heard anything about that? 39 00:03:15,491 --> 00:03:17,053 Is it narrow enough? 40 00:03:17,053 --> 00:03:20,275 So narrow they can defend it, would it be begun over there right now. 41 00:03:20,275 --> 00:03:22,777 Straight of hormones, straight, narrow. 42 00:03:22,777 --> 00:03:25,959 Narrow is the way that leads to life. 43 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:31,274 Also in the personal ministry of Jesus, His enemies set out to criticize Him, the Pharisees. 44 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:37,525 they joined forces with the Herodians on the occasion I have in mind from Matthew chapter 22 and verse 16. 45 00:03:37,525 --> 00:03:41,067 And they trying to tempt Jesus and tangle Him up in His words. 46 00:03:41,288 --> 00:03:47,000 And so they sent the Herodians out to Him and they said to Him, Master. 47 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:48,694 Now here is what they knew about Jesus. 48 00:03:48,694 --> 00:03:50,455 This is His reputation. 49 00:03:50,476 --> 00:03:52,537 And this coming from His enemies. 50 00:03:52,798 --> 00:03:55,420 Master we know that thou art true. 51 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,913 Jesus claims to be true the way truth in the life John 14 says. 52 00:03:58,913 --> 00:04:00,534 We know that thou art true. 53 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,171 They're not going to say something initially with which he would object, so we know that you're true. 54 00:04:04,171 --> 00:04:05,921 You're claiming to be true. 55 00:04:06,081 --> 00:04:09,062 And teaches the way of God in truth. 56 00:04:09,062 --> 00:04:12,983 The way of God in truth. 57 00:04:12,983 --> 00:04:15,554 Neither carest thou for any man, nor regardest the persons of men. 58 00:04:15,554 --> 00:04:17,242 And then they ask him the difficult questions. 59 00:04:17,242 --> 00:04:20,685 Is it lawful to give honor to Caesar or not? 60 00:04:21,125 --> 00:04:27,407 They knew that Jesus was true, and they knew that he taught the way of truth exclusively. 61 00:04:27,587 --> 00:04:29,488 That's what he was known for doing. 62 00:04:29,528 --> 00:04:31,018 They're not two ways. 63 00:04:31,394 --> 00:04:33,005 certainly not many ways. 64 00:04:33,265 --> 00:04:42,412 Also when you take a look at this way we find Jesus calling attention to it in John chapter 14 where He talks about if somebody tries to come up another way the same as a 65 00:04:42,412 --> 00:04:44,513 thief and a robber, only one way. 66 00:04:44,513 --> 00:04:51,958 Verily, verily I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way the same as the thief and the robber. 67 00:04:51,958 --> 00:04:54,560 The door, there is one door. 68 00:04:54,560 --> 00:05:00,526 Somebody try to make another door, come in another way, set aside a little bit the teaching that we've got here. 69 00:05:00,526 --> 00:05:03,389 and let's all make it to heaven the same as a thief and a robber. 70 00:05:03,389 --> 00:05:06,181 Jesus confronted this during His personal ministry. 71 00:05:06,382 --> 00:05:13,348 He let people know, as I suggested a minute ago in John 14, 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 72 00:05:13,528 --> 00:05:16,221 Each of those points are singular in nature, the way. 73 00:05:16,221 --> 00:05:19,974 There is only one way to heaven and that way is Christ. 74 00:05:19,974 --> 00:05:26,384 There is only one truth that will get us there, and that is the truth that Christ is the Son of God, the Bible is His Word. 75 00:05:26,384 --> 00:05:29,724 There is only one life that can be lived that will be pleasing in the sight of God. 76 00:05:29,724 --> 00:05:31,724 You can't just go your own way. 77 00:05:31,724 --> 00:05:35,044 Isaiah 53, 6, we've all gone our own way. 78 00:05:35,264 --> 00:05:37,404 And the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 79 00:05:37,404 --> 00:05:38,004 What's He saying? 80 00:05:38,004 --> 00:05:39,524 You go your own way, it's sin. 81 00:05:39,524 --> 00:05:41,964 That sin is going to fall right back on you. 82 00:05:42,124 --> 00:05:44,224 We've all gone our own way. 83 00:05:44,244 --> 00:05:47,344 But yet Jesus comes along and says there is one way. 84 00:05:47,344 --> 00:05:49,204 I am the way. 85 00:05:49,564 --> 00:05:54,544 Interested in eternal life, we look exclusively to Jesus Christ and the way. 86 00:05:55,261 --> 00:06:03,437 turn to the book of Acts the methodology and teaching of Christ consists of the way and is referred to as the way. 87 00:06:03,437 --> 00:06:04,928 He said, the way. 88 00:06:05,429 --> 00:06:10,012 A way is of course a path to get one to a destination. 89 00:06:10,113 --> 00:06:12,925 It is also a method of doing something. 90 00:06:12,925 --> 00:06:14,166 Jesus is the way. 91 00:06:14,166 --> 00:06:16,698 He is both the path and the method of getting there. 92 00:06:16,698 --> 00:06:24,732 Peter writes in 1 Peter 2 and verse 21 that Jesus said as an example that we should follow in 93 00:06:24,732 --> 00:06:26,012 steps. 94 00:06:26,093 --> 00:06:27,933 He is the way. 95 00:06:28,814 --> 00:06:33,696 And people understood and realized that in the historical book of Acts, in Acts chapter 9. 96 00:06:33,696 --> 00:06:42,500 As discussion begins in Acts chapter 9, while Saul is yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, he went to the high priest. 97 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:51,694 Here's what he desired, that if there are any of them of this way, I want letters from the high priest, I want to go to Damascus. 98 00:06:51,756 --> 00:07:03,421 I want to there persecute those who are following this way, whether they men or women, that they might be bound and brought to Jerusalem." He knew His prey. 99 00:07:03,762 --> 00:07:05,862 He knew that they follow a certain way. 100 00:07:05,862 --> 00:07:12,025 They are going to do certain things, certain ways because He had observed that on the part of these Christians. 101 00:07:12,225 --> 00:07:18,888 For example, they are going be doing just like you and me are doing today, meeting on the first day of the week to take the Lord's Supper, Acts 20 verse 7. 102 00:07:19,216 --> 00:07:27,376 they're gonna be saying like brother glenn's been leading us in saying feces five nineteen you can enter a meeting they might have a meeting a lot of people meet some made on the 103 00:07:27,376 --> 00:07:35,295 first day of the week but it might be a lot of the meeting they're taking up money to buy children some glasses or something he wouldn't go into a meeting like that they're not 104 00:07:35,295 --> 00:07:46,298 saying he wouldn't see them preaching christ he would know the characteristics of the way it could be identified to the extent that he could go in and persecute them 105 00:07:46,298 --> 00:07:50,029 And with a letter of approval, he's got the indictment in his hand. 106 00:07:50,030 --> 00:07:55,502 All he needs to do is find somebody that qualifies to be in this way and he can bring them captive back to Jerusalem. 107 00:07:55,502 --> 00:08:02,074 And you know the punishment that they were undergoing there as Acts chapter 8 verses 1 and 2 readily describe. 108 00:08:02,455 --> 00:08:09,697 Also you'll remember as you move through the book of Acts in Acts 16 verse 17, Paul and Silas are here at Philippi. 109 00:08:10,038 --> 00:08:15,260 And as they enter into the city there is a young girl possessed with a spirit of divination. 110 00:08:15,260 --> 00:08:16,490 She knew things. 111 00:08:17,691 --> 00:08:18,272 things. 112 00:08:18,272 --> 00:08:19,552 She had a demon. 113 00:08:19,732 --> 00:08:23,892 And when she sees Paul and Silas she gives a true statement. 114 00:08:23,892 --> 00:08:36,432 She says, �These men are servants of the Most High God,� well that was true, �who show unto us the way of salvation.� Now may be surprised that demons would know that, but the 115 00:08:36,432 --> 00:08:40,312 Bible tells us James 1 and 19 the devils also believe in temple. 116 00:08:40,632 --> 00:08:46,852 They knew that Paul and Silas were those who taught the way of salvation even as they did. 117 00:08:47,386 --> 00:08:52,517 There's an interesting reading also in Acts chapter 18 about a man who's mighty in the Scriptures, Apollos. 118 00:08:52,698 --> 00:08:56,138 You know you learn and you study and you can always learn. 119 00:08:56,559 --> 00:09:00,760 And Apollos described as mighty in the Scriptures had a lesson he needed to learn. 120 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:05,081 And he ran into Priscilla and Aquila and they drew him aside. 121 00:09:05,081 --> 00:09:07,402 All he knew about was the baptism of John. 122 00:09:07,402 --> 00:09:10,042 Now the baptism of John was unto repentance. 123 00:09:10,042 --> 00:09:13,343 It was acknowledging that yes Christ is coming. 124 00:09:13,643 --> 00:09:16,334 And he was teaching the baptism of repentance. 125 00:09:16,982 --> 00:09:19,173 It was for the remission of sins, Mark 1-4. 126 00:09:19,173 --> 00:09:21,454 Some people don't realize that, but it was. 127 00:09:22,015 --> 00:09:29,760 And even our Lord Jesus Christ was baptizing with that baptism which was for the remission of sins, John 4-2, and He made and baptized more disciples than John. 128 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:31,640 Jesus was baptizing. 129 00:09:31,841 --> 00:09:33,681 John was baptizing. 130 00:09:33,842 --> 00:09:36,363 Apollos was influenced by the teaching. 131 00:09:36,403 --> 00:09:40,986 The Church had been established now for many years, and yet what is happening? 132 00:09:40,986 --> 00:09:44,808 Apollos continued to teach the baptism of repentance for the remission sins. 133 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:54,167 not the baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Matthew chapter 28, 19 and 20, in order to be saved, Mark 16, 16. 134 00:09:54,167 --> 00:09:58,361 But he was teaching the baptism of repentance. 135 00:09:58,361 --> 00:10:02,874 Ananias and Priscilla got him off to the side. 136 00:10:02,955 --> 00:10:04,416 And you know what they did? 137 00:10:04,756 --> 00:10:09,560 Acts 18, 26, they expounded unto him the way of God. 138 00:10:10,576 --> 00:10:13,116 there's a certain way to believe something about baptism. 139 00:10:13,116 --> 00:10:16,096 You've got to have the right way associated with that. 140 00:10:16,256 --> 00:10:20,776 And so they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more perfectly. 141 00:10:20,776 --> 00:10:22,616 So there again you see this way. 142 00:10:22,616 --> 00:10:30,016 It's Jesus' statement, am the way that is echoing through the book of Acts to let us know there's a methodology associated with this. 143 00:10:30,016 --> 00:10:33,596 There's a path connected with this that will get us to heaven if we'll follow it. 144 00:10:33,596 --> 00:10:35,956 That's what they're doing in the book of Acts. 145 00:10:36,136 --> 00:10:40,712 Also in Acts chapter 19 down in verse 9, 146 00:10:41,230 --> 00:10:46,375 Remember those twelve men who didn't know anything about the Holy Spirit who were baptized properly. 147 00:10:46,375 --> 00:10:51,849 And then you will find that they received miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. 148 00:10:52,130 --> 00:11:01,178 But when divers were hardened, and believe not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated himself, disputing daily in the school of 149 00:11:01,178 --> 00:11:02,839 one Tyrantus. 150 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:08,494 So there were people when they saw somebody being properly baptized as those twelve men were. 151 00:11:09,212 --> 00:11:14,534 began to create havoc and to be hardened and not to believe. 152 00:11:14,534 --> 00:11:17,136 They spoke evil against that way. 153 00:11:17,136 --> 00:11:19,676 I'm telling you the way is identifiable. 154 00:11:19,917 --> 00:11:29,701 Also, we find in Acts chapter 9 down in verse 23, and the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 155 00:11:30,161 --> 00:11:31,502 Now we're at Ephesus. 156 00:11:31,502 --> 00:11:34,363 At Ephesus they had one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. 157 00:11:34,363 --> 00:11:36,544 That was a temple to the goddess Diana. 158 00:11:37,722 --> 00:11:42,164 And there were people who would come there from all over the world to worship that goddess, the goddess of fertility. 159 00:11:42,164 --> 00:11:43,555 I'll just be nice and put it that way. 160 00:11:43,555 --> 00:11:45,496 I think you know what I'm talking about. 161 00:11:45,536 --> 00:11:48,438 They made little statues to her, the silversmiths did. 162 00:11:48,438 --> 00:11:54,021 They earned much money from this temple being there and from the economy built around it. 163 00:11:54,341 --> 00:11:59,184 That is why when Paul is standing up and teaching there are no gods but the Lord God. 164 00:11:59,584 --> 00:12:04,077 And he was teaching that Jesus Christ is the Savior and you must believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. 165 00:12:04,077 --> 00:12:06,848 He died, buried and rose again for our salvation. 166 00:12:07,278 --> 00:12:18,037 that went against everything that they knew they were meeting in a big assembly you can see the meeting place in the emphasis to this day of course it's in ruins but it was a 167 00:12:18,037 --> 00:12:27,475 large amphitheater and even today it seats about twenty five thousand people out of the mid-south coliseum it only seat ten thousand when they built the pyramid downtown it only 168 00:12:27,475 --> 00:12:36,502 seat eighteen thousand i don't know what the FedEx forum holds i know out at the liberty bowl you can seat fifty thousand or more out there about half the size of liberty 169 00:12:37,808 --> 00:12:40,409 of these people that are worshippers of Diana. 170 00:12:40,610 --> 00:12:44,242 And Paul wants to go in there and communicate with them and preach the Gospel. 171 00:12:44,242 --> 00:12:47,753 His bread said they would tear you to pieces, we're not letting you go in there. 172 00:12:48,774 --> 00:12:57,059 And so they just by the hardest kept Paul from going into that arena to preach Christ even though it would cost him his life. 173 00:12:57,059 --> 00:13:00,721 There was no small stir about that way. 174 00:13:00,721 --> 00:13:02,482 You know what those people did? 175 00:13:03,423 --> 00:13:06,254 They chanted by the space of two hours. 176 00:13:06,384 --> 00:13:10,524 Great is Diana of the Ephesians for two hours. 177 00:13:11,144 --> 00:13:15,124 I don't know if you could interrupt an NBA basketball game or an NFL football game for two hours. 178 00:13:15,124 --> 00:13:17,044 Somebody chant, we love our team. 179 00:13:17,204 --> 00:13:18,764 That's what they did. 180 00:13:19,064 --> 00:13:22,024 That's how dedicated they were to their false god. 181 00:13:22,904 --> 00:13:27,004 There was no small stir about that way. 182 00:13:27,124 --> 00:13:33,624 Now they didn't want it, and it's shown in the negative, but it underscores the fact that, yes, there was a way. 183 00:13:35,088 --> 00:13:46,028 In Hebrews 10 and verse 25 we learn about this way and again our writer is Paul I think and as he writes here in chapter 10 he tells us something important about it. 184 00:13:46,028 --> 00:13:59,588 says, verse 22, Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 185 00:13:59,588 --> 00:14:01,808 Gotta have a true heart about what? 186 00:14:01,808 --> 00:14:04,778 Look at verse 20, by a new 187 00:14:04,778 --> 00:14:11,312 and living way which He has consecrated for us through the veil that is to say His flesh. 188 00:14:11,353 --> 00:14:19,618 Because there is this new and living way we must have a true heart in full assurance of faith about the way. 189 00:14:19,899 --> 00:14:27,384 When we stand divided today and think that they are saved people in all the denominations in religion no matter what their stripe, no matter what their creed, their system of 190 00:14:27,384 --> 00:14:33,728 belief, their practices in life, this is not drawing near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. 191 00:14:34,452 --> 00:14:41,178 our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water, it shows the essentiality of baptism into Christ. 192 00:14:41,178 --> 00:14:46,142 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful that is promised. 193 00:14:46,142 --> 00:14:55,329 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works." You have in this passage of Scripture not forsaking the assembling of ourselves to gather as the manner of 194 00:14:55,329 --> 00:14:59,652 some is, but exhorting one another in so much the more as you see today approaching. 195 00:14:59,733 --> 00:15:04,116 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remain of no more sacrifice. 196 00:15:04,116 --> 00:15:10,560 for sins, but is certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 197 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,962 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. 198 00:15:13,962 --> 00:15:16,563 Of how much sore punishment suppose ye? 199 00:15:16,563 --> 00:15:23,427 Shall we be thought worthy who have trod and underfoot the Son of God, and have counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith it was sanctified an unholy thing? 200 00:15:23,427 --> 00:15:26,649 For we know him that saith, Vengeance is mine. 201 00:15:26,889 --> 00:15:30,611 I will recompense, I will repay. 202 00:15:30,971 --> 00:15:32,662 It is a fearful thing. 203 00:15:33,288 --> 00:15:35,049 the hands of living God. 204 00:15:35,450 --> 00:15:36,550 The way. 205 00:15:36,611 --> 00:15:39,963 There is one way to heaven that is any planning at all. 206 00:15:39,963 --> 00:15:46,177 Most people, if you want to the truth about it, they think that Christ intended to set up a kingdom here on earth. 207 00:15:46,557 --> 00:15:50,940 And when He was denied that privilege, heaven was embarrassed. 208 00:15:51,381 --> 00:15:55,504 Heaven was without a plan because the kingdom was the plan. 209 00:15:55,504 --> 00:15:58,326 And they had to come up with an auxiliary plan. 210 00:15:58,326 --> 00:16:02,238 And as an afterthought emergency measure they had to come up with the church. 211 00:16:02,416 --> 00:16:07,296 And the Church is in the mind of most people, and I'm not misrepresenting anybody here. 212 00:16:07,296 --> 00:16:14,856 In the mind of most people they believe the Church is simply and only a placeholder until Christ comes back and sets up an earthly kingdom. 213 00:16:15,336 --> 00:16:27,036 95 % of people in the religious world today professing Christianity believe in premillennialism, that the Church is a placeholder until God can set up His kingdom when 214 00:16:27,036 --> 00:16:28,656 Christ comes back. 215 00:16:28,736 --> 00:16:30,888 95 % of the religious world. 216 00:16:31,918 --> 00:16:33,820 And so they don't think the Church is necessary. 217 00:16:33,820 --> 00:16:35,131 They don't think it followed a plan. 218 00:16:35,131 --> 00:16:43,538 They think it was just something heaven very craftily came up with speedily to fill in the gap until we could get Jesus here on earth to be a king. 219 00:16:43,659 --> 00:16:50,625 There are a number of things about that I'd like to talk about, but it extend beyond the limits of our time in this lesson. 220 00:16:51,206 --> 00:16:58,234 You see the Church was planned in Ephesians 3, Under me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, Paul writes. 221 00:16:58,234 --> 00:17:07,727 that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath 222 00:17:07,727 --> 00:17:11,928 been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. 223 00:17:11,928 --> 00:17:24,181 To the intent that now, into the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God, watch this now, according to the eternal 224 00:17:24,181 --> 00:17:27,872 purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." 225 00:17:29,112 --> 00:17:30,953 is false idea. 226 00:17:31,134 --> 00:17:34,796 It stands against what the Bible teaches and it stands against the Church of Christ. 227 00:17:34,796 --> 00:17:39,619 The Church of Christ was not an afterthought, it wasn't a byproduct, it wasn't a Plan B. 228 00:17:39,759 --> 00:17:49,206 This passage of Scripture we just read together tells us it was in the mind of God deep in eternity past and brought out in the days of the New Testament that we read about. 229 00:17:49,206 --> 00:17:50,329 So the Church was planned. 230 00:17:50,329 --> 00:17:54,429 The second point to know about the Church is the Church was prophesied. 231 00:17:54,469 --> 00:17:58,712 There are a number of prophecies that we could take a look at that would show that. 232 00:17:58,788 --> 00:18:03,531 But I'll just give a summary statement from Peter in Acts chapter 3 verse 24. 233 00:18:03,531 --> 00:18:04,472 Notice what he says. 234 00:18:04,472 --> 00:18:06,913 He's not going to get them all, but he'll get most of them. 235 00:18:06,914 --> 00:18:11,417 This is Acts chapter 3 verse 24. 236 00:18:11,417 --> 00:18:22,444 He says, "'Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.'" What days are these? 237 00:18:22,444 --> 00:18:24,746 The Church is established in Acts 2. 238 00:18:24,746 --> 00:18:28,318 Jesus is adding the saved to His Church, Acts 2 and verse 47. 239 00:18:28,356 --> 00:18:31,237 He says all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after. 240 00:18:31,237 --> 00:18:32,597 tell you more than that. 241 00:18:33,098 --> 00:18:35,019 Moses himself is a prophet. 242 00:18:35,019 --> 00:18:43,582 Moses says in Deuteronomy 18, a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up of your brethren like unto me, him shall ye hearken unto in all that he shall say unto you. 243 00:18:43,582 --> 00:18:48,104 And it will come to pass that whosoever will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people. 244 00:18:48,104 --> 00:18:49,965 He's talking about Jesus' cause. 245 00:18:49,965 --> 00:18:52,781 Peter quotes him right here in Acts chapter 3. 246 00:18:52,781 --> 00:18:56,367 And he says all the prophets have foretold of these days. 247 00:18:56,567 --> 00:18:58,568 The church was prophesied. 248 00:18:58,990 --> 00:19:04,225 The Church was being spoken of deep in the recesses of the Old Testament as we said. 249 00:19:04,225 --> 00:19:06,267 And it's important to know that about the Church. 250 00:19:06,267 --> 00:19:08,548 We're talking about the Church of Christ. 251 00:19:08,849 --> 00:19:13,260 We have a beginning date of Acts chapter 2, AD 33. 252 00:19:13,353 --> 00:19:18,487 But the Church is in the mind of God and eternity past is being prophesied by all of the prophets. 253 00:19:18,487 --> 00:19:20,699 You don't understand any of the prophets. 254 00:19:20,699 --> 00:19:24,263 If you don't understand, they're talking about the coming of the Church of Christ. 255 00:19:24,263 --> 00:19:26,404 They foretold of these days. 256 00:19:26,490 --> 00:19:31,242 that you and I now are blessed to see in third place, the Church was promised. 257 00:19:31,722 --> 00:19:39,035 Jesus says in Matthew 16, 18 when He took His disciples up to Caesarea Philippi, He's in the coast of Caesarea Philippi. 258 00:19:39,035 --> 00:19:42,347 That doesn't mean He's along the shore, it means He's up in that region. 259 00:19:42,686 --> 00:19:50,040 And He has His disciples off, like you might go off to a retreat sometime to just sit down and study the Bible, or maybe go to the Church someplace, we'll have a weekend of Bible 260 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:54,552 study and prayer, to just deliberate over what we know the Bible teaches. 261 00:19:54,872 --> 00:19:59,134 Jesus is doing that with his disciples and he asks them a question, a provocative question. 262 00:19:59,134 --> 00:20:01,752 Whom do men say that I the son of man am? 263 00:20:02,075 --> 00:20:06,797 You've been hearing them, you've been hearing what they have to say about me, they have all kinds of ideas. 264 00:20:06,797 --> 00:20:09,418 Who do men say that I the son of man am? 265 00:20:09,418 --> 00:20:15,000 He's wanting to show them the contrast between who men say he is and between who he actually is. 266 00:20:15,621 --> 00:20:20,563 They say, well some say that thou art John the Baptist, Jeremiah, one of the prophets. 267 00:20:20,883 --> 00:20:23,724 He turns his attention to them, to those men. 268 00:20:24,046 --> 00:20:33,122 whose eyes had seen him, whose ears had heard him, whose bellies had been filled with the food that he made of the loaves and the fishes, who'd marveled at his miracles, who did 269 00:20:33,122 --> 00:20:34,923 you say that I am? 270 00:20:35,184 --> 00:20:41,788 That's an important answer fiction to come about because you and I have faith based on what these men saw and heard. 271 00:20:42,169 --> 00:20:47,262 They answer, Peter answers, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 272 00:20:48,068 --> 00:20:54,572 Jesus says to him, blessed art thou, Simon bar Jonah, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 273 00:20:54,572 --> 00:20:56,773 And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter. 274 00:20:56,773 --> 00:20:59,735 And upon this rock I will build my church. 275 00:20:59,735 --> 00:21:02,737 And the gates of hell, or Hades, shall not prevail against it. 276 00:21:02,737 --> 00:21:05,068 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 277 00:21:05,068 --> 00:21:07,700 And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 278 00:21:07,700 --> 00:21:10,881 And whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 279 00:21:11,122 --> 00:21:13,943 Jesus promised to build His church. 280 00:21:14,083 --> 00:21:15,784 You notice the serious thing. 281 00:21:16,112 --> 00:21:17,312 the gates of Hades. 282 00:21:17,312 --> 00:21:18,752 He's talking about death. 283 00:21:18,752 --> 00:21:21,412 Death won't stop it. 284 00:21:21,412 --> 00:21:28,112 That's the fundamental part of man's salvation, the death burial and resurrection of Christ. 285 00:21:28,252 --> 00:21:34,452 I'm going to build my church, Jesus is saying, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 286 00:21:34,512 --> 00:21:36,432 He promised to build it. 287 00:21:36,432 --> 00:21:43,440 When God raised him up from the dead the third day, and he became the first begotten from the dead, Acts chapter 13, verse 33, 288 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,300 Jesus Christ set out to build His Church and the means were available. 289 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:55,120 And we will be saved if we keep in memory what I preached unto you unless you have believed in vain how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He 290 00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:58,980 was buried and He was raised again the third day according to the Scriptures. 291 00:21:58,980 --> 00:22:02,040 1 Corinthians 15 verses 1 through 3. 292 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,460 Jesus promised to build His Church. 293 00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:13,200 This morning we discussed some about how that would take place with Christ returning to heaven, sending the Holy Spirit to the Apostles to guide them into all truth. 294 00:22:13,230 --> 00:22:22,217 We saw just for a minute how Peter stood on the first Pentecost after the resurrection with the 11th and declared unto them the resurrection of Jesus Christ in harmony with Old 295 00:22:22,217 --> 00:22:23,608 Testament prophecy. 296 00:22:23,608 --> 00:22:27,532 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 297 00:22:27,532 --> 00:22:32,996 Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, he hath shed forth this which you now see and hear. 298 00:22:32,996 --> 00:22:38,380 For David is not ascended into the Hadean realm, David is not ascended rather into heaven. 299 00:22:38,468 --> 00:22:45,880 But the Lord saith himself, The Lord said to my Lord, thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 300 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:54,012 Therefore, that all the house of Israel know assuredly, That God hath made that same Jesus whom you crucified, Both Lord and Christ. 301 00:22:54,012 --> 00:22:59,714 When they heard this, they were pricked, Or cut in their hearts, And cried out, And said, Men and brethren, What shall we do? 302 00:23:00,254 --> 00:23:04,095 They are told what to do by Peter, Repent and be baptized for remission of sins. 303 00:23:04,095 --> 00:23:08,570 They gladly received his word, And Jesus adds them to the church before we leave the chapter. 304 00:23:08,570 --> 00:23:11,821 the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 305 00:23:12,022 --> 00:23:17,685 Jesus promised to build His church at the preaching of the gospel the first public time. 306 00:23:17,685 --> 00:23:20,627 He added 3,000 people to His church. 307 00:23:20,627 --> 00:23:21,847 He built His church. 308 00:23:21,847 --> 00:23:23,068 He promised it. 309 00:23:23,068 --> 00:23:25,069 He can fulfill His promises. 310 00:23:25,069 --> 00:23:28,440 He established it, Acts chapter 2, AD 33. 311 00:23:28,891 --> 00:23:31,392 So the church is promised by our Lord. 312 00:23:31,613 --> 00:23:38,286 And then also, it's important for us to see that in the early years the church was preached. 313 00:23:38,448 --> 00:23:44,968 In Acts chapter 22, this is an interesting reading in Acts 22 because you remember this is that time where Paul had been arrested. 314 00:23:44,968 --> 00:23:49,688 They thought he was trofim of the Egyptian who led a group out into the wilderness, about thousand men. 315 00:23:49,788 --> 00:23:59,208 They thought they'd captured the insurrectionists and Paul makes a statement to his captor, could I speak to these people? 316 00:23:59,968 --> 00:24:01,828 And he's surprised that he's speaking Greek. 317 00:24:01,828 --> 00:24:03,708 He thought he was going be speaking Egyptian. 318 00:24:05,066 --> 00:24:09,699 And Paul is allowed to turn and speak to the nation of Israel. 319 00:24:09,979 --> 00:24:15,683 And the Bible tells us in Acts 22 verse 1 that he speaks to them in the Hebrew tongue. 320 00:24:15,823 --> 00:24:19,546 When they heard that he spoke Hebrew they kept them more silent. 321 00:24:19,846 --> 00:24:23,828 And then he begins to tell who he is and to tell about his conversion to Christ. 322 00:24:24,770 --> 00:24:28,392 You know I think this is probably one of the high points in Paul's life. 323 00:24:28,412 --> 00:24:33,455 I know from Romans chapter 9 he said he would give himself if Israel could be saved. 324 00:24:33,616 --> 00:24:34,856 I love everybody. 325 00:24:35,098 --> 00:24:37,549 But I've studied what the Bible says about hell. 326 00:24:37,589 --> 00:24:40,850 And I don't want to lose my opportunity to go to heaven for anybody. 327 00:24:41,111 --> 00:24:46,072 Paul was willing to give his life, trade his soul if his people could be saved. 328 00:24:46,313 --> 00:24:48,564 There's the real heart of a leader, ladies and gentlemen. 329 00:24:48,564 --> 00:24:57,767 That's why all of you elders, all you deacons, all you preachers, all the faithful members are striving to do better, to rise to meet the challenge of leaving God's people because 330 00:24:57,767 --> 00:25:00,989 it is a serious challenge that is personally demanding. 331 00:25:00,989 --> 00:25:04,644 And Paul showed that when he said, I would give myself. 332 00:25:04,644 --> 00:25:05,870 physical abuse. 333 00:25:08,356 --> 00:25:11,957 and now he has the chance to speak to the people and preach the gospel to them. 334 00:25:11,957 --> 00:25:15,138 What does he say in Acts 22 and verse 4? 335 00:25:15,138 --> 00:25:20,219 He says, persecuted this way unto the dead, binding and delivering unto prison both men and women. 336 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:22,490 The way is what he's talking to them about. 337 00:25:22,490 --> 00:25:25,081 You people need to be following this way. 338 00:25:25,081 --> 00:25:28,042 I persecuted this way, even unto the dead. 339 00:25:28,062 --> 00:25:35,932 I put people to death for following this way, for worshiping on the first day of week, for singing without instrumental music accompanying them, for taking the Lord's Supper. 340 00:25:35,932 --> 00:25:39,713 preaching and listening to gospel preaching, forgiving of their means, for praying. 341 00:25:39,713 --> 00:25:42,994 I persecuted this way to death he's saying. 342 00:25:43,714 --> 00:25:45,065 He knew what he was talking about. 343 00:25:45,065 --> 00:25:49,436 The gospel, the Church of Christ was preached. 344 00:25:49,636 --> 00:25:56,858 Also you can see just by flipping over to the next chapter in chapter 24 verse 14 and verse 24 when Paul is on trial. 345 00:25:56,858 --> 00:25:59,319 All of this results in his trial as you know. 346 00:25:59,319 --> 00:26:05,270 And in Acts chapter 24 verse 14 he says, But I confess unto thee, he's before Felix. 347 00:26:05,674 --> 00:26:14,648 after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, and believe all things written in the law and in the prophets, and have hope toward God, as they 348 00:26:14,648 --> 00:26:24,392 themselves allow that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and the unjust." Paul makes the statement here, "'I confess unto thee that after the way which they call heresy, 349 00:26:24,672 --> 00:26:33,396 so worship I the God of my fathers.' They may call it heresy, but there is a way to worship God, and if all the world calls it heresy it doesn't alter or change that way. 350 00:26:33,396 --> 00:26:34,786 I'm going to walk in it." 351 00:26:35,098 --> 00:26:36,749 no matter what the cost. 352 00:26:37,210 --> 00:26:48,247 Also then in verse 24 of the chapter it says, certain days when Felix with his wife, Drusilla, which was a Jew, sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 353 00:26:48,247 --> 00:26:51,479 That's what he listening to about, the faith that is in Christ. 354 00:26:51,479 --> 00:26:55,182 The way and the faith are equated, one and the same. 355 00:26:55,382 --> 00:26:59,445 So the way, the Church of Christ was preached. 356 00:26:59,445 --> 00:27:04,258 Paul certainly preached about it in Romans 16, 16 when he finishes that great treatise. 357 00:27:04,304 --> 00:27:11,164 Wonderful discussion telling about all men need the gospel in the opening chapters of the book, all of sin that comes short of the glory of God. 358 00:27:11,164 --> 00:27:14,204 Talking about justification by faith in chapter 4. 359 00:27:14,204 --> 00:27:21,484 Telling them in chapter 6 how to obey the form of doctrine delivered to them and being then made free from sin that became servants of righteousness. 360 00:27:21,524 --> 00:27:30,248 Following that discussion all the way through the book, coming to chapter 16 and verse 16, he closes it out by saying, the churches of Christ salute. 361 00:27:32,196 --> 00:27:34,917 The Church of Christ was preached in the first century. 362 00:27:35,557 --> 00:27:37,838 Also the Church was purchased. 363 00:27:37,898 --> 00:27:50,532 In Acts chapter 20 and verse 28 Paul tells the Ephesian elders as he meets with them on the shores of Miletus, he says, therefore in discussing with them their responsibility and 364 00:27:50,532 --> 00:27:53,219 their need to be preaching and teaching. 365 00:27:53,219 --> 00:27:56,250 Acts chapter 20 and verse 28. 366 00:28:04,848 --> 00:28:06,929 I don't hear anybody snoring so I'm going keep on. 367 00:28:08,209 --> 00:28:21,075 Take heed therefore to yourselves and all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God, watch this, which he hath purchased with his own 368 00:28:21,075 --> 00:28:22,035 blood. 369 00:28:23,028 --> 00:28:24,936 Did you know the Church of Christ is purchased? 370 00:28:24,936 --> 00:28:26,027 It's bought and paid for. 371 00:28:26,027 --> 00:28:28,698 Do know the price of the blood of Christ? 372 00:28:29,478 --> 00:28:31,609 Identify and relate to what Marshall Keeble said. 373 00:28:31,609 --> 00:28:34,240 Had anybody else said it, would have just as valuable. 374 00:28:34,266 --> 00:28:43,058 But I think it's even more valuable for a man who established 350 congregations through the south and fitted all of them with gospel preachers, baptized 45,000 people and made 375 00:28:43,058 --> 00:28:44,459 this observation. 376 00:28:44,539 --> 00:28:47,039 The Church of Christ is bought and paid for. 377 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:48,900 It's the only one paid for. 378 00:28:48,900 --> 00:28:51,801 All these other churches, the mortgage is out on them. 379 00:28:51,801 --> 00:28:55,942 And one day the Lord is going to come back and He's going to foreclose on all those mortgages. 380 00:28:55,942 --> 00:28:59,803 Only the Church of Christ bought and paid for with the blood of Christ. 381 00:29:00,283 --> 00:29:02,204 So the Church is purchased. 382 00:29:02,224 --> 00:29:03,536 And then finally, 383 00:29:03,536 --> 00:29:05,336 the church is populated. 384 00:29:05,716 --> 00:29:07,716 The church is populated with the saved. 385 00:29:07,716 --> 00:29:10,396 We already saw that in Acts chapter 2 verse 47. 386 00:29:10,396 --> 00:29:17,156 Praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 387 00:29:17,156 --> 00:29:19,436 With whom is the church populated? 388 00:29:19,516 --> 00:29:20,396 The saved. 389 00:29:21,096 --> 00:29:23,296 No one is saved outside the church. 390 00:29:23,696 --> 00:29:25,976 It answers the question, is the church essential? 391 00:29:25,976 --> 00:29:26,716 Yes. 392 00:29:26,716 --> 00:29:28,316 Is the church of Christ essential? 393 00:29:28,316 --> 00:29:28,616 Yes. 394 00:29:28,616 --> 00:29:29,436 Why? 395 00:29:29,436 --> 00:29:31,776 Because all of the saved are in it. 396 00:29:31,832 --> 00:29:39,988 You certainly can't demonstrate from the Scripture that there is a single saved person outside the Church of Christ, but you have no trouble doing as I've just done to show that 397 00:29:39,988 --> 00:29:43,000 all the saved are in the Church of Christ. 398 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,141 Why not be in the Church of Christ? 399 00:29:45,342 --> 00:29:48,144 A reviewing of the list for your edification then. 400 00:29:48,144 --> 00:30:00,872 The Church of Christ was planned, it was prophesied, it was promised, it was preached, it was purchased, and it is still being populated today with the saved. 401 00:30:01,136 --> 00:30:02,496 What does that mean? 402 00:30:03,336 --> 00:30:06,596 Jesus said, unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. 403 00:30:06,596 --> 00:30:11,136 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly and hard and you shall find rest for your souls. 404 00:30:11,136 --> 00:30:12,976 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 405 00:30:12,976 --> 00:30:15,896 Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden. 406 00:30:15,956 --> 00:30:18,636 The gospel invitation is for all. 407 00:30:18,976 --> 00:30:26,056 We've seen a couple of times today in Mark 16, 15, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 408 00:30:27,056 --> 00:30:30,852 He that believeth in his baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. 409 00:30:30,852 --> 00:30:32,432 the Church of the Bible. 410 00:30:33,234 --> 00:30:42,239 I heard Franklin Camp say one time on a tape that there's not a denominational preacher anywhere who wouldn't give his right arm if he could find the name of his church in the 411 00:30:42,239 --> 00:30:43,119 Bible. 412 00:30:44,221 --> 00:30:48,372 You've got the name of the Church of Christ in the Bible, Romans 16, 16. 413 00:30:48,603 --> 00:30:56,608 We are privileged to know that we're doing what the Bible teaches and we have the privilege of proclaiming what the Bible proclaims to a lost and dying 414 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:01,920 Some of us have been members of the Church of Christ for many decades and proudly so. 415 00:31:02,180 --> 00:31:06,260 Some of us are not even obeying the Gospel yet, but the opportunity is yours. 416 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,520 Today is the day of salvation. 417 00:31:09,340 --> 00:31:12,440 We learn that in 2 Corinthians 6 in verse 2. 418 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:18,300 In order for us to be saved, to be added to the Church, we need to hear what Jesus had to say. 419 00:31:19,140 --> 00:31:22,280 Jesus said, if you believe not that I am He, you will die in your sins. 420 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:23,600 John 8, 24. 421 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:26,080 Jesus said, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 422 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:27,460 Luke 13, 3. 423 00:31:27,598 --> 00:31:32,920 Jesus said, whosoever shall confess me before men, will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 424 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:38,348 Whosoever denies me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 425 00:31:38,512 --> 00:31:42,753 And Jesus said, he that believeth in his baptism shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. 426 00:31:42,753 --> 00:31:45,608 That's what Jesus said about it. 427 00:31:45,854 --> 00:31:48,675 I think what Jesus said in each of those cases is fair. 428 00:31:48,675 --> 00:31:50,956 I think he is being fair. 429 00:31:51,630 --> 00:32:00,796 he's letting you know you can believe or not believe that's with you but if you don't believe here's what's going to happen you're going to be lost you can repent of your sins 430 00:32:00,796 --> 00:32:11,272 or not you can continue conveniently and enjoyably in all of your sins if you want to but if you do you're going to be lost you're going to perish no mistaken about it no uncertain 431 00:32:11,272 --> 00:32:18,306 terms connected with you can choose not to confess me and i'll be happy to deny you before the father that's fair 432 00:32:18,307 --> 00:32:19,857 Why should he confess us before God? 433 00:32:19,857 --> 00:32:23,088 And we don't have what it takes in this old world to confess Him. 434 00:32:23,608 --> 00:32:32,790 Jesus said that those who are ashamed of Him in this sinful and adulterous generation, of Him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with His 435 00:32:32,790 --> 00:32:34,890 mighty angels, Mark 8 and verse 38. 436 00:32:34,890 --> 00:32:44,042 If I'm ashamed of Him now and don't have the courage that it takes for me to confess Christ, He's going be ashamed of me there. 437 00:32:44,942 --> 00:32:49,752 And Jesus said, ìHe that believeth in is baptized, shall be saved.î Heís telling you what to do to be saved. 438 00:32:49,752 --> 00:32:51,334 Somebody says, ìI donít believe that. 439 00:32:51,534 --> 00:32:52,624 I never believe that. 440 00:32:52,624 --> 00:32:58,436 I donít believe you have to be baptized to be saved.î He said, ìHe that believeth not shall be damned.î Iím telling you, itís fair. 441 00:32:58,436 --> 00:33:01,097 You know right where you stand with the Lord. 442 00:33:01,477 --> 00:33:05,758 If youíre not being baptized into Christ, I hope youíre not content to stand away from Him. 443 00:33:06,038 --> 00:33:09,189 He purchased the Church with His blood and He places all the saved in it. 444 00:33:09,189 --> 00:33:09,959 And guess what? 445 00:33:09,959 --> 00:33:12,820 Itís the Church Heís going to take home to glory after a while. 446 00:33:13,422 --> 00:33:15,633 The Church of Christ will be saved. 447 00:33:15,633 --> 00:33:19,715 All those who remain faithful in the Lord's Body will be saved. 448 00:33:19,736 --> 00:33:25,218 What a wonderful thought it is that if I continue faithfully unto death, I'll have the crown of life. 449 00:33:25,939 --> 00:33:28,090 Ladies and gentlemen, you surprised me this afternoon. 450 00:33:28,090 --> 00:33:35,625 I thought surely I'd see people back there in the back in the drop zone, see somebody nodding or somebody scooting over behind somebody kind of hiding because they're sleeping. 451 00:33:35,625 --> 00:33:36,735 Everybody's just listening. 452 00:33:36,735 --> 00:33:38,426 I appreciate it so much. 453 00:33:38,426 --> 00:33:39,217 You've done well. 454 00:33:39,217 --> 00:33:41,538 You get an A-plus as a listening audience. 455 00:33:41,538 --> 00:33:46,091 I hope I've done pretty fair in communicating the Gospel of Christ to you about the Church of Christ. 456 00:33:46,112 --> 00:33:48,534 It's a privilege to get to talk about this. 457 00:33:48,574 --> 00:33:50,276 I'm not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. 458 00:33:50,276 --> 00:33:54,780 It's the power of God and the salvation to everyone that believes it, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 459 00:33:54,780 --> 00:33:56,461 Romans 1 and 16. 460 00:33:56,461 --> 00:34:01,305 If you're not ashamed of the Gospel and you haven't been baptized into Christ, why don't you do that now? 461 00:34:01,365 --> 00:34:04,898 If you're a member of the Church and maybe you've not been acting like it, 462 00:34:04,976 --> 00:34:11,756 Maybe you've been hiding from folks, not wanting them to know you're a member of the church because you know right from wrong, you know what's moral, you know what's immoral, 463 00:34:11,756 --> 00:34:15,256 and you've just been quiet about letting it circle around your life. 464 00:34:15,456 --> 00:34:24,376 And you need to do as Peter suggested to Simon, repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of that heart may be forgiven thee. 465 00:34:24,416 --> 00:34:26,256 Acts chapter 8 verse 22. 466 00:34:26,496 --> 00:34:33,356 If you will do that and confess that wrong, he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 467 00:34:33,356 --> 00:34:34,816 He will cleanse us. 468 00:34:35,056 --> 00:34:39,696 all unrighteousness when we as Christians repent and return to Him. 469 00:34:39,776 --> 00:34:45,356 This is Heaven's invitation coming from Christ, Matthew chapter 11 verse 28 to 30. 470 00:34:45,356 --> 00:34:49,416 If you want to be subject to it and answer it today, never a better time than now. 471 00:34:49,416 --> 00:34:52,996 Let me tell you something, you don't know that you got tomorrow. 472 00:34:53,116 --> 00:35:00,056 I could stand here before you and for the next 15 or 20 minutes tell you about people who thought they had tomorrow and they didn't have tonight. 473 00:35:00,056 --> 00:35:01,783 Won't you come while we stand as we sing.