1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,720 It's quite a bit to learn through these four verses. 2 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:16,720 You wouldn't think so. 3 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:21,440 Of course, we always dig and find something, don't we? 4 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:28,560 So I guess I so love, I love that we fact. 5 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,040 There's a lot that I'm joyful about. 6 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:32,040 I'll say that. 7 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,720 Anyway, Father, I want to thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness. 8 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:37,760 Thank you, Lord, for your word. 9 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,400 Thank you for this amazing letter to the Hebrews. 10 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:47,680 Thank you that you are the better messenger and that you are the better message and there 11 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:49,120 is no message greater. 12 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:55,680 Lord, I pray that as we start off in chapter two that we really understand the importance 13 00:00:55,680 --> 00:01:02,320 of the message of the gospel and the testimony and the witness by which you have provided 14 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,440 to show and to declare the proof that the message is true. 15 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:07,640 So Lord, we praise you and we thank you. 16 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,720 To you be honor and glory forever in Jesus' name. 17 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,120 Amen. 18 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:17,440 So I'm going to start off with Hebrews one through four. 19 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:24,020 Hebrews one is just a clear declaration about who the better messenger is. 20 00:01:24,020 --> 00:01:28,640 There's no need for me to really go through verse five through the end of the chapter 21 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:36,320 because it's really just showing the difference, the comparison of Christ and the angels or 22 00:01:36,320 --> 00:01:40,680 the messengers and the clarification of that. 23 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:48,780 What we really need to see is chapter one, one through four, and this is the reason why 24 00:01:48,780 --> 00:01:52,360 he starts off in chapter two, verse one through four with this statement. 25 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:58,640 So chapters one, one through four is the reason for chapter two, one through four. 26 00:01:58,640 --> 00:01:59,720 That's where we're going to start. 27 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:10,560 Long ago, at many times in many ways, God spoke, Laleo, to our fathers by the prophets. 28 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:16,760 But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed the heir of 29 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:21,400 all things, through whom also he created the world. 30 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:26,080 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. 31 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,580 And he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 32 00:02:29,580 --> 00:02:35,280 After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, 33 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:41,920 having become as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent 34 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:42,920 than theirs. 35 00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:54,120 So therefore, chapter two, therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have 36 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,600 heard lest we drift away from it. 37 00:02:58,600 --> 00:02:59,600 Verse one. 38 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:06,720 So in other words, because of this, chapter one, therefore knowing that Christ is the 39 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:17,000 better messenger, Christ is the better prophet, the better messenger, we should pay much closer 40 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,880 attention to what you have heard. 41 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:26,080 Now, this word, therefore, is diahutos. 42 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:32,480 This word, diahutos, means by means of or because of this reason. 43 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:43,840 It's a very clear reason why you should pay much closer attention to this message. 44 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:49,760 That the messenger is the reason why you should listen to the message. 45 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,640 The message is highly important. 46 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:56,240 It's the most important, as it says in 1 Corinthians 15. 47 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:01,440 Now, the word here, we must pay much closer attention. 48 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,880 Not going to give you the Greek for this one, but I'm going to give you the definition. 49 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:14,040 It means it's necessary to be more earnest or more exceedingly. 50 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,600 It's necessary to be more earnestly or more exceedingly. 51 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:24,720 In other words, the reason why you should be paying attention is because it's necessary 52 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:30,040 for you to be earnest and exceedingly earnest. 53 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,000 That's what he means. 54 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,640 Must pay much closer. 55 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:37,720 How important is it to you? 56 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:41,040 How exceedingly great is this message? 57 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,880 How earnest is this message for you? 58 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:52,040 Now, this word, attention, interesting word, to pay attention means to turn the mind to, 59 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:57,800 to give heed to, or to devote thought and effort. 60 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,040 That's the one thing I think we really have a hard time with. 61 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:07,720 Do we really give our thought and effort to the gospel? 62 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:15,760 Or is Jesus some fast food spiritual provider for you? 63 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,560 Do you go to him and ask him whatever you want, then when you're done, you just sit 64 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:20,240 him on his shelf. 65 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:23,540 Do we really give our thought and effort? 66 00:05:23,540 --> 00:05:25,400 Do we spend our time? 67 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,280 Do we give our full attention? 68 00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:34,320 It's important because we have to give our full attention to him and to his gospel. 69 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:38,440 Everything in your life is revolving around him. 70 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,560 You want a happy marriage, husbands? 71 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:41,820 Love your wives. 72 00:05:41,820 --> 00:05:43,320 Let Christ reign. 73 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,480 Wives, you want a happy marriage? 74 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,720 Love your husbands and honor them. 75 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:50,520 Let Christ reign. 76 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,100 You want to be a good employee? 77 00:05:52,100 --> 00:05:53,100 Let Christ reign. 78 00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:56,600 Christ is the preeminent in every aspect of your life. 79 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:02,480 There's not a place in your life that Christ should not reign. 80 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:07,020 You should be paying attention to his message and especially to him. 81 00:06:07,020 --> 00:06:11,820 If you're not paying attention to him, then he's just a means to an end for you. 82 00:06:11,820 --> 00:06:17,540 And what the writer here is saying is that no, you should be paying much closer attention. 83 00:06:17,540 --> 00:06:24,000 You should absolutely devote every thought and every effort of your life to him. 84 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,480 Not only thinking, but doing. 85 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,600 Now, why? 86 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:37,680 Because if you don't pay every attention, give every attention to what you have heard, 87 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:38,680 what did you hear? 88 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,560 The gospel. 89 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:43,580 You will drift from it. 90 00:06:43,580 --> 00:06:46,800 And we see this all day long. 91 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:52,360 Most churches, and I say most churches, a lot of people, let me say that, a lot of people 92 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:57,840 actually just give no heed to Jesus at all. 93 00:06:57,840 --> 00:06:59,800 He's a means to an end. 94 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:04,400 And after a while when struggle happens and life happens and all the difficulties in life 95 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,520 come into your life, they drift away. 96 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:09,520 They give up. 97 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:10,520 Why? 98 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:15,340 Because Jesus didn't give them what they demanded. 99 00:07:15,340 --> 00:07:20,800 So how important is this amazing story about Christ? 100 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:25,120 The gospel is the thing you fall in love with. 101 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,360 You fall in love with the gospel so that you will fall in love with the person of the gospel 102 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:33,120 so that you will tell others about the gospel. 103 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:44,800 So we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest me pote is this word. 104 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:49,920 This word lest me pote means in no way. 105 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:56,160 So he's saying if you pay attention to what you have heard, in no way will you drift from 106 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,240 it. 107 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,700 People go, how do you not give up? 108 00:08:03,700 --> 00:08:12,680 Because my attention, my thought and my effort, my devotion is solely his. 109 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:18,640 So whatever happens in life, in no way will you drift. 110 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:25,220 You won't be like a ship without a rudder just floating around somewhere. 111 00:08:25,220 --> 00:08:27,360 You will not drift. 112 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:28,920 Important. 113 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:30,420 Why? 114 00:08:30,420 --> 00:08:42,560 Because you must focus your mind, your heart, your actions to Christ and his gospel. 115 00:08:42,560 --> 00:08:46,040 Christ is the better message. 116 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:47,880 That's what he's saying here. 117 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:52,400 Second, the reliability of the gospel of Christ. 118 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,840 Christ's gospel is reliable. 119 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:04,780 Hebrews 2.2, for since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every 120 00:09:04,780 --> 00:09:10,640 transgression or disobedience received a just retribution. 121 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,040 Well we already know what angels are. 122 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:20,360 Angels is the word angelos and angelos literally just means messengers. 123 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:26,320 For since whether they're heavenly messengers or earthly messengers, here heavenly messengers 124 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,800 is a messenger. 125 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:35,480 We'll prove this out in Daniel chapter 9 because Daniel literally prays and God sends Gabriel 126 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:43,240 the messenger to bring him the message, which actually fits really well in this verse. 127 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:53,880 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, this word proved is ginomai. 128 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,160 Second favorite word in the Bible. 129 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:57,480 Erichomai is my first. 130 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:02,640 I just like the way it sounds and what it does. 131 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:04,200 Ginomai. 132 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,360 Remember what we talked about ginomai last week. 133 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:17,360 It means to be brought on the stage, to be absolutely proved, to be genuine and real. 134 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:23,400 This is the message that was brought out onto the stage of all human life. 135 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:28,280 The grand theater of life. 136 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:35,000 And this message was brought to us and this message was proved to be reliable. 137 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:41,000 Now I like this word reliable because this word reliable means stable, fast, firm or 138 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:42,400 a sure footing. 139 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:48,480 In other words, if you were to walk on the ground, you know that this is real and reliable 140 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:58,260 because when I place my foot down, I have full confidence I'm not going to sink. 141 00:10:58,260 --> 00:10:59,920 That's what that means. 142 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:02,120 Reliability, stable. 143 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:03,720 The gospel is stable. 144 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,300 Christ is stable, fast and firm. 145 00:11:06,300 --> 00:11:08,080 He is our sure footing. 146 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,320 He is a rock which he places us on. 147 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:14,360 He places our feet on the rock. 148 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:18,120 An amazing thought. 149 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:23,400 Every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution. 150 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:28,040 This word retribution means payment or wage, atonement. 151 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:37,160 He paid the full price, received past tense and continues to receive. 152 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:44,560 Every transgression means every law that was broken that you broke. 153 00:11:44,560 --> 00:11:46,760 Every transgression or disobedience. 154 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:50,600 Now that being said, Daniel 9 verse 24. 155 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:57,200 It's going to be difficult but it's okay because you got to be able to see this. 156 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:01,480 When the weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city. 157 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:05,680 So Daniel is praying. 158 00:12:05,680 --> 00:12:08,880 They're coming to the end of their captivity. 159 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:14,440 Daniel knows when that captivity ends, they have no place. 160 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:18,880 They feel abandoned by their God because of their sin. 161 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,520 Daniel knows this. 162 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,320 He knows that, wait a minute. 163 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:28,520 What's going to happen to us when we're let go? 164 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:34,600 So Daniel prays fervently for his people that God would please forgive them of their sin. 165 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,360 Please don't forget about us. 166 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:37,800 Please give us away. 167 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:38,800 Please be there. 168 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:39,800 Please. 169 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:40,800 He's begging. 170 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:47,160 So on doing this prayer, God sends Gabriel, the messenger. 171 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:49,720 Gabriel brings a message. 172 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,720 Interesting because it fits here. 173 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,120 Gabriel brought the gospel and here it is. 174 00:12:56,120 --> 00:13:02,560 70 weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city. 175 00:13:02,560 --> 00:13:07,440 To finish the transgression. 176 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:14,980 To put an end to sin and to atone for iniquity. 177 00:13:14,980 --> 00:13:21,080 To bring in everlasting righteousness to seal both vision and profit and to anoint a most 178 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:22,640 holy place. 179 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:27,440 What's really interesting about Hebrews is Hebrews answers this question. 180 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,280 Every transgression received a just retribution. 181 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,120 To finish the transgression. 182 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:38,520 Do we follow the law of God or do we follow Christ? 183 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,640 Is the law of God finished in Christ? 184 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:43,280 What did he say on the cross? 185 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:47,560 It is. 186 00:13:47,560 --> 00:13:51,640 We follow the law because we follow Christ. 187 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:56,560 Christ fulfills the law for us and in our submission to his will and purpose in our 188 00:13:56,560 --> 00:14:02,520 lives as followers of Jesus, we do what the law requires because Christ has completed 189 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:03,520 it for us. 190 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,920 He has finished transgression. 191 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:11,280 Transgression is over in Christ. 192 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,760 You read Romans 2. 193 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:16,720 Paul clarifies this. 194 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,720 It's interesting. 195 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,320 He says he completed it. 196 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,600 Then he says he put an end to sin. 197 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,600 Sin is disobedience. 198 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,360 Rebellion against God. 199 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,080 Did Jesus put an end to that? 200 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:34,080 Yes. 201 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:39,560 So every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution. 202 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:45,380 The end of sin has been fulfilled in Christ. 203 00:14:45,380 --> 00:14:48,380 That does not mean you're not going to sin. 204 00:14:48,380 --> 00:14:51,240 But the penalty of our sin is gone. 205 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,400 The penalty of sin is death. 206 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:57,200 And in Christ you are alive. 207 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,140 The wages of sin is death. 208 00:15:00,140 --> 00:15:02,560 We are not dead because of sin. 209 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:04,560 We are alive because of Christ. 210 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:12,000 And Christ has raised us from the dead spiritually and will one day raise us from the dead physically. 211 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:20,480 Third, the just retribution and to atone for iniquity. 212 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,160 Atonement. 213 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,000 The payment required for sin. 214 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:30,960 A payment on behalf of you that someone else paid on your behalf. 215 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,520 It's atonement. 216 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,760 That's exactly what the writer here says. 217 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:36,760 I keep wanting to say Paul. 218 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,720 I've got to be careful. 219 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:41,920 That's exactly what the writer here says. 220 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,040 Sin completed. 221 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,280 Sin disobedience completed in Christ. 222 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,680 Atonement paid for. 223 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:51,600 Why? 224 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:58,120 Because the reliability of the message of the gospel of Christ is sure. 225 00:15:58,120 --> 00:15:59,120 It is firm. 226 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,800 It is stable. 227 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,420 What an amazing thought. 228 00:16:05,420 --> 00:16:08,240 So this completed work of Christ has been done. 229 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:09,240 Why? 230 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,120 Because not only has he put an end to vision and profit because he is the last. 231 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,140 He is the better prophet. 232 00:16:15,140 --> 00:16:19,000 He has also anointed a most holy place. 233 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,760 Where is the most holy place? 234 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,720 You. 235 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,700 In you is a most holy place. 236 00:16:28,700 --> 00:16:32,160 And Paul reiterates this in Romans. 237 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:34,480 He says you are living stones. 238 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:38,560 A temple built by God. 239 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,520 You are a most holy place. 240 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,320 God does not reside in the building of man. 241 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,640 Building made by man's hands. 242 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:51,640 God resides in the building that he built called the church. 243 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,920 An amazing thing. 244 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:55,920 Why? 245 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,560 Because his gospel is reliable. 246 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:02,620 Christ is the better message. 247 00:17:02,620 --> 00:17:05,320 He is the greatest message. 248 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:11,280 Hebrews 2, 3, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? 249 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:22,600 It was declared at first by the Lord and it was attested to us by those who heard. 250 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:26,120 How is this important? 251 00:17:26,120 --> 00:17:32,760 How can we know that what we have heard matters? 252 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:34,280 Well let's look at this. 253 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,960 First, how shall we escape? 254 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:44,080 How shall you escape the wrath of God if you neglect the greatest gift of salvation ever 255 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,320 given to man? 256 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:51,920 That's why the road is wide and many will neglect this. 257 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,280 And they will not escape the wrath of God because of it. 258 00:17:55,280 --> 00:18:03,840 But we who are on the narrow by God's grace and mercy has placed us on the narrow road 259 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:07,120 and we have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 260 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:12,560 We can and have and will escape the wrath of God. 261 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:16,320 We have not neglected the great gift of salvation. 262 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:21,160 But if you do, how should you escape? 263 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:22,600 You can't escape it. 264 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:23,600 Why? 265 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:29,340 Because this message was declared, Laleo, first by Jesus. 266 00:18:29,340 --> 00:18:41,620 This message was attested, Bebiaho, to us who heard, to us by those who heard. 267 00:18:41,620 --> 00:18:48,700 Those who heard the gospel, those who witnessed the gospel, those who lived with the gospel, 268 00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:51,480 they told us. 269 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:57,600 This Bebiaho means to make firm, establish, or confirm. 270 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:05,120 It's an interesting word because when you end up reading the rest in verse four, you 271 00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:17,040 understand why this word attested, this was established or confirmed by the apostles. 272 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:22,400 To guarantee, matter of fact, we're going to even use one of them, 1 John chapters one, 273 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,460 chapter one, verse one through five. 274 00:19:24,460 --> 00:19:25,480 This is what John says. 275 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:31,680 I listen to how many times he says, heard, seen, looked. 276 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,680 This is just five verses. 277 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:40,640 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard and which we have seen with our 278 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:48,200 own eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands concerning the word of life, 279 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:58,080 the gospel, Jesus, the life was made manifest and we have seen it and testified to it and 280 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:04,400 proclaimed to you the eternal life, which was with the father and was made manifest 281 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:05,400 to us. 282 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:14,080 It's like he says the same thing two different ways and he includes all the same terms. 283 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,720 When God does that, what's he trying to tell you? 284 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:21,160 Pay much closer attention. 285 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:22,160 Here we go. 286 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,480 It gets better. 287 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:31,480 Verse three he says, 1 John one, verse three, that which we have seen and heard we proclaim 288 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:40,000 also to you, this is three times, so that you may have fellowship with us so that you 289 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:46,680 and I will be in unity and indeed our fellowship is with the father because we are in communion 290 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:51,120 in Christ and as a result of being in Christ, we are in the father. 291 00:20:51,120 --> 00:21:00,000 Verse four, and we are writing these things, which we have seen, heard, proclaimed, touched 292 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,680 so that our joy may be complete. 293 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:03,920 Why? 294 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:10,020 Because here is what they have seen, heard, proclaimed, touched and testify. 295 00:21:10,020 --> 00:21:17,000 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaimed to you that God is light and 296 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:18,960 in him there is no darkness. 297 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,400 Gospel. 298 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:29,040 How many times does John have to say it for us to get what he's talking about? 299 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:36,520 How can you escape if you neglect such a great salvation? 300 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:44,720 So the witness of the gospel of Christ, the witness of the gospel of Christ, there's a 301 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:48,080 lot here. 302 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:56,280 Hebrews chapter two, verse four, while, interesting word, God also bore witness. 303 00:21:56,280 --> 00:22:00,840 Now I'm going to try to say this word. 304 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,720 This word is a long one. 305 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:09,120 That's how you say it. 306 00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:12,960 I've listened to it like 20 million times and I got the R rolling because my wife is 307 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,720 Puerto Rican and I can roll the R's. 308 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:20,480 You're not spitting, you got to roll it. 309 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,480 Here we go. 310 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:34,080 It means to attest together, to join in bearing witness or to unite in adding testimony. 311 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:35,840 So I want you to get that. 312 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:46,160 So when God says he also bore witness, he, God, Elohim, is bearing witness with all of 313 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:47,160 these things. 314 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:48,680 Now why does he do that? 315 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:54,000 And there's one reason, is because when you're looking at bearing witness, in order for you 316 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,680 to bring an accusation or charge against somebody, you must have what? 317 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:01,840 Two or three witnesses. 318 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:06,400 That principle still holds the same for those who claim something that you need to prove 319 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:07,400 that that is true. 320 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,760 So you need two or three witnesses. 321 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:15,800 So listen, God does everything overboard. 322 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:17,680 He just does because he's God. 323 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:19,600 He doesn't just give you two or three witnesses. 324 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:25,160 He gives you like eight witnesses. 325 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:26,400 You ready for the witnesses? 326 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:27,400 Here we go. 327 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:28,400 All right. 328 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:37,200 Soon, epi marturayo to unite and adding testimony by signs. 329 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:38,280 Simeon. 330 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:44,960 This word Simeon means that by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others and 331 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:46,640 is known. 332 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:50,440 So when we're looking at signs, we're not looking at miracles here. 333 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:56,680 This is something that God does which brings a distinguished difference between everything 334 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,320 else. 335 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:01,960 There's a lot of signs. 336 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:07,520 There's something clear about Christ that gives him the difference, the distinguished 337 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:11,300 difference compared him to others. 338 00:24:11,300 --> 00:24:15,120 So signs and wonders is the next word. 339 00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:17,920 This word wonders is terras. 340 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:22,880 The word is a remarkable event or an amazing thing out of the ordinary, something outside 341 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:25,280 of nature. 342 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:28,720 I think we can think of wonders. 343 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:31,680 Raising someone from the dead is a miracle. 344 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:32,760 That's not a wonder. 345 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:34,960 You know what's a wonder? 346 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:40,400 A star sitting in the sky for three years pointing to the place where Jesus was so that 347 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:42,960 the wise man could find him. 348 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:43,960 You know what's a wonder? 349 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:49,800 A virgin given birth to a child whom she did not have any consummation with her husband. 350 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:56,720 That God had chosen her out of all of the women because of who she is and who she's 351 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:02,800 connected to providentially thousands of years before. 352 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:04,320 That's a wonder. 353 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,240 You know what else is a wonder? 354 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:09,680 Him raising from the dead. 355 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:11,280 You know what else is a wonder? 356 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:16,760 That God in all of creation, the creator became human. 357 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:18,360 That's a wonder. 358 00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:23,160 So when we're looking at the issue of wonders, that is a terras. 359 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:28,480 Next, various miracles, dynamis. 360 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:31,000 It's an act of power. 361 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,360 It's something only God can do. 362 00:25:33,360 --> 00:25:35,640 And you remember what Jesus said? 363 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:42,680 He says, if you don't believe my word, believe what I have done. 364 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:48,880 We just got done talking about the resurrection of Lazarus out of the grave. 365 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:49,880 Miracle. 366 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,800 It's an act of power. 367 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:53,800 Why? 368 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,280 For the glory of God. 369 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:59,520 And Jesus says, glorify your son. 370 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:00,960 Why did he die? 371 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,360 So that you will see the glory of God. 372 00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:06,440 That is a miracle. 373 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:11,200 Next, by gifts. 374 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,800 By gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. 375 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:17,520 So far we have had three witnesses. 376 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:21,280 That doesn't include the witnesses I'm about to give you. 377 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,440 And the witnesses we already talked about, prophets and angels. 378 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:25,440 Here we go. 379 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:26,680 You ready? 380 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,880 The word gifts here is merismas. 381 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:33,760 Yes, it's not the same word that's used in Corinthians. 382 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:38,640 It's actually the word used in Corinthians is a totally different word. 383 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:42,280 But the purpose is the same. 384 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,960 For the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. 385 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:48,040 And this is why God uses this word. 386 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:53,320 God uses this word because it's not about you. 387 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:56,760 Gifts were not given for you. 388 00:26:56,760 --> 00:27:00,080 Gifts are given so that you will proclaim the gospel. 389 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:07,040 You see, gifts are merismos. 390 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,240 That was the problem with the church in Corinth. 391 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:14,220 They bragged about their spiritual gifts as if they were special. 392 00:27:14,220 --> 00:27:19,160 When they didn't realize that the gifts that they had were merismos gifts. 393 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:24,880 This word merismos means division, partition, or distribution. 394 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:30,200 See, there's a reason why Paul states this in Corinthians when he says this is the manifestation 395 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,440 of the Holy Spirit. 396 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:39,080 Because it's the division or the partition or the distribution of the Spirit for the 397 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:44,040 purpose of the gospel according to his will. 398 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,320 What's the will of the Spirit of God? 399 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:47,680 Gospel. 400 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,480 What's the will of the Spirit of God? 401 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:50,640 Point you to Christ. 402 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:52,360 What's the will of the Spirit of God? 403 00:27:52,360 --> 00:27:54,720 Conform you into the image of Christ. 404 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:56,040 That's the will of the Spirit of God. 405 00:27:56,040 --> 00:28:00,080 The will of the Spirit of God is the same will as the Father's and the same will as 406 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,040 the Son's. 407 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:05,560 He is the exact imprint of the Father. 408 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:09,680 There is no difference in the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. 409 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:10,680 They are God. 410 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:16,960 He doesn't have his own will as if he's doing something outside with his own purpose and 411 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:21,040 his own way of doing things. 412 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:25,960 So he does exactly what they do. 413 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:28,520 And his will is the Father's will. 414 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:30,960 And his will is the Son's will. 415 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,200 It's Mary's most. 416 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:38,560 So when we look at the gifts that you've been given or if the manifestation of those gifts 417 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:45,600 are seen, please give him glory and praise that he would even use you to accomplish a 418 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,260 small task. 419 00:28:48,260 --> 00:28:53,360 Because it's him who is being seen and not you. 420 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:59,560 It's his distribution among the people to proclaim the gospel. 421 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:01,420 He is a witness. 422 00:29:01,420 --> 00:29:04,080 So so far we have signs. 423 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:06,000 God bears witness through signs. 424 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,840 God bears witness of the gospel through wonders. 425 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:13,240 God bears witness of the gospel through various miracles. 426 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:18,240 God bears witness of the gospel through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 427 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:23,960 The distribution of the Spirit of God among his people. 428 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:26,600 Wow. 429 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:28,000 That's how important the gospel is. 430 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:36,320 Yes, it's so important that God sends witnesses of the gospel because it's not about you. 431 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:40,200 About him. 432 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:43,120 God bore witness through Christ. 433 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:50,520 John, gospel of John chapter 5 verse 31 and 32, 37 and 39. 434 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:54,120 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 435 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:55,780 Now you see why? 436 00:29:55,780 --> 00:30:01,320 If God did not bear witness of the gospel and of Christ through signs and wonders and 437 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:06,480 various miracles and through the distribution of the Holy Spirit according to his will to 438 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:12,000 his people, then he would be a liar. 439 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:14,200 But no, God goes beyond that. 440 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:16,760 He doesn't just give you two or three. 441 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:19,480 So check this out. 442 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:24,120 So Jesus says there is another who bears witness about me. 443 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:29,320 I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 444 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:34,320 One that's that's called John the Baptist. 445 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,720 There's another which I didn't add in here. 446 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:42,640 I just did it now because that's what verse 33 talks about. 447 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:48,440 Verse 37, and the father who sent me has himself bore witness about me. 448 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:54,320 There's another, a witness. 449 00:30:54,320 --> 00:31:01,640 His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen. 450 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:10,720 39, you search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life. 451 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:13,680 It is they that bear witness about me. 452 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:19,640 The scriptures bear witness of the gospel and of Christ the messenger. 453 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:21,140 So you have the true message. 454 00:31:21,140 --> 00:31:29,200 The better messenger gives the better message and the better message is witnessed, testified 455 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:34,600 according to signs and wonders and miracles and of the Holy Spirit and the scripture and 456 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:39,600 the father and John the Baptist and all the things that Jesus did. 457 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:40,880 His life is a witness. 458 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:44,400 The whole thing is a witness. 459 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:50,120 And we go, I don't know if I believe that. 460 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:52,240 So I'm going to say this to you. 461 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:56,280 How shall you escape if you neglect such a great salvation today? 462 00:31:56,280 --> 00:32:00,200 Does God need to do anything? 463 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:05,200 Christ alone is to me is enough witness. 464 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:11,360 But all that God the father has placed there, now you know why. 465 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:18,420 Romans chapter one, actually let's do chapter two, verse one. 466 00:32:18,420 --> 00:32:20,920 Chapter one is full of that statement. 467 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:31,920 Now, therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judge. 468 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:34,000 None. 469 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:35,840 Man is without excuse. 470 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:41,980 God does not have to justify or do anything else than what he's already done. 471 00:32:41,980 --> 00:32:43,280 We are without excuse. 472 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:46,140 So why does God do it? 473 00:32:46,140 --> 00:32:49,520 Because when you read Romans, he says, do you not know that it's the kindness of God 474 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:51,040 that leads men to repentance? 475 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:54,740 Do you know why God hasn't ended all things right now? 476 00:32:54,740 --> 00:32:58,240 Because he's kind to you. 477 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:02,240 He is merciful. 478 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:04,600 What more do you need? 479 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:10,960 The power of an amazing God who has bore witness to the life of Christ and the reality of his 480 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:16,420 divinity and then gives us an amazing message for us to go and share. 481 00:33:16,420 --> 00:33:20,160 And that's what we're going to see in the rest of chapter two. 482 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:24,360 That's just four verses. 483 00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:27,920 So I'm going to pray and I'm going to ask John to come up and he's going to introduce 484 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:30,480 our new members. 485 00:33:30,480 --> 00:33:33,480 And I hope this sinks in a little bit. 486 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:36,640 An amazing four verses. 487 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:37,680 Read them again. 488 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:39,400 So powerful. 489 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:41,160 The gospel is amazing. 490 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:45,520 Father, I want to thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness. 491 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:55,120 Thank you that the better messenger gave us the better message. 492 00:33:55,120 --> 00:34:00,560 That you have freed us from our transgression and our disobedience. 493 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:03,280 And you have given it a just retribution. 494 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:07,000 You have paid in full the debt that we owe. 495 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:14,120 And that in spite of what we are, who we are, you have bore witness by a myriad of things 496 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:19,660 to the reality of the gospel and to the real true King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus 497 00:34:19,660 --> 00:34:20,660 Christ. 498 00:34:20,660 --> 00:34:23,680 Lord, we give you honor, glory and praise. 499 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:27,360 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. 500 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:30,600 Lord, we thank you. 501 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:33,800 We eagerly await to see you face to face. 502 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:36,800 To praise you and to love you. 503 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:46,240 In the name of Jesus, Amen.