Audio Archive

Transcript

this is the voice of wilbraham the eastern christadelphian bible school the eastern christadelphian bible school presents a series of bible addresses presents a series of bible addresses recorded at the 23rd annual convocation recorded at the 23rd annual convocation of the eastern christadelphian bible of the eastern christadelphian bible school school brother edgar willey of dudley england brother edgar willey of dudley england is the guest speaker is the guest speaker many know brother willie through his many know brother willie through his writings in the christadelphian writings in the christadelphian and as secretary of glad tidings and as secretary of glad tidings he is also organizer he is also organizer of the annual oxford conference in of the annual oxford conference in oxford england oxford england during his first visit to wilbraham in during his first visit to wilbraham in august august 1969 1969 brother willie chose as his theme brother willie chose as his theme the apostles doctrine and fellowship we hear brother willie now as he begins his first address as he begins his first address upon the subject upon the subject truly our fellowship truly our fellowship is with the father is with the father and his son jesus christ and his son jesus christ good morning brothers and sisters it's good morning brothers and sisters it's certainly nice to be starting on this certainly nice to be starting on this series series can you see the board if you can't can you see the board if you can't you'll have to do an inspection later you'll have to do an inspection later but all the week but all the week this left hand board this left hand board my left hand my left hand coupled with that one coupled with that one will be the will be the center themes that i'm dealing with center themes that i'm dealing with this is as it were my program and i'll this is as it were my program and i'll be having those up each morning so that be having those up each morning so that we've got something that we can fix our we've got something that we can fix our minds on now i'm going to start straight minds on now i'm going to start straight in in my object this week is to ask ourselves my object this week is to ask ourselves the question what is the center of the the question what is the center of the gospel where does the very heart of the gospel where does the very heart of the gospel lie gospel lie and and having got the very heart of the gospel having got the very heart of the gospel which of course is none other than jesus which of course is none other than jesus christ and him crucified and risen christ and him crucified and risen uh then we want to move on into a little uh then we want to move on into a little bit of greater depth bit of greater depth on some of the power of the gospel and on some of the power of the gospel and finish up the week with what it does to finish up the week with what it does to us us as you remember those seven rules that as you remember those seven rules that we had yesterday it's all got to do we had yesterday it's all got to do something to us something to us well now um well now um just giving you a summary in a little just giving you a summary in a little bit greater depth bit greater depth today and tomorrow today and tomorrow where's my program where's my program uh uh because because i'm one of those people that can never i'm one of those people that can never keep to a program i'm told i've got to keep to a program i'm told i've got to keep to time and i said oh well see i do keep to time and i said oh well see i do that that but but if you've got your program if you've got your program uh item number three and four are coming uh item number three and four are coming up to be numbers one and two up to be numbers one and two so i'm going to start really with so i'm going to start really with no other name under heaven whereby we no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved what peter preached must be saved what peter preached rolled in with according to my gospel rolled in with according to my gospel what paul preached so that'll be the what paul preached so that'll be the area of the first two talks and in these area of the first two talks and in these you won't have to work too hard in fact you won't have to work too hard in fact you might even say well we know all that you might even say well we know all that i don't know why he spent all that time i don't know why he spent all that time going through that going through that but this is laying the foundations this but this is laying the foundations this is looking in a very simple way at what is looking in a very simple way at what the apostles taught preached as the the apostles taught preached as the simple gospel simple gospel then having got the simple gospel as then having got the simple gospel as they preached it and then going on to they preached it and then going on to what i would call their teaching i'm what i would call their teaching i'm even putting a little distinction even putting a little distinction between preaching and teaching between preaching and teaching preaching is what they said to those preaching is what they said to those outside that's the way i'm going to use outside that's the way i'm going to use the word preaching that's our first two the word preaching that's our first two talks talks that's that's the lectures as it were that they gave the lectures as it were that they gave to people who hadn't got the truth both to people who hadn't got the truth both jews and gentiles and then once people jews and gentiles and then once people have got hold of the truth they taught have got hold of the truth they taught them them in letters and in letters and in little circles the various towns in little circles the various towns and so then i move on in greater depth and so then i move on in greater depth to the teaching to the teaching and my three themes are number one on and my three themes are number one on your program truly our fellowship is your program truly our fellowship is with the father and his son jesus christ with the father and his son jesus christ which is going to aim at exalting jesus which is going to aim at exalting jesus showing how great he really is showing how great he really is showing the god side of jesus showing the god side of jesus and then and then my fourth talk which is number two on my fourth talk which is number two on your program will be the blood of jesus your program will be the blood of jesus christ cleanseth us from all sin this christ cleanseth us from all sin this will be the man aspect of jesus in which will be the man aspect of jesus in which he was totally involved in our sin and he was totally involved in our sin and sorrow for our redemption sorrow for our redemption this will also move on to the this will also move on to the resurrection of jesus resurrection of jesus and then and then chapter number five will be number five chapter number five will be number five of the talks abide in him the fruits of of the talks abide in him the fruits of the apostles doctrine and will aim at the apostles doctrine and will aim at showing that although the lord jesus may showing that although the lord jesus may be thought of as being at the right hand be thought of as being at the right hand of god and therefore you might feel a of god and therefore you might feel a trillion miles away trillion miles away yet in fact yet in fact he dwells in the believer if the he dwells in the believer if the believer will open up to him believer will open up to him abide in me and i in you abide in me and i in you and then we shall finish off by showing and then we shall finish off by showing how this abiding presence of jesus now how this abiding presence of jesus now transforms transforms our attitude to behavior our attitude to behavior and instead of us trying hard in our own and instead of us trying hard in our own strength to achieve strength to achieve we trust we trust to receive to receive and having trusted and received the and having trusted and received the grace of god in christ jesus for all our grace of god in christ jesus for all our mortal days mortal days there is the consummation there is the consummation when that fellowship shall be eternal when that fellowship shall be eternal and all sin and sorrow and sadness and and all sin and sorrow and sadness and weakness and failure a thing of the past weakness and failure a thing of the past so in other words so in other words i'm going to aim to put the lord jesus i'm going to aim to put the lord jesus christ in the very center of our faith christ in the very center of our faith now in order to establish now in order to establish uh where we go uh where we go first we ask where do we look first we ask where do we look for the essential gospel the essential for the essential gospel the essential good news of salvation and you could say good news of salvation and you could say well surely it starts in the old well surely it starts in the old testament and you would be absolutely testament and you would be absolutely right you can't understand the new right you can't understand the new testament without the old and testament without the old and you might say won't be tied anybody at you might say won't be tied anybody at wilbraham who belittles the old wilbraham who belittles the old testament i know we have in the world testament i know we have in the world quite a lot of new testament christians quite a lot of new testament christians who don't take any notice of the old who don't take any notice of the old testament at all and it's a job to know testament at all and it's a job to know how they can even understand matthew one how they can even understand matthew one verse one jesus christ the son of abram verse one jesus christ the son of abram the son of david the son of david so you see we must have the old so you see we must have the old testament and yet without in the testament and yet without in the slightest belittling the old testament slightest belittling the old testament if we want to know the full gospel if we want to know the full gospel for our time we really have to go to the for our time we really have to go to the new testament new testament and understand it in the light of the and understand it in the light of the old similarly we must understand the old old similarly we must understand the old testament in the light of the new testament in the light of the new without the without the old testament without the new testament old testament without the new testament if we only go as far as malachi in our if we only go as far as malachi in our main studies we're still left waiting main studies we're still left waiting we're still left with the feeling he is we're still left with the feeling he is coming one day coming one day god's provisions are going to be made at god's provisions are going to be made at some time in the future some time in the future when we come to the new testament the when we come to the new testament the message that rings through the voice of message that rings through the voice of the apostles is he's here he's calm the apostles is he's here he's calm now that doesn't mean to say that now that doesn't mean to say that everything is fulfilled we still await everything is fulfilled we still await the consummation the consummation the kingdom of god was inaugurated the kingdom of god was inaugurated in individuals in individuals in the coming of the lord jesus christ in the coming of the lord jesus christ in the preaching of the apostles but it in the preaching of the apostles but it wasn't consummated wasn't consummated we were translated into the kingdom or we were translated into the kingdom or the rulership of his dear son the rulership of his dear son but the kingdom of god in all its but the kingdom of god in all its fullness fullness lies yet in the future lies yet in the future so that when we say that the message of so that when we say that the message of the new testament is one of fulfillment the new testament is one of fulfillment he's here he's here he doesn't we don't mean to say it's all he doesn't we don't mean to say it's all fulfilled we still await the fulfilled we still await the consummation we're still conscious of consummation we're still conscious of sin we're still conscious of weakness sin we're still conscious of weakness so really you know just as yesterday we so really you know just as yesterday we had had three elements so here again we can use three elements so here again we can use the platform as our visual aid we've got the platform as our visual aid we've got the old testament which says the old testament which says one day he's coming one day he's coming we've got the new testament which says we've got the new testament which says he's he's here then we've got the future here then we've got the future when he's really here fully finally and when he's really here fully finally and completely and everything's going to be completely and everything's going to be marvelous in that day when the glory of marvelous in that day when the glory of god in christ will fill the earth as the god in christ will fill the earth as the water covers the sea water covers the sea so there we are so there we are he's coming he's coming he's here he's here and then finally he's even more here and then finally he's even more here so that's the picture so that's the picture now now the new testament starts in fact the new testament starts in fact with the message from with the message from jesus i don't know if you have proof jesus i don't know if you have proof texts in sunday school texts in sunday school in um in um the united states and canada the united states and canada many sunday schools do in england and i many sunday schools do in england and i when i was moving house the other day when i was moving house the other day and trying to throw away as much paper and trying to throw away as much paper as possible particularly the as possible particularly the argumentative sort of paper argumentative sort of paper uh uh i got rid of a real lot i can tell you but i came across my first sunday school i came across my first sunday school proof book proof book and and the first proof i had ever had to learn the first proof i had ever had to learn was that jesus preached the gospel of was that jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of god the kingdom of god and it ran after that john was put into and it ran after that john was put into prison jesus came prison jesus came into galilee preaching the gospel of the into galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of god i think it's about the kingdom of god i think it's about the only verse in the bible that i've got only verse in the bible that i've got word perfect there it was and underneath word perfect there it was and underneath was a little tick and five out of five was a little tick and five out of five because i said it right because i said it right um um well you see well you see that then goes on that then goes on mark 1 mark 1 verse verse 14 goes on into what he actually said in 14 goes on into what he actually said in mark 1 15 mark 1 15 the time has come the time has come the kingdom of god is upon you the kingdom of god is upon you repent and believe the gospel repent and believe the gospel that was the message that jesus came that was the message that jesus came with and the very first words in the with and the very first words in the greek of that are greek of that are fulfilled is the time fulfilled is the time got it fulfilled is the time got it fulfilled is the time and so the whole message of the and so the whole message of the teaching of christ was fulfilled teaching of christ was fulfilled right through he says i'm the one the right through he says i'm the one the old testament spoke about old testament spoke about and the apostles come on and they and the apostles come on and they explain that jesus explain that jesus in many respects fulfilled what the old in many respects fulfilled what the old testament talked about in an unexpected testament talked about in an unexpected way way so you see if you really want the full so you see if you really want the full gospel you must include the new gospel you must include the new testament this is why the jews still lag testament this is why the jews still lag behind behind for a full gospel you must go to the new for a full gospel you must go to the new testament testament against the background of the old against the background of the old i mean we can't understand what's i mean we can't understand what's fulfilled unless we've got the knowledge fulfilled unless we've got the knowledge of the old and this is the wonderful of the old and this is the wonderful contribution to understanding that our contribution to understanding that our christadelphian community makes christadelphian community makes most other church people when you talk most other church people when you talk to them they seem to know very very to them they seem to know very very little about the old testament at all little about the old testament at all we've got to be careful that we don't go we've got to be careful that we don't go to the other extreme and have it all old to the other extreme and have it all old testament and forget that the heart of testament and forget that the heart of the gospel is jesus himself the gospel is jesus himself of course also how you present the of course also how you present the gospel sometimes depends upon the kind gospel sometimes depends upon the kind of people you're dealing with i mean if of people you're dealing with i mean if you're in mormon country where most you're in mormon country where most people seem to if you you would say in people seem to if you you would say in utah where i understand there's still a utah where i understand there's still a lot of mormons about then your gospel lot of mormons about then your gospel would have a certain slant would have a certain slant if you're in an area where everybody's if you're in an area where everybody's very very keen on believing in the very very keen on believing in the immortality of the soul and a future immortality of the soul and a future destiny which is going to be sitting destiny which is going to be sitting upon a cloud playing a harp forever and upon a cloud playing a harp forever and ever then you give them the more solid ever then you give them the more solid realities that the good hope of israel realities that the good hope of israel offers offers but whatever the emphasis you have to but whatever the emphasis you have to give give because of the time you live in and the because of the time you live in and the people in the midst of whom you live people in the midst of whom you live that emphasis must never that emphasis must never displace the lord jesus christ from the displace the lord jesus christ from the center he is the fulfillment and so it center he is the fulfillment and so it is that the old testament scriptures on is that the old testament scriptures on their own their own are not able to make you wise unto are not able to make you wise unto salvation in this present time salvation in this present time you all know that other proof text you all know that other proof text which runs which runs from a child from a child what is it well i'm not going to tell what is it well i'm not going to tell you what it is because i don't want you you what it is because i don't want you to look it up from a child that has to look it up from a child that has known the holy scriptures which are able known the holy scriptures which are able to make the wise unto salvation now to make the wise unto salvation now don't look at the passage got it don't look at the passage got it from a child that has known the holy from a child that has known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation hands up those who wise unto salvation hands up those who can finish it can finish it can finish that verse can finish that verse from a child that has known the holy from a child that has known the holy scriptures which are able to make the scriptures which are able to make the wise under salvation nobody finish it now that's what goes before it he's got the grandmother lois spit come he's got the grandmother lois spit come on who's gonna from a child thou hast on who's gonna from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able known the holy scriptures which are able to make the to make the wise unto salvation wise unto salvation that just proves it doesn't it that just proves it doesn't it through faith which is in christ jesus through faith which is in christ jesus that's how it finishes that's how it finishes in other words the old testament in other words the old testament scriptures because that's what he was scriptures because that's what he was talking about are able to make you wise talking about are able to make you wise under salvation now under salvation now through faith which is in christ jesus through faith which is in christ jesus so when you see the old testament so when you see the old testament scriptures in the light of christ that scriptures in the light of christ that then the old testament scriptures make then the old testament scriptures make you wise under salvation you wise under salvation so this is the the great theme of so this is the the great theme of scripture well now um scripture well now um there are there are other scriptures which convey the same other scriptures which convey the same thought and perhaps i'll just content thought and perhaps i'll just content myself with one other hebrews chapter 1 myself with one other hebrews chapter 1 which relates the old and the new which relates the old and the new testament testament i'm going a little bit to town on this i'm going a little bit to town on this because i want us to see the because i want us to see the relationship of the old testament to the relationship of the old testament to the apostolic preaching apostolic preaching i'm reading here from my little pocket i'm reading here from my little pocket new english bible lots of people have new english bible lots of people have said where can you get them well i can said where can you get them well i can only say you can get them from england only say you can get them from england and that'll be good for our export drive i should think you'd get them about um three dollars and three dollars and two and a half and it fits very nice in two and a half and it fits very nice in your handbag well i don't have a handbag your handbag well i don't have a handbag i i keep them in my pocket uh but it's i i keep them in my pocket uh but it's very nice when i'm driving on our subway very nice when i'm driving on our subway you we call it underground in london and you we call it underground in london and i've got three stations to go i can whip i've got three stations to go i can whip it out of my pocket read 10 verses and i it out of my pocket read 10 verses and i feel a little bit better and when i get feel a little bit better and when i get to the next business appointment well to the next business appointment well i'm less tempted to do the things i i'm less tempted to do the things i shouldn't do because i've had a little shouldn't do because i've had a little read on the train read on the train uh hebrews 1 then says uh hebrews 1 then says when in former times this is in the new when in former times this is in the new english bible english bible god spoke to our forefathers he spoke in god spoke to our forefathers he spoke in fragmentary and varied fashion through fragmentary and varied fashion through the prophets the prophets you see there was a bit here and a bit you see there was a bit here and a bit there it doesn't mean to say that the there it doesn't mean to say that the fragments are lacking in truth but you fragments are lacking in truth but you know so often when you're reading the know so often when you're reading the prophets you get 10 verses they're quite prophets you get 10 verses they're quite isolated from the next 10 verses it's isolated from the next 10 verses it's just a little fragment just a little fragment and yet in that little fragment you have and yet in that little fragment you have a little note of hope that something a little note of hope that something that's gone wrong then is one day going that's gone wrong then is one day going to be put right we saw that in some of to be put right we saw that in some of the wonderful fragments we had from the wonderful fragments we had from hosea yesterday hosea yesterday so in fragmentary and varied fashion yes so in fragmentary and varied fashion yes varied because there were men who varied because there were men who prophesied there were men who did great prophesied there were men who did great deeds there are bits of poetry there are deeds there are bits of poetry there are wise sayings god speaks all kinds of wise sayings god speaks all kinds of ways in these fragments that we have ways in these fragments that we have which when we see them in the light of which when we see them in the light of the lord jesus christ are able to make the lord jesus christ are able to make us wise under salvation and so hebrews us wise under salvation and so hebrews goes on to say but in this goes on to say but in this the final age the final age he has spoken to us in the sun he has spoken to us in the sun so god's final word is in the sun and so god's final word is in the sun and the word was made flesh and he dwelt the word was made flesh and he dwelt among us john 1 14 among us john 1 14 what god had been saying through what god had been saying through prophets through the experiences of prophets through the experiences of israel through the deeds that he israel through the deeds that he performed for israel he now said in the performed for israel he now said in the most perfect and complete way in a sun most perfect and complete way in a sun and so our gospel when we come to and so our gospel when we come to consider the apostolic doctrine and consider the apostolic doctrine and fellowship fellowship is the message of is the message of the son the son now there's one other thing that i want now there's one other thing that i want to say having got the relationship with to say having got the relationship with the old and the new testament i want to the old and the new testament i want to go back to this relationship between go back to this relationship between preaching and teaching preaching and teaching the whole of the bible consists both old the whole of the bible consists both old and new testament but we're particularly and new testament but we're particularly concerned with the new testament concerned with the new testament with two great strands with two great strands sdr a nds you know like sdr a nds you know like somewhere inside this wire that's tying somewhere inside this wire that's tying me up there are presumably two or three me up there are presumably two or three strands of wire strands of wire well there are two or three now two main well there are two or three now two main strands that i want to mention here strands that i want to mention here it's what i said just now about teaching it's what i said just now about teaching and preaching there is that strand of and preaching there is that strand of truth which is clear truth which is clear and unmistakable and unmistakable there is the basic first principles of there is the basic first principles of god's working that go right through god's working that go right through there's really there's really no arguing about them they're that clear no arguing about them they're that clear so it seems to us that they really hit so it seems to us that they really hit us in the face us in the face and these are what the apostles preached and these are what the apostles preached and the beauty of the great truths of and the beauty of the great truths of our salvation is that they are not our salvation is that they are not theological propositions theological propositions they are not complicated uh creeds like they are not complicated uh creeds like the creed of athanasius there are the creed of athanasius there are straightforward facts about acts the straightforward facts about acts the acts of god here not the acts of the acts of god here not the acts of the apostles god is a god who does things apostles god is a god who does things and the things that he's been doing are and the things that he's been doing are the basis of the gospel facts everybody the basis of the gospel facts everybody can understand that god went forth to can understand that god went forth to deliver israel deliver israel from egypt for example everybody can from egypt for example everybody can understand that the lord jesus christ understand that the lord jesus christ came from god they might not quite came from god they might not quite understand what way he came from god and understand what way he came from god and certain confusions often arise even in certain confusions often arise even in our minds about the mode in which god our minds about the mode in which god was represented in jesus but the fact is was represented in jesus but the fact is there that god was in christ there that god was in christ then you come into the facts then you come into the facts that jesus died that jesus died as a representative of the sinner as a representative of the sinner and however you might get into and however you might get into complicated difficulties when you try to complicated difficulties when you try to explain why explain why yet the plain fact that he is the yet the plain fact that he is the sinner's representative who died for us sinner's representative who died for us and was victorious over sin and and was victorious over sin and victorious over death victorious over death and that we can share his victory those and that we can share his victory those are simple facts are simple facts some of these facts that we've got on some of these facts that we've got on the board here those simple facts don't the board here those simple facts don't need you to be need you to be a genius of exposition a genius of exposition don't need you to be in the slightest don't need you to be in the slightest bit clever bit clever they're there they're there all you've got to do is commit yourself all you've got to do is commit yourself to them to them and so it is with the fact that he is at and so it is with the fact that he is at present in heaven presiding over affairs present in heaven presiding over affairs so is the fact that he is at present in so is the fact that he is at present in you and me if we'll only open the door you and me if we'll only open the door those are simple facts mind you it's not those are simple facts mind you it's not always easy to open the door because always easy to open the door because somehow the door gets stuck and it's not somehow the door gets stuck and it's not always easy to open it to the lord jesus always easy to open it to the lord jesus christ and similarly it's a very simple christ and similarly it's a very simple fact fact of gospel preaching that he's coming of gospel preaching that he's coming again again to take over the whole government of to take over the whole government of mankind those are simple basic gospel mankind those are simple basic gospel facts but more of the bible is occupied facts but more of the bible is occupied with what i would call growth material with what i would call growth material teaching teaching what i've just been talking about is what i've just been talking about is preaching the basic facts now we look on preaching the basic facts now we look on teaching teaching you can't really justif i'm making these you can't really justif i'm making these definitions i'm making my own rules up definitions i'm making my own rules up in a sense i'm saying i'm going to call in a sense i'm saying i'm going to call preaching preaching that which concerns those basic facts that which concerns those basic facts and i'm going to call teaching that and i'm going to call teaching that which concerns the growth material which concerns the growth material because if you're baptized for example because if you're baptized for example shall we say at the age of 16 and you shall we say at the age of 16 and you lived to the age of uh 96 as uh we've lived to the age of uh 96 as uh we've got one or two uh got one or two uh what do they call them no nigerians here what do they call them no nigerians here people who lived to the age of 90 beyond people who lived to the age of 90 beyond and how wonderful it is to meet them and how wonderful it is to meet them well you might be well you might be uh a christian a christian alfie and a uh a christian a christian alfie and a brother in the lord jesus christ for 80 brother in the lord jesus christ for 80 years years well you've got to keep be kept fed all well you've got to keep be kept fed all that time that time and you can't just keep going on the and you can't just keep going on the same facts in the same way as they were same facts in the same way as they were originally preached to you've got to originally preached to you've got to build on them and so there's got to be build on them and so there's got to be this growth this material this material this growth this material this material that enriches you that enriches you so we need the teaching of the apostles so we need the teaching of the apostles to give us this growth material so we to give us this growth material so we have old testament and new testament old have old testament and new testament old testament say he's going to come new testament say he's going to come new testament saying he's here and we have testament saying he's here and we have teaching material which gives you the teaching material which gives you the basic facts about the lord jesus christ basic facts about the lord jesus christ in relation to human salvation in relation to human salvation preaching material then we've got preaching material then we've got teaching material which builds us up and teaching material which builds us up and i've got a passage already written out i've got a passage already written out for me to save me looking out here which for me to save me looking out here which tells you tells you in ephesians 1 in ephesians 1 i pray that this is the new english i pray that this is the new english bible ephesians 1 verse 17 i pray that bible ephesians 1 verse 17 i pray that the god of our lord jesus christ the the god of our lord jesus christ the all-glorious father may give you the all-glorious father may give you the spiritual powers of wisdom and vision spiritual powers of wisdom and vision by which there comes the knowledge of by which there comes the knowledge of him i pray that your inward eyes may be him i pray that your inward eyes may be illumined illumined so that you may know what is the hope to so that you may know what is the hope to which he calls you and we had a bit which he calls you and we had a bit about the word no yesterday didn't we about the word no yesterday didn't we what the wealth and glory of the share what the wealth and glory of the share he offers you among his people in their he offers you among his people in their heritage and how vast the resources of heritage and how vast the resources of his power open to us who trust in him his power open to us who trust in him they are measured by his strength they are measured by his strength and the might which he exerted in christ and the might which he exerted in christ when he raised him from the dead when he when he raised him from the dead when he enthroned him at his right hand in the enthroned him at his right hand in the heavenly realms isn't that lovely heavenly realms isn't that lovely i mean it's lovely in the or the king i mean it's lovely in the or the king james version but because this brings it james version but because this brings it up to date a bit i i'm thrilled with up to date a bit i i'm thrilled with that how vast the resources of his power that how vast the resources of his power open to us who trust in him open to us who trust in him and so these resources are available and so these resources are available direct from the lord jesus but one of direct from the lord jesus but one of the great means whereby these resources the great means whereby these resources of his power are open to us is by of his power are open to us is by listening to the teaching building upon listening to the teaching building upon the preaching the preaching now first then the preaching now first then the preaching what was the apostolic gospel what did what was the apostolic gospel what did the apostles preach about the apostles preach about well just using my little new english well just using my little new english bible here bible here let's have a look at these let's have a look at these simple essentials simple essentials and find what they have to tell us well uh acts chapter two is the day of pentecost isn't it is the day of pentecost isn't it you remember the circumstances remember you remember the circumstances remember our seven rules yesterday and so all our seven rules yesterday and so all through my talks i'm going from time to through my talks i'm going from time to time to see pictures time to see pictures and i'd love to see this picture of and i'd love to see this picture of all this hubbub and noise occurring all this hubbub and noise occurring so that in the so that in the big areas just outside the center part big areas just outside the center part of the temple there were little groups of the temple there were little groups gathered around maine gathered around maine and if you'd have been in that group and if you'd have been in that group over there over there who were listening to somebody speaking who were listening to somebody speaking in the median tongue in the median tongue over there that had been somebody else over there that had been somebody else one of the apostles talking in the one of the apostles talking in the cappadocian town cappadocian town if you'd have been on the edge of the if you'd have been on the edge of the median crowd you could understand that median crowd you could understand that you were pretty marveling at the fact you were pretty marveling at the fact that that man who was just an ordinary that that man who was just an ordinary man suddenly started jabbering in in the man suddenly started jabbering in in the median language but your other ear might median language but your other ear might have heard somebody i'm holding all of have heard somebody i'm holding all of them over here and you wouldn't have them over here and you wouldn't have understood a word of it because he was understood a word of it because he was speaking in the cappadocian language speaking in the cappadocian language you know everybody thought this was a you know everybody thought this was a real sensation if there'd been a real sensation if there'd been a jerusalem post it would have been the jerusalem post it would have been the main headline main headline fishermen suddenly fishermen suddenly start speaking every language well start speaking every language well they've had a better headline than that they've had a better headline than that the great the great the great jesus sensation or something the great jesus sensation or something they'd have had i suppose as the they'd have had i suppose as the headlines because these men were headlines because these men were preaching jesus preaching jesus well of course there's always the well of course there's always the disbelievers disbelievers and so a great argument started how on and so a great argument started how on earth was it that these men managed to earth was it that these men managed to speak in all these foreign languages speak in all these foreign languages although they'd never been to university although they'd never been to university and never learnt these other languages and never learnt these other languages somebody says oh they're drunk somebody says oh they're drunk and so peter comes in with all this and so peter comes in with all this noises you couldn't hear yourself think noises you couldn't hear yourself think and peter comes in and he lifts up his and peter comes in and he lifts up his hand he says man and brethren hand he says man and brethren he evidently got a loud voice he evidently got a loud voice perhaps perhaps i've borrowed it from perhaps perhaps i've borrowed it from him him and and he uh he manages to get uh get silence he uh he manages to get uh get silence this is verse 14 peter stood up with the eleven raised his voice now you see you never thought his voice now you see you never thought of that perhaps of that perhaps what's it say in the authorized version what's it say in the authorized version the king the king lifted up his voice you know lifted up lifted up his voice you know lifted up his voice now we do we don't say that his voice now we do we don't say that nowadays we say raised his voice don't nowadays we say raised his voice don't we the moment you get that picture you we the moment you get that picture you can hear him shouting to get them quiet can hear him shouting to get them quiet that's seeing pictures you see that's seeing pictures you see so so he raised his voice and addressed them he raised his voice and addressed them fellow jews fellow jews and all you who live in jerusalem mark and all you who live in jerusalem mark this and give me a hearing let me speak this and give me a hearing let me speak these men are not drunk these men are not drunk as you imagine for it's only nine in the as you imagine for it's only nine in the morning morning that's real martin isn't it that's real martin isn't it it's only nine in the morning 9 20. you it's only nine in the morning 9 20. you see now none of us have really had time see now none of us have really had time to get drunk have we to get drunk have we not even on that lovely orange juice and not even on that lovely orange juice and those cups of tea and milk those cups of tea and milk i've had three cups of tea but i've had three cups of tea but that doesn't make you drunk well there that doesn't make you drunk well there you are it's only nine in the morning you are it's only nine in the morning public houses the inns aren't open yet public houses the inns aren't open yet so they haven't had a chance to get so they haven't had a chance to get drunk that fits in doesn't it with drunk that fits in doesn't it with peter's practical sort of way he's peter's practical sort of way he's always right on the ball always right on the ball in a practical sort of way in a practical sort of way then he goes on straight away to tell then he goes on straight away to tell them them that what you are seeing is fulfillment that what you are seeing is fulfillment you are seeing the fulfillment of the you are seeing the fulfillment of the prophecy of joel prophecy of joel now i can't go back to the prophecy of now i can't go back to the prophecy of joel but for the bible students can i joel but for the bible students can i give you a hint in the prophecy of joel give you a hint in the prophecy of joel against the background of a great against the background of a great tragedy that occurred in israel's tragedy that occurred in israel's history when the locusts came and history when the locusts came and decimated the whole land and ruined it decimated the whole land and ruined it when they turned to god then things when they turned to god then things began to be better and god's spirit was began to be better and god's spirit was poured out upon just ordinary young poured out upon just ordinary young people and old men people and old men and even the servants god's spirit was and even the servants god's spirit was poured upon them poured upon them and that happened once in israel's and that happened once in israel's history and was taken hold of by the history and was taken hold of by the prophet joel as a prefigurement of what prophet joel as a prefigurement of what was going to happen in the last days now was going to happen in the last days now when did the last days start did they when did the last days start did they start here when jesus and the apostles start here when jesus and the apostles were at work or are they going to start were at work or are they going to start up here when jesus comes back up here when jesus comes back well in one way the last days started well in one way the last days started when jesus was in the earth when jesus was in the earth fulfilled is the time fulfilled is the time the last days were inaugurated the last days were inaugurated when jesus was in the earth the last when jesus was in the earth the last days are consummated days are consummated there when jesus comes back this is there when jesus comes back this is important to realize this and so this important to realize this and so this explains why so many kingdom passages explains why so many kingdom passages passages which we say yet lie in the passages which we say yet lie in the future future like the wolf lying down with the lamb like the wolf lying down with the lamb passage in isaiah 11 even the apostles passage in isaiah 11 even the apostles get hold of it and they say this is now get hold of it and they say this is now being fulfilled being fulfilled you look at it and you say well it you look at it and you say well it doesn't some people even say apostles doesn't some people even say apostles misquoted of course they didn't misquote misquoted of course they didn't misquote when the apostle said this is now being when the apostle said this is now being fulfilled fulfilled he meant that he was being inaugurated he meant that he was being inaugurated the fulfillment was starting and of the fulfillment was starting and of course we standing where we stand say course we standing where we stand say it's still got to be fulfilled he will it's still got to be fulfilled he will come again come again so it has been fulfilled it will be so it has been fulfilled it will be fulfilled as it was with the prophecy of fulfilled as it was with the prophecy of joel joel when the spirit was outpoured when the spirit was outpoured upon ordinary folk fishermen and upon ordinary folk fishermen and ordinary folk ordinary folk in this day of pentecost in this day of pentecost then this was a fulfillment of the last then this was a fulfillment of the last day prophecy of joel the fact is it's day prophecy of joel the fact is it's going to be poured out again going to be poured out again when jesus comes back when jesus comes back so that just in passing a little bit of so that just in passing a little bit of exposition which i can never resist the exposition which i can never resist the temptation of doing because there's an temptation of doing because there's an important principle there important principle there whenever you see these green flags as it whenever you see these green flags as it is written this is that which was spoken is written this is that which was spoken then you will usually find that then you will usually find that the two beginnings the beginning of the the two beginnings the beginning of the work of christ and the beginning of his work of christ and the beginning of his future fulfillment are both incorporated future fulfillment are both incorporated in the same set of words in the prophets in the same set of words in the prophets well having dealt with that peter i well having dealt with that peter i something come to the light here something come to the light here peter begins in verse 22 peter begins in verse 22 to to set forth the great preaching facts set forth the great preaching facts i think you know sometimes when you come i think you know sometimes when you come to bible school to bible school you might feel a bit overwhelmed with you might feel a bit overwhelmed with some of the information that brethren some of the information that brethren throw at you throw at you we'll all be doing it we're trying to we'll all be doing it we're trying to stretch all our minds to the maximum stretch all our minds to the maximum keep in mind all the time that the basic keep in mind all the time that the basic gospel facts are simple gospel facts are simple men and brethren listen to me verse 22 i men and brethren listen to me verse 22 i speak of jesus of nazareth a man singled speak of jesus of nazareth a man singled out by god and made known to you through out by god and made known to you through miracles portents and signs which god miracles portents and signs which god worked among you through him as you well worked among you through him as you well know know when he had been given up to you by the when he had been given up to you by the deliberate will and plan of god deliberate will and plan of god you used heathen man to crucify and kill you used heathen man to crucify and kill him him but god raised him to life again setting but god raised him to life again setting him free from the plans of death because him free from the plans of death because it could not be that death should keep it could not be that death should keep him in his grip him in his grip that's the start of peter's gospel that's the start of peter's gospel preaching preaching and you have there the first four of and you have there the first four of these facts these facts that jesus came from god a man sent from that jesus came from god a man sent from god god later on in address number three of this later on in address number three of this series we're going to expand that series we're going to expand that came from god this is why i've switched came from god this is why i've switched round one and two and three and four round one and two and three and four because i thought if we got the simple because i thought if we got the simple facts first and then plunged into a facts first and then plunged into a little more depth this might be the best little more depth this might be the best way of doing it then it went on didn't way of doing it then it went on didn't it talking about the signs and portents it talking about the signs and portents and the miracles he performed this is and the miracles he performed this is the ministry of jesus for three years he the ministry of jesus for three years he ministered to men ministered to men and these are parts of gospel preaching and these are parts of gospel preaching in our lectures in our lectures even though we've got a hammer away at even though we've got a hammer away at man mortal and hammer away against the man mortal and hammer away against the mormons and the jehovah witnesses from mormons and the jehovah witnesses from time to time we must never lose sight of time to time we must never lose sight of the fact that in our environment our the fact that in our environment our preaching must nevertheless run along preaching must nevertheless run along parallel lines with that of peter and parallel lines with that of peter and the paul so jesus seven facts about the paul so jesus seven facts about jesus i've called these came from god jesus i've called these came from god ministered to men and then he comes on ministered to men and then he comes on and you took him and you crucified him and you took him and you crucified him died and i've put in a bit here from died and i've put in a bit here from paul 1 corinthians 15 died for our sins paul 1 corinthians 15 died for our sins we should be going into that later on we should be going into that later on this week this week and then he says but it wasn't possible and then he says but it wasn't possible for him to stay there for him to stay there god raised him from the dead it wasn't god raised him from the dead it wasn't possible that he should be holden of possible that he should be holden of death death in the king james version raised and i in the king james version raised and i brought in there a little bit from the brought in there a little bit from the apostle paul apostle paul for our justification and get the word for our justification and get the word justification clear right from the start justification clear right from the start the word justification simply means the word justification simply means to be put in the right we're all in the to be put in the right we're all in the wrong with god but through sharing the wrong with god but through sharing the victory of christ we're put in the right victory of christ we're put in the right with god that's all justification means with god that's all justification means to be put in the right to be put in the right now that's as far as peter goes in this now that's as far as peter goes in this first bit he gives us the first four first bit he gives us the first four facts facts and then he goes on and quotes from the and then he goes on and quotes from the psalms another one of the passages which psalms another one of the passages which he's able to see new light in he's able he's able to see new light in he's able to read the old testament through faith to read the old testament through faith which is in christ jesus which is in christ jesus you remember when nobody was willing to you remember when nobody was willing to put their hands up and finish it able to put their hands up and finish it able to make us wise unto salvation through make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in christ jesus that's faith which is in christ jesus that's why the apostle used the old testament why the apostle used the old testament brought to bear upon it faith in christ brought to bear upon it faith in christ jesus and it reached its real meaning jesus and it reached its real meaning and fulfillment and fulfillment so in verse 32 so in verse 32 peter goes on after quoting the several peter goes on after quoting the several psalms psalms the jesus we speak of the jesus we speak of has been raised by god as we can all has been raised by god as we can all bear witness bear witness exalted thus to god's right hand exalted thus to god's right hand he received the holy spirit from the he received the holy spirit from the father as was promised father as was promised and all that you now see and here and all that you now see and here flows from him flows from him so he now moves on not only was jesus so he now moves on not only was jesus raised from the dead raised from the dead you know i mean lazarus was raised from you know i mean lazarus was raised from the dead the dead and even elijah and elisha raised people and even elijah and elisha raised people from the dead from the dead but he ascended to the right hand of god but he ascended to the right hand of god so fact number five so fact number five is the follow-up of the resurrection is the follow-up of the resurrection that he ascended to the right hand of that he ascended to the right hand of god and what peter means and he's there god and what peter means and he's there now now 2 000 years ago 2 000 years ago he was there and today he's there he was there and today he's there ascended to the right hand of god ascended to the right hand of god and so from that lofty place he is our and so from that lofty place he is our mediator he's the one we go to through mediator he's the one we go to through whom our prayers are mediated to god we whom our prayers are mediated to god we have in the inner councils of the have in the inner councils of the almighty one who has shared our weakness almighty one who has shared our weakness and if we find it difficult to believe and if we find it difficult to believe that god could understand our problems that god could understand our problems we know that jesus can understand our we know that jesus can understand our problems because he's been through it problems because he's been through it all tempted in all points not just some all tempted in all points not just some points tempted in all points as we are points tempted in all points as we are yet without sin yet without sin so we have jesus so we have jesus ascended to the right hand of god that ascended to the right hand of god that was fact number five was fact number five which he brings out which he brings out he mentions that as ascended to the he mentions that as ascended to the right hand of god jesus has in his hand right hand of god jesus has in his hand as it were the holy spirit as it were the holy spirit then then he makes an appeal let all israel then accept a certain that god has made this jesus whom you that god has made this jesus whom you crucified both lord and messiah crucified both lord and messiah the jesus who was crucified is the one the jesus who was crucified is the one who was spoken of right through the old who was spoken of right through the old testament and he is the lord and the testament and he is the lord and the messiah he is the fulfillment peter is messiah he is the fulfillment peter is always talking in terms of the old always talking in terms of the old testament pointers to christ do you notice those little words whom you crucified whom you crucified because here is another great element of because here is another great element of gospel preaching and we ought not to gospel preaching and we ought not to miss it out of our preaching of the miss it out of our preaching of the gospel gospel everything that peter said we can say everything that peter said we can say today today our brethren here who give lectures who our brethren here who give lectures who speak everything that peter said it's speak everything that peter said it's still appropriate isn't it still appropriate isn't it but could you stand in front of an but could you stand in front of an audience audience in in united kingdom or the united states or united kingdom or the united states or canada canada and say jesus who you crucified you might say of course i couldn't because i couldn't because they couldn't because i couldn't because they didn't didn't but you see we did but you see we did there's that uh spiritual isn't there there's that uh spiritual isn't there where were you when they crucified my where were you when they crucified my lord lord the plain fact is we were there in the plain fact is we were there in principle principle where were you when they crucified my where were you when they crucified my lord you see because lord you see because ringed around the council chamber of the ringed around the council chamber of the high priests high priests and of pilate and of pilate and around the cross was every form of and around the cross was every form of sin in which we can engage sin in which we can engage you think about it sometime i can just you think about it sometime i can just draw your attention to it there were draw your attention to it there were there were the sadducees who were the there were the sadducees who were the people who said look if we let this man people who said look if we let this man go this jesus the romans will come go this jesus the romans will come and they'll take away our job they'll and they'll take away our job they'll take away our good place for from us take away our good place for from us and we don't want that and we don't want that so he'll have to go to the wall we'll so he'll have to go to the wall we'll have to get rid of him have to get rid of him in other words they put in other words they put human comfort their own comfort they put human comfort their own comfort they put their own material position their own material position before the things that ought to have before the things that ought to have been first been first straight away we know well i never straight away we know well i never thought i was like the sadducees before thought i was like the sadducees before we say but we do just that and it was we say but we do just that and it was that attitude of putting self first in a that attitude of putting self first in a material sense that material sense that caused the sadducees to bring christ caused the sadducees to bring christ to his cross and there were the very to his cross and there were the very religious people the pharisees the religious people the pharisees the traditionalists who because he didn't traditionalists who because he didn't seem to say things the way they were seem to say things the way they were used to it used to it they said he's got to go they said he's got to go we can't have that they were intolerant we can't have that they were intolerant now although we must stand up for the now although we must stand up for the standards of christ standards of christ intolerance that kind of attitude which intolerance that kind of attitude which nearly hates somebody be it a brother or nearly hates somebody be it a brother or somebody outside who thinks differently somebody outside who thinks differently from us it was intolerance that nailed from us it was intolerance that nailed jesus to the cross so that when perhaps jesus to the cross so that when perhaps in our ecclesial life we show in our ecclesial life we show intolerance of a brother who's got a intolerance of a brother who's got a different slant on something or other different slant on something or other i've got to stand up for the principles i've got to stand up for the principles of the truth don't misunderstand me but of the truth don't misunderstand me but a brother has a different slant it might a brother has a different slant it might even be a seriously wrong slant we've even be a seriously wrong slant we've got to show loads of patience we're not got to show loads of patience we're not always ready to do that now was the fact always ready to do that now was the fact that they hadn't any patience with this that they hadn't any patience with this man that came along with what seemed to man that came along with what seemed to be some new ideas be some new ideas the lord jesus christ that caused the the lord jesus christ that caused the pharisees to nail him to the cross pharisees to nail him to the cross and of course there's the and of course there's the self-righteousness that went along with self-righteousness that went along with it and we sometimes share that don't we it and we sometimes share that don't we as we look down upon others and say i as we look down upon others and say i thank my god i'm not as other men are thank my god i'm not as other men are and then there was pilate there and then there was pilate there he could have let him go he could have let him go but he too but he too didn't like to make the decision because didn't like to make the decision because it was an awkward decision to make there it was an awkward decision to make there are times in our business ecclesial and are times in our business ecclesial and private life when we don't like to make private life when we don't like to make an important decision and we pass the an important decision and we pass the buck i i think that's an american phrase buck i i think that's an american phrase as well is it we all know what passing as well is it we all know what passing the buck is it isn't giving somebody a the buck is it isn't giving somebody a dollar is it it's passing the buck dollar is it it's passing the buck letting somebody else make the decision letting somebody else make the decision and take the blame and take the blame and pilate brought jesus to his death by and pilate brought jesus to his death by passing the passing the and these are things that we all do and these are things that we all do every day of our lives or attempted to every day of our lives or attempted to do do then who else was there well there were then who else was there well there were the the there were the um there were the um there was a crowd wasn't there there was a crowd wasn't there the crowd did one thing today and the crowd did one thing today and another thing tomorrow the crowd is another thing tomorrow the crowd is fickle fickle they brought jesus they brought jesus to his death by shouting crucify him to his death by shouting crucify him because fast operators got to work upon because fast operators got to work upon and our television sets and our radios and our television sets and our radios and our newspapers and our acquaintances and our newspapers and our acquaintances at work and at school and college get to at work and at school and college get to work on us work on us and turn us and turn us so often into the way of the world so often into the way of the world when we are turned into the way of the when we are turned into the way of the world we are joining the mob who cried world we are joining the mob who cried crucify him and what about the believers crucify him and what about the believers themselves the disciples themselves the disciples who ran who ran who were cowards who were cowards when they should have spoken when they should have spoken so you see somewhere other than there so you see somewhere other than there were some other people around the cross were some other people around the cross of jesus and around those council of jesus and around those council chambers every kind of human sin met chambers every kind of human sin met round the council chamber and the cross round the council chamber and the cross your sin and mine met there the whenever we sin in a sense we're sharing whenever we sin in a sense we're sharing a little bit of the blame for the a little bit of the blame for the crucifixion of jesus crucifixion of jesus that's what happened when man met god that's what happened when man met god because jesus was god's representative because jesus was god's representative and he was our representative and when and he was our representative and when man met god manifested in jesus man met god manifested in jesus then man tried to kill then man tried to kill god's representative and in killing god's representative and in killing god's representative was trying to kill god's representative was trying to kill god god and every time we sin that's really what and every time we sin that's really what we're trying to do and so the cross of we're trying to do and so the cross of jesus shows up the enormity of sin and jesus shows up the enormity of sin and it makes you say oh dear what can i do it makes you say oh dear what can i do and that's just what happened and that's just what happened when they realized that's why bringing when they realized that's why bringing over the conviction of sin to people is over the conviction of sin to people is an important thing in our preaching by an important thing in our preaching by all means give them the doctrine of sin all means give them the doctrine of sin and explain to them about genesis and and explain to them about genesis and explain to them about adam and eve and explain to them about adam and eve and explain to them the sorry story of explain to them the sorry story of israel's history but when you've done israel's history but when you've done all that you've got to bring it right all that you've got to bring it right home and we must always include home and we must always include ourselves in it ourselves in it must say who you crucified is whom you must say who you crucified is whom you me too crucified we're all involved in me too crucified we're all involved in this this general sin general sin of human nature which brought jesus to of human nature which brought jesus to his death his death so immediately so immediately they said they said friends what are we to do friends what are we to do they were really smitten with the they were really smitten with the consciousness of sin what are we to do consciousness of sin what are we to do and then peter told them and then peter told them those are over on the other board their those are over on the other board their response response repent let's turn round take a new line repent let's turn round take a new line commit yourself to a new power and be commit yourself to a new power and be baptized every one of you in the name of baptized every one of you in the name of jesus the messiah jesus the messiah for the forgiveness of your sins for the forgiveness of your sins so repent and be baptized so repent and be baptized this was the way in to reorient this was the way in to reorient themselves as we say today repents a themselves as we say today repents a much better word indeed you imagine much better word indeed you imagine reorient and be baptized it's much reorient and be baptized it's much better repent and be baptized that's better repent and be baptized that's what it means get yourself sorted out what it means get yourself sorted out and in a new direction committed to and in a new direction committed to jesus jesus because it's repent and be baptized because it's repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of jesus every one of you in the name of jesus the messiah the messiah and then you immediately start getting and then you immediately start getting gifts gifts you don't have to wait till you don't have to wait till then then when he comes back when he comes back that's the fullness that's the fullness but even right now you start getting but even right now you start getting something do you remember edward said something do you remember edward said last night brother edward whittaker that last night brother edward whittaker that he didn't like though our pilgrimage he didn't like though our pilgrimage betrayer betrayer he just wanted it there and for those he just wanted it there and for those who felt that way if our pilgrimage be who felt that way if our pilgrimage be dreary well i know what he meant it dreary well i know what he meant it doesn't matter what troubles you have it doesn't matter what troubles you have it doesn't matter what your problems if doesn't matter what your problems if you're in christ you're in christ then you have the peace of god then you have the peace of god and you have the knowledge that although and you have the knowledge that although you're a sinner you're a sinner you know and how awful we all felt when you know and how awful we all felt when we thought that in some way we were we thought that in some way we were mixed up in the crucifixion of jesus yet mixed up in the crucifixion of jesus yet we have forgiveness of sins we have forgiveness of sins immediately we have that sense not of immediately we have that sense not of presumption because we know we can drop presumption because we know we can drop back we have that sense of amazing back we have that sense of amazing behold the amazing gift of god you know behold the amazing gift of god you know sometimes i think we put all our sometimes i think we put all our emphasis on being saved from death emphasis on being saved from death when i was a youngster first came into when i was a youngster first came into the truth i have a feeling that i tended the truth i have a feeling that i tended to look at the truth as a kind of to look at the truth as a kind of eternal life insurance policy i didn't eternal life insurance policy i didn't want to die therefore i wanted to take want to die therefore i wanted to take out my eternal life insurance policy so out my eternal life insurance policy so that when i died it would be all right that when i died it would be all right but uh that isn't really it is it but uh that isn't really it is it straight away we get something and that straight away we get something and that something we get is salvation from sin something we get is salvation from sin in its first stages and right through in its first stages and right through the apostolic preaching and teaching the the apostolic preaching and teaching the emphasis lies on emphasis lies on deliverance from sin now remember that deliverance from sin now remember that brethren who prepare lectures get that brethren who prepare lectures get that in your lectures deliverance from sin in your lectures deliverance from sin and then because you're delivered from and then because you're delivered from sin then there's deliverance from death sin then there's deliverance from death wouldn't be much good being delivered wouldn't be much good being delivered from sin if after a few years you died from sin if after a few years you died and that was the end of it and that was the end of it so obviously the deliverance from death so obviously the deliverance from death follows but the apostles always start follows but the apostles always start with deliverance from sin with deliverance from sin [Music] [Music] and so our preaching first has to get and so our preaching first has to get people realizing they are sinners and people realizing they are sinners and then showing them the antidote the then showing them the antidote the deliverance from sin so forgiveness of deliverance from sin so forgiveness of sins sins and then it goes on and you will receive and then it goes on and you will receive the gift of the holy spirit the gift of the holy spirit for the promise is to you and to your for the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are far away children and to all who are far away everyone whom the lord our god may call everyone whom the lord our god may call now you can say that's a bit difficult now you can say that's a bit difficult and i wouldn't hope in two minutes to and i wouldn't hope in two minutes to put it right put it right but can i just suggest to you that the but can i just suggest to you that the word holy spirit word holy spirit in the new testament is used for the in the new testament is used for the total resources of god in christ being total resources of god in christ being made available to men i'll try and say made available to men i'll try and say that again the total resources of god in that again the total resources of god in christ being made available to men christ being made available to men and they were made available these and they were made available these resources of power this holy spirit in resources of power this holy spirit in the first century the first century in many miraculous ways in many miraculous ways so that men had supernatural knowledge so that men had supernatural knowledge so that men could work miracles so that so that men could work miracles so that men could give messages that they had men could give messages that they had received from direct from the lord jesus received from direct from the lord jesus christ that was supernatural christ that was supernatural but the effect of it was to bring christ but the effect of it was to bring christ right home into the believer right home into the believer and so we still have the holy spirit at and so we still have the holy spirit at work in our day work in our day not because we can work miracles because not because we can work miracles because we know we can't but because the effects we know we can't but because the effects of the working of god in christ jesus of the working of god in christ jesus through the bible through the bible through the answers to prayer through the answers to prayer through the ways of providence where god through the ways of providence where god works in our lives through the angel of works in our lives through the angel of god that encamps round about us through god that encamps round about us through all those ways god still works in our all those ways god still works in our lives and that is the holy spirit of god lives and that is the holy spirit of god at work and i know we're frightened of at work and i know we're frightened of the term but we've really no no need to the term but we've really no no need to be when you explain it like that and so be when you explain it like that and so although peter had in mind particularly although peter had in mind particularly the special gifts of the first century the special gifts of the first century yet we can say with paul if any man have yet we can say with paul if any man have not the spirit of christ he is none of not the spirit of christ he is none of his i think that's fairly simple isn't his i think that's fairly simple isn't it but i've avoided here the use of the it but i've avoided here the use of the word the holy spirit because it can be word the holy spirit because it can be confusing and i put seven facts about confusing and i put seven facts about jesus he dwells in the believer jesus he dwells in the believer over here i've been a bit bolder and over here i've been a bit bolder and i've put the spirit within i've put the spirit within and i was asking brother russ in new and i was asking brother russ in new york do you think that might um york do you think that might um uh give rise to a bit of uh give rise to a bit of misunderstanding and when we talked misunderstanding and when we talked about it we agreed that as long as it about it we agreed that as long as it was properly explained it needn't give was properly explained it needn't give rise to any misunderstanding in fact it rise to any misunderstanding in fact it can give can give joy to us joy to us that but we haven't got to wait till that but we haven't got to wait till here for everything we've got something here for everything we've got something now now the spirit of christ the spirit of christ dwelling in the believer it's a real dwelling in the believer it's a real power and a real force that transforms power and a real force that transforms our lives and gives us peace and joy and our lives and gives us peace and joy and his like as brother ted said yesterday a his like as brother ted said yesterday a dynamo working within dynamo working within so so that's fact number six now just got that's fact number six now just got three minutes in which to just get in three minutes in which to just get in fact number seven i'm very glad i had fact number seven i'm very glad i had those extra five minutes those extra five minutes um well now um um well now um acts chapter three is the next speech acts chapter three is the next speech and i shall have to skip my little and i shall have to skip my little picture because i could never read acts picture because i could never read acts chapter three without seeing that that chapter three without seeing that that poor poor cripple's face cripple's face you know when he was sitting in the gate you know when he was sitting in the gate called beautiful and as he stood there i called beautiful and as he stood there i don't know what he held out whether he don't know what he held out whether he held his cap out or what he held out but held his cap out or what he held out but he sat there he sat there and peter comes up and says silver and and peter comes up and says silver and gold are by none poor man's face went gold are by none poor man's face went like that like that nothing coming nothing coming but what i have got i'll give you oh but what i have got i'll give you oh what's he got his face lights up what's he got his face lights up he didn't realize what he was going to he didn't realize what he was going to get in the name of jesus of nazareth get in the name of jesus of nazareth stand up stand up and walk and he didn't walk he ran and and walk and he didn't walk he ran and he danced and he was full of joy and he danced and he was full of joy and then there was another crowd scene then there was another crowd scene everybody came to oh look there's the everybody came to oh look there's the man that used to sit there he's running man that used to sit there he's running he's walk let's go see what it's all he's walk let's go see what it's all about big crowd comes and peter has to about big crowd comes and peter has to go forth and meet them he says now now go forth and meet them he says now now just a minute just a minute and you read just a minute just a minute and you read about this in acts chapter 3 as they about this in acts chapter 3 as they come running peter saw them coming verse come running peter saw them coming verse 12 acts chapter 3 and met them with 12 acts chapter 3 and met them with these words men of israel why be these words men of israel why be surprised at this why stare at us as if surprised at this why stare at us as if we'd made this man walk by some power of we'd made this man walk by some power of our own the god of abram isaac and jacob our own the god of abram isaac and jacob the god of our fathers has given the the god of our fathers has given the highest honor to his son jesus so he highest honor to his son jesus so he started his preaching this time with started his preaching this time with fact number five fact number five and then he went on and then he went on and told them how they crucified him and told them how they crucified him again again how god had raised him from the dead how god had raised him from the dead and how god had awakened faith in the and how god had awakened faith in the heart of this man by the living jesus heart of this man by the living jesus then he tells them to repent then he tells them to repent verse 19. so that their sins may be verse 19. so that their sins may be wiped out wiped out then the lord will grant you a time of then the lord will grant you a time of recovery and send you the messiah he has recovery and send you the messiah he has already appointed that is jesus he must already appointed that is jesus he must be received into heaven until be received into heaven until the time of universal restitute the time of universal restitute restoration comes time of restitution of restoration comes time of restitution of all things you've got in the king james all things you've got in the king james version version so he finishes up this gospel preaching so he finishes up this gospel preaching with the fact that what he had done with the fact that what he had done in the power of god in healing this man in the power of god in healing this man was something that was going to be seen was something that was going to be seen on a universal scale at the day when on a universal scale at the day when jesus would come back jesus would come back so fact number seven came out he will so fact number seven came out he will come again come again in the later talk in the later talk peter was able to say he is the judge of peter was able to say he is the judge of the quick and dead he will come again to the quick and dead he will come again to restore all things he will come again to restore all things he will come again to be the judge of the quick and dead be the judge of the quick and dead so that was the great seventh fact about so that was the great seventh fact about jesus jesus which was the gospel preaching which was the gospel preaching so there it is we've seen just in a so there it is we've seen just in a couple of speeches from peter the seven couple of speeches from peter the seven great facts about jesus great facts about jesus man's response and the results because man's response and the results because when jesus comes again then eternal life when jesus comes again then eternal life will become a complete fact and not only will become a complete fact and not only a partial fact already there is the life a partial fact already there is the life of the age at work within the believer of the age at work within the believer in whom christ dwells but it's partial in whom christ dwells but it's partial when jesus comes again this eternal life when jesus comes again this eternal life of god will be complete in the believer of god will be complete in the believer so he came from god he ministered to men so he came from god he ministered to men if you want to know what god is like if you want to know what god is like look at him ministering to men he died look at him ministering to men he died for our sins crucified through our for our sins crucified through our sinfulness he was raised for our sinfulness he was raised for our justification his victory we can share justification his victory we can share he ascended to the right hand of god and he ascended to the right hand of god and from the right hand of god he controls from the right hand of god he controls all things he is our high priest and all things he is our high priest and mediator and dwells right in you and i mediator and dwells right in you and i if we will open the believer that we if we will open the believer that we will open our hearts he dwells in the will open our hearts he dwells in the believer and the end of the story he believer and the end of the story he will come again will come again and all things will be made new and and all things will be made new and perfect perfect well there we are that'll have to do for well there we are that'll have to do for this morning we've got our introduction this morning we've got our introduction uh tomorrow we'll have a little bit more uh tomorrow we'll have a little bit more about peter about peter we'll have a little look at what paul we'll have a little look at what paul preached and then we'll go on to the preached and then we'll go on to the teaching teaching and look at it in its deeper aspects and look at it in its deeper aspects god in christ reconciling the world to god in christ reconciling the world to himself

Transcript

this is the voice of wilbraham the eastern christadelphian bible school the eastern christadelphian bible school presents a series of bible addresses presents a series of bible addresses recorded at the 23rd annual convocation recorded at the 23rd annual convocation of the eastern christadelphian bible of the eastern christadelphian bible school school brother edgar willey of dudley england brother edgar willey of dudley england is the guest speaker is the guest speaker we hear brother willie now we hear brother willie now as he begins his second address as he begins his second address upon the subject upon the subject the blood of jesus christ the blood of jesus christ cleanseth us from all sin i like being first you get a few extra minutes um just waste one or two of them and not really waste one or two of them and not really waste them um waste them um and mention and mention the uh the uh translation that was just read those who translation that was just read those who were in were in ron abel's discussion group last night ron abel's discussion group last night will recall that we talked about tongues will recall that we talked about tongues and you'll notice that all the newer and you'll notice that all the newer versions versions do take it for granted that they were do take it for granted that they were tongues of ecstasy rather than foreign tongues of ecstasy rather than foreign languages that doesn't prove anything at languages that doesn't prove anything at all because when you translate all because when you translate a part of the bible you translate it a part of the bible you translate it according to what you understand that's according to what you understand that's why there's things wrong with the king why there's things wrong with the king james version james version where they all believed in some kind of where they all believed in some kind of hellfire torment and translated hellfire torment and translated accordingly accordingly i just thought i'd better make that i just thought i'd better make that clear that i didn't have that red just clear that i didn't have that red just to present the opposite view to edward to present the opposite view to edward uh on that particular subject uh on that particular subject on singing i chose that him or david on singing i chose that him or david kind of let me choose it because really kind of let me choose it because really all our seven facts all our seven facts about jesus are there in that hymn about jesus are there in that hymn i have a hunch that brother edward will i have a hunch that brother edward will be knocking us into shape a bit more be knocking us into shape a bit more about the way we sing that hymn about the way we sing that hymn because because i was waiting for that i was waiting for that thy praise shall never thy praise shall never never fail throughout eternity you know never fail throughout eternity you know if you were going to leave the country and never see if you're a young man your favorite girl if you're a young man your favorite girl again you'd say i'll would you say i'll again you'd say i'll would you say i'll never never forget you or would you say never never forget you or would you say i'll never never forget you well it's i'll never never forget you well it's obvious which one isn't it anyway well obvious which one isn't it anyway well that's edward's job and he'll say i'm that's edward's job and he'll say i'm poaching on his preserve poaching on his preserve that's right though isn't it edward yes that's right though isn't it edward yes he he he approves he approves um um well now well now back to our subject then back to our subject then and anybody who comes in isn't really and anybody who comes in isn't really coming in late it's just that i've coming in late it's just that i've started early so don't feel bad about it started early so don't feel bad about it um um remind us first of what we were trying remind us first of what we were trying to do yesterday to do yesterday we're trying to get the simple we're trying to get the simple foundation you could almost say to me foundation you could almost say to me well it's so simple that well it's so simple that you know you know we know all this we know all this the simple foundation of the apostolic the simple foundation of the apostolic preaching preaching if you want to know what the basic if you want to know what the basic gospel is gospel is then it is to the apostles you go then it is to the apostles you go because when jesus himself preached he because when jesus himself preached he preached as it were an emerging gospel preached as it were an emerging gospel you remember how we used this platform you remember how we used this platform and we said you've got the old testament and we said you've got the old testament and then comes jesus fulfilled he says and then comes jesus fulfilled he says fulfilled is the time fulfilled is the time and i noticed that today's wayfarer has and i noticed that today's wayfarer has got the point that's the inauguration of got the point that's the inauguration of the kingdom and then you come to the the kingdom and then you come to the consummation of the kingdom that we're consummation of the kingdom that we're still waiting for and therefore that is still waiting for and therefore that is especially the burden of our message especially the burden of our message so we have the old testament so we have the old testament giving us the foundation and the giving us the foundation and the preparation of one who should come preparation of one who should come the new testament is the message of the the new testament is the message of the one who has come one who has come he's here it says he's here it says and then when the lord returns fact and then when the lord returns fact number seven he's here again to finish number seven he's here again to finish the job well that's really the whole of the job well that's really the whole of scripture revolves around that and that scripture revolves around that and that is how jesus is the very center of the is how jesus is the very center of the whole of the bible and that is how whole of the bible and that is how christianity is christianity christianity is christianity that's what it is isn't it christianity that's what it is isn't it christianity we can't put jesus out of the center of we can't put jesus out of the center of christianity so we we related the old christianity so we we related the old testament in the new testament the old testament in the new testament the old testament with its testament with its emphasis on emphasis on human need human need god kept on moving to save israel but god kept on moving to save israel but each time they had been saved they each time they had been saved they needed saving again you get it in the needed saving again you get it in the book of judges you get it right through book of judges you get it right through the period of the kings again and again the period of the kings again and again god moves to save israel god moves to save israel but but there comes a time when jesus is in the there comes a time when jesus is in the earth when he creates that sacrifice as earth when he creates that sacrifice as a result of which god wouldn't have to a result of which god wouldn't have to do anything more do anything more to save that was the salvation although to save that was the salvation although of course it has got to be applied to of course it has got to be applied to all mankind during the thousand years all mankind during the thousand years so the old testament so the old testament leads us and promises the way of leads us and promises the way of salvation salvation the new testament says here is the way the new testament says here is the way of salvation of salvation and so we have a completion in the new and so we have a completion in the new testament so that we can read the old testament so that we can read the old testament in the light of christ and testament in the light of christ and then those holy scriptures of old are then those holy scriptures of old are able to make us able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which wise unto salvation through faith which is in christ jesus you remember the is in christ jesus you remember the verse that we weren't able to complete verse that we weren't able to complete through faith which is in christ jesus through faith which is in christ jesus the old testament as well as the new can the old testament as well as the new can then make us wise unto salvation then make us wise unto salvation now the other distinction that i made now the other distinction that i made was between was between preaching material and teaching material preaching material and teaching material now of course unless any should be a bit now of course unless any should be a bit worried about that there is no worried about that there is no clear cut hard and fast line of division clear cut hard and fast line of division between these things but there are between these things but there are certain elements of the gospel which are certain elements of the gospel which are appropriate in preaching initial appropriate in preaching initial preaching to the unconverted preaching to the unconverted and then once they have been converted and then once they have been converted then there is the rest of the bible as then there is the rest of the bible as an open field in which to graze and draw an open field in which to graze and draw pasture and that's a lifetime's work to pasture and that's a lifetime's work to graze in that pasture graze in that pasture well now yesterday we started off with well now yesterday we started off with peter's speeches in acts two and three peter's speeches in acts two and three and as well as seeing pictures of what and as well as seeing pictures of what was happening we also saw the way in which this message about the way in which this message about jesus was emerging that everything that jesus was emerging that everything that peter preached was jesus centered and we peter preached was jesus centered and we came out with these seven facts that the came out with these seven facts that the origin of jesus was in god which we're origin of jesus was in god which we're going to talk more about tomorrow going to talk more about tomorrow that he showed what god was like in the that he showed what god was like in the things that he did among men we shall things that he did among men we shall talk about that as well tomorrow talk about that as well tomorrow he then in spite of his divine ancestry he then in spite of his divine ancestry his divine origin though rich yet for his divine origin though rich yet for our sakes he became poor even to the our sakes he became poor even to the extent of dying on a gibbet or gibbet extent of dying on a gibbet or gibbet and how you pronounce it here which was and how you pronounce it here which was the translation here in this the translation here in this new english bible new english bible and to complete that sacrifice and and to complete that sacrifice and triumph as we've been singing of triumph triumph as we've been singing of triumph he was raised from the dead as i say he was raised from the dead as i say we'll talk about that uh on we'll talk about that uh on thursday god willing thursday god willing having been raised from the dead he having been raised from the dead he ascended to the right hand of god where ascended to the right hand of god where he's in control of everything he's in control of everything and yet at the same time from that seat and yet at the same time from that seat of power he dwells in the believer we're of power he dwells in the believer we're going to talk a lot about that later on going to talk a lot about that later on in the week in the week and then to and then to crown it all crown it all he's going to come again and apply the he's going to come again and apply the results of his work to all mankind results of his work to all mankind and this very simple message emerged and this very simple message emerged from peter from peter and there were really four points and there were really four points that we had in mind there and that is that we had in mind there and that is that um that um when peter was speaking and this is true when peter was speaking and this is true of the other apostles of whom we're of the other apostles of whom we're going to talk going to talk he they don't work in the usual human he they don't work in the usual human way and the 20th century way different way and the 20th century way different ages do things different ways of ages do things different ways of presenting a series of theological presenting a series of theological propositions for intellectual propositions for intellectual ascent you know now we very definitely ascent you know now we very definitely tend to do that and probably rightly so tend to do that and probably rightly so as long as we don't for forget as long as we don't for forget that here is a saving converting message that here is a saving converting message but this struck me last night that we're but this struck me last night that we're having a most fascinating session on having a most fascinating session on rested scriptures rested scriptures but one can if one's not careful in but one can if one's not careful in seeking to get people's knowledge seeking to get people's knowledge accurate accurate on the mortality of man and on the mortality of man and whether jesus personally pre-existed or whether jesus personally pre-existed or whether there is a place of hell-fire whether there is a place of hell-fire torments whether the book of mormon is a torments whether the book of mormon is a valid part of scripture you know all the valid part of scripture you know all the funny ideas as we say it that other funny ideas as we say it that other people have got we can so concentrate on people have got we can so concentrate on that i remember when i was working in that i remember when i was working in agriculture in farming during the war agriculture in farming during the war instead of going into the forces instead of going into the forces and there was a whole crowd of us and there was a whole crowd of us digging ditches to drain off the digging ditches to drain off the excessive rainfall which i thought only excessive rainfall which i thought only applied to england until i came here and um as we dug these ditches i told some of as we dug these ditches i told some of you this before and i'd probably forget you this before and i'd probably forget what i've told who so if i get it like what i've told who so if i get it like an old man repeating myself you'll an old man repeating myself you'll forgive me but forgive me but as we dug these ditches there were the as we dug these ditches there were the pentecostals and the baptists we'd even pentecostals and the baptists we'd even got a catholic there got a catholic there and and then there were the socialist party of then there were the socialist party of great britain who won't fight and uh great britain who won't fight and uh there were five christodelphians and you there were five christodelphians and you know as we dug away so you get texts know as we dug away so you get texts slinging up the ditch slinging up the ditch uh somebody say ah but what about to uh somebody say ah but what about to depart and be with christ and depart and be with christ and somebody'll say ah but what about the somebody'll say ah but what about the soul that's in it it shall die and i i soul that's in it it shall die and i i call it spiritual ping pong you know call it spiritual ping pong you know because because uh for for every text that a pentecostal uh for for every text that a pentecostal gave we'd always got another one to lob gave we'd always got another one to lob back at him uh we don't really get far back at him uh we don't really get far that way because as we were learning that way because as we were learning last night in our session last night in our session you've really got to sit down and quietly discuss the the whole background of scripture in order to get a proper of scripture in order to get a proper valid understanding but i remember the valid understanding but i remember the occasion when one a new christadelphian occasion when one a new christadelphian joined the gang who were digging these joined the gang who were digging these ditches and and somebody said well what ditches and and somebody said well what what do you christadelphians believe to what do you christadelphians believe to this particular chap he was the one that this particular chap he was the one that was asked and remember him saying well was asked and remember him saying well we don't believe you go to heaven when we don't believe you go to heaven when you die we don't believe that you've got you die we don't believe that you've got an immortal soul we don't believe in the an immortal soul we don't believe in the trinity we don't believe that hell is a trinity we don't believe that hell is a place of flaming torments we don't say place of flaming torments we don't say just a minute what do you believe no just a minute what do you believe no what don't you believe what don't you believe you know so there is always this danger you know so there is always this danger isn't there of being too purely negative isn't there of being too purely negative now the negatives are important and now the negatives are important and incidentally the negatives vary incidentally the negatives vary from uh from uh generation to generation generation to generation i was speaking to some young people the i was speaking to some young people the other day way back in england and they other day way back in england and they were saying we ought to be very strict were saying we ought to be very strict about the statement of faith i said yes about the statement of faith i said yes very good uh particularly the positive very good uh particularly the positive part part i wondered however whether the negative i wondered however whether the negative part of the statement of faith they they part of the statement of faith they they necessarily would understand of course necessarily would understand of course we do i said right oh doctrines to be we do i said right oh doctrines to be rejected you tell me what a free life is rejected you tell me what a free life is they had all sorts of weird and they had all sorts of weird and wonderful ideas wonderful ideas and then i had to tell them you know why and then i had to tell them you know why that was there and what truth it was that was there and what truth it was seeking to preserve seeking to preserve well well so it is that creeds and statements of so it is that creeds and statements of faith and propositions faith and propositions have their place have their place but we must remember but we must remember that they are really a clearing of the that they are really a clearing of the ground in order to enable that gospel ground in order to enable that gospel which converts which converts me and turns them from me and turns them from uh darkness to light uh darkness to light that's the object of gospel preaching so that's the object of gospel preaching so if we don't follow the example of peter if we don't follow the example of peter and creating people from the word of god and creating people from the word of god a sense of sin a sense of sin a sense of need to be delivered from sin a sense of need to be delivered from sin and then present them the antidote in and then present them the antidote in the lord jesus christ if we don't do the lord jesus christ if we don't do that and then the grand hope that and then the grand hope of the completion and consummation of of the completion and consummation of all things then we are not really all things then we are not really preaching that gospel or good news which preaching that gospel or good news which converts and this is partly why i chose converts and this is partly why i chose to speak on these things because i do to speak on these things because i do think we need to keep our positive drive think we need to keep our positive drive of a message which converts of a message which converts and so this we learned yesterday and and so this we learned yesterday and we'll continue to learn today now we'll continue to learn today now yesterday i also in this connection you yesterday i also in this connection you remember pointed out that the great remember pointed out that the great message of salvation as peter presented message of salvation as peter presented it was salvation from it was salvation from sin sin rather than salvation from death though rather than salvation from death though if you are saved from sin then you will if you are saved from sin then you will be saved from death be saved from death in that connection therefore the in that connection therefore the forgiveness of sin was never absent from forgiveness of sin was never absent from any of the preaching that peter and paul any of the preaching that peter and paul did and should not be absent from our did and should not be absent from our preaching preaching also one noticed that in the first also one noticed that in the first preaching of peter there is an absence preaching of peter there is an absence of what you might call theory he simply of what you might call theory he simply says jesus died and triumphed over that says jesus died and triumphed over that which holds us in its grip which holds us in its grip if you really think about that like that if you really think about that like that is it is it and of course half our trouble in life and of course half our trouble in life is that we have to spend a lot of is that we have to spend a lot of patient time getting rid of ideas patient time getting rid of ideas hacking away through the jungle of hacking away through the jungle of undergrowth so that we can get back to undergrowth so that we can get back to that simple message that jesus came that simple message that jesus came fully into our situation fully into our situation that he might triumph over it and lead that he might triumph over it and lead us out of it because here when we have us out of it because here when we have to discuss the nature of jesus and his to discuss the nature of jesus and his complete association with us we have to complete association with us we have to do that in order that we may realize do that in order that we may realize that he has come into our problems that that he has come into our problems that he may deliver us from them he may deliver us from them well now well now the first passage i want to go to today the first passage i want to go to today is acts chapter 8. and in acts chapter 8 philip is our preacher preacher and in his preaching and in his preaching uh we have uh we have uh two or three phrases which will show uh two or three phrases which will show us where the us where the shall we use the phrase center of shall we use the phrase center of gravity or or or if you're gravity or or or if you're if you're balancing things you have a if you're balancing things you have a fulcrum which is the center point upon fulcrum which is the center point upon which everything hinges which everything hinges what is the center of gravity of what is the center of gravity of phillips preaching phillips preaching well verse 4 well verse 4 i'm reading from the little new english i'm reading from the little new english bible i've got here bible i've got here as for those who had been scattered as for those who had been scattered they went through the country preaching they went through the country preaching the word the word philip came down to a city in samaria philip came down to a city in samaria and began proclaiming and began proclaiming the messiah to them the messiah to them that means to say he began to say that means to say he began to say that the one that was promised in the that the one that was promised in the old testament has come old testament has come the crowds to a man listened eagerly the crowds to a man listened eagerly to what philip said to what philip said when they heard him and saw the miracles when they heard him and saw the miracles that he performed for in many cases of that he performed for in many cases of possession the unclean spirits came out possession the unclean spirits came out with a great outcry and many paralyzed with a great outcry and many paralyzed and crippled folk were cured and there and crippled folk were cured and there was great joy in that city and that's was great joy in that city and that's what christianity gives us this is what what christianity gives us this is what the gospel gives us as several speakers the gospel gives us as several speakers have said have said joy so that we're not a long-faced joy so that we're not a long-faced community and this is one of the community and this is one of the beauties of these schools you don't see beauties of these schools you don't see many long faces about many long faces about well then you get the well then you get the question of simon question of simon uh brought in so that later on you can uh brought in so that later on you can uh learn about the way in which he tried uh learn about the way in which he tried to buy the ability to pass the holy to buy the ability to pass the holy spirit unto other people and we have our spirit unto other people and we have our famous proof text famous proof text uh verse 12 of acts 8 uh verse 12 of acts 8 when they came to believe philip when they came to believe philip with his good news about the kingdom of with his good news about the kingdom of god in the name of jesus christ god in the name of jesus christ they were baptized men and women alike they were baptized men and women alike and that's one of our key verses and that's one of our key verses in the old declaration and in many other in the old declaration and in many other of our publications could i in passing of our publications could i in passing just stimulate you to thought and just stimulate you to thought and suggest that what we used to do i suggest that what we used to do i haven't heard it done so much but i haven't heard it done so much but i think it is still do it done think it is still do it done we usually say that the things we usually say that the things concerning the kingdom of god concerning the kingdom of god are the things about when jesus comes are the things about when jesus comes again to again to restore the tribes of israel restore the tribes of israel and fulfill the promises to abraham and fulfill the promises to abraham and the things concerning the name of and the things concerning the name of jesus christ are the things about his jesus christ are the things about his sacrifice sacrifice his death and resurrection his death and resurrection i would doubt but by all means in later i would doubt but by all means in later sessions today disagree with me whether sessions today disagree with me whether when philip spoke he'd got the truth cut when philip spoke he'd got the truth cut up into two pieces one that talks about up into two pieces one that talks about the kingdom and the other that talks the kingdom and the other that talks about the sacrifice of the lord jesus about the sacrifice of the lord jesus christ because you see the word kingdom christ because you see the word kingdom in the new testament is a greek word in the new testament is a greek word basil basil which means the kingly rain which means the kingly rain now obviously when christ is in the now obviously when christ is in the earth that's the fullness of the kingly earth that's the fullness of the kingly reign of god reign of god but insofar as men and women get hold of but insofar as men and women get hold of the message of christ the message of christ then as some of our hymns says he he then as some of our hymns says he he reigns us king right now reigns us king right now now you see you might say oh brother now you see you might say oh brother edgar's gone off the lines there he's edgar's gone off the lines there he's preaching the reign of grace in the preaching the reign of grace in the heart as the kingdom of god well i think heart as the kingdom of god well i think most of us have come to realize that most of us have come to realize that when people teach that the kingdom of when people teach that the kingdom of god is a reign of grace in the heart god is a reign of grace in the heart right now right now or is the church right now they're not or is the church right now they're not entirely wrong entirely wrong where they are wrong is they say it's where they are wrong is they say it's only that and they forget about the only that and they forget about the fullness of it that lies in the future fullness of it that lies in the future so that as paul says writing to the so that as paul says writing to the colossians chapter 1 we have been colossians chapter 1 we have been translated into the kingdom of his dear translated into the kingdom of his dear son son uh alfred norris does a little pamphlet uh alfred norris does a little pamphlet on it the kingdom of god red cover in on it the kingdom of god red cover in the book room there are some more trade the book room there are some more trade for the book room for the book room uh but um uh but um this is therefore what philip was this is therefore what philip was teaching he was teaching the kingly teaching he was teaching the kingly reign of god reign of god which could begin to be tasted then and which could begin to be tasted then and there by men and women who came into there by men and women who came into this covenant in christ and then of this covenant in christ and then of course the great hope to those who were course the great hope to those who were ground down with sorrow that one day ground down with sorrow that one day they would share the resurrection of they would share the resurrection of christ they would share the throne of christ they would share the throne of god in christ and enjoy the beauties of god in christ and enjoy the beauties of the fullness of the kingdom now there's the fullness of the kingdom now there's a big study there a big study there that's a whole week's study the kingdom that's a whole week's study the kingdom of god but i've just given you a couple of god but i've just given you a couple of sentences of it because i think you of sentences of it because i think you might like to follow that out so when might like to follow that out so when philip preached the things concerning philip preached the things concerning the kingdom of god in the name of jesus the kingdom of god in the name of jesus christ that incorporated the whole christ that incorporated the whole purpose of god to redeem men in christ purpose of god to redeem men in christ and bring them into the perfection of and bring them into the perfection of the kingdom the kingdom now as you go through the acts of the now as you go through the acts of the apostles i hope you're noticing these apostles i hope you're noticing these little little subsidiary addresses you're getting 10 subsidiary addresses you're getting 10 addresses for the price of one and addresses for the price of one and they're all free it's interesting when you read the act act to notice and our subject is the to notice and our subject is the apostles doctrine and fellowship apostles doctrine and fellowship the way in which there is a movement the way in which there is a movement right through the acts right through the acts you start with all jews being preached you start with all jews being preached to to and all jews coming into the church and and all jews coming into the church and accepting jesus as the messiah accepting jesus as the messiah you finish with fewer and fewer jews and you finish with fewer and fewer jews and more and more gentiles coming into the more and more gentiles coming into the church church and as you move so you move through the and as you move so you move through the acts of the apostles away from judaism acts of the apostles away from judaism towards the universal appeal of the towards the universal appeal of the gospel gospel that when you start all the preaching is that when you start all the preaching is done in the temple when you finish done in the temple when you finish you're in rome you're in rome we have a poem in england we have a poem in england about one of the napoleonic wars how about one of the napoleonic wars how they brought the good news from gaunt to they brought the good news from gaunt to a i don't know if you know it robert a i don't know if you know it robert browning or somebody browning or somebody they jumped to the stirrup and galloped they jumped to the stirrup and galloped or something that i can never remember or something that i can never remember poetry some of you might know it but how poetry some of you might know it but how they brought the good news from ghent to they brought the good news from ghent to a it's called now i reckon you could say a it's called now i reckon you could say that the acts of the apostles is how that the acts of the apostles is how they brought the good news from they brought the good news from jerusalem to rome now that's the jerusalem to rome now that's the actually apology you want one phrase for actually apology you want one phrase for the acts of the apostles it's how they the acts of the apostles it's how they brought the good news from jerusalem to brought the good news from jerusalem to rome it's not a biography of paul rome it's not a biography of paul it's not a biography of peter it's not a biography of peter it's a story of the outward movement of it's a story of the outward movement of this gospel and you see already in acts this gospel and you see already in acts chapter 8 because of the persecution chapter 8 because of the persecution that arose about stephen we've already that arose about stephen we've already left jerusalem and we're there in left jerusalem and we're there in samaria and jews would have no dealies samaria and jews would have no dealies with samaritans now this outward move with samaritans now this outward move takes a further step and the jerusalem takes a further step and the jerusalem church gets involved in the work of church gets involved in the work of peter in preaching to a complete gentile peter in preaching to a complete gentile he wasn't a proselyte he was a god he wasn't a proselyte he was a god fearer now a god fearer was a man who liked he often really don't you who feared god in often really don't you who feared god in the acts of the apostles a god fearer the acts of the apostles a god fearer was a man who who liked the jewish was a man who who liked the jewish religion thought it was great compared religion thought it was great compared with the uh dissolute and immoral ways with the uh dissolute and immoral ways of the heathen but he didn't want to of the heathen but he didn't want to become a complete jew even as far even become a complete jew even as far even as to be circumcised so he'd go along to as to be circumcised so he'd go along to the reading of the word and listen to the reading of the word and listen to the expounded law in the synagogue the expounded law in the synagogue without completely committing himself without completely committing himself and cornelius was one of these god and cornelius was one of these god fearers but he was a gentile fearers but he was a gentile and here peter is sent and here peter is sent to learn that god regards all men as to learn that god regards all men as equal and that the jews although they equal and that the jews although they had been the channel of god's purpose had been the channel of god's purpose were not a cut above everybody else but were not a cut above everybody else but god is calling men into his glorious god is calling men into his glorious purpose and so that passage that we had purpose and so that passage that we had read from acts chapter 10 where peter in read from acts chapter 10 where peter in verse 34 began i now see how true it is verse 34 began i now see how true it is that god has no favorites that god has no favorites i like the way that's translated what is i like the way that's translated what is it in the king james version god is no it in the king james version god is no respecter of persons that's lovely respecter of persons that's lovely language language but when you just hear it as god has no but when you just hear it as god has no favorites it's just got that bit of a favorites it's just got that bit of a bite on it hasn't it but that in every bite on it hasn't it but that in every nation the man who is god-fearing that's nation the man who is god-fearing that's that little play on that word cornelius that little play on that word cornelius was one of the god-fearers you see who was one of the god-fearers you see who used to come to the synagogue every man used to come to the synagogue every man who is god-fearing who is god-fearing and does what is right is acceptable to and does what is right is acceptable to him now then he outlines this gospel him now then he outlines this gospel verse 36 he sent his word to the verse 36 he sent his word to the israelites and gave the good news of israelites and gave the good news of peace through jesus christ who is lord peace through jesus christ who is lord of all of all so when he says who is lord of all he is so when he says who is lord of all he is reminding his hearers of the lofty reminding his hearers of the lofty origin of the lord jesus christ no origin of the lord jesus christ no mere man although a man mere man although a man and then i need not tell you what and then i need not tell you what happened lately all over the land of the happened lately all over the land of the jews starting from galilee after the jews starting from galilee after the baptism proclaimed by john baptism proclaimed by john you know about jesus of nazareth how god you know about jesus of nazareth how god anointed him with the holy spirit and anointed him with the holy spirit and power he went about doing good and power he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed with the healing all who were oppressed with the devil for god was with him and we can devil for god was with him and we can bear witness to all that he did in the bear witness to all that he did in the jewish countryside and in jerusalem jewish countryside and in jerusalem so that's fact number two he really goes so that's fact number two he really goes to town on that to town on that ministered to men ministered to men so that it is not to be excluded from so that it is not to be excluded from our preaching our preaching we should include in our preaching a we should include in our preaching a vivid picture of the lord jesus christ vivid picture of the lord jesus christ and the things that he did when he and the things that he did when he ministered among men ministered among men we shouldn't get so bogged down in what we shouldn't get so bogged down in what we might call we might call the purely doctrinal issues that we the purely doctrinal issues that we can't find room to to show to men what can't find room to to show to men what god is like by telling them what jesus god is like by telling them what jesus did did so so a good crystallizing lecture ought to be a good crystallizing lecture ought to be a blend a blend of the facts about what jesus actually of the facts about what jesus actually did did with the interpretation which is the with the interpretation which is the doctrinal part of why he did it what it doctrinal part of why he did it what it meant and how it affects you and me meant and how it affects you and me i think that would make quite a i think that would make quite a difference to some of our lectures now i difference to some of our lectures now i don't want the other extreme where don't want the other extreme where somebody just gets up and tells a nice somebody just gets up and tells a nice story about jesus and that's all there story about jesus and that's all there is to it there's got to be a bite is to it there's got to be a bite there's got to be a therefore there's there's got to be a therefore there's got to be a men and brethren what shall got to be a men and brethren what shall we do about it we do about it and so and so peter then moves on in his orderly way peter then moves on in his orderly way to the next fact about jesus to the next fact about jesus fact number three fact number three he was put to death by hanging on a he was put to death by hanging on a gibbet i like that translation i don't know whether you ever in this country were whether you ever in this country were ever so barbaric as we were in england ever so barbaric as we were in england but but where i've just moved from where i've just moved from cherry tree cottage that it talks about cherry tree cottage that it talks about in the uh in the uh program program unfortunately for the writers of the unfortunately for the writers of the program i'm not there anymore in fact program i'm not there anymore in fact when you get the when you get the august glad tidings on the back you'll august glad tidings on the back you'll find edgar willey box two canik staffs find edgar willey box two canik staffs horrible isn't it horrible isn't it but you see the main thing is i must but you see the main thing is i must have that money out of all of you for have that money out of all of you for glad tidings glad tidings so i mean if i put cherry tree cottage so i mean if i put cherry tree cottage you might say isn't that a lovely you might say isn't that a lovely address but i might not get the address but i might not get the contributions which i hope are going to contributions which i hope are going to double this year double this year that's the first plug i've made for glad that's the first plug i've made for glad tidings there are many others to follow tidings there are many others to follow um but um seriously this word gibbet um but um seriously this word gibbet cherry tree cottage stands on a hill cherry tree cottage stands on a hill it's a white cottage of the it's a white cottage of the old-fashioned kind old-fashioned kind no modern conveniences that's partly why no modern conveniences that's partly why after 10 years of no modern conveniences after 10 years of no modern conveniences we've decided perhaps we better have a we've decided perhaps we better have a bit of this affluent society and some of bit of this affluent society and some of these modern conveniences and so on but these modern conveniences and so on but and a smaller house and a smaller house it looked down it looked down on on two lanes that went in two different two lanes that went in two different directions and the one that wasn't made directions and the one that wasn't made up up you know with tarmac or whatever you you know with tarmac or whatever you call it was um called gibbet lane the main road from yorkshire the main road from yorkshire to bristol to bristol used to run used to run just about a mile from where we are just about a mile from where we are passing gibbet lane passing gibbet lane so that the high women ancestors of so that the high women ancestors of edward who used to come from yorkshire edward who used to come from yorkshire would sometimes get caught in the would sometimes get caught in the midlands as edward sometimes gets caught midlands as edward sometimes gets caught in the midlands in the midlands and um and um you know i've got to really have have my you know i've got to really have have my gentle revenge on him for one or two gentle revenge on him for one or two things things but we're great friends edward and i but we're great friends edward and i um anyway um anyway they'd catch these high women and they they'd catch these high women and they would string them up on a gibbet until would string them up on a gibbet until there wasn't anything left off there wasn't anything left off there was a terrible business now when there was a terrible business now when you you have in your local history stories about have in your local history stories about gibbets and here we really are serious gibbets and here we really are serious and you think of that nasty word and you think of that nasty word associated with the lord jesus christ associated with the lord jesus christ you see crosses are respectable you see crosses are respectable people wear them as kind of lucky charms people wear them as kind of lucky charms around their necks and they put them up around their necks and they put them up very nicely carved outside their very nicely carved outside their churches and you don't get the full churches and you don't get the full horror of what jesus underwent for us horror of what jesus underwent for us from the word across from the word across always or even crucified always or even crucified well that comes a bit nearer to it what well that comes a bit nearer to it what do you think of that ugly word gibbet do you think of that ugly word gibbet and those high women being strung up and those high women being strung up there haman was hung on a gibbet there haman was hung on a gibbet then it's terrible and when you think of then it's terrible and when you think of the lord there for us the lord there for us you know i you know i we had one or two hot days before i came we had one or two hot days before i came away from england away from england and there were quite a lot of flies and there were quite a lot of flies about and you know you kept on doing about and you know you kept on doing that to get rid of the flies that to get rid of the flies while i was doing that one hot day while i was doing that one hot day that very same day i happened to read a that very same day i happened to read a book which was called whom ye crucified book which was called whom ye crucified so now you know where i got my idea so now you know where i got my idea yesterday about us all being involved in yesterday about us all being involved in the crucifixion of jesus the crucifixion of jesus it suddenly occurred to me that as he it suddenly occurred to me that as he lay there mangled lay there mangled and bleeding for us and bleeding for us one of the most one of the most torturing things he must have had to torturing things he must have had to have endured was a a massive flies have endured was a a massive flies around him it makes you feel around him it makes you feel horror-stricken doesn't it of our lord horror-stricken doesn't it of our lord enduring all these terrible things for enduring all these terrible things for us us and maybe the darkness which came down and maybe the darkness which came down was a bit of a merciful relief was a bit of a merciful relief from that particular agony that he was from that particular agony that he was enduring well i only mentioned that in passing just to illustrate the the absolute just to illustrate the the absolute horror of the death of the lord jesus horror of the death of the lord jesus christ right down to a little detail christ right down to a little detail like that of swarms of flies around him like that of swarms of flies around him as his body still bled suffered and bled as his body still bled suffered and bled for us you know love so amazing so for us you know love so amazing so divine which i'm sure we shall sing at divine which i'm sure we shall sing at some stage during this week some stage during this week so it was so it was peter brings to their notice the fact peter brings to their notice the fact that he was put to death by hanging on a that he was put to death by hanging on a gibbet and then the note of joy but god gibbet and then the note of joy but god raised him to life on the third day and raised him to life on the third day and allowed him to appear not to the whole allowed him to appear not to the whole people people but to witnesses whom god had chosen in but to witnesses whom god had chosen in advance advance to us who ate and drank with him after to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead and he commanded he rose from the dead and he commanded us to proclaim him to the people us to proclaim him to the people proclaim him that's what we're doing proclaim him that's what we're doing when we're preaching however we do it when we're preaching however we do it and whatever we have to talk about and whatever we have to talk about whatever our ask correspondence course whatever our ask correspondence course is dealing with in the end it has one is dealing with in the end it has one objective whatever glad tidings is objective whatever glad tidings is talking about in any particular month talking about in any particular month because those are our two i think as i because those are our two i think as i see it the two main prongs for preaching see it the two main prongs for preaching the truth today and it's gradually the truth today and it's gradually getting over to england that the ask getting over to england that the ask correspondence course is a fine way correspondence course is a fine way where anybody whether they're orators or where anybody whether they're orators or not can can go into people's houses and not can can go into people's houses and get things moving get things moving uh the ask course and then glad tidings uh the ask course and then glad tidings is a regular magazine to follow it up is a regular magazine to follow it up uh is a fine way of preaching the truth uh is a fine way of preaching the truth but all the time we must remember we're but all the time we must remember we're aiming to bring the lord jesus christ aiming to bring the lord jesus christ into the center of people's lives so he into the center of people's lives so he may stay in the center of their lives may stay in the center of their lives not only in this life but eternally in not only in this life but eternally in the day that is to come the day that is to come and incidentally i'll make a deal with and incidentally i'll make a deal with al pride and all of you that if if al pride and all of you that if if you'll plug glad tidings over here i'll you'll plug glad tidings over here i'll go back and plug ask uh it's already coming in england uh brother charles semaine is going about brother charles semaine is going about england trying to get the brethren england trying to get the brethren sisters doing the ask system sisters doing the ask system well now well now in in in this address then in this address then proclaim him to the people and affirm proclaim him to the people and affirm that he is the one who has been that he is the one who has been designated by god as judge of the living designated by god as judge of the living and the dead so here the particular and the dead so here the particular aspect of his coming again you remember aspect of his coming again you remember we had universal restoration now the we had universal restoration now the particular aspect is judge of the quick particular aspect is judge of the quick and the dead then we go on and paul paul is our next preacher is our next preacher our next our next worker in the worker in the advancement of scripture knowledge in advancement of scripture knowledge in those days and we get paul in acts those days and we get paul in acts chapter 13. i'm obviously in spite of my chapter 13. i'm obviously in spite of my extra 10 minutes going to have to get my extra 10 minutes going to have to get my skates on a little bit if we're going to skates on a little bit if we're going to do all i want to do this morning in the do all i want to do this morning in the remaining 25 minutes remaining 25 minutes in in acts 13 i just want to pick out one or acts 13 i just want to pick out one or two verses to show you the same seven two verses to show you the same seven facts facts you see if you think about these seven you see if you think about these seven facts anybody who want to follow this facts anybody who want to follow this system is a lecturing brother system is a lecturing brother you can take any one of them you can take any one of them give the facts then explain any give the facts then explain any difficulties like the mortality of man difficulties like the mortality of man that might interfere with the that might interfere with the understanding of it and then go back understanding of it and then go back finally to the to the appeal finally to the to the appeal so we have a lot to learn from the so we have a lot to learn from the apostles well now uh apostles well now uh paul in acts 13 started with the paul in acts 13 started with the problems that existed problems that existed he he started with the need that a he he started with the need that a people with a wonderful heritage of people with a wonderful heritage of history like the jews among whom god had history like the jews among whom god had been working had now put the top stone been working had now put the top stone on his work of salvation through israel on his work of salvation through israel and so he and so he he tells them verse 26 my brothers you he tells them verse 26 my brothers you who come of the stock of abraham and who come of the stock of abraham and others among you who revere our god others among you who revere our god we are the people to whom the message of we are the people to whom the message of this salvation has been sent this salvation has been sent and it goes on then to say that although and it goes on then to say that although this message of salvation this message of salvation right through israel's history had been right through israel's history had been given yet when the one who was foretold given yet when the one who was foretold by all the prophets actually came by all the prophets actually came they condemned him they fulfilled the they condemned him they fulfilled the very scriptures they had read by very scriptures they had read by condemning him and they asked pilate to condemning him and they asked pilate to have him executed have him executed verse 29 when they carried out all that verse 29 when they carried out all that the scriptures said about him they took the scriptures said about him they took him down from the gibbet and laid him in him down from the gibbet and laid him in a tomb a tomb but god raised him from the dead every but god raised him from the dead every time there's that note of triumph time there's that note of triumph and we ought to feel that note of and we ought to feel that note of triumph it isn't just a a doctrinal fact triumph it isn't just a a doctrinal fact that god raised him from the dead that god raised him from the dead because it's a living fact he's a living because it's a living fact he's a living lord jesus because he was raised from lord jesus because he was raised from the dead to die no more and then in the dead to die no more and then in verse 31 the second half of it verse 31 the second half of it speaking of the apostles he says they speaking of the apostles he says they are now his witnesses are now his witnesses before our nation verse 32 and we are before our nation verse 32 and we are here to give you the good news here to give you the good news that's the spirit of the preacher that that's the spirit of the preacher that god who made the promise to the fathers god who made the promise to the fathers has fulfilled it for the children by has fulfilled it for the children by raising jesus from the dead then he goes raising jesus from the dead then he goes back to psalm 2 you are my son this day back to psalm 2 you are my son this day have i begotten you and he shows how in have i begotten you and he shows how in the very promises that god made to david the very promises that god made to david that there should be a messiah raised up that there should be a messiah raised up who should be the son of god this in the who should be the son of god this in the resurrection of jesus and his elevation resurrection of jesus and his elevation to the right hand of god was being to the right hand of god was being fulfilled fulfilled it's rather strange isn't it that that it's rather strange isn't it that that peter should use a passage in the old peter should use a passage in the old testament that talks about the throne of testament that talks about the throne of david which we know is going to be in david which we know is going to be in jerusalem when the kingdom of israel is jerusalem when the kingdom of israel is restored restored and yet he says for the moment the and yet he says for the moment the throne of david is in exile throne of david is in exile and christ is sitting at the right hand and christ is sitting at the right hand of the throne of god and so he uses of the throne of god and so he uses throne of david passages to describe throne of david passages to describe jesus sitting at the right hand of god jesus sitting at the right hand of god you can see how the orthodox churches you can see how the orthodox churches can find verses which get them mixed up can find verses which get them mixed up because they think that because jesus is because they think that because jesus is on the throne on the throne already already that that's where the throne is always that that's where the throne is always going to stay instead of recognizing going to stay instead of recognizing that fact number seven he's coming back that fact number seven he's coming back and the throne of god which is at and the throne of god which is at present in heaven shall be with man all present in heaven shall be with man all there's lots of things in these green there's lots of things in these green flags these quotations between the old flags these quotations between the old and the new testament and the new testament then he goes on having spoken a little then he goes on having spoken a little bit more about the promises to david and bit more about the promises to david and how they had been partly fulfilled and how they had been partly fulfilled and fulfilled in a sense in the things that fulfilled in a sense in the things that had happened in the death and had happened in the death and resurrection of jesus he then goes on resurrection of jesus he then goes on having got jesus raised verse 38 having got jesus raised verse 38 you must understand my brothers that it you must understand my brothers that it is through him is through him him again that forgiveness of sins is him again that forgiveness of sins is now being proclaimed to you forgiveness now being proclaimed to you forgiveness of sins see i know i'm laboring it i'm of sins see i know i'm laboring it i'm saying it again and again forgiveness of saying it again and again forgiveness of sins is there as part of the key message sins is there as part of the key message and he goes on to say of course and he goes on to say of course that in christ that in christ there is there is a lifting of the load of sin a lifting of the load of sin and the burden that oppresses and the burden that oppresses there is a sense of joy and there is a sense of joy and lightsomeness instead of a sense of lightsomeness instead of a sense of oh i'll never get into the kingdom see oh i'll never get into the kingdom see that we often find brother and sisters that we often find brother and sisters getting depressed and saying that getting depressed and saying that that's when your pilgrimage gets dreary that's when your pilgrimage gets dreary when you start saying i'll never get when you start saying i'll never get into the kingdom fear not little flock into the kingdom fear not little flock it is your father's good pleasure to it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom i know there's the give you the kingdom i know there's the other side of it we mustn't just get too other side of it we mustn't just get too confident because we haven't got there confident because we haven't got there yet in all its fullness i'll talk about yet in all its fullness i'll talk about that uh one of the later mornings god that uh one of the later mornings god willing this theme of grace and the willing this theme of grace and the mercy of god mercy of god well then i i must dash over into acts well then i i must dash over into acts chapter 17 chapter 17 following paul now following paul now into the gentile territories and he's no into the gentile territories and he's no longer talking longer talking to the to the jews he's speaking to gentiles jews he's speaking to gentiles in acts chapter 17 having preached to in acts chapter 17 having preached to the thessalonians the thessalonians i am proclaiming to you the messiah i am proclaiming to you the messiah having having been accused of preaching another king been accused of preaching another king one jesus because there are political one jesus because there are political implications in the gospel if we serve implications in the gospel if we serve another king one jesus another king one jesus then he's our king and no human king or then he's our king and no human king or president has our undivided allegiance president has our undivided allegiance this is really one of our basic reasons this is really one of our basic reasons for objecting to military service it for objecting to military service it isn't only that we object to the use of isn't only that we object to the use of violence this is an important principle violence this is an important principle of christian living but also we serve of christian living but also we serve another king another king one jesus that's in acts chapter 17 and one jesus that's in acts chapter 17 and then you get that occasion when the uh then you get that occasion when the uh oh i've jumped ahead acts chapter 16 i i oh i've jumped ahead acts chapter 16 i i meant to mention i'll mention it from meant to mention i'll mention it from memory when that earthquake occurred in memory when that earthquake occurred in the prison remember when paul and silas the prison remember when paul and silas sang hymns with the understanding sang hymns with the understanding and with great feeling i imagine as they and with great feeling i imagine as they sat there in the stocks and then there sat there in the stocks and then there was that earthquake was that earthquake and the poor jailer he was going to and the poor jailer he was going to commit suicide commit suicide and and that very night he was baptized and that that very night he was baptized and that often occasions difficulties to people often occasions difficulties to people but you see basically that that man he had a bit of instruction that night there was just instruction that night there was just one thing as far as he was concerned one thing as far as he was concerned he learned that night that there was a he learned that night that there was a mighty power in the earth mighty power in the earth the power of one jesus whom the power of one jesus whom paul had been preaching for several paul had been preaching for several weeks after all and he'd read about it weeks after all and he'd read about it in the uh in the uh in the philippi news or whatever in the philippi news or whatever newspaper they had there he knew all newspaper they had there he knew all these things that were happening these things that were happening and then he saw it first hand and then he saw it first hand and here he was in a great problem and and here he was in a great problem and just about to commit suicide just about to commit suicide and his needs were met by a man paul who and his needs were met by a man paul who in the strength of another one jesus had in the strength of another one jesus had got the power to control the whole got the power to control the whole situation situation he says my word that's it i'm going to he says my word that's it i'm going to give myself heart and soul to that one give myself heart and soul to that one when somebody's prepared to give himself when somebody's prepared to give himself heart and soul to jesus he's got a child heart and soul to jesus he's got a child mind and he's he's prepared to be sorted mind and he's he's prepared to be sorted out on all his complications well the out on all his complications well the main complication for a man like that main complication for a man like that was a that he probably lived a pretty was a that he probably lived a pretty violent and dissolute life violent and dissolute life and b he probably went along from time and b he probably went along from time to time to whatever temple it was to to time to whatever temple it was to worship idols once he'd seen the worship idols once he'd seen the supremacy of the power and the moral supremacy of the power and the moral supremacy also of jesus then what must i supremacy also of jesus then what must i do to be saved i want that power do to be saved i want that power believe on the lord jesus christ and believe on the lord jesus christ and thou shalt be saved and they had a bit thou shalt be saved and they had a bit of a chat of a chat and his whole mind and his whole and his whole mind and his whole thinking was reoriented and there he was thinking was reoriented and there he was baptized that very night baptized that very night now in acts chapter 17 the situation now in acts chapter 17 the situation is rather different because um is rather different because um he's in the university city he's in the university city he's in yale or harvard or yale and he's in yale or harvard or yale and harvard and what's the other one harvard and what's the other one princetown princetown doing my homework you know doing my homework you know and oxford and cambridge and oxford and cambridge uh all rolled into one athens that was uh all rolled into one athens that was the university city the university city and uh there he was and uh there he was preaching preaching preaching two gods they thought he kept preaching two gods they thought he kept on hurting he heard paul say on hurting he heard paul say an anastasis an anastasis and jesus that was a man's name an and jesus that was a man's name an anastasis that was a lady's name you anastasis that was a lady's name you know so that was the gender of the word know so that was the gender of the word anastasis and there were ladies around anastasis and there were ladies around who were called anastasis or anastasia who were called anastasis or anastasia and oh he's got two new gods a man god and oh he's got two new gods a man god and a lady god we must hear about this and a lady god we must hear about this but wait a minute has he got a license but wait a minute has he got a license to preach to preach you see because in athens anybody could you see because in athens anybody could preach but they had to go up to the preach but they had to go up to the court to get their license a bit like court to get their license a bit like here and in england you have to have a here and in england you have to have a license for all sorts of things don't license for all sorts of things don't you have to have a license for fishing you have to have a license for fishing perhaps if you're going to fish in perhaps if you're going to fish in certain parts of the country here you certain parts of the country here you had to have a license for preaching as had to have a license for preaching as long as you've got your license i don't long as you've got your license i don't think there was a fee then you were all think there was a fee then you were all right but you've got to go to the court right but you've got to go to the court of the areopagus and this is you don't of the areopagus and this is you don't get this point clearly in the king james get this point clearly in the king james version version and so and so he would appear to be they said a he would appear to be they said a propagandist for foreign deities this is propagandist for foreign deities this is verse 18 because he was preaching about verse 18 because he was preaching about jesus and resurrection yes and anastasis jesus and resurrection yes and anastasis so verse 19 so they took him this is so verse 19 so they took him this is acts 17 verse 19 acts 17 verse 19 so they took him so they took him and they brought him before the court of and they brought him before the court of ariopagus and said ariopagus and said may we know what this new doctrine is may we know what this new doctrine is that you propound you are introducing that you propound you are introducing ideas that sound strange to us and we ideas that sound strange to us and we should like to know what they mean should like to know what they mean now the athenians in general now the athenians in general and the foreigners there and the foreigners there had no time for anything but talking or had no time for anything but talking or hearing about the latest novelty i hearing about the latest novelty i reckon that's a great translation isn't reckon that's a great translation isn't it because we know a lot of people like it because we know a lot of people like that that talking or hearing about the latest talking or hearing about the latest novelty in fact sometimes we're tempted novelty in fact sometimes we're tempted to be like that even in the brotherhood to be like that even in the brotherhood aren't we aren't we um then paul stood up before the court um then paul stood up before the court of the areopacus and said of the areopacus and said men of athens i see that in everything men of athens i see that in everything that concerns religion you are that concerns religion you are uncommonly scrupulous what does it say uncommonly scrupulous what does it say in the king james version in the king james version superstitious doesn't it you see superstitious doesn't it you see and now here's another hint from the and now here's another hint from the apostles apostles as to how to preach you don't go before as to how to preach you don't go before people when you know you're in a town people when you know you're in a town where there's a lot of episcopal people where there's a lot of episcopal people you don't go up there and give you a you don't go up there and give you a lecture and say now you know the lecture and say now you know the episcopal church it's a synagogue of episcopal church it's a synagogue of satan satan you might think that and you might be you might think that and you might be right but you don't go and say it you right but you don't go and say it you don't hit them over the head same paul don't hit them over the head same paul never did never did in fact one of the things he was able to in fact one of the things he was able to say that he never blasphemed their say that he never blasphemed their deities so there is christian wisdom deities so there is christian wisdom following that's a don't mistake me following that's a don't mistake me there's a time for a bit of hard hitting there's a time for a bit of hard hitting but you don't start that way but you don't start that way and so um and so um men of athens i men of athens i see that in everything that concerns see that in everything that concerns religion you are uncommonly scrupulous religion you are uncommonly scrupulous not superstitious they were very not superstitious they were very conscientious about their religion what conscientious about their religion what he meant was they were so scrupulous he meant was they were so scrupulous that they were a bit bothered that they that they were a bit bothered that they might have left one of the gods out might have left one of the gods out because they believed in the lot because they believed in the lot like people do today they say we're all like people do today they say we're all going different ways to the same place going different ways to the same place don't they what's that they were like in don't they what's that they were like in athens athens he said now that god that you've put an he said now that god that you've put an altar to the unknown god the one you altar to the unknown god the one you don't know about that's the one i preach don't know about that's the one i preach now that was a very very now that was a very very subtle and a very proper way of subtle and a very proper way of introducing the thing and then he has to introducing the thing and then he has to start with god and so before he can get start with god and so before he can get onto the facts about jesus he's got to onto the facts about jesus he's got to go to the fact before go to the fact before god god now i want to draw a deduction here now i want to draw a deduction here about about our preaching in relation to getting our preaching in relation to getting over to men and women over to men and women that god is a lot of people just don't that god is a lot of people just don't believe there is a god or or they don't believe there is a god or or they don't know if they don't believe there is a know if they don't believe there is a god they're atheists if they just don't god they're atheists if they just don't know their agnostics and most people know their agnostics and most people nowadays are either atheists or nowadays are either atheists or agnostics really agnostics really and they ask you to prove there is a god and they ask you to prove there is a god now you can't now you can't you can bring some very useful points you can bring some very useful points you can bring points about you know you can bring points about you know paley's watch where paley in the two paley's watch where paley in the two centuries ago said if you saw a watch in centuries ago said if you saw a watch in a field you'd never seen one before and a field you'd never seen one before and you opened it up you'd say well somebody you opened it up you'd say well somebody must have made this you couldn't have a must have made this you couldn't have a watch without a watchmaker so you watch without a watchmaker so you couldn't have the wonders of nature couldn't have the wonders of nature without a god who made it all that's a without a god who made it all that's a very good argument but if you don't want very good argument but if you don't want to believe it won't convince you to believe it won't convince you and i was telling the brethren and and i was telling the brethren and sisters down at washington and i don't sisters down at washington and i don't think i've mentioned it here forgive me think i've mentioned it here forgive me if i have if i have i was in a restaurant in london the i was in a restaurant in london the other day where two lads were talking other day where two lads were talking one didn't believe in jesus and the one didn't believe in jesus and the other did and he was trying to prove other did and he was trying to prove just by a logical sequence of arguments just by a logical sequence of arguments that god existed that god existed and the more he went on the more the and the more he went on the more the other chap was winning the argument other chap was winning the argument because he was a quite a clever because he was a quite a clever university chap university chap well they were at the next table to me well they were at the next table to me and they was they were speaking pretty and they was they were speaking pretty loud and i couldn't you know resist it i loud and i couldn't you know resist it i had to join in had to join in in fact in fact one or two things i've done since i've one or two things i've done since i've been here i mentioned to you the other been here i mentioned to you the other day about amos the prophet who came from day about amos the prophet who came from the two tribes to the ten tribes the two tribes to the ten tribes and didn't mind his own business and and didn't mind his own business and they sent him back they sent him back one or two people started nicknaming me one or two people started nicknaming me amos amos the brother who doesn't mind his own the brother who doesn't mind his own business because i tell people how far business because i tell people how far to stand away from the microphone to stand away from the microphone but um but um anyway i couldn't mind my own business anyway i couldn't mind my own business on this occasion and i joined in this on this occasion and i joined in this little chat at the next table little chat at the next table we have a saying in england which i we have a saying in england which i think some of you have picked up from me think some of you have picked up from me that if you want to find out what that if you want to find out what something is like you suck it and see something is like you suck it and see every time some strange american dish every time some strange american dish comes onto our table comes onto our table they tell me well you'll have to suck it they tell me well you'll have to suck it and see when i ask them what it's like and see when i ask them what it's like well well i went i joined this conversation i said i went i joined this conversation i said look you will never convince your friend look you will never convince your friend logically logically he's got to try it out he's got to suck he's got to try it out he's got to suck it and see it and see well he's very quick this friend of the well he's very quick this friend of the man who was defending christ he said oh man who was defending christ he said oh i see i've got to suck the christian i see i've got to suck the christian lollipop am i i said that's right lollipop am i i said that's right you suck the christian lollipop well you suck the christian lollipop well what about the hindu lollipop and the what about the hindu lollipop and the lollipop is that that's right lollipop is that that's right you suck those as well if you've got you suck those as well if you've got time but i've no doubt which one you'll time but i've no doubt which one you'll find most satisfying but mind you you've find most satisfying but mind you you've got to do it properly got to do it properly you've got to not only read what you say you've got to not only read what you say you've got to put it into practice i you've got to put it into practice i suggest you start with matthew because suggest you start with matthew because you'll agree that jesus christ was a you'll agree that jesus christ was a very good man oh yes yes he'd agree that very good man oh yes yes he'd agree that most people do sometimes they add if he most people do sometimes they add if he existed but at least they think he's a existed but at least they think he's a good it's a good idea jesus christ good it's a good idea jesus christ nobody ever runs him down so i said well nobody ever runs him down so i said well skip the bits you don't like early in skip the bits you don't like early in matthew but it won't be long before you matthew but it won't be long before you come to the sermon on the mount and come to the sermon on the mount and you'll find that fine i know you will you'll find that fine i know you will and and then you'll come to various things but then you'll come to various things but if you're going to suck it and see if you're going to suck it and see you've got to try it out you've got to try it out so when you come to as you would that so when you come to as you would that men should do to you you've got to try men should do to you you've got to try it out it out you've got to do it you've got to do it yes he said that's fair enough i said yes he said that's fair enough i said well you'll find you don't do it for well you'll find you don't do it for five minutes five minutes you'll find too that you'll find too that before long you don't even want to do it before long you don't even want to do it and then a little bit later in the day and then a little bit later in the day you may even find that you're kidding you may even find that you're kidding yourself that you do do it yourself that you do do it uh and you might even end up saying well uh and you might even end up saying well perhaps it doesn't matter and there's no perhaps it doesn't matter and there's no need to do it you'll have all sorts of need to do it you'll have all sorts of problems but if you face up to that problems but if you face up to that verse as you would that men should do to verse as you would that men should do to you do you even say to them you'll make you do you even say to them you'll make a great discovery on the first day of a great discovery on the first day of your reading of the bible your reading of the bible you'll discover you're a sinner and then you'll discover you're a sinner and then you'll have a need and when you've got a you'll have a need and when you've got a need then you may realize the the fact need then you may realize the the fact that that need has been met that that need has been met in other words you just send them away in other words you just send them away to suck it and see that's biblical isn't to suck it and see that's biblical isn't it oh taste and see that the lord is it oh taste and see that the lord is gracious gracious send them away and say well either send them away and say well either you'll have a go or you won't and all you'll have a go or you won't and all the arguing in the world you know and so the arguing in the world you know and so it is that the apostles simply asserted it is that the apostles simply asserted god who made the heavens who created god who made the heavens who created mankind asserted it and you take it or mankind asserted it and you take it or leave it this isn't to say that you leave it this isn't to say that you shouldn't for certain types of minds try shouldn't for certain types of minds try to help them with the um understanding to help them with the um understanding of the fact of god but of the fact of god but conviction won't come unless they sample conviction won't come unless they sample it it well now we're getting quite a lot about well now we're getting quite a lot about our preaching this morning aren't we a our preaching this morning aren't we a lot of tips from the apostles about how lot of tips from the apostles about how to handle things to handle things and of course in this acts chapter seven and of course in this acts chapter seven when he was before the court of the when he was before the court of the areopagus the apostle paul areopagus the apostle paul uh finishes up but god's overlooked the uh finishes up but god's overlooked the times of ignorance verse 31 acts 17 times of ignorance verse 31 acts 17 but now he commands but now he commands all mankind everywhere to repent all mankind everywhere to repent then he brings in fact number seven acts then he brings in fact number seven acts 17 31 17 31 because he has fixed the day because he has fixed the day on which he will have the world judged on which he will have the world judged and justly judged by a man of his and justly judged by a man of his choosing of this he has given assurance choosing of this he has given assurance to all to all by raising him from the dead we all know by raising him from the dead we all know who that man is he's fixed the day in who that man is he's fixed the day in which he will judge the world and judge which he will judge the world and judge its righteously that means judgment and its righteously that means judgment and rulership rulership the second coming of jesus is where he the second coming of jesus is where he finishes in acts chapter 17. finishes in acts chapter 17. now i've got about another now i've got about another half hour down here on my notes but um half hour down here on my notes but um you'll have to be compressed into five you'll have to be compressed into five minutes because i resolved that minutes because i resolved that one little crime i wouldn't commit would one little crime i wouldn't commit would be of overstepping the time which i have be of overstepping the time which i have been known to do well now i would like to move on for this last few minutes into one or for this last few minutes into one or two bits in the epistles you see i'm two bits in the epistles you see i'm talking all the time about what the talking all the time about what the apostles preached apostles preached to unbelievers not what they taught to to unbelievers not what they taught to believers believers but you can get a lot of hints in the but you can get a lot of hints in the epistles about the way in which they epistles about the way in which they preached preached now theme is the apostles doctrine and now theme is the apostles doctrine and fellowship fellowship now the way in which they preach often now the way in which they preach often comes out by the apostle referring back comes out by the apostle referring back for example in romans don't turn it up for example in romans don't turn it up there's time there's time this gospel god announced beforehand this gospel god announced beforehand in the sacred scriptures through his in the sacred scriptures through his prophets it is about his son prophets it is about his son it is about jesus christ our lord so it is about jesus christ our lord so straight away you learn the kind of straight away you learn the kind of gospel that paul preached it was about gospel that paul preached it was about jesus christ our lord again in romans 1 jesus christ our lord again in romans 1 by preaching the gospel of his son those by preaching the gospel of his son those kind of phrases you constantly get kind of phrases you constantly get romans 2 a day when god judges the romans 2 a day when god judges the secret of human hearts through jesus secret of human hearts through jesus christ so my gospel declares so he christ so my gospel declares so he included the judgment seat in his gospel included the judgment seat in his gospel god is going to judge the secrets of god is going to judge the secrets of human hearts human hearts and in romans 10 he sums up the the and in romans 10 he sums up the the total power of his gospel although he total power of his gospel although he took it all sorts of different roads took it all sorts of different roads although he's quite prepared to discuss although he's quite prepared to discuss detailed things yet the sum total of detailed things yet the sum total of what he was aiming at in his gospel was what he was aiming at in his gospel was that which he speaks of in romans that which he speaks of in romans chapter 10. chapter 10. romans chapter 10 romans chapter 10 he's referring back to he's referring back to the words of moses the words of moses speaking of justification by faith what speaking of justification by faith what does it say does it say verse 8 romans 10 verse 8 romans 10 the word is near you the word is near you it's upon your lips and in your heart it's upon your lips and in your heart this means the word of faith which we this means the word of faith which we proclaim so their gospel preaching was proclaim so their gospel preaching was the word of faith the word of faith if on your lips and here's the word of if on your lips and here's the word of faith faith is the confession jesus is lord that's is the confession jesus is lord that's all the truth in those three words all the truth in those three words let's never forget it in all our various let's never forget it in all our various argumentations that we have to carry out argumentations that we have to carry out in all our correspondence courses in all in all our correspondence courses in all our articles in glad tidings in all our our articles in glad tidings in all our discussion with our friends never never discussion with our friends never never never forget that the object of it all never forget that the object of it all is that message that we keep on singing is that message that we keep on singing about in our hymn book about in our hymn book we get so near to the lord jesus christ we get so near to the lord jesus christ the object is christianity is about the object is christianity is about christ jesus is lord if on your lips is christ jesus is lord if on your lips is the confession jesus is lord and in your the confession jesus is lord and in your heart the faith that god raised him from heart the faith that god raised him from the dead then you will find salvation the dead then you will find salvation everything's locked up there because i everything's locked up there because i know some people think if you just say know some people think if you just say jesus is lord you're there well you've jesus is lord you're there well you've got to understand what you're saying got to understand what you're saying obviously obviously that's the that's the depth of commitment you see we we quite depth of commitment you see we we quite rightly have an interview don't we rightly have an interview don't we and and i i can remember way back 40 or and and i i can remember way back 40 or 50 years ago in england the interviews 50 years ago in england the interviews for baptism for baptism they used to go all through they used to go all through it's good thing in a way it's good thing in a way you know the kings and then what king you know the kings and then what king came next and then what king came next came next and then what king came next and they go through all the whole of the and they go through all the whole of the declaration and the christian instructor declaration and the christian instructor and before and unless you answered all and before and unless you answered all those questions you hadn't passed your those questions you hadn't passed your examination it used to be said you see examination it used to be said you see well now that i think is the wrong well now that i think is the wrong phrase because it gives the idea that phrase because it gives the idea that you're sitting a university examination you're sitting a university examination in bible knowledge now all that in bible knowledge now all that knowledge is knowledge is uh at various levels to different uh at various levels to different mentalities necessary you've got to have mentalities necessary you've got to have your background your background but you mustn't in seeking to get that but you mustn't in seeking to get that wealth of understanding into people's wealth of understanding into people's heads just stop there with an heads just stop there with an intellectual understanding the most intellectual understanding the most important thing about an examination for important thing about an examination for baptism i did say they're still court baptism i did say they're still court examinations or interviews or chats or examinations or interviews or chats or conversations call them what you will conversations call them what you will and actually robert roberts had got this and actually robert roberts had got this point in the good confession which was point in the good confession which was his little specimen interview his little specimen interview their most important point is to make their most important point is to make sure that that person is aware that when sure that that person is aware that when he goes into the waters of baptism he or he goes into the waters of baptism he or she goes into the waters of baptism they she goes into the waters of baptism they are aware of the total commitment to the are aware of the total commitment to the lord jesus christ in which they have lord jesus christ in which they have engaged engaged so so if in your heart the faith that god if in your heart the faith that god raised him from the dead then you will raised him from the dead then you will find find salvation for the faith that leads to salvation for the faith that leads to righteousness is in the heart and the righteousness is in the heart and the confession that leads to salvation is confession that leads to salvation is upon upon the lips as it is written in the the lips as it is written in the scriptures verse 13 everyone who calls scriptures verse 13 everyone who calls upon the name of the lord will be saved upon the name of the lord will be saved and so the total message and so the total message the total message of the apostles can be the total message of the apostles can be summed up in two words summed up in two words jesus jesus christ christ because in those two words is the whole because in those two words is the whole purpose of god jesus purpose of god jesus yahweh the savior yahweh the savior christ christ the anointed one the anointed one promised through all the prophets promised through all the prophets anointed to what to be a king to be a anointed to what to be a king to be a king in men's hearts to be a king on the king in men's hearts to be a king on the throne of david in the great millennial throne of david in the great millennial reign reign jesus the savior saving how by his death jesus the savior saving how by his death by his resurrection by his triumph over by his resurrection by his triumph over all the things that hold us in their all the things that hold us in their grip jesus christ it's all there grip jesus christ it's all there and often while you're carving that path and often while you're carving that path through the jungle of human ideas to get through the jungle of human ideas to get there never forget that this is the there never forget that this is the object the object is to teach men that object the object is to teach men that they are sinners who need forgiveness they are sinners who need forgiveness who must repent who must allow christ to who must repent who must allow christ to take over the complete direction of take over the complete direction of their lives christianity is christianity their lives christianity is christianity if we get hold of that then i'm sure if we get hold of that then i'm sure there will come as we move towards the there will come as we move towards the kingdom in these exciting times and we kingdom in these exciting times and we look forward to him being actually in look forward to him being actually in the earth there will come if we take the earth there will come if we take this positive aspect a new dynamic into this positive aspect a new dynamic into our preaching may god grant that we our preaching may god grant that we learn something from the apostles and learn something from the apostles and that as we go forward from this school that as we go forward from this school to carry on with the round of to carry on with the round of proclaiming christ to mankind we may proclaiming christ to mankind we may feel that it has been good to be here feel that it has been good to be here and that we've learned something from and that we've learned something from the apostles and that we're going to the apostles and that we're going to fellowship their activities as we fellowship their activities as we proclaim christ to men

Transcript

this is the voice of wilbraham the eastern christadelphian bible school the eastern christadelphian bible school presents a series of bible addresses presents a series of bible addresses recorded at the 23rd annual convocation recorded at the 23rd annual convocation of the eastern christadelphian bible of the eastern christadelphian bible school school brother edgar willey of dudley england brother edgar willey of dudley england is the guest speaker is the guest speaker we hear brother willie now we hear brother willie now as he begins his third address as he begins his third address upon the subject no other name under upon the subject no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved heaven whereby we must be saved what peter preached what peter preached got a lot of notes today because got a lot of notes today because it's a difficult subject it's a difficult subject it's a beautiful one though it's a beautiful one though but i'm going to ask something very but i'm going to ask something very special of your brother and sisters special of your brother and sisters you wonderfully sympathetic listeners you wonderfully sympathetic listeners i want even more sympathy this morning i want even more sympathy this morning because because i have before me the actual notes i have before me the actual notes that i used at that i used at a certain gathering a certain gathering in england in england where i attempted to explain the where i attempted to explain the divinity of the lord jesus christ divinity of the lord jesus christ and as brother edward knows and as brother edward knows i got myself in quite a bit of trouble i got myself in quite a bit of trouble well of course you always learn by your well of course you always learn by your experiences so i'm using the actual same experiences so i'm using the actual same notes that i had there notes that i had there i'm i'm hoping that i'm wiser hoping that i'm wiser but of course whenever you talk about but of course whenever you talk about the lord jesus christ he is so far above the lord jesus christ he is so far above our concepts that how to find words to our concepts that how to find words to express the lofty thoughts that express the lofty thoughts that scripture gives about him well it just scripture gives about him well it just beats you that's why i'm asking beats you that's why i'm asking not for your sympathy to anything wrong not for your sympathy to anything wrong that i say if i say something wrong you that i say if i say something wrong you you put me right because that's all i you put me right because that's all i want want but nevertheless let us all recognize but nevertheless let us all recognize the limitations of human language to to the limitations of human language to to really plumb what the apostle paul calls really plumb what the apostle paul calls the mystery of godliness the mystery of godliness so i'm sure that we'll all work together so i'm sure that we'll all work together because i i'm going to work you because i i'm going to work you and i'm actually going to call up from and i'm actually going to call up from the dead as it were the dead as it were brother roberts and brother roberts and dr thomas i don't know why we call him dr thomas i don't know why we call him dr thomas brother thomas dr thomas brother thomas i'm going to call them up i'm going to call them up as witnesses but the things they're as witnesses but the things they're going to say going to say are really going to ask you to put your are really going to ask you to put your thinking caps on thinking caps on and if as a result and if as a result we leave you with we leave you with a determination a determination to see to see god in christ as well as man in christ god in christ as well as man in christ then that's all i'm seeking to do today that hymn that we had for example i think brother edward was pointing out think brother edward was pointing out the other day him 99 is our trinity him the other day him 99 is our trinity him not the athanasian creed which so not the athanasian creed which so confuses and darkens men's minds when confuses and darkens men's minds when they bother to read it which not many they bother to read it which not many people do nowadays but the bible sort of people do nowadays but the bible sort of trinity trinity which you get for example at the end of which you get for example at the end of um paul's second letter um paul's second letter to the corinthians to the corinthians you've got a very very you've got a very very three-fold sort of phrase there three-fold sort of phrase there and i don't think it occasions as any and i don't think it occasions as any difficulty at all difficulty at all 2 corinthians 2 corinthians 13 13 verse 14 verse 14 the grace of the lord jesus christ the grace of the lord jesus christ and the love of god and the love of god and the communion of the holy spirit and the communion of the holy spirit be with you all be with you all amen amen when you and i were baptized when you and i were baptized the brother the brother said said in you are baptized or i baptize you in you are baptized or i baptize you into or in the name into or in the name of the father son and holy spirit and of the father son and holy spirit and some brethren have tried to get rid of some brethren have tried to get rid of that phrase and say it wasn't in the that phrase and say it wasn't in the original but that won't work it it was original but that won't work it it was in the original in the original so that we have father so that we have father son son and holy spirit and holy spirit portrayed for us portrayed for us in the very last words of jesus in in the very last words of jesus in matthew and we have this grace of the matthew and we have this grace of the lord jesus love of god and communion of lord jesus love of god and communion of the holy spirit presented in 2 the holy spirit presented in 2 corinthians 13 corinthians 13 and it is of this but in the next three and it is of this but in the next three talks i want to speak talks i want to speak and this is really amplifying as i say and this is really amplifying as i say we've been doing the preaching so far we've been doing the preaching so far where the apostles just preached the where the apostles just preached the basic facts basic facts that jesus came from god and ministered that jesus came from god and ministered to men died and was raised ascended to to men died and was raised ascended to god it dwells in the believer and will god it dwells in the believer and will come again come again and these facts group themselves and these facts group themselves together really in three or four groupings today we're looking at this first one today we're looking at this first one that he came from god and ministered to that he came from god and ministered to men men tomorrow we're going to look at tomorrow we're going to look at minister to men again died for our sins minister to men again died for our sins and raised for our justification and raised for our justification then we look at him ascended to the then we look at him ascended to the right hand of god and dwelling in the right hand of god and dwelling in the believer believer and finally we look for his reappearance and finally we look for his reappearance so we're now going from preaching into so we're now going from preaching into teaching where in the epistles teaching where in the epistles the apostle paul particularly but also the apostle paul particularly but also peter and james dive more deeply into peter and james dive more deeply into things i say particularly paul but things i say particularly paul but i've forgotten one haven't i the apostle i've forgotten one haven't i the apostle john who is perhaps the deepest of them john who is perhaps the deepest of them all and remember that matthew mark luke all and remember that matthew mark luke and john are the and john are the basic material which were used in the basic material which were used in the early church after the first few years early church after the first few years when things began to get written down when things began to get written down there they got their basic material there they got their basic material about the life of the lord and john's about the life of the lord and john's particularly giving this exalted picture particularly giving this exalted picture of the one who came from god and yet got of the one who came from god and yet got involved totally in our situation and i involved totally in our situation and i think what happens in this topic is that think what happens in this topic is that we get one side or the other out of we get one side or the other out of balance this is the problem how to stay balance this is the problem how to stay in balance and this is why i asked for in balance and this is why i asked for your sympathetic listening and if at any your sympathetic listening and if at any stage i get a bit out of balance well stage i get a bit out of balance well i'll try to put it right in the next i'll try to put it right in the next talk because this morning's talk is out talk because this morning's talk is out of balance there's no doubt about it but of balance there's no doubt about it but very virtue of dealing with one subject very virtue of dealing with one subject at a time you get out of balance i'm at a time you get out of balance i'm going to stress going to stress the divine origin of our lord the divine origin of our lord and as the will abraham wayfarer says and as the will abraham wayfarer says this morning that when men saw this morning that when men saw jesus they saw jesus they saw god god now that's the emphasis there's going to now that's the emphasis there's going to be this morning be this morning and that's why we had him 99 with the and that's why we had him 99 with the heavenly father heavenly father then the savior and then the grace at then the savior and then the grace at work in the hearts of the believer work in the hearts of the believer now now plenty of scripture then this morning plenty of scripture then this morning and and first i would first i would like to just like to just read you a few verses read you a few verses from the new english bible rendering from the new english bible rendering of first john 1. and perhaps i'd rather of first john 1. and perhaps i'd rather you didn't turn your bibles up for this you didn't turn your bibles up for this so if you want to i mustn't dictate to so if you want to i mustn't dictate to you whether you do or not but i'd like you whether you do or not but i'd like you to imagine you've never heard the you to imagine you've never heard the epistle of john before and you're way epistle of john before and you're way back in the first century and back in the first century and you have a visit from the apostle john and this is what he says to you he starts his exhortation on the sunday he starts his exhortation on the sunday morning like morning like this it was there this it was there from the beginning from the beginning we have heard it we looked upon it and felt it with our own hands and felt it with our own hands and it is of this and it is of this we tell we tell you what's he talking about you what's he talking about what is this it what is this it that he's touched and felt when he goes that he's touched and felt when he goes on on our theme our theme is the word of life is the word of life this life was made this life was made visible visible got the idea of something called the got the idea of something called the word of life word of life and that something and that something called the word of life that was almost called the word of life that was almost personal in its power because it was personal in its power because it was linked with god linked with god became visible became visible we have we have seen it seen it and bear our testimony and bear our testimony we here declare to you the eternal life we here declare to you the eternal life which dwelt with the father and was made which dwelt with the father and was made visible to us visible to us so there's something called eternal life so there's something called eternal life and it isn't the same word as and it isn't the same word as immortality there's something called immortality there's something called eternal life that's the quality of the eternal life that's the quality of the life of god you know we tend to use the life of god you know we tend to use the word eternal life of the quantity of word eternal life of the quantity of life that we hope to have life that we hope to have immortal is really the right word there immortal is really the right word there and sometimes the word eternal is used and sometimes the word eternal is used in the bible to mean immortal but here in the bible to mean immortal but here he's using the word eternal of the he's using the word eternal of the quality of the divine life quality of the divine life and that divine life it dwelt with the and that divine life it dwelt with the father father it was made visible to us what we have seen and heard we declare to you so that you and we we declare to you so that you and we together together may share in a common life may share in a common life that life which we share with the father that life which we share with the father and his son jesus christ and we write and his son jesus christ and we write this in order that the joy of us all may this in order that the joy of us all may be complete i think that's lovely be complete i think that's lovely you know there you've got it you've got you know there you've got it you've got that eternal life which was with the that eternal life which was with the father that's the first stage of the father that's the first stage of the right sort of trinity right sort of trinity that eternal life which was with the that eternal life which was with the father father made visible in the lord jesus christ made visible in the lord jesus christ and then passed on to us so that we and then passed on to us so that we share it too share it too by the grace of god in christ jesus by the grace of god in christ jesus those are the three aspects those are the three aspects came from god came from god died for our sins as a man died for our sins as a man dwells in the believer dwells in the believer all to be made perfect when he comes all to be made perfect when he comes again again if only we can have these lovely if only we can have these lovely concepts concepts then a lot of the problems of then a lot of the problems of pre-existence passages that kind of pre-existence passages that kind of thing they go thing they go but i recommend to you the new english but i recommend to you the new english bible translation of those first few bible translation of those first few verses of john it's all there verses of john it's all there you know i almost need not say anything you know i almost need not say anything else else but i will well now let's think let's think about why it's important about why it's important that we should get the god side of jesus that we should get the god side of jesus clear clear well it is important because well it is important because flesh flesh human nature human nature is so constructed that it can't save is so constructed that it can't save itself itself human nature human nature is of such a character that it always is of such a character that it always tends toward the earth tends toward the earth and requires lifting up toward the and requires lifting up toward the heavenly things heavenly things now man can't lift himself up or he can now man can't lift himself up or he can go to the moon and he can do all sorts go to the moon and he can do all sorts of wonderful things of wonderful things but when in washington uh about a week but when in washington uh about a week ago i gave a lecture ago i gave a lecture from earth's orbit to heaven's orbit from earth's orbit to heaven's orbit and although men can get out of earth's and although men can get out of earth's orbit into moon's orbits orbit into moon's orbits i can't really get i can't really get into heaven's orbit on the spiritual into heaven's orbit on the spiritual level by their own efforts this is why level by their own efforts this is why god is the source of salvation and god is the source of salvation and that's why it's so important that's why it's so important to recognize that as 2 corinthians to recognize that as 2 corinthians chapter 5 verse 19 puts the whole theme chapter 5 verse 19 puts the whole theme of redemption of redemption 2 corinthians 5 19 i've been asked to 2 corinthians 5 19 i've been asked to say my passage is loud and clear so that say my passage is loud and clear so that anybody who wants to note them can do so 2 corinthians 5 19 to wit that god was in christ to wit that god was in christ reconciling the world unto himself reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them not imputing their trespasses unto them and have committed unto us the apostles and have committed unto us the apostles the word of reconciliation god was in the word of reconciliation god was in christ christ and then he goes on to speak of the way and then he goes on to speak of the way in which in which this manifestation of the eternal father this manifestation of the eternal father descended as brother john carter used to descended as brother john carter used to say he came down into the evil say he came down into the evil from which from which he came to save us he came to save us for he hath made him to be sin for us for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that's who knew no sin that's he who was in heaven's orbit as it were he who was in heaven's orbit as it were comes down into earth's orbit comes down into earth's orbit that we might be made the righteousness that we might be made the righteousness of god in him of god in him to lift us up to lift us up to what god is to what god is jesus was sent down into what we are jesus was sent down into what we are that's why it's important to see the that's why it's important to see the heavenly side and this is why of course heavenly side and this is why of course paul writing to timothy in his first paul writing to timothy in his first letter chapter 3 letter chapter 3 and verse 16 and verse 16 on timothy 3 verse 16 says and without on timothy 3 verse 16 says and without controversy great is the mystery of controversy great is the mystery of godliness about which there's been more godliness about which there's been more controversy than any other one subject controversy than any other one subject paul didn't mean that it means there's paul didn't mean that it means there's no argument that it's a great secret no argument that it's a great secret as we'd say in england you can say that as we'd say in england you can say that again again without controversy great is the mystery without controversy great is the mystery or the secret of godliness or the secret of godliness god was manifest god was manifest in the flesh and this is where we get in the flesh and this is where we get our christian healthy and phrase god our christian healthy and phrase god manifestation from god was manifest in manifestation from god was manifest in the flesh the flesh justified in the spirit justified in the spirit seen of angels seen of angels preached unto the gentiles believed on preached unto the gentiles believed on in the world received up into glory now in the world received up into glory now i know there are other translations i know there are other translations which say just he was manifest which say just he was manifest i think we usually tend to favor the i think we usually tend to favor the king james version here but if you do king james version here but if you do you've got the situation that god was you've got the situation that god was manifest in the flesh god was justified manifest in the flesh god was justified in the spirit god was seen of angels god in the spirit god was seen of angels god was preached unto the gentiles god was was preached unto the gentiles god was believed on in the world and god was believed on in the world and god was received up into glory when you've received up into glory when you've really got a problem haven't you really got a problem haven't you obviously we have to expand our obviously we have to expand our understanding of the word god understanding of the word god not only speaking of the eternal great not only speaking of the eternal great uncreate himself uncreate himself usually denoted in the old testament by usually denoted in the old testament by that hebrew word el that hebrew word el ale ale but we have to recognize that the word but we have to recognize that the word translated god in our bibles translated god in our bibles takes in all the various manifestations takes in all the various manifestations of god even down to of god even down to jewish judges jewish judges which as we had yesterday morning psalm which as we had yesterday morning psalm 82 i said ye are gods 82 i said ye are gods the very word god branches out and as we the very word god branches out and as we study our bibles we come to realize that study our bibles we come to realize that even we are called to even we are called to deification deification that's just staggering that ordinary men that's just staggering that ordinary men and women like you and i and women like you and i are called to become partakers of the are called to become partakers of the very divine nature very divine nature and the way this happened was that god and the way this happened was that god involved himself involved himself in human nature in human nature in the person of his son that we might in the person of his son that we might ultimately be involved in the divine ultimately be involved in the divine nature nature so the theme is the theme of the lord so the theme is the theme of the lord jesus christ jesus christ and i think of the lord jesus christ and i think of the lord jesus christ in three aspects in three aspects i think of him i think of him divine in origin divine in origin two i think of him as the sin bearer two i think of him as the sin bearer and three i think of him as indwelling and three i think of him as indwelling the saints the saints you know i saw a very beautiful phrase you know i saw a very beautiful phrase in the writings of in the writings of bishop gore i know some brethren don't bishop gore i know some brethren don't like you to refer to where you got an like you to refer to where you got an idea from because they think you're idea from because they think you're encouraging people to read a lot of encouraging people to read a lot of things that might lead you off the line things that might lead you off the line but i think in all honesty i ought to but i think in all honesty i ought to say where i got this phrase from say where i got this phrase from and he portrays and he portrays this was strange i mean he believes i this was strange i mean he believes i don't know what he does believe quite or don't know what he does believe quite or he's dead now but you know some of his he's dead now but you know some of his chapters when i read them they seem so chapters when i read them they seem so near to our understanding of god near to our understanding of god manifestation i found myself going along manifestation i found myself going along very happily other bits i wasn't quite very happily other bits i wasn't quite so happy in when he tried to just so happy in when he tried to just explain how the athanasian creed explain how the athanasian creed although it was a muddle and he admitted although it was a muddle and he admitted it was yet somehow said the truth it was yet somehow said the truth but leaving that aside he put jesus in but leaving that aside he put jesus in three three phases phases speaking of the divine origin of jesus speaking of the divine origin of jesus he said we have christ in front of us he said we have christ in front of us and above us and then he says speaking of jesus as a man we have christ for us man we have christ for us and then speaking of jesus by the spirit and then speaking of jesus by the spirit in the believer we have christ in us in the believer we have christ in us so it's christ above us so it's christ above us beyond us and above us beyond us and above us this is the god side and then we have this is the god side and then we have christ for us dying for our sins christ for us dying for our sins and then and then we have christ we have christ in us in us above us above us for us for us in us in us i think that's that's very lovely i think that's that's very lovely that that you see often we speak of jesus as our you see often we speak of jesus as our example and of course peter said that example and of course peter said that leaving us an example and yet in a sense leaving us an example and yet in a sense jesus is more than an example jesus is more than an example because we cannot attain because we cannot attain and yet we've got to to to let him work and yet we've got to to to let him work in us to lift us up a little bit to what in us to lift us up a little bit to what he was he was but he is above us and if we think that but he is above us and if we think that the only purpose that god had in sending the only purpose that god had in sending jesus was to give us a good moral jesus was to give us a good moral example example well then we really are in trouble well then we really are in trouble because we'll never make it and i think because we'll never make it and i think it's because we think sometimes that he it's because we think sometimes that he was just a good moral example that we've was just a good moral example that we've got to copy and if we don't will be got to copy and if we don't will be titus titus that we sometimes get some of the that we sometimes get some of the worries where we feel we'll never make worries where we feel we'll never make it he is above us he will remain above it he is above us he will remain above us but he's lifting us up a little bit us but he's lifting us up a little bit all the time all the time now i want to speak of his greatness i now i want to speak of his greatness i want to speak of when he came from god want to speak of when he came from god and ministered to man without turning up and ministered to man without turning up a lot of passages i want to for just 10 a lot of passages i want to for just 10 minutes reminds you of his minutes reminds you of his greatness greatness i want you to go back to the first i want you to go back to the first century there century there to when he walked among men to when he walked among men let us stand with his disciples let us stand with his disciples let us be let us be one of the twelve if you like one of the twelve if you like and let us think of how at first they and let us think of how at first they would have thought would have thought well john the baptist says this is the well john the baptist says this is the lamb of god we will follow him lamb of god we will follow him remember how they went come and see he remember how they went come and see he says come and see says come and see brother roberts in nazareth we visited brother roberts in nazareth we visited says how we'd love to have been there says how we'd love to have been there went to peter and john it was said was went to peter and john it was said was it peter and john well whichever two it it peter and john well whichever two it was was come and see and they went and spent come and see and they went and spent hours with him hours with him and they were really immediately drawn and they were really immediately drawn to him they wouldn't have realized to him they wouldn't have realized that they were really talking in a that they were really talking in a manner of speaking to god manner of speaking to god walking among men walking among men or as dr thomas would have put it the or as dr thomas would have put it the deity tabernacling deity tabernacling in the son of david's daughter that's in the son of david's daughter that's how dr thomas used to put it in those how dr thomas used to put it in those old phrases which come ringing down with old phrases which come ringing down with such uh beauty such uh beauty even if we don't always quite understand even if we don't always quite understand some of those long phrases that he uses some of those long phrases that he uses and and there they were talking to god walking there they were talking to god walking among men they didn't know it among men they didn't know it but little by little it would dawn on but little by little it would dawn on them that there was something remarkable them that there was something remarkable something greater than john the baptist something greater than john the baptist john the baptist said i must decrease he john the baptist said i must decrease he must increase must increase he spake as one having authority he spake as one having authority he could say it was said of old time but he could say it was said of old time but i say unto you i say unto you you can understand how the jews were you can understand how the jews were puzzled by him if i said to you puzzled by him if i said to you this morning it was said in the new this morning it was said in the new testament so and so but i say unto you testament so and so but i say unto you that'll be the last time i spoke at will that'll be the last time i spoke at will abraham abraham that word wasn't it and rightly so that word wasn't it and rightly so but the lord jesus christ suddenly but the lord jesus christ suddenly standing in the midst and saying standing in the midst and saying it was said of old time but i say unto it was said of old time but i say unto you and somehow the authority came over you and somehow the authority came over and we read again and again you start and we read again and again you start ticking them off in your bible the ticking them off in your bible the number of times that it says they were number of times that it says they were amazed and what manner of man is this amazed and what manner of man is this that even the winds and the waves obey that even the winds and the waves obey him him and how casually and it is this and how casually and it is this casualness with which the lord jesus casualness with which the lord jesus says these things that that is is simply says these things that that is is simply staggering staggering he'd say in that day many will say unto he'd say in that day many will say unto me me lord lord i will say unto them lord lord i will say unto them nobody ever thought well some people nobody ever thought well some people said he has a devil but the disciples said he has a devil but the disciples never did they just took it in their never did they just took it in their stride it seemed so natural for him to stride it seemed so natural for him to say things like that many will say to me say things like that many will say to me in that day he was the judge in that day he was the judge all judgment is committed unto the son all judgment is committed unto the son his message all the time pointed to his message all the time pointed to himself himself that they were to trust in him that they were to trust in him as their unfailing guide as their unfailing guide as their never ceasing resource as their never ceasing resource and and all his words to them were training them all his words to them were training them to put their total trust in him to put their total trust in him have you ever thought have you ever thought i know i let myself go a little bit last i know i let myself go a little bit last night and i wondered whether i was quite night and i wondered whether i was quite right afterwards i started talking about right afterwards i started talking about me me well i only did it to kind of share well i only did it to kind of share experiences with one another but experiences with one another but if i'd done any more of it you'd have if i'd done any more of it you'd have began to say to yourself i wish he'd began to say to yourself i wish he'd stop talking about himself stop talking about himself do you realize that the lord jesus do you realize that the lord jesus christ talked all the time about himself christ talked all the time about himself and never sounded conceited and never sounded conceited he said i'm the bread of life i am the he said i'm the bread of life i am the bread of life bread of life i am the truth and i am the resurrection i am the truth and i am the resurrection and the life and the life and yet nobody really felt who got any and yet nobody really felt who got any sympathy with him sympathy with him that this was contradictory when he said that this was contradictory when he said you'll be humble you'll be humble so on the one hand he was somebody who so on the one hand he was somebody who talked about himself all the time and he talked about himself all the time and he said to other people you'll be humble said to other people you'll be humble and it didn't sound a bit contradictory and it didn't sound a bit contradictory there was a man looked just like a man there was a man looked just like a man who who said abram rejoiced to see my who who said abram rejoiced to see my day day this day is this scripture fulfilled in this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears your ears come unto me come unto me all ye that labor and a heavy laden all ye that labor and a heavy laden again and again particularly in the again and again particularly in the gospel of john you have it portrayed gospel of john you have it portrayed that to believe on him that to believe on him was man's main duty was man's main duty and not to believe on him was man's and not to believe on him was man's chief sin quiet assumption just taking it for granted granted that he was that he was something more than a man something more than a man came over all the time came over all the time and it hurts me anyway and i didn't say and it hurts me anyway and i didn't say it hurts you it hurts you when you sometimes hear brethren and when you sometimes hear brethren and sisters in their eagerness to correct sisters in their eagerness to correct men's errors men's errors swinging right over the other way and swinging right over the other way and almost making jesus appear merely a man almost making jesus appear merely a man and i would recommend great care when and i would recommend great care when sincere sincere people who really are seeking to serve people who really are seeking to serve christ christ although they are in air are on various although they are in air are on various things when they come up to you and say things when they come up to you and say do you believe in the divinity of jesus do you believe in the divinity of jesus be careful how you answer it don't just be careful how you answer it don't just say no say no they think that you think he's just a they think that you think he's just a mere man and i can understand them being mere man and i can understand them being a bit horrified can't you so find some a bit horrified can't you so find some words or say yes when they ask do you words or say yes when they ask do you believe in the divinity of jesus say yes believe in the divinity of jesus say yes but i'd like to have a bit of a chat but i'd like to have a bit of a chat sometime so that we can sort out just sometime so that we can sort out just what i mean when i say yes i don't say what i mean when i say yes i don't say no no otherwise you will convey a very otherwise you will convey a very unchristian sort of approach unchristian sort of approach there were the direct claims of jesus there were the direct claims of jesus jesus who called himself the son of man jesus who called himself the son of man jesus who said my father my father jesus who said my father my father and there were the indirect claims where and there were the indirect claims where he forgave sin something that god only he forgave sin something that god only could do where he said i will bestow could do where he said i will bestow life something that god only could do life something that god only could do where he said i will judge the world where he said i will judge the world something which god only can do something which god only can do all together above us all together above us above us above us and yet for us and finally in us which of you john chapter 8 verse 46 which of you convinceth me of sin which of you convinceth me of sin in verse 29 i do always those things in verse 29 i do always those things which please the father which please the father they're just we're used to those words they're just we're used to those words you just think you just think if you could manage to get through today if you could manage to get through today even in the wonderful fellowship of even in the wonderful fellowship of wilbraham wilbraham if you could manage to get through today if you could manage to get through today without one thought that was just a without one thought that was just a little bit not quite right little bit not quite right you'd think it was a marvelous triumph you'd think it was a marvelous triumph of christ dwelling in you wouldn't you of christ dwelling in you wouldn't you you've probably already thought some you've probably already thought some little thought or done some little thing little thought or done some little thing that's not quite up to standard don't that's not quite up to standard don't let it oppress you don't let it depress let it oppress you don't let it depress you this is what we are you this is what we are but here was somebody who but here was somebody who while all other men needed saving while all other men needed saving he himself was the savior without sin other men were sheep he was the shepherd all other men were dead he was the life all other men were dead he was the life other men were in darkness he was the other men were in darkness he was the lights lights other men were hungry he is the bread other men were hungry he is the bread no consciousness of sin yet such a no consciousness of sin yet such a sympathy with sinners sympathy with sinners no sense of moral failure at all and yet not superior not superior not a crank not a crank not eccentric have you thought about not eccentric have you thought about that that there's nothing odd about jesus there's nothing odd about jesus you know when people when people try you know when people when people try hard that's a danger of course trying hard that's a danger of course trying hard try hard to be like him sometimes hard try hard to be like him sometimes they somehow turn out as cranks and they somehow turn out as cranks and eccentric no self-importance and yet his teaching was and yet his teaching was self-centered but the self that he self-centered but the self that he centered on was god centered on was god and yet not up there in the clouds play and yet not up there in the clouds play with the children knew all about their with the children knew all about their playing at weddings and funerals playing at weddings and funerals the friend of lepers and harlots and the friend of lepers and harlots and sinners is it any wonder that after he had been raised from the that after he had been raised from the dead thomas said my dead thomas said my lord and my lord and my god god i want us to feel i want us to feel without feeling any necessity for without feeling any necessity for explanation that we do explanation that we do can come to the feet of jesus and say as can come to the feet of jesus and say as we sing some of these hymns we sing some of these hymns my lord my lord and my and my god and we know just what we mean god and we know just what we mean without explaining it without explaining it jesus was and is jesus was and is divine divine he was also human he was also human i was going to say was and is human and i was going to say was and is human and if i said that i would mean that he took if i said that i would mean that he took back to heaven with him back to heaven with him and you know how i used the word back in and you know how i used the word back in inverted in quotes wasn't say inverted inverted in quotes wasn't say inverted commas in the states we have to say commas in the states we have to say quotes don't we quotes don't we that he took back that he took back inverted karma's quotes to heaven with inverted karma's quotes to heaven with him the experience of having been human him the experience of having been human that's why he that's why he as we shall see tomorrow is able to be as we shall see tomorrow is able to be touched with the feeling of our touched with the feeling of our infirmities infirmities but he was and he is rightly called god but he was and he is rightly called god you know those passages such as when you know those passages such as when paul is writing to the hebrews he quotes paul is writing to the hebrews he quotes from psalm 45 from psalm 45 in hebrews chapter one in hebrews chapter one god who at sundry times and in diverse god who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past to the manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets hath in these fathers by the prophets hath in these last days spoken to us by his son last days spoken to us by his son goes on to speak of how the sun was the goes on to speak of how the sun was the brightness of his glory the express brightness of his glory the express image of his person image of his person goes on to speak then unto which of the goes on to speak then unto which of the angels said he angels said he eventually in verse 8 but unto the sun eventually in verse 8 but unto the sun he saith thy throne o he saith thy throne o god then of course if you go back to psalm 45 45 you'll find that you'll find that god in psalm 45 and also god in isaiah god in psalm 45 and also god in isaiah 64 64 because he goes on because he goes on therefore god even thy god therefore god even thy god hath anointed thee with the oil of hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows so there in gladness above thy fellows so there in verse 9 is a god who has got a god verse 9 is a god who has got a god so jesus is a god who has a god so jesus is a god who has a god so there is unity and yet in one sense so there is unity and yet in one sense there is separateness there is separateness this isn't too deep for us is it this isn't too deep for us is it god it says that jesus is god i've been god it says that jesus is god i've been asked by orthodox friends do you believe asked by orthodox friends do you believe that jesus is god i say well hebrews 1 that jesus is god i say well hebrews 1 tells us he was tells us he was also john tells us also john tells us that he says my father is greater than i that he says my father is greater than i great is the mystery of godliness and great is the mystery of godliness and and i sometimes get into a little bit of and i sometimes get into a little bit of difficulty because i i'm so thrilled difficulty because i i'm so thrilled with just what it actually says about with just what it actually says about jesus jesus that i don't do enough explaining and that i don't do enough explaining and this is so so much open to this is so so much open to misunderstanding but i think we're all misunderstanding but i think we're all agreed aren't we that in jesus we have agreed aren't we that in jesus we have no mere man you you look at luke chapter no mere man you you look at luke chapter one one you look at luke chapter one you look at luke chapter one and verse 68 and verse 68 when the old man zacharias when the old man zacharias holds the baby jesus in his arms holds the baby jesus in his arms oh no that's that's a bit later i've got oh no that's that's a bit later i've got the wrong wrong one there the wrong wrong one there yes zacharias did hold the baby jesus in yes zacharias did hold the baby jesus in his arms and he knew that he held the his arms and he knew that he held the lord's christ and he said mine eyes have lord's christ and he said mine eyes have seen thy seen thy salvation that's in luke 2 thy salvation that's in luke 2 thy salvation but the one i wanted was luke salvation but the one i wanted was luke 1 the other zechariah 1 the other zechariah simeon was the one i was talking of simeon was the one i was talking of there now zechariah the father of john there now zechariah the father of john the baptist when he held his own baby in the baptist when he held his own baby in his arms john the baptist he started off his arms john the baptist he started off in verse 68 in verse 68 and this is and this is um uh um uh one of the one of the some of the churches the orthodox some of the churches the orthodox churches use this as one of their churches use this as one of their regular regular pieces that they recite don't they call it the benedicte i'm not very well up on all that very well up on all that blessed be the lord god of israel blessed be the lord god of israel for he hath visited for he hath visited and redeemed and redeemed his people visited his people visited when jesus was among men there was god when jesus was among men there was god on a visit to israel god on a visit on a visit to israel god on a visit to mankind in the person of his son to mankind in the person of his son now i suppose we have something in the now i suppose we have something in the direction of a bit of explanation of direction of a bit of explanation of this great and marvelous thing in luke this great and marvelous thing in luke chapter one chapter one and please and please don't anybody say well this isn't quite don't anybody say well this isn't quite fair because it gives jesus an unfair fair because it gives jesus an unfair advantage over us if he was advantage over us if he was god walking among men then of course god walking among men then of course he couldn't sin don't forget that he was he couldn't sin don't forget that he was in the flesh that's the other side and in the flesh that's the other side and therefore he was tempted in all points therefore he was tempted in all points like us and he had greater problems than like us and he had greater problems than we have he had more to fight than we we have he had more to fight than we have have but it isn't a matter of being fair but it isn't a matter of being fair jesus was god's arm god saw there was no jesus was god's arm god saw there was no arm no man arm no man isaiah 59 therefore his arm brought isaiah 59 therefore his arm brought salvation salvation you know it is it's all of god this work you know it is it's all of god this work so it isn't a matter of saying well so it isn't a matter of saying well jesus had a chance that we didn't have jesus had a chance that we didn't have he had problems that we didn't have as he had problems that we didn't have as well but god didn't give him to us to well but god didn't give him to us to just do the things that we can do but to just do the things that we can do but to do something that we can't do and that's do something that we can't do and that's why he had no human father and we read why he had no human father and we read in luke chapter 1 in luke chapter 1 verse 31 verse 31 thou shalt conceive in thy womb and thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son luke 1 31 and thou bring forth a son luke 1 31 and thou shall call his name jesus jehovah which shall call his name jesus jehovah which of course is is bad hebrew yahweh we of course is is bad hebrew yahweh we know know yahweh the savior yahweh the savior the he who shall be the savior the he who shall be the savior probably the word yahweh doesn't only probably the word yahweh doesn't only mean the he who shall be but really mean the he who shall be but really means that he who was and is who and means that he who was and is who and will be has past present and future in will be has past present and future in that great name of god so that when you that great name of god so that when you come to the book of revelation you have come to the book of revelation you have who is and who was in his coming past who is and who was in his coming past present and future all wrapped up in the present and future all wrapped up in the lord jesus christ yahweh the savior lord jesus christ yahweh the savior they who is who was and is coming they who is who was and is coming so there was mary now those of you who so there was mary now those of you who are mothers are mothers just think how she must have felt just think how she must have felt with this strange salutation with this strange salutation you are going to be the mother you are going to be the mother of the one promised of the one promised what a thrill our heart must have lept what a thrill our heart must have lept if the babe in the womb of elizabeth if the babe in the womb of elizabeth left left how must mary's heart have left how must mary's heart have left he shall be great and shall be called he shall be great and shall be called the son of the highest the son of the highest the lord god shall give unto him the the lord god shall give unto him the throne of his father david throne of his father david and he shall reign over the house of and he shall reign over the house of jacob forever and of his kingdom there jacob forever and of his kingdom there shall be no end you mary are going to shall be no end you mary are going to bear in the normal process of childbirth bear in the normal process of childbirth that one that one then said mary unto the angel how shall then said mary unto the angel how shall this be seeing i know not a man i'm not this be seeing i know not a man i'm not married married the angel answered and said unto her the angel answered and said unto her the holy spirit shall come upon thee and the holy spirit shall come upon thee and then hebrew parallelism saying the same then hebrew parallelism saying the same thing a different way thing a different way the power of the highest shall the power of the highest shall overshadow thee overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called shall be born of thee shall be called the son of god the son of god and i think we have a glimmering of the and i think we have a glimmering of the explanation but it's only a glimmering explanation but it's only a glimmering there there in ordinary human birth there is in ordinary human birth there is substance from the father substance from the father goes forth goes forth to cause the to cause the germination process to commence germination process to commence the child that is conceived begins to the child that is conceived begins to grow grow in all holiness and purity of thought in all holiness and purity of thought power power from god from god went forth and went forth and operated upon the operated upon the substance of mary to begin a new life substance of mary to begin a new life a new life that was a new life that was directly connected with the god who sent directly connected with the god who sent forth that power forth that power so that god really did extend himself so that god really did extend himself in producing this son but he extended in producing this son but he extended himself more than we human fathers do himself more than we human fathers do why we can't even say well we've got two why we can't even say well we've got two boys let's have a girl this time we boys let's have a girl this time we can't say that can't say that in japan they're trying to experiment to in japan they're trying to experiment to see if they can't control the sex of the see if they can't control the sex of the child that you have child that you have how about if we could say now we'll have how about if we could say now we'll have another child another child little john is old enough now we'll have little john is old enough now we'll have another child another child we'll have all your good qualities dear we'll have all your good qualities dear and we'll have all my good qualities and and we'll have all my good qualities and none of our bad ones none of our bad ones and we'll wipe out all grandfathers bad and we'll wipe out all grandfathers bad qualities and grandmother's bad qualities and grandmother's bad qualities and qualities and you know we just can't do it can we you know we just can't do it can we but in all reverence when god himself is but in all reverence when god himself is the father the father he can ensure that right balance he can ensure that right balance of qualities of qualities potential in the child potential in the child that will respond so that it's it's no that will respond so that it's it's no marvel that at the age of 12 he was able marvel that at the age of 12 he was able to say didn't you know i must be about to say didn't you know i must be about my father's business i think you begin to just get a glimmering but but it's only a glimmering but but it's only a glimmering because you see glimmering because you see human children have a kind of sympathy human children have a kind of sympathy with father if they get on well together with father if they get on well together a sort of feeling for father a sort of feeling for father well that's only a dim reflection of the well that's only a dim reflection of the feeling that jesus had for his father feeling that jesus had for his father quincy at the age of 12 saying wistia quincy at the age of 12 saying wistia not that i must be about my father's not that i must be about my father's business business yet he was a child and he grew grew in yet he was a child and he grew grew in favor with god and man there were times favor with god and man there were times when he played and there were times when when he played and there were times when he he went that a little bit further and he he went that a little bit further and became a little more mature always became a little more mature always perfect at the stage of his development perfect at the stage of his development the explanation well the explanation the explanation well the explanation we've seen it in luke 1 we see it in we've seen it in luke 1 we see it in micah chapter 5 micah chapter 5 as translated in the revised standard as translated in the revised standard version version micah chapter 5 micah chapter 5 where we have where we have about that one that was going to be born about that one that was going to be born in bethlehem in bethlehem thou thou micah 5 verse 2 jot it down if you can't micah 5 verse 2 jot it down if you can't find it quickly those minor prophets are find it quickly those minor prophets are always a problem just to drop on aren't always a problem just to drop on aren't they micah 5 verse 2 they micah 5 verse 2 thou bethlehem ephrata though thou be thou bethlehem ephrata though thou be little among the thousands of judah yet little among the thousands of judah yet out of thee out of thee shall he come forth to me that is to be shall he come forth to me that is to be ruler in israel whose goings forth it ruler in israel whose goings forth it says in the king james version says in the king james version whose origin whose origin has been from of old from everlasting has been from of old from everlasting so jesus originated in god from evolved so jesus originated in god from evolved from everlasting can we get that his from everlasting can we get that his origin was there in god origin was there in god not saying anything about him having an not saying anything about him having an eternal consciousness but once he came eternal consciousness but once he came then somehow there was in him a then somehow there was in him a never had that feeling i've been here never had that feeling i've been here before before you know that feeling i've been here you know that feeling i've been here before before well there was something about jesus well there was something about jesus that when he thought of god in heaven he that when he thought of god in heaven he got that feeling i've been there got that feeling i've been there he can't understand it can't explain it he can't understand it can't explain it but but i think that just gets a little but but i think that just gets a little bit near to what jesus meant when he bit near to what jesus meant when he said in john chapter 3 said in john chapter 3 in john chapter 3 in john chapter 3 was it jesus that said it and verse 31 well it wasn't actually jesus who said well it wasn't actually jesus who said it it was either john the baptist saying it it was either john the baptist saying it or it was john the gospel writer it or it was john the gospel writer saying it doesn't matter anyway for our saying it doesn't matter anyway for our present purposes john chapter 3 verse 31 present purposes john chapter 3 verse 31 using that little example of where you using that little example of where you feel you've been somewhere before and feel you've been somewhere before and yet you know you've never been there yet you know you've never been there before they call it a perception or before they call it a perception or something well jesus had a divine not something well jesus had a divine not only a perception but a perception that only a perception but a perception that is a perception of what goes before is a perception of what goes before he who comes from above he who comes from above is above all others he who is from the earth like john the baptist belongs to the earth and uses baptist belongs to the earth and uses earthly speech earthly speech he who comes from heaven bears witness he who comes from heaven bears witness to what he has seen and heard to what he has seen and heard yet no one accepts his witness yet no one accepts his witness now it is true that jesus right through now it is true that jesus right through his ministry was in daily contact with his ministry was in daily contact with god he used to go up into the mount and god he used to go up into the mount and learn new things from god each time he learn new things from god each time he had that wonderful communion and when had that wonderful communion and when he'd learnt some new things from god he'd learnt some new things from god he'd teach his disciples new things as he'd teach his disciples new things as he drew upon his father's reservoir as he drew upon his father's reservoir as strength and power strength and power but somehow in addition to that and but somehow in addition to that and beyond it we you've got to face up to beyond it we you've got to face up to these words these words that that he who has come from heaven bears he who has come from heaven bears witness to what he has seen and heard witness to what he has seen and heard so there was in the consciousness of so there was in the consciousness of jesus a sense of jesus a sense of things that went before that almost as things that went before that almost as as it were seemed to have as it were seemed to have been implanted in him by the fact that been implanted in him by the fact that his origin was of old so that he he when his origin was of old so that he he when he said before abram was i am he said before abram was i am he had a sense of a he had a sense of a feeling for the eternal past i'm feeling for the eternal past i'm struggling for words struggling for words because i know not how to say this because i know not how to say this without being misunderstood but i don't without being misunderstood but i don't think anybody is misunderstanding me think anybody is misunderstanding me we're trying to get that feeling of this we're trying to get that feeling of this this divine this divine eternity that was somehow eternity that was somehow built into the person of jesus built into the person of jesus so that he had a sense of having been so that he had a sense of having been involved in the creation of all things involved in the creation of all things because god was his father because god was his father was the eternal pre-existing deity his was the eternal pre-existing deity his father was father was and that god as brother thomas puts it and that god as brother thomas puts it tabernacled in jesus don't you see the tabernacled in jesus don't you see the greatness of jesus don't you see the greatness of jesus don't you see the explanation of his uniqueness explanation of his uniqueness let's just look at one or two more let's just look at one or two more passages in john passages in john just to get this this idea and i know not how to explain them and when i read them privately as part of my when i read them privately as part of my personal devotion i don't try and personal devotion i don't try and explain them i just explain them i just thrill to them as i'm sure you do thrill to them as i'm sure you do john chapter i've got little marginal john chapter i've got little marginal notes gm god manifest by the side of notes gm god manifest by the side of them them look at john 3 13 look at john 3 13 which may be a comment of john's or which may be a comment of john's or maybe actually what jesus said maybe actually what jesus said bishop temple in his readings from bishop temple in his readings from john's gospel john's gospel which is one of those which is one of those writings which i think one could safely writings which i think one could safely recommend there are a few things that recommend there are a few things that are not quite right in it but are not quite right in it but rather fewer than most orthodox books rather fewer than most orthodox books he comments on this he comments on this you remember what the verse is you remember what the verse is no man hath ascended up to heaven but he no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven that came down from heaven even the son of man which is in heaven even the son of man which is in heaven and and bishop temple or archbishop temple i bishop temple or archbishop temple i think he was it doesn't matter what he think he was it doesn't matter what he was he he said that jesus said those was he he said that jesus said those words and although jesus was on earth words and although jesus was on earth yet while on earth he was able to speak yet while on earth he was able to speak that he was in heaven that he was in heaven because heaven was his home the source because heaven was his home the source of his life of his life mind you that carries on when christ is mind you that carries on when christ is in the believer then according to paul in the believer then according to paul in ephesians we too are in heaven in ephesians we too are in heaven we're here on the earth we're here on the earth and yet this week as we talk about the and yet this week as we talk about the things of god we have a sense of being things of god we have a sense of being with god with god at home in god sitting in heavenly at home in god sitting in heavenly places in christ jesus as brother john places in christ jesus as brother john thomas put it in eureka on earth bodily thomas put it in eureka on earth bodily his thinking concentrates beyond the his thinking concentrates beyond the veil where christ is it's a lovely veil where christ is it's a lovely phrase isn't it speaking of the saints phrase isn't it speaking of the saints on earth bodily his thinking on earth bodily his thinking concentrates concentrates within the veil beyond the veil where within the veil beyond the veil where christ is we get little glimmerings of christ is we get little glimmerings of this don't we as we talk about these this don't we as we talk about these joyous things and so there it was joyous things and so there it was jesus was on the earth and in heaven at jesus was on the earth and in heaven at the same time you see when we talked the same time you see when we talked about this at oxford one sister uh about this at oxford one sister uh brought up in discussion that sometimes brought up in discussion that sometimes we're too space conscious and we're too we're too space conscious and we're too time conscious and i think several of time conscious and i think several of you have said this to me in conversation you have said this to me in conversation during this week when we've talked about during this week when we've talked about we we do bother to get now did jesus we we do bother to get now did jesus pre-exist before he was born pre-exist before he was born and obviously in one sense no and obviously in one sense no and we were so concerned with getting and we were so concerned with getting the time factor right and then we were the time factor right and then we were saying was he in heaven saying was he in heaven before he was born on earth and then before he was born on earth and then we're concentrating on the space factor we're concentrating on the space factor but once you wash time and space out and but once you wash time and space out and get into the heavenly things get into the heavenly things once you've done that then you can say once you've done that then you can say yes to both those questions yes to both those questions because to gods because to gods times just nothing and space is just times just nothing and space is just nothing nothing to him to him ignoring time and space ignoring time and space jesus is an eternal presence but i don't jesus is an eternal presence but i don't understand what i mean really when i say understand what i mean really when i say that neither do you because we're out of that neither do you because we're out of our depth when we try to do without time our depth when we try to do without time and space and space we don't really know what we mean but we don't really know what we mean but jesus obviously as he talked was was jesus obviously as he talked was was oblivious to time and space and oblivious to time and space and before abram was i am before abram was i am that is the memorial name being worked that is the memorial name being worked in there translated i am there but in there translated i am there but perhaps it ought to be i was am and will perhaps it ought to be i was am and will be be oh yes john 3 we've had john 3 oh yes john 3 we've had john 3 john john [Music] [Music] john 5 23 john 5 23 all men should honor the son all men should honor the son even as they honor the father that's even as they honor the father that's john 5 23 john 5 23 john 5 26 as the father hath life in john 5 26 as the father hath life in himself himself so if he given to the son to have life so if he given to the son to have life in himself that eternal life which was in himself that eternal life which was always with the father which became always with the father which became visible visible moving on john 6 just to give you the moving on john 6 just to give you the flavor of it flavor of it i somehow get criticized for using that i somehow get criticized for using that word flavor but word flavor but don't die edward yes don't die edward yes but that's the only word i know but that's the only word i know if you just sit down and try and draw up if you just sit down and try and draw up a few cold propositions on this subject a few cold propositions on this subject you're soon in chaos you're soon in chaos you get the feel of it you get the feel of it verse 38 john 6 verse 38 john 6 i came down from heaven i came down from heaven forget space you see forget space you see just think of his divine origin and what just think of his divine origin and what it felt like to be jesus it felt like to be jesus i came down from heaven not to do my own i came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me you're in no problem are you none of us are we're all together on it none of us are we're all together on it we're we're in this context of sitting at the feet in this context of sitting at the feet of jesus we know just what it means even of jesus we know just what it means even if we couldn't explain it if we couldn't explain it and when we come to and when we come to chapter 6 51 chapter 6 51 i am the living bread which came down i am the living bread which came down from heaven from heaven we don't need to explain it we can sense we don't need to explain it we can sense it we can feel with jesus it we can feel with jesus and what about verse 62 of chapter 6 and what about verse 62 of chapter 6 what and if you see the son of man what and if you see the son of man ascend up where he was before ascend up where he was before in god his father in god his father there he dwelt as it were from all there he dwelt as it were from all eternity whose origin was of old and yet eternity whose origin was of old and yet of course as i completely knew being of course as i completely knew being dwelt among men there are the two that the complexity of it there he was the lord jesus christ it there he was the lord jesus christ born like a baby born like a baby and yet as he walked among men he had a and yet as he walked among men he had a sense of his eternal sense of his eternal antecedence you know that word antecedence you know that word antecedence antecedence his before comings that's what his before comings that's what antecedents meant and he had that sense antecedents meant and he had that sense of it in his very own being of it in his very own being oh well you know all the rest of these oh well you know all the rest of these passages don't you john chapter 8 23 passages don't you john chapter 8 23 ye are from beneath ye are from beneath i am from i am from above above and all those phrases where he keeps on and all those phrases where he keeps on saying the father sent me saying the father sent me he got the feeling almost as if god had he got the feeling almost as if god had said to him that feeling i have been said to him that feeling i have been there before there before he got that feeling in such heightened he got that feeling in such heightened form that it was almost as if god had form that it was almost as if god had said to him my son i want you to go said to him my son i want you to go forth and become a man now we know forth and become a man now we know that's how the orthodox people put it that's how the orthodox people put it and and we feel they've got it and and we feel they've got it crude and and badly put crude and and badly put we don't accept that but jesus felt like we don't accept that but jesus felt like that he felt as if god had said i want that he felt as if god had said i want you to go on a mission to man and god in you to go on a mission to man and god in heaven the eternal father heaven the eternal father was so with jesus was so with jesus like abram you know he spared not his like abram you know he spared not his own son that when jesus hung upon the own son that when jesus hung upon the cross cross god felt as if he was there with him god felt as if he was there with him that's the unity of the father and the that's the unity of the father and the son we can only just touch on it we we son we can only just touch on it we we can't grasp it all fully can't grasp it all fully and you know all those passages then and you know all those passages then in john 8 in john 8 where he he says verse 42 the middle of verse 42 but jesus said the middle of verse 42 but jesus said unto them if god were your father you unto them if god were your father you would love me for i proceeded forth and would love me for i proceeded forth and came from god i proceeded forth i went came from god i proceeded forth i went on a journey i left heaven i came from on a journey i left heaven i came from god and i came to you that's the words god and i came to you that's the words now we know that we mustn't understand now we know that we mustn't understand them crudely we've got to understand them crudely we've got to understand them in terms of this feeling for the them in terms of this feeling for the father that the son had and this father that the son had and this feeling for the son that the father had feeling for the son that the father had a unity that we are being taught little a unity that we are being taught little by little to sharing by little to sharing now i'm going to really do this last now i'm going to really do this last minute or two that minute or two that puts you into puts you into problems problems of understanding what our pioneers said of understanding what our pioneers said can you understand this now in the light can you understand this now in the light of what i've just been saying this is of what i've just been saying this is nazareth revisited nazareth revisited if you haven't got it there'll probably if you haven't got it there'll probably be some brisk business in the book room be some brisk business in the book room now he's been speaking of the glory that now he's been speaking of the glory that i had with thee i had with thee before the world was he's been trying before the world was he's been trying our usual explanation our usual explanation of in the mind of the father and that's of in the mind of the father and that's partly right in a sense that's what i've partly right in a sense that's what i've been saying isn't it i mean i've been been saying isn't it i mean i've been trying to fill out just not just that trying to fill out just not just that god had a purpose but there was god had a purpose but there was a feeling for each other that seemed to a feeling for each other that seemed to leap over time and space leap over time and space and having explained it as in the mind and having explained it as in the mind of the father then brother roberts goes of the father then brother roberts goes on on but this is not necessarily inconsistent but this is not necessarily inconsistent with the other view to which dr thomas with the other view to which dr thomas was always inclined to accord weight and was always inclined to accord weight and prominence prominence and which it is impossible to dismiss and which it is impossible to dismiss with a full regard to the grounds on with a full regard to the grounds on which it rests which it rests it is not an alternative view but one it is not an alternative view but one that may rest coordinately with it that may rest coordinately with it namely that jesus being what he was the namely that jesus being what he was the word made flesh word made flesh the manifestation of the god of david the manifestation of the god of david in the seed of david and therefore in the seed of david and therefore david's lord david's lord it is it is impossible this is page 481 for those impossible this is page 481 for those who want to go and read it for who want to go and read it for themselves nasa 3 visited it is themselves nasa 3 visited it is impossible to disconnect his mentality impossible to disconnect his mentality from the eternal power in which he was from the eternal power in which he was rooted rooted got that got that impossible to disconnect his mentality impossible to disconnect his mentality from the eternal power in which he was from the eternal power in which he was rooted rooted and that although as son of david and and that although as son of david and the man christ jesus the man christ jesus his existence dates from his conception his existence dates from his conception of the holy spirit of the holy spirit the consciousness within him the consciousness within him whose foundation was laid by the holy whose foundation was laid by the holy spirit spirit may have reflected previous relations may have reflected previous relations in a way in a way of which pure earth borns like ourselves of which pure earth borns like ourselves have no experience have no experience his consciousness may have reflected his consciousness may have reflected previous relationships previous relationships in a way of which pure of earthborns in a way of which pure of earthborns like ourselves have no experience like ourselves have no experience the facts stated in the words i and my the facts stated in the words i and my father are one and father are one and the words that i speak are not mine but the words that i speak are not mine but the fathers who dwelleth in me would the fathers who dwelleth in me would necessarily carry such an idea necessarily carry such an idea and involve a state of mind and involve a state of mind requiring expressions like that requiring expressions like that to describe it that could not be to describe it that could not be applicable to us there was just no other applicable to us there was just no other way for jesus to say how he felt to the way for jesus to say how he felt to the father but these expressions you see of father but these expressions you see of pre-existence pre-existence then he goes on then he goes on page 482 page 482 only on such a principle does it seem only on such a principle does it seem possible to attach a natural meaning and possible to attach a natural meaning and we do a lot of wriggling on this subject we do a lot of wriggling on this subject don't we don't we a natural meaning to the statement he a natural meaning to the statement he makes in his prayer makes in his prayer they the disciples have known surely they the disciples have known surely surely after our chat today we know surely after our chat today we know surely surely that of jesus i came out from thee and that of jesus i came out from thee and they have believed that thou did send me they have believed that thou did send me and again and again i came forth from the father and am come i came forth from the father and am come into the world into the world again i leave the world and go unto the again i leave the world and go unto the father father and again and again jesus knew that his hour was come that jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto he should depart out of this world unto the father jesus knowing that he was the father jesus knowing that he was come from god and went to god come from god and went to god also the expressions i came down from also the expressions i came down from heaven before abram was i am and his heaven before abram was i am and his question what and if you shall see the question what and if you shall see the son of man ascend up where he was before son of man ascend up where he was before now you listen to this sentence now you listen to this sentence i think we can just get a glimmer of i think we can just get a glimmer of what brother roberts meant what brother roberts meant all these expressions all these expressions imply reminiscence imply reminiscence of the pre-existing relation of things reminiscence of the pre-existing relation of things that idea i've tried relation of things that idea i've tried to express i have been here before i to express i have been here before i have been there before that was the have been there before that was the feeling built into jesus as a result of feeling built into jesus as a result of god dwelling in him god dwelling in him all these expressions imply reminiscence all these expressions imply reminiscence of the pre-existing relation of things of the pre-existing relation of things which cannot be surprising which cannot be surprising if we realize that all wisdom if we realize that all wisdom and knowledge and knowledge and memory are stored in the eternal and memory are stored in the eternal father spirits father spirits of whom of whom jesus jesus was the expression was the expression it may be there is an ingredient of it it may be there is an ingredient of it in the allusion to the glory in the allusion to the glory god had with the father god had with the father before the world began before the world began the father element in jesus the father element in jesus must always be kept in view must always be kept in view in judging the expressions in judging the expressions that came from his lips that came from his lips now brethren and sisters i don't think now brethren and sisters i don't think we've misunderstood any of that have we we've misunderstood any of that have we we've been really in the deepest waters we've been really in the deepest waters that it's possible to swim in that it's possible to swim in in the divine waters of life in the divine waters of life we've been lifted by these scriptures we've been lifted by these scriptures so that we have indeed sat in heavenly so that we have indeed sat in heavenly places in christ jesus we have seen our places in christ jesus we have seen our lord in all his loftiness lord in all his loftiness we've seen that he came from god we've seen that he came from god we want to go on to see although he was we want to go on to see although he was rich rich heir of all things came from god whose origin was of old yet for our sakes he became poor yet for our sakes he became poor that we through his poverty might become that we through his poverty might become rich rich and that's what we're going to talk and that's what we're going to talk about for the rest of this week and may about for the rest of this week and may our consideration of our lord our consideration of our lord fill us with love and reverence for him fill us with love and reverence for him so that a little of his greatness just a so that a little of his greatness just a little may rub on us little may rub on us and that we may dwell in him and that we may dwell in him as he dwells in the father