One of the things that we shouldn't miss as well is that the gospel is ultimately not just about individuals coming to a saving faith . It's also chiefly about what God promised to do , has done and is now doing in the world , and that is that Jesus is taking up reign as Lord of Lords and King of Kings . And as you read , you know , I think it's just valuable , like as we read through the scriptures , to remind us about how that itself , how all of that plays itself out . And it all starts in Genesis three with the curse . You know , God creates heaven on earth , he brings about his kingdom and puts Adam and Eve in it , and they rebel against him . They basically say we want to be our own kings , our own lords , our own gods . And in the midst of declaring the curse on them , telling Eve how she's going to suffer , telling Adam how he's going to suffer , he gives them a promise he will this is the descendant of Eve will strike your head to the serpent and you will strike his heel . Eve will strike your head to the serpent and you will strike his heel . It's this promise of like . While I am removing my kingdom now , a new kingdom will eventually come .
Speaker 1The beauty of the gospel is that God is taking up reign on earth as it is in heaven . As one theologian wrote , the gospel is not just a mechanism in which we get saved . It is the reality that Jesus , son of God , now that he has been crucified , has been designated Lord of Lords and King of Kings and is inviting all of us under his Lordship , turning away from idols and trusting him , not so that we can escape this world and go to heaven , but so that , as he establishes his sovereign rule , we can be gospel people living and breathing examples of his new kingdom . The gospel is the beauty that , as God establishes his kingdom on earth as in heaven , it is Jesus that is put up upon a cross , between two carcasses , to provide a way for us to be a part of his kingdom .
Speaker 3Wow , I love that . Welcome to this edition of Things , things , things , things from the Greatest Decade of All Time , things from the 1980s . You guys have to admit Rubik's Cube , the 80s was the best decade of all time , do ?
Speaker 4you agree , Ray . You're going through a change of life , that's all .
Speaker 2Midlife crisis , yeah , midlife crisis .
Speaker 3Well , if I look to my dad's age , I'm not yet at midlife crisis .
Speaker 4Change of life as women , midlife crisis as men . You don't know when the middle of your life is anyway .
Speaker 3You go back to memories and just think , oh , how wonderful it was Memories . Every time I think of that my mind goes to fourth grade with Mrs Barry . She married a Russian guy .
Speaker 1I think Oscar would say the 90s , I would say the 80s and 90s are like neck and neck . I don't know how I support the two 80s .
Speaker 4It sounds like you guys went live for the 60s Wait , you were born in the 90s .
Speaker 3Oscar , 80s .
Speaker 1I wish I was born in the 90s . It'd feel a lot more youthful .
Speaker 3But yeah , man , the 80s , mark , come on . You know the 80s were the best .
Speaker 2Yeah , I mean , I was bullied a lot .
Speaker 3Mark , talk to us about it .
Speaker 2Stop believing in Hannah and the 70s , though 70s are out . Then was that ? Oh , you were that young . I wasn't born in the 60s yet , so the 60s are out .
Speaker 1Yeah , 30s , 80s . Oh man , remember the 30s with those .
Speaker 4Yeah , right to the charleston , yeah the 80s .
Speaker 3That's when we came to the us , so you know all my memories are just yeah you know , it was great .
Speaker 1that's when it started going downhill for us , america's decline . We figured it out .
Speaker 4It traced it back to me .
Silly putty from the 80s , let's talk about that Silly putty .
Speaker 4It's terrible . Oh , I love silly putty Ray do you know what silly putty is ?
Speaker 3Of course you do not .
Speaker 4We put up . I was around for the 80s , Maybe they're not from the 80s , or are they ?
Speaker 3No , I think they're from the 80s . They had silly parties in New Zealand . No , I was here for the 80s .
Speaker 4I don't know what you guys think , but I was actually here for the 80s .
Speaker 1I don't know what you're thinking about here . Like on Earth . Yeah , I was here on Earth for the 80s . I remember silly party .
Speaker 4I remember all those linky-dinky things that come all that
Speaker 2sort of stuff .
Speaker 4Ray , were you doing drugs in the 80s ? No , I was a Christian in the 80s 70s 70s .
Speaker 1Oh , 72 . Yeah , 72 . Do you remember Super Stretch Armstrong ?
Speaker 2Oh , those are great you ever open them up .
Speaker 3Oh , is that the thing where you ? It's like what is ?
Speaker 2that stuff .
Speaker 4Wait , is that the thing that the doll would stretch Like the muscle man ? Oh what ? Yes , I had one . No , I did not .
Speaker 3No , but something that was sparked by the Cabbage Patch Dolls . You guys remember Garbage Pail Kids .
Speaker 1Oh yeah .
Speaker 4The cards or the stickers .
Speaker 3You remember those , Ray ? No .
Speaker 4He doesn't know what those are . I was seeking the Lord Ray , how big was your ?
Speaker 1Barbie collection .
Speaker 4Barbie collection . I'm from down under . It was a barbecue collection .
Speaker 3Yeah , barbecue collection , garbage , pail Kids , man , those were all the rage . You think about those things . Just a stupid idea some artist came up with . You just take kids , put a funny name to them and create something . Remember Adam Bomb , ray , decay , Virus , iris , brainy , jane , that's Cabbage .
Speaker 2Pail Kids , did you always look for your name and just never could find it ? Did it make you sad ?
Speaker 3I knew Emil was not going to be , but did you ?
Speaker 2look no no , you're holding on to hope , weren't you Arabs didn't .
Speaker 3They were never included back then , do you remember ?
Speaker 1pogs you guys ever get into pogs ?
Speaker 3Oh , the little round things .
Speaker 1Yeah , I never understood those . Did you just trade , themmer down on the other guy's stack and whatever one's flipped over ? You kept , oh , that's right . So then you were like you would either trade them or play for them . Yeah , those are big , yeah n-e-s .
Speaker 3Who can , who can tell me nintendo entertainment ? He knows , did you have one ?
Speaker 1oscar . No , my neighbors did . My middle class I had a super nintendo . You were like the way we were super nintendo . I did have a . No , my neighbors did . My middle class neighbors did Oscar , didn't have anything .
Speaker 3Oh God . You were like I had a Super Nintendo . You were like the way we were in Lebanon , your Super Nintendo .
Speaker 4I did have a Super Nintendo , but I remember the sound of whatever the noise is .
Speaker 2Oscar was 13 when he found out a steak was more than just gristle and fat .
Speaker 1That's not far from the truth , Oscar it's so funny , though .
Speaker 3What you said said like our neighbors had one . That's how it was for us in lebanon . Like really , your neighbor had a phone . What we didn't have , a phone , you have to go . People would call for you at your neighbor's yeah , yeah , sega genesis .
Speaker 1My neighbor had a sega genesis .
Speaker 3Oh , yeah , but nintendo man , that those were the days guys remember duck hunt , oh yeah , oh yeah , gun , that was magical back , I mean for that era , like you're shooting and there's no , it's not like connected do you remember ? Goldeneye . Nah , I just did Mario Brothers , duck Hunt and Tyson Punch-Out , tyson Punch-Out .
Speaker 2Uppercut , uppercut , put him away , put him away .
Speaker 3I love that .
Speaker 4Jacob was into Mario Brothers really big time .
Speaker 3All right , friends , we have an announcement .
Speaker 4Where's the beef ?
Speaker 3I'm hesitant , oh yeah .
Speaker 4That's right . Where's the beef that was huge , wasn't it .
Speaker 1Good job , right , little old lady driving around . Where's the beef ? Remember ? Contra , you guys didn't play the good stuff , the Iron man Contra hearings Contra .
Speaker 3All that was junk stuff . Nah , all right , friends , we have an announcement and I'm a bit nervous to make this .
Speaker 2You're going to actually make it .
Speaker 3I'm going to make it because I . Coming at us . No , he said hate mail People would be , rejoicing at that , that's right . But here's the announcement , friends Starting in 2025 , we will begin to post only one episode per week .
Speaker 1Well , hold on , that's not . You're saying it in a negative way .
Speaker 3One episode per week . Oscar should be doing this .
Speaker 2Notice the difference .
Speaker 1I want you to notice the difference between Oscar saying it and you saying it ?
Speaker 2Yeah , say it , oscar . So that was your way , oscar , what do you ?
Speaker 1do All right . We have some really good news for you ?
Speaker 2Oh yeah , Set them up .
Speaker 1Starting in 2025 , not only will you continue to get two episodes a week , but one of them will sound vastly different .
Speaker 1So what we're going to do is we're going to take one episode .
Speaker 1It's going to be similar to the format you're hearing now , but maybe even a little bit more extended , with just more richer full content sort of the meat of the conversation .
Speaker 1We're going to want to dive into a little bit more Same amount of humor and silliness that's going to be in there , but really get into the meat and potatoes .
Speaker 1So where , on average , our videos , our videos , our podcasts go about 45 minutes , these new ones might go 50 , 55 minutes , maybe even longer if it's deemed necessary . And on top of that , what we want to do is provide for you sort of like a condensed , a rich , potent version of the same episode . So what we're going to do is is , once a week , we'll release the full episode and then we'll release a condensed version where you get all of the meat and potatoes , and one of the things that we hear often from people is that they'll go back and listen to an episode right over and over again . I think these condensed versions is going to be kind of like that , where you can do it one of two ways you can listen to the condensed version and then go listen to the full episode to get it all , or you hear the the full episode and you're like man , I want to go back and just get the meat and potatoes .
Speaker 4So why would we cut Easy out ?
Speaker 1Yeah , exactly so just imagine this , but without Easy , easy's the vegetables , no more . Adam and no more .
Speaker 4Adam .
Speaker 3Yeah , Oscar , you can sell ice to Eskimos . Seriously , I want to listen now . You got me there .
Speaker 4I keep thinking about meat and potatoes ?
Speaker 3Oh yeah , bring them on . So anyway , friends , that's what's happening , and love us anyway , all right . Hey , time for a cool , classy comment that has gifts attached which we love . This is from Lindsay and Paula Whitfield Trey , mark , easy and Oscar . An early Merry Christmas gift for each of you . I'll let you decide which print suits each of you . Thank you for encouraging us and equipping us with the truth of God's word . We are fervently praying for you before our lips freeze in Canada this winter . Have a blessed Christmas , lindsay and Paul Whitfield .
Speaker 2What a kind thoughtful gesture , george , who I had that who is George Whitfield .
Speaker 3So we got these prints . Check these out . They're all Spurgeon prints . Oh , fun Spurgeon prints . One is if the heavenly gold is not worth digging for , you are not likely to discover it . One says I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the rock of ages . I'll take that one Nice . Another one is there's dust enough on some of your Bibles to write damnation with your fingers , and the last one is visit many good books but live in them .
Speaker 2That's Oscar . Okay , look how crazy this is . They all wrote themselves .
Speaker 3I predicted everything . I wrote it out here , each one of them , and those were the exact ones that I predicted you would choose . Yeah , look , oscar , right here , ray , dust , enough , mark , kiss , the waves , oscar visit Good .
Speaker 1Books Easy , heavenly gold because I'm the only one that digs under the word .
Speaker 3Okay .
Speaker 4You're the only prosperity preacher . Come on brother . Thank you guys .
Speaker 3He's blessed us .
Speaker 4You should explain what they are to those .
Speaker 3Oh , they're cartoons and they have Spurgeon , in them .
Speaker 1And there's also Looks like Bill Johnson .
Speaker 3There's also what's that , oscar ? There's a bookmark in there .
Speaker 2I think that's what it is . It's a book in the night .
Speaker 3Wow , that's so well done . Isn't that non-degrade Take ?
Speaker 1up and read Wow , thank you guys so much . This is really cool .
Speaker 3It's a quote from who is it ?
Speaker 1Augustine .
Speaker 3Oh , augustine , augustine of Hippo , look at that . Augustine of Huppo , of Huppo , that's what we should say .
Speaker 4All right , friends , we're having fun today , so Augustine was a big guy .
Speaker 2Yeah , hippo Big , hippo guy .
Speaker 3And now a radically revolutionary resource . This podcast is brought to you by how to Make Sure God Hears your Prayers . Ray , why did you write that ?
Speaker 4book . I haven't read it , I don't know what it's about .
Speaker 3I didn't pray . I didn't pray anyway . Yes , check it out , friends . We all want God to hear our prayers and you can find out .
Speaker 2You know the Old Testament . In Psalm 66 , 18 , it says if I regard iniquity in my heart , the Lord will not hear . Think of where we're at today compared to where saints of the old were at just living moment by moment , hoping that maybe God's grace was there Not the way it is in the new covenant at all ?
Speaker 3He tore the veil of the temple .
Speaker 2Yeah , amen .
Speaker 3Awesome . Yeah , I think of that verse in Isaiah your sins have made a separation between you and your God , and your iniquities have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear .
Speaker 2I mean imagine the scribe writing that he's like ha ha , ha , ha , ha ha ha ha ha .
Speaker 4It's no big deal until you're in a lion's den .
Speaker 3Yeah , right , but he hears us Praise . Be to him . Don't forget the Living Waters mug , from which you can chug the Evidence Study Bible , which is liable to bring revival and Living Waters TV friends and Living Waters TV friends . Don't forget it . Get a lot of good stuff there .
Speaker 1You can watch this . Yes , you can watch us .
Speaker 4I don't know if that's very appetizing .
Speaker 3And it's the other stuff too For many people . Yeah , we got a lot of stuff on there . We got Ray Crumpet classic stuff .
Speaker 4You say Crumpet , crumpet .
Speaker 3Crumpet , roy Crumpet , make sure to check it all out . Friends at Living Waters , all right Today , how the gospel does more than just save us . All right , I have to say I am extremely excited about this episode because I got to bring in with me two of my absolute favorite books of all time the Discipline of Grace and A Gospel Primer .
Speaker 2Have you guys read these Primer ?
Speaker 3Gospel Primer Primer .
Speaker 2What was the other one ?
Speaker 3The Discipline of Grace Jerry Bridges .
Speaker 2Oh , I know Jerry Bridges , wasn't he on Different Strokes ? Wait what ?
Speaker 1on earth , jeff Bridges .
Speaker 3What you talking about , willis . What you talking about Willis .
Speaker 2You . What honor Jeff .
Speaker 3Bridges . What you talking about , Willis ? What you talking about Willis , you know , that's one of the most famous lines . Yes , he must have grown tired of that , oh he was , he would get angry , you can't say the word grown yeah .
Speaker 2That's right . He would get angry when people would ask him to repeat that line . Really . Yeah , oh , really .
Speaker 3Violent rude the day he did Ice Ice Baby Like yeah .
Speaker 4And Schwarzenegger probably gets sick of being told what was it . I'll be back , hasta la vista . Everyone probably sees it .
Speaker 3But anyway , mark , you haven't read this . Nope , oh , I won't ask Ray , he doesn't read books . This is , it's a great book . Oh , man , it's great . In fact , rachel and I , we went on a podcast and a question that we had to answer was what's your favorite book ? And we fought over it because I wanted to claim it . We knew the question ahead of time . I'm like no , it's mine . She's like no , it's mine . I read it first .
Speaker 4Why does Rachel ?
Speaker 3talk like that , it's mine , it's mine , it's like a mess , yeah . So , guys , this is hugely important . By reading something from the Discipline of Grace that I think will kind of set the tone for this , Jerry Burgess says the gospel is not only the most important message in all of history , it is the only essential message in all of history . Man , that just hit me as I was just reading that we understand it right . The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing , Like when we hear that the gospel , which has at the heart of it , of course , the cross and the resurrection , but that's really the only essential message for the universe . Everything hinges on that .
Speaker 3And then he says I believe part of the problem is our tendency to give an unbeliever just enough of the gospel to get him or her to pray a prayer to receive Christ . Then we immediately put the gospel on the shelf , so to speak , and go on to the duties of discipleship . As a result , Christians are not instructed in the gospel and because they do not fully understand the riches and glory of the gospel , they cannot preach it to themselves nor live by it in their daily lives . But the gospel is for believers also and we must pursue holiness or any other aspect of discipleship in the atmosphere of the gospel
. Isn't that powerful ?
Speaker 2I wasn't listening .
Speaker 3What did you say ? Repeat please .
Speaker 1It reminds me of Luther's view of the gospel . I've seen it . I've seen somebody put this on display in a visual . I'll try to explain it . So what it basically says is that we think of the cross as sort of the apex of the gospel , and when you become a Christian , it's like your life is going in a straight line and then you hit the cross and then from there your understanding of God expands , but the cross stays in that spot when I've seen somebody illustrate this before . Instead , what he shows is that when you get saved , the cross starts out an inch wide and then , as you move out your salvific life , the cross becomes bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger , which is like saying you've got a greater view of the gospel than you had the day you got saved because you're dependent upon it every single day of your life .
Speaker 1I love that .
Speaker 3Yeah , I mean that should be the way that the gospel works in our lives . It's a seed that's planted at salvation but continues to grow and flourish and take us deeper and further . I mean , mark , when you think back on you coming to know Christ , right , I mean there was a euphoric experience of transformation I'm saved , everything's new . But how do you see it now being saved ? I think 34 years , right .
Speaker 2Yes , boy , yeah , I mean , our knowledge is so little , right ? I mean I didn't even hear the word Trinity , didn't know anything about . I mean , maybe I did , because I grew up Catholic but I never thought twice about anything theological . And what is it now , boy , when you become a Christian , you're in such need of grace . And now you just realize , no , all I have is grace . And then somebody once said once you come to the realization that you can fully understand grace , you really haven't experienced grace , because grace is so much greater and grander than what you can actually imagine .
Speaker 2I had no idea really what I was kind of signing up for 34 years ago . What a remarkable , remarkable life that includes so many different types of trials and persecutions and things of that nature wouldn't exchange any of it , right ? I mean just to know Him . That's what Paul said , right , that he can't solve things but rubbish . But to know him and the power of his resurrection , right ? It's just this whole desire of I'm on this endless quest to know God better today than I did yesterday , and how much we know him today better than we did 34 years ago . It's crazy . And we haven't even scratched the surface on the omniscience of God .
Speaker 3Man , you're getting my soul stirred here . I'm getting emotional without even saying any words . Soul stirred here , I'm getting emotional without even saying any words . I mean , mark , you know , you find yourself at times , as a believer , feeling so indescribably bad for the unsaved because they just they don't know the glories that are a part of being a child of God . And I love what you said . Right , you had no idea you get saved . I mean , how phenomenal is that You're revolutionized , transformed , but you haven't even scratched the surface of all the glories that are a part of the gospel through which you're saved . It's like someone tells you hey , you just inherited this house , that's all you hear . You inherited this house . What I got ? A house . You're just jumping up and down , free and clear , paid . And then you pull up to the house and you see like the biggest mansion you could even fathom . Now you're even more excited . You haven't even walked in yet . You walk in and then from room to room to room , you find big screen TVs .
Speaker 4What else could excite a man ?
Speaker 2Chicken coop . Out the back ? Yes . Why out back ?
Speaker 4Why not inside it's in a swimming pool of cereal .
Speaker 3Yeah , I can see it Right , but you know what I'm saying and you start to see more and more and more and we still haven't even seen 0.01% of the rooms in this mansion that we've inherited . Oh , man Ray , I want you to hit on this , because Jerry Bridges , when he starts getting into kind of the heart of the gospel , he's citing Romans 3 , and at the crux of it is . But now a righteousness from God , apart from the law , has been made known , to which the law and the prophets testify . The righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe . Imputed righteousness , Ray . Talk about that , that we have that in Christ .
Speaker 4This is the crux of the difference between all the great religions and Christianity . Often it's a loaded question . You're saying all the other religions are wrong . I'm saying , no , no , they're not wrong . They're just striving for something they can't get that we've got in Christ
.
Speaker 4The difference between justification and sanctification is what I was looking at today . When it comes to the benefits of the gospel , we're justified . In a second , 1972 , 1.30 in the morning , april the 25th , I was justified . I was made right with God . In that very second I was given everlasting life . It's been 52 years of sanctification . That is me improving myself as a Christian , being pruned , cut back . I'm still as saved . I was still saved then as I am now . Wow , because of justification . The sanctification process is a pruning process . Let me give you a quote from JI Packer . Sanctification is a double aspect . Its positive side is vivification .
Speaker 3Now do you know what that is ? Ez Vivification ?
Speaker 4Do you know what it is ?
Speaker 3Yeah , being revived and given life in Christ .
Speaker 4Yeah , it's the act of giving vitality and vigor to something . I had to look it up .
Speaker 1I knew easy would know , vivid I had to practice saying it .
Speaker 4It was like toy boat , toy boat vividification .
Speaker 3And you still didn't get it right .
Speaker 4Yes , yeah , whatever , and growing and maturing is a new man . Its negative side is mortification , the weakening and killing of the old man . So this is a positive side . And when I prune a bush , you know I hate gardening , but when . I do , but it's part of the curse .
Speaker 3Yeah , it makes you sweat . Mow your laundry in a circle , right ? Yeah , mow it in a circle .
Speaker 4But one thing I enjoy doing is pruning our fig tree , because fig branches are very soft , strong but very soft , and I just prune really hard . If I went back like 40 years ago and I didn't know anything about gardening and saw myself pruning like I do now , I'd say what are you doing ? You're cutting it back ? You're killing it ? No , I know that within weeks it's going to sprout fruit from that tree because I'm cutting it back . And that's what it's like being a Christian . You're sanctified , you're pruned by God of branches that are not going to bear fruit . It's very painful , but God prunes hard for a reason to bring forth fruit .
Speaker 4That's good , what an incredible thing .
Speaker 3Amen and Oscar , that's part and parcel with the gospel right that the Lord doesn't just save us . But now , because of gospel grace , we enter into that realm where the Lord continues to sustain us and to change us and to transform us and to pick us up every time we fall . Ray , I love what you said . We're never more saved than when we're first saved as saved as saved can be , but that God continues to work and that finds its heart in the gospel .
Speaker 1As saved as saved can be , but that God continues to work and that finds its heart in the gospel . Yeah , justification is your standing before God , before salvation . You are not justified . You are a sinner , due damnation . Justification is my . Salvation is secured by what Christ has done . There's no growing , there's no removing of justification . Justification is the stamp , your position before God . And to your guys' point , sanctification . It's a pruning , but it's also a becoming Becoming . What Becoming more like your Savior . Think about the promise of that becoming like your Savior . We know what it's like to want to be like , something Like when I watch , you know , if I watch Kyrie Irving play basketball , I'm like man . I want to dribble like him . If I , you know , if I listen to my favorite singer sing a song , I'm like man . I wish I could sing like that . I wish I can play the guitar like that . Whatever the case , if you see an artist paint a beautiful painting , you might think man what could I do to become like that ?
Speaker 1There is nothing greater than becoming like the Son of God . And so when you set your eyes on the Son of God , you become more like the Son of God . I often compare it to like kids . You know a one or two-year-old kid . They adore their parents . They look up to their parents , and so they start talking like their parents . They start acting like their parents . They look up to their parents and so they start talking like their parents . They start acting like their parents . They start showing interest in the same things their parents show interest in . The beautiful side of sanctification is that the more you gaze on the loveliness of Christ , the more you desire to become like Christ .
Speaker 3Amen , yeah , and I think sometimes we forget what's really at the heart of Romans 8 , 28 . We quote it all the time God causes all things to work together for good . But in the context he goes on to say what'd you do , oscar ? I think that was my phone , romans 8 , 28, . Right , he causes all things to work together for good as he conforms us into the image of Christ . That's ultimately the end goal of everything working together for the good . Every trial , every difficulty , every struggle . He's making us more like Jesus , and every Christian longs for that and yearns for that .
Speaker 4I'm just thinking . Am I more like Jesus now than I was 52 years ago ? No , I'm more aware of my own sinfulness . You know , and I think someone once said , the branch that bears the most fruit hangs the lowest . And that's what it's like when you're bearing fruit , you just bow your head . That's why you're so short .
Speaker 3Thanks a lot , oscar . But , ray , you know you making that statement evidences that you're becoming more like Christ , because you're evidencing humility , you know , and that really is what happens . It's not like we're like yeah , I'm like Jesus . You know , I'm more like Jesus than you are . No , it's man . The closer I get to him , the more I see my sinfulness , which makes me want nothing to do with it , makes me more want to pursue righteousness and it creates a humility in me .
Speaker 2That's what the Apostle Paul experienced , right , when he at the beginning of his ministry . He said that he was least of the apostles , right , and then he goes to the place , finally , where he was the chief of sinners , not because he was sinning more , but he just recognized , really who he was right . Our identity is not in who we are , but whose we are . We belong to Christ . If any man's in Christ , he's a new creation . The old things have passed away . Behold , all things become new . In our last podcast I was joking around . Ray was looking at me and I did a Command-A on my laptop and I hit Delete and everything disappeared . But I knew that I can get it back by hitting Command-Z . So I hit Command-Z and nothing happened . And I go wait , is it Shift-Command-Z ? I did that . That's Redo . Nope , nope , that didn't work . Command z command z command z .
Speaker 4When I saw you doing that I thought Mark is putting on an act because he loves to do things wait , wait .
Speaker 3Why did you erase in the first place ? Just to be silly , like ?
Speaker 2so Ray could see it . Yeah , yeah , we do silly stuff all the time right . So when you're talking easy and I couldn't get it back and I lost all of my and there was nothing I could do to bring back my notes . And it reminded me of something that I used to do years ago , which was I would write out every sin that I could possibly imagine on my computer that I'd ever committed , and I remember just going on forever , going into great detail .
Speaker 1Yeah , what's the max amount of pages you can get on Microsoft Word ?
Speaker 2And it was pretty bad , right , and I remember looking over things and just weeping over my sin . And then what I did was I did a Command-A , highlighted everything and I changed the color of the font from black to red , as if the blood of Christ washed over it , and then I hit Delete . Now it used to be I don't know if you remember this , but it used to be when you would hit delete a command . A delete it would say are you sure you would like to do this ?
Speaker 4It did too .
Speaker 2And I said , yes , I did it . And then I would hit , try to bring it back and redo and undo weren't around at the time , and so I would try to get it back and there was nothing I can do to bring my sin back , that my sin was there and then it was deleted . And it's just kind of such a picture of what Christ has done with our sin . Right as far as the East is from the West , he's removed it . And when I say where's my sin , it's as if the Lord would say what are you talking about ? My memory has been erased . Right , I don't know what you're talking about . When I see you , I see my son . I don't see you in a state that you were in the BC days .
Speaker 2So Jesus declares that our lives are not our own . It didn't come cheap , it was very expensive . It cost the Father everything and we have a new identity . And I just want to encourage you to write down maybe go through a practical process the way I did , and write out your sins , look at them and then highlight them , red and then hit delete and hit send yeah , hit send yeah . Hit send .
Speaker 3Well , mark doesn't know , is that software we put on his computer that sent us everything he typed yes , we saw that your sins still exist .
Speaker 2Mark and send it to Easy . So are you living in the freedom of your new identity , or are you ?
Speaker 3clinging to your old self . No , I really do love that man , because that is the thing right and why it's important for us to preach the gospel to ourselves , because condemnation , self-condemnation , is always going to be an element . It's the enemy's tool right , and it's irrational because Scripture tells us there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ . We've passed out of judgment into life . Our sins are obliterated , gone , but we have this tonic , we have this healing salve that's available for us to soothe our constantly condemned souls every day and we don't go to it . That's tragic .
Speaker 1You're right . I've been thinking about this a lot lately because I think oftentimes as Christians we view Jesus , we read the scriptures about being a good judge and our heavenly father , but often we almost act as though our relationship with God as Christians is a reformed convict , where it's like you know , a reformed convict comes out of prison and he doesn't have the freedom of , he doesn't have the same life as never had committing that crime before . He's a reformed convict . He's on probation . If they do a background check , like Ray , they're going to find all the things that he did in the past , right . It's hard for him to get a job and people are waiting almost for him to fail , like the first thing that person does . You know if there's any signs of him going back to his former self , it's like they're ready . You know three strikes and you're out . You're ready to go Right .
Speaker 1I think oftentimes we look at ourselves as like God is our father in heaven , but maybe he's like . You know , this is my son , jesus , and that guy over there , mark , he's my stepson . Don't forget what it took to get you here . But that is not the way the scriptures explains our relationship with God . He loves us the way he loves Christ . He sees us the same way he sees his beloved son Jesus . We are his children and we approach him as Abba Father . And when you come to understand truly that justifying position , it frees you to love the one who loves you so much .
Speaker 3Now look . I want everyone who's listening to understand and grasp the significance of what's happening here . You've been hearing us enumerate all these great , amazing spiritual dynamics and realities . What we want you to grasp is all of this has been made possible because of the gospel , so this is what we mean when we're talking about preaching the gospel to yourself . I want you to listen to Jerry Bridges . He's going to elaborate here more on it . Again , I'm reading we don't typically read a lot , but this is key because he put it in such a way that I think helps us grasp it .
Speaker 4I'll be back in a few minutes .
Speaker 3Jesus , by his death and shed blood , completely satisfied the justice of God and the claims of his broken law . By his perfect obedience , he positively fulfilled the requirements of the law . You guys hear us talk about the law all the time . The law is key . As you preach to people , they have to understand they're lost . But this is where the confusion happens . People sometimes mistake us in saying that you live by the law . No , the law is a schoolmaster , brings you to Christ . Thus , in both its precepts and penalty , the law of God in its most exacting requirements was fulfilled by Jesus , and he did this in our place , as our representative and our substitute .
Speaker 3To preach the gospel to yourself , then , means that you continually face up to your own sinfulness and then flee to Jesus through faith in his shed blood and righteous life . It means that you appropriate again by faith the fact that Jesus fully satisfied the law of God , that he is your propitiation and that God's holy wrath is no longer directed toward you . To preach the gospel to yourself means that you take at face value the precious words of Romans 4 , 7 through 8 . Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven , whose sins are covered . Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him . Amen , ray , you talk about when you came to Christ , one of the things that haunted you was a realization that God considered lust to be adultery , and what came flooding back to your heart and mind was the depths of your sinfulness . What was it like when you experienced what Jerry Bridges is talking about , that forgiveness , total obliteration of your sin ?
Speaker 4Yeah , I exploded , and I've been exploding for 52 years with gratitude . Matthew 28 , verse 20 , that was a big gap . Matthew 28 , verse 20 , says this , and this is just something we just take for granted . And lo , I am with you always , even to the end of
the earth . I was listening to the song Stand by Me , which I love , the beginning of that Stand by me .
Speaker 3No , no , no , when you're not so well .
Speaker 2I'll be your friend .
Speaker 3Delete delete If you can't control me .
Speaker 4No Mark , you delete if you can't .
Speaker 3no Mark you're the best backup singer man I've ever had . Just back up . Will you stand by me ?
Speaker 4you know the one that says , when the night has come and the land is dark and the moon is the only light we'll see . No , I won't be afraid . Just as long as you stand , stand by me , and if anything makes me want to dance and I'm not a good dancer it's that song . It's got an incredible beat to it and it's almost iconic .
Speaker 3Yeah .
Speaker 4But no human being can guarantee that . I'm going to always stand by you , because death can set , that person can be seized on by death and you've lost that person . And it's a love song . It's not talking to the Lord , it's oh darling . Stand by me .
Speaker 4You don't say that to God . Well , I don't , mark probably does , darling . But here is a very , very heavy thought when we die , we die alone . Each of us will die alone . A family will be around us , perhaps , while we're dying , but when you die , you die alone . That's a horrific thought for human beings . We don't ever want to be alone . It's horrific for unsaved people . So make your walk with the Lord real . John 14 , 21, . He that has my commandments and keeps them , he that loves me and he that loves me will be loved by my Father . I will love him too and will manifest myself to him . So the ball is in our court . Activate that scripture for yourself . Do those things that will cause Jesus to manifest himself to you . Listen to the Amplified Bible , mark , I know .
Speaker 4The person who has my commandments and keeps them , is the one that really loves me . And whoever really loves me , loves me , will be loved by my Father , and I will love him and reveal myself to him and make myself known and real to him . And so that's why , as Christians , we shouldn't be passive about obeying the Word . Run to obey the Word , be sensitive to your conscience , do everything you can to manifest God's presence in your life . I went to college recently , and the question I was asking people was what's the biggest thing that's going to happen in your life ? They'd say , oh , marriage . They'd say this , and I'd say , no , it's not . Everything else dwarfs . The biggest thing that's ever going to happen to you is your death . That's the biggest thing , and that was an opening to share the gospel with them . And so we don't know when that number's up . Mine's closer than yours , but you guys could go today . Our listeners could be gone by the time . This is so . Cultivate your walk with the Lord .
Speaker 3Amen , ray , I love that you hit on that . And that's the balance of Jerry Bridges' book , the Discipline of Grace . He talks about We've talked about it on here before the two wings of the airplane . You don't ask the passengers if you're having a problem . Would you like us to ditch the right or the left wing right , either one , you're going down . So he talks about grace and the gospel . But then the other wing is discipline . Our call to obey the Lord and the gospel frees us to do that . Now we have the power to live a life of righteousness .
Speaker 3But I want to share this . It came to mind as you were talking about the Stand by Me song and being alone in death , but the fact that we're not alone when we stand at the judgment seat of God and that Christ is with us as our advocate , and I love this . In 1 John 4 , it says love has been perfected among us in this , that we may have boldness in the day of judgment , because as he is , so are we in this world . There is no fear in love , but perfect love casts out fear , because fear involves torment . But he who fears has not been made perfect in love . I mean , you think of this . We never really look at this verse , I think . Often with that perception we have boldness in the day of judgment . Why ? Because Christ is with us . We don't fear , because torment has been removed from us .
Speaker 4Yeah , you reminded me of where I was going with that , what I was talking about , before asking and say people what's the biggest thing that's going to happen to you ? It's your death .
Speaker 4And then I'd say God is scarier than death . Wherefore , knowing the terror of the Lord , we persuade men . And that's when you bring in the character and nature of God and the fact that when God gave us law on Mount Sinai , so terrible was the sight that Moses said I exceedingly fear and quake . And Israel said . Children of Israel said don't let him speak lest we die . That was when God came , as a preacher once said . That was when God came , as a preacher once said , with a smile on his face , to give his law . How great will be the terror when he comes in wrath , to render his fury upon those who have deliberately transgressed his law . And that's why we should tremble at the fate of the ungodly .
Speaker 3And you think you know , when the unsaved hear that , it should make the gospel so much more appealing , there's a refuge for me , Like the terror and the wrath of Almighty God coming at me . You know , you think of the explosion of thunder in some of these states . I've talked about it before . It terrified the daylights out of me , but what is that ? That's a firecracker compared to like a nuclear bomb . When you think of God's wrath and His power , you know . And then to hold up the gospel of grace and say there's your refuge . But for the believer too , which is what we're talking about , that's our constant refuge .
Speaker 4A constant comfort . For want of a better word .
Speaker 1Amen . We've been talking a lot about the gospel as this mechanism in which you get saved , and it certainly is that , and we've talked about it as a mechanism which keeps you saved and sanctifies you . And one of the things that we shouldn't miss as well is that the gospel is ultimately not just about individuals coming to a saving faith . It's also chiefly about what God promised to do , has done and is now doing in the world , and that is that Jesus is taking up reign as Lord of Lords and King of Kings . And as you read , I think it's just valuable , like as we read through the scriptures , to remind us about how all of that plays itself out . And it all starts in Genesis 3 with the curse you know , God creates heaven on earth , he brings about his kingdom and puts Adam and Eve in it , and they rebel against him . They basically say we want to be our own Kings , our own Lords , our own gods . And in the midst of declaring the curse on them , telling Eve how she's going to suffer , telling Adam how he's going to suffer , he gives them a promise he will this is the descendant of Eve will strike your head to the serpent and you will strike his heel . It's this promise of like . While I am removing my kingdom now , a new kingdom will eventually come , and throughout the scriptures we see the kingdom of man start to get established on earth over the kingdom of heaven , or in spite of in loss of the kingdom of heaven . We just see utter destructions , brothers killing each other , people building up these giant towers to try to be like God . We see people at war with one another . And then we see this fascinating covenant that God makes with Abraham where he tells him I'll make you a descendant of many nations . And he has them . Take these carcasses of animals and splits them in half and lays them down on a row . And usually you would have Abraham the servant walk through the carcasses , but instead God walks through them and just put a pin in that for a second . Later on in the scriptures , in Isaiah , we find out that he has this plan . It says Isaiah 40 , Zion , herald of good news , good news , Eangelion , gospel . Go up on a high mountain , Jerusalem , herald of good news . Raise your voice loudly , raise it , Do not be afraid . Say to the cities of Judah here is your God . And then , of course , fast forward .
Speaker 1Jesus pops onto the scene in Mark and in chapter one , verse 14, . After John was arrested , Jesus went to Galilee proclaiming Eon Gileon good news of God . The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near . Repent and believe in the good news . You know , back in the day when warlords would go to battle with each other , if you showed up and he had an army of 10,000 and you have an army of three , you would hear the army of 10,000 warlord . Go , repent and believe . He would basically be telling the army of 3000 , here's your chance . Keep going your way and you're going to be utterly slaughtered , but repent and believe is come and be a part of my kingdom . Stop this destruction right .
Speaker 1The beauty of the gospel is that God is taking up rain on earth as it is in heaven . As one theologian wrote , the gospel is not just a mechanism in which we get saved . It is the reality that Jesus , son of God , now that he has been crucified , has been designated Lord of Lords and King of Kings and is inviting all of us under his Lordship , turning away from idols and trusting him , not so that we can escape this world and go to heaven , but so that that so that , as he establishes his sovereign rule , we can be gospel people , living and breathing examples of his new kingdom . The gospel is the beauty that , as god establishes his kingdom on earth , that is in heaven . It it is Jesus that is put upon a cross between two carcasses to provide a way for us to be a part of his kingdom .
Speaker 3Wow , I love that term gospel people . I love that . I want to take that on as my banner .
Oh yeah , oh , Ray got a book idea and it's finished . Mark , have you read ? Did you say you've read the Gospel for Immersion ? Yes , very good , Isn't that ?
Speaker 4phenomenal . I read it too , did you , ray ? Yeah , you gave it to me .
Speaker 3You make me read books , oh yeah , you make me , you make me read it now .
Speaker 3Yeah , Todd Friel spoke very highly of it as well and he had him on . And then I went to meet Todd because he was speaking at CBU for breakfast at his hotel and I walk in and he goes hey , easy , this is Milton Vincent , like what I just read . Your book . Got to fellowship with him for a little bit . Todd took off , he and I sat down and talked , but again , these are two of , like , my favorite books . Here's what he says here .
Speaker 4Shouldn't we get him on the program At the ?
Speaker 3beginning he says this book is written partly as a result of the influence of Jerry Bridge's excellent book entitled the Discipline of Grace , for it was through this book that I first heard the challenge to preach the gospel to myself every day . So this book was influenced by that book . Friends , I cannot recommend these highly enough , and in that order read the Discipline of Grace , then read the Gospel Primer , because again it was influenced by it . But this thing is so jam-packed we don't have time to get into a lot of it . But just I want to read this quote that he gives here by someone . He says the gospel isn't one class among many that you'll attend during your life as a Christian . The gospel is the whole building that all the classes take place in . Rightly approached , all the topics you'll study and focus on as a believer will be offered to you within the walls of the glorious gospel . Isn't that great ? That sums it all up . Everything is found in the gospel and what's amazing is in the book he gets into the details of why you can preach the gospel to yourself and how it applies . But he gives us this little glimpse here , just to show us that it's biblical .
Speaker 3He says the New Testament teaches that Christians ought to hear the gospel as much as non-Christians do . In fact , in the first chapter of Romans , the Apostle Paul tells the believers in the church that he was anxious to preach the gospel to you who are at Rome . Of course he was anxious to preach the gospel to the non-Christians at Rome , yet he specifically states that he was eager to preach it to the believers as well . So I mean you think about that , because again it's that disconnect the gospel immediate , we just think the tool for salvation , but Paul's saying he wants to preach it to the believers in Rome . You know . And so in there he gives this whole list of things that the gospel applies to the power of God , my daily protection transformed by glory , a cure for distrust , sufficiency in the gospel , freedom from sin's power , resting in Christ's righteousness , enslaved by Christ's righteousness . I mean a whole list of things .
Speaker 3Stimulated to love others . Here's just a little snippet or example . He says when my mind is fixed on the gospel , I have ample stimulation to show God's love to other people . For I am always willing to show love to others when I'm freshly reminded of the love that God has shown me . Also , the gospel gives me the wherewithal to give forgiving grace to those who have wronged me , for it reminds me daily of the forgiving grace that God is showing me .
Speaker 3Doing good and showing love to those who have wronged me is always the opposite of what my sinful flesh wants me to do . Nonetheless , when I remind myself of my sins against God and of his forgiving and generous grace toward me , I give the gospel an opportunity to reshape my perspective and to put me in a frame of mind wherein I actually desire to give this same grace to those who have wronged me . So you see that , like you're meditating on the gospel , which entails your sin and Christ dying for your sin and God's mercy towards you , now you point it to others , and I mean the list goes on and on from there of different things that he talked about , that the gospel applies to and why you can preach it to yourself . So good stuff , ray . Are you excited and stirred up ? And all that good stuff ? I'm vivified .
Speaker 4Vivified . Yeah , I was looking to find it .
Speaker 3I made a live . Good stuff , mark .
Speaker 2Any closing comments to anyone listening on this topic no , I mean listen , the gospel doesn't just get you out of hell and into heaven . It restores purpose , it restores relationships , it gives meaning for life . It answers the top questions how was I here , how did I get here , what is the meaning of life and what's going to happen to me when I die ? It changes everything . How you view trials , how you view people , how you view money , it just changes everything .
Speaker 3Amen , amen , friends . Well , there you have it . Get them the Discipline of Grace and A Gospel Primer by Jerry Bridges and Milton Vincent . Yep , right , yep . By Jerry Bridges and Milton Vincent . Yep , right , yep , right , Yep . I say I want to eat lunch . Someone's bringing lots of lunch today .
Speaker 4We're going to out-a-wait you .
Speaker 3Yeah , all right , friends . There you have it . Don't forget how to make sure God hears your prayers
. Ray's book , living Waters Mugged Adventist Study Bible , living Waters TV all at livingwaterscom podcast at livingwaterscom , with your thoughts and comments and all that good stuff . Remember to like , subscribe , tell others about it . Thank you for joining us , friends . We'll see you here next time on the Living Waters , you're still amused by that , mark . Oh , I think it's wonderful Podcast where we have no idea what we're doing .
Speaker 4It's like a frog croaking or something in the background .
Speaker 3I did a pig Right on .