WEBVTT 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:04.160 Welcome to the program Study in the Chapel. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:07.599 God's Word is supreme at Chapel Ministries. 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:12.400 We consider it absolutely essential to a proper relationship with God. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:17.760 We study it, we love it, we rely on it every minute of every day. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:33.679 The following program is an edited recording of the regular Bible studies we hold, and we decided to share these with you in the hope that you too will be able to find inspiration, encouragement, and ultimately salvation through discovering Christ in Scripture. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.600 Our intention is to travel all the way through the Bible. 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:42.719 It will be a challenging journey, but one that will undoubtedly bring you to a decision. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:48.240 Through this study, you will be faced with either believing or rejecting what God has said to us. 00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:54.399 It is our intention to provide you with enough knowledge to make an informed decision about God and his word. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:04.879 We strongly encourage you to listen intently and diligently, because though at the moment you may not realize it, these things are truly a matter of life and death. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.359 In fact, these are matters of eternal life and eternal death. 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:11.680 Never treat what God has said lightly. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:14.400 There is truly nothing more important to you. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:19.120 Now join us as we seek God's will through his inspired word. 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:29.840 Whenever I think of God's word, it makes my heart smile because I know that without it, I couldn't live my life normally. 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:37.439 And I, Catherine and I say all the time, how is it that people can go through the things in life, the difficulty? 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:38.959 Life is difficult. 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:48.640 Listen, if if a if a preacher tries to tell you the minute you become a Christian that life will become easy, run as far and as fast as you can. 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:50.799 Because that actually is not true. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:54.959 When you give your life to Christ, literally all hell breaks loose. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:02:00.480 The devil doesn't like to lose, and he certainly does not want you influencing anyone else. 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:02.799 So he's going to make your life miserable. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:05.680 Remember, he's the prince of this world, and that's not me saying it. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:06.879 That's what Jesus said. 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:14.719 He's the prince of this world, and he's going to make your life difficult because he can, because he doesn't want you spreading the gospel. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:15.840 That's the point. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:23.039 And what I don't understand, as I was saying a moment ago, is how people can go through the way life treats us. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:26.639 Listen, you don't have to be a Christian for life to be lousy. 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:28.879 Life is just generally lousy. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:30.719 Read a newspaper. 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:39.199 And when life becomes a problem and you don't have Christ to lean on, you must be a miserable person. 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:48.000 An atheist must be miserable people because they only have their own efforts to lie to rely on and how difficult that must be. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:56.719 My prayer is that more and more people see the value in turning their lives over to God, turning their lives over to Christ. 00:02:56.800 --> 00:02:58.240 That's what we are trying to do. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:02.479 We're trying to get more and more people to see how valuable this is. 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:06.080 So, anyways, we are in the letter to the Romans today. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:07.919 We've been working hard at it. 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:16.400 We've been working hard at the entire lesson, all the all the lessons that Paul has been trying to teach us here in the beginning, and there's a lot. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:19.520 This very first sentence is packed with good doctrine. 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:20.560 We're still here. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:26.240 We're still, in fact, studying Paul's statement regarding the obedience of faith. 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:33.680 We're going to be here at least one more week because this is one of the most crucial verses in Scripture. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:36.400 It's crucial for the church to consider. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:44.080 If we want to stop the decline of Christianity, we must go back to what Paul is saying here. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:55.599 Now, the King James has it this way: we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name. 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:58.319 We're trying to figure out what that means. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:03.759 Now, we've already determined that this is a bit of a poor translation. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:12.800 Now, it's only two small words that are wrong, but getting any small word wrong, any word wrong, could lead to big problems. 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:19.040 This isn't obedience to the faith, it is obedience of faith. 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:23.600 Obeying the call to have faith, to believe. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:31.600 Paul's job, our job, is to get everyone to see the importance of that obedience. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:43.680 We're spending time here because there are few words in the English language, language lexicon that makes modern humans squirm more than this one. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:44.800 Obey. 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:55.920 We must see how important it is to the Christian life, no matter how uncomfortable it makes us, and it makes us uncomfortable. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:59.360 Let me tell you, this isn't going to be easy. 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:08.079 Most people don't think that obedience has anything to do with being a Christian, especially fundamentalist Protestants. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:18.879 Fundamentalist Protestants, and I happen to be one of those, but it's very difficult for people to understand that we must believe. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:30.560 Listen, I criticize the Catholic Church all the time, but one thing Catholics understand is obedience. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:34.639 For some reason, the Protestant church doesn't think that's for them. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:39.279 Unless, of course, you mean that God has to be obedient to us. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:42.560 Now, of course, no one comes out and says that. 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:49.519 No one would dare be so rude as to demand publicly that God hear our prayers. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:52.639 Well, I guess that isn't entirely true. 00:05:53.199 --> 00:06:05.360 I once saw a preacher on television tell God he had to heal his cancer, that God was obligated to do so, that God had no choice. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:15.600 Now, it doesn't probably surprise any of you to know that that man died not too long after that from the cancer he demanded God to heal. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:25.600 Anyhow, that sort of behavior is the exception because most people don't want to appear to be arrogant when it comes to religion. 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:31.759 If nothing else, it's kind of impolite and no one wants to look impolite in church. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:39.600 We don't mind being discourteous to God, but we won't dare behave that way in front of the coffee club ladies. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:50.720 But whether we do so openly or not, we simply insist that God must accommodate us, or well, we just won't spend much time with him. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:56.639 Obedience just isn't on our agenda, is it? 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.199 And listen, this isn't a new problem. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:06.079 It's been around a long time because it's a deeply inset part of human nature. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:11.920 We simply don't like God telling us how to live, and we never have. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:36.639 In an answer to a crowd who gathered in hopes of getting a free meal, Jesus himself said, John 6, 26, verily, verily, you seek me not, not because you saw, you seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:43.199 Now let me quickly expand on this because this is yet another poor translation. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:57.279 Now, this is a bit outside our current topic, but I can't let it go because if I do, you'll miss our Lord's point and how it actually fits into what we're currently studying. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:07.279 Verily, verily I say unto you, ye seek me not because ye saw, meaning perceive, know, understand. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:12.079 That's very important to the proper interpretation of this section. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:17.600 The word that's being used means saw, perceived, understood. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:24.160 Jesus said they didn't understand what the King James calls the miracles. 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:25.920 More on that in a second. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:27.839 Now, let me start over. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:29.360 John 6 26. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:44.559 Jesus answered, answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye seek me not because ye perceived the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:49.440 I added the word perceived there where it says see or saw. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:51.440 I added the word perceived. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:53.440 It comes out better that way. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:09:02.080 Now, as this is written in the King James, it's a bit confusing and actually misses the point completely. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:10.240 The true meaning is far deeper and makes much more sense given what Jesus is saying here. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:20.799 Now, the word being used in this verse, the thing, the thing that those belly fillers didn't perceive were not just miracles. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:26.159 The original should not be translated into our word miracles. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:29.120 In the Greek, it is simion. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:35.360 And simion is a word that's used extensively in the Gospel of John. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:40.080 It's one of the reasons why John's gospel is so unique. 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:47.919 It takes a closer, quite a bit closer look at the things that Jesus did while he was here. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:10:00.559 His gospel brings a dynamic to the life of our Lord that demonstrates how purposeful it actually was, how purposeful his presence here was. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:06.480 It shows that he wasn't just waiting around for someone to hang him on a cross. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:10.799 He was engaged in his father's business throughout. 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:17.039 The proper translation, the proper meaning of the word Simeon is sign. 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:22.480 Now let me read the complete word study dictionary definition here. 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:33.360 It says Simeon, sign, mark, token, miracle, listen to this, with a spiritual end and purpose. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:40.480 In the plural, miracles which led to something out of and beyond themselves. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:54.480 I love this word, finger marks of God, valuable not so much for what they say, what they are as for what they indicate of the grace and power of the doer. 00:10:54.799 --> 00:11:00.799 As I said, the apostle John used this word quite often in his gospel. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:17.679 And when we apply to the record of the things our Lord did, instead of using the word miracle, we come to the conclusion that these things were much more than just incredible, amazing feats. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:22.879 He wasn't just demonstrating his control over nature. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:29.840 He was teaching us vital aspects of what he was here to accomplish. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:38.320 Now, by way of very quick example, we all know about the changing of the water to wine. 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:43.919 It's what the King James called the beginning of his miracles. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:56.080 Well, the word Simeon was used there originally, therefore, it wasn't so much the beginning of his miracles as it was the beginning of his signs. 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:58.240 And it was powerful. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:08.000 Now, I wish I had time to go over the whole story, but we're only going to hit the highlights because I'm just using it as an example. 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:15.120 Now, you all remember that Jesus had these large jars filled with water, right? 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:24.639 Well, the jars Jesus chose were the ones that held the water for the Hebrew ritual of cleansing. 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:28.080 That's what the Gospel of John tells us. 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:29.039 Now, listen to me. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:30.320 Think about this. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:34.559 Why did Jesus use those jars? 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:36.960 Why not use wine jars? 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:43.679 There must have been plenty of empty wine jars about, don't you think? 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:50.399 Listen, the reason there was no wine was not because someone forgot to bring it. 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:52.320 This was a wedding. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:56.720 And no one forgets to bring wine to a wedding. 00:12:57.039 --> 00:13:00.159 Wine is a drink for celebrations. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:06.559 And a wedding in ancient Israel was as much a cause for celebrating as any other. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:21.679 They didn't forget to bring wine, they simply ran out, which means there had to be dozens of empty wine jars everywhere, empty wine containers everywhere. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:25.519 And listen, this wasn't a throwaway society. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:30.000 These people recycled, reused, reduced. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:40.480 I mean, if it was just a matter of making wine miraculously, if that's all we were supposed to witness, any jar would have done. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:54.240 If it was just a matter of making wine, if the miracle was only about the making of the wine, then why are we told at all about the jars that got used? 00:13:55.200 --> 00:14:03.919 If this was about the wonder of making water into wine, what would we care about the type of jar? 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:17.039 I mean, if we weren't told, if it wasn't necessary for us to know what type of jar, then we would have easily assumed that it was wine jars or not cared. 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:25.200 I always tell you, when God gets strangely specific, we need to pay extra attention. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:27.360 And here is the perfect example. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.320 Let's read it. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.080 John 2, 6. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:42.799 And there were set there six water pots of stone after the manner of the purifying of the Jews containing two or three firkins apiece. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:45.279 A ferkin is a measurement. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:50.960 Now, six in the Bible is the number of man. 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:57.360 Stone water pots are made by human hands out of an earth. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:12.720 The purifying of the Jews, that's what those jars were used, those man-made six jars were used for a Jewish religious ritual, the ritual of cleansing. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:23.679 And Jesus took those man-made earthly religious objects and filled them up with this sign. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:30.320 Jesus was purposely showing in the backdrop of a miracle. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.279 Can you believe a miracle is in the backdrop? 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:37.600 That's the point Jesus was making to those belly fillers. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:43.600 These are signs, these are things I am teaching you, and you missed it. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:50.639 All of those people were probably just glad Jesus made more wine for them so that the party could keep going. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:57.600 But Jesus wasn't just making wine, he was telling them something about himself. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:09.519 Jesus with this sign was showing that the way of man was coming to an end and he was bringing it. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:18.159 The human effort to bridge the gap between God and man was passing away. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:33.360 The sign to pay attention to with this miracle was that Jesus was here to take control of human effort and bring it to its long-awaited conclusion. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:39.679 The human efforts to reach out to God were always temporary. 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:43.679 And Jesus was showing that is coming to an end. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:49.279 With this sign, Jesus was saying, I am finishing this. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.559 Verse 7. 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:56.879 Jesus saith unto them, listen to this, fill the water pots with water. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:59.519 And they filled them up to the brim. 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:03.519 Fill them all the way to the top. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:11.599 That was his instruction, because that was the prop, the sign he wanted them all to see. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.839 Leave nothing unused. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:19.440 Now I'm not doing a good job, but I'm straining to keep this brief. 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:21.519 So let's wrap it up. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:33.759 Jesus was demonstrating the sign Jesus was giving was that he had come to fulfill the law through his perfect human life. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:46.559 Jesus had come to remove human earthly religious effort as a means of repairing the relationship between ourselves and the Father. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.640 Again, how many jars were there? 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.599 Six. 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:53.359 What does the number six represent in scripture? 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:54.000 Man. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:59.039 Jesus was showing that he was taking over. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:10.960 His life would fill all the way up the requirements of human effort and turn them into joy. 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:14.160 That's what wine represents in the Bible. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.119 Joy. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:17.839 This is our joy. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:26.319 Jesus has come and taken from us the responsibility of eliminating the sin obstacle. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:32.880 Before him, all other human effort fell short. 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:36.720 By the way, that's what the word sin means: falling short. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:43.119 Jesus had come to fix the failure of man. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:48.240 He had come to fill human effort to the brim. 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:52.079 Christ said, fill the water pots with water. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:55.519 The word he used meant fill fully. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:00.559 Fill to the brim the ceremonial water pots. 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:06.400 Fill full, just like Jesus came to fulfill the law. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:13.279 Now I feel like I've rushed through that, but I don't want to spend too much more time on it. 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:16.160 We have to get back to tonight's topic. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:26.559 The reason I took this side trip regarding the Simeons is because Jesus used that same word when he was scolding those freeloaders. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.680 Let's go back there. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:30.720 Now I know this seems haphazard, but it's not. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:33.119 Let's read the passage again. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:46.000 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles, not because you understood the signs. 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:53.680 That's not why you're following me, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:58.400 You're not interested in getting any closer to the kingdom of God. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:03.039 You're not here because you want to learn more about my purpose. 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:11.519 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles. 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:14.960 You seek me not because you you understood what I was saying. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:20.079 You seek me because you are you ate the loaves and were filled. 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:25.519 You're not following me because you perceived the value of the signs. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:27.680 You didn't even know they were signs. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:37.279 You didn't even know they meant something deep and important because all you saw was yourself and your personal needs. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:48.240 You just sought the fleshy satisfaction, but your spirit is still starving, and he knew that of them. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.759 He knew that of them. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:50.480 How do I know? 00:20:50.640 --> 00:21:01.839 Verse 27: labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for the for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:04.640 For him hath God the Father sealed. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:10.400 Forget all the pizzazz, the sensory satisfaction, the worldly appeals. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:15.200 Seek the Son of Man, look for the promised Messiah. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:17.599 And you know what? 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:20.799 It appears that Jesus was right. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:27.759 Appears that he was getting through because they said, and with this I'm making my point, verse 28. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:35.599 Then said they unto him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:46.480 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.960 This is the thing that's acceptable. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:51.440 This is your responsibility. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:54.960 This is what God will have you do. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:58.160 The Father says, believe. 00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.759 If you want to be obedient. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:04.880 Those loafers asked Jesus what they were supposed to do. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:12.000 And he said, if you want to be obedient, have faith in the one God sent. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:20.240 The obedience of faith coming from our master himself. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:24.640 You want to know what the boss wants you to do? 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:26.400 Go to the boss and ask him. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:30.640 Those guys said to the boss, What do we do? 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.559 And what did Jesus say? 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.640 Believe in me. 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:38.960 That's what we're talking about. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:46.640 Now we're hammering this home because I just don't think we see faith as something we must do. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:51.519 We think believing is some alternative commandment. 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:59.759 As if God is saying, okay, you know, I know how hard it is for you guys to follow rules, but you know, give it a shot. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:03.279 But, you know, if you just can't, there's always faith. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:12.400 I mean, let's face it, religious people just don't respect believing. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:22.000 The group of people that Jesus had the most trouble with were the religious. 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:28.640 The Pharisees were the most religious people in the Jewish religion. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:36.559 And that's who Jesus scrapped with the most because they find this too easy. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:39.279 I mean, there's no grunting and straining. 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:41.039 You just believe. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:47.200 And by the way, the only people who think that way have never tried faith. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:53.839 You see, working for your faith is always intermittent. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:57.039 You can't always be working for salvation. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:14.079 I mean, once you drop that coin in the plate and help that old lady across the street, once you light that candle, say that prayer of contrition, you can sit back and bask in your own sin canceling feats. 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:17.039 But faith never ends. 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:21.279 Yesterday's believing doesn't carry any weight today. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:32.000 You may have trusted God to pay your bills last week, but that's not going to help you when you receive a bad report back from the doctor. 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:36.079 Faith isn't here and there, it's continuous. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:40.319 In fact, it takes practice. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:47.519 But if you don't think it's going to help you, you're going to cling to your good deeds. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:54.240 But Paul says we must be obedient to believing. 00:24:54.559 --> 00:25:01.519 The exact same message is presented in 1 John 3, starting at verse 21. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:09.119 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God. 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:19.279 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:30.319 And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave us commandments. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:33.519 It couldn't be any clearer. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:44.640 God's plan involves us believing in his son, and that's what Paul calls the obedience of faith. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:52.880 Now I think this is a probably a good place to stop for today. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:58.799 We still have a couple more things to talk about here in verse 5, so we'll pick it up right there next time. 00:25:58.960 --> 00:25:59.839 See you then. 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:25.680 New content is being added all the time, so make sure you check back often. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:37.039 For more information on Chapel Ministries, including our YouTube channel and podcasts, please visit www.chapelontheweb.com. 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:44.640 And if God has laid it upon your heart to share materially with us, we encourage you to follow the links to our secure giving page. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:53.440 Please note, Chapel Ministries is not an IRS-registered nonprofit organization, and your donations to this program are not tax deductible. 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:59.599 It's our hope that you do not rely on taxing authorities to decide for you who is worthy of your generosity.