WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:07.599 This podcast is a ministry of Grant Parkway Baptist Church, helping people know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:13.199 For more information about Grant Parkway, visit GrantProquay.org. 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:15.679 Well Jesus, thanks for the truth of that. 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:21.039 If that's not true, then this is just the worst kind of nonsense, religious nonsense. 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:23.359 But we don't believe this is religious nonsense. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:28.800 This is not what parents use to control their kids to keep their kids from getting drunk and embarrassing them. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:30.079 That's not what Christianity is. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:32.560 And then after a certain age, well, it doesn't matter. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:34.560 They made it through high school, not getting pregnant. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:36.240 That's not why Jesus came. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:43.520 Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost, to find screwed up, jacked up people like me and fixes. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:45.439 That's why you came. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:50.479 And part of the coming is that when you come, I'm gonna, death is not the end for me. 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:52.240 That there's a life after death. 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:56.159 The Bible says in Job 14, 14, if a man dies, will he live again? 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:57.520 And the answer is yes. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:00:59.520 Everybody in this room will live again. 00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:02.880 They'll live for eternity in heaven or they live for eternity in hell. 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:06.560 So there's a grave nature to the Bible and to the truth. 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:11.120 It's not heavy, it's light, but yet it's liberating. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:14.159 It's to that that we give ourselves now in Jesus' name. 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:16.000 And everyone said, Amen. 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:16.719 You can have a seat. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:20.159 If you've got a Bible, I invite you to take it and open up to Luke chapter 24. 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:24.560 And I want to pick up reading where my little friend Abby left off. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:33.040 And by the way, if you ever wonder, there's a verse in the Bible where Jesus took a small child and put them on his lap and said, Unless you become like this child, you're not going to see my father's kingdom. 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:37.840 And I hope by listening to her read, you're reminded just of the simplicity that Jesus had in mind. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.719 I want to pick up, I want to talk to you this morning about the hope of Easter. 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:43.439 And I want to pick up where Abby stopped reading in verse 13. 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:52.159 It says that very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, and about seven miles from Jerusalem, while they were talking with each other about these things that had happened. 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:57.200 And while they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 00:01:57.359 --> 00:01:59.599 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:04.239 And he said to them, What is this conversation you were holding with each other as you walk? 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:06.799 And they stood still, looking sad. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:14.800 And then one of them, named Cleopus, answered him, Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know these things that have happened there in these days? 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:16.960 And he said to them, What things? 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:29.680 And they said to him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, the man who was a prophet, mighty indeed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:33.360 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:37.039 Yes, and besides all this, is now the third day since these things happened. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:48.479 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us that they were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back, saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:53.919 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:56.560 But they did not see but him they did not see. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:01.840 And he said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe, all that the prophets have spoken. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:06.400 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:14.000 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:22.319 I want to uh just kind of focus on verse 21, where they said, almost with sadness in their voice, but we had hoped past tense. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:26.639 We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:31.520 You may be sitting in this room today, all your thoughts about God are in past are in past tense. 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:36.879 Back when I was a sophomore in high school, or back before I went to grad school, I went to college and got smart. 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:38.319 I believed all that stuff. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:50.560 I want to say to you, you're not in bad company because the Bible says here's two of Christ's followers three days after he died on the cross for our for their sins as well as our sins, and they're walking down the road, kind of going, that was fun while it's lasted. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:53.759 Peter's already said in John's gospel, I'm going back fishing. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:57.840 Translation, I'm going back, and I'm going to do what I was doing before this whole thing happened. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:03:59.599 It was fun, but it's over. 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:01.039 Let's get back to reality. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:04.639 And Jesus shows up and says, Let's be careful how we define reality. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:09.039 The hope of we had hope that he was the one to redeem Israel. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:14.000 Past tense, and Jesus takes it and kind of turns it into the future tense, into right now. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:19.040 I want to talk to you about the hope of Easter, and I want to say five things this morning about the hope of Easter. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:23.120 And the first one is something I think we need to talk about more in church that we don't. 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:28.639 And then the other four maybe are a little more uh accustomed to what what most of you in this room believe. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:35.199 But the hope of Easter, number one, for many people in the world, and for some of you in this room, your hope is that this is not true. 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:36.720 That this is not true. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:38.399 Now that sounds crazy to say that. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:39.439 You say, what do you mean? 00:04:39.600 --> 00:05:00.639 Not you would never say it with your lips, but you live it with your life that your hope is that this is not true, because if this is true, if Jesus really did rise from the dead, like the Bible says, live a sinless life, die on the cross as payment for your sins, rise from the dead to give evidence to this, and he fulfilled every promise and prophecy that the Bible ever talks about. 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:07.519 He leaves no doubt that he is the Messiah, the fulfillment of all this stuff, then life is defined in relation to him. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:15.040 You're accountable to him, I'm accountable to him, and therefore you're forced to ask yourself, where am I in relation to Jesus? 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:19.439 Because, see, the resurrection is the most threatening truth the world will ever know. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:20.240 And here's why. 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:32.319 The Apostle Paul was talking to some very smart, cynical, skeptical people that clept out of all the Ivy League schools, and they sit around in nice robes and drink wine all day and discuss philosophy. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:35.199 And Paul is talking to them, and it's not going well for them. 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:37.759 They're like scarecrows coming to a bonfire. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:41.120 The closer they get, the more they're just getting burned down. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:50.160 And what Paul says to them is he says that he says this, he says, the times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:50.639 Why? 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:53.519 Because he has fixed a day in which he will judge the world. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:54.639 And then he says this. 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:57.519 Some people go, well, I don't believe in a God of judgments. 00:05:57.680 --> 00:05:58.800 You just lost me right there. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:00.079 I'm not here to change your mind. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:01.759 I'm just here to tell you what the Bible says. 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:08.000 He says, what is so in what is so intense that God tells all people everywhere? 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:09.519 All people everywhere. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:14.399 See, it would be hate not to tell all people everywhere, because God loves people. 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:22.480 He tells all people everywhere, hey, you better get your stuff together and get your house in order because you're gonna stand before me when this all goes down. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:28.160 He commands all people everywhere to repent because he's fixed a day on which he'll judge the world. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:37.199 And then the Bible says this of this he has given assurance, proof, certifiable evidence to all by raising him from the dead. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:43.279 Now I want to back up to that very first part where Paul says in Acts 17, the times of ignorance, God has overlooked. 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:46.480 Anybody remember a time in your life when you were just downright ignorant? 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:48.399 You look back and you thought, what was I thinking? 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:49.040 Anybody? 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:50.399 Could I see your hand just for a second? 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:51.439 Could you just hold it up? 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:52.560 Leave it up just for a minute. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:54.720 I know some of your visits, but you can play too. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:55.759 Yeah, I see. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:59.199 My religious friend over here, Mark's got his pen up like, does this count? 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:00.079 I was good. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:02.160 Let me start with some of my own ignorance. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.160 When I was in high school, I was not a Christian, okay? 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:07.439 I didn't get you people, I didn't go to church, I didn't understand the Bible. 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:10.240 Me and my friends would go out and party hard every night. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:11.199 I mean, it didn't matter. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:13.920 Thursday's great, Tuesday's even better, weekend. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:16.560 Whoa! One night we are just baked. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:18.160 We are nine sheets into the wind. 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:22.879 See, I can't tell this in the next service because my 16-year-old will be sitting over there, kind of going, I'm writing this down. 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:28.639 And look, you turned out to be a preacher because your kids don't think that way, but mine do. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:32.879 They're like, Mom, remember that time, dad and his friends, and I'm like, no, I don't know what you're talking about. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.399 But we were just, we were partying. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:36.079 I say like that, me and my friends are partying. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:37.839 My friend Kendall said, I'm going home, man. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:40.160 At one o'clock, he spit the bit and went home. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:41.439 We just kept hammering down. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:43.519 About three o'clock, ignorance. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.399 Somebody says, Hey man, we ain't got no money to buy beer. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:47.360 We need to get some money. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:51.040 And somebody said, Hey man, let's go to Kendall's house and wake him up and get some money from him. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:56.800 So we went to my friend Kendall's house at 3.08 in the morning, broke into the bedroom window, okay? 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.399 And slid the window open. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:01.360 I climbed in and I didn't know his house from anything. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:05.120 I'm groping around in the dark trying to find his bedroom. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:09.680 There's a distinct sound a 357 makes when a man cocks the hammer on that. 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:11.360 Yes, sir. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:13.759 Dove behind the bed, laying on my stomach. 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:15.759 I played tennis in high school on the tennis team. 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:20.399 I had these big red, white, and blue Tom Auker, thick gum soled tennis shoes. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:24.720 And I heard somebody say, Neil McClendon and your ugly shoes, stand up. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:34.799 And I stood up, and Kendall's dad, Neil O'Quinn, had a nickel plated 357 drawn down on me and said, Boy, I about blew your head off. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:36.799 You want me to call your dad? 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:38.879 No, sir, just shoot me right now. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:42.720 Marched us into the living room. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:46.559 Now, students, if you're under the age of 50 in this room, that ain't bragging. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:47.360 That's a confession. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.120 That's how ignorant your pastor was. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:54.080 And the Bible says he walked us out in the parking lot, I mean, in the driveway, looked at all of us, he said, get your friends. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:56.320 I had to call Randy Shields and Cecil Petrie. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:59.200 He looked at every one of us and says, You boys are so dumb. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:02.000 You broke into my house looking for beer money. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:03.600 Yes, sir. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:04.639 Yes, sir. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:06.320 It's 3:30 in the morning. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:07.600 Go home. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.519 Get out of here. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:11.039 And I'm 49 years old. 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:13.600 I look back and I think, God, why didn't that man shoot me? 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:15.360 And I'm not being silly. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:17.600 He said, I almost shot you, son. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:20.480 Then I saw those god-awful shoes you were wearing. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:22.720 I recognize those. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:31.200 No, none of it, nobody in this room is more happy than me that the Bible says the times of ignorance, God is overlooked. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:34.720 However, how he said you can wish all you want, that's just weren't true. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:36.480 It doesn't change the fact that it is. 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:40.720 The times of ignorance, God is overlooked, but he's also fixed a day. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:49.360 He's also said, hey, hey, I've overlooked all that, but now I'm telling you, you gotta repent because there's gonna come a time you stand before me and you're gonna be judged. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:52.799 Of this, he's given evidence, proof, assurance. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:54.320 God says, write this down. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:56.960 Before George Strait sang about it, God said it. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:58.240 Write this down. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:00.480 I'm gonna give assurance to you. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:01.600 How's that? 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:06.080 By raising Christ, the person you're gonna stand before from the dead. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:09.360 See, our hope to begin with, let's just acknowledge the obvious. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:12.639 We hope that this isn't true, that somehow it's gonna get worked out. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:13.600 It's not. 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:14.799 It's not. 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:22.240 So because it is true, you've got to begin to think today, at least on Easter morning, about okay, if that's true, then where am I in relation to God? 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:25.120 And do I have a relationship with God or do I believe in God? 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:28.559 Because by the way, that's the first question God asked humanity way back in the garden. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:31.840 Adam and Eve sinned and they hid, and God came and said, Where are you? 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:34.960 Not because he wanted information, he wanted proximity. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.799 You are not where you were created to be. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:40.000 You're created to be here with me in relationship with me. 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:44.159 This is not a religion, this is not rules, this is a relationship, okay? 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:45.759 And so God says, Where are you? 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:50.000 And they were like, Hey, I I uh I was naked, so I hid myself. 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:52.639 And God says, That's not where you're supposed to be. 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:58.799 You're supposed to be in the Bible uses this word, fellowship, communion, relationship with God. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:01.279 Because that's the way he intended it to be. 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:05.600 And so you've got to ask yourself, hey, hey, hey, you can wish all you want, your hope all you want. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:06.559 This isn't true. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.279 It is. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:11.600 You should feel what it's like to not be in relationship with your father. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:19.120 If you can sit in this building this morning and not feel and realize, you know what, I don't believe this, I don't have a relationship with God, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:25.200 And that doesn't kind of register in your head and in your heart, you should be gravely concerned, my man. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:29.200 Because you should always have a sense of where you are in relation to God. 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:35.600 When I was seven, my family, we were poor white trash in East Texas, and for vacation one year, we went to Six Flags for one day. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:42.960 We like sold a hog and butchered a pig and all this stuff, and we saved up, loaded up in the Woody Panel station wagon, drove to Arlington, Texas. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:46.799 I was like a it was like, oh my gosh, the world's gonna end. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:47.679 We get there. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:51.519 There were more people in the entrance of Six Flags than in my whole entire town. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:53.759 My dad looked at my brothers that were older than me. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:56.960 I was seven, and he said, Now, if we get separated for some reason, go to the lost parent center. 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:58.320 It's right over here by the main gate. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:01.360 And my dad said, You put your hand in my back pocket and don't you take it out. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:06.000 So I walked around Six Flags like a little monkey with my hand in my dad's back pocket the whole time. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:19.919 Well, we were doing good about the first hour and a half, and then for some reason there was a big log jam, and I got my hand out of there and didn't realize I thought my dad was kind of, I could kind of feel him right there, and I'm looking around, and uh, and and all of a sudden I looked up and realized my dad's nowhere to be found. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:24.240 And when I realized I'd lost a connection with my dad, I freaked out. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:30.559 I was just like, uh, I made this realization that day in Six Flags as a seven-year-old 42 years ago. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:34.159 The loster you realize you are, the faster you run. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:44.639 And so I didn't understand the layout of Six Flags, and it's called Six Flags for a reason because six different countries have claimed Texas, and that Six Flags Amusement Park is divided into six sections. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:46.639 So as I'm running, kind of like, where's my dad? 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.120 Where's my dad? 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:47.919 I don't see my dad. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.159 I stopped and asked somebody, excuse me, can you tell me where I am? 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.759 And they went, Yeah, I think you're in Spain. 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:56.559 I was like, Spain! Oh my gosh, I'm a long way from home. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:01.039 And I'm just like running even faster, and I'm just like, oh my God, running everywhere. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:02.480 After about 20 minutes, I stopped. 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:05.200 I was like, excuse me, excuse me, what? 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:06.639 Oh, you know where I am? 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:09.120 Uh uh, yeah, I think you're in France. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:10.879 I'm going the wrong way. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:12.559 And all of a sudden I just start running. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:15.600 About 10 minutes later, I stop, and the guy says, Excuse me, what where am I? 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.559 He goes, You're in Mexico. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:17.440 I'm getting closer. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:19.440 Mexico's connected to Texas. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:21.279 Sheer panic. 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:25.039 And all of a sudden I looked over and there's people standing over there looking at something, and they're all pointing. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:31.840 And I thought, well, I walk over there, and it's a big map of six flags with an orange dot and a little sign that says, You are here. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.320 And everyone was kind of, we want to ride the shockwave. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:35.840 Remember when the shockwave was new? 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.480 Now you're like, shockwave, I don't care. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:40.639 It only goes 62 miles an hour. 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:42.080 Sign me up. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:45.679 But I put my finger on there and I said, You are here. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.240 And I found the lost parent center. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:52.480 And I made me a little route, and I got there, and I the lady in a blue smockle never forget, saw me coming. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:54.000 She goes, Son, are you lost? 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:57.360 What's your dad's name? 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:00.080 Here's the announcement all over the park at Six Flags. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:03.600 Attention, Park Patrons, Leon McClendon, you are lost. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:07.039 Come to the Lost Parent Center to be reunited with your child. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:10.480 And all of a sudden, I looked up, probably 300 yards away. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:12.159 I saw stuffed animals flying up. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:14.960 I saw people's pink things and corn dogs going everywhere. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.440 I think a lady in a wheelchair got tipped over. 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:28.559 It was like the Red Sea of people got parted because my dad knew where his kid was and he was coming for me, and all of a sudden he recognized that I'd been found and I was reminded I wouldn't have to be lost anymore. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:29.519 Here's why. 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:32.720 Because separation from your father isn't natural. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:36.080 You were created to be in a relationship with him. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:38.879 And so you can hope this is not true all you want. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:42.000 You're hoping against your created purpose. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:45.440 That's as simple as I know how to say it. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:48.480 You were created by God for a relationship with God. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:50.399 I'm not saying you're created to be religious. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:52.639 We got enough religious people in the world. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:56.000 We don't have enough people who have a relationship with Christ. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:59.840 Now the second hope of Easter is simply this that forgiveness is available. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.840 What do you mean forgiveness is available? 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:05.840 The Bible says this in 1 Corinthians 15, 6, verses 16 and 17. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:09.440 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:14.159 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you're still in your sins. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:15.519 Now hear that again. 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:20.799 Because if you're a skeptic in this room, you didn't invent all the questions you have in your head today. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:21.279 Okay? 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.519 They were around back in the Bible times. 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:26.639 And that's why Paul writes, for if the dead are not raised, why does he say that? 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:29.919 Because people are going around going, oh, dead people don't rise from the dead. 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:33.120 Eat, drink, and be merry, and then you die, and it's all over. 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:34.480 It doesn't matter. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:37.279 But if it's not all over, then it ought to matter. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:42.799 Paul says, for if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:47.039 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you're still in your sins. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:53.759 If you follow the logic of the Bible, the Bible teaches very clearly that Christ is the only solution for your sin and my sin. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:16:00.639 Remember the disciples who were on the road, we read in verse 21, they said we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:06.639 The word redeem used there is a Greek word betrayal, and it means to liberate by payment of ransom. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:12.000 Translation, we had hoped that he really was who he said he was, and then our sins were paid for. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:15.600 But now we're just stuck, just trying to work it out on our own. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:17.039 Here's what the Bible says. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:19.039 See, Christianity is very personal by nature. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:21.840 Remember back in the garden, God says, Where are you? 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.159 It's very personal by nature. 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:27.279 It's not about religion or rules, it's about a relationship. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:30.399 Here are the first two words of Ephesians chapter 1, verse 7. 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.919 The Bible says, in him. 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:34.799 Not in it or in that. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:35.919 It's very personal. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:36.639 In him. 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:46.240 We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight. 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:52.799 Mark that little phrase in your mind, which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight. 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.159 Now, why do I say mark that? 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:55.360 Because look at me, beloved. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:00.320 Some of you in this room have done ignorant things like I talked about a few minutes ago. 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:06.000 And you've thought to yourself, and you've laid down in bed at night, and the enemy has beat you up with this and said, You know what? 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:11.119 I bet if God knew you were going to do that, he would have never forgiven you for your sins. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.079 And the Bible says that he lavished this grace on you. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:16.319 There's a word you didn't use this week, by the way. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:18.960 None of you men came home and your wife said, How was work? 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:22.640 I lavished my skill set on them fools at the office. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:26.480 Your husband was like a man smoking at a gas pump. 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:28.640 I'm about to blow up on him, honey. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:30.400 But the Bible says he lavished. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:33.279 That means he didn't just give a little, he lavished. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:37.519 He extravagantly overflowed grace upon you. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.559 That's what he did. 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:42.000 And here's what he did it with all wisdom and insight. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:46.799 There's nothing about your depravity that takes God off guard that causes him to go, wait a minute. 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:49.680 If I'd have known that, I'd have never done that. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.839 That's not the God of the Bible. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:58.240 Some of you, this voice in your head says that, and you just keep drifting further and further and further away from God. 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:08.880 I'm here to tell you, you can come back today because God did what he did with all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will according to his purpose. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:17.200 Once again, the Bible tells us very clearly that God's purpose is that you not be far off, but you be in relationship with him. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:25.359 See, that's the thing that's unique to Christianity, uh, is that our God purchases for us forgiveness and gives it to us as a gift. 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:29.920 A couple weeks ago, if you were here on a Sunday, I wasn't here because I was in Destin, Florida. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:32.480 Somebody's got to go to the beach and teach the Bible, huh? 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:35.920 And so I'm in Destin, Florida, with 275 college students. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:39.119 After one session, this guy from Iran comes up to me and we're talking. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:44.720 He tells me, I work in a brain layout, but I'm like, well, I better ratchet up my intellect on this guy, show him what I got. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:48.640 Then a guy from India comes up and I'm like, it's the United Nations right here. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.519 And we're talking. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.039 Both of them fundamentally disagree. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:51.839 They're not Christians. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:55.920 And they said, Well, the guy from Iran says, You are very direct. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:57.839 You do not have to wonder what you believe. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.039 Just listen. 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:02.559 And I said, and some people like that, and some people don't. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:05.359 And he said, I find it very refreshing. 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:08.960 Then the cat from India starts talking, and he's like, Yes, yes, yes. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:12.880 And I love how you distinguish your religion from all the other world religions. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:15.359 I said, Mine is not a religion, it's a relationship. 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.960 And I said, What did you hear me say? 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:27.759 And he said perfectly back to me, You took, you showed us, you didn't tell, you showed us in the Bible how your God purchases purchases forgiveness and gives it to you as a gift. 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:33.039 He said, But in my religion, I said, in all the other world religions, you have to work out forgiveness on your own. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.079 He said, Yes. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.440 And he said, What do you think about that? 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.880 I said, I got two words for you. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:38.720 Okay, good luck. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:41.759 Here's why. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:45.279 Because the Bible says in Romans chapter 7, a man named Paul is talking. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:49.519 He's he's a Christian now when he writes, but he's thinking back to when he before he became a Christian. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:56.160 Do you ever look back at what you were like before you became a Christian and think, Lord, thank you for not just letting me die back then? 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:58.160 I think that a lot. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:03.039 I think that last time I saw Neil O'Quinn, the man with the three, he said, Boy, I almost shot you one time. 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:05.200 It's like great, say that in front of my four-year-old. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:07.920 So she goes, Daddy, why get me in almost shoot you? 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.759 Like, put your hands over your ears. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.799 That man's crazy, honey. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:11.440 He's a salesman. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:13.279 You know, they say crazy stuff. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:18.160 But there'll come a day I have to say to my kids, yeah, your dad did not know God. 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.279 I did goofy stuff. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:22.240 I ain't proud of it, but it doesn't have power over me. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:23.119 No. 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:25.119 But this guy, Paul, back to Paul. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.640 Paul is he's he's a Christian. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:30.480 He's thinking back to being, he was religious, but he didn't know Christ. 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:34.480 He says, I was zealous, but my zeal for God wasn't based on knowledge. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:37.440 I was swinging, but there was no pinata up there. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.799 I just looked foolish. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:40.799 And this is what he's how he described his life. 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:41.839 And I told these guys this. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:43.279 I said, here's what Paul said. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:46.000 Paul said, the good that I want to do, I don't do. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:49.359 The bad thing that I don't want to do, that's the thing I do. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:51.279 Oh, wretched man that I am. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:21:00.240 I said, unless you, it's sometime before you die, unless you repent and come to faith in Christ, all you have to look forward to is a life of wretchedness. 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:09.519 Because it is hard to get in bed at night and have everything the world says you need, and there's a big hole, like God took an ice cream scoop and scooped out a hole in your heart. 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:12.640 It's a gnawing reality that you can't get away from. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:14.720 And it's not your wife nagging you, okay? 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.000 And he they didn't do one there. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.599 They go, Your wife nags? 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:19.440 Oh, women don't do that. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:30.400 No, they suggest every hour on the hour with graphs and charts and flannel boards. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.880 Yeah. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:38.319 And the guy's like, so forgiveness is purchased. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:45.039 Yes, God purchased forgiveness through the life of his son on the cross and gives it to his people as a gift. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:47.599 Ephesians 2, chapter 2, verse 8 and 9. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:54.079 For by grace you are saved through faith, not of works, is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.359 It's a gift. 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:59.359 See, the hope of Easter is that forgiveness is now available. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.880 Forgiveness is real and available. 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:06.640 The third hope that we have in Easter is that grace is better than karma. 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.319 Grace is better than karma. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.839 You say, well, what do you mean? 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.359 Let me define the two terms. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:13.759 Karma means I get what I deserve. 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.680 Isn't that right? 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:17.440 Karma says I get what I deserve. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:22.160 It means if I do good, I get that was pathetic. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:26.000 There's hardly an empty seat in this room, and all you can come up with is good. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:32.720 No, karma says if I do good, I get. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.480 Yes, thank you. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:39.279 But karma also dictates if I do bad, I get ru-ro. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:44.720 Here's why grace is better than karma. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:46.160 Karma says I get what I deserve. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:48.160 Grace says I don't get what I deserve. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:52.480 You should probably ask your question, yourself the question. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.759 You're smart people. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:55.599 Ask yourself this question today. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:58.960 If I don't get what I deserve, what happens to it? 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.440 Where does it go? 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:05.440 Is it just floating out in the universe looking for someone to attach itself to? 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:11.119 Now the Bible says this in Isaiah chapter 53, verse 6: all we like sheep have gone astray. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:17.119 We've turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:21.680 All the bad that I deserved and you deserved. 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:24.799 Not because of karma, but because of your sinful nature. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:27.440 God took it all and placed it on his son. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:31.759