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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Jesus: Man, Myth, or Messiah | March 31, 2026
- Join us on the pathway to victory cruise to alaska,
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- June 13th through 20, 2026.
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- Let me paint a picture for you.
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- You're standing on the deck
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- Of a beautiful cruise ship, coffee in hand
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- Watching a glacier calve into the pristine waters
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- While bald eagles circle overhead.
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- That's going to be us this coming june.
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- You've got to see alaska with your own eyes to believe it.
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- Seven days of pure luxury
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- Where every meal is prepared for you.
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- The world class service means you never have
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- To think about the details.
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- Instead, you can focus on casual conversations
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- With like-minded christians, laughing,
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- Telling stories while surrounded
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- By god's breathtaking creation.
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- This is purposeful travel at its finest,
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- Refreshing your soul in god's stunning cathedral
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- Of natural wonders.
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- Call 888-280-6747
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- Or visit ptv.org.
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- ♪ music ♪
- 00:01:00.150 --> 00:01:05.722
- From the pulpit of the first baptist church
- 00:01:06.623 --> 00:01:08.791
- Of dallas, texas,
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- This is pathway to victory with dr. robert jeffress.
- 00:01:10.260 --> 00:01:14.164
- Hi, i'm robert jeffress.
- 00:01:14.664 --> 00:01:15.932
- And welcome again to pathway to victory.
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- Few reputable historians doubt that jesus existed.
- 00:01:18.768 --> 00:01:22.772
- In fact, almost every major religion in the world agrees
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- That jesus was a great teacher,
- 00:01:26.442 --> 00:01:28.278
- Maybe even a prophet from god,
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- But jesus claimed to be much more.
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- Today we're going to explore the answer
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- To this pressing question.
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- Who was jesus christ?
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- My message is titled jesus: man, myth or messiah
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- On today's edition of pathway to victory.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Life doesn't always go the way we plan,
- 00:01:56.406 --> 00:01:59.042
- But here's the good news.
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- We get to choose how we respond.
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- In choose your attitudes, change your life,
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- Dr. robert jeffress shares 11 biblical attitude choices
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- That can transform your health, your relationships,
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- And even your eternity.
- 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:12.822
- You may not be able to control what happens to you,
- 00:02:12.822 --> 00:02:15.491
- But you can learn how to make your circumstances
- 00:02:15.491 --> 00:02:17.760
- Strengthen you rather than destroy you.
- 00:02:17.760 --> 00:02:20.363
- Request choose your attitudes, change your life
- 00:02:20.363 --> 00:02:22.699
- When you give a generous gift to pathway to victory.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- You know this time of the year,
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- You find a lot of different
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- Specials on secular television, you'll find a lot
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- Of articles and news magazines about discovering
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- Who the real jesus is
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- And that's natural at this time of the year
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- To be talking about jesus.
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- Interestingly, very few credible historians doubt
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- That jesus lived.
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- Every historian agrees there was a man named jesus
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- Who lived.
- 00:03:03.606 --> 00:03:05.008
- Furthermore, most of the major world religions teach
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- That jesus was a great teacher.
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- They don't deny that.
- 00:03:11.314 --> 00:03:13.383
- Even hardened secularist doubters of christianity
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- Will concede that there was no one
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- More moral than jesus christ.
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- I think about thomas payne, the deist who doubted much
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- Of scripture was accurate,
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- But even thomas payne believed in the morality of jesus.
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- He said jesus was a virtuous and an amiable man.
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- The morality that he preached
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- And practiced was of the most benevolent kind,
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- And those similar systems of morality had been preached
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- By confucius and by some
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- Of the greek philosophers many years before,
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- By the quakers afterwards,
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- And by many good men in all ages.
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- It has not been exceeded by any.
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- Most men are willing to acknowledge that jesus lived,
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- That he was a great teacher,
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- That his morality is unsurpassed.
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- But here's the problem
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- With saying jesus was a great moral teacher.
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- Jesus claimed to be more than that.
- 00:04:12.175 --> 00:04:15.211
- He claimed to be much more than that,
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- And if jesus christ was really who he claimed to be,
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- Not just a man, certainly not a myth,
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- But the messiah, if jesus is who he said he was,
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- That has tremendous implications for you and me today,
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- And that's what we're going to talk about
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- For the few moments we have today.
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- Today i'd like us to consider three reasons
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- Jesus is unique,
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- Why jesus is different than any other religious leader
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- Who has ever lived.
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- First of all, i want you to consider his claims.
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- Jesus made unique claims
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- That no other religious leader made.
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- There are four of them.
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- First of all, jesus claimed to be god.
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- Now all religious leaders
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- And all philosophers claim to point people to god,
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- But do you realize no other religious leader ever claimed
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- To be god himself?
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- For example, think about muhammad the founder of islam.
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- He said, quote, surely i am no more than a human apostle.
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- Jesus claimed to be god.
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- Secondly, jesus claimed to forgive sins.
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- Again, no other religious leader ever claimed
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- The ability to forgive people of their sins.
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- For example, buddha said, quote, in reality,
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- There are no living beings
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- To whom the lord buddha can bring salvation.
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- That's quite an admission, isn't it?
- 00:05:48.438 --> 00:05:50.573
- Buddha said, i can't forgive sins, but jesus said i can.
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- In mark chapter two, remember the group of disciples
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- Who brought the paralytic to jesus to be healed?
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- Verse five, and jesus seeing their faith said
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- To the paralytic, my son, your sins are forgiven.
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- In verse seven, why does this man speak this way
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- The religious leaders say.
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- He is blaspheming.
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- Who can forgive sins, but god alone?
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- The only person who can forgive sins is god himself.
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- But jesus said, i'm going to forgive you of your sins.
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- Jesus claimed to forgive sins.
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- The third thing that made jesus claims unique was his claim
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- To conquer death.
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- Repeatedly, jesus said to his followers
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- That he would be killed by his enemies,
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- But on the third day, he would be raised from the dead.
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- Matthew 16:21, from that time, jesus began
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- To show his disciples that he must go to jerusalem
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- And suffer many things from the elders
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- And the chief priests and scribes and be killed
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- And be raised up on the third day.
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- Furthermore, jesus said that the signal proof
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- To the entire world that he was who he said he was,
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- Would be that empty tomb.
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- The fact that he was raised from the dead.
- 00:07:07.483 --> 00:07:10.052
- The fourth claim of jesus that made him unique was this.
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- Jesus claimed he would return to judge the world.
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- Jesus said one day he's coming back to reward the righteous
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- And to punish the unrighteous.
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- You know, no other religious leader made that claim.
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- Listen to what jesus said in matthew 25, verses 31 to 34,
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- But when the son of man comes in his glory
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- And all the angels with him,
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- Then he will sit on his glorious throne.
- 00:07:35.144 --> 00:07:38.014
- All the nations will be gathered before him
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- And he will separate them from one another
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- As the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats
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- And he will put the sheep on his right
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- And the goats on the left.
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- Then the king will say to those on his right, come,
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- You who are blessed of my father
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- Inherit the kingdom prepared
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- For you from the foundation of the world.
- 00:07:55.698 --> 00:07:58.734
- Now, here's the distinction between jesus
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- And other religious leaders.
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- Other religious leaders, other founders
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- Of faiths have said
- 00:08:05.841 --> 00:08:07.810
- That people's eternal destiny
- 00:08:07.810 --> 00:08:10.079
- Depends upon their response to that founder's god,
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- That religion's god.
- 00:08:15.818 --> 00:08:17.820
- But jesus said,
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- Your and my eternal destiny,
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- Destiny depends upon our acceptance
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- Or rejection of jesus himself.
- 00:08:25.895 --> 00:08:28.998
- Not on some god, but our eternal destiny
- 00:08:28.998 --> 00:08:32.868
- Depends upon what we think,
- 00:08:32.868 --> 00:08:34.837
- What we believe about jesus himself.
- 00:08:34.837 --> 00:08:37.406
- And ladies and gentlemen,
- 00:08:37.406 --> 00:08:38.708
- If jesus christ is in fact lord, the messiah,
- 00:08:38.708 --> 00:08:43.913
- That means everything he said is true
- 00:08:44.714 --> 00:08:48.284
- And that means you and i had better listen carefully
- 00:08:49.352 --> 00:08:51.954
- And observe everything he says
- 00:08:51.954 --> 00:08:54.523
- Because if he is god himself, what he says is true.
- 00:08:54.523 --> 00:08:58.427
- And that leads to the second uniqueness of jesus
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- Above all other religious leaders,
- 00:09:01.664 --> 00:09:03.633
- And that is his unique teachings.
- 00:09:03.633 --> 00:09:06.469
- You know james 1:17 says, in god there is no variation
- 00:09:06.469 --> 00:09:09.772
- Or shifting shadow, meaning god doesn't lie.
- 00:09:09.772 --> 00:09:12.742
- Everything he has said is true.
- 00:09:12.742 --> 00:09:14.910
- And if jesus is god,
- 00:09:14.910 --> 00:09:16.245
- It means everything jesus taught us is true.
- 00:09:16.245 --> 00:09:19.081
- What did jesus teach that is unique
- 00:09:19.081 --> 00:09:21.250
- Above all other religious leaders?
- 00:09:21.250 --> 00:09:23.386
- Write these things down.
- 00:09:23.386 --> 00:09:24.587
- First of all, jesus said,
- 00:09:24.587 --> 00:09:27.289
- Jesus taught there are two possible eternal destinations
- 00:09:27.289 --> 00:09:31.794
- When we die.
- 00:09:31.794 --> 00:09:33.195
- When we die, we don't all go to the same place.
- 00:09:33.195 --> 00:09:36.666
- Jesus said, not everybody goes to heaven.
- 00:09:36.666 --> 00:09:40.236
- There's not just one destination.
- 00:09:40.903 --> 00:09:42.672
- There are two possible destinations.
- 00:09:42.672 --> 00:09:45.041
- Some will go to heaven, some will go to hell.
- 00:09:45.041 --> 00:09:48.377
- Did you know jesus talked more about hell than he did about
- 00:09:48.377 --> 00:09:51.113
- Heaven in the new testament?
- 00:09:51.113 --> 00:09:52.248
- Just add up the verses.
- 00:09:52.248 --> 00:09:53.783
- Jesus taught there is both a heaven and a hell.
- 00:09:53.783 --> 00:09:57.386
- In matthew 25, verse 46, jesus said, these,
- 00:09:57.386 --> 00:10:00.690
- That is the unrighteous, will go away
- 00:10:00.690 --> 00:10:02.925
- Into eternal punishment,
- 00:10:02.925 --> 00:10:04.560
- But the righteous into eternal life.
- 00:10:04.560 --> 00:10:08.130
- You can't say, well, i accept what jesus said about heaven,
- 00:10:08.130 --> 00:10:10.533
- But i'm just going to ignore what he says about hell.
- 00:10:10.533 --> 00:10:12.968
- That's intellectually dishonest too.
- 00:10:12.968 --> 00:10:15.204
- Jesus said, there are two possible destinations when we die.
- 00:10:15.204 --> 00:10:19.175
- Secondly and more disturbingly, jesus taught
- 00:10:19.175 --> 00:10:22.945
- That the majority
- 00:10:22.945 --> 00:10:24.213
- Of mankind will spend eternity in hell.
- 00:10:24.213 --> 00:10:28.684
- Did you know that?
- 00:10:28.684 --> 00:10:29.952
- Jesus said most people are going to hell.
- 00:10:29.952 --> 00:10:34.056
- In fact, jesus goes on to say, many of those on the road
- 00:10:34.056 --> 00:10:37.827
- To hell are people who think they're christians.
- 00:10:37.827 --> 00:10:40.696
- There are people who call me by name.
- 00:10:40.696 --> 00:10:43.232
- Look at verses 21 to 23 of matthew seven, jesus continues.
- 00:10:43.232 --> 00:10:46.869
- Not everyone who says to me, lord, lord,
- 00:10:46.869 --> 00:10:50.206
- Will enter the kingdom of heaven,
- 00:10:50.206 --> 00:10:52.174
- But he who does the will of my father who is in heaven,
- 00:10:52.174 --> 00:10:55.478
- For many will say to me on that day,
- 00:10:55.478 --> 00:10:57.313
- That is the judgment day, lord.
- 00:10:57.313 --> 00:10:59.949
- Lord, did we not prophesy in your name
- 00:10:59.949 --> 00:11:02.551
- And in your name, cast out demons
- 00:11:02.551 --> 00:11:04.620
- And in your name performed many miracles
- 00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:06.856
- And i will declare to them, i never knew you.
- 00:11:06.856 --> 00:11:12.161
- Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.
- 00:11:13.095 --> 00:11:16.632
- Wouldn't that be the worst surprise of your entire life
- 00:11:16.632 --> 00:11:20.536
- To awaken after you die in the presence of god
- 00:11:20.536 --> 00:11:23.939
- And to realize you were on the wrong road the entire time?
- 00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:27.943
- Jesus said, many people are going to have that surprise,
- 00:11:27.943 --> 00:11:31.046
- Not just the hardened atheist,
- 00:11:31.046 --> 00:11:33.315
- But many professors of christianity
- 00:11:33.315 --> 00:11:36.385
- Who will be surprised on the judgment day,
- 00:11:36.385 --> 00:11:38.988
- And that leads to the unique teaching of jesus
- 00:11:38.988 --> 00:11:42.358
- That ensures you won't have that surprise.
- 00:11:42.358 --> 00:11:45.127
- And that is jesus offers an exclusive way to heaven.
- 00:11:45.127 --> 00:11:50.399
- Jesus offers an exclusive way to heaven.
- 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:54.103
- You know, every now and then i'll be on a talk show
- 00:11:54.103 --> 00:11:57.273
- And people will say, well, pastor,
- 00:11:57.273 --> 00:11:59.041
- You're just being intolerant when you say that
- 00:11:59.041 --> 00:12:02.878
- People have to trust in jesus to be saved.
- 00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:06.015
- That is just intolerant, that is narrow.
- 00:12:06.015 --> 00:12:08.884
- And whenever people accuse me of that,
- 00:12:08.884 --> 00:12:10.820
- I always have the same response.
- 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:12.822
- I say, well, you know, that's not me saying that.
- 00:12:12.822 --> 00:12:14.824
- That's what the founder of our faith, jesus said.
- 00:12:14.824 --> 00:12:18.227
- Jesus said in john 14:6, i am the way,
- 00:12:18.227 --> 00:12:22.164
- The truth and the life.
- 00:12:22.164 --> 00:12:23.933
- No man comes to the father except by me.
- 00:12:23.933 --> 00:12:27.870
- That's jesus' claim.
- 00:12:28.337 --> 00:12:29.605
- There are not many ways to heaven.
- 00:12:29.605 --> 00:12:31.340
- There is one way to heaven and it is through him.
- 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:34.310
- And by the way, the reason jesus taught that was
- 00:12:34.310 --> 00:12:36.779
- He didn't want to keep people out of heaven.
- 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:38.647
- He wanted to have as many people come to heaven as possible,
- 00:12:38.647 --> 00:12:41.650
- But he said there's only one way
- 00:12:41.650 --> 00:12:43.452
- And that way is through faith in me.
- 00:12:43.452 --> 00:12:45.855
- John 5:24, truly, truly jesus said, i say to you,
- 00:12:45.855 --> 00:12:49.959
- He who hears my word
- 00:12:49.959 --> 00:12:51.827
- And believes in him who sent me has eternal life
- 00:12:51.827 --> 00:12:55.030
- And does not come into judgment,
- 00:12:55.030 --> 00:12:57.233
- But is passed out of death into life.
- 00:12:57.233 --> 00:13:00.536
- Hear me this morning, even sincere followers
- 00:13:00.536 --> 00:13:03.906
- Of other religions are not exempt from this truth.
- 00:13:03.906 --> 00:13:06.909
- There is only one way for a person to go to heaven
- 00:13:06.909 --> 00:13:09.511
- And it is through faith in jesus christ.
- 00:13:09.511 --> 00:13:12.848
- I don't think it's accidental
- 00:13:12.848 --> 00:13:14.683
- That jesus gave his greatest teaching about what it means
- 00:13:14.683 --> 00:13:18.854
- To be a christian, how a person can have saving faith.
- 00:13:18.854 --> 00:13:22.424
- He gave that discourse not to a hardened atheist,
- 00:13:22.424 --> 00:13:25.995
- But to a sincere follower of another religion.
- 00:13:25.995 --> 00:13:30.032
- Remember in john chapter three, nicodemus came to jesus.
- 00:13:30.032 --> 00:13:34.136
- Nicodemus was a jew who came by the way to jesus
- 00:13:34.136 --> 00:13:37.373
- Who was a jew and he wanted to know
- 00:13:37.373 --> 00:13:39.608
- How he could have eternal life.
- 00:13:39.608 --> 00:13:42.411
- Now, look, if anybody should have qualified
- 00:13:42.411 --> 00:13:44.647
- For eternal life, it should have been nicodemus.
- 00:13:44.647 --> 00:13:46.749
- He was a jew, one of god's chosen people.
- 00:13:46.749 --> 00:13:49.818
- He was a member of the sanhedrin, the ruling class
- 00:13:49.818 --> 00:13:52.288
- Of the jews, part of the elders of the jewish people.
- 00:13:52.288 --> 00:13:55.624
- He kept the law as best he could from the time he was born.
- 00:13:55.624 --> 00:13:59.461
- If anybody should have been able to earn eternal life
- 00:13:59.461 --> 00:14:02.865
- By living a good life, it should have been nicodemus.
- 00:14:02.865 --> 00:14:06.101
- But jesus said no in john 3:3, truly i say to you,
- 00:14:06.101 --> 00:14:09.772
- Unless one is born again,
- 00:14:09.772 --> 00:14:12.241
- He cannot see the kingdom of god.
- 00:14:12.241 --> 00:14:15.911
- Well, that raised all kind of questions
- 00:14:15.911 --> 00:14:17.246
- For nicodemus, born again?
- 00:14:17.246 --> 00:14:18.614
- What does that mean?
- 00:14:18.614 --> 00:14:19.915
- You mean climbing back into your mother's womb
- 00:14:19.915 --> 00:14:21.517
- And going through that ordeal again?
- 00:14:21.517 --> 00:14:23.652
- No jesus said, you have to be spiritually reborn
- 00:14:24.586 --> 00:14:27.089
- Or jesus, i still don't understand
- 00:14:27.089 --> 00:14:28.891
- What you're talking about.
- 00:14:28.891 --> 00:14:30.592
- And then jesus gave this illustration,
- 00:14:30.592 --> 00:14:33.062
- The clearest illustration i know of anywhere in the bible
- 00:14:33.062 --> 00:14:36.365
- To explain how you can know for sure you're going to heaven
- 00:14:36.365 --> 00:14:39.134
- One day, john three verses 14 to 16,
- 00:14:39.134 --> 00:14:42.171
- And as moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
- 00:14:42.171 --> 00:14:46.675
- Even so the son of man must be lifted up
- 00:14:46.675 --> 00:14:49.511
- That whoever believes may in him have eternal life.
- 00:14:49.511 --> 00:14:53.649
- For god so loved the world
- 00:14:53.649 --> 00:14:55.451
- That he gave his only begotten son,
- 00:14:55.451 --> 00:14:57.353
- That whoever believes in him should not perish
- 00:14:57.353 --> 00:15:01.156
- But have eternal life.
- 00:15:01.156 --> 00:15:03.525
- What is that about moses?
- 00:15:03.525 --> 00:15:05.627
- Some serpents, some pole?
- 00:15:05.627 --> 00:15:07.563
- What in the world is all that weird stuff about?
- 00:15:07.563 --> 00:15:10.532
- Well, nicodemus knew the story well,
- 00:15:10.532 --> 00:15:12.301
- It came from the old testament in numbers chapter 21.
- 00:15:12.301 --> 00:15:15.971
- Consider the unique claims of jesus, his unique teaching,
- 00:15:15.971 --> 00:15:20.909
- And that leads finally to his unique solution.
- 00:15:20.909 --> 00:15:25.147
- What makes jesus different than any other religious leader?
- 00:15:25.147 --> 00:15:28.350
- He offers a unique solution
- 00:15:28.350 --> 00:15:31.353
- To man's deepest dilemma.
- 00:15:31.353 --> 00:15:34.556
- You're going to be surprised that i say this,
- 00:15:35.491 --> 00:15:37.793
- But listen carefully.
- 00:15:37.793 --> 00:15:39.661
- Not all religions are wrong about everything.
- 00:15:39.661 --> 00:15:44.733
- It means all religions,
- 00:15:45.234 --> 00:15:46.769
- There's a kernel of truth somewhere in those religions.
- 00:15:46.769 --> 00:15:50.939
- Now, it's not about the important things,
- 00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:52.608
- But they get some things right.
- 00:15:52.608 --> 00:15:54.576
- I mean, remember a broken clock is right twice a day,
- 00:15:54.576 --> 00:15:58.447
- And so some religions get some things right.
- 00:15:58.447 --> 00:16:01.016
- For example, almost all the major world religions say
- 00:16:01.016 --> 00:16:05.220
- That man is flawed, that we have an internal problem.
- 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:10.492
- Most of the religions of the world say
- 00:16:11.326 --> 00:16:12.494
- That that problem is selfishness,
- 00:16:12.494 --> 00:16:15.230
- And because of selfishness, we are missing out
- 00:16:15.230 --> 00:16:18.434
- On what god or some other deity has planned for us.
- 00:16:18.434 --> 00:16:23.772
- We're all infected with selfishness,
- 00:16:24.573 --> 00:16:26.708
- But all the other world religions say the solution
- 00:16:26.708 --> 00:16:29.511
- To that dilemma begins with man.
- 00:16:29.511 --> 00:16:32.614
- The solution to man's dilemma begins with man.
- 00:16:33.549 --> 00:16:36.852
- For example, eastern religions like buddhism
- 00:16:37.753 --> 00:16:40.189
- And hinduism say that meditation is the answer
- 00:16:40.189 --> 00:16:43.325
- To selfishness.
- 00:16:43.325 --> 00:16:44.526
- If you will just meditate.
- 00:16:44.526 --> 00:16:46.028
- They don't really tell you exactly what to meditate on,
- 00:16:46.028 --> 00:16:47.796
- But if you'll meditate, you can rid yourself of that cancer
- 00:16:47.796 --> 00:16:51.433
- Of selfishness.
- 00:16:51.433 --> 00:16:53.368
- Judaism and islam, as different as they are,
- 00:16:53.368 --> 00:16:55.938
- Are really alike in this way.
- 00:16:55.938 --> 00:16:57.473
- Both judaism and islam say, no, meditation won't do it.
- 00:16:57.473 --> 00:17:00.943
- You need to keep a list of rules
- 00:17:00.943 --> 00:17:03.011
- And regulations to satisfy god, to earn your forgiveness.
- 00:17:03.011 --> 00:17:07.850
- Now, judaism and islam differ.
- 00:17:07.850 --> 00:17:09.585
- They have different gods
- 00:17:09.585 --> 00:17:10.886
- And they have different lists of regulations,
- 00:17:10.886 --> 00:17:13.188
- But they both say the way we get right with whoever god is,
- 00:17:13.188 --> 00:17:17.359
- Is by keeping the law.
- 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:18.627
- But christianity is all together different.
- 00:17:18.627 --> 00:17:22.030
- Christianity, first of all says
- 00:17:22.030 --> 00:17:24.333
- Our dilemma is much more serious than selfishness.
- 00:17:24.333 --> 00:17:28.303
- At the root of our problem is sin,
- 00:17:28.303 --> 00:17:32.107
- Our rebellion against our creator.
- 00:17:32.107 --> 00:17:35.277
- And the bible says we're all guilty of it.
- 00:17:35.277 --> 00:17:37.246
- Romans 3:23, for all of us have sinned
- 00:17:37.246 --> 00:17:39.548
- And fallen short of the glory of god.
- 00:17:39.548 --> 00:17:41.750
- And not only that, romans 6:23 says that the wages,
- 00:17:41.750 --> 00:17:45.220
- What we deserve for our sin is death, eternal death
- 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:48.357
- And separation from god.
- 00:17:48.357 --> 00:17:51.026
- Some people say, well, i can earn god's forgiveness.
- 00:17:51.026 --> 00:17:54.229
- I know i've messed up here and there,
- 00:17:54.229 --> 00:17:55.597
- But maybe i can earn forgiveness.
- 00:17:55.597 --> 00:17:57.766
- Here's the problem with that,
- 00:17:57.766 --> 00:17:59.168
- And here's the problem with judaism and islam.
- 00:17:59.168 --> 00:18:02.204
- God doesn't allow selective obedience to his laws.
- 00:18:02.204 --> 00:18:06.775
- God doesn't say, well, as long as you keep 70% of the law
- 00:18:06.775 --> 00:18:09.478
- Or 80% of it, you're okay.
- 00:18:09.478 --> 00:18:11.947
- In galatians 3:10, paul was writing to those
- 00:18:11.947 --> 00:18:14.583
- Who are trying to justify themselves by keeping god's laws
- 00:18:14.583 --> 00:18:18.020
- And he reminded them for as many as are of the works
- 00:18:18.020 --> 00:18:21.790
- Of the law or under a curse.
- 00:18:21.790 --> 00:18:23.425
- For it is written the old testament,
- 00:18:23.425 --> 00:18:25.427
- Cursed is everyone who does not abide
- 00:18:25.427 --> 00:18:28.397
- By all things written in the book
- 00:18:28.397 --> 00:18:31.667
- Of the law to perform them.
- 00:18:31.667 --> 00:18:33.835
- Do you remember in high school or college, every now
- 00:18:34.870 --> 00:18:36.838
- And then you might have one of those pass-fail courses?
- 00:18:36.838 --> 00:18:41.343
- Did you all like those as much as i did?
- 00:18:41.343 --> 00:18:44.012
- I loved pass-fail classes
- 00:18:44.012 --> 00:18:46.114
- Because as long as you just kept a minimum requirement,
- 00:18:46.114 --> 00:18:50.452
- Just did a minimum amount of work, you passed.
- 00:18:50.452 --> 00:18:54.623
- And as soon as you met that minimum requirement,
- 00:18:54.623 --> 00:18:57.159
- You know, you could goof off the rest of the semester.
- 00:18:57.159 --> 00:19:00.262
- You didn't have to worry about your gpa
- 00:19:00.262 --> 00:19:02.197
- Or earning a higher grade because it was pass or fail.
- 00:19:02.197 --> 00:19:04.800
- That was it.
- 00:19:04.800 --> 00:19:06.001
- Well, you know, when it comes to god's judgment
- 00:19:06.935 --> 00:19:09.771
- Of our lives,
- 00:19:09.771 --> 00:19:11.273
- Did you know god grades on the pass-fail system?
- 00:19:11.273 --> 00:19:15.777
- He doesn't grade on the curve.
- 00:19:15.777 --> 00:19:17.813
- He grades on the pass-fail system.
- 00:19:17.813 --> 00:19:20.148
- That's the good news.
- 00:19:20.148 --> 00:19:22.384
- Here's the bad news.
- 00:19:22.384 --> 00:19:24.152
- The minimum requirement to pass
- 00:19:24.786 --> 00:19:27.089
- And go to heaven is 100% obedience
- 00:19:27.089 --> 00:19:31.059
- To god's laws.
- 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.995
- 100%.
- 00:19:32.995 --> 00:19:34.830
- In fact, james said it this way in james 2:10,
- 00:19:34.830 --> 00:19:37.099
- For whoever keeps the whole law of god
- 00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:39.401
- And yet stumbles in one point,
- 00:19:39.401 --> 00:19:42.237
- He has been guilty of all.
- 00:19:42.237 --> 00:19:45.507
- One little mistake.
- 00:19:45.507 --> 00:19:48.076
- You fail.
- 00:19:48.076 --> 00:19:49.311
- You have to be perfect.
- 00:19:49.311 --> 00:19:51.780
- You have to keep all things written in the book.
- 00:19:51.780 --> 00:19:54.249
- You're safe, pastor, that's impossible for anyone to do.
- 00:19:54.249 --> 00:19:58.086
- Bingo.
- 00:19:58.320 --> 00:20:00.088
- Exactly.
- 00:20:00.322 --> 00:20:02.190
- That's god's whole point.
- 00:20:02.190 --> 00:20:04.793
- None of us is good enough to earn god's forgiveness,
- 00:20:04.793 --> 00:20:08.630
- And that's why god instituted a rescue plan
- 00:20:08.630 --> 00:20:12.401
- To save us from the punishment we all deserve for our sins.
- 00:20:12.401 --> 00:20:16.004
- That's why 2000 years ago,
- 00:20:16.004 --> 00:20:17.706
- He sent his perfect son jesus
- 00:20:17.706 --> 00:20:21.376
- To live a perfect life and yet to die on a cross
- 00:20:21.376 --> 00:20:25.714
- And suffer the hell, the separation from god,
- 00:20:25.714 --> 00:20:28.750
- From his father that you and i deserve to suffer.
- 00:20:28.750 --> 00:20:32.587
- And here's the great thing that happens.
- 00:20:32.587 --> 00:20:35.457
- When you trust in jesus to be your savior, when you believe
- 00:20:35.457 --> 00:20:39.895
- That he paid the penalty that you deserve for your sins,
- 00:20:39.895 --> 00:20:42.998
- Two transactions take place.
- 00:20:42.998 --> 00:20:45.334
- Jesus suffers.
- 00:20:45.334 --> 00:20:47.736
- He suffers the penalty for our sin.
- 00:20:48.503 --> 00:20:51.840
- And secondly, we experience the reward for his perfection.
- 00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:57.179
- When you trust in jesus as your savior,
- 00:20:58.046 --> 00:20:59.715
- Believing that he died for your sins,
- 00:20:59.715 --> 00:21:01.783
- He suffers the penalty for your sin.
- 00:21:01.783 --> 00:21:05.053
- He suffered separation from god in some inexplicable way
- 00:21:05.053 --> 00:21:09.091
- So that you and i never have to be separated from god.
- 00:21:09.091 --> 00:21:11.927
- But not only that, we get to experience the reward, heaven,
- 00:21:11.927 --> 00:21:16.531
- Because of his perfection.
- 00:21:16.531 --> 00:21:18.533
- The apostle paul said it this way in 2 corinthians 5:21,
- 00:21:18.533 --> 00:21:21.803
- For god made him, jesus, who knew no sin
- 00:21:21.803 --> 00:21:25.807
- To be sin on our behalf so that we might become
- 00:21:25.807 --> 00:21:29.644
- The righteousness of god in him.
- 00:21:29.644 --> 00:21:32.013
- Christianity doesn't require
- 00:21:32.614 --> 00:21:34.750
- That we earn god's forgiveness.
- 00:21:34.750 --> 00:21:38.820
- In fact, christianity doesn't even allow for it.
- 00:21:38.820 --> 00:21:43.658
- Paul said in ephesians 2:8-9 for by grace
- 00:21:44.526 --> 00:21:47.996
- You have been saved through faith
- 00:21:47.996 --> 00:21:49.965
- And that not of yourselves, it is a gift of god,
- 00:21:49.965 --> 00:21:53.001
- Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- 00:21:53.001 --> 00:21:57.305
- Number of years ago,
- 00:21:57.773 --> 00:21:59.608
- There was a symposium in great britain
- 00:21:59.608 --> 00:22:01.743
- On the world's great religions,
- 00:22:01.743 --> 00:22:03.879
- And one afternoon there was a breakout session
- 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:06.081
- And some leading scholars were discussing what it is
- 00:22:06.081 --> 00:22:09.184
- That makes christianity different
- 00:22:09.184 --> 00:22:10.886
- From all the other world religions.
- 00:22:10.886 --> 00:22:12.621
- They were getting into a heated debate when all of a sudden,
- 00:22:12.621 --> 00:22:15.557
- Cs lewis, the oxford scholar i mentioned earlier,
- 00:22:15.557 --> 00:22:18.326
- Walked into the room, he heard all of the discussion.
- 00:22:18.326 --> 00:22:21.229
- He said, what's the rumpus about?
- 00:22:21.229 --> 00:22:23.365
- They said, well, we're discussing what is it
- 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:26.034
- That makes christianity unique
- 00:22:26.034 --> 00:22:27.502
- Than all other world religions?
- 00:22:27.502 --> 00:22:28.904
- He said, oh, that's easy.
- 00:22:28.904 --> 00:22:31.139
- It's grace.
- 00:22:31.473 --> 00:22:33.508
- Grace.
- 00:22:33.508 --> 00:22:35.377
- Every other religion in the world is spelled d-o.
- 00:22:35.377 --> 00:22:39.815
- Do this, do this, do this,
- 00:22:39.815 --> 00:22:43.084
- And you might have a chance at heaven.
- 00:22:43.084 --> 00:22:45.253
- Only christianity is spelled d-o-n-e.
- 00:22:45.253 --> 00:22:49.825
- It's all been done.
- 00:22:49.825 --> 00:22:52.227
- It's been done by jesus christ
- 00:22:52.227 --> 00:22:54.296
- And nothing, nothing you can do can add to that.
- 00:22:54.296 --> 00:22:58.066
- And perhaps that is what makes jesus
- 00:22:58.066 --> 00:23:00.268
- And christianity different than all other religions
- 00:23:00.268 --> 00:23:03.338
- Because jesus offered the unique solution
- 00:23:03.338 --> 00:23:08.076
- To our greatest dilemma.
- 00:23:08.076 --> 00:23:10.111
- It's the dilemma that job expressed in job 9:2
- 00:23:10.111 --> 00:23:13.181
- When he asked, what can a person do
- 00:23:13.181 --> 00:23:16.585
- To be right with god?
- 00:23:17.085 --> 00:23:19.921
- It's all that matters.
- 00:23:19.921 --> 00:23:21.156
- What can we do to be right with god?
- 00:23:21.156 --> 00:23:23.925
- Every other religion answers that question, work,
- 00:23:23.925 --> 00:23:28.163
- But jesus answers that question, grace.
- 00:23:29.030 --> 00:23:33.435
- For by grace you have been saved through faith.
- 00:23:33.435 --> 00:23:38.740
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:39.074 --> 00:23:43.178
- Grace sets christianity apart from any other religion,
- 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:48.049
- And this is the good news we declare every day
- 00:23:48.049 --> 00:23:50.852
- On pathway to victory.
- 00:23:50.852 --> 00:23:52.621
- God's grace is the bright light that pierces the darkness.
- 00:23:52.621 --> 00:23:57.292
- Now, in closing, i want to share a note from jim who wrote
- 00:23:57.292 --> 00:24:00.061
- To me and said, i haven't been
- 00:24:00.061 --> 00:24:02.030
- To church in about nine years.
- 00:24:02.030 --> 00:24:04.399
- I understand that christ is my savior,
- 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:07.002
- But my life isn't where it needs to be
- 00:24:07.002 --> 00:24:09.571
- And i'm not walking with god.
- 00:24:09.571 --> 00:24:11.907
- I am blessed by pathway to victory
- 00:24:11.907 --> 00:24:14.609
- And i feel like god is working through your program
- 00:24:14.609 --> 00:24:17.712
- To bring me back to him.
- 00:24:17.712 --> 00:24:19.981
- Jim, that's wonderful
- 00:24:19.981 --> 00:24:21.316
- And that's why pathway to victory exists.
- 00:24:21.316 --> 00:24:24.152
- And let me say thank you to our pathway partners
- 00:24:24.152 --> 00:24:26.922
- And all who give faithfully.
- 00:24:26.922 --> 00:24:29.057
- Your support empowers us
- 00:24:29.057 --> 00:24:30.692
- To reach people like jim and millions more with the hope
- 00:24:30.692 --> 00:24:34.396
- And truth of god's word.
- 00:24:34.396 --> 00:24:36.865
- Now stay right there, i'll be back in just a moment
- 00:24:36.865 --> 00:24:39.901
- With more pathway to victory.
- 00:24:39.901 --> 00:24:44.039
- When unexpected challenges hit,
- 00:24:44.673 --> 00:24:46.875
- It's easy to feel defeated and robbed of joy.
- 00:24:46.875 --> 00:24:49.911
- But while we can't always choose our circumstances,
- 00:24:49.911 --> 00:24:52.714
- We can always choose how we respond to them.
- 00:24:52.714 --> 00:24:55.584
- In choose your attitudes, change your life,
- 00:24:55.584 --> 00:24:58.153
- Dr. robert jeffress shares 11 proven attitude choices
- 00:24:58.153 --> 00:25:01.423
- That will help you experience the abundant life
- 00:25:01.423 --> 00:25:03.858
- God desires for you.
- 00:25:03.858 --> 00:25:05.460
- The bible tells us that
- 00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.861
- As a person thinks within himself, so is he.
- 00:25:06.861 --> 00:25:10.665
- Our attitudes impact everything, our health,
- 00:25:10.665 --> 00:25:13.401
- Our relationships, our work, and even our eternity.
- 00:25:13.401 --> 00:25:17.238
- In my book, choose your attitudes, change your life,
- 00:25:17.238 --> 00:25:20.375
- I walk you through 11 essential choices
- 00:25:20.375 --> 00:25:23.578
- Like purpose over aimlessness,
- 00:25:23.578 --> 00:25:25.714
- Perseverance over defeat, and faith over worry.
- 00:25:25.714 --> 00:25:29.918
- These biblical principles have transformed countless lives
- 00:25:29.918 --> 00:25:33.488
- And they can transform yours as well.
- 00:25:33.488 --> 00:25:35.991
- Request your copy
- 00:25:35.991 --> 00:25:37.225
- Of choose your attitudes, change your life
- 00:25:37.225 --> 00:25:39.327
- When you give a generous gift
- 00:25:39.327 --> 00:25:40.662
- To support pathway to victory.
- 00:25:40.662 --> 00:25:42.664
- And when your ministry gift is $75 or more,
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- We'll also send you the companion study guide
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- Along with the complete teaching series on cd and dvd.
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- Our attitude determines our destiny.
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- Attitudes profoundly impact our life, our death,
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- And our eternal destiny.
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- Thank you for your generous support of pathway to victory.
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- Your partnership helps us bring practical life-changing
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- Biblical truth into homes
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- Across the nation and around the world.
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- Throughout the ages, people have called jesus
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- A great moral teacher or a charitable do-gooder,
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- But jesus claimed to be much more,
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- And these bold claims of jesus could have only been made
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- By someone who was indeed the son of god.
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- Well, someone has wisely stated that christianity stands
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- Or falls on the resurrection of jesus christ from the dead.
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- Disprove it, and you have disposed of christianity forever.
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- So why is an empty tomb the foundation
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- Of our christian faith?
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- Stay tuned for a preview
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- Of what's coming up next on pathway to victory.
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- You see, ladies and gentlemen,
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- The resurrection was not some isolated event,
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- Disconnected anything else in jesus' life.
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- The resurrection was the culminating proof
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- That jesus was who he said he was.
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- And if he is who he said he was,
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- It has tremendous ramifications for you and for me.
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- Set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
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- Three reasons the resurrection matters,
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- Here on pathway to victory.
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