Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Meet the Divine Director (Part 1)

January 2, 2025 | S25:E4

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

#Faith #God'sWill #LoveofGod #Forgiveness #Grace #Religion #Judgement #inActive #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Creation #Mercy #Authority #FearoftheLord #HandofGod #Divination

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Meet the Divine Director (Part 1) | January 2, 2025

♪ music ♪
00:00:00.156 --> 00:00:06.463
[narrator] from the pulpit of the first baptist church
00:00:06.463 --> 00:00:08.531
Of dallas, texas, this is pathway to victory
00:00:08.531 --> 00:00:11.434
With dr. robert jeffress.
00:00:11.434 --> 00:00:13.803
Hi, i am robert jeffress,
00:00:14.370 --> 00:00:15.638
And welcome again to pathway to victory.
00:00:15.638 --> 00:00:18.141
Wouldn't it be nice if life had a reset button,
00:00:18.141 --> 00:00:21.611
A simple way to undo your past mistakes?
00:00:21.611 --> 00:00:25.014
I'm sure we've all wished for that
00:00:25.014 --> 00:00:26.850
At some point in our lives.
00:00:26.850 --> 00:00:28.785
Well, we can't erase our actions or their consequences,
00:00:28.785 --> 00:00:32.589
But we can have a second chance,
00:00:32.589 --> 00:00:35.658
And it all begins with receiving god's gift of forgiveness.
00:00:35.658 --> 00:00:39.829
My message is titled, meet the divine director
00:00:39.829 --> 00:00:43.600
On today's edition of pathway to victory.
00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:47.036
♪ music ♪
00:00:47.036 --> 00:00:53.209
[narrator] we all make mistakes almost every hour
00:00:54.210 --> 00:00:56.279
Of every day, but because of god's grace,
00:00:56.279 --> 00:00:58.982
Failure does not have to be fatal.
00:00:58.982 --> 00:01:01.284
Dr. robert jeffress has written a book called,
00:01:01.284 --> 00:01:03.186
"second chance, second act" featuring biblical insights,
00:01:03.186 --> 00:01:06.756
Trustworthy wisdom, and practical strategies
00:01:06.756 --> 00:01:09.058
For turning your messes into successes.
00:01:09.058 --> 00:01:11.861
Discover how god can transform your biggest mistake
00:01:11.861 --> 00:01:14.931
Into a new beginning.
00:01:14.931 --> 00:01:16.466
Request the bestselling book "second chance, second act"
00:01:16.466 --> 00:01:19.135
When you give a generous gift to support the ministry
00:01:19.135 --> 00:01:21.671
Of pathway to victory.
00:01:21.671 --> 00:01:24.774
♪ music ♪
00:01:25.108 --> 00:01:31.981
Somewhere in your distant or perhaps even recent past
00:01:31.981 --> 00:01:37.754
Is a giant failure.
00:01:37.754 --> 00:01:40.890
Your failure may involve an opportunity you've squandered.
00:01:40.890 --> 00:01:45.195
It may be a relationship that has been broken,
00:01:45.195 --> 00:01:47.597
It may be a terrible moral choice you've made.
00:01:47.597 --> 00:01:52.835
Perhaps right now you're living with the embarrassment
00:01:52.835 --> 00:01:55.705
Of that mistake of yours that everyone knows about,
00:01:55.705 --> 00:01:59.676
Or perhaps that mistake is still hidden
00:01:59.676 --> 00:02:02.512
From other people's view, at least for now.
00:02:02.512 --> 00:02:06.216
But in the back of your mind is this foundational question
00:02:07.383 --> 00:02:10.119
About your failure.
00:02:10.119 --> 00:02:11.788
Will my failure become the defining moment of my life,
00:02:12.889 --> 00:02:18.027
A moment that i'll spend the rest of my life paying for,
00:02:18.027 --> 00:02:21.397
Or is it possible that i can move beyond my failure?
00:02:21.397 --> 00:02:26.369
When you think about it, there are only really two people
00:02:27.503 --> 00:02:32.775
That can determine the answer to that question,
00:02:32.775 --> 00:02:35.745
You and god.
00:02:35.745 --> 00:02:38.081
As we'll see, there are some things we can do
00:02:39.015 --> 00:02:41.651
To experience a second chance
00:02:41.651 --> 00:02:43.686
And a second act after our failure in life,
00:02:43.686 --> 00:02:48.458
But think about this,
00:02:48.458 --> 00:02:49.993
It also foundationally depends upon god.
00:02:49.993 --> 00:02:53.496
I mean, after all, if god is our divine director,
00:02:53.496 --> 00:02:56.699
If he's the one who has created, written,
00:02:56.699 --> 00:02:59.869
Produced and is now directing every moment
00:02:59.869 --> 00:03:02.872
Of this 70 to 80 year drama, we call life on this earth,
00:03:02.872 --> 00:03:06.876
Doesn't he have the final say
00:03:06.876 --> 00:03:08.645
About if we can move beyond our failure or not?
00:03:08.645 --> 00:03:12.448
I mean, after all, if he wants to,
00:03:12.448 --> 00:03:14.083
After our failure he can bring down the curtain
00:03:14.083 --> 00:03:16.786
And say it's over for you, or he can choose
00:03:16.786 --> 00:03:21.190
To raise the curtain again
00:03:21.190 --> 00:03:22.959
And give us a wonderful second act.
00:03:22.959 --> 00:03:26.095
It really depends upon god.
00:03:26.095 --> 00:03:28.531
In romans 8:31, paul asks a seminal question.
00:03:28.531 --> 00:03:31.634
He says, "if god is for us, who can be against us?"
00:03:31.634 --> 00:03:38.174
I mean the implication is obvious.
00:03:38.174 --> 00:03:39.876
Having god on our side is like having the biggest kid
00:03:39.876 --> 00:03:44.614
On the playground as your best friend.
00:03:44.614 --> 00:03:47.550
I mean, if that's true, it doesn't matter
00:03:47.550 --> 00:03:49.052
What anybody else on the playground does to you, right?
00:03:49.052 --> 00:03:52.288
It's the same way with god.
00:03:52.288 --> 00:03:53.690
If an all powerful god is on our side,
00:03:53.690 --> 00:03:56.793
It really doesn't matter what other people think
00:03:56.793 --> 00:03:58.761
About our failure.
00:03:58.761 --> 00:04:00.430
But the opposite is also true.
00:04:00.430 --> 00:04:03.299
If god is against us, what else really matters?
00:04:03.299 --> 00:04:08.271
I mean, if god is so offended by your mistake
00:04:08.271 --> 00:04:11.507
And my mistake that he says you're finished,
00:04:11.507 --> 00:04:15.111
Well, there is no second chance and second act in life.
00:04:15.111 --> 00:04:19.515
So the real question is, is god willing to forgive me
00:04:19.515 --> 00:04:23.353
Of my failure?
00:04:23.353 --> 00:04:24.854
And that's what we're going to talk about today
00:04:24.854 --> 00:04:27.090
As we meet the divine director of our lives.
00:04:27.090 --> 00:04:31.661
Now, i want to move beyond the theological
00:04:31.661 --> 00:04:34.797
To the intensely practical,
00:04:34.797 --> 00:04:37.400
Right now i want you to picture the biggest failure
00:04:37.400 --> 00:04:41.971
Of your life.
00:04:41.971 --> 00:04:43.639
I'm not talking about a slip up or a mess up,
00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:46.309
I'm talking about the mother of all screw ups.
00:04:46.309 --> 00:04:49.846
You know what i'm talking about.
00:04:49.846 --> 00:04:51.681
I'm talking about that past event in your life
00:04:51.681 --> 00:04:55.985
That if it were projected on this big screen
00:04:55.985 --> 00:04:59.188
For everybody to see,
00:04:59.188 --> 00:05:00.923
You would crawl under the pew in embarrassment.
00:05:00.923 --> 00:05:04.160
Have you got that mistake in mind?
00:05:04.927 --> 00:05:07.029
Isn't it funny how easy it comes to our mind,
00:05:07.029 --> 00:05:09.332
What that biggest mistake was.
00:05:09.332 --> 00:05:11.701
So let's ask the question again.
00:05:11.701 --> 00:05:13.536
Is god willing to forgive me,
00:05:13.536 --> 00:05:15.938
To let me off the hook for that mistake?
00:05:15.938 --> 00:05:19.609
Let's listen to what the scripture says,
00:05:19.609 --> 00:05:21.844
Isaiah 54:8, "in an outburst of anger.
00:05:21.844 --> 00:05:25.081
I hid my face from you for a moment;
00:05:25.081 --> 00:05:27.617
But with everlasting loving kindness,
00:05:27.617 --> 00:05:30.586
I will have compassion on you,
00:05:30.586 --> 00:05:32.455
Says the lord, your redeemer."
00:05:32.455 --> 00:05:34.524
Or jeremiah 31:34, "for i will forgive their iniquity
00:05:34.524 --> 00:05:38.928
And their sin i will remember no more declares the lord.'
00:05:38.928 --> 00:05:43.800
Or joel 2:13, "now return to the lord your god,
00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:48.271
For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger,
00:05:48.271 --> 00:05:52.575
Abounding in loving kindness.
00:05:52.575 --> 00:05:54.877
And relenting of evil."
00:05:54.877 --> 00:05:57.079
Or psalm 103:12,
00:05:57.079 --> 00:05:59.182
"as far as the east is from the west,
00:05:59.182 --> 00:06:02.618
So far he has removed our transgressions from us."
00:06:02.618 --> 00:06:06.923
The bible says god is willing to forgive you and me.
00:06:06.923 --> 00:06:11.828
Well, what does that mean? what does that mean?
00:06:11.828 --> 00:06:14.197
What is the meaning of forgiveness?
00:06:14.197 --> 00:06:16.966
Remember that word forgive literally means
00:06:16.966 --> 00:06:19.936
To let go of, to surrender.
00:06:19.936 --> 00:06:23.139
You know, when we are hurt by somebody else,
00:06:23.139 --> 00:06:25.875
We've got a choice to make.
00:06:25.875 --> 00:06:27.477
We can hold on to that offense
00:06:27.477 --> 00:06:29.812
That somebody has committed against us.
00:06:29.812 --> 00:06:31.781
We can demand our pound of flesh from the other person,
00:06:31.781 --> 00:06:36.018
Or we can choose to let go of it,
00:06:36.018 --> 00:06:39.655
And that's what forgiveness is.
00:06:40.289 --> 00:06:42.325
My definition of forgiveness is letting go of your right
00:06:42.325 --> 00:06:46.329
To hurt somebody else for hurting you.
00:06:46.329 --> 00:06:48.831
That's what forgiveness is, letting go of your right
00:06:48.831 --> 00:06:52.034
To hurt others for hurting you.
00:06:52.034 --> 00:06:54.136
And the bible says, our ability and willingness
00:06:54.136 --> 00:06:58.174
To forgive other people is directly related to god's ability
00:06:58.174 --> 00:07:02.311
And willingness to forgive us.
00:07:02.311 --> 00:07:04.814
In ephesians 4:32, paul said,
00:07:04.814 --> 00:07:07.283
"and be kind to one another, tender-hearted,
00:07:07.283 --> 00:07:10.586
Forgiving each other just as god in christ
00:07:10.586 --> 00:07:16.325
Also has forgiven you."
00:07:16.325 --> 00:07:17.960
We are to forgive the same way that god has forgiven us.
00:07:17.960 --> 00:07:22.064
I want you to think about those words for just a moment.
00:07:22.064 --> 00:07:24.700
Just as god has forgiven us.
00:07:24.700 --> 00:07:28.905
Do you realize god is willing to release,
00:07:28.905 --> 00:07:31.507
To let go of every lie you've ever told,
00:07:31.507 --> 00:07:35.111
Every impure thought you've ever had?
00:07:35.111 --> 00:07:37.179
Every time you've put your desire above his desire,
00:07:37.179 --> 00:07:40.116
He is willing and able to let go of those offenses.
00:07:40.116 --> 00:07:45.588
You say, how is that possible?
00:07:45.588 --> 00:07:47.523
What is the basis of god's willingness to do that?
00:07:47.523 --> 00:07:50.860
Well, we find the whole basis of god's forgiveness
00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:54.130
In 2 corinthians 5:21.
00:07:54.130 --> 00:07:57.900
You know some people, i find many christians
00:07:57.900 --> 00:08:00.503
Are rather nonchalant about god's willingness to forgive us.
00:08:00.503 --> 00:08:07.243
Oh, god has forgiven me through jesus,
00:08:07.243 --> 00:08:09.445
Oh, yawn fest, big deal.
00:08:09.445 --> 00:08:12.181
God's forgiven me.
00:08:12.181 --> 00:08:13.149
God is willing to forgive me,
00:08:13.149 --> 00:08:15.117
Well, what's the big deal about that?
00:08:15.117 --> 00:08:16.886
Every day i forgive other people of what they do against me.
00:08:16.886 --> 00:08:22.959
I mean, every day you and i overlook the offenses
00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:24.894
Of other people, don't we?
00:08:24.894 --> 00:08:26.295
I mean, the fact is we don't regularly slug our boss
00:08:26.295 --> 00:08:29.799
When he mistreats us.
00:08:29.799 --> 00:08:31.701
We don't regularly curse our mate when he or she ignores us.
00:08:32.868 --> 00:08:37.540
We don't kill our children when they disobey us.
00:08:37.540 --> 00:08:40.643
We feel like it sometimes.
00:08:40.643 --> 00:08:41.811
Well, we don't do it, do we?
00:08:41.811 --> 00:08:43.646
I mean, after all, we tolerate the sins of other people.
00:08:43.646 --> 00:08:46.148
What's the big deal about god forgiving us?
00:08:46.148 --> 00:08:49.585
Well, the simple answer is god is not like us.
00:08:49.585 --> 00:08:52.655
You see, the fact that we're willing
00:08:53.456 --> 00:08:54.824
To overlook other people's sins is not a testimony
00:08:54.824 --> 00:08:58.027
To our godliness, it's a testimony to our ungodliness.
00:08:58.027 --> 00:09:02.565
The reason we're able to overlook other people's faults
00:09:02.565 --> 00:09:05.167
Is we've got a big enough list of faults in our own lives,
00:09:05.167 --> 00:09:08.804
And so we regularly don't have any trouble fellowshipping
00:09:08.804 --> 00:09:12.241
With other people who are sinners just like we are.
00:09:12.241 --> 00:09:14.977
But the bible says, god is not like us.
00:09:14.977 --> 00:09:18.347
We all have slipped up, we've all messed up,
00:09:18.347 --> 00:09:20.716
We've all screwed up, and because of that,
00:09:20.716 --> 00:09:22.685
We all deserve hell.
00:09:22.685 --> 00:09:25.788
Now, here's the $64,000 question.
00:09:25.788 --> 00:09:28.290
How can a holy god who cannot allow sin to go unpunished,
00:09:28.290 --> 00:09:33.896
How can he forgive somebody like you and me?
00:09:33.896 --> 00:09:38.034
Well, only god could have come up with a solution
00:09:38.034 --> 00:09:40.770
And it's found in 2 corinthians 5:21,
00:09:40.770 --> 00:09:43.572
"god made him," that is jesus "who knew no sin to be sin
00:09:43.572 --> 00:09:49.612
On our behalf that we might become
00:09:49.612 --> 00:09:51.547
The righteousness of god in him."
00:09:51.547 --> 00:09:55.818
You know, jesus christ is the only one who could not relate
00:09:55.818 --> 00:09:59.388
To this sermon series, second chance, second act.
00:09:59.388 --> 00:10:02.458
He doesn't need a second chance.
00:10:02.458 --> 00:10:04.260
He doesn't need a second act in life
00:10:04.260 --> 00:10:06.028
Because he's never slipped up, messed up or screwed up.
00:10:06.028 --> 00:10:09.432
He actually lived an absolutely perfect life,
00:10:09.432 --> 00:10:13.202
And yet in spite of that, he voluntarily chose to come
00:10:13.202 --> 00:10:17.073
To earth and to suffer on the cross,
00:10:17.073 --> 00:10:20.176
Not just physically but spiritually.
00:10:20.176 --> 00:10:22.211
When he hung on the cross, he felt the full blast
00:10:22.211 --> 00:10:25.514
Of god's wrath, his punishment for our sin.
00:10:25.514 --> 00:10:29.285
He suffered not for his sins, but for our sins
00:10:29.285 --> 00:10:32.722
And for that reason, he is able to forgive us of our sins.
00:10:32.722 --> 00:10:37.293
That is god took the perfection of jesus christ,
00:10:37.293 --> 00:10:41.964
And he credited to our account so that when we trust
00:10:41.964 --> 00:10:46.001
In jesus as our savior, god no longer sees our sin.
00:10:46.001 --> 00:10:50.306
He sees the perfection of his son, jesus christ.
00:10:50.306 --> 00:10:54.610
Author max lucado illustrates how that happens
00:10:54.610 --> 00:10:58.614
By an experience probably those of us
00:10:58.614 --> 00:11:00.516
Who are parents can relate to.
00:11:00.516 --> 00:11:02.518
He said one day he was sitting in his office
00:11:02.518 --> 00:11:05.421
When his bank called him to inform him
00:11:05.421 --> 00:11:08.491
That his college age daughter had an overdraft
00:11:08.491 --> 00:11:11.727
In her checking account.
00:11:11.727 --> 00:11:13.496
Anybody can identify with that?
00:11:13.496 --> 00:11:16.832
And so they wanted to know what max wanted to do about it,
00:11:16.832 --> 00:11:21.103
And he thought to himself, he said, well, i could suggest
00:11:21.103 --> 00:11:23.372
That the bank make up the difference,
00:11:23.372 --> 00:11:25.641
But i didn't think they'd be willing to do that.
00:11:25.641 --> 00:11:28.310
He then thought about calling his daughter
00:11:28.310 --> 00:11:30.112
And asking her to take care of it,
00:11:30.112 --> 00:11:31.981
But then he correctly reasoned if she had the resources
00:11:31.981 --> 00:11:34.984
To take care of this, she wouldn't be in this shape
00:11:34.984 --> 00:11:37.486
To begin with.
00:11:37.486 --> 00:11:38.854
She was bankrupt, so to speak,
00:11:38.854 --> 00:11:41.524
But he said it was really easy to take care of
00:11:41.524 --> 00:11:43.492
That even though she had no money in her account,
00:11:43.492 --> 00:11:45.928
He had plenty of money in his, certainly enough
00:11:45.928 --> 00:11:48.297
To cover the $25.31 of the overdraft.
00:11:48.297 --> 00:11:52.701
So he simply made a transfer from his account
00:11:52.701 --> 00:11:56.071
To his daughter's account.
00:11:56.071 --> 00:11:58.040
And in a very simplistic way, that's what god does for you
00:11:58.040 --> 00:12:01.010
And me when we trust in christ as our savior.
00:12:01.010 --> 00:12:04.013
The bible says we're all overdrawn
00:12:04.013 --> 00:12:07.149
In our spiritual righteousness account.
00:12:07.149 --> 00:12:09.718
Every time we sin against god, it's like a deduct
00:12:09.718 --> 00:12:12.955
From our account with god
00:12:12.955 --> 00:12:14.824
And we're all in an overdrawn position.
00:12:14.824 --> 00:12:17.860
That's why the bible says all of us have sinned.
00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:20.663
We've all fallen short of the glory of god.
00:12:20.663 --> 00:12:22.798
We are all spiritually bankrupt.
00:12:22.798 --> 00:12:24.600
That's the bad news.
00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:25.868
We have no righteousness left in our account.
00:12:25.868 --> 00:12:28.103
The good news is jesus has plenty of righteousness
00:12:28.103 --> 00:12:31.040
In his account, and when you trust in jesus as your savior,
00:12:31.040 --> 00:12:34.977
God simply transfers the righteousness of his son
00:12:34.977 --> 00:12:40.249
Into your account so that when god looks at you,
00:12:40.249 --> 00:12:43.319
He no longer sees your sin,
00:12:43.319 --> 00:12:46.255
He sees the righteousness of his son.
00:12:46.255 --> 00:12:48.657
That's what 2 corinthians 5:21 means.
00:12:48.657 --> 00:12:51.360
He made him, jesus who knew no sin to become sin for us,
00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:55.998
That we might become the righteousness of god in him.
00:12:55.998 --> 00:13:00.336
Now, what does that mean for us?
00:13:00.336 --> 00:13:02.705
The fact that god is willing to forgive us of our sins.
00:13:02.705 --> 00:13:08.310
In the few minutes that we have left, i want to share
00:13:08.310 --> 00:13:10.546
With you two practical implications of the forgiveness
00:13:10.546 --> 00:13:15.217
By our divine director of our lives.
00:13:15.217 --> 00:13:18.053
Implication number one is this.
00:13:18.053 --> 00:13:20.256
We are free from god's condemnation.
00:13:20.256 --> 00:13:28.030
Because jesus took the penalty of our sin
00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:31.700
And paid it himself, we never have to worry
00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:34.703
That sometime in the future god's going to make us pay up.
00:13:34.703 --> 00:13:39.208
We never have to worry about that
00:13:39.208 --> 00:13:41.010
Because our sin penalty has already been paid.
00:13:41.010 --> 00:13:44.980
Let me illustrate that truth for you this way.
00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:46.949
Just imagine you have a teenage child
00:13:46.949 --> 00:13:49.351
Who gets a speeding ticket, has a fine of $200,
00:13:49.351 --> 00:13:54.757
And your child says to you, you know, i don't have the $200
00:13:54.757 --> 00:13:57.693
And i'm going to lose my license, or i'm going to go to jail even
00:13:57.693 --> 00:14:00.596
If i don't come up with the cash.
00:14:00.596 --> 00:14:02.798
And so after a stern lecture, you give your child the $200
00:14:02.798 --> 00:14:07.569
To pay the fine, they're grateful for it, they pay the fine.
00:14:07.569 --> 00:14:10.773
The record's clear.
00:14:10.773 --> 00:14:12.708
Several weeks later, your child gets a check in the mail
00:14:12.708 --> 00:14:15.110
From aunt ethel for $200.
00:14:15.110 --> 00:14:18.447
Now what is your child going to do with that $200?
00:14:18.447 --> 00:14:21.784
Well, hopefully maybe pay you back.
00:14:21.784 --> 00:14:23.619
I don't know if that's going to happen,
00:14:23.619 --> 00:14:25.321
But the one thing i tell you he's not going to do
00:14:25.321 --> 00:14:27.256
Is he's not going to go down to the court
00:14:27.256 --> 00:14:30.693
And pay the fine again.
00:14:30.693 --> 00:14:32.861
Even though he has the resources to do that,
00:14:32.861 --> 00:14:35.597
He's not going to pay the fine again. why not?
00:14:35.597 --> 00:14:38.267
Because the fine has already been paid.
00:14:38.267 --> 00:14:41.136
You don't pay a fine twice, you pay it once.
00:14:41.136 --> 00:14:45.307
Now, the same thing is true of god's forgiveness of us.
00:14:45.307 --> 00:14:49.144
When you trust in jesus as your savior,
00:14:49.144 --> 00:14:52.214
Your sin debt is paid in full.
00:14:52.214 --> 00:14:56.852
In fact, that's why jesus said in john 19:30,
00:14:56.852 --> 00:14:59.521
As he hung on the cross,
00:14:59.521 --> 00:15:00.789
"it is finished," finished.
00:15:00.789 --> 00:15:06.795
That word tetelestai literally means paid in full.
00:15:06.795 --> 00:15:12.835
God took the big stamp and marked paid in full
00:15:12.835 --> 00:15:16.338
On your sin account when you trust in jesus as your savior.
00:15:16.338 --> 00:15:20.209
And that's why you never need to worry that one day
00:15:20.209 --> 00:15:24.113
When you die and you stand before god,
00:15:24.113 --> 00:15:27.149
He's going to look at you and say, you've got to be kidding.
00:15:27.149 --> 00:15:30.386
Let you into heaven,
00:15:30.386 --> 00:15:31.787
You've got to spend eternity suffering
00:15:31.787 --> 00:15:33.789
For your sin to pay your sin debt.
00:15:33.789 --> 00:15:35.157
No, you don't have to pay again
00:15:35.157 --> 00:15:37.760
Because the sin debt has already been paid.
00:15:37.760 --> 00:15:40.929
And that's why paul said,
00:15:40.929 --> 00:15:42.131
With great confidence in romans 8:1,
00:15:42.131 --> 00:15:44.099
"so there is therefore now no condemnation awaiting those
00:15:44.099 --> 00:15:49.171
Who belong to christ jesus."
00:15:49.171 --> 00:15:50.873
Isn't that a great truth?
00:15:50.873 --> 00:15:52.608
There is no condemnation. there is no wrath.
00:15:52.608 --> 00:15:56.712
There is no punishment awaiting those
00:15:56.712 --> 00:15:59.148
Who belong to christ jesus.
00:15:59.148 --> 00:16:00.983
Now, i'm not suggesting that because christ died
00:16:00.983 --> 00:16:05.187
For our sins, that erases the temporary consequences
00:16:05.187 --> 00:16:08.957
Of our sin.
00:16:08.957 --> 00:16:10.492
Forgiven people still have to suffer public humiliation,
00:16:10.492 --> 00:16:14.563
Divorces, even imprisonment at times
00:16:14.563 --> 00:16:18.767
For the mistakes they've made.
00:16:18.767 --> 00:16:21.203
Trusting in christ for forgiveness doesn't erase
00:16:21.203 --> 00:16:24.706
The temporary consequences of your sin.
00:16:24.706 --> 00:16:26.842
You say, well then what use is god's forgiveness
00:16:26.842 --> 00:16:29.812
If i still have to suffer consequences for my sin?
00:16:29.812 --> 00:16:32.581
Think about it, 30 years of painful consequences
00:16:32.581 --> 00:16:37.986
In this life sure beats 30 billion, trillion years
00:16:37.986 --> 00:16:42.624
Of suffering in the next life, doesn't it?
00:16:42.624 --> 00:16:45.761
I mean, that's what the promise is.
00:16:45.761 --> 00:16:48.230
You never have to worry about god's condemnation
00:16:48.230 --> 00:16:52.234
For all eternity for your sin.
00:16:52.234 --> 00:16:54.203
You know, whenever i think about somebody who was forgiven
00:16:54.203 --> 00:16:57.139
By god and yet experienced real and painful consequences
00:16:57.139 --> 00:17:00.909
In his life, i keep thinking about king david.
00:17:00.909 --> 00:17:04.880
We'll talk about his story often in this series
00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:07.049
Because he is the supreme old testament example of somebody
00:17:07.049 --> 00:17:10.986
Who had a second chance and second act in life.
00:17:10.986 --> 00:17:14.456
You know the story after his one night stand
00:17:14.456 --> 00:17:17.493
With bathsheba, because of that sin,
00:17:17.493 --> 00:17:21.463
He experienced consequences until the day he died.
00:17:21.463 --> 00:17:25.100
A divided kingdom, a disloyal son, a dead child,
00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:29.838
Those were all parts of the temporary consequences
00:17:29.838 --> 00:17:33.408
That he paid for his sin.
00:17:33.408 --> 00:17:35.644
And yet, was he bitter about that? no.
00:17:35.644 --> 00:17:38.313
Listen to what he exclaimed in psalm 32:1-2,
00:17:38.313 --> 00:17:42.217
"how blessed, how happy is the man whose transgression
00:17:42.217 --> 00:17:48.590
Is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
00:17:48.590 --> 00:17:51.860
How happy is the man
00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:54.363
To whom the lord does not impute iniquity?"
00:17:54.363 --> 00:17:58.467
How could david be so excited about god's forgiveness
00:17:59.535 --> 00:18:02.771
When he would spend the rest of his life suffering
00:18:02.771 --> 00:18:06.008
The aftershocks of his failure?
00:18:06.008 --> 00:18:08.610
Because he understood what god's forgiveness meant
00:18:08.610 --> 00:18:11.780
In his life.
00:18:11.780 --> 00:18:13.081
There are three words in these two verses
00:18:13.081 --> 00:18:15.884
That explain exactly what god did for david
00:18:15.884 --> 00:18:18.387
And what god does for you when he forgives you of your sin.
00:18:18.387 --> 00:18:22.724
Mark down the first word, forgiven. forgiven.
00:18:22.724 --> 00:18:26.061
You've heard me say before
00:18:26.061 --> 00:18:27.629
That this hebrew word forgiven literally means to separate.
00:18:27.629 --> 00:18:32.634
To separate. when god forgives you of your sin,
00:18:32.634 --> 00:18:36.371
He separates you from your sin.
00:18:36.371 --> 00:18:40.175
You know, for all of our talk about hating the sin,
00:18:40.175 --> 00:18:44.279
But loving the sinner, you've heard that before.
00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:46.615
We hate the sin, but we love the sinner.
00:18:46.615 --> 00:18:49.218
Most of us can't pull that off.
00:18:49.218 --> 00:18:51.386
It's very hard for us to separate people from their sin.
00:18:51.386 --> 00:18:54.389
Just think about somebody who's hurt you deeply in the past.
00:18:54.389 --> 00:18:58.794
You may think you have forgiven them,
00:18:58.794 --> 00:19:00.662
Perhaps you have forgiven them,
00:19:00.662 --> 00:19:02.531
But even if you forgive them,
00:19:02.531 --> 00:19:04.700
You can't separate them from what they did to you.
00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:06.802
I mean, every time you see them,
00:19:06.802 --> 00:19:08.203
You think about what they did in the past.
00:19:08.203 --> 00:19:10.005
Every time you hear their name spoken,
00:19:10.005 --> 00:19:11.773
You think about what they did to you.
00:19:11.773 --> 00:19:13.342
It's very, very difficult for us
00:19:13.342 --> 00:19:15.277
To separate sin from the sinner.
00:19:15.277 --> 00:19:18.947
You know, in ancient times,
00:19:18.947 --> 00:19:20.148
There was a tradition in damascus
00:19:20.148 --> 00:19:22.284
About how a murderer was charged with his sin.
00:19:22.284 --> 00:19:25.654
If he was found guilty of murder,
00:19:25.654 --> 00:19:27.322
The sentence was the corpse of his victim was tied
00:19:27.322 --> 00:19:31.860
To his back.
00:19:31.860 --> 00:19:33.362
So literally the sinner was tied to a sin
00:19:33.362 --> 00:19:36.632
And he would have to carry that corpse around
00:19:36.632 --> 00:19:39.835
Until the disease of that corpse infected his own body
00:19:39.835 --> 00:19:43.305
And he died.
00:19:43.305 --> 00:19:44.906
The fact is the sinner and the sin were tied together.
00:19:44.906 --> 00:19:50.145
But the bible says, when god forgives us,
00:19:51.046 --> 00:19:54.016
He separates us from our sin.
00:19:54.016 --> 00:19:57.286
Psalm 103:12 says, "as far as the east is from the west,
00:19:57.286 --> 00:20:02.224
So far god has removed our transgressions from us."
00:20:02.224 --> 00:20:05.360
You see a great illustration of that truth
00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:07.329
In the old testament day of atonement,
00:20:07.329 --> 00:20:09.731
Remember that was the highest day on the jewish calendar.
00:20:09.731 --> 00:20:12.668
It was when the high priest would go into the holy of holies
00:20:12.668 --> 00:20:15.237
And make atonement for the sins of israel.
00:20:15.237 --> 00:20:17.539
But before he did that,
00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.807
Before he went into the holy of holies,
00:20:18.807 --> 00:20:20.842
He would take a goat.
00:20:20.842 --> 00:20:22.878
It was called the scape goat,
00:20:22.878 --> 00:20:25.447
And he would place his hands over that goat
00:20:25.447 --> 00:20:28.483
And he would confess the sins of israel
00:20:28.483 --> 00:20:31.053
And that goat would be sent into the wilderness
00:20:31.053 --> 00:20:34.423
Never to be seen again.
00:20:34.423 --> 00:20:37.192
It was god's way of saying, israel,
00:20:37.192 --> 00:20:39.428
I am separating you from your sin.
00:20:39.428 --> 00:20:43.598
That gives that verse a whole new significance.
00:20:43.598 --> 00:20:45.767
"as far as the east is from the west,
00:20:45.767 --> 00:20:48.637
So far god has removed our transgressions from us."
00:20:48.637 --> 00:20:52.708
That means when god forgives you,
00:20:52.708 --> 00:20:55.110
He separates you from your sin.
00:20:55.110 --> 00:20:57.245
You don't have to worry about the rotting disease
00:20:57.245 --> 00:20:59.915
Of your sin infecting your life forever in eternity.
00:20:59.915 --> 00:21:03.485
You don't have to worry that when god looks at you,
00:21:03.485 --> 00:21:05.887
He'll instantly remember the mistakes you've made.
00:21:05.887 --> 00:21:08.890
He has separated you from your sin.
00:21:08.890 --> 00:21:11.526
You know, history can be very unforgiving.
00:21:11.526 --> 00:21:14.496
I mean, we will always remember the captain of the titanic
00:21:14.496 --> 00:21:17.699
For steering that ship into an iceberg.
00:21:17.699 --> 00:21:20.635
Benedict arnold will be always remembered
00:21:20.635 --> 00:21:23.538
For his treason against our country.
00:21:23.538 --> 00:21:26.041
Richard nixon, when you hear his name,
00:21:26.041 --> 00:21:28.143
Will always be remembered as the first president
00:21:28.143 --> 00:21:31.446
Who had to resign in disgrace.
00:21:31.446 --> 00:21:34.750
Do you have friends in your life,
00:21:35.517 --> 00:21:37.819
Maybe even a mate who always gets historical with you?
00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:46.161
Not hysterical, but historical reminding you
00:21:46.161 --> 00:21:49.331
Of your past mistakes.
00:21:49.331 --> 00:21:52.067
The good news of the gospel is you never have to worry
00:21:52.067 --> 00:21:55.036
About god going historical on you.
00:21:55.036 --> 00:21:57.739
He has separated you from your sins.
00:21:57.739 --> 00:22:00.008
That's what david meant when he said,
00:22:00.008 --> 00:22:01.810
"how blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven?"
00:22:01.810 --> 00:22:07.382
But there's a second key word here,
00:22:07.382 --> 00:22:09.251
And that word is covered.
00:22:09.251 --> 00:22:11.520
God not only separates us from our sin,
00:22:11.520 --> 00:22:14.322
The bible says he covers over our sin.
00:22:14.322 --> 00:22:18.393
You know, frankly, allowing god to cover our sin
00:22:18.393 --> 00:22:20.962
Is much easier and more effective
00:22:20.962 --> 00:22:23.231
Than trying to cover over our sin ourselves.
00:22:23.231 --> 00:22:27.702
And yet, as impossible as it is for us trying to cover
00:22:27.702 --> 00:22:31.473
Our sin, we always try to do it, don't we?
00:22:31.473 --> 00:22:34.443
I mean, go back to david.
00:22:34.443 --> 00:22:35.710
I mean, after he was found out about his sin,
00:22:35.710 --> 00:22:39.748
Or i mean, after he committed his sin with bathsheba,
00:22:39.748 --> 00:22:42.050
For the first six months after that sin,
00:22:42.050 --> 00:22:44.119
He tried to remove the stain of his sin.
00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:46.121
He tried to cover over it.
00:22:46.121 --> 00:22:48.056
Didn't allow anybody to talk about it.
00:22:48.056 --> 00:22:50.258
And he took bathsheba's husband, uriah had him killed
00:22:51.326 --> 00:22:54.596
On the front lines thinking he could cover over it
00:22:54.596 --> 00:22:57.098
And cover it over it.
00:22:57.098 --> 00:22:58.700
And then came that day when nathan, the prophet confronted
00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:01.303
Him and said, "thou art the man."
00:23:01.303 --> 00:23:05.373
♪ music ♪
00:23:05.373 --> 00:23:10.479
All of us need a spiritual scapegoat,
00:23:10.479 --> 00:23:12.714
This is god's provision for sinners,
00:23:12.714 --> 00:23:15.650
And when we confess our failures and our blunders to god,
00:23:15.650 --> 00:23:19.488
He separates us from our sin.
00:23:19.488 --> 00:23:22.023
I'll say more about this process on tomorrow's edition
00:23:22.023 --> 00:23:24.960
Of pathway to victory, but in the time remaining today,
00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:28.296
Let me extend an invitation for you
00:23:28.296 --> 00:23:30.732
To become one of our pathway partners.
00:23:30.732 --> 00:23:34.035
As you become one of our monthly givers,
00:23:34.035 --> 00:23:36.271
Your investment will truly make a difference.
00:23:36.271 --> 00:23:39.341
Let me give you an example
00:23:39.341 --> 00:23:40.642
From a phone call we've received recently.
00:23:40.642 --> 00:23:43.645
One of our callers said,
00:23:43.645 --> 00:23:45.347
"i was brought up with a lot of different beliefs,
00:23:45.347 --> 00:23:48.416
But i didn't know the truth about being a christian.
00:23:48.416 --> 00:23:51.520
Since i began listening to pathway to victory,
00:23:51.520 --> 00:23:54.155
God has opened my spiritual eyes
00:23:54.155 --> 00:23:56.791
And opened doors in my heart,
00:23:56.791 --> 00:23:59.060
And now i can receive the truth."
00:23:59.060 --> 00:24:01.630
She concluded by saying, "thank you."
00:24:01.630 --> 00:24:04.900
Well, her thank you really belongs to those of you
00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:07.636
Who give monthly as a pathway partner,
00:24:07.636 --> 00:24:10.739
And january is a perfect time to get started
00:24:10.739 --> 00:24:13.508
In this new relationship.
00:24:13.508 --> 00:24:15.977
If you're ready to step forward
00:24:15.977 --> 00:24:17.712
And become a pathway partner, simply follow the instructions
00:24:17.712 --> 00:24:21.583
On the screen.
00:24:21.583 --> 00:24:23.051
I look forward to hearing from you today.
00:24:23.051 --> 00:24:25.854
Now stay right there,
00:24:25.854 --> 00:24:27.422
I'll be back with more pathway to victory in just a moment.
00:24:27.422 --> 00:24:32.527
[narrator] all of us carry some measure of regret
00:24:33.528 --> 00:24:35.597
About the past.
00:24:35.597 --> 00:24:37.098
Thankfully, no mistake is too big for god to forgive.
00:24:37.098 --> 00:24:40.468
In his bestselling book, "second chance, second act,"
00:24:40.468 --> 00:24:43.438
Dr. robert jeffress shares how god can turn
00:24:43.438 --> 00:24:45.807
Your biggest mess into your greatest success.
00:24:45.807 --> 00:24:49.311
In my book, "second chance, second act,"
00:24:49.311 --> 00:24:51.846
You'll discover five biblical strategies
00:24:51.846 --> 00:24:54.983
For turning your messes into successes.
00:24:54.983 --> 00:24:58.253
You'll learn to overcome the guilt, suffering,
00:24:58.253 --> 00:25:00.689
And regret of your past mistakes and you'll read stories
00:25:00.689 --> 00:25:04.225
From scripture that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt
00:25:04.225 --> 00:25:07.596
That god is in the business of second chances.
00:25:07.596 --> 00:25:11.399
[narrator] a copy of the book, "second chance, second act"
00:25:11.399 --> 00:25:13.668
Is yours today when you give a generous gift
00:25:13.668 --> 00:25:15.804
To pathway to victory.
00:25:15.804 --> 00:25:17.572
And when your gift is $75 or more,
00:25:17.572 --> 00:25:20.475
You'll also receive all eight
00:25:20.475 --> 00:25:22.077
Of the original unabridged messages
00:25:22.077 --> 00:25:24.179
From the "second chance, second act" teaching series on dvd
00:25:24.179 --> 00:25:28.049
And mp3 format audio disc.
00:25:28.049 --> 00:25:29.985
Ladies and gentlemen, i don't care
00:25:29.985 --> 00:25:31.753
What failure you have experienced.
00:25:31.753 --> 00:25:35.090
Your failure, your sin doesn't have to be the final word
00:25:35.090 --> 00:25:38.793
About your life story.
00:25:38.793 --> 00:25:40.362
That's what redemption is all about.
00:25:40.362 --> 00:25:43.531
[narrator] together through the ministry
00:25:43.531 --> 00:25:45.100
Of pathway to victory, we are sharing the timeless wisdom
00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:48.203
And truth of god's word with the world in need,
00:25:48.203 --> 00:25:51.339
And your support makes it possible.
00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:53.508
Thank you for partnering with us to share the gospel
00:25:53.508 --> 00:25:56.277
And change lives through the bold proclamation of scripture.
00:25:56.277 --> 00:26:02.050
We're so glad you joined us today on pathway to victory.
00:26:03.184 --> 00:26:06.054
I have to say this series, "second chance, second act"
00:26:06.054 --> 00:26:08.957
Is one of my favorites because it gives hope to all of us.
00:26:08.957 --> 00:26:12.994
Look, we all make mistakes,
00:26:12.994 --> 00:26:14.796
We all fall short of the glory of god.
00:26:14.796 --> 00:26:17.499
Even the apostle paul had some terrible moments in his life
00:26:17.499 --> 00:26:21.636
For which he needed god's forgiveness.
00:26:21.636 --> 00:26:24.105
But frankly, our failure doesn't have to be
00:26:24.105 --> 00:26:27.042
Our grand finale.
00:26:27.042 --> 00:26:28.677
God can take our messes and turn them into successes,
00:26:28.677 --> 00:26:32.447
And that's what this series is all about.
00:26:32.447 --> 00:26:35.150
And next time, we will learn that god's forgiveness means
00:26:35.150 --> 00:26:38.019
That we can experience a radical transformation
00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:41.456
Of our lives.
00:26:41.456 --> 00:26:42.824
Again, god can take your worst failures
00:26:42.824 --> 00:26:45.560
And use them for your good and his glory.
00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:49.164
Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
00:26:49.164 --> 00:26:51.466
In our series, "second chance, second act."
00:26:51.466 --> 00:26:55.537
Paul said, if god can forgive me,
00:26:55.537 --> 00:26:59.107
He can forgive anybody.
00:26:59.107 --> 00:27:02.343
But listen to this, god not only forgave paul,
00:27:02.343 --> 00:27:07.248
He used paul's terrible, horrible sins,
00:27:07.248 --> 00:27:11.453
God changed his designation from chief sinner
00:27:11.453 --> 00:27:15.156
Unto chief spokesman for the christian faith.
00:27:16.057 --> 00:27:18.727
[narrator] set your dvr and join us next time
00:27:18.727 --> 00:27:20.995
For part two of the message,
00:27:20.995 --> 00:27:22.697
Meet the divine director here on pathway to victory.
00:27:22.697 --> 00:27:26.601
♪ music ♪
00:27:26.601 --> 00:27:26.601

Robert Jeffress - Meet the Divine Director (Part 1)

January 2, 2025 | S25:E4

Closed captions

Share