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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Putting Out The "Not Welcome" Mat | March 14, 2026
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:00:00.156 --> 00:00:01.458
- Alaska is unlike any other place on earth,
- 00:00:01.458 --> 00:00:04.461
- And this is your chance to witness god's masterpiece
- 00:00:04.461 --> 00:00:07.497
- And america's priceless treasure
- 00:00:07.497 --> 00:00:09.566
- June 13th through 20, 2026.
- 00:00:09.566 --> 00:00:12.368
- You know, i can hardly wait to show you alaska.
- 00:00:12.368 --> 00:00:15.605
- I've been there before,
- 00:00:15.605 --> 00:00:16.906
- And every time i witness those massive glaciers
- 00:00:16.906 --> 00:00:20.009
- And towering mountains,
- 00:00:20.009 --> 00:00:21.578
- I'm reminded of how incredibly creative our god is.
- 00:00:21.578 --> 00:00:25.582
- Picture this,
- 00:00:25.582 --> 00:00:26.950
- Waking up to snow-capped peaks outside your window,
- 00:00:26.950 --> 00:00:29.953
- Then heading to your refreshing breakfast
- 00:00:29.953 --> 00:00:32.055
- Knowing that all your meals are prepared for you.
- 00:00:32.055 --> 00:00:34.691
- The world class service means that you can truly relax.
- 00:00:34.691 --> 00:00:38.061
- We'll explore charming villages together,
- 00:00:38.061 --> 00:00:40.563
- We'll stroll alongside the still waters
- 00:00:40.563 --> 00:00:43.099
- Of the mountain stream,
- 00:00:43.099 --> 00:00:44.534
- And yes, we'll see god's artistry at every turn.
- 00:00:44.534 --> 00:00:48.805
- Reserve your spot on the 2026 pathway to victory
- 00:00:48.805 --> 00:00:52.675
- Cruise to alaska by calling 888-280-6747
- 00:00:52.675 --> 00:00:57.947
- Or visit ptv.org.
- 00:00:58.381 --> 00:01:00.483
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:01:00.817 --> 00:01:07.023
- From the pulpit
- 00:01:07.390 --> 00:01:08.658
- Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
- 00:01:08.658 --> 00:01:10.860
- This is "pathway to victory"
- 00:01:10.860 --> 00:01:12.529
- With dr. robert jeffress.
- 00:01:12.529 --> 00:01:14.864
- Hi, i'm robert jeffress,
- 00:01:15.365 --> 00:01:16.666
- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
- 00:01:16.666 --> 00:01:19.102
- In our ongoing battle against satan and his forces,
- 00:01:19.102 --> 00:01:22.572
- God has equipped us with spiritual armor
- 00:01:22.572 --> 00:01:25.208
- For our protection.
- 00:01:25.208 --> 00:01:26.976
- One of the most critical pieces
- 00:01:26.976 --> 00:01:28.678
- Is the breastplate of righteousness,
- 00:01:28.678 --> 00:01:31.514
- But exactly what is righteousness,
- 00:01:31.514 --> 00:01:34.584
- And how does it shield us from the enemy's attacks?
- 00:01:34.584 --> 00:01:37.687
- Today, i'm going to explain the difference
- 00:01:37.687 --> 00:01:39.689
- Between self-righteousness
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- And the righteousness that comes as a gift from god.
- 00:01:41.891 --> 00:01:45.628
- My message is titled "putting out the not welcome mat"
- 00:01:45.628 --> 00:01:49.599
- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
- 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:53.736
- ♪ many are they increased ♪
- 00:01:54.370 --> 00:01:58.141
- ♪ that troubled me ♪
- 00:01:58.141 --> 00:02:02.512
- ♪ many are they that rise up ♪
- 00:02:02.512 --> 00:02:06.416
- ♪ against me ♪
- 00:02:06.416 --> 00:02:10.920
- ♪ many there be which say ♪
- 00:02:10.920 --> 00:02:14.123
- ♪ of my soul ♪
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- ♪ there is no help for him in god ♪
- 00:02:20.230 --> 00:02:26.469
- ♪ but thou oh lord ♪
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- ♪ are a shield for me ♪
- 00:02:31.174 --> 00:02:35.578
- ♪ my glory and the lifter ♪
- 00:02:35.578 --> 00:02:39.148
- ♪ of my head ♪
- 00:02:39.148 --> 00:02:44.387
- ♪ thou oh lord ♪
- 00:02:44.787 --> 00:02:47.457
- ♪ are a shield for me ♪
- 00:02:47.457 --> 00:02:52.729
- ♪ my glory and the lifter ♪
- 00:02:53.363 --> 00:02:55.898
- ♪ of my head ♪
- 00:02:55.898 --> 00:03:01.070
- ♪ i cried unto the lord with my voice ♪
- 00:03:01.971 --> 00:03:08.211
- ♪ and he heard me ♪
- 00:03:08.711 --> 00:03:11.247
- ♪ out of his holy hill ♪
- 00:03:11.247 --> 00:03:17.553
- ♪ i laid me down and slept and awake ♪
- 00:03:18.421 --> 00:03:24.260
- ♪ for the lord sustained ♪
- 00:03:24.861 --> 00:03:28.598
- ♪ for he sustained me ♪
- 00:03:28.598 --> 00:03:32.135
- ♪ thou oh lord ♪
- 00:03:32.135 --> 00:03:35.605
- ♪ are a shield for me ♪
- 00:03:35.605 --> 00:03:40.476
- ♪ my glory and the lifter ♪
- 00:03:40.476 --> 00:03:46.482
- ♪ of my head ♪
- 00:03:46.883 --> 00:03:56.592
- ♪ my glory ♪
- 00:03:56.959 --> 00:04:00.730
- ♪ and the lifter ♪
- 00:04:00.730 --> 00:04:03.633
- ♪ of my head ♪
- 00:04:03.633 --> 00:04:11.974
- ♪ of my head ♪
- 00:04:12.375 --> 00:04:16.212
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:04:16.546 --> 00:04:24.821
- (audience applauding)
- 00:04:25.321 --> 00:04:27.523
- Whether you know it or not, you're in a battle.
- 00:04:27.523 --> 00:04:29.726
- Satan has a strategy to attack your faith,
- 00:04:29.726 --> 00:04:32.061
- Disrupt your family, and derail your future.
- 00:04:32.061 --> 00:04:34.731
- But god has given you everything you need
- 00:04:34.731 --> 00:04:36.999
- To fight back and win.
- 00:04:36.999 --> 00:04:38.901
- In "the divine defense,"
- 00:04:38.901 --> 00:04:40.570
- Dr. robert jeffress reveals six practical strategies
- 00:04:40.570 --> 00:04:43.806
- From ephesians 6 to defeat satan's destructive plan.
- 00:04:43.806 --> 00:04:48.010
- When you put on the full armor of god,
- 00:04:48.010 --> 00:04:49.912
- Satan doesn't have a prayer.
- 00:04:49.912 --> 00:04:51.881
- Request "the divine defense"
- 00:04:51.881 --> 00:04:53.483
- When you give a generous ministry gift
- 00:04:53.483 --> 00:04:55.351
- To "pathway to victory."
- 00:04:55.351 --> 00:04:57.487
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:04:57.820 --> 00:05:04.827
- Sometime ago, i had an opportunity to visit
- 00:05:05.728 --> 00:05:08.431
- With the christian health expert jordan rubin,
- 00:05:08.431 --> 00:05:11.734
- Who wrote a number of bestselling books,
- 00:05:11.734 --> 00:05:14.137
- Including "the maker's diet."
- 00:05:14.137 --> 00:05:16.539
- We were scheduled to be
- 00:05:16.539 --> 00:05:17.840
- On the same television program in atlanta,
- 00:05:17.840 --> 00:05:20.276
- And so we shared a car to the studio
- 00:05:20.276 --> 00:05:23.146
- And i thought, "this is a great opportunity
- 00:05:23.146 --> 00:05:25.114
- To get some expert and some free advice."
- 00:05:25.114 --> 00:05:29.352
- And so i took advantage of the opportunity
- 00:05:29.352 --> 00:05:31.354
- And i talked to jordan about this health issue
- 00:05:31.354 --> 00:05:34.223
- I had every year at flu season.
- 00:05:34.223 --> 00:05:38.060
- Invariably every year, every january or february,
- 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:42.398
- Some well-meaning but mucus-dripping church member
- 00:05:42.398 --> 00:05:47.136
- Would feel compelled to share
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- His warm feelings and germs with me via a handshake.
- 00:05:49.338 --> 00:05:54.277
- Now this was back before the fist bump.
- 00:05:54.277 --> 00:05:56.913
- This is when i felt compelled
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- To actually shake hands with people.
- 00:05:58.381 --> 00:06:00.383
- And so i would grab his hand
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- And then i would go to the restroom as quickly as i could
- 00:06:02.819 --> 00:06:06.289
- And try to wash it off.
- 00:06:06.289 --> 00:06:07.657
- Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't work,
- 00:06:07.657 --> 00:06:10.460
- But i asked him what he thought i ought to do
- 00:06:10.460 --> 00:06:12.628
- Because that cold would turn into bronchial infection,
- 00:06:12.628 --> 00:06:15.832
- Meant i'd lose my voice, which wasn't a good thing.
- 00:06:15.832 --> 00:06:18.935
- And so he surprised me by his answer.
- 00:06:18.935 --> 00:06:20.670
- He said, "you know, there's really not a lot you can do
- 00:06:20.670 --> 00:06:23.606
- To keep germs from being attracted to you
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- Unless you want to go isolate yourself
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- From everybody and everything."
- 00:06:28.478 --> 00:06:30.379
- He said, "but you can make your body inhospitable to germs.
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- You can go through a regimen of personal hygiene, diet,
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- Exercise that will discourage germs
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- That try to infect you,
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- They feel unwelcome in your life
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- And go jump on somebody else."
- 00:06:47.897 --> 00:06:50.800
- Well, i thought, "you know,
- 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:52.201
- There's a spiritual application to that principle."
- 00:06:52.201 --> 00:06:55.204
- Have you discovered we can't always keep satan
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- And his demons from attacking us,
- 00:06:58.908 --> 00:07:01.811
- But we can create an environment in our life
- 00:07:01.811 --> 00:07:05.615
- That is inhospitable to satan and his helpers.
- 00:07:05.615 --> 00:07:09.685
- We can live in such a way
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- That they don't feel welcome in our life.
- 00:07:11.354 --> 00:07:14.156
- And if we're going to win in our battle against satan,
- 00:07:14.156 --> 00:07:16.826
- We better use the spiritual weapons that god has given us.
- 00:07:16.826 --> 00:07:21.430
- And they're listed in ephesians 6.
- 00:07:21.430 --> 00:07:24.867
- And having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
- 00:07:24.867 --> 00:07:30.206
- What is the beastplate of righteousness?
- 00:07:31.073 --> 00:07:32.608
- Well for a roman soldier, the breastplate was essential.
- 00:07:32.608 --> 00:07:35.411
- It was a piece of molded metal that covered the torso
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- And protected vital organs
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- Like the heart and the lungs and the bowels.
- 00:07:40.750 --> 00:07:44.453
- Well as christians,
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- We need to put on a breastplate, but it's not of metal.
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- It's a breastplate of righteousness.
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- What is righteousness?
- 00:07:53.796 --> 00:07:55.698
- That's what we're going to focus on
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- For the few moments we have today.
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- We better know what our breastplate is made of
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- If it's going to be successful in protecting us.
- 00:08:01.470 --> 00:08:04.373
- Now in the bible, righteousness is used all of the time,
- 00:08:04.373 --> 00:08:07.877
- But it's used in three distinct ways,
- 00:08:07.877 --> 00:08:10.146
- And we need to understand the difference.
- 00:08:10.146 --> 00:08:12.281
- First of all, there's what we call self-righteousness.
- 00:08:12.281 --> 00:08:17.620
- I should tell you that tomorrow is a religious holiday
- 00:08:18.654 --> 00:08:21.757
- For our staff, happens twice a month, it's called payday,
- 00:08:21.757 --> 00:08:25.695
- Every 15th and 30th,
- 00:08:25.695 --> 00:08:28.464
- And our staff loves to celebrate.
- 00:08:28.464 --> 00:08:30.232
- But i'll tell you, we have a wonderful staff.
- 00:08:30.232 --> 00:08:32.134
- We really do have a wonderful staff except for one thing.
- 00:08:32.134 --> 00:08:35.438
- They are the most ungrateful group of people
- 00:08:35.438 --> 00:08:37.707
- I've ever met in my life.
- 00:08:37.707 --> 00:08:39.642
- I mean, it would astound you how ungrateful our staff is.
- 00:08:39.642 --> 00:08:42.645
- If you don't believe that, just come sit with me tomorrow.
- 00:08:42.645 --> 00:08:46.082
- I'm going to be in my office on payday all day.
- 00:08:46.082 --> 00:08:49.418
- And not one staff member starting with ben
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- Is going to come into office and say,
- 00:08:53.589 --> 00:08:56.025
- "oh thank you, pastor,
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- I was so surprised by this gift
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- That appeared in my checking account.
- 00:08:59.862 --> 00:09:01.597
- You are so gracious. thank you, pastor."
- 00:09:01.597 --> 00:09:03.933
- Sorry, nobody's going to do that, just like you don't do it.
- 00:09:03.933 --> 00:09:08.404
- Why is that?
- 00:09:08.404 --> 00:09:10.206
- A wage is not a favor.
- 00:09:10.206 --> 00:09:13.109
- It's not a gift, it's an obligation.
- 00:09:13.109 --> 00:09:15.344
- We work and our employer pays us,
- 00:09:15.344 --> 00:09:18.347
- So we don't treat it like a favor or a gift,
- 00:09:18.347 --> 00:09:20.716
- It's an obligation.
- 00:09:20.716 --> 00:09:22.985
- But notice verse five.
- 00:09:22.985 --> 00:09:24.453
- "but to the one who does not work
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- But believes in him who justifies the ungodly,
- 00:09:27.623 --> 00:09:31.060
- His faith is credited as righteousness."
- 00:09:31.060 --> 00:09:35.164
- If salvation is something i earn by works,
- 00:09:35.164 --> 00:09:38.901
- Then god is obligated to save us.
- 00:09:38.901 --> 00:09:42.138
- But ladies and gentlemen,
- 00:09:42.138 --> 00:09:43.439
- God refuses to owe any man or woman salvation.
- 00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:47.710
- It is a gift.
- 00:09:47.710 --> 00:09:49.278
- Paul said, "for by grace you have been saved through faith
- 00:09:49.278 --> 00:09:51.647
- And that not of yourselves.
- 00:09:51.647 --> 00:09:53.416
- It is a gift of god, not of works,
- 00:09:53.416 --> 00:09:55.651
- Lest any man should boast."
- 00:09:55.651 --> 00:09:58.554
- That's why self-righteousness doesn't work.
- 00:09:58.554 --> 00:10:01.757
- It's incapable of earning salvation,
- 00:10:01.757 --> 00:10:04.226
- And it turns god's salvation into an obligation.
- 00:10:04.226 --> 00:10:07.963
- So that leads to a second kind of righteousness.
- 00:10:07.963 --> 00:10:10.700
- We call it imputed righteousness.
- 00:10:10.700 --> 00:10:13.903
- That word impute is an accounting term,
- 00:10:13.903 --> 00:10:16.472
- It simply means to place to somebody's account.
- 00:10:16.472 --> 00:10:20.810
- It's the same word
- 00:10:20.810 --> 00:10:22.611
- That is used in genesis 15:6 about abraham.
- 00:10:22.611 --> 00:10:26.248
- Abraham's faith was imputed,
- 00:10:26.248 --> 00:10:29.285
- Credited to his account as righteousness.
- 00:10:29.285 --> 00:10:32.488
- This is righteousness that is received as a gift.
- 00:10:32.488 --> 00:10:36.792
- When you become a christian,
- 00:10:37.393 --> 00:10:39.328
- There are two accounting transactions, so to speak,
- 00:10:39.328 --> 00:10:42.832
- That take place the moment you trust in christ
- 00:10:42.832 --> 00:10:45.101
- As your savior.
- 00:10:45.101 --> 00:10:46.402
- First of all, god takes all of your sin
- 00:10:46.402 --> 00:10:49.705
- And he imputes it to jesus christ.
- 00:10:49.705 --> 00:10:53.275
- When jesus hung on the cross,
- 00:10:53.275 --> 00:10:54.910
- He wasn't hanging there because of his disobedience,
- 00:10:54.910 --> 00:10:58.748
- But in some inexplicable way, our sin became his sin.
- 00:10:58.748 --> 00:11:02.918
- Our sin got charged to jesus' account.
- 00:11:02.918 --> 00:11:06.355
- But that's not the only thing that happened.
- 00:11:06.355 --> 00:11:08.724
- The righteousness,
- 00:11:08.724 --> 00:11:10.259
- The perfection of jesus got transferred to our account,
- 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:14.029
- To those of us who believe in christ.
- 00:11:14.029 --> 00:11:16.966
- 2 corinthians 5:21 explains it this way.
- 00:11:16.966 --> 00:11:19.835
- God made him, jesus, who knew no sin to be sin for us,
- 00:11:19.835 --> 00:11:25.207
- That we might become the righteousness
- 00:11:26.041 --> 00:11:28.043
- Of god in him.
- 00:11:28.043 --> 00:11:29.745
- Jesus took our sin, we took his righteousness.
- 00:11:29.745 --> 00:11:33.649
- It's the great exchange.
- 00:11:33.649 --> 00:11:36.185
- Maybe this illustration
- 00:11:36.185 --> 00:11:37.586
- Will help you understand what that means.
- 00:11:37.586 --> 00:11:40.322
- When our girls were teenagers,
- 00:11:40.322 --> 00:11:42.558
- They each had checking accounts,
- 00:11:42.558 --> 00:11:44.326
- And any money they would earn,
- 00:11:44.326 --> 00:11:45.928
- They would put in the checking account.
- 00:11:45.928 --> 00:11:47.530
- And i left them alone pretty much to do
- 00:11:47.530 --> 00:11:50.032
- What they wanted to do.
- 00:11:50.032 --> 00:11:51.467
- But when they got to a certain age and moved away
- 00:11:51.467 --> 00:11:54.837
- Or moved out of the house,
- 00:11:54.837 --> 00:11:56.772
- I wanted to give them a little bit of a safety net
- 00:11:56.772 --> 00:11:59.675
- So if they were accidentally overdrawn,
- 00:11:59.675 --> 00:12:02.444
- The bank wouldn't refuse payment
- 00:12:02.444 --> 00:12:05.147
- Or they wouldn't have a service performed that they needed
- 00:12:05.147 --> 00:12:09.718
- Or they'd get an overdraft charge.
- 00:12:09.718 --> 00:12:12.087
- And so i linked my checking account
- 00:12:12.087 --> 00:12:14.924
- To their checking account,
- 00:12:14.924 --> 00:12:16.659
- And a strange thing started happening.
- 00:12:17.493 --> 00:12:19.995
- (audience laughing)
- 00:12:19.995 --> 00:12:22.765
- Every now and then, they were responsible.
- 00:12:22.765 --> 00:12:24.500
- It didn't happen often, but every now and then,
- 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:26.268
- I'd look on my statement
- 00:12:26.268 --> 00:12:28.003
- And i would see a $7.50 charge
- 00:12:28.003 --> 00:12:30.706
- From papa john's pizza place in waco, texas.
- 00:12:30.706 --> 00:12:36.045
- I've never been to papa john's in waco, texas.
- 00:12:36.946 --> 00:12:38.781
- I've never had a pizza from papa john's.
- 00:12:38.781 --> 00:12:41.016
- I'm sure they're good,
- 00:12:41.016 --> 00:12:42.384
- But i was being charged for an experience
- 00:12:42.384 --> 00:12:44.920
- That i didn't have.
- 00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:46.889
- But that's not all that happened.
- 00:12:46.889 --> 00:12:48.691
- Somehow, magically,
- 00:12:48.691 --> 00:12:50.259
- A bank computer somewhere lifted money out of my account
- 00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:54.864
- And placed it into the account of my daughter's.
- 00:12:54.864 --> 00:12:57.700
- They didn't ask for it, they didn't earn it,
- 00:12:57.700 --> 00:13:00.836
- They had no chance of paying it back,
- 00:13:00.836 --> 00:13:03.038
- But it got dropped into their account
- 00:13:03.038 --> 00:13:05.808
- All because of a decision they made
- 00:13:05.808 --> 00:13:08.444
- And i made to link our accounts together.
- 00:13:08.444 --> 00:13:11.013
- Now here's what's interesting.
- 00:13:11.013 --> 00:13:12.882
- When they were 18,
- 00:13:12.882 --> 00:13:14.450
- I wasn't capable of making that decision for them.
- 00:13:14.450 --> 00:13:17.152
- They had to sign a paper that agreed to link their account
- 00:13:17.152 --> 00:13:21.257
- To my account, otherwise they were on their own.
- 00:13:21.257 --> 00:13:24.360
- When they were 18,
- 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.861
- They became accountable and they made their decision.
- 00:13:25.861 --> 00:13:28.998
- It's the same way in becoming a christian.
- 00:13:28.998 --> 00:13:31.267
- God doesn't automatically take our sin debt.
- 00:13:31.267 --> 00:13:34.937
- God doesn't automatically put his righteousness
- 00:13:34.937 --> 00:13:38.307
- In our spiritual bank account.
- 00:13:38.307 --> 00:13:40.442
- It is something that happens
- 00:13:40.442 --> 00:13:42.011
- Only when we agree to that arrangement.
- 00:13:42.011 --> 00:13:45.180
- Who in their right mind wouldn't agree to that arrangement,
- 00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:48.684
- Having all of our unrighteousness charged to the account
- 00:13:48.684 --> 00:13:52.221
- Of jesus christ
- 00:13:52.221 --> 00:13:53.989
- And having all of his righteousness put in our account,
- 00:13:53.989 --> 00:13:57.760
- That's what imputed righteousness is.
- 00:13:57.760 --> 00:13:59.828
- You know, the best illustration of the difference
- 00:13:59.828 --> 00:14:01.864
- Between self-righteousness
- 00:14:01.864 --> 00:14:03.933
- And imputed righteousness is found in luke 18
- 00:14:03.933 --> 00:14:07.336
- In a story that jesus told.
- 00:14:07.336 --> 00:14:09.004
- Turn your bibles quickly to luke 18.
- 00:14:09.004 --> 00:14:12.775
- This is a parable, but notice the setting of the parable.
- 00:14:12.775 --> 00:14:15.945
- Jesus told this parable to some people
- 00:14:15.945 --> 00:14:18.814
- Who trusted in themselves
- 00:14:18.814 --> 00:14:22.017
- That they were righteous
- 00:14:22.017 --> 00:14:24.286
- And they viewed others with contempt.
- 00:14:24.286 --> 00:14:26.855
- Verse 10, jesus said,
- 00:14:26.855 --> 00:14:28.357
- "two very different men went up to the temple to pray.
- 00:14:28.357 --> 00:14:32.027
- One a pharisee and the other a tax collector."
- 00:14:32.027 --> 00:14:36.632
- Two very different people go up to the temple to pray.
- 00:14:36.632 --> 00:14:39.702
- The pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself.
- 00:14:39.702 --> 00:14:44.974
- I love that.
- 00:14:45.307 --> 00:14:46.875
- He thought he was reaching the heavenlies with his prayers
- 00:14:46.875 --> 00:14:49.511
- And they weren't even getting off the ground.
- 00:14:49.511 --> 00:14:51.347
- He was preaching to himself, and this is what he prayed.
- 00:14:51.347 --> 00:14:54.683
- "god, i thank you that i'm not like other people,
- 00:14:54.683 --> 00:14:58.654
- Swindlers, unjust, adulterers,
- 00:14:59.288 --> 00:15:01.490
- Or even like this tax collector over here.
- 00:15:01.490 --> 00:15:04.093
- Why, look at me, lord, i fast twice a week.
- 00:15:04.093 --> 00:15:07.062
- I pay tithes of all that i get.
- 00:15:07.062 --> 00:15:09.064
- When i think about it, lord,
- 00:15:09.064 --> 00:15:10.466
- You're pretty lucky to have fellowship with a person
- 00:15:10.466 --> 00:15:12.201
- So righteous as i am."
- 00:15:12.201 --> 00:15:14.269
- That was the pharisee.
- 00:15:14.269 --> 00:15:16.038
- Notice, he had an i problem.
- 00:15:16.038 --> 00:15:17.973
- Seven times, he says i, i, i, i.
- 00:15:17.973 --> 00:15:23.312
- But notice the difference, the tax collector.
- 00:15:24.246 --> 00:15:26.548
- Verse 13 says the tax collector,
- 00:15:26.548 --> 00:15:29.518
- Standing some distance away,
- 00:15:29.518 --> 00:15:32.921
- Not even just from the pharisee,
- 00:15:32.921 --> 00:15:35.557
- He stood away from the holy of holies.
- 00:15:35.557 --> 00:15:39.595
- He stood away from the altar of sacrifice.
- 00:15:40.496 --> 00:15:43.332
- He was unwilling to even lift up his eyes to heaven,
- 00:15:43.332 --> 00:15:47.336
- But he was beating his breast saying,
- 00:15:47.336 --> 00:15:50.372
- "god, be merciful to me, the sinner."
- 00:15:50.372 --> 00:15:55.310
- That's all he could utter, seven words in english,
- 00:15:55.310 --> 00:15:58.447
- Six words in greek,
- 00:15:58.447 --> 00:15:59.681
- "god, be merciful to me, the sinner."
- 00:15:59.681 --> 00:16:04.019
- That word merciful is rich in theology.
- 00:16:04.853 --> 00:16:09.391
- The greek word merciful is the same word
- 00:16:09.391 --> 00:16:12.561
- That's used in leviticus 16 in the septuagent,
- 00:16:12.561 --> 00:16:16.398
- The old testament translation in greek,
- 00:16:16.398 --> 00:16:19.034
- It referred to the mercy seat in the holy of holies.
- 00:16:19.034 --> 00:16:23.405
- Remember in the holy of holies,
- 00:16:23.405 --> 00:16:25.407
- The high priest could only go in there once a year.
- 00:16:25.407 --> 00:16:28.310
- And in that holy of holies was a box,
- 00:16:28.310 --> 00:16:30.579
- The ark of the covenant.
- 00:16:30.579 --> 00:16:32.247
- There was a lid on that box called the mercy seat.
- 00:16:32.247 --> 00:16:36.485
- And on each end of that lid,
- 00:16:36.485 --> 00:16:39.021
- There was a angel on each end
- 00:16:39.021 --> 00:16:42.257
- With its wings spread out.
- 00:16:42.257 --> 00:16:44.927
- And it was thought that god was dwelling
- 00:16:44.927 --> 00:16:47.763
- Between the outstretched wings of the angels.
- 00:16:47.763 --> 00:16:51.400
- Inside the box was a copy of the 10 commandments.
- 00:16:51.400 --> 00:16:55.504
- And every day of the year except one,
- 00:16:55.504 --> 00:16:57.539
- God would look down on that ark
- 00:16:57.539 --> 00:17:00.676
- That contained the law of god
- 00:17:00.676 --> 00:17:03.178
- And see that that law had been broken
- 00:17:03.178 --> 00:17:05.881
- By his people demanding their judgment.
- 00:17:05.881 --> 00:17:08.350
- But once a year, the high priest,
- 00:17:08.350 --> 00:17:10.719
- After he had made an atonement for his own sin,
- 00:17:10.719 --> 00:17:13.088
- Took the blood of an innocent animal
- 00:17:13.088 --> 00:17:15.190
- And he had sprinkled it on the mercy seat.
- 00:17:15.190 --> 00:17:18.894
- And the picture was now as god looked down,
- 00:17:18.894 --> 00:17:21.497
- He no longer saw the wall that had been broken
- 00:17:21.497 --> 00:17:24.533
- By his people,
- 00:17:24.533 --> 00:17:26.001
- But he saw that broken law covered by the blood
- 00:17:26.001 --> 00:17:29.004
- Of an innocent animal.
- 00:17:29.004 --> 00:17:30.806
- And of course, that is a picture of what jesus,
- 00:17:30.806 --> 00:17:33.208
- The lamb of god, would do.
- 00:17:33.208 --> 00:17:35.277
- When he died on the cross for our sins,
- 00:17:35.277 --> 00:17:38.180
- He achieved what no other human sacrifice
- 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:40.816
- Or animal sacrifices could, the remission of our sins.
- 00:17:40.816 --> 00:17:45.754
- And the bible says when we trust in jesus to be our savior
- 00:17:45.754 --> 00:17:49.791
- And god looks at us, he no longer sees our sin.
- 00:17:49.791 --> 00:17:53.362
- He no longer sees his law that has been broken,
- 00:17:53.362 --> 00:17:56.331
- But he sees the blood of his son that covers all,
- 00:17:56.331 --> 00:18:01.036
- Not some, but all of our transgressions.
- 00:18:01.036 --> 00:18:04.606
- That is imputed righteousness.
- 00:18:04.606 --> 00:18:06.875
- That's what the tax collector was praying.
- 00:18:06.875 --> 00:18:09.244
- "lord, literally, be mercy seated to me, the sinner.
- 00:18:09.244 --> 00:18:14.516
- Let the blood cover my sin."
- 00:18:15.117 --> 00:18:18.453
- As far as the tax collector,
- 00:18:18.453 --> 00:18:20.088
- I think he probably felt as miserable as he did
- 00:18:20.088 --> 00:18:22.724
- When he went up to pray.
- 00:18:22.724 --> 00:18:24.726
- He didn't feel like anything had changed.
- 00:18:24.726 --> 00:18:27.362
- We don't know what led him in desperation
- 00:18:27.362 --> 00:18:29.731
- To pray that prayer.
- 00:18:29.731 --> 00:18:31.033
- Maybe it was a slow unraveling of his life,
- 00:18:31.033 --> 00:18:34.002
- Or maybe it was some sin so heinous
- 00:18:34.002 --> 00:18:36.071
- He didn't even think he was capable of doing it.
- 00:18:36.071 --> 00:18:38.473
- But something, desperation led him to pray,
- 00:18:38.473 --> 00:18:42.344
- Led him to repent of his sin
- 00:18:42.344 --> 00:18:44.046
- And receive the forgiveness god gave.
- 00:18:44.046 --> 00:18:46.748
- He may have left feeling unjustified.
- 00:18:46.748 --> 00:18:50.419
- The pharisee may have left feeling justified.
- 00:18:50.419 --> 00:18:53.622
- But ladies and gentlemen,
- 00:18:53.622 --> 00:18:54.890
- Your relationship with god doesn't depend
- 00:18:54.890 --> 00:18:57.226
- Upon how you feel about it.
- 00:18:57.226 --> 00:18:59.628
- It's not about how you feel
- 00:18:59.628 --> 00:19:01.463
- About your relationship with god.
- 00:19:01.463 --> 00:19:03.432
- It's all about how god feels
- 00:19:03.432 --> 00:19:05.634
- About his relationship with you.
- 00:19:05.634 --> 00:19:07.736
- That's what counts.
- 00:19:07.736 --> 00:19:09.037
- And jesus adds the kicker when he says,
- 00:19:09.037 --> 00:19:11.907
- "i tell you, this man, the tax collector,
- 00:19:11.907 --> 00:19:15.777
- Went to his house justified rather than the other".
- 00:19:15.777 --> 00:19:20.349
- He may not have felt justified,
- 00:19:20.349 --> 00:19:22.718
- But he was justified
- 00:19:22.718 --> 00:19:25.120
- Because he had expressed sorrow for his sin.
- 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:27.656
- He had placed his trust in the only remedy for his sin,
- 00:19:27.656 --> 00:19:31.793
- The blood sacrifice made on his behalf.
- 00:19:31.793 --> 00:19:35.831
- Well what is paul talking about,
- 00:19:35.831 --> 00:19:37.366
- The breastplate of righteousness?
- 00:19:37.366 --> 00:19:38.934
- He's obviously not talking about self-righteousness,
- 00:19:38.934 --> 00:19:41.770
- The filthy garment, that's not going to be incapable
- 00:19:41.770 --> 00:19:44.773
- Of saving you from satan's attack.
- 00:19:44.773 --> 00:19:47.209
- Is he talking about imputed righteousness
- 00:19:47.209 --> 00:19:49.711
- That we receive when we become a christian?
- 00:19:49.711 --> 00:19:51.780
- I don't think so,
- 00:19:51.780 --> 00:19:53.248
- Because if that were the case,
- 00:19:53.248 --> 00:19:54.950
- Then everybody who's a christian would be free
- 00:19:54.950 --> 00:19:57.152
- From the attacks of satan.
- 00:19:57.152 --> 00:19:58.754
- No, there's a third kind of righteousness
- 00:19:58.754 --> 00:20:01.456
- That we have to understand
- 00:20:01.456 --> 00:20:03.025
- If we're going to put on the breastplate of righteousness,
- 00:20:03.025 --> 00:20:05.727
- And that is what i call practiced righteousness.
- 00:20:05.727 --> 00:20:09.931
- That's another phrase for obedience.
- 00:20:09.931 --> 00:20:13.201
- Now before we're saved, our good works,
- 00:20:13.201 --> 00:20:15.570
- Our obedience to god is worthless.
- 00:20:15.570 --> 00:20:18.874
- But after we're saved, our obedience is invaluable,
- 00:20:18.874 --> 00:20:22.511
- And it's key in protecting us from satan's attacks.
- 00:20:22.511 --> 00:20:26.381
- You know, the bible talks about practiced righteousness.
- 00:20:26.381 --> 00:20:31.219
- The bible calls that fruit.
- 00:20:31.219 --> 00:20:33.121
- We read about it in matthew 7:17-19.
- 00:20:33.121 --> 00:20:37.392
- Listen to jesus' words.
- 00:20:37.392 --> 00:20:38.660
- So every good tree bears good fruit,
- 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:42.130
- But the bad tree bears bad fruit.
- 00:20:42.130 --> 00:20:44.866
- A good tree cannot produce bad fruit,
- 00:20:44.866 --> 00:20:47.869
- Nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
- 00:20:47.869 --> 00:20:50.472
- Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down
- 00:20:50.472 --> 00:20:53.875
- And thrown into the fire.
- 00:20:53.875 --> 00:20:56.211
- Now listen to this.
- 00:20:56.211 --> 00:20:57.379
- Even those of us who have been saved
- 00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:58.847
- By grace have received the indwelling of the holy spirit.
- 00:20:58.847 --> 00:21:02.551
- We have to work at producing fruit.
- 00:21:02.551 --> 00:21:07.189
- Why do we have to work at it?
- 00:21:07.189 --> 00:21:08.724
- Because we have headwinds in our own life
- 00:21:08.724 --> 00:21:12.994
- Called the old nature that still wars
- 00:21:12.994 --> 00:21:15.597
- Against that new nature that wants to please god.
- 00:21:15.597 --> 00:21:18.600
- So we have to exert effort to obey god.
- 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:22.404
- I mean, it takes effort, let's be honest here.
- 00:21:22.404 --> 00:21:25.307
- It takes effort to love your mate unconditionally,
- 00:21:25.307 --> 00:21:28.643
- Doesn't it?
- 00:21:28.643 --> 00:21:30.011
- Don't say amen too loudly, get the mate upset.
- 00:21:30.011 --> 00:21:33.115
- But it takes effort to love your mate unconditionally,
- 00:21:34.216 --> 00:21:37.119
- To hold your tongue when you have a juicy piece
- 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:39.421
- Of gossip to share,
- 00:21:39.421 --> 00:21:41.089
- To keep from being angry when somebody has wronged you.
- 00:21:41.089 --> 00:21:44.626
- It takes effort to summon the courage to share your faith
- 00:21:44.626 --> 00:21:48.029
- With a family member or a friend.
- 00:21:48.029 --> 00:21:50.565
- It takes effort to carve out time to read the bible.
- 00:21:50.565 --> 00:21:54.236
- Why does it take effort?
- 00:21:54.236 --> 00:21:55.871
- Because we have an old nature
- 00:21:55.871 --> 00:21:57.906
- That wars against our desires to obey god.
- 00:21:57.906 --> 00:22:01.710
- Now keep thinking about this for a moment.
- 00:22:01.710 --> 00:22:03.779
- You know, you don't have to tell birds to practice flying.
- 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:07.682
- You don't have to tell fish to practice swimming.
- 00:22:07.682 --> 00:22:10.318
- You don't have to tell babies to practice crying.
- 00:22:10.318 --> 00:22:14.022
- And you don't have to tell apple trees to work at,
- 00:22:14.022 --> 00:22:17.692
- Exert yourself to produce apples.
- 00:22:17.692 --> 00:22:20.629
- It comes naturally.
- 00:22:20.629 --> 00:22:22.597
- For us, it takes a supernatural working
- 00:22:22.597 --> 00:22:25.300
- For that fruit to appear,
- 00:22:25.300 --> 00:22:26.968
- And that is why the bible over and over again
- 00:22:26.968 --> 00:22:30.038
- Tells us to practice righteousness.
- 00:22:30.038 --> 00:22:34.109
- Listen to 1 john 3:10.
- 00:22:34.109 --> 00:22:36.211
- By this, the children of god
- 00:22:36.211 --> 00:22:38.213
- And the children of the devil are obvious.
- 00:22:38.213 --> 00:22:40.449
- Anyone who does not what?
- 00:22:40.449 --> 00:22:42.417
- Practice righteousness is not of god,
- 00:22:42.417 --> 00:22:45.520
- Nor the one who does not love his brother.
- 00:22:45.520 --> 00:22:48.290
- Revelation 22:11.
- 00:22:48.290 --> 00:22:50.292
- Let the one who does wrong still do wrong.
- 00:22:50.292 --> 00:22:52.394
- Let him who is filthy still be filthy.
- 00:22:52.394 --> 00:22:54.629
- Let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness.
- 00:22:54.629 --> 00:23:00.101
- The breastplate of righteousness
- 00:23:00.735 --> 00:23:02.971
- That paul is talking about is the breastplate,
- 00:23:02.971 --> 00:23:05.740
- The protection that comes from choosing to obey god
- 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:10.212
- Over and over again instead of choosing to disobey god.
- 00:23:10.212 --> 00:23:15.484
- And next time,
- 00:23:15.851 --> 00:23:17.118
- We're going to discover four practical ways
- 00:23:17.118 --> 00:23:20.622
- Obedience to god, the breastplate of righteousness,
- 00:23:20.622 --> 00:23:24.226
- Protects you from the consequences of satan's attacks.
- 00:23:24.226 --> 00:23:28.897
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:28.897 --> 00:23:33.168
- Practiced righteousness is the key
- 00:23:33.902 --> 00:23:35.937
- To protecting ourselves from satan's attacks.
- 00:23:35.937 --> 00:23:39.274
- When we choose obedience over disobedience,
- 00:23:39.274 --> 00:23:42.711
- We let the enemy know his influence
- 00:23:42.711 --> 00:23:44.880
- Is simply not welcome in our hearts.
- 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:47.983
- Now in closing today,
- 00:23:47.983 --> 00:23:49.251
- I want to express my heartfelt gratitude
- 00:23:49.251 --> 00:23:51.720
- To our faithful partners who make this ministry possible.
- 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:55.190
- Your generosity empowers us to proclaim
- 00:23:55.190 --> 00:23:57.893
- The truth of scripture with boldness
- 00:23:57.893 --> 00:24:00.195
- And to touch lives for god's glory.
- 00:24:00.195 --> 00:24:02.931
- Every day, we hear from people
- 00:24:02.931 --> 00:24:04.666
- Whose lives have been transformed by the gospel message
- 00:24:04.666 --> 00:24:08.103
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- 00:24:10.405 --> 00:24:12.173
- And around the world are discovering the freedom
- 00:24:12.173 --> 00:24:14.943
- That comes through faith in jesus christ.
- 00:24:14.943 --> 00:24:17.979
- And it's all made possible because of your faithful support.
- 00:24:17.979 --> 00:24:21.816
- So thank you to our pathway partners
- 00:24:21.816 --> 00:24:23.985
- And everyone who gives generously.
- 00:24:23.985 --> 00:24:26.922
- Together, we are piercing the darkness
- 00:24:26.922 --> 00:24:29.858
- With the light of god's word.
- 00:24:29.858 --> 00:24:31.927
- Now stay right there,
- 00:24:31.927 --> 00:24:33.395
- I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
- 00:24:33.395 --> 00:24:35.931
- In just a moment.
- 00:24:35.931 --> 00:24:37.299
- That recurring temptation you can't shake,
- 00:24:38.199 --> 00:24:40.635
- The doubts that creep in during your darkest moments,
- 00:24:40.635 --> 00:24:43.572
- The tension in your closest relationships.
- 00:24:43.572 --> 00:24:46.074
- These aren't random struggles.
- 00:24:46.074 --> 00:24:47.842
- These are part of a strategic attack on your faith,
- 00:24:47.842 --> 00:24:50.545
- Your family, and your future.
- 00:24:50.545 --> 00:24:52.280
- Satan has a personalized plan to discourage, deceive,
- 00:24:52.280 --> 00:24:56.651
- And derail you, but you don't have to live in defeat.
- 00:24:56.651 --> 00:25:00.488
- God has given you access to the same power
- 00:25:00.488 --> 00:25:03.124
- That raised jesus from the dead.
- 00:25:03.124 --> 00:25:05.193
- In my bestselling book, "the divine defense,"
- 00:25:05.193 --> 00:25:07.963
- I'll show you how to put on the full armor of god
- 00:25:07.963 --> 00:25:11.099
- And use six biblical strategies
- 00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:13.568
- To defeat satan's plan to destroy your life.
- 00:25:13.568 --> 00:25:17.138
- Request "the divine defense" when you give a generous gift
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- To "pathway to victory,"
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- Or when you become a pathway partner.
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- Including the study guide,
- 00:25:28.350 --> 00:25:29.684
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- 00:25:29.684 --> 00:25:32.087
- And the teaching series on both cd and dvd.
- 00:25:32.087 --> 00:25:35.323
- Your mind is the devil's battlefield,
- 00:25:35.323 --> 00:25:39.227
- On which he is warring against everything important to you.
- 00:25:39.227 --> 00:25:44.599
- It is a battle that seeks to destroy your faith,
- 00:25:45.567 --> 00:25:48.770
- Your family, and your future.
- 00:25:48.770 --> 00:25:51.072
- Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
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- Your generous ministry gift
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- Equipping believers like you to stand firm
- 00:25:59.648 --> 00:26:02.150
- And live victoriously.
- 00:26:02.150 --> 00:26:03.918
- Together, we're piercing the darkness
- 00:26:03.918 --> 00:26:06.187
- With the light of god's word.
- 00:26:06.187 --> 00:26:08.523
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:26:08.857 --> 00:26:10.191
- Are you merely trying to earn god's favor
- 00:26:10.191 --> 00:26:12.627
- Through good works?
- 00:26:12.627 --> 00:26:13.995
- Or have you received his gift of salvation
- 00:26:13.995 --> 00:26:16.965
- Through faith in christ alone?
- 00:26:16.965 --> 00:26:19.034
- If you haven't, i urge you to trust in jesus today
- 00:26:19.034 --> 00:26:23.071
- For the forgiveness of your sins.
- 00:26:23.071 --> 00:26:25.640
- Well, we've discovered the difference between righteousness
- 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:28.843
- That saves us and righteousness that shields us.
- 00:26:28.843 --> 00:26:32.681
- And next time, we're going to see
- 00:26:32.681 --> 00:26:34.115
- Exactly how obedience to god protects us
- 00:26:34.115 --> 00:26:37.118
- In four powerful ways.
- 00:26:37.118 --> 00:26:39.320
- I'll show you why stopping the barbarian at the gate today
- 00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:43.491
- Prevents him from destroying your life tomorrow.
- 00:26:43.491 --> 00:26:47.062
- Stay tuned for a preview
- 00:26:47.062 --> 00:26:48.363
- Of what's coming up next in our series,
- 00:26:48.363 --> 00:26:50.598
- "the divine defense."
- 00:26:50.598 --> 00:26:53.368
- The bible talks about the schemes, the plans of the devil.
- 00:26:53.368 --> 00:26:57.338
- Did you know he has right now a personalized blueprint
- 00:26:57.338 --> 00:27:01.443
- With your name at the top of it that details
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- How he's going to destroy your faith,
- 00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:06.815
- Your family, and your future?
- 00:27:06.815 --> 00:27:08.917
- He's got a plan of attack.
- 00:27:08.917 --> 00:27:11.586
- Set your dvr and join us next time for the message
- 00:27:11.586 --> 00:27:14.756
- "stopping the barbarian at the gate"
- 00:27:14.756 --> 00:27:17.325
- Here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:27:17.325 --> 00:27:17.325