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The Grace Message with Dr. Andrew Farley

Andrew Farley - The Grace Embrace

August 16, 2025 | 28:47

Andrew Farley - The Grace Embrace
Pastor Andrew Farley brings Biblical clarity and illuminates God’s grace.
#Grace #TrustGod #WalkwithGod #RelationshipwithGod #Christianity #inActive

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The Grace Message with Dr. Andrew Farley | Andrew Farley - The Grace Embrace | August 16, 2025
  • ...
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  • Dr. andrew farley: welcome everyone, i'm andrew farley, and
  • 00:00:00.772 --> 00:00:02.874
  • In today's teaching, we're gonna get a deeper understanding of
  • 00:00:02.974 --> 00:00:07.079
  • The love and grace and forgiveness of god found only in
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  • Jesus christ.
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  • Hang on, it's gonna be a lot of fun.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Dr. farley: we looked at the new covenant, the umbrella concept.
  • 00:00:23.795 --> 00:00:31.703
  • You may recall that i said you don't have much without the
  • 00:00:31.703 --> 00:00:35.540
  • New covenant.
  • 00:00:35.540 --> 00:00:36.875
  • I mean, you can have a nice santa claus god, you can call
  • 00:00:36.875 --> 00:00:39.411
  • Him good and gracious and kind and merciful, but without the
  • 00:00:39.411 --> 00:00:43.982
  • New covenant, there's not a lot of definition to it.
  • 00:00:43.982 --> 00:00:46.785
  • So then the enemy comes, and he threatens your forgiveness, or
  • 00:00:46.785 --> 00:00:51.123
  • He tells you that you're not righteous, or that you're not
  • 00:00:51.123 --> 00:00:54.259
  • Okay or that you're not safe.
  • 00:00:54.259 --> 00:00:56.294
  • What you gonna do when he comes for you?
  • 00:00:56.294 --> 00:00:59.231
  • Well, you need the new covenant, because in the new covenant we
  • 00:00:59.231 --> 00:01:02.767
  • Have the promises of god, which are the answers to the accuser,
  • 00:01:02.767 --> 00:01:06.371
  • And everything is in black and white.
  • 00:01:06.371 --> 00:01:08.140
  • There's no gray area, there's no middle ground: you're safe and
  • 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:11.810
  • Forgiven and righteous and holy and blameless.
  • 00:01:11.810 --> 00:01:14.646
  • So we're gonna dive even deeper.
  • 00:01:14.646 --> 00:01:17.182
  • This morning, we're gonna look at our forgiveness, the finished
  • 00:01:17.182 --> 00:01:20.318
  • Work of jesus christ.
  • 00:01:20.318 --> 00:01:21.753
  • It's called the finished work because you don't have to finish
  • 00:01:21.753 --> 00:01:24.956
  • It, right?
  • 00:01:24.956 --> 00:01:26.291
  • Let's dive in.
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  • First, i want you to remember that government bailout we had.
  • 00:01:27.659 --> 00:01:30.829
  • It wasn't too long ago, you probably still remember it.
  • 00:01:30.829 --> 00:01:34.232
  • There were people down at the banks, and they had an apology
  • 00:01:34.232 --> 00:01:38.236
  • On their lips, sorrow in their hearts, and tears in their eyes,
  • 00:01:38.236 --> 00:01:42.974
  • But the bankers didn't care because the bankers just
  • 00:01:42.974 --> 00:01:46.912
  • Wanted money.
  • 00:01:46.912 --> 00:01:48.280
  • They just wanted to get paid, why?
  • 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:51.583
  • Because we have a money-driven economy.
  • 00:01:51.583 --> 00:01:54.719
  • It's not based on apologies, it's not based on tears, it's
  • 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:58.957
  • Based on cold american cash.
  • 00:01:58.957 --> 00:02:02.627
  • Well, likewise, in the spiritual realm it is not your apologies,
  • 00:02:02.627 --> 00:02:07.866
  • It is not your sorrow that gets you forgiveness from god.
  • 00:02:07.866 --> 00:02:12.103
  • It is the blood of jesus christ.
  • 00:02:12.103 --> 00:02:14.806
  • God has a blood-based economy, not an apology-based economy.
  • 00:02:14.806 --> 00:02:19.945
  • Think about it: how many times have you sinned in your life?
  • 00:02:19.945 --> 00:02:23.548
  • I'd like some numbers.
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  • I know some of you folks, it's gonna be in the millions, some
  • 00:02:25.483 --> 00:02:28.620
  • Of you in the billions, right?
  • 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:32.090
  • Well, how many of those sins have you remembered to confess?
  • 00:02:32.090 --> 00:02:36.795
  • How many of those sins have you remembered to ask
  • 00:02:36.795 --> 00:02:39.764
  • Forgiveness for?
  • 00:02:39.764 --> 00:02:41.099
  • Well, that's a lot smaller number, right?
  • 00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:43.635
  • So what are you gonna do now?
  • 00:02:43.635 --> 00:02:45.570
  • You got a real issue, a math problem on your hands.
  • 00:02:45.570 --> 00:02:49.874
  • It can't be about your asking and pleading and hoping and
  • 00:02:49.874 --> 00:02:54.012
  • Waiting and begging, it has to be about his blood.
  • 00:02:54.012 --> 00:02:58.416
  • And so, we see this in hebrews chapter 9, verses 16 and 22.
  • 00:02:58.416 --> 00:03:03.655
  • It says, "the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed
  • 00:03:03.655 --> 00:03:08.193
  • With blood, and without the shedding of blood there is
  • 00:03:08.193 --> 00:03:13.064
  • No forgiveness."
  • 00:03:13.064 --> 00:03:14.432
  • A blood-based economy, that's why you're forgiven.
  • 00:03:14.432 --> 00:03:18.036
  • Jesus shed his blood once: it worked the first time, no
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  • Repeat needed.
  • 00:03:23.008 --> 00:03:24.409
  • So we got something to celebrate, and we're gonna do
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  • That this very moment.
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  • I want you to imagine in jerusalem, a long time ago, a
  • 00:03:29.047 --> 00:03:35.020
  • Priest, a priest under the old testament; well, he comes down
  • 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:39.090
  • From the hillside, and he's holding a perfect, spotless lamb
  • 00:03:39.090 --> 00:03:43.828
  • Above his head, and he says, "eureka, i found it, the
  • 00:03:43.828 --> 00:03:47.299
  • Perfect sacrifice!"
  • 00:03:47.299 --> 00:03:49.301
  • Well, that never happened, but if it did happen, you know what
  • 00:03:49.301 --> 00:03:53.171
  • Would occur next.
  • 00:03:53.171 --> 00:03:54.506
  • They would shut down the temple, they would fold up
  • 00:03:54.506 --> 00:03:57.442
  • The tabernacle.
  • 00:03:57.442 --> 00:03:58.777
  • That whole system would be gone because the perfect sacrifice
  • 00:03:58.777 --> 00:04:04.482
  • Had arrived, and no more forgiveness was needed.
  • 00:04:04.482 --> 00:04:07.886
  • Well, that never happened, or did it?
  • 00:04:07.886 --> 00:04:10.789
  • Didn't it happen, because john the baptist, if you recall, he
  • 00:04:10.789 --> 00:04:14.893
  • Said, "look, the lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world,
  • 00:04:14.893 --> 00:04:19.764
  • That lamb showed up, and he was a perfect sacrifice, and
  • 00:04:19.764 --> 00:04:23.668
  • Therefore we don't need to get what we've already got."
  • 00:04:23.668 --> 00:04:27.105
  • All systems--get this, all systems: your begging, pleading,
  • 00:04:27.105 --> 00:04:31.943
  • Confession booth, confessing direct to god, all systems to
  • 00:04:31.943 --> 00:04:36.414
  • Get more forgiven are shut down because of what jesus christ did
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  • Once for all.
  • 00:04:42.587 --> 00:04:44.923
  • So we read in the book of hebrews, it says, "for this
  • 00:04:44.923 --> 00:04:47.792
  • Reason, [the law]
  • 00:04:47.792 --> 00:04:49.361
  • Could never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly
  • 00:04:49.361 --> 00:04:55.467
  • Year after year," over and over, again and again, it could never
  • 00:04:55.467 --> 00:05:00.638
  • Make you perfect.
  • 00:05:00.638 --> 00:05:02.474
  • And in fact, if it could make you perfect, what does it say?
  • 00:05:02.474 --> 00:05:06.444
  • Well, "the worshipers would have been cleansed" how many times?
  • 00:05:06.444 --> 00:05:11.516
  • "once," for how long?
  • 00:05:11.516 --> 00:05:13.718
  • For all time.
  • 00:05:13.718 --> 00:05:15.053
  • "the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would
  • 00:05:15.053 --> 00:05:19.090
  • No longer have felt guilty for their sins."
  • 00:05:19.090 --> 00:05:23.128
  • They never got it.
  • 00:05:23.128 --> 00:05:25.063
  • They never had it, but we've got it.
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  • We don't have to say woulda, coulda, shoulda, because we
  • 00:05:28.666 --> 00:05:32.003
  • Have what they never experienced.
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  • We have forgiveness and cleansing once for all.
  • 00:05:34.906 --> 00:05:39.344
  • Christians are not people who are being forgiven, christians
  • 00:05:39.344 --> 00:05:44.416
  • Are totally forgiven people, so we've got some exciting things
  • 00:05:44.416 --> 00:05:50.422
  • In the gospel that do not disappoint.
  • 00:05:50.422 --> 00:05:52.991
  • You know, a chair was a forbidden piece of furniture in
  • 00:05:52.991 --> 00:05:58.229
  • The old testament tabernacle.
  • 00:05:58.229 --> 00:06:00.131
  • In the temple--you know this--perhaps the priest, they
  • 00:06:00.131 --> 00:06:03.368
  • Could never sit down on the job, right?
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  • Did you know that?
  • 00:06:06.438 --> 00:06:07.806
  • And so, they were always standing, they were always
  • 00:06:07.806 --> 00:06:10.642
  • Busy, why?
  • 00:06:10.642 --> 00:06:11.976
  • Because there was more work to be done.
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  • It wasn't over.
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  • You had more forgiveness and more sacrifice and more animals
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  • And more altars.
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  • The work was never done, and sitting down would give the
  • 00:06:20.919 --> 00:06:24.589
  • Wrong impression.
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  • I mean, imagine you show up at the temple or tabernacle,
  • 00:06:25.957 --> 00:06:30.128
  • There's your high priest sitting in a la-z-boy chair saying,
  • 00:06:30.128 --> 00:06:34.232
  • "what's up?"
  • 00:06:34.232 --> 00:06:36.234
  • I mean, that guy apparently has no work left, it must be
  • 00:06:36.234 --> 00:06:40.505
  • Finished, but it wasn't finished.
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  • It was never finished, and that's the whole point.
  • 00:06:43.808 --> 00:06:47.846
  • And so, the book of hebrews tells us in chapter 10, it says,
  • 00:06:47.846 --> 00:06:51.683
  • "day after day every priest" does what?
  • 00:06:51.683 --> 00:06:55.453
  • "stands," he doesn't sit, he stands, and what does he do?
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  • He's "ministering and offering time after time the same
  • 00:07:00.325 --> 00:07:05.363
  • Sacrifices, which can never take away sins," but jesus, catch
  • 00:07:05.363 --> 00:07:11.336
  • This, look at what jesus did.
  • 00:07:11.336 --> 00:07:13.738
  • "but he, having offered one sacrifice for all time," what
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  • Did he do?
  • 00:07:18.776 --> 00:07:20.111
  • He did the illegal, he did the forbidden, he did what no old
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  • Testament priest could do: he "sat down at the right hand
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  • Of god...
  • 00:07:29.921 --> 00:07:31.289
  • By one offering he has perfected for all time those who
  • 00:07:31.289 --> 00:07:37.595
  • Are sanctified."
  • 00:07:37.595 --> 00:07:38.930
  • So, do you see what we are discovering in the
  • 00:07:38.930 --> 00:07:42.133
  • Scriptures together?
  • 00:07:42.133 --> 00:07:43.701
  • There is a position of standing, and there is a position of being
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  • Seated with jesus.
  • 00:07:49.307 --> 00:07:51.342
  • So i would ask you, are you up running around the
  • 00:07:51.342 --> 00:07:54.178
  • United states?
  • 00:07:54.178 --> 00:07:55.513
  • Are you up running around canada trying to get right, get clean,
  • 00:07:55.513 --> 00:07:59.517
  • Get close, get more forgiven, get more cleansed, or are you
  • 00:07:59.517 --> 00:08:04.155
  • Seated with jesus christ saying it is finished?
  • 00:08:04.155 --> 00:08:08.493
  • Only one position is a position of faith.
  • 00:08:08.493 --> 00:08:12.797
  • Are you willing to sit down in regard to your sins and admit
  • 00:08:12.797 --> 00:08:18.770
  • And agree with god that he did a perfect job?
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  • When god forgives you, it's perfect.
  • 00:08:22.640 --> 00:08:25.610
  • God doesn't forgive people partially.
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  • God doesn't forgive you 82% or 74%.
  • 00:08:28.546 --> 00:08:33.318
  • He looked down the timeline of your sins and he took them all
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  • Away once.
  • 00:08:38.957 --> 00:08:41.292
  • Now, i know what you've heard because i heard it.
  • 00:08:41.292 --> 00:08:44.162
  • I heard that god forgave me of all my sins up until
  • 00:08:44.162 --> 00:08:48.366
  • Salvation, right?
  • 00:08:48.366 --> 00:08:50.568
  • And then after that, it was up to me to suddenly stay forgiven
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  • And stay cleansed.
  • 00:08:55.607 --> 00:08:56.941
  • So look at this: the gospel got worse because i got saved.
  • 00:08:56.941 --> 00:09:02.513
  • It would be better for me to be saved on my deathbed then
  • 00:09:02.513 --> 00:09:06.584
  • Because there'd be less math.
  • 00:09:06.584 --> 00:09:09.520
  • There'd be less tabulations.
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  • There'd be less worry.
  • 00:09:11.823 --> 00:09:13.157
  • I should delay my salvation so that everything behind me is
  • 00:09:13.157 --> 00:09:16.861
  • Forgiven, supposedly.
  • 00:09:16.861 --> 00:09:18.396
  • The gospel got worse because i got saved?
  • 00:09:18.396 --> 00:09:21.566
  • No, how many of your sins were in the future when christ died?
  • 00:09:21.566 --> 00:09:28.139
  • All of them.
  • 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:29.507
  • He looked down the timeline of your sins past, present,
  • 00:09:29.507 --> 00:09:33.311
  • And future.
  • 00:09:33.311 --> 00:09:34.646
  • He looked down the timeline of your sins, and he took them all
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  • Away once.
  • 00:09:38.516 --> 00:09:40.618
  • Wow, by one offering, he has perfected you for all time.
  • 00:09:40.618 --> 00:09:47.392
  • Thank you jesus, the finished work of christ.
  • 00:09:47.392 --> 00:09:51.596
  • So we see in the book of hebrews, as the letter opens,
  • 00:09:51.596 --> 00:09:54.932
  • The author says, "after jesus had provided purification for
  • 00:09:54.932 --> 00:09:59.737
  • Sins," what did he do?
  • 00:09:59.737 --> 00:10:01.606
  • "he sat down at the right hand of the majesty in heaven."
  • 00:10:01.606 --> 00:10:07.311
  • What position are you in?
  • 00:10:07.311 --> 00:10:10.648
  • Relaxing with god is what the new covenant is all about.
  • 00:10:10.648 --> 00:10:15.386
  • Now, maybe you've heard this expression: "hey, don't you
  • 00:10:15.386 --> 00:10:17.922
  • Worry, your sins are under the blood."
  • 00:10:17.922 --> 00:10:21.893
  • You've heard that, it's popular, people say it all the time.
  • 00:10:21.893 --> 00:10:25.096
  • I got some news for you: it's not right.
  • 00:10:25.096 --> 00:10:27.932
  • Your sins are not under the blood because, come on, if they
  • 00:10:27.932 --> 00:10:30.601
  • Were under the blood, what if one creeps out the side?
  • 00:10:30.601 --> 00:10:33.971
  • See, your sins are taken away, washed away, removed as far as
  • 00:10:33.971 --> 00:10:39.577
  • The east is from the west.
  • 00:10:39.577 --> 00:10:41.546
  • God keeps no record of your wrongs; your sins
  • 00:10:41.546 --> 00:10:44.982
  • Are obliterated.
  • 00:10:44.982 --> 00:10:47.852
  • We see this in 1 john 2, the great takeaway.
  • 00:10:47.852 --> 00:10:52.056
  • John writes, "[jesus christ]
  • 00:10:52.056 --> 00:10:54.125
  • Is the one who turns aside god's wrath, taking away our sins,"
  • 00:10:54.125 --> 00:10:59.764
  • And now he's excited, he says, "not only ours, but also the
  • 00:10:59.764 --> 00:11:03.634
  • Sins of the whole world."
  • 00:11:03.634 --> 00:11:04.969
  • That's a jewish man who is amped.
  • 00:11:04.969 --> 00:11:07.905
  • He is pumped that the gospel is not just for israel, not just
  • 00:11:07.905 --> 00:11:12.543
  • For our sins, but even for those dirty, rotten gentiles too.
  • 00:11:12.543 --> 00:11:18.916
  • So we see the blood of jesus causes a takeaway, not
  • 00:11:18.916 --> 00:11:24.055
  • A covering.
  • 00:11:24.055 --> 00:11:25.389
  • A covering was old testament: the day of atonement would atone
  • 00:11:25.389 --> 00:11:29.927
  • Or cover your sins.
  • 00:11:29.927 --> 00:11:31.763
  • Jesus provides a takeaway.
  • 00:11:31.763 --> 00:11:35.266
  • So you guys remember groundhog day, that film groundhog day?
  • 00:11:35.266 --> 00:11:38.836
  • Of course you've seen it, you've seen it over and over and over.
  • 00:11:38.836 --> 00:11:42.707
  • At christmas they play it again and again, repeatedly,
  • 00:11:42.707 --> 00:11:45.910
  • Endlessly; you know where i'm going.
  • 00:11:45.910 --> 00:11:47.779
  • This guy in the film groundhog day, he is stuck in the same day
  • 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:52.416
  • Over and over until he does it perfectly, right?
  • 00:11:52.416 --> 00:11:54.752
  • He's trying to do it better and better and fix everything he
  • 00:11:54.752 --> 00:11:58.122
  • Says and fix everything he does.
  • 00:11:58.122 --> 00:12:00.091
  • He's got to repeat the same day again and again.
  • 00:12:00.091 --> 00:12:02.960
  • What we're saying is that with jesus christ, there is no
  • 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:06.397
  • Groundhog day.
  • 00:12:06.397 --> 00:12:07.765
  • He got it right the first time.
  • 00:12:07.765 --> 00:12:11.068
  • We see this in the book of hebrews.
  • 00:12:11.068 --> 00:12:13.371
  • It says, "christ did not enter a manmade sanctuary that was only
  • 00:12:13.371 --> 00:12:18.242
  • A copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to
  • 00:12:18.242 --> 00:12:22.980
  • Appear for us in god's presence."
  • 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:25.049
  • Look at what it says next: "nor did jesus enter heaven to offer
  • 00:12:25.049 --> 00:12:31.355
  • Himself again and again, the way that the high priest" in the old
  • 00:12:31.355 --> 00:12:35.693
  • Testament would "enter the most holy place every year."
  • 00:12:35.693 --> 00:12:40.298
  • Jesus is not up there dying so you're not down here
  • 00:12:40.298 --> 00:12:47.271
  • Being forgiven.
  • 00:12:47.271 --> 00:12:49.373
  • He's not up there progressively dying so you're not down here
  • 00:12:49.373 --> 00:12:54.779
  • Progressively being cleansed.
  • 00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:57.548
  • Now, there are folks who believe that when they show up to a
  • 00:12:57.548 --> 00:13:00.384
  • Church building and engage in a ceremony and take the lord's
  • 00:13:00.384 --> 00:13:04.488
  • Supper that jesus is sort of dying.
  • 00:13:04.488 --> 00:13:07.859
  • He's up in heaven dying, and the crosses on the wall feature
  • 00:13:07.859 --> 00:13:11.395
  • Jesus dying, and when they take communion they say, "jesus is in
  • 00:13:11.395 --> 00:13:16.701
  • The process."
  • 00:13:16.701 --> 00:13:18.903
  • But jesus said it is finished, and hebrews says by one
  • 00:13:18.903 --> 00:13:23.541
  • Offering, by one sacrifice you've been made
  • 00:13:23.541 --> 00:13:26.978
  • Perfect forever.
  • 00:13:26.978 --> 00:13:28.379
  • He ain't up there dying, and you're not down here
  • 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:32.216
  • Being forgiven.
  • 00:13:32.216 --> 00:13:34.952
  • This passage continues very logically.
  • 00:13:34.952 --> 00:13:37.655
  • I love this.
  • 00:13:37.655 --> 00:13:39.023
  • It says, then guess what?
  • 00:13:39.023 --> 00:13:40.358
  • If that were true, if he had to offer himself over and over,
  • 00:13:40.358 --> 00:13:44.528
  • Then christ would have had to suffer many times.
  • 00:13:44.528 --> 00:13:47.865
  • In fact, he'd have to die every time you sin.
  • 00:13:47.865 --> 00:13:51.302
  • Every time you sinned, he'd have to crawl back up on that cross
  • 00:13:51.302 --> 00:13:54.972
  • One more time on tuesday and 42 times on wednesday.
  • 00:13:54.972 --> 00:13:59.844
  • So what does it say?
  • 00:13:59.844 --> 00:14:01.178
  • "christ would have to suffer many times since the creation of
  • 00:14:01.178 --> 00:14:04.849
  • The world," but what's really happened is that "now he has
  • 00:14:04.849 --> 00:14:08.786
  • Appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin
  • 00:14:08.786 --> 00:14:14.492
  • By the sacrifice of himself."
  • 00:14:14.492 --> 00:14:16.627
  • Do you see this logic?
  • 00:14:16.627 --> 00:14:18.396
  • He did what he did so perfectly one time.
  • 00:14:18.396 --> 00:14:22.800
  • Why are we acting like he needs to do some more?
  • 00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:27.238
  • Finally, this passage concludes.
  • 00:14:27.238 --> 00:14:29.240
  • It says, "just as man is destined to die once and after
  • 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:34.011
  • That to face judgment, so christ was sacrificed once to take away
  • 00:14:34.011 --> 00:14:40.685
  • The sins of many people; and he will appear," i love this, "he
  • 00:14:40.685 --> 00:14:45.456
  • Will appear a second time, not to bear sin."
  • 00:14:45.456 --> 00:14:50.261
  • He's not coming back for a cross.
  • 00:14:50.261 --> 00:14:53.064
  • "not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are
  • 00:14:53.064 --> 00:14:57.301
  • Eagerly awaiting him."
  • 00:14:57.301 --> 00:14:59.136
  • Another translation says, "he will come back without reference
  • 00:14:59.136 --> 00:15:03.374
  • To sin to those who eagerly await him."
  • 00:15:03.374 --> 00:15:07.545
  • "without reference to sin," not to bear it, not to die for it,
  • 00:15:07.545 --> 00:15:11.349
  • Not to refer to it, because he's already done.
  • 00:15:11.349 --> 00:15:15.286
  • He's coming back to bring salvation for those like you and
  • 00:15:15.286 --> 00:15:19.323
  • Me who eagerly await him, but you cannot eagerly await him if
  • 00:15:19.323 --> 00:15:24.695
  • You think there's a clipboard in the sky that he's filling out,
  • 00:15:24.695 --> 00:15:28.532
  • Checking boxes, and that there's gonna be a big movie of
  • 00:15:28.532 --> 00:15:32.336
  • Your sins.
  • 00:15:32.336 --> 00:15:33.771
  • There is no movie.
  • 00:15:33.771 --> 00:15:35.673
  • God destroyed the reel.
  • 00:15:35.673 --> 00:15:37.742
  • You remember that mobile app from a decade or two ago called
  • 00:15:37.742 --> 00:15:41.412
  • "i confess"?
  • 00:15:41.412 --> 00:15:43.748
  • Well, "i confess" was brought to you by a particular church, and
  • 00:15:43.748 --> 00:15:47.685
  • They put it online for you to download, and you could simply
  • 00:15:47.685 --> 00:15:51.055
  • Bring out your smartphone and type in all your sins and then
  • 00:15:51.055 --> 00:15:54.392
  • Upload a confession to the god of the universe, and oh, about
  • 00:15:54.392 --> 00:15:58.629
  • Ten seconds later you'd get a ding on your phone,
  • 00:15:58.629 --> 00:16:01.032
  • You're forgiven.
  • 00:16:01.032 --> 00:16:03.000
  • That's incredible, whoa, technology!
  • 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:07.338
  • Or, or, we could go with the finished work of jesus and just
  • 00:16:07.338 --> 00:16:12.543
  • Say it is finished.
  • 00:16:12.543 --> 00:16:15.379
  • So 1 john tells us in chapter 1, it says, "if we claim to be
  • 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:20.751
  • Without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not
  • 00:16:20.751 --> 00:16:24.188
  • In us," and then we see this infamous passage.
  • 00:16:24.188 --> 00:16:27.358
  • 1 john 1:9, it says, "if we confess our sins, he is faithful
  • 00:16:27.358 --> 00:16:32.930
  • And just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from
  • 00:16:32.930 --> 00:16:36.634
  • All unrighteousness.
  • 00:16:36.634 --> 00:16:38.002
  • If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and
  • 00:16:38.002 --> 00:16:42.306
  • His word is not in us."
  • 00:16:42.306 --> 00:16:43.674
  • Now, the reason i bring this up, you know why i bring it up.
  • 00:16:43.674 --> 00:16:46.243
  • It's the fly in the ointment, it's the worm in the apple for a
  • 00:16:46.243 --> 00:16:49.413
  • Lot of people.
  • 00:16:49.413 --> 00:16:50.781
  • They say, "oh yeah, brother, it is finished, it's over, my sins
  • 00:16:50.781 --> 00:16:54.585
  • Are gone," and then next week, the message is, "well, if you
  • 00:16:54.585 --> 00:16:58.689
  • Confess, he'll forgive you."
  • 00:16:58.689 --> 00:17:01.225
  • 1 john 1:9, he promises that if you confess, he'll forgive you
  • 00:17:01.225 --> 00:17:05.796
  • And cleanse you.
  • 00:17:05.796 --> 00:17:07.164
  • Then you gotta scratch your head and say, "well, what if i
  • 00:17:07.164 --> 00:17:08.833
  • Don't confess?
  • 00:17:08.833 --> 00:17:10.367
  • What if i forget one?
  • 00:17:10.367 --> 00:17:12.002
  • What if i get hit by a mack truck in the middle of my
  • 00:17:12.002 --> 00:17:14.572
  • Confession, or even right before it?
  • 00:17:14.572 --> 00:17:16.674
  • What if i die with some unconfessed sins?"
  • 00:17:16.674 --> 00:17:19.043
  • I got some news for you: you're gonna.
  • 00:17:19.043 --> 00:17:21.779
  • You're gonna die with millions of unconfessed sins, i'll tell
  • 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:25.716
  • You that right now, because nobody has a perfect memory.
  • 00:17:25.716 --> 00:17:30.387
  • So what is going on with this passage?
  • 00:17:30.387 --> 00:17:32.923
  • Is it a bar of soap for christians?
  • 00:17:32.923 --> 00:17:36.093
  • Well, you know, i'm gonna propose that we do something
  • 00:17:36.093 --> 00:17:38.996
  • Crazy, and that is look at context.
  • 00:17:38.996 --> 00:17:41.765
  • I'm gonna propose that we do something outlandish: look at
  • 00:17:41.765 --> 00:17:45.136
  • The verse before it and the verse after it to understand it.
  • 00:17:45.136 --> 00:17:49.340
  • Now, any good commentary on 1 john will tell you the
  • 00:17:49.340 --> 00:17:52.977
  • Same thing.
  • 00:17:52.977 --> 00:17:54.311
  • Any good commentary will tell you that there was a history
  • 00:17:54.311 --> 00:17:57.615
  • Of gnosticism.
  • 00:17:57.615 --> 00:17:59.316
  • Gnostics were sin deniers.
  • 00:17:59.316 --> 00:18:02.019
  • They were saying, number 1, jesus did not come in the flesh,
  • 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:05.623
  • And number 2, sin, what sin?
  • 00:18:05.623 --> 00:18:07.892
  • There's no such thing as sin.
  • 00:18:07.892 --> 00:18:10.094
  • So the gnostics were denying the physicality of christ and they
  • 00:18:10.094 --> 00:18:14.365
  • Were denying the reality of sin.
  • 00:18:14.365 --> 00:18:17.301
  • Now, in that context, this first chapter, 1 john 1, john begins
  • 00:18:17.301 --> 00:18:22.606
  • Like this.
  • 00:18:22.606 --> 00:18:23.974
  • He says, "we've touched, we've handled, we've heard," you know
  • 00:18:23.974 --> 00:18:26.143
  • 1 john 1, "we've touched him, we've handled him, we've seen
  • 00:18:26.143 --> 00:18:29.213
  • Him, he was physical."
  • 00:18:29.213 --> 00:18:31.048
  • So already from the opening verses, john is debunking
  • 00:18:31.048 --> 00:18:34.952
  • Gnostic belief.
  • 00:18:34.952 --> 00:18:37.288
  • Secondly, he continues debunking gnostic belief by saying, "hey,
  • 00:18:37.288 --> 00:18:41.992
  • Are you a sin denier?
  • 00:18:41.992 --> 00:18:43.394
  • Well, let me tell you, if we claim to be without sin,
  • 00:18:43.394 --> 00:18:46.564
  • We're crazy."
  • 00:18:46.564 --> 00:18:48.032
  • If we claim to be without sin and if we--any one of us say
  • 00:18:48.032 --> 00:18:52.036
  • That we've never sinned, we are loco.
  • 00:18:52.036 --> 00:18:56.840
  • Now, what does he go on to say about these people?
  • 00:18:56.840 --> 00:19:00.110
  • He's being polite, he's using the word "we."
  • 00:19:00.110 --> 00:19:02.446
  • "if we" this and "if we" that, and "if we" this--"if we're sin
  • 00:19:02.446 --> 00:19:05.916
  • Admitters or if we're sin deniers," or if we're this or if
  • 00:19:05.916 --> 00:19:08.986
  • We're that, so if the shoe fits, you wear it.
  • 00:19:08.986 --> 00:19:11.689
  • But look at what else he says about this group.
  • 00:19:11.689 --> 00:19:14.425
  • Not only are they sin deniers, but look again at the passage.
  • 00:19:14.425 --> 00:19:18.996
  • It says, "the truth is not in us."
  • 00:19:18.996 --> 00:19:22.600
  • If we're claiming that we have zero sins, if we're claiming
  • 00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:28.305
  • That we have never sinned a day in our lives, then the truth is
  • 00:19:28.305 --> 00:19:32.843
  • Not in us and his word is not in us.
  • 00:19:32.843 --> 00:19:36.814
  • So is that a believer or a nonbeliever?
  • 00:19:36.814 --> 00:19:39.250
  • Oh my goodness, i want you to think about that one.
  • 00:19:39.250 --> 00:19:42.319
  • Imagine, imagine that i have a friend up here and his name is
  • 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:47.291
  • Dave, and i wanna introduce you to dave, and i say, "let me tell
  • 00:19:47.291 --> 00:19:50.027
  • You about dave.
  • 00:19:50.027 --> 00:19:51.362
  • Dave says that he's never sinned a day in his life.
  • 00:19:51.362 --> 00:19:54.531
  • Dave says he has no sin."
  • 00:19:54.531 --> 00:19:56.367
  • Dave says he has never sinned.
  • 00:19:56.367 --> 00:19:58.269
  • Dave doesn't have the truth in him.
  • 00:19:58.269 --> 00:20:00.904
  • Dave doesn't have god's word in him, and dave is making god into
  • 00:20:00.904 --> 00:20:05.009
  • A liar about sin.
  • 00:20:05.009 --> 00:20:08.245
  • Is dave a believer?
  • 00:20:08.245 --> 00:20:10.147
  • No way, what's step number 1 to becoming a believer?
  • 00:20:10.147 --> 00:20:13.250
  • "lord jesus christ, i am a sinner."
  • 00:20:13.250 --> 00:20:16.553
  • Dave won't say that.
  • 00:20:16.553 --> 00:20:18.589
  • Dave's not ready to say that.
  • 00:20:18.589 --> 00:20:19.923
  • He's digging his heels in, he's saying, "i never sinned a day in
  • 00:20:19.923 --> 00:20:22.493
  • My life.
  • 00:20:22.493 --> 00:20:23.861
  • Savior, i don't need a savior.
  • 00:20:23.861 --> 00:20:25.195
  • Savior from what?"
  • 00:20:25.195 --> 00:20:26.563
  • Now, i turn to dave and i say to dave, "hey, buddy, old pal,
  • 00:20:26.563 --> 00:20:31.135
  • Listen: you've been saying some stuff around town, and i just
  • 00:20:31.135 --> 00:20:35.105
  • Wanna encourage you that if you would stop denying your
  • 00:20:35.105 --> 00:20:38.042
  • Sinfulness, if you would stop with these crazy claims, if you
  • 00:20:38.042 --> 00:20:41.712
  • Would just admit your sinfulness, guess what god will
  • 00:20:41.712 --> 00:20:44.615
  • Do for you?
  • 00:20:44.615 --> 00:20:45.949
  • He will, dave, he will forgive you and cleanse you of
  • 00:20:45.949 --> 00:20:49.920
  • All unrighteousness.
  • 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:51.655
  • Not little-by-little, not day by day, not a bar of soap, not sin
  • 00:20:51.655 --> 00:20:56.627
  • By sin.
  • 00:20:56.627 --> 00:20:58.128
  • Dave, if you'll come to your senses, he'll forgive you and
  • 00:20:58.128 --> 00:21:01.231
  • Cleanse you of" how much?
  • 00:21:01.231 --> 00:21:02.599
  • "of all unrighteousness."
  • 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:05.035
  • Sound familiar?
  • 00:21:05.035 --> 00:21:06.403
  • Past, present, future.
  • 00:21:06.403 --> 00:21:07.771
  • Dave scratches his head a minute.
  • 00:21:07.771 --> 00:21:09.440
  • He says, "well, gee andrew, i've been thinking about what you
  • 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:11.809
  • Said, and you know, based on the solution, i'm pretty excited to
  • 00:21:11.809 --> 00:21:15.946
  • Admit the problem: i have sinned, actually, and i'd like
  • 00:21:15.946 --> 00:21:20.451
  • To be forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness now."
  • 00:21:20.451 --> 00:21:24.788
  • And i say, "well, dave, that's wonderful news.
  • 00:21:24.788 --> 00:21:27.157
  • You know, the gospel is here for you.
  • 00:21:27.157 --> 00:21:28.659
  • If you believe, you call upon his name, you'll be saved and
  • 00:21:28.659 --> 00:21:31.362
  • You'll be cleansed of all unrighteousness."
  • 00:21:31.362 --> 00:21:34.598
  • Church, what are we doing?
  • 00:21:34.598 --> 00:21:37.601
  • What are we doing teaching 1 john 1:9 as a bar of soap, when
  • 00:21:37.601 --> 00:21:43.741
  • In fact it is clearly evangelistic to the sin denier
  • 00:21:43.741 --> 00:21:49.146
  • To come to their senses and be forgiven and cleansed once
  • 00:21:49.146 --> 00:21:53.150
  • For all?
  • 00:21:53.150 --> 00:21:54.885
  • How about this one, john 3: "god did not send his son into the
  • 00:21:54.885 --> 00:22:00.257
  • World to judge the world, but to save it.
  • 00:22:00.257 --> 00:22:04.128
  • Whoever believes in him is not judged.
  • 00:22:04.128 --> 00:22:08.632
  • Whoever does not believe in him stands judged already because
  • 00:22:08.632 --> 00:22:13.670
  • He's not believed in the name of god's one and only son."
  • 00:22:13.670 --> 00:22:18.142
  • Do you see that?
  • 00:22:18.142 --> 00:22:19.910
  • Wow, the grace of god does not stop at the gates of heaven.
  • 00:22:19.910 --> 00:22:24.982
  • We don't have two gospels.
  • 00:22:24.982 --> 00:22:26.850
  • It's not the gospel for now, and then later god's gonna get you.
  • 00:22:26.850 --> 00:22:30.954
  • Your sins are gone.
  • 00:22:30.954 --> 00:22:32.289
  • There is no movie.
  • 00:22:32.289 --> 00:22:35.325
  • We'll finish with this.
  • 00:22:35.325 --> 00:22:36.727
  • You guys know the concept of double jeopardy?
  • 00:22:36.727 --> 00:22:39.396
  • Well, it's on the books, you know, a certain outcome of a
  • 00:22:39.396 --> 00:22:43.467
  • Certain trial for a certain crime, and you can't be tried in
  • 00:22:43.467 --> 00:22:47.004
  • The same way for the same crime again, it's called
  • 00:22:47.004 --> 00:22:49.940
  • Double jeopardy.
  • 00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:51.275
  • Well, that's exactly what we're saying with god.
  • 00:22:51.275 --> 00:22:53.844
  • In the spiritual realm, there is no fear of being tried and
  • 00:22:53.844 --> 00:22:58.782
  • Judged again for the same crime that you've already committed,
  • 00:22:58.782 --> 00:23:03.053
  • That you've already been judged.
  • 00:23:03.053 --> 00:23:04.521
  • The verdict was guilty and the punishment was death, and jesus
  • 00:23:04.521 --> 00:23:09.293
  • Died, and there is no punishment left.
  • 00:23:09.293 --> 00:23:12.529
  • There is no double jeopardy.
  • 00:23:12.529 --> 00:23:15.466
  • As far as rewards go, don't worry.
  • 00:23:15.466 --> 00:23:18.435
  • I mean, you know what, the story goes a little something like
  • 00:23:18.435 --> 00:23:21.338
  • This at that judgment: there's sheep and goats, but there's no
  • 00:23:21.338 --> 00:23:24.875
  • Shoats, and there's no geep, and you don't have to worry about
  • 00:23:24.875 --> 00:23:30.347
  • Everything that you've done that's ba-a-aad, because yeah,
  • 00:23:30.347 --> 00:23:34.885
  • That was free, got no charge, no charge for that, because it is
  • 00:23:34.885 --> 00:23:42.459
  • Black and white, it is crystal clear, there's no gray area,
  • 00:23:42.459 --> 00:23:45.596
  • There's no middle ground, it's revelation 20, "pulled up from
  • 00:23:45.596 --> 00:23:48.932
  • Hell," and then a totally different group, revelation 21,
  • 00:23:48.932 --> 00:23:52.836
  • "there's no more tears for you, no more sorrow.
  • 00:23:52.836 --> 00:23:55.506
  • Enter into eternity with me."
  • 00:23:55.506 --> 00:23:58.275
  • Two groups, two outcomes, clear as day.
  • 00:23:58.275 --> 00:24:01.211
  • So i know you're worried about the rewards.
  • 00:24:01.211 --> 00:24:04.081
  • Are you gonna be stuck with the mr. t starter set, you know,
  • 00:24:04.081 --> 00:24:07.951
  • When you want that super bling kit like your neighbor who's
  • 00:24:07.951 --> 00:24:11.188
  • Worked harder than you?
  • 00:24:11.188 --> 00:24:12.756
  • Don't forget the parable of the vineyard workers.
  • 00:24:12.756 --> 00:24:15.993
  • They all got paid the same; some of them working all day, some of
  • 00:24:15.993 --> 00:24:20.697
  • Them showing up with one hour left, they all got paid
  • 00:24:20.697 --> 00:24:25.335
  • The same.
  • 00:24:25.335 --> 00:24:26.703
  • The grace of god does not stop at the gates of heaven.
  • 00:24:26.703 --> 00:24:31.108
  • Apparently, god is an equal opportunity employer, amen?
  • 00:24:31.108 --> 00:24:37.648
  • So i tell you what, in south bend, indiana, we had two
  • 00:24:37.648 --> 00:24:44.054
  • Extra bedrooms.
  • 00:24:44.054 --> 00:24:45.389
  • One of them was for a guest room, and one of them was for
  • 00:24:45.389 --> 00:24:47.858
  • An office.
  • 00:24:47.858 --> 00:24:49.192
  • One of them was absolutely pristine, and one of them was a
  • 00:24:49.192 --> 00:24:52.896
  • Total mess.
  • 00:24:52.896 --> 00:24:54.364
  • I mean, my office was a total mess, you couldn't make it
  • 00:24:54.364 --> 00:24:58.702
  • Across the room, it was boxes and cables and books.
  • 00:24:58.702 --> 00:25:02.005
  • You talk about confession, now you're getting to know me.
  • 00:25:02.005 --> 00:25:04.942
  • It was a mess in that office, and then over here we had my
  • 00:25:04.942 --> 00:25:08.812
  • Wife's guest room that she kept it spotless for that last
  • 00:25:08.812 --> 00:25:13.684
  • Minute visitor.
  • 00:25:13.684 --> 00:25:15.018
  • You could wipe your hand down any piece of furniture with a
  • 00:25:15.018 --> 00:25:18.422
  • White glove and come up with nothing.
  • 00:25:18.422 --> 00:25:20.123
  • It was ready for a visitor in a hurry.
  • 00:25:20.123 --> 00:25:23.060
  • Now, imagine you're walking down the hallway of that house, and
  • 00:25:23.060 --> 00:25:27.497
  • You got a piece of trash all balled up in your hand, where
  • 00:25:27.497 --> 00:25:31.168
  • Are you gonna toss it?
  • 00:25:31.168 --> 00:25:32.536
  • You're gonna toss it in that guest room or in my office?
  • 00:25:32.536 --> 00:25:36.173
  • In my office?
  • 00:25:36.173 --> 00:25:37.541
  • Oh, thanks, thanks a lot.
  • 00:25:37.541 --> 00:25:39.042
  • I appreciate that, yeah.
  • 00:25:39.042 --> 00:25:41.078
  • But here's the logic: it's already dirty, why not throw one
  • 00:25:41.078 --> 00:25:45.148
  • More on the pile?
  • 00:25:45.148 --> 00:25:46.483
  • Now, i got a question for you: which room are you?
  • 00:25:46.483 --> 00:25:50.654
  • Which room are you?
  • 00:25:50.654 --> 00:25:52.556
  • When a sin travels down the hallway of your mind, which room
  • 00:25:52.556 --> 00:25:57.594
  • Are you?
  • 00:25:57.594 --> 00:25:58.962
  • That dirty office?
  • 00:25:58.962 --> 00:26:00.297
  • Then why not throw one more on the pile?
  • 00:26:00.297 --> 00:26:02.132
  • Or if you're that clean guest room, well, then this, this
  • 00:26:02.132 --> 00:26:05.569
  • Doesn't fit.
  • 00:26:05.569 --> 00:26:06.937
  • It doesn't fit with who i am.
  • 00:26:06.937 --> 00:26:10.440
  • Understanding your total forgiveness leads you to the
  • 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:14.811
  • Truth that you are clean and close, and that sin doesn't fit
  • 00:26:14.811 --> 00:26:19.716
  • With who you are.
  • 00:26:19.716 --> 00:26:21.251
  • Dr. farley: i hope you enjoyed today's broadcast.
  • 00:26:21.251 --> 00:26:23.687
  • Does christianity ever feel like a prison to you, like you're
  • 00:26:23.687 --> 00:26:26.957
  • Bound up by all the rule-keeping and performance-based religion?
  • 00:26:26.957 --> 00:26:31.728
  • Jesus doesn't want that for you and me.
  • 00:26:31.728 --> 00:26:33.864
  • He died and rose from the dead to give us much more than a
  • 00:26:33.864 --> 00:26:37.734
  • Lifeless religion.
  • 00:26:37.734 --> 00:26:39.202
  • It's not about self-improvement or inching closer to god, it's
  • 00:26:39.202 --> 00:26:43.640
  • Actually about celebrating what jesus already did.
  • 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:47.611
  • Imagine if you were celebrating the finished work of christ
  • 00:26:47.611 --> 00:26:51.915
  • Every day, all day long: that's god's goal with us.
  • 00:26:51.915 --> 00:26:56.019
  • That's why i'm excited about our new resource.
  • 00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:58.288
  • It's called "the grace escape."
  • 00:26:58.288 --> 00:27:00.157
  • It's about breaking out of the prison of performance
  • 00:27:00.157 --> 00:27:03.393
  • Christianity and discovering the genuine article, the real thing
  • 00:27:03.393 --> 00:27:08.098
  • Where we're fixing our eyes on jesus and enjoying him.
  • 00:27:08.098 --> 00:27:11.968
  • Make sure to request your copy of "the grace escape" when you
  • 00:27:11.968 --> 00:27:15.639
  • Give your gift to "the grace message" this month, and thank
  • 00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:18.942
  • You so much for your support.
  • 00:27:18.942 --> 00:27:20.911
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:21.978 --> 00:27:29.010