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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Jesus and The Moral Man

April 27, 2025 | S25:E100

Greg Laurie - Jesus and The Moral Man
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#GregLaurie #Salvation #Grace #Gospel #Religion #Sin #inActive #Morals #Savior #HarvestwithPastorGregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Jesus and The Moral Man | April 27, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Greg laurie: god demonstrated his love toward us, the bible
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  • Says, that while we were yet sinners, christ died for us.
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  • And god's love is unconditional, there's nothing you can do to
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  • Earn it.
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  • I think somehow we think, well, i have to earn god's love.
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  • No, god loves you already.
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  • He loves you as you are.
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  • Now, that doesn't mean he approves of all the things you
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  • Say and do, but you need to know that he loves
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  • You unconditionally.
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  • God's love is for everybody and it's universal.
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  • He loves all people.
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  • The bible says whosoever will call upon the name of the lord
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  • Will be saved,
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  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
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  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪
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  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
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  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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  • Greg: so just imagine for a moment, if you will, if
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  • You could have a personal appointment with jesus, just you
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  • And the lord hanging out maybe over a cup of coffee, you could
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  • Ask him any question, no topic was off limits, just you
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  • And jesus.
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  • A younger person might have some different questions than an
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  • Older person might.
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  • A younger person might ask about their identity or their purpose
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  • In life or what course their life would take, an older person
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  • Might ask questions about the afterlife or their mortality.
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  • Studies have shown that's what people think
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  • About as they get older.
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  • In fact, it's what they ought to be thinking about
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  • As they get older.
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  • I don't know if you've seen that film, "saving private ryan,"
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  • But it's a powerful film.
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  • And in this movie, captain john miller
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  • Played by tom hanks, is sent on a mission.
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  • And it is to save private ryan because
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  • Private ryan's three brothers had been killed in combat.
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  • And it was felt that the mother could not stand the heartbreak
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  • Of losing all four of her sons.
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  • So some soldiers are sent on a mission to
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  • Save private ryan.
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  • And they finally located him.
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  • Tragically, almost everyone in the squad that was sent to
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  • Save this young man die in combat.
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  • And at the very end of the film, they finally find private ryan,
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  • Played by matt damon.
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  • And then captain miller is shot, and he's dying.
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  • And he says to private ryan, "james, earn this.
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  • Earn it."
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  • So now you go to the end of the film, and private ryan
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  • Is an older man.
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  • And he goes to a cemetery to visit the grave of
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  • Captain miller who had died saving his life.
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  • And he's there with his family.
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  • And he says to them he tried to live the best life
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  • That he could live.
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  • And he hoped he earned what they all did for him,
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  • And then he turns to his wife and says, "tell me that i
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  • Lived a good life.
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  • Tell me i'm a good man."
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  • You know, and that's a valid statement to make.
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  • And we have a similar situation in the story
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  • Before us.
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  • We have an elderly gentleman thinking about his mortality,
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  • Realizing he may not have that much longer to live, and he
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  • Comes to jesus, and the name of this man is known to most of us,
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  • His name was nicodemus.
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  • Nicodemus was effectively a household name.
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  • He was known to be a great spiritual leader.
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  • He was an intellectual.
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  • He was a deeply moral man, obviously a very religious man
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  • And a leader of the highest order, and now he encounters a
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  • Humble, a completely uneducated or comparatively uneducated poor
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  • Carpenter from nazareth.
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  • So, here we have the intellectual elite with a man
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  • That was controversial, but it really wasn't a rabbi and a
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  • Carpenter, this is effectively a conversation between god
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  • And man.
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  • And we could nominate--we could not nominate a better
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  • Representative than nicodemus.
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  • He was sort of the finest of humanity, sort of speaking on
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  • Our behalf.
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  • And so, jesus unfolds the mysteries of life to nicodemus,
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  • And christ also utters probably the best known bible verse of
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  • All time, john 3:16.
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  • But before this conversation begins to unfold in john 3, we
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  • Have what happened before it in john chapter 2, verse 23.
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  • Look at that with me.
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  • "because of the miraculous signs jesus did in jerusalem at the
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  • Passover celebration, many began to trust him."
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  • Okay, that sounds good.
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  • Maybe your translation says many believed in him, but then this,
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  • "but jesus didn't trust them, because he knew all people.
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  • No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what
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  • Was in each human heart."
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  • Wow, powerful statement.
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  • Many trusted in him but effectively he didn't trust
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  • In them.
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  • Many believed in him, but he didn't believe in them, why?
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  • Because their faith was superficial.
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  • It was based on the spectacular, on miracles that they had seen,
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  • It wasn't a genuine and real faith.
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  • When someone is really seeking god, the lord will reveal
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  • Himself to them, but if you're not a true seeker, god won't
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  • Reveal himself to you.
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  • Now, in contrast to this, we come to chapter 3, "but there
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  • Was a man of the pharisees named nicodemus."
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  • Now, when the bible was originally written, there were
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  • Not chapters and verses.
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  • Jesus did not begin a statement with, "chapter 1, verse 1."
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  • We added that later so we could find our way around in our
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  • Bibles, so this is a flow of thought.
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  • So, these people believed in him, but he didn't believe in
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  • Them, but there was a pharisee named nicodemus.
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  • So, in contrast here's a true seeker.
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  • Let's look at it, john 3, we read that "there was a man of
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  • The pharisees named nicodemus, a ruler of the jews.
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  • This man came to jesus by night."
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  • You might underline that, we'll come back to it.
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  • He came to jesus by night, "and said to him, 'rabbi, we know
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  • That you are a teacher come from god, for no one can do these
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  • Signs that you do unless god is with him.'
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  • Jesus answered and said to him, 'most assuredly i say to you,
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  • Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of god.'
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  • Nicodemus said to him, 'but how can a man be born when he's old?
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  • Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?'
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  • Jesus answered, 'most assuredly i say to you, unless one is born
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  • Of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of god.
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  • That which is born of the flesh is flesh, that which is born of
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  • The spirit is spirit.
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  • Don't marvel that i have said to you, "you must be born again."
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  • The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but
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  • Cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes.
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  • So is everyone born of the spirit.'
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  • Nicodemus answered and said to him, 'how can these things be?'
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  • Jesus answered and said, 'are you the teacher of israel and
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  • You don't know these things?'"
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  • We'll stop there.
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  • So, here's nicodemus, a man who was hungry for real truth.
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  • He had everything one would want in life,
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  • But something was missing.
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  • You know, as long as we think our dream is gonna be realized,
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  • We may press on in life.
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  • We set certain goals, i'm gonna go to school, i'm gonna go to
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  • College, i'm gonna get that degree, i'm gonna get that good
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  • Job, i'm hopefully gonna get, you know, promoted in my job and
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  • Then i'm gonna get married and then we'll have kids.
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  • These are all goals that we set, and maybe we meet those goals,
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  • And after we've been married for, you know, 15 years, we say,
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  • "i don't know, maybe i'll marry somebody else," and so we trade
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  • Our spouses in.
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  • And then with the kids you say, you know, i enjoy having kids,
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  • But are they ever gonna leave the house?
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  • They're all in their 50s now.
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  • And so, you know, we just keep thinking when i get to this
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  • Certain place, then i'm gonna be happy, and then you get to that
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  • Place, and you're still not happy.
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  • Here's something that's true of every person, i don't care if
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  • They're young or old, famous, infamous, or completely unknown.
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  • Doesn't matter if they're a man or a woman, everyone deep down
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  • Inside is empty, and why are they empty?
  • 00:08:25.227 --> 00:08:28.030
  • Because effectively god created us with a void in our life that
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  • Can only be filled with him.
  • 00:08:32.368 --> 00:08:35.104
  • The bible says he made the creation subject to emptiness.
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  • So, you'll try to fill that void with so many things,
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  • Relationships, sexual experiences, drugs, alcohol,
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  • Accomplishments, possessions, the list goes on, but you'll
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  • Only find the satisfaction you seek in a relationship with god.
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  • Number one, everyone's empty.
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  • Number two, everyone's lonely.
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  • You may have a lot of friends, you may be at a party with
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  • People all around you and a deep sense of loneliness just sweeps
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  • Over you.
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  • That's a loneliness for god.
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  • Thirdly, everyone is guilty.
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  • We feel guilt.
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  • We try to mask it, we try to pretend it's not there, but it
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  • Is there, and you know why you feel guilty?
  • 00:09:16.979 --> 00:09:19.415
  • Because you're guilty, because you're a sinner, i'm a sinner.
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  • We've all broken god's commandments.
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  • And lastly, everyone is afraid to die.
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  • I know we'll show great bravado and laugh at it.
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  • No, deep down inside, when you're laying your head on the
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  • Pillow, you think of your mortality and people are afraid
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  • To die.
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  • Well, the gospel answers all of those issues.
  • 00:09:40.403 --> 00:09:42.471
  • So, coming back to nicodemus, here he is, powerful, rich,
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  • Famous, people went to him for answers, but he had questions,
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  • So he comes to jesus.
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  • And verse 1 says he was a pharisee.
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  • Now, the pharisees and the sadducees were the two main
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  • Religious groups of the day.
  • 00:10:00.656 --> 00:10:04.093
  • They didn't agree on much.
  • 00:10:04.093 --> 00:10:06.062
  • The only thing the pharisees and sadducees seemed to agree on was
  • 00:10:06.062 --> 00:10:10.199
  • Their hatred of jesus because he was bad for business and he blew
  • 00:10:10.199 --> 00:10:15.104
  • Their cover and exposed their hypocrisy.
  • 00:10:15.104 --> 00:10:17.640
  • But the pharisees believed in an afterlife and an eternal reward
  • 00:10:17.640 --> 00:10:22.311
  • And the sadducees did not.
  • 00:10:22.311 --> 00:10:24.480
  • The sadducees believed that when you died, you simply cease to
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  • Exist, which is a pretty bleak outlook on life.
  • 00:10:28.150 --> 00:10:31.654
  • Maybe that's how they got their name, sadducee, they were sad,
  • 00:10:31.654 --> 00:10:36.158
  • You see, right?
  • 00:10:36.158 --> 00:10:37.526
  • And we usually think of the pharisees in a negative light,
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  • And understandably so because christ saved his most scathing
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  • Words for these religious leaders, but they weren't
  • 00:10:48.971 --> 00:10:52.141
  • All bad.
  • 00:10:52.141 --> 00:10:54.143
  • In fact, nicodemus was a good pharisee, he was looking
  • 00:10:54.143 --> 00:10:57.713
  • For truth.
  • 00:10:57.713 --> 00:10:59.081
  • But they were a select group, never numbering more than 6,000,
  • 00:10:59.081 --> 00:11:02.752
  • And each had taken a solemn vow before three witnesses that they
  • 00:11:02.752 --> 00:11:07.056
  • Would dedicate their entire life to the keeping of the
  • 00:11:07.056 --> 00:11:10.726
  • Commandments of god.
  • 00:11:10.726 --> 00:11:12.962
  • But they weren't satisfied with the scripture alone, so there
  • 00:11:12.962 --> 00:11:16.732
  • Was another group called the scribes that came up with a
  • 00:11:16.732 --> 00:11:19.935
  • Whole 'nother book, very thick, called the mishnah.
  • 00:11:19.935 --> 00:11:23.139
  • It had 24 chapters alone dedicated to how to keep
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  • The sabbath.
  • 00:11:27.176 --> 00:11:28.511
  • And in addition to the mishnah, the scribes wrote a commentary
  • 00:11:28.511 --> 00:11:31.647
  • On the mishnah called the talmud.
  • 00:11:31.647 --> 00:11:34.183
  • So, they have all of these books and all of these rules and all
  • 00:11:34.183 --> 00:11:38.220
  • Of these regulations, and they felt if we do all of these
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  • Things, we will be pleasing to god.
  • 00:11:41.657 --> 00:11:45.294
  • They also would put on displays of piety and religiousness.
  • 00:11:45.294 --> 00:11:52.201
  • When they would pray, they would pray loudly on a street corner.
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  • You remember the story that jesus told of a pharisee and
  • 00:11:55.938 --> 00:11:59.208
  • A publican that went into the temple to pray, and the pharisee
  • 00:11:59.208 --> 00:12:03.879
  • Said, "god, i thank you i'm not like other men.
  • 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:06.949
  • I fast, i tithe, and i'm not like this publican over here,"
  • 00:12:06.949 --> 00:12:13.022
  • And the publican, who is a tax collector, just said, "god, be
  • 00:12:13.022 --> 00:12:16.592
  • Merciful to me, a sinner."
  • 00:12:16.592 --> 00:12:17.927
  • But that's typical pharisetical behavior, "i'm so
  • 00:12:17.927 --> 00:12:20.763
  • Awesome, i'm better than everybody else," but you know we
  • 00:12:20.763 --> 00:12:23.265
  • Can be like pharisees, too.
  • 00:12:23.265 --> 00:12:25.201
  • We can do things for theater.
  • 00:12:25.201 --> 00:12:27.336
  • We can do things to make people think we're more spiritual than
  • 00:12:27.336 --> 00:12:30.372
  • We really are.
  • 00:12:30.372 --> 00:12:31.740
  • I mean, they had all of their extra volumes to the bible, we
  • 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:34.143
  • Can have all of our commentaries that we carry with us to church,
  • 00:12:34.143 --> 00:12:37.546
  • Commentaries, really big bible, our bible's bigger than
  • 00:12:37.546 --> 00:12:40.950
  • Anyone's bible.
  • 00:12:40.950 --> 00:12:42.585
  • And we take pictures of ourselves doing devotions with
  • 00:12:42.585 --> 00:12:45.788
  • Our bible and all of our commentaries in front of us, and
  • 00:12:45.788 --> 00:12:49.358
  • We're, wow, look at me, you know?
  • 00:12:49.358 --> 00:12:51.160
  • And we're learning a few greek words now and we use them all
  • 00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:54.029
  • The time even when we don't need to.
  • 00:12:54.029 --> 00:12:56.332
  • You don't need to use greek when you're ordering it at in-n-out
  • 00:12:56.332 --> 00:12:58.767
  • Burger, but you do it anyway.
  • 00:12:58.767 --> 00:13:00.836
  • You just do things that cause people to think you're more
  • 00:13:00.836 --> 00:13:03.839
  • Spiritual than you really are.
  • 00:13:03.839 --> 00:13:05.541
  • Here's the bottom line, if you're a really spiritual
  • 00:13:05.541 --> 00:13:08.277
  • Person, you won't be a show off, you'll be more humble.
  • 00:13:08.277 --> 00:13:12.081
  • You wanna search yourself and say look how great and awesome i
  • 00:13:12.081 --> 00:13:15.784
  • Am, you'll do the very opposite.
  • 00:13:15.784 --> 00:13:18.153
  • After years of walking with god, the apostle paul himself said,
  • 00:13:18.153 --> 00:13:22.124
  • Hey, it's not that i've already attained, but i press on toward
  • 00:13:22.124 --> 00:13:27.263
  • The mark for the prize of the upward call of god in christ.
  • 00:13:27.263 --> 00:13:30.866
  • Loose paraphrase, hey, i've got a long ways to go.
  • 00:13:30.866 --> 00:13:34.603
  • But that's the way the pharisees rolled, and they thought that
  • 00:13:34.603 --> 00:13:38.274
  • They were better than anyone else.
  • 00:13:38.274 --> 00:13:40.309
  • So, along comes nicodemus.
  • 00:13:40.309 --> 00:13:42.211
  • Now, he's one of the primary leaders.
  • 00:13:42.211 --> 00:13:44.680
  • He's identified as a ruler.
  • 00:13:44.680 --> 00:13:46.015
  • There was a ruler among the pharisees.
  • 00:13:46.015 --> 00:13:47.783
  • So, now we have the pharisees that are an elite group, now we
  • 00:13:47.783 --> 00:13:51.387
  • Have the sanhedrin that rules over the pharisees, and
  • 00:13:51.387 --> 00:13:54.924
  • Nicodemus was on the top of the heap.
  • 00:13:54.924 --> 00:13:58.894
  • He was the goat, right?
  • 00:13:58.894 --> 00:14:02.197
  • Someone called me the goat the other day, i was
  • 00:14:02.197 --> 00:14:03.999
  • Really complimented.
  • 00:14:03.999 --> 00:14:05.334
  • Hey, goat, they said, old goat, get out of the way, that's it's.
  • 00:14:05.334 --> 00:14:09.405
  • Wait, how did you mean that exactly?
  • 00:14:09.405 --> 00:14:12.107
  • I was offended. [bleats]
  • 00:14:12.107 --> 00:14:13.742
  • I just moved, you know, very quickly, as quickly as an old
  • 00:14:13.742 --> 00:14:17.346
  • Goat can move, actually.
  • 00:14:17.346 --> 00:14:20.349
  • I was talking to some gen z kids and they told me about the term
  • 00:14:20.349 --> 00:14:24.653
  • Rizz, he had rizz, right?
  • 00:14:24.653 --> 00:14:27.089
  • It means he had charisma.
  • 00:14:27.089 --> 00:14:28.424
  • Well, he did.
  • 00:14:28.424 --> 00:14:29.825
  • He was the man that others went to for advice, and so he comes
  • 00:14:29.825 --> 00:14:35.431
  • To jesus and we look at this now in three ways this
  • 00:14:35.431 --> 00:14:40.903
  • Conversation goes.
  • 00:14:40.903 --> 00:14:42.271
  • Number one, they had a conversation face to face.
  • 00:14:42.271 --> 00:14:45.441
  • Face to face, verses 2 to 3, mind to mind, verses 4 to 8, and
  • 00:14:45.441 --> 00:14:50.713
  • Finally heart to heart, verses 9 to 21.
  • 00:14:50.713 --> 00:14:55.751
  • So, here's point number one, nicodemus came to jesus by
  • 00:14:55.751 --> 00:14:59.521
  • Night, but at least he came.
  • 00:14:59.521 --> 00:15:02.157
  • He came to jesus by night, but at least he came.
  • 00:15:02.157 --> 00:15:05.461
  • So, it was nic at night.
  • 00:15:05.461 --> 00:15:07.830
  • I want to get that joke out of the way.
  • 00:15:07.830 --> 00:15:10.566
  • It's a dated joke because there is no nick at nite anymore,
  • 00:15:10.566 --> 00:15:13.369
  • Is there?
  • 00:15:13.369 --> 00:15:15.070
  • So, people who are older go, yeah, i remember that.
  • 00:15:15.070 --> 00:15:19.074
  • Okay, so he comes at night, now why, why did nicodemus come
  • 00:15:19.074 --> 00:15:23.979
  • At night?
  • 00:15:23.979 --> 00:15:25.314
  • Well, the obvious reason would have been he's nicodemus,
  • 00:15:25.314 --> 00:15:28.817
  • Everyone knows him, he's the guy that's supposed to have
  • 00:15:28.817 --> 00:15:31.754
  • The answers.
  • 00:15:31.754 --> 00:15:33.222
  • He didn't want to be seen talking to jesus, that could be
  • 00:15:33.222 --> 00:15:36.225
  • The reason.
  • 00:15:36.225 --> 00:15:37.659
  • Another reason could be that, well, jesus was a busy guy and
  • 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:43.165
  • To the point so was nicodemus.
  • 00:15:43.165 --> 00:15:45.601
  • Excuse me, jesus, every day was filled with activities, he was
  • 00:15:45.601 --> 00:15:50.339
  • Raising the dead, he was healing the sick, he was giving the
  • 00:15:50.339 --> 00:15:54.043
  • Greatest teachings ever given, teaching them parables so much,
  • 00:15:54.043 --> 00:15:58.914
  • And at the end of the day he would be exhausted, but.
  • 00:15:58.914 --> 00:16:01.283
  • Nicodemus did not want a moment with the lord, he wanted a
  • 00:16:01.283 --> 00:16:06.321
  • Conversation with christ.
  • 00:16:06.321 --> 00:16:09.224
  • He effectively wanted an interview, and so he came
  • 00:16:09.224 --> 00:16:13.762
  • At night.
  • 00:16:13.762 --> 00:16:15.097
  • Point number two, better to have a weak beginning and a strong
  • 00:16:15.097 --> 00:16:18.600
  • Finish than the opposite.
  • 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:21.036
  • So, nicodemus didn't have the strongest beginning.
  • 00:16:24.406 --> 00:16:26.708
  • He kinda comes under the cover of night, has this conversation
  • 00:16:26.708 --> 00:16:30.245
  • With christ, but in the end he came through for jesus.
  • 00:16:30.245 --> 00:16:35.651
  • In the end, nicodemus, along with a man named joseph, excuse
  • 00:16:35.651 --> 00:16:39.755
  • Me, of arimathea, came and claimed the body of
  • 00:16:39.755 --> 00:16:43.525
  • Christ publicly.
  • 00:16:43.525 --> 00:16:45.027
  • That was a very unpopular and even dangerous thing for the two
  • 00:16:45.027 --> 00:16:48.964
  • Of them to do, but it's even said nicodemus who came to jesus
  • 00:16:48.964 --> 00:16:53.669
  • By night came with joseph of arimathea to take the dead body
  • 00:16:53.669 --> 00:16:58.640
  • Of christ and bury it.
  • 00:16:58.640 --> 00:17:01.543
  • So, there's some people that have a strong beginning but they
  • 00:17:01.543 --> 00:17:04.947
  • Have a bad ending, and the christian life is compared to a
  • 00:17:04.947 --> 00:17:08.383
  • Race on more than one occasion.
  • 00:17:08.383 --> 00:17:11.186
  • And the key of this race that we're running is not only to win
  • 00:17:11.186 --> 00:17:15.557
  • To the best of our ability, but it's to finish it well.
  • 00:17:15.557 --> 00:17:19.561
  • The apostle paul said, "i wanna finish my race with joy."
  • 00:17:19.561 --> 00:17:24.800
  • Then he wrote to timothy, "i fought the good fight, i kept
  • 00:17:24.800 --> 00:17:27.836
  • The faith, i finished the course, henceforth there is
  • 00:17:27.836 --> 00:17:31.240
  • Laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the lord the
  • 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:34.576
  • Righteous judge will give to me in that day, and not to me only
  • 00:17:34.576 --> 00:17:37.946
  • But to all who love his appearing," so finishing well.
  • 00:17:37.946 --> 00:17:41.783
  • Maybe nicodemus had a strong--i mean, a weak beginning, but he
  • 00:17:41.783 --> 00:17:45.754
  • Had a strong finish.
  • 00:17:45.754 --> 00:17:47.089
  • Consider this, judas iscariot was an apostle in good standing
  • 00:17:47.089 --> 00:17:51.560
  • While old nicodemus was groping his way in, but in the end of
  • 00:17:51.560 --> 00:17:55.597
  • Our lord's ministry, judas betrayed christ and nicodemus
  • 00:17:55.597 --> 00:18:00.569
  • Came through with flying colors.
  • 00:18:00.569 --> 00:18:02.905
  • Now, nicodemus has a lot of respect for jesus.
  • 00:18:02.905 --> 00:18:05.874
  • This is shown by what he says in verse 2, "rabbi, we know that
  • 00:18:05.874 --> 00:18:10.712
  • You're a teacher come from god, for no one can do these signs
  • 00:18:10.712 --> 00:18:15.150
  • That you do unless god is with him."
  • 00:18:15.150 --> 00:18:17.586
  • That's amazing because nicodemus was the rabbi's rabbi, and he
  • 00:18:17.586 --> 00:18:23.325
  • Comes to jesus and calls him rabbi.
  • 00:18:23.325 --> 00:18:27.196
  • "rabbi, we know that you're come from god," and nicodemus being a
  • 00:18:27.196 --> 00:18:30.699
  • Student of the bible probably read what daniel said
  • 00:18:30.699 --> 00:18:34.870
  • In chapter 9.
  • 00:18:34.870 --> 00:18:36.305
  • Daniel spoke of the messiah arriving and actually gave a
  • 00:18:36.305 --> 00:18:40.475
  • Very exact timetable.
  • 00:18:40.475 --> 00:18:43.278
  • And if nicodemus took the time to look at that timetable, he
  • 00:18:43.278 --> 00:18:47.149
  • Would have discovered messiah should be alive at that very
  • 00:18:47.149 --> 00:18:51.019
  • Moment, but then daniel goes on to say, "but the messiah will
  • 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:54.990
  • Then be cut off."
  • 00:18:54.990 --> 00:18:56.325
  • In other words, the messiah was going to die, so nicodemus is
  • 00:18:56.325 --> 00:18:59.661
  • Thinking i'm getting old, messiah is here, he could die at
  • 00:18:59.661 --> 00:19:04.199
  • Any time, i've got to find him.
  • 00:19:04.199 --> 00:19:06.401
  • Could jesus be this messiah?
  • 00:19:06.401 --> 00:19:09.538
  • And i think nicodemus thought jesus was the messiah, but he
  • 00:19:09.538 --> 00:19:13.375
  • Just wanted more information, he wanted more evidence, if
  • 00:19:13.375 --> 00:19:18.213
  • You will.
  • 00:19:18.213 --> 00:19:19.548
  • He was a man that was searching for god, and i think all around
  • 00:19:19.548 --> 00:19:23.051
  • Us there are people that are searching for god today, they're
  • 00:19:23.051 --> 00:19:26.622
  • Just waiting for someone like you to tell them how to
  • 00:19:26.622 --> 00:19:30.826
  • Find him.
  • 00:19:30.826 --> 00:19:32.160
  • God in his wisdom has chosen to reach people that do not believe
  • 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:37.065
  • Through people who do believe, through the proclamation of
  • 00:19:37.065 --> 00:19:41.003
  • The gospel.
  • 00:19:41.003 --> 00:19:42.337
  • The bible says, "how will they hear without a preacher?
  • 00:19:42.337 --> 00:19:45.674
  • And how will they preach unless they be sent?
  • 00:19:45.674 --> 00:19:48.443
  • How beautiful are the feet of those
  • 00:19:48.443 --> 00:19:50.746
  • That bring glad tidings of good things."
  • 00:19:50.746 --> 00:19:53.615
  • How can i understand this unless someone shows me the way?
  • 00:19:53.615 --> 00:19:58.453
  • That was nicodemus.
  • 00:19:58.453 --> 00:20:00.055
  • He wants to know how, how do you do this, what do i do?
  • 00:20:00.055 --> 00:20:05.460
  • And so, here he comes to jesus and this conversation begins and
  • 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:10.599
  • Jesus tells him you must be born again.
  • 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:15.404
  • 2 corinthians 5 sums it up perfectly, "if any man be in
  • 00:20:15.404 --> 00:20:19.908
  • Christ, he is an altogether different kind of person.
  • 00:20:19.908 --> 00:20:24.680
  • Old things have passed away, behold, everything becomes fresh
  • 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:29.351
  • And new."
  • 00:20:29.351 --> 00:20:31.553
  • Jesus says you must be born again.
  • 00:20:31.553 --> 00:20:34.690
  • It means born from above.
  • 00:20:34.690 --> 00:20:36.658
  • You must experience a spiritual rebirth, nicodemus.
  • 00:20:36.658 --> 00:20:41.229
  • All of your rules and your regulations and reading the
  • 00:20:41.229 --> 00:20:44.599
  • Mishnah and the talmud and all the rest of it hasn't got you
  • 00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:48.537
  • Any closer to god.
  • 00:20:48.537 --> 00:20:50.172
  • You need to be born all over again.
  • 00:20:50.172 --> 00:20:52.708
  • Nicodemus is like, you mean go back into my mother's womb?
  • 00:20:52.708 --> 00:20:56.211
  • No, i don't mean that, it's a metaphor, buddy.
  • 00:20:56.211 --> 00:21:00.515
  • It's a picture of what will happen to you spiritually.
  • 00:21:00.515 --> 00:21:04.252
  • Bringing me to point number three, god loves you.
  • 00:21:04.252 --> 00:21:07.422
  • Oh, i know it seems like a cliche but it's absolutely true.
  • 00:21:07.422 --> 00:21:12.361
  • Some people picture god as a cosmic killjoy out to ruin their
  • 00:21:12.361 --> 00:21:15.897
  • Lives, but the reality is god loves you and has a plan for
  • 00:21:15.897 --> 00:21:20.936
  • Your life and he longs for a relationship with you.
  • 00:21:20.936 --> 00:21:24.573
  • Now, the pagan gods of this time were so different.
  • 00:21:24.573 --> 00:21:28.944
  • They would show favor to certain individuals or groups, but their
  • 00:21:28.944 --> 00:21:33.181
  • Favor was based on sacrifices or offerings or somehow
  • 00:21:33.181 --> 00:21:37.219
  • Being appeased.
  • 00:21:37.219 --> 00:21:38.553
  • There was no concept of a loving deity wanting a relationship
  • 00:21:38.553 --> 00:21:42.758
  • With mankind.
  • 00:21:42.758 --> 00:21:44.126
  • So, jesus comes along, speaking of the true and living god, "for
  • 00:21:44.126 --> 00:21:48.296
  • God so loved the world," and god proved his love by sending
  • 00:21:48.296 --> 00:21:53.668
  • His son.
  • 00:21:53.668 --> 00:21:55.003
  • "god so loved the world he gave his only begotten son."
  • 00:21:55.003 --> 00:21:59.007
  • You know, we can talk about love all day long, but god
  • 00:21:59.007 --> 00:22:01.643
  • Demonstrated his love for us in a tangible way.
  • 00:22:01.643 --> 00:22:05.814
  • Jesus said, "greater love has no man than this, that he lay down
  • 00:22:05.814 --> 00:22:09.918
  • His life for his friends," and christ laid his life down for
  • 00:22:09.918 --> 00:22:13.555
  • Each of us.
  • 00:22:13.555 --> 00:22:15.090
  • God demonstrated his love toward us, the bible says, that while
  • 00:22:15.090 --> 00:22:18.627
  • We were yet sinners, christ died for us, and god's love
  • 00:22:18.627 --> 00:22:21.596
  • Is unconditional.
  • 00:22:21.596 --> 00:22:23.398
  • There's nothing you can do to earn it.
  • 00:22:23.398 --> 00:22:26.334
  • I think somehow we think, well, i have to earn god's love.
  • 00:22:26.334 --> 00:22:29.704
  • No, god loves you already.
  • 00:22:29.704 --> 00:22:32.541
  • He loves you as you are.
  • 00:22:32.541 --> 00:22:33.909
  • Now, that doesn't mean he approves of all the things you
  • 00:22:33.909 --> 00:22:35.710
  • Say and do, but you need to know that he loves
  • 00:22:35.710 --> 00:22:38.079
  • You unconditionally.
  • 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:40.348
  • He loves you all the time.
  • 00:22:40.348 --> 00:22:41.683
  • Now, some extreme calvinists would say god's love is only for
  • 00:22:41.683 --> 00:22:46.054
  • The elect.
  • 00:22:46.054 --> 00:22:47.422
  • God only loves the elect.
  • 00:22:47.422 --> 00:22:49.391
  • They believe in something called limited atonement, which means
  • 00:22:49.391 --> 00:22:52.994
  • Jesus died only for the elect, and who are the elect?
  • 00:22:52.994 --> 00:22:56.398
  • These are the people that were chosen before they were even
  • 00:22:56.398 --> 00:22:59.267
  • Born, and some even believe in what you would call double
  • 00:22:59.267 --> 00:23:02.037
  • Predestination, which means god not only chooses some people to
  • 00:23:02.037 --> 00:23:05.674
  • Go to heaven, he also chooses others to go to hell.
  • 00:23:05.674 --> 00:23:08.977
  • I reject this view completely.
  • 00:23:08.977 --> 00:23:11.780
  • I reject it completely.
  • 00:23:11.780 --> 00:23:13.215
  • There's no limited atonement.
  • 00:23:16.451 --> 00:23:18.086
  • The blood of jesus was shed for all people and anyone
  • 00:23:18.086 --> 00:23:22.624
  • Can believe.
  • 00:23:22.624 --> 00:23:23.959
  • "for god so love the world he gave his only begotten son."
  • 00:23:23.959 --> 00:23:27.362
  • I love the words of the great evangelist d.l. moody,
  • 00:23:27.362 --> 00:23:30.765
  • Who once said, "lord, save the elect and then elect
  • 00:23:30.765 --> 00:23:34.302
  • Some more," right?
  • 00:23:34.302 --> 00:23:35.637
  • Now, that's--god's love is for everybody, and it's universal.
  • 00:23:35.637 --> 00:23:40.308
  • He loves all people.
  • 00:23:40.308 --> 00:23:41.877
  • The bible says,"whosoever will call upon the name of the lord
  • 00:23:41.877 --> 00:23:45.580
  • Will be saved."
  • 00:23:45.580 --> 00:23:46.915
  • Jesus said, "he that would come to me,
  • 00:23:46.915 --> 00:23:49.084
  • I would in no way cast out."
  • 00:23:49.084 --> 00:23:51.386
  • And god's gift of salvation is available
  • 00:23:51.386 --> 00:23:53.989
  • For everyone who believes,
  • 00:23:53.989 --> 00:23:56.525
  • Everyone who believes.
  • 00:23:56.525 --> 00:23:58.527
  • "whosoever believes in him should not
  • 00:23:58.527 --> 00:24:00.862
  • Perish but have everlasting life."
  • 00:24:00.862 --> 00:24:03.265
  • What a beautiful message.
  • 00:24:03.265 --> 00:24:04.966
  • God loves me, god will forgive me, god will change me from the
  • 00:24:04.966 --> 00:24:10.138
  • Inside out.
  • 00:24:10.138 --> 00:24:11.473
  • Why would anyone reject this message?
  • 00:24:11.473 --> 00:24:14.543
  • Some would say, well, you know, they reject it because there's
  • 00:24:14.543 --> 00:24:17.612
  • Too many hypocrites in the church.
  • 00:24:17.612 --> 00:24:19.447
  • Give me a break.
  • 00:24:19.447 --> 00:24:21.016
  • Can you imagine the apostles saying, hey, judas was a
  • 00:24:21.016 --> 00:24:24.519
  • Hypocrite, i'm walking away from jesus.
  • 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:27.689
  • It'd be like, hey, jesus didn't let us down, judas did.
  • 00:24:27.689 --> 00:24:31.459
  • Just because people fall short it's not a reflection on christ
  • 00:24:31.459 --> 00:24:35.497
  • Himself, though i'm sorry it happens, but here's the thing,
  • 00:24:35.497 --> 00:24:39.534
  • People don't say no to jesus because there's too many
  • 00:24:39.534 --> 00:24:42.871
  • Hypocrites in the church, nor do people say no to jesus because
  • 00:24:42.871 --> 00:24:46.775
  • Of the problem of human suffering.
  • 00:24:46.775 --> 00:24:49.411
  • Well, the reason i'm not a christian is i just deal with
  • 00:24:49.411 --> 00:24:51.880
  • Human suffering and i can't wrap my mind around the idea that a
  • 00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:55.550
  • Loving god would allow so much tragedy in the world.
  • 00:24:55.550 --> 00:24:58.286
  • That's a real issue, it's something to think about, but
  • 00:24:58.286 --> 00:25:01.056
  • That's not why you are not a christian.
  • 00:25:01.056 --> 00:25:04.092
  • You wanna know why a person is not a christian?
  • 00:25:04.092 --> 00:25:07.429
  • Jesus gives us the answer right here in john 3, verse 19.
  • 00:25:07.429 --> 00:25:11.700
  • "this is a condemnation, that the light has come into the
  • 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:14.636
  • World, and men love darkness rather than light, because their
  • 00:25:14.636 --> 00:25:19.674
  • Deeds are evil."
  • 00:25:19.674 --> 00:25:21.009
  • Listen, "everyone practicing evil hates the light and does
  • 00:25:21.009 --> 00:25:25.447
  • Not come to the light, lest his deeds be exposed.
  • 00:25:25.447 --> 00:25:29.017
  • But he that does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may
  • 00:25:29.017 --> 00:25:32.654
  • Be clearly seen if they have been done in god."
  • 00:25:32.654 --> 00:25:35.190
  • So, why do people really not believe?
  • 00:25:35.190 --> 00:25:38.326
  • "everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to
  • 00:25:38.326 --> 00:25:42.397
  • The light."
  • 00:25:42.397 --> 00:25:43.765
  • So, really it's not an intellectual issue, it's a
  • 00:25:43.765 --> 00:25:47.302
  • Spiritual and moral issue.
  • 00:25:47.302 --> 00:25:49.337
  • We don't wanna change because the powerful light of jesus
  • 00:25:49.337 --> 00:25:54.109
  • Christ shines into our life and it exposes things that we don't
  • 00:25:54.109 --> 00:25:59.047
  • Want exposed.
  • 00:25:59.047 --> 00:26:00.649
  • And so, that's why we don't come to the light.
  • 00:26:00.649 --> 00:26:03.918
  • That's why we say no to jesus.
  • 00:26:03.918 --> 00:26:06.254
  • This is an either-or proposition.
  • 00:26:06.254 --> 00:26:08.490
  • You accept it and you reject it, and it's for every person.
  • 00:26:08.490 --> 00:26:12.827
  • In fact, your name is here in the text, really?
  • 00:26:12.827 --> 00:26:16.097
  • Oh, yeah, your name's right there.
  • 00:26:16.097 --> 00:26:18.099
  • "whosoever believes in him should not perish but have
  • 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:21.936
  • Everlasting life."
  • 00:26:21.936 --> 00:26:23.271
  • That's you, whosoever.
  • 00:26:23.271 --> 00:26:26.041
  • Greg: hi, i'm greg laurie. i've got some good news for you.
  • 00:26:30.178 --> 00:26:32.847
  • God loves you, and god has a plan for your life.
  • 00:26:32.847 --> 00:26:36.685
  • Here's the problem: we're separated from god by our sin
  • 00:26:36.685 --> 00:26:40.288
  • Because we've all broken his commandments.
  • 00:26:40.288 --> 00:26:43.058
  • But the good news is that 2,000 years ago, god sent
  • 00:26:43.058 --> 00:26:47.195
  • His son, jesus christ, to die on the cross for your sin,
  • 00:26:47.195 --> 00:26:50.999
  • And then to rise again from the dead.
  • 00:26:50.999 --> 00:26:53.234
  • The same jesus who died and rose is alive and ready
  • 00:26:53.234 --> 00:26:57.005
  • To come into your life right now.
  • 00:26:57.005 --> 00:26:59.174
  • Would you like your sin forgiven?
  • 00:26:59.174 --> 00:27:01.209
  • Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven?
  • 00:27:01.209 --> 00:27:04.179
  • If so, pray this simple prayer with me right now.
  • 00:27:04.179 --> 00:27:07.449
  • Just say, "lord jesus, i know i'm a sinner, but i believe
  • 00:27:07.449 --> 00:27:11.086
  • You're the savior, who died on the cross for my sin.
  • 00:27:11.086 --> 00:27:14.422
  • I turn from my sin now, and i choose to follow you
  • 00:27:14.422 --> 00:27:18.126
  • From this moment forward."
  • 00:27:18.126 --> 00:27:20.462
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:27:20.462 --> 00:27:22.330
  • If you did, god in heaven has heard you.
  • 00:27:22.330 --> 00:27:25.600
  • Congratulations, and welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:29.010