Why
September 23, 2020
27:29
Pastor Robert concludes the Eternity: Your Choice series as he discusses how God’s character is the answer to your tough questions.
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Why
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- ROBERT MORRIS: 300 million --why in the world
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- would God createa universe that big,
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- except He wants us to walk out,
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- look at the stars and say,“There's got to be a God.”
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- ♪ ♪
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- ROBERT: The titleof the series, by the way,
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- is, “Eternity: Your Choice.”
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- So, I want to nail it downthat God did not choose
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- some people to go to heaven
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- and some people to go to hell,that it is completely
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- your choice whereyou spend eternity.
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- So we talked about, “WhosoeverWill”, “Where and How.”
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- This weekend,the message is, “Why?”
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- And what I'm going to do is takesome of those tough questions,
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- and we're going to answer those.
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- For instance, why wouldGod send someone to hell?
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- Why would a loving God,is the way
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- it's phrased many times,send someone to hell?
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- Why did God evencreate hell?
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- Why did God create twotrees in the garden?
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- And of course,there were many trees,
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- but I'm referringto the Tree of Life,
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- the Tree of Knowledgeand Good and Evil.
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- Why did God even giveAdam and Eve a choice?
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- I mean, that's a questiona lot of people have. Why?
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- Okay, in order to answerthese questions though,
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- please hear me.
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- You can never answera difficult question about God
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- without making surethat your answer
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- is congruent with His natureand His character,
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- and we know His nature and Hischaracter through Scripture,
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- and the whole of Scripture.
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- It's very importantyou understand
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- it's the whole of Scripture,
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- because thereare some Scriptures
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- that would tend us to believesome way of thinking
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- that might cause us to think,“Well, God might do that,
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- and God is justifiedto do something like that.”
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- But if you try to answerdifficult questions about God
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- without taking intoconsideration His character,
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- if you begin going down a lineof thought, and this is very,
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- very important to me --again, I'm not trying
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- to pick a fight with someonewho believes that way.
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- I'm really not.
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- But, it is so difficult for meto believe that people
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- can believe thatand not believe God is good.
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- In other words, I don't knowhow you can believe
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- some of these thingsif you believe God's good,
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- God's a good God.
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- So, we're gonna look at someattributes of God today
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- that are extremely important,because here's the reason.
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- When I read somethingin this book and I think,
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- “Now, I don't understand that,that sounds like God
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- might be harsh,or mean, or cruel,”
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- I always go back to, “Well,I may not understand it,
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- but I know God's good,”and I know God's character,
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- and I've studiedthe whole of Scripture
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- to know God's character.
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- So, we have to answerdifficult questions
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- in light of God's character.It has to be congruent.
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- Any way of thinking youhave has to be compatible
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- with Scripture,the whole of Scripture.
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- All right?So, three points today.
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- Number one, I've alreadyalluded to, God is good.
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- He is good.
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- Psalm 119:68 says,“You are good and do good.”
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- “You are good and do good.”
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- By the way, if youtold yourself that,
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- reminded yourself of thatScripture every morning,
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- it might change your day.
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- “You are good and You do good.”
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- Now, this is the reasonI really love this Scripture,
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- “You are good and You do good.”
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- Now, listen carefullyto what I'm gonna say, okay?
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- God isn't goodbecause He does good,
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- God does goodbecause He is good.
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- Do you follow me?Let me say it again.
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- Him being good is not dependentupon Him doing good.
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- He does goodbecause He is good.
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- See, it's like God is truth.He is truth.
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- Jesus didn't sayI know the truth,
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- he said “I am truth.”I'm truth.
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- Okay, so because God is truth,He can't lie.
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- He can't lie.
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- This is what,and it's a real big problem
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- with most people's definitionof the sovereignty of God,
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- because what they thinkthat it means is that God
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- can do anythingHe wants to do. No.
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- What it means is...I wish you'd study it.
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- Sovereign means He's the supremeruler of the universe.
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- But because He iswho He is, you say,
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- “Well, God can doanything He wants.”
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- No, God can't actoutside of His character.
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- He can't.Are you all following this?
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- Am I making it clear,because it's not
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- that you follow me,it's me saying it clearly.
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- God is truth,so He can't lie.
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- He's not a manthat He shall lie. Okay.
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- In the same way,God is love.
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- So, everything I readin the Scripture,
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- I have to put within,does this fit
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- in the basic that God is good?
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- We're gonna talk aboutGod's love in minute,
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- but God is good. Okay.
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- So, let me explain somethingabout how good God is.
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- Moses asked Godto see His glory.
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- Now, “glory” is this huge word.
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- I could tell you the Hebrewand the words it comes from.
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- I could tell you the Greekand the words it comes from
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- and explain, but thatwouldn't help us much, okay?
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- So, I'm gonna give youa practical definition.
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- Glory is whatyou're famous for.
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- It's what you're known for.
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- Okay, so Moses, when he said,“Show me Your glory,”
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- here's what he was saying --show me what You're famous for.
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- Show me what You're best at.What do You do best, okay?
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- Look at this.
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- Here's what he said,and we'll get to Isaiah 5
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- at the very...along time from now, okay?
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- Just, all right?
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- Exodus 33:18, “And he”,Moses, “said,
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- “Please show me Your glory.”
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- Then He”,that's God, said, okay,
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- “I'll make My goodnesspass before you.”
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- I love that Scripture!
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- Show me whatYou're famous for.
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- He said, “Oh.
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- Well, I'm famousfor being good.
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- That's what I'm famous for.I'm known for good.”
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- Okay, so because I know that,anything I read in the Bible
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- has to line upwith the goodness of God.
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- And what happens is we readsomething in the Bible,
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- and we think, “Man, that soundslike God's being mean.”
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- So, let me show you one.
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- When Adam and Eve sinned, Goddrove them out of the garden,
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- and He gave a reasonwhy He drove them out.
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- But when you understandHe's good,
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- you understand whyHe drove them out.
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- Okay, let me read it,Genesis 3:22.
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- “Then the Lord God said,“Behold, the man has become
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- like one of Us,” Us:Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
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- “To know good and evil.
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- And now”, watch, “lest heput out his hand and take also
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- of the Tree of Life,and eat, and live forever,”
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- and then noticethe sentence stops there,
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- even though that's nota complete sentence.
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- Watch, and that'svery important,
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- why I'm telling you this.
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- “Therefore the Lord God senthim out of the garden of Eden
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- to till the groundfrom which he was taken.
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- So He drove out the man;and He placed cherubim”,
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- that's really big dudes.
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- That's what that means inthe Hebrew, really big dudes,
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- angels, “at the eastof the garden of Eden,
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- and a flaming sword”, watchthis, “a flaming sword” --
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- it doesn't even sayanybody was holding it.
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- “A flaming sword whichturned every way”, north,
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- south, east, and west,“to guard the way
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- to the Tree of Life.” Okay.
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- Here's why I said, you know,I want you to notice
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- the sentence says, God said,
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- “Hey, man hasbecome like Us now.
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- He knows good and evil.
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- We'd better drive himout of the garden,
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- lest he take from the Treeof Life and live forever,”
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- and then it doesn't go on.
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- “Lest he take from the Treeof Life and live forever,”
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- da dada da, what?What does that mean?
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- Okay, so many people have said,“See, that just shows God
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- was mad at Adam and Eve,and in His temper,
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- He just drovethem out.” No.
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- God's good.Here's why He was saying it.
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- He said “They are now -Adam and Eve -
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- are now in a fallen state.They're in a fallen state.
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- They are now separatedfrom Me, and if they eat
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- from the Tree of Life now,they will live forever
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- in a fallen state,separated from Me.
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- Get ‘em out.
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- Get ‘em out right now,and put a flaming sword down
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- there so they don't eat fromthat tree in a fallen state,
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- because they'll live forever,separated from Us.”
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- You all see that?
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- See, that's God's goodness,but people don't pick that up
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- if you don't have it rootedin you, God's a good God.
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- By the way, three Scripturesin Revelation tell us
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- that that Tree of Lifeis in heaven,
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- and you can eat from itall you want
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- because you're ina redeemed state,
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- and it's fine for youto eat from the Tree of Life
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- in a redeemed state,but He doesn't want you
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- to eat from itin a fallen state.
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- He doesn't wantyou to stay fallen.
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- [Applause]
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- So, God's a good God,and that's the first thing
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- I want you to know.
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- Here's the second thing,God is just.
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- He's just.
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- It's not just that He doesjust things, He is just.
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- Isaiah 45:21, “There is noother God besides Me”,
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- this is God speaking,“a just God and a Savior.”
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- “A just God and a Savior.”
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- There will never beinjustice with God
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- or any of His judgments, never.
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- Because I know that --see, I can't go along
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- with this thing that Godchose some to go to heaven
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- and some to go to hell,‘cause that's not just.
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- That's not justice,and I know God. I know God.
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- I don't know if youall know this,
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- I've met Him personally.I'm saved!
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- Are any of you all saved?Anybody here?
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- Okay, so you'vemet Him, too!
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- I'm not special,you met Him too!
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- And I talk to Him every day!
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- Do you talk toHim every day?
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- I talk to Him every day.
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- And, He wrote me a love letter,and I've read it,
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- multiple times!
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- So, I can't believe anythingthat doesn't line
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- up with this book!
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- I cannot believe it,‘cause I know this God!
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- I know He's good,and I know He's just.
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- So, we have thesequestions, though.
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- Well, would a loving God,or how could a just God,
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- send anyone to hell?
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- And I'm gonnaanswer that, okay?
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- But, here'sanother question.
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- Would God send someone to hellwho's never had a chance?
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- Never heard the gospel,never had a chance?
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- Okay, let's answerby the Bible -
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- not our opinion, by the Bible.
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- Romans 1:18, “For the wrathof God is revealed
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- from heaven againstall ungodliness
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- and unrighteousness of men,who suppress the truth
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- in unrighteousness,because what may be known of God
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- is manifest”...now, let me just tell you
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- and then I'll goin a little deeper.
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- The word “manifest”means to make known.
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- That's what it means.
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- I know it soundslike a big word,
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- but it means to make known.So, watch this Scripture.
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- “Because what may be knownof God is made known.”
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- In other words, God makes itknown to every person. Watch.
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- “In”, underlinethat word, “in them,
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- for God has shown it to them.”
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- I want you to remember“in” and “to”.
- 00:11:58.633 --> 00:12:00.468
- “For since the creationof the world”, now, watch this.
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- This is kind of tough toexplain, but it's good.
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- Listen, watch.
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- “His invisible attributes...”
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- now, what's the word“invisible” mean?
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- You can't see Him, right?Okay, watch.
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- “What can't be seenabout Him”, watch,
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- “His invisible attributes,are clearly seen.”
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- Kind of a playon words, isn't it?
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- In other words,His character,
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- His goodness, is clearly seen.
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- His love is clearly seen.
- 00:12:29.531 --> 00:12:32.033
- “Being understood bythe things which are made,
- 00:12:32.133 --> 00:12:35.703
- even His eternal powerand Godhead, so that they”,
- 00:12:35.804 --> 00:12:38.540
- that's the people who livein unrighteousness
- 00:12:38.640 --> 00:12:40.875
- and won't accept Him, “so thatthey are without excuse.” Okay.
- 00:12:40.975 --> 00:12:44.379
- So, God manifests Himselfto every person
- 00:12:44.479 --> 00:12:48.049
- internally and externally.
- 00:12:48.149 --> 00:12:51.252
- That's what it's saying,internally and externally.
- 00:12:51.352 --> 00:12:53.822
- So again, let me give youa little moral manifest.
- 00:12:53.922 --> 00:12:56.691
- If I said to you,“There is a multi-billionaire
- 00:12:56.791 --> 00:13:02.730
- in the service.
- 00:13:02.831 --> 00:13:04.966
- I just wantedeverybody to know that.”
- 00:13:05.066 --> 00:13:06.334
- And then, I'd just go on,and you'd think,
- 00:13:06.434 --> 00:13:08.236
- “Oh, okay, big deal.”
- 00:13:08.336 --> 00:13:10.004
- But if that multi-billionairegot up and began to do
- 00:13:10.104 --> 00:13:14.709
- what only a multi-billionaire could do,
- 00:13:14.809 --> 00:13:18.479
- and that is giveevery person $100.000...
- 00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:25.420
- are there anymulti-billionaires in the --
- 00:13:25.520 --> 00:13:27.388
- No, I was just joking,just joking, just joking.
- 00:13:27.488 --> 00:13:32.393
- Okay, but if he did,and he gave to every person
- 00:13:32.493 --> 00:13:36.431
- what only he could do,he did for them
- 00:13:36.531 --> 00:13:38.433
- what only he could do for them,
- 00:13:38.533 --> 00:13:40.702
- he'd be manifestinghis presence.
- 00:13:40.802 --> 00:13:43.271
- He wouldn't justbe in our service,
- 00:13:43.371 --> 00:13:44.739
- in our presence,
- 00:13:44.839 --> 00:13:46.207
- he'd be makinghis presence known. Listen.
- 00:13:46.307 --> 00:13:49.310
- This is why I love worship,
- 00:13:49.410 --> 00:13:52.447
- because it's not justthe omnipresence of God,
- 00:13:52.547 --> 00:13:55.850
- it's the manifestpresence of God.
- 00:13:55.950 --> 00:13:58.453
- He gets up during our worship,and He begins to walk around
- 00:13:58.553 --> 00:14:03.157
- and give to every personwhat only God can give to you.
- 00:14:03.258 --> 00:14:07.996
- He's the only one thatcan give it to you.
- 00:14:08.096 --> 00:14:09.864
- [Applause]
- 00:14:09.964 --> 00:14:12.767
- He makes Himselfknown, all right?
- 00:14:12.867 --> 00:14:15.603
- So, how does He make Himselfknown, according to this,
- 00:14:15.703 --> 00:14:17.605
- internally and externally?
- 00:14:17.705 --> 00:14:18.773
- Let me say it thisway, all right?
- 00:14:18.873 --> 00:14:21.709
- God manifests Himselfto every person on the inside,
- 00:14:21.809 --> 00:14:26.314
- because we havea conscience.
- 00:14:26.414 --> 00:14:28.883
- Every personhas a conscience.
- 00:14:28.983 --> 00:14:31.019
- He manifests Himself toevery person on the outside,
- 00:14:31.119 --> 00:14:34.923
- because we have creation.Conscience and creation.
- 00:14:35.023 --> 00:14:40.028
- Your conscience tells youthere's a God, and creation
- 00:14:40.128 --> 00:14:45.099
- tells us there's a God.Think about this.
- 00:14:45.199 --> 00:14:48.736
- Why did God createa universe this big?
- 00:14:48.836 --> 00:14:54.142
- Stars, as far as right now,as far as our telescopes can go,
- 00:14:54.242 --> 00:14:57.679
- this is what I've been told,300 million light years away.
- 00:14:57.779 --> 00:15:03.584
- Light years.
- 00:15:03.685 --> 00:15:04.652
- If you traveledthe speed of light,
- 00:15:04.752 --> 00:15:05.853
- 186.000 miles per second.That's pretty fast.
- 00:15:05.954 --> 00:15:11.492
- 300 million -- why inthe world would God create
- 00:15:11.592 --> 00:15:16.764
- a universe that big, exceptHe wants us to walk out,
- 00:15:16.864 --> 00:15:21.135
- look at the stars and say,“There's got to be a God.”
- 00:15:21.235 --> 00:15:25.406
- There's got to be God.
- 00:15:25.506 --> 00:15:26.674
- And here's what'samazing to me.
- 00:15:26.774 --> 00:15:28.810
- People say that thattakes a leap of faith.
- 00:15:28.910 --> 00:15:32.981
- Okay, here's the other one.
- 00:15:33.081 --> 00:15:35.850
- Nothing collided with nothing,and all of this came into being.
- 00:15:35.950 --> 00:15:44.392
- You want to talkabout a leap of faith?
- 00:15:44.492 --> 00:15:47.061
- [Applause]
- 00:15:47.161 --> 00:15:54.135
- It is crazy!
- 00:15:54.235 --> 00:15:57.305
- By the way, it is stillcalled the Big Bang Theory.
- 00:15:57.405 --> 00:16:02.410
- Okay, but why?
- 00:16:02.510 --> 00:16:04.946
- Why did God do this?Let me tell you something.
- 00:16:05.046 --> 00:16:06.180
- God put eternityin every person's heart.
- 00:16:06.280 --> 00:16:09.550
- God has put eternityin every person's heart.
- 00:16:09.650 --> 00:16:11.619
- Think about this.
- 00:16:11.719 --> 00:16:14.856
- No person can ever say,“No one told me.”
- 00:16:14.956 --> 00:16:17.992
- Here's why.
- 00:16:18.092 --> 00:16:19.160
- Because God can comeand say, “I told you.
- 00:16:19.260 --> 00:16:23.664
- I came to you whenyou were a child,
- 00:16:23.765 --> 00:16:27.602
- and I put it in your heartto wonder about Me.”
- 00:16:27.702 --> 00:16:29.570
- I want to just take a littlepoll at every campus, all right?
- 00:16:29.670 --> 00:16:31.839
- How many of you rememberwondering about God
- 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:36.277
- when you were a child?Can I see your hands?
- 00:16:36.377 --> 00:16:41.149
- That's because Godput it in your heart.
- 00:16:41.249 --> 00:16:43.851
- And let me tell yousomething else,
- 00:16:43.951 --> 00:16:45.053
- so this may blow you away,and I'm just gonna list
- 00:16:45.153 --> 00:16:47.755
- a few of the Scriptures,just because of time, okay?
- 00:16:47.855 --> 00:16:49.757
- Just a few.
- 00:16:49.857 --> 00:16:51.325
- Every person - this iswhat the Bible says -
- 00:16:51.426 --> 00:16:53.494
- every person - every,every person who seeks
- 00:16:53.594 --> 00:16:59.467
- after God will find Him.Every person.
- 00:16:59.567 --> 00:17:06.741
- Let me just show you a fewof the Scriptures, all right?
- 00:17:06.841 --> 00:17:09.277
- Proverbs 8:17,“I love those who love Me,
- 00:17:09.377 --> 00:17:12.280
- and those who seek Mediligently will find Me.”
- 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:15.950
- Not might, not should,not hopefully - will. They will.
- 00:17:16.050 --> 00:17:19.587
- “If they'll seek Mediligently, they will.”
- 00:17:19.687 --> 00:17:21.222
- Jeremiah 29:13, “And youwill seek Me and find Me.”
- 00:17:21.322 --> 00:17:25.493
- You will find Me.
- 00:17:25.593 --> 00:17:27.228
- The verb stillapplies to find.
- 00:17:27.328 --> 00:17:28.763
- “When you search for Mewith all your heart.”
- 00:17:28.863 --> 00:17:31.632
- Jesus Himself, Matthew 7,Sermon on the Mount, 7 and 8.
- 00:17:31.732 --> 00:17:34.802
- “And ask, and it will begiven to you; seek,
- 00:17:34.902 --> 00:17:38.973
- and you will find; knock,and it will be opened to you.
- 00:17:39.073 --> 00:17:42.643
- For everyone who asks receives,and he who seeks finds,
- 00:17:42.743 --> 00:17:45.446
- and to him who knocks itwill be opened.”
- 00:17:45.546 --> 00:17:46.848
- And Acts 17,this is the way Paul put it
- 00:17:46.948 --> 00:17:49.150
- in his sermon on Mars Hill.
- 00:17:49.250 --> 00:17:51.285
- Verse 26 and 27, “And Hehas made from one blood
- 00:17:51.385 --> 00:17:54.822
- every nation of men to dwellon all the face of the earth,
- 00:17:54.922 --> 00:17:59.060
- and has determinedtheir preappointed times
- 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:01.295
- and the boundaries of theirdwellings, so that”, so that,
- 00:18:01.395 --> 00:18:05.066
- because, therefore, “so thatthey should seek the Lord.”
- 00:18:05.166 --> 00:18:10.738
- He's done this for every person.
- 00:18:10.838 --> 00:18:12.073
- He's put it in everyperson's heart to seek Him.
- 00:18:12.173 --> 00:18:14.175
- “In the hope that they mightgrope for Him”, that's the hope,
- 00:18:14.275 --> 00:18:18.146
- and if they do grope for Him,and grope, by the way,
- 00:18:18.246 --> 00:18:20.448
- means to make an effort.
- 00:18:20.548 --> 00:18:22.750
- That's all it means,just make an effort.
- 00:18:22.850 --> 00:18:25.153
- Watch.“And find Him.”
- 00:18:25.253 --> 00:18:28.389
- God put eternity in your heartso you would look for Him,
- 00:18:28.489 --> 00:18:33.194
- and if you look for Him,you'll find Him,
- 00:18:33.294 --> 00:18:35.396
- because He is not farfrom each one of us -
- 00:18:35.496 --> 00:18:38.799
- “though He is not farfrom each one of us.”
- 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:40.601
- So, God's a just God.
- 00:18:40.701 --> 00:18:43.304
- He's good, He's just,and here's number three,
- 00:18:43.404 --> 00:18:48.309
- God is love.
- 00:18:48.409 --> 00:18:50.778
- 1 John 4:18, “He who does notlove God does not know God,
- 00:18:50.878 --> 00:18:55.950
- for God is love.”
- 00:18:56.050 --> 00:19:00.488
- Okay, so this question,why would a loving God
- 00:19:00.588 --> 00:19:02.723
- send anyone to hell?
- 00:19:02.823 --> 00:19:04.992
- Well, I'm gonna get to it,but just for a moment,
- 00:19:05.092 --> 00:19:06.861
- could we just lookat that, that issue,
- 00:19:06.961 --> 00:19:11.499
- from a biblicalperspective, okay?
- 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:15.369
- First of all, you needto know something about hell.
- 00:19:15.469 --> 00:19:18.606
- God did not createhell for people.
- 00:19:18.706 --> 00:19:24.712
- People say, “Well, why woulda loving God even create hell
- 00:19:24.812 --> 00:19:26.948
- for people?”
- 00:19:27.048 --> 00:19:27.949
- He didn't createhell for people.
- 00:19:28.049 --> 00:19:30.218
- He created hell forthe devil and his angels.
- 00:19:30.318 --> 00:19:34.088
- Jesus' own words,Matthew 25:41.
- 00:19:34.188 --> 00:19:36.824
- “Then He will also sayto those on the left hand,
- 00:19:36.924 --> 00:19:38.759
- “Depart from Me, you cursed,
- 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:40.194
- into the everlastingfire prepared” -
- 00:19:40.294 --> 00:19:43.064
- the root of this wordin the Greek means “built”.
- 00:19:43.164 --> 00:19:45.766
- Built “for the deviland his angels.”
- 00:19:45.866 --> 00:19:50.304
- So, He didn'tprepare hell for you.
- 00:19:50.404 --> 00:19:52.873
- He prepared heaven for you.
- 00:19:52.974 --> 00:19:55.643
- “I go to preparea place for you.”
- 00:19:55.743 --> 00:19:59.814
- He didn't prepare hell for you,and He built it
- 00:19:59.914 --> 00:20:03.050
- for the devil's angels,but men became evil.
- 00:20:03.150 --> 00:20:06.821
- And so, watch what happened.
- 00:20:06.921 --> 00:20:08.589
- This may be something you'venever seen in your life.
- 00:20:08.689 --> 00:20:12.026
- By the way,I'm now at Isaiah 5.
- 00:20:12.126 --> 00:20:14.595
- I got there. Okay?
- 00:20:14.695 --> 00:20:18.699
- And we'll read somethingafter this also
- 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:20.701
- in Isaiah 5, so youcan stay there.
- 00:20:20.801 --> 00:20:22.103
- Verse 11, “Woe to those whorise early in the morning,
- 00:20:22.203 --> 00:20:26.040
- that they may followintoxicating drink;
- 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:29.076
- who continue until night,till wine inflames them!
- 00:20:29.176 --> 00:20:33.247
- The harp and the strings,the tambourine and flute,
- 00:20:33.347 --> 00:20:35.783
- and wine are in their feasts;but they do not regard
- 00:20:35.883 --> 00:20:39.487
- the work of the Lord,nor consider the operation
- 00:20:39.587 --> 00:20:41.422
- of His hands.
- 00:20:41.522 --> 00:20:42.456
- Therefore my peoplehave gone into captivity,
- 00:20:42.556 --> 00:20:45.192
- because they have no knowledge;their honorable men
- 00:20:45.293 --> 00:20:48.162
- are famished,and their multitude dried up
- 00:20:48.262 --> 00:20:49.964
- with thirst.”Watch 14 carefully.
- 00:20:50.064 --> 00:20:52.366
- It uses the Old Testamentword for hell, which is “Sheol”.
- 00:20:52.466 --> 00:20:55.569
- “Therefore Sheol”, watch,“has enlarged itself.”
- 00:20:55.670 --> 00:21:03.678
- Hell added on.The devil added on to hell.
- 00:21:03.778 --> 00:21:06.881
- “Therefore Sheol”...God didn't do it.
- 00:21:06.981 --> 00:21:12.620
- “Sheol has enlarged itselfand opened its mouth
- 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:18.225
- beyond measure; their glory andtheir multitude and their pomp,
- 00:21:18.326 --> 00:21:21.796
- and he who is jubilant,shall descend into it.”
- 00:21:21.896 --> 00:21:26.167
- Hell was enlarged by necessity,not by design.
- 00:21:26.267 --> 00:21:32.940
- I'm gonna say that again.
- 00:21:33.040 --> 00:21:35.076
- I'd love for youto never forget that.
- 00:21:35.176 --> 00:21:37.745
- Hell was enlarged by necessity,not by design,
- 00:21:37.845 --> 00:21:43.351
- and hell enlarged itself.
- 00:21:43.451 --> 00:21:45.920
- Satan added on to it,because he got a third
- 00:21:46.020 --> 00:21:49.790
- of the angels to follow him,and then he got people
- 00:21:49.890 --> 00:21:52.393
- to follow him.That's why.
- 00:21:52.493 --> 00:21:55.830
- So we say, “Well, why woulda loving God, you know,
- 00:21:55.930 --> 00:21:58.933
- send anyone to hell?”
- 00:21:59.033 --> 00:21:59.967
- It's normally askedvery rhetorically,
- 00:22:00.067 --> 00:22:04.805
- very angrily, very...I had a really good word
- 00:22:04.905 --> 00:22:10.344
- somewhere in my notes.
- 00:22:10.444 --> 00:22:12.680
- Accusingly,that was a good word.
- 00:22:12.780 --> 00:22:15.316
- All right.
- 00:22:15.416 --> 00:22:17.718
- You all just editthat part there.
- 00:22:17.818 --> 00:22:19.787
- [Laughter]
- 00:22:19.887 --> 00:22:21.722
- Let me just give you three,the three major.
- 00:22:23.057 --> 00:22:25.926
- There are many more stories ofrejection of God in the Bible.
- 00:22:26.026 --> 00:22:28.596
- I want to give youthe three major stories
- 00:22:28.696 --> 00:22:30.998
- of the rejection of God.
- 00:22:31.098 --> 00:22:32.433
- The first is in Isaiah 14and Revelation 12,
- 00:22:32.533 --> 00:22:35.136
- also Ezekiel 28.
- 00:22:35.236 --> 00:22:36.404
- Lucifer was the worshipleader in heaven.
- 00:22:36.504 --> 00:22:39.907
- He led a third of the angelsto rebel against God.
- 00:22:40.007 --> 00:22:43.911
- Here's what I want youto remember about that.
- 00:22:44.011 --> 00:22:46.447
- They weren't borninto a bad situation.
- 00:22:46.547 --> 00:22:52.820
- God never abused them,never treated them bad,
- 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:57.057
- and a third of themrejected God.
- 00:22:57.158 --> 00:23:00.428
- That's the first rebelliousstory, rejection of God.
- 00:23:00.528 --> 00:23:04.632
- The second one isfound in Genesis 3.
- 00:23:04.732 --> 00:23:08.269
- God creates Adam and Eve -perfect bodies, perfect health,
- 00:23:08.369 --> 00:23:12.807
- perfect garden,perfect marriage,
- 00:23:12.907 --> 00:23:16.343
- perfect relationship with Godand perfect relationship
- 00:23:16.444 --> 00:23:18.946
- with each other,and they rebel against God.
- 00:23:19.046 --> 00:23:23.050
- The third one'seven worse than that.
- 00:23:23.150 --> 00:23:29.790
- He sent His own Sonto this earth,
- 00:23:29.890 --> 00:23:34.261
- who explainedto them the Scriptures,
- 00:23:34.361 --> 00:23:38.299
- who did nothingbut good for 33-1/2 years,
- 00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:43.337
- 3-1/2 years in public ministry.
- 00:23:43.437 --> 00:23:45.406
- Healed people,raised people from the dead,
- 00:23:45.506 --> 00:23:48.943
- loved on people,had dinner with sinners,
- 00:23:49.043 --> 00:23:53.614
- never actedprideful or arrogant.
- 00:23:53.714 --> 00:23:59.820
- And we rejected Him so muchthat we tortured Him to death,
- 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:05.493
- the inexcusable rebelliousrejection of the loving God.
- 00:24:05.593 --> 00:24:10.865
- Okay, do you want meto answer the question,
- 00:24:10.965 --> 00:24:12.399
- why would a loving Godsend anyone to hell?
- 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:15.135
- It's a simple,simple answer.
- 00:24:15.236 --> 00:24:17.371
- He wouldn't.He wouldn't.
- 00:24:17.471 --> 00:24:21.442
- People send themselves to hell.
- 00:24:21.542 --> 00:24:23.244
- ROBERT: There really is a heavenand there really is a hell,
- 00:24:24.211 --> 00:24:27.948
- but here's the good news.
- 00:24:28.048 --> 00:24:29.850
- There really is a Saviorwho gave His life
- 00:24:29.950 --> 00:24:33.721
- so that we could spendeternity in heaven,
- 00:24:33.821 --> 00:24:36.557
- and the choice is yours.
- 00:24:36.657 --> 00:24:38.192
- I don't believe you're watchingtoday by accident.
- 00:24:38.292 --> 00:24:40.961
- I believe that God'sdrawing you today
- 00:24:41.061 --> 00:24:43.864
- to give your life to Him.
- 00:24:43.964 --> 00:24:45.165
- He's trying to drawyou to Himself,
- 00:24:45.266 --> 00:24:47.201
- and that's why you heardthis specific message today.
- 00:24:47.301 --> 00:24:50.971
- So, I'd like to encourage youto simply give control
- 00:24:51.071 --> 00:24:53.941
- of your life to Jesus right now.Give Him everything.
- 00:24:54.041 --> 00:24:57.077
- Don't hold back anything.
- 00:24:57.177 --> 00:24:58.646
- And we would love to helpyou any way that we can.
- 00:24:58.746 --> 00:25:01.715
- Please let us know.You can contact us.
- 00:25:01.815 --> 00:25:03.717
- We'll send you somematerial to help you
- 00:25:03.817 --> 00:25:05.386
- in your new life with the Lord.
- 00:25:05.486 --> 00:25:06.720
- But, you're watching todaybecause God loves you
- 00:25:06.820 --> 00:25:11.392
- and He wants you to spendeternity in heaven with Him.
- 00:25:11.492 --> 00:25:15.195
- So, give your lifeto Jesus today.
- 00:25:15.296 --> 00:25:18.232
- Hey, thanks somuch for watching.
- 00:25:18.332 --> 00:25:19.433
- I'll see you next time.
- 00:25:19.533 --> 00:25:21.435
- ANNOUNCER: We're so gratefulthat you joined us
- 00:25:22.169 --> 00:25:23.837
- for today's program.
- 00:25:23.938 --> 00:25:25.205
- We have some exciting resourceswe want to share with you
- 00:25:25.306 --> 00:25:28.375
- from Pastor Robert's new series,“Eternity: Your Choice.”
- 00:25:28.475 --> 00:25:32.446
- In this in-depthteaching series,
- 00:25:32.546 --> 00:25:34.715
- Pastor Robert sharesabout how anyone
- 00:25:34.815 --> 00:25:36.884
- can have everlasting lifeby choosing to follow Jesus,
- 00:25:36.984 --> 00:25:40.154
- and he explainsthat are choices today
- 00:25:40.254 --> 00:25:42.222
- not only determinewhere we spend eternity,
- 00:25:42.323 --> 00:25:44.692
- but also, how we spend it.
- 00:25:44.792 --> 00:25:46.760
- You'll also get the answersyou need to tough questions
- 00:25:46.860 --> 00:25:49.663
- about what happens after we die,
- 00:25:49.763 --> 00:25:52.266
- and you'll be better equippedto share the message
- 00:25:52.366 --> 00:25:53.667
- of God's lovewith those around you
- 00:25:53.767 --> 00:25:55.736
- so that they too can chooseeternal life through Jesus.
- 00:25:55.836 --> 00:25:58.772
- That's why we want you to havethese important resources.
- 00:25:58.872 --> 00:26:01.875
- So, for your giftof any amount today,
- 00:26:01.976 --> 00:26:04.111
- we will send you“Eternity” on either CD
- 00:26:04.211 --> 00:26:06.413
- or as a digital download.
- 00:26:06.513 --> 00:26:08.515
- Additionally, for your giftof $45 or more
- 00:26:08.616 --> 00:26:11.385
- we will send you this serieson both CD and DVD
- 00:26:11.485 --> 00:26:14.221
- as our way of saying thank you.
- 00:26:14.321 --> 00:26:16.156
- You can also order “Eternity”as either an audio
- 00:26:16.256 --> 00:26:18.359
- or video digital downloadat PastorRobert.com
- 00:26:18.459 --> 00:26:21.629
- where you'll also find manyother resources to help you grow
- 00:26:21.729 --> 00:26:24.465
- in your walk with the Lord.
- 00:26:24.565 --> 00:26:26.100
- Be sure to callor visit us online today
- 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:28.002
- to order these resources.
- 00:26:28.102 --> 00:26:29.570
- We'd also love to hear aboutwhat God is doing in your life
- 00:26:29.670 --> 00:26:32.773
- as a result of applyingthese truths from His Word.
- 00:26:32.873 --> 00:26:35.709
- Be sure to visit us onlineat PastorRobert.com
- 00:26:35.809 --> 00:26:38.646
- to share your stories with us
- 00:26:38.746 --> 00:26:39.880
- and to let us know about prayerneeds you may have.
- 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:43.017
- We look forward to hearingfrom you, and as always,
- 00:26:43.117 --> 00:26:45.052
- thank you foryour generous support
- 00:26:45.152 --> 00:26:46.987
- of Pastor RobertMorris Ministries.
- 00:26:47.087 --> 00:26:49.456
- ♪ ♪
- 00:26:51.892 --> 00:27:00.334
- ANNOUNCER: Living your best lifeisn't about having a dream home,
- 00:27:02.736 --> 00:27:05.939
- wonderful kids,or the ideal job.
- 00:27:06.040 --> 00:27:09.043
- It's about changesin your family, health,
- 00:27:09.143 --> 00:27:11.779
- and relationships.
- 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:13.447
- When God changes your heart,you'll discover
- 00:27:13.547 --> 00:27:15.616
- that there is so muchmore to life.
- 00:27:15.716 --> 00:27:18.719
- With humor, passion,and clarity,
- 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:21.255
- Pastor Robert presents,
- 00:27:21.355 --> 00:27:22.823
- "The Secretsof Living Your Best Life."
- 00:27:22.923 --> 00:27:25.125
- ♪ ♪
- 00:27:25.225 --> 00:27:28.829