WEBVTT 00:00:04.989 --> 00:00:07.356 He says - now follow this. 00:00:07.356 --> 00:00:09.147 You have to be discerning. 00:00:09.147 --> 00:00:11.931 And I know I've read this thing 3 or 4 times, 00:00:11.931 --> 00:00:14.303 so sometimes you don't catch everything 00:00:14.303 --> 00:00:17.791 in the first time you read it. 00:00:17.791 --> 00:00:20.088 "I want to live for Christ 00:00:20.088 --> 00:00:25.286 with all that is in me..." 00:00:25.286 --> 00:00:27.584 Okay. You get that far... 00:00:27.584 --> 00:00:30.822 Again, love assumes the best. 00:00:30.822 --> 00:00:33.228 And you take him at his word. 00:00:33.228 --> 00:00:36.662 "I attended a youth group 00:00:36.662 --> 00:00:39.758 which I no longer attend. 00:00:39.758 --> 00:00:43.967 And the youth pastor sent me a long message." 00:00:43.967 --> 00:00:46.948 So this is the youth pastor 00:00:46.948 --> 00:00:51.403 to one of the young men that was attending. 00:00:51.403 --> 00:00:54.886 "In it, he said I was a Pharisee. 00:00:54.886 --> 00:00:57.487 He called me stubborn. 00:00:57.487 --> 00:01:01.236 He called me judgmental, rude, 00:01:01.236 --> 00:01:09.606 cruel, toxic, and prideful." 00:01:09.606 --> 00:01:12.070 I mean, to even get one of those words 00:01:12.070 --> 00:01:14.067 is not good, 00:01:14.067 --> 00:01:19.169 but when a pastor gives you all those words... 00:01:19.169 --> 00:01:21.427 "He said this was feedback 00:01:21.427 --> 00:01:24.785 he received from others." 00:01:24.785 --> 00:01:26.292 And then the guy admits, 00:01:26.292 --> 00:01:29.663 "those who aren't Christians have told me things like this." 00:01:29.663 --> 00:01:34.648 So this isn't the first guy that's told him this. 00:01:34.648 --> 00:01:36.938 And then he admits this too: 00:01:36.938 --> 00:01:40.518 "I'm sure there are just as many Christians who think this..." 00:01:40.518 --> 00:01:43.026 about him. 00:01:43.026 --> 00:01:44.152 And then he says this, 00:01:44.152 --> 00:01:47.134 "Obviously, there is a disconnect here. 00:01:47.134 --> 00:01:50.205 I've watched you guys at I'll Be Honest. 00:01:50.205 --> 00:01:52.989 I read the Puritans. 00:01:52.989 --> 00:01:56.624 I read ten chapters a day of Scripture." 00:01:56.624 --> 00:01:57.933 And then he says this: 00:01:57.933 --> 00:02:00.090 "I don't see how someone 00:02:00.090 --> 00:02:03.628 could be saturated with so much truth 00:02:03.628 --> 00:02:08.909 and yet be accused of things like this." 00:02:08.909 --> 00:02:10.987 If you're discerning, I hope you recognize 00:02:10.987 --> 00:02:14.636 there's something really wrong with that. 00:02:14.636 --> 00:02:16.284 "I love God. 00:02:16.284 --> 00:02:17.573 I love His Word. 00:02:17.573 --> 00:02:20.420 And my life has drastically changed 00:02:20.420 --> 00:02:22.729 since my conversion." 00:02:22.729 --> 00:02:23.896 And then he admits this: 00:02:23.896 --> 00:02:26.523 "Prayer is a weak area in my life. 00:02:26.523 --> 00:02:29.345 So maybe my problem is there. 00:02:29.345 --> 00:02:32.477 If not, where else could it be? 00:02:32.477 --> 00:02:34.641 I bear marks of truly being saved, 00:02:34.641 --> 00:02:36.792 and those who are calling me all these things 00:02:36.792 --> 00:02:39.354 don't deny that I'm saved. 00:02:39.354 --> 00:02:43.765 But, could it be that I'm still lost? 00:02:43.765 --> 00:02:45.197 I don't want to be bringing 00:02:45.197 --> 00:02:47.222 so much dishonor to God with these things, 00:02:47.222 --> 00:02:53.752 so please help." NOTE Paragraph 00:02:53.752 --> 00:02:57.504 Mario, what do you tell him? 00:02:57.504 --> 00:02:58.274 (from the room) 00:02:58.274 --> 00:03:00.926 That's tough. 00:03:00.926 --> 00:03:02.618 Because, those people could be 00:03:02.618 --> 00:03:05.850 testifying to right things in his life, 00:03:05.850 --> 00:03:08.638 but they could also be resisting truth. 00:03:08.638 --> 00:03:12.271 Tim: Let me just ask this question. 00:03:12.271 --> 00:03:19.164 Is it likely that multiple people telling you - 00:03:19.164 --> 00:03:22.032 because he admits that other people 00:03:22.032 --> 00:03:26.171 have told him similar things. 00:03:26.171 --> 00:03:29.603 When you have multiple people telling you 00:03:29.603 --> 00:03:31.928 that you are Pharisaical, stubborn, 00:03:31.928 --> 00:03:36.156 judgmental, rude, cruel, toxic, and prideful, 00:03:36.156 --> 00:03:43.294 is it likely that there's not a shred of truth to it? 00:03:43.294 --> 00:03:44.783 (from the room) 00:03:44.783 --> 00:03:46.518 Sounds like a cage-stager. 00:03:46.518 --> 00:03:47.835 Tim: Sounds like what? 00:03:47.835 --> 00:03:50.180 (from the room) He's in a cage stage a little bit. 00:03:50.180 --> 00:03:51.270 Tim: Cage stage? 00:03:51.270 --> 00:03:53.649 (from the room) In Calvinism, when you first learn 00:03:53.649 --> 00:03:55.869 about Calvinism or truths, it's very easy 00:03:55.869 --> 00:03:57.580 to be obnoxious about it 00:03:57.580 --> 00:04:00.974 and basically beat everybody around you. 00:04:00.974 --> 00:04:07.147 Tim: Now, he doesn't bring that out specifically. 00:04:07.147 --> 00:04:08.984 (from the room) the fact he said those 00:04:08.984 --> 00:04:12.585 who aren't Christians have told me these things - 00:04:12.585 --> 00:04:16.065 to me, that holds even more weight than the Christians. 00:04:16.065 --> 00:04:18.810 That unbelievers are telling him these same things - 00:04:18.810 --> 00:04:25.105 that he's judgmental, stubborn, toxic... 00:04:25.105 --> 00:04:28.219 Tim: But let's pick up on this. 00:04:28.219 --> 00:04:31.788 How many of you were, in the beginning 00:04:31.788 --> 00:04:35.525 when you came to kind of embrace 00:04:35.525 --> 00:04:38.410 the doctrines of grace - if you have - 00:04:38.410 --> 00:04:40.908 maybe some of you haven't; 00:04:40.908 --> 00:04:42.543 but how many of you were 00:04:42.543 --> 00:04:46.263 somewhat obnoxious with it? 00:04:46.263 --> 00:04:49.155 Okay, so we've got hands, but let me ask you. 00:04:49.155 --> 00:04:53.098 Even... and so was I. 00:04:53.098 --> 00:04:56.746 Even in that state 00:04:56.746 --> 00:04:58.953 as obnoxious as you were, 00:04:58.953 --> 00:05:00.717 did people say this about you? 00:05:00.717 --> 00:05:02.692 Did they call you Pharisaical, stubborn, 00:05:02.692 --> 00:05:05.904 judgmental, rude, cruel, toxic, and prideful? 00:05:05.904 --> 00:05:09.503 (from the room) Not all at the same time. 00:05:09.503 --> 00:05:11.677 Tim: Well, see, I actually don't remember 00:05:11.677 --> 00:05:13.691 anybody using those words to describe me. 00:05:13.691 --> 00:05:16.082 (from the room) I just got told that I'm preaching 00:05:16.082 --> 00:05:17.774 another Gospel. 00:05:17.774 --> 00:05:20.223 Tim: Well, right. That was more the thing. 00:05:20.223 --> 00:05:23.660 Well, it can't be true. 00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:24.712 Somebody told me, 00:05:24.712 --> 00:05:27.852 "I hope you'll be happy in heaven by yourself." 00:05:27.852 --> 00:05:30.635 Because it seemed so narrow. 00:05:30.635 --> 00:05:35.636 (from the room) You told me I was judgmental. 00:05:35.636 --> 00:05:40.261 But that was after about a year and a half of being a Christian. 00:05:40.261 --> 00:05:42.484 So we don't know much about this pastor. 00:05:42.484 --> 00:05:45.494 He might be solid on the same page doctrinally. 00:05:45.494 --> 00:05:47.510 Tim: Oh, he could be. 00:05:47.510 --> 00:05:49.509 (incomplete thought) 00:05:49.509 --> 00:05:51.738 (from the room) Did you mention the kids age? 00:05:51.738 --> 00:05:54.066 Or did you skip that? Tim: I skipped it. 00:05:54.066 --> 00:05:56.352 (from the room) To me, that's interesting too. 00:05:56.352 --> 00:06:01.236 Tim: He's 14. 00:06:01.236 --> 00:06:04.404 That softened people. 00:06:04.404 --> 00:06:07.545 I purposely left it out for that reason. 00:06:07.545 --> 00:06:13.182 But at 14, you're that proud, obnoxious, 00:06:13.182 --> 00:06:15.831 toxic? I mean that word! 00:06:15.831 --> 00:06:20.693 That's a bad word. 00:06:20.693 --> 00:06:21.756 What's that? 00:06:21.756 --> 00:06:24.084 (from the room) Would it be easier for him 00:06:24.084 --> 00:06:26.988 to fall into that because he's so young? 00:06:26.988 --> 00:06:27.864 Tim: Perhaps. 00:06:27.864 --> 00:06:30.486 (from the room) If he was 24, he'd have ten more years 00:06:30.486 --> 00:06:33.248 of maturing as a person. 00:06:33.248 --> 00:06:36.326 Tim: But here's one of the things he says. 00:06:36.326 --> 00:06:38.259 "I watch you guys on I'll Be Honest. 00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:39.767 I read the Puritans and I read 00:06:39.767 --> 00:06:43.618 ten chapters a day of Scripture." 00:06:43.618 --> 00:06:47.103 Now that's kind of Pharisaical right there. 00:06:47.103 --> 00:06:48.833 It's like throwing out there: 00:06:48.833 --> 00:06:50.409 "I read ten chapters a day." 00:06:50.409 --> 00:06:52.384 And then to say, "I don't see how 00:06:52.384 --> 00:06:54.687 someone could be saturated with so much truth 00:06:54.687 --> 00:06:57.174 and yet be accused of things like this." 00:06:57.174 --> 00:06:59.944 Well, see, that's lacking discernment. 00:06:59.944 --> 00:07:01.376 That's very ignorant. 00:07:01.376 --> 00:07:03.422 (from the room) He's just immature. 00:07:03.422 --> 00:07:05.523 But I think he's trying to protect himself. 00:07:05.523 --> 00:07:07.209 He's 14 in this world. 00:07:07.209 --> 00:07:09.664 I don't know what kind of school he goes to, 00:07:09.664 --> 00:07:11.576 but I think if he goes to public school, 00:07:11.576 --> 00:07:14.550 I can see myself trying to wrap myself in the Word 00:07:14.550 --> 00:07:16.957 and just standing on it. 00:07:16.957 --> 00:07:19.378 So he's immature, but at the same time, 00:07:19.378 --> 00:07:23.098 I think he's trying to stand for what is right. 00:07:23.098 --> 00:07:28.844 That's a lot of negative words in one sentence. 00:07:28.844 --> 00:07:31.044 Tim: He's 14. He's a baby. 00:07:31.044 --> 00:07:32.941 So we don't excuse it, 00:07:32.941 --> 00:07:36.340 but maybe we are a little softer. 00:07:36.340 --> 00:07:38.300 He needs guidance. Okay. 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:40.780 What guidance are we going to give him? 00:07:40.780 --> 00:07:42.406 Because he's probably watching. 00:07:42.406 --> 00:07:46.108 Or he probably will watch if James puts this up. 00:07:46.108 --> 00:07:52.631 (unintelligible) 00:07:52.631 --> 00:07:56.694 Tim: Well, surrounding himself 00:07:56.694 --> 00:08:03.455 with those who are very gracious 00:08:03.455 --> 00:08:05.206 would be a good influence; 00:08:05.206 --> 00:08:07.430 it would be a good starting point. 00:08:07.430 --> 00:08:10.279 And you know, there's a possibility 00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:12.521 that he doesn't have saved parents. 00:08:12.521 --> 00:08:16.948 He was converted maybe not through family means. 00:08:16.948 --> 00:08:19.238 (Incomplete thought) 00:08:19.238 --> 00:08:22.482 He doesn't talk about his parental situation. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:22.482 --> 00:08:24.241 But is there anything in Scripture 00:08:24.241 --> 00:08:25.961 that would lead us to believe 00:08:25.961 --> 00:08:30.906 that we become like those we hang around? 00:08:30.906 --> 00:08:33.695 Can anybody quote some place? 00:08:33.695 --> 00:08:37.405 (unintelligible) 00:08:37.405 --> 00:08:38.979 Well, that's the negative, 00:08:38.979 --> 00:08:41.395 but how about the positive? 00:08:41.395 --> 00:08:42.922 (unintelligible) 00:08:42.922 --> 00:08:46.152 He who walks with the wise is wise. 00:08:46.152 --> 00:08:49.087 (unintelligible) 00:08:49.087 --> 00:08:51.916 Yeah, it's definitely a biblical reality. 00:08:51.916 --> 00:08:55.807 And there's the reality of imitation. 00:08:55.807 --> 00:09:00.105 We're to imitate the faith of people. 00:09:00.105 --> 00:09:02.180 And we're very much called 00:09:02.180 --> 00:09:04.781 to imitate those who imitate Christ. 00:09:04.781 --> 00:09:15.184 We're very much called to find people - 00:09:15.184 --> 00:09:20.904 you know, it's kind of the leaven principle. 00:09:20.904 --> 00:09:22.936 Leaven leavens the lump. 00:09:22.936 --> 00:09:27.710 But it's amazing when you have godly people - 00:09:27.710 --> 00:09:31.593 you know how often people 00:09:31.593 --> 00:09:35.150 came away from just sitting for a little bit 00:09:35.150 --> 00:09:37.228 and talking to Martyn Lloyd-Jones? 00:09:37.228 --> 00:09:47.167 They said you just felt a greater nearness to God. 00:09:47.167 --> 00:09:50.811 I remember Charles and Mona said 00:09:50.811 --> 00:09:53.597 that they were in Wales, 00:09:53.597 --> 00:09:55.588 and a friend of Lloyd-Jones - 00:09:55.588 --> 00:09:57.804 and I can't recall his name right off, 00:09:57.804 --> 00:10:02.275 was it McMillan? 00:10:02.275 --> 00:10:04.175 They spent a little time with him 00:10:04.175 --> 00:10:07.218 and they said it was like 00:10:07.218 --> 00:10:14.781 the fragrance of Christ stayed with them for awhile. 00:10:14.781 --> 00:10:18.923 There's impact in being around people. 00:10:18.923 --> 00:10:24.455 I noticed at the Denton conference - 00:10:24.455 --> 00:10:26.699 you know, I'd look around 00:10:26.699 --> 00:10:29.762 and I'd look to see where Jared was. 00:10:29.762 --> 00:10:32.558 It wasn't really that I was looking to see where he was; 00:10:32.558 --> 00:10:33.848 it was just I would notice, 00:10:33.848 --> 00:10:35.643 hey, there's Charles. There's Jared. 00:10:35.643 --> 00:10:39.186 Hey, there's Geoffrey Thomas. There's Jared. 00:10:39.186 --> 00:10:41.471 The guy's walking around with all the preachers. 00:10:41.471 --> 00:10:43.909 Well, you know there's something to that. 00:10:43.909 --> 00:10:45.890 And if we surround ourselves 00:10:45.890 --> 00:10:48.374 with the godliest people that we can, 00:10:48.374 --> 00:10:50.730 it's really going to have an impact on our life. 00:10:50.730 --> 00:10:52.522 That would be one thing to tell him. 00:10:52.522 --> 00:10:54.299 Being in a church where you have 00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:56.783 those kind of elders; 00:10:56.783 --> 00:11:00.835 men whose faith is worth imitating. 00:11:00.835 --> 00:11:02.404 What else would you tell him? 00:11:02.404 --> 00:11:04.890 (from the room) I would say something that I learned 00:11:04.890 --> 00:11:05.911 earlier in my walk. 00:11:05.911 --> 00:11:08.995 He mentioned the fact that he reads a lot of Puritans. 00:11:08.995 --> 00:11:13.881 (unintelligible) 00:11:13.881 --> 00:11:17.260 Maybe sometimes you need to lay off those books 00:11:17.260 --> 00:11:18.853 and go to Scripture and see how 00:11:18.853 --> 00:11:20.873 you're supposed to be a Christian. 00:11:20.873 --> 00:11:23.486 That helped me because I got into 00:11:23.486 --> 00:11:26.507 reading all this, and Mack told me one day, 00:11:26.507 --> 00:11:29.066 hey, brother, how about you just lay off those books 00:11:29.066 --> 00:11:30.899 and just focus on the Bible itself 00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:32.335 and that greatly helped me. 00:11:32.335 --> 00:11:33.967 Tim: And he says, "I don't see how 00:11:33.967 --> 00:11:36.782 someone could be saturated with so much truth 00:11:36.782 --> 00:11:39.910 and yet be accused of things like this." 00:11:39.910 --> 00:11:42.827 I would say to him 00:11:42.827 --> 00:11:45.480 you can be saturated with a lot of truth, 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:48.905 but if you're not living the truth; 00:11:48.905 --> 00:11:52.131 if you actually are being mean and cruel 00:11:52.131 --> 00:11:57.166 and toxic and rude and Pharisaical, 00:11:57.166 --> 00:11:59.576 that's why you're being accused of it. 00:11:59.576 --> 00:12:02.137 How much intake of Puritans 00:12:02.137 --> 00:12:03.944 or how much intake of Scripture 00:12:03.944 --> 00:12:05.097 isn't the issue. 00:12:05.097 --> 00:12:08.635 Because there is a knowledge, 00:12:08.635 --> 00:12:12.808 there's a gaining of intellect that simply puffs up. 00:12:12.808 --> 00:12:15.315 It produces pride. 00:12:15.315 --> 00:12:17.200 One of the things that can happen 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:20.061 is we gain information, and we become judgmental. 00:12:20.061 --> 00:12:21.371 We judge other people. 00:12:21.371 --> 00:12:22.897 Or we look down on other people 00:12:22.897 --> 00:12:25.894 because they don't know what we know. 00:12:25.894 --> 00:12:32.636 But, what we want to aim for 00:12:32.636 --> 00:12:35.767 is to be transformed by this truth. 00:12:35.767 --> 00:12:37.963 And then he does admit this too. 00:12:37.963 --> 00:12:40.405 He admits that his prayer life isn't very good. 00:12:40.405 --> 00:12:44.014 See, that's another indication of pride, 00:12:44.014 --> 00:12:46.389 because desperate people, 00:12:46.389 --> 00:12:49.647 needy people pray. 00:12:49.647 --> 00:12:51.604 Proud people don't need the Lord. 00:12:51.604 --> 00:12:55.025 They don't need to pray. 00:12:55.025 --> 00:12:56.849 When people know: 00:12:56.849 --> 00:13:00.563 "Lord, I can't do this without You," 00:13:00.563 --> 00:13:02.628 you find them out in the field praying 00:13:02.628 --> 00:13:05.049 or in their closet praying. 00:13:05.049 --> 00:13:07.628 People who can bypass prayer, 00:13:07.628 --> 00:13:10.137 that is a real evidence of weakness, 00:13:10.137 --> 00:13:18.825 immaturity, pride, self-sufficiency, independence. 00:13:18.825 --> 00:13:20.563 Anybody say anything else? 00:13:20.563 --> 00:13:21.460 (from the room) 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:23.163 I mean, that balance is difficult. 00:13:23.163 --> 00:13:24.943 That balance that James and yourself 00:13:24.943 --> 00:13:26.738 were talking about last Sunday. 00:13:26.738 --> 00:13:28.500 That's a difficult thing. 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:31.180 And we need a lot of help from the Holy Spirit 00:13:31.180 --> 00:13:35.701 to find balance. It's tough. 00:13:35.701 --> 00:13:37.447 Tim: One of the things 00:13:37.447 --> 00:13:40.405 that we need to remember too - 00:13:40.405 --> 00:13:43.604 he's not actually saying that this has to do 00:13:43.604 --> 00:13:46.181 with embracing the sovereignty of God 00:13:46.181 --> 00:13:47.732 or the doctrines of grace. 00:13:47.732 --> 00:13:49.330 But I will say this, 00:13:49.330 --> 00:13:50.962 it's very interesting to me, 00:13:50.962 --> 00:13:52.234 when I was studying - 00:13:52.234 --> 00:13:55.377 I did a number of messages, 00:13:55.377 --> 00:13:57.877 six messages here at GCC 00:13:57.877 --> 00:14:00.751 on hyper-Calvinism several years back, 00:14:00.751 --> 00:14:06.386 and what was very interesting to me 00:14:06.386 --> 00:14:11.652 is that Calvin in his "Institutes" - 00:14:11.652 --> 00:14:16.942 he started by having election first 00:14:16.942 --> 00:14:21.119 and then the doctrine of justification. 00:14:21.119 --> 00:14:22.303 Now think about it - 00:14:22.303 --> 00:14:24.478 that's the order in which they happen. 00:14:24.478 --> 00:14:26.799 In eternity past, God chooses. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:29.219 In the course of time, we believe 00:14:29.219 --> 00:14:32.817 and are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. 00:14:32.817 --> 00:14:36.844 So he put them in ordo salutis fashion. 00:14:36.844 --> 00:14:40.163 But you know what he recognized? 00:14:40.163 --> 00:14:42.704 He recognized the doctrine of election 00:14:42.704 --> 00:14:46.823 is a stumbling block for the lost. 00:14:46.823 --> 00:14:49.993 And he changed the chapters. 00:14:49.993 --> 00:14:53.597 He put justification by faith before election. 00:14:53.597 --> 00:14:55.803 There's a lot of wisdom to that. 00:14:55.803 --> 00:14:58.314 A lot of people come across the doctrines of grace 00:14:58.314 --> 00:14:59.996 and you know what they want to do? 00:14:59.996 --> 00:15:01.255 They want to lost grandma 00:15:01.255 --> 00:15:03.378 and start talking Romans 9. 00:15:03.378 --> 00:15:05.249 That's not what you want to do. 00:15:05.249 --> 00:15:07.894 You want to go to the text you went to. 00:15:07.894 --> 00:15:10.896 "Whoever thirsts..." 00:15:10.896 --> 00:15:13.953 You want to preach the Gospel to them. 00:15:13.953 --> 00:15:17.481 Banging people over the head with election doesn't save them. 00:15:17.481 --> 00:15:19.928 People need to trust Christ. 00:15:19.928 --> 00:15:21.686 You need to show them Christ. 00:15:21.686 --> 00:15:23.987 You need to show them the beauties of Christ. 00:15:23.987 --> 00:15:28.132 You need to put Him up as the only hope of mankind. 00:15:28.132 --> 00:15:31.302 Because really, when it comes to the responsibility of men, 00:15:31.302 --> 00:15:36.346 their responsibility is: God commands all men everywhere to repent. 00:15:36.346 --> 00:15:38.781 That's their responsibility. 00:15:38.781 --> 00:15:40.121 Because what happens is 00:15:40.121 --> 00:15:43.033 I thank the Lord, 00:15:43.033 --> 00:15:47.522 I was not bogged down by election 00:15:47.522 --> 00:15:49.893 and predestination. 00:15:49.893 --> 00:15:53.234 I came across "The Gospel According to Jesus," 00:15:53.234 --> 00:15:56.480 and I was hit full blast with the Gospel 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:59.435 out of Matthew's Gospel primarily. 00:15:59.435 --> 00:16:02.077 I didn't know those things 00:16:02.077 --> 00:16:04.150 and so they weren't a stumbling block; 00:16:04.150 --> 00:16:05.489 they weren't a snare to me. 00:16:05.489 --> 00:16:10.029 But I've seen people get so ensnared by that. 00:16:10.029 --> 00:16:11.520 But it's a non-issue. 00:16:11.520 --> 00:16:15.270 You say why? If I'm not chosen, I can't be saved! 00:16:15.270 --> 00:16:18.194 Technically speaking, yes, that's true. 00:16:18.194 --> 00:16:22.281 But, the reality of Scripture 00:16:22.281 --> 00:16:23.766 is that if you come to Christ, 00:16:23.766 --> 00:16:25.465 He's not going to cast you out. 00:16:25.465 --> 00:16:28.896 If you thirst, drink. 00:16:28.896 --> 00:16:30.597 That's what Scripture says. 00:16:30.597 --> 00:16:35.324 Whosoever... if you're thirsty, drink. 00:16:35.324 --> 00:16:36.892 So you don't want to hit people 00:16:36.892 --> 00:16:38.204 with this thought - 00:16:38.204 --> 00:16:40.386 and you know what Jared was just saying? 00:16:40.386 --> 00:16:43.809 This last Sunday he preached out of John 7 00:16:43.809 --> 00:16:45.119 and when he was all done, 00:16:45.119 --> 00:16:47.716 a woman came up and said, "I didn't like that message, 00:16:47.716 --> 00:16:54.412 because you didn't emphasize the fact that God chooses us." 00:16:54.412 --> 00:16:58.168 See, that is the hyper- Calvinism right there. 00:16:58.168 --> 00:16:59.687 Because you know what happens? 00:16:59.687 --> 00:17:02.987 You tell the sinner, 00:17:02.987 --> 00:17:05.365 "Well, you can only be saved if you're elect." 00:17:05.365 --> 00:17:06.792 And so you know what they do? 00:17:06.792 --> 00:17:08.366 Now they're going to sit there 00:17:08.366 --> 00:17:11.081 and they're going to wait to see if they're elect. 00:17:11.081 --> 00:17:13.019 And they're going to think it's useless 00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:14.080 to do anything else 00:17:14.080 --> 00:17:15.990 until I can figure out if I'm elect. 00:17:15.990 --> 00:17:19.571 But they're never going to figure out if they're elect. 00:17:19.571 --> 00:17:21.738 When the reality is, Jesus didn't come along 00:17:21.738 --> 00:17:25.389 and say you've got to figure out if you're elect. 00:17:25.389 --> 00:17:29.531 He came along and He said, "repent and believe the Gospel." 00:17:29.531 --> 00:17:31.628 And we appeal to man's responsibility, 00:17:31.628 --> 00:17:33.960 not to God's sovereignty, 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:35.939 not when we're preaching the Gospel. 00:17:35.939 --> 00:17:37.096 And it's a snare. 00:17:37.096 --> 00:17:40.920 I think Calvin was absolutely right in doing what he did. 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.317 So we need to be careful. 00:17:42.317 --> 00:17:43.649 We come to these doctrines; 00:17:43.649 --> 00:17:46.051 we come to the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. 00:17:46.051 --> 00:17:47.310 But what that ought to do 00:17:47.310 --> 00:17:49.680 is not be this club to beat people over the head; 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:51.838 it ought to fuel your confidence 00:17:51.838 --> 00:17:54.750 that when you take the Gospel and preach it, 00:17:54.750 --> 00:17:57.257 it's going to be the power of God unto salvation. 00:17:57.257 --> 00:17:58.744 People are going to get saved. 00:17:58.744 --> 00:18:01.426 Because God's going to see to it that people get saved. 00:18:01.426 --> 00:18:02.891 But they're going to get saved 00:18:02.891 --> 00:18:04.279 as you lift up Christ. 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:05.591 Remember what Christ said. 00:18:05.591 --> 00:18:07.682 It's just like out there in the wilderness, 00:18:07.682 --> 00:18:10.552 you've got all these fiery serpents and they're biting people 00:18:10.552 --> 00:18:11.477 and what happened? 00:18:11.477 --> 00:18:14.305 Moses, make a brazen serpent. 00:18:14.305 --> 00:18:16.039 And he lifted it up on a pole, 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:17.238 and as many as looked - 00:18:17.238 --> 00:18:18.621 and He said in the same way, 00:18:18.621 --> 00:18:21.156 the Son of Man is going to be lifted up, 00:18:21.156 --> 00:18:23.448 and whoever looks on Him and believes, 00:18:23.448 --> 00:18:25.182 they're going to be saved. 00:18:25.182 --> 00:18:27.164 That's what we want to show people. 00:18:27.164 --> 00:18:29.577 Christ is your only hope. 00:18:29.577 --> 00:18:35.230 Scripture does not say election is your only hope. 00:18:35.230 --> 00:18:38.453 Christ is your only hope. 00:18:38.453 --> 00:18:42.337 (incomplete thought) 00:18:42.337 --> 00:18:46.335 Yes, in a way, I know you could argue, 00:18:46.335 --> 00:18:50.024 well, election does bring hope. 00:18:50.024 --> 00:18:51.488 And it does. 00:18:51.488 --> 00:18:55.007 It brings certainty to the reality 00:18:55.007 --> 00:18:58.831 that our Gospel is going to produce fruit. 00:18:58.831 --> 00:18:59.649 (from the room) NOTE Paragraph 00:18:59.649 --> 00:19:01.842 Brother, I heard Lloyd-Jones in his book, 00:19:01.842 --> 00:19:03.177 "What is an Evangelical?" 00:19:03.177 --> 00:19:05.928 And he boldly stated, "yes, I'm a Calvinist, 00:19:05.928 --> 00:19:08.239 but I wouldn't put predestination 00:19:08.239 --> 00:19:10.865 and election under the essentials." 00:19:10.865 --> 00:19:12.571 He said it's not essential. 00:19:12.571 --> 00:19:15.030 It's the resurrection, being born again, 00:19:15.030 --> 00:19:20.247 that's what essential. NOTE Paragraph 00:19:20.247 --> 00:19:29.123 Tim: Any other word for young Zechariah? 00:19:29.123 --> 00:19:31.778 Okay. 00:19:31.778 --> 00:19:33.428 You'd warn him against pride. 00:19:33.428 --> 00:19:34.163 (from the room) 00:19:34.163 --> 00:19:37.486 Maybe take him the Scripture about being humble. 00:19:37.486 --> 00:19:39.235 Isaiah 66. 00:19:39.235 --> 00:19:41.581 "This is the one to whom I will look, 00:19:41.581 --> 00:19:43.781 he who is humble and contrite in spirit 00:19:43.781 --> 00:19:45.297 and trembles at My Word." 00:19:45.297 --> 00:19:47.765 Tim: The problem with pride is that it's blind. 00:19:47.765 --> 00:19:50.029 The problem with pride is that it exalts self. 00:19:50.029 --> 00:19:53.173 And when you're exalting yourself, 00:19:53.173 --> 00:19:55.359 you're right in your own eyes. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:58.086 And so, that's the difficulty. 00:19:58.086 --> 00:19:59.506 (from the room) 00:19:59.506 --> 00:20:02.124 I'd probably ask him if he's gone 00:20:02.124 --> 00:20:03.989 to his youth pastor 00:20:03.989 --> 00:20:07.367 and asked him why he said those things. 00:20:07.367 --> 00:20:09.270 (unintelligible) 00:20:09.270 --> 00:20:11.142 Tim: Well, I have a feeling 00:20:11.142 --> 00:20:14.613 there is definitely weight behind it. 00:20:14.613 --> 00:20:15.970 There's truth behind it. 00:20:15.970 --> 00:20:18.956 And I guess that's one of the things I'd say to him 00:20:18.956 --> 00:20:23.229 is take these things as being true, 00:20:23.229 --> 00:20:25.921 and humble yourself. 00:20:25.921 --> 00:20:27.335 Repent of these things. 00:20:27.335 --> 00:20:30.591 Humble yourself before the Lord.