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[0:00] If you would, take a look at the insert in the bulletin, and I will read the lighter print, and when it comes to your turn, if you would read the darker print.

[0:19] The God who made the world and all things in it, since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.

[0:36] Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.

[0:48] And he made from one every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.

[1:09] That they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for him. And you find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

[1:20] For in him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, for we also are his offspring.

[1:36] Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent.

[2:05] Paul, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.

[2:35] He was promised before him, through his prophets and the holy scriptures. Concerning his son, who was born of a descendant of David, according to the flesh.

[2:52] He was declared the Son of God, the power of the resurrection from the dead, according to the spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.

[3:04] Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for his name's sake.

[3:19] Among whom you also are the followers of Jesus Christ. To all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints, grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[3:37] For I will not presume to speak of many things except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed.

[3:49] Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.

[4:09] Now is manifesto and now is the scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the determined God has been made known to all nations leading to the obedience of faith.

[4:25] To the only wise God through Jesus Christ be the glory forever. Amen. Amen. While you still have that sheet before you, I would just like to emphasize a couple of phrases in that which we have just read.

[4:50] And the first is from Acts chapter 17. And halfway down the page, we are told that God made from one every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, the boundaries of their habitation, that or so that they should seek God.

[5:17] That's a responsibility incumbent upon creation. Man has a responsibility to seek God.

[5:28] And then if you will look at the next to the last verse on the same page in the lighter type, therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent.

[5:49] That too is a human responsibility. Repentance, of course, having to do with the changing of the mind. And if you will turn the page halfway down this page on side two, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles.

[6:17] So, it is an item of obedience for his namesake. And then, in the next to the last verse, which is in the bold print on the same page, but now is manifested and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all nations, leading to obedience of faith.

[6:46] A couple of propositions that I want to set before you and get on the table before we launch into our subject, and it is simply this. Man has a solemn obligation to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and he stands in the position of inexcusable disobedience to God unless he does so.

[7:14] This is classifying the unbelieving individual in a category of rebellion against God. At the same time, man's embracing the gospel is not only an act of obedience to his creator, it is, of course, to his own personal and eternal welfare to do so.

[7:43] The gospel of Jesus Christ is not merely something to be believed, but it is also something to be obeyed. As regards the gospel of Jesus Christ, to believe is to obey and to obey is to believe.

[8:02] They are inseparable. Living in disobedience to God is the very position of everyone who has not received Jesus Christ as their Savior.

[8:14] They are dwelling in a state of ongoing rebellion. The fact that they may not be aware of that is beside the point. They are nonetheless. I have referred in time past to the illustration regarding Bertrand Russell who was a very brilliant intellectual of the 20th century.

[8:36] He was also a noted atheist and he propounded his atheism whenever he had opportunity to do so. And you will recall that upon his being interviewed and someone suggested the possibility, Dr. Russell in the event that you are wrong and you stand before God and he asked you to give an account for your unbelief, what would you tell him?

[8:59] And Dr. Russell said I would tell him he did not give me enough evidence. That was his answer. And that is the answer I suspect that many would propose today. For their lack of belief or their lack of receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior is that God did not give them sufficient evidence.

[9:17] Well, we are of the position that the evidence that God has given is not merely ample but it is abundant.

[9:28] And there are three vehicles of evidence that are made available to us and we are responsible for what we do with that information. And the first one is I would call it inculcation.

[9:48] And I'd ask you to turn to Romans chapter 1 if you would please. Gospel according to Romans. Paul's letter to the Romans chapter 1.

[10:02] What do we mean by inculcation? It's a good word and it simply means implanting or placing within.

[10:12] or something that is embedded in something. And if you will look at Romans chapter 1 and verse 18 we read the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress or who hold down the truth in unrighteousness because that which is known about God is evident within them.

[10:44] That's inculcation. God has inculcated into the human spirit the knowledge that he the creator exists and that he is one with whom they must contend.

[11:03] It is evident within them for God made it evident to them for since the creation of the world his invisible attributes his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen being understood through that which has been made so that they are without excuse.

[11:25] so on the basis of inculcation that is an implanting and embedding within the human being the innate knowledge that God is we read in Hebrews that without faith it is impossible to please him for he who comes to God must believe that he is that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him God is to be sought for it is a human responsibility to seek out God think of that more about that in a moment but we often don't think in terms of it being a human responsibility to seek out God but it is and the scriptures make it quite clear but God has given us ample information for the seeking so as the writer said he isn't very far from any of us and it isn't as though

[12:28] God is very difficult to find it isn't as though God is mysterious and hidden and virtually undiscoverable except to a certain elite number of people that is not the case at all in fact God has gone so far as to inculcate within the heart and mind of the human being the knowledge that he is and the atheist may shout from the rooftop all he wants there is no God he knows better in his heart of hearts he knows better it's always interesting to note that those who are the most vociferous in their atheism go to great lengths to discuss and deny one whom they say doesn't even exist and then the second avenue is boy that's a 25 cent word in scripturation it simply means

[13:40] God has given us a written revelation in scripturation he has taken the revelation that he wants us to have of himself and has had it recorded in writing it is available for us this is the basis of scripture all scripture is given by inspiration of God and scripturation is merely a vehicle or an avenue wherein God has been pleased to reveal himself to mankind and then the third incarnation the incarnation refers to the enfleshment that God became flesh and dwelt among us that which was deity took upon himself humanity and was clothed in a human body the

[14:42] God of heaven took flesh upon him we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth these are the three principal avenues I'm not saying that it is limited to these three but these are the principal three areas wherein God has been pleased to reveal himself and man is going to be held accountable for what he does with this revelation all men everywhere because God has commanded all men everywhere to repent that is to change their mind on the basis of what on the basis of information information provided how inculcation in scripturation incarnation there is a threefold chain by which man is going to be held accountable God has not left us with meager or scant evidence he has left us with abundant evidence it is more than enough for anyone who is open to the truth but for one who is not open to the truth there is no amount of evidence that will satisfy him he will find something wrong with everything every argument every evidence that is presented he has always got a yes but and the reason is simple he does not want to believe the reason he does not want to believe is because he would be handing over the reins of his life to another he wants to stay in control he wants to be in charge he doesn't want anybody telling him what to do not even the

[16:33] God who made him so no amount of evidence will suffice for one who is in this position of gross rebellion now what I would like to do is have you examine well we've already looked at Romans 18 1 18 through 20 and right here in chapter 1 we've got the incarnation of Romans chapter 1 where Paul in his introduction talks about the gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets concerning his son who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh that's the enfleshment and was declared the son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead and the inscripturation is in Romans chapter 10 verses 11 through 17 we'll not go there but you may take that down for your reference that's

[17:33] Romans 10 11 through 17 and this is a passage that talks about faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God so God has used and continues to use these three overlapping vehicles of revelation of himself to man and those who are most accountable to God are they who have had the revelation of God from all three sources and that represents a significant percentage of the world population granted not everyone has the scriptures not everyone has a copy of the Bible so they are without the inscripturation of human human being if you are a human being you come hard wired and equipped with the knowledge that there is a

[19:04] God you know that in your heart of hearts I don't know if you have seen the movie the miracle worker or not the story of Helen Keller one of the most compelling moving things I have ever seen if you have never seen it by all means get it rent it it's a black and white Patty Duke played the part of Helen Keller and the teacher name was Ann what was her name pardon Ann Sullivan and she was the miracle worker God used Ann Sullivan in the life of Helen Keller if you can imagine trying to learn something when you cannot hear and you cannot see the principal vehicles of receiving information are shut down they don't work can't hear anything you can't see anything you just can't imagine what it is like trying to absorb information from the external world when you do not have eyes or ears and

[20:26] Helen Keller was understandably an undisciplined little female savage that's about all you could call her until Ann Sullivan came on the scene and began working with her and she really had her work cut out for her it was just incredible and every time I see that scene of the breakthrough at the water pump and her being able to make a connection between the wet water feeling it and being able to understand it was water that was an incredible breakthrough it was like it was like the Rosetta stone of her mind so that she was able to make a connection between something that she could feel even though she couldn't hear the water coming out of the pump and she couldn't see the water coming out of the pump and the only way that she could communicate was by putting her fingers on her teacher's throat and feeling her vocal cords vibrate as she talked to her incredible breakthrough was just stunning and very very emotional years later after having learned to read braille and to understand and communicate then it was discovered that

[22:18] Helen Keller was an extraordinarily gifted brilliant individual who knows what she might have accomplished in life had she not had those two handicaps and her absolute brilliance came out as she was then able to express herself and one day she was introduced to Dr.

[22:44] Phillips Brooks who at the time was one of the most prominent clergyman and well-known gospel preachers in the United States and he was pastoring a large Presbyterian church I think it was in Philadelphia and she had opportunity to sit down with Phillips Brooks and Dr.

[23:03] Brooks explained to Helen Keller the gospel of Jesus Christ and he led her into a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus and after that event was over she confided in some friends and this is remarkable she said I always knew there was a God God but I didn't know his name I didn't understand about him but I wanted to know him I always knew there was a God I didn't know his name how did she know there always was a God when she couldn't even see couldn't see his handiwork couldn't read his word couldn't understand anything about the incarnation but I always knew there was a

[24:14] God how did you always know how it was within her it was planted within her and let me tell you that principle of divine inculcation of the existence of God is one day going to rise up and judge man for not responding to that inculcated knowledge it is there and it is there for man's obedience to respond to it we might well ask the question and I think anyone I think anyone that we could classify as virtually normal anyone as a human being has got to ask questions like this whether you get answers or not immediately the questions are in my estimation automatic to our humanity what am

[25:16] I who am I where have I come from what am I doing here where am I going what am I about what is everything all about is it possible for anyone with a brain to live even a few years without asking these kind of questions what is the meaning of life what is this all about what is this thing called human existence why is there something rather than nothing what's the point what are we doing here what's anybody doing here how's this thing going to end is it going to end where is it going to end how is it going to end where are we going what what is this thing called life anyway these are all very very logical predictable questions that any normal person will be asking themselves they may be despondent as to never finding an answer or discouraged in seeking an answer but these are questions that we have to ask they are just part of our humanity we cannot look about us and see all that is without wondering about these things what's the point what's the purpose why are they all here and for in scripturation if you go to the last book in the

[26:45] Bible Revelation chapter 4 and Revelation chapter 5 in both of those passages God is honored for having created all things for by your pleasure they were created and then in chapter 5 God is honored for having redeemed all things he created all things and it was lost through sin then he redeemed all things and that too is recorded in Revelation chapter 5 that tells us where we are going and this gives us the why as significant as our scientific achievements have been and they have been remarkable we are all beneficiaries of great accomplishments from the scientific laboratory but there is one nagging question the scientist has never answered you can take all of the

[27:55] Nobel prize winners and line them up and however many there are they will not give you an answer to this question why many can tell us what and many can tell us how but none of them can tell us why only God in his word reveals why and why because it pleased him God wanted to do what he has done by way of creation by way of humanity by way of all that exists simply because it pleased him he wanted to do it he has his reasons and all we need to know is it pleased him

[28:56] God holds man accountable for searching out the very reasons of his existence call it if you will a search for significance because I think we all have that there is something wrong drastically wrong in the heart and mind of each individual who has never asked himself the question what's the point of living what's the significance does life have any meaning you know some of the world's greatest philosophers and thinkers and I'm talking about men who have written books about this subject and have been have men have received accolades from from virtually every continent for their brilliance for their perspective for their insights etc but who have never been able to arrive at a meaning of life or significance they've got questions that are answered in remarkable ways that show their brilliance and their intelligence but several of them have come to an unhappy end and never having found a sense of significance or a reason for being they do the only logical thing that you can do and

[30:24] I'm not encouraging anybody to do this by no manner of means but let me tell you something if you do not and have not discovered the significance and the meaning of life why bother why go on do you realize that's the conclusion that many of these philosophers have come to I'm talking about brilliant brilliant people and they end up taking their own life why because life living existence to them pointless has no meaning and by the way I cannot help but insert this because it fits and it belongs every one of them to the best of my knowledge without exception embrace the evolutionary hypothesis and many people do not understand that to embrace the evolutionary hypothesis which suggests that not only is there no

[31:41] God there is no need for God because matter is eternal then you have no alternative left to you but that life has no meaning has no purpose doesn't have any significance we are here by accident biological accident and there is no meaning or purpose behind an accident it it just happens little wonder they just check out how many suicide notes how many suicide notes have been left in dormitory desks of our universities across this nation by frustrated students who signed it and said something to the effect no point in living no point in going on life is meaningless the pain is too great

[32:51] I'm leaving please forgive me and they take their own life this is replete in universities across the country these are young people who have come to despair they see no point no significance in living but there is significance if we have a creator who has intentionality and purpose and meaning behind it and we are made in his image and in his likeness and we as creatures made in the image and likeness of God have a responsibility in our humanity to know this God and he is not unknowable and he is not hiding he has declared himself in the three principal ways that we have mentioned there are things however that would prevent man from knowing God and I want to discuss those just briefly with you first of all there is the

[33:58] God of this world the God of this age who is spoken of in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 and Paul said if our gospel if our good news if our good news is hidden it is hidden to those whose minds the God of this age has blinded lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ which is the image of God should shine unto them think about that the adversary the God of this age Satan sets about to confound and to confuse and to obfuscate and to veil over and to cloud and to deny everything and anything that he can to prevent man from coming to a knowledge of this God this is his business he is the deceiver and he wants to create distractions you know

[35:04] I have a theory and I'm sure that there's no way that it could ever be proved or verified but my theory is this is if every human being would sit down in complete solitude once a day for a week and do nothing but live with his or her own thoughts intimately personally privately for just about 15 minutes a day for a week I think the world would be revolutionized one of our problems is we won't take time to do that we tend to become anesthetized with our environment we do not relish any length of time alone in private just thinking just thinking we've got to have the

[36:13] TV on we've got to have the radio on you ever think about getting in your car and going somewhere and never turning on the radio never turning on the tape player or the CD player just think just go home and sit down and think and be by yourself what kind of thoughts will come to your mind if you do that I can promise you this you will find yourself thinking thoughts wondering about things that you never wonder about that you never think about why don't you because you don't take the time to do it because you're too busy you're too busy being entertained you're too busy with the world's distractions you're too busy being caught up in a whole bunch of things that don't matter at all that prevent you from focusing on that which really counts and that is part of the deceiver's plan keep them distracted keep them entertained keep them busy keep them involved keep them doing anything and everything but sitting down and thinking about what really matters don't let them do that busy them distract them get their attention do do

[37:58] I have a witness it's a pretty feeble one I'm convinced whereof I speak has real validity I've practiced it myself and I found it to be very very valuable it is called meditating the word for meditating you meditate on the word of God day and night the word for meditating is the word that the Greek uses for a cow chewing its cud that's meditating what does a cow do well I trust that it's far enough removed from dinner time but a cow you know has four stomachs uses all of them she chews her hay or grass or whatever she's eating and she swallows it but being unsatisfied with that she brings it up and chews it again goes over it again this is by the way this is what makes contented cows they have a great digestive system and then she brings it up and chews it over again that's what it means to meditate you take an issue a subject a verse of scripture and you look at it and you chew on it if you will you mentally nibble away at it and you mentally eat it up you chew it up and then you bring it up in your mind again and you look at it from a little different perspective and you go over it again and again and again and you just focus on that's what the word meditate means and it's really pretty much who has time for that and has it ever occurred to you that this is the day and age of labor saving devices we have all kinds of gadgets and gizmos to do all kinds of work and thinking for us and all of this stuff to save us all of this labor that we have been expending and what are we doing with all of this time that we are saving utilizing all of these labor saving devices what are we doing with our time well we find other things to distract us and amuse us don't we the goal of the adversary is to get people involved in and thinking about everything and anything that doesn't amount to a hill of beans but it still consumes their time and their energy we have got an entertainment mad world today do you know why comedians and actors and athletes do you know why they command million dollar salaries multi-million dollar salaries do you know why they command that kind of money because there's an audience for it because people pay big bucks to be entertained whether it is sports or comedy or whatever we pay big money to people

[41:59] who will distract us who will take our mind and our energies in areas that don't amount to anything and that have nothing to show for when they're done no gain no benefit it has just been a time wasting distraction now lest anyone think I am down on recreation or leisure I am not I enjoy it as much as anyone but it's got to be all things in moderation for the average American today it is just flitting like a fickle canary from this to this to this to this it is involvement active busy engaged going moving doing everything but thinking everything but meditating can't we find something fun to do besides think who wants to do that that could sprain your brain we are in an entertainment mode that just won't quit and it is all part of the adversary's plan

[43:15] I enjoy a ball game I enjoy watching the masters and the PGA and all I enjoy a good football game I enjoy all of those things and there's certainly nothing wrong with but when your life is nothing but bouncing from this to this to this to keep actively engaged entertained thinking doing going being seeing hearing everything but thinking and when you think and think seriously you will come to questions like this and this is the thing that really matters have some references to share with you and we've already looked at one in Romans 1 and verse 5 now let's go to Romans chapter 15 and verse 15 I want to emphasize this aspect of obedience Satan's goal is to keep people engaged so that they can't even think about a gospel to be obedient to that it never enters their mind and in

[44:26] Romans 15 and beginning with verse 15 Paul said I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again because of the grace that was given me from God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles ministering as a priest the good news or the gospel of God that my offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable sanctified by the Holy Spirit therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God for I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed if that's Paul's goal is to bring the Gentiles to obedience where must they be to start with of course disobedience what is the effect of their disobedience it is their continued unbelief when one is not a believer in

[45:36] Jesus Christ he or she is dwelling in a sphere of rebellion disobedience whether they are aware of it or not that is the true picture and if you would while we're here come over a page to Romans 16 and verse 19 I'm sorry verses 25 and 26 Romans 16 25 and 26 now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past but now is manifested and by the scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the eternal God has been made known to all the nations leading to obedience of faith that is the obedience of belief to obey is to believe to believe is to obey they are synonymous and they cannot be separated in

[46:44] Ephesians chapter 2 let's come there please Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1 Paul writes to these who were formerly unbelievers and he says you were dead you were spiritually dead separated in your trespasses and sins in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air you see that this is the deceiver this is the distractor this is the one who keeps people mentally busily engaged thinking about trivia and minutia so they don't have time energy or interest to think about the things that really matter that is according to the prince of the power of the air of the spirit that is now working in the sons or the children the offspring of disobedience in other words disobedience is here personified as a person just like wisdom in the book of proverbs is personified as a wisdom as wisdom and is spoken of as she and her here disobedience is personified as if it were a person and those who are dwelling in disobedience are offspring of that person they are the children of disobedience among them we too all formerly lived in the lust of our flesh indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind here is that distracting thing again thinking mulling over expending mental and physical energies upon things that don't count for anything but they count as far as the adversary is concerned because they derail you and they distract you from thinking about that which really matters indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest and then in chapter 5 of

[49:19] Ephesians and verse 6 Paul says let no one deceive oh look at this is this not what we've been speaking of let no one deceive you with empty words what are empty words prattle chatter going on and on about something that has no substance or basis in reality empty vain void worthless astrological type stuff stuff you get out of the magazines that you see in the newspaper and on the stands in the checkout lines garbage trash trash that just focuses on a whole host of unbelievable things about famous people this kind of nonsense this kind of garbage baloney do do you know how many millions of copies of this nonsense sold every week people who can't go through a checkout line without buying these things comes comes upon the sons of disobedience wow

[51:27] I don't know about you but this starts coming together therefore do not be partakers with them second Thessalonians chapter one verse seven and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire dealing out retribution think of that dealing out retribution this is payday this is unbelief receiving its just due dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our

[52:32] Lord Jesus obey the gospel how do you do that you simply believe it you embrace it you trust it when you obey the gospel that is delivered you take it to yourself you make it your own you count on it you stand upon it you live for it then in first Peter chapter two all of these issues have to do with the human responsibility of being obedient to the gospel first Peter chapter two verse seven this precious value then is for you who believe but for those who disbelieve the stone which the builders rejected this became the very cornerstone and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this doom they were also appointed why were they appointed to it because they were disobedient and disobedience is willful let me explain a very very important point disobedience to the revelation of God is not unintentional disobedience to the revelation of God a rejection of the gospel of Jesus

[54:31] Christ is not unintentional no one will ever be able to say to God as he dispenses justice no but I didn't mean it yes you did wasn't my fault didn't do it on purpose yes you did disobedience is not unintentional it is purposeful it is intentional it is deliberate it is without excuse and I think one of the greatest evidences of that is that when man stands before God the great white throne judgment he needn't worry about the

[55:32] Bertrand Russell question why didn't you believe God isn't going to ask that there aren't going to be any questions everybody who is there is going to know exactly why they are there and they are going to know realize and agree that they are receiving exactly what they deserve that's justice and no one is going to offer a defense there isn't going to be any plea bargaining there isn't going to be any but I didn't mean but I couldn't help it but it wasn't my there isn't going to be any of that you know why I know that because the scriptures make it very very clear that every mouth will be stopped think of that man isn't going to offer any explanations he isn't going to try to cop a plea he isn't going to try and provide an excuse he isn't going to any thought that he has that he might even think about presenting in defense before he can open his mouth to say it his own mind will tell him forget it that's not going to fly no point in saying that that won't get me anywhere he is going to stand there absolutely completely justly knowingly condemned and with full understanding that it is exactly what he deserves no defense every mouth will be stopped nobody has anything to say they are defenseless and they will know it why because

[57:42] God provided a threefold avenue whereby he holds man accountable and responsible to him as their creator and they have wantonly intentionally rejected all three inculcation and scripturation and incarnation wherever Paul went and the apostles went they preached all three today we preach all three those who have received information about all three are the most accountable and responsible for what they do because unto whom much is given of him shall much be required there are some far flung reaches of the world have never heard the gospel they've never heard the name Jesus Christ but they are human beings and they have inculcated in their hearts and minds the knowledge that there is a God what they do with that knowledge how they respond to that knowledge is the basis upon which

[58:47] God is going to judge and evaluate I've said it before let me say it again it is a serious serious business to be a human being to be made in the image and likeness of God we are accountable responsible individuals but be sure that God does not hold us accountable for anything that we cannot help or that is beyond us he is not an unfair or a demanding task master God requires nothing from man that is unreasonable or that man cannot fulfill and that will too be the basis of his judgment where do you stand with these things today it may very well be that everyone within the hearing of my voice has already been obedient to that gospel and has received the

[59:53] Lord Jesus Christ that is our only possible means of escape and God has graciously provided it for those who spurn that there is nothing remaining for them but the justice of God so we can do business with God on one of two bases but we will do business with God we will do business with God you will do business with his grace or with his justice and there is no alternative God has provided a way of escape through his grace and Jesus Christ was given to do for us what we could not do for ourselves and if we spurn and reject the only provision that God has made for our deliverance we have no one to blame but ourselves for the consequences of his justice this is solemn stuff you know this is really sobering stuff it reminds me once again of the awesome responsibility for giving out the word and for hearing the word this is not stuff to be taken lightly it is a serious serious business to be a human being but God has made gracious provision for us let's pray father the world deals so much in trivia trifles things that don't amount to anything and they can all be very very dangerous distractions we are grateful this day that you have allowed us to focus and concentrate on the one singular issue that really means more than anything else on this planet our response to your provision through your son we pray that each and every individual here may have already come to that position but for any who may not have cause them to know even now that we are accountable to you and that one day one day this accountability will confront us we might look back on an occasion just like this when we had opportunity to embrace the gospel and didn't father may that not be true of anyone today in our audience we pray that they may see not only the wisdom but the benefit of believing and bringing themselves from a position of rebellion which is how you've described it and unbelief into that position of sweet release relief forgiveness pardon cleansing and obedience that is available only through embracing your good news indeed we will then see why it is such good news thank you for gracious revelation of yourself through these mediums and through others that you may choose pray that you will seal these truths to our hearts and anything that has been uttered of the flesh we ask that you may remove it let it pass away and come to naught in Christ's name we pray amen

[63:54]  god bless you you are dismissed and sung uh you you you