U nv ei l i ng o f G o d n o 104

T wo V i nes - On l y T r u e V i n e h a s ete r n a l L i f e Ju l y 7 t h , 2 0 1 9

Bri a n K o c o u re k , Pas t o r

Th i s m o rn i n g w e w i l l co n t i n u e ag a i n i n o u r m i n i - s eri e s c on c er n i n g the T w o V i ne s , b u t n e v er fo r g et , t h i s m i n i - s e ri es i s j u s t a s u b - s er i es with i n o u r U nv e i l i n g o f Go d s er i e s , an d o u r i n s p i ra t i o n f o r t h e s e s erm o n s c a m e fro m w h at b r o t h er B ran h am s p o k e t o u s i n the U n v ei l i ng o f Go d s erm o n o f h i s t h at w e are s t u d y i n g .

N o t i ce th a t Br. B r an h a m s ai d i n t h e U n v e i l i ng of G o d 64 - 0 6 1 4 M - P :1 5 8 " A n d it shall c o m e t o p a s s i n t h e l a s t d a y s , s a i t h G o d .. . " See, her e w e a r e . Th e Li g h t o ve r t h e W o r d .. . A s t h e l i g h t o f t he s un ch a n g es t he s ee d fr o m g l o r y t o g l o r y , w e a l s o b ec o m e m o r e l i k e H i m a s w e l i v e i n Hi s P r es en ce , l i k e Hi m , b ei n g co nfo r m e d t o Hi s b l e s s e d i m a g e a s w e wa l k wi t h Hi m . W a t ch wh a t t h e s u n d o es . Yo u p l a n t a s e ed ; w h a t h a p p en s ? Th a t s eed r o t s . I ns i d e t h e s ee d i s a l i f e . Th e l i f e co m es f o r t h a n d b r i n g s f o r t h a s t a l k. N o w, t h a t d o n ' t l o o k l i k e t h e f i r s t . T h e r e's Lu t h er ; i t wa s a s t a l k. A l l r i g h t . Th e s t a l k wen t o n , a n d t h e f i r s t t h i n g yo u kn o w i t b r o u g h t f o r t h a t a s s el . S e e, t h a t w a s t h e W es l ey a n r ev i v a l , wa s n ' t l i ke t h e o t h e r . Th e n a l o n g co m e t h e P en t e co s t a l r e vi v a l (S ee ? ), b r o u g h t f o r t h t h e b a p t i s m o f t h e H o l y G h o s t . A l l r i g h t , wh a t h a p p e n e d ? W e g et f u n g u s o n t h e ea r ; i t b e g i n s t o l o o k wr o n g , t h i s t h i n g , t h a t t h i n g ; i t d o n' t l o o k l i k e t h e Wo r d ; i t ' s no t l i k e t he r es t o f i t ; i t ' s no t l i k e t he o r i g i n a l g r a i n wen t i n. Bu t G o d i s s t i l l t her e t o m a k e t ha t j us t th e s a m e.

N o w , w h at I w an t t o l o o k a t t h i s m o rn i n g i s t h at L i fe t h at i s i n t h e T rue V i ne S eed , w h i c h b ri n g s f o rt h Etern a l Li fe , an d t h e n I w i s h to c o m p are t h a t E t er n al L i fe w h i ch i s G o d - L i fe t o th e l i f e t h a t e x i s t s i n t h e Fal s e V i n e w h i c h d o es n o t ref l ec t t h e L i fe o f C h r i s t , b u t h as i t s o w n at t ri b u t e s a n d c h ara ct eri s t i c s n o n e t h e le s s .

In 1 J o hn 5 :1 1 w e read , " A n d t h i s i s t h e r eco r d , t h a t G o d ha t h g i v e n t o u s et er n a l l i f e , a n d t hi s l i f e i s i n h i s So n . 12 H e t h a t h a t h t h e S o n h a t h l i f e ; and h e t h a t h a t h n o t t h e S o n o f G o d h a t h n o t l i f e.

Rem e m b er t h i s w o r d " ha t h " w a s t r an s l at e d fro m t h e G reek w o rd e cho . S o l e t 's j u s t read t h i s v er s e a g ai n a n d u s e t h e o ri g i n a l u n - t ra n s l a t ed G re ek w o rd e cho .

I w i s h w h en t h e m en w h o t ra n s l at e d t h e S cri p t u re s w o u l d h a v e l eft ce rt a i n w o r d s a s t h ey w ere an d n o t h a v e tr an s l at e d t h em , b ecau s e lef t a s t h ey are w e w o u l d b e for ce d t o re ad i t a s i t rea l l y i s an d n o t w h a t m an i n h i s t h eo l o g y w an t s i t t o b e. L i k e Ba p t i s m a, t h at i s a w o r d t h ey l eft as Bap t i s m , Bu t Par o u s i a act u a l l y m ean s P re s en ce a n d h ad t h ey l eft i t an d n o t t ri ed t o t ra n s l a t e i t acco r d i n g t o t h e i r t h e o l o g y , t h e en t i r e co n c ep t o f a s ec o n d c o m i n g w o u l d b e q u i t e d i f ferent t h a n w h at t h e c h u r ch e s t ea ch t o d ay . Peo p l e w o u l d h av e l o o k e d f o r t h e l o n g aw ai t e d p r es e n ce b ef o r e t h e re t u r n o f t h e s o n o f G o d . A n d a s Bro t h er Bra n h am s p o k e, w e w o u l d h a v e s ee n t h e re i s a n ap p ear i n g t h a t w as t o take p l ace b ef o re t h e com i n g .

In fac t t h at i s w h a t h e s p o k e o f i n t h i s s er m o n The U nv e i l i ng o f G o d 6 4 - 0 6 1 4 M P :1 8 4 T h i s vi s i b l e P i l l a r o f F i r e t h a t 's s ci en t i f i ca l l y p r o ve n , m a n y ye a r s a g o a s a l i t t l e b o y s p o k e t o m e o u t t h e r e, a n d t o l d m e I'd l i ve r i g h t h e r e, wh a t wo u l d t a ke p l a ce. Te l l i n g yo u a b o u t i t , a n d t h en I t .. . O n e d a y d o wn o n t h e r i v er , b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y s t a r t ed , f i r s t r ev i va l , He a p p ea r e d i n t he s k i e s ,

i d e nt i fi ed H i m s el f a nd g i ve t h e co mm i s s i o n . A l l t h e s e ye a r s I've h i d i t i n m y h e a r t , vei l i n g Ch r i s t , s a m e P i l l a r o f Fi r e i n t e r p r e t i ng t h e Wo r d , a s p r o m i s e d . W e'r e i n t h e l a s t d a y s , j u s t t he co m i ng o f t he L o r d . A n d i f yo u f i n d yo u r s el f o u t s i d e t h a t vei l , wh i ch i s d e a t h t o s t a y o u t , wi l l yo u b y f a i t h t h i s m o r n i n g , s a y, " B y G o d ' s h el p . A n d wi t h Yo u r h e l p , L o r d , I wa n t t o b r e a k t h r o u g h t h a t ve i l . I w a nt t o g e t in wh er e Y o u' r e a t t o s e e t he fu l l Wo r d of G o d "?

A n d fr o m h i s s erm o n F ro m tha t ti m e 6 2 - 0 7 1 3 P :1 0 2 H o w m a n y kn o w s t her e' s a d i ff er en c e b et wee n th e a p p e a r i n g o f Ch r i s t a n d t h e co m i n g o f Ch r i s t ? I t ' s t w o d i ffe r en t w o r d s . N o w' s the a p p e a r i n g , t he c o m i ng wi l l s o o n b e . He ' s a p p ea r i ng i n t h e m i d s t o f u s , d o i n g t he wo r k s t h a t He once d i d , i n Hi s c hur ch . N o w, yo u ' r e a part o f t h a t ch u r c h , a n d b y g r a ce y o u b e l i eve. I a m a m em b er o f t h a t c h u r c h . No w, I'm n o t a p r e a c h er . Yo u kn o w I'm n o t . I h a v e n o t t h e e d u c a t i o n t o d o i t . S o m et i m e s I f ee l r e l u ct a n t s t a n d i n g h er e b y m en o f G o d , w h o ' s c a l l e d t o t h a t o f f i ce. T h er e a r e a p o s t l e s , p r o p h e t s , t ea ch er s , p a s t o r s , a n d ev a n g el i s t s . No t a l l a r e a p o s t l es , n o t a l l a r e p r o p h e t s , n o t a l l a r e t e a c h er s , n o t a l l e v a n g e l i s t s . I'm s t a n d i n g h e r e.. . Bu t m y m i ni s t r y i s a d i f fer ent m i n i s t r y f r o m a p a s t o r o r t ea c her . I'm n o t . A n d i f I s a y t h i n g s wr o n g , b r et h r en , f o r g i v e m e. I don' t m ea n i t . Bu t th i s i s m y m i n i s t r y (See ? ) t o d e cl a r e H i m , t ha t He ' s her e.

So h e w as ta l k i n g a b o u t t h e A p p ear i n g of t h e L o rd a n d t h e co m i n g o f th e L o rd , a n d h e s ai d t h ey are t w o d i ffe ren t w o r d s A p p ear a n d T H E N t o co m e. A n d t h e n h e s ai d , N O W i s t h e A p p ear i n g , an d i t i s t o g e t u s rea d y fo r t h e c o m i n g . A n d t h e n h e s a i d , an d MY m i n i s t ry t o t o d e cl are t h i s ap p ear i n g , a n d t h at i s H i s pr es e n c e w i t h u s .

N o w , i n g e t t i n g b a ck t o t h i s e t er n a l L i fe t h at w as i n G o d a n d t h en i n H i s So n , a n d t h en re l ea s e d t o a l l s o n s w e p i c k u p at 1 J o hn 5 ag a i n an d g o t o v er s e 11 " A n d t h i s i s t h e r e co r d , t h a t God ha t h g i v e n t o u s et e r na l l i fe , a n d t h i s l i f e i s i n h i s So n . 12 He t ha t ech o es t he So n echo e s t he l i f e of t he s o n ; a n d h e that ech o e s no t t he So n o f G o d e cho es n o t t he l i fe o f t he s o n.

We co u l d cl o s e t h e b o o k a n d g o h o m e n o w b ecause t h ere's n o t h i n g t h at w e c o u l d ad d t o t h a t t o h el p y o u u n d er s t an d t h a t t h o s e w i t h e t er n al L i fe w i l l ec h o t h e l i fe t h at w a s i n t h e s o n o f G o d an d t h o s e w h o d o n o t p o s s e s s et e rn a l L i fe w i l l n o t ec h o t h at l i f e . N ev er fo r g e t t h at t h e l i fe t h a t w as i n t h e s o n w as f i r s t i n G o d , t h e Fa t h e r, an d t h en p a s s ed d o w n t o H i s S o n , an d t h e n s o n s .

A n d that i s w h a t w e s ee i n J o hn 5 : 2 6 F o r as t h e F a t h er h a t h lif e i n h i m s e l f ; s o h a t h he g i v en t o t h e S o n t o h a ve l i f e i n hi m s el f ;

A n d t h a t i s w h y the fi rs t b o rn s o n c am e fo r t h i n t h e v ery i m ag e o f t h e Fa t h er a s w e s ee i n

Hebre w s 1 : 1 - 3 .

Hebre w s 1 : 1 G o d , wh o a t s u n d r y t i m e s a n d i n d i v er s m a n n er s s p a ke i n t i m e p a s t u n t o t h e f a t h er s b y t h e p r o p h et s , 2 H a t h i n t h e s e l a s t d a y s s p o ke n u n t o u s in S o n , w h o m h e h a t h a p p o i n t ed h ei r o f a l l t h i n g s , b y w h o m a l s o h e m a d e t h e wo r l d s ; 3 W h o b ei n g t h e b r i g ht n es s of h i s g l o r y , (t h e G ree k w o rd a ct u a l l y s ay s t h e o ff - g a s o f H i s G l o r y ) a n d t h e ex p r es s i ma g e o f h i s ( Go d ' s ) p e r s o n , a n d u p h o l d i n g a l l t h i n g s b y t h e w o r d o f h i s p o wer , w h e n h e h a d b y h i m s e l f p u r g ed o u r s i n s , s a t d o w n o n t h e r i g h t h a n d o f t h e M a j e s t y o n h i g h ;

So w e s ee t h at G o d W h o i s L i g h t (L o g o s ) an d L i fe, t h a t o ff fr o m t h at l i g h t w e n t f o rt h a s l i v er o f t h a t L i g h t ( a L o g o s p art o f G o d ) w h i ch w as t h e s o n o f G o d , h e w as t he o ff - g a s o f G o d , o r t h e o ut r a yi n g o f w h a t G o d w a s an d I s .

T h en w e' re t a l k i n g a b o u t G o d - L i f e he r e, an d w h a t G o d i s i n n at e l y and i n t ri n s i c al l y .

In o t h er w o r d s , e v ery att r i b u t e a n d c h ara ct eri s t i c t h a t w as i n G o d 's m ak eu p as a p ers o n , w as al s o t ra n s f erre d t o t h e s o n as a n off - g a s s i n g .

N o w , t h o s e w h o u n d ers t an d Ch em i s t ry w o u l d u n d er s t an d t h i s t erm o ff - g as s i n g . T h e w o rd o ff - g as i s n o t s u ch a g o o d t erm b eca u s e i t i s u s u a l l y s p o k e n o f c o n c ern i n g a n ew car, a n ew ru g a n d t h e o d o r y o u s m el l w h en t h e c h em i cal s b e g i n t o b rea k d o w n . W h at i t i s y o u are s m el l i n g i s u s u a l l y a t o x i c g a s , o f o ff - g as s i n g o f t h e c h em i cal s t h a t w en t i n t o t h e p ro d u ct i o n o f t h e car o r ru g . Y e t w h e n t h e S c ri p t u re u s es t h e t erm O ff - g a s s i n g co n cer n i n g t h e s o n o f G o d , i t s p e ak s n o t o f a t o x i c p r o c es s , b u t it i s p a i n t i n g a p i c t u r e fo r o u r m i n d s t h at t h er e w as a L i g h t , w h i c h w a s G o d w h o i s t h e L o g o s , an d t h e n o u t f r o m t h a t L i g h t s p u n o ff a n o t h er L i g h t , a s m al l er L i g h t (a s m al l er l o g o s , a pa r t o f G o d ) w h i c h w as t h e Son o f G o d .

Rem e m b er w h at J o h n t o l d u s i n J o h n 5 : 2 6 F o r a s t h e Fa t he r ha t h (E ch o e s ) l i fe i n h i m s el f ; s o h a s h e g i ve n t o t h e S o n t o h a ve ( ech o ) l i f e i n h i m s e l f ;

A n d t h e n w h en t h e s o n o f G o d w en t t o t h e gra v e an d w as rai s e d u p b y G o d , t h a t L i g h t - (E t er n al - Li fe ) t h at w a s i n H i m s p u n o ff fro m h i m o n t h e d ay o f Pe n t e co s t a n d cam e b ac k u p o n s o n s , an d as A cts 1 3 :4 8 t el l s u s " a s m a n y a s wer e o r d a i ne d t o e t er na l l i fe believ ed ".

N o w , i n g et t i n g b ac k t o 1 J o hn 5 w e w i l l p i c k u p a t v er s e 1 3 Th e s e t h i n g s h a ve I wr i t t en u n t o yo u t h a t b el i ev e o n t h e n a m e o f t h e S o n o f G o d ; t ha t y e m a y k n o w t h a t y e ech o et er n a l l i f e, a n d t h a t ye m a y b el i ev e o n t h e n a m e o f t h e S o n of G o d .

O k , s o J o h n w ro t e o f th e s e t h i n g s h e sa y s " tha t w e m a y k no w t ha t w e ech o etern a l Li fe. "

N o w , y o u w o u l d t h i n k a p er s o n w o u l d k n o w w h a t L i f e t h ey are ec h o i n g ? B u t t h a t i s n o t t h e cas e, b eca u s e t h e c h u rc h h a s s o h y b ri d i z ed t h e w o rd t h a t Pa u l h a d t o w arn i s t h at rece i v i n g an o t h er G o s p e l w o u l d b ri n g a p e rv e rt e d s p i r i t a n d n o t t h e s am e n a t u re as t h e o r i g i n al G o s p el an d Sp i ri t t h a t w as p r eached a n d rece i v ed .

T h eref o re as w e k n o w ev ery o n e w h o i s b o rn i n t o t h i s w o rl d i s g i v e n l i fe, o r y o u w o u l d n o t b e b o r n , b u t o n l y t h ro u g h G o d ' s So n s h av e et ern a l L i fe , an d t h u s c an ech o , ref l ec t o r m an i fes t t h a t et er n a l l i fe t h a t w as f i rs t i n G o d a n d t h e n i n H i s So n .

Bu t b ec au s e t h e ch u r ch i s s o h y b ri d t o d a y m an y are h o t s u re i f t h e l i f e t h ey are re fl ec t i n g i s et er n a l L i fe o r t h e i r o w n l i fe. A n d s o w e w an t t o k n o w t h e d i f ference b e t w ee n h a v i n g E t er n a l L i fe an d j u s t l i f e.

L et ’ s tu r n i n o u r Bi b l es t h i s m o rn i n g t o Ge nes i s 1 an d w e w i l l re ad fr o m vers e 11 fo r ou r t e x t .

N o w , w e k n o w t h at Genes i s 1 1 s p ea k s t o u s o f t h e L aw o f L i f e, t h e l aw o f re p r o d u ct i o n , an d s o w e read , .. . " A n d G o d s a i d , Let t h e ea r t h b r i n g f o r t h g r a s s , t h e h er b yi el d i n g s ee d , a n d t h e f r u i t t r e e yi e l d i n g f r u i t a f t er h i s ki n d , wh o s e s e ed is i n i t s el f , u p o n t h e ea r t h : a n d i t wa s s o . 12 An d (N o w , w e k n o w t h at a nd i s a co n j u n c t i o n an d i t l i n k s t w o t h i n g s , i n t h i s cas e w h a t i t l i n k s i s t h e fact t h a t G o d s p o k e it an d t h en w h a t h e s p o k e i s m an i fes t s w h a t H e s ai d . And t h e ea r t h b r o u g h t f o r t h g r a s s , (W h y ? b ecause G o d s p o k e i t …) a n d h er b yi e l d i n g s eed broug h t forth a f t er his ki n d , (w h y d i d t h e e art h b r i n g f o rt h t h e h er b y i el d i n g s ee d aft er i t s k i n d ? Beca u s e G o d s p o k e i t .) a n d t h e t r ee y i el d i n g f r u i t , whose s ee d wa s i n i t s el f , a f t er h i s k i n d : a n d G o d s a w t h a t i t w a s g o o d .

T h eref o re I w a n t y o u t o n o t i ce t h at w h e n G o d s ay s an y t h i n g H i s W o r d g o e s f o rt h a s a s ee d a n d t h a t s eed m u s t b ri n g fo r t h j u s t t h e w ay h e s ai d i t w o u l d . T h ere fo re, t h e o rd e r o f e v e n t s i s fi r s t G o d s p ea k s i t , a n d o n ce i t h as b ee n s p o k e n , t h e n i t m u s t m an i fes t j u s t t h e w ay H e s ai d i t w o u l d . So w h e n G o d s p ea k s , w h at e v er h e s ay s , i t w i l l s u re l y co m e to p as s j u s t l i k e he s ai d i t w o u l d .

T h at i s w h y i n Gene s i s 5 5 , b e g i n n i n g a t v ers e 10 w e h ear G o d s ay , 10 F o r a s t h e r a i n co m e t h d o wn , a n d t h e s n o w f r o m h ea v en , a n d r e t u r n s n o t t h i t h e r , b u t wa t er s t h e ea r t h , a n d m a k es i t b r i n g f o r t h a n d b u d , t h a t i t m a y g i ve s ee d t o t h e s o we r , a n d b r e a d t o t h e ea t e r : 11 S o s ha l l m y wo r d b e t ha t g o es f o r t h o u t o f m y m o ut h : i t s ha l l no t r et ur n unt o m e v o i d , b u t i t s ha l l a cc o m p l i s h th a t wh i c h I p l ea s e , a n d i t sh a l l p r o s p e r i n th e t hi n g whe r et o I s en t i t .

So w e h a v e a l aw fro m G o d an d a p r o m i s e i n t h a t l aw , t h a t w h a t s o e v er G o d s ay s , H e w i l l m o s t cert a i n l y bring it t o p as s .

N o w , t h i s co n cer n s t h e ch arac t er i s t i cs o f G o d H i m s el f an d H i s W o rd . " F o r a s a m a n t h i n k s s o i s H e, a n d o u t o f t h e a b u n d a n ce o f t h e h e a r t t h e m o u t h s p e a ks . "

T h eref o re, w h a t I w an t y o u t o u n d er s t an d i s t h a t w h en y o u s ee t h e ch a rac t er i s t i c s o f G o d t h r o u g h H i s W o rd i n each a g e, y o u are s e e i ng G o d m a ni fes ted i n t h a t age . H i s W o rd sp o k e n t o t ak e p l ac e f o r a n a g e, w hen i t c o m es t o p a s s i s G o d’ s e x pre s s ed Wo rd f o r th a t a g e . So w h en G o d s ay s s o m et h i n g i s t o h ap p e n i n a cer t ai n a g e, t h e n w h en i t h a p p en s , i t i s t h e e x p re s s i o n o f w h at h e s a i d , o r t h e i n t erp ret at i o n o f w h at h e s a i d . R i g h t ? T h en i t i s G o d e x p r es s i n g H i s ch ara ct e ri s t i c s an d t h at i s t h e i n t er p re t a t i o n of h i s W o rd f o r t h at ag e.

T h en w h e n y o u s ee t h e w h i t e w i g , y o u s ee t h e J u d g e o f h ea v e n a n d ear t h m an i f es t i n g H i s ch ara ct e ri s t i c f o r t h i s age . Y o u s ee G o d , t h e W o rd , m an i fe s t e d . O h , w h at a privile g e d p eo p l e w e are t o se e G o d .

Rem e m b er, Pau l s a i d , “f o r n o w we s ee t h r o u g h a g l a s s d a r kl y, (t h at m ean s i n a n en i g m a , y o u k n o w , a p uz z l e o r a m y s t er y ) b u t t hen f a ce t o f a ce, (an d t h a t i s w h y h e s a i d ,) N o w I kn o w i n p a r t , b u t t h e n s h a l l I kn o w eve n a s I a m k n o w n .”

In o t h e r w o rd s , G o d i s s ay i n g , t h e ch arac t eri s t i c s t h at are e x p r es s ed t h r o u g h m e n o w , w i l l b e ex p res s e d a n d o p en l y m an i fes t e d i n t h a t a g e that My W o rd sh a l l co m e to pa s s .

T h at i s w h y J es u s s a i d i n J o hn 1 4 : 1 2 He t ha t b e l i e vet h o n m e, t he wo r k s t h a t I d o no w , i n o t h er w o rd s , t he e x p r es s i o n s t h a t I a m e x p r e s s i n g wi t h no w , he wi l l d o a l s o , o r h e s ha l l a l s o ex p r e s s th i s s a m e ch a r a c t e r i s t i c i n th a t a g e .

T h en w h at h a v e w e s een i n t h i s h o u r i s n o t h i n g l e s s t h an Go d H i m s el f m an i fe s t i n g H i m s el f i n H i s o w n c h arac t er i s t i cs . So w h at G o d i s s ay i n g i s t h a t H e w i l l u s e t h e v e s s e l o f t h a t O n e t h a t b el i e v e s t o d o t h e s a m e t h i n g h e d i d i n H i s S o n J es u s . A n d H e d i d i t i n W i l l i am Br an h am an d H e w i l l d o i t i n y o u an d m e i f w e b e l i ev e an d h av e t h e s am e s p i r i t t h a t w as i n H i m . Becau s e aft er a l l , It w as n o t t h e son d o i n g t h e w o rk s , i t w a s t h e fa t h er d o i n g t h e w o rk s .

T h eref o re, J o hn 1 : 1 4 “A n d t h e W o r d , b eca m e f l e s h (G o d H i m s e l f b ecam e fl es h ) a n d d wel t a m o n g u s ,” a n d t h a t i s t h e s am e as 1 J o hn 1 :1 “ T h a t w h i ch w a s f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g , wh i c h we h a ve h ea r d , w h i ch we h a v e s e en w i t h our e yes , w h i c h we h a ve l o o ke d u p o n , a n d our h a n d s h a v e h a n d l e d , o f t h e W o r d o f l i fe ; 2 (F o r t h e l i fe w a s m a n i f e s t ed , a n d we h a ve s ee n it , a n d b e a r wi t n es s , (h o w ? b y b eco m i n g i d en t i fi e d a n d t h u s i d e n t i c al t o t h e L i f e) a n d t h e r ef o r e we s he w