Transcript of message from TV Broadcast 824 -- taken from Closed Captioning Text

-- Brother Thomas: All right, let's start reading in Hebrews chapter 10, verse 1. "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

"He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Note that word 'once.' "...Once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice..." Note 'one' there. "...One sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

"For by one offering he hath..." not 'will,' "...hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." I might make this note with respect to verse 17. That didn't say past sins. It didn't say present sins. It says 'sin' period.

( congregational amens ).

And once that offering has been applied to your life, He remembers your sin--past, present and future--no more against you.

( congregational praise ).

"Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh."

Now I want to read verses 38 and 39, same chapter, and then we'll try to get started here. "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." There's a difference. Some draw back and some believe unto the saving of the soul. I'm glad I'm in that group, aren't you?

( congregational amens ).

Now, it's obvious from the scriptures that we've read that animal sacrifices were never intended to be the way to God. That merely was offered through the law. But, they never took away sin. But the Lord Jesus has actually taken sins away. Over in the 8th chapter of Hebrews, verse 12, he says, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Isn't that wonderful?

( congregational amens ).

I just want to say that the sacrifices of animals had to be done every year--over and over and over again. There was always a remembrance, but not with Christ. "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God." Now that of course is in Hebrews 7, verse 19. Hebrews 7, verse 25 says, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

Now, the witness that that has taken place in your life and heart is the Holy Ghost. Now, if you'll notice in verse 15-18, chapter 10, "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."

Now, in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 17, the Apostle says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." And then in Romans chapter 8, verses 8 and 9, the Apostle says, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Praise God for that.

( congregational amens ).

Now in Galatians, Paul says, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." So we have the witness in ourselves. That's what we're trying to say here. Now the word 'perfected'...and we'd call our subject this morning "Perfected Forever"--once and all time, perfected forever.

That word is found, I believe, if I remember correctly, 14 times, principally in this Book of Hebrews. 'Course it's other places, too, but here...and it means the same thing in the Greek. The Greek word is 'teleioo.' It means, to complete, accomplish, consummate, consecrate, finish, fulfill, make perfect. It's a climactic work of God. That is God's witness to your heart that you've been forgiven, that you've been received into the beloved, that you're His child.

( congregational praise ).

"...Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." You ought to know it if God is your Father.

( congregational amens ).

You can't do as you please. If God hasn't done something in your heart, then you need to go back and dip again. That word 'perfected' is used 17 times and it's the same word that's applied to Christ. For instance now in the 5th chapter of Hebrews, the scripture says, "Though he..." Jesus "...were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered." Now watch this. "And being made perfect..."--Christ being made perfect--"...he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."

Now, how was Jesus made perfect? This is something that people don't understand. That's because they're taught whatever their traditions are. They don't think to look to God. It doesn't occur to them that God might know better. But anyway, in the 15th chapter of the Book of Romans, the Bible refers to Christ as the last Adam. The 'last'...now why did He use such terminology? What was the purpose of God saying, He was the last Adam? Well, we know about the first Adam. He fell. Now, I'm gonna tell you exactly why. Jesus Christ, the last Adam, did the things that the first Adam didn't do. Whereas, the first Adam failed, the second One didn't fail.

( congregational amens ).

And yet the Bible says, He was tempted in all manner of sin, like as we are, yet without sin. And so, He ran the gauntlet of temptation. He was a man. He had feelings. He could hunger. He could thirst. I believe He had other feelings, which is not necessary to even tell. But nevertheless, Christ willfully went to that cross and to die for your sins and for mine.

( congregational praise ).

And so, that's what it means. "For by one offering he hath..." Listen, not 'will' if you hold out faithful, not hope to, but he 'hath' in the past tense, "...perfected..." for how long?

-- Congregation: Forever.

-- Brother Thomas: "...For ever them that are sanctified." That's what I'm saying this morning--forever. In 1st Corinthians chapter 2, let's notice...now you know Paul's the one that said over there in the 4th chapter, "...Though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers."

Now here's what he said to the same church in the 2nd chapter, verse 1, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." And I want to stop here, pause and just say this. If you're trusting in anything for your salvation other than what Christ did for you on the cross, you have a false hope.

( congregational amens ).

Don't trust in your works. Works is good. But remember what Paul says in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8-10, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." The works is not to 'be' saved, they're the result of 'being' saved.

( congregational amens ).

We don't do good works to 'be' saved, but we want to glorify our God. And there's been a relationship that's come into existence through the belief of the Gospel. Hallelujah! Now, let's go on here--1st Corinthians, chapter 2, "...I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."

Now the key verse is verse 5, 1st Corinthians chapter 2, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." Our faith needs to be in reality--spiritual reality. If it is dead creeds and doctrines, it won't amount to a hill of beans. I believe, without fear of contradiction, anybody who sees the whole spectrum of religion--over 2,000 movements, denominations, cults, sects, what have you, all claiming to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, you just think that over.

Most religious people are never saved. And even those who are exposed to the Word, they draw back. I remember we had a young man come right here and we talked to him about the Lord. He said, yeah, I need to get right. He came for about three or four Sundays, and then he saw he had to give up his sin. And yet, sin is not a condition. When I come to Christ, I didn't quit drinking. I didn't quit smoking. I didn't quit cursing--to be saved. I just gave myself to Christ. I surrendered. Never even thought of those things. And when He come into my heart, then He...you know God wants the honor of cleaning you up. He don't want you to clean yourself up, 'cause He'll do a better job.

( congregational amens ).

His soap's a lot better than yours.

( congregational praise ).

It's better than Ivory or Lifebuoy. When He cleans you up, you'll be cleaned up. Praise God! "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." You see here, if our faith is based upon what we have done, or are doing or will do, then we're hopeless. If it's based upon what Christ did, then we're on good standing.

( congregational amens ).

Hallelujah! Now, in the 1st chapter of 1st Corinthians, verse 30 and 31, listen to this, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption..." That sound pretty good? He's made unto us all the virtues, all the wisdom, and Paul said to the Colossians, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power."

( congregational praise ).

Well, let me ask you. Are we complete in Him?

( congregational amens ).

Are we complete in Him?

( congregational amens ).

Hallelujah! You know I've been in all kind of religious places and my folks are scattered from here to yonder--north pole to the south pole, some of them, that is with respect to religion. I observe some. I know some, they teach you you've got to be saved, then you've got to be sanctified, then you've got to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. And then you get all them things in some of those churches, and then lose it in six months. I get it all in Christ and I don't lose it. It's eternal.

( congregational amens ).

He "...is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

( congregational amens ).

Now let's compare that with Ephesians chapter 2, 8 through 10 again. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Hallelujah!

Now, let me pose this question, then I'll try to answer it. If you can lose your salvation, I'm talking about the salvation that you get from Christ--eternal salvation. He's made unto us all those things. He's the Author and the Finisher of our faith according to Romans chapter 12. But, if you can, on what grounds--upon what grounds do you lose it? Think with me just a moment. If you can lose it, what is it you have to do to lose it? Or what is it that you fail to do, to lose it? Can you name any one thing?

Well, you say, I quit going to church. Well, you ought to quit if you don't have any desire to go. If you don't love the Lord, you don't need fellowship. But my Bible says, "...If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." And, of course all kind of doctrines are being taught. Some say, well Christians don't sin. Is that right? Is he breathing?

( laughter ).

The only ones I know that don't sin are dead.

( laughter ).

They're not breathing. One time...a brother loved me very much 'til he found out I crossed him on his doctrine. He said, Christians don't sin. I said, they don't? Oh, he said, they make mistakes.

( laughter ).

Brother, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Now, I'm not advocating that you live like the Devil. I'm not advocating that you run with the Devil's crowd. I'm advocating that you separate yourself from all that and that you come to Christ...and I'm not talking about Christ in the sky--Christ in His people.

( congregational amens ).

Hallelujah! You know...and here's another good scripture, Philippians 1:6. Here's the problem. That says, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." And here's the problem. The Lord isn't the One that's always done the work. They may have some religious folks, maybe some even saved, I'll grant 'em that. And they get on to somebody and they beg him and they wheedle him...and they just...all the time.

It's like a young man I knew. He was the son of a first cousin of mine. He said to me one day, several months ago...he said, oh, if he'd only accept the Lord. Now somebody's gonna disagree with me on this, but I want you to think. Don't jump to conclusions. Just accept the Lord. I went to a church one time. It wasn't a church that I belonged to, but it was one in the area. I never will forget they had a preacher there that night. This guy had been in prison and he wore--he'd go around on the streets wearing these convict, coon-tailed britches, with the stripes running around. He'd advertised the meeting. So I went one night. Somebody whispered to him and said Baptist preacher's here.

( laughter ).

Boy, he lowered the boom on me. He said, so you believe in just accepting the Lord, do you? What I'd like to know, has He accepted you?

( laughter ).

'Course, I knew what he was doing. But you know, there's some truth to that. Much of this stuff--accepting the Lord is nothing! That's almost like a young man and a young lady getting married. Now, listen to me. And the next day he says, honey let's have a baby today. It just don't work that way. There's a process of hearing the Incorruptible Seed, the Word of God. There's a process we call conviction. There's a process in which God deals with that person.

And I'll tell you right now. It comes right down to the place...do you want Him? Do you want the world? Do you want God and eternal life, or do you want to die lost? God's got to deal with you--got to work with you. And then if you're hearing the Incorruptible Seed, faith comes. You can't even be saved if you wanted to, unless somebody has the Word.

You want me to give you a good example? Cornelius--1st Corinthians chapter 10...He was a devout man, prayed to God always, gave much alms to the people, but he wasn't saved. He'd never come to faith. And he wanted God, but he didn't know how to get Him. So, God sent an angel to him. And the angel told him, your alms have come up before God, and your prayers. He said, now send to Joppa. There's a fellow over there by the name of Simon Peter. He'll come and tell you words whereby you and your household can be saved. There's somebody has to minister life and faith to you before you can be saved.

( congregational praise ).

You can't be saved without that. Hallelujah!

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