More than conquerors (Quality: Good)

[0:00] I'm looking to the Lord for all needed help. I'd ask you to turn again to the 8th chapter of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans, and we are considering verses 35 through 37.

[0:16] Romans chapter 8, verses 35 through 37. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

[0:41] As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

[1:01] We tried, we must admit but poorly, to set forth the love of the Lord Jesus Christ toward his people, and in consequence, the love of his people to him.

[1:25] But the question is posed, who or what shall separate us from this love, from the love of the Lord Jesus Christ?

[1:39] And the Apostle poses seven different things which may be thought to separate him.

[1:51] Remember that the Lord Jesus Christ said that in the world he shall have tribulation. And so he begins with this, shall tribulation separate us from the love of God?

[2:07] The word tribulation is a general term to cover all manner of types of troubles that come upon mankind.

[2:18] Man is born under trouble. Even from his mother's womb, troubles are found upon this earth because sin once entered in.

[2:32] And every child of God will know something of these troubles. Troubles from without and troubles from within.

[2:44] A troubled conscience because of sin. A troubled conscience because of sin. Troubles from the world that oppose a true religion.

[2:56] And how surely it is that true religion, real religion, has always been opposed.

[3:07] Opposed by those who feel to be religious in and of themselves. Troubles from the world that oppose a true religion.

[3:42] Troubles from the world that comes from within.

[4:12] Lot, Abraham gave his wife. And she was protected for becoming a sexual slave.

[4:27] Lot will give his daughters as protection for those that he had entertained. That they might be abused even unto death.

[4:40] Distressing situations which are beyond our control. Whether they be in the home. Whether they be in business.

[4:51] Whether they be in the church. And I'm sure most of us. And I'm sure most of us have come into those situations at times. And we have to say neither know we what to do.

[5:05] But our eyes are up unto the Lord. Thirdly then. And again, persecution. And again, persecution has been the lot of the church right from the beginning.

[5:26] The Lord's people are a peculiar people. And you see it in the Old Testament with the Jewish nation.

[5:37] The Lord's people are a Christian. That the Lord separated from all other nations of the earth. They had a religion given by God.

[5:48] And they could not share their religion with the other nations. Because it would mean they would have to compromise. They would have to take away or add to the religion that they had.

[6:06] And because they wouldn't mix. Because they wouldn't accommodate these other religions. Then they were considered to be an enemy.

[6:20] And through the history of the church. The majority has always persecuted the minority. And it's no different today.

[6:32] We may not have that overt persecution. That has been in times past. But remember.

[6:43] That Christ hasn't changed. So our religion cannot change. It must not change. It will not change. But neither has the devil changed.

[6:55] And although we may have at this particular time. A relative peace. Satan is still. Great enemy. The enemy of the cross of Jesus Christ.

[7:08] The enemy of the church. Militant here below. And when he sees fit. He will bring persecution.

[7:19] Once again. Unto the people. Remember those. Who are enumerated. In the. The epistle to the Hebrews.

[7:31] In that. Well known. Eleventh chapter. And others. And others. Had trial of cruel mockings.

[7:42] And scourgings. Gain more over bonds. And imprisonments. They were stoned. They were sawn asunder. Were tempted. Were slain with the sword.

[7:54] They wandered about in sheepskins. And goatskins. Being destitute. Afflicted. Tormented. Of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts.

[8:05] And in mountains. And in dens and caves. Of the earth. This was a portion. This was a lot. Of God's people. And so.

[8:16] We can expect. If we name the name of Christ. And put on an open profession. Of his name. We can expect. To be persecuted. Perhaps not physically.

[8:28] In our day. Thus far. But. No doubt. There are those. That speak against us. And consider us.

[8:38] The offscouring of the earth. A people to be despised. And rejected. Because we hold fast. To true religion.

[8:50] We do not compromise. The word of God. We believe the truth. As it is in Jesus. And we hold fast. To the doctrines.

[9:02] Of God's. Holy word. Then he says. Or famine. Or famine.

[9:15] There have been those. In earlier days. That have been displaced. They had to go. From place to place. We find it.

[9:25] I think I mentioned it. This morning. With the Lord Jesus Christ. Fleeing into Egypt. If they persecuted. And if they.

[9:37] They set forth. These things. To the Lord Jesus Christ. Surely. They will do. The same. As us.

[9:49] There are those. In history. Who can. Read of. In their. Life story. Of how. They were prosperous. In this world.

[10:00] God. But because. They held fast. The faith. Of God's elect. Their. Riches. Were taken away.

[10:10] They became poor. They became beggars. Beggars. For a crust. Of bread. For something. To survive on. God.

[10:21] Maintained them. Or nakedness. Again. The apostle. Knew something. Of these things.

[10:31] Himself. To be deprived. Of sufficient clothing. In summer. And in winter. To feel the cold.

[10:44] Entering into the bones. Is no comfortable feeling. But in that displacement. As we read. They were found.

[10:54] In the dens. And caves. Of the earth. There. Seeking the warmth. Whatever they could find. Seeking a supply.

[11:06] To meet their daily needs. Impoverished. As set down. By the world. Refused. In the community. Set apart.

[11:20] Yes. Set apart. To God. But set apart. From the world. Who rejected them. Or peril. All the day long.

[11:34] We are in peril. Of the powers. Of Satan. And the powers. Of this world.

[11:45] And we see that. In the next verse. And then. Finally. Or sword. The sword. Of course. Is a.

[11:57] Severer. Form. Of persecution. The sword. It brings death. We read. We read. That James. The apostle James.

[12:08] Was killed. By the edge. Of the sword. Many. Through the ages. Of time. Have been. Slain. By the sword. Or by. Some.

[12:19] Other instrument. Of brutality. That. Death. Came. Upon. Them. As it is written.

[12:31] Read to you. From. Psalm. 44. Where. These words. Are. We believe. Taken from. In the.

[12:42] 44th. Psalm. And the 22nd. Verse. It says. Yea. For thy sake. For Christ's sake. We are killed. All the day long. We are counted.

[12:52] As sheep. For. The slaughter. The sheep. Is led. To slaughter. It has no defense. It has no.

[13:04] Mechanism. To be able to. Go away. From. Its. Persecution. And death. Christ.

[13:16] Is an example. Of this. A lamb. Without. A blemish. Or spark. And yet. Nevertheless. As a lamb.

[13:27] Before. His shearers. Are dumb. So. Open. Christ. Not his mouth. And so.

[13:38] We have it here. As it is written. The apostle. As we find. So many places. In.

[13:48] The New Testament. Scriptures. Draws. From. From. The old. And what is a parallel. To be. Spoken of. Here. Well.

[13:59] We read it. In that. 44th. Psalm. How. The people. Of God. Were made. A byword. Among. The heathen.

[14:10] A shaking. Of the head. Among. The people. The voice. Of him. That reproaches. And blasphemeth. By reason. Of the enemy.

[14:20] And of the avenge. All this. Has come upon us. Yet. Have we not. Forgetting. Forgotten thee. Neither. Have we doubt. Falsely.

[14:30] In. Thy. Covenant. Our heart. Is not. Turned back. Neither. Have our. Steps. Declined. From. Thy way. Who shall.

[14:46] Separate us. From. The love. Of Christ. You see. None of these things. Are able. To do us. Because.

[14:57] It is. The Lord. That upholds us. It is. The Lord. That preserves us. It is. The Lord. That is. Our guardian. And our guide. It is.

[15:07] The Lord. That keeps us. From falling. That he might. Present us. At last. Faultless. Before his. Father's throne. In glory. Now.

[15:17] Here is a pathway. That the Christian. Has to tread. For thy sake. We are killed. All the day long. That means.

[15:28] At all times. Every day. Throughout all the days. Of our lives. We are never far. From. These. Difficulties. Which come.

[15:39] Into our lives. And the reason. For them. For thy sake. For Christ's sake. For the gospel's sake.

[15:52] Why should they oppose Paul? In his ministry. Which. He relates. So often. As I say. From the Old Testament.

[16:03] He speaks. He speaks. Of those things. Which the prophets. Before him. Had spoken. He speaks. The word of God. And yet.

[16:14] They oppose him. Why do these. Leaders. Who say. They believe the Bible. Oppose him. And yet. You see.

[16:24] Today. Today. Is no different. We. That seek. To hold fast. To the apostolic. Doctrine. And the truth. Of God's word.

[16:35] Are opposed. Not so much. By the world. Who could not care less. What religion we have. But by the religious world. By the churches.

[16:47] Who. Do not keep. To the word of God. But believe. Every error. And every. Falsity. That is.

[16:58] Out there. And we've seen. The churches. In this nation. That were once. Sound in the truth. Having departed. From that truth. And having.

[17:10] Introduced things. Which God. Did not. And will not. Approve of. And the churches. Have come. Into such a solemn.

[17:20] State today. You cannot call them. Christian churches. Anything but. They deny. The name of the Lord. Jesus Christ. They oppose.

[17:32] The word of God. They are. In reality. They have. They have. Turn their back. Upon.

[17:44] The truth. They're like. The disciples. As described. In the word of God. Who walk no more. With.

[17:55] The Lord Jesus Christ. Christ. And yet. These. Are proud. And presumptuous. And think. Themselves. To be masters. Of.

[18:05] Their own religion. But the day. Is coming. When. The refiner. Will. Refine them. When there is no.

[18:17] Solid gold. To be found. Then. Then. Everything. Shall. Perish. And pass. Or. Pass away. Oh. How we need. To hold fast.

[18:28] To the truth. The whole truth. And nothing. But the truth. Who shall separate us. From the love of Christ.

[18:39] For thy sake. For Christ's sake. We. His people. Are killed. All the day long. We are accounted as sheep.

[18:52] For. The slaughter. This may refer back. To the times of the sacrifices. When morning and evening. The sheep were led.

[19:04] To the slaughter. To be sacrificed. Christ. So we. Are counted. As nothing. And again.

[19:16] If you look through. The history books. Modern. Or ancient. You'll find. That opposition. We find it in the early church.

[19:29] How. They. Many of them. Were put to death. Because they held. Firm. To the things of God. And we can trace it.

[19:40] Through the dark ages. Through the middle ages. Through the latter ages. How. Many. Because they. Believed. The Lord Jesus Christ.

[19:52] Were persecuted. And put to death. For his name's sake. Is it any different today? Has man changed?

[20:04] Has his opinion changed? Has his opinion changed? We know. That. Locally. Man. Changes his opinion. We have it. At the moment.

[20:16] In the elections. Men. And women. Are changing their minds. As to which direction. They want the country. To go. In. But man.

[20:28] His nature. Doesn't change. He is still. A fallen. Son. Of Adam. He is still. Possessed. By the devil. And the devil.

[20:39] Will lead him. Whithersoever. He wants him. Man. Doesn't realize. That he's under. Authority. And if he's not.

[20:50] Under the authority. Of God. He's under the authority. Of the devil. And he is. A willing. Subject. Unto the devil.

[21:01] We see it. Today. In the pleasures. Of this world. In those. Carnal actions. Which are. Reported. Continually.

[21:13] In the media. Things. Which would. Have been. Considered. Vile. By our forefathers. Are now. Accepted.

[21:25] Not only. Accepted. But recommended. And governments. Even governments. Are supporting. These atrocities. The killing.

[21:36] Of the baby. In the womb. The putting. To death. Of the old. And the infirm. And. What comes next. We. We saw it. In the second.

[21:46] World war. We saw. How the Jews. Were herded. Like sheep. And put. Into the gas. Chambers. And put. To death. Man's.

[21:58] Inhumanity. To man. Man's. Perversity. Is so great. Now that we wonder. At times. Where the scene. Will end.

[22:10] But we have to remember. Nothing. Can separate us. From. The love of God. Death. Death. Death. Death.

[22:21] May be. Seen to be. Something. That will separate us. Indeed. It will. Separate. The body. And the soul. But even in death.

[22:34] We cannot be separated. From the love of Christ. If we are loved. With an everlasting love. Then. That everlasting love.

[22:46] Is ever toward us. And though. As Job says. Worms. May eat. This. Body of ours. Yet. In our flesh.

[22:57] Shall we see God. Because God. Preserves. Even the dust. Of the earth. And will revive us. Again. At the latter.

[23:08] And appointed day. So. Many have. The fear of death. All their lives. And wonder. When it comes to it.

[23:20] What cowardly action. They will take. But how many. Have been given that strength. Sufficient for their day. How many have been empowered.

[23:33] Those that were put to the flames. Are singing. Praises. Unto their God. The testimonies. The testimonies. Of some of those martyrs. Are amazing to read.

[23:46] What great courage. What great confidence. They had. These were ordinary men and women like ourselves. They were no different in many ways. They had the same cowardly flesh.

[23:58] As we have. But nevertheless. At the appointed time. As the Lord says. In that hour. It shall be given thee. What thou shalt say.

[24:11] And thy cowardness. Will be turned into strength. And thou will be able to answer thine accusers. And they will not be able to gainsay thee. In that which thou dost speak.

[24:24] Unto them. All we. Or we like sheep. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

[24:40] And so. Pagan religions. Are not opposed. But true Christianity. Has always been opposed.

[24:52] We see it. Throughout the scriptures. We see it. In the time of Christ. We see it in the.

[25:03] Apostolic age. We see it through history. And we see it. Today. But they have no time for us. No desire that we should live.

[25:16] Upon the face of this earth. They call our good. Evil. Evil. And their evil. They call good. How the minds of men and women have been seared.

[25:31] How their consciences have been stunted. How they have no understanding. Of the good things. Of this earth.

[25:42] The blessings. That we receive at God's hand. These are all. Despised. And counted. For naught. But none of this.

[25:55] I say again. Will separate us. From the love of Christ. Or the love of God. Which is in Christ. Christ. And then.

[26:09] In triumph. The apostle says. Nay. No. In all these things. We. Are more than conquerors.

[26:20] Through him. That loved. Us. In all these things. The whole catalog. As it were. Put together. We.

[26:32] Shall. Conquer. We shall. Overcome. At last. But not in our own strength. We have no power.

[26:43] To meet the opposition. We have no strength. To withstand. The enemy. But Christ.

[26:56] Has overcome. And we are followers. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. How he overcame. And.

[27:08] It is a miracle really. When we consider. How he overcame the devil. And conquered him.

[27:19] And set him at naught. In weakness. He showed his strength. He showed his strength.

[27:29] The apostle. Could also. Say this. When I am weak. Then. Am I strong. Strong in the Lord. And in the power.

[27:40] Of his mind. Our strength. Is to stand still. To wait upon our God. To seek his will and purpose. In all things.

[27:54] But we shall triumph. As Christ has triumphed. Over sin. And death. And hell. The Lord says.

[28:06] Sin. Sin. Shall not. Have dominion. Over you. It may seem to us at times. That sin.

[28:17] Overwhelms us. It seems to have such a control. Upon our minds. And our spirits. And we feel. That we are.

[28:28] Unable. To resist. Of that power. That is. Within us. When I would do good. Evil is present with me.

[28:39] A wretched man that I am. The apostle Paul knew it. Christians in all ages. Have felt it. And we too.

[28:51] Struggle. Against sin. And at times. We feel to be completely. Overwhelmed. By the power. Of the devil.

[29:04] He is the arch enemy. Of Christ. And of his people. What a blessing then.

[29:16] To know that in. Christ's death. He gained. The victory. The foolishness. Of the cross.

[29:28] How foolish. To think. That a person. Hanging. Expiring. Dying. Upon. A cross.

[29:39] In utter weakness. His strength. Is all gone. God. And yet. And yet. In this very act. He gains.

[29:51] The great victory. Because he. Accomplished. That which the father. Gave him to do. In the volume of the book.

[30:01] It is written of me. I come to do. Thy will. O God. Thy law. Is within. In my heart. And he accomplished. That law.

[30:12] He fulfilled. The law. He was the anti-type. Of all the predictions. And patterns. And shadows. And types. That were set forth.

[30:24] In the old testament. Scriptures. All that was spoken. Of him. Came to pass. He accomplished. Everything. That the father. Gave him to do.

[30:35] And he could say. At the end of his life. It is finished. The work is done. Everything is complete. Nothing nor. Is to be added to it.

[30:47] And now. I can lay down. My life. Of myself. For I know. That I can take it up again. At the appointed time. That that which has not failed.

[30:58] Even up to the point of death. Will not fail. After death. Either. Because Christ shall rise again. Victorious. From the dead.

[31:10] For the mercy then. To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Who has done all things well. Who has overcome the devil.

[31:21] And all his malicious works. And has trodden him under feet. And will again tread him under feet. Shortly. Because the devil's days are numbered.

[31:33] His end is at night. And he will be cast out. Forever and ever. He is. A defeated foe. You know.

[31:45] When there is a war. There is a victor. And the victor triumphs. In his victory. And well he might.

[31:58] Because he has gained the day. But tell that. To the widow at home. Who has lost her husband. To the child that has lost its father.

[32:12] There is a cost. Of war. And of conflict. Now we've seen it in every war. Although. Although. There is a great victory.

[32:24] On the one side. Yet. It is at a cost. There is an expense. That has to be paid. To count the number. Of those.

[32:35] That sacrifice. Their life. In gaining the victory. But in the victory. Over the devil. In one sense.

[32:47] It has cost us nothing. Because the price. Has been paid. By another. Christ. Took. That upon his own head.

[33:00] He undertook. To pay that ultimate price. The price. Of our sins. To pay that redemption. Price. That we.

[33:11] Might be set free. And at liberty. And all the powers. Of hell. Came against him. And yet. He overcame. At last.

[33:24] And now. He sits. Triumphant. Upon the throne. Of God. And invested. In him. Is all power. He is the all.

[33:36] Powerful one. And because. He proved. His great victory. Lift up your heads.

[33:48] O ye gates. And be ye. Lift up. Ye everlasting. Hills. And the. King of glory. Shall come in. Who is this.

[33:59] King of glory. The Lord of hosts. The victorious. One. He. Is the king of glory. We have a glorious king.

[34:12] Sitting. Upon. A glorious throne. Who. Lives. And reigns. Forever. And forever. Who states.

[34:23] Categorically. That there can be no. Separation. As we read. This morning. At the beginning. No condemnation. To those. That are in Christ.

[34:34] Jesus. And now. At the end. No. Separation. From those. Who are in Christ. Jesus. And because. He. Has gained.

[34:44] The victory. And because. We. Are found. In him. We. Also. Shall. Gain. The victory. And a crown.

[34:55] Shall be put upon. Our heads. As those crowns. Were put on the heads. Of the great victor. We see it. As Paul describes it.

[35:08] In the. Grecian races. That there was one. That gained. The victory. That one. That got to the. Winning post first. He was.

[35:18] Acclaimed. To be the victor. Because he had overcome. All things. To gain that victory.

[35:30] And so. The laurel. Reef crown. Was put upon. His head. But the crown. The golden crown. Of glory. The pearl studied crown.

[35:43] Was put. Upon the head. Of the Lord. Jesus Christ. As a great victor. Over all things. Through him.

[35:57] Through him. And again. It's only. Through. The Lord. Jesus Christ. Only because. We are. United to him.

[36:09] Only because. We acknowledge him. To be our Lord. Our God. And. Our all. All things. Come to us. Through.

[36:19] The Lord. Jesus Christ. In our. Unregeneracy. We were kept. By the power of God.

[36:32] The enemy. Could not destroy us. Then. And after conversion. When the enemy. Was more. Enraged. Against us. Still.

[36:44] He could not. Separate us. That the love of Christ. Is all powerful. That love. Can never be broken. It never will be.

[36:58] Paul says. I am persuaded. That neither death. Nor life. Nor angels. Nor principalities. Nor powers. Nor things present. Nor things to come.

[37:08] Nor height. Nor depth. Nor any other creature. Shall be able. To separate us. From the love of God. Which is in Christ. Jesus.

[37:19] Our Lord. More than conquerors. Through him. That. Loved us. And here.

[37:30] Is the. Answer. To that. Great question. The apostle. Himself. Poses. Who shall separate us.

[37:42] From the love of Christ. What a comfort. To know. That. God is in control. That our times are in.

[37:54] His hands. And all events. Are at his command. To understand. That not a single shaft. Can hit. Till the God of love.

[38:04] Sees fit. To know. That no enemy. Can do anything. Against us. Except. God. Give. Lean.

[38:17] We then. Are invincible. Until God. Brings us. At. Appointed time. When. We shall be delivered.

[38:28] In triumph. From. This world. And we shall be taken. Into his kingdom. And. Glory. And we shall come.

[38:40] Into heaven. As. Conquerors. Having. Conquered. Even our. Enemies. Notice.

[38:53] The language is more confirming. Even than that. It says. It says. It says. That we are. More. More. More than conquerors. We conquer.

[39:04] Completely. Absolutely. Because we gain. Everything. And our enemies. Lose. Everything.

[39:16] Here is the. Wonder of the gospel. Here is the good news. Of salvation. To God's people. To be singing glory.

[39:31] To our God and King. In heaven. Through a never ending eternity. And if there is no separation in this world.

[39:42] When the enemy fights against us so fiercely. So violently. So consistently. There never will be any separation in heaven.

[39:55] Where we shall be loved. And. In all purity. In all holiness. And in all completeness.

[40:05] And in all perfection. Loved. With that everlasting love. That love. Whereby the Lord first called us.

[40:17] Whereby the spirit of God. Quickened us. Whereby we were converted. To the Lord Jesus Christ. Whereby we were maintained.

[40:29] And sustained. Through this dark world of sin. Whereby. We came. To our end. In great victory.

[40:41] And this is a prospect. For every child of God. We may have our doubts and fears. We may have our trials and temptations. Difficulties.

[40:53] Will. Assail us all our days. We shall have to overcome. Many things. In the world. You shall have tribulation.

[41:03] But be of good cheer. I have overcome. The world. It is through the Lord Jesus Christ. And through him alone. That we.

[41:14] Shall overcome. At last. Nay. In all these things. We are more than conquerors. Through him. That loved us.

[41:27] Now. Do we know anything of that love? The love of the Lord Jesus Christ. To our never dying souls. That love.

[41:39] Which has set us apart. And made us one. In him. That love that empowers us. To go through.

[41:51] Every difficulty. That comes upon us. That which lifts us. Out of our depressions. That which strengthens us.

[42:03] Once again. To fight the battles. And to overcome the enemy. That strength. Given unto us. That we may resist.

[42:15] Those. That oppose. The very scriptures of God. God. And it's very solemn. To consider. That there are those.

[42:26] Of our families. And of our friends. And our loved ones. Who oppose these things. Who set them at naught. We are too strict.

[42:36] We are too narrow. We are too consistent. In our religion. And they despise. The very notion of it.

[42:48] They want nothing of it. Why? Because they are not Christ. They are the enemies. Of the cross of Jesus Christ. How sad.

[42:58] And solemn. It is to see those. Who were once brought up. Under the sound of the truth. Who have turned their backs upon it. And rejected it. And rejected it perhaps.

[43:10] To their eternal loss. We can only pray for them. That the Lord may be pleased. To restore them. To bring them back. To bring them to.

[43:21] A knowledge of the truth. To give them understanding. Of the word of God. As we mentioned this morning. Without the spirit of Christ.

[43:32] We are none of his. Without the spirit of God upon us. We are ignorant. We are blind. We cannot see the truth. Although it is plainly.

[43:43] Set before us. We cannot receive. We cannot receive. We cannot receive. The testimony. Of God. And of his disciples. Who walked in that narrow way.

[43:55] That leads unto heaven. Yes man. In his own nature. Is always wanting. To widen the path. To open up the way.

[44:05] To have his own. To have his own. Delights fulfilled. To have a religion. That he is in control of. A religion. That he can.

[44:17] Joy in. Because it pleases his flesh. Now. At times. We find. The ways of God. Hard. They are past.

[44:27] Finding out. Many difficulties. Come. In believing. What the Lord has said. There are many things. Hard to be. Understood. Yet.

[44:38] Nevertheless. We continue. We press. Toward that mark. For the prize. Of the high. Calling of God. We.

[44:49] Seek the Holy Spirit. Spirit. That to give us. Understanding. Of these glorious. Truths. I say again. What do we know. Of the love of Christ.

[45:01] To us. Or what is the answer. To that. The answer is. A demonstration. Of our love. Toward him.

[45:12] To forsake the world. To turn our back. Upon. Carnality. For the love. To. To. And to. Wholly. With all our hearts.

[45:23] And minds. Of being. Follow. The Lord Jesus Christ. As true disciples. You know. We cannot. Mince words. We cannot.

[45:34] Accommodate. Those. Who want an easier. Pathway. We have to speak. The word of God. we cannot dissent from the truth that is written here if we be in christ and if christ is in us the hope of glory then we will serve we will follow we will obey him as much as life within us yes we come very far short in all our ways we are but poor things at best the best of men are men at best there's not one who has lived in sinless perfection apart from the lord jesus christ all have failed in many parts but nevertheless what is the result of our heart what is the desire of our mind what are our affections set upon are they set upon things which are above or are they set upon the things of this world there will come a day a day of great separation the sheep from the goats the good from the evil the saved from the lost those that are satans from those that are christ who is on the lord's side what side are you on what side am i on who are we following are we following the trend are we following popularity are we following an easy pathway or are we following christ the sinner's friend well you know in your own consciences where you stand in relation to this thing are you wholly given unto christ because if not in reality you're wholly given unto the devil we'll leave it there may the lord be pleased to bless his own word for his dear name's sake amen you