The Last Great Day

Good morning, everyone. Greetings. Good to be with you again this morning.

Beautiful special music.

We've had some very beautiful special music. I'd like to thank all of those who made it possible for us to have the special music. The musicians, the song leaders, all the various ones taking care of the stage, the auditorium, and we could go on and on with those who have served so gallantly here during the feast, especially Mr. and Mrs. Dobson for their work. We cannot even imagine how much work is involved in coordinating a feast. I did it two or three times back in the olden days, so I know what it's like.

I was especially there impressed with the auditory music with Mrs. Ulmer. She woke up every key on the board, so lively that was.

But I do have a very sad announcement here to make at the beginning. This day, to some degree, is a day of contrast, as we heard earlier in the feast that Mr. John Sephoric had to go home.

He had open-heart surgery back, I think it was about three months ago, recovered quickly, it seemed, and he and his wife Sandy went to the feast in Bend, but he began to have trouble breathing.

And so, I'll read this. This was written by Mr. Ben Light, one of the elders there in Salem, Oregon.

John was in surgery yesterday for 9.5 hours, and the surgeon was able to repair a leaky valve, replaced it with a cow valve.

His heart had restarted and was pumping on its own. The surgeon said it was a miracle that he had survived as long as he had with the leak where it was located.

John made it through surgery successfully, and the initial prognosis looked good.

As the night continued, however, his condition deteriorated. The doctor struggled to control the bleeding, and his body would not respond to efforts to warm him up.

His heart finally gave out a little after 1 a.m. Pacific time, and so John Sephoric is no longer with us in this life.

But of course, he will be one of the ones who will welcome those who come up in the resurrection to physical life in the world to come.

And I've thought a lot about, in recent times, the members of my family, the members of my wife's family.

We have no blood relative. I don't think we have any in-law relative either in the church at this time.

And hopefully, some who have been, as surely I know that you have, many who have gone their own way will be back.

And when those do come up in the resurrection that is to come to physical life, to have their opportunity, that we will embrace them and give them a big hug.

So John will be there to give a big hug to those who come up in that resurrection.

In Revelation 3, verse 21, we see here that Jesus Christ is seated on the throne of His Father with the Father.

Let's read that in Revelation 3, verse 21.

To Him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne.

So at the beginning of the millennium, Jesus Christ is going to have a throne as well.

He's sitting right now with the Father on His throne. Sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcome, and am sat down with My Father in His throne.

One of the main things He's doing right now, if you'll turn to Hebrews 7, verse 25, Remember I said that Hebrews compares and contrasts the elements of the Old Covenant with the elements of the New Covenant.

I think that was in the Bible study. One of the great things that Jesus Christ is doing right now is making intercession for us, as we shall see here.

Over the years, I have said a prayer, I suppose maybe I've missed a few times, as you close your eyes and sleep.

And here's verse 25, I'm going to start in Hebrews 7.24.

Try to remember and call upon, and generally it's just there, that Jesus Christ would do this.

In Hebrews 7.24, but this man, speaking of Christ, because he continues, Ever hath an unchangeable priesthood. It says in the Old Testament, a priesthood forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing that he ever lives to make intercession for us.

So Jesus Christ is there. He's making intercession for John Sephorek's wife to comfort her today.

Of course, we're familiar with 2 Corinthians 1, verses 3 and 4, that the God of all comfort would be there to comfort us.

In Revelation 4, we see a picture of a vivid vision that John has, the Apostle John, who wrote the book of Revelation.

A vivid vision that John has of the throne of God.

We read that Jesus Christ is sitting on his father's throne at the present time. He serves in many roles.

He is coming back as king and also a priest. He will be a king and priest upon his throne.

Maybe hold your place there. Maybe you're not familiar with this verse. Look at Zechariah 6, verse 12.

I know Zechariah might be hard to find, but if you find it before I do, wait, I'll read it.

In Zechariah 6, verse 12.

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaks the eternal hoe, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the branch, identified as such in Isaiah 11.

And he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the eternal. Of course, we're familiar with Matthew 16, 18, which says, And upon this rock, big rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell, grave shall not prevail against it.

And he shall build the temple of the eternal. He shall bear the glory, shall set and rule upon his throne.

And he shall be a priest upon his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both, that is, king and priest.

And as we have heard quoted a few times, Revelation 5, 10, that we shall be made kings and priests.

Now in Revelation 4, we see, John sees, this vivid vision of God sitting upon his throne, and he describes the glory and the splendor of that throne.

And I want to come down to verse 8, and the four beasts, each of them six wings about them, and they were full of eyes within, and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was and is to come, and when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever.

The twenty-four elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, You art worthy, O eternal, to receive glory and honor and power, for you have created all things for your will.

Now, the Old King James says, This word that is translated, pleasure in the Old King James, the New King James, the NIV, corrects it and says, and the Greek word there is Thelema, T-H-E-L-E-M-A, which means will, the will of God. Because you've created all things for your will, they are and were created.

So God created us as a part of his will through Jesus Christ.

All things were created through Christ, according to Hebrews 1 and 2.

Now, we go to Ephesians 1, and we see that this verse is, or this word, Thelema, is translated correctly.

In Ephesians 1 and verse 9, we see this word Thelema once again, "...having made known unto us the mystery of his will." The mystery of his will. What is the mystery of his will?

According to his good pleasure, and that is a different word, and it is correctly translated there, according to his good pleasure, which he has purposed in himself.

So here we have the will and the purpose of God, that he has purpose in himself, that in the dispensation, in the Bible classes, I talk about the seven dispensations, in the Labor and the Word series it did for the ministry, we covered the seven dispensations.

This is the ultimate dispensation. The word dispensation in the Greek is oeknomia, which means administration of period of testing trial from the Garden of Eden to the present time. But this is what is going to come, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, similar to the hymn that we're saying, he shall have dominion, both which are in heaven, which are on earth, even in him, in whom also we have obtained inheritance, being predestined, according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will. Once again, fellaema.

So it is the purpose and will of God that we have this great plan of salvation that we were created in the first place. There's more to it, as we shall see. Verse 12, that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ, whom you also trusted after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that you believed, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of your inheritance. The down payment on eternal life, as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1.22, having received the earnest of the Holy Spirit, which is the earnest of your inheritance, until the redemption, the buying back of the purchased possession, under the praise of his glory. The great will and purpose of God is contained in this great plan of salvation. This great plan of salvation is very old. It is ancient. We'll see this. If you go now to 2 Timothy chapter 1, we'll begin in verse 7. Timothy, the young evangelist, whom Paul wrote two epistles, he had a very special close relationship with Timothy. So you look at 2 Timothy chapter 1. 2 Timothy is one of the prison epistles. Paul was in prison at this time. Apparently, the young evangelist and others in the church were becoming ashamed of Paul. I'm sure some were saying, well, if he were an apostle, he wouldn't be in prison. If he were this, if he were that, Paul continually dealt with this kind of criticism from especially the Corinthians and many others.

So in 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 7, let's read 6 too. Writing to Timothy now, remember the circumstance, Wherefore I put you in remembrance that you stir up. And this word stirrer is like the friction that's used. Maybe that you strike a match, that you really get in there and you rub together. You stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands, laying on of hands receipt of the Holy Spirit. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. Be you not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be you partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. Those who would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, as Paul writes, in another place, who have saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose, which we read from Ephesians 1 and Ephesians 1.11, the purpose and will of God, according to his own purpose and grace. The Greek word for grace is charis, C-H-A-R-I-S, and it means divine favor. There are many aspects to divine favor, and one of the reasons why God created us, it was for his will, as we've already said, also because of his grace, his divine favor. But there's another big dimension as to why he created us also that we'll get to in a moment. According to his own purpose and divine favor, which was given us in Christ Jesus before... and the next word in the King James is world, before the world began. Now, there are three Greek words that are translated world in the New Testament. One is cosmos, meaning the order of the universe. The other, eon, which means the age. And this one here, chronos, C-H-R-O-N-O-S, or K-R-O-N-O-S, chronos, the word from which we get chronology or time, before time... literally, it's before time began, before the foundation of the earth, of the world. And it says in Revelation 13, 8, that Jesus Christ was slain from the foundation of the world. The plan of salvation is brought to fruition by the will of God. And it is according to His will, and it's according to His grace, and it's according to His purpose. And it is according to His passion and His zeal, because He wants you in His family. Look at Isaiah 9, one of the great Messianic prophecies, perhaps best known. I'm not sure which one is the best known, but in Isaiah 9, verse 6, we see this great Messianic prophecy. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders.

And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David, and upon the kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even forever. The zeal, and that Hebrew word for zeal, kinah, has to do with passion, desire. The zeal, the passion of the eternal host will perform it. So we see another reason here. Now, perhaps the greatest reason why we were created in this great plan of salvation was ordained, is because God is love. As the Apostle Paul writes in two verses in 1 John 4.8 and 1 John 4.16, easy to remember that, 16 is twice 8. So in 1 John 4.8 and 1 John 4.16, it says that God is love. Now, this statement means that love is his state of being.

He is love. All of his works are done in love. We'll also see in a while all of his works are done in another dimension as well. All of his works are done in love. This means he doesn't have to decide if he's going to do something out of love because he is love. That is what he is. The greatest motivating force in the universe is love, and the opposite to that, of course, is hate. Hate is a powerful motivating force as well as we discover and look at Cain and Abel.

Love is an emotion that needs to be shared with others.

Through the years, we have defined love as an outgoing concern for others. As it says in 1 Corinthians 13, verse 5, Love seeks not its own. Love seeks not its own. It does not envy and it's not puffed up. The various qualities of love are described there in 1 Corinthians 13, 4 through 6. If love is not shared, it is only self-love. God deeply desires, along with Jesus Christ, to share who he is and what he is in a family setting with everyone that is created in his image. Past, present, future. And that is why he created us, humankind, in the first place. We owe our very existence, our very life's breath, to God's love, his grace, his will, his passion, his desire. Now let's look at another one of God's great characteristics. Look at Romans 2.11. We can be very thankful that God has this quality, this characteristic. If not, we would be like the rulers of this world. We would be like human nature. In Romans 2.11, For there is no respect of persons with God.

It doesn't matter if you're male or female, young or old. It doesn't matter your socioeconomic status. None of that matters with God. God is not a respecter of persons. So now let's look at 2 Peter 3.9. In view of that, we can see in view of God's will, his purpose, his grace, his love, and the fact that he is not a respecter of persons. We look at 2 Peter 3 and verse 9, and we see another, and this reinforces that quality there of not-respect of persons.

In 2 Peter 3.9, 2 Peter 3.9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise. As some men count slackness, and this is the lead-up to this, as people scoffers in the last days saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue. As from the beginning, we're just in another cycle. We've been here before, and on and on. You have heard it yourself. And that quote that some people misapply, that a day is a thousand years, and a thousand years is a day. In other words, God does not view time the way we do. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise.

As some men count slackness, but is long suffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. So, in view of all the things we have said so far, if God did not give everyone who's ever lived an opportunity for salvation, he would not be a respecter of persons.

And I know that Wanda and I would look forward to seeing our relatives come up in that resurrection, the resurrection to physical life, an opportunity for salvation. And, as Mr. Prentz said, we would want to give them a hug. I think they will need a hug.

We will embrace them. We will probably weep, weep out of joy, and so many other emotions that might rush through your body at that time. The Church of God has taught through the decades that this day represents the time in which God's great plan of salvation as revealed by the Holy Days is fulfilled.

And the Bible is replete with Scriptures revealing to us, showing us that this present age is not the only day of salvation. And there is a resurrection, of course, to spiritual life and physical life. And there are many places in the Bible that bring this out. So let's look at our familiar Ezekiel 37, verse 11. We're here, we're viewing physical, where the emphasis now is on physical resurrection. We're not going to spend a lot of detailed time with these verses, but we know and we can show clearly from Scripture that there is a resurrection to physical life. In Ezekiel 37, verse 11, then He said unto me, Son of man, these bones of the whole house of Israel, that is Israel and Judah, behold, they say our bones are dried and our hope is lost.

We're cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, says the Lord, Behold, O my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves and bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the eternal God when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves.

And shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land. Then shall you know that I the eternal have spoken it and performed it. So here we see a resurrection to physical life. Then after that, God's spirit is put in them. The prophet Daniel also prophesied of a resurrection, both to eternal life and to physical life. Look at Daniel 12. Daniel 12. Daniel 12 and verse 1. And at that time, Michael shall stand up the great prince, which stands for the children of your people.

And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was, since there was a nation even to that same time. And at the same time, your people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book. That is, in the book of life. Once again, a reference to Revelation 13.8, that everyone whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be deceived. So of course, you want your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life. God has called you to go on to perfection now. That's the title today. The eighth day, the opportunity for all humankind to go on to perfection. The whole world and the whole mass of humanity that has ever lived, living now or will live in the future, have their opportunity to go on to perfection.

Because God is not a respecter of persons, as we have read from Romans 2 and verse 11. And many of them shall awake, or many of them that sleep in the dust, that the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they shall turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, seal the book, even to the time of the end.

And that word end there really means the end time. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be greatly increased. So we see another prophecy. Now look at John chapter 5, the words of Jesus Himself, regarding resurrection in John chapter 5. John chapter 5 and verse 28. Marvel not at this for the hour is coming, in which all that are in their grave shall hear His voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good in the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment. Another prophecy in 2 Timothy 4 and verse 1 with regard to this. So there are many, many places in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, that talks about a resurrection and a judgment that is to come.

You have heard the already read in the sermon at time from Revelation chapter 20. So now we're looking at 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 1. Paul once again writing to Timothy. We've read from 2 Timothy 1.

This is chapter 4. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at the appearing of His kingdom. Then the Abunishan preached the Word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. As we mentioned, I don't know if it's in the Bible study of the sermon, the three C's of conviction. You are convicted through the Spirit and the Word of God. Jesus Christ said, John 6, 63, the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life. Thus the Word of God and the Spirit of God are equated.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound teaching, but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables. Brother, we must not ever let that happen to us. Paul goes on to mention that even some of those who were very close to him had departed. It seemed that Paul was basically, after all that he had suffered and gone through, left with only one or two people who we could really count on.

I grew up in a missionary Baptist church. I was quoting scripture at the age of six in public, very religious community, though my parents, my mother was very devoted and religious. My dad was not. He was baptized and went to church and was a very fine person with a great work ethic and moral code. At the age of 20, I was teaching adult Sunday school, so I've been in a formal teaching situation for many years.

At this Baptist church, there were three donation boxes set out on the table, a box for local missions, a box for national missions, and a box for international missions. And you could, like we have the donation box here at the information table, or we did have it, you could put money into those boxes. The focus was getting every person on earth saved that you possibly could because you wanted them to escape their immortal soul, to escape the flames of the ever-burning hell.

And of course, virtually every sermon ended with the flames of hell looking at you, and you wanted to avoid the flames of that ever-burning hell as they played the, what they called, the altar call song. It reminds me, look at Matthew 23, verse 15. It reminds me of this verse. Remember a situation, my wife's brother, and she has lost three brothers in the past 15 or so years, very dramatic ways, cancer, other ways. But anyhow, this brother, her second oldest brother, was dying of leukemia, and this Baptist preacher came, and I was there as he came, and his soul mission was that he was going to save his soul right there.

And we had a few words. Of course, her brother had not been a steady churchgoer, but he was going to save him the deathbed thing. It reminds me of this verse in Matthew 23, 15. Of course, what he says later is not always the case. Well, any of you scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, for you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Of course, there are a lot of fine people, and I grew up in a family, and I would say they were fine people.

As my mother told me once upon a time, she said, well, son, if I could find a Baptist church, if I went to church on Saturday, I'd go to it. She also said I'd go with a prayer on my lips all the time. So there were a lot of fine people, and they were deceived. And of course, we're looking for that time in which they come up, and we can give them a hug. We can teach them, this is the way.

This is the way walk you in it. I remember back then asking questions about this. What if a person died without ever hearing the gospel and thus never having an opportunity for salvation? What would happen to them? What would happen to these people? God is not a respecter of persons. How could He justify sending them to an ever-burning hell and torment them? Of course, we know that the immortal soul lie is a lie. And the response was, they will be judged by their own law. And if they were good people, then they would be saved.

You just sort of shake your head. Well, that doesn't make sense. And of course, this contradicts what is revealed in Scripture. They tried to justify this by using two or three verses from the book of Romans, which we'll note in just a minute. The book of Romans ties in with the sermon today of the eighth day, humankind's opportunity for going on to perfection. The book of Romans, the first, well, all of the book of Romans is outlined, whether by design or not, by the seven great doctrines of Hebrews 6.

Now, oftentimes we just focus on Hebrews 6, 1, and 2 having six doctrines, but actually there are seven. Paul says, not laying again the foundation of dead works, that is repentance, then faith in God, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection and judgment. Let us go on to perfection, and this we will do, God willing. So going on to perfection begins with that first doctrine of repentance.

So the first two chapters and part of three of Romans is taken out with repentance and faith toward Christ, the sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sins that are passed. That goes through chapter 4 and 5. And chapter 6 deals with baptism, chapter 7 and 8 with the law and the Holy Spirit. And then 9 and 10 having to do with opportunity for salvation, that God is going to graft Israel back in. And then from chapter 12 to the end of the book basically deals with going on to perfection.

We're focusing here on the first three or so chapters a little more, a little later. In Romans chapter 1, Paul takes the Gentiles, the nations, to task. And in chapter 2, he takes the Jews to task. In chapter 3, he shows that all have sinned. Probably everybody in here can quote Romans 3.23, which says, All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But as noted earlier, some try to use a few verses in Romans to justify the notion that those who have never heard the true gospel can be saved by their own law, saved judged by their own law.

Look at Romans chapter 2 in verse 11. We'll address that briefly here. And what it really says, Romans 2.11, once again, there's no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without the law, shall perish without law. And as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law. And that first line that says that those who have sinned without the law shall also perish without law. And of course, in the Bible there's what is known as an ellipse.

An ellipse is the words that are, should be, could be understood. Without God, all is futile, all is vanity. But with God, all things are possible. Verse 13, For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. And that shows you that repentance and faith are inextricably linked to obedience. You can't really have one without the other. You can't truly repent without obedience. Otherwise, Christ would be the minister of sin, as it says in Galatians 2, 18, I think. For when the Gentiles which have not the law, and this addresses the question that I posed to them back then, for when the Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law are a law unto themselves.

We still have in various parts of the world cannibalism, and they think that it is the right thing to do. Their consciences have been seared, and as it says in Romans 1, that when they denied God, God gave them over to a reprobate mind that they should do those things that are not convenient. So this says, having not the law are a law unto themselves.

They administer the laws of their land according to their constitution, their laws, their moral codes, which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness. So that's what they're convicted of. And their thoughts the mean while accusing or excusing one another. But in the day, verse 16, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

See, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess, not to the law of the people of any ethnic group or the people of any national origin. But every tongue shall confess, and every knee shall bow. Hold your place there and look at Philippians 2 and verse 10. In Philippians 2 and verse 10, we see that every tongue shall confess and every knee shall bow.

Philippians 2.10, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the Father. So back in Romans chapter 2 verse 17, Behold, you are called a Jew, and retest to the law, and make your boast of God. And then Paul concludes and says, He is a Jew who is one inwardly and not outwardly, and circumcision is of the heart and not of the flesh.

See, the plan of salvation is exclusive. What does that mean? The plan of God is exclusive. It means what it says in Acts 4.12. Let's look at Acts 4.12.

See, people talk about, you know, one time I saw Larry King as he has interviewed a lot of religious figures. He interviewed Jerry Falwell. He interviewed Joel Osteen. And the question always comes around, well, do you have to be a member of your church to receive salvation? What about the Jews? They don't even believe in Jesus Christ. And they'll say, well, Larry, I'll just leave it up to each person themselves and make their decision. And Billy Graham came out and said, well, there are many avenues to salvation, sort of like the people who view in Romans 2.11-15. They'll be judged by their own law if they're good Buddhists. And recently the Pope came out with this. There are many avenues to salvation. But according to Acts 4.12 from the Bible, the way of salvation is one way. It is exclusive. It just says in Acts 4.12, Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. And of course, that name is Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ had not humbled himself and done what he did as a sacrifice, being the Son of God, worthy to be paid for the sins of all humanity, there would be no forgiveness of sin. Because why? Well, Romans 6.23, the wages of sin is death. And that penalty has to be paid, and he paid that penalty. The wages of sin is death, but, as it says in the last part of the verse, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So, the plan of salvation is exclusive one way. Now we go back to Romans 3, and we'll also see that the plan of salvation is inclusive. It is for everybody. The Dry Bones chapter in Ezekiel 37 focuses on Israel. But the plan of salvation and the coming up out of the graves for your opportunity for salvation, if you've never had it, applies to all peoples.

In Romans 3.23, and that's why Paul, this is a great summary verse. In Romans 1, the nations have sinned. In Romans 2, the Jews have sinned. Of course, there's some interplay between Jews and Gentiles in both chapters. But that's the essential summary. Then, having taken both to task, Jew and Gentile, in verse 23, Paul summarizes and says, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Jew, Gentile, male, female, young, old, it doesn't matter, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Now, you look at verse 22, Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ. In this sense, the righteousness of God has to do with, He has been faithful in keeping His promise. A Messiah was promised from the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3.15, and many times throughout the Old Testament messianic prophecies that one would come, the suffering Messiah, and pay for the sins of the world.

Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference. No difference of what? No difference between Jew and Gentile. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Verse 24, Being justified freely by His grace, carous, His divine favor. Because of God's divine favor, He created us. Because of God's favor, He ordained the great plan of salvation. Because He wanted sons and daughters to be born of the Spirit, not of the flesh only, but of the Spirit, and be of the same essence and on the same plane of existence, of He and Jesus Christ.

Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption, the buying back power, that is, in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a perpetuation. Means He went in our place, the go-between. He went in our place, and He fulfilled the... Romans 6, 23, The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Through faith in His blood, the blood represents the life essence, to declare His righteousness for remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God.

To declare, I say at this time, His righteousness, that He might be just in the justifier of Him, which believes in Jesus, where is boasting? It is excluded by what law of works? No, but by the law of faith. A lot of people don't understand that phrase there. By the law of faith, you could begin, if you're a sinner and you've been convicted and called, and you, in your repentance, you began to perfectly obey the Word of God. That would not pay for sins that are passed. There's only one way to pay for the sins that are passed, and that is through repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ. That's how you're justified, because He paid the price for you.

So it is not through your obedience, though obedience is inextricably linked to repentance. As we've already said, I'm not going to turn to Galatians 2 for lack of time. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. So the plan of salvation is inclusive. It is for everyone. We have had various heiresses that have arisen in the church through the years.

For a long time, I dealt with one in the East Texas area back in the 70s, in which this identity movement that you had to be of the seed of Abraham, the literal physical seed of Abraham, to be in the kingdom of God. I went through many scriptures and Romans and other places, but would not accept it. So there is this identity movement. There is this white supremacist movement that is going on. You've read about in recent times with the events in Virginia and Charlottesville. So this says clearly that he is the God of Jew and Gentile, seeing it as one God, which would justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision, Jew and Gentile, through faith.

We then, but do we then, do we then make boy the law through faith? God forbid. Yay, we established the law. How do you establish the law through faith? You see, if the law were not in effect, there would be no need for a savior. But since the law is in effect, the wages of sin is death. Thus, the fact that you have to have faith in the Savior to be saved establishes the law, verifies, proves that it is alive and relevant today. So from these scriptures, we can conclude that the plan of God is exclusive and inclusive.

And that there is only one name given under heaven whereby men must be saved. Inclusive in that God is the God of Jews, Gentiles, and not willing that any should perish. And of course, this is in keeping with John 3 16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

And that applies to Jew, Gentile, everyone. Once again, love is God's state of being. God and Christ have given their all so that every person who's ever lived will have an opportunity for salvation. In the millennium, the door will begin to be open for every person to call upon the name of the Lord. And from that point forward, the door of salvation will eventually be open to everyone. Let Him come and partake of the tree of life. So all of humankind eventually will have their opportunity.

Today is our day of salvation. Judgment is now on the house of God. 1 Peter 4, 17 has been read during the feast. We've been called to be firstfruits. God has called you into His marvelous light, giving you the opportunity to go on to perfection now. We are daily standing before the judgment seat of Christ. Are you feasting on the Word of God, renewing the inward man daily, filling your lamp with oil? Are you ready for the bridegroom's knock on your door? The bridegroom came at midnight, at a time not expected.

Virtually everyone can quote Matthew 4-4. Man shall not live by bread alone, but every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. We can quote it, but do we live it? Are you hiding the Word of God in your inward parts? Please look at Psalm 119. Psalm 119 is a place that I would recommend to read often. If you're having trouble with prayer life, you can get on your knees, and you can begin to read Psalm 119.

And say, Father in Heaven, make this a part of my prayer. There are so many command verses in Psalm 119. It's almost like the psalmist here in his prayer saying, Just take me by the nape of the neck and make me do it. And sometimes maybe that's what we need. In Psalm 119 verse 9, It says in Hebrews 8 and also Hebrews 10, That God will write His law on our inward parts through the Holy Spirit.

But He is not going to write what we have never come in contact with, that we have never been consciously aware of. If we've not heard it, we've not read it. If we've not believed it, if we've not meditated on it, if we are not acting on it, how will He write it on our inward parts?

As I've already said, one of the great doctrines of Hebrews 6 is going on to perfection. Now is our time to go on to perfection. Jesus says in Matthew 5.48, Become ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Humanity as a whole cannot go on to perfection until everyone who has had an opportunity for salvation. As we have clearly noted, Scripture makes it clear that all who have ever lived will have this opportunity. But we must go on to perfection now. We're going to rule and reign as kings and priests.

This beast should be the most pivotal experience in your life. The trumpet has sounded. Look at Joel 2 in verse 1. I remember back in New Year's Day, 1983, we were in Pasadena. We were on a faculty exchange with Richard Ames. He went to Big Sandy, and I was in Pasadena. And teaching minor prophets at that time. And Mr. Armstrong, on New Year's Day, called a fast, a feasting fast, a fast without food, on New Year's Day.

And we were almost living right on Orange Grove Boulevard, where they started the Rose Parade. And so there was hooping and hollering and all of that all night long. And we were fasting. And in that letter early on, he quoted this verse we're about to read. Joel 2, 1, Blow you the trumpet in Zion. And we talked about Zion in the Bible study.

And we brought in Hebrews 12, 21, 22, 23, And you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, made perfect. And all of that, comparison and contrast with the Old Covenant. Blow you the trumpet in Zion, in sound and alarm in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord comes, for it is nigh at hand.

And whether the literal day of the Lord is nigh at hand, or your lifespan, I know my lifespan is nigh at hand. I'm living on borrowed time, as the Bible might say, well beyond the three score in ten. Who knows? You might live to be a hundred. Who knows? And today might be the last day. Not only the last day in the land of salvation, but literally. Also, read in verse 14 Joel 2, Who knows if he will return and repent? And that word repent means to change his mind, that is God, and leave a blessing behind him, and a meat offering, a drink offering, under the eternal your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a feast, and call a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, those that suck the breast, young to old, let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and they bry out of her closet. And at midnight, he knocked on the door. If you wait until next year to get your spiritual house in order, you may not be here. It may not be because your spiritual house is not in order. It may be for other reasons. This next year will be a time in which the wheat and the chaff will be sifted.

God is indeed sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat. The messages of the fee should have indelibly stamped by our minds the urgency of the times in which we live. The world desperately needs to know who the true God is and understand the true path to love, joy, and peace. Could you turn to the scripture that defines the only place in the Bible that says, The Kingdom of God is...

and it's Romans 4.17. The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The peoples of the world desperately need to have this trumpet sounded so that they can hear loud and clear. Some of our people are obsessed with warning the world instead of taking heed to what manner of people they ought to be. Are you ready to lead in the world tomorrow?

But more importantly, are you exercising godly leadership in your life today, right now, on a daily basis? It is as if some are spiritually filled and satisfied. They think they're just waiting for the return of Christ. Could you and I be Laodiceans? We think we have heard it all. We think we know it all. We think we're doing everything right. Apparently, Laodiceans don't know they are naked, blind, and puffed up with their own righteousness.

If they didn't know it, surely they would do something about it. And all of us, I include myself, and I've been trying to wake myself up as never before in recent times. Remember in the parable of the ten virgins, they all slumbered and slipped, apparently saying, my Lord delays is coming. Even those who have oil in their lamps are asleep. All of the virgins slumbered and slipped. Let's look at Matthew 24 there for a minute. In Matthew 24, the Olivet prophecy includes Matthew 24 and 25. It ends in the first verse or two of chapter 26. In Matthew 24, verse 44, Therefore be ye ready, set up above, you don't know the day or the hour, though we think we do, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man comes, who then is a faithful and wise servant whom he has made, Lord, a ruler over his household, to give them meat and do season.

Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, reprook, with all long suffering and teaching. And that's what we're trying to do is sound the trumpet in Zion. Wake up! Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find so doing.

Verily I say unto you that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But, and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delays his coming. Oh, he won't say it out loud. It is by his actions. God knows each one of us by our actions, by the thoughts and intents of the heart.

You're not fooling him. You have an agenda if you have whatever you have. God knows it. He knows the intent of your heart. And eventually it will be revealed. And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and eat and drink with a drunken. And we have seen a lot of that, smiting of fellow servants. The eternal of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he's not aware of. And shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then should be no chapter break. Then? When? Then? When that's going on. Shall the kingdom of God be likened unto ten virgins, five wise and five foolish? And even the wise are asleep. Be not deceived. God is not mocked. God knows your heart. And one of the main things that's necessary for us to go into perfection is that we are reconciled one to another. We're reconciled to God in Christ with each member of the body of Christ.

For we are members, one of another, as we read in the Holy Day sermon. We are members of one another, Romans 12, verse 5. As I said, Romans 12, at the end of the chapter, basically deals with going on to perfection.

I mean, Paul even writes there, Love your enemies! Pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you. See, are we mature? Are we growing up? So are we willing to humble ourselves and go on to perfection?

These questions apply to everyone. Father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, great-grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, young, old, male, female. So in view of all of the above, the question for you is, are you ready and willing to lead in going on to perfection and being holy in the sight of God?

1 Peter chapter 1 verses 13 through 17 focuses on Peter's writings. He says, Be you holy! God in Christ says, Be you holy as I am holy. Be you holy for I am holy. Holy means pure, clean, sanctified, set apart. We're all influencing people in a positive or negative manner, and one of the aspects of leadership is influence. Every word I utter, every word you utter, every step you take, every step I take, every action I take, every action you take is influence.

It's influencing someone. So we can ask each one of us, are my steps actions taken to advance and help others to succeed, or is it to feed my own personal agenda? Which one is it? Do you love God's truth, a pearl of great price, above your personal ambitions?

You see, the Church of God, once again, Paul writing to Timothy 1, Timothy 3, 15, says that the Church of God is a pillar and ground of the truth. Now turn to Psalm 33.4. You will see another great characteristic of God. God is full of grace. God is not willing that any should perish. God has a great purpose, the plan of salvation. And we'll notice here in Psalm 33 and verse 4, For the word of the Eternal is right, and all his works are done in truth. And when you're admonished to prove all things whole, fast, that which is good, that's not just man speaking. That is the word from God. So the voice of the trumpet is sounded. Will we take heed? Today is our day of salvation. Have you made yourself ready? Do you have on the robe of righteousness, which is the wedding garment of the saints? If not, now is the time to begin, never too late, unless you have committed the unpardonable sin. And I doubt that you have. Many of the messages of this feast have emphasized the urgency of the times. In a theme sense, the theme has been the title of Mr. Schaeffer's sermon on the first holy day, The Wife Has Made Herself Ready. If you're not going on a perfection, you're not ready. So once again, today is the day to begin. So let's close this sermon with, once again, Revelation 19, beginning with verse 6. And I heard a loud voice as the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad, rejoice, and give honor to him, for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he said unto me, Write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Brethren, we have tried to bring you the true sayings of God. We'll have one more opportunity this afternoon as Mr. Knapp gives a closing sermon, and I hope you'll all be present for that. So, as I depart here, and the last opportunity to speak to all of you, I'd like to say that I really appreciate being here, and you have been a very attentive audience, the best I can see, which is not too far. I've noticed very little getting up and down and that kind of thing, and other activity, and all the speakers really appreciate that. So we appreciate your attentiveness, and we hope that you will take these words to heart, and that this will be a new day for you, and as they say, turning over a new leaf. So, Wanda and I really appreciate your hospitality and being here, and I hope that you continue to fight the good fight of faith.