Lifting the Veil

The title of the sermon today is, Lifting the Veil. Lifting the Veil. Jesus states in John 6, 44, a verse that we have heard so very often. Let's turn there in John 6 and verse 44. In John 6, 44, this chapter is called the Bread of Life chapter.

Jesus states, no man can come to me except the Father which has sent me, draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day. I want to focus on the word draw. The Greek word draw, helkuo, meaning to drag or metaphorically to draw by inward power. The inward power from God the Father draws us. A literal translation could be to drag us. Of course, the Holy Spirit doesn't literally drag us. We'll talk about how the Father draws us. The Father draws us through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. We're going to plunge the depths of many things here today about the Spirit of God and lifting the veil. No one can lift the veil except God the Father. No man can come to Christ except the Father draw him. In John 16.7, there will be some reinforcement from what we talked about last week where we titled the sermon as, The Holy Spirit, Your Teacher. In John 16.7, Jesus once again promising that he would send the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that if I go not away, the Comforter is identified as the Holy Spirit. In John 14.26, the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send the Holy Spirit unto you. And then in Romans 10, we see how the Holy Spirit and the Word of God work in concert to draw you. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God work in concert to draw you. These things are of the Spirit. It is not of human effort, per se. I continually try to remind the Council and everybody that I come in contact with there in the home office that there are two convicting agents, the Spirit of God, the Word of God.

In Romans 10, verse 14, How then shall they call on him, on whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? So the Word of God has to be preached. And you're familiar, at least we should be, as often as we have quoted it. The John 6.63, the words I speak, they are spirit in their life. And how shall they preach, except they be sent, as it is written? So Jesus Christ raised up the church. He established the church. He commissioned the church to take the gospel to the world. Just before He ascended, you get that account in Acts 1, that this gospel of the kingdom will be preached, beginning in Judea, to Samaria, to the uttermost parts of the earth. And how shall they preach, except they be sent, as it is written? How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. But they have not all obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah said, Lord, who has believed our report. So then faith comes by hearing. So what do you hear? You hear the Word of God. What opens the mind? What lifts the veil? The Spirit of God. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. The process of conversion is a spiritual miracle, as evidenced by the story of how the apostles came to conversion.

It's really quite a fascinating story to understand how they did come to conversion. The apostles followed Jesus, but had difficulty comprehending the purpose of his mission. With him, for three and a half years, they surely did not understand the deeper mysteries of God. And even though he had magnified the law and explained the spiritual intent as they went from place to place, the Sermon on the Mount and so many other things, they still did not get it. They had undergone what you might call a physical conversion. I think a lot of people come into the church, some get baptized, that are not converted. They undergo some kind of a physical conversion, immersed in a group. And even though the apostles followed Christ, obeyed certain laws, they were not spiritually converted until the veil was lifted from their hearts and minds. They did not understand the distinction between a type of physical conversion and real spiritual conversion. And at times, I wonder if we understand the difference and what is necessary. Do we really understand the difference? Obedience to a large degree can be achieved through willpower. People through willpower have achieved all kinds of things, even starving themselves to death. I've told the story often of my father, who, when I was about four years old or so, he came home one day and said, I'm not smoking cigarettes anymore. And from that day on, he never touched another cigarette, as far as I know. You sure? I never saw him touch one or smoke one. A lot of people, when you're counseling them for baptism, will say, well, I haven't had that so much in recent times, but I used to have it fairly often in the past. Well, why do you want to be baptized? Well, I need God's Holy Spirit so I can stop smoking or stop doing this, that, or the other. You don't have to have God's Spirit to stop smoking. You don't have to have God's Spirit to stop drinking too much. So, through willpower, people can do amazing things. Some of these Stoic philosophers did all kind of Stoic things, from living in a barrel to many other things abstaining from various pleasures of the world. So, as we've noted, the process of conversion was not understood by the apostles until very late, just before Christ ascended, because the veil had not been lifted from their eyes. Now, let's look at Luke, and here we'll see this very clearly. In Luke 24, I believe it is. In Luke 24, beginning in verse 31, Jesus appears to them after His crucifixion, and, no, that is not what I do want. I want Luke 22, because it made the statement about the apostles not being converted until the veil was lifted. So, let's read this. Luke 22 in verse 31. In Luke 22 in verse 31, Luke 22, verse 31, And the eternal said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not, and when you are converted. So, here's Peter, who was sort of the spokesman for the apostles. And generally, when Christ did a special thing, He took Peter, James, and John with Him. And Peter says, when Christ says to Peter, when you are converted, strengthen your brethren. And He said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with you, both into prison and to death.

And He said, I tell you, Peter, the cop shall not crow this day before that you have denied me three times. And He said unto them, When I sent you without purse and script, and shoes lacked you anything. And they said, Nothing. So, He goes on to talk. But He tells Peter that when you are converted, so none of the apostles were converted until Christ lifted the veil, or God the Father lifted the veil, removed the scales from their eyes. Of course, Christ was the spokesman in doing that. And we picked that up in Luke 24. So, let's turn now to Luke 24.

In Luke 24 and verse 44, Luke 24 verse 44, And He said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you while I was yet with you. So, the crucifixion has taken place, the resurrection has taken place. He appears to them after the resurrection. That's the time setting. After the crucifixion, after the resurrection. He appears to them, and He says that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets and the psalms concerning Me.

That's where we get the tripartite division, the 30-part division of the Old Testament, the law of the prophets, the psalms, literally the writings. Then opened He their understanding, then opened He their understanding. He lifted the veil that they might understand the Scriptures. He lifted the veil. He opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. Amazing! Three and a half years with the Master Teacher. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoove Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in His name among the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And so the Spirit of God, the Word of God, how shall they hear unless they be sent? How shall they be sent unless you have the church, you have the means to do it, faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God. And you are witnesses of these things, and behold, I send you the promise of my Father upon you, but wait here in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high. Of course, that power from on high was manifest on the day of Pentecost, 31 A.D.

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it came to pass while He blessed them He was parted from them and carried up into the heavens. And they worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. To worship God, you show Him great honor, respect, praise, adoration.

So it was only after Christ's crucifixion and resurrection that the veil was lifted. He opened their eyes of understanding. Now, we have had our eyes of understanding opened openly. Hopefully only God can remove the veil. Let's go to 2 Corinthians chapter 3. 2 Corinthians chapter 3. In 2 Corinthians chapter 3, of course, in 2 Corinthians to a large degree, Paul is defending himself against many of the charges that the Corinthians had brought against him. The first several chapters, he's not so upset, it would seem, but the last several chapters from 10 on, he is pretty upset about the way they have gone and the way they've treated him.

2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 1, Do we begin again to commend ourselves, or need we as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. For as much as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not in ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart.

And as we'll read later, the Word of God, the Law of God, is written by the Holy Spirit upon our hearts, and we have a new knowing, a new conscience, a new knowing within. More about that later. Then Paul compares and contrasts the gloriousness of the Old Covenant with the New Covenant, and we'll pick it up again in verse 12.

Seeing that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech, and not as Moses, which put a veil over his face. Now, this is a different kind of veil. I mean, it might be the same veil, but a different purpose, because the reason Moses put this veil over his face is because when the tabernacle was raised up in the wilderness and he went in, the glory, the brightness of the tabernacle within was so great he couldn't go in. That was the presence of God. But it gets into the veil being lifted with regard to understanding.

And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished.

But their minds were blinded, for until this day remains the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament. So as a whole, the peoples of Israel are blinded. Romans 11 talks about them being grafted back into the natural olive tree.

Read it again. But their minds were blinded, for until this day remains the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which veil is done away in Christ. So Christ removed that veil, and there's like a doobly entendre thereof.

Even in the temple itself, there was a veil separating the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. And there was a place where the Gentiles could be and a place where the Jews could be. But when Christ died, the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom. And now it was access for all into the Holy of Holies, but they didn't understand that until Peter went down to the house of Cornelius and preached to them the Gentiles.

Verse 15, But even unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Now one of the days, one of these days, that veil is going to be lifted up off the hearts of all the peoples of the world, and everybody will have their chance. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. See, Jesus Christ has come. He has paid the price for sin. He set us free. He's removed our sins as far as the East is from the West. We have received the earnest of the Spirit, the down payment on eternal life, and there is great liberty. The death penalty is no longer on our head.

We're unencumbered in that sense. The handwriting of ordinances against us has been nailed to the stake. Jesus Christ paid the penalty. He is our propitiation. But we all, with face upholding as a glass, the glory of the Lord, like a mirror, are changed in the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. So that means that, just like you might look in the mirror and you see yourself reflected, we are to be reflectors of God's Spirit and His Word in our lives.

The veil has been taken away, but there is so much more. As we have noted, God removes the veil through three things. The Holy Spirit, the Word, and the preaching of the Word. All of those elements are necessary. The Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the preaching of the Word. And then there is, of course, action required on the part of the Hearer. Look at verse 16 again, 2 Corinthians 3, 16.

Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. So you have to respond. You have to follow up. A person must turn to God and respond to the Spirit, the Word, and the preaching. Obedience to the law will not, in and of itself, confer salvation. But it is a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Spirit. I suppose that everybody in here... Let's turn to Acts 2.38. I would hope everybody in here could quote this.

In Acts 2, verse 38, the culmination, as it were, of Peter's inspired sermon on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2.38. When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart. As it says in verses 36-37, pricked in their heart and asked the question, men and brethren, what shall we do? And the response that Peter gave, verse 38, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

But so, there are conditions to receiving the gift. There are conditions for receiving the gift. We'll follow up on that a bit. Now you look at Acts 3, forward a page or so. In Acts 3, verse 19, Repent you therefore, and be converted. Now the Greek word for converted is epistrepho, spelled just the way it sounds, e-p-i-s-t-r-e-p-h-o, and it means literally to turn about, go the other way, turn to the worship of the true God, surrender, submit, serve the true God, repent you therefore, and be converted.

Turn about. Turn to God, worship God, surrender, submit, serve, that your sins may be blotted out when the times are refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Salvation is of grace, and it is a gift, but there are conditions to being recipients of His grace, and the gift of eternal life. There are conditions to being recipients of His grace, and the gift of eternal life. There are conditions. So look at Ephesians. Ephesians 2, begin in about verse 8.

Ephesians 2, Ephesians 1 of the prison epistles. Ephesians 2, verse 8. For by grace are you saved. Now if you just put a period there and go to the house, for by grace are you saved. The word grace is carris, C-H-A-R-I-S, and it means divine favor. I gave a sermon about a year ago.

It was posted on the church's website for quite a long time, several days, back in August, September of 2014. It is because of God's grace, divine favor, that He created us in the first place. Grace and love go hand in glove. Because God so loved us, He extended His favor, He created us and has given us an opportunity to be in His family and in His kingdom.

So if it were not for grace, that taking place obviously couldn't be saved. Or by grace are you saved. How? There is a process even here through faith.

Now faith, in simplest terms, means to believe God, do what He says. Hebrews 11.1 says, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. What is the greatest thing you hope for? You hope for eternal life in the kingdom of God. Things unseen, the Spirit of God, which moves. It's a miraculous thing, conversion is. By grace are you saved through faith. Now this phrase, that not of yourselves. Now some people think that not of yourselves modifies faith. In other words, you don't have to have... The faith is not of yourself. I can name the name of a prominent evangelist that we went round and round for a long time and I never changed his mind. But anyhow, now this phrase, not of yourselves, refers to salvation. It's the free gift. Now faith is something that you exercise in believing God and doing what he says. See, if faith... If you didn't have a role to play in faith, if anybody was ever lost, it would be God's fault. Because he didn't give them enough faith. Now you play a role in faith.

When Christ comes again, those that are with him are called, chosen, and faithful. It's through faith that we overcome the world. So, for the grace you saved through faith, you have to believe. Faith has two broad aspects. That is, in the mind and in the heart, you have to believe what God says. That your sins are forgiven, that he has removed them as far as the east is from the west. And that the same has happened for your brother. People who have been just physically converted oftentimes think that everybody else is just like them. And so they slander, they talk, they stab in the back, they do all kinds of things. Not truly being converted, thinking that they're like them. There's even... Oh, your place! I didn't intend to do this, but I brought it up. Look at Psalm 50. In Psalm 50, verse 15, Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you. You shall glorify me, but under the wicked God says, What have you to do to declare my statues, or that you should take my covenant in your mouth, seeing you hate instruction and cast my words behind you? Oh, they listen, but they really don't... The word doesn't really make an impact on their lives. Nothing changes. When you saw a thief, then you consented with him. You've been partaker with adulterers. You gave your mouth to evil and your tongue frames to seek. You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother's son. These things have you done, and I kept silence. You thought that I was altogether such a one as yourself. How could you possibly ever think that? But I will reprove you and set them in order before your eyes. Now consider this, you that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver. Whoso offers praise glorifies me. Let's get into worship again. And to him that orders his conduct aright will I show the salvation of God. Now continuing in Ephesians 2. By grace are you saved through faith. And faith, you have to make a conscious decision. I'm going to repent. I'm going to exercise faith in the sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sins that are past. I'm willing to make a public profession of my faith to be baptized, to make a commitment. That not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Salvation is the gift of God. See, faith is inextricably linked to obedience. Show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works. That's what James writes in James 2. So there are conditions to the free gift. Physical surrender, submission, obedience are necessary. But conversion goes on beyond that. It is a miraculous thing. But there are conditions along the way. Hundreds of people through the years have affiliated with the church. And they've affiliated because of various reasons. But were they convicted by the Spirit and Word of God?

And just like today, if they were convicted, did they turn to God with their whole heart? Many affiliated. Prophecy. Well, I really like what they say about prophecy and understand something about world events and how things are going to be in the future. And people have an obsession with knowing the future. To be on a knowledge trip, oh, I understand things that most people don't, or help for their problems, or their family goes there, their friends, and on and on. They bought the hook that got their attention. But the hook is not necessarily what the gospel is all about. People who do not comprehend the nature of conversion fail because they themselves have only a physical or superficial conversion. It is of themselves. It is not of God. They are like the apostles before Pentecost, not understanding their weaknesses. They slander and attack others like we read in Psalm 50.

Attack others for sins long forgiven and passed. You know, running for president, they dig up things that you did in kindergarten. It's like nothing is ever passed over, as it were.

David sometimes, some ministers, it seems, preaches David more than they do Christ. A murderer, an adulterer, a murderer, counted Israel, going against the commandment of God, resulting in the death of thousands. The apostle Paul, whose mission was to kill Christians, but yet they repented. Look what they did. And they're highly commended in Scripture. Attack others for sins long forgiven and yet condone sins among themselves and the leadership because of respect of persons. Oh, they are somebody. Maybe they'll get me where I want to be or whatever a person might think in their minds.

Often people see sin in others while there is greater sin in themselves, which they ignore. Through the inability to understand spiritual conversion and the removal of sin upon repentance, malice and slander and evil enter into the church. Only by our obedience can we be in a position to deal with the disobedience of the world in the age to come. The gospel message is about repentance, conviction, commitment, courage, conversion, surrender, submission, service. That's the heart of the matter. Note the words of Jesus as He began His public ministry. Let's go to Mark 1. The words of Jesus Christ Himself when He began His public earthly ministry. Mark 1.14.

Now after the John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent you and believe the gospel. Here's this word, repentance. What is the starting point with regard to Christ's preaching? Repent and believe the gospel. See, there's a condition. As we've already mentioned, what Peter said on the day of Pentecost. Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Bible contains valuable information on many topics, but the central thrust and theme of the Bible centers in God's purpose for bringing sons and daughters to glory.

We must be circumcised in heart, and being circumcised in heart is a spiritual matter. Now, part of the Abrahamic covenant, circumcision, it's talked about in Genesis, chapter 15, I think also 17, was a physical thing, but it was an outward sign that they were of the congregation of Israel. Circumcision came to be just like everything to the Jews. Outward physical circumcision. So great it was that it almost flipped the first century church. Paul and Barnabas had to go up to Jerusalem and have the big Acts 15 conference over the question, was it necessary to be circumcised in order to be justified?

And of course, you know that the answer was, no, you don't have to be. In Romans, chapter 2, circumcision of the heart, Romans, chapter 2, in Romans, chapter 2, as we have said so often, Romans, chapter 1 takes the Gentiles to task. Romans, chapter 2, I don't know what I said. Romans, chapter 1 takes the Gentiles to task. Romans, chapter 2 takes the Jews. We break in a bit on the thought, but we pick it up quickly. Verse 21, You therefore, which teach another, the Jews, teach you not yourself. You that preach men should not steal. Do you steal? You that say a man should not commit adultery. Do you commit adultery? You that abhor us idols, do you commit sacrilege?

You that make your boast of the law. Oh, we know the law. We're God's people. All of them. We've been promised the, quote, Holy Land. God promised it to us. And so He did. A lot of conditions. You that make your boast of the law through breaking the law dishonors you, God. Don't you realize that you're dishonoring God if you do that? For the name of God is blasphemed among the nations through you as it is written. For circumcision barely profits if you keep the law, but if you be a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision. You just want to look at it in legal terms, physically.

Therefore, if the circumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision, therefore, if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, that's the Gentiles, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision, which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge you, who by the letter in circumcision do transgress the law? You're not more righteous because of a physical doing. So Paul then gets to the heart of the matter, and it doesn't mean that you're not supposed to obey. Obviously not. But the point that he's driving to is this, for he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. I mean, you can be circumcised, but you can be as evil as any person that's ever lived. But he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit, and not in the letter. In the letter means just that which is written in the physical sense, whose praise is not of men but of God. Circumcision of the heart is by the Spirit of God, and that is not of men, it is of God. So how does this process of being circumcised in heart work? A circumcised heart and conversion could basically be equated. Circumcision of the heart and conversion are spiritual matters. Now let's turn to John 6, 63, the oft quoted by me, John 6, 63. Instead of focusing on the last part, this time I want to focus on the first part of the verse. In John 6, 63, it is the spirit that quickens. It is the spirit that makes alive. It is the spirit that gives life. It is the spirit that quickens. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. Apart from the spirit, you only have this physiochemical existence. We do not have inherent eternal life abiding in us. As we note here, the spirit gives life. It's eternal life. It's spirit life. Upon repentance, baptism, and the laying out of hands, we receive new life from the Father through Christ. Let me repeat that. Upon repentance, faith in the sacrifice of Christ, baptism, laying out of hands, we receive this new life, this life from above. Look at John 15, 26. I know this verse was in the sermon last week about, is the Holy Spirit your teacher? But when the comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, has come, this is John 15, 26. When the comforter has come, whom I will send unto you, I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, Talmuma, which proceeds from the Father, it shall testify of me. The Holy Spirit comes from the Father. He is the begator. Of course, word check, spell check, would flag that. But He is the one that engenders new life in you. Now back of page John 14, 26. But the comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father shall send in my name, it shall teach you all things, bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. Now look at 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 12. These two verses I would say are perhaps the two greatest unity verses in the whole Bible. 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 12.

For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body being many are one body, so also is Christ. The great rhetorical question of 1 Corinthians is, is Christ divided? And from calling to the resurrection, the resounding answer is, no, He's not divided. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Conversion is of the Spirit. The veil is only lifted through the Spirit of God. Now note John 3.7. Of course, John 3.7 played a big role back in the early 90s with regard to, are you born again now or are you not? We are begotten of the Spirit now. We have the earnest down payment on eternal life. Where does that down payment come from? It comes from the Father. Now, John 3.7, Jesus Christ is in this discourse with Nicodemus in talking about how you receive the Spirit.

Marvel not that I say unto you, you must be born again. And Nicodemus had asked the question about do you enter into the womb the second time, and Christ says, no, you have to be born of water and of blood, that when a baby is born physically, it is of water, so-called water breaks. When a baby is later born, sometimes very close together, sometimes later, and then of blood, that is through Jesus Christ, our sins are emitted, which enables us to be viewed as sinless so the Father can give us His Spirit.

Now, two words here focus on you must be born. The Greek word there is kenao. When used of the mother, it means to bring forth, to give birth. When used of the Father, it means to engender, to beget. Now, the word that is translated again is the Greek word anothin, a-n-o-t-h-e-n, it's spelled just the way it sounds, a-n-o-t-h-e-n, anothin, or anothin, and some pronounce it.

And it means to receive something from above. It literally means from above. In other words, you have to be conceived from above, from a higher place, from God. By one Spirit, we all baptize into one body. A higher place, the Spirit of God, which comes from God. Now, it can mean again, and if you're just strictly talking to Nicodemus, says, well, do you enter into the womb a second time, and you might say, well, you have to be born again, but in the manner in which that is, you must not be confused.

We know, and know with it, we know, and I don't care what anybody ever says, that the physical birth is equated with the resurrection in Psalm 2 and Acts 13 and Revelation 1, that it is upon birth that you are, you become a Spirit being.

Of course, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4, we're familiar with all of those scriptures. Now, look at James 1, which also leads Linz Cretton to this in James 1, beginning in verse 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. An oath. You must be born from above. And once again, born, it can mean to bring forth, to give birth, or to be kept.

You must be begotten from above. That has to happen first. Then, upon resurrection, you are, quote, literally, born into the family of God as a spirit son or daughter of God. Every good gift, every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights with whom is no wearableness. Neither shadow of his turning of his own will beget he us with the word of truth. See the two great convicting agents, the word of God, the Spirit of God, and they are equated in John 6, 63, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. See the beautiful unity, once again, of the Scripture. To me, this is so very exciting.

The Father begets us to new life from above. Now turn to Romans 8, Romans 8, verse 14. Time is fleeting. We must convey many more precious truths here, hopefully, in Romans 8 and verse 14. In Romans 8, verse 14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

If you're led by the Spirit of God, you're the children of God. The Spirit through the word of God imparts to us a new mind. This is really important to grasp. The Spirit through the word of God imparts to us a new mind, a new conscience, a new knowing within.

Now, you have some, most people have some sense of right and wrong, if their parents have taught them anything, even before knowing the truth. Basically, the sense of right and wrong has to do with the way people are reared and the culture they grow up in. But if you are called into God's marvelous light, then you have an opportunity to have a new knowing within, a new conscience, which is of God.

The children of God are led by the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of God and the word of God imparts to us a new mind, a new conscience, a new knowing within. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit. So let's read another verse or two. So, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, there are the sons of God, for you have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship.

Oeothecia! It's not adoption, it is literally sonship, because the very essence that is in God comes into you, just like with engendering physical children, the very essence of the Father begets, and it is of the Father and the Mother, that a new life is engendered. We have received the Spirit of sonship, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

See, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit is an interesting phrase, but not really understood, I suspect. The mind of humans resides in the brain. That's a great revelation. But listen, by that I mean when the brain is severely injured, so is the mind.

Even if a person has been begotten of God's Spirit, when his or her brain is injured or deteriorates, as in dementia or Alzheimer's, the Holy Spirit does not lead apart from the brain. Note verse 14 again. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. The Holy Spirit in the Word of God convicts, leads, guides, serves as a compass as to what is right or wrong.

But the Holy Spirit does not possess a person. The Holy Spirit in the Word of God imparts a new conscience, a new knowing within. Now look at Ephesians 4. To me, this is very important to grasp, to understand, and makes it a lot more clear. In Ephesians 4 verse 21, If so, that you have heard him and have been taught of him, as the truth is in Jesus, so last week as the Holy Spirit your teacher, or as God your teacher, Christ your teacher, the Holy Spirit your teacher, that you put off concerning the former conduct, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

So that Holy Spirit imparts to you a new mind, and we're exhorted to be led by the Spirit of God. The Word of God reveals the mind of the Spirit. See, God never takes away from us this ability of freedom to choose, unless, of course, the brain is injured or severely diseased. I've dealt with people, dealt is not the right word, experience gone through with the family, people here in this area back in the late 70s, Alzheimer's, in which a sweet, loving kind of person through Alzheimer's becomes unmanageable.

And the brain is basically gone, and God, some of these people in that, not saying that this person did necessarily, but some do, talk about how much they hate those who are trying to take care of them and all kind of things. See, God still, even when you have the Holy Spirit, it's up to you to exercise that Spirit and we're commanded not to quench the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5, 19. Now, look at Romans here at the first part of the chapter. Verse 1, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. How did he condemn sin in the flesh? That even though, as Paul explains in the preceding chapter, that the mind of the flesh wars against the mind of the Spirit, that through the spiritual mind you can mortify the mind of the flesh.

Christ did it perfectly, showing that you can live in the flesh and mortify the flesh. Put it to death. And I know immediately you say, well, you can't do it perfectly, but okay, we'll grant you that. But that doesn't mean you're not supposed to strive for that.

Let's continue. 2 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us. The righteousness of the law, circumcised in heart, might be filled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. How do you walk after the Spirit? Well, it's new knowing within the conscience, the new mind that is revealed through the Word of God. For they that are of the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But that's not where you are. So he concludes this with verse 13. If you then mortify the deeds of the flesh, you should live.

Of course, the opposite is true if you don't. So God doesn't take away voluntary obedience. You or I, even though we've received the Holy Spirit of Begettle, we can quench the Spirit. We are exhorted in 1 Thessalonians 5.19. Quench not the Spirit. Quenching the Spirit leads to the unpardonable sin, and that's what's happened to so many that walk the streets in this area.

Am I the ultimate judge? No, I'm not. I don't know if they have quenched it to the point to where there is no Spirit.

God holds us responsible for our actions as long as our mental faculties can discern right from wrong. So a person who suffers brain injury or a deterioration of his or her faculties because of disease or injury is not accountable for behavior that would be otherwise considered sin. They're just—they have Alzheimer's. They have whatever.

But thankfully, even though our brains and minds may deteriorate, the Spirit of God abides forever.

In the grave, there's no consciousness or awareness. That does not mean that the Spirit resides within us now, ceases to exist, even though there's no consciousness.

See, as far as when the brain goes when you die, that Spirit that is in you, it still exists.

So, you look at Romans 8, 11.

Romans 8 and verse 11.

But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you— I say, when you die, there's no consciousness, but the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, does not cease to exist— He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken, make a lie, your mortal bodies, by His Spirit that dwells in you.

And as Jesus Christ faced death, He said, Father, into your hands, commend I You, my Spirit, my life essence.

Of course, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and so we will be too.

It is now, upon death, the care of the Father, who will resurrect us from the dead. We just read it.

God promises to write His law on our inward parts. Look at Hebrews 8.

How does He write His law on our inward parts? Through the Spirit and Word of God.

So we have this new conscience, this new knowing within our being that is supposed to overrule and ride over the old man, the flesh.

The veil hath been lifted.

In Romans, I'm sorry, Hebrews 8, verse 8, for finding fault with them, He said, Behold, the days come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with the fathers, and the day when I took them by the hand, led them out of Egypt, because they continue not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, says the Lord.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord.

I will put my laws into their hearts, write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

Now, in chapter 10, something similar is said. Chapter 10.

In chapter 10, verse 15, Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us, for after that He said before, This is a covenant that I will make with them after those days, says 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.

So we have entered into the terms of that new covenant.

But the writing of the law of God on our hearts requires our active participation.

We have to hide the Word of God in our hearts. We read that verse, or verse is, from Psalm 119, last Sabbath. Psalm 119, verses 9 through 11. Your Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Jesus brought a revolutionary message. He challenged the religious leaders of the day. He came and magnified the law, explained the spiritual intent of the law.

And so did the other Gospel writers and Paul and the writers of the General Epistles.

Jesus delivered one of the most scathing, scolding rebukes that has ever been recorded that I know of to the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23.

Look at Matthew 23.

In Matthew 23, of course, he's already said a lot before this point, but we get the flavor and we make the point.

See, the ministry in the Church of God is to preach the Word of God. It is a spiritual matter. There are a lot of counterfeit Gospels out there.

There are a lot of people who continue to compromise with this world.

There are a lot of old-line denominations that have changed their doctrine.

Homosexuality is all right now. Same-sex marriage, that's okay. Abortion, that's all right.

And it goes on and on. The prosperity Gospel.

I watched a video recently of people taking Joel Osteen to task.

It is presenting highlights of various interviews he's given on CBS, Fox, CNN, Oprah Winfrey Show, so on and so on. And it shows the very essence of the how pathetic it really is.

But yet, thousands are attracted because there's nothing you have to do but feel good about yourself and believe you're the greatest.

I don't have time, but I'll tell it in a minute. You heard the story, but Kenny Rogers has a song titled, I Am the Greatest.

It's about this little boy who's out playing baseball with himself, and he does various things, and at the end of each of it, he says, you know, I'm the greatest.

So it shows him out, he's pitching the ball up, the ball goes up, the ball comes down, swings, strike one. Same thing, strike two. Same thing, strike three.

He said, I never knew I could pitch like that. I am the greatest.

And in spite of striking out, see, that's the way some people are. In spite of striking out, he is still the greatest.

You know, Scripture tells us that we cannot love God and the world. Matthew 23, 23.

Woe, new scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, you pay tithe the men, Annas, and coming, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law.

Judgment, mercy, and faith, these ought you to have done and not to leave the other undone. See, the very spiritual intent. See, if we were to exercise judgment, mercy, and faith, we would continually walk in a reconciled position with God and with our neighbor.

But the scribes and the Pharisees were more interested in how they looked and what others thought about them than they were of obeying God from the heart.

So today we have shown that people are not converted by good works alone. Conviction resides in the spiritual realm. It is the spirit and the word that convicts.

Jesus states, the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the young evangelist Timothy, exhorted him in 2 Timothy 4 to preach the word, to be instant in season, out of season, to exhort, to rebuke, with all long suffering and doctrine.

For the time will come in which they will not endure sound doctrine, but with itching ears turning themselves those who teach fables.

So, brethren, we are engaged in the spiritual war. The mind of the flesh wars against the mind of the spirit. We are admonished to put on the whole armor of God.

We do have spiritual weapons. These spiritual weapons can defeat anything that anybody or Satan throws against us.

There is no trial, there is no difficulty, there is nothing that cannot be overcome.

Christ says, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Christ is our anchor, our rock, and through him, and through faith in him and God the Father, he will deliver us.

So God the Father, through Jesus Christ, has lifted the veil from our hearts and minds.

And we can now live in the Holy of Holies, instant access, 24-7, 365, to the greatest power in the universe.

The Holy Spirit proceeding from God and appear before him and his throne.

So, brethren, let's be thankful. The veil has been lifted.