Good morning. My wife, Penny, sends her love. She could not make it this morning, but I know she would have loved to have been here. All right, if you wish to follow along, turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. What I want to do this morning is read, or begin reading, in verse 16, and I will read to the end of the chapter, where the Apostle Paul, of course, is continuing, and he writes these words. Wherefore, henceforth, know we no man after the flesh. Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation to wit. that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Let me begin by saying this, that this passage is for comfort, not rebuke. This passage is for consolation, not interrogation. This passage is for assurance, not reproach. Now, you may wonder, You may understand this. You may wonder, why does he say that? The reason is that some of you may can relate to this. I do not know. When I was very young, I was basically what we call born and raised in the Association of Regular Baptists. And I vividly remember on many occasions, especially when we would have revival meetings. Anybody know about the revival meetings? I would remember, I remember Very much men preaching from verse 17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. But I don't recall it ever being preached in the way of comfort. It was always some kind of interrogation. It was always kind of getting at people that you're not quite like you ought to be. I remember some. And I remember this vividly, would even teach that if you're in Christ Jesus, if you're a new creature, for instance, if you were a drunk before God saved you, he takes away even your desire to drink again. I was taught that. I was steeped under such doctrine. All of us knew better than that. We all knew better than that. But that's what we taught. That's what I constantly heard. That was my old religion, but they never, I don't ever recall them ever mentioning or preaching about verse 16. And while I do remember them preaching on some of the things in verses 18 through 21, I don't recall ever hearing anyone ever actually explaining what it says. My title this morning is this, assurance that I am a new creature. You see Paul here in this brief context, now there's more to it than what I've read, of course, but Paul here clearly delineates two areas, two areas where flesh and new creature differ, knowing man, and knowing Christ. That's where the difference is at. Do you see it? Wherefore, henceforth, know we no man after the flesh, yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore, do you see it? Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. What is that? That knowledge of man after the flesh. That thing of the knowledge of Christ after the flesh. Behold, all things are become new. You see, this is the battleground of all the scripture. This book teaches two major themes, the glory and the honor of God in Christ Jesus and our absolute, utter corruption before God. That's what this whole book is about. This is the battleground. So again, I say this passage is for comfort. It's given to God's people for consolation. It's given to us for assurance. And Billy, I might add even reassurance. Because I am never confident about myself. What about you? I find myself being fully persuaded of the Word of God. But when I look in here, I see nothing but doubt and fear Trembling, I see unbelief. You see, the flesh has many faces. What I'm trying to do this morning is not preach about the flesh, but preach about the new creature. Notice Paul simply mentions Wherefore, henceforth know we no man after the flesh. Yea, though we've known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. But he never ever defines it, does he? But he does define what it is to be a new creature in Christ. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. All things are of God, he said. Hmm. Flesh has many faces. It's a Subtle imitator. Flesh will walk right up to the kingdom of God, but it refuses to bow down to Jesus Christ. Flesh can induce faith, but it's not a faith that justifies. Faith bows to Christ. Faith believes Christ. The flesh is an imposter. Now hear me, anything short, anything short of, anything that ignores, anything that rejects, anything that ridicules, anything that bypasses the truth that Paul declares in our text is flesh. That's the whole point. We don't have to talk about all the things of which the flesh consists, we need to talk about the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And everything opposite of that is flesh. Do you see? What are you seeing there? It is flesh. Flesh has knowledge. You see it? Wherefore, henceforth know we no man, how? After the flesh. Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. You see, if you and I know man and Christ in this new way, this way which Paul describes here in our text, then we can be assured that we are new creatures in Christ Jesus. The flesh cannot bow to what is taught here. It may scholastically hold to these things. It may kind of believe the doctrines, but it cannot love them, believe them, and bow to Christ. Now, think about this. The flesh will say this. The flesh says, well, you emphasize God's sovereignty in salvation too much. Of course God's sovereign, but don't get carried away with it. Your flesh ever tell you that? Mine does. But notice the first thing Paul does in describing the new creature is, and all things are of God. That's the way he starts it out. and all things are of God. You see, knowing the absolutely sovereign God is new creature. That's what it's all about. It's new creature, especially, especially in salvation. Years ago, I used to hear that God is sovereign, except in salvation. And yet, when Paul talks about salvation, right here in our text, is that not what he's talking about in our text? Reconciliation? He starts out with, and all things are of God. Isn't that amazing? Consider this. God doesn't have spurts of sovereignty. He doesn't have sovereign spasms. I hear people say, I believe that Christ is God. Okay. But do you believe God is God? Do you believe God is God? Thousands upon thousands in their flesh confess that they believe Jesus Christ is God, but they deny who God is. Therefore, they have gained nothing but condemnation to their souls. There's no spurts of sovereignty with God. God is absolutely always sovereign. All things are of God. But let us note that this sovereignty is vouchsafed in the person of his son. Listen to Colossians, what Paul wrote to the believers of the Church of Colossae. He wrote these words, and he's speaking of Christ. Verse 16 of Colossians 1, for by him, he's talking about Christ, for by him were all things created. You see that? He's the creator. Jesus Christ himself is God the creator. For by him, all things were created that are in heaven, that are in earth, whether you can see them or you can't, right? Visible or invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for him. Look at it. And he is before, that doesn't mean simply in line, it means he is superior to. And he is before all things and by Christ and by him, all things consist. I believe that truly we can say that being a new creature in Christ is to say amen to and love and worship the God whom Paul says, and all things are of God. Now the flesh may say, but yes, yes, man's depraved, but don't emphasize man's depravity too much. Isaiah the prophet said this, we are nothing but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. That sounds pretty rough to me. But it's more than being found in a couple spots about us. He said, we are that from the top of our head to the soles of our feet. Paul puts it this way, that both Jew and Gentile alike, that they are all under sin. Some say, well, we believe in total depravity, but man's not as bad as he could be. Oh, yes, we are. God just restrains most of us most of the time. But look around you. Look at the TV. Look what's happening in our society today. God is lifting that restraint. And men or women are beginning to manifest what they truly are in the flesh. And that's me, and that's you in your flesh. You see, according to what Paul says, we know this new knowledge, this new creature knows we need reconciliation. You see that? Reconciliation. That is not the same as what you do on your bank account every month when you sit down with the readout and you make sure that you have the same amount as your bank says you have the same amount. And then you have to go back and change some of the numbers because you missed something. This is true reconciliation. This is God taking his enemies and removing all obstacles where a holy God can be just and yet justify the ungodly. Yeah, the ungodly. A godly man would need no justification. Isn't this exactly what Paul wrote to us in Romans? Listen to Romans chapter 5, verse 6. For when we were yet without strength, so in our flesh, how much strength did we have? Zero. None. Goose egg. Zero. We are as bad as we can be. And all God does is lift that restraint for a moment, and you'll begin to show it. Now, I'm about to say something, and I know this would be argued against by many in the medical profession. And I don't mean this to try to be offensive, but my mother, a believer in Christ, has for several years now had dementia. and Alzheimer's. Shelby, she conducted herself at times in ways that I would have never expected to see that woman conduct herself. Somebody said, but that's not her. Now wait a minute. That is her. That's the disease taking away the inhibitions and the flesh will begin to manifest itself. People say they see a man or a woman drunk on the street and acting out and they say that's not the way they conduct themselves when they're sober. No, maybe not. But it's what they really are down inside. We need to be reconciled. Because we're what? Without strength. In due time, Christ died for the, what's that word? Ungodly. So unless you find yourself in the place of being ungodly, I have the authority of God's Word to tell you Jesus Christ did not die for you. Because he died for the ungodly. Is that not what that says? So as long as any individual thinks, but I'm godly, I'm not that bad, Christ only died for people that are that bad. That's what this says. Look. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet per adventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. I can tell you this morning, if you know, if God's taught you that you are without strength, that you are ungodly, that you are a sinner, I will tell you Christ died for you. But if you don't know that, I don't have the right to tell you he died for you. Let's go on. Much more than being now justified, what does it say? Do you see that next phrase? It does not say justified by faith, though that is true. Don't get me wrong, but that's not what it says here, does it? Much more than being now justified by his blood. Listen to me. Faith would not be worth anything were it not for the justified blood of Jesus Christ. Were it not for the blood death of Jesus Christ, we could believe all we want, we would still perish under the judgment of God. Much more than being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if when we were, what's that word? Enemies. Enemies, you see? Enemies. We weren't just mildly antagonistic toward God. Enemies. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God, what's that say? By the death of his son. I am here to declare this morning that if you were not reconciled when Christ died on that tree, you will never be reconciled to God. The act of reconciliation is done. It's done. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. That lets me know that everyone that he died for, he reconciled. And everyone he reconciled will be saved. He goes on to say that we will receive by Jesus Christ that very reconciliation. So again, the flesh says, but don't overemphasize God's sovereignty. I know this, it may not even be good English. God's as sovereign as you can get. The very definition of God is sovereign. Sovereign. And the very definition of, in need of reconciliation, lets me know that I was an enemy of God. Oh yeah, I loved my religion. I loved what orthodoxy I had when I was in the flesh. But when God sent a man with the gospel, and he was in a church building, to put that in quotes, Probably 150 people or so. And that one man, he wasn't preaching. Really, all I was hearing was error. And I was one of the ones preaching it. And God sent one man to that congregation that sat down in a pew and began to talk to me about what God had done for him. And I remember thinking of that man, he's nuts. I preach with that man now at Sovereign Grace Chapel. You know why? Because God had reconciled me. I thought I was a pretty good fellow. A lot of my immorality I'd kind of cast to the side. Become a pretty good individual. But I was as proud against God as I ever was. And when God began to bring me the truth, you know how I responded in here? I may not have said it much out here. That cannot be the truth. You remember yourself conducting yourself that way? Maybe you did that right here in this congregation. Right here. I don't believe. Not that strongly, not that much. Yeah, I kind of know it's in the Bible, but all of a sudden something changed. We know as a new creature in Christ, we know we need reconciliation. The flesh also may say, well, but you just We know there's a need of redemption, there's a need of salvation, but just don't overemphasize it. Give me something to do. You remember the rich young ruler? He asked the Lord what good thing he could do to inherit eternal life. The Lord said, keep the commandments. And he basically said, I'm paraphrasing, Lord, give me something hard to do. I've done that all my life since my youth. Didn't he? You know what Christ told him to do? Now listen to me. He said, you sell everything you got. You give it to the poor and you take up your cross and you come follow me. Does that works? It certainly was effort. You know what it says he did though? He went away sorrowfully. because he loved what he had in this world more than he loved his own soul. That's an enemy of God. As a matter of fact, it says he ran up to Christ and worshiped him. That lets me know he evidently barely bowed down before him and said, good master. That's the first thing he said. Good master. You know what Christ said to him? Why? Callest thou me good. He didn't even know what he was saying. He was saying what was true. He was and is the good master for he is God almighty, the creator. And that man knew him after the flesh, but he didn't know him as a new creature. Do you see the difference? I mean three, I think it's three, forgive me if I'm wrong. Back in Numbers 22 through 24, Balaam preached three of the strongest sovereign grace messages ever to be preached and recorded in Holy Scripture. And in two instances, he gives direct reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Balaam knew him after the flesh. But according to both Peter and Jude, he was an apostate. And he did his preaching for this. For this. Don't emphasize this thing about redemption too much. What does Paul say? And all things are of God, who hath. Do you see the language? This was the problem where I used to be. They never talked about what the book actually says. They would say things like, well, what that means is. No, it means exactly what it says. You don't need me to interpret it. I am here to proclaim it. It's already been interpreted by those that God moved by His Spirit to put it on the paper. It's already been translated into our English language, and it says, and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. You see that? Hath. And my flesh says, well, but he made it possible. That's not what that says, is it? Look, to wit, In other words, Paul was saying, now let me explain exactly what I mean so that there is no misunderstanding. To wit, that God, do you see that next word? W-A-S. Now I am no, well, you probably listened to this message, you could tell, I'm no English scholar by any means. I'm an old West Virginia hillbilly up in the holler. But I do know this, to wit, or that is to say, that God was in Christ reconciling. All this is past tense, is it not? Am I wrong about that? Will anybody dare stand up and say, well, preacher, you're misinterpreting it. I'm just reading. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, to wit that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. All still past tense. And somebody says, but preacher, it says the world. Yeah, that's right. We have a world series of baseball, don't we? And the United States has won it every year. You ever notice that? We use that word knowing that the word world doesn't mean everybody without exception, but then we call God's word on it. When it uses the word world, we say, well, that's got to mean everybody without exception. Never does, never has. John says the whole world lies in wickedness. And I'm paraphrasing now, 1 John 5, except for you. That's what he says. Except for you, believers. To wit, or that is to say that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Yeah, the flesh says, well, but that's not, come on preacher, really it's not that important. The main thing is to get people to believe in Jesus. No. The main thing is for people to believe the record God gave of his son. That's what the scripture calls faith. Not believing the facts, the historical reality, or even the accurate orthodox doctrine of Jesus Christ, but it's to believe the record God gave of his son. I have just read to you that record. Do you believe him? or not? Did he do what this book said he did or not? If you believe that, you say, Preacher, I'm convinced of that. You are a new creature. You are. You are. But Preacher, you don't know me. No, you don't know you. I don't know me. Aren't you glad God don't really let us see everything we really are? It would drive us mad. That's right. Everybody today is wanting to. What's the phrase? Come out of the closet. I want to stay in the closet. I don't need you knowing all that I am. Because you already know. You're just like me. You're just like me. But if you believe this record God gave his son, you're a new creature. Now listen to me. I don't care what your flesh is. And somebody says, even if it's corrupt? No, there's no if about it. It is corrupt. Tim James put it this way. How we live in this world does matter, but it don't count. Now think about that one. How we live in this world does matter, but it don't count before God. Before God. I will just give you an illustration, and this is God's Word. People can, the flesh will point its fingers. Oh, that's license. You've heard that? That's license to sin. There's a man in the scripture called L-O-T. You remember him? L-O-T, Lot. Now I have to be blunt here. The book is. You know what's the last record we have of this man, Lot? Do you remember what it is? He was drunk in a cave and ended up siring two children by his own daughters. Yes or no? Is that what this book says or not? That's what it says, doesn't it? And that's the last we hear of him. Shelby, is that not the facts? But you know what Peter says? He was a righteous man with a righteous soul. I don't want to be a lot, but I want to be a lot. Can you relate to that? I don't want to be a lot, But I want to be a lot because I'm just like him. Were it not for the restraining providence of God Almighty, we would all be Charlie Mansons. That's right. Even you nice folk. Some of you may have never lifted up a hand to anybody. but it's only because of the restraining power of God Almighty that we're not demonic. Think about it. Do you ever, you think about this thing in the scripture of demonic possession and we, we often think of that screaming and yelling and foaming and that's certainly so. But you remember there was one man in a synagogue who had a demon. And when Christ came to that synagogue, you know what that man said? Leave us alone. He did not want Jesus Christ. He told Jesus Christ to leave. But Christ didn't. Aren't you glad there's some prayer that he doesn't answer? He saved him anyway. Didn't he? That's what he did for me. And that's what he did for you. Now again, the flesh has many faces. It may vary somewhat, but we were all antagonistic toward the record God gave of his son. We could have believed it. We may have believed it in the flesh to know it in the flesh, but we couldn't love it. The devil knows the truth. He doesn't love it. Do you find yourself now loving it? I don't care how bad you are. Do you find yourself loving Him? You're a new creature. But if you don't, you are not. I don't care what you profess, because you can know man after the flesh. You can know Christ after the flesh. Even the demons cried out this in one place of the scripture. We know who you are, the Holy One of God. That's about as orthodox as you can get, isn't it? Yet they were demonic. They were demons. And think about this. This demon, as I was going to say, this demon possession thing. The amazing thing is that a demon would feel so comfortable in me that he or it would want to come and live in me. Have you ever considered that? Somebody says, well, demons must possess only the worst. We are the worst. You don't get any worse than we are. What's astounding is that the demon himself, the demon itself, whatever the right language is, would feel comfortable in here. Somebody says, when that man that had that demon in that synagogue cried out, Lord, leave us alone, was that the man or the demon speaking? Yes. It was both of them. You see, by nature, we are under satanic influence. Ephesians chapter 2. By nature, we are under satanic influence. Our flesh is as corrupt as Lucifer himself. And you know what Lucifer's one sin was when he fell? You know that he never really ever did anything? You know what his sin was? I will. That's what his sin, I will. His problem was his will. And yet the flesh turns around and says, but ain't that the answer to everything? Our will? No, it's the problem with everything. The flesh says, but don't emphasize this substitution too personally. Well, look at what it says. For he hath made him, that is the father, hath made the son to be sin for us, who knew no sin. Bless God, that's as personal as you can get. Somebody says, explain it. I can't. The scripture calls on us to believe the record God gave of his son. It doesn't tell us to define it or understand it. It says, believe it. Think of this. You remember the Israelites in the wilderness? Remember when hundreds of them were dying because they were being what? Bitten. Right? What was biting them? A poisonous snake. What was lifted up on the pole made out of brass? What was it that was lifted up on the pole? the very problem that was taking place to the people, a serpent on a pole. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin. But here's the glory, if you're a new creature in Christ, that we might be made the righteousness of, what's that word? God. You see, I don't just have a good righteousness. I have a God righteousness. That boggles my mind. Because I know something about me. I see old Balaam in me. I see old Lot in me. Sadly, I can relate to that old demon. I can't. I hate it. I despise it. But I find myself loving Christ. Some of you do too, don't you? You love him. That means you're a new creature in Christ. That's what it's about. You know man differently and you know Christ differently. That's what it's all about. It's not about how good you are because you're not good. There's none good. No, not one. Right now, today, right here behind this podium is a sinner, an ungodly sinner, a strengthless sinner, an enemy of God in the flesh. always has been and always will be until the day I drop this body and it lays in the ground. My worst enemy, who do you think that is? It's that person I see in that mirror every morning when I wake up. And your worst enemy is you. But God reconciled enemies. Do you find yourself loving him for that? You do. You're a new creature in Christ. That's what it means to be a new creature in Christ. It doesn't mean you don't have... That's what the flesh says. Gospel preaching now. Think about it. Men and women love preaching. Get on the TV and watch some of these fellas. They film football stadiums full every Sunday. Right? I can't even think of their names, but that's okay. Their names probably don't need to be mentioned. They fill stadiums. We got empty spots all over the place. But they're still old man. We're new man. They are outside of Christ. We are in Christ because we love Christ for who he is. Look at it. and hath given unto us, not the act of reconciliation, the service of the ministry of reconciliation. That's what I'm doing right here this morning. I'm saying it's done. It's done. As the songwriter wrote, the great transaction is done. One preacher said that the difference between salvation by works and the salvation by grace is just two letters. Works is do, do, do. Grace says done, done. Do you love him for it? You're a new creature. But preacher, you don't know what I did yesterday. No, I don't, and I don't want to know. You don't want to know what I did yesterday. But if you love Christ, you believe the record God gave his son, you're a new creature. Now think about this, but that gospel preaching, you know, I would, one of my greatest fears is this, that one of those inmates I work around would come to me and say, you and Joe Osteen are my two favorite preachers. Now that would, I would just, I'd just crawl up under a rock. You know what I mean? Me and Joel Osteen, their favorite. Now, thank God they've never said that, but now that one of them may hear it somewhere, they may not try to say it. You and Joel Osteen are my favorite preacher. But you know what I wish people would say? All he does is preach Christ, Christ, Christ, Christ, Christ. That's my desire. That's the only thing that gives me comfort. When I sit at Sovereign Grace Chapel, and either one or two of the other men there that preach, when they preach Christ, I can breathe. I can rest. I can relax. I can smile. And I'm not very good at smiling. My wife always says, you look worse when you try to smile than if it just comes naturally. If you believe the record God gave of his son, you're a new creature. Think about it. That which pleases God cannot be overemphasized, get it? If it pleases God, right? Now, you know this, 1 Corinthians 1, Paul writing to the same people, the first letter he wrote to him, he wrote this. Verse 17 of 1 Corinthians 1, for Christ sent me not to baptize. Paul was not against baptism, but the message is not about baptism. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but what? But to preach the gospel. That's what it's all about. Not, you see it? Not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, what? Those who are old creature, old man, foolishness. But unto them which are saved, it's the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. I will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the arguer, the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased God. So again, I ask anyone here, If something pleases God, can you do it too much? I dare say, no, you can't. Look, for after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Do you understand how ignorant we are in the eyes of this world for doing what we do Sunday, after Sunday, after Sunday, after Sunday, just preaching the gospel, preaching Christ. Get on another subject preacher. There is no other subject worth talking about. Look at it, for the Jews require sign, the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified. And to the Jews, stumbling block, and to the Greeks, foolishness, but to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. Is my knowledge of man in Christ new? Is it different? Is it? That's the question, right? It's not something I can answer for you. It's not something you can answer for me. Is your knowledge of yourself and your knowledge of Christ different than it once was? If not, you are not new creature. But if it is, you are new creature. Listen to how the writer of Hebrews, I'll close with this. I know it'll be a little long, but I didn't drive this far just to rush through this. Listen to Hebrews chapter six, verse 11. And we desire that every one of you do shew, that show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. You see, there's nothing wrong with assurance, sister. The thing about it is, I need it every day. I don't ever get a good enough dose today that it carries me on into tomorrow. I need it every day because every day I wake up, I still see me in the mirror. A full assurance of hope unto the end, that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Now listen, for when God made promise to Abraham because he could swear. Somebody says, I thought it's wrong to swear. It is for us, but not for God because he can back up what he says. I can swear and turn around and not do what I swore I'd do. God swears it because he will do it. Look, saying, because he could swear by no greater, he swear by himself, saying, surely, blessing, I will bless thee. Do you see that? And multiplying, I will multiply thee. So what does the blessing and the multiply, who does it depend upon? God. God, look. And so after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise for men truly or verily swear by the greater and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife wherein God willing more abundantly to show under the airs of promise the immutability of his counsel God's saying it's all right to be sure about me. You can doubt yourself all day long. That's not what it's about. It's okay to doubt yourself. You ought to. You are nothing. I am nothing. But Christ is everything. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath. that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have, what's that say? Strong consolation. You see that? It's okay to have strong consolation. There's nothing wrong with that. I'm not talking about being presumptuous. I'm nothing. You're nothing. We deserve nothing but hell. But God, if he said, I'll bless you, you think I won't be blessed? I will be. Look, that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation. Now here they are. Here is the new creature who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. Have I? Have you? Which hope we have, look at it. as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whether the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus. Made an high priest after the order of Melchizedek. You see, it's okay to be assured of him. It's okay to be confident in Him. It's okay to rest in and trust Him. That's what the new creature does. Somebody asked me one time, you really believe what you preach, don't you? And I responded, I can't help it. I can't help it. I find myself believing God. I trust Him in spite of myself. Do you? You do, don't you? I know some of you, do you? You do. If you do, you're a new creature. If you don't, you're not. That's quite simple, isn't it? Quite simple. Heavenly Father, these things are so beyond us. to so lay hold of Lord that beyond us. Lord, we believe, but you must help our unbelief. We can't deal with it. We cannot handle it ourselves. Lord, but we thank you for your son. We thank you for all that he accomplished. We thank you for all that he is. Lord calls us to worship and adore Love and praise and serve Christ in his name. Amen. All right