Well, we welcome all of our listeners
to our study of the book of Malachi tonight. And as we continue through
this wonderful book that declares the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ in its way, maybe not as plain as we read in the gospels,
but we find Christ here so vivid. And we would like to read the
last verse Malachi chapter 3 and then the first two verses of
Malachi chapter 4. Now these chapter divisions were
placed there by translators and I appreciate them a great deal
because it would be difficult to take a roll or a scroll of
the Old Testament and try to find it. So they did us a favor
but sometimes they cut the chapters in between the same thought and
that's what happened here so we'd like to look at that Malachi
chapter 3 verse 18 we read this for our last lesson then shall
ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked
between him that serveth God and him that serveth not Malachi
chapter 4 verse 1 Behold the day cometh that shall
burn as an oven And all the proud yea all that do wickedly Shall
be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the
Lord of hosts That it shall leave them neither root nor branch
but verse 2 but unto you that fear my name The son of righteousness
arise with healing in his wings And ye shall go forth and grow
up as calves in the stall What a wonderful description we have
here of the Lord speaking of chaff and wheat now I have to
ask myself the question if What makes the difference between
Malachi 3.18, Malachi 4.1, and Malachi 4.2? What is the difference? The farther
a believer goes through life, the more they are thankful for
election, that their names are written in the Lamb's Book of
Life, That is the only thing that keeps the church from being
drawn aside to all the nonsense religion has. If it wasn't for
that, we would be drawn aside to all the nonsense that religion
has. Now would you turn with me over
to the book of Revelation 13. I want to illustrate this point.
The only difference between the stubble and the wheat is found
here in Revelation chapter 13 and I'd like to begin reading
with verse 1 and read down through verse 8. There's a lot of symbolic
language here in this chapter of Revelation. There's a lot
of symbolic language. The book of Revelation is filled
with symbolic language But let us never forget that this is
the book of the Lamb. This is the revelation of Jesus
Christ. If we can't see it, it's there. Let's not be drawn off in another
direction. But let us pay attention to what
we can understand, and here in the book of Revelation chapter
13, Beginning with verse 1 we have a description now this description
is a Super description of the problem that the heart has in
the fall. I there is much spoken here. Now people are going to apply.
They apply. They have applied. Their whole
religious scheme is based upon these things having some personality
or having some person that is being spoken of here. But if
we just look at this that We have a problem in the fall and
it is our nature that is the real problem and that we are
undone. We have a heart that cannot and
will not worship God and we are stuck in place and the only thing
that makes all the difference in the world is not that we're
smarter than someone else or more intelligent than someone
else, but that God had an interest in his people before the foundation
of the world, and he explains that here in this chapter. Revelation
chapter 13 verse 1, And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and
saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten
horns, and upon his heads the ten crowns, and upon his heads
the names of blasphemy." Now, let's leave it at that point.
It's a pictorial language. It's a figurative language of
a problem that we have, and that sea is not necessarily the ocean,
but it's so often in the book of Revelation we have a group
of people, and in this group of people there's a problem.
We have the problem of sin. We have a heart that is disobedient
to God, and we also have a heart that is incurable unless God
is pleased to cure it. And the beast which I saw was
like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear,
and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his
power and his great seat and great authority and I saw one
of his heads as it were wounded to death and His dead deadly
wound was healed and all the world wondered after the beast
Boy, all you have to have is someone to that goes through
some kind of religious experience and they pretend like they're
dead and actually don't believe it, and then they have a great
reformation and now we have people following them. And all they
have to do is talk about end times and they have a mob. Well,
Worshipped the dragon which gave power Unto the beast and they
worshiped the beast saying who is like unto the beast who is
able to make war with him And there was given unto him a mouth
speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given unto him
to continue for it in two months and he opened his mouth in blasphemy
against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them
that dwell in heaven and We can see here so easily that this
attitude that people have, and it is pronounced throughout the
world every religious day. There's an observation or observance
of religion. There's blasphemy against God
and blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, which is his church.
And the saints that are in heaven, they blaspheme Him and they blaspheme
God. And they mock Him and will not
believe Him. And we have the idea that pronounced
almost every Sunday in most of the churches across the land.
that blasphemy against a thrice holy God, that Jesus loves everybody
and God is trying to save everybody, and that Jesus died for everybody,
that is absolute blasphemy. God never said that. The Lord
Jesus Christ never said that, and the Word of God never said
that. In fact, we find that the Lord Himself said, I lay down
my life for the sheep. So blasphemy goes on all the
time without respect of God's Word, and then it tells us Here
in verse 7 and it was given unto him to make war with the Saints
and to overcome them and power was given him over all the kindreds
and the tongues and the nations and how these so many will follow
after this idea of religion, of free will, and all the stuff
that goes with that, and just fall in line without question,
and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names,
here's the only difference ever given, whose names are not written
in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of
the world. That is the only reason that God's people are not in
verses 1 through 7 of this chapter, is because their names are written
down in the Lamb's Book of Life, and that's the only reason that
there is wheat and chaff. Those whose names are not written
will follow, be gullible, and follow this practice and this
religion into hell. Here we find that the scriptures
teach us so plainly that God has a people, and that people
He has differentiated, and those whose names are written in the
Lamb's Book of Life, the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from
the foundation of the world, is the only thing that prevents
them from going on and acting like the rest of the folks And
also is the only reason that they are called righteous and
holy, and we'll term them as the wheat. In the book of Isaiah
chapter 45, we know this. Isaiah chapter 45, and it's quoted
in the book of Romans, and we'll be there in just a moment. But
in the book of Isaiah chapter 45, we have these words that
were recorded. that give us some insight about
God's power over all this, that He is not short of power. And it tells us here in Isaiah
chapter 45 and there in verse 23, Isaiah chapter 45, I have
sworn by myself the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness
and shall not return. Now this is the power of Almighty
God. I have sworn by myself the word
is gone out. I have power over every one of
those individuals that are listed in Revelation chapter 13 verses
1 through 8. I have power over those whose
names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. And I have
power over those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book
of Life. And I have promised in eternity past, throughout
eternity I will carry it out. That is that not one of these
That I laid down my life for not one of these whose names
are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will ever eventually
give over to the gullibility of religion, but will be satisfied
and sitting down in Jesus Christ the great high priest the rock
of our foundation it goes on in that verse of scripture says
that unto me every knee shall bow and of those that are found
in Malachi chapter 3 verse 18 Malachi chapter 4 verse 1 Revelation
chapter 13 verses 1 through 8 and the rest of the scriptures all
knees shall bow and Every tongue shall swear every tongue will
give testimony about the great God the Lord God Almighty if
you'll turn with me find that the Apostle Paul was led to use
this verse of scripture in the book of Romans the Preaching
in the New Testament is from the Old Testament. It is what
they had to preach and here in the book of Romans chapter Romans
chapter 14 in Romans chapter 14 and there in verse 11 Romans
chapter 14 in verse 11 and For it is written, As I live,
saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall
confess to God. So then everyone of us shall
give an account of himself to God. Now, when I was in religion,
I don't know how many preachers brought to my attention that
I was going to have to answer for my sins. And they've used
this verse of scripture. My friend, we find out that Jesus
Christ either took care of our sin or he did not. And if he
took care of our sin, our account and our accountant, and the one
who paid the price is our Savior, the Lord Jesus, and he will stand
up for all his. He will defend his children. He will go to bat for them, and
he will defend them. Who is it that bringeth a charge
against God's elect? It is God that justifieth. So
in here we do find, though, that everybody will bow their knee
to this God. And they may do it with gnashing
of teeth, but they will do it, and they will know that God is
right, they will know that Jesus Christ is right, and they will
know that what they did in eternity past is an honor and a glory
to God Almighty, that what He did was His business, and He
could do whatsoever He willed in the armies of heaven and among
the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay His hand. Is
not a novel thing or new to read God's judgment upon Esau's Right
here while we're in the New Testament I would like to look at a passage
of scripture and that's found in the book of 2nd Peter chapter
3 in 2nd Peter chapter 3 we find some wonderful verses of scripture
for the church, you know has been So often the church has
been attacked, but they don't realize who has put the hedge
about the church and It is a wall of fire about the church. God
has protected it by his blood Every household in Egypt that
had the blood was protected from him who had power to destroy
them and that is God and it is today that the blood of Jesus
Christ is seen and it protects God's people and here we have
in the book of 2nd Peter chapter 3 2nd Peter chapter 3 and Let me get over there. 2 Peter
3 and verse 7. 2 Peter 3 and verse 7. But the heavens and the earth
which are now by the same word are kept in store reserved unto
fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. What did we read over there in
Malachi 3 and verse 18 and Malachi 4 and verse 1? that God was going to judge the
unjust and is brought out here, but the beloved be not Ignorant
of this thing that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years
and a thousand years as one day The Lord is not slack concerning
his promise as some men count slackness But is long-suffering
to us word who is the us word the church? Who is the us word
those whose names are written down in the Lamb's Book of Life?
Who is the us word the sheep of his pasture those he died
for on the cross not willing that any should perish? But all
should come to repentance and we know this that God is the
only one that can grant repentance And we don't find ever in the
scriptures that we repent of sin. It goes far deeper We repent
it have repentance towards God We turn from ourself to him and
it is he that we have offended by our sin but the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens
shall pass away with great noise and And the elements shall melt
with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are
therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things
shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in
all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening to
the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on
fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
a fervent heat? Nevertheless, we according to His promise look
for a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Now, we know exactly when verse 12 is going to happen. Now don't
ask me to give a date, because no man knows that, but I know
this, that when the last sheep is saved, when the last one,
whose name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, when the
last one Christ died for is brought into the fold, this is going
to happen. It isn't going to be after a
certain amount of time, and we're going to have certain things
happening, we're going to have a temple built, we're going to have a
red heifer, or all that stuff that people would go after in
our world today, But we find that it's going to be when the
last sheep is saved. There is absolutely, it is blasphemy
for anybody to think that there's going to have to be the reestablishment
of animal sacrifices. What a slap in the face of the
Lord Jesus Christ who is the offering, the sacrifice that
God provided for his people that would take away sin for time
and for eternity. We're not looking for that. We're
looking for the last one to be saved, and then we look for a
new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Would
you turn with me back to the Psalms? In the Psalms we find,
again, this is not a novel thing that the Lord spoke concerning
those as he did in Malachi chapter 3 and verse 18, and also over
here in the book of Malachi chapter 4 and verse 1. There in Malachi
3, verse 18, Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous
and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth
him not. What's the difference? What makes
the difference between those two groups? And behold, the day
cometh. Malachi chapter 4 and verse 1
that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea all that do
wickedly shall be Stubble and the day that cometh shall burn
them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shall leave neither root
nor branch We might just say in passing Don't know how many
trees that we had cut down around our place when we moved into
it They were willow trees and they were very brittle and they
had a tendency of breaking and sending limbs I had him cut off
and I spent the last 10 years trying to keep those those growths
from the stump We're finally winning. Well, God said I'll
take care of it in such a manner that there will not be it will
shall be so clean I'll not leave neither root nor branch and There
will be nothing left. There will not be a remembrance
of those so in the book of Psalm Psalm 21 in Psalm 21 We have here in the Old Testament
some of the words similar to what we find there in the New
Testament about the judgment that God's going to bring upon
all those that are without Him. In Psalm 21 and verse 1, to the
chief musician, a psalm of David, the king shall joy in thy strength,
O Lord, and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice.
The king of heaven rejoices in the salvation that God has given.
He is the author and he's the finisher of this great salvation.
He is the purpose behind our salvation and he rejoices in
it and truly his people rejoice in it. And they rejoice in the
one fact that he would have grace upon them and write their names
down in the Lamb's Book of Life and they realize that this is
the only difference anywhere that would make a difference
between them and the rest. Thou hast given him his heart's
desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips, Selah.
For thou preventest him with blessings and goodness. Thou sentest a crown of pure
gold upon his head. He asked life of thee, and gavest
it him. Even length of days forever and
ever his glory is great in the salvation honor and majesty How
so laid upon him for thou has made him most blessed forever
thou has made him exceeding glad with With thy countenance for
the king trusteth in the Lord and through the mercy of the
Most High he shall not be moved thy hand shall find out all thine
enemies thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee
and God knows those. He knows them from eternity past. He already knows who are all
his enemies. He knows who are those not written
in the Lamb's Book of Life and that would take up a challenge
against him. We'll not have this one rule over us. Thou shalt
make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger. The
Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall
devour them. Their fruit shalt thou destroy
from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
for they intended evil against thee. They imagined a mischievous
device which they are not able to perform. The Lord is almighty,
the Lord is great, he is powerful, and even though they bring up
all of these things, blasphemy against him, and they would preach
that there's free will and everybody has it, and Jesus died for everybody,
and then he went to the cross for everybody, and that he loves
everybody. You know what God overcomes that with his sheep
and they are thankful and are that they were Written in the
Lamb's Book of Life and they rejoice that he had an interest
in them before the foundation of the world because they did
not and Then he says all those without the Son all those without
Christ They here are brought up and they shall be burned the
wrath of the fire shall devour them they shall make As fiery
oven in thine anger over in the book of Zephaniah Would you turn
there with me Zephaniah? Zephaniah chapter 14 Excuse me
Zephaniah chapter 1. We're not going to find all those
chapters in the book of Zephaniah Zephaniah chapter 1 verse 14
Down through verse 18 the great day of the Lord is near Now realize
with me, please realize with me, please that all through these
passages of scripture in the Old Testament The Lord was giving
people warning that he is coming The preacher the pastor that
brought me the gospel said we can just bring out a wonderful
Outline of the entire Bible and that is the Old Testament says
someone's coming Matthew Mark Luke and John says someone's
here Acts the revelation is someone's coming back. Well, if we just
think about that we have these statements made throughout the
Old Testament that the Messiah is coming the judge is coming
and He is going to do what he intended to do There are those
that have said that if they lived during the days of the Lord Jesus
They would never have allowed him to go to the cross. That's
exactly what Peter said and Jesus said get thee behind me adversary
and He had an interest in his people, and the only difference
that was ever going to make any difference with them is that
their names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life, or they
would all be like the stubble. There would not be one saved. It goes on to tell us here that
day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day
of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess.
They have clouds and thick darkness, you know, we might just say here
we've heard the saying when when the mouth when the cats away
the mouse will play or mice will play and I've seen on jobs when
the boss leaves the area that the people start making they
quit their work Well, that's kind of what the Lord is saying
here. I'm coming and I I know what's going on. I know what
you're saying. I know what you're doing. I know
the blasphemy that you're speaking. I know the blasphemy that you're
doing. As he's written in the book of Malachi, there were priests
there that were bringing the worst possible sacrifices. They were bringing the worst
possible words And they were sharing with those folks that
were alive at that time, they were saying, because God is the
God of Israel, nothing will happen to you. Well, He is the God of
Spiritual Israel. He chose out National Israel
to illustrate a point. And that point was, if God was
with them and did all that he did for them that we read about,
they still would not have a change of heart unless he gave it to
them. Just like he does with the Gentiles. If he does not
give them a change, if he does not quicken them, if he does
not give them the new birth, If he doesn't raise them from
the spiritual dead, then there is no change at all possible. And the only reason that he would
do that is that their names were written in the Lamb's Book of
Life before the foundation of the world, and that he would
display grace on them. He would give them grace. That's
the only thing. I'll bring distress upon men
verse 17 and they that they shall walk like blind men Because they
have sinned against the Lord and their blood shall be poured
out in dust and their flesh as the dung neither their silver
nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of
the Lord's wrath and But the whole land shall be devoured
by the fire of his jealousy, for he shall make even a speedy
riddance of all them that dwell in the land. What a statement
here neither silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption Neither
their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them They've
been so used to paying their way out of all these things If
I do this God must do that if I tithe he must be nice to me
If I, and you know, and religion has got so carried away with
this that they have people that have done so many good things
that they can give those good things to someone else that hasn't
done so many good things and pull them out of the ditch with
that. You know, religion is such a farce. Religion is such, and
if it wasn't for the grace of God and if it wasn't for the
names being written down in the Lamb's Book of Life, we'd all
be in that same mess. In the book of Revelation, chapter
21, verse 8, shall have their part in the lake of fire, which
burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. The
fulfillment of Matthew. Would you turn with me to the
book of Matthew? Matthew chapter 22. Matthew chapter 22. The Lord
shares this. Matthew chapter 22. And there in verse 14, Matthew
chapter 22, after that identification of
the person that went into a wedding feast without the garment, and
he thought his clothes were good enough. And in the weddings in
these places at this time, the wedding garment was provided.
It was no expense to him. He just thought he was good enough. And we find that the master,
the king of the wedding, came in and stopped him, and it tells
us that he was cast into outer darkness. There shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth, for many are called, but few are chosen. Many are called, but few are
chosen. Many are spoken to, Preacher
speaks to many, but God has chosen just a few. This is what we find. This is the fulfillment of that
as found throughout the scriptures. And would you turn with me over
here to the book of Luke. The book of Luke chapter 13.
The book of Luke chapter 13. And there in verse 22 we have
So much said throughout the scriptures about this very thing as we've
read there in the book of Malachi then shall you return and discern
between the righteous and the wicked and then in chapter 4
verse 1 behold a day cometh that shall burn as an oven and all
the proud yay and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and
the day that cometh shall burn them up." What's the difference?
What makes all the difference? What makes the difference? And
we find, is it because one group is smarter? Well, we'll look
at that in just a moment and we know exactly that's not the
reason. Here in the book of Luke, excuse me, I asked you to go
to the book of Matthew, but I I need you to go to the book of Luke
chapter 13. Excuse me. Luke chapter 13 and verse 22. And he went through the cities
and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem, that said,
One of it unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? He said
unto them, Strive to enter in at the straight gate. For many,
I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house
is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand
without, and knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto
us, and he will answer and say unto you, I know you not which
ye are. Then ye shall begin to say, We've
eaten, and drunk, and in thy presence, and thou hast taught
in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you,
I know you not, which ye are. Depart from me, all ye workers
of iniquity. And there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,
and all the prophets, That's an interesting statement right
there Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom
of God and you yourselves thrust out Well notice there what that
disciple said unto him as he came through theirs. He said
one Then said one unto him Lord Are there few that be saved? And he said unto them strive
to enter at the straight gate and Well, after it's all said
and done, there are going to be so many on the left-hand side
that say, haven't we done so much in your name? And he'll
just say this, depart from me. What is the difference? What's
the difference between Malachi chapter 3 and verse 18, Malachi
chapter 4 and verse 1, and Malachi chapter 4 and verse 2. When we
read about God's people there, one section we read about the
difference between, and then we read in chapter 4 and verse
1, oh, their wickedness. Is it because this group that
is in Malachi chapter 4 and verse 2, is it just because they're
smarter? Is it because one group paid closer attention Is it because
one group understands the words that were used? Is it because
one group is just more spiritual-minded? I have to say no and say it again.
No. It is only because he had an interest in the one
group and he wrote their names down in the Book of Life. before
the foundation of the world, before creation. His choice is
particular. His choice is unchanging. His
choice is sovereign. His choice is eternal. But His
choice is such a blessing. If it wasn't for this, if it
wasn't for God, we'd not be able to call Him our Father. If it
wasn't because he had an interest in a people before the foundation
of the world, we'd not be able to call him our Lord. In his
preaching, our Lord declared that the word in such a sovereign
manner that those he had promised to hear before the foundation
of the world would hear. Sometimes the hearers say, Lord,
save me lest I perish. On the other hand they will gnash
on the speaker with their teeth Notice the response to his preaching
by some would you turn with me to the book of Matthew again
Matthew chapter 21 Matthew chapter 21 Here in the book of Matthew
chapter 21. We have an incident that is so
glaring If we were there we may not have heard that and But since
we have the word left to us by the prophet and also because
the Lord wanted us to hear it, we have it written down. There's
a permanent record of this, that what the Lord had to say and
the hearer had to hear. It says in Matthew chapter 21
and verse 45, after this parable the Lord preached, When the chief
priests and the Pharisees had heard his parable they perceived
that he spake of them Now in the book of Luke is the same
incident, but the wording is just a little bit different.
In fact, it's a little harder Luke chapter 20 Luke chapter
20 and there in verse 19 Luke chapter 20 in verse 19 The chief
priests and the scribes Luke chapter 20 verse 19 and the chief
priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him
Now they didn't want to go worship him They didn't want to put their
arms on him because he had power they wanted to destroy him to
lay hands on him and they feared the people for they perceived
that he had spoken this parable against them and They knew that
much. God had given them that much
that they perceived that he was preaching, that he has spoken
the parable against them. They perceived this. The Lord
had given them that much. And there are without excuse. And the warning goes on. The
warning goes on. I would like you, if you would,
join with me back in the book of Malachi. Malachi chapter 4
We're going to be in the book of Malachi chapter 4 for the
final lessons Because that's all there is chapter 4 and just
a few verses 6 verses here, but in verse 5 the warning goes out
This is written At least 400 years before we
have Matthew Mark Luke or John Says behold I send you Elijah
prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of
the Lord Now to the church. It's not a great and terrible
day dreadful. It is a Day that people have
been looking forward to and we read about this in the book of
Luke After the birth of Jesus there were two that came into
the temple Zacharias raised the Simeon raised him up behold I
see my salvation and Anna went in and blessed him they understood
some things the warning was coming to those without God and without
hope and without peace in the world the warning of the coming
promised one the Messiah he will not give if anybody and Everybody
a new car. He won't give anybody a new car,
but he'll give his people the church eternal life He didn't
come to give you a car It didn't come to make you rich. In fact,
we find he came to give eternal life to his sheep. I lay down
my life that I might take it up again. So the only reason
that we find in Malachi chapter four and verse two, but unto
you that fear my name shall the son of righteousness arrive.
Don't think for a moment you're smarter. Don't think for a moment
that you're more intelligent. Don't think for a moment that
you've learned the meaning of words and that's why you're in
that group. Don't think that for a moment. It's not any of
those things. It's not because we're more spiritual
or we learn from our mistakes or we're taught in Sunday school
or any of those things. It is because God wrote our names
down in the Lamb's Book of Life And he promised everyone whose
names were in the Lamb's Book of Life, eternal life, and he
would take care of all their sin debt for them. But unto you
that fear my name shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing
in his wings, and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of
the stall. What a remembrance is mentioned
here. Then we'll go on through the rest of this chapter in just
these six verses are left before us, but the gospel is declared
throughout here and we notice there, as we mentioned in verse
five, Elijah the prophet, John the Baptist is going to come
on and his comment is going to be, Behold the Lamb of God. which taketh away the sin of
the world. Sin of His people. He's going
to take that sin away. That's His commission. That's
what He's going to do. And when He came on the scene,
people thought John was the Messiah. He said, I am not Him. And yet they would not look to
Christ. Why? Their names were not written
in the Lamb's Book of Life. Well, as we come to the close
of the service tonight, God bless you. Wherever you are, we pray
that you would rejoice that your names are written in the Lamb's
Book of Life. In Jesus' name, Amen.