"The Bridegroom"

Q: What does the Bible say about the bridegroom?

The Bible refers to Jesus as the bridegroom, symbolizing His union with the church, which is the bride. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus identifies Himself as the bridegroom, indicating a deep relational aspect between Him and His followers. This metaphor illustrates the joy of being in His presence and the celebratory nature of the relationship He has with His people. Just as a wedding is a joyful occasion, the presence of Christ brings joy and fulfillment, making fasting inappropriate while the bridegroom is present. This relationship highlights our union with Christ, as emphasized in Ephesians 5:30, where believers are described as members of His body, affirming our intimate connection to Him as the bridegroom.

Q: How do we know grace is central in the Christian faith?

Grace is central because it signifies God's unmerited favor, transforming lives and providing the basis for salvation. Grace is fundamental to Christian doctrine as it underscores the unearned favor of God bestowed upon sinners. Our Lord emphasized that He did not come to patch up old ways or to reform human efforts; rather, He comes to make all things new. Salvation is not about human merit but about God’s grace that brings a new heart and spirit, as promised in Ezekiel 36:26. This understanding of grace shifts the focus from human works to divine transformation, affirming that we are saved by grace, not works, ensuring the assurance of salvation that is not dependent on our efforts but on Christ's completed work.

Q: Why is it important for Christians to understand their union with Christ?

Understanding our union with Christ is vital as it defines our identity and relationship with God. The concept of union with Christ is crucial in Reformed theology as believers are united to Him in a profound and transformative way. This union signifies that we are no longer defined by our old nature but are made new in Christ. Ephesians 5:30 illustrates this unity, showing that believers are members of His body, flesh, and bones. Recognizing this relationship deepens our understanding of the Gospel, affirming that our righteousness and identity come from Christ alone. It also emphasizes the necessity of a spiritual birth wherein we receive a new heart and a new spirit, thus nurturing our relationship with God and enabling us to live in obedience and joy in His presence.

Q: What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ?

Being a new creation means that believers are transformed and made new through the grace of Christ. The term 'new creation' as found in 2 Corinthians 5:17 signifies a radical transformation in the believer's life that happens upon receiving Christ. This change is not superficial but rather a total renewal affecting desires, purposes, and identity. The old nature, characterized by sin and rebellion, is replaced by a new nature that craves righteousness and communion with God. As explained in Ezekiel, God removes the stony heart and gives a heart of flesh, enabling a genuine relationship with Him. This transformation affirms the sovereignty of God in salvation and the necessity of divine grace, not human effort, in effecting true change.

Good morning. Let's all stand together and sing hymn number 295. 295. He leadeth me, O blessed thought, O words with heavenly comfort brought. What e'er I do, where'er I be, still tis God's hand that leadeth me. He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me. His faithful follower I would be, for by His hand He leadeth me. Sometimes, mid scenes, of deepest blue, sometimes where Eden's powers flew. By water still or troubled sea, Still, tis His hand that leadeth me. He leadeth me. He leadeth me. By His own hand He leadeth me.

His faithful follower I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me. Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine, nor ever murmur nor repine. Content, God, ever, laud I see Since tis my God that leadeth me, He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me. His faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me. And when my task on earth is done, when by thy grace the victory's won. In death's cold wave I will not flee, Since God through Jordan pleaded me. He pleaded me. He pleaded me. Be seated.

Just a few pages back, we'll sing hymn number 288. 288, that fifth verse, the second line, after it says the pathway of time, we're going to say, call on Jesus our Lord. Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight grows a melody sweeter In celestial like streams it unceasingly falls, for my soul like an infinite call.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace coming down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit, Forever, I pray, in fathomless pillows of love. What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace. Buried deep in the heart of my soul So secure that no power can mine it away While the years of eternity roll. Peace, peace, wonderful peace coming down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray. in fathomless billows of love. I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace, Resting sweetly in Jesus' control For I'm kept from all danger by night and by day And His glory is flooding I swore Peace, peace Wonderful peace Coming down from the Father above sweep over my spirit forever I pray in fathomless billows of love and me thinks when I rise to of peace, worthy offer of peace I shall sing.

Let one strain of the song in the heavenly kingdom shall be. Peace be. Peace, wonderful peace, coming down from the Father above. Sweep over, my spirit. Forever I pray in fathomless billows of love. Call on Jesus the Lord. ♪ Call on Jesus the Lord ♪ ♪ E'er the shadows grow dark ♪ Oh, believe. ♪ Oh, believe this sweet peace so sublime ♪ ♪ Peace, peace Wonderful peace coming down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit. Turn with me to Luke chapter 5. Finish up this chapter today, God willing. Sorry, verse 33.

And they said unto him, why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but dine, eat, and drink? And he said unto them, can you make the children of the bride chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come. when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. And he spake also a parable unto them.

No man, putting a piece of new garment upon an old, if otherwise then the new maketh a rent or a tar, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth wine into old bottles, else the new wine will burst the bottles and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But the new wine must be put into new bottles, and both are preserved. No man, having drunk of old wine, straightaway desireth the new, for he saith the old is better.

Oh, our blessed Father in heaven, Holy is your name. Holy is your nature. Righteousness is your nature. A nature that no man on this earth, except your blessed son, had the same nature. But all of us who are Adam's descendants was born with a fallen nature, born with a nature that's against you. a nature that's at enmity with you, a nature that's a rebellious nature, a darkened nature. But Lord Jesus, you come, and in your sovereign mercy, gave some of us a new nature, a new nature, a nature that loves you, desires you, wants to worship you, bow down before you, and acknowledge you to be all and in all.

And Lord Jesus, we asked, O Father, for Christ's sake, meet with us today. God, enable me to use some wisdom and understanding from your precious word. And Lord, enable your dear saints to understand it and grasp it and rejoice in it. And Lord, if you'd be pleased to sow the seed, that blessed good seed, the word of God in our heart today, We'd be very thankful, very grateful, because we know if you ever sow a seed, it'll bring forth fruit. May just be 30 fold, 60, maybe 100. But God, you're the only one that knows.

But if you'd be pleased to save sinners in this place, bring your sheep into the fold, we'd bless your holy name for it. And Lord, please remember our children, those that are sick and frail among us, But remember our children, and our grandchildren, and our great-grandchildren, oh, Lord.

They live their lives without the thought of you. They live their lives without you ever crossing their minds. And if they say anything about you, it's, oh, Lord, most of the time in a cuss word, in a flippant way, in a vain way, in a way that Bring shame upon your name. Use your name in vain.

So, Lord, meet with us today. Bring glory to yourself in this service. We ask it in our blessed Savior's name. Amen. Ready here in a minute, got too much stuff in here. All right. Let's all stand together and sing the hymn of the day in the Bulletin. The birds without barn or storehouse are fed. From them let us learn to trust for our bread.

His saints, what is needful, shall not be denied. So long as it's written, the Lord will provide. We all may like ships by tempest be tossed on perilous seas, but will not be lost. Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide, Yet a scripture engages, the Lord will provide.

No strength of our own, nor goodness we claim. Our trust is all thrown, on Jesus' dear name. In this our strong tower, for safety we bide. The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide. When life seeks a pace, and at this in due, the word of His grace shall see us safe through. No fearing nor doubting, with Christ on our side, we hope to die shouting, The Lord will provide. Be seated. We have a special this morning.

♪ Amazing love, how can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? anything that I should gain. Forgiveness through my My soul was bound in sin so deep. And then he spoke my name so sweet. My chains fell off. My heart was free. I rose and went forth to follow Thee. my cares. He dried my tears. Amazing love replaced my fears. I cannot explain just what took place. I can only say it was amazing grace. My soul was bound in sin so deep, and then He spoke. My name so sweet, my chains fell off, my heart was free. I arose and went forth to follow Thee. Well, turn with me back to Luke 5. A subject this morning is the bridegroom. The bridegroom. That's what our Lord calls himself, the bridegroom here.

Our Lord, when he was teaching, he always taught great and glorious truths. teaching doctrine with power and authority. They were astonished at his power, astonished at his authority. He also manifested his power and his compassion in doing great, great, glorious, wonderful works.

But here's a question that these men asked him. They asked him a question. And of all the questions they could ask, this is one of the foolishest questions anybody could ever ask our Lord, one of the most foolish questions. Look what it says there in verse 33.

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers? And likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but thine eat and drink. They asked about fasting. Asked about fasting. You know, everybody fasts, makes prayers, regular prayers, but your disciples don't. Yours don't do that. But they asked about fasting. What a foolish question to ask. They didn't ask about grace. They didn't ask about mercy.

They didn't ask about his glory, where he came from. They didn't ask about his compassion, didn't ask about his long-suffering, not about anything. They didn't ask about God and how holy he was or how righteous he was. They didn't care about what he said back up in verse 31 and 32. They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. They didn't ask him about that. They didn't care about that. They wasn't interested in that. They was already whole. Because then they turn around and ask him this awful question.

We do these things and your disciples don't. We're dedicated. We're devoted. We fast and we pray. And your disciples don't. Your disciples don't. Oh, my. I didn't ask about that, not about God, not about issues, not about heart issues, but about fasting. We do it and they don't. We do it and they don't. They were concerned for the outward form. They confirmed about the outward form, about what it was under the law.

God gave them one fast a year, just one. And that was on the day of atonement, one day that they did not do nothing. The high priest did everything. And he gave them that day of atonement, one fast a year. And our Lord, you know, he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses fasted 40 days and 40 nights. And that means a day of trial, a day of testing. That's what those mean.

But the Pharisees turned this one fast a year into twice a week. Twice a week. Look over in Luke 18, 12. Look over here in chapter 18, verse 12. The Pharisees turned it in from one day a year to twice a week. They made such a show about it. Look what the Pharisee said in verses 11 and 12. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself. I thank thee, prayed thus with himself. God, I thank thee that I'm not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, even as this publican.

Now listen to this. I fast twice in the week and give tithes of all that I possess. Oh, he's letting everybody know what he did. That's what they ever did. And look what our master said about it. So they turned one fast a year into twice a week. Twice a week. Look over in Matthew chapter 6. What our master said over here about this business of fasting. In verse 16.

They were concerned with this outward form, their legalism, their ability under the law to keep it. And there was other feasts, but, oh, my, there was no one but this one that they was to fast in. Our master said to them in verse 16 of Matthew 6, Moreover, when you fast, be not as hypocrites of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.

Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. Go ahead and do it. Let everybody know it. You got your reward. That's what our master said. So our Lord Jesus Christ, they asked this awful question. We fast. John's disciples fast, but your disciples don't. But I'll tell you something about hypocrites and legalists. They always point out what The Lord's people are not doing. They'll always tell you what you're not doing, but what you ought to do, what you should be doing, and not what you're doing. They'll let you know what ought to be done, but what we're doing is better than what you're doing. You know, eating and drinking, not fasting, but our Lord, he gives an answer here, and he gives a new revelation of himself in the character of a bridegroom.

Look what he says now in the verse 34. And he said unto them, Can you make the children of the bride chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? The bridegroom. And look what he says. The bridegroom is with them. He's not one of these folks that said, well, we fast. Listen. as long as the bridegroom's with them. Why in the world? I mean, they're full of, you know.

And I'll tell you that brides, you know, these are the bridesmen. It says, can make the children of the bride chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them. They're the bridegroom's attendants. They were invited to the wedding. Look what it says, children of the bride chamber. We're in the bride chamber right now. Over in Revelation, it says, you know, there's going to be a marriage supper of the Lamb. And the bridegroom, the bride has made herself ready. And here our Lord Jesus said, he's the bridegroom. Oh, my. They have access to the bridegroom. They have access to his presence. They're acquainted with him. They're acquainted with his will. They're acquainted with his purposes.

And what this tells us is, is our union with our Lord Jesus Christ, the bridegroom, a bride. And then he says they're children, children of the bride chamber. And this, when you become a child, you become a child by birth. And you know, our Lord Jesus said, except you be born again, You cannot see the kingdom of God except you be born from above. You have to have a new birth to get into the presence of the bridegroom's presence. You can't get into bride chamber. You can't have a looking for the bridegroom to come unless you have a new birth. You don't know him. He calls them children. He calls them children.

Keep Luke 5 and look over in Ephesians chapter 5. I use this in weddings all the time. And oh, look what our master's telling us over here. Oh, this tells of our union with Christ. What a union we have with him. Bridegroom and bride, children. Children by birth. And oh my, look what he said here at verse 30 of Ephesians 5.

We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Everything in Christ, we're members of his flesh and of his bones. And because of this, this relationship with Christ, you leave your father and your mother and be joined to your wife and they too shall be one flesh.

Now listen to what he says. Now, this is a great mystery. This thing of marriage is a great mystery because I'm really talking about Christ and his church. I'm talking about Christ and how the union you have with Him. That only reason that God calls marriage to come is to show us that our union with the Lord Jesus Christ. He said everything about marriage tells us about the relationship with Christ.

To become one. Our Lord Jesus Christ was one. How in the world do we get in union with him? He chooses us, joins himself to us, and I, bless his holy name, he makes us one with himself. We can't make ourselves in union with him. He has to bring us into union with himself. Oh my, so the bridegroom, and I love this right here, he's with them. And look what else it says now, down here in verse 34.

Can you make the children of the bride chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? You know, can you make people fast while there's a feast going on? You know, when you go to a wedding, You go to a wedding, everybody, you know, it's a big deal. Everybody's happy, everybody's rejoicing, and they get in line for all the food. Weddings are a joyful thing, a wonderful thing. Lots of food, lots of rejoicing. Oh my, that's a wonderful time. And as long as Christ with them, why should they be sad? Why should they be mournful? Well, this is a feast. This is a wonderful time.

Oh, my. John's Pharisees and disciples, they were under the law. We are under grace. Let them have their fast. Let them have their long prayers. We've got Christ. We had a feast. It feeds us constantly and continually. And what a feast he is. He's that water of life. He's that bread which came down from heaven. He is everything.

He said, except you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you got no part in me. Well every time, my blessings, every time we come into his presence and all the time we live on him and what he did. His flesh is what died on that cross, a man. And we eat of what he did on that cross. That blood which he shed, that's what we enjoy and washes us and cleanses us from our sins. Oh my, how in the world? Why do you want the children of the bride chamber to fast? They're at a feast. They're at a feast. Oh, we're under grace.

I ain't going to go to what the legalist tells us to do. And now look what our master says next. But he says, but the days will come. But the days will come. when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days." Now he said, when the days are come, will come. He said, the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away. And what he's talking about, he's talking about his going to the cross. Going to the cross.

You know, but it not, it won't be, you know, you won't be mourning for long. Look with me over in John 6, 16, look over in John six with me. Then shall they fast in those days, John 6, 16. No, 16, oh, I'm sorry, 16, John 16, I'm sorry. I was looking at it wrong. John 16, six,

22. Look at verse 16 with me. John 6, 16. A little while and you shall not see me. A little while and you shall not see me.

And again, a little while, and you shall see me, because I go to my father, go to the father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, what is this he's talking about? What's he saying? A little while, you shall not see me. And again, a little while, you shall see me because I go to the father. They said, therefore, what is this that he says? A little while, we cannot tell what he said. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do you inquire among yourselves?

Of that I said, a little while you shall not see me. And again, a little while you shall see me. Verily, I say unto you, that you shall weep and lament, but the world shall be, and you shall be sorrowful. The world shall not rejoice, but you shall be sorrowful, and your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

And then he used the illustration of a woman having a child. A woman, when she is in travail, has sorrow. The hour has come. But as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more her anguish for joy that a man is born into the world. Now therefore you have sorrow, but I'll see you again, and your heart shall rejoice And your joy no man taketh from you. And oh my, there will be a day of mourning. I mean, when our Lord went to the cross, those folks mourned.

They got all alone by themselves. But listen to what else he said over here in Luke 24. Look with me in Luke 24. Look what happens here now. Our Lord Jesus, you know, He went to the cross and He rose again. And he rose again. And they didn't see him, and then they saw him again. But look what it says here now in Luke 24, verse 51. He led him out to Bethany, lifted up his hands, and blessed him. He blessed, I believe, out of number 624 through 26. The Lord lift up his face upon you. The Lord bless you. The Lord keep you. The Lord cause his face to shine upon you.

And then it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven. Now watch what the next verse, and they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. They saw him. They saw him and they rejoiced. It was morning, morning, but now they rejoicing.

And I tell you, God with us causes great joy. Christ in us is the hope of glory, and all by fills us with joy unspeakable, full of glory. And then let me show you what our Lord Jesus, he speaks a parable unto us. Verse 36, the parable unto us. And he spake a parable unto them, to these people that asked about fasting and prayers. No man puteth a piece of new garment upon an old. If otherwise, then the both new and the maker rent, and the piece that was taken out new, agreeth not with the old. This is the nature of his work. The grace of God given us in Christ is revealed in two new things. He didn't come to renovate. That's what he's talking about.

I didn't come to reform you. I didn't come to renovate you. I'm not going to take my new things, the things of mine, and give them to you and try to patch up your old works. I'm not going to try to do that. I'm not going to reform you. I'm not going to take part of you and put part of me in it. I'm not going to fix. I'm not going to give you something new and put it on that old nature of yours. I'm not going to do that.

No, no. He came to make new creatures. And he said, it's like new cloth. You know, you don't put a piece of new in an old garment. You know, and everybody knows anything knows better than that. You put that in there. Next thing you know, you put that new piece in there and it starts pulling away from it. The old does. They don't agree. And I'll tell you, the rent is made worse. The tariff is made worse. The old and the new do not agree. They don't agree. You know, the old garment of human righteousness, the old garment of human righteousness, Isaiah said, all of our righteousnesses are as a filthy rag.

And I'm telling you something, every one of us is born a free willer. Every single one of us was born by nature, born with a free will. And every one of us by nature was born with self-righteousness. Now I've been in a lot of places and met a lot of people and done a lot of things, but I've never met anybody that did not, that was lost, still have a righteousness of their own.

I don't care if there's homeless. I don't care if there's a drunk. I don't care if there's on drugs. You start talking to them and they'll find something good about themselves to say about themselves. They'll always say it's not my fault, it's somebody else's. But they'll say something good about themselves. That's human nature. Now how in the world, that's what he's talking about. You got this old fallen nature. This rotten nature. It's an awful nature. And I tell you, those who fasting to produce acceptance with God and try to impress God in men, it's as old as Adam. You know when this business started? This business of a self-righteousness started? And where a false garment started? It started in the Garden of Eden, when Adam got some fig leaves and covered himself. He thought that fig leaves would cover his nakedness, and people's been making fig leaves ever since.

Get them a cross, put it around your neck. Get you some picture of Jesus and put them on the wall. Get you a Bible and join a Baptist church. Go get baptized and wash your sins away. Let somebody tell you how to make a good marriage and tell somebody to tell you how to be healthy. Let somebody tell you how that you got to make a decision. Tell you all these things, but that's just an old garment. Christ said, I did not come to fix up your old garment. It can't be fixed. It's got to be made new. You got to make a whole new garment, huh? The old man lost all righteousness, even what an understanding of righteousness is. They don't even understand what righteousness is, much less having one.

Oh, my. Oh, my. It's a whole new garment. That's what our Lord's saying here, a whole brand new garment. I'm not come here to fix you up and patch you up, do the best I can with you. Oh, I've seen too many people. You know, people can go into eternity with peace and not know God. They can.

I've talked to several people over the years, and I mean, I remember when we was out at the graveyard here a week or so ago, I remember one man, and I was standing there, and I told Shirley, I told my wife, I said, listen, I said, this fellow right here, he had open heart surgery. I remembered he had open-heart surgery.

And I talked to him before he went into surgery. I said, listen, let's talk to him about Christ. Talk to him about the gospel. Talk to him about what if you don't make it off that table? What if your heart quits? What's going on here? I said, what are you going to do?

He said, nothing. He had no response at all. He said, I'll be all right. I'll be all right. I know folks, and I won't call his name, but one fellow that used to be here, he never made a profession of faith, never believed, but he says, you know, he said, I've got such peace. He said, I'm not afraid of dying. Only time he ever come to services, when he come, when we had a meal, when we had a dinner. That's the only time he ever came.

People can die in peace without Christ. They're not afraid. You know why they're not afraid? Because of this false conception they have of God and themselves. They think, I'll be all right when it's all said and done. I'm not that bad of a person. I've made a few mistakes, but I'm not that bad. I love my wife. I love my kids. I provide for them, so I'll be all right.

There's nothing that makes you right except the blood of Christ and Christ making a new creature out of you. That's the only thing that will ever amount to anything in this world. That's why I said leave everything behind. I left all and followed thee. That's what the girl sang about this morning. Oh my. The righteousness of Christ doesn't patch up that old garment of works. It doesn't do it.

When the prodigal came home, he smelled like a hog lot. He had been feeding hogs and even ate some of the food that he was feeding the hogs. He came home, smelled like a hog. And when he got home, what did his father say to him? Go clean yourself up. Go take a bath. Go wash yourself. Use the finest soap you can find." No, no. He wasn't left in his raggedy clothes and stinking like that. Oh, no. He come back with all those raggedy, filthy clothes from a far country. And you know what the father said? Bring, bring the best robe, the best robe. And you know what he said?

Give it to him, let him put it on himself. No, he said, put it on him. And that's the only way we get a righteous Christ, got to put it on you. He ain't going to say, stick out your arms, and I'll put it on you. That's not the way it works. No, no. He said, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him. And then he says, listen.

His feet is nasty. I mean, you know, he's walked in this whole world and all the pollution that the world's got on him. He said, put some brand new shoes on his feet. I want him to walk like a new man. I want him to look like a new man. I want him to walk like a new man. I want him to walk like I'm the father. And I want my son to have the best. And I'm going to see that he has it. That's what our Lord's talking about. You got to have a new garment. He ain't going to patch you up. You can patch a tire, but you can't patch you. Can't patch you up. Oh, my. Oh, can't be patched up.

Christ's work and our works do not mix in salvation. If it's of works, grace has nothing to do with it. If it's of grace, then works has nothing to do with it. Ain't that what it says? If righteousness come by doing something, then Christ is dead in vain. It's Christ's righteousness or our righteousness and there is no middle ground, no middle ground.

And then he talks about wine. Now the scripture says that wine maketh the heart joyful. And I tell you, when he talks about wine, wine makes a merry heart, is what the scripture said. And you know, he says, it's like new wine. It goes on to say now, let me get over here to it again.

He said, you put new wine into old bottles. And they had skins back in those days, they kept the wine. They didn't actually have bottles. They had skins. And they had these old skins, and if they put that new wine in those new skins, it would swell up as it started to ferment and bust it, break it, bust it open, burst it open. I say bust, and you all say burst. But we know what we're talking about, don't we? It falls apart. They said, oh my. And he says, listen.

He said, put that new wine into old bottles and it'll break. Else the new wine will burst the bottles and be spilled and the bottles should perish. Wine and bottle, both are gone. The new wine must be put into new bottles and both are preferred. Oh, new wine won't abide in an old, old shaken bottle. The new wine will ferment and it'll break that bottle, break that, bust it open, bust it open. Then you lose both the wine and the bottle. You lose it all. That new wine, it's gone. That wine's gone. The bottle's gone. So what do you got? Nothing. You lost it all. Oh, my. But look, oh my, look what our master said. New wine must, verse 38, new wine must be put into new bottles. You know what this tells us?

Grace has to be put into new hearts. The heart has to be made new, and the only thing that'll make a new heart is grace. Grace, he ain't gonna put, he ain't gonna put his joy, he's not gonna put his cheerfulness, he's not gonna put his gladness in your old stinking heart. People say, give your heart to Jesus. He don't want it. He don't want it the way it is. He don't want it. He got to give you a new heart. And all grace is put into new hearts. And once grace makes them new, Christ makes them new. Look over in Ezekiel with me. You know, the natural man, the natural man, Ezekiel 36.

The natural man, that man was without Christ, Verse 26, that man that's without Christ, he cannot understand the things of God. He cannot do it. He can't receive it. He cannot receive it. Why can't he receive it? Because it's spiritual. It's not natural, it's spiritual. And he can't discern, he can't judge between the natural and the spiritual. The only thing he can judge after is the natural. He cannot judge after the spiritual. He don't know nothing spiritual.

I was talking to a young man here the other day, and he said, oh my, he said, he said, well, you know what kept me from going to services for years and years? I said, no, what was it? He said, I didn't want to go be amongst a bunch of hypocrites. And I found out, well, He said, listen, this has nothing to do with nobody but me. I don't care whatever. If there's a bunch of hypocrites there, God make me right. You got to be pretty small to hide behind a hypocrite. And I'll tell you what, all of us has got enough hypocrisy in us. Oh my, ain't you grateful that God God don't judge us the way we do, and the way we think, and the way we feel, and the way we act sometimes.

Oh, ain't you grateful he put that new wine in new bottles? He said, oh, here in Ezekiel 36 and verse 26, look what it says. A new heart also will I give you. And a new spirit, I'm going to give you a brand new spirit. And I'm going to put that spirit within you. And you know what you're going to cry? Father, Father, Abba Father. And I'll take away that hard heart, that stony heart that you trusted in and hoped in and stony heart out of your flesh. And I'll give you a heart of flesh. It can be touched, can be moved by my word. And that old bottle, he puts it in a new bottle. Oh, that old bottle, that old fallen human nature, can't receive, can't retain, can't preserve the things of God. They can't do it. Now, they can understand words. They don't have no problem with words. They don't have no problem with fatalism. They don't have no problem with it. But oh, you know what people have a problem with?

With God making everything brand new. That's the thing. God don't want any part of your old nature. He gotta give you a new nature. He gotta make you a new creation. He gotta put his spirit inside of you. He gotta give you a heart. And oh my. And I tell you, they cannot fall in human nature, cannot receive, retain, or preserve the things of God. The new will ruin the old bottles. You know what it means? It reveals the inability to hold the new wine. The old nature cannot take this new wine. Can't do it. They can't rejoice in what Christ did, in his accomplishment, his electing grace. They can't rejoice in that. He puts new wine in new bottles, and look what it says. Both are preserved. Oh, my. That new wine, that new bottle, both are preserved. They're kept. They're kept. Oh, my. And I tell you something, this is our Lord's answer.

You know, they said, why do your disciples don't fast? John's do, we do, but why don't you? Our Lord said, listen, I'm not come here to fix you up. I'm not come here to fix up your old fallen nature of trying to impress people by what you do. I didn't come here to make you feel good about yourself because you fast and pray. I didn't come here to make you feel good about yourself. I come here to take that old nature of yours and take that old rotten garment of yours and do away with it and make you brand new. I come here to take away that old false hope you have, that false joy you have, and destroy it and put brand new wine in brand new bottles.

I come here to do everything. Go ahead and go fast and go ahead and go pray. Do it, do it, do it. Help yourself. But that's not the way I deal with people. That's what our master said. Wonder what they did with that when they walked away from there. Wonder what they did with it. Huh? Well, I know one thing. It made them so mad that just a little while after that, they crucified him. We will not have this man to reign over us. We ain't going to do it. We're not going to do it.

Our Father, in the blessed, holy, righteous, glorious name of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for meeting with us today. Thank you for your grace and mercy that upheld me. May this be a blessing, may it be an encouragement to your dear people. Lord, we need you. Every one of us will acknowledge here today that we need you. And not only do we need you, but Lord Jesus, we want you. We want you the way you are. We want you the way you are. Not the way we want you to be, but the way you are. And all of your holiness and righteousness and power and grace and compassion and mercy and all of your righteousness, Lord, we want you the way you are. And, Lord, we're grateful that you make us your own children and that you're with us. You're with us. Bless your holy name. Bring glory to yourself through Christ our Lord. We're asking his name. Amen, amen. Did you hear what Jesus said to me?

They're all taken away, away. Your sins are pardoned and you are free. They're all taken away. They're all taken away, away. They're all taken away, away. They're all taken away, away. My sins are all taken away. My sins are all taken away. My sins are all taken away. way. Amen. See you Wednesday, Cottonville.

"The Bridegroom"

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the bridegroom?

How do we know grace is central in the Christian faith?

Why is it important for Christians to understand their union with Christ?

What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ?

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"The Bridegroom"

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the bridegroom?

How do we know grace is central in the Christian faith?

Why is it important for Christians to understand their union with Christ?

What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ?

Sermon Transcript

About Donnie Bell

Comments

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