Real Life Radio

David J: Today, on Real Life Radio.

Jack Hibbs: God, who is enthroned in yonder heaven, absolute innocence and perfection, was sinned against worse than you and I would have ever been sinned against. And he sent his son to pay the price so we could go free.

David J: This is real life.

David J: Welcome to Real Life Radio with Pastor Jack Hibbs. I'm David J thanking you for joining us today as we listen, learn, and are challenged by God's word, the Bible.

Jack Hibbs: Hey, I'm very excited to promote this new book by Dr. Tim LaHaye, not only a mentor of mine, but a precious friend, a man who encouraged me to write books. Dr. Tim LaHaye, he has written a book, How to Study Bible Prophecy for Yourself. And so I really would encourage you to get a copy of this book. He answers so many of our questions. For many of us who study the Bible, Bible prophecy naturally generates questions, and we might even feel kind of left out in a particular area. I bet with all of your knowledge of Bible prophecy, there's still a hole somewhere.

And this book is going to help you as you walk you through How to Study Bible Prophecy for Yourself. Remember, Dr. Tim LaHaye is the one that brought you the remarkable Left Behind series among many other books. He is simple, he is foundational. You're not going to hear anything strange or odd. Tim LaHaye, How to Study Bible Prophecy for Yourself.

Guest (Female): That's How to Study Bible Prophecy for Yourself by Tim LaHaye. Get it for a gift of any amount at jackhibbs.com. That's jackhibbs.com.

David J: On today's edition of Real Life Radio, Pastor Jack continues with his series now called The Book of Ephesians and a message titled Our Great Redemption Part 1. Ephesians is a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church of Ephesus, showing every believer who they really are in Christ. And here Paul reminds us that we've been bought back, redeemed, and fully forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. You see, God didn't just make us and then leave us to wander through this life alone and without purpose. He brings us back when we're lost, ransomed us from sin and from death, and canceled every debt we've ever owed.

It is the good news that saves us and sustains us. So today Pastor Jack teaches that sin no longer has power over us. Through Christ, we have everything we need to let go of those things that trouble us or trip us up. And because we've been set free, we are free to forgive others. Now with his message called Our Great Redemption Part 1, here's pastor and Bible teacher Jack Hibbs.

Jack Hibbs: Let's keep going here quickly. It says, In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness. Not only should you underline the word redemption, but underline the word forgiveness. And just what does this mean? Well, obviously it's the forgiveness of sins. By the way, this forgiveness of sins, the word sin right here is and it means a side slip, a slipping up, a lapse or a deviation from the course. Doesn't doesn't it sound gentle? A lapse or a deviation from the course. That doesn't sound so bad, does it? Well, it also says the unintentional error.

Okay, that sounds still pretty gentle. And it means the willful transgression and offense, a trespass. You know what a trespass is? You cross the line. The sign says don't cross this line. And a trespasser goes looks around, left to the right, reads the sign, and crosses the crosses right over the fence. He gets shot with salt in his rear end and then wants to sue the landowner, you know, for getting you know how the how it goes. He's a trespasser. He's lucky he didn't die. Sin is not only the unintentional crossing of the line. Hey, maybe the fence got knocked down and you went into somebody's private land.

You've sinned. You've unintentionally erred. You didn't mean to, but you've sinned nonetheless. You're still breaking the guy's property line. That's not only sin, but so is the willful transgression and trespass to say, hey, I know this is somebody's private land. I'm going on in anyway. That's sin. We have forgiveness of our sins. The Bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And I I you know, I don't know what it is, but I'm getting addicted to watching the news at night, watching all these guys lie to me. It's kind of And you can go, I got it, you know, you just hit the you hit that one key and it goes to 2 4 7.

7 4 2 2 4 7 4 7 2 4 7 7 4 2 And it it's great. Do it real quick and they go and they're just up the up and they and it's the only It's the only way you can understand what they're saying. They're all lying. It'd be great if they're standing there, I'm this is what I'm going to do. And they're no starts to grow and it turns into a tree and a bird land, you know, like Pinocchio's thing and uh but it's just about it's it's it's a lie. And and listen, um it's always been a lie.

And you're going to have to vote for the guy that lies the less uh because the Bible says every man's a liar. And uh the Bible says we've all sinned. We all need forgiveness. And by how fast the clock is going tonight, maybe we should just stay on this point right here and we'll end. Do you guys remember in the book of Numbers, the children of Israel were complaining and moaning and grumbling and then they they're just cruising along out there in the wilderness and then they turn on Moses. And uh they start chewing on him.

And God, it's amazing. God and Moses they were never in the same mood on the same day. Cuz one day, Monday, God says, stand Moses, scoot over. I'm going to kill every one of them. And Moses says, don't do it. don't do it. Then Tuesday, Moses says, God, get out of my way. I'm going to kill every one of them. And God says, now Moses, calm down, calm down. It's a great thing. They were never thinking the same thing on the same day. So they are chewing on Moses, complaining and whining and God says, Moses, look out.

And it says that God sent fiery snakes, serpents to bite the people and to start killing them because of disobedience. So then God says, you know what? Put a molten bronze brass serpent on a pole and raise it up in the air. And tell the people that if they look at the brazen serpent on a pole, that's where the medical by the way, the medical institution got their sign for healing. A snake on a pole. Moses tell them if they look at the pole with the snake on the pole, the brass snake, brass stands for judgment in the scriptures.

Snake, sin, Satan. Look on it and they'll be made whole. They'll be healed from the snake bites if they just look. So tell them, okay, everybody look at the snake on the pole. You'll be made whole. Look. And then they looked and they got healed and some didn't look and they died. Can you imagine? Look and you'll be made whole. Ah, it's stupid. Just look at it. You'll be made better. Look at the people around you. That's a stupid idea. You know, the snake's hanging on his leg. Symbol of sin, venom going through the body, sin sick.

Just look at the snake on the pole. That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. And the guy croaks. He dies. What a dummy. They could have been forgiven. Colossians chapter 2 verse 11 says, and you I don't know if it's verse 11, but it's Colossians 2. And you being dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with him. Oh man, that's good. Having forgiven you all your trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting, listen, of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken them out of the way, having nailed them to the cross.

I'm going to read that one more time. Having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that were contrary to us. Every time you and I sinned before we came to Christ, somewhere in heaven a record, up there he goes again, another thing was written down. Every time you and I blow it up, there he goes. And the when we came to Christ, because what he did 2,000 years ago on the cross, a gigantic heavenly eraser went and wiped it clean. Jesus took all of our wrong and took it to the cross and dealt with it there.

Isn't that incredible? I had a chance today to speak to some um chiropractic students at the LA chiropractic school during their lunch break, Christians on campus type thing. And uh just you know, just talking to those guys just it began to just get in my heart again about the incredible gospel we have. It's free. And we're to receive it. He's done it all. All of our sin and nailed it to his cross. Of course, this word forgiveness means to be pardoned from judgment, to be granted forgiveness, to be set at liberty. I'm going to say something here that might be kind of interesting to you, so I want you to listen carefully.

And uh jot this down if you would. Tonight, the world is in need of forgiveness positionally. They're alienated from God. That is the world tonight. Understand? They're separated from God. They need redemption. They need forgiveness because they are positionally alienated from God. The world is going to hell tonight, the Bible says. They need forgiveness. They need to look to Christ and be forgiven. But what about the Christian? Well, if the world is alienated from God tonight and they need forgiveness and Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned, that 's true, and they need his salvation, that's true.

Well, what about the Christian tonight? What about us? We are in need of forgiveness practically. That is communally. I don't want to confuse you. This is very important. The world tonight is lost and needs their position changed so that they stand before God holy in Christ. You with me? You and I have already done that. We're believers. That's not going to be undone. But we need forgiveness in our lives for communal purposes. We need forgiveness to keep our relationship with one another and with the Lord open. Very important.

Guest (Female): You're listening to Real Life with Pastor Jack Hibbs. To learn more about this ministry or to catch up on some previous episodes, go to jackhibbs.com. That's jackhibbs.com. And now let's get back to today's message. Once again, here's Pastor Jack.

Jack Hibbs: You know 1 John 1:9 where it says if we confess our sins, he's talking to Christians. He's not talking to non-Christians. If we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his words not in us. So none of you are perfect if you're thinking that tonight. We've all sinned, but we need to confess that sin. Isaiah 59:1, you know it. It says, Behold, the hand of the Lord is not short that it cannot save, nor is his ear heavy that he cannot hear.

But your sins have separated you from your God. Your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear you. Verse 2. Want you grab your Bible real quick and go to Matthew 18. Where does forgiveness come in in the life of the Christian? Doesn't the Bible say that if we do not forgive our brothers, neither will God forgive you? Well, what does that mean? Does that mean you can lose your salvation? No, we are talking about the Christian having the need of forgiveness and it is communal. You can hold something against a Christian and you being a Christian and you're not going to lose your salvation over that, but God won't speak to you again.

You will sever communication with him. You might even spend the rest of your Christian days in a stunted way if this is not dealt with. Matthew 18, look at verse 21. And Jesus said, if you want to be perfect, go sell I don't Wait a minute. Did I give you the right verse? Where am I? 18. Sorry. 18. Matthew 18 beginning at verse 21. Then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I shall forgive him up to seven times? Pretty impressed, huh Lord? Seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to 70 times seven.

That is an amazing thing just of itself. In other words, not 490 but infinitely. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle the accounts, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold and his wife and children and all that he had and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him saying, Master, have patience with me and I will pay you all.

Then the master of the servant was moved with compassion and released him of the debt and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 bucks or denarii and laid his hands on him and took him by the throat saying, pay me what you owe. So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him saying, have patience with me and I will pay you all. And he would not, but he went in through him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved and came and told their master all that had been done.

Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, you wicked servant, I forgave you all the debt because you begged me. Should you not also have compassion on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you? And his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly father also will do to you if each of you from his heart does not forgive his brother his trespasses. He's talking to believers. You don't forgive somebody and you're going to suffer from it.

You don't lose your salvation cuz you you won't forgive somebody. You're going to mess up your Christian walk if you don't forgive somebody. You'll be bitter, angry. Your heart will be callous and cold. But let me say this and we'll end right here tonight. Whenever forgiveness is extended by anyone, including God, it is a law that shall not be broken. Whenever forgiveness is extended by you, by me, or by God, someone must pay. Have you been forgiven a debt? Someone paid. If you filed bankruptcy, you've been forgiven a debt. But somebody paid. You may not have paid, but somebody did.

For God to have forgiven us, he had to pay. Is that fair? If somebody wrongs me, God expects me as a Christian to forgive that guy even if he hates my guts. Still, God demands of me, a Christian, to issue to him forgiveness for my own spiritual growth. But if I'm going to give him forgiveness or give her forgiveness, I have to pay. The sinner always goes free. God has established it that way. The one who has sinned against always pays the price. If a wife has been unfaithful to a husband and she winds up coming back home, who pays?

In a Christian setting, the husband pays. He issues forgiveness in every day of his life. He will wake up daily and bear the cross daily to take that thing before the throne and to issue forgiveness, though the topic may never be discussed again. If a husband is unfaithful to a wife and he comes back home, who pays? The one who has sinned against always pays the price. And you might say that's not fair. You know what? It's not fair. It's just the way it is. God who is enthroned in yonder heaven, absolute innocence and perfection, was sinned against worse than you and I would have ever been sinned against.

And he sent his son to pay the price so we could go free. And that's not fair to him. And so when the Lord says you forgive, you cancel that debt. It's for your own good and mine. And what will keep us from enjoying that liberty, though it's costly, is pride and arrogance. We'll get into this more next week as we complete. Did I say we're going to go to verse 8? We will next week. Let's pray. Lord, we are forgiven based upon what Jesus has done. Thank you, Lord. Tonight, you may be here tonight and your heart is broken.

You've been so wronged. You've been so robbed. You feel defiled, abused, violated. You've already started reaching for brick and mortar to build a wall around your heart. And you've decreed that you'll never love again or you'll never trust that worker again or that boss again. And you've even had the thoughts of vengeance. And even down deep inside, you would say, God, get them. And yet, they circled Jesus, blindfolded him, beat him around his head and face, pulled his beard out of his cheeks. And then several hours later, suspended between heaven and hell on a piece of wood, Jesus cries out, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

How dare we withhold forgiveness in light of Christ's example? Jesus, we confess tonight we can't do it on our own. We confess tonight, Lord, that we would much rather hang with Peter and pull out a knife and cut off somebody's ear. But Lord, teach us to do the Christ thing, the Jesus style, the Christian way. Father, I pray that tonight there are those who have been so wronged. And maybe they cannot settle the account physically any longer. Maybe that person's dead and gone or has moved to the other side of the universe and they can't contact them.

But Lord, you'll make a way even in the desert to where that account can be settled even tonight. And Father, help them to know, help us to know, to be reminded that when we seek your strength to issue forgiveness and it is done, we are the ones who are set free. We become a little bit more like our Lord and Savior. Maybe it's Lord in the life of a spouse or a family member tonight. And Lord, it's time. You've been saying it's time now to heal. It's time to make right. You need to right now just say, Jesus, my heart is hardened and it is cold, it is angry, and it is justified.

But I don't want to live like this anymore. Take it from me and put your love in my heart for them, though I may hate them even now. Help me, Jesus. I can't do it myself. Set me free. Lord, we thank you that Jesus held no grudge against us. Thank you, Lord, that Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Thank you for redemption and forgiveness through his blood. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

David J: Pastor and Bible teacher Jack Hibbs here on Real Life Radio with his message called Our Great Redemption Part 1. Thanks for spending part of your day with us today. You know, this message is part of Pastor Jack's series called The Book of Ephesians. It's a series through Paul's letter to the Ephesians, discovering the riches, the walk, and the warfare of every believer. And we'll continue on the next edition of Real Life Radio.

Guest (Female): So as you heard from our broadcast, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. And if you'd like to know what a commitment to Christ can mean in your life personally, we would love to help you out with that. Go to jackhibbs.com/knowgod. That's k n o w god. And there you'll be guided through what a commitment to Christ can mean in your life and the freedom that you'll find in knowing God. Don't miss out. That's the know God tab at jackhibbs.com.

Jack Hibbs: Hey, thank you again so much for listening. And if you'd like to hear or see more of what we do here, you can always go to jackhibbs.com for all the latest on what's going on with this ministry. And please, if you're ever in the Southern California area, come see us at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. We'd love to see you there in person. It has been so good to be with you today and I pray you find yourself in the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. See you on the next episode.

David J: This program is made possible by the generous contributions of you, our listeners. Visit us at jackhibbs.com. That's jackhibbs.com. Until next time, Pastor Jack Hibbs and all of us here at Real Life Radio wish for you solid and steady growth in Christ and in his word. We'll see you next time here on Real Life Radio.