John Chapter 16:1-9

Do you want to be judged according to your good works, bad works, balance? Knowing God said, you know what, if you broke the law in one place, you've broken it all. Or do you want to stand under grace? That's the question.

That's the question for everybody in the world. Do you want to stand under the law or do you want to stand under grace? Everybody has to make that decision to stand under the law or stand under the grace. When you present it like that, let me guarantee you, people are real interested in that grace.

Because let me help you out. No one will ever stand justified under the law. Nobody. The Bible is very plain about that. That's the decision at the heart of it. A decision for Jesus to stand under grace. Welcome to Cross the Bridge with David Magee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. One of David Magee's associate pastors is D.A.

Brown, who we're blessed to have with us in the studio today. Bob, this is a life-changing teaching. I hope you stay tuned in and everyone listening to the whole thing. When it comes to God's Word, everyone has to decide whether to stand under the law or stand under God's grace. Today, Pastor Dave explains the choice we have to make from God's Word as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 16.

Now here's David Magee with his teaching, The Helper. Chapter 16, verse 1. These things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the sin of God. Yes, the time has come in that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. What an incredible prophetic statement. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor me.

But these things I have told you that when the times come you may remember that I told you of them and these things I did not say to you at the beginning because I was with you. Now it's an amazing thing to me the way that Jesus is caring for them because he's getting ready to endure agony and pain and beyond belief in the next 24 hours. But what's he doing? Who's he concerned with? He's not saying to the disciples, guys, I really need you to pray for me because, you know, this is going to be tough. As a matter of fact, when he did ask his first string, if you will, to pray for him, they fell asleep. But in this moment he's not spending the time going, hey, I need you guys to pray for me.

He's ministering to them. That, friend, is the biblical model of Christianity. It's not all egocentric focused on self and me but focused on others. And sure you'll go through hard times where you don't want to do that or you don't feel like doing that. But Jesus is the example. And all that he was getting ready to face he was still willing to pour out upon others and be concerned with others and not himself. How challenging that is. Now, in his love for them, I want you to notice this, in his love for them he is telling them what is getting ready to happen.

Not just in the next 24 hours but in the next few years. That's interesting. Why? Because it's an expression of his love to tell them what is about to happen. That's an interesting thing considering how much prophecy is in this book. So he has told us a great deal about what's going to happen.

Not just today but in the next few years. Why? Because he loves you and he wants you to be ready. Interesting story with Sodom and Gomorrah. Before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah the Lord said this in Genesis 18 and 17. And the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing since Abraham shall surely become a great mighty nation and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? The Lord is deciding to tell Abraham what's about to happen in Sodom and Gomorrah.

Why did he do that? Well, we're actually told in James in a roundabout way. James chapter 2 verse 23 says, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God. If you've been here for a couple of weeks, last chapter Jesus called us, his friends. We know him and we're following him. So why has he revealed the future to us?

Because we're his friends and he loves us. And he's saying, look this is what's going to happen. This is what is coming down. Now I'm talking about the rapture of the church.

Now I know some people are taking kind of a laid back laissez-faire kind of attitude. Yeah well he'll come one day but you know I'm just going to kind of be on cruise mode until then. And then you know when that happens then I'll get ready. What do you mean when that happens you'll get ready?

It's called the twinkling of an eye. We can estimate somewhere about one three hundredths or maybe even one three thousandths of a second. You're not going to have time to get ready friend. Oh yeah yeah I'll pray that prayer that you always are telling us to pray to get the forgiveness of sins.

When the rapture happens I'm going to pray that prayer right then and there. Well you won't have time. I mean that's pretty quick. Lord I ask you, that's too long. Lord I, no too long. Lord, too long. No that's too long.

You're not going to have, that's it, it's over man. So what you have to do is be prepared now today. And understand something. Why is Jesus waiting? And he is waiting. I get to picture you know that Jesus is up there going oh now, now father can I go?

Not yet, not yet, not yet, not yet, not yet. But one day soon the father is going to look at him and go that's it, bring him home. And the door is going to be closed. Why is Jesus waiting for that moment? We're told, we don't have to wonder, we're told second Peter chapter three verse nine. Says the Lord isn't being slow about his promise to return as some people think.

No he's being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish so he is giving more time for everyone to repent. When you really stop and consider this verse there's a staggering implication. So Jesus is waiting for people to repent. Well yes and no. Yes because he is waiting for them to repent.

No because, well let me ask you a question. How will they repent? Romans tells us, how are they going to know unless we tell them? So conceptually Jesus is waiting on them to repent but you know what's really going on?

He's waiting for us to tell them. Oh now pastor David I think you're taking some liberty with that scripture. I don't think I am because of other scriptures. In Matthew 9, 37 and 38 says then he said to his disciples the harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. So we think that we're waiting on the return of Jesus. In actuality he's waiting on us to fulfill the great commission. And he's told us the future because he loves us and he wants us to be ready.

That's the life lesson here. Jesus told us the future because he loves us and so we can be ready. Because he loves us and so we can be ready. He even told parables about people who after being told we're not ready.

Like the bridesmaids and some other parables. Why did he tell us that? To communicate to us look this is going to happen and you need to be ready for that.

And in a more personal way understand this. God is also trying to prepare you what's coming next in your life. There's people in here that are going to have deaths in their families. There's people in here that are going to go through hard times at work. God knows that and even right now he's trying to prepare you for that time.

Why? Because he knows what's next. Verse 5, but now I go away to him who sent me and none of you ask me where are you going. But because I've said these things to you sorrow has filled your heart. Jesus is saying you know what you're sorry but you should be glad.

And he's getting ready to explain to them why that is. Verse 7, nevertheless I tell you the truth it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away the helper will not come to you but if I depart I will send him to you. He's talking about the Holy Spirit. And remember before Jesus died and was resurrected the Holy Spirit could only come upon people. He couldn't indwell and fill people because there was the sin issue. See in the Hebrew Scriptures in the Old Testament the word there for atone is the Hebrew word kophir.

Or kophar depending on the usage. It's where we get our word for cover. See but under the blood of Jesus the sins are washed away completely. So now that our sins can be washed away we can receive the Holy Spirit in power. And so because of the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus the Holy Spirit can indwell us. And you know what really Jesus is saying here is you know what this is what I came for.

This is what I came for. When he came this was part of the package and he knew it and he still came. Understand he lived to die. That was his purpose. It didn't catch him by surprise. As a matter of fact he sped up the timetable. The leadership in Jerusalem said let's don't take him during the feast there'll be an uproar. And Jesus looked at Judas and said Judas what you're about to do go do it quickly go do it now. Let's get the thing going.

What an amazing thing. Jesus didn't come here to shed a little light on the subject. He didn't come here to communicate a few truths so we could get along a little better.

He didn't come to share a few things so we could just feel a little better about ourselves. He came to die. That's why he came. Let me make it a little personal he came to die for you. And Jesus is in this moment he's saying you know what this is what I came to do. We can pray for them as well just by simply going to crossthebridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button. All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love that need to know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people will begin praying for your lost loved ones. What an awesome way to bring your loved ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. We want to take just a minute to pray for seven cities in our listening audience.

Walker, Michigan, Brainerd, Fergus Falls, and Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Biloxi, Friars Point, and Meridian, Mississippi. Lord thank you that we're able to broadcast in these cities. Thank you for your good news which will not return void. Lord I pray for everyone listening right now that they would be encouraged that they would recognize that you love them greatly and you have a good plan. Lord I pray for anyone in their lives who they've been trying to reach out to or they've been trying to share the gospel with.

We lift those up to you now. We pray that you would convince and convict and even encourage them to put their trust in you. And Lord we pray for protection and safety in these cities. Give the police officers wisdom, the fire department wisdom, the town councils, the mayors, everyone in leadership. Give them wisdom.

Help them to love one another. And Lord we trust you that you're going to do a great work in these cities. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Amen, thank you brother. And now let's get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse. Verse 8, and when he has come he will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. It says when he, speaking about the Holy Spirit, he will convict the world of sin.

What do you mean he? That's my job God. I'm supposed to convict the world of sin. You said you didn't come into the world to condemn it.

I saw something that needed to be done and so I'm doing it. I'm condemning the whole world. How many people think that's a ministry? That's not a ministry of discouragement. That's not in there.

That's not listed in there. I'm going to convict everybody of their sins. You can't.

He can. See at some point I've had discussions with some people and I know they're running from God and I'm talking to them. But there comes a time when the Holy Spirit says, you know what, be quiet now.

Let me take it from here. You just tell them see you later. And see and at that point that conversation is over. I have to watch them walk off and I can't follow them home and beat on their window and tell them to repent, you know. But the Holy Spirit will do just that. The Holy Spirit will follow them home, keep them from sleeping and say man you need to get right. You need to get right. Now God uses us, the Holy Spirit uses us but it's him. If you think it's you, then there's so much pressure that comes.

And then you begin to act like, you know, a vacuum cleaner salesman that shoves his foot in the door. And a lot of damage has been done because of that in the body of Christ. And when he says convict the world of sin, understand that's a legal term. It's a legal term.

Elecho I think is the Greek. It was used 23 times in the trial of Socrates that Plato wrote. It's a legal term. Convicted, convicted. Just like you would be convicted in a court of law. Now, understand this. That's what the Holy Spirit does when he comes into somebody's life. He says to them and perhaps you remember that moment when you realize that the evidence had been carefully considered in your life, it had been weighed out, a guilty sentence had been decided upon, and the only thing left was who was going to serve the sentence.

Who was going to serve the sentence. That's where the whole thing is. And it's amazing to see what the Holy Spirit can do to the blinded eye and the hardened heart. He can change lives. He can convince someone of their need for Jesus. And I realize when you're sharing with somebody, especially with somebody you care about, and they don't get it, it bums you out. I understand that, but let me ask you a question. Did you get it right away? I mean, the first time somebody came up to you and said, let me tell you about Jesus.

Oh, Jesus, it's great. Tell me what to do. Get saved, pray the prayer.

What do I say? All right, let's do it. Probably not. Probably not. Statistics suggest that the average American hears the gospel presented seven times before they respond.

Seven times. It took you a while to get it. Guess what?

It's probably going to take them a while to get it. Occasionally you may share with somebody and boom, it just happens. That's the rare exception, I think. The rare exception. We had one person that came here for six months and was not saved, but came just about every Sunday. And after six months they said, I'm going to accept Jesus. I want to be forgiven of my sins.

Let me mention something because this may be helpful. There's a difference between conviction and condemnation. Condemnation drives you away from God. Conviction draws you to God. When you mess up, notice I said when, not if.

When you mess up, something happens in you and there's a dichotomy. There's two parts of you. Part of you is going, man, I got to get right with God. You know what, I got to be there Sunday morning.

And you know what, when Pastor David invites people up front, I need to go up front. I need to let go of this thing. But then a part of you goes, I can't go to church. I messed up this time. I messed up bad.

I just can't do it. That's the difference between conviction and condemnation. Conviction would lead you to come to the altar and be cleansed of your sin. Condemnation will say, no, you can't go to church.

You can't go to church. Verse nine, of sin because they do not believe in me. Notice I'm of sin.

It's a singular word. Not of sins, but of sin. The New Living translation said the world's sin, singular, is unbelief in me. This is the words of Jesus.

Notice he didn't say it's drugs, it's alcohol, it's sex, it's this, that. He said the sin is unbelief. And I hear people, you know, sometimes people talk about the unpardonable sin. And in some circles they think if you say the wrong thing or ask the wrong question, you've committed the unpardonable sin. The unpardonable sin is that which cannot be forgiven. According to this verse, this is the unpardonable sin that you not believe in Jesus.

Again, it's not complicated, but let me explain. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is convicting people of their sins. If you reject that ministry or blaspheme the ministry of the Holy Spirit, you reject your need for Jesus, you do not ask forgiveness, and you can't receive forgiveness.

Now, understand this. The sin, the only sin that keeps people from going to heaven is the rejection of Jesus. It's not this, it's not that, which is interesting because when we think of sins, we think of sins of commission, those things that we do. Omission, the things that we don't do, that's the one that will keep people from heaven. It's what you don't do that will keep you from heaven. This is according to the words of Jesus.

Now, let me ask you a question. With that knowledge, what should we be talking to somebody that doesn't know Jesus about, only about their lack of belief in Jesus? I mean, guys, I know we try to play the role of the Holy Spirit, and I've had people do that in my life. You know, when I was abusing drugs and doing all these things, I knew it was wrong. I didn't need anybody to come up and go, you know that's wrong. Well, that's probably why we're hiding when we do it.

That's probably why we get thrown in jail if we get caught. I mean, there was a register that it was wrong. That wasn't the needed discussion. The needed discussion was, you know, you don't have to live like that. Jesus died for it, so you don't have to die from it. That was the discussion that needed to happen.

So what discussion needs to happen with you and family and you and friends? Not their profanity, not their drinking, not their smoking dope, not these things, because chances are, guys, they know they're wrong. But the fact that they don't know Jesus.

See, because here's what can happen. You begin to talk to them about their need for Jesus, and, man, it gets slippery. And how many times have you been telling somebody about how you get saved and how you were born again, and they go, hey, who do you think is going to be the antichrist? Or, hey, yeah, yeah, but, hey, homosexuality, is that wrong or right?

What do you think? Or what about the Muslims? Or the ever classic, what about the pygmies in Africa? That's a smokescreen.

That's a smokescreen. Some people, when they use that pygmy in Africa thing, I say, you know what? Here's the thing. I'm sitting here telling you about Jesus. If you're really concerned that they don't know about Jesus, let's get you saved and we'll send you to Africa and you can tell them. Now, I've not had one person go, okay, well, let's do that, because I really have a heart for those people. No, it's an excuse.

But how often, guys, how often do we take that smokescreen? It happened to me, I was doing street ministry. I was like 18 up in Pennsylvania, and I was witnessing to a guy. He was right on the edge, and I love prophecy. And he said, so who do you think is going to be the antichrist?

Oh, phew, off and running on that. We spent 20 minutes on it, and then 20 minutes later he's like, okay, see you later. And a much older brother, more mature brother in the Lord said, you know what? He was there.

He was right there, and you let him walk away. And I said, you know what? I'll never do that again. I'll never do that again. Here's the life lesson. Keep the main thing the main thing. Keep the main thing the main thing.

What is the main thing? Jesus. Whether somebody believes or doesn't believe. Be careful about, and I know we need to take a moral stand on some issues and say, well, that's not right, and the Bible says this.

I do that. I'm not detracting from that. But see, here's the thing. In that discussion, you can win that argument and lose the battle.

And if you're going to win something, which would you rather win, an argument or a soul? When you walk away at the end of that, would you rather say, I told him what's what? Or would you rather walk away and say, you know what? That person knows Jesus now. And you know what? Once they come to know Jesus, let me guarantee you, God will reveal to them what is sin and what is not. Give the Holy Spirit 10 seconds and say, God begins to deal with you about your sin, amen? And he does a wonderful job, doesn't he? Keep the main thing the main thing.

Don't go for the smokescreens because you know what? Those aren't the things that will send people to an eternal destination without God. It's what they do with Jesus. Here's the real question. Do you want to stand under law or under grace? Do you want to be judged according to your good works, bad works, balance, knowing God said, you know what, if you broke the law in one place, you've broken it all? Or do you want to stand under grace?

That's the question. That's the question for everybody in the world. You want to stand under the law or do you want to stand under grace?

That's the last life lesson. Everybody has to decide either to stand under the law or stand under grace. Everybody has to make that decision to stand under the law or stand under the grace. When you present it like that, let me guarantee you, people are real interested in that grace because let me help you out. No one will ever stand justified under the law.

Nobody. Bible is very plain about that. That's the decision at the heart of it, a decision for Jesus to stand under grace. Romans 8, 2 says this, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. You're either under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus or you are under the law which is under a sentence of death.

Which do you prefer? And loved ones, keep the main thing the main thing. Friend, do you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven?

You can know right now. I want to lead you in a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking Him to help you to live for Him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven. And I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life. And I've done wrong things. I have sinned.

And I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you all of my days. In Jesus' name.

Amen. Friend, if you prayed that prayer, according to the Bible, you've been forgiven. You've been born again.

So congratulations, friend, you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you. If you prayed that prayer with David for the first time, we'd love to hear from you. You can visit crossthebridge.com to receive our First Steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Or you can write to Cross the Bridge at P.O. Box 12515, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27117, and share how God is working in your life. You know, the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio, through the internet, and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use. So if you'd like to support this ministry, please go to crossthebridge.com, click on the donate button, and ask God how much he would have you give either on a one-time basis or a continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's Word continues to go out through Cross the Bridge.

Thank you so much. Well, DA, before we go, what are some ways that we can bless our listeners? Each day you can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David through the Word of God with his email devotional, life lessons to consider, a daily reading plan, and a thought to meditate on throughout your day from the heart of David McGee. Those are terrific, and it's easy and it's free. So folks, sign up today at crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening, and join us next time as David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the Gospel of John.