TODAY ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
WHEN YOU PUSH AGAINST FALSE DOCTRINE
AND THE IDEOLOGIES OF THIS WORLD,
YOU ARE CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH.
CHRISTIANS WE NOT ONLY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY,
BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT, WE HAVE A DUTY
TO VOTE, PRAY, AND TAKE ACTION.
WELCOME TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES.
I’M PASTOR ROB PACIENZA.
THE APOSTLE JUDE TOLD CHRISTIANS
THAT WE ARE TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH
ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS.
THAT MEANS THE SAME BODY OF TRUTH THAT WAS GIVEN
BY JESUS TO THE APOSTLES IS THE SAME BODY OF TRUTH
THAT GUIDES US AND SAVES US TODAY.
BUT WE LIVE IN A CULTURE WHERE EVEN THE CONCEPT OF
TRUTH ITSELF IS UNDER ATTACK.
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM, WE’LL DIG DEEPER INTO WHAT’S REQUIRED
FROM US TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH IN OUR MODERN CONTEXT.
AND WE BEGIN WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE
LIES THAT’S HIJACKED OUR CULTURE.
THE IDEA THAT GOD ONLY BELONGS IN PRIVATE LIFE,
AND SHOULD BE KEPT OUT OF PUBLIC, AND
EXCLUDED FROM GOVERNMENT IS NOW TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
IT’S ALSO A LIE-AND A DAMAGING ONE.
HERE’S A CLOSER LOOK FROM OUR OWN JOHN RABE.
IT’S FREQUENTLY SAID THAT RELIGION AND POLITICS DON’T MIX.
THAT RELIGIOUS FAITH IS A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND
SHOULD BE KEPT TO ONE’S SELF OR
THE CONFINES OF A CHURCH OR SYNAGOGUE.
THIS PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN PUSHED IN SOCIETY FOR DECADES TO THE
POINT WHERE TODAY MANY HAVE BOUGHT INTO THE LIE THAT
“FAITH IS PRIVATE AND GOD DOESN’T BELONG IN GOVERNMENT.”
THE CULTURE SHAPERS OF TODAY ARE UTTERLY COMMITTED
TO PROMOTING A CULTURAL REVOLUTION,
A "PROGRESSIVE SECULAR CULTURE" THAT VACUUMS GOD OUT OF IT.
NOW, WE'LL LET YOU HAVE GOD OVER THERE AT 11 ON SUNDAY
IN THAT BUILDING, BUT THAT'S IT.
THERE IS A WORLDVIEW CLASH THAT’S GOING ON EVERYWHERE AND
IT INCLUDES CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, HIGHER EDUCATION, THE CHURCH,
POPULAR CULTURE AND PEOPLE WHO HOLD TRADITIONAL VALUES.
THERE IS A SWIRL OF OPPOSITION
AND IT ROLLS INTO EVERYTHING WE DO.
THERE'S A MOVEMENT, I CALL IT SECULAR PIETISM.
SECULAR PURITANISM, SECULAR STATEISM,
WHERE THEY THINK THE STATE
IS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IN OUR LIVES AND
IT'S GOING TO REPLACE THE CHURCH.
AND THEY'RE TRYING TO ACTUALLY LEGALLY DO THAT THROUGH POLICY
AND THROUGH DE-LEGITIMIZATION OF THE CHURCH
OR DEMONIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
BUT WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
THE CHRISTIANS ROLE IN SOCIETY?
ALTHOUGH IT’S TRUE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS A PERSONAL SAVIOR AND
CHRISTIANITY HAS PERSONAL, LIFE CHANGING ASPECTS,
IT ALSO HAS SOCIETAL DIMENSIONS THAT HAVE CHANGED THE WORLD.
JESUS DECLARED,
IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT CHRISTIANS TODAY NOT JUST LIVE
WITH A PRIVATE FAITH IN LARGE PART BECAUSE
JESUS COMMANDED OTHERWISE.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BIBLE THAT SAYS THAT CHRISTIANITY IS
ALL ABOUT THE JOY, JOY, JOY, WAY DOWN DEEP IN OUR HEART.
IT'S THAT. TRUE,
BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT GO INTO THE NATIONS.
AND SO IN A SENSE, A PRIVATE FAITH REALLY ISN'T AN OPTION
IF JESUS IS LORD OF OUR LIVES.
AND THAT'S HOW WE CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO BE LIVING.
I THINK THERE'S A MANDATE ON THE BELIEVER
LITERALLY FROM SCRIPTURE,
AND IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE NARRATIVE
YOU HEAR TODAY, SO TO SPEAK ON THE STREET.
AND THAT IS, CAN A CHRISTIAN BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS?
I DO BELIEVE THAT WHEN I LOOK AT
HOW JESUS DEALT WITH THE ROMAN EMPIRE,
WHEN I SEE HOW ISAIAH OR EZEKIEL
OR FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION,
THERE SEEMS TO ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN MANDATE
TO SHINE THE LIGHT OF GOD'S TRUTH EVERYWHERE.
THAT'S NOT POLITICS,
THAT'S BEING GOOD STEWARDS OVER GOD'S GOVERNMENT.
I THINK IT'S NOT ONLY OKAY FOR
CHRISTIANS TO BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS.
I THINK A FAIR AND ACCURATE READING OF SCRIPTURE IS THAT
IT'S A CALLING AND A RESPONSIBILITY AND A DUTY.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO BACK AND YOU LOOK AT THE OLD TESTAMENT,
ONCE YOU HAVE THE LAW ESTABLISHED,
WHETHER IT WAS MOSES OR LATER JOSHUA OR LATER,
THE JUDGES, AND THEN ULTIMATELY KINGS,
THERE WAS NOT THE KIND OF SEPARATION
BETWEEN ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIC AUTHORITY.
SO THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT ISRAEL AND
THE JEWISH PEOPLE THERE WAS AN INTER WEAVING
OF POLITICAL CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS LIFE.
AND IF YOU GO THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT,
IT IS CONSTANTLY TAUGHT THAT WE ARE TO BE ENGAGED CIVICALLY AND
EXERCISES ARE RIGHTS AS A WAY TO GLORIFY GOD
AND SHARE THE GOSPEL.
JESUS USED THE GREEK WORD ECCLESIA WHEN REFERRING
TO A GATHERING OF HIS FOLLOWERS.
THIS WORD HAS BEEN COMMONLY TRANSLATED IN
THE BIBLE TO THE WORD “CHURCH”.
AN ECCLESIA WAS AN ASSEMBLY AND
IT INCLUDED THE POLITICAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GREEKS.
IT WOULD BE AN UNLIKELY WORD FOR JESUS TO USE
TO REPRESENT SOMETHING MERELY PRIVATE.
INSTEAD IT SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THE
CHURCH ITSELF HAS A PUBLIC, CULTURAL FUNCTION.
JESUS DIDN'T TAKE ON THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL EVERY,
OH, BUT DON'T GET INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S LIKE THIS INVISIBLE LINE, DON'T GET INVOLVED.
NO, HE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE YEAST
AND IT WAS GOING TO GO EVERYWHERE,INCLUDING GOVERNMENT.
AND THESE GODLY PRINCIPLES WOULD CHANGE THE WORLD.
GOD HAS A DESIGN FOR GOVERNMENT.
I THINK WHAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL ABOUT OUR AMERICA
THAT WE OFTEN TAKE FOR GRANTED THOUGH, IS THAT THE FOUNDERS,
THEY INTENTIONALLY WERE TRYING PURPOSELY PROACTIVELY TO FASHION
A GOVERNMENT AS BEST AS HUMANS COULD DO THAT WAS BIBLICAL.
IN HIS GETTYSBURG ADDRESS,
PRESIDENT LINCOLN COINED THE PHRASE
WHICH HAS SINCE BECOME ONE OF THE MOST QUOTED AMERICAN SAYINGS
TO DEFINE AMERICA’S GOVERNMENT.
IN AMERICA, WE ARE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES, RIGHT?
AND SO WE'VE GOTTEN AWAY FROM THAT,
AND NOW WE ACT AS IF THE GOVERNMENT IS OVER US.
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS’ RELIGIOUS
BELIEFS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THE POLITICAL LEFT HAS TRIED TO
DRIVE CHRISTIANS AWAY FROM PARTICIPATING IN GOVERNMENT.
THIS INCLUDES THE BASELESS CLAIMS THAT THE CONSTITUTION
REQUIRES A “WALL OF SEPARATION” BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IN REALITY,
THE CONSTITUTION MERELY PROHIBITED A NATIONAL CHURCH.
THE PHRASE “SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE”
APPEARS NOWHERE IN THE CONSTITUTION,
BUT WAS LATER WRITTEN IN A PRIVATE LETTER BY
THOMAS JEFFERSON-WHO WAS THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY FROM
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AS THE DOCUMENT
WAS BEING WRITTEN AND RATIFIED.
THE CONSTITUTION NEVER INTENDED TO
PROTECT THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE CHURCH,
BUT THE CHURCH FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
I THINK MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CULTURE HAVE LOST A PERSPECTIVE
OR AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT IS.
AND GOD OUTLINES US, FOR US THAT GOVERNMENT IS INSTITUTED BY HIM
TO PUNISH THOSE WHO DO WRONG AND TO REWARD THOSE WHO DO WELL.
MUSIC.
I ALWAYS GO TO JESUS' SECOND GREAT COMMANDMENT.
YOU LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
NOW, HOW CAN CHRISTIANS SAY THAT WE TRULY LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR
IN A CONSISTENT HOLISTIC WAY, IF WE ARE NOT ENGAGING IN THESE
AREAS THAT AFFECT OUR BASIC RIGHTS AND OUR BASIC LIBERTIES.
IT HAS BEEN SAID “YOU CAN’T LEGISLATE MORALITY”
BUT THE FACT IS
GOVERNMENTS ALWAYS LEGISLATE MORALITY AND VALUES.
THAT’S ALL POLITICS IS, IS MORALITY.
IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF MORALITY.
IT'S A QUESTION OF WHAT MORALITY AND WHOSE MORALITY.
BECAUSE THE CULTURE THAT'S IN REBELLION WANTS TO
DETHRONE THE GLORY OF GOD MOCKS BIBLICAL MORALITY,
AND YOU CAN SILENCE PEOPLE BY MOCKING WHAT THEY BELIEVE
AS WELL AS OUTLAWING THEIR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
WE NOT ONLY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY,
BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT, WE HAVE A DUTY
TO VOTE, PRAY, AND TAKE ACTION.
AND WE LIVE IN A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC
WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I KNOW IT'S EASY TO LOOK AT WASHINGTON DC AND
THINK ALL HOPE IS LOST AND GET FRUSTRATED,
BUT WE CAN BE INVOLVED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND MAKE
RADICAL RESTORATIVE REDEMPTIVE CHANGES FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
AS CITIZENS OF AMERICA AS WELL AS
CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION AND
A ROLE IN PRESIDING OVER CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
THE WORD CITIZEN MEANS CO-KING, CO-RULER, CO-SOVEREIGN.
AND SO OUR FOUNDING FATHERS FOR ALL THEIR FAULTS,
THEY GAVE YOU A PRESENT AND THAT PRESENT IS
YOU GET TO BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE.
AND ALL OF US TOGETHER ARE IN CHARGE OF THE COUNTRY.
WHEN I READ CERTAIN SCRIPTURES THAT SPEAK ABOUT US AS BEING
CO-LABORERS WITH GOD, TO THINK THAT GOD WOULD TAKE ME AND
TO USE ME AS A CO-LABORER TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES
IN THE EARTH IS AN OVERWHELMING AND ENCOURAGING THING.
BUT HE DOESN'T JUST DO THAT FOR US PERSONALLY AND GIVING US
IDEAS AND VISION FOR OUR OWN LIVES BUT HE ALSO GIVES US AN
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW SOCIETY SHOULD BE CREATED AND
HOW SOCIETY SHOULD BE ORDERED.
SO IT ULTIMATELY COMES DOWN TO
DOES GOD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ORDER CULTURE?
DOES GOD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO, TO CALL CULTURE INTO ACCOUNT?
AND HERE'S WHERE I SAID CHRISTIANS,
NOT ONLY HAVE WE SHIED AWAY FROM THAT
BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID OF BEING CALLED NAMES,
BUT WE'VE FORGOTTEN THE BENEFIT OF THAT.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE THAT GOES BACK TO THE
FOUNDING OF OUR NATION AND WE NEED TO BE BOLD TO DEFEND IT.
CHRISTIANS NEED TO RECOVER THEIR CONFIDENCE TODAY.
AND PART OF HOW WE DO THAT IS WE LOOK TO HISTORIC EXAMPLES.
WE LOOK TO WILBERFORCE, WE LOOK TO KUYPER,
WE LOOK TO FRANCIS SCHAEFFER AND OTHERS WE COULD NAME,
AND WE SEE THERE ABUNDANT REASON TO BE ENCOURAGED AND
WE FIND WIND AT OUR BACK TO BE SALT AND LIGHT.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THE CHURCH NEEDS TO BE CALLED BACK TO THAT
EVEN THOUGH IT FEELS SO DARK.
THAT'S THE TIME, BY THE WAY,
WHEN THE CHURCH MOST NEEDS TO PRESS IN,
WHEN IT FEELS THE BLEAKEST, WHEN YOU THINK,
NO, NO, NO, WE GOT TO GET OFF THE FIELD,
WE GOT TO LEAVE THIS, WE LOST.
THAT'S THE TIME WHEN YOU MUST NOT LEAVE THE FIELD.
THAT'S THE TIME WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO ARM UP
IN THE WORD AND THE GOSPEL,
SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR.
TO MOVE TO EXCLUDE GOD
FROM PUBLIC LIFE IS CALLED SECULARISM.
AND IT HAS DOMINATED OUR CULTURE FOR DECADES.
AMONG INTELLECTUALS AND ACADEMICS,
WHOSE IDEAS FILTER OUT INTO THE POPULAR CULTURE,
CHRISTIANITY IS SEEN AS OUTDATED AND SUPERSTITIOUS.
BUT THOUGH IT MIGHT NOT BE FASHIONABLE,
JESUS TELLS US THAT HE IS THE LORD OF ALL.
2000 YEARS AGO, HIS MESSAGE WAS SO OPPOSED BY THE AUTHORITIES
THAT THEY NAILED HIM TO A CROSS.
BUT AS I RECENTLY SHARED WITH
OUR CONGREGATION HERE AT CORAL RIDGE,
THAT LIFE-GIVING MESSAGE IS THE ONE THAT WE ARE STILL
CALLED TO STAND FOR AND CONTEND FOR TODAY,
AS WE DISCOVER IN THE GREAT BOOK OF JUDE.
WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO A SHORT BOOK, JUDE,
TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT WE BELIEVE CONCERNING THE CHURCH.
THE GRASS WITHERS, THE FLOWER FADES THE WORD OF OUR LORD.
IT STANDS FOREVER. AMEN. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
THE CHURCH. HOW'S THE CHURCH REGARDED THESE DAYS?
DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM REGARDING
THE CHURCH IN THE 21ST CENTURY,
BUT REGARDLESS OF THE ENTHUSIASM LEVEL,
CHRIST CONTINUES TO BUILD HIS CHURCH REGARDLESS OF WHAT
THE POPULAR OPINION IS OF THE DAY CONCERNING THE CHURCH,
JESUS HAS BEEN CALLING OUT HIS PEOPLE FOR 2000 YEARS BECAUSE
THAT'S THE ACTUAL DEFINITION OF THE CHURCH.
THE WORD CHURCH LITERALLY MEANS CALLED OUT ONES
CALLED OUT OF THIS WORLD INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
AND INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER.
AND FOR 2000 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO A VERY PARTICULAR TASK
AND JUDE GIVES US ONE OF THOSE IMPORTANT TASKS
HERE IN JUDE THREE AND FOUR.
HE SAYS, YOU CHURCH WRITING TO THE BELOVED YOU CHURCH,
YOU’RE CALLED TO CONTEND.
CONTEND FOR WHAT?
HE SAYS, CONTEND FOR THE FAITH.
NOW FAITH HERE IN JUDE 3 IS NOT THE EXPRESSION OF BELIEF.
THAT'S NOT WHAT JUDE'S TALKING ABOUT.
HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE FAITH.
THERE'S AN ARTICLE THERE BEFORE FAITH, THE FAITH,
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH THAT YOU ARE TO CONTEND FOR THE CHRISTIAN
FAITH THAT WAS ONCE AND FOR ALL DELIVERED TO ALL THE SAINTS.
AND HERE IN JUDE 3 AND 4, HE GIVES US TWO WAYS IN PARTICULAR
BY WHICH THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IS CALLED TO CONTEND.
WE ARE CALLED TO CONTEND FOR THE PURITY OF THE CHURCH AND
WE ARE CALLED TO CONTEND FOR THE PEACE OF THE CHURCH,
SO LET'S STUDY IT TOGETHER THIS MORNING.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THE PURITY OF THE CHURCH?
WELL IF YOU LOOK AT VERSE 4, JUDE REVEALS
THE PURPOSE OF WRITING THIS LETTER.
HE SAYS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE THREATENING
THE PURITY OF THE CHURCH,
AND THEN HE SAYS IN VERSE FOUR,
THEY'VE GONE UNNOTICED AND NOW THEY ARE PREACHING AND TEACHING
AND DEMONSTRATING SOMETHING CONTRARY TO THE FAITH
AND THEY ARE THREATENING ITS PURITY.
AND EVERY SINGLE TIME OVER THE LAST 2000 YEARS
THAT THE PURITY OF THE CHURCH HAS BEEN THREATENED,
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE
IN THE NAME OF CULTURAL RELEVANCE AND ACCOMMODATION
IN ORDER THAT WE DO NOT OFFEND THE MASSES.
IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR MESSAGE A LITTLE MORE
ACCESSIBLE TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
WE EITHER NEED TO SUBTRACT OR ADD
TO THE MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST.
AND JUDE SAYS, DON'T HAVE ANY PART OF IT BUT CONTEND FOR IT.
THE WORD CONTEND LITERALLY MEANS TO STRIVE OR TO FIGHT.
FIGHT FOR THE FAITH, CONTEND FOR THE FAITH, STRIVE FOR THE FAITH.
AND 2000 YEARS LATER, WE SEE PEOPLE INSIDE THE CHURCH
CONTINUALLY WATERING DOWN THE MESSAGE, TWISTING THE TRUTH,
ALL IN THE NAME OF ONCE AGAIN WHAT?
CULTURAL RELEVANCE AND CULTURAL ACCOMMODATION.
WE HAVE PEOPLE INSIDE THE CHURCH ATTACKING BIBLICAL INERRANCY,
PEOPLE INSIDE THE CHURCH THREATENING AND ATTACKING
THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE GOSPEL, INSIDE THE CHURCH ATTACKING
GOD'S DESIGN FOR GENDER AND SEXUALITY,
INSIDE THE CHURCH ATTACKING GOD'S DESIGN
FOR MARRIAGE IN THE FAMILY,
INSIDE THE CHURCH ATTACKING
THE RIGHT OF THE PARENT TO RAISE THEIR CHILD,
HOW GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN
IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD.
AND OUR MESSAGE TO ALL THOSE THAT WOULD THREATEN
THE PURITY OF THE CHURCH IS WE WOULD SAY TO THEM,
YOU CAN'T MESS WITH IT BECAUSE JUDE SAYS IT IS THE FAITH,
MEANING IT IS A FAITH,
THE FAITH THAT WAS DELIVERED ONCE AND FOR ALL.
IT MEANS WE CAN'T TINKER WITH IT.
IT MEANS WE CAN'T MESS WITH IT.
IT MEANS WE CAN'T ADD OR SUBTRACT TO THE MESSAGE OF
CHRISTIANITY BECAUSE IT ULTIMATELY BELONGS TO HIM.
AND OUR MESSAGE TO THE WORLD AND OUR MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH
IS THAT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH DOESN'T NEED ADAPTING.
IT NEEDS MEN AND WOMEN THAT WILL CONTEND FOR IT.
IT NEEDS MEN AND WOMEN THAT EVERY SUNDAY MORNING
YOU SHOW UP TO WORSHIP BECAUSE WHEN
YOU SHOW UP TO WORSHIP ON A SUNDAY MORNING,
YOU'RE CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH.
WHEN YOU TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THE DOCTRINES OF OUR HOLY RELIGION,
YOU'RE CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH.
WHEN YOU PUSH BACK AGAINST FALSE TEACHERS,
NO MATTER HOW WINSOME THEY MAY SOUND,
YOU ARE CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH.
WHEN YOU PUSH AGAINST FALSE DOCTRINE AND
THE IDEOLOGIES OF THIS WORLD,
YOU ARE CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH.
WHEN YOU'RE PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE WORLD'S
UNDERSTANDING OF SEXUALITY AND THE CULTURAL NORMS OF OUR DAY,
YOU ARE CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE FAITH.
CONTEND FOR THE PURITY OF THE CHURCH.
WE'RE NOT ONLY CALLED TO CONTEND FOR THE PURITY OF THE CHURCH,
BUT ALSO FOR THE PEACE OF THE CHURCH.
AND YOU MIGHT BE SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW AND GOING, HOLD ON,
DOESN'T ALL OF THIS CONTENDING AND STRIVING AND
FIGHTING CAUSE DISUNITY INSTEAD OF UNITY?
DOESN'T IT CAUSE CHAOS AND NOT PEACE?
WELL, WHO'S CAUSING THE DIVISION HERE IN JUDE?
IS IT THE TRUTH TELLERS?
IS IT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE STANDING
FOR ORTHODOXY AND BIBLICAL TRUTH?
ARE THEY THE ONES CAUSING DIVISION?
WHO'S CAUSING DIVISION?
THE UNGODLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE CREPT INTO THE CHURCH.
IT'S THE FALSE TEACHERS THAT CAUSE DIVISION.
AND SATAN'S GREATEST PLOY IS TO CONVINCE YOU
TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT CAUSE DIVISION.
WE DON'T WANT TO ROCK THE BOAT.
SO MAYBE TEMPER IT BACK A LITTLE ON YOUR TRUTH TELLING,
TEMPER IT BACK A LITTLE ON YOUR GOSPEL PROCLAIMING,
TEMPER IT BACK A LITTLE ON YOUR STANCE FOR BIBLICAL ORTHODOXY
BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO CAUSE DIVISION IN THE CHURCH.
NO, IT IS THOSE THAT ARE BEARING FALSE WITNESS.
IT IS THOSE THAT ARE PREACHING A FALSE DOCTRINE AND A FALSE
GOSPEL THAT ARE LEADING TO THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH.
AND EVERY CHURCH DIVISION AND EVERY DENOMINATION DIVISION HAS
ALWAYS COME DOWN TO HERESY AND FALSE TEACHING.
BUT YOU MIGHT ALSO BE SITTING HERE AND SAYING,
BUT ISN'T CHRISTIANITY A CALL OF LOVE?
AREN'T WE JUST SUPPOSED TO LOVE PEOPLE?
LISTEN TO ME VERY CAREFULLY.
THE MOST UNLOVING THING THAT YOU CAN DO,
IT'S FAIL TO PREACH THE TRUTH.
THE MOST UNLOVING THING YOU CAN DO TO EITHER
A BROTHER OR SISTER IN THE LORD OR
TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD
IS FAIL TO SHARE WITH THEM THE TRUE MEANING OF LIFE
AS IT'S FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD.
SO NEVER BE ASHAMED OF THE FAITH, THE ENTIRE FAITH.
CONTEND FOR THE CHURCH'S PURITY AND CONTEND FOR ITS PEACE.
HI, I’M JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY.
AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM DR. PACIENZA,
WE ARE CALLED TO CONTEND FOR THE TRUTH
THAT WAS ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS.
THAT TRUTH COMES UNDER ATTACK IN EVERY GENERATION,
AND SATAN CLEVERLY USES OLD LIES AND NEW ONES TO DO IT.
WITH ALL THE NOISE THAT SURROUNDS US FROM TV,
RADIO, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND A HOST OF OTHER SOURCES,
IT CAN SEEM BEWILDERING TO SORT THROUGH IT ALL.
THAT’S WHY WE’VE JUST PUBLISHED A BRAND-NEW BOOK TO HELP YOU
COUNTER THE LIES WITH TRUTH. IT’S ENTITLED
10 LIES OF A CULTURE IN CHAOS: WHAT YOU BELIEVE MATTERS.
AND WE’LL SEND IT TO YOU AS OUR THANKS
FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION TO THE VITAL WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
THIS BOOK INCLUDES CHAPTERS FROM AUTHORS LIKE SEAN MCDOWELL,
ROSARIA BUTTERFIELD, PETER LILLBACK, AND MANY MORE, AND
DEALS WITH SOME OF OUR CULTURE’S MOST DESTRUCTIVE LIES, LIKE
AS JOHN LENNON SANG.
IT’S AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THIS MINISTRY.
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A DONATION OF $100 OR MORE,
WE’LL SEND YOU THE BOOK PLUS OUR BRAND NEW DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM,
CULTURAL CHAOS: THE LIES BEHIND AMERICA’S BREAKDOWN.
WE’VE JUST FINISHED PRODUCTION ON THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM,
AND IT FEATURES EXPERTS LIKE ALISA CHILDERS, AL MOHLER, AND
DR. STEPHEN MEYER, AND MANY OTHERS,
REFUTING LIES LIKE,
YOU’LL WANT TO SEE THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM
AND ALSO SHARE IT WITH A STUDENT YOU KNOW.
IT’S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONSIDER
A GENEROUS GIFT RIGHT NOW.
TONIGHT, JUNE 30TH, AT MIDNIGHT, WE END OUR FISCAL YEAR.
IT’S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE FINISH THE FISCAL YEAR STRONGLY
SO WE CAN RAMP UP OUR EFFORTS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE MAJOR
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THIS YEAR, RATHER THAN HAVING TO PULL BACK.
SOME GENEROUS FRIENDS OF THIS MINISTRY HAVE ESTABLISHED THE
$250,000 BOLD TRUTH CHALLENGE.
THEY WILL MATCH YOUR GENEROUS DONATION,
DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR, UP TO $250,000.
BUT TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY FOR YOUR IMPACT
TO BE ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED.
THROUGH THIS IMPORTANT END OF FISCAL YEAR FUND,
WE WILL RAMP UP OUR EFFORTS TO SHARE
THE LIFE-CHANGING WORD OF GOD,
DEFEND FAITH AND FREEDOM, AND BE A BOLD WITNESS THROUGH OUR
NATIONAL TELEVISION BROADCASTS, SPECIALS,
THE CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP IN WASHINGTON, DC,
THE PROVIDENCE FORUM, AND MORE.
WE WILL STAND STRONG FOR LIFE, FOR LAW AND ORDER,
AND FOR A SECURE AMERICA.
WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE ADDING NEW TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS,
AND NEW PLATFORMS TO REACH AN EVEN BROADER AUDIENCE WITH THE
TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL, SUCH AS OUR NEW ONLINE PLATFORMS
SO PLEASE, DON’T WAIT-WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU RIGHT NOW.
WE’LL SEND YOU THE JUST-PUBLISHED BOOK,
10 LIES OF A CULTURE IN CHAOS,
AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION.
AND THE BOOK PLUS THE SPECIAL DVD,
CULTURAL CHAOS: THE LIES BEHIND AMERICA’S BREAKDOWN
AS THANKS FOR YOUR GIFT OF $100 OR MORE
AND THAT GIFT WILL BE DOUBLED IN ITS IMPACT.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
OUR MODERN WORLD HAS BECOME VERY SECULAR, AND
THERE HAVE BEEN ACADEMICS, JUDGES, AND POLITICIANS
WHO HAVE WORKED TO DRIVE CHRIST OUT OF OUR PUBLIC LIFE.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE,
CHRISTIANS IN EACH AGE HAVE HAD THEIR CHALLENGES,
AND THE FALLEN WORLD RESISTS
THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST BY NATURE.
BUT GOD IN HIS GOODNESS AND PATIENCE, PERSISTS WITH US.
BECAUSE HE WANTS ALL PEOPLE TO BE SAVED
AND COME TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.
WE MAY LOOK BACK ON PREVIOUS CENTURIES OF CHRISTIANS
AND WISH THAT WE HAD WHAT THEY HAD.
BUT THE SAME GRACE THAT GOD OFFERED IN THE FIRST CENTURY
THAT HAS THE POWER TO SAVE WAS THE SAME GRACE
THAT WAS OFFERED IN THE 16TH CENTURY AT THE REFORMATION
AND HAD THE POWER TO SAVE.
AND IT'S THE SAME GRACE THAT'S OFFERED IN THE 21ST CENTURY
AND IT HAS THE POWER TO SAVE.
AND IT'S THE SAME GRACE THAT'S OFFERED TO YOU RIGHT NOW,
AND IT HAS THE POWER TO SAVE YOU TO SAVE YOU FROM CONDEMNATION
AND TO SAVE YOU FROM ETERNAL PUNISHMENT IN HELL.
WE LIVE IN A CULTURE THAT TELLS LIES.
IT TELLS YOU THAT YOU CAN INVENT YOUR OWN WAY TO GOD OR
THAT GOD WILL NEVER JUDGE.
BUT IT’S JUST NOT TRUE.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD,
AND HE DIED ON THE CROSS BECAUSE GOD JUDGES.
JESUS TOOK ON THE PUNISHMENT FOR SIN,
SO THAT YOU COULD BE FORGIVEN.
THAT DOESN’T FIT IN
WITH THE POPULAR CONCEPTION OF LOVE TODAY.
BUT BECAUSE THE MOST UNLOVING THING I COULD POSSIBLY DO
WOULD BE TO FAIL TO TELL YOU THAT THERE'S ONLY
ONE WAY TO GET TO GOD AND IT'S THROUGH JESUS CHRIST ALONE.
SO IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY,
RENOUNCE YOUR SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.
CONFESS THAT YOU ARE A SINNER IN NEED OF GRACE.
AND THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL BE POURED OUT
UPON YOU SIMPLY BY BELIEVING,
AND THROUGH FAITH ALONE IN JESUS CHRIST.
YOU WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS AS
YOU RECEIVE HIM TODAY, AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD AND MASTER.
YOU CAN EVEN PRAY WITH ME THIS VERY MOMENT,
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.
“FATHER GOD, I NEED YOUR SALVATION.
I REALIZE THAT I HAVE SINNED AND DESERVE PUNISHMENT FOR MY SINS.
BUT YOU SENT YOUR SON JESUS TO DIE FOR ME.
AND HE ROSE AGAIN, THREE DAYS LATER
SO THAT MY OWN DEATH COULD BE OVERCOME.
I RECEIVE HIM TODAY, AS MY LORD AND AS MY SAVIOR.
I WANT TO TURN AWAY FROM MY SIN AND UNBELIEF AND
HAVE ETERNAL LIFE WITH YOU, LORD.
I PRAY THIS ALL IN CHRIST’S NAME, AMEN.”
IF YOU SINCERELY PRAYED THAT PRAYER WITH ME RIGHT NOW,
PLEASE LET US KNOW.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU BY SENDING YOU A FREE GIFT.
IT’S BEGINNING AGAIN, DR. KENNEDY’S BOOK
FOR NEW BELIEVERS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED
IN YOUR NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
CONTACT US TO RECEIVE YOUR COPY TODAY.
AND MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THE NEXT TIME YOU’RE IN SOUTH FLORIDA,
WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME WORSHIP WITH US RIGHT HERE AT
CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OR YOU CAN JOIN US VIA LIVESTREAM AT CRPC.TV.
AND MAKE SURE TO CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
AT FACEBOOK, X, AND INSTAGRAM.
ALSO MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR PROGRAMING ON YOUTUBE AT
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES MEDIA, AND MAKE SURE TO HIT SUBSCRIBE
SO YOU WON’T MISS A THING.
AND NOW, HERE’S A LOOK AT THE NEXT TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
AND HE TAKES OFF HIS BLACK CLERICAL ROBE.
UNDERNEATH HE HAS THE UNIFORM OF A CONTINENTAL OFFICER.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES