The Roman Empire, the United States and a Collapsing Society | Mark Finley

Summary

In this thought-provoking discussion by Mark Finley, the societal parallels between the ancient Roman Empire and modern-day America are explored. The talk draws numerous comparisons, identifying how both societies have been characterized by immense wealth, love for entertainment, moral decline, and military overextension. The discussion moves deeper into the core issue of declining moral values and the necessity of having a solid moral compass, positing that deviation from God's Ten Commandments has led societies into chaos. Finley argues for a return to God’s law as the bedrock for morality and stability, emphasizing that grace through faith offers the path to freedom and true happiness.

Highlights

• Mark Finley compares ancient Rome's fall with modern America’s trajectory, focusing on excess and moral decay 🏛️.
• He emphasizes that wealth without moral foundations leads to societal downfall 💸.
• The talk highlights Rome's entertainment-driven culture, paralleling it with today's media obsession 📺.
• Finley uses biblical principles to criticize the neglect of God's commandments in contemporary society 📖.
• The message stresses the importance of grace, offering salvation, but also the need for adhering to God’s laws 🌿.
• Finley calls for societal introspection and a return to godly values to prevent historical repeats 🚦.

Key Takeaways

• Rome and America share striking similarities in societal issues like luxury obsession and moral decline 🍹.
• Moral values, heavily influenced by Christianity’s teachings, are crucial for societal stability 📜.
• Violence and entertainment marred ancient Rome, similar to modern society's media influence 🎬.
• Grace is God's gift, offering forgiveness and a new path; it doesn’t nullify the need for a moral code 🌟.
• God's law is portrayed not as restrictive but as a path to genuine freedom and happiness 📈.
• Finley warns against societal decline when moral compass is lost, urging a return to religious teachings 🛤️.

Overview

Mark Finley delivers a compelling analysis of historical patterns, drawing parallels between the grandeur of ancient Rome and the modern United States. Both civilizations, he notes, have indulged in wealth, luxury, and entertainment while experiencing a decline in moral values. Finley suggests that this historical resemblance warns of a potential downfall if corrective actions aren't taken.

According to Finley, the bedrock of societal morality is deeply intertwined with religious values, particularly those outlined in the Ten Commandments. He points out the consequences of a society that's forgotten its moral compass - a society unmoored and susceptible to chaos. Finley argues that only by adhering to these divine laws can true freedom and happiness be achieved.

In advocating for a revival of these values, Finley promotes a return to God’s word and grace. While recognizing that grace pardons sins and offers salvation, he simultaneously underscores the importance of obeying God's laws. Finley's discourse is a call to action, urging listeners to restore a sense of moral integrity to ward off societal collapse.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 06:00: Introduction and Ancient Rome The chapter introduces the theme of the book, which centers around the transformative power of freedom in Jesus. The author draws a parallel between the historical context of the Roman Empire and contemporary society, specifically the United States. This broader discussion sets the stage for exploring the characteristics of a collapsing society by reflecting on ancient Rome. The chapter opens with an invitation to journey back to ancient Rome, highlighting its lasting allure and significance as the starting point of the narrative journey.
• 06:00 - 12:00: The Luxury and Decline of Rome The chapter, 'The Luxury and Decline of Rome,' discusses the dominance of the ancient Roman Empire, which spanned nearly 500 years. It highlights the significant population size of Rome during its peak in the 1st and 2nd centuries, with estimates ranging from 450,000 to over 3.5 million, and most historians agreeing on a range of 1 to 2 million people.
• 12:00 - 18:00: Comparison with the United States The chapter highlights Rome's significance during the first and second centuries as the largest city in the known world. It emphasizes Rome's central role as a major hub with over 1 million inhabitants, noted for its wealth and luxury. The transcript suggests that Rome was far from being a remote or insignificant place; instead, it was the heart of global civilization at the time.
• 18:00 - 24:00: The Importance of Moral Direction The chapter titled 'The Importance of Moral Direction' opens with a vivid depiction of the Roman Forum, illustrating it as the bustling marketplace of Rome. It was a place where goods from all around the world were available, reflecting the diverse cultural amalgamation of that era. Ships from various parts of the globe docked at Rome's harbor, bringing with them exotic items, including luxurious silks and finely woven clothing crafted by top designers. The market also offered cultural treasures such as marble statues and paintings, and a variety of spices, signifying the Roman Forum's role as a central hub of trade and cultural exchange. This introduction sets the stage for exploring the broader theme of moral direction within the diverse and interconnected world represented by the Roman Forum.
• 24:00 - 30:00: The Relevance of the Ten Commandments The chapter begins by describing the luxurious items found in the Forum, such as handwoven rugs, silver and gold icons, and delightful foods like fruits and nuts, which paint a picture of abundance and cultural richness. It then transitions to discuss Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor during the time of Jesus. Augustus Caesar is quoted, highlighting his contributions and influence on Rome, transforming it from a city of bricks to a city of marble, underscoring the lasting impact of his reign.
• 30:00 - 36:00: Grace, Law, and Salvation The chapter opens with a vivid description of ancient Rome, highlighting the beauty of its marble columns glistening under a bright sky. Rome in the first century stood unmatched in grandeur, with its surreal ambiance accentuated by the Tyber River and the distinctive arched bridges that the Romans engineered.
• 36:00 - 42:00: The Role of Grace in Salvation The chapter discusses the function of grace in the context of salvation. It explores how grace, often considered a divine assistance given to humans, plays a critical role in achieving salvation according to various theological perspectives. The summary references historical examples, such as Rome's infrastructure and governance, to illustrate the abundance and generosity that grace can represent. Just as Rome invested in structures like aqueducts to distribute resources effectively, grace is portrayed as a divine resource that is generously distributed to ensure spiritual wellbeing and eternal life. The chapter emphasizes the inexhaustible nature of grace, drawing a parallel to the ancient Roman belief in their city's boundless wealth.
• 42:00 - 47:00: Final Appeal and Conclusion The chapter likely discusses the socio-economic disparity in ancient Rome, highlighting the heavy taxation imposed by the wealthy ruling class on the poorer citizens. It uses the Palace of Emperor Domitian on Palatine Hill as an example of the opulence enjoyed by the rich in contrast to the oppression faced by the poor. The narrative also touches upon Domitian's role as the emperor who exiled the Apostle John to an island, illustrating the harsh measures used to maintain control during that period.
• 47:00 - 52:00: Musical Reflection and Closing The chapter titled 'Musical Reflection and Closing' appears to discuss historical and architectural elements relating to the Roman Empire. It mentions Patmos, known as the place where John the Apostle was exiled for not burning incense to Roman gods, highlighting the religious and sociopolitical dynamics of the time. The text also describes the magnificent inner courtyard of Domitian's Palace, illustrating the exquisite art and design of its inlaid tiles. Additionally, the Basilica of Constantine is referenced, despite its 4th-century origin, underscoring its architectural magnificence and reflecting Constantine's enduring influence.

The Roman Empire, the United States and a Collapsing Society | Mark Finley Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Applause] there is a freedom in Jesus that is life transforming my topic tonight the Roman Empire the United States and a collapsing Society our journey tonight begins in the city of Rome Rome is one of the most fascinating cities that I've ever visited in all the world but come with me not to Modern Rome but to
• 00:30 - 01:00 ancient Rome the ancient Roman Empire dominated the landscape of the world for nearly 500 years estimates of Rome's Peak population in the first in 2nd Century range from 450,000 to over 3.5 million people with estimates of 1 to two million being the most popular with historians now this means
• 01:00 - 01:30 that in the first and 2 Century Rome was the largest city in the then Known World this was no Backwater place in some Village remote location Rome was the center it was the heartbeat of the world with more than 1 million inhabitants Rome was known for its wealth for its luxury if you travel to the Roman Forest
• 01:30 - 02:00 the Roman Forum was really the marketplace of Rome you could buy goods from any place in the world in that Forum ships from all over the world came into Rome's Harbor you could buy silks there any kind of clothing that was woven by the finest designers all of the culture of the world was there there was statues that were marble car carved in Marble there were paintings spices from
• 02:00 - 02:30 the Orient handwoven rugs silver and gold icons were found in the in the Forum and of course fruits nuts delightful food Augustus Caesar ruled at the time of Jesus he was the first Roman Emperor and he's quoted as saying this I found Rome a city of bricks and I left it a city of marble even today you're impressed as you walk
• 02:30 - 03:00 through the ruins of ancient Rome to notice the marble columns when the sun Shone in the bright blue sky of Rome and it danced off the columns there was probably no city in the world in the first century that was as magnificent as Rome the Tyber River gives it a surreal feeling as you walk over those arched Bridges especially created by the Roman Romans the Romans of course created the
• 03:00 - 03:30 aqueducts that carried water throughout the Empire and to Rome from as far away as the Alps what a city a city of wealth a city of luxury a city of Splendor the ancient Roman senate passed decree after decree to spend that wealth lavishly in fact the Senate the governing body of robe did not believe that Rome would ever run out
• 03:30 - 04:00 of money so they taxed their citizens heavily and spent lavishly the Palace of Emperor domian on Palatine Hill is an example of the luxury of the Rich and it's also an example of the oppression of the poor in Rome there was a class Society the poor were very poor the rich were very rich domian of course was the emperor that sentenced John at the end of the first centur the Apostle John to the island of
• 04:00 - 04:30 patmas because he would not burn incense to the gods of Rome the inner Court yard of doman's Palace is really magnificent all of this tile in the ruins you see here was inlaid tile and it was Exquisite in its art Exquisite in its Design This is the Basilica of Constantine Constantine of course lived later the fourth century but it shows you the magnificence the
• 04:30 - 05:00 Splendor the wealth the luxury of Rome so when you think about Rome what are you thinking of you're thinking first about luxury and wealth you're also thinking about false gods here is the Temple of Saturn Rome had its Gods multiple gods and multiple temples to those false gods throughout Rome here's the Temple of Caesar many believe that Caesar was the Incarnation of God so in Rome we have wealth we have luxury we
• 05:00 - 05:30 have the false gods the false religions and then Sports the Coliseum the Coliseum at Rome one of the wonders of the world was capable of seating around 880,000 Spectators it was used for Gladiator contests and other warlike games well here's something quite amazing about the coliseum in the Coliseum over 80,000 came to watch men and women ripped apart
• 05:30 - 06:00 with violence they enjoyed violence violence was something that the Romans were could never get enough of in fact it's estimated watch this that about 500,000 people half a million and over a million wild animals died in the Coliseum games so what do we see when we see ancient Rome we see the very wealthy and the very poor we see luxury we see the Senate that is overspending in and
• 06:00 - 06:30 the people are being broke and overtaxed what do we see when we see Rome we see a society that has all of the false gods but does not give Supremacy to Jesus Christ we see a society that is sports mad and sports crazy that gets their their fancies tickled if you please by by the violence that is so pre prevalent before them when you come to Rome you see thousands that enjoy the shedding of
• 06:30 - 07:00 blood one of the great key sent key statements is a statement by HG Wells one of the historians and he says Rome was content to Feast exact Grow Rich and watch its gladiatorial games without the slightest attempt to learn anything of the lands which they raped so Rome focused inward Rome's armies were too over extended and so their military began to
• 07:00 - 07:30 fall apart from within Romans wanted wealth luxury and pleasure but not useful work here's the circus maximus in the circus Maximus over 120,000 people could gather for races often the races began at 8 in the morning they'd have a race at 800 in the morning at 10: in the morning at 12: 3: in the afternoon 5 in fact one historian put it this way Edward Gibbon in his book The de coin and for the Roman Empire Empire he said
• 07:30 - 08:00 but the most Lively and Splendid Amusement of the idle multitude depended on the frequent exhibition of public games and spectacles the impatient crowd rushed at the dawn of the day to secure their places and the happiness of Rome appeared to hang on the event of a race if their favorite team lost the whole society was depressed they were Sports mad they were
• 08:00 - 08:30 pleasure centered they were filled with luxury and wealth they were overextending their military here is a c a third Century marble relief of the sporting events and the chariot races from ancient Rome but yet The Saga of ancient Rome goes on here are the baths of karakala the baths of Rome were known for their
• 08:30 - 09:00 immorality they were known for their homosexuality homosexuality was common in Rome and it was quite prevalent throughout all of society prostitution in Rome and immorality and the abuse of sexuality was commonly accepted the Frescas of Rome described the luxurious feasts and parties and the sexual immorality the idea in Rome was if it feels good do it it the idea in Rome was there is no
• 09:00 - 09:30 moral standard outside of yourself you are your own God there the idea in Rome was that whatever you desire luxury feasting wealth sexuality sporting events reach out and grasp it because the purpose of life is pleasure the armies of Rome depicted in this mural spread their military might far far too thin and Rome suffered the cost now
• 09:30 - 10:00 when Rome fell there were seven characteristics here's what they are it was filled with luxury and wealth and that's what people wanted it was a pleasure mad Amusement centered culture they were immersed in sports and entertainment the plays what we would call the media they were an immoral sex- centered Society they were violent and brutal and cheered at the shedding of blood they over extended their military and they were overextended financially
• 10:00 - 10:30 do you see anything like this happening in America today is this a profile of what's happening in the United States today I want to show you an absolutely amazing statement this is David Walker he is the Controller General of the United States government that's a nonpartisan position in charge of government accountability office now he is a top government official he's in charge of the government accountability office and this is what he said when he studied ancient Rome there are striking
• 10:30 - 11:00 similarities between America's current situation and the factors that brought down room including declining moral values and overextended Military in foreign lands and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government he says that when you have a society that has declining moral values when you have a society that doesn't know what the North Star is when you have a society that doesn't know what moral direction
• 11:00 - 11:30 is when you have a society that has no basis for Morality except their own mind when you have people that say look there is no right there is no wrong there's nothing called sin if I feel like doing it the prevalent attitude is I'm going to do it David Walker says that Society with declining moral values is a society that has on its way to ruin something is fundamentally wrong at the basic core of
• 11:30 - 12:00 our society moral standards that once were Rock Solid are now non-existent we've lost our sense of direction morally we've lost our moral compass we North used to be North but now morally North has become South and South has become North Richard lamb wrote a book called the rise and fall of the American civilization this is what he says for freedom to be workable as a political system there has to be strong inner
• 12:00 - 12:30 controls there has to be a powerful moral compass and a sense of values lamb says if you lose your sense of values if you're not governed by anything but your mind if you're not governed by anything but your Fallen nature you see Jeremiah says Jeremiah 17:13 he says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked we have fallen human natures that's why it's easier to do
• 12:30 - 13:00 wrong than it is to do right and so if I have no standard higher than my mind that I'll be governed by a fallen human nature there is nothing that is moral or non-moral if my standard only is my mind and then I do what I desire to do there must be a better way our society has turned its back on God's moral standards would you agree with that tonight we've largely turned our back on the very law of God the law of God the 10 commandment law seems out ofd to many it seems
• 13:00 - 13:30 oldfashioned to many but God's Ten Commandment law is a moral compass God's Ten Commandment law is the Bedrock the basis of society and if Society turns its back on its law on God's law that leads us to moral bankruptcy and Decline and if we as individuals turn our back on God's law God's law is not tyranny but God's law is the highest essence of freedom and reveal rals to us how to
• 13:30 - 14:00 live the most happy lives possible our society is one of competing values where our children are being pulled in every direction immorality is paraded across the screen of the TV and the media and the television there's crime and violence before our kids until our kids think that taking a gun out and shooting somebody is quite acceptable in society because they've watched so much violence Time Magazine cover
• 14:00 - 14:30 article America the violent Dr Frasier a psychologist is quoted in that article and he says this Dr sheret Frasier he says we live in a coov violent society that celebrates Mayhem while simultaneously condemning it what's he saying he's saying our kids sit down with Dad and watch murder and barbarism on television and then we tell our kids be kind at school don't and we tell our kids that killing is wrong so the child
• 14:30 - 15:00 has a schizophrenic a split mind because they're saying wait a minute I'm sitting down with Dad I watch all this violence all this murder we Feast our kids Minds at times on immoral on immorality and they watch some programs where somebody runs off with their secretary and dad is there watching that immoral scene with those people in bed and then we tell our kids live a pure moral life so Dr Frasier says our society is coov violent we celebrate uh anger we celebrate it in
• 15:00 - 15:30 the movies we celebrate violence we celebrate fighting but at the same time we condemn it and so as a result of that our kids have lost a sense of moral Direction the average 18-year-old in the United States has witnessed 200,000 violent acts on television including 40,000 murders now the evidence is it the biblical principle says and research
• 15:30 - 16:00 reveals the reality of the biblical Truth by beholding we become changed if you behold vience you become violent if you behold immorality you become immoral if you behold selfishness and greed and materialism you become selfish and greedy and materialistic here is the newest study on the media's influence on the mind this is the American Psychological Association 2008 it's a Pioneer Landmark study that's just come
• 16:00 - 16:30 out and it says children who identify with aggressive TV characters and perceive the violence to be realistic are the most at risk for later aggression we see what's happening in our society today we are following in the footsteps of the Roman Empire the seeds of Decay are prevalent in the moral decay of our society what does the Bible say about what's fundamentally
• 16:30 - 17:00 wrong with our world and with America and Humanity the Bible says this Proverbs written by Solomon the wisest man that ever lived Proverbs 28: 26 he who trusts in his own heart is a what fool he who trusts in his own heart he who trusts in his own wisdom he that follows the impulse of his own nature the society we that we live in says there's no right there's no wrong you have your idea of right I have my idea
• 17:00 - 17:30 of right you have your idea of wrong I have my idea of wrong so the society that is trusting its own wisdom is a society that is foolish because it has abandoned God's standard of righteousness the Bible says Hosea 8:7 read it with me please they sow the wind and reap the Whirlwind when you seow the wind of immorality on television you reap the wind Whirlwind of broken homes
• 17:30 - 18:00 in society when you seow the wind of sexuality you reap the Whirlwind of sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS when you sew the wind of violence on TV and your kids immerse their mind in it you reap the wind of AG reap the Whirlwind of aggressive behavior in society when you seow the wind you reap the Whirlwind and we see that happening in our society today does God have a moral code of ethics
• 18:00 - 18:30 does God have an eternal standard was that Ten Commandment law written with God's own finger on tables of stone simply for the Jews or is it a Cod of Ethics is it a code of morality for every generation what does the Bible say the Ten Commandment law rings with relevance to this Society Psalm 111: 7-9 The Works of his hands are verit that's truth and Justice all his precepts
• 18:30 - 19:00 that's his commands are sure now listen to this they God's commands Stand Fast for how long everybody forever and ever he has commanded his Covenant forever God's Ten Commandment law is the basis of all Society it stands fast forever and ever and ever Big Mac in the Ten Commandments you say what is Big Mac have to do with the Ten
• 19:00 - 19:30 Commandments do you know that a survey was taken recently to discover whether people knew the ingredients in Big Mac more than they knew the Ten Commandments now here's the study I'm going to give you the percentages a new survey shows more Americans can name the seven ingredients in a McDonald's Big Mac hamburger than the 10 commandments now here's the percentages the survey of a thousand Americans by Kelton research showed 80%
• 19:30 - 20:00 could name the hamburger primary ingredient to all beef patties but less than 60% recalled the Commandment Thou shalt not kill according to the Catholic news service Now ladies and gentlemen wouldn't you agree with me that if you if if 80% of Americans can name two beef patties in a Big Mac and only 60% can name the Commandment Thou shalt not kill that there's something fundamentally wrong in our society but
• 20:00 - 20:30 look at this one we the survey goes on the survey also found just 45% could recall the Commandment honor your father and mother while 76% remembered the Big Mac ingredient lettuce more people know lettuce is in a Big Mac than you ought to honor your father and mother that that's one of the Ten Commandments what's happening in our society today we've lost our sense of direction 75% knew that they had a sesme seed bun 66% special sauce and 62% knew
• 20:30 - 21:00 that Big Mac had pickles and 60% cheese more people knew there was a pickle in pickles in in in Big Mac then they do that the Commandments that honor your father and your mother ladies and gentlemen do you believe that God is calling us back to the Ten Commandments today that God is calling us back to a moral standard in our society today the 10 Comm Commandments speak with relevance The Ten Commandments speak
• 21:00 - 21:30 with meaning to the 21st century let's look at those Commandments that very basis of God's government the first commandment says Thou shalt have no other gods before me in an age when men and women's Porsche has becomes their God their car has become their God their house has become their God their Rolex has become their God their Sports have become their God God says wor ship me supremely have no other gods before me
• 21:30 - 22:00 that commandment speaks with relevance in our society today at a time that we have the images made with our own hands the images of 21st century Society God says Thou shalt not make any Graven image the first commandment God says make me Supreme the second commandment God says worship me directly not through images or icons come to me the Commandments speak with relevance in the 21st century Thou shalt not take the
• 22:00 - 22:30 name of the Lord thy God in vain that commandment speaks to us the name of Jesus that lovely name that beautiful name that name that the Angels bow their heads and cry holy holy holy that name is dragged in the dust used in Vile epitet used in curses and swearing and Jesus says Thou shalt not take the name of the God Lord in vain but he speaks that commandment to Christians you say I don't swear Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain don't pretend you're a Christian and
• 22:30 - 23:00 come to church and go out of church and yell at your kids and beat them you see I had somebody the other night tell me oh my my dad was a was an officer in the church he happened to be a deacon in this particular denomination and he said he when he left the church he'd be yelling at my mother whacking us around he didn't live like a Christian at home that's taken the name of the Lord th God in vain the Commandment is relative and it speaks to this generation it says now is the time to make our hearts right to get right with with God now is the time on our knees to open our hearts and let
• 23:00 - 23:30 God's grace fill our souls and transform our lives this is no time to take the name of the Lord in vain and pretend we're a Christian Living in this crisis hour vers history this is a time for genuine authentic real Christianity the Bible says remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy six days shalt thou labor into all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in the days of Evolution where men and women be believe that they evolve from a lower
• 23:30 - 24:00 form of life God is calling us back to worship him as the Creator The Ten Commandments speak with relevance in our time they speak with meaning in our time and purpose in our time at a time when many a child turns their back in Disobedience on their parents God's commandment is relevant today it says honor your father and mother that your days may be long on the earth God is calling families today to loving family Unity too much division in families
• 24:00 - 24:30 today too much conflict in families today here is a moral compass here is moral Direction here is a North star to guide your life by in an age when bombs drop in thousands are killed in an age of the disregard of human life for The Unborn in an age when we look at our TV and we see thousands being killed in an age of brutality God says there a commandment that says Thou shalt not
• 24:30 - 25:00 kill in an age of impurity immorality in an age when it's common at work for some to go out and sleep with their secretary when it's common to live out of wedlock before marriage God still says Thou shalt not commit adultery we can violate that commandment but we violate it to our own destruction in our own bodies why is it that V disease why is it that we see in our society broken
• 25:00 - 25:30 home relationships why is it that we stand to substitute Lust For Love it's because men and women are turning their back on God's Commandments to every young person here tonight to every young person watching if you want a happy home keep yourself pure for Jesus Christ but you say Pastor Mark I failed I've already broken that commandment it is never too late to start over again the Christ that gave you the command reaches out to you in love
• 25:30 - 26:00 marriage is an exclusive relationship between one man and one woman and the sexual relations in marriage God calls us to preserve within that context of marriage this is no time for a preacher to be mincing words this is a call back to obedience this is a call back to God's moral directions this is a call the Commandment says Thou shalt not what steel did you did you read that story I
• 26:00 - 26:30 was kind of amazed when I read it do you know that shoplifting is costing the American Consumer millions of dollars every year many uh Factory owners can't trust the people that work with them in their factories did you read that one what happened Factory produced hammers chisels produced uh screw drivers produced hes and rakes and the factory owners and the management were losing
• 26:30 - 27:00 losing like everything hammers screwdrivers you know you see a thousand hammers come off the line you say ah what's five hammers I'll take one home might as I'll take a couple of my friends too and so they're losing hammers screwdrivers didn't know what to do about it so they said okay this is what we're going to do we're going to put a security guard at the door and we're going to Frisk our people when they come out we're going to check them and so things seem to be going much much better but every day the guy that was bringing out this trash out into the field put in the dumpster he came out
• 27:00 - 27:30 and he had this big wheelbarrow wheelbarrow full of garbage I mean that stuff was piled up and the secur security guard said I know what this guy's doing he's hiding a chisel hiding a hammer in the garbage he takes it out there behind pretends he's dumping and then he puts the hammer in chisel out so the security guard looked through the garbage the first day didn't find a thing second day didn't find a thing for over two weeks 13 14 days he looked
• 27:30 - 28:00 through the trash his hands was stinky and smelly and he got so disgusted with it he looked at the guy and said come over here I want to talk to you you've got my curiosity up I want to tell you something I know you're stealing something I don't know what it is don't get ahead of me please you know where this one's going don't you he said please I'm not going to turn you in but tell me what you're stealing I can't find a chisel I can't find a hammer can't find a screwdriver the guy
• 28:00 - 28:30 said look I'll tell you this is the 14th wheelbarrow that I wielded by you while you looking for that other stuff ladies and gentlemen there still is a Commandment that says what Thou shalt not steal the Bible outlines the Ten Commandments Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor the precious reputation of many is being shattered because of critical tongues Thou shalt not bear false witness thou shallal not lie be honest and direct
• 28:30 - 29:00 these Commandments speak with relevance Thou shalt not covet merely because somebody has something else that you don't have this Envy this ambition The Ten Commandments speak to this generation God's law is the very Foundation of his throne think about it this way what if God had never given the Ten Commandments what if God had said even after sin do whatever you want to do let's think what if there was no law that said Thou shalt not steal see the
• 29:00 - 29:30 basic fundamental laws of government come from the law of God what if there's a law that said Thou shalt not steal what if there was not a law that said Thou shalt not steal what if there was not a law that said not to kill or not to commit adultery what would Society be like if anybody could run through it and they could steal whatever they wanted they could pillage and rape what if anybody could run through any society and kill what if there was no honor to Children wouldn't Society be chaos wouldn't you agree with me that God's
• 29:30 - 30:00 Ten Commandment law is the foundation of all moral Society it is the foundation of our very lives God's law is his ET in Eternal moral standard it defines what sin is and it establishes our accountability to God you see God's law is that which tells us what Sin is Sin is not something I've created in my mind sin is not what I think it is I may
• 30:00 - 30:30 not think stealing is sin but what does the Bible say how does God's law Define sin 1 John 3:4 reading together whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness and sin is lawlessness so sin is breaking God's law you might not think stealing is sin you may justify it but if we break God's law that's sin we might a child may not think dishonoring their parents is sin but according to God if
• 30:30 - 31:00 we break his commandment that's sin sin is lawlessness we may not think for example that coveting is sin but indeed sin is not what I think it is sin is breaking God's law sin is far beyond the thoughts of my own mind a man May cheat on his wife and commit adultery and have all kind of excuses why he's doing it and and justify his behavior but God's
• 31:00 - 31:30 word says that's sin somebody May knowingly blatantly steal from their employer and justify it and say the employer is Rich but that's sin sin is breaking God's law sin is violating God's moral code of ethics the law of God is the very Foundation of all Society now God's law is the pathway to freedom and genuine happiness God's law does not restrict our freedom God's law
• 31:30 - 32:00 frees us to live the Abundant Life that Christ wants us to live James chapter 2:2 read it with me please so speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of Liberty what's the Ten Commandments everybody that is what the law of what law of Liberty so the Ten Commandments free us it's like a guard rail on an Interstate you're driving down the interstate and you come along
• 32:00 - 32:30 that Interstate you have to go up over the Rocky Mountains and as you going up over the mountains you're going through some narrow passes why is the guard rail put there you say I want to be free I want to be free to go over the edge yeah and free to plumet down into the valley no the guard rail is there to protect your freedom your freedom to get where you want to go over the mountains on your way to California so the fre Freedom that God gives is a freedom that
• 32:30 - 33:00 protects our happiness keeping his law Jesus says John 17:3 or John 13 rather verse 17 if you know these things happy are you if you do them the psalmist David says blessed are they who Delight in the law of God so God's law is a delight keeping God's Commandments brings joy and happiness the more we love God the more that love love always leads to obedience there are some
• 33:00 - 33:30 Christians that have this mistaken idea they have the idea that love is a concept of the Old Testament rather law is a concept of the Old Testament and love is a concept of the New Testament but in actual fact if we love God we are not logically led to obey him God was a god of love in the Old Testament God's a god of love in the New Testament and Jesus puts it this way John 14:15 reading together If You Love Me Do What keep my Commandments Jesus doesn't say
• 33:30 - 34:00 if you love me you don't have have to keep my Commandments it's like the little kid Oh Daddy I love you oh Daddy I love you oh Daddy I love you uh son would you take out the trash no Daddy I don't love you that much to take out the garbage you see no love responds in obedience here are the dishes piled up you walk over give your wife a big kiss oh darling I love you and you start walking say hey honey could you dry the dish ises please I got to redefine love
• 34:00 - 34:30 a little bit here you see preacher was preaching in Harlem on the street corner large crowd gathered around he's preaching on love and the old kid in the crowd yelled out preacher I want to see love with skin on it that's what God wants isn't it love with skin on it that's why Jesus says if you're passionately in love with me if your heart has been transformed by my grace if you love me respond in obedience if we love him our life will show show it I obey God not in order to be saved
• 34:30 - 35:00 because I'm saved by his what everybody Grace so I love him I obey him not in order to be saved but I obey him because I am saved love leads to obedience salvation by grace leads us to obedience 1 John chap 2: 3 and4 Now by this we know that we know him in other words here's the evidence that we know God by this we know that we know him if we keep
• 35:00 - 35:30 his Commandments John is saying that the evidence that you really know God the evidence that you're a committed Christian is not in words alone but it's a life that's carried out in obedience in fact John is even stronger than that in the fourth verse he says read it with me please he who says I know him and does not keep his Commandments is a what is a what liar liar and the truth is not in him
• 35:30 - 36:00 isn't that pretty strong so Jesus says it's not profession when you come to me and you're saved by my grace when you come to me and you're transformed by my love when you come to me and receive the gift of Salvation that leads to an obedient life and if your life does not produce genuine works it's because you do not have genuine faith and haven't been saved by genuine Grace we come to Christ now Grace and law are not contradictory ideas there are people
• 36:00 - 36:30 that say wait a minute in the Old Testament they were saved by law in the New Testament they're saved by grace wait a minute we going to be up in heaven and I see Moos Moses Moses how'd you get up here oh I got here by law Mark how'd you get here I got here by Grace well then I see Isaiah Isaiah Old Testament how'd you get here I got here by law how'd you get here by do you think God has two standard of Salvation not at all the Bible says in Titus chapter 2 verse 11-13 it says the grace
• 36:30 - 37:00 of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men so the grace of God Appears to all men well how was Moses saved by grace Jesus didn't die yet he was saved by grace through faith in the Christ that was yet to come we are saved by grace through faith in the Christ that has come Moses looked forward to the Cross we look backward to the Cross
• 37:00 - 37:30 but nobody will be saved except through the grace of God now what's the role of God's law in the Christian Life the role of God's law is not to save us the Bible tells us what the role of the law is Romans 3:20 reading Again by the law is the knowledge of sin so what does the law do the law reveals the the knowledge of what sin the law is
• 37:30 - 38:00 like a mirror you look into the mirror of the law and it reveals your need let's suppose sir you're out working on the car and the hood of the car is open and you're fiddling around in there your hands are all greasy and you get a itch on your forehead you itch it there's a lot of Grease right there you work in the engine a little more of the car and uh your nose itches you itch it and pretty soon your nose is dripping with grease your chin itches pretty soon that's dripping with grease your wife calls she says darling I I've got supper made you come in you you walk into the
• 38:00 - 38:30 house quickly you wash your hands you don't look in the mirror and see your face and you go to the table your wife says honey you got you got grease on your forehead you got grease on your nose you got grease here I don't have any grease there darling Sweet Pea honeysuckle flower go check the mirror and you go over to the mirror and you say she was
• 38:30 - 39:00 right but the mirror is wrong I don't have grease on my face I don't want to argue with my wife but I'll argue with that mirror you rip the mirror off the wall you stamp on it is that what you do the mirror reveals that your wife was right you got that grease on your nose you got the grease on your chin you got your grease on your forehead but the mirror can't C your face you take the soap and water and cleanse your face God's law reveals our
• 39:00 - 39:30 need God's grace cleanses us from our past guilt and works in our life to lead us to obey him you see the law is like the mirror that reveals our need and Grace is God's cleansing Grace now Paul says in Romans 7:7 I would not have known sin except through the law so if you do away with the law you do away with any knowledge of sin isn't that precisely the problem in our society people have said look God's law does not
• 39:30 - 40:00 have reigns on my life they've cast off the Ten Commandments and as the result of that they have no knowledge of sin so there is this de this this decline of morality in our society Paul makes it plain he quotes one of The Commandments the 10th commandment for I would not have known coveted this except the Lord said You shall not covet Paul said naturally in myself I wouldn't have known coveted except the law said don't covet he said naturally in myself I'm
• 40:00 - 40:30 filled with greed and selfishness and I would covet but God's law says that and I judge my life my life is judged not by my own standard but by by God's standards by by his law you see if there is no law then there is no what sin see if you do away with the law there's no definition of sin and if there is no sin then there is no Grace why because
• 40:30 - 41:00 if there's no law there's no sin I can't break a law that doesn't exist if there's no sin then I don't need Grace and I'm pretty good like I am if there is no Grace then there is no need for what there is no need for the cross because it is at the cross that I find Grace to pardon me for my sin because I broken what what the law and if there is no cross there is no need for a what
• 41:00 - 41:30 salvation no need for the Plan of Salvation it is at the cross that I find Salvation to receive God's grace because I've sinned and broken his law and if there is no need for salvation then there is no need for what for a savior you see if I do away with the law I do away with sin if I do away with sin I do away with the need of Grace if I do away
• 41:30 - 42:00 with the need of Grace I do away with the need for the cross if there is no cross there is no Plan of Salvation And if there's no Plan of Salvation I don't need a savior to save me on the cross by his grace from my sin because I broke God's law I thank God that He gave me a law I thank God that we know what sin is I thank God for his grace I thank God for for his cross I thank God for his salvation and what do you say tonight I
• 42:00 - 42:30 thank God for Jesus Christ the Jesus who pardons my sin the Jesus who enables me to live obedient life what is the role of Grace the role of Grace is Grace is God's pardon it's his freedom from sin he delivers us Ephesians 2:8-9 one of the most significant verses in the Bible for by Grace you've been saved Saed through what faith does faith save
• 42:30 - 43:00 you no faith receives our Salvation faith is not our savior what is our sa how are we saved by grace through Jesus Grace you've been saved through faith not of yourselves it is the gift of what God not of Works lest anyone should boast so my salvation is not because of my Works your salvation is not because of your works but when we come to Christ we receive his grace now we might ask oursel this question what is Grace Grace
• 43:00 - 43:30 is God's mercy I don't deserve it but he reaches out to me in Mercy Grace is God's pardon I don't deserve it but he reaches out to Pardon Me Grace is God's forgiveness I don't deserve it but he forgives me but Grace is God's power entering into my life to make me a new man to make us a new Men new women Grace is God's love that br breaks my heart but if I am saved by his grace does that
• 43:30 - 44:00 do away with God's law does God's grace do away with God's law let's see what the Bible says Romans 3:31 do we then make void the law through faith Paul asked that question what does it mean to make void the law what's that mean do we do away with the law through faith what does it say certainly not don't let anybody tell you that Grace does away with God's law because if they do they're contrary to
• 44:00 - 44:30 the Apostle Paul because Paul says do we make void the law through faith certainly not on the contrary we what establish the law when we're saved by grace we love Jesus so much we want to obey him when we see that he's forgiven our sins we do not in any way say Lord I'm going to turn my back on your law I remember when I was a boy just a young lad my dad taught me a marvelous lesson
• 44:30 - 45:00 about Grace we had a neighbor not far from our house that had a little field their name was the gards and dad said to me I used to love to play baseball I always shootting basketballs playing baseball and dad said now Mark if you go over there in Gard yard and you play baseball be real careful do not aim toward those windows do B the other way the problem problem was the other way there were all trees and bushes and
• 45:00 - 45:30 Thorns I'm sorry my father's here tonight he knows the story anyway I went to gard's house I said guys let's play ball and he said now you don't bat toward that house the windows are there I was only about 78 lbs I was just a skinny kid I got back with the bat and that pitch came it was a perfect perfect pitch with my CL teeth clenched I rared back and hit that thing and there went the ball and it kept going
• 45:30 - 46:00 and going and going and going and going right through the window of gard's house man I was scared out of my wits I dropped my bat and I ran and I ran and I ran I didn't run home I just ran I didn't know where I was running all I knew I was running I didn't want Mrs Gard to get me I don't want Dad to get me either I knew but finally I said I better go home because if Mrs Gard tells him before I tell him I'm in Big Time trouble so I
• 46:00 - 46:30 went home Dad I shouldn't have done it Dad I was facing the house but Dad I never hit one so far in my life dad you should have saw it it just went up and up and up and it kind of went toward the window dad it went right through that window he looked at me and we began to talk about it I didn't know what was going to happen and dad said Mark tell you what we're going to do I know your allowance you don't you don't have enough for that window I'm I'm going to pay for that window but I'm going to show you how to put a window in I want you to come with
• 46:30 - 47:00 me to gard's house and put that window in I broke the window I deserved a real whipping real I deserved a whipping I didn't have the money to pay for that my Dad paid for that window and I watched him put it in he gave me a lesson in what Grace I did not deserve that I deserved a weapon one night I used an illustration like that not the same one I said to an audience what did I deserve some lady yelled out death I said I said
• 47:00 - 47:30 lady I mean come on now all I did was break the window give me a break you know what happened after that right after dad put the window in I ran back to that same field faced the window and hit three more balls through I was under grace I didn't have to obey my father I was under grace I what do you think I didn't go near that field because I was under grace didn't mean I could break five more windows did it my father showed me Grace
• 47:30 - 48:00 and I said Lord I want to be obedient Christ on calvary's Cross showed me Grace I don't want to turn my back on one that forgave me I don't want to turn my back on one that loves me so much when I come to the cross in his grace and through his power I want only obedience in my life yes I fail yes I make mistakes but why would God send his son to suffer
• 48:00 - 48:30 that cruel death if all he had to do with some stroke of magic was to change his law Jesus died because the law could not be broken but he did not die so we can continue willingly breaking God's law what did Jesus say Matthew 7 ver Matthew 5:17 do not think that I come to destroy the law or the what prophets Jesus said don't think I've come to destroy the law
• 48:30 - 49:00 of the prophets I did not come to destroy he says I didn't come to destroy but to fulfill did Jesus come to destroy the law that said Thou shalt not kill and after Jesus came it was okay we could kill not at all he said if you commit anger in your heart you have broken that commandment Jesus enlarged the law he took it from the physical act of murder to the anger the bitterness that's in the heart hard so when we come to Jesus he reveals our anger we see the
• 49:00 - 49:30 bigness of his law Jesus didn't come to do away with the law that said Thou shalt not commit adultery he said if you look upon a woman and gaze with lust you commited adultery in your heart now don't misunderstand what Jesus was saying he was not saying that getting angry is as bad as murder he wasn't saying that thinking the thought is bad as the physical act no the physical act of murder adultery has consequences and it strengthens as you you choose to respond to but what he's saying is if you Harbor anger you have also broken
• 49:30 - 50:00 the Commandment if you Harbor immorality impurity you've also broken the Commandment so what Jesus is saying is come and look in my law see how broad my law is and find yourself as a sinner sense that you cannot save yourself open your heart confess your sin let me wash you with my grace cleanse you with my grace and let me make you a new man or a new woman the Bible is very plain saved by grace we are led to keep God's law
• 50:00 - 50:30 the Bible says Romans 6 verse4 for sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the law but under grace two parts of the text sin's not going to dominate you anymore the Christian May Fail but sin's not going to dominate us we're forgiven by Christ sin's not going to dominate us Jesus lives in our heart sin's not going to dominate us the bondage of sin is broken en you're not under the law but under grace now notice what the Bible says you're not under the
• 50:30 - 51:00 law but under grace what does that mean you're not under the law but under grace it's very simple what does it mean to be under the law to be under the law means to be under the law as a means of or a method of Salvation we are not under the law method of Salvation why not because if we're under the law method of Salvation and we sin there there is no salvation and we're lost we have to live a perfect life so we're not under the
• 51:00 - 51:30 law method of Salvation we're under the grace method of Salvation what does it mean to be under grace it means to come to the Cross to sense God's pardon to sense God's power to sense God's goodness to sense God's righteousness to be under grace means I accept Christ's pardon I receive Christ's forgiveness I'm filled with Christ's power that's what it means to be under grace I can come to that cross and I can say Jesus you know what I've done you know how I've lived I've broken your law Jesus I
• 51:30 - 52:00 open my heart for your pardon Jesus I open my heart for your forgiveness Jesus I need your power because if I don't have your power through your grace I'm going to continue to fail on the same thing again and again and again what is Grace it's his pardon it's his forgiveness it's his power Psalm 19:7 says the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the law God's law shows me who I am that drives me to
• 52:00 - 52:30 Jesus Christ and that law leads me to conversion because the law leads me to Christ the law leads me to embrace my savior as the only one who can possibly redeem me and save me now the entire law can be summarized in one word and that word is what love if you take the whole law and summarize it in one word it's love if you take take the first four Commandments and summarize them in one sentence it is
• 52:30 - 53:00 love God with all your heart and all your soul if you summarize the last six Commandments it is love your fellow man do you remember that there was a Jewish ruler that came to Jesus and the Jewish ruler tried to trick Jesus he was a student of the Old Testament a student of the law the Old Testament and this Jewish ruler said to Jesus he said master what is the great commandment of the law in the law and Jesus answered
• 53:00 - 53:30 him with these words he said there are two the first is love God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind now if I ask most audiences where do you find that love God with all your heart soul and mind they would say in the New Testament they'd say that's the new commandment Christ gave Christ was quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 he was quoting the summary of the first
• 53:30 - 54:00 four tables of the law in the Old Testament love God with all your heart soul in mind is found in the Old Testament then Jesus said there's a second commandment the second is like the first love your neighbor as yourself if I ask most audiences where do you find that he would they would say in the New Testament but that's Leviticus 19:18 it says love your neighbor as yourself what was Jesus doing he was saying to the ruler in the old test Testament the the ruler of the Jews if you want to
• 54:00 - 54:30 summarize the whole law it's love if you want to summarize the first four Commandments it's love God this last six Commandments love your fellow man and then Jesus said Matthew 22:40 read it with me please on these two Commandments hang all the law and the prophets in other words all the Ten Commandments are summarized in love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself if I want to know how to love God I keep the first four Commandments through his grace if I want to know how to love my
• 54:30 - 55:00 fellow man I don't do away with the last six Commandments I rather keep them by his Grace Grace does not do away with God's law Grace leads us to obey God's law I need more than God's law to tell me what I ought to do I need God's grace to give me the power to do it I need more than God's law to tell me what I ought to do I need God's grace to pardon me when I haven't done what I ought to do God's law reveals what sin is God's
• 55:00 - 55:30 grace pardons me when I failed and God's grace transforms my life to be obedient the Bible says in Hebrews 8:10 this is the Covenant that I'll make with the house of Israel my people after those days says the Lord what is God's New Testament Covenant is God's New Testament Covenant to do away with his law he says I will put my laws where in their mind I will write them on their
• 55:30 - 56:00 hearts and I'll be their God and they shall be my people God writes his law in our mind so we know it God writes his law in our heart so we love it God Longs for people that love his law that have been saved by his grace that long to be obedient when God puts his law in your heart he gives you the power to live an obedient life when God puts his law in your heart the Holy Spirit comes into your life and Lead you from what you once were to what he wants you to become
• 56:00 - 56:30 when God puts his law in your heart when God puts his law in your mind he transforms you you have a new joy and a new peace I think of a young man that came to our meetings in a Eastern State of America up in the state of Massachusetts he came in as he came in he had been deeply involved in the drug culture as he came in he was living with a young woman not his young girl teenager not his wife he was drinking heavily his life was messed up one night
• 56:30 - 57:00 after the meeting he walked down the aisle and as he walked down the aisle he was holding her this girl's hand I knew the family of this young man and as he was walking down the aisle she bolted and went the other way she said that old preacher is just going to condemn you anyway the young man came up to me I put my arms around him I said Jesus has a plan for your life his grace can save you and change you and God will restore for all the years that you've ruined that young man saw a miracle begin in
• 57:00 - 57:30 his heart and life that night today he's a mighty preacher for God because God's grace still pardons us when we fall God's grace still changes us I think of a man I'll call Jose Monteray Mexico he sat there in a room with a gun to his head I was there just four months ago ready to end his life financial problems marriage problems things just built up he didn't want to
• 57:30 - 58:00 shoot himself in his house so he walked out of his house and he saw a big billboard and it said there is hope that was the title of the meetings we were holding down there about Esperanza in Spanish hope and he said there's no hope for me I'm going to end it all he crossed the street began walking to the park a bus went by and it had a big pler honored and the plard said there is what hope he said what he
• 58:00 - 58:30 continued to walk with his head down he saw a big billboard in lights in front of the Monterey Arena and it said everybody there is hope that night he came into the meeting I had 10 minutes left in my sermon I said somebody's looking for Hope God's grace will pardon your past God's grace will give you a new Future made an appeal he came forward a miracle took place in his life that night today he is a Christian that rejoices in the Lord I think of a couple
• 58:30 - 59:00 couple down in South Africa this man was running with a crowd of Thieves and criminals he was shot through the neck shot through the back paralyzed he and his wife and family came to the meetings found a miracle in their life God's grace pardoned him God's grace changed him God's grace made him over again and today he rejoices in Jesus I think
• 59:00 - 59:30 about a young woman that walked into our meetings depressed wrote me a letter said I have no future until she found God's grace until she found God's love you have a future God's grace reaches out to you tonight Revelation 14:12 talks about a people in the last days here's the patience of the Saints that's the endurance of the Believers here are are those who keep God's command the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ you can reach up
• 59:30 - 60:00 by faith and touch his hand he will enable you to obey him Jesus arms are wide open for you tonight Jesus is in heaven he stands by The Throne of the Living God he looks to you and he says come in your time of need come in your time of disappointment come in your time of discouragement come in your weakness come in your Frailty come whoever you are wherever you are come Jesus said I'm there with my arm Arms Wide Open in the time of need Jesus comes listen as Jennifer sings Why Not Bow your head and
• 60:00 - 60:30 say Jesus come Jesus come Jesus you're standing by the Throne of God Jesus Mercy flows from that Throne Jesus Grace Flows from that Throne oh Jesus let your grace Touch Me Jesus let your mercy touch me [Music] [Music]
• 60:30 - 61:00 the Throne of God above I have a strong and perfect pleas a great high priest whose name is Love whoever lives and pleads for
• 61:00 - 61:30 me my name is graen on his my name is WR on his Know that heaven he stands no Tong bid meart no tongue can bid be [Music]
• 61:30 - 62:00 deep when Satan temps me to Despair and tells me of the guilt within upward I look and see him there who made an end to all my sin because the
• 62:00 - 62:30 sinless Savior died my sinful soul is counted free for God the just is satisfied to look on him and pardon me to look on him and Par
• 62:30 - 63:00 behold [Music] there my perfect spotless rightousness The Great unchange I Am the king of glory and gra one with
• 63:00 - 63:30 himself I cannot die my soul is purchased by his blood my life is here with Christ on high with Christ my savior and my god with Christ my savior and my
• 63:30 - 64:00 [Music] God tonight wherever you are Jesus is reaching out for you and as we pray tonight would you like to say Jesus I am opening my heart for your grace reaching out for your power if that's your desire would you just raise your hand right now reaching out for his grace opening your heart for his power