<TITLE>02. Par 3-5</TITLE>L-3 Now, it could not apply to the Old Testament. It had to be to the New Testament, because the Old Testament was the law, and this side is the grace. And--and it said, "The law and prophets," Luke 16:16, law and prophets were until John: since then the kingdom of heaven's been preached. So it had to be this side, had to be this side with sanctification, 'cause saints, the church is referred to as saints after... The word "saint," means "the sanctified one." In other words, we must contend for the faith that was once delivered to the sanctified ones. "Sanctification" means "to be called out, set apart, cleansed (See?), cleansed and set apart for service."
Now, the faith that was once delivered unto those people, that is the faith that we're supposed to contend. You know what "contend" means? Is "to debate, or to hold to, contend for." Earnestly contend for that faith.
Now, if I said, "Methodist brethren, do you have it?"
"Yep, we got that faith."
"And Baptist brethren?"
"Yep."
And the Catholic says, "Yep."
The Pentecostal says, "Yep."
Everyone would say, "Yes, my church is contending for that faith."
Well, I'm happy to hear that. I'd be very happy to know that that's true.
Now, the only way, I would say, "What makes you different one from another then?"
"Well then, we believe it that it was this a way."
Now, let's just go back in the early parts of the Scripture, the early ministry, and in the days of the saints, and see what kind of a taste that they had, and then let's contend for what they had. That's the only way to be sure. Is that right?

L-4 Now, the first one to introduce the faith that the Bible wants us contend for was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. John was the forerunner to speak of His coming, but Christ was It. Christ Himself, He was the One Who brought the faith, because Christ on earth was God's representation to the peoples on the new deal.
Notice, God sent Christ after the days of the law made... a woman under the law that He might redeem those who were under the law. Christ is made of human flesh, being God Himself, Emmanuel, invested, God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
And when He was here on earth, He did not follow His Own thoughts, His Own will, but He sacrificed His Own will and His Own thoughts to follow the mind and the will of His Father. "I come not to do My will, but the will of Him that sent Me." You see it?

L-5 Now, Christ come to do the will of the Father. Then if we can see what Christ did, and what kind of a faith that He gave to the people, or preached to the people, then that should be the faith that we contend for.
Now, when Christ was here on earth we wonder, He was born just an ordinary boy baby, born in a manger. He didn't come to the world with a great lot of--of to do. He just was of humble parents born in a manger, raised up, went, and was brought up with His people.
And at the age of thirty-years old He went out into the wilderness, and there met John, and was baptized of John in the Jordan, obeying or fulfilling... When John saw Him coming he said, "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and why comest Thou unto me?"
He said, "Suffer. It's to be so, but thus it behooveth us to fulfill all righteousness." And then He was baptized of John, went straight way out of the water, and low the heavens was open unto Him.
And John bear record, seeing the Spirit of God like a dove descending from heaven and lighting upon Him. John said farther, "I knew Him not, but He that said to me in the wilderness to go baptize, said, 'Upon whom thou shall see the Spirit descending and remaining on, He's the One that'll baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire.'"
John had a sign that that was the Messiah. When he seen Him coming he knew that It was the Messiah. Now, He was not dressed any different from any other man. Jesus is just an ordinary man. The Bible said, "There was no beauty we should desire Him." He wasn't so, such a great seven foot man. There's no beauty we should desire Him.


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