The Love of God

The Love of God

Bro. Lee Vayle August 11, 1975

1. It's certainly a privilege to be here with you again this evening after one year of absence, although I did come through and visit Bro. Palmer at the turn of the year. But, we're very happy to be here, and very grateful the Lord has made it possible that we can meet this side of the Jordan. You know, if we keep meeting this side of the Jordan for a while, there'll be some of us will be missing after a bit, we're all getting older. Times creeps on us, sometime is does a little more than creep, it sort of overtakes us little more rapidly than we had anticipated. And so in this past year I know that there are those who have believed this Message have gone on to be with the Lord. But, if we're truly born in His Spirit, that's alright, that's just as good as being here. It's all the same whether you're changed coming out of the earth, or whether you're changed here.

I don't know any Scripture that says we're going to be any different. If there were any Scripture I think maybe I would have found it by now. But I don't recall ever seeing any, and I'm not going to look for any, because the prophet said it didn't make any difference. [Bro. Vayle chuckles] So, it doesn't make any difference. So, if we're here when He comes, fine, and if we're not here, standing here, well we'll start breathing again. Some folk are going to be breathing as they come, that's fine, there'll be some folk won't be breathing, but they soon will be. So, it doesn't really matter.

2. So, we're sorry to realize there are some who will depart and gone from us, especially some in Jeffersonville, great tragedy when one of the brethren was so terribly burned that he died with the injuries. And then of course Bro. Shaffer's son died, and different ones going off the scene. And I wouldn't be at all surprised that some were here last year have gone to be with the Lord, and they're fortunate.

You know, sometimes we... don't we just hate to see people go, and I realize that, they're very valuable to us in the Lord. And I'm sure when the apostle Paul was getting up in years and ready to go, they said, "Now Paul, now we don't want you to go, because we need you."

And he said, "Yeah, I could live for five thousand more years and you'd still need me too." There's never going to be a time when we don't need help, (you know) in the good godly saints.

3. Miss some of the dear folk, you know I was sorry to see Bro. Bosworth go when he was about seventy five back in 1958. I think it was about in 1956 or so, I said, "Well Bro. Bosworth, you really don't need to go, you're not so old."

And he said, "Bro. Vayle, God doesn't work a willing horse to death, (he said) wanting to go." [Bro. Vayle chuckles] I never quite caught that, caught on to what he was really saying. I think I surmised that he was telling me he'd fought a good fight, he was ready now to lay down the armor and go on. But, I wasn't really ready to accept it, because he's such a fine fellow to have around. And I just couldn't think, well now that's not (you know) that's just not good business of letting go, and I should encourage him to have faith, because I needed him. But, if he were here I'd still need him, and he'd be a hundred years old by now at that rate. You know, getting right up there.

And then we think of Bro. Branham going and say, "We need him." And if he were here it'd be the same story if he lived a hundred and fifty years old we'd still need him. But you know the Lord's good and everything is just right. We might not realize that at times, and feel kind of tragic about how certain events have taken place. And the loved ones have gone on to be with the Lord, and it would be great to have them, but we don't have them. It was time they moved on, their work was done, and may we be ready also, at the time for us to cross that bar.

4. I remember the way that old Daddy Bosworth died. We know also the way that Bro. Branham went, they went in victory. You know if you're going to die in victory, you've got to live in victory. Thanks be to God He gives the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. So, we're on our way to glory, and we don't know too much about it. God has hidden a lot of these things from us, because He wants to surprise us to show us the good things that are ours when we get there.

And we know that we have an incorruptible inheritance, and that means that there's nothing wrong with it at all, it's perfect. And I don't think any of us here can realize what perfection is. I know I can't, because I've never seen it. I've never been it, and never had it. And that is in the sense of a complete perfection. We are perfect in Christ, but that's not a complete perfection. Because we still got to come to the perfection of this body which is in the Resurrection. So, there's something ahead of us and we don't know what it is. We can't possibly know, because there's no way here to gauge it. But I know one thing, it's certainly going to be tremendous. (See?)

5. We just look at creation. How perfect creation is…if man hadn't spoiled it, but even though man didn't spoil some of the creation, the animals were already spoiled by man, and they were spoiling it. You know, they were really, because they're groaning and waiting for our time of Perfection to come.

So, you see the best there is, and try to give yourself an idea, but that doesn't really do it. I believe that's why the Millennium is hidden from us. You talk to anybody that really knows the first thing about the Millennium, he doesn't know the first thing about the Millennium. What did Bro. Branham tell us about the Millennium? Next to nothing. Pick up a book, where? next to nothing. You didn't know you was guessing, because you got nothing to guess with, or to guess from. I want it a total surprise. I just hope I'm the recipient of the total surprise.

That's all I want is to be ready for it, but it's going to be a total surprise really. Because there's no way we can know. (See?) We've never drawn that perfect breath, or taken that perfect step. Bride may get a little taste before she goes, but I'm going to tell you flat it's just going to be a taste, won't even be a mouthful. But what a great a day is coming, and we're looking forward to that day. And we pray we'll be ready for that day, and we'll just be a part of it, that's why we're gathered here to study the Word of the Lord and to just see some of the things that are in the precious Book that has been opened to us.

6. Now, I don't want to preach any profound message, I couldn't anyway, and if I could, you wouldn't get it, (you know) wouldn't be any good to you. You know, I never could see that Bro. Branham came to simplify the Word, and he made It muddier than ever. I just tell you flat, somebody's missing something, that's you and I, we must be a little complicated what the prophet was. Sure, because…no such thing as being muddy and obscure. He said it's so simple It's going over somebody's head. Well, I'm not here to tell you how simple it is, because I'm not that simple, I'm a little complicated. But, there's one thing I do know, he came to correct the errors.

Now, I used to be an old school teacher, you wouldn't believe it, because I threw away my English and I've got some plumb down the drain. I'm sorry about that, but I just heard (you know) PhD's, old Doc Jeffers back there…he's one of my best buddies, but I've got to squeal on him, his language…as far as his English is concerned, he didn't major in English, he's didn't get a PhD I can tell you that flat. [Bro. Vayle laughs] You know, it's the truth. And I shouldn't be truthful with somebody else, but it's kind of fun you know to do that. And I just don't see any sense in being so flawless you know.

And…being in the old days and Doc will bear me up on, you hand out test papers and the kid hands in a sheet of paper hopefully, hopefully if he hands in a blank sheet you can't correct anything. But the thing is, when the paper is handed in and Doc stays up at night, and of course his wife Betty is an excellent school teacher too, and they're grading their papers. When they put the corrections in, that paper is perfect.

7. Now, Bro. Branham corrected the errors, didn't write a brand new Bible. Didn't give us brand new theology, he corrected our errors. Now, if we've been corrected then we've got a perfect theology, that's how simple it really is. I don't think we've got to look here and fuss there and everything else. It's got to be simple brother/sister, or the prophet lied to us. We just got to get back to the simplicity, the fact we've gotten complicated and it's time to get uncomplicated. (See?) You just got to relax in the fact that he corrected the errors. He said, "That's what those Seven Seals were all about, and the Seven Thunders are under the Seven Seals." Because one Thunder opened Seven Seals, and the Seventh Seal with Seven Thunders, so there has to be something. It's just a correction. I believe, I trust by the grace of God we've handed our papers in.

In other words, you've gotten rid of your old thinking and all your old dogmas, all your old creeds, and all your own organizations, all that stuff here and say, "Here prophet, correct It?" It's got to be that simple brother/sister, or we're just lost. Now we're just finished, that's all. (See?) Now, I hope you agree with me, because you don't have to, that's your business. I don't want anybody to agree, I just hope you do. I need a little help in other words. [Bro. Vayle chuckles] I'm believing it's simpler, it's simpler than what I've been thinking. (See?)

Now, Bro. Branham was a most uncomplicated man in the world. You know, he knew there was a God, and he sure knew Him. That's not too complicated, that's a simple faith. [chuckles again] And he tried to uncomplicate things for us. So, that's we're going to try to be this week, when the uncomplicated Word of the Lord, and I hope we just stay there. Hopefully, now you pray so that, we'll just stay in the simple Word of the Lord.

8. I'm going to speak on 'The Love of God' tonight from a little different view point perhaps and what the subject has been taken. And I'm not going to talk about our love, I want to see it lived. I've heard all the sermons I want to hear on love, I don't want to hear anymore I'm sorry, if you preach it, I'll walk out on you. I'm warning you ahead of time, I want to see it lived. I want to live it, I want you to live it, and all the talk just go by the board. Because it's a (you know) talk is academic and talk is costly. They say it's cheap, it is not, it's the most expensive thing in the world. "Because by man's words he's justified or condemned." [Mt 12:37]

So, the love of God tonight will be scriptural, and it won't talking about us, we'll be talking about Him for a purpose. Now, before we go into the Word, shall we rise at this time and read It together and change your positions. And you can turn to John 3:16, I'll turn with you, although you memorized It along ago. We'll turn there, then you can get ready to turn to Ephesians 1: for two more verses. Now, before we read, shall we pray.

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we come to You now at this meeting, Lord, commencing it with the preaching of the Word. And I pray, Lord, that You will have Your way and not ours tonight. Because this is what really matters that You have Your way. And we're asking the Holy Spirit to take charge of the meditation of the Word, because He has been sent to lead us into all truth, to take the things of God, the things of Jesus, show them unto us. And this is what we want tonight, by the revelatory power of the Holy Ghost and the experiential knowledge of what we're going to talk about this evening hour.

Now, Lord You know that we could all be kind of nervous tonight, the first night, coming in tired and various things like that and just wondering about different little things. And just help us to put it all to one side now, and get rid of everything, Lord, but just Your Word, and It being taught correctly, and Your Spirit, O God, in such a way bringing It to life within us. Because we know that this is very, very important, it's tremendously vital to us, and so this is what we want. And, Lord, because we're asking You according to Your Word, we just pray that You will hear us, and You'll grant the desires of our heart, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

[John 3:]

(16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

And over here in the Book of Ephesians 1:22-23

(22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

(23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all (things with) all (things.)

(You may be seated.)

9. Now, you can see from these two Scriptures which I have just read that God's great sovereign purpose, (or His great sovereign plan as you might want to call it) was not just to give His only begotten Son for our sins as It says in John 3:16, but it was to given Him to be head over all things to a Bride church, not just to give His Son for our sins, but to give Him to be Head over all things to a Bride church.

Now, of course we know that Jesus became the Head by way of His death and His Resurrection when He was raised by God. And it was this way that He must take to achieve the purpose which would give Him Headship of the Church. So, you can see that God just didn't give His Son in order to remit our sins, but actually there was involved there the first step in presenting Him as the Head of the Church, and He gave Him to us as that Head.

Now, God gave Jesus according to the Pauline Scripture here, He gave Jesus to be all things to the Church, and His death and Resurrection was only one of the 'all things' that He was and is now being. You know, many would like to put it just in the past and say God gave His Son, and our sins are forgiven, but that's not true in itself. It was just the first step to what God was doing.

10. So, when we read in John 3:16 that "God so loved the world that He gave His Only begotten Son," we realize we could not stop there with God giving us a sin offering, or a sacrifice. We've got to follow it up with Ephesians 1:22-23 as I just read to you. And you can see then that God's great love gift which was Jesus Christ encompasses everything to the Church. (See?) The giving encompasses everything, you simply don't stop. Say, "God gave His Son, thank You Lord, I'm happy that you gave Your Son for my sins." This is true, but it is not wholly true. It is only the first step. God gave Him to a Bride church so that He could be everything to her, and the gift encompasses everything in that Bride. Absolutely everything with nothing left out.

God did not show His love to the Bride and then ceases loving. (See?) This is what you can…you don't mean to think this way brother/sister, but look, I'm human as you are and all I've got to do is speak out of my heart and I can nail you tonight. Because there is not one of you different than from me. And I know there's a danger reading John 3:16 without Ephesians 1:22-23, to think that God loved by giving His Son, then He ceased His loving. He did not give Jesus and then draw a line, there are no lines drawn. (See?)

11. His love is continually manifesting, because God gave Jesus 'to be'. (See?) 'Be', in the state of being Jesus is to the Bride. Not in a state of being ,was, (see?) that's too easily concluded. (See?) It's the state of being all things to the Church as long as there will be a Bride.

I want to repeat then: that God is continually manifesting, (see?) that is His love, because He gave Jesus to be all things to the Church as long as there will be a Bride. And as long as there is a Jesus, there will be a Bride of Jesus, because God gave Him to her to be everything to her, and He is Eternal Life. (See?)

So, as long as there is a Bride, (there will be as long as there's a Jesus) then He's absolutely everything to her. Just as Irenaeus said, (way back there when he was as student of Polycarp, when Polycarp was a student of John) he said, "God being a Savior it was necessary for Him to predestinate a sinner, in order to give God a reason and purpose of being."

Where as Bro. Branham said, "God must show forth His attributes, and He had to do it the way that He is doing." And so it is that we find here that there has to be a Bride eternally for Jesus to show forth His Attributes in her, which are attributes of love. (See?)

12. Now, so whatever He is, she will be. And wherever He is, there she will be with Him eternally, and eternally enriched by Him. You know, often times we think that Jesus is going to 'peter-out'. That somewhere He going to be able to…flatter and fail. That somewhere there won't be a continuous dynamism and revelation, or expanding of God.

Let me tell you something, I'll find no Bible for that. I find no Bible where the Bride ever becomes stagnant. Where a line is ever drawn, where it is ever finished, because eternity has no finishing. (See?) The infinite can be divided by the finite and infinite number of times. (See?) So, there is no ending of it.

13. Now, that is the love of God toward us at this moment. (See?) In other words that He is doing even now through Jesus Christ a work of manifesting love. So, we see that in God's love gift to us, Jesus has already done, and is presently doing, and will continue to do all that lies in Him to maintain His Bride even eternally. (See?)

Now we understand that. That whatever that Jesus has already done, (see that's fine) yet He's presently doing and will continue to do all that lies in Him. To what end? In order to maintain the Bride, because He's 'all things' to her. Just like the husband is 'all things' to the wife if he's a good husband. He's the bread winner; he's the buyer of the washing machine; he's the buyer of the iron; he's the buyer of the clothes for the kids; he labors and gets the dishwasher; he labors and gets the car; he is everything to her, and everything she has comes from him, and he's maintaining her, and providing for her. (See?) So, Jesus is everything to that Bride, even eternally.

14. Notice over here in the Book of Revelation 21:2.

(2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, (which is the Bride) coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride (who is) adorned for her husband.

And in [Revelation] 22:3, It says in there:

(3) And there shall be no more curse: (that) the throne of God of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

And down to verse 4,

(4) And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

In other words, His very Name releasing the power of constant wisdom through a Bride. (See?) The knowledge of Christ in her continually expanding and going on, and on, and this is eternity.

(5) And there shall be no night there; (there'd be no) need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

(6) And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true:…(and so on.)

Why? Because she is the consort of the Lamb. This is the Lamb's wife. So you can see that she is living continuously and eternally, and everything that Christ is, He is for her and for no one else. It is very evident that when God gave His beloved Son, He manifested His love, because the Bible said so.

In giving Him to the Church, He showed and proved His love. And I want to repeat: In giving Him to the Church, He showed and proved His love. In other words, God certainly proved His love.

15. Now, let us see the love of God toward us as we deal with Jesus as all things to the Bride, because that is what we're going to have to do. I will not do it completely, because I'm not that able to do it, but we'll look at some of the things that we might see here in the Word of the Lord. Now, first of all, we will deal with His sacrificial death wherein He laid down His life for us. Herein is God's love revealed that God gave Jesus as a sin offering to the end that we who were away from Him, might be able to be joined back to Him.

Now, that's the Scripture, it's not that somebody who is a reprobate, it's not that somebody who is simply born in sin and had nothing to do with God from any point of view whatsoever. But happened to be born at a great disadvantage, never having been known to God, or known God, and now he's in the world here and God has made a plan whereby that this person can come. That's not what the Scripture says. The Scripture doesn't teach that. The Scripture teaches us that we are to be brought back to God.

16. Now, let's go to 2 Corinthians 5:21

(21) For (God) hath made (Jesus) to be sin for us, (or sin offering) who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Now, when did this take place? This took place upon Calvary when Jesus died to bear the sins of the whole world. He was in our stead, in order that we might have the very righteousness of Almighty God.

17. We go to 1 Peter 2:24-25

(24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (you) were healed.

Now, what does It say? That in His Own body He bear on the Tree all of our sins. Why? That we might be made the righteousness of God by what Jesus Christ suffered. Notice in verse 25

(25) For (you) were as sheep going astray; (didn't say you're a bunch of goats. Didn't say you're a bunch of hogs, didn't say you're a bunch of dogs. He said, you're a bunch of sheep that went astray, and) are now returned (to) the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

The Shepherd and the overseers. Christ died upon Calvary in order to bring us back to God, from Whom we came as fallen sons. (See?)

18. Notice also chapter 10 of the Book of John (going back to the Gospels) Jesus speaking in verse 11, He said:

(11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Verses 27-29

(27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

(28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

(29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Now, let it be known immediately and irrevocably, that's once and for all, that there is no way back to God outside the Blood. There is no way back. I said, there is no way back outside the Blood, the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. This was God's love gift to us, the Son to bring us back.

This is abundantly clear from the very beginning in the Book of Genesis chapter 4, because Abel offered not the fruit of the ground as did Cain, but he offered the blood of a dying lamb, and God had respect unto this man's offering. And God said that he was righteous through faith in the shed blood which God gave him to give back to God through revelation. God accepts no man's person outside the Blood. Cain tried to his person accepted, but God would not accept it. For Cain offered the first fruit offering which signified that he would be in the First Resurrection as a part of the Bride, but he turned down the blood. It is absolutely impossible to be redeemed apart from Blood.

19. Now, without Blood there is no way to approach unto God, absolutely none. (See?) Jesus was the One who fulfilled this for us. Notice in the Book of Hebrews 9:13-14 , and of course the Book of Hebrews is a tremendous Book on the Blood and the sacrifice.

(13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: (See?)

(14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Again we see the Blood. Notice in [Hebrews 9:] verse 26b,

(26) (For)…now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

(27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

(28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

We notice here, that Christ has Appeared in order to put away sins by the sacrifice of Himself. And He offered…He was offered to bear the sins of many. And it's because of this that we have no fear to look, to stand in the Presence of Almighty God.

20. Again in Hebrews 10:12-15

(12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

(13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

(14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

(15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:…

The Holy Ghost would not have come in except for the sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ upon the heart door of the man. (See?) God's love gift, God giving His Son to die upon Calvary for us.

Notice, again in verses 17-18, (the same chapter)

(17) And their sins and iniquities ( I'll) remember no more.

(18) (For) where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

God absolutely does not remember, or have one thing to do with our sins anymore, because the Blood of Jesus Christ has made us perfect in the righteousness of Almighty God. (See?)

21. Notice also in Hebrews 10: 19-23

(19) (And) having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Not by your good works. Not by your faith. Not by something you purposed. Not by something you try, but by the Blood of Jesus Christ into the very Holies of Holies, because there is where the blood must be sprinkled. And Aaron once a year would go in there, and he would take the Blood in there and that gave him an entrée to Almighty God, and God would let the man come before Him. Now It says.

(19) …therefore, brethren, (have) boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

(20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated (dedicated) for us, through the veil, that to say, his flesh; (It came to us by Christ dying upon Calvary.)

(21) And having an high priest over the house of God;

(22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

(23) Let us hold fast the (confession) of our faith without wavering; (for faithful is he that promised;)

Then the Scripture tells us here we absolutely can approach unto Almighty God and not be cast out. Although it would be a great danger for a person to attempt to approach unto God. But now there is no danger, because God has given a love gift. This is the love of God manifested that God gave His Son to you and me, that you and I by claiming the Blood of the virtuous Son of God can have absolute access for Almighty God.

22. Notice what this does for us: we turn to the Book of Matthew 5:48, Jesus speaking says:

(48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Now, the prophet explained that thoroughly to us. He said, "God demands it, so there's got to be a way to do it." And he said, "How was it done? It's done by the perfecting of the Blood of Jesus Christ." God giving us an absolute perfection by the Blood.

Now, my brother/sister, I realize that this is something that you and I have a difficult job understanding. We have a difficult job understanding it, because we're trying to place this apart from the Resurrection. (See?) And it is true that there is no perfection in the flesh until we die. And the Word of God warns us, because It says, "the body is dead because of sin." [Rom 8:10] Every single person's got to die. I don't care if you could 'out William Branham' a million times out William Branham he would have to die. I care not about the apostle Paul, you can 'out the apostle Paul' a million times, he'd still got to die. (See?) We're not talking about that. That perfection comes in the Resurrection.

23. Let me tell you this: the Blood of Jesus Christ made a way for the perfection of the Resurrection. But in the mean time there is an imputed resurrection, I mean, an imputed righteousness, which is the righteousness of God Himself given to us through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ. There is a perfection by the Blood, which means a cleansing from all sin, because there is no more remedy. Why? Because there doesn't need to be one. What a legacy God gave us in His love gift through the Son to die upon Calvary. You don't need another sacrifice, you don't need it.

That's what Martin Luther came across when he went to Rome, and he saw them climbing up the steps upon the glass and the iron spikes and everything else. And the Voice thundered down, "the 'just' shall live by faith." [Hab 2:4b] We've been justified by the Blood. (See?) certainly. It's the Blood that's made the entrance to us, has brought us back to Almighty God. It's cleared the way, and there is no need for a sacrifice. Yet people still look for a sacrifice, they're still wanting a sacrifice. Can we not understand tonight, there is no more sacrifice. Why? Not to strike fear and to say, "O God, am I lost?" No, but you're saved, because there's no need for it. God has dealt with the sin question once and for all when Christ died upon Calvary. (See?) There's no need for a further sacrifice.

24. As the old song writer wrote:

"Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to the Cross I cling"

['Rock of Ages', by Augustus M. Toplady]

"Just as I am, without one plea,

but that thy Blood was shed for me,

O Lamb of God, I come."

['Just as I Am', by Charlotte Elliott]

See, it is the Blood that did it. And remember, it's the speaking Blood, and It speaks righteousness for God justifies the ungodly. A man can try to dress up all he wants, won't do you any good. Because there's only one person that can be declared righteous by God, because the word 'justify' means to 'to declare righteous'. It's a legal term. It's a term of the law. Justify means 'to declare righteous'. On what grounds? The Blood of Jesus Christ. (See?) No other way.

Let us disabuse ourselves tonight of our foolish thinking, and bring every thought into control to the Word of Almighty God. You have heard what the prophet said as many times as I heard it. Except you maybe you weren't in as many meetings, or sat as much as I have. But you've heard the tapes. Show me where he ever ceased to mention the bleach of the Blood of Jesus Christ? Talking about the Clorox, you drop the ink in. Where is it gone? It's gone back, completely destroyed. The bleach of the Blood of Jesus Christ. There is a perfection that God's Word demands, and we have the perfection through Jesus Christ dying upon Calvary. And there is no more offering for sin, there doesn't need to be. (See?) God in love gave us a perfect sacrifice.

25. Paul tried to show us this over here in Romans 5, so we go to Romans 5, and we read beginning in verse 6.

(6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Who did He die for? The ungodly. What makes you think you're any better? (See?)

You say, "Well, I'm ungodly."

Well, He died for you.

"Well, I'm not as ungodly as I was."

He still died for you.

"Well, I'm hoping to be better."

He still died for you. He died for the ungodly.

(7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

(8) But God…(notice what I said a while ago, God's love gift)… commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." [Jn 3:16] That's God's love toward us. That's God manifesting His love, proving and showing His love. (See?) He died for us.

26. Notice:

(9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, (called righteous by His Blood)…

"Oh, I'm ungodly."

He said, "I said you're righteous."

"But Lord, I'm ungodly."

He said, "I said you're righteous."

"Well, Lord if you say….huh, huh, huh, just sort of, you know?"

Aw, shut up! I make me sick, and you make me sick. And I wonder if God doesn't get sick. This is the age where God wants to vomit. I can understand why. We read the Word and we talk about, but do we really believe It? We're talking about the great future revelation. I challenge you, I want one man, one woman to step to this platform and tell me, "Bro. Vayle, I've got it in my soul, I really know what you're talking about." I want to see you do it. Well, come on, we're at a serious moment brother/sister. We claim to know so much. I want to know. I'm not challenged as a mean man up here. I told you I don't know, but by God's grace I'd better know. That's right. What about this one? Do we look God right in the face and believe Him the way He believes in us? I wonder, says right here:

(9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

27. No more wrath, not a possibility, not a danger, not a hope. It's gone! Not some pseudo superficial thing worked up now, but I mean Reality. The walk of a Daniel going to a lion's den, or the three Hebrew children to the fiery furnace. God's judgment flames could leap up, no problem. (See?)

(10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, (we'll) be saved by his life.

Double assurance, as I read in Hebrews, the Holy Ghost witness to us by coming in where the Blood was applied to the door, the lintels, and the door post of the heart. Washed in the Blood of the Lamb. The dove seeking and flying through the building fast tonight looking for a heart to be washed in the Blood to come in and give you rest. You may be a sinner there, I wouldn't be surprised if there's sinners in this meeting. Let me tell you something brother/sister, my sinner friend, that dove's flying around tonight, spiritually speaking. Looking for a sinful heart to apply the Blood by faith, say, "Lord Jesus, You died I believe, I believe that You've forgiven me, apply that Blood God to my heart."

The Holy Ghost bearing witness. No wonder Bro. Branham preached on the 'Token'. The Blood was shed and put upon the door posts. Oh, what a blessed sign for the angel of life, Christ the Eternal life to come in. He said, "When I see the blood, (the death angel) I'll pass over you." He had to pass, because Life was there. (See?) Justified by Blood. Saved by His Life.

(11) …not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (our Lord, because) we have now received the atonement. (We've received reconciliation from Him.)

28. Now, He goes on to say:

(12) Wherefore, as by one man sin (death) entered into the world,…(and so on.)

Then he gets down here in verse 15,

(15) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift…(or, the terrible offenses.)

Look, I don't care if there's a billion offenses, if the world had seventy trillion people living here for seventy trillion years, it'll never be as big as the 'Love Gift of God', which is Eternal Life through the death of Jesus Christ. It tells you here:

(15) But not as the offence, …

He said, "Don't compare the gift in the offense.

"But Lord, I've got such terrible sins, and my neighbor, Lord,…"

Listen, I know where we go to. God looks down through the apostle Paul and he warns us.

You say, "What are you talking about? What are you talking about?"

Do you think that Rockefeller with his billions is worried about a fifty dollar light bill, and a hundred dollar phone bill like you and I get? And a hundred dollars on the car and a couple hundred dollars on the house? He said, "Write it, write it, write it, write it, write it, write it, write it."

"Well, Mr. Rockerfeller, it's up to five minutes."

"Keep writing. Write it, write it, write it… keep writing."

Oh, we can understand that. What about sin? "Not as the offence." Yeah, "not as the offence." Don't even compare it. Start looking at the sacrifice. Amen! I feel like shouting now! See, sins which were many are washed in the Blood.

(15) …For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man,…

Let me tell you Adam's sin brought us into bondage, old Eve added one word, and gave us six thousand years of plagues. One word added, six thousand years of plagues, that's why you don't dare even add one word to where this Scripture that Bro. Branham brought us this Word, you get the plagues, the tribulation. One word added gave us six thousand years. One man's sin made everyone of us sinners. Vile rotten sins. The Hitler's, the Stalin's, the Mussolini's, the Genghis Khan's, Attila the Turk and the Huns and all the rest of them. (See?) Even the apostle Paul murdering the very Bride of Jesus Christ, thinking he did God a service. Adam's sin did it, but It says, "much more that grace abounds," leads, challenges, overcomes, destroys. (See?) Where's the way to sin?

29. Listen brother/sister, I'm challenging us to believe tonight the simple things where papers are corrected. No condemnation. (See?)

(16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: (notice the comparison: not as it was by one) for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift… (takes care of everybody and any- thing that comes under the Blood.)

He said, "Here look at one man did." He said, "That nothing, nothing. Don't even look at it. Oh, there's power in the Blood." (See?) And the precious Blood of the Lamb.

(17) For if by one man's offence death reigned… much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Doesn't say right here the person is under condemnation. Doesn't say he's under guilt complex, doesn't say he's all messed up. He says, "He's reigning."

You say, "I don't know, I don't feel like I'm reigning."

Then God's a liar. Throw the Bible out in the gutter. Go out and get drunk, at least you need something to help you. Try it! I'm not trying to be funny. That's what Paul said. He said, "You just can't sit around and being of all men most miserable." [1 Cor 15:19] Eat, drink and be merry!

30. Listen, either there's everything to it, or there's nothing to it. I repeat this: there's everything to it, or there's nothing to it. Because He's all things to the Bride. It's the first step 'the all things' when He gave the Son in death for you and me. (See?)

(18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men (we all agree there) to condemnation… (but) the free gift (is under) justification (no condemnation, declared righteous.)

How can you bring a man on a charge when the man is righteous? (See?) Notice:

(19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

See, It says that. One man did it. Then what about the man Christ Jesus? Notice what It says in verse 21,

(21) …as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ…

We all know the sin is reigning unto death. Everybody's dying, there's nobody's that's not going to die unless Jesus stops it somewhere down the road. But It says here, "that grace now reigns unto righteousness." Now, do you admit that death is reigning? Oh, can you just as freely that grace is reigning? See, that's the whole thing. That's where the victory lies. It's not in you and me striving, it's in you and me believing. Not calling God a liar, but calling Him true, you see. There was God's love gift manifested by this gift to us. Even Jesus Christ in death taking our place totally…(listen) taking our place totally and giving us His place just as totally. Now, you know the prophet said, "He became us that we might become Him." (See?)

31. Notice what I read over here in Revelation, (I don't know if I got that far now) Revelation 22:4, (I think I did, yeah)

(4) And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Totally given over to Him, He totally given over to them. (See?) It's a total work.

Now, Peter explains this also, (or shows It to us) in 1Peter 1:18-19.

(18 ) Forasmuch as (you) know that (you) were not redeemed with corruptible things, (such) as silver and gold, (and) your vain (behavior) received by tradition from your fathers;

(19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without (spot and blemish.)

Now, there you are, he's telling us again. He said, "Sure you've got a spot, sure you've got a blemish." But remember, He didn't have it, and He took your place.

You say, "Now, but just a minute, did God receive it?" Let me tell you something, God gave it. Then if God can't receive what God gave there's something wrong with God. But there's nothing wrong with God, that's why He gave it. And God gave it, and He received Him. And the proof that God received Him was the fact that He sent the Holy Ghost. Certainly the Holy Ghost came back at Pentecost.

Peter said, "You crucified Him and killed Him, but God raised Him, here's the evidence, right here is the Holy Spirit, because (he said) He'd come back as the Holy Ghost." (See?) Now, Peter speaks of it as he mentioned here in 1 Peter 1:18-19.

32. And Paul puts a crowning attribute of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the Book of Acts 20:28, where he says:

(28) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, (of God) over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which (God) hath purchased with his own blood.

Jesus is the very Blood of Almighty God. Now then, if you can I can find a better blood, then we better start looking for it. But, if we're looking for perfection, we already have it. We have a perfection through the Blood of Jesus Christ.

You know something? I just wonder what this might be one of the hardest revelations in all the world for anybody to receive on the very grounds they don't look at Jesus, they look at themselves. But you know something, what if Judgment Day were here today, how much looking would we do to ourselves for our salvation? We'd be looking in a hurry for something that carried perfection. Now, we've got it already through the precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

God gave His Own Blood in the person of Jesus Christ. That's why Bro. Branham said, "God reduced Himself to the infinitesimal when He made Himself human flesh through the womb of Mary starting with that sperm and that egg. The beginning of the creation of God was God forming Himself in human flesh. And He's doing the same thing right today by a Bride, by the Holy Ghost, because we already carry the seed. It only takes the Spirit of God to come down through the witnessing of the Blood of Jesus Christ upon the heart's door, and begin to form a Christ in us. (See?) Certainly He's done it.

33. Now, He is our ransom. The Scripture says, "He was our ransom." Do you know something about that word 'ransom'? You can look it up, ransom redemption, you're going to find this: when a man is kidnapped by some kidnapper, and the father pays the ransom that's not the important thing. The important thing is that the fellow's delivered. Do you know that the Blood of Jesus Christ delivers us? So, the Holy Spirit of course can seal us, but It's the Blood that delivers us, because the price has been paid.

Bought out of the slave market never to return through the Blood of Jesus Christ. See, what we're trying to show you here is not just the fact of the death. Not just the fact of paying of a lump sum, but the fact is it works. Scripture emphasis lies the redemption of working, not the redemption of payment. Many a man has paid a sum of money for his son, only to find him dead, he was not delivered. That's the tragedy of this age, but not in God. (See?) Because the emphasis lies on the fact of the accomplishment of what God set forth to accomplish.

Now, that was in His death, but God raised Him up as we understand and He gave Him again. So, God gave again the Lord Jesus Who is now risen, and He gave Him unto a living Bride. And He gave Him as a Mediator.

34. We go to 1 Timothy 2:5-6. And here is what It says:

(5) For there is one God, and (there is) one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Now, Bro. Branham was not a mediator. Some people out west try to make him say he was a mediator. He was not a mediator, because there's only one Mediator between God and men, in the plural now, so that gets rid of the Catholic doctrine too. If you want a Mediator, you're going to have to go yourself right to God through Jesus Christ. Then, who is it? There's one Mediator between God and men, (not man now, but God and men, plural) the man Christ Jesus:

(6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

In other words, to prove in the future time that it is exactly as He said it was. Now, God's guaranteed it, there's going to be a day approved, and I trust we're ready for that day.

35. Now, here we see that Christ, our ransom now, because He has risen is our Mediator. Christ our ransom risen is our Mediator. Everything that Christ accomplished in His death by the shedding of His blood is now available in love, because God is showing His love, so He gave Jesus to us now as a Mediator. (See?) The constant giving. So, He gave Him to be a Mediator.

Everything that Christ accomplished now is able to be procured by us freely, because God gave us a Mediator. Now, and He is a loving Mediator. And as a mediator He brings us to God to make available and living to us what was opened to us by His Blood. That's what a mediator does. He brings us to God, (that's what mediator means) He brings us to God and makes available to us what was purchased for us, or what God wanted for us in His sovereign plan.

36. So, we go to Hebrews 8: and we look at verse 6. And It says:

(6) But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much (more) also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Now, what is the mediator? He's to bring us to God for the promises and the best promises of all, Christ purchased for us the covenant Word of God and secures it as the love gift from Almighty God to us.

37. Now, It specifically states that God has given Jesus a love ministry to the Bride. And that ministry is a ministry of Mediator, and what does a mediator do? We go back to 1 Timothy 2:5-6.

(5) …there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Now, what this mediator trying to do? He's trying to bring two people together.

Now, we go to Galatians 3:20, and It says here:

(20) Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Now, It tells you right here there's only two people and it takes three to bring two together by a mediator. Takes three people, there's only two people there. So there should be three. There should be God, and there should be man, and there should be Jesus in the middle. That's not true. Because Jesus came and He was God in human flesh, and God did His Own mediating. In other words, God solved His Own problem with mankind so you and I don't have a problem. And all the time we're talking about problems. There isn't any problem.

Now you say, "Lord, I've got a problem.

He said, "I'm sorry, there's no problem."

"But Lord, I have a problem."

'Now, (He said) look, I just told you there's no problem."

"But Lord, please listen, please.

He said, "Shut up."

When are you going to learn, there is no problem. Now look it, either the Bible is a liar, or It's the truth, there is no problem. (See?) There's no problem, because God solved the problem. Now, you believe in eternal God, and you believe tonight that everything that God does is good, and you know that God does not fail. But here, are you saying, "Is He failing tonight?" or are you saying, "Lord, you cannot fail because there's no problem?"

38. Now, He said right here, Paul said himself, "There has to be three parties to have mediation." The two offenders and the one getting them together from the middle. He's what you call 'a days man', as Job said, "Oh that there were daysman." [Job 9:33] Well, there is a day's man, and God's His Own daysman.

Now, if God's the source of all wisdom, then He knows how to settle the problem. But there weren't three people involved, there's only two, God and man. And God came right down in the form of human flesh, and took the full consequences of that wayward son and said, "I'll take it all on my shoulders, I'll bear it all, and now you're free." You don't have to breathe another sinful breath of worrying. Because it's settled. (See?)

39. Now notice here, I want to look at Galatians 3: again and we see here in verse 19. Now:

(19) Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Now, what does It say here: It says the promises could never be ours until there was a mediator. But we've got a Mediator, Jesus. Now, what are you going to do about it? If you've got the Mediator you've got the promises, because that's what He's there for. You call in a mediator and you say, "Mr. Mediator look, I'm having trouble in my home."

He said, "I'll be glad to help you, what is your trouble?"

"Well, my trouble is my kids, they don't live right."

"Well what, what are they doing?"

So, you tell what's wrong. Now, what's he going to do? He's going to have to solve your problem. That's what you called him in for. (See?) That' what you need him for.

Now, the mediator says, "What's your trouble little Johnny, little Billy, and so on." And he gets the kids lined up. You say, "That's wonderful." That's logical. You say, "That's wonderful." The mediator came in and he got us together, we're happy.

40. Well, that's what this is all about. Jesus is the Mediator to get us right into the Presence of God. God came down in human flesh to make sure it would work. Because if God can't make it work, you're finished anyway. But if God did make it work then it's all over. Now, is God satisfied with His work? He's abundantly satisfied, no more offering for sin, no more mediators. "I've got the offering done, I've got the Mediator, come on in," He said. (See?)

The Mediator brings you in. Into what? The promises or the full Word. We couldn't get it, but now we can have it. (See?) What is that better promise? The rest of the Holy Ghost, to bring us into the New Jerusalem, which is Eternal City, with the Lamb on the Throne, and the Pillar of Fire over the Throne. And there's no more wickedness, no unrighteousness, it's perfection. I can't visualize it. I'm to the point…let's face it, I suppose you are too, if you really feel good one day, you wonder what happened. What's the matter? What's the matter? That's just nervous age, it's ridiculous. Time to shrug your shoulders, and pass it on to God. (See?) Because He's the Mediator. (See?)

41. Now, this is perfect with John 10. Let's go to Jesus' words, in John 10:11, and He said:

(11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd( gives) his life for the sheep.

Now, we go to verse 27-30

(27) (They) hear my voice…they follow me:

(28) And I give eternal life; and they never perish,…

(29) My Father, gave me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

(30) I and my Father are one.

See, God said, "I'm My Own Mediator." right there. "And My sheep hear My voice, because I mediate, I bring them in, I bring them to the Word, I give them the promise." (See?) Christ the Mediator bringing us to the Presence of God for the full benefit of the full Word, because He's all things to all things to the Bride, which is the Word. He says, "I'm all of It."

[Tape ends]