WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.919 I was ordained when I was 28 years old. 00:00:03.140 --> 00:00:06.280 I'd been involved in Christian ministry for quite a few years. 00:00:06.740 --> 00:00:08.279 Obviously, I had to train to be ordained. 00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:10.259 I was ordained when I was a 28-year-old man. 00:00:11.040 --> 00:00:13.839 And within, I can't remember now if it was the first Sunday 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:16.080 when I went to my first church or second or third, 00:00:16.179 --> 00:00:20.580 but very early on, I met a woman in a motorized scooter wheelchair. 00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:25.039 And I discovered during coffee that she had Lou Gehrig's disease. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:28.260 That's the disease where your mind is completely unaffected, 00:00:28.260 --> 00:00:31.260 but over time, you lose all of the functions in your body. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:33.920 And one of the very, very first things she said to me 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:35.660 was that she wanted to die, 00:00:36.780 --> 00:00:38.640 that she was looking for someone to kill her. 00:00:39.539 --> 00:00:41.100 She didn't want to die right then, 00:00:41.380 --> 00:00:44.340 but she knew that she was going to be going to a thing 00:00:44.340 --> 00:00:47.079 that she thought would be completely and utterly unbearable, 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:49.420 where her mind would be completely fine 00:00:49.420 --> 00:00:51.040 and she would lose control of her body. 00:00:51.740 --> 00:00:54.560 And she was very open about telling me 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:57.920 that she was hoping that somebody would help her kill herself 00:00:57.920 --> 00:00:59.320 when the time came. 00:01:01.460 --> 00:01:03.079 I'm a 28-year-old guy. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:07.719 I'd been in Christian leadership for about almost 12 years. 00:01:07.980 --> 00:01:10.640 I had never come across anything like that in my entire life. 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:12.500 I didn't know what on earth to say. 00:01:13.180 --> 00:01:16.560 I probably looked like a deer caught in the headlights 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:18.400 as she talked to me. 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:22.900 To be honest, I probably always hoped after that 00:01:22.900 --> 00:01:24.740 she wouldn't talk to me at coffee time 00:01:24.739 --> 00:01:26.539 because I wouldn't know what to say to her. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:29.819 And in this particular church that I served at, 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:32.719 there were a lot of shut-ins that we had to visit 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:34.859 and there was this one shut-in in particular, 00:01:35.019 --> 00:01:37.439 this one woman who I had to visit. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:42.039 She was at what we would now call the Elizabeth Breer Center. 00:01:42.619 --> 00:01:44.319 I can't remember what her illness was, 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:49.099 but she had increasingly lost all functions in her body. 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:50.279 She didn't have Lou Gehrig's disease. 00:01:50.419 --> 00:01:51.059 It was something else, 00:01:51.139 --> 00:01:53.519 but her mind was still completely strong. 00:01:54.179 --> 00:01:55.479 And I would go in to visit her 00:01:55.479 --> 00:01:57.699 and she could only lie down flat in bed 00:01:57.699 --> 00:01:59.459 or if the nurses came and moved her. 00:02:00.039 --> 00:02:04.139 And she still had just the barest control of her vocal cords. 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:08.000 And she had to speak into this little thing 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:11.019 that would amplify her voice so I could hear her. 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:13.939 I hated visiting her 00:02:13.939 --> 00:02:18.200 because I didn't know what on earth I would ever say to her. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:21.240 But it was my job to visit her. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:23.420 She ended up being, 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:25.280 she was a very, very devout Christian 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:27.560 and she didn't want to die. 00:02:28.300 --> 00:02:30.439 I mean, she didn't want somebody to kill her, I should say. 00:02:30.500 --> 00:02:31.600 She wanted to be with Jesus, 00:02:31.780 --> 00:02:33.140 but she didn't want somebody to kill her. 00:02:34.200 --> 00:02:35.540 And her name was Diane. 00:02:35.700 --> 00:02:36.820 I can't remember the name of the first one. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:37.560 Her name was Diane 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:40.140 and in many ways she was really important to me 00:02:40.140 --> 00:02:41.439 in my early years as a minister 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:43.240 because you're dealing with somebody, 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:43.920 you can't say, 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:45.479 does the Lord heal you or, 00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:46.300 you know, 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:47.819 it's going to get better. 00:02:48.099 --> 00:02:49.379 It's not going to get better. 00:02:49.780 --> 00:02:51.360 I mean, it's going to get better when she goes to heaven, 00:02:51.479 --> 00:02:53.000 but it's not going to get better here earthly. 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:54.439 It was very, very a hard thing. 00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:55.420 I hated visiting her, 00:02:56.060 --> 00:02:57.840 but I had to visit her and I did visit her. 00:02:58.199 --> 00:02:59.400 And I learned a lot from her. 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:02.699 Now this is 30 years later. 00:03:02.699 --> 00:03:08.839 Doctor assisted killing is about to become law in all of Canada. 00:03:09.959 --> 00:03:12.659 And it's very, very interesting that at the heart, 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:14.799 even though a lot of the discourse 00:03:14.799 --> 00:03:18.259 around doctor assisted killing 00:03:18.259 --> 00:03:22.000 is dealing with an uncontrollable pain, 00:03:22.899 --> 00:03:24.139 the fact of the matter is, 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:26.359 is that the real thing that's going on 00:03:26.359 --> 00:03:27.579 is that for most people, 00:03:28.139 --> 00:03:31.239 they fear more than pain in many cases. 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:33.480 They fear one of two things. 00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:36.680 They fear the situation where, 00:03:38.020 --> 00:03:38.860 like with dementia, 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:41.400 where their mind goes, 00:03:41.659 --> 00:03:43.540 but their body is completely healthy. 00:03:45.939 --> 00:03:48.020 And we fear that our mind would go 00:03:48.020 --> 00:03:50.540 while our body is completely healthy 00:03:50.540 --> 00:03:53.000 and we could live for years and years and years and years 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:55.300 and we want to be able to kill ourselves. 00:03:56.700 --> 00:03:58.820 And the other thing that we fear 00:03:58.820 --> 00:04:00.980 is like these two ladies that I've just mentioned. 00:04:02.180 --> 00:04:05.460 That our mind is completely and utterly fine, 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:06.540 but our body goes. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:10.060 And we're a mind trapped in a body that doesn't work. 00:04:10.600 --> 00:04:11.719 And we want to die. 00:04:13.540 --> 00:04:14.760 It's in light of that, 00:04:15.100 --> 00:04:19.240 you can see how these two deeply held fears in our culture, 00:04:19.379 --> 00:04:21.240 and it's not completely just in our cultures. 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:21.980 If we're exempt, 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:23.019 every one of us has, 00:04:23.400 --> 00:04:24.319 we have to be honest, 00:04:24.379 --> 00:04:26.139 if we got that type of prognosis 00:04:26.139 --> 00:04:27.740 that we were going to enter into dementia, 00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:29.800 or if we had that prognosis 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:31.340 that our body was going to fail, 00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:32.879 but our mind was fine, 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:35.540 that would be a terrifying thing for us. 00:04:36.460 --> 00:04:38.800 And it's in light of this 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:41.560 that we can see how unattractive 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:44.720 the gospel is for so many people. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:47.780 Because in the text that Abby read 00:04:47.780 --> 00:04:49.100 just a few minutes ago 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:50.880 that we didn't maybe pick up on, 00:04:51.260 --> 00:04:52.660 at the end of the day, 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:53.920 it appears as if 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:55.640 we are asking God 00:04:55.640 --> 00:04:58.020 to help us give up control of our body 00:04:58.020 --> 00:05:00.160 and control of our mind. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:03.080 The two things we fear, 00:05:03.700 --> 00:05:05.100 the Bible asks us to do. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:07.320 So let's look at that text. 00:05:07.840 --> 00:05:08.680 Be very helpful. 00:05:09.540 --> 00:05:10.680 It's Romans chapter 12. 00:05:10.780 --> 00:05:11.320 In fact, actually, 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:12.640 you should get your Bibles 00:05:12.640 --> 00:05:13.960 in case you want to write or make notes, 00:05:14.060 --> 00:05:14.540 but Andrew, 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:16.040 this is one of those times, 00:05:16.100 --> 00:05:17.920 I know it has to be a shorter sermon today, 00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:19.240 but we're going to say the verse. 00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:20.580 Originally, 00:05:20.660 --> 00:05:22.560 I was going to preach on Romans 12, 00:05:22.640 --> 00:05:23.120 1 to 8, 00:05:23.220 --> 00:05:24.080 and I realized that 00:05:24.080 --> 00:05:26.400 we're just going to move 00:05:26.400 --> 00:05:28.740 3 to 8 later on after Easter, 00:05:28.740 --> 00:05:30.220 and we're just going to look 00:05:30.220 --> 00:05:31.120 at these two verses. 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:32.600 We're just going to meditate upon them, 00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:34.160 and if we get them at all in our mind, 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:34.980 if you, like me, 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:36.480 would like to memorize these verses, 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:38.360 then that's a really good thing. 00:05:38.420 --> 00:05:38.720 So Andrew, 00:05:38.780 --> 00:05:40.139 if you could put up Romans 12, 00:05:40.259 --> 00:05:41.420 1 to 2. 00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:43.620 Could you folks say that with me out loud? 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:45.019 And this version might be 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:46.519 a little bit different than your version. 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:50.240 Some of it's more literally translated 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:52.620 because actually the literal translation 00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:54.420 in some ways is more helpful. 00:05:55.280 --> 00:05:57.360 It's more helpful when you understand it. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:59.080 And so let's say this together. 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:01.699 I appeal to you, therefore, 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:03.220 brothers and sisters, 00:06:03.580 --> 00:06:05.220 by the mercies of God, 00:06:05.620 --> 00:06:07.120 to present your bodies 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:08.840 as a living sacrifice, 00:06:09.400 --> 00:06:11.199 holy and pleasing to God, 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:13.420 which is your rational worship. 00:06:14.139 --> 00:06:16.420 Do not be conformed to this age, 00:06:16.780 --> 00:06:17.879 but be transformed 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:19.860 by the renewal of your mind, 00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:22.500 that by testing you may discern 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:24.139 what is the will of God, 00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:27.199 what is good and pleasing and perfect. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:29.379 There you go. 00:06:30.100 --> 00:06:32.000 It's actually a very, very funny translation. 00:06:32.180 --> 00:06:33.259 You see there where it says 00:06:33.259 --> 00:06:34.560 a living sacrifice? 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:35.879 Another way, 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:37.699 the word for sacrifice there 00:06:37.699 --> 00:06:39.580 is the word for the act 00:06:39.580 --> 00:06:41.160 and the sacrifice where you kill. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.060 So we're actually saying 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:45.139 a living killing. 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:48.580 That's actually what you're saying here, 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:49.540 a living killing. 00:06:49.540 --> 00:06:53.780 That's a weird idea. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:57.500 So you'll notice with this, 00:06:58.120 --> 00:06:58.740 so what on earth, 00:06:58.900 --> 00:07:00.040 you can see right in here 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:01.460 that it is talking about that, right? 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:04.120 Present your bodies as a living killing. 00:07:05.280 --> 00:07:06.759 And then do not be, 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:07.860 and bodies there, 00:07:08.020 --> 00:07:08.720 as we're going to see, 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:09.480 I'll tell you right now, 00:07:09.520 --> 00:07:10.320 we don't have to see it later, 00:07:10.900 --> 00:07:11.820 bodies there means 00:07:11.820 --> 00:07:13.259 everything that makes us us. 00:07:13.259 --> 00:07:17.279 But it's so easy for us to think, 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:18.599 in many cultures, 00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:19.779 it's easy for us to think 00:07:19.779 --> 00:07:21.480 that the most important things about us 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:22.180 is our mind, 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:23.219 or spiritual things, 00:07:23.259 --> 00:07:23.879 or our feelings, 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:25.439 or our ideas. 00:07:26.159 --> 00:07:27.639 And sometimes it can be 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:28.719 almost as if we forget 00:07:28.719 --> 00:07:29.779 that we have bodies. 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:31.560 And so the language here 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:34.060 is to make this very, very concrete. 00:07:34.259 --> 00:07:35.219 It's not George 00:07:35.219 --> 00:07:37.939 in some abstract, romantic, ideal way, 00:07:38.339 --> 00:07:40.139 where I'm a legend in my own mind. 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:41.879 It's the George, 00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:43.419 that if you follow George 00:07:43.419 --> 00:07:44.659 around 24-7 00:07:44.659 --> 00:07:46.279 and you see what George actually does 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:47.560 and what he spends his money on 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:49.339 and the books that he reads 00:07:49.339 --> 00:07:51.419 and the books he doesn't read 00:07:51.419 --> 00:07:52.519 and the good things 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:53.659 and the bad things that he does. 00:07:53.719 --> 00:07:55.779 That's why the word bodies is used. 00:07:55.919 --> 00:07:57.800 It's your actual life, 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:00.079 including your body 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:01.579 and all of the things that you do. 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:03.259 And we see then 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:04.539 from that big perspective, 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:09.399 excuse me, 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:12.560 that we're being asked 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:14.060 to give up control. 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:16.060 So who on earth 00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:17.279 would ever want to do that? 00:08:17.779 --> 00:08:18.659 Like how on earth 00:08:18.659 --> 00:08:20.779 could that ever possibly make sense? 00:08:22.039 --> 00:08:23.459 Well, you'll notice 00:08:23.459 --> 00:08:24.599 that the text is actually 00:08:24.599 --> 00:08:26.159 a very, very interesting text 00:08:26.159 --> 00:08:27.779 and it begins with this, 00:08:28.039 --> 00:08:28.339 therefore. 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:31.819 It's going to follow from, 00:08:31.979 --> 00:08:33.659 it follows from all of the things 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:34.480 that have gone on. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:34.980 And in fact, 00:08:35.079 --> 00:08:35.399 actually, 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:36.620 if you go and look, 00:08:37.620 --> 00:08:38.120 excuse me, 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:39.299 Romans is written 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:40.679 in a very interesting way. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:42.720 In some ways, 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:43.879 in all of the New Testament 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:45.060 and maybe all of the Bible, 00:08:45.060 --> 00:08:46.100 there's no book 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:48.019 that's been so carefully structured 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:48.980 in certain ways. 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:50.259 And those of you 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:51.620 who have been here before, 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:52.960 you know how I say 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:54.659 how the first 15 verses 00:08:54.659 --> 00:08:55.159 is just, 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:56.200 yeah, hi, I'm Paul, 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:57.679 looking forward to seeing you, 00:08:57.679 --> 00:08:58.179 I'm doing this, 00:08:58.220 --> 00:08:58.840 I'm doing that. 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:00.639 And then 16 and 17, 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:01.820 he gives you the basic idea 00:09:01.820 --> 00:09:02.519 of the whole book. 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:06.639 And then basically, 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:07.539 well actually, 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:08.259 why don't you put up 00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:10.199 Romans 1, 16 to 17 right now? 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:11.699 Can you read this? 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:12.319 We've read this, 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:13.100 if you're a guest here, 00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:14.799 we've read this verse together 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:15.419 every Sunday 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:16.419 that we've looked at Romans 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:18.199 because all of the book 00:09:18.199 --> 00:09:19.779 of Romans follows from this. 00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:21.679 Could you read it with me? 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:42.799 And so what Paul has been doing 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:44.979 from chapter 1, verse 16 00:09:44.979 --> 00:09:46.359 to the end of chapter 11 00:09:46.359 --> 00:09:47.719 is he's been telling us 00:09:47.719 --> 00:09:48.839 what the gospel is. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:50.199 What is the good news? 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:51.620 He's been telling us 00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:52.759 what the good news is, 00:09:53.180 --> 00:09:54.560 he's been explaining it, 00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:56.080 and he's been defending it 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:57.240 from certain misconceptions, 00:09:57.940 --> 00:09:59.040 and he's been defending it 00:09:59.040 --> 00:10:00.320 from certain criticisms. 00:10:01.400 --> 00:10:02.200 And what he says 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:04.120 is that the good news, 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:05.580 hang on a sec, sorry. 00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:10.120 I have something in my throat. 00:10:10.400 --> 00:10:11.800 I feel actually fine, 00:10:11.940 --> 00:10:13.680 but it's like just a bit 00:10:13.680 --> 00:10:14.720 of a something in my throat. 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:15.040 Anyway, 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:19.259 so what he's been telling you 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:21.340 is that God has provided 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:22.179 something, 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:24.179 he has provided a power 00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:25.899 that will make us right 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:26.500 with himself. 00:10:27.319 --> 00:10:28.460 That we are to recognize 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:29.439 that we are helpless 00:10:29.439 --> 00:10:31.259 in terms of making ourselves 00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:32.019 right with God, 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:33.220 but that God, 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:35.200 seeing our helplessness 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:37.139 and still loving us, 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:39.639 he has provided the power 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:42.080 that will make us right with him. 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:43.799 And this power 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:45.519 that will make us right with him 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:47.360 is something which is right, 00:10:47.439 --> 00:10:48.159 it's just, 00:10:48.319 --> 00:10:49.379 that as you get more 00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:50.159 and more deeply 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:51.059 into the mystery 00:10:51.059 --> 00:10:51.980 of what he's done 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:52.899 and how he's thought, 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:53.939 you understand 00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:55.360 that everything he's done 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:56.500 is not only just, 00:10:57.059 --> 00:10:57.899 but more than that, 00:10:57.960 --> 00:10:58.620 it's merciful, 00:10:58.740 --> 00:10:59.819 because he's seen our need 00:10:59.819 --> 00:11:01.879 and provided a power 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:03.279 to make us right 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:04.220 with himself. 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:05.340 And at the very, 00:11:05.439 --> 00:11:06.860 very heart of that power 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:07.579 to make us right 00:11:07.579 --> 00:11:08.079 with himself 00:11:08.079 --> 00:11:09.240 is the death of Jesus 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:10.079 upon the cross. 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:12.019 It's his sinless life, 00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:12.840 it's his teaching, 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:14.360 it's his perfect obedience 00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:16.440 culminating in his death 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:17.259 upon the cross 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:18.960 and his mighty resurrection. 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:20.639 And this is the good news, 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:22.780 that when you put your faith 00:11:22.780 --> 00:11:24.300 and trust in Jesus, 00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:26.379 God in his grace 00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:28.120 provides a power 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.320 by which he comes 00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:30.139 into your life 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:31.700 and makes you right with him. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:35.540 And that's what Paul 00:11:35.540 --> 00:11:36.920 has been trying to defend 00:11:36.920 --> 00:11:39.060 and explain for 11 chapters. 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:41.879 Now, if you ever look at books 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:43.139 on how to preach, 00:11:43.820 --> 00:11:44.659 one of the things 00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:45.799 that books on how to preach 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:46.539 nowadays say 00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:48.000 is that you have to answer 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:48.879 two questions, 00:11:49.100 --> 00:11:51.039 so what and now what. 00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:53.799 And so for 11 chapters, 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:55.299 there's been lots of now what's 00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:56.039 that have been implied, 00:11:56.179 --> 00:11:58.100 but now Paul is going to answer 00:11:58.100 --> 00:11:59.379 the now what question. 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:01.179 If this is all true, 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.279 if there really is a God 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.000 who does exist, 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:05.320 if he really does love you, 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:06.559 if we really are helpless 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:07.000 to make, 00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:08.120 oh, thank you so much, Daniel, 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:09.279 if we really are helpless 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:10.860 to make ourselves right with him, 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:14.620 if Jesus and his death 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:15.220 upon the cross, 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:16.080 his perfect life 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:17.139 and his death upon the cross 00:12:17.139 --> 00:12:17.820 and his resurrection 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:20.159 really is God's power, 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:22.060 this news is God's power 00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:23.159 that when we hear it 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:24.840 and we receive it, 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.340 we ask in faith 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:27.560 that this would be true of us, 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:28.539 that this would somehow 00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:29.100 get in us 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:30.740 and that we would get in it, 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:33.399 and that then God's power 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:33.879 is unleashed 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:34.860 to make us right with him. 00:12:34.940 --> 00:12:35.680 Well, what on earth 00:12:35.680 --> 00:12:36.120 does that mean 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:37.060 in terms of how we live? 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:39.719 And so if you go back 00:12:39.719 --> 00:12:40.339 to the text, 00:12:40.419 --> 00:12:41.199 we're not going to read it aloud, 00:12:41.339 --> 00:12:42.259 Romans 12, 1 and 2, 00:12:42.319 --> 00:12:42.859 did you put it back 00:12:42.859 --> 00:12:43.419 on the screen? 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:44.719 Romans 12, 1 and 2? 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:46.379 That's the therefore. 00:12:47.859 --> 00:12:48.539 The therefore. 00:12:49.339 --> 00:12:50.179 Because one of the things 00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:51.519 that we're going to see 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:52.379 as we go on 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:53.679 is that God's grace, 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.539 this salvation, 00:12:54.739 --> 00:12:55.739 isn't just a moment 00:12:55.739 --> 00:12:57.099 where we're made right with him, 00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:58.059 but salvation means 00:12:58.719 --> 00:12:59.399 that our lives 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:00.939 start to be changed, 00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:02.239 they start to be transformed, 00:13:02.579 --> 00:13:03.539 they start to no longer 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.379 be conformed 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.159 to certain things 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:05.860 but transformed 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:07.100 into other things. 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:08.679 And Paul here 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:09.299 is going to give 00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:10.240 in these two verses 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:11.620 in a sense 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:13.079 the key or the model, 00:13:13.199 --> 00:13:14.579 the basic understanding 00:13:14.579 --> 00:13:15.480 of all of the rest 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:16.259 of the book of Romans 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:17.240 in terms of how you live. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:18.819 And it's very, 00:13:18.959 --> 00:13:20.079 very counterintuitive. 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:22.600 It's very counterintuitive 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:23.819 and it's very different 00:13:23.819 --> 00:13:24.679 maybe than many 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:25.159 of the things 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:25.679 that you hear. 00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:27.539 I've learned 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:28.600 lots of good things 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.839 on focus on the family, 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:31.799 but one of the problems 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:32.959 with focus on the family 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:34.920 is that often it slides 00:13:34.920 --> 00:13:36.160 into moralism 00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:37.060 and therapy. 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:41.400 And moralism 00:13:41.400 --> 00:13:41.980 and therapy 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:43.019 actually often 00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:43.740 doesn't help us 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:44.639 change our lives. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:47.100 I know that's 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:47.980 a shocking thing 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:49.080 to say about a, 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:50.100 for a group 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:51.220 that many people think 00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:52.180 is like right almost 00:13:52.180 --> 00:13:53.180 up there with the Bible, 00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:55.019 but it's often 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:56.300 just moralism 00:13:56.300 --> 00:13:56.940 and therapy. 00:13:58.340 --> 00:13:58.840 And the Bible 00:13:58.840 --> 00:13:59.780 is going to say here, 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.879 Paul is going to say 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.939 that actual change 00:14:01.939 --> 00:14:02.960 comes about something 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:03.379 different. 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:04.340 It's not moralism 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:05.200 and it's not therapy. 00:14:05.820 --> 00:14:06.759 Look at what it says. 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:08.019 I appeal to you therefore, 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.059 brothers and sisters, 00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:10.700 by the mercies 00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:11.500 of God. 00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:13.820 By the mercies 00:14:13.820 --> 00:14:14.679 of God. 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:17.379 It's telling us 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.360 that 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:22.080 what we need to do 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.279 to begin 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:24.360 to change 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:26.340 is to be gripped 00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:27.240 by the mercies 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:27.779 of God, 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.820 to contemplate 00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:29.780 and think upon 00:14:29.780 --> 00:14:30.820 the mercies 00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:31.379 of God. 00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:32.980 I've gotten myself 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:33.440 out of notes. 00:14:34.020 --> 00:14:34.379 Andrew, 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:34.820 could you put 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:35.640 the first sermon 00:14:35.640 --> 00:14:36.180 point up? 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:40.980 I've sort of 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:42.080 got out of track. 00:14:42.280 --> 00:14:43.460 I apologize. 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:43.940 Actually, 00:14:44.020 --> 00:14:44.640 last Sunday, 00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:46.040 it was, 00:14:46.160 --> 00:14:46.680 here's just like 00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:47.320 two confessions. 00:14:47.400 --> 00:14:48.300 You can pray for me. 00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:49.640 In my sermon, 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:50.300 I get talking. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:50.720 You see, 00:14:50.760 --> 00:14:51.600 I don't have a written text. 00:14:51.660 --> 00:14:52.560 I'm talking and talking 00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:53.200 and then I realize, 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:53.880 good grief, 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:55.360 I just got way 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:55.980 out of order. 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:58.080 And I don't know 00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:58.860 how you folks 00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.519 felt the sermon, 00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:00.680 but I actually spent 00:15:00.680 --> 00:15:03.539 the last three quarters 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:04.200 of the sermon 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:05.320 in stark terror 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:06.480 because I'd gotten 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.159 way out of order 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:08.039 from my notes 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:09.139 and my illustrations 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.899 got out of order 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.779 and I spent the rest 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.259 of the time 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.580 trying to get back 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.039 on order. 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:13.600 Anyway, 00:15:13.680 --> 00:15:14.560 this is very simple. 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:15.840 So what's the significance 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:16.680 of the gospel 00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:17.820 and the mercies of God? 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:18.700 It's right up here. 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:20.800 Only through the gospel 00:15:20.800 --> 00:15:22.759 will I seek to please 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:24.000 the true and living God 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.200 who is pleased 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.399 with me first. 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.080 See, 00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:29.419 that's one of the things 00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:30.480 that Paul has been 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.639 trying to establish. 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:34.700 That in the gospel, 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:38.340 by Jesus' death 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.259 upon the cross 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.259 and his resurrection, 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:42.200 every single thing 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:43.720 that I have done wrong 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:45.659 that breaks my fellowship 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.320 with God, 00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:47.220 with the created order, 00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:48.279 with other human beings, 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:49.679 every single thing, 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.159 even those things 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.639 that if I live 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.840 to be another 50 years, 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:54.419 these things 00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:55.100 that are in the future, 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:56.080 every single one 00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:56.500 of these things 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.580 with nothing left over 00:15:57.580 --> 00:15:58.960 has been taken away 00:15:58.960 --> 00:15:59.639 by Jesus. 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:01.360 And it's not just 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:02.799 that I have a clean slate, 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.620 but that the perfect life 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:06.740 of Jesus, 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.919 his perfect life 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.500 of obedience, 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.019 his perfect relationship 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:10.860 with the Father, 00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:12.460 all of that, 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:14.240 as we saw in Romans 6, 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.399 that when I put my faith 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:16.340 and trust in Jesus, 00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:17.819 it's that what happens 00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:18.419 is he becomes 00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:19.220 my substitute 00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:20.399 and he exchanges 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:22.639 his position for mine 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:25.279 and he bestows upon me 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:27.360 his perfect obedience. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:30.360 And that is how 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:31.360 I now stand 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.200 before the Father 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:33.500 in very, very traditional 00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:34.560 Anglican dress 00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:36.680 to illustrate that. 00:16:37.540 --> 00:16:39.660 The minister wears all black 00:16:39.660 --> 00:16:41.860 and on top of the all black, 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.080 he wears a white robe 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:45.960 and normally the white robe 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:47.040 would allow some of the black 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:47.719 to peek out. 00:16:48.579 --> 00:16:49.620 And it's to be 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:51.059 a walking illustration 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:51.819 or a lesson 00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:54.559 that my sins were black 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:56.480 and I am clothed 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.179 in the righteousness 00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:57.939 of Jesus. 00:16:59.579 --> 00:17:01.019 And so that means 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:03.500 that I don't have to worry 00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:05.059 about my Father in Heaven 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:06.420 being pleased with me. 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:09.019 He is pleased with me. 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.220 I mean, there's things 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.119 obviously I have to do. 00:17:12.379 --> 00:17:13.339 I've done things 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.200 that I have to say 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:15.039 I'm sorry for. 00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:15.879 I mean, because I want, 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:16.960 but everything 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.480 in the Christian life 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:19.680 flows from the fact 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.600 that my salvation 00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:21.840 is completely and utterly 00:17:21.840 --> 00:17:23.100 accomplished by Jesus. 00:17:23.320 --> 00:17:24.220 I've done nothing. 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:26.520 And that when I put my faith 00:17:26.520 --> 00:17:27.340 and trust in Jesus, 00:17:27.520 --> 00:17:29.020 the standing of my Father, 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:30.080 my Heavenly Father, 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:30.740 towards me 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:32.100 is that he's pleased with me. 00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:35.480 And so that means 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:37.200 that the entire Christian life 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:37.860 is not that, 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:39.120 oh, if I just help 00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:39.940 in the nursery, 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.480 then maybe God 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.580 will be pleased with me. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.480 If I just sing 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:44.200 in the praise band, 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:44.839 maybe God 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.960 will be pleased with me. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:46.559 If I just, 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:47.259 you know, 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:48.980 if I don't do naughty things, 00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:49.640 maybe God 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.700 will be pleased with me. 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:51.700 That the Christian life 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.599 is not about trying 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:53.220 to get God 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:54.200 to please you, 00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:56.220 but that 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:58.079 he is pleased with me. 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:00.940 Like, 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.200 I can't make him, 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:02.579 in a sense, 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:03.579 more pleased with me, 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:04.759 but he's pleased with me. 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:06.599 You see, 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.819 it takes a whole, 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:10.099 the whole Christian faith 00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:12.099 is to flow out of gratitude, 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:14.219 not out of fear. 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.759 When I went to 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.659 first year university, 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:17.759 I fell into the very, 00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:18.419 very trap 00:18:18.419 --> 00:18:19.039 that many, 00:18:19.159 --> 00:18:20.240 many first year university 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.579 students fall into. 00:18:22.179 --> 00:18:24.259 I majored in having fun 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.439 for my first term. 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.959 I minored in going to class. 00:18:29.159 --> 00:18:30.339 And the reason was 00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:31.359 is that in high school, 00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:32.819 they took attendance 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:35.119 and they had 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:36.219 regular assignments. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.599 And if you didn't show up 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.359 and if you didn't do 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:39.059 the assignments, 00:18:39.959 --> 00:18:41.079 there'd be a phone call 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:41.979 to my parents. 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:44.000 So my compliance 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.679 was basically fear-driven. 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:48.479 You go to university, 00:18:49.179 --> 00:18:49.759 I don't know if there's 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.759 any professors present, 00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:51.539 but you know, 00:18:51.639 --> 00:18:52.240 from the outside, 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:52.859 it looks like they don't 00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:53.439 give a hoot 00:18:53.439 --> 00:18:54.199 whether you show up 00:18:54.199 --> 00:18:55.059 to class or not. 00:18:55.899 --> 00:18:56.719 It doesn't bother them, 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.559 they still get paid. 00:18:58.939 --> 00:19:00.939 And nobody calls up anybody 00:19:00.939 --> 00:19:01.759 if you don't hand in 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.279 your papers 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:04.159 or don't do your midterms 00:19:04.159 --> 00:19:04.459 or anything. 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.179 And so at the end 00:19:05.179 --> 00:19:05.899 of my first term, 00:19:05.959 --> 00:19:07.639 I was desperately failing 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:09.420 three of my five classes. 00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:12.820 And it was out of fear 00:19:12.820 --> 00:19:13.500 of failure 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.320 that I started 00:19:14.320 --> 00:19:15.440 to press into my work. 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:17.100 And a lot of people, 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:18.000 the Christian life 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.040 is a fear of failure. 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:21.480 And what Paul is saying here 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.020 when he says, 00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:23.000 I appeal to you therefore, 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:23.940 brothers and sisters, 00:19:24.060 --> 00:19:25.600 by the mercies of God, 00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:27.759 he's saying, 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.240 you know what 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.780 does the gospel 00:19:28.780 --> 00:19:29.259 told us? 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.600 The gospel has told us 00:19:30.600 --> 00:19:31.720 that God is pleased 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:34.020 with you in Jesus. 00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:35.480 He's pleased with you. 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.400 Your motivation, 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:39.299 there's a fundamental security 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.500 as you're gripped 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.180 by the gospel, 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.059 there's a security 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:43.140 that you act out of. 00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:45.140 And it's very interesting 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:46.799 if you're looking there, 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.380 it says, 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.640 by the mercies of God. 00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.620 It's very intentional. 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.740 It doesn't say mercy. 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:52.140 Mercy's abstract. 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.279 Oh yes, 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.160 God is merciful. 00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:54.640 Oh yes, 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.400 God is love. 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:55.579 Well, 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.420 how has he been merciful 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:56.960 or loving? 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:01.420 Don't know. 00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:04.840 But the word mercies 00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:06.480 is to be concrete 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.340 and historical 00:20:07.340 --> 00:20:08.600 and specific. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.880 That's why it says it. 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.680 That we're not just to think 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.779 of how God is love 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.640 or God is mercy, 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.500 that we're to think 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.500 of God's mercies. 00:20:15.800 --> 00:20:17.220 We're to think about Jesus. 00:20:18.060 --> 00:20:19.080 We're to think about him 00:20:19.080 --> 00:20:19.880 when he was tempted 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.480 by the devil 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.060 in the wilderness. 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.480 That we're to think upon him 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:25.019 as he feeds the 5,000, 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:26.120 as he calls to Peter 00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:27.140 to walk on the water. 00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:28.880 We are to think about him 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:31.100 as he heals 00:20:31.100 --> 00:20:32.800 the Gadarene demoniac, 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:34.280 as he deals with the woman 00:20:34.280 --> 00:20:34.780 at the well, 00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:35.860 as he deals with the woman 00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:36.840 caught in adultery. 00:20:37.360 --> 00:20:38.460 We're to think about him 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.980 as we think about his perfect life. 00:20:40.040 --> 00:20:40.660 And most of all, 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.720 we're to think about him 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:44.260 as when he had the option, 00:20:44.780 --> 00:20:45.040 Joey, 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.800 the hymn sang it very well, 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:48.440 it was love that held Jesus 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:49.560 to the cross, 00:20:49.580 --> 00:20:50.440 not the nails. 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:52.200 And we're to think about 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.640 the mercies. 00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:55.000 And this leads us 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.980 to the second thing. 00:20:57.100 --> 00:20:57.860 If you could put up 00:20:57.860 --> 00:20:58.560 the second point. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:00.940 I will lack an interest 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.660 in holiness 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:03.800 if I am not gripped 00:21:03.800 --> 00:21:04.700 by the gospel 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:06.780 and contemplate God's mercies. 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:10.240 I will lack an interest 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:10.920 in holiness 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.500 if I am not gripped 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.360 by the gospel 00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:16.480 and contemplate God's mercies. 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:18.200 Listen to Romans 12, 00:21:18.300 --> 00:21:19.260 1 and 2 again. 00:21:19.820 --> 00:21:20.840 Or the verse 1. 00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:21.840 I appeal to you therefore, 00:21:22.040 --> 00:21:22.820 brothers and sisters, 00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:24.260 by the mercies of God 00:21:24.260 --> 00:21:25.820 to present your bodies 00:21:25.820 --> 00:21:27.120 as a living sacrifice, 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.939 holy and pleasing to God, 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:31.299 which is your rational worship. 00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:33.479 It calls us to remember 00:21:33.479 --> 00:21:34.579 what Jesus did for us 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.199 on the cross, 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:36.099 how our Father 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.719 is now pleased with us. 00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.519 If this, 00:21:39.679 --> 00:21:39.959 you know, 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.779 I use the example 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.679 over these last few weeks, 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:43.459 if I grow this church 00:21:43.459 --> 00:21:44.659 so that it's as big 00:21:44.659 --> 00:21:46.219 as Joel Osteen's church, 00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:47.659 God's not going to be 00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:48.619 more pleased with me 00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.339 than he is today. 00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:52.339 Do you know how freeing that is 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:53.659 when that starts to grip you? 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.240 But does that mean 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:55.959 that you do nothing? 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:56.779 No, it doesn't mean 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.459 what you do nothing. 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.740 It means that you relate to God 00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.459 from a completely 00:21:59.459 --> 00:22:00.480 different perspective. 00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:02.059 And you not only relate 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:03.159 to God from a perspective 00:22:03.159 --> 00:22:04.480 of not having to win his favor, 00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:05.240 but you can begin 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.159 to relate to God 00:22:06.159 --> 00:22:07.399 out of gratitude 00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:08.279 because you think 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.339 upon his mercies. 00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:11.179 And it's as you think 00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:12.480 upon his mercies 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.839 that within you 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:14.699 becomes a desire. 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:16.019 It becomes reasonable. 00:22:16.199 --> 00:22:16.740 It, in fact, 00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.339 becomes rational. 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:17.980 Irrational 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:20.799 to offer your body 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.740 as a living killing. 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:25.119 So, in fact, 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.599 when we have no interest 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.179 in holiness, 00:22:27.379 --> 00:22:28.799 it might very well be 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:31.319 that what's motivating us 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.500 is our fear of failure 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:34.539 or a desire to accomplish 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.439 or to try to make God 00:22:36.439 --> 00:22:37.459 pleased with us. 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.339 And the Bible here 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:40.720 is very counterintuitive. 00:22:41.199 --> 00:22:41.939 Do you want to deal 00:22:41.939 --> 00:22:43.299 with a desire for holiness? 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:46.399 Be gripped by the gospel 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.380 and contemplate 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.460 the mercies of God. 00:22:49.580 --> 00:22:51.120 And as that happens, 00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:53.040 it starts to become rational 00:22:53.040 --> 00:22:54.360 to say, 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.640 I'm going to hold 00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:56.519 somebody else's 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.420 crying kid. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.560 It starts to become 00:22:59.560 --> 00:23:00.460 rational to say, 00:23:00.540 --> 00:23:01.220 I'm going to give away 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:02.740 10% of everything I make. 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.560 It starts to become 00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:06.460 rational to say 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.340 that I'm going to 00:23:07.340 --> 00:23:08.880 risk being stupid 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:10.900 by telling somebody 00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:11.540 about Jesus 00:23:11.540 --> 00:23:12.259 or by offering 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.259 to pray for them. 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.940 I, 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:18.900 the way to change 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:20.440 is not by that 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.079 old story 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:21.960 being the little train 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.579 that could. 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.839 Gotta make it, 00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:24.379 gotta make it, 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:24.940 gotta make it, 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.640 gotta make it. 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:28.240 That just gets us tired. 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.119 It doesn't go anywhere. 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.640 It's to be gripped 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.240 by the gospel 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:31.960 and contemplate 00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:32.879 the mercies of God. 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.119 One more thing 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:34.480 can you put up? 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.059 The third point, 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:35.720 please, Andrew. 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:38.059 As I am gripped 00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:38.839 by the gospel, 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.700 it is rational 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.319 to present 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.880 every square inch 00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:43.059 of who I am 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.660 to God 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:45.160 as a living sacrifice. 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.220 As I am gripped 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.039 by the gospel, 00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:50.759 it is rational 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.720 to present 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:53.079 every square inch 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:53.860 of who I am 00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:54.319 to God 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.360 as a living sacrifice. 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.440 See, 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.160 one of the problems 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.559 with the sexual revolution 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.500 and how it's bent 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.339 lots of churches 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:03.460 out of shape 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:06.140 and the heart 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:07.500 of the sexual revolution 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:09.360 began amongst heterosexuals 00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:10.460 and now it's moved 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.900 into, 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.160 you know, 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:12.799 in terms of 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.980 how we deal 00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:14.360 with those 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:15.519 who are same-sex attracted 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.620 and now how we deal 00:24:16.620 --> 00:24:17.120 with those 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:18.519 who believe 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.319 that they were meant 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.500 to have a different gender 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.180 than they are, 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.120 than their sex, 00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:24.559 is that it's bent 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.640 churches out of shape 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.860 because there's 00:24:26.860 --> 00:24:27.980 a fundamental part 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.559 of the person 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.019 who says, 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:29.880 oh yeah, 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:30.299 okay, God, 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:31.259 you can have my emotions, 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.079 you can have this, 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.640 you can have that, 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.580 but this thing 00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:35.160 is perfect already 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:36.480 and I'm holding on to it. 00:24:36.560 --> 00:24:38.400 You have no right 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:39.780 to define it, 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:41.600 no right to limit it, 00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.180 no right, 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:42.980 you can't say 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.820 that you have to make 00:24:43.820 --> 00:24:44.400 this whole. 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.940 To a heterosexual man 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:48.580 who wants to find 00:24:48.580 --> 00:24:49.620 every third woman 00:24:49.620 --> 00:24:50.740 he sees attractive, 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.080 that there's no right 00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:52.780 for you, Father, 00:24:52.820 --> 00:24:53.540 to actually try 00:24:53.540 --> 00:24:54.880 to curb that in me. 00:24:56.020 --> 00:24:56.860 For a man 00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:57.960 who sees another man 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.520 and wants to sexually 00:24:59.520 --> 00:24:59.920 know him, 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.640 there's no right 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.420 for you to change 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:01.960 that in me. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.180 For a man 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.020 who actually thinks 00:25:04.020 --> 00:25:04.580 he's a woman, 00:25:04.800 --> 00:25:05.900 there's no right 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.620 for you to change 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.220 that in me. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.460 But this text 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.400 is saying something 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.900 very counter-cultural. 00:25:12.540 --> 00:25:13.160 It's saying that 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.840 as you're gripped 00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:14.560 by what Jesus 00:25:14.560 --> 00:25:15.320 has done for you 00:25:15.320 --> 00:25:16.020 on the cross 00:25:16.020 --> 00:25:17.740 and as you're mindful 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:19.160 of the mercies of God, 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:20.259 as that deepens 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:20.900 within you, 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:23.360 it becomes rational 00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:24.380 for you to understand 00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:26.259 that every square inch 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:27.640 of who you are, 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:30.820 every square inch 00:25:30.820 --> 00:25:31.680 of who you are 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:34.040 is to be offered 00:25:34.040 --> 00:25:34.440 to God 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:35.420 as a living sacrifice. 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.759 See, one of the ironies, 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.240 if you could put up 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.560 Romans 12, 1 and 2, 00:25:40.600 --> 00:25:41.080 we're going to read it. 00:25:41.300 --> 00:25:41.900 The second part 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.460 would be quick 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.360 because I'm very conscious 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:45.400 of my time here. 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.140 Oh yeah, 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:46.759 actually we're doing 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.280 pretty good. 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.080 Just before we all 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:50.820 read this together 00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:51.200 as a thing, 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.380 you know, 00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:52.300 one of the deep ironies 00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:53.079 in our culture, 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.759 it's a very, 00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.779 very deep irony. 00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:57.339 I don't know 00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.200 how to talk about it 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.680 in public. 00:25:58.859 --> 00:25:59.000 You know, 00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:00.419 maybe by me saying this 00:26:00.419 --> 00:26:01.039 it will help you 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.859 think about it publicly. 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.559 But what are the two 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:05.220 deep fears in our culture? 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:06.099 I began this sermon 00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:06.500 with this, 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.659 this move to have 00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:08.500 doctors be able 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.299 to assist people 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.200 to kill themselves. 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:13.839 And that it's a right 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:15.200 that we force people 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.079 over against their 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.379 conscience to do this, 00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:18.359 which is what the law 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:19.240 wants to do. 00:26:20.159 --> 00:26:21.659 And force nurses 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:23.540 to refer or participate 00:26:23.540 --> 00:26:24.860 or at least participate 00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:25.540 by referring. 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.940 Force doctors to do it. 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.860 And as I said, 00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:30.580 it's not often as much 00:26:30.580 --> 00:26:31.800 worried about pain, 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.820 but underneath this 00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:34.320 is this loss of control. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.720 This fear that the mind 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:38.279 can be perfectly fine 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.200 and the body 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.540 loses its control. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.240 And the fear that 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.140 you could have a body 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.860 that's fine, 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.620 but the mind 00:26:44.620 --> 00:26:45.700 loses itself. 00:26:46.300 --> 00:26:47.759 And because of this 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.380 deep fear, 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.680 it's deeply ironical 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:51.460 that the culture's 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.660 response to it 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:55.740 is to kill both. 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.420 Like, 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.319 how's that a win? 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:01.960 Like, 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.779 if you have a mind 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.480 that's still fine 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.500 but your body's going 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.640 and your fear 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:06.500 of losing control, 00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:07.559 how is it a win 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.400 if you lose control 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:08.900 of your mind 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.480 and your body 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:09.980 in death? 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.680 And the opposite. 00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:14.759 Like, 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.880 how is that actually, 00:27:17.340 --> 00:27:17.579 like, 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.539 you're going deeper 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:21.119 into losing control? 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:27.059 And what we desire 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:28.039 by going deeper 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:29.539 into losing control 00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:32.000 in a way that's crazy, 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.579 if you understand 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.440 there really is a God 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.319 that does exist, 00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:38.599 who loves you so much 00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:39.460 that he sent his son 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.539 to die upon the cross 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.119 for you, 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:43.480 that he's pleased with you 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.420 when you put your faith 00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.259 and trust in him, 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.720 that everything 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.559 that you need to do 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.500 to make yourself right 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:48.900 with God 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.799 has been done by him 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.720 because you can't do it 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.420 for yourself. 00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:54.000 And then he asks you 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.019 to lose control 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.700 of your body 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.319 and your mind. 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.059 This is a losing 00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:57.619 of control 00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.259 of your body 00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:58.819 and your mind 00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.879 that actually gives you 00:27:59.879 --> 00:28:00.799 proper control 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.759 of your body 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.420 and your mind. 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.720 It's sane. 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:09.240 It's an outline 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:10.420 of moral, 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.779 intellectual, 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.380 emotional, 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.180 and relational sanity. 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:18.700 Some other time 00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.240 we'll have to talk, 00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:19.420 I mean, 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:19.980 I, you know, 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.400 obviously, 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.019 and there's people 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.740 in this congregation 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.980 who have to live 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.839 with people, 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.860 their loved ones 00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:25.579 who are losing 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.600 this type of control 00:28:26.600 --> 00:28:27.460 or we all have friends 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.059 like it and I, 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.460 there's obviously 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:30.360 lots of other things 00:28:30.360 --> 00:28:31.200 that need to be said 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.100 about the nature 00:28:32.100 --> 00:28:32.720 of community 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:34.120 and how to help people 00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.939 who are going through 00:28:34.939 --> 00:28:36.379 such unbelievably 00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:37.259 tough times. 00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.099 But you see that, 00:28:38.439 --> 00:28:38.959 look that, 00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:40.959 our culture never seems 00:28:40.959 --> 00:28:41.879 to dawn on them 00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.639 that they're actually 00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:44.059 seeking an irrational 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:45.659 solution to the problem. 00:28:47.179 --> 00:28:48.399 And at the same time 00:28:48.399 --> 00:28:49.339 that they don't recognize 00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:50.759 their own irrationality, 00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.759 they look at a text 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.339 like this 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:54.679 that actually is rational. 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.659 It makes sense. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.539 This is only half 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.019 of the verse. 00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:00.679 Could you read this 00:29:00.679 --> 00:29:01.299 with me again? 00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:01.859 And by the way, 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.439 I mean, 00:29:02.479 --> 00:29:03.419 I give you little points 00:29:03.419 --> 00:29:03.919 to try to help 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:05.440 to ground 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.539 what the text is saying, 00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.279 but my hope 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:07.920 and my prayer 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.519 is that when you 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.100 leave from here, 00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:09.840 you want to memorize 00:29:09.840 --> 00:29:11.200 Romans 12, 1 and 2, 00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:12.500 not my words. 00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:13.460 If you go away 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:14.400 thinking about my words 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:14.940 and you forget 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.519 about the Bible, 00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.140 I failed. 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:18.000 I failed. 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:20.620 Because my words 00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:21.500 are just my words. 00:29:21.820 --> 00:29:22.279 These words 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.039 are God's words. 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.160 Could you read it 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:26.019 with me again, please? 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.840 I appeal to you, 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.200 therefore, 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.560 brothers and sisters, 00:29:30.060 --> 00:29:31.400 by the mercies of God, 00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:33.060 to present your bodies 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:34.639 as a living sacrifice, 00:29:35.179 --> 00:29:36.839 holy and pleasing to God, 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:38.879 which is your rational worship. 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.819 Do not be conformed 00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:41.679 to this age, 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:43.019 but be transformed 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.919 by the renewal 00:29:43.919 --> 00:29:44.759 of your mind, 00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:46.139 that by testing 00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:47.079 you may discern 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:48.379 what is the will of God, 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.639 what is good 00:29:49.639 --> 00:29:50.279 and pleasing 00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:51.099 and perfect. 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.859 And now, 00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:53.779 here's the big 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:55.179 countercultural idea 00:29:55.179 --> 00:29:56.179 in the second part 00:29:56.179 --> 00:29:56.779 of the text 00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.399 where it says, 00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.519 do not be conformed 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.039 to this age, 00:29:59.119 --> 00:29:59.879 but be transformed 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.500 by the renewal 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.180 of your mind, 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.480 that by testing 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.200 you may discern 00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:04.120 what is the will of God, 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.580 what is good 00:30:04.580 --> 00:30:04.960 and pleasing 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.440 and perfect. 00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:06.200 Andrew, 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:06.780 if you could put up 00:30:06.780 --> 00:30:07.360 point four, 00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:08.440 I know I have to go quicker. 00:30:09.760 --> 00:30:11.060 My mind is renewed 00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:12.020 as I walk 00:30:12.020 --> 00:30:12.780 in God's will. 00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:17.480 My mind is renewed 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.140 as I walk 00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:18.940 in God's will. 00:30:19.760 --> 00:30:20.560 See what it says here? 00:30:20.580 --> 00:30:21.120 It doesn't say 00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:22.040 your mind is renewed 00:30:22.040 --> 00:30:22.640 as you think 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.680 great thoughts, 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:26.440 as you work 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:27.100 on increasing 00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:27.839 your IQ, 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.339 as you work 00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.240 on your reasoning 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:30.779 abilities 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.699 or any of those things. 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.719 It actually doesn't 00:30:32.719 --> 00:30:33.539 tell us that. 00:30:34.619 --> 00:30:34.740 You know, 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.519 if you think about it, 00:30:35.699 --> 00:30:36.299 you just think about 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:36.980 your life a lot. 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:38.159 A lot of times, 00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:39.899 the mind follows 00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.439 the will. 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.459 I want to have that. 00:30:43.679 --> 00:30:44.359 I want to go out 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.179 and I want to go drinking. 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:47.740 And then your mind 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.759 comes up with reasons 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:50.000 as to why that's reasonable. 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.179 I had a hard day 00:30:51.179 --> 00:30:51.759 at the office. 00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:52.859 I'll feel so much better. 00:30:52.959 --> 00:30:54.119 I can be with my friends. 00:30:54.199 --> 00:30:55.119 It'll help me forget my, 00:30:55.199 --> 00:30:55.319 you know, 00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:55.859 whatever it is, 00:30:55.879 --> 00:30:56.099 you know? 00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:57.279 So yeah, 00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:57.559 yeah, 00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:57.719 yeah, 00:30:57.719 --> 00:30:57.939 yeah. 00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:58.519 You know, 00:30:58.599 --> 00:31:00.599 you want to cheat 00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:01.319 on your taxes. 00:31:01.459 --> 00:31:01.579 Well, 00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.579 the government is corrupt. 00:31:02.699 --> 00:31:03.659 The government is evil. 00:31:04.159 --> 00:31:04.799 Civil servants 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.939 just waste all their time. 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.139 You know, 00:31:06.159 --> 00:31:06.619 whatever it is, 00:31:06.639 --> 00:31:07.219 you'll just come up 00:31:07.219 --> 00:31:07.799 with reasons 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:09.339 to lie on your taxes 00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:09.779 and cheat. 00:31:10.139 --> 00:31:11.099 The mind often 00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:11.959 follows the will. 00:31:12.219 --> 00:31:13.319 We don't think about it, 00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.379 especially in a city 00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:14.879 like Ottawa 00:31:14.879 --> 00:31:16.199 with very high IQ 00:31:16.199 --> 00:31:16.740 and lots of 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.759 well-educated people. 00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:19.339 But the Bible here 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.599 is pointing to a different way 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:22.079 to have our minds changed. 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.759 And it begins 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.699 with the will. 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:26.819 Obviously, 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:28.519 the mind is at work here 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:29.340 because the mind 00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:30.440 has to help understand 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.420 what God's will is. 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.460 But what really brings 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.299 about transformation 00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:36.200 is walking in God's will. 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:38.080 If you could put up 00:31:38.080 --> 00:31:38.700 the next point, 00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:39.039 Andrew, 00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:39.460 as well. 00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:41.819 I usually need 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:43.160 to obey my way 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:44.360 to mental clarity. 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:46.039 When I refuse 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.620 to obey God's will, 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:50.079 I lose mental clarity. 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:53.500 I usually need 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.600 to obey my way 00:31:54.600 --> 00:31:55.620 to mental clarity. 00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:56.600 When I refuse 00:31:56.600 --> 00:31:58.220 to obey God's will, 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:01.039 I lose mental clarity. 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.480 See, 00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:03.960 it's very, 00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.720 very interesting. 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.440 It says here, 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.480 do not be conformed 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.120 to this age, 00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:08.219 but be transformed 00:32:08.219 --> 00:32:08.799 by the renewal 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.379 of your mind. 00:32:09.459 --> 00:32:10.259 And the two words 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:11.459 conformed and transformed, 00:32:11.959 --> 00:32:12.939 they have the different sense. 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.679 It's not as obvious 00:32:13.679 --> 00:32:14.119 in English, 00:32:14.239 --> 00:32:15.439 but in the original language, 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.859 it's very obvious. 00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:18.639 They're in the passive tense. 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.279 So what it means is 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:20.819 it's saying, 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:22.299 like if you've ever 00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:23.079 been to a cottage 00:32:23.079 --> 00:32:24.019 and you're on a cottage 00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:24.679 that has a very, 00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.619 like a river 00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:26.599 with some flow, 00:32:27.199 --> 00:32:28.279 if somebody tells you 00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:29.279 just go put the canoe 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.419 out at the end of the dock, 00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:31.659 if you put the canoe 00:32:31.659 --> 00:32:32.619 at the end of the dock 00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.359 and you don't tie 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.219 the canoe down, 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.480 the river will take 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.200 the canoe away. 00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:39.200 You have to tie the canoe 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:40.120 or it will go. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.220 And the word here 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.900 is that if we don't do anything, 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.900 we'll be conformed 00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:44.519 to this age. 00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:46.960 It's like putting a canoe 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.799 at the end of the dock 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.740 and not tying it down. 00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.940 The canoe will be taken away 00:32:49.940 --> 00:32:50.579 by the current. 00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.900 And the text is saying 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:53.079 if you don't do anything, 00:32:53.600 --> 00:32:54.700 if you just sort of go with, 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:56.319 if you just live, 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:57.700 the age, 00:32:57.880 --> 00:32:59.019 you'll conform to the age. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:01.140 But if you want 00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:02.120 to be transformed, 00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:03.539 it's also in the passive. 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:04.659 It's implying that God 00:33:04.659 --> 00:33:05.680 does the transformation. 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:07.220 But in this case, 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.859 you need to give God permission. 00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.220 You need to say, 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:11.539 God, 00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:13.039 I give you permission 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.720 to transform my mind 00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:15.279 and renew me. 00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:18.559 And it's God who does it. 00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:20.720 And the means by which 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:22.720 is as we hear the Bible 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.659 and we think about 00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:24.579 the mercies of God 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.759 and we begin to understand 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:26.420 who God is 00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:27.279 and what his will is, 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:28.339 that we try to obey it. 00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.440 And so it is 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.279 that I usually need 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:32.480 to obey my way 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.599 to mental clarity. 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.420 And when I refuse 00:33:35.420 --> 00:33:36.759 to obey God's will, 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:38.339 I lose mental clarity. 00:33:39.859 --> 00:33:40.619 Sixth point, 00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:43.460 here's the good thing 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:44.139 for the Christian. 00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:47.220 My mind always needs 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:48.019 more renewing. 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:49.519 It doesn't matter 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:50.079 if you're here 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:51.160 and you're 90 years old. 00:33:51.879 --> 00:33:52.559 It doesn't matter 00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.240 if you're here 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:55.099 and you're 18 years old. 00:33:55.099 --> 00:33:56.579 Your mind always needs 00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:57.439 more renewing. 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.599 The very, very heart 00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.559 of the Christian faith 00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:02.519 is that there's this call 00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:04.179 to constant renewal 00:34:04.179 --> 00:34:05.699 for the rest of our lives. 00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:07.480 It's going to look 00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:08.259 a little bit different 00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:09.059 if you're 96 00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:10.940 and you're walking around 00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:11.460 like this. 00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:12.619 This is racing down 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.139 the hallway. 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:13.920 I don't know. 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:16.299 If I'm 96 and I can do that, 00:34:16.319 --> 00:34:17.299 I'm just going to still be glad 00:34:17.299 --> 00:34:18.119 that I can be vertical 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:18.920 and move at all. 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.679 Let me tell you, 00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.940 that'll be fast for me 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.599 and I'll be happy. 00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:22.000 Hopefully, 00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:23.019 I'll give God praise 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.940 and glory for it. 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:25.220 So, 00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.000 could you put up 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.940 Romans 12, 1 and 2 00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.420 one more time? 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:27.820 We're going to read it 00:34:27.820 --> 00:34:28.340 one more time 00:34:28.340 --> 00:34:28.760 and then we're just going 00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:30.139 to say something in closing 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:31.280 to summarize it for us 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:31.720 and then we'll, 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:32.800 I think we're going to 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:33.559 sing a hymn and go. 00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:34.220 I'll say a prayer, 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:34.940 we'll sing a hymn and go. 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.320 Here it is. 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.980 Say it with me, please. 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:39.579 I appeal to you, 00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:39.960 therefore, 00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:41.320 brothers and sisters, 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:43.059 by the mercies of God 00:34:43.059 --> 00:34:44.740 to present your bodies 00:34:44.740 --> 00:34:46.240 as a living sacrifice, 00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:48.500 holy and pleasing to God, 00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:50.460 which is your rational worship. 00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:52.559 Do not be conformed 00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.420 to this age, 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.700 but be transformed 00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:56.440 by the renewal of your mind, 00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:58.639 that by testing you may discern 00:34:58.639 --> 00:35:00.000 what is the will of God, 00:35:00.180 --> 00:35:01.900 what is good and pleasing 00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.619 and perfect. 00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:03.980 Final slide, 00:35:04.139 --> 00:35:04.780 Andrew, please. 00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:07.420 The gospel is the good news 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:09.079 that Jesus Christ crucified 00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:10.480 is the power of God 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:11.260 for salvation. 00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:13.619 The Christian life begins 00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:15.039 when I receive the gospel 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:16.059 by faith alone. 00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.820 The Christian walk 00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:19.280 is grounded on the gospel, 00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:21.300 shaped by the gospel, 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:23.240 pushed by the gospel, 00:35:23.240 --> 00:35:25.140 and pulled by the gospel. 00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:26.120 Let's stand. 00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:36.620 Father, you know right now 00:35:36.620 --> 00:35:39.539 some area in every person's life here 00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.900 we're struggling to obey. 00:35:42.080 --> 00:35:43.700 Father, maybe it's a wife 00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:45.280 who's struggling to obey, 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:48.000 to try to respect her husband. 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:50.860 Father, maybe it's a husband here 00:35:50.860 --> 00:35:53.360 who's just really controlled 00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:54.280 with some anger 00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:55.320 or willfulness 00:35:55.320 --> 00:35:58.360 and we don't want to obey. 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:00.300 Maybe, Father, 00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:01.380 it's some of us 00:36:01.380 --> 00:36:02.760 that we want to try 00:36:02.760 --> 00:36:04.099 to cut corners at work 00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:04.980 or cheat at work 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:06.039 in some type of way. 00:36:06.219 --> 00:36:06.820 Or, Father, 00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:07.820 maybe some of us 00:36:07.820 --> 00:36:10.079 we're hanging on to bitterness 00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:11.960 and we're refusing to forgive. 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:12.960 And, Father, 00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:14.539 you know that every single one of us 00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:16.940 have obedience challenges before us. 00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:17.779 And we ask, Father, 00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:19.199 that in your mercy 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:19.880 you would pour out 00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:21.159 your Holy Spirit upon us, 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:23.000 that you would make us 00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:24.059 disciples of Jesus 00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:25.559 who are gripped by the gospel, 00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:26.440 that you would help us 00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:28.079 to think upon your mercies. 00:36:28.779 --> 00:36:30.199 And so, Father, 00:36:30.460 --> 00:36:32.119 instill and grow within us 00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:33.460 a desire for holiness, 00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:36.059 a desire to walk in obedience. 00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:38.300 Father, we ask that you would 00:36:38.300 --> 00:36:39.539 pour out your Holy Spirit 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.739 in such a way upon us. 00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:42.840 And this we ask in Jesus' name. 00:36:43.259 --> 00:36:43.579 Amen.