WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.840
 I wonder if you recognise these words.

00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:05.719
 Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do,

00:00:06.379 --> 00:00:10.220
 nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too.

00:00:11.120 --> 00:00:13.460
 Imagine all the people living in peace.

00:00:14.820 --> 00:00:16.300
 You can probably all join in here, I won't sing it.

00:00:16.519 --> 00:00:18.859
 You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

00:00:19.379 --> 00:00:22.760
 I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be its one.

00:00:23.620 --> 00:00:25.839
 I love the fact in the first verse, Lennon writes about,

00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:29.580
 imagine no possessions while he's sitting behind a Steinway piano in his mansion somewhere.

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.280
 But it's a popular song.

00:00:33.539 --> 00:00:37.240
 It still is, 40, 50 years I guess, or 40 years after it's written.

00:00:37.899 --> 00:00:39.799
 Because people long to have unity.

00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:41.740
 They long to be one, don't we?

00:00:42.219 --> 00:00:46.560
 And it also contains a popular sentiment that religion is one of the things that divides us.

00:00:46.899 --> 00:00:48.500
 Religion and nationality.

00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:51.659
 People believe religion to be divisive, don't they?

00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:54.600
 We turn on the news, we hear about IS, we hear about Boko Haram,

00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:58.700
 we see the bloodshed propagated in the name of religion.

00:00:58.700 --> 00:01:01.300
 And we can see why people think religion is the problem.

00:01:02.440 --> 00:01:06.200
 And I don't know how you felt as we read these words from Galatians chapter 2.

00:01:06.540 --> 00:01:09.980
 But at first hearing it can sound like religion is divisive.

00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:13.480
 Here is this ancient argument 2,000 years ago,

00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:17.620
 people arguing about whether someone should be circumcised or not.

00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:22.159
 It sounds like typical religious trivia when we first hear it, doesn't it?

00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:24.659
 And yet as I said in the introduction,

00:01:25.619 --> 00:01:28.079
 what I hope to persuade you of,

00:01:28.659 --> 00:01:30.420
 is that actually the outcome of this meeting

00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:33.340
 was of eternal importance.

00:01:33.780 --> 00:01:35.280
 More important than life and death,

00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:38.500
 to me and to you and to all of us here.

00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:40.640
 So let's say a little bit about the setting.

00:01:40.759 --> 00:01:43.140
 The setting was Jerusalem, about 47 AD.

00:01:43.819 --> 00:01:46.539
 The meeting was set up by God, we're told in verse 2.

00:01:46.540 --> 00:01:49.320
 Paul went to Jerusalem because of Revelation.

00:01:50.320 --> 00:01:52.640
 In attendance, on one side we had Paul,

00:01:53.080 --> 00:01:54.640
 Barnabas, who was a Jew,

00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:58.280
 and Titus, who was a Gentile.

00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:01.360
 A non-Jew.

00:02:02.160 --> 00:02:04.260
 As well as Peter, James, John,

00:02:04.680 --> 00:02:06.180
 the apostles and influential leaders

00:02:06.180 --> 00:02:08.080
 in the church in Jerusalem,

00:02:08.480 --> 00:02:09.960
 and some false brothers,

00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:11.340
 who we'll hear more about in a moment.

00:02:12.219 --> 00:02:14.379
 Now what was the presenting issue under discussion?

00:02:15.379 --> 00:02:17.280
 Well, Paul tells us in verse 3, basically.

00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:19.120
 The issue was circumcision,

00:02:19.219 --> 00:02:20.699
 or the presenting issue was circumcision.

00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:23.460
 Even Titus did not have to be circumcised.

00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:26.180
 Now, what was circumcision all about?

00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:29.699
 Well, if we think ourselves into Jewish sandals for a moment,

00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:31.099
 circumcision was very important.

00:02:31.780 --> 00:02:34.240
 It was something God commanded their forefather Abraham

00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:36.039
 to do 2,000 years ago.

00:02:36.740 --> 00:02:37.699
 It was a sign.

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 A sign of belonging to God's people.

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 A sign of being in relationship with God.

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 You might say it was a badge of membership to God's people.

00:02:47.139 --> 00:02:48.340
 Funny place to wear a badge?

00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:48.900
 I know.

00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:50.180
 But it was a badge nonetheless.

00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:54.579
 And for 2,000 years they've been practicing this.

00:02:56.919 --> 00:02:58.199
 And so now we're faced with this question.

00:02:58.340 --> 00:02:59.560
 When a Gentile,

00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:00.680
 someone who's not a Jew,

00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:02.000
 someone like Titus,

00:03:02.079 --> 00:03:02.719
 exhibit A,

00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:03.719
 sitting in the corner of the room,

00:03:04.060 --> 00:03:05.379
 when he becomes a Christian,

00:03:05.740 --> 00:03:07.139
 does he have to be circumcised?

00:03:07.139 --> 00:03:07.899
 Now,

00:03:07.899 --> 00:03:11.179
 the heart of that issue really,

00:03:11.899 --> 00:03:13.699
 is what is required

00:03:13.699 --> 00:03:16.059
 for someone to be part of God's people?

00:03:17.019 --> 00:03:19.839
 What is required for somebody to be part of God's people?

00:03:20.099 --> 00:03:22.159
 What is required for somebody to be loved,

00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:22.839
 forgiven,

00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:23.599
 and accepted

00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:25.159
 by a holy God?

00:03:26.659 --> 00:03:27.279
 Is it

00:03:27.279 --> 00:03:29.000
 faith in Christ Jesus?

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 Or is it

00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:32.139
 faith in Christ Jesus

00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:32.939
 plus

00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:36.139
 being circumcised,

00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:37.539
 obeying Jewish laws,

00:03:37.740 --> 00:03:39.280
 doing certain things?

00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:40.180
 See,

00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:41.000
 that's the real issue.

00:03:41.620 --> 00:03:42.560
 What does it take

00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:43.319
 to be accepted

00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:44.699
 by the living God?

00:03:44.699 --> 00:03:47.339
 Now,

00:03:47.419 --> 00:03:49.239
 if Titus had to be circumcised,

00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:50.879
 if Gentiles had to be circumcised,

00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:52.159
 then what that would be saying is,

00:03:52.519 --> 00:03:53.479
 to be a Christian,

00:03:53.619 --> 00:03:55.179
 to be a follower of Jesus Christ,

00:03:55.839 --> 00:03:57.659
 you need to do certain things.

00:03:57.739 --> 00:03:57.979
 Yes,

00:03:58.019 --> 00:03:59.060
 you need to believe in him,

00:03:59.379 --> 00:03:59.899
 but then also,

00:04:00.019 --> 00:04:00.539
 you have to

00:04:00.539 --> 00:04:01.459
 fulfil

00:04:01.459 --> 00:04:03.500
 a whole series of laws.

00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:05.780
 And that would have

00:04:05.780 --> 00:04:07.899
 a knock-on effect as well.

00:04:09.219 --> 00:04:10.139
 That would mean that

00:04:10.139 --> 00:04:11.519
 if someone like Titus

00:04:11.519 --> 00:04:12.000
 did not

00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:13.939
 agree to be circumcised,

00:04:14.699 --> 00:04:16.199
 then in the church,

00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:16.779
 you have a

00:04:16.779 --> 00:04:18.459
 two-tier church.

00:04:19.039 --> 00:04:20.259
 You have the true believers

00:04:20.259 --> 00:04:21.740
 who'd gone all the way,

00:04:21.819 --> 00:04:22.339
 who'd embraced

00:04:22.339 --> 00:04:23.360
 Jewish identity

00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:24.300
 and Jewish law.

00:04:24.979 --> 00:04:25.319
 You have these

00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:26.659
 sort of second-class ones

00:04:26.659 --> 00:04:28.060
 who didn't really,

00:04:28.379 --> 00:04:29.800
 weren't really fully committed.

00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:33.279
 So that's what's at stake

00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:33.839
 at this meeting.

00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:35.560
 In the one corner,

00:04:35.659 --> 00:04:36.360
 you've got Paul,

00:04:37.039 --> 00:04:37.419
 a Jew,

00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:38.199
 Barnabas,

00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:38.839
 a Jew,

00:04:39.159 --> 00:04:39.639
 Titus,

00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:41.240
 a Gentile believer,

00:04:41.500 --> 00:04:42.419
 a non-Jew believer

00:04:42.419 --> 00:04:43.339
 in Jesus Christ.

00:04:43.339 --> 00:04:44.879
 In the other corner,

00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:45.299
 you've got these

00:04:45.299 --> 00:04:46.039
 false brothers

00:04:46.039 --> 00:04:46.759
 Paul speaks about

00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:47.439
 in verse 4.

00:04:48.299 --> 00:04:49.039
 They were probably

00:04:49.039 --> 00:04:50.279
 very committed

00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:51.199
 to the traditions

00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:52.219
 and teachings

00:04:52.219 --> 00:04:52.759
 they'd had.

00:04:53.339 --> 00:04:53.979
 They were probably

00:04:53.979 --> 00:04:55.419
 culturally conservative.

00:04:56.419 --> 00:04:56.919
 You almost hear

00:04:56.919 --> 00:04:57.439
 the arguments.

00:04:58.479 --> 00:04:59.559
 What's the damage?

00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:01.019
 We've circumcised

00:05:01.019 --> 00:05:02.379
 people for 2,000 years.

00:05:02.739 --> 00:05:03.299
 We shouldn't just

00:05:03.299 --> 00:05:04.039
 throw that out now,

00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:04.579
 should we?

00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:06.120
 They're probably

00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:07.299
 proud of their heritage.

00:05:09.239 --> 00:05:10.679
 So the question was,

00:05:10.779 --> 00:05:12.120
 which way would it go?

00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:14.220
 Who would win

00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:15.560
 this discussion?

00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:17.439
 Let's think through

00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:18.180
 what would have happened

00:05:18.180 --> 00:05:20.420
 if those traditionalists,

00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:21.639
 those culturally

00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:22.280
 conservative

00:05:22.280 --> 00:05:23.319
 false brothers,

00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:24.780
 as Paul calls them,

00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:25.360
 had won.

00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:26.720
 Well,

00:05:26.780 --> 00:05:27.920
 for any of us men here,

00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:29.060
 when we profess

00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:29.740
 faith in Christ,

00:05:29.819 --> 00:05:30.340
 we have to go down

00:05:30.340 --> 00:05:30.980
 to the local hospital,

00:05:31.100 --> 00:05:31.740
 have something done.

00:05:32.939 --> 00:05:33.720
 We have to embrace

00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:34.620
 the whole Jewish law.

00:05:35.459 --> 00:05:36.100
 No more bacon

00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:36.620
 butties

00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:37.980
 for lunch.

00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:39.500
 No more

00:05:39.500 --> 00:05:40.879
 prawn and avocado

00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:41.939
 sandwiches from M&S

00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:42.939
 if that's what you prefer.

00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:45.339
 Our cultural identity

00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:46.259
 would have to be Jewish.

00:05:48.620 --> 00:05:49.120
 Do you see why

00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:49.920
 Paul is so firm

00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:50.500
 about this?

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 See,

00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:53.779
 more importantly,

00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:54.500
 it wouldn't just mean

00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:55.459
 no more

00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:56.480
 bacon sandwiches.

00:05:57.279 --> 00:05:57.680
 It would mean

00:05:57.680 --> 00:05:58.219
 we were saying

00:05:58.219 --> 00:05:59.600
 our status before God

00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:00.219
 depended on

00:06:00.219 --> 00:06:01.180
 what we did.

00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:02.980
 Depended on how well

00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:04.079
 we kept certain

00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:04.980
 laws and rules.

00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:06.240
 And that's why

00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:06.980
 Paul stood firm

00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:07.120
 on it.

00:06:07.159 --> 00:06:08.040
 Look at verse 5.

00:06:08.579 --> 00:06:09.139
 See what he says.

00:06:09.139 --> 00:06:10.579
 And see why

00:06:10.579 --> 00:06:11.479
 he stands firm

00:06:11.479 --> 00:06:11.759
 on it.

00:06:12.379 --> 00:06:12.919
 To them,

00:06:13.099 --> 00:06:13.819
 the false brothers

00:06:13.819 --> 00:06:14.219
 that is,

00:06:14.719 --> 00:06:15.939
 we did not yield

00:06:15.939 --> 00:06:16.560
 in submission

00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.180
 even for a moment

00:06:18.180 --> 00:06:20.199
 so that

00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:21.819
 the truth

00:06:21.819 --> 00:06:22.800
 of the gospel,

00:06:22.939 --> 00:06:23.419
 the truth

00:06:23.419 --> 00:06:24.379
 of the good news

00:06:24.379 --> 00:06:25.459
 might be preserved

00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:26.039
 for you.

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 See,

00:06:27.339 --> 00:06:28.680
 Paul had huge foresight.

00:06:29.039 --> 00:06:29.819
 As he looked ahead

00:06:29.819 --> 00:06:30.439
 he saw this was

00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:31.199
 a big issue.

00:06:31.819 --> 00:06:32.680
 And he stood firm

00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:33.060
 on it.

00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:34.639
 Well,

00:06:34.699 --> 00:06:35.039
 for the sake

00:06:35.039 --> 00:06:35.680
 of the Galatians,

00:06:35.779 --> 00:06:36.599
 the sake of the

00:06:36.599 --> 00:06:37.519
 Gentile believers

00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:38.360
 he was preaching to,

00:06:38.360 --> 00:06:40.020
 but also for the

00:06:40.020 --> 00:06:40.699
 sake of you and I

00:06:40.699 --> 00:06:41.199
 here,

00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:42.879
 if you are assuming

00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:43.220
 you are not

00:06:43.220 --> 00:06:43.660
 for a Jewish

00:06:43.660 --> 00:06:44.060
 background.

00:06:45.960 --> 00:06:46.600
 Now what was the

00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:47.100
 outcome of the

00:06:47.100 --> 00:06:47.319
 meeting?

00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:47.500
 Well,

00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:47.819
 there were several

00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:48.080
 outcomes.

00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:49.420
 Look at verse 3.

00:06:49.699 --> 00:06:50.379
 Titus didn't have

00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:51.240
 to be circumcised.

00:06:51.860 --> 00:06:52.720
 Verse 6.

00:06:53.280 --> 00:06:53.840
 Even those who

00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:54.620
 seemed influential

00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:55.699
 added nothing to

00:06:55.699 --> 00:06:55.980
 Paul.

00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:56.840
 In other words,

00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:57.139
 they said,

00:06:57.220 --> 00:06:57.340
 yes,

00:06:57.379 --> 00:06:57.800
 the message

00:06:57.800 --> 00:06:58.300
 you are preaching

00:06:58.300 --> 00:06:59.180
 really is God's

00:06:59.180 --> 00:06:59.580
 message.

00:07:00.900 --> 00:07:01.060
 Now,

00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:01.800
 what are the

00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:02.660
 implications for us?

00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:02.939
 There are the

00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:03.660
 implications then.

00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:04.120
 What are the

00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:05.120
 implications for us?

00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:06.300
 I want to briefly

00:07:06.300 --> 00:07:07.080
 run through three.

00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:09.459
 the first is

00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:10.139
 it's only the

00:07:10.139 --> 00:07:11.199
 true good news

00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:12.139
 that creates

00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:12.639
 unity.

00:07:13.479 --> 00:07:14.120
 It's only the

00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:14.859
 true good news

00:07:14.859 --> 00:07:15.419
 message about

00:07:15.419 --> 00:07:16.219
 Jesus Christ

00:07:16.219 --> 00:07:17.019
 that creates

00:07:17.019 --> 00:07:18.099
 unity between

00:07:18.099 --> 00:07:18.740
 different people.

00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:20.539
 It's a message

00:07:20.539 --> 00:07:21.259
 that's for all

00:07:21.259 --> 00:07:22.300
 peoples,

00:07:22.419 --> 00:07:23.099
 all cultures,

00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:24.079
 every language,

00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:25.159
 every background.

00:07:26.099 --> 00:07:26.799
 And it's a message

00:07:26.799 --> 00:07:27.120
 that is,

00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:27.939
 first of all,

00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:28.740
 deeply humbling.

00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:29.939
 Because it says,

00:07:30.219 --> 00:07:31.399
 you have no hope

00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:32.620
 of being accepted

00:07:32.620 --> 00:07:33.339
 by God.

00:07:33.339 --> 00:07:34.459
 because you're a

00:07:34.459 --> 00:07:34.699
 sinner,

00:07:34.899 --> 00:07:35.479
 you're a rebel

00:07:35.479 --> 00:07:36.139
 against him.

00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:36.959
 It doesn't matter

00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:37.879
 how smart you are,

00:07:38.099 --> 00:07:38.459
 it doesn't matter

00:07:38.459 --> 00:07:39.139
 how religious your

00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:40.099
 background is,

00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:41.399
 you are a rebel

00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:42.159
 against God.

00:07:42.599 --> 00:07:43.619
 And the only way

00:07:43.619 --> 00:07:44.299
 to be accepted

00:07:44.299 --> 00:07:46.159
 by him is through

00:07:46.159 --> 00:07:46.799
 his son Jesus

00:07:46.799 --> 00:07:47.299
 Christ,

00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:49.500
 who died to pay

00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:50.299
 the penalty for

00:07:50.299 --> 00:07:50.899
 your rebellion,

00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:52.759
 arose to new life

00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:53.599
 to give you new

00:07:53.599 --> 00:07:54.000
 life.

00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:54.659
 So that's the

00:07:54.659 --> 00:07:55.179
 heart of a good

00:07:55.179 --> 00:07:55.759
 news message.

00:07:56.099 --> 00:07:56.599
 And it humbles

00:07:56.599 --> 00:07:57.039
 us all.

00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:58.259
 It doesn't matter

00:07:58.259 --> 00:07:59.099
 if, like me,

00:07:59.179 --> 00:07:59.639
 you've brought up a

00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:00.219
 Christian home,

00:08:00.299 --> 00:08:00.719
 being a church

00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:01.280
 or your life,

00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:02.500
 or whether you've

00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:03.880
 just wanted it

00:08:03.880 --> 00:08:04.360
 off the streets

00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:04.720
 to hear what

00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:05.320
 Christianity is

00:08:05.320 --> 00:08:05.780
 about for the

00:08:05.780 --> 00:08:06.320
 first time.

00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:07.680
 We're all in

00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:08.460
 the same boat.

00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:10.860
 Everyone's on a

00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:11.940
 level playing field.

00:08:12.520 --> 00:08:13.240
 No culture,

00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:14.480
 no race,

00:08:14.880 --> 00:08:15.620
 no individual

00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:17.240
 has anything to

00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:18.100
 contribute to this

00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:18.500
 rescue.

00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:20.540
 And that means

00:08:20.540 --> 00:08:21.120
 it's deeply

00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:21.620
 humbling,

00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:22.060
 doesn't it?

00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:23.780
 We all stand

00:08:23.780 --> 00:08:24.780
 on a level

00:08:24.780 --> 00:08:25.320
 ground,

00:08:26.080 --> 00:08:26.900
 a level playing

00:08:26.900 --> 00:08:27.720
 field before the

00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:28.540
 cross of Jesus

00:08:28.540 --> 00:08:28.980
 Christ.

00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:32.100
 Now think about

00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:32.620
 what would happen

00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:33.139
 if that were not

00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:33.500
 true.

00:08:34.899 --> 00:08:35.820
 If somehow my

00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:36.379
 obedience,

00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:37.940
 or my background,

00:08:38.660 --> 00:08:40.000
 or my learning,

00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:41.660
 or my culture,

00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:43.320
 contributed something

00:08:43.320 --> 00:08:44.580
 to me being right

00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:45.279
 before God,

00:08:45.540 --> 00:08:46.060
 then what would

00:08:46.060 --> 00:08:46.580
 that lead to?

00:08:47.820 --> 00:08:48.460
 It would lead to

00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:49.040
 pride, wouldn't

00:08:49.040 --> 00:08:49.279
 it?

00:08:50.040 --> 00:08:50.420
 It would lead to

00:08:50.420 --> 00:08:50.879
 pride, it would

00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:51.540
 lead to looking

00:08:51.540 --> 00:08:52.019
 down on other

00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:52.360
 people.

00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:55.060
 That happens in

00:08:55.060 --> 00:08:56.139
 almost every

00:08:56.139 --> 00:08:56.660
 religion, almost

00:08:56.660 --> 00:08:57.440
 every sphere of

00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:57.800
 life.

00:08:58.340 --> 00:08:58.580
 I don't know if

00:08:58.580 --> 00:08:58.899
 you've followed

00:08:58.899 --> 00:08:59.639
 the news recently,

00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:02.279
 that, for

00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:03.819
 example, with

00:09:03.819 --> 00:09:04.139
 the whole

00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:05.199
 transgender debate

00:09:05.199 --> 00:09:05.980
 and discussions,

00:09:06.819 --> 00:09:07.580
 Germaine Greer,

00:09:07.699 --> 00:09:08.120
 the famous

00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:09.179
 feminist, has

00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:10.080
 been barred from

00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:10.639
 speaking at

00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:11.580
 certain universities

00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:13.240
 because she

00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:14.600
 doesn't want to

00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:15.059
 call men who

00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:15.580
 become women

00:09:15.580 --> 00:09:16.360
 women.

00:09:16.939 --> 00:09:17.340
 Now leave

00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:17.919
 aside all those

00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:18.419
 issues for a

00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:18.600
 moment.

00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:19.759
 What fascinates

00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:20.960
 me is that some

00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:21.439
 people have now

00:09:21.439 --> 00:09:22.220
 decided Germaine

00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:23.299
 Greer, this

00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:24.259
 ardent feminist,

00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:27.240
 is beyond the

00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:27.539
 pale.

00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:28.519
 She doesn't

00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:28.939
 measure up to

00:09:28.940 --> 00:09:29.480
 standards.

00:09:30.040 --> 00:09:30.320
 Why?

00:09:31.060 --> 00:09:31.660
 But she's not

00:09:31.660 --> 00:09:32.980
 speaking the same

00:09:32.980 --> 00:09:34.820
 things that the

00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:35.320
 four or five of the

00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:36.380
 trans-gender debate

00:09:36.380 --> 00:09:36.820
 are speaking.

00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:37.840
 See what they're

00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:38.080
 saying?

00:09:38.380 --> 00:09:38.860
 You do not

00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:39.320
 measure up.

00:09:39.380 --> 00:09:39.540
 It doesn't

00:09:39.540 --> 00:09:39.960
 matter about

00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:40.460
 things you've

00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:40.660
 done in the

00:09:40.660 --> 00:09:41.100
 past, you do

00:09:41.100 --> 00:09:41.680
 not measure up,

00:09:41.760 --> 00:09:42.200
 you're out.

00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:44.060
 So even in a

00:09:44.060 --> 00:09:45.500
 secular, atheistic

00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:46.900
 environment, you get

00:09:46.900 --> 00:09:47.780
 these in-groups and

00:09:47.780 --> 00:09:48.440
 out-groups.

00:09:49.400 --> 00:09:50.120
 Because it's all

00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:52.360
 based on what

00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:53.020
 people have done,

00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:53.460
 whether people

00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:54.160
 believe the same

00:09:54.160 --> 00:09:56.100
 as me, whether

00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:56.380
 they're as

00:09:56.379 --> 00:09:56.980
 zealous as I

00:09:56.980 --> 00:09:57.139
 am.

00:09:57.939 --> 00:09:58.519
 And every

00:09:58.519 --> 00:09:59.080
 religion does

00:09:59.080 --> 00:09:59.759
 the same thing.

00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:02.279
 So the

00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:02.939
 gospel of Jesus

00:10:02.939 --> 00:10:03.399
 Christ is

00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:04.379
 completely different.

00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:05.399
 It says none

00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:06.059
 of us have any

00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:06.580
 hope, none of

00:10:06.580 --> 00:10:08.000
 us measure up.

00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:09.779
 It is only

00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:10.559
 through Jesus we're

00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:11.059
 put right.

00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:12.279
 See, the

00:10:12.279 --> 00:10:13.039
 gospel creates

00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:13.539
 unity.

00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:15.120
 The gospel

00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:16.000
 creates unity.

00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:17.179
 It says it's

00:10:17.179 --> 00:10:18.019
 only through Jesus

00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:18.720
 we can come.

00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:20.779
 Now probably

00:10:20.779 --> 00:10:21.340
 none of us have

00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:22.000
 ever worried about

00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:22.500
 whether someone's

00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:23.419
 circumcised or not.

00:10:23.419 --> 00:10:24.779
 and yet even

00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:26.659
 today, even in

00:10:26.659 --> 00:10:27.259
 our churches,

00:10:27.419 --> 00:10:27.899
 there's always a

00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:28.679
 danger we end

00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:29.979
 up creating new

00:10:29.979 --> 00:10:30.759
 rules that people

00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:31.939
 have to submit to,

00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.319
 to be a fully

00:10:33.319 --> 00:10:34.299
 fledged member of

00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:34.839
 the church.

00:10:35.599 --> 00:10:36.079
 So I think there's

00:10:36.079 --> 00:10:36.839
 some churches that

00:10:36.839 --> 00:10:38.179
 say, you have to

00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:38.959
 have been baptised

00:10:38.959 --> 00:10:40.719
 in our church to

00:10:40.719 --> 00:10:41.139
 be a member.

00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:42.699
 Well, that

00:10:42.699 --> 00:10:44.079
 creates a, that

00:10:44.079 --> 00:10:44.639
 adds to the

00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:44.939
 gospel.

00:10:45.339 --> 00:10:45.679
 It's not the

00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:46.099
 gospel, it's

00:10:46.099 --> 00:10:46.979
 Jesus plus, that's

00:10:46.979 --> 00:10:47.459
 no gospel.

00:10:48.579 --> 00:10:49.000
 It creates

00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:49.939
 division, not unity,

00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:50.480
 it makes second

00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:51.819
 class citizens within

00:10:51.819 --> 00:10:52.419
 the church.

00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:53.779
 Or I think of

00:10:53.779 --> 00:10:54.279
 other churches

00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:55.079
 that say, you

00:10:55.079 --> 00:10:55.419
 have to have

00:10:55.419 --> 00:10:56.179
 certain spiritual

00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:56.899
 gifts before we

00:10:56.899 --> 00:10:57.419
 know you really

00:10:57.419 --> 00:10:58.019
 are a believer.

00:10:58.719 --> 00:10:59.240
 You must be able

00:10:59.240 --> 00:10:59.719
 to speak in

00:10:59.719 --> 00:11:00.139
 tongues, for

00:11:00.139 --> 00:11:00.500
 example.

00:11:01.839 --> 00:11:02.379
 But what's that

00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:02.679
 doing?

00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:04.039
 It's causing

00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:04.539
 division.

00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:06.199
 It's saying

00:11:06.199 --> 00:11:06.399
 you've got to

00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:07.620
 have Jesus plus,

00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:08.959
 that doesn't

00:11:08.959 --> 00:11:09.620
 create unity, it

00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:10.159
 creates division.

00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:11.919
 Or I think of

00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:12.459
 other churches

00:11:12.459 --> 00:11:14.339
 where if you

00:11:14.339 --> 00:11:15.159
 don't hold to a

00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:16.319
 certain understanding

00:11:16.319 --> 00:11:17.059
 of Genesis

00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:17.740
 chapters 1 and

00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:20.039
 2, then

00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:21.159
 you're probably

00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:21.740
 not really a

00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:22.039
 Christian.

00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:23.620
 Now don't

00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.139
 get me wrong,

00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:24.719
 don't hear what

00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:25.399
 I'm not saying.

00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:26.659
 I'm not saying

00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:27.179
 it doesn't matter

00:11:27.179 --> 00:11:27.719
 what you believe

00:11:27.719 --> 00:11:28.199
 about Genesis

00:11:28.199 --> 00:11:28.799
 1 and 2, I

00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.039
 believe it does.

00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:31.179
 We should all

00:11:31.179 --> 00:11:32.139
 reach biblical

00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:32.980
 conclusions about

00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:33.279
 that.

00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:34.639
 However, as soon

00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:35.779
 as we say you

00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:36.279
 have to agree

00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:37.399
 with me on this

00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:38.259
 particular issue,

00:11:39.419 --> 00:11:39.799
 then what do

00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:40.159
 we say?

00:11:40.959 --> 00:11:41.659
 We're saying you

00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:42.860
 need Jesus plus,

00:11:43.839 --> 00:11:44.299
 and therefore we

00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:45.199
 destroy the gospel.

00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.839
 We destroy the

00:11:47.839 --> 00:11:49.179
 unity, and we

00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:49.719
 create a kind of

00:11:49.719 --> 00:11:50.719
 two-tier church.

00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:52.220
 those who are

00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:54.120
 in, and those

00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:54.680
 who aren't quite

00:11:54.680 --> 00:11:54.920
 in.

00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:57.360
 See, because the

00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:58.060
 gospel creates

00:11:58.060 --> 00:11:58.759
 unity, we must be

00:11:58.759 --> 00:11:59.620
 careful to preserve

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:01.160
 the gospel, not

00:12:01.160 --> 00:12:02.160
 requiring anything

00:12:02.160 --> 00:12:04.259
 in addition to

00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:05.139
 faith in Jesus

00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:06.340
 Christ, to be a

00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:07.800
 believer, either

00:12:07.800 --> 00:12:08.820
 explicitly or even

00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:09.680
 implicitly.

00:12:11.040 --> 00:12:11.740
 What's the first

00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.139
 implication?

00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:13.460
 The gospel creates

00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:13.899
 unity.

00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:16.240
 But secondly, we

00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:16.680
 look at this

00:12:16.680 --> 00:12:17.480
 meeting, we see the

00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:19.180
 gospel defines the

00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:20.559
 boundaries of our

00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:20.919
 unity.

00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:22.059
 So it's not just

00:12:22.059 --> 00:12:23.719
 everybody's in, the

00:12:23.719 --> 00:12:24.819
 gospel defines the

00:12:24.819 --> 00:12:25.479
 boundaries of our

00:12:25.479 --> 00:12:25.799
 unity.

00:12:26.819 --> 00:12:27.479
 You can see that in

00:12:27.479 --> 00:12:27.979
 verse 4.

00:12:28.099 --> 00:12:28.679
 Paul talks about

00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:29.199
 these people who

00:12:29.199 --> 00:12:30.579
 are false brothers.

00:12:31.199 --> 00:12:32.279
 They're claiming to

00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:32.879
 be true, they're

00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.539
 claiming to be

00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:34.179
 faithful to Jesus

00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:35.299
 Christ, but actually

00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:35.859
 weren't.

00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:36.979
 Why?

00:12:37.459 --> 00:12:38.059
 Verse 4.

00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:39.459
 They slipped in to

00:12:39.459 --> 00:12:40.759
 spy out our freedom

00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:41.699
 that we have in

00:12:41.699 --> 00:12:43.379
 Christ Jesus, so they

00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.199
 might bring us into

00:12:44.199 --> 00:12:44.659
 slavery.

00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:45.179
 In other words, so

00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:46.139
 they might create new

00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:47.459
 rules for us, force

00:12:47.459 --> 00:12:48.259
 us to follow their

00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:48.799
 ways.

00:12:49.819 --> 00:12:51.379
 Now, if we'd met

00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:53.220
 these people, I'm

00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:53.740
 sure we'd have

00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:54.259
 found them very

00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:56.000
 sincere, I'm sure

00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:56.319
 we'd have found

00:12:56.319 --> 00:12:57.080
 them very plausible,

00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:58.840
 probably very loving

00:12:58.840 --> 00:12:59.659
 in their attitude,

00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.039
 probably they knew

00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:01.840
 the scriptures very,

00:13:01.939 --> 00:13:02.580
 very well indeed.

00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:05.019
 But they were

00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:05.740
 false brothers,

00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:07.279
 Paul says, because

00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:07.700
 they were not

00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:09.259
 holding to the

00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:10.179
 gospel that creates

00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:10.539
 unity.

00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:11.899
 They were saying

00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:12.620
 you need Jesus

00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:14.340
 plus circumcision.

00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:15.819
 And if you add

00:13:15.819 --> 00:13:16.419
 anything to the

00:13:16.419 --> 00:13:17.580
 gospel, you destroy

00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:17.840
 it.

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:20.720
 Imagine for a

00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:21.159
 moment, visiting

00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:21.720
 the Louvre in

00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.319
 Paris, I've used

00:13:22.319 --> 00:13:22.740
 this illustration

00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.779
 before, it's the

00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.200
 only one I can

00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:24.620
 think of.

00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:25.379
 Imagine you're

00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:25.899
 standing there in

00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.899
 front of that

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:27.600
 great masterpiece,

00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:28.179
 the Mona Lisa.

00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:29.500
 And you get to

00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:29.960
 the front of the

00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:30.759
 queue, it looks

00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:31.319
 great, there's

00:13:31.319 --> 00:13:31.860
 thousands of

00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:32.360
 tourists behind

00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:32.600
 you.

00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:33.500
 You think, you

00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:35.179
 know what, Leonardo

00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:35.759
 may have been a

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.480
 great man, but that

00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:38.299
 smile is pathetic.

00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.179
 You get your pen

00:13:39.179 --> 00:13:39.700
 out of your pocket,

00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:42.200
 assume somehow you

00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:42.799
 can get there and

00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:43.600
 add a little smile

00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:44.319
 onto Lisa so she

00:13:44.319 --> 00:13:44.899
 looks a bit happier.

00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:46.480
 Now, apart from the

00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:46.799
 fact, all the

00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:47.700
 alarms would go off,

00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:48.200
 and you'd be

00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:48.700
 arrested in

00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:50.540
 milliseconds, would

00:13:50.540 --> 00:13:51.420
 you have added to

00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:52.520
 the masterpiece or

00:13:52.520 --> 00:13:52.820
 would you have

00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:53.379
 destroyed it?

00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:55.960
 Destroy it, right?

00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:57.440
 Same with the

00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:58.300
 gospel, you add to

00:13:58.300 --> 00:13:59.180
 it, you destroy it.

00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:00.340
 And it doesn't

00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:01.040
 matter how sincere

00:14:01.040 --> 00:14:02.259
 people are, it

00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:02.780
 also doesn't matter

00:14:02.780 --> 00:14:03.560
 what their status

00:14:03.560 --> 00:14:03.800
 is.

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:04.540
 Do you notice how

00:14:04.540 --> 00:14:05.259
 many times in this,

00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:06.520
 verse 2, verse 6,

00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:07.780
 Paul talks about

00:14:07.780 --> 00:14:09.420
 those who seemed

00:14:09.420 --> 00:14:10.360
 influential, the

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:10.920
 pillars of the

00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:11.560
 church who seemed

00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.060
 influential.

00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:12.139
 influential.

00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:13.799
 What Paul's saying

00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.239
 is it doesn't

00:14:14.239 --> 00:14:14.639
 matter how

00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.539
 influential people

00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:15.819
 are, how

00:14:15.819 --> 00:14:16.639
 powerful they

00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:18.559
 are, what's

00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:19.299
 important, what's

00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:20.799
 vital, is they

00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:21.379
 stick to the true

00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:21.739
 gospel.

00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:22.979
 That's why if you

00:14:22.979 --> 00:14:23.419
 look over the

00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.479
 column to chapter

00:14:24.479 --> 00:14:26.059
 1, verse 8, he

00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:27.939
 says there, even

00:14:27.939 --> 00:14:29.179
 if we or an angel

00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:30.039
 from heaven should

00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:30.639
 preach to you a

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.599
 gospel contrary to

00:14:31.599 --> 00:14:32.259
 the one we preached,

00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:33.479
 let him be accursed,

00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:34.319
 let me cut off from

00:14:34.319 --> 00:14:34.679
 God.

00:14:35.599 --> 00:14:36.299
 The standard of

00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:36.919
 what is right is

00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:37.459
 not whether people

00:14:37.459 --> 00:14:38.159
 are sincere and

00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:39.039
 zealous, it's not

00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:39.379
 whether they're

00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:40.519
 respected and have

00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:41.019
 authority.

00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:42.039
 The standard of

00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:44.799
 what is right is

00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:45.299
 what God has

00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:46.179
 revealed, the

00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:47.519
 gospel message he

00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:48.159
 has revealed.

00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:49.799
 So you see this

00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:50.939
 gospel that creates

00:14:50.939 --> 00:14:52.419
 our unity, that

00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:53.319
 brings us together

00:14:53.319 --> 00:14:54.419
 whatever our

00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:55.240
 nationality and

00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:56.579
 background, is also

00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.299
 the gospel that

00:14:57.299 --> 00:14:58.579
 limits our unity.

00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:00.819
 There cannot be

00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:01.799
 unity in Christian

00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:03.259
 mission between

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:04.379
 people who do not

00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:05.439
 believe this good

00:15:05.439 --> 00:15:06.699
 news message about

00:15:06.699 --> 00:15:07.480
 Jesus Christ.

00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.340
 So the message

00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:11.680
 unites us and

00:15:11.680 --> 00:15:12.200
 defines the

00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:12.800
 boundaries of our

00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:13.100
 unity.

00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.820
 Why is that so

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:17.220
 important?

00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:19.060
 Why is it so

00:15:19.060 --> 00:15:19.580
 important we don't

00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:20.200
 say, well yeah

00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:21.759
 Jesus plus a bit of

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.440
 this will be alright,

00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:24.220
 Jesus plus agreeing

00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:24.780
 with me on this

00:15:24.780 --> 00:15:25.980
 doctrine, Jesus plus

00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:27.120
 obeying these

00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:28.000
 certain ways in our

00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.360
 church.

00:15:28.920 --> 00:15:29.519
 Why is it so

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.120
 important we don't

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:30.940
 add to the gospel

00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:31.500
 like this?

00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:32.740
 Well I'll give you

00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.440
 three reasons very

00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:33.759
 briefly.

00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:35.180
 First of all as

00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:35.980
 soon as we do it

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.800
 robs the church of

00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:37.280
 its unity.

00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:38.860
 It allows room for

00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.700
 human pride and

00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:40.220
 looking down at

00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:40.659
 other people.

00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:42.220
 Here it would have

00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:43.320
 meant the Gentiles

00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:44.000
 are second class

00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:44.399
 Christians.

00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.300
 So it robs the

00:15:46.300 --> 00:15:46.740
 church of its

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.480
 unity adding to

00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:47.840
 the gospel.

00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.480
 It also robs God

00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:50.399
 of his glory.

00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:52.600
 It robs God of

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.159
 his glory because

00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:53.759
 the gospel is all

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.379
 about what God

00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:55.039
 has done not what

00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:55.539
 we do.

00:15:56.539 --> 00:15:57.560
 And thirdly it

00:15:57.560 --> 00:15:58.440
 robs believers of

00:15:58.440 --> 00:15:59.600
 our security and

00:15:59.600 --> 00:15:59.980
 joy.

00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:03.980
 It robs believers

00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:05.080
 of our security and

00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:05.379
 joy.

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.039
 In other words

00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:06.420
 it always has

00:16:06.420 --> 00:16:07.360
 thought of have I

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:07.940
 done enough?

00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:10.600
 Have I been

00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:11.419
 circumcised fully?

00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:14.919
 Have I kept all

00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:15.399
 the rules?

00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:16.899
 Do I fail to do

00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:17.139
 this?

00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:18.620
 Am I lost?

00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:21.060
 We end up with

00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:22.519
 massive insecurity

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:24.300
 in the legalism

00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:24.960
 that comes with it.

00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:26.399
 That's why it's

00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:26.879
 so important.

00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:27.680
 So the gospel

00:16:27.680 --> 00:16:28.960
 creates our unity

00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:29.820
 it defines the

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.399
 limits of that

00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.899
 unity and

00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:33.300
 thirdly the gospel

00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:34.340
 propels us forward

00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:35.860
 in unity with a

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:36.159
 purpose.

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:36.579
 So you look at

00:16:36.579 --> 00:16:37.399
 that in verses

00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:39.339
 7 to 10.

00:16:40.319 --> 00:16:40.719
 There's this

00:16:40.719 --> 00:16:41.439
 discussion they

00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:42.500
 realise that Paul

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.419
 has been sent to

00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.120
 the Gentiles.

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:45.579
 Peter, one of the

00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:46.179
 other apostles has

00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:46.939
 gone to the Jews

00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:48.919
 and they look on

00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:49.779
 they hear what's

00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:50.079
 happened.

00:16:50.319 --> 00:16:50.860
 Verse 9

00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:52.219
 When they perceived

00:16:52.219 --> 00:16:53.019
 the grace that was

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:53.719
 given to me they

00:16:53.719 --> 00:16:54.740
 gave the right hand

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.799
 of fellowship to

00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:56.819
 Barnabas and me.

00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.719
 In the Roman world

00:16:57.719 --> 00:16:58.279
 that was a way of

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.179
 sealing a contract.

00:16:59.939 --> 00:17:00.720
 Shaking hands,

00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.419
 the right hands.

00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.199
 It was a way of

00:17:02.199 --> 00:17:03.419
 sealing a contract.

00:17:03.839 --> 00:17:04.559
 They're saying yes

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.980
 you've got a mission

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.319
 from God to go

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.159
 preach this good

00:17:08.159 --> 00:17:09.599
 news message to the

00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:10.579
 non-Jews around the

00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.159
 Roman Empire.

00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:12.200
 Go for it.

00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.139
 Get on with that

00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:13.599
 purpose.

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.980
 Meanwhile, Peter and

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.179
 the others, verse 8,

00:17:17.899 --> 00:17:19.460
 will keep going to the

00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.440
 Jews around us in

00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:20.819
 Jerusalem.

00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:22.539
 So this unity

00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:23.359
 was kind of a unity

00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:24.059
 in mission.

00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.460
 A unity to make the

00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:26.279
 good news of Jesus

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.659
 known.

00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:29.599
 Unity in purpose.

00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:31.519
 Unity united in

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.240
 preaching to lost

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:34.279
 people, but also

00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:36.819
 united in sharing

00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.480
 with the needy

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.559
 people in God's

00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:38.859
 family.

00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:39.700
 Look at verse 10.

00:17:42.120 --> 00:17:43.220
 I can find verse 10.

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:43.640
 Here we go.

00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:44.920
 Only they asked us

00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:45.759
 to remember the poor,

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:47.660
 the very thing I was

00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:48.440
 eager to do.

00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:49.819
 This is a practical

00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:51.599
 outworking of being

00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.319
 saved and loved by a

00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:54.440
 God who is generous,

00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:55.720
 by the Lord Jesus

00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.660
 Christ who was rich

00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:57.700
 yet gave himself,

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.099
 became poor and

00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:00.859
 gave himself so we

00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:01.720
 and him might become

00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.019
 rich.

00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.519
 A natural expression

00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:04.579
 of that, extension of

00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.839
 that, is that

00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.400
 Christians should be

00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.039
 generous people.

00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:08.839
 We can be generous

00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:09.920
 because we're joyful.

00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.359
 Because our identity

00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:12.120
 is not in the money

00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:14.400
 we have, but in the

00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:15.079
 Saviour who has

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.740
 rescued us.

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.240
 So you see the

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:19.039
 Gospel creates unity

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.859
 amongst diverse

00:18:19.859 --> 00:18:20.299
 people.

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:22.079
 It defines the unity

00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:22.720
 amongst diverse

00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:23.140
 people.

00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:24.620
 And it propels us

00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:25.440
 forward in unity.

00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.880
 In the message, in the

00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.140
 mission God has given

00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:28.299
 us.

00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.440
 The mission to preach

00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.359
 to the lost people.

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:32.199
 And to share with the

00:18:32.199 --> 00:18:33.799
 needy in God's family.

00:18:34.219 --> 00:18:34.799
 Which is what that is

00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:35.879
 particularly referring to.

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.719
 Now not everyone in

00:18:37.719 --> 00:18:39.740
 this room is going to

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.839
 be a Gospel preacher

00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:42.379
 in the sense that I am

00:18:42.379 --> 00:18:43.079
 standing up here

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:43.819
 talking to a room full

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.219
 of people.

00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:46.019
 Yet we all have

00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:47.000
 opportunities day by

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.299
 day to talk about

00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:48.819
 the Lord Jesus.

00:18:49.619 --> 00:18:50.059
 I remember a few

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.079
 years ago I talked

00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.819
 to a friend of mine

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:54.419
 who was in his late

00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:54.879
 twenties.

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.439
 He was a bit sad

00:18:56.439 --> 00:18:56.679
 really.

00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:57.919
 He was doing very

00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:58.680
 well in his job.

00:18:59.060 --> 00:19:00.060
 His wife had two

00:19:00.060 --> 00:19:00.620
 children at that

00:19:00.620 --> 00:19:00.840
 stage.

00:19:00.900 --> 00:19:01.160
 I think we've got

00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:01.620
 three now.

00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:03.180
 He said, Stuart,

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:03.580
 when we were at

00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:04.860
 university, my wife

00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:06.200
 and I, my fiancé

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.400
 she was then, we

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.460
 really thought the

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.080
 Lord would send us

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:09.759
 off as missionaries

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.420
 somewhere to preach

00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:11.120
 the Gospel in some

00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:11.900
 far off land.

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.240
 And we now feel

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.759
 we're like second

00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.460
 class citizens.

00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:17.620
 I said, Mike, tell

00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:18.200
 me about your day.

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.140
 Tell me what you

00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:19.340
 do.

00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.380
 His wife was very

00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:21.759
 involved in the

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.820
 mothers and toddlers

00:19:22.820 --> 00:19:23.120
 group.

00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.480
 Mike was working

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.480
 hard at work but

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:26.740
 working in a way

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.539
 that dawned the

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:27.899
 Gospel.

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.079
 He built up

00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:29.819
 relationships with

00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.460
 his colleagues.

00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.779
 He was often

00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.980
 praying for his

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.899
 friends and work

00:19:33.899 --> 00:19:34.339
 colleagues.

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.619
 So Mike, you're

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.379
 doing what God

00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:37.960
 has called you to

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.159
 do.

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:40.039
 You are seeking to

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.599
 share the Gospel

00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.299
 where you are.

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.180
 You're seeking to

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:42.960
 share with needy

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:44.180
 people in God's

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:44.539
 family.

00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:46.099
 Don't feel second

00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:46.559
 class.

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.319
 Just rejoice in

00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:48.839
 this good news

00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.500
 message that you're

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:51.019
 saved not because

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.480
 you're a missionary

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.220
 in Thailand or

00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:53.579
 wherever, not

00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.200
 because you're a

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:56.279
 good person, but

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:56.759
 because Jesus

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.440
 died at Christ

00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.000
 died on the

00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.720
 cross for you.

00:20:00.320 --> 00:20:00.960
 The Son of God

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.259
 loved you, gave

00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.080
 his life for you,

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:03.920
 and now you are

00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.240
 his.

00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:05.820
 So in gratitude

00:20:05.820 --> 00:20:06.840
 preserve this

00:20:06.840 --> 00:20:07.500
 Gospel which

00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.160
 brings unity.

00:20:08.840 --> 00:20:09.539
 Preserve this

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:11.220
 Gospel which

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:11.940
 defines and

00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.860
 limits our unity.

00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.240
 And preserve this

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 Gospel which

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 sends us forward in

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 unity to do the

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 work God has

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 given us to do.

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 Let's pray.

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 Let's pray.

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