WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.860 --> 00:00:09.359 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:10.500 Join us. 00:00:13.300 --> 00:00:18.039 This morning, if you would turn in your Bibles, we're going to be looking at John chapter 8, verse 31. 00:00:19.879 --> 00:00:22.280 It can be found in your pew Bibles. 00:00:22.400 --> 00:00:23.420 I don't have the page here. 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:25.120 Unfortunately, usually I cheat and see it here. 00:00:25.260 --> 00:00:26.100 Oh, there it is, 894. 00:00:26.379 --> 00:00:27.480 It's on the slide. 00:00:27.580 --> 00:00:27.879 Thank you. 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:31.000 Page 894, if you'd like to look along with us. 00:00:32.200 --> 00:00:39.840 I know that there are probably some people who are watching the live stream at home because of what I'm about to talk about. 00:00:40.979 --> 00:00:48.620 Just reality of what we're going through in this moment is how many people have seen the flu in your house? 00:00:49.019 --> 00:00:51.739 In some form or fashion, strep maybe? 00:00:53.460 --> 00:00:57.859 Some sort of sickness over the past, I don't know, four to six weeks in your house, right? 00:00:57.880 --> 00:00:59.380 So it's run through our house. 00:00:59.960 --> 00:01:00.760 We've had it. 00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:02.780 I think a lot of people understand it. 00:01:03.460 --> 00:01:07.120 I want to tell you a little story about someone I know who has superhero powers. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:11.320 I worked with a young lady many years ago. 00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:14.280 She was from Memphis. 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:16.420 I knew her through my wife's church. 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:20.920 And she was a soccer player at Samford University in Birmingham. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:24.640 And she told me this story once. 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:27.180 And I thought it was an incredible story about her superpowers. 00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:34.400 Her soccer team would go through these seasons and they would be practicing. 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:38.319 And whether it was preseason or during the season and during the season, it was much more devastating. 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:42.659 But everyone on the team would get strep. 00:01:43.199 --> 00:01:45.699 Everyone on the team would get strep throat. 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:47.439 Except her. 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:49.079 Okay. 00:01:49.679 --> 00:01:50.899 Everybody on the team. 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:52.979 And she just thought, I'm incredible. 00:01:53.699 --> 00:01:55.859 I never get strep. 00:01:56.119 --> 00:01:58.219 My immune system is so powerful. 00:01:58.759 --> 00:01:59.839 I have superhuman powers. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:00.319 Right? 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:01.879 Wrong. 00:02:02.759 --> 00:02:03.719 We're so wrong. 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:11.199 And what was happening is Katie, after she would take a sip from a water bottle, would pass it to her teammate. 00:02:12.020 --> 00:02:14.099 And that teammate would take a sip from that water bottle. 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:15.240 And that teammate would take a sip from that. 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:18.919 And what she was, was an asymptomatic spreader of strep. 00:02:21.780 --> 00:02:29.340 And so she, every year for about two and a half years, was responsible for the entire soccer team to get strep. 00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:35.140 That is my nightmare as a parent, that that would happen in some form or fashion. 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:42.219 But what was happening is that she actually didn't understand or know what was really going on with her. 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:46.840 She didn't really know the reality of the sickness she actually had. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:51.360 She just didn't have any of the sore throat or the pain or the sickness or the weariness. 00:02:51.460 --> 00:02:55.240 She didn't have any of that, which is, I think, a great superpower for the rest of her life. 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:59.480 She'll probably never have strep the way we get strep. 00:03:00.600 --> 00:03:02.960 But it meant that she was very unaware. 00:03:04.640 --> 00:03:09.700 Very unaware of something that, even though she didn't see it, was wrong with her. 00:03:11.260 --> 00:03:17.160 And today we're going to be reading a passage where Jesus is addressing believers, 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:27.579 people who have believed in him and are following him and are Jews who have seemed to have given themselves over to Jesus and following him and obeying him. 00:03:28.359 --> 00:03:31.620 And they seem also to not understand something about themselves. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:35.099 They seem to not realize something about themselves. 00:03:35.219 --> 00:03:45.159 And I think that's important because I think we equally are often, every day, daily, guilty of not really realizing something about ourselves. 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:52.780 The good news I do know is that having been here for a few years and having been in our denomination for years, 00:03:53.020 --> 00:03:55.659 we don't fail to preach about sin. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:01.780 But that's what today's sermon is primarily about and our awareness of that. 00:04:02.379 --> 00:04:06.460 And it's also about how Jesus frees us in that. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:10.740 And so those are really the two points you won't see an outline if you really want to know. 00:04:10.740 --> 00:04:17.180 It's this, it's that one, is that Jesus knows how serious our sin is. 00:04:17.280 --> 00:04:20.180 If you want that to be one of your two points we're going to talk about. 00:04:20.660 --> 00:04:25.860 But Jesus also knows how much stronger the Son of God is. 00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:29.019 So we're going to talk through that. 00:04:29.100 --> 00:04:33.060 But I also want to point out that we're in John and we have been in John. 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:39.439 And we were talking yesterday and we were making a joke at the elders retreat, maybe it was two days ago, 00:04:39.500 --> 00:04:44.480 about how someone can tell you something a million times. 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:48.439 And then when someone else tells you something, you're like, oh, yeah. 00:04:48.579 --> 00:04:52.720 And then, so it's like if you're a parent, maybe you've been blessed by this, 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:57.939 where you have a child or a student and they won't listen to you and they won't listen to you 00:04:57.939 --> 00:05:06.019 and their Sunday school teacher or their youth leader or their friend tells them they need to stop doing something 00:05:06.019 --> 00:05:08.199 or because they love them and they're trying to help them. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:12.279 And suddenly the parent, even though they've tried to say it a million times, 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:18.000 it only, this other voice that comes in and says, here, this is, something's wrong. 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:23.319 And the, you know, as a parent myself, I'm always like, why wouldn't you just listen to me? 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:24.980 I just want you to listen to me. 00:05:24.980 --> 00:05:27.040 I want the credit, A, that's my sin. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:28.020 I want the credit. 00:05:28.400 --> 00:05:29.759 I want someone to think he's a good dad. 00:05:30.580 --> 00:05:36.120 But the reality is, is that another angle, another voice always helps, right? 00:05:36.140 --> 00:05:38.939 It helps us to see things more clearly, I hope, I think. 00:05:39.520 --> 00:05:44.500 Because in John, we've seen a lot of different ways that Jesus is speaking to this similar idea, right? 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:46.860 We've seen, you are walking in darkness. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:49.500 I am the light of the world. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:54.259 So therefore, you must be walking in darkness if Jesus is the light of the world. 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:58.279 And if Jesus is the light, there's a problem of darkness. 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:04.599 I am, I will quench your thirst with living water. 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:06.839 There must be a problem. 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:08.019 You must be thirsty. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:11.680 I am the bread of life. 00:06:13.159 --> 00:06:15.300 You will not hunger and you will not thirst. 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:16.500 There must be a problem. 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:17.879 You're hungry and thirsty. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:22.139 And so there is a problem that Jesus is addressing over and over and over and over. 00:06:22.139 --> 00:06:25.860 And he's using different angles and different illustrations to help all of us understand. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:30.000 And today he uses one about slavery. 00:06:31.259 --> 00:06:41.459 And I want to make sure before we read the passage, just you hear this, that Jesus is speaking about slavery in a spiritual way that is not meant to make any statements about slavery in general. 00:06:41.459 --> 00:06:50.819 And we've kind of, I think I've had to preach similarly about a subject like slavery and slavery is a very serious thing. 00:06:50.899 --> 00:06:55.919 There's still in today, there's lots of organizations you can get online and read about modern day slavery. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:07:00.580 And it's not something that I want to gloss over for the sake of glossing over it. 00:07:00.580 --> 00:07:08.379 But I do want to make sure you understand that the realities of slavery are starkly, are awful. 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:09.560 They're terrible. 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:22.199 And ultimately anything, slavery included, that abuses or wounds or hurts people made in the image of God, we are starkly against it as Christians. 00:07:23.340 --> 00:07:24.639 I mean, very much so. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:35.219 And it's something that is worth our time to battle against because it is so much, that's how much God values people. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:40.139 And so I don't mean to gloss over it or this is not a statement about how God feels about slavery. 00:07:40.459 --> 00:07:49.379 This is about Jesus using slavery as a way to communicate one other angle about the power of sin and how it affects us. 00:07:50.339 --> 00:07:54.039 And so I'm going to read God's word and then we're going to pray and then we'll dive in. 00:07:54.040 --> 00:08:04.720 So let's read, if you want to read along with me in John chapter 8 verses 31 through 30, did I say 38? 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:05.740 Oh yeah, I said 38. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:09.920 Sorry, the propter gave me a mild heart attack just now. 00:08:11.020 --> 00:08:12.259 Let's read God's word. 00:08:13.640 --> 00:08:22.800 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:28.220 They answered him, we are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:30.759 How is it that you say you will become free? 00:08:31.780 --> 00:08:38.440 Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:41.080 The slave does not remain in the house forever. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:42.379 The son remains forever. 00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:46.139 So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:53.620 I know you are the offspring of Abraham, yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:59.600 I speak of what I've seen with my father and you do what you have heard from your father. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:00.980 This is God's word. 00:09:01.059 --> 00:09:01.379 Let's pray. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:03.879 Jesus, thank you for your words. 00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:05.679 Thank you for the word of God. 00:09:05.779 --> 00:09:07.519 Thank you that it speaks to us. 00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:08.960 It penetrates deep into our hearts. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:10.100 It changes us. 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:14.680 It makes us more like Jesus and it sanctifies us as we walk in our lives. 00:09:14.800 --> 00:09:16.500 Lord, may that be true today of your word. 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:24.180 May it be true of me more than anyone else in this room so that I might cling tightly to Jesus above all else. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:29.120 Lord, we love you and we thank you and we pray in Jesus' name. 00:09:29.820 --> 00:09:30.060 Amen. 00:09:30.059 --> 00:09:30.219 Amen. 00:09:31.579 --> 00:09:32.179 Okay. 00:09:32.439 --> 00:09:35.719 So Jesus speaks using the imagery of slavery. 00:09:36.899 --> 00:09:44.819 And so what he's trying to communicate is that there's this major, massive, big problem that we all have. 00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:52.919 And it's more than just speaking to this crowd that he's preaching to about their lack of self-awareness. 00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:53.559 Right? 00:09:53.559 --> 00:10:00.779 Oftentimes I feel like I'm just not very self-aware and I don't think about, you know, what I'm doing and how it hurts other people. 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:05.319 Or I'm not thinking about how my actions cause other people to be hurt. 00:10:05.739 --> 00:10:14.179 What it really is doing is it's pointing out just how awful and terrible and impactful sin is. 00:10:15.939 --> 00:10:22.099 But because it's more than just a lack of self-awareness, Jesus wants us to truly be introspective for a moment. 00:10:22.339 --> 00:10:22.759 He does. 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:26.559 He wants us to be introspective about the reality of sin in our lives. 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:31.639 See, because we do build these little kingdoms that I love. 00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:32.279 I do it. 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:38.399 Where my own righteousness is built on my own actions and what I've done and what I've made. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:41.480 Have my little kingdoms that I make where I'm the boss. 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:42.379 I'm the best. 00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:45.519 I'm better than this mom, dad, parent, etc. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.700 I'm a good pastor because of this. 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:49.399 I'm a good person because of this. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:53.819 I built up these little kingdoms or where I believe myself to be better than I am. 00:10:53.820 --> 00:11:01.640 And not only is it about my own righteousness that I've earned or made happen or I've built up. 00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:05.460 But it's also about a sense of how great I am. 00:11:05.520 --> 00:11:08.100 It's not just about like doing the right things. 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:09.440 It's about how great I am. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:11.180 I'm pretty great. 00:11:11.300 --> 00:11:24.440 And I tragically in many ways regret a lot of conversations and things I've said that actually may have let words like how awesome I really feel about myself come out all the time. 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:34.880 If you knew me in my 20s, which some of you do, I had a problem falsely of believing in myself. 00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:37.500 I had no reason to. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:39.800 I had no need to. 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:40.980 But I did. 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:42.720 I believed in myself real well. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:46.640 I had no problem describing the many ways that I was awesome. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:12:05.399 And I don't, it's a funny joke now, but as an adult who's now done a lot of different things since my 20s, I look back with a lot of regret, a lot of sadness, a lot of things that I've hurt people with, with those kind of things that I've done. 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:16.860 And so there's a sense of self-righteousness where we've earned our own, earned our own righteousness and we've done something that we've made, made ourselves to be better because of the things we've done or things we've accomplished. 00:12:17.579 --> 00:12:24.759 There's a self-worship where I make myself God and I think more highly and I'm the center of my universe and I want to make sure everybody knows how great I am. 00:12:25.539 --> 00:12:29.240 But then just in general, we tend to on our day-to-day lives. 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:33.659 So it's not just this kind of overarching kind of feeling about ourselves. 00:12:33.659 --> 00:12:36.579 It's a constant self-focus. 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:41.139 It's a constant inward look at ourselves. 00:12:41.319 --> 00:12:56.639 And so when we become the hero of our own story and we miss the realities of the world, the realities of what it means to walk with Jesus, we really miss the picture of how good Jesus is. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:06.120 And so we have to, we have to, again, we have to focus on the realities of who we are as God reminds us in his word. 00:13:06.939 --> 00:13:11.580 And so we're going to, we're going to believe Jesus when he tells us he knows how serious sin is. 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.180 Right? 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:13.100 Right? 00:13:13.160 --> 00:13:14.660 He's calling it slavery. 00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:23.379 And he's talking about not only big S sin, like our sin nature and who we are as fallen people. 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:26.340 From Genesis 3 on people. 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:27.080 Right? 00:13:27.520 --> 00:13:32.340 People who are experiencing and living in a sinful and broken world. 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:44.019 He's also talking about the average, everyday, nonchalant and terrible and awful and just incredibly bad sins that we daily commit. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:54.220 He's talking about how our hearts and our minds and our lives are literally deeply connected to sin. 00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:58.180 And he wants us to take it very seriously. 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:12.279 And I've talked about myself a lot just now, but I think it's because a lot of us, when we think about our sin, we are not as willing to admit there's a deception of sin. 00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:12.759 Right? 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:16.740 Sin deceives us into thinking these kind of things. 00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:18.060 Right? 00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:28.339 So when you look at this passage and you look at Jesus talking to these Jews who are, you know, believing in him, they themselves have been deceived. 00:14:29.319 --> 00:14:29.799 Right? 00:14:30.199 --> 00:14:33.879 Because they are not seeing Jesus for who he is. 00:14:34.979 --> 00:14:41.559 And that's when my eyes are on myself, I'm definitely not going to see Jesus for who he is. 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:48.559 And so he's telling them, he said, if you abide in my word, you will truly be my disciples. 00:14:48.619 --> 00:14:59.099 If you hold fast to Jesus, if you continually walk in Jesus, walk with him as his disciple, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:04.259 And they answered him, we are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:06.019 How is it that you say you will become free? 00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:16.079 They are standing before Jesus, the Jesus who has taught them repeatedly about who he is, who he is. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:32.340 And told them that he is, when you, even in the previous passage, when you've lifted up the son of man, even addressing himself in a way that gives him, in the previous portion of John 8, he talks about himself as the son of man. 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:36.780 And they don't see Jesus for who he is. 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:40.540 They only see themselves as Abraham's offspring. 00:15:43.040 --> 00:15:49.180 They're clinging to the status of who they are and where they've come from, their national identity, their religious background. 00:15:49.540 --> 00:15:50.300 Look, we're fine. 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:51.460 We're the children of Abraham. 00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:52.480 We're good. 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:54.019 We're fine. 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:56.480 I live in a really nice neighborhood in Huntsville. 00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:57.300 We're fine. 00:15:57.940 --> 00:15:59.660 I've got, my kids are really well behaved. 00:15:59.780 --> 00:16:00.340 We're fine. 00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:05.899 And I don't really, and we start to sound like them if we're really honest. 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:13.519 Because we fail to realize just how deceitful sin is in our lives. 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:27.080 Additionally, if you think really, what I really find to be my own problem is I have the whole Bible and I continually like to paint myself as a better person than the Bible reminds me I really am. 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:33.500 And thinking about the people who are responding to Jesus and they're saying, well, we're the children of Abraham. 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:35.300 And, you know, we studied the Torah. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:36.200 We know the law. 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:42.180 And they also know that the heart of man is deceitful above all things. 00:16:42.660 --> 00:16:45.800 They also know that man has fallen and is broken. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:54.640 They also know the story of how God continually has to rescue Israel from their sin. 00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:58.020 They've seen the patterns of the book of Judges. 00:16:58.019 --> 00:17:00.799 And they don't understand themselves. 00:17:01.819 --> 00:17:03.639 And I don't say it to be sarcastic or mean. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.339 I think I do the same thing. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:09.960 I look at the patterns of Judges and I think, oh, I'm not like them. 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:10.839 That's not me. 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:16.519 I've seen the sin of the Bible and how it describes people. 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.139 And, oh, that's not me. 00:17:19.659 --> 00:17:28.079 And so we find ourselves deceived by these other identities and these other things we cling to that make us feel like we've got things under control. 00:17:28.159 --> 00:17:35.079 But not only are we deceived, there's this strength that sin has when he's talking about our slavery to sin. 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:40.179 So we can be deceived by sin, but there's also this strength, right? 00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:46.439 And that's where the whole imagery of slavery with a master and a slave dynamic, right? 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.939 Who is in control of the slave? 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:50.839 It's not the slave. 00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:59.619 There's a clear dynamic in that relationship where the master or the slave owner and the slave have a very distinct relationship. 00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:02.839 And the power is all on the master. 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:09.139 And Jesus is saying, your master is sin. 00:18:10.199 --> 00:18:14.639 Jesus is saying that your master, the one who's in control of you, is sin. 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:23.720 And so I have to remember that it's not just about, oh, sin's a bad thing. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.439 Whoops. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:28.000 It's awful. 00:18:28.659 --> 00:18:31.339 It is not the way things were meant to be. 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:35.659 It is the very opposite of what God desires from us. 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:40.919 But also it's the most awful and hurtful thing that we can live out. 00:18:42.439 --> 00:18:45.419 But we can seem to think it's under control. 00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:50.459 We seem to think we are stronger, that I can do more. 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:56.380 And so when sin, when we look at this dynamic, it has power and control. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:07.279 And so not only is it deceiving us and it's stronger than we're willing to admit, it actually also spreads further. 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:09.940 The spread of sin is bigger than we think. 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:14.500 We often want to just say, well, I'm good now. 00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:15.580 I'm okay. 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.380 I've given that up. 00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:22.900 But the struggle against sin happens our entire life until Jesus returns or he calls us home. 00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:27.640 And that's not something for some of us. 00:19:27.800 --> 00:19:32.540 That's not something for everybody who's not a pastor. 00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:37.019 That's the struggle of every human being on the planet. 00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:41.400 Here's where it says this in verse 34. 00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:47.300 Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 00:19:48.300 --> 00:19:48.840 Everyone. 00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:51.839 That's a strong word, right? 00:19:53.399 --> 00:19:57.619 But the Apostle Paul tells us this about everyone as well. 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:06.000 In Romans chapter 3, verse 23, it says this, that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:13.259 And so though we think we've got it under control, though we think we can be stronger than sin, 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:18.639 though we think we've even figured sin out, it's every person. 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:20.459 We'll struggle against it. 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:31.860 And then Jesus, in this illustration of slavery, he talks about how severe, the severity of sin. 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:35.480 And just think on this. 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:41.299 This is an amazing thing that God's going to reveal so he can undo it. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.460 He's going to reveal it so he can undo it. 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:49.559 But Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:53.220 The slave does not remain in the house forever. 00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:55.539 The son remains forever. 00:20:55.660 --> 00:21:00.299 So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.559 The slave does not remain. 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:12.339 The reality of the relationship between a slave and master was one of a piece of property. 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:20.919 And so the son, by virtue of being the son of the father, he remains. 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:25.419 Jesus remains in his father's house forever. 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:35.440 Those who are caught in slavery to sin can be sent away at the will of the master. 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:40.600 And so there's a belonging that we lack. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:51.440 Both personally, every day, and then eternally if we remain in slavery to sin. 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:59.220 So Jesus wants us to know in this passage just how serious sin is. 00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:02.279 It's not something that we ought to mess with. 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:04.140 Not something we ought to play with. 00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:05.880 Not something we want to take lightly. 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:07.120 Not something we want to. 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:11.000 And yet, all of us struggle against it. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:14.500 So how might there be real freedom? 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:20.259 How might there be true freedom for people who are caught in sin? 00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.740 Who are in sin? 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:25.059 Who are sinners in need of saving? 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:30.660 Jesus knows how much stronger the son is. 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:34.740 There's a freedom in him. 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:38.460 He talks here in verse 31. 00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:42.220 He says, if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:48.740 And he's talking about what does it look like to follow and cling to and be in Jesus truly. 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:55.059 And abiding in my word sounds like if you do the right things. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.500 If you just listen. 00:22:57.579 --> 00:23:00.480 If you just listen to what I'm telling you to do and do that. 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:07.720 But it's if you cling to the Jesus who transforms and daily walk as his disciple. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:09.019 It is not about doing. 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:12.599 It is about the one whom you are clinging to. 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:16.339 It is not about us doing more. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:20.819 But about by clinging to Jesus and being his disciple. 00:23:21.719 --> 00:23:25.619 It will make us desire to walk with him. 00:23:26.899 --> 00:23:30.179 It will change us into people who abide his word. 00:23:30.719 --> 00:23:31.259 In his word. 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:40.700 And so we're set free when we are in the son to live as we were meant to live. 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:44.500 See we have to go all the way back. 00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:44.960 Right? 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:51.480 We you know we talk about the narrative of the scriptures and the creation was how we were meant to be. 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:56.220 And we were fallen and broken and everything got messed up and everything has been messed up. 00:23:56.559 --> 00:24:00.339 And Jesus has come to bring redemption and save us. 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:04.339 And one day all this will be made new and right and perfect again. 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:13.740 And in this story we have to look back and see what was it like for Adam and Eve to walk with God in the garden. 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.380 What was it like? 00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:14.960 What was that relationship? 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:19.880 And it was the way we were meant to be in perfect and right relationship with the God of the universe. 00:24:22.100 --> 00:24:27.620 And so the son is the one who has shown up to bring that redemption. 00:24:27.840 --> 00:24:28.980 To bring that salvation. 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:30.700 To bring that transformation. 00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:35.279 That brings us back to the place that we were meant to be in relationship with God. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:44.440 And he gives us freedom to live in him and with him now and forever. 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:50.620 It's not a one time thing that we engage in and then move on. 00:24:51.220 --> 00:25:01.240 It's this ongoing relationship with the God of the universe who sent his son so that we might know what real freedom to live as we were meant to live would look like. 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:09.559 And so real freedom is found only in the son and only the son can be the one to set you free. 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:09.819 Why? 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:13.340 Because he's coming to operate in the strength of his father. 00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:20.220 He's coming to operate in the will of his father and do the business of his father who has sent him. 00:25:22.639 --> 00:25:26.819 And so freedom means more than just, oh, I'm kind of can do whatever I want. 00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:32.619 It means freedom to know that our righteousness does not come from me. 00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:36.220 And the things that I try and achieve and do every day. 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:47.200 It means that my saving, I cannot even attempt to save myself or do enough to win to perhaps outweigh the bad that I've done today. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:26:06.180 Freedom means that I change my focus and fix my eyes no longer on myself and my things that I'm trying to achieve or how I identify myself, but identify myself and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, the one who brings real freedom from sin. 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:10.180 Because he's the one who pays for our sin. 00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:22.360 We can look to Jesus because the son is so much stronger than any sin we could ever imagine. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:27.600 So much so that he defeated death and rose again. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:50.119 We can trust in the son because he's the one who will find a way, make a way for our sins to be cleansed, our sins to be forgiven, our sins to be as far as the east is from the west, our sins to be dealt with so that we no longer walk in them. 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:54.399 Now, I'm not saying we can walk perfectly in this life. 00:26:54.679 --> 00:26:56.500 I will not say that. 00:26:56.679 --> 00:26:57.439 I don't believe it. 00:26:57.479 --> 00:27:01.000 I don't think the Bible tells us we can walk perfectly in this life. 00:27:02.699 --> 00:27:08.139 But I think freedom means clinging deeply to Jesus as we walk in this together. 00:27:09.239 --> 00:27:09.839 You and I. 00:27:10.939 --> 00:27:15.119 It means that we are now free as we, you know, Will read this this morning. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.419 I'm trying to throw my pen. 00:27:16.739 --> 00:27:17.479 Will read this morning. 00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:26.440 It's people who are weary and need rest, people who mourn and long for comfort, people who feel worthless and wonder if God cares, all who struggle, who sin and need a savior. 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:41.460 This is the reality of what God has brought us together as we walk in him, that we might walk together and support one another and point one another back to the things that we ought to focus on. 00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:51.160 The very God of the universe, keeping our hearts and minds in line, knowing that God desires our relationship with him. 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.680 Our relationship. 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.200 Let me say that again. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:55.120 Our relationship with him. 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:58.419 Not just my relationship with him. 00:27:58.419 --> 00:27:59.219 That's true. 00:28:00.219 --> 00:28:10.619 But us as God's people, as we walk together to help one another and love one another and point one another back to the son who gives freedom. 00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:19.000 And so you and I will walk together as much as we can imperfectly. 00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:27.459 Remind each other to fix our eyes, to put our eyes on the Jesus who gives us real freedom. 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:37.299 As we seek to abide in him and walk with him and serve him in this church and in this place here in Huntsville. 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:48.579 And I know at different points in the course of our John sermons, we've touched on the connections between Exodus and Jesus' preaching. 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:56.919 And you can't hear the words about slavery and not think about Exodus and Egypt and the Israelites. 00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:04.720 And how good God has shown himself to be as someone who sets his people free. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:12.579 And we know that God in Egypt, he sets his people free from physical slavery. 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:18.900 But in Jesus, he is setting us free from sin and our slavery to sin. 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:31.940 And I want to read to you from Exodus 19 really quickly because I think it's important to remember this is what God has done. 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:34.319 He has saved his people. 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.279 He's brought them out of Egypt. 00:29:35.399 --> 00:29:39.480 He's brought them through this and he's covenanting with them. 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:44.720 And in Exodus 19, this is what, this is Moses went up to God in chapter 19 verses 3 through 6. 00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:47.099 And the Lord called him from the mountain and said, 00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:52.639 This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel. 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:57.879 You yourselves have seen what I did in Egypt, what I did to Egypt. 00:29:58.259 --> 00:30:02.359 And how I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. 00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:10.459 Now, if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all the nations, you will be my treasured possession. 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.859 Although the whole earth is mine. 00:30:13.459 --> 00:30:17.459 You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:20.799 These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:34.419 The God of the universe sets his people free from slavery and reminds them that they belong to him in relationship. 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:37.700 That they belong in relationship. 00:30:37.800 --> 00:30:42.440 They were meant to be in relationship with him eternally, forever. 00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:45.320 That they would have a new identity. 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:50.500 It's not that they are slaves anymore, but that they are a treasured possession among all the nations. 00:30:50.840 --> 00:30:55.840 That God's people who have been rescued out of slavery have been given a new identity. 00:30:55.839 --> 00:31:03.339 And they are more valuable than they could ever imagine to the God of the universe. 00:31:07.439 --> 00:31:11.939 You are more valuable than you could ever imagine. 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:16.000 Though despite your sin, right? 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:22.160 This is what we need to hear. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:27.339 That for while we were still weak at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:31.119 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person. 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:34.140 Though perhaps for a good person, one would dare even to die. 00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:36.359 But God shows his love for us. 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:40.259 And that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:50.119 Jesus, though he knows our sin, though he knows our struggle, though he knows the reality of it. 00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:59.579 He willingly gave his life in order that we might have real life in Christ. 00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:05.039 Jesus sets us free from sin. 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:11.440 And as we seek to honor and glorify and walk with him all of our lives, 00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:16.759 we can remember that he has considered us his treasure. 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:20.259 So that we might know him. 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:22.259 So that we might walk with him. 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:24.279 So we might tell our neighbor about him. 00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:26.039 So we might share with one another. 00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:27.480 We might encourage one another. 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:28.920 We might hold one another up. 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:34.200 Not for the sake of ourselves. 00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:38.460 Not for the sake of our own self-righteousness. 00:32:38.560 --> 00:32:40.180 Not for the sake of our own self-focus. 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:46.320 But so that we might walk in the true relationship with God we were meant to. 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:55.759 See this table that we're going to partake in today. 00:32:56.599 --> 00:33:10.000 It's a reminder to us of how Jesus was willing to go to the cross to set us free from the slavery of sin. 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:14.460 It's a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice. 00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:20.400 And how valuable he considered you his people. 00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:27.099 And how much he thought sin must be destroyed. 00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:32.400 So that he might be with those who he loves. 00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:37.940 He sees his people as a treasured possession. 00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:45.640 And so this is the reality of the table. 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:47.940 Is that this is a table for sinners. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:54.299 Who know and understand that they trust. 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:56.059 They hold fast. 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:57.620 They abide in Jesus. 00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:02.100 Because Jesus is the only one who has the strength. 00:34:02.580 --> 00:34:03.279 The ability. 00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:04.000 The power. 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:06.880 To make us right before the God of the universe. 00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:10.300 And this sacrament is a wonderful and a beautiful. 00:34:10.780 --> 00:34:12.119 But it's a serious thing. 00:34:12.220 --> 00:34:16.039 The way we take and understand our sin is a serious thing. 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:17.519 We take this sacrament seriously. 00:34:17.680 --> 00:34:20.940 And it's a meal that we observe in remembrance of Jesus. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:23.280 Remembering his death till he comes again. 00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:25.500 And it's more than that. 00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:26.920 It's a means of grace. 00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:31.840 And one of the things that my seminary professors that I try and say every time we come before the table. 00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:35.860 Is that it's not something simple. 00:34:36.100 --> 00:34:36.980 It's not symbolic. 00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:38.820 Something actually happens. 00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:41.400 It's a means of grace where God meets us here. 00:34:42.700 --> 00:34:45.000 And so that's why we take it seriously. 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:46.260 Because we're drawing near. 00:34:46.340 --> 00:34:48.600 We're drawing near to Christ through this table. 00:34:49.640 --> 00:34:54.160 It paints a picture physically with the bread and the wine. 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:57.559 It encourages us against our sin. 00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:59.779 It moves us to one another. 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:04.679 It allows us to love one another with zeal. 00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:07.219 And it grows us in our faith as we pursue holiness. 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:10.099 As we seek to abide in Jesus and cling fast to him. 00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:11.379 As much as we can. 00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.199 As much as we're able. 00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:14.980 Because by the power of the spirit we are clinging to him. 00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:19.739 And this table is a picture of God's grace and love for his people. 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:23.179 And it's a table of welcome for God's people. 00:35:23.179 --> 00:35:25.159 It's kind of a family meal. 00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:27.199 I know that sounds weird to say. 00:35:28.419 --> 00:35:30.219 And I say that so we understand it. 00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:32.079 That this is a table for believers. 00:35:32.219 --> 00:35:33.899 People who are abiding in Christ. 00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:34.679 Clinging to Jesus. 00:35:34.799 --> 00:35:35.819 It's not Southwood's table. 00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:37.659 It's not our denomination's table. 00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:40.159 It is Jesus' table. 00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:41.179 It is the Lord's table. 00:35:41.359 --> 00:35:44.099 And for all those who possess true faith in Christ. 00:35:44.179 --> 00:35:45.139 Who are clinging to him. 00:35:45.259 --> 00:35:46.019 Abiding in him. 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:47.619 And are. 00:35:47.859 --> 00:35:49.739 Whether you're visiting from another church. 00:35:49.919 --> 00:35:52.379 And you are in good standing with that church. 00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:56.099 And your church believes the truth about Jesus' life, death and resurrection. 00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:58.000 And his atonement for our sins. 00:35:58.240 --> 00:35:59.700 Then this table is for you. 00:36:01.200 --> 00:36:02.860 And the other thing is. 00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:04.300 If you're still questioning. 00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:06.119 Or you don't yet believe. 00:36:06.220 --> 00:36:07.619 Or you're figuring this out. 00:36:07.660 --> 00:36:08.619 Or you have questions. 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:09.019 And we. 00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:12.680 The pastors and any of the elders would love to talk about that. 00:36:13.680 --> 00:36:15.900 And then I would ask you to not partake. 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:18.700 Simply because this table is for God's people. 00:36:18.699 --> 00:36:20.619 Who are abiding in him. 00:36:21.819 --> 00:36:23.319 And so if you have not yet done that. 00:36:23.359 --> 00:36:24.439 And you'd like us to pray for you. 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.719 We'd be glad to pray for you. 00:36:25.739 --> 00:36:26.919 And talk with you more about that. 00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:30.399 And so if you would. 00:36:31.460 --> 00:36:33.019 This table is for God's people. 00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:34.579 And for those who have placed their faith in Jesus. 00:36:35.139 --> 00:36:36.259 I want to make sure you. 00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:39.619 There's a couple of stations with gluten-free options. 00:36:39.619 --> 00:36:39.779 Wines. 00:36:40.739 --> 00:36:41.559 For the bread. 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:45.920 And on the inner circle is wine. 00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:47.639 And on the outer circle is grape juice. 00:36:48.339 --> 00:36:50.539 So when you come and take the Lord's Supper. 00:36:51.339 --> 00:36:54.500 When the elders and the deacon. 00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:56.420 And the ushers come to prompt us. 00:36:56.859 --> 00:36:59.380 Just as a reminder that those things are there for you. 00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:00.279 So you might know. 00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:05.500 And then now I'm going to invite the elders. 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:07.500 And the ushers to come on down while I pray for us. 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:11.460 Father would you use these common elements. 00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:14.099 Would you use your word. 00:37:14.239 --> 00:37:15.460 Would you by your spirit. 00:37:15.579 --> 00:37:16.440 Would you be at work. 00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:18.619 Help us to see a clear picture of Jesus. 00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:19.960 Knowing him. 00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:20.659 Abiding in him. 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:21.320 Clinging to him. 00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:22.000 Loving him. 00:37:23.219 --> 00:37:26.519 Father may we see that in this bread. 00:37:26.619 --> 00:37:27.340 In this wine. 00:37:28.260 --> 00:37:29.440 As we partake in this. 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:30.860 Lord strengthen us. 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.579 Encourage us. 00:37:32.139 --> 00:37:33.159 Point us to you. 00:37:34.280 --> 00:37:36.280 May we cling tightly to the God. 00:37:36.280 --> 00:37:36.360 God. 00:37:37.240 --> 00:37:39.400 Who has given himself to us. 00:37:41.880 --> 00:37:43.960 Who has sacrificed on our behalf. 00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:46.640 And who has made us his treasure possession. 00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:48.680 We pray this in Jesus name. 00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:49.220 Amen. 00:37:50.820 --> 00:37:52.000 For more information. 00:37:52.380 --> 00:37:54.300 Visit us online at southwood.org. 00:37:54.300 --> 00:38:05.720 And we're also glad to recognize that in the movie scene. 00:38:06.100 --> 00:38:06.680 You always will remember if you're 19 американ DHL. 00:38:06.680 --> 00:38:07.260 uitilly card. 00:38:07.260 --> 00:38:08.000 And I will ask to you. 00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:11.539 We pray this out.