WEBVTT

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 1 Timothy 1, verses 12-17.

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 I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord,

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 because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service.

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 Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent,

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 but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

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 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

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 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance

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 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost.

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 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me as the foremost,

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 Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.

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 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God,

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 be honor and glory forever and ever.

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 Amen.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 Christmas time in our country is, as you know, is full of gifts and good feelings.

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 People watch classic films like It's a Wonderful Life, which I like as well,

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 A Christmas Carol, that highlight kindness and generosity toward people,

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 and they spend nearly $700 billion for themselves and others during November and December.

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 That's just in the U.S.

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 It's the two most profitable months of the year for retail businesses.

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 And churches, likewise, are very busy during the season,

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 putting on outreach events to reach their neighbors and friends,

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 Christmas plays, candlelight services, drive-through nativities,

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 and even live, I found out recently, live Christmas camels as attractions outside the church building.

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 Apparently that's the thing.

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 But beneath all the sentimentality and pageantry of Christmas,

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 the true message of Christmas can easily be lost.

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 And in our passage today, we get an unornamented look at the meaning of Christmas.

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 And the heart of it is chapter 1, verse 15.

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 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance

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 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

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 That's what Christmas is all about.

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 And that means we as people, we should entrust ourselves to Christ Jesus,

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 who saves sinners by His mercy.

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 That's the main point of this passage.

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 And I'll first talk about it, talk about the recipient of mercy,

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 and then the reason for mercy, and then the response to mercy throughout this passage.

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 Paul begins this passage with thanksgiving in verse 12.

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 I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord,

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 because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service.

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 This verse is often misunderstood.

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 Paul is thanking Jesus for appointing Him to His service,

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 which is a continuation of the thought in verse 11,

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 if you just look back one verse prior to this,

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 where Paul spoke of how he has been entrusted with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God.

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 So he's thanking Jesus for appointing Him to be the minister of the gospel.

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 But the reason for this appointment is often misunderstood from this verse.

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 Some people understand the clause,

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 because He judged me faithful,

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 to mean that Jesus entrusted the gospel to Paul,

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 because Paul was already faithful to God.

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 Or they think that it's because God foreknew that Paul would be faithful.

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 God saw how hardworking Paul was,

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 how upright he was,

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 and how dependable he was.

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 And having judged him faithful,

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 He entrusted the precious gospel of Jesus Christ,

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 the gospel, the goodness of salvation to Him.

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 That's how people often understand it.

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 But that's not what this clause means.

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 If that's what is meant,

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 it would contradict the rest of this passage,

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 where Paul's talking about how he was not worthy of the service to which he was appointed.

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 And he highlights in the whole passage how undeserving he was of the mercy that he received from God.

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 So what then does verse 12 mean?

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 The word faithful in verse 12

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 is an adjectival form of the same Greek verb that was translated in verse 11 as entrusted.

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 So it can be translated as trustworthy.

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 That's in fact how this word is,

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 this exact same word is translated in verse 15.

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 The saying is trustworthy.

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 And I think that's the way it should be translated here in verse 12 also.

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 The New International Version,

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 if you have the New International Version Bible,

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 the NIV,

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 it nails the translation of this verse.

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 It says,

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 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,

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 who has given me strength,

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 that He considered me trustworthy,

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 appointing me to His service.

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 So I hope you're following the meaning.

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 Paul's filled with wonderment and thanksgiving toward God,

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 that he considered Him to be trustworthy.

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 And God expressed His trust in Him

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 by appointing Him to His service.

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 So Paul's not saying that God appointed him or chose him

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 because he was trustworthy.

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 He's marveling and thanking God

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 that He considered him trustworthy.

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 You guys see the difference?

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 I hope you're following.

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 It's,

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 he's saying,

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 it's wonder that God considered me trustworthy.

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 And I thank Him for that.

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 And that's,

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 this is all the more remarkable

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 considering the rest of verse 13.

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 Though formerly I was a blasphemer,

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 persecutor,

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 an insolent opponent.

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 Paul's full of thanksgiving

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 because he is amazed

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 that God regarded him as trustworthy

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 of this entrustment of the gospel

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 even after all the blasphemy against Christ

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 that he spewed,

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 all the persecution of Christians,

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 God's people,

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 and his insolent opposition to God.

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 These three words are very strong words

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 of self-indictment

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 and it becomes progressively worse.

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 First,

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 blasphemer,

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 he says.

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 A few verses later in chapter 1,

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 verse 20,

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 Paul mentions two men

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 whom he had excommunicated

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 from the church fellowship

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 because they were blaspheming.

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 Same letter in chapter 6,

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 Paul specifically says

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 that Christians should behave

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 in such a way

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 so that the name of God

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 and the teaching

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 may not be reviled.

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 That's the exact same word

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 or be blasphemed.

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 He also warns of false teachers

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 who have an unhealthy craving

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 for controversy

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 and for quarrels about words

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 which produce envy,

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 dissension,

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 slander,

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 again,

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 different translation,

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 the same word,

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 blasphemy,

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 evil suspicions

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 in chapter 6,

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 verse 4.

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 So all that to say

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 that blasphemy

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 is something that Paul

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 is very concerned about

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 throughout his letter to Timothy.

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 Yet he describes himself

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 as a blasphemer.

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 He had spoken abusively

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 and falsely

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 about Christ and his church.

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 Not only a blasphemer

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 against God,

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 but Paul was also

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 a persecutor of God's people.

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 Describing his life

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 before conversion

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 in Acts 26,

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 verses 10 to 11,

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 Paul confesses this,

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 I not only locked up

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 many of the saints

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 in prison

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 after receiving authority

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 from the chief priests,

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 but when they were put to death,

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 I cast my vote against them.

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 And I punished them often

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 in all the synagogues

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 and tried to make them blaspheme.

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 And in raging fury

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 against them,

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 I persecuted them

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 even to foreign cities.

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 Paul jailed Christians

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 and he authorized

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 their execution.

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 He rabidly pursued Christians

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 even outside

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 of the Jewish jurisdiction,

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 even to foreign cities.

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 And not only was Paul

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 a blasphemer of God

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 and a persecutor of the church,

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 he was, in general,

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 an insolent opponent.

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 This is the strongest term

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 of the three.

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 It can be translated

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 alternatively as tyrant.

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 It refers to people

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 who violently

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 and presumptuously

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 transgress

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 other people's rights,

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 trespass

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 other people's fears

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 to inflict injury

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 and insult.

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 Paul was an insolent opponent

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 of both Christ

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 and the church.

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 He pridefully transgressed

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 against both God

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 and people,

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 presuming to know

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 better than God,

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 and violating the rights

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 of Christians.

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 That was Paul.

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 The man that God

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 singled out

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 to be an apostle,

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 to be a minister

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 of the gospel,

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 was not formerly

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 a worshiper of Christ,

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 supporter of the church,

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 and a humble servant

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 of God.

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 No, he was instead

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 a blasphemer,

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 persecutor,

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 and an insolent opponent.

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 And this is why

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 Paul calls his salvation

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 and appointment

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 to ministry

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 a mercy.

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 He continues

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 in verse 13,

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 But I received mercy

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 because I had acted

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 ignorantly in unbelief,

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 and the grace

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 of our Lord

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 overflowed for me

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 with the faith

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 and love

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 that are in Christ Jesus.

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 He repeats

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 that phrase

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 again in verse 16,

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 But I received

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 mercy.

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 And note the strong

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 contrast indicated

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 by that conjunction,

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 But.

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 Formerly,

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 I was a blasphemer

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 and persecutor

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 and insolent opponent,

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 but I received

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 mercy.

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 I am the foremost

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 of sinners,

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 but I received

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 mercy.

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 Even though I consider

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 myself to be

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 the very worst

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 of sinners,

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 I received mercy.

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 That's what Paul

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 is talking about here.

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 The very nature

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 of mercy

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 is that it's undeserved.

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 Those who believe

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 that they are in the right

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 don't ask for mercy.

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 They ask for justice.

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 People who believe

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 that they are deserving

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 or entitled

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 to something,

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 they don't ask

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 for mercy.

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 They ask for payment.

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 They ask for their wage,

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 their reward.

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 People who cry

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 for mercy

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 are the people

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 who recognize

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 that they are undeserving,

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 but because of

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 their desperate need,

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 they plead for it

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 anyway.

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 And Paul

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 understands

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 his calling

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 to Christ,

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 his salvation

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 and his ministry

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 as God's act

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 of mercy.

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 He's a recipient

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 of mercy.

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 As 4th century

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 pastor and theologian

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 Augustine writes,

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 none he chooses

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 is worthy,

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 but choosing

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 he makes them

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 worthy.

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 That God

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 not only

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 would save him,

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 but also

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 entrust him

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 the gospel

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 to Paul,

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 that was

00:11:29.800 --> 00:11:31.620
 an undeniable

00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:32.100
 evidence

00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:32.920
 of God's

00:11:32.920 --> 00:11:33.360
 forgiveness

00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.680
 and grace.

00:11:35.900 --> 00:11:36.920
 19th century

00:11:36.920 --> 00:11:37.860
 British pastor

00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:38.820
 Charles Sargent

00:11:38.820 --> 00:11:39.560
 expressed

00:11:39.560 --> 00:11:40.860
 a similar sentiment

00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:41.500
 this way.

00:11:42.820 --> 00:11:43.700
 I've always

00:11:43.700 --> 00:11:44.659
 felt in my own

00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:45.060
 mind

00:11:45.060 --> 00:11:45.879
 that it was

00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:46.340
 one of the

00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:47.419
 clearest proofs

00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:47.840
 that I had

00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:48.680
 God's forgiveness

00:11:48.680 --> 00:11:49.740
 of my many sins

00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:50.840
 when I was

00:11:50.840 --> 00:11:51.560
 trusted to

00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:52.399
 preach the gospel.

00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:54.860
 I should think

00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:55.539
 that if a

00:11:55.539 --> 00:11:56.240
 prodigal came

00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:56.759
 back to his

00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:57.159
 father,

00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:58.440
 the old gentleman

00:11:58.440 --> 00:11:59.379
 would kiss him

00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:00.360
 and receive him

00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:01.100
 and rejoice

00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:02.379
 greatly over him,

00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:03.259
 but the next

00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:03.820
 Saturday,

00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:04.800
 the market day,

00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:06.060
 the old gentleman

00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:06.740
 would say,

00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:08.279
 I cannot send

00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:08.899
 young William

00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:09.399
 to market

00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:10.820
 that would be

00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:11.560
 putting temptation

00:12:11.560 --> 00:12:12.180
 in his way.

00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:13.159
 Here,

00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:13.600
 John,

00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:14.940
 you have always

00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:15.620
 been with me.

00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:16.820
 Go to market

00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:17.879
 and buy and sell

00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:18.320
 for me,

00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:19.360
 for all that I

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:20.159
 have is thine.

00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:21.180
 William,

00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:22.779
 you stay at home

00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:23.419
 with me.

00:12:25.060 --> 00:12:26.100
 He might not

00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:27.080
 let him see

00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:27.980
 all that he meant,

00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.080
 but he would say

00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:29.700
 to himself,

00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:31.000
 dear boy,

00:12:31.299 --> 00:12:33.039
 he's hardly fit

00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:34.200
 for that great trust.

00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:35.520
 I love him,

00:12:35.640 --> 00:12:36.080
 but still,

00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:37.500
 I hardly dare

00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.120
 trust him

00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:39.360
 as much as that.

00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:41.780
 But see

00:12:41.780 --> 00:12:42.860
 what my Lord

00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:43.759
 did with me.

00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:45.200
 When I came

00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:46.080
 home to him

00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:46.940
 as a poor

00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:47.700
 prodigal,

00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:48.580
 he said,

00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.820
 here is my gospel.

00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:51.300
 I will entrust

00:12:51.300 --> 00:12:51.860
 you with it.

00:12:52.280 --> 00:12:53.340
 Go and preach it.

00:12:54.060 --> 00:12:55.680
 I bless his name

00:12:55.680 --> 00:12:56.500
 that I have not

00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:57.660
 preached anything else

00:12:57.660 --> 00:12:58.740
 and I do not

00:12:58.740 --> 00:12:59.800
 mean to begin

00:12:59.800 --> 00:13:01.100
 to do so.

00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:03.600
 That God

00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:04.580
 would consider me

00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:05.200
 trustworthy

00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:06.460
 of stewarding

00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:07.000
 the gospel

00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:07.920
 of Jesus Christ,

00:13:08.300 --> 00:13:09.259
 this precious,

00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.560
 one-of-a-kind

00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:12.120
 message of salvation

00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:13.139
 for the world.

00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.680
 After all that

00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:15.320
 I had done

00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.000
 against him,

00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:17.779
 after all sins

00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:18.659
 I had committed,

00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:20.639
 what grace,

00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:22.759
 what mercy.

00:13:25.060 --> 00:13:25.980
 That's Paul's

00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:26.279
 sentiment.

00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:29.060
 Though Paul

00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:29.920
 was undeserving,

00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:30.660
 God saved him

00:13:30.660 --> 00:13:31.080
 and gave him

00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:32.139
 strength to be

00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:32.639
 an apostle

00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:33.500
 of Jesus Christ

00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.240
 to discharge

00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.699
 his sacred duty

00:13:35.699 --> 00:13:36.740
 of ministering

00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:37.179
 the gospel.

00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:37.659
 And that's why

00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.679
 Paul thanks God

00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:39.299
 for strengthening

00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:40.199
 him in verse 12.

00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:41.519
 It's God's

00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.340
 strengthening that

00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:43.059
 enables Paul

00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:43.799
 for the service

00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.659
 that he is called

00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:44.919
 to.

00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:46.679
 And Paul is here

00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:47.519
 speaking of his

00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.620
 Damascus encounter

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.340
 with the spirit

00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:49.860
 of Jesus

00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:50.720
 on his road

00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:51.399
 to Damascus.

00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:52.559
 Because for Paul,

00:13:52.659 --> 00:13:53.259
 his conversion

00:13:53.259 --> 00:13:53.919
 to Christianity

00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:54.879
 and his call

00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:55.500
 to ministry,

00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:56.039
 his commission

00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:56.779
 to Christian ministry

00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:58.319
 happened simultaneously.

00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:02.160
 And Paul speaks

00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:02.840
 of this reality

00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:04.120
 again in verse 14.

00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:05.320
 When he encountered

00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:05.740
 Jesus,

00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.340
 he says,

00:14:06.420 --> 00:14:07.680
 the grace of our

00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:09.340
 Lord overflowed

00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:09.740
 for me

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.060
 with the faith

00:14:11.060 --> 00:14:11.740
 and love

00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:12.440
 that are in

00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.600
 Christ Jesus.

00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.960
 This is the content,

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.080
 the substance

00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:17.780
 of the mercy

00:14:17.780 --> 00:14:18.620
 that he received

00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:19.240
 from Christ.

00:14:20.900 --> 00:14:22.200
 Remember the triad

00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:23.200
 of Paul's sins?

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:25.020
 This is,

00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:26.020
 he described himself

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:27.199
 as a blasphemer,

00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:28.699
 persecutor,

00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:29.779
 and insolent opponent.

00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:31.740
 Now that triad

00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:32.879
 of Paul's sins

00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:33.539
 now meets

00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.220
 the triad

00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:35.379
 of God's mercy.

00:14:36.079 --> 00:14:36.299
 He says,

00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:37.019
 the grace

00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:38.399
 and faith

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.639
 and love

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.240
 that are in

00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:41.039
 Christ Jesus

00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:42.179
 overflowed

00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:43.000
 for him.

00:14:43.699 --> 00:14:44.480
 And that word

00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.220
 overflowed

00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:46.279
 is emphasized here

00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:46.740
 in the Greek.

00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:47.120
 It's actually

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.059
 the first word.

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.120
 It's intentionally

00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.199
 fronted for emphasis.

00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.419
 And I love

00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:51.879
 that word.

00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.600
 It's an unusual,

00:14:53.939 --> 00:14:54.679
 rare word

00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:56.939
 that it's likely

00:14:56.939 --> 00:14:57.599
 actually Paul

00:14:57.599 --> 00:14:58.519
 probably coined

00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.579
 this word.

00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:01.419
 He made it up

00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:02.120
 to express

00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:02.959
 just how

00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:04.099
 super abundant

00:15:04.099 --> 00:15:06.359
 God's mercy is.

00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.259
 It's the same

00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:07.819
 kind of word

00:15:07.819 --> 00:15:08.679
 that Paul uses

00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:09.579
 in Romans 5

00:15:09.579 --> 00:15:10.159
 verse 20

00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.039
 where he says,

00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:11.919
 where sin

00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:12.779
 increased,

00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:14.379
 grace abounded

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.319
 all the more.

00:15:17.719 --> 00:15:18.740
 The grace

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.219
 of our Lord

00:15:19.219 --> 00:15:19.899
 Jesus Christ

00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:20.740
 along with

00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.759
 the faith

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.359
 and love

00:15:22.359 --> 00:15:23.519
 that are in him,

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:25.419
 it didn't drip

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.460
 down to us.

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.860
 It doesn't

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.799
 trickle down

00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:29.419
 to us.

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.899
 It overflowed.

00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.899
 It spilled over.

00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:34.079
 It was poured

00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:35.159
 out on us

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:36.519
 lavishly,

00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:37.659
 generously,

00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:39.720
 and unsparingly.

00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.039
 Whatever

00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:43.019
 Paul's sins

00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:43.399
 were,

00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:44.259
 they were

00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:45.259
 overmatched

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:46.519
 by God's

00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:46.899
 mercy.

00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:48.799
 Wherever

00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:49.960
 Paul had

00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.519
 multiplied

00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.500
 blasphemies,

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.600
 persecutions,

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.399
 and insolent

00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:53.960
 opposition,

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.460
 the grace,

00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:56.080
 faith,

00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:56.840
 and love

00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:57.240
 that are

00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:57.759
 found in

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:58.580
 Jesus Christ

00:15:58.580 --> 00:15:59.320
 abounded

00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:00.159
 all the more.

00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.279
 And so

00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:03.920
 Paul had

00:16:03.920 --> 00:16:04.600
 formerly acted

00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:05.279
 ignorantly in

00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.159
 unbelief as he

00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.080
 said in verse 13,

00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.159
 but now that

00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.040
 unbelief is

00:16:09.040 --> 00:16:10.060
 counteracted by

00:16:10.060 --> 00:16:10.920
 this faith that

00:16:10.920 --> 00:16:11.620
 he receives from

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:11.960
 Jesus.

00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:13.680
 Paul was

00:16:13.680 --> 00:16:14.279
 formerly a

00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:14.980
 persecutor of

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:15.480
 the church,

00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.860
 but now through

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.500
 Jesus he

00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.580
 receives love for

00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.320
 Christ and his

00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:19.660
 church.

00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:21.219
 And Paul was

00:16:21.219 --> 00:16:21.759
 formerly a

00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:22.620
 blasphemer and

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:23.199
 an insolent

00:16:23.199 --> 00:16:23.799
 opponent of

00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:24.079
 God,

00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:25.319
 but now through

00:16:25.319 --> 00:16:26.259
 Christ Jesus he

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:26.879
 becomes a

00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:27.639
 humble recipient

00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:28.439
 of grace.

00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:29.719
 Grace means

00:16:29.719 --> 00:16:30.740
 unmerited favor,

00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:32.279
 a gift from

00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:32.579
 God.

00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:35.240
 And if you're a

00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:35.939
 Christian, this is

00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:36.879
 true for you too.

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.419
 Notice that Paul

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.279
 doesn't say in

00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:41.019
 verse 14,

00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:42.740
 the grace of my

00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:44.059
 Lord overflowed

00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:44.439
 for me.

00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.860
 He says the

00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.980
 grace of our

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:48.639
 Lord overflowed

00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:50.019
 for me, our

00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.240
 Lord, because

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:51.659
 Paul is

00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.360
 addressing his

00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:52.819
 letter to

00:16:52.819 --> 00:16:53.860
 Timothy, his

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.360
 disciple.

00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:55.539
 And by

00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.639
 extension, this

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.480
 statement applies

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.840
 to all who

00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.699
 confess Jesus

00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:01.039
 Christ as their

00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:01.340
 Lord.

00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:03.919
 His grace, along

00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.639
 with faith and

00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:05.400
 love, has

00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:06.980
 overflowed for

00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:07.259
 you.

00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.079
 And Christ

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.879
 himself is the

00:17:13.879 --> 00:17:14.619
 fountainhead of

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:15.059
 all this

00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:16.019
 overflowing grace,

00:17:16.139 --> 00:17:16.720
 faith, and love.

00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:18.160
 Christ Jesus is

00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:18.880
 mentioned four

00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:19.700
 times in this

00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.500
 passage alone.

00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.519
 And Paul says

00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.440
 in verse 14 that

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.259
 all these things

00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:25.319
 overflowed for him

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:27.279
 in Christ Jesus.

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.140
 That's one of the

00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:31.819
 most important

00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.660
 phrases in the

00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:33.339
 entire Bible.

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.460
 It's used nearly

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.600
 90 times in the

00:17:36.600 --> 00:17:37.299
 New Testament that

00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.819
 we are in Christ

00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.559
 Jesus.

00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.579
 It speaks of our

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.660
 union with Christ,

00:17:42.100 --> 00:17:43.220
 that we participate

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.640
 in Christ, that we

00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:45.819
 are identified with

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.439
 Christ, that we

00:17:46.439 --> 00:17:47.220
 are incorporated

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.679
 into Christ.

00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.599
 And what this

00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.679
 means, when Jesus

00:17:50.679 --> 00:17:51.879
 was born in human

00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:53.279
 likeness, he was

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.399
 born to identify

00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:55.759
 with us so that he

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.599
 can represent us, so

00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:58.500
 that he can bear our

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.579
 sins and iniquities

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.500
 and die on the

00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:02.179
 cross in our place,

00:18:02.179 --> 00:18:03.460
 and so that he can

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.639
 be raised from the

00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:05.659
 dead, so that we

00:18:05.659 --> 00:18:06.599
 can be united with

00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:08.220
 him by faith and be

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.619
 restored to God and

00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.679
 to spend eternity

00:18:10.679 --> 00:18:11.240
 with him.

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:13.980
 That's the sweetest

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:14.759
 thing you could hear

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:16.440
 as a Christian, that

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:18.140
 we are in Christ

00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:19.000
 Jesus.

00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:21.240
 We are not in Adam

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.000
 anymore, our

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.380
 forefather who

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.460
 sinned against God

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.480
 and plunged us into

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.460
 our current state of

00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:27.200
 brokenness and

00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:27.779
 fallenness.

00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:29.160
 We are now in

00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:29.660
 Christ.

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.420
 We're in Christ.

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.019
 That means we are

00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:32.819
 not on our own

00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.160
 anymore.

00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:34.180
 We don't stand on

00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:35.680
 our own to bear the

00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.500
 punishment for our

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.620
 sins all to

00:18:37.620 --> 00:18:38.140
 ourselves.

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.740
 No, we are now in

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:41.000
 Christ because he

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.160
 paid for all our

00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:42.500
 sins.

00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:45.039
 That's what

00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:45.779
 Christmas is all

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.039
 about.

00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:48.180
 It's about the

00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.980
 gospel of Jesus

00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:50.720
 Christ, the good

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.640
 news of salvation.

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.859
 And verse 15 is as

00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:55.640
 good a summary of

00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:56.339
 the gospel as you

00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:57.019
 will find in the

00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.620
 entire Bible.

00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:00.599
 The saying is

00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.980
 trustworthy and

00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:02.980
 deserving of full

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:04.220
 acceptance that

00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.680
 Christ Jesus came

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.559
 into the world to

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.180
 save sinners of

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:09.380
 whom I am the

00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:09.940
 foremost.

00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.700
 This is the focal

00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.440
 point of this

00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:13.420
 entire passage.

00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:18.600
 This passage also

00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.580
 has a mirroring

00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:20.360
 structure that we've

00:19:20.360 --> 00:19:21.760
 seen throughout the

00:19:21.760 --> 00:19:22.420
 gospel of Luke.

00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:24.020
 Verse 12 and

00:19:24.020 --> 00:19:25.160
 verse 17, they

00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:26.020
 match each other,

00:19:26.080 --> 00:19:26.660
 they mirror each

00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:26.860
 other.

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.140
 He began with

00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:28.840
 thanksgiving to

00:19:28.840 --> 00:19:29.820
 God, he ends with

00:19:29.820 --> 00:19:31.820
 praise to God, and

00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:32.600
 he gives a

00:19:32.600 --> 00:19:33.740
 contrasting statement

00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.900
 about how sinful he

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.760
 was and how

00:19:35.760 --> 00:19:36.840
 merciful God was

00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:37.800
 toward him in

00:19:37.800 --> 00:19:39.000
 verses 13 to 14

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.839
 and verse 16.

00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:40.819
 Those two verses

00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:42.160
 match each other.

00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.740
 And the only verse

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.759
 that stands by

00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.740
 itself without a

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.619
 matching element is

00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:48.500
 verse 15 because

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.420
 that's the center,

00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:51.180
 the crux that he's

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:52.140
 trying to bring our

00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:52.980
 attention to.

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.640
 And that's this, the

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:56.019
 saying is trustworthy

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.500
 and deserving of

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.859
 full acceptance that

00:19:58.859 --> 00:20:00.160
 Christ Jesus came into

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.039
 the world to save

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.839
 sinners of whom I am

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.359
 the foremost.

00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:03.619
 most.

00:20:04.979 --> 00:20:06.139
 In his letters to

00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:07.059
 Timothy and Titus,

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.319
 five times Paul

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.139
 introduces a

00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:10.319
 statement with this

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.419
 phrase, the saying

00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:12.719
 is trustworthy.

00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:14.939
 That's a signal that

00:20:14.939 --> 00:20:15.899
 Paul is about to

00:20:15.899 --> 00:20:17.539
 quote something, some

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.639
 piece of church

00:20:18.639 --> 00:20:20.659
 creed, a traditional

00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:21.639
 dogma that's been

00:20:21.639 --> 00:20:23.479
 handed down that his

00:20:23.479 --> 00:20:24.319
 audience would already

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.219
 be familiar with.

00:20:25.679 --> 00:20:27.000
 This is a truth that

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.019
 is trustworthy that you

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.839
 already know and

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:30.119
 believe because this is

00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:31.579
 what Christians of

00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:33.000
 all, all Christians in

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.019
 all places at all

00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:35.479
 times have believed.

00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:37.279
 It's trustworthy and

00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:38.139
 deserving of full

00:20:38.139 --> 00:20:39.539
 acceptance that Christ

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.759
 Jesus came into the

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:42.199
 world to save sinners.

00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:43.219
 And remember the word

00:20:43.219 --> 00:20:45.139
 trustworthy is emphatic

00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:46.179
 because he's repeated

00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:47.379
 different forms of this

00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:49.299
 word six times already

00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:50.559
 in mere seven verses.

00:20:50.959 --> 00:20:52.459
 He's emphasizing the

00:20:52.459 --> 00:20:53.519
 importance of faith.

00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:55.059
 That's why Christians are

00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.919
 called believers.

00:20:56.919 --> 00:20:58.199
 And this is what you

00:20:58.199 --> 00:20:59.679
 must believe above

00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.840
 everything else.

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.900
 The saying is

00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:03.400
 trustworthy, deserving

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.480
 of full acceptance

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:06.180
 that Christ Jesus came

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:07.400
 into the world to save

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:09.480
 sinners of whom I am

00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.160
 the foremost.

00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.900
 That's the gospel of

00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:13.560
 Jesus Christ.

00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:16.580
 And it's good news

00:21:16.580 --> 00:21:18.360
 because Jesus said

00:21:18.360 --> 00:21:19.980
 earlier in Luke 5, 31

00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:22.320
 and 32, those who are

00:21:22.320 --> 00:21:23.980
 well have no need of a

00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:25.720
 physician, but those who

00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.360
 are sick.

00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:28.960
 I have not come to call

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:30.680
 the righteous, but

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:32.880
 sinners to repentance.

00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:37.440
 Salvation is not a

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.059
 tryout.

00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:42.079
 It's a bailout.

00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:45.120
 It's not for the

00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:45.460
 righteous.

00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.779
 It's for sinners.

00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:51.039
 It's not help for those

00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:51.860
 who help themselves.

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:54.200
 It's help for those who

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.759
 can't help themselves.

00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:58.200
 It's not the survival of

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.539
 the fittest or the

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.079
 holiest.

00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.839
 It is the salvation of

00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.839
 those who humble

00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:04.440
 themselves and acknowledge

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:06.039
 their sinfulness and

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.740
 unworthiness before God.

00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:12.279
 There will be no saint in

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:14.740
 heaven that pats himself

00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.720
 on the back and says,

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.900
 oh, I got here because of

00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:17.900
 my many good deeds.

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.940
 Not a single one.

00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:23.080
 There will be no saint in

00:22:23.080 --> 00:22:25.140
 heaven who does not think

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.400
 himself to be a sinner

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:29.039
 saved by God's mercy.

00:22:31.320 --> 00:22:32.740
 If you think you're a good

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:35.500
 person, if you think you

00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:37.019
 deserve to go to heaven,

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:39.140
 surely if anyone gets in,

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:39.880
 I'll qualify.

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:43.100
 If that's you, you are part

00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:45.640
 of the most at-risk population

00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:47.960
 for falling into the fires

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.300
 of hell.

00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.500
 Because you're self-righteous.

00:22:54.080 --> 00:22:55.200
 Because you're prideful.

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.820
 Because you think you are

00:22:57.820 --> 00:23:00.340
 self-sufficient and have no

00:23:00.340 --> 00:23:02.160
 need for God's salvation.

00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:08.660
 Jesus is not saying that

00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:10.000
 there are actually people who

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.300
 are not sick and therefore

00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:12.000
 don't need help.

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:16.380
 There's no one righteous.

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:18.660
 Everyone is sick with sin.

00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:20.160
 And only those who

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:22.059
 acknowledge that fact

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:23.440
 and come to Jesus,

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.519
 the great physician for

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:26.119
 healing, will be saved.

00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:28.660
 Yes, the church is a

00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:29.799
 hospital for the sick.

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.740
 But it's not a hospital for

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:33.279
 people who refuse treatment

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:34.640
 insisting that they're not

00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.000
 sick.

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.259
 Church is for those who

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.299
 acknowledge their

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:41.799
 sinfulness.

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.960
 The saying is trustworthy

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.180
 and deserving of full

00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:47.059
 acceptance that Christ Jesus

00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:49.000
 came into the world to save

00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:51.019
 sinners of whom I am the

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.419
 foremost.

00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:55.519
 Paul considers himself to be

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:57.319
 the foremost sinner.

00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.599
 Can you believe that?

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.180
 And it almost sounds like

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.119
 he's proud of it.

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.419
 Why is that?

00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:06.259
 It's because the worse

00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:07.539
 sinner that he is,

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:10.319
 the more sins that he admits

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:12.700
 do, the greater the grace

00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:15.220
 that overflowed from Christ

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:16.259
 Jesus to him.

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.960
 Highlighting his own

00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.839
 sinfulness, Paul understands,

00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:25.200
 magnifies the mercy of God.

00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.899
 That's why as Christians,

00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:30.439
 we don't have to hide our

00:24:30.439 --> 00:24:32.399
 sins and wear masks and

00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:33.579
 pretend that everything is

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:33.859
 okay.

00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.679
 We don't have to be

00:24:35.679 --> 00:24:36.179
 defensive.

00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:39.600
 We should freely confess our

00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:41.160
 sins to one another in order

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:43.320
 to magnify the grace of God

00:24:43.320 --> 00:24:43.960
 in our lives.

00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:46.460
 And it's by confessing our

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.519
 sins to one another that we

00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:49.440
 receive God's mercy and find

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:51.580
 healing, as it says in James 5,

00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:51.980
 16.

00:24:53.580 --> 00:24:56.620
 A Christian should live with an

00:24:56.620 --> 00:24:58.759
 ever-present awareness that he

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.799
 is a forgiven sinner.

00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.000
 That's who we are.

00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.779
 That's what Paul did.

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:04.119
 That's why he uses the present

00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:05.000
 tense when he says,

00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:07.440
 I am the foremost.

00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:10.500
 Not because he's currently

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:12.079
 blaspheming God and

00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.059
 persecuting the church.

00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:15.579
 No, he is living a holy life now.

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:18.339
 But still he says, I am the

00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:20.339
 foremost because he is

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:23.399
 ever-presently aware of what a

00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:25.539
 sinner he once was and how much

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:27.399
 he has been forgiven by God.

00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:30.240
 John Stott, a British

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.400
 theologian puts it this way.

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:35.380
 Paul was so vividly aware of his

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:37.299
 own sins that he could not

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:39.819
 conceive that anybody could be

00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.299
 worse.

00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:45.960
 Are you more aware of your own

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:48.640
 sins or of the sins of others?

00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:55.339
 We're not responsible for other

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.120
 people's sins.

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.460
 We're not going to be held

00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:59.799
 accountable for them by God.

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:03.200
 But you will be held accountable

00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.500
 for all of your own sins.

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:10.500
 Now that doesn't mean as a

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.880
 church we keep each other

00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.319
 accountable.

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:14.160
 That is, we're called to that as

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:15.740
 brothers and sisters in Christ.

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:17.380
 What I'm speaking about is

00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:18.339
 payment for sin.

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.559
 You're not going to have to pay

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.779
 for someone else's sin in the

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.019
 end.

00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:24.799
 But you will have to pay for all

00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:26.640
 of your own sins.

00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:30.880
 So are you aware of your own

00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.220
 sins?

00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.900
 Remember your sins.

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:38.280
 Remember what you were formerly

00:26:38.280 --> 00:26:40.440
 like so that you can remember

00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:43.320
 the mercy of Christ and so that

00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:45.000
 you don't lose your sense of

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:47.020
 wonder at God's mercy.

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:50.900
 17th century.

00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:51.680
 I don't know.

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:53.240
 I didn't realize I was quoting all

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:55.420
 these English pastors and

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:55.940
 theologians.

00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:57.079
 It's like the third one.

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:59.680
 The 17th century English pastor,

00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:03.180
 they produce some good theologians,

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.519
 I guess.

00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:03.759
 Yeah.

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:07.079
 John Bunyan in his autobiography,

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.740
 which is so aptly titled,

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:11.400
 Grace Abounding to the Chief of

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:11.879
 Sinners.

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.940
 He writes this,

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:17.140
 Oh, the remembrance of my great

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:19.559
 sins, of my great temptations,

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:21.940
 and of my great fears of perishing

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.440
 forever.

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:25.379
 They bring afresh into my mind the

00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:27.920
 remembrance of my great help, my

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:29.839
 great support from heaven, and the

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:32.379
 great grace that God extended to

00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:34.620
 such a wretch as I.

00:27:36.040 --> 00:27:37.480
 Christian brothers and sisters,

00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:40.440
 it is our daily duty to remember

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:43.280
 our sins so that we can remember

00:27:43.280 --> 00:27:46.100
 Christ's mercy because only then

00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:47.940
 we will be filled with joy and

00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:48.420
 gratitude.

00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:51.420
 Only then will our hearts delight in

00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:53.580
 Christ rather than in the relatively

00:27:53.580 --> 00:27:55.820
 trivial and fleeting pleasures of

00:27:55.820 --> 00:27:56.300
 this world.

00:27:57.240 --> 00:28:00.080
 Only then will your heart be fortified

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:02.899
 against pride and self-righteousness.

00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:08.939
 And if you're not yet a follower of

00:28:08.939 --> 00:28:11.740
 Christ, this is what the good news

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.720
 means for you.

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:16.579
 Maybe you are a blasphemer,

00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:18.919
 persecutor, and insolent opponent.

00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:24.099
 Maybe you're a thief, a domestic

00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:26.279
 abuser, and a murderer.

00:28:28.719 --> 00:28:32.659
 Maybe you're a gossip, a liar, a

00:28:32.659 --> 00:28:32.959
 slanderer.

00:28:35.199 --> 00:28:38.439
 Maybe you're a porn addict, alcoholic,

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:40.199
 or a drug addict.

00:28:41.959 --> 00:28:45.279
 Maybe you're a fornicator, a

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:48.199
 homosexual, or an adulterer.

00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:53.480
 Maybe you're a sexist, a

00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:55.740
 Jewish, and a racist.

00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:02.200
 Whatever your past is like,

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:06.840
 whoever you might be, if you would

00:29:06.840 --> 00:29:11.000
 only repent of your sins and believe

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:12.900
 in Jesus Christ for salvation,

00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:17.780
 if you would only renounce yourself,

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:20.519
 your own sovereignty and independence,

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:23.519
 and pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ,

00:29:24.080 --> 00:29:26.560
 then from the fountainhead of Jesus

00:29:26.560 --> 00:29:29.140
 will flow, overflow for you,

00:29:29.540 --> 00:29:33.380
 grace, love, faith sufficient to meet

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:34.200
 all of your needs.

00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:43.319
 Where sin increased, his grace will

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:44.460
 abound all the more.

00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:47.819
 And not only that, he will empower you

00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:51.980
 and entrust to you the precious gospel

00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.860
 of Jesus Christ.

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:56.380
 He will make you his ambassador,

00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:59.340
 his representative to relay his message

00:29:59.340 --> 00:30:00.779
 of salvation to the world.

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:04.660
 Not everybody is called to proclaim

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:08.759
 the gospel as a vocation, as his job.

00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:11.539
 But if you are a Christian,

00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:16.879
 it is your calling to share the gospel

00:30:16.879 --> 00:30:18.859
 of Jesus Christ with your family,

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:21.259
 friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:24.799
 That is the calling of every single Christian.

00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:31.720
 It is amazing grace that God would entrust to us

00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:33.119
 the precious gospel of Jesus

00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:36.079
 to sinners like us.

00:30:37.859 --> 00:30:41.139
 And having given his profile as a recipient of mercy,

00:30:41.659 --> 00:30:44.419
 Paul proceeds to talk about the reasons for mercy,

00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.980
 and he gives two reasons.

00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:49.139
 One is in verse 13, and another in verse 16.

00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:50.259
 He says in verse 13,

00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:57.500
 It's the first reason.

00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:01.240
 Paul's not saying that he deserved mercy

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:04.160
 because he has sinned ignorantly in unbelief.

00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:06.059
 As I've explained,

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:09.079
 deserved mercy is a contradiction in terms.

00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.759
 Now, think of it this way.

00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:13.640
 If you're pulled over by a police officer

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:16.740
 for going 80 on a 60-mile-per-hour highway,

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:20.019
 it's no use for you to tell him,

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:22.400
 I didn't know the speed limit was 60.

00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:24.740
 You're still going to get your ticket

00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:28.920
 because ignorance does not erase your guilt.

00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:33.160
 You're still guilty of the misdemeanor or infraction.

00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:36.720
 However, if you tell the police officer

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:39.680
 that you are speeding because you got a phone call,

00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:41.519
 that your wife is giving birth,

00:31:43.120 --> 00:31:45.259
 he will probably still give you a ticket.

00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:49.299
 But he might be more gracious to you

00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:52.500
 because that's a mitigating factor.

00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:55.680
 What Paul's saying here is similar to that.

00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:58.680
 He's not saying that ignorance and unbelief

00:31:58.680 --> 00:32:01.460
 makes him deserving of mercy.

00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:03.720
 He's saying that ignorance and unbelief

00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:05.200
 were a mitigating factor

00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:07.140
 that God took into consideration.

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:10.500
 Ignorance does not diminish your guilt,

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:14.059
 but it does make pardon and forgiveness easier.

00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:18.319
 The Bible consistently makes the distinction

00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:22.039
 between unintentional sins and defiant sins,

00:32:22.179 --> 00:32:25.879
 or between ignorant sins and willful sins.

00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:29.460
 For example, Numbers 15, 22-31

00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:31.460
 prescribes various sin offerings

00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:33.440
 for unintentional sins.

00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:35.879
 But at the end of that passage in verse 30,

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.299
 it says,

00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:52.819
 In other words,

00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:56.419
 all kinds of unintentional sins may be forgiven,

00:32:56.419 --> 00:32:59.819
 but there is no forgiveness for willful,

00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:03.220
 knowing, presumptuous, defiant,

00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:05.679
 high-handed sins against God.

00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:08.819
 That's what Bible calls elsewhere

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:10.539
 the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:12.000
 To know God,

00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:15.079
 to have experienced something of His presence,

00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:18.779
 and yet to defy Him,

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.220
 to turn against Him,

00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:22.519
 and with a high hand sin against Him.

00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:26.740
 Luke also makes this distinction later

00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:28.160
 in Luke 23, verse 34,

00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.799
 when Jesus is hanging on the cross,

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:33.100
 He prays for the people that are crucifying Him.

00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:33.539
 He says,

00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:35.180
 Father, forgive them,

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:38.360
 for they know not what they do.

00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:42.720
 On the basis that people who are crucifying Jesus

00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:45.039
 don't know what they're actually doing,

00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:46.860
 Jesus prays on their behalf

00:33:46.860 --> 00:33:49.220
 that God might mercifully forgive them.

00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:52.400
 So what Paul's saying here is similar.

00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:55.140
 He's saying that God mercifully took into account

00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:57.440
 the fact that Paul was formerly acting

00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:59.140
 ignorantly in unbelief.

00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:02.160
 That's the first reason.

00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:04.339
 And the second reason for mercy

00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:05.660
 is given in verse 16.

00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:09.420
 But I received mercy for this reason,

00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:11.099
 that in me,

00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.500
 as the foremost,

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:14.639
 Jesus Christ might display

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.199
 His perfect patience

00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:18.059
 as an example to those

00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:19.299
 who were to believe in Him

00:34:19.299 --> 00:34:20.339
 for eternal life.

00:34:20.859 --> 00:34:24.159
 This is so remarkable to me.

00:34:26.379 --> 00:34:28.000
 This is Apostle Paul

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:29.919
 giving the reason

00:34:29.919 --> 00:34:32.079
 why he thinks he was saved.

00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:36.079
 Remember that this is

00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:37.699
 arguably,

00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:40.500
 and in my mind pretty clearly,

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:44.800
 the best theologian to ever live on earth.

00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:46.940
 Not counting Jesus, of course.

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.219
 He's the object of theology.

00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:48.820
 He's God.

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:54.739
 This is Apostle Paul

00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:56.260
 who wrote most of the New Testament,

00:34:57.260 --> 00:35:00.260
 inspired the authoritative word of God.

00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:01.840
 This is Apostle Paul

00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:03.239
 who planted churches

00:35:03.239 --> 00:35:06.099
 in most of the known world at the time.

00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:08.059
 This is the Apostle Paul

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:10.420
 probably because of his preaching of the gospel.

00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:12.239
 Tens of thousands of people

00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:14.239
 are now in the presence of the Lord.

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.319
 And he says,

00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:17.460
 what's the reason

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:19.039
 why God saved me?

00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:20.460
 He does not say,

00:35:21.339 --> 00:35:23.199
 God gave me mercy

00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:24.759
 so that I might become

00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:26.139
 the greatest theologian in the world

00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:27.380
 and write most of the New Testament.

00:35:30.219 --> 00:35:31.460
 He doesn't say,

00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:32.599
 God gave me mercy

00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:33.339
 because he knew

00:35:33.339 --> 00:35:34.480
 that I would plant churches

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.599
 in most of the known world

00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:36.779
 and share the gospel

00:35:36.779 --> 00:35:38.199
 with tens of thousands of people.

00:35:39.079 --> 00:35:39.860
 Paul says,

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:42.119
 this is why he thinks he was saved.

00:35:42.360 --> 00:35:43.239
 He received mercy.

00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:45.400
 No, God gave me mercy

00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:47.380
 so that he could use me

00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:48.639
 as an example

00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:50.119
 of how gracious

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:52.539
 and patient he is.

00:35:54.739 --> 00:35:56.839
 Because I'm such a wretched sinner.

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:59.420
 Because I'm so undeserving

00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.319
 of his salvation.

00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:02.539
 That's why God saved me.

00:36:02.759 --> 00:36:04.360
 So that when people look at me,

00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:05.280
 they will say,

00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:06.559
 well, if God could save him,

00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:07.760
 he could surely save me.

00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:11.780
 If God would have mercy on me,

00:36:12.039 --> 00:36:13.240
 he would surely have mercy on me.

00:36:13.240 --> 00:36:13.960
 On him,

00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:15.320
 he would surely have mercy on me.

00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:17.180
 That's why Paul thinks

00:36:17.180 --> 00:36:19.579
 God had mercy on him.

00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:24.440
 Jesus didn't save us

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.599
 because we're great.

00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:29.000
 He saves us

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:30.059
 because he's great.

00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:37.079
 Jesus didn't save us

00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:39.219
 because he saw great potential in us.

00:36:41.819 --> 00:36:42.980
 He saves us

00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:44.299
 because he sees in us

00:36:44.299 --> 00:36:45.199
 a potential

00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:47.299
 to reveal God's mercy

00:36:47.299 --> 00:36:48.019
 and grace in.

00:36:48.019 --> 00:36:54.639
 brothers and sisters,

00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:56.159
 we're in trouble

00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:57.880
 if we start to be more impressed

00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:58.599
 with ourselves

00:36:58.599 --> 00:36:59.500
 than with God.

00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:02.940
 If we start to be more impressed

00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:04.119
 with our own righteousness

00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:05.719
 than with God's mercy.

00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:10.139
 Salvation is not

00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:11.800
 primarily about us.

00:37:11.800 --> 00:37:13.740
 the primary purpose

00:37:13.740 --> 00:37:14.820
 of our salvation

00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:16.019
 is to display

00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:17.660
 the glory of God,

00:37:17.900 --> 00:37:19.019
 to display

00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:20.440
 the mercy of God.

00:37:20.660 --> 00:37:21.860
 That's why Paul

00:37:21.860 --> 00:37:22.560
 concludes,

00:37:22.720 --> 00:37:23.180
 fittingly,

00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:24.039
 this passage

00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:25.360
 with praise to God.

00:37:28.060 --> 00:37:29.280
 And that brings me

00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:30.080
 to my final point,

00:37:30.180 --> 00:37:31.480
 the response to mercy.

00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:33.560
 Paul began this passage

00:37:33.560 --> 00:37:35.039
 with thanksgiving to Christ

00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:35.780
 in verse 12.

00:37:35.780 --> 00:37:37.260
 I thank him

00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:38.900
 who has given me strength,

00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:40.080
 Christ Jesus,

00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:40.720
 our Lord,

00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:41.920
 because he judged me

00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.500
 faithful,

00:37:42.920 --> 00:37:43.480
 appointing me

00:37:43.480 --> 00:37:44.260
 to his service.

00:37:44.600 --> 00:37:45.640
 And he also ends

00:37:45.640 --> 00:37:46.260
 this passage

00:37:46.260 --> 00:37:47.320
 with praise to God

00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:47.780
 in verse 17.

00:37:48.780 --> 00:37:50.360
 To the king of the ages,

00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:51.280
 immortal,

00:37:51.800 --> 00:37:52.280
 invisible,

00:37:52.740 --> 00:37:53.680
 the only God,

00:37:53.960 --> 00:37:55.580
 be honor and glory

00:37:55.580 --> 00:37:56.860
 forever and ever.

00:37:57.320 --> 00:37:57.800
 Amen.

00:37:57.800 --> 00:37:58.040
 Amen.

00:37:58.039 --> 00:38:03.000
 And in this concluding verse,

00:38:03.779 --> 00:38:04.840
 Paul describes God

00:38:04.840 --> 00:38:06.079
 with the triad again

00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:07.000
 of attributes.

00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:11.239
 Remember Christ's grace,

00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:11.739
 faith,

00:38:11.779 --> 00:38:12.159
 and love

00:38:12.159 --> 00:38:13.279
 overflow to meet

00:38:13.279 --> 00:38:14.699
 Paul's blasphemy,

00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:15.380
 persecution,

00:38:15.659 --> 00:38:16.619
 and insolence.

00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:18.619
 Now all honor and glory

00:38:18.619 --> 00:38:20.000
 is due to God

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:21.559
 because he is the king

00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:22.320
 of the ages,

00:38:22.599 --> 00:38:23.099
 immortal,

00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:23.960
 invisible.

00:38:24.779 --> 00:38:25.699
 These three words,

00:38:25.800 --> 00:38:26.500
 the word ages

00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.480
 is the exact same

00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:27.900
 Greek word

00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:28.519
 that's translated

00:38:28.519 --> 00:38:29.260
 in verse 16

00:38:29.260 --> 00:38:29.880
 as eternal.

00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:31.320
 So it's saying

00:38:31.320 --> 00:38:32.159
 that God

00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:32.699
 is the king

00:38:32.699 --> 00:38:33.240
 of the ages,

00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:33.960
 meaning king

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:34.719
 of all ages,

00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:35.840
 king of eternity.

00:38:37.539 --> 00:38:38.659
 And in the Greek,

00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:39.559
 the word ages,

00:38:39.719 --> 00:38:40.059
 immortal,

00:38:40.219 --> 00:38:40.639
 invisible,

00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:41.920
 they all start

00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:42.500
 with the exact

00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:43.240
 same letter.

00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:44.599
 So it's alliterative.

00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:46.159
 So to capture

00:38:46.159 --> 00:38:46.740
 that in English,

00:38:46.820 --> 00:38:47.260
 we might say

00:38:47.260 --> 00:38:48.019
 something like this,

00:38:48.260 --> 00:38:48.980
 to the king

00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:50.019
 of infinity,

00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.119
 immortal,

00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:51.860
 invisible,

00:38:52.280 --> 00:38:53.420
 the only God,

00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:54.900
 be honor and glory

00:38:54.900 --> 00:38:56.380
 forever and ever.

00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:57.199
 Amen.

00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:57.699
 Amen.

00:38:59.099 --> 00:39:00.119
 Because salvation

00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:01.559
 is entirely of God.

00:39:02.280 --> 00:39:03.199
 Only God

00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:03.980
 deserves the honor

00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:04.440
 and glory.

00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:06.199
 We can't take

00:39:06.199 --> 00:39:07.340
 an ounce of credit

00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:08.820
 for our own salvation.

00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:10.659
 God deserves

00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:11.559
 all the honor

00:39:11.559 --> 00:39:12.260
 and glory

00:39:12.260 --> 00:39:13.519
 because the basis

00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:14.380
 of our salvation

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:15.760
 is not our merit,

00:39:16.380 --> 00:39:17.840
 but God's mercy.

00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:19.260
 Only God

00:39:19.260 --> 00:39:19.920
 deserves

00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:20.559
 the honor

00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:21.460
 and glory

00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:21.900
 forever.

00:39:23.900 --> 00:39:24.960
 Think about this.

00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:26.159
 God is infinite.

00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:27.960
 We are

00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:30.240
 bound to time,

00:39:30.860 --> 00:39:31.340
 temporal,

00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:32.960
 perishing,

00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:34.900
 finite beings.

00:39:36.579 --> 00:39:37.720
 God's immortal

00:39:37.720 --> 00:39:38.980
 and incorruptible.

00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:40.659
 We are decaying

00:39:40.659 --> 00:39:42.679
 and dying.

00:39:46.240 --> 00:39:47.320
 God dwells

00:39:47.320 --> 00:39:48.820
 in unapproachable light.

00:39:49.240 --> 00:39:50.360
 He's transcendent.

00:39:50.460 --> 00:39:51.420
 He's untouchable.

00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.380
 He's invisible.

00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:54.300
 But we are visible.

00:39:54.760 --> 00:39:55.619
 We're touchable.

00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:58.659
 We're flesh and bones.

00:40:00.019 --> 00:40:00.659
 And yet,

00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:02.920
 this God

00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:05.019
 deigns to send

00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:05.940
 His Son

00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:07.619
 in the form of man

00:40:07.619 --> 00:40:09.340
 to save

00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:10.420
 us.

00:40:10.420 --> 00:40:15.900
 this makes God's mercy

00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:17.619
 all the more staggering.

00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:20.980
 This is not

00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:22.820
 dispassionate,

00:40:22.940 --> 00:40:23.119
 you know,

00:40:23.180 --> 00:40:24.480
 abstract theology

00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:24.980
 for Paul.

00:40:25.740 --> 00:40:26.460
 That's why he

00:40:26.460 --> 00:40:28.039
 spontaneously breaks out

00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:28.760
 into praise

00:40:28.760 --> 00:40:29.579
 in verse 17.

00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:30.820
 This is for him

00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:31.680
 very practical

00:40:31.680 --> 00:40:33.240
 and very personal.

00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:34.519
 For him,

00:40:34.680 --> 00:40:35.200
 theology,

00:40:35.200 --> 00:40:36.079
 which is the study

00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:36.639
 of God,

00:40:36.920 --> 00:40:37.860
 always leads

00:40:37.860 --> 00:40:39.079
 to doxology,

00:40:39.079 --> 00:40:40.519
 which is the worship

00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:41.099
 of God.

00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:43.400
 That's how theology

00:40:43.400 --> 00:40:44.219
 should be.

00:40:44.579 --> 00:40:45.539
 It should be steeped

00:40:45.539 --> 00:40:46.179
 in gratitude.

00:40:46.940 --> 00:40:48.079
 It should be impassioned

00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:49.159
 with love for God.

00:40:49.639 --> 00:40:50.179
 It should be

00:40:50.179 --> 00:40:51.099
 bubbling over

00:40:51.099 --> 00:40:51.980
 at all times

00:40:51.980 --> 00:40:52.940
 with praise

00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:54.279
 and worship to God.

00:40:54.539 --> 00:40:56.460
 That's true theology.

00:40:56.860 --> 00:40:57.719
 And that's why Paul

00:40:57.719 --> 00:40:59.380
 uses so many personal pronouns

00:40:59.380 --> 00:41:00.400
 in this passage.

00:41:01.079 --> 00:41:02.500
 He uses the personal pronoun

00:41:02.500 --> 00:41:02.980
 I

00:41:02.980 --> 00:41:03.920
 six times

00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:05.400
 and the pronoun

00:41:05.400 --> 00:41:05.860
 me

00:41:05.860 --> 00:41:06.539
 twice.

00:41:06.539 --> 00:41:08.920
 The mercy

00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:09.539
 of Christ

00:41:09.539 --> 00:41:10.360
 is personal

00:41:10.360 --> 00:41:11.000
 to Paul

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:12.199
 and likewise

00:41:12.199 --> 00:41:13.039
 we ought to

00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:13.579
 personally

00:41:13.579 --> 00:41:14.699
 entrust ourselves

00:41:14.699 --> 00:41:15.699
 to Christ Jesus

00:41:15.699 --> 00:41:17.039
 who saves sinners

00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:18.139
 by his mercy.

00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:21.059
 Brothers and sisters,

00:41:21.219 --> 00:41:21.679
 I know

00:41:21.679 --> 00:41:22.320
 that you

00:41:22.320 --> 00:41:23.380
 understand

00:41:23.380 --> 00:41:24.400
 the gospel

00:41:24.400 --> 00:41:25.259
 of Jesus Christ

00:41:25.259 --> 00:41:25.840
 in your head

00:41:25.840 --> 00:41:26.539
 and that you believe

00:41:26.539 --> 00:41:27.279
 that it's true.

00:41:27.699 --> 00:41:28.679
 But I want to ask you

00:41:28.679 --> 00:41:29.179
 this morning,

00:41:29.619 --> 00:41:30.440
 is the gospel

00:41:30.440 --> 00:41:31.519
 of Jesus Christ

00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:32.440
 real

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:33.880
 in your heart

00:41:33.880 --> 00:41:34.860
 this morning?

00:41:34.860 --> 00:41:40.039
 or is it just

00:41:40.039 --> 00:41:41.079
 theoretical to you?

00:41:45.340 --> 00:41:46.480
 Is the mercy

00:41:46.480 --> 00:41:47.500
 of Jesus Christ

00:41:47.500 --> 00:41:48.760
 personal to you?

00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.900
 Can you speak of it

00:41:49.900 --> 00:41:51.480
 with I's

00:41:51.480 --> 00:41:52.320
 and me's?

00:41:52.860 --> 00:41:53.960
 Or can you only

00:41:53.960 --> 00:41:54.680
 speak of it

00:41:54.680 --> 00:41:55.220
 in terms of

00:41:55.220 --> 00:41:55.820
 they's

00:41:55.820 --> 00:41:56.900
 and them's?

00:41:58.019 --> 00:41:58.680
 Is this

00:41:58.680 --> 00:41:59.599
 your faith

00:41:59.599 --> 00:42:00.340
 or is this

00:42:00.340 --> 00:42:01.380
 your parents' faith?

00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:05.559
 Is this

00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:06.119
 your friends'

00:42:06.280 --> 00:42:06.559
 faith?

00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:08.599
 Is this

00:42:08.599 --> 00:42:09.340
 your spouse's

00:42:09.340 --> 00:42:09.680
 faith?

00:42:10.559 --> 00:42:11.300
 Is this

00:42:11.300 --> 00:42:11.860
 your other

00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:12.760
 church members'

00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:13.220
 faith?

00:42:13.559 --> 00:42:14.260
 Can you say

00:42:14.260 --> 00:42:15.460
 this is my faith?

00:42:15.820 --> 00:42:16.880
 Jesus is my

00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:17.240
 Lord,

00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:18.480
 my Savior,

00:42:19.480 --> 00:42:20.200
 that I

00:42:20.200 --> 00:42:21.000
 have received

00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:21.500
 mercy.

00:42:22.420 --> 00:42:22.820
 Can you

00:42:22.820 --> 00:42:23.460
 say that?

00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:29.840
 are you

00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:30.300
 excited

00:42:30.300 --> 00:42:31.599
 to worship

00:42:31.599 --> 00:42:32.240
 God along

00:42:32.240 --> 00:42:32.559
 with your

00:42:32.559 --> 00:42:32.980
 brothers and

00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:33.300
 sisters?

00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:34.380
 Are you

00:42:34.380 --> 00:42:35.039
 eager to

00:42:35.039 --> 00:42:35.460
 share the

00:42:35.460 --> 00:42:35.960
 gospel with

00:42:35.960 --> 00:42:36.460
 your friends

00:42:36.460 --> 00:42:36.740
 and your

00:42:36.740 --> 00:42:37.240
 family and

00:42:37.240 --> 00:42:37.679
 your neighbors?

00:42:38.099 --> 00:42:38.740
 Or are you

00:42:38.740 --> 00:42:39.199
 just going

00:42:39.199 --> 00:42:39.579
 through the

00:42:39.579 --> 00:42:39.960
 motions?

00:42:39.960 --> 00:42:49.740
 this saying

00:42:49.740 --> 00:42:50.340
 is trustworthy

00:42:50.340 --> 00:42:50.920
 and worthy

00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:51.340
 of full

00:42:51.340 --> 00:42:51.780
 acceptance

00:42:51.780 --> 00:42:52.300
 that Christ

00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:52.980
 Jesus came

00:42:52.980 --> 00:42:53.300
 into the

00:42:53.300 --> 00:42:53.920
 world to

00:42:53.920 --> 00:42:54.780
 save sinners

00:42:54.780 --> 00:42:55.679
 of whom I

00:42:55.679 --> 00:42:56.139
 am the

00:42:56.139 --> 00:42:56.619
 foremost.

00:42:57.280 --> 00:42:57.860
 I hope

00:42:57.860 --> 00:42:58.139
 you can

00:42:58.139 --> 00:42:58.820
 say amen

00:42:58.820 --> 00:42:59.420
 to that.

00:43:02.300 --> 00:43:03.000
 That's how

00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:03.780
 Paul concludes

00:43:03.780 --> 00:43:04.320
 this passage

00:43:04.320 --> 00:43:04.820
 by saying

00:43:04.820 --> 00:43:05.159
 amen.

00:43:06.599 --> 00:43:06.920
 And this

00:43:06.920 --> 00:43:07.179
 is an

00:43:07.179 --> 00:43:08.079
 invitation to

00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:08.659
 his readers

00:43:08.659 --> 00:43:09.759
 to join

00:43:09.759 --> 00:43:10.299
 him in

00:43:10.299 --> 00:43:10.980
 affirming

00:43:10.980 --> 00:43:11.379
 what he

00:43:11.379 --> 00:43:12.039
 has just

00:43:12.039 --> 00:43:12.699
 said.

00:43:13.839 --> 00:43:14.299
 It was

00:43:14.299 --> 00:43:15.219
 common practice

00:43:15.219 --> 00:43:15.739
 among the

00:43:15.739 --> 00:43:16.259
 Jews in the

00:43:16.259 --> 00:43:16.779
 Old Testament

00:43:16.779 --> 00:43:17.539
 to respond

00:43:17.539 --> 00:43:18.179
 to the

00:43:18.179 --> 00:43:18.739
 praise of

00:43:18.739 --> 00:43:19.440
 God with

00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:19.679
 this

00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:20.399
 declaration

00:43:20.399 --> 00:43:20.779
 of

00:43:20.779 --> 00:43:21.579
 affirmation.

00:43:21.940 --> 00:43:22.420
 Amen.

00:43:23.159 --> 00:43:23.539
 It means

00:43:23.539 --> 00:43:24.739
 I believe.

00:43:25.659 --> 00:43:26.639
 So be

00:43:26.639 --> 00:43:26.960
 it.

00:43:27.859 --> 00:43:28.579
 It affirms

00:43:28.579 --> 00:43:29.039
 that what

00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:29.440
 has been

00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:29.940
 said is

00:43:29.940 --> 00:43:30.839
 valid and

00:43:30.839 --> 00:43:31.319
 binding.

00:43:31.839 --> 00:43:32.259
 And this

00:43:32.259 --> 00:43:32.879
 practice has

00:43:32.879 --> 00:43:33.480
 been continued

00:43:33.480 --> 00:43:34.259
 by Christians

00:43:34.259 --> 00:43:34.619
 over the

00:43:34.619 --> 00:43:35.940
 last two

00:43:35.940 --> 00:43:36.819
 millennia.

00:43:37.819 --> 00:43:38.420
 Because

00:43:38.420 --> 00:43:39.000
 the saying

00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:39.720
 is trustworthy

00:43:39.720 --> 00:43:40.440
 and deserving

00:43:40.440 --> 00:43:40.960
 of full

00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:41.480
 acceptance

00:43:41.480 --> 00:43:42.599
 that Christ

00:43:42.599 --> 00:43:43.200
 Jesus came

00:43:43.200 --> 00:43:43.519
 into the

00:43:43.519 --> 00:43:44.300
 world to

00:43:44.300 --> 00:43:44.820
 save sinners.

00:43:44.940 --> 00:43:45.300
 We should

00:43:45.300 --> 00:43:45.980
 say amen.

00:43:47.440 --> 00:43:48.180
 This is

00:43:48.180 --> 00:43:48.559
 true.

00:43:49.059 --> 00:43:49.900
 It's not

00:43:49.900 --> 00:43:50.639
 hypothetical.

00:43:51.840 --> 00:43:52.920
 It's actual.

00:43:53.139 --> 00:43:53.659
 It's real.

00:43:53.760 --> 00:43:54.240
 So we don't

00:43:54.240 --> 00:43:54.960
 respond with

00:43:54.960 --> 00:43:55.760
 this quizzical

00:43:55.760 --> 00:43:56.940
 maybe.

00:43:59.220 --> 00:43:59.960
 We say

00:43:59.960 --> 00:44:00.400
 amen.

00:44:04.119 --> 00:44:04.940
 I was a

00:44:04.940 --> 00:44:05.599
 blasphemer,

00:44:05.820 --> 00:44:06.400
 persecutor,

00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:07.099
 and insolent

00:44:07.099 --> 00:44:07.480
 opponent.

00:44:07.759 --> 00:44:08.259
 I was the

00:44:08.259 --> 00:44:09.039
 foremost of

00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:09.360
 sinners,

00:44:09.559 --> 00:44:10.159
 but I,

00:44:10.679 --> 00:44:11.299
 but I

00:44:11.299 --> 00:44:12.000
 received

00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:12.960
 mercy.

00:44:13.400 --> 00:44:13.900
 Amen.

00:44:14.199 --> 00:44:14.920
 I believe

00:44:14.920 --> 00:44:15.239
 it.

00:44:16.559 --> 00:44:17.400
 To the

00:44:17.400 --> 00:44:17.880
 king of

00:44:17.880 --> 00:44:18.400
 the ages,

00:44:18.539 --> 00:44:19.000
 immortal,

00:44:19.239 --> 00:44:19.719
 invisible,

00:44:19.980 --> 00:44:20.460
 the only

00:44:20.460 --> 00:44:20.980
 God,

00:44:21.239 --> 00:44:21.819
 the honor

00:44:21.819 --> 00:44:22.440
 and glory

00:44:22.440 --> 00:44:23.199
 forever and

00:44:23.199 --> 00:44:23.400
 ever,

00:44:23.639 --> 00:44:24.500
 because it

00:44:24.500 --> 00:44:24.799
 is the

00:44:24.799 --> 00:44:25.159
 deepest

00:44:25.159 --> 00:44:26.360
 desire of

00:44:26.360 --> 00:44:26.739
 our own

00:44:26.739 --> 00:44:27.559
 hearts to

00:44:27.559 --> 00:44:28.400
 see this

00:44:28.400 --> 00:44:29.659
 merciful God

00:44:29.659 --> 00:44:30.599
 praised and

00:44:30.599 --> 00:44:31.239
 honored and

00:44:31.239 --> 00:44:31.860
 glorified,

00:44:32.039 --> 00:44:32.639
 so we don't

00:44:32.639 --> 00:44:33.420
 respond with

00:44:33.420 --> 00:44:34.360
 the lukewarm

00:44:34.360 --> 00:44:35.260
 men.

00:44:37.480 --> 00:44:38.340
 But with a

00:44:38.340 --> 00:44:38.860
 hearty

00:44:38.860 --> 00:44:39.880
 amen,

00:44:41.840 --> 00:44:42.720
 so be

00:44:42.720 --> 00:44:43.019
 it.

00:44:47.019 --> 00:44:47.740
 I pray

00:44:47.740 --> 00:44:48.280
 all of you

00:44:48.280 --> 00:44:48.760
 this morning

00:44:48.760 --> 00:44:49.280
 will one

00:44:49.280 --> 00:44:49.980
 day be able

00:44:49.980 --> 00:44:50.420
 to say

00:44:50.420 --> 00:44:50.860
 from the

00:44:50.860 --> 00:44:51.460
 very bottom

00:44:51.460 --> 00:44:51.800
 of your

00:44:51.800 --> 00:44:52.140
 hearts,

00:44:52.720 --> 00:44:53.360
 amen to

00:44:53.360 --> 00:44:53.660
 that.

00:44:53.659 --> 00:45:02.219
 please take

00:45:02.219 --> 00:45:02.639
 a moment

00:45:02.639 --> 00:45:05.059
 not to

00:45:05.059 --> 00:45:05.460
 reflect

00:45:05.460 --> 00:45:07.639
 on this

00:45:07.639 --> 00:45:07.980
 truth.

00:45:10.719 --> 00:45:11.460
 If you

00:45:11.460 --> 00:45:11.899
 want to,

00:45:11.940 --> 00:45:12.119
 you can

00:45:12.119 --> 00:45:12.480
 close your

00:45:12.480 --> 00:45:12.839
 eyes.

00:45:15.639 --> 00:45:16.199
 I

00:45:16.199 --> 00:45:16.799
 received

00:45:16.799 --> 00:45:17.239
 mercy.

00:45:20.699 --> 00:45:21.500
 Think about

00:45:21.500 --> 00:45:22.059
 that reality.

00:45:22.379 --> 00:45:22.899
 Reflect on

00:45:22.899 --> 00:45:23.099
 that.

00:45:24.379 --> 00:45:24.739
 And then

00:45:24.739 --> 00:45:24.940
 we're going

00:45:24.940 --> 00:45:25.179
 to spend

00:45:25.179 --> 00:45:25.599
 some time

00:45:25.599 --> 00:45:26.399
 praying out

00:45:26.399 --> 00:45:26.799
 loud as a

00:45:26.799 --> 00:45:27.019
 church.