WEBVTT 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:01.520 Good morning, church. 00:00:03.260 --> 00:00:04.540 It's good to see you all this morning. 00:00:04.620 --> 00:00:08.519 Our text this morning is Hebrews 10, verses 1 through 10. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:10.519 Let me invite you to turn there with me. 00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:13.439 It's page 1006 in the Pew Bible. 00:00:14.099 --> 00:00:17.440 If you want to turn there, Hebrews 10. 00:00:24.240 --> 00:00:26.480 Before I read this passage for us, let me pray. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.100 God, indeed, we know that we are prone to wander. 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:43.519 So, Lord, we ask now that you would take your word and, again, call us forth to yourself. 00:00:44.340 --> 00:00:52.400 God, grant us hearts that are receptive to hear what you are saying to us through your word this morning and by your spirit. 00:00:53.260 --> 00:00:58.039 God, help us to see Christ in his beauty this morning. 00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:06.400 In deeper and fresher ways, Lord, bind our wandering hearts to him and so to you. 00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:08.959 God, we ask all this in Christ's name. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:09.480 Amen. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:12.379 Hebrews 10, 1 through 10. 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:14.000 Let me read this passage for us. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:24.359 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come, instead of the true form of these realities, 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:32.400 it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 00:01:33.780 --> 00:01:39.960 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, 00:01:40.299 --> 00:01:42.420 would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 00:01:42.420 --> 00:01:47.079 But in these sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins every year. 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:52.719 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 00:01:55.240 --> 00:01:57.620 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, 00:01:57.620 --> 00:02:02.380 When he said, 00:02:02.380 --> 00:02:14.840 When he said above, 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:20.180 You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings. 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:21.980 These are offered according to the law. 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:23.240 Then he added, 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:25.520 Behold, I have come to do your will. 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:31.259 He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 00:02:31.259 --> 00:02:33.840 And by that will, 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:42.399 We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:47.900 I was in the laundry mat on Monday, 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:53.360 And there's a bulletin board there with advertisements for all sorts of local businesses. 00:02:53.860 --> 00:02:58.159 Pet care, daycare, car care, you name it. 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:02.520 If you're ever in the wash tub on Monday morning, you will find me there. 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:06.100 One of the ads on this bulletin board was for a gym. 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:09.000 And it simply said in big letters, 00:03:10.060 --> 00:03:14.580 If you're not working on yourself, you're not working. 00:03:16.600 --> 00:03:20.820 If you're not working on yourself, you're not working. 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:28.560 Now it strikes me that the sentiment behind that ad is one of the great mantras of our time. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:39.780 One of the beliefs that we nearly all hold is that the greatest project before each one of us is to fashion a self. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:42.460 To construct my identity. 00:03:42.640 --> 00:03:45.060 To work on my self. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:50.480 To make a better and more true me. 00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:56.960 And we're told that that is the way to authenticity and to happiness. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:01.159 That self-expression and self-construction, well that's what it means to be human. 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:06.280 And if I'm not engaged in that work, well golly, what am I doing with my life? 00:04:06.640 --> 00:04:09.420 If you're not working on yourself, well you're not working. 00:04:09.860 --> 00:04:11.040 You're wasting your time. 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:15.700 You're doing nothing really productive at the end of the day. 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:23.819 Of course there are all sorts of other things that we could point to to get at this deeply held cultural belief of ours. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:33.699 Think of the closing stanza of that 19th century poem Invictus, which was sort of made popular by the 2009 movie about Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team with Matt Damon. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:34.699 Here's how that poem goes. 00:04:34.779 --> 00:04:35.079 It says, 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:39.819 It matters not how straight, that is how narrow, the gate. 00:04:40.599 --> 00:04:43.819 How charged with punishments, the scroll. 00:04:45.159 --> 00:04:47.599 I am the master of my fate. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:51.939 I am the captain of my soul. 00:04:53.659 --> 00:04:57.899 I am the captain of my soul. 00:04:57.899 --> 00:05:04.219 It's up to me to determine what will become of me. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:11.839 Now for roughly 200 years, this idea has been gaining ground. 00:05:12.039 --> 00:05:14.399 At least since the Romantic movement of the late 18th century. 00:05:15.419 --> 00:05:18.539 If you remember from English class, William Wordsworth, you get the idea, right? 00:05:18.540 --> 00:05:29.400 And yet one has to wonder whether culturally, now, in our time, whether this idea is finally starting to run out of steam. 00:05:31.460 --> 00:05:35.840 Whether we aren't starting to see, finally, how problematic it is. 00:05:37.140 --> 00:05:38.340 Think on the personal level. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:46.240 We've been told that happiness is found in self-expression, self-construction, and we've been trying to live that way. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:49.439 And yet, are we happy? 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:59.680 Reports tell us that anxiety and depression, and tragically, even suicide, are at alarmingly high levels across the board. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:07.100 College campuses, just to take one little slice of our culture, are seeing mental health needs rise every year. 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:10.900 And of course, there are multiple causes of these things. 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:12.480 I don't want to oversimplify. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:23.319 But at one level, it's as if this drive to create myself, to be the captain of my own ship, has simply been a burden too great to bear. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:30.860 We've handed ourselves the keys, and we simply haven't known where to go. 00:06:30.860 --> 00:06:39.160 But if it's running out of steam personally, then it's also, I think, running out of steam perhaps culturally too. 00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:43.020 As our public discourse becomes more and more divided. 00:06:44.840 --> 00:06:48.139 As something like a common good seems almost an impossible idea. 00:06:48.280 --> 00:06:55.280 After all, how can there be a common good if we're all creating our own destinies and identities for ourselves, right? 00:06:55.279 --> 00:07:00.139 Personally, we're fragmenting. 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:04.179 And communally, we're fragmenting. 00:07:06.699 --> 00:07:11.019 If you're not working on yourself, you're not working. 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:18.939 Perhaps by the time an idea ends up on a laundromat advertisement for a gym, the idea itself is no longer working. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:22.479 But where do we go? 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:28.580 How do we find our way back out of the maze that 200 plus years have led us into? 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:36.680 If my life isn't meant to be lived as one giant self-construction, self-expression project, then how should it be lived? 00:07:37.960 --> 00:07:39.020 What's the alternative? 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:41.680 What's the hope for us? 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:42.680 What's the hope for us? 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:43.680 What's the hope for us? 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:44.680 What's the hope for us? 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:45.680 What's the hope for us? 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:51.699 And Hebrews 10, 1 through 10, actually points us to the answer. 00:07:53.379 --> 00:08:05.879 And shockingly to our ears, the answer is met in one who found his identity holy in the will of another. 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:23.579 And in so doing, achieved a perfect wholeness and holiness for everyone who stops trying to construct their own lives and who put their lives completely into his hands. 00:08:23.579 --> 00:08:30.859 But before Hebrews gets to that answer, he's going to show us the problem. 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:33.659 Look again at verses 1 through 4. 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:36.340 Verse 1 says, 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:53.200 Now, as we've seen in our study of Hebrews, the law here is the law of Moses. 00:08:53.500 --> 00:08:58.340 And in particular, he has in mind the sacrificial and ceremonial aspects of the law. 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:01.740 The tabernacle, the priesthood, the animal sacrifices, the cleansing rites. 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:08.100 And all of that, he says, even the sacrifices themselves can't make you perfect. 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:16.240 And perfect here means not necessarily without flaw, but complete. 00:09:18.539 --> 00:09:26.980 To be perfect means that you lack nothing to be right with God and have free and intimate access with him. 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:31.700 Which, friends, is exactly what you and I were created for. 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:41.820 Could it be that in our search to create the perfect self, one that will express myself to the T and fulfill my being, 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:46.360 could it be that we've forgotten who we're actually created for? 00:09:48.139 --> 00:09:55.019 And having excluded God from the picture, our hunt for perfection, for completion, still goes on and on and on. 00:09:55.019 --> 00:10:03.500 We still try to become something, but it's become an endless and tireless search because we don't know where or what we're supposed to become. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:12.700 And just like the law prescribed a continual stream of sacrifices every year, 00:10:12.700 --> 00:10:19.399 don't you and I keep trying to continually reinvent ourselves in a continual stream? 00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:25.720 Maybe I'll be a jock or a goth or a prep or a band geek, right? 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:29.220 Give it up for band geeks. 00:10:29.300 --> 00:10:29.779 No, just kidding. 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:37.240 And then we grow up and it's maybe I'll be a lawyer or a policymaker or a doctor or a teacher. 00:10:39.540 --> 00:10:40.860 Or a vagabond, you know. 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:46.580 Or maybe I'll be in this relationship and when that one doesn't work, I'll move to this relationship. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:48.820 And when that one doesn't work, I'll move to this relationship. 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:52.879 Maybe I need to be more physically healthy. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.240 Maybe I need to be more intellectually interesting. 00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:56.879 Maybe I need to get religion. 00:10:58.039 --> 00:11:01.820 And it keeps going and going and going and it never stops. 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:06.940 And because it never stops, doesn't that show us that it never actually works? 00:11:08.680 --> 00:11:12.620 That we'll never reach completion that way. 00:11:15.580 --> 00:11:20.060 And by giving the law 1,500 years before Christ, 00:11:21.640 --> 00:11:28.060 God was trying to teach not just Israel but all of us some important truths. 00:11:28.059 --> 00:11:32.519 God was trying to teach us something that we needed to know. 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:37.139 And first, what the law sacrifices were teaching us, 00:11:37.819 --> 00:11:41.699 what it was showing us was a reminder of sins. 00:11:43.099 --> 00:11:44.159 That's verse 3. 00:11:45.339 --> 00:11:48.619 Every time a faithful Israelite came to the tabernacle or temple 00:11:48.619 --> 00:11:51.139 and offered a sacrifice in accordance with the law, 00:11:51.459 --> 00:11:56.439 he or she was being reminded of the sin that stood between themselves and God. 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:59.640 And because these sacrifices couldn't take away sins, 00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:01.240 couldn't cleanse the conscience, 00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:03.140 they couldn't ultimately put us right with God. 00:12:04.020 --> 00:12:09.480 And for 1,500 years, God in his kindness set up this system 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:14.100 that every day reminded humanity that in their most important relationship 00:12:14.100 --> 00:12:18.340 between themselves and God, a barrier of sin remained. 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:29.240 Isn't it a great kindness in God to show us so patiently for so many years 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:31.580 where the true problem lies? 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:37.519 You know, sometimes with my kids, I'm like, one strike and you're out. 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:38.680 Boom, timeout, done. 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:42.800 I've learned I'm not a very patient man. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:47.299 Friends, how much unlike us is God? 00:12:48.859 --> 00:12:54.539 That in his infinite patience, he would take such great lengths 00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:57.959 to show us what we truly need 00:12:57.959 --> 00:13:02.000 and to remind us again and again and again 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:04.559 where our real problem lies. 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:10.000 You see, friend, your desire and my desire, 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:13.919 our desire to find a self that's whole 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:16.739 and that feels fitting and right 00:13:16.739 --> 00:13:22.079 is there because you were created in God's image 00:13:22.079 --> 00:13:26.039 to know him and worship him and live him and reflect him. 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:31.059 And why are some of us so relentless to keep working on ourselves? 00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:36.179 Is it not because deep down there's a sense that something's not right 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:39.579 and that all the work isn't actually working? 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:45.219 And we keep believing that maybe this next thing will finally make me right. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:47.779 Maybe this next thing will finally make me clean. 00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:50.439 Maybe this next thing will finally make me whole. 00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:55.639 Friends, listen to what the law is telling you. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:59.679 You were made for God 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:03.500 and your sin is what needs to be dealt with. 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:11.079 Now, of course, if that's all God was trying to teach us in the law, 00:14:11.179 --> 00:14:12.740 it'd be a pretty bleak picture, right? 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:15.240 But look again at verse one. 00:14:16.439 --> 00:14:18.919 The law is not just a reminder of sins, 00:14:19.339 --> 00:14:22.939 but it's also a shadow of the good things to come. 00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:26.820 And of course, a shadow isn't the thing itself, right? 00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:31.620 But a shadow points you or shows you something of what that thing is. 00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:36.700 And Hebrews is saying the law foreshadows the good things, 00:14:37.040 --> 00:14:38.900 the very reality that's to come. 00:14:39.780 --> 00:14:40.760 Imagine on this side, 00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:46.000 the sort of bright sun of God's plan and God's future. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:49.620 And then on this side, shadows that run the whole way to the wall. 00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:54.659 Friends, stretching into the distance, that's the old covenant. 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:59.580 That's the Old Testament with its sacrifices and with its temple and with its priesthood. 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:00.820 Shadows cast. 00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:05.040 But of course, the great question is, 00:15:05.660 --> 00:15:09.000 who is it that's casting the shadow? 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:12.480 Who is the true form of those realities? 00:15:12.660 --> 00:15:17.700 Who's the one upon whom the light of God's future and God's plan shines 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:21.760 that casts such a brilliant picture in the Old Testament? 00:15:24.260 --> 00:15:25.500 Friends, it's Christ. 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:35.259 Christ, he's the one who stands at the center of what God is doing in the world. 00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:39.600 The light is shining on him. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:43.899 And cast its shadow back into the Old Testament. 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:49.759 So when you read the Old Testament, you're looking at four shadows of Christ. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:53.399 Christ, he's towering across its pages. 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:56.519 And God has orchestrated all the elements of the Old Testament, 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.779 the prophets and priests and kings, 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:01.019 the temples and tabernacles and sacrifices, 00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:03.399 the wisdom and the law and the narratives, 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:08.580 all of it as a foreshadowing of the true image to come. 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:14.080 And the question that Hebrews has for his audience and for us 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:20.200 is why in the world do we keep on living in the shadows 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:25.420 when you can turn and see the thing itself? 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:32.240 Let's read again verses 5 through 7. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:36.139 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, 00:16:36.520 --> 00:16:37.280 he said, 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:40.360 sacrifices and offerings you've not desired, 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:42.620 but a body you've prepared for me. 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:45.379 In burnt offerings and sin offerings, 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.399 you've taken no pleasure. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:47.840 Then I said, 00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:50.419 behold, I've come to do your will, 00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:51.100 O God, 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:55.679 as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.019 In other words, 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:00.759 what the law could not do 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:03.259 through all of its sacrifices, 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.519 Jesus does 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:09.220 by submitting himself wholly to the will of the Father. 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:12.299 The eternal Son of God, 00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:16.059 one with the Father and the Spirit from before all time, 00:17:16.419 --> 00:17:17.819 takes on a body, 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:20.359 a body in the incarnation 00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:23.500 and lives a life of complete obedience to God the Father. 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:26.019 In Psalm 40, 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:28.220 the text that Hebrews is quoting here in verses 5 through 7, 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.200 it's a Psalm of David, 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:32.359 who you remember is ancient Israel's great king. 00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:33.500 And in these verses, 00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:35.579 the king is expressing his desire 00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:36.980 to heed God's word 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:38.299 and to obey him. 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.940 Because it's over and over again, 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:41.039 what the Old Testament says is, 00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:43.059 what God desires more than sacrifice, 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:44.620 his first people to trust him 00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.860 and obey him 00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:47.200 and to love him. 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:51.799 To obey is better than sacrifice. 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:55.480 And it's fitting 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.680 that Hebrews would put 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:59.680 this Psalm 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.740 on the lips of Jesus 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:05.159 as the words he says 00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:06.460 upon entering the world 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.599 in his incarnation. 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:11.399 Because don't they summarize 00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:13.039 the mission of Christ 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.200 perfectly? 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:16.640 Friends, 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:18.000 he is the utterly 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.519 obedient king. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:22.279 Not a single sacrifice 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:23.519 was required for him 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:25.140 because he never sinned. 00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:27.920 Even the great David 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.620 fell. 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:31.299 Even the best of us 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.279 in this room 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:34.779 are flawed 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.580 and fallen 00:18:35.580 --> 00:18:37.120 and haven't trusted 00:18:37.120 --> 00:18:37.860 and loved 00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:38.840 and obeyed God 00:18:38.840 --> 00:18:40.799 like we should 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.299 and like is right. 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:44.539 But friends, 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.319 not Jesus. 00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:47.720 Jesus perfectly 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.559 obeyed God. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:50.639 He had come 00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:52.559 to do God's will. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.980 In his earthly ministry, 00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:56.379 do you remember 00:18:56.379 --> 00:18:57.579 how Jesus summarized 00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.700 God's moral law 00:18:58.700 --> 00:19:00.119 in two great commands? 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.019 The first, 00:19:01.139 --> 00:19:02.519 to love the Lord your God 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.399 with all your heart 00:19:03.399 --> 00:19:04.200 and soul 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.960 and mind 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.399 and strength. 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:05.839 And the second, 00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:06.799 to love your neighbor 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.619 as yourself. 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.180 And you know, 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:10.659 the truth is 00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:11.540 none of us 00:19:11.540 --> 00:19:12.300 have kept 00:19:12.300 --> 00:19:12.980 these commands. 00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:14.740 And in fact, 00:19:14.860 --> 00:19:15.220 Christianity 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.240 is for people 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.180 who know 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:18.080 that they haven't 00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:19.240 kept those commands. 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:21.900 So if you're here 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:22.480 this morning 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.560 and you're not a Christian, 00:19:24.100 --> 00:19:24.920 we're really glad 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.420 you're here. 00:19:26.340 --> 00:19:27.220 But let me tell you 00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:27.880 a little secret 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:29.120 that's not so secret. 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.800 This room 00:19:30.800 --> 00:19:32.820 is full. 00:19:32.820 --> 00:19:35.259 I mean full 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:37.200 of sinners. 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:40.539 each and every 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.779 last one of us. 00:19:44.600 --> 00:19:45.519 And you're welcome 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:45.980 here too. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.559 You belong here 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:48.980 as well. 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:52.160 Because the glory 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.519 of what this 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.319 whole thing 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:54.920 is about 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:56.620 is that 00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:57.580 into the sea 00:19:57.580 --> 00:19:59.200 of sinful humanity, 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.180 Jesus came 00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.680 and lived 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.039 a life 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.960 of complete 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.319 trust 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:04.980 trust 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.759 and love 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:07.059 and submission 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.480 and obedience 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:10.039 to the Father. 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.799 And that 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.819 perfect 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:13.519 loving 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.339 obedience 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.179 led him 00:20:15.179 --> 00:20:15.839 to be 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.079 the most 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:17.720 compelling 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.419 person 00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:19.339 who ever 00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:20.179 walked the earth. 00:20:22.419 --> 00:20:23.240 Crowds 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.700 gathered. 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.019 Outcasts 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:26.799 loved him. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.500 Religious people 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.299 had no idea 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:30.019 what to do 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.419 with him. 00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:32.519 history 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:34.140 can't seem 00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:34.660 to forget 00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.039 him. 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:36.980 And his 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.440 closest 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.120 followers 00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.519 came to 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.080 believe 00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:41.940 the ones 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.140 who had 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:42.800 the closest 00:20:42.800 --> 00:20:43.580 view of his 00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:44.240 life day 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:44.700 in and day 00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:45.060 out 00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:46.240 were the 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:46.539 ones who 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.279 finally came 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:47.920 to believe 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.880 that he 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:49.740 was God's 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.480 true 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.340 king. 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.539 But 00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:55.259 shockingly 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.820 as Jesus' 00:20:56.060 --> 00:20:56.660 submission 00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.039 to the 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.480 Father's 00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:57.680 will 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.519 continues, 00:20:58.519 --> 00:21:00.779 it 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.160 eventually 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:01.680 leads to 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.359 conflict 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:04.440 and to 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:04.940 betrayal 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:06.539 and to 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.160 arrest 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.400 and to 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.279 abandonment. 00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:13.480 And 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.059 finally 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:15.160 to 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:15.920 crucifixion. 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:17.940 And on 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:18.319 the night 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:18.599 he was 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:18.980 betrayed, 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:19.319 Jesus, 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.119 knowing 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:20.779 that he 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.019 was about 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.700 to drink 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.420 the cup 00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:23.359 of our 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.000 death, 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:24.940 the cup 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.440 of God's 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:25.879 hatred 00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:26.539 for our 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:26.920 sin, 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:27.720 says, 00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:28.079 Father, 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.199 not my 00:21:29.199 --> 00:21:29.480 will, 00:21:29.679 --> 00:21:30.240 but yours 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:30.699 be done. 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:34.899 As Paul 00:21:34.899 --> 00:21:35.259 put it in 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.619 the passage 00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.000 we read 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.339 earlier, 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:36.859 he was 00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:37.619 obedient to 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:37.899 the point 00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.379 of death, 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.220 even death 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.960 on a 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:40.480 cross. 00:21:43.639 --> 00:21:44.259 He had 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:45.000 come to 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.259 do the 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.659 Father's 00:21:45.659 --> 00:21:46.039 will, 00:21:46.199 --> 00:21:46.500 and he 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.079 did it 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:48.000 to the 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.359 end. 00:21:49.919 --> 00:21:50.399 And 00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:50.619 having 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.220 given his 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:51.819 life for 00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.899 our sins, 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.079 three days 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:54.379 later, 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.839 God raised 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:56.199 him from 00:21:56.199 --> 00:21:56.720 the dead, 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.740 demonstrating 00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:58.740 to everyone 00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.579 that the 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.220 sacrifice 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:01.920 was perfect 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:03.160 and acceptable. 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.220 And Christ 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.079 ascended to 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:05.420 the right 00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:05.759 hand of the 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.140 Father where 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:06.519 he sits 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:08.120 right now 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:09.039 to present 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.779 his perfect 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.720 life and 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.380 his sacrifice 00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:11.900 for our 00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:12.559 sins for 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.259 all who 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.880 would believe. 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.579 And he's 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.579 commanding 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.500 all of us 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.500 to repent 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.440 and to 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.019 believe in 00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:21.259 him and 00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.920 to find 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.279 our life 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:25.019 in his 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.460 life. 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:28.639 Friend, I 00:22:28.639 --> 00:22:28.960 wonder when 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.220 you think 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.599 about this 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.639 central claim 00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.200 of Christianity 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:31.720 that Jesus 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.420 died on the 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:32.839 cross for 00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.460 sinners, I 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:33.779 wonder how 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.379 you imagine 00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:34.779 that in 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.279 your mind 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.539 when you 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:35.899 think about 00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:36.379 God. 00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:37.759 Do you 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.740 imagine an 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.599 angry father 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:40.279 in heaven 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:41.279 reluctantly 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.440 being convinced 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.240 to change 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.920 his mind 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.480 about sinful 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.000 humanity 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:45.839 because Jesus 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.420 just happened 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.099 to step in 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.599 at the last 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:47.920 minute? 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:49.940 The sort 00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.460 of angry 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:52.200 father and 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.519 the willing 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:52.980 son. 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:54.980 Or do you 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.420 imagine the 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:55.879 son being 00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:56.299 sort of an 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:56.899 innocent and 00:22:56.899 --> 00:22:57.339 reluctant 00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:59.220 victim, sort 00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:00.319 of mistakenly 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:01.119 finding himself 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:02.240 caught up in 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.680 this plan of 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.519 a vengeful, of 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.039 a sort of 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:06.039 vengeful and 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:07.019 wrathful God? 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.700 Friends, too 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.259 often in our 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.259 thinking about the 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.079 work of salvation 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:13.200 we pit the 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.079 father and son 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.579 against one 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.680 another, but I 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.079 hope you see 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.619 from this text 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.259 that that is a 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:19.200 gross caricature 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:19.960 of what we 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.399 find in 00:23:20.399 --> 00:23:20.680 scripture. 00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:21.599 In fact, that 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.519 idea misses it 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.160 altogether. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:23.759 The Bible 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.500 teaches nothing 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.079 of that sort. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.319 Instead, what 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.339 we really find 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:27.960 is this. 00:23:29.639 --> 00:23:30.399 The father 00:23:30.399 --> 00:23:31.359 in love 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:32.980 planning a 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.339 work of 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.039 redemption for 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.859 sinful humanity 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:36.700 and the son 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.319 in love 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.899 accomplishing that 00:23:38.899 --> 00:23:40.839 work and 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.660 even the spirit 00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:42.539 going forth in 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:44.059 love to bring 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.799 that work to 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:45.460 its completion. 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:45.559 salvation. 00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:48.100 And the 00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:48.980 wonder of this 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:50.539 plan is that 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.759 God, father, 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:52.200 son, and 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:52.799 holy spirit 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.740 brings about 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.620 salvation for 00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:55.180 sinners without 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:56.140 in any way 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:57.900 compromising his 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:59.079 holy character 00:23:59.079 --> 00:24:00.079 or his loving 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.840 character. 00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:03.400 Without rejecting 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:03.960 either his 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.660 perfect holiness 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.680 or his perfect 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.100 love. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:06.700 Because in 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.500 holiness, he 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.380 condemns sin. 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:12.420 And in love, he 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.140 bears that 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.760 condemnation 00:24:13.760 --> 00:24:14.340 himself. 00:24:17.040 --> 00:24:17.920 Friends, every 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.480 other religion 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.460 will tell you 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.940 what you have to 00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:22.340 sacrifice in 00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:22.940 order to win 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.840 favor with God. 00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:25.820 What you need to 00:24:25.820 --> 00:24:26.240 perform. 00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:28.320 Whether it's the 00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:29.100 sacrifice of a 00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:30.300 really moral, 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.940 scrupulous life, 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.580 or whether it's 00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:33.200 the performance 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.600 of daily rituals 00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:35.519 and prayers. 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.279 But at the 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:38.759 heart of 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.660 Christianity is 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.480 something totally 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:41.940 different. 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:44.019 In Christianity, 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.660 God makes the 00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:46.160 sacrifice. 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.180 God does the 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.500 work. 00:24:50.320 --> 00:24:51.059 What God 00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:52.539 requires of us, 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:54.200 perfect human 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:54.940 obedience, 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:58.120 God provides. 00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:00.380 The perfect 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:01.080 obedience of 00:25:01.080 --> 00:25:01.519 Christ. 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:03.980 yours through 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:04.420 faith. 00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:08.700 This is God's 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:10.299 will, as our 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.200 passage puts it. 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.360 His purpose, 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.680 his plan. 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:15.799 Do you see how 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.680 incredibly 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:18.680 generous and 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.600 loving that it 00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:19.940 is? 00:25:20.580 --> 00:25:21.539 How unlike 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.680 anything else 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:24.640 it is that 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.140 God would 00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:25.700 choose to 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.640 freely forgive 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.360 and cleanse 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:29.340 everyone who 00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:29.759 puts their 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.759 life into the 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.340 hands of the 00:25:31.340 --> 00:25:31.920 risen Christ. 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:33.340 who died for 00:25:33.340 --> 00:25:33.620 you? 00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:36.799 You see, 00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:37.180 friends, at the 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:37.580 end of the 00:25:37.580 --> 00:25:38.220 day, there are 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.000 really only two 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.720 ways to live. 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:42.000 You can keep 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.900 trying to 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:45.059 work on your 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:46.320 perfect self. 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.779 Or you can 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.820 give your life 00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:51.500 to the only one 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.820 who really is 00:25:52.820 --> 00:25:53.200 perfect. 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.200 One is a road 00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.400 that will lead 00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:59.300 eventually to 00:25:59.300 --> 00:26:01.500 darkness and 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.720 loneliness far 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.440 from the God 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.060 who made us 00:26:04.060 --> 00:26:04.759 and loves us. 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.620 But the other 00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:07.920 is a road that 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.780 leads to freedom 00:26:08.780 --> 00:26:10.519 and joy in 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.160 his presence. 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.380 In fact, the word 00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:14.220 that Hebrews uses to 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.860 describe it in verse 00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:16.620 10 is sanctified. 00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:19.599 sanctified by his, 00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:20.639 that is by God's 00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.439 will at his 00:26:21.439 --> 00:26:22.859 initiative, because 00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:23.699 it's his plan, 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.759 because he loves, 00:26:25.719 --> 00:26:27.000 by God's will, 00:26:27.239 --> 00:26:28.099 we who have 00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:28.939 trusted in Christ 00:26:28.939 --> 00:26:29.699 have been 00:26:29.699 --> 00:26:32.239 sanctified through 00:26:32.239 --> 00:26:33.000 the offering of 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.939 the body of Jesus 00:26:33.939 --> 00:26:34.759 Christ once for 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.000 all. 00:26:37.199 --> 00:26:38.319 Now, sanctified has 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:38.879 got to be one of 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.899 the most religiously 00:26:39.899 --> 00:26:40.559 sounding words in 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.339 the planet, right? 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:44.279 But it means to 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:44.819 make something 00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.220 holy. 00:26:46.819 --> 00:26:48.000 To be sanctified 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.899 is to be made 00:26:48.899 --> 00:26:49.859 holy. 00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.559 And sometimes in 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.039 the New Testament, 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.859 this word 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:54.639 sanctification 00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:56.019 describes an 00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:57.259 ongoing process 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.859 of progressively 00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.740 becoming more 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.240 and more like 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.339 Jesus after you 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:02.019 become a 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.299 Christian. 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.439 But sometimes 00:27:04.439 --> 00:27:04.980 in the New 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:06.980 Testament, this 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:08.279 word sanctification, 00:27:08.439 --> 00:27:09.459 being sanctified, 00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.579 is used to 00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.159 describe not an 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:12.060 ongoing process, 00:27:12.060 --> 00:27:12.640 but something 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:14.220 that's definitively 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:15.080 true. 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:16.860 A position, 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.380 a status that 00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:20.100 you have before 00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:21.320 God because 00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:22.140 you're in Christ. 00:27:23.600 --> 00:27:24.540 And that's how 00:27:24.540 --> 00:27:25.240 Hebrews is using 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:25.660 it here. 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.560 He's saying that 00:27:29.560 --> 00:27:30.300 when God looks 00:27:30.300 --> 00:27:31.420 at us in Christ, 00:27:32.360 --> 00:27:34.060 he sees us as 00:27:34.060 --> 00:27:35.880 holy, as clean, 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:37.000 as complete. 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.759 Because Christ 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.700 did all that the 00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:41.040 law required for 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.500 us, fulfilling 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.279 its commands, 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.200 paying its 00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:44.599 penalties. 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.379 Now there's 00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:47.099 nothing lacking. 00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:49.680 That's what 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.220 perfect means. 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.039 There's nothing 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.460 lacking for us 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.940 to be fit for 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.700 God's presence 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.420 and God's 00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:55.839 purpose. 00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:57.920 When God looks 00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:58.460 at you in 00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.559 Christ, he's not 00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:00.899 looking around for 00:28:00.899 --> 00:28:01.720 the better version 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.139 of you. 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:05.059 He's not sizing 00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:06.059 you up to decide 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.759 whether or not 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.279 you'll make the 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.639 cut. 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:12.640 Oh, Stan, he 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.160 needs to hit the 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.440 gym. 00:28:15.540 --> 00:28:17.020 Mmm, that 00:28:17.020 --> 00:28:17.460 one better do 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:17.740 some more 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.180 penance. 00:28:19.300 --> 00:28:20.040 No, friends. 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:21.780 He's made you 00:28:21.780 --> 00:28:22.120 holy. 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.480 You're in. 00:28:24.820 --> 00:28:25.600 You're clean. 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.680 You're complete. 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.560 Now, yes, he's 00:28:29.560 --> 00:28:30.259 going to do 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:31.460 everything in his 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.700 power to see that 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.720 you actually grow 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.980 and change and 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.819 actually share 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.519 his holiness 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.559 actually in your 00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:37.900 life. 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.460 We'll get to 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:39.880 that in chapter 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.339 12. 00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:42.000 Buckle your 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.319 seatbelt. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.339 But the reason 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.599 he's doing all 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.480 of that hard, 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.759 glorious work in 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:51.180 you is because 00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:51.700 he already 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.539 accepts you. 00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.599 Because he's 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.339 already made you 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.220 holy in Christ. 00:28:59.120 --> 00:28:59.860 And all this 00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:00.759 means three things 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.460 and then we'll 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:01.799 close. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.480 First, 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:05.440 having been 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.200 sanctified in 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:06.860 Christ, it 00:29:06.860 --> 00:29:07.880 releases us 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.960 from our guilt. 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.420 Verse 2 said 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:12.019 that the law 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:13.059 could never deal 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.400 with our 00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:14.860 consciousness of 00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:15.259 sin. 00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:16.079 No matter what 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:16.900 we did, no 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.480 matter how many 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.140 sacrifices we 00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:18.779 made, no 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.440 matter how hard 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:19.880 we tried to be 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:20.500 a good person, 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.539 or how hard we 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:21.960 worked at 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.579 constructing the 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.319 authentic me, 00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:24.400 deep down things 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.019 still weren't 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:25.420 right. 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:26.240 And there was a 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:27.559 residual sense of 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.700 guilt and shame. 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.420 And many of us 00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:29.940 never even knew 00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:31.059 why we felt that 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.500 way because we 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.160 didn't even believe 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:32.640 in God in the 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:33.360 first place, but 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:33.899 it never went 00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:34.359 away. 00:29:35.199 --> 00:29:35.659 And our 00:29:35.659 --> 00:29:36.279 psychotherapist 00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:36.779 told us to go 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.539 have more sex, 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.240 so we did it, 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.699 and that didn't 00:29:38.699 --> 00:29:39.259 work either. 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:44.899 The preacher 00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:45.679 just said sex 00:29:45.679 --> 00:29:46.339 from the pulpit. 00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:48.819 But now, you 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.279 see friends, but 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.939 now that Christ 00:29:49.939 --> 00:29:50.359 has made us 00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.039 clean through 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:51.579 his perfect 00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:53.159 life, now 00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:53.839 that we're in 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:55.139 him, united 00:29:55.139 --> 00:29:55.740 to him through 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.699 faith, our 00:29:56.699 --> 00:29:57.859 past can no 00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:58.819 longer accuse 00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.219 us. 00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:01.140 we're free 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:01.519 from our 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:01.839 guilt. 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.279 Look, I 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.200 know that 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:05.660 some of us 00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.660 in here have 00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.440 done things 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.019 that if you 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.400 knew someone 00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.180 else knew what 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:09.900 you did, you 00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.339 would never 00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:11.019 come back. 00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:14.079 But friends, 00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:14.779 let me say to 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.559 you that 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.960 whatever it is, 00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:18.100 if you're in 00:30:18.100 --> 00:30:19.799 Christ, it's 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.100 done. 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:22.120 That's not you 00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.539 anymore. 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:24.379 it's been 00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:25.779 cleansed through 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:27.000 the offering of 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:28.500 his body for 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.799 you. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.399 You've been 00:30:31.399 --> 00:30:31.960 sanctified. 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:32.339 You've been 00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.319 made holy. 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.059 And if you're 00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.680 someone who's 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.639 afflicted by a 00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.559 guilty conscience, 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:40.240 remember your 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.720 baptism. 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:42.879 Yeah, we've 00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:43.319 got this big 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.039 box up here. 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:45.819 Do you 00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:46.440 remember how 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:47.119 after coming to 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:48.019 faith in Christ, 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:49.099 you stood before 00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:50.279 the church and 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:50.920 professed your 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.420 faith in the 00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:51.940 Lord Jesus? 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:52.700 And do you 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.039 remember how 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:53.640 you stood in 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:54.700 that water and 00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.860 went down and 00:30:55.860 --> 00:30:56.740 came back up? 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.140 Friends, that is 00:30:59.140 --> 00:30:59.840 God's way of 00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:00.740 saying something 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.279 to you. 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:02.820 Are you 00:31:02.820 --> 00:31:03.180 listening? 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.720 That through 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.700 your faith in 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.980 Christ, you've 00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:09.000 been cleansed. 00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:09.759 That your sins 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:11.240 died with Christ 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:12.340 on the cross and 00:31:12.340 --> 00:31:12.799 that your new 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.900 life began with 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:14.580 him in his 00:31:14.580 --> 00:31:15.039 resurrection. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.680 Baptism is 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:18.039 Jesus' gift to 00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:18.360 you. 00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:20.160 It's his way of 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:21.299 taking that 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:21.840 spiritual 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:22.939 reality and 00:31:22.939 --> 00:31:24.079 shouting it 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:25.439 into your 00:31:25.439 --> 00:31:25.939 heart. 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:29.519 You're clean. 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:31.000 You're new. 00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.459 You're mine. 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.919 And he does it 00:31:35.919 --> 00:31:37.179 publicly, right? 00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:37.959 We get up in 00:31:37.959 --> 00:31:38.659 front of people 00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:39.819 and we do this 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:41.799 thing so that 00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.439 everyone can 00:31:42.439 --> 00:31:43.240 remind you of 00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:44.119 it when you 00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:44.759 start to doubt. 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.379 And so that 00:31:46.379 --> 00:31:46.919 whenever anyone 00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:47.379 else gets 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:48.419 baptized, like 00:31:48.419 --> 00:31:48.899 we'll do this 00:31:48.899 --> 00:31:50.419 morning, you can 00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:50.880 be reminded 00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:51.180 that it's 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.580 for you 00:31:51.580 --> 00:31:51.860 too. 00:31:54.560 --> 00:31:55.100 Here's how the 00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:55.420 Heidelberg 00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:56.200 Catechism put it 00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:57.580 nearly 450 years 00:31:57.580 --> 00:31:57.880 ago. 00:31:59.340 --> 00:31:59.840 Christ 00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:01.360 instituted 00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:02.600 this outward 00:32:02.600 --> 00:32:04.620 washing and 00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:06.200 with it made a 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:08.120 promise that 00:32:08.120 --> 00:32:08.940 as surely as 00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:09.840 water washes 00:32:09.840 --> 00:32:10.500 away the dirt 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.240 from the body, 00:32:12.320 --> 00:32:13.259 so certainly 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:14.160 his blood and 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:15.300 his spirit have 00:32:15.300 --> 00:32:16.640 washed away my 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:17.779 soul's impurity. 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:19.460 that is all 00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:20.119 my sins. 00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:22.980 Friends, do you 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.259 see what they're 00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:23.539 saying? 00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:24.019 They're not saying 00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:24.619 that this water 00:32:24.619 --> 00:32:25.299 actually does 00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.000 anything to you, 00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:27.180 but they're saying 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:28.059 it's a promise of 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:29.399 Christ, that He's 00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:30.220 speaking something 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:31.639 to you, that as 00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.379 surely as you've 00:32:32.379 --> 00:32:33.500 gone down and 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.940 up, so surely 00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.759 your sins have 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.599 been washed away 00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.779 through faith in 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.180 Christ. 00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.139 So when your 00:32:40.139 --> 00:32:41.000 conscience is 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:42.180 troubled and your 00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:43.079 inner accusations 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:45.559 come, remember 00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.240 your baptism. 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:47.799 and in so doing 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.799 remember Jesus' 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:50.079 work for you. 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:52.359 The Puritans 00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:52.839 used to say, 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.660 for every one 00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.680 look you take 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:56.099 it yourself, take 00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:57.059 ten looks at 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:58.480 Christ and who 00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.660 He is and what 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:00.099 He's done for 00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.359 you. 00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:02.700 Now of course 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.720 this sanctification, 00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:04.500 this release from 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.259 guilt doesn't mean 00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:05.700 that as Christians 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.299 we'll never feel 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:07.799 conviction for sins 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.299 that we commit 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:08.799 after becoming 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:10.039 believers because 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.799 the Holy Spirit 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.299 lives in us, we 00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:12.140 definitely will feel 00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:12.599 conviction. 00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:14.180 And doesn't Jesus 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.819 teach us to pray 00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.279 that we would have 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.059 to forgive each 00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:17.139 other just as 00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:17.799 God has forgiven 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.240 us. 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:18.940 So clearly 00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:19.639 there's still a 00:33:19.639 --> 00:33:20.599 place in our 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:21.619 Christian life for 00:33:21.619 --> 00:33:22.660 confession of sins, 00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.539 for continual 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.359 repentance in our 00:33:24.359 --> 00:33:25.000 Christian walk. 00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:26.720 So friends, if God 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.319 is laying something 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:27.980 on your heart this 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.779 morning, confess it 00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:29.019 to Him. 00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:29.559 If it's something 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.079 that you've done 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:30.779 wrong to another, 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:32.359 confess it to them 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:33.220 and seek forgiveness 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:34.099 and reconciliation. 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:34.339 reconciliation. 00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:38.679 But know that if 00:33:38.679 --> 00:33:39.719 we've confessed our 00:33:39.719 --> 00:33:41.740 sins, then He is 00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:43.119 faithful and just to 00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:44.240 forgive us our sins 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:46.779 and to cleanse us from 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.899 all unrighteousness. 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:51.419 Your conscience at long 00:33:51.419 --> 00:33:54.399 last is cleansed and 00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:55.359 you're released from 00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:55.740 your guilt. 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:59.000 That's one side of 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:00.199 having been sanctified or 00:34:00.199 --> 00:34:01.500 made holy in Christ, 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.480 being released from 00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:02.679 guilt. 00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:03.420 But you know the 00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:05.600 other side of it is 00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:06.400 that it releases us 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:08.320 for good works. 00:34:08.740 --> 00:34:09.000 You see, when 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.360 something was 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.460 sanctified or made 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.139 holy in the Old 00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:12.000 Testament, it wasn't 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:13.159 just considered pure or 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:14.079 clean, but it was 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:15.880 also set apart now for 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:17.019 a special task. 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:18.800 It had a noble purpose. 00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:20.400 It was consecrated for 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.760 God's service, for 00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:22.500 God's kingdom. 00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:25.360 Do you remember what 00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.079 Jesus says to His 00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:26.480 disciples? 00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:30.079 You are the salt of 00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:32.380 the earth and you 00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:34.840 are a light of the 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.220 world. 00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:37.160 You're a city on a 00:34:37.160 --> 00:34:38.019 hill, so let your 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:40.200 light shine before 00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:42.019 others that they might 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:44.200 see your good works and 00:34:44.200 --> 00:34:45.240 give glory to your 00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:46.220 Father who's in heaven. 00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:49.940 Paul says in Ephesians 00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:51.280 2.10 that we've been 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:53.180 created in Christ Jesus, 00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:54.680 that is recreated in 00:34:54.680 --> 00:34:56.400 Christ Jesus, for good 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:56.840 works. 00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:59.579 not by our good works, 00:34:59.720 --> 00:35:01.140 but for good works. 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.200 And if you don't 00:35:03.200 --> 00:35:03.960 understand the difference 00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:04.720 between those two, 00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.579 friend, come talk to me 00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:06.240 after the service. 00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:07.840 Because that is the 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:08.860 difference between 00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.600 religion and 00:35:09.600 --> 00:35:10.079 Christianity. 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:14.340 So you see, when we 00:35:14.340 --> 00:35:15.440 come to trust in Christ, 00:35:15.680 --> 00:35:16.900 His perfect life makes us 00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:18.140 holy in God's sight, and 00:35:18.140 --> 00:35:19.500 suddenly a massive shift 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.140 takes place. 00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.700 We no longer have to 00:35:21.700 --> 00:35:23.620 work on ourselves and 00:35:23.620 --> 00:35:24.660 obsess about ourselves. 00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:26.099 Suddenly we're freed from 00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:27.239 the tyranny of centering 00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:28.679 our lives on ourselves. 00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.299 Think about it. 00:35:30.319 --> 00:35:30.960 Before we became 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:32.019 Christians, why did we 00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:33.259 even do good things? 00:35:34.759 --> 00:35:35.779 Well, partially because 00:35:35.779 --> 00:35:36.460 we wanted to help. 00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:37.399 We had a natural sense of 00:35:37.399 --> 00:35:37.619 pity. 00:35:38.119 --> 00:35:39.319 But largely because we 00:35:39.319 --> 00:35:40.219 wanted to be a good 00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:40.679 person. 00:35:42.819 --> 00:35:44.379 We were doing good, 00:35:44.779 --> 00:35:48.039 largely, for ourselves. 00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:52.519 But when Christ cleanses 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:55.380 us, we stop needing to 00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:56.320 live for ourselves. 00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:58.340 Because He's already 00:35:58.340 --> 00:35:58.920 done that. 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:00.759 And He did it a lot 00:36:00.759 --> 00:36:01.420 better than I could do 00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:01.920 it for me. 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:04.820 And now we can start 00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:05.599 living for others. 00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:07.300 Friends, one of the 00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:08.460 strongest forces for 00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.980 good in the world are 00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:12.159 local churches who know 00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:13.599 that in Christ they've 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:14.980 been sanctified, they've 00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:15.840 been made holy, not 00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:16.719 because of what they've 00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:17.639 done, but because of 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:18.679 what Jesus has done. 00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:21.719 Imagine not just two or 00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:22.839 three people living like 00:36:22.839 --> 00:36:24.299 this, freed from self, 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:25.639 to serve others. 00:36:25.939 --> 00:36:26.659 But friends, imagine 00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:27.839 whole communities, 00:36:28.699 --> 00:36:30.539 congregations of 00:36:30.539 --> 00:36:31.439 hundreds of people 00:36:31.439 --> 00:36:33.039 covenanted together in 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:34.619 membership to love and 00:36:34.619 --> 00:36:35.919 serve one another and to 00:36:35.919 --> 00:36:37.139 be salt and light in the 00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:37.980 city where they live. 00:36:38.799 --> 00:36:40.759 In our school and in our 00:36:40.759 --> 00:36:42.480 workplaces, in our 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:43.399 dorms and in our 00:36:43.399 --> 00:36:45.239 neighborhoods, living as 00:36:45.239 --> 00:36:46.500 people who are finally 00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:48.899 off the hamster wheel of 00:36:48.899 --> 00:36:50.459 self and who have eyes to 00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.760 see and hearts filled 00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:52.760 with love for those 00:36:52.760 --> 00:36:54.599 around them with a love 00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:55.440 that Christ has shown to 00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:55.699 them. 00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:58.559 Friends, if you can 00:36:58.559 --> 00:36:59.500 imagine that kind of 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:02.159 community, then that's the 00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:02.519 church. 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:05.240 That's our call. 00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:07.800 Again, it's hard not to 00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:08.500 make the connection to 00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:09.220 baptism here. 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.420 You see, when someone is 00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:12.099 baptized, that is the 00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:13.900 church identifying that 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:15.780 person as a genuine 00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:17.840 believer in Christ, as a 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:18.460 member of Christ's 00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:20.039 kingdom, as one who's 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:21.699 been set apart for that 00:37:21.699 --> 00:37:23.079 noble purpose of being 00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:24.099 Christ's ambassador in 00:37:24.099 --> 00:37:24.519 the world. 00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:26.659 Just as these waters 00:37:26.659 --> 00:37:27.820 represent our cleansing 00:37:27.820 --> 00:37:29.659 in Christ, they 00:37:29.659 --> 00:37:30.940 represent our calling in 00:37:30.940 --> 00:37:31.320 Christ. 00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:34.920 To go and to live new 00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:37.519 lives in the church for 00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:39.019 the world to the glory of 00:37:39.019 --> 00:37:39.360 God. 00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:43.619 Christian, I wonder, does 00:37:43.619 --> 00:37:45.760 your life speak of this 00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:48.340 cleansing and calling you've 00:37:48.340 --> 00:37:48.800 received? 00:37:50.680 --> 00:37:52.020 Are you still living for 00:37:52.020 --> 00:37:52.620 yourself? 00:37:53.620 --> 00:37:55.040 Or are you living in the 00:37:55.040 --> 00:37:57.140 freedom from self for 00:37:57.140 --> 00:37:58.720 others that Christ has won 00:37:58.720 --> 00:38:00.240 for you because he has 00:38:00.240 --> 00:38:01.220 sanctified you? 00:38:03.600 --> 00:38:04.960 After the service today, over 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:06.320 lunch, in coffee hour 00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:07.420 downstairs, maybe talk 00:38:07.420 --> 00:38:09.220 together about ways in 00:38:09.220 --> 00:38:11.240 which God has positioned you 00:38:11.240 --> 00:38:13.180 personally in your work, in 00:38:13.180 --> 00:38:14.600 your neighborhood, to do good 00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:15.860 works that glorify his 00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.159 name. 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:18.960 Who has he put in your 00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:20.759 life to share the gospel 00:38:20.759 --> 00:38:21.139 with? 00:38:22.119 --> 00:38:22.819 Certainly that's the 00:38:22.819 --> 00:38:23.880 greatest good you could do 00:38:23.880 --> 00:38:24.400 for anyone. 00:38:26.799 --> 00:38:28.639 And consider as well, who 00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:29.460 might you meet up with 00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:29.960 regularly? 00:38:30.799 --> 00:38:31.539 Someone who's in your 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.380 church family here for 00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:33.900 encouragement, for prayer, 00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:35.219 for discipleship. 00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:37.920 And what other needs are you 00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:38.319 seeing? 00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:42.259 In the world around you, and 00:38:42.259 --> 00:38:43.940 how has he gifted you to 00:38:43.940 --> 00:38:44.500 meet them? 00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:46.780 And who else shares this 00:38:46.780 --> 00:38:47.940 passion and this concern? 00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:51.300 What avenues for gospel 00:38:51.300 --> 00:38:53.539 speaking and gospel doing is 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:55.220 he placing on your heart? 00:38:57.599 --> 00:38:58.960 And what practical steps 00:38:58.960 --> 00:38:59.860 could you take, even this 00:38:59.860 --> 00:39:02.380 afternoon, to see some of 00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:04.099 these things start to take 00:39:04.099 --> 00:39:04.380 shape? 00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:07.720 Friends, what I know is this. 00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:10.599 If in Christ we have been 00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:13.099 sanctified, set apart for his 00:39:13.099 --> 00:39:13.480 purpose. 00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:15.519 It's not a question of whether 00:39:15.519 --> 00:39:17.639 God has good works for us to 00:39:17.639 --> 00:39:17.819 do. 00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:19.880 He's already set us apart for 00:39:19.880 --> 00:39:21.420 his kingdom, and he's already 00:39:21.420 --> 00:39:22.460 prepared good works for us to 00:39:22.460 --> 00:39:22.619 do. 00:39:24.159 --> 00:39:26.900 It's simply a question of where 00:39:26.900 --> 00:39:28.239 we'll begin. 00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:34.059 He has released us for good 00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:34.460 works. 00:39:34.460 --> 00:39:39.079 Third and last, having been 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:40.760 sanctified by God's will through 00:39:40.760 --> 00:39:43.619 Christ, it releases us from 00:39:43.619 --> 00:39:47.199 guilt for good works to trust 00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:51.679 God's will for our lives in his 00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:51.980 word. 00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:55.260 Friends, if everything we've been 00:39:55.260 --> 00:39:57.960 saying is true, then notice you 00:39:57.960 --> 00:40:00.400 see that God certainly has your 00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:01.920 ultimate good in mind. 00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:06.320 If the Father would plan from all 00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:08.000 eternity, and the Son would 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:10.119 accomplish in history your 00:40:10.119 --> 00:40:12.360 redemption, your cleansing, through 00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:15.160 the horrible death on a cross, if 00:40:15.160 --> 00:40:17.840 he's done all that for you, then 00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:19.360 surely you can trust him. 00:40:20.019 --> 00:40:22.200 If by that will you've been 00:40:22.200 --> 00:40:25.019 sanctified, then certainly by that 00:40:25.019 --> 00:40:27.579 will you will also find continual 00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:29.940 freedom and life and joy. 00:40:31.940 --> 00:40:34.340 And where do we find God's will? 00:40:36.819 --> 00:40:40.259 Friends, again, the graciousness of 00:40:40.259 --> 00:40:42.319 God, we find it in his word. 00:40:44.360 --> 00:40:46.139 Instead of trying to fashion our 00:40:46.139 --> 00:40:48.299 lives and create our identities 00:40:48.299 --> 00:40:51.139 according to our own desires, we can 00:40:51.139 --> 00:40:54.139 now gladly shape our lives according 00:40:54.139 --> 00:40:56.259 to God's own word. 00:40:56.260 --> 00:40:59.180 After all, the one who created us 00:40:59.180 --> 00:41:00.980 knows us best. 00:41:01.380 --> 00:41:03.820 And he knows how best we ought to be. 00:41:04.040 --> 00:41:06.000 And he knows how best we ought to use 00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:08.960 our money and our bodies and our 00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:10.860 status and our privilege and our 00:41:10.860 --> 00:41:13.600 position so that we might flourish. 00:41:14.280 --> 00:41:15.720 And so that others might flourish 00:41:15.720 --> 00:41:16.040 too. 00:41:18.640 --> 00:41:21.100 And he's not just our creator, but as 00:41:21.100 --> 00:41:22.260 we've been saying this morning, he's 00:41:22.260 --> 00:41:23.100 our cleanser. 00:41:23.200 --> 00:41:23.940 He's our redeemer. 00:41:23.940 --> 00:41:27.179 He's the one who loved us and 00:41:27.179 --> 00:41:28.079 cleansed us. 00:41:30.179 --> 00:41:32.320 Now surely his commands are not 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:34.460 wasted, but they're for our good. 00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:38.119 Now make no mistake, a life shaped by 00:41:38.119 --> 00:41:40.019 God's word might not be one filled 00:41:40.019 --> 00:41:44.920 with ease or wealth or worldly status. 00:41:44.920 --> 00:41:48.500 You might not actually get your best 00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:49.260 life now. 00:41:52.500 --> 00:41:55.619 But friends, it will be one of increasing 00:41:55.619 --> 00:41:59.360 freedom and joy and hope. 00:42:02.920 --> 00:42:04.860 So this is the answer to our problem. 00:42:06.019 --> 00:42:08.159 As we've gotten lost in the maze of 00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:10.340 making our own selves and fashioning our 00:42:10.340 --> 00:42:12.880 own identities, Christ has come and done 00:42:12.880 --> 00:42:15.260 something completely off the map for us. 00:42:15.800 --> 00:42:19.260 He's lived a life in radical obedience 00:42:19.260 --> 00:42:25.059 to his father so that we might share in 00:42:25.059 --> 00:42:27.740 his perfection, in his sanctification, in 00:42:27.740 --> 00:42:28.539 his wholeness. 00:42:28.539 --> 00:42:35.039 And it's there in giving our lives to him and 00:42:35.039 --> 00:42:39.219 letting him shape our lives that we find true 00:42:39.219 --> 00:42:40.739 freedom and joy. 00:42:42.779 --> 00:42:43.500 Let's pray. 00:42:43.500 --> 00:42:52.079 Father, we thank you this morning for Christ. 00:42:53.260 --> 00:42:58.480 God, thank you for giving us in him the perfect 00:42:58.480 --> 00:43:01.739 cleansing that we need and the calling to go 00:43:01.739 --> 00:43:03.820 forth and to love you in freedom. 00:43:05.079 --> 00:43:07.099 God, take these things and impress them deeply in our 00:43:07.099 --> 00:43:07.739 hearts today. 00:43:07.880 --> 00:43:10.739 Lord, help us to see in the days to come how we can 00:43:10.739 --> 00:43:13.819 start living in line with the truth of this good news. 00:43:14.779 --> 00:43:16.179 We pray all this in Christ's name. 00:43:16.419 --> 00:43:16.659 Amen. 00:43:20.839 --> 00:43:22.619 Well, as I've been mentioning a lot this morning, 00:43:22.859 --> 00:43:26.959 we are having two baptisms this morning, 00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:28.719 which is a great joy for us. 00:43:28.779 --> 00:43:31.119 In Matthew 28, the resurrected Jesus says, 00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:34.480 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:34.739 me. 00:43:35.099 --> 00:43:37.420 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, 00:43:37.960 --> 00:43:40.339 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the 00:43:40.339 --> 00:43:43.219 Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe 00:43:43.219 --> 00:43:44.359 all that I've commanded you. 00:43:44.659 --> 00:43:47.819 And behold, I'm with you always to the end of the 00:43:47.819 --> 00:43:48.159 ages. 00:43:48.839 --> 00:43:51.599 So, friends, baptism is something that we do in 00:43:51.599 --> 00:43:53.679 obedience to Christ's command. 00:43:54.239 --> 00:43:57.719 It's the way in which disciples of Jesus, who've placed 00:43:57.719 --> 00:44:01.579 their faith in him, make a public profession of that 00:44:01.579 --> 00:44:02.019 faith. 00:44:03.359 --> 00:44:06.219 And as we've said, what baptism is, it's a powerful 00:44:06.219 --> 00:44:09.799 portrayal of Jesus' own death and resurrection. 00:44:10.339 --> 00:44:13.939 That he's gone down into the grave and come up in newness 00:44:13.939 --> 00:44:14.419 of life. 00:44:15.519 --> 00:44:20.039 And baptism also says that we, through faith in Christ, 00:44:20.319 --> 00:44:23.279 have also died and come to new life in him. 00:44:23.739 --> 00:44:25.639 That our sins have been cleansed. 00:44:25.639 --> 00:44:27.679 That our new life has begun. 00:44:29.219 --> 00:44:35.039 So I wonder if Lee and Laura would come up at this point. 00:44:44.179 --> 00:44:46.920 It's been a great joy for us as pastors to get to know, come 00:44:46.920 --> 00:44:47.359 on up, guys. 00:44:48.199 --> 00:44:48.659 Laura and Lee. 00:44:48.739 --> 00:44:51.659 Laura's been here for how many years, Laura? 00:44:52.139 --> 00:44:53.500 Four and a half. 00:44:53.500 --> 00:44:55.360 And Lee's been coming for about a year, right, Lee? 00:44:55.559 --> 00:44:55.739 Is that? 00:44:56.360 --> 00:44:56.679 Yeah. 00:44:56.880 --> 00:44:58.099 So, since summer. 00:44:58.239 --> 00:45:00.840 So, they're going to share their testimonies with you all. 00:45:01.699 --> 00:45:02.739 And we're going to rejoice with them. 00:45:02.780 --> 00:45:03.920 So, Laura, why don't you come up and share? 00:45:08.579 --> 00:45:09.679 Good morning, church. 00:45:09.679 --> 00:45:16.079 I think for a lot of people, baptism comes together with a new faith. 00:45:17.099 --> 00:45:24.940 And for me today, baptism is just one more sign in a long, long list of signs 00:45:24.940 --> 00:45:27.199 of God's faithfulness to me. 00:45:27.759 --> 00:45:30.759 In sustaining me through all kinds of hardships. 00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:34.940 And refining me, sanctifying me, as we heard in the sermon. 00:45:34.940 --> 00:45:43.380 And I became a Christian 12 years ago when I was a freshman in high school. 00:45:44.159 --> 00:45:49.280 After a time that I had really rebelled against the Lord for many years. 00:45:49.700 --> 00:45:51.280 I was raised in a Christian home. 00:45:51.720 --> 00:45:59.039 But during middle school and high school, I started thinking that maybe I knew better than that. 00:45:59.039 --> 00:46:03.400 And I started following the ways of the world. 00:46:03.880 --> 00:46:12.039 And I can tell you that rebellion only led me to a place of pain and hopelessness. 00:46:13.759 --> 00:46:15.940 Toward hatred, toward people who wronged me. 00:46:16.559 --> 00:46:20.199 Left me feeling like a burned out house with no room for emotion. 00:46:20.860 --> 00:46:22.360 No hope, no love. 00:46:24.659 --> 00:46:26.059 Even thoughts of suicide. 00:46:26.059 --> 00:46:35.559 And in that time, I thought back to when I had been a young child. 00:46:36.619 --> 00:46:39.199 Praying to the Lord as my parents had taught me. 00:46:40.159 --> 00:46:43.139 Having an innocence and a hope in him. 00:46:44.099 --> 00:46:47.440 Knowing that he was my father, that he loved me, that I could trust him. 00:46:49.159 --> 00:46:52.799 And I began reading my Bible again regularly. 00:46:52.800 --> 00:46:54.560 I began praying. 00:46:54.720 --> 00:46:59.039 I began asking God to help me come back to him. 00:46:59.240 --> 00:47:00.060 To change my heart. 00:47:01.680 --> 00:47:04.440 And it took a couple months. 00:47:04.760 --> 00:47:13.880 And he brought some people into my life who helped me recognize how I was still holding on to some sins that had become very strong in my life during that rebellion. 00:47:13.880 --> 00:47:19.460 And helped me to turn from them and repent to them and to truly give my life over to Jesus. 00:47:20.320 --> 00:47:24.519 And I remember one night I was praying and reading the word. 00:47:24.519 --> 00:47:32.320 And I just felt his presence in a completely unmistakable and unprecedented way. 00:47:32.900 --> 00:47:36.719 And I just knew that I was his daughter. 00:47:37.440 --> 00:47:41.280 That he was my father and he had saved me and he would never leave me. 00:47:42.800 --> 00:47:46.579 And that he had changed my heart so that I wouldn't leave him either. 00:47:46.699 --> 00:47:50.940 That he was holding me strong and that nothing could separate me from his love. 00:47:50.940 --> 00:48:00.240 And since that night, there have been so many times that he has been faithful to me in other ways. 00:48:00.240 --> 00:48:03.820 That he's brought me through hardships and trials. 00:48:04.139 --> 00:48:07.559 Both things that are a product of the fallenness of this world. 00:48:07.679 --> 00:48:10.820 And also things that are part of my own fallenness and my own weakness. 00:48:11.139 --> 00:48:13.159 And my own tendency to sin. 00:48:13.440 --> 00:48:18.360 And to disobey the God who loves me so much and gave everything for me. 00:48:18.360 --> 00:48:24.880 Who rescued me from feeling worthless like so many girls in high school do. 00:48:26.620 --> 00:48:29.900 To helping me recognize that lie that I'm not worthless. 00:48:30.240 --> 00:48:34.680 That the God of the universe loved me enough to die for me. 00:48:35.019 --> 00:48:36.760 When I was still rebelling against him. 00:48:36.820 --> 00:48:39.360 When I was still hating him and spitting in his face. 00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:42.000 He came and he died for me. 00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:44.579 Not because I deserve it. 00:48:44.639 --> 00:48:46.000 But just because he's good. 00:48:46.519 --> 00:48:49.079 And because he's loving and wonderful and beautiful. 00:48:51.980 --> 00:48:54.980 So as I mentioned, I was brought up in a Christian home. 00:48:55.079 --> 00:48:56.880 I was brought up in a Presbyterian church. 00:48:57.019 --> 00:48:58.280 And I was baptized as an infant. 00:48:58.539 --> 00:49:02.679 So though I've been a Christian for 12 years, I'm getting baptized today. 00:49:02.679 --> 00:49:10.799 And that again is just through God's faithfulness and patience with me. 00:49:10.940 --> 00:49:12.339 And working in me. 00:49:12.659 --> 00:49:20.980 That he's led me to attend churches that really helped me to think about what the scripture does say about baptism. 00:49:21.319 --> 00:49:25.019 To challenge my views on that. 00:49:25.339 --> 00:49:27.159 And really dig deep into the word. 00:49:27.259 --> 00:49:29.419 And ask God to reveal his will to me. 00:49:29.420 --> 00:49:37.680 And so I had some time to really devote my study of the word and my prayer to this question of baptism. 00:49:37.980 --> 00:49:43.539 And the Lord did show me how this is what he wants for us. 00:49:43.639 --> 00:49:46.240 That this is his design in baptism. 00:49:46.240 --> 00:49:47.659 For us to be repentant. 00:49:47.860 --> 00:49:50.920 And to accept this baptism as a gift. 00:49:51.400 --> 00:49:53.840 Knowing that we have been saved. 00:49:54.539 --> 00:49:58.400 So I'm accepting the believer's baptism this morning. 00:49:58.400 --> 00:50:04.880 And as I said, for me it's another sign of his faithfulness. 00:50:06.559 --> 00:50:11.740 And the joy for me today is just the simple joy of hearing my Lord's voice and obeying. 00:50:13.019 --> 00:50:18.360 Just having the pure and simple satisfaction and joy of following him wherever he calls me. 00:50:18.800 --> 00:50:23.099 And I'm so thankful that he has allowed me to see this part of him. 00:50:23.099 --> 00:50:28.500 And for all the ways that he will continue causing me to grow and love him more in the future. 00:50:39.380 --> 00:50:40.179 Good morning. 00:50:40.360 --> 00:50:41.159 My name is Lee. 00:50:41.400 --> 00:50:44.299 And I'm just going to tell you a little bit about my journey of faith. 00:50:44.300 --> 00:50:51.800 In February, I heard Pastor Nick say that the Bible is filled with stories of people who don't deserve God's grace. 00:50:51.840 --> 00:50:52.960 But they receive it anyway. 00:50:53.780 --> 00:50:56.560 Fortunately for me, that has been the case in my life. 00:50:57.120 --> 00:51:01.140 I grew up in New Jersey where I lived with my mom and my dad and my older brother. 00:51:01.539 --> 00:51:04.720 Both of my parents are wise and generous and loving. 00:51:05.240 --> 00:51:07.180 And my mom's probably crying already. 00:51:07.179 --> 00:51:10.919 When I was four years old, my mother got saved. 00:51:11.259 --> 00:51:13.739 So I knew about Jesus from a very young age. 00:51:13.919 --> 00:51:15.319 And I was taught that we're all sinners. 00:51:15.779 --> 00:51:19.419 And we need to believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. 00:51:20.199 --> 00:51:21.559 Okay, fair enough. 00:51:22.099 --> 00:51:23.119 Jesus was my savior. 00:51:23.419 --> 00:51:24.519 I never doubted this. 00:51:25.440 --> 00:51:29.139 Church was definitely a big part of my life from a very young age too. 00:51:29.940 --> 00:51:33.059 My mom would take my brother and me to a Baptist church every Sunday. 00:51:33.500 --> 00:51:35.239 But church was not close to my hometown. 00:51:35.239 --> 00:51:38.699 So Sundays were long and tiring, especially as a kid. 00:51:39.279 --> 00:51:44.699 As I got a little bit older, I grew resistant to the long services and the long drives. 00:51:45.019 --> 00:51:46.559 I hated going to church. 00:51:47.079 --> 00:51:49.079 But if I didn't go to church, I was grounded. 00:51:49.659 --> 00:51:55.699 My mom would say, if you don't have time for God, you don't have time for your friends. 00:51:56.299 --> 00:52:02.139 And although I might steal that line and use it on my own kids one day, at the time I really hated it. 00:52:02.139 --> 00:52:06.239 But reluctantly, I continued to attend church every Sunday. 00:52:07.139 --> 00:52:09.839 But when I got to middle school, I only grew more resistant. 00:52:10.339 --> 00:52:13.699 I was becoming resentful of the rules that were implemented on my life. 00:52:14.079 --> 00:52:16.279 I wasn't allowed to listen to certain kinds of music. 00:52:16.639 --> 00:52:19.000 I couldn't read certain books or watch certain movies. 00:52:19.659 --> 00:52:22.659 I viewed Christianity as a list of everything that I couldn't do. 00:52:22.659 --> 00:52:27.500 By the time I hit high school, I had a strange relationship with Christianity. 00:52:28.079 --> 00:52:31.519 I felt like my faith made me different, and I was embarrassed by it. 00:52:31.980 --> 00:52:34.500 Still, I never doubted that Jesus was my Savior. 00:52:35.119 --> 00:52:38.059 From the time I was in kindergarten, this was all that I'd ever heard. 00:52:39.119 --> 00:52:45.219 And by that time, I had also become vaguely aware that Jesus was the person that I would talk to in my head all day. 00:52:45.219 --> 00:52:47.699 And I thought that that was enough to make me Christian. 00:52:48.259 --> 00:52:50.659 But that was the extent of my relationship with Jesus. 00:52:51.099 --> 00:52:54.139 I didn't want him to invade the other parts of my life. 00:52:54.419 --> 00:52:58.459 As far as I was concerned, Jesus was seriously cramping my style. 00:52:59.319 --> 00:53:03.659 And so I was still resisting God's word and God's love. 00:53:04.399 --> 00:53:10.279 When I graduated from high school, I felt like my parents had equipped me with strong values and a good moral compass. 00:53:10.280 --> 00:53:12.640 I was ready to go be an adult. 00:53:13.340 --> 00:53:16.980 And in the fall of 2007, I enrolled at Quinnipiac University. 00:53:17.440 --> 00:53:20.040 And now that I was living on my own, it occurred to me, 00:53:20.500 --> 00:53:23.720 I don't have to wake up early on Sundays and go to church anymore. 00:53:24.740 --> 00:53:29.040 So I enjoyed my newfound freedom, and I didn't bother to find a church in Connecticut. 00:53:30.100 --> 00:53:35.160 Like most 18-year-olds, I thought that I knew so much about life and how to live it well. 00:53:35.380 --> 00:53:38.740 And I probably was better prepared than a lot of my peers. 00:53:38.739 --> 00:53:45.159 But the truth is, college is going to throw a whole lot of craziness at you that you were not prepared for. 00:53:45.679 --> 00:53:48.039 Maybe some of the college students in the room might agree. 00:53:48.719 --> 00:53:51.619 You're going to be faced with curveballs that you couldn't have expected. 00:53:52.239 --> 00:53:56.299 And college is full of scenarios that are going to test your faith and challenge your morals. 00:53:56.959 --> 00:53:59.599 I thought that I knew how to handle everything that came my way. 00:54:00.139 --> 00:54:03.419 But of course, as sinners do, I made a mess of things. 00:54:04.019 --> 00:54:08.000 I dug myself into some pretty deep holes that I wasn't sure how to get out of. 00:54:08.739 --> 00:54:13.079 In a time where so much is uncertain, and you're still finding your way, 00:54:13.239 --> 00:54:15.939 and you're trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be, 00:54:16.459 --> 00:54:20.119 wouldn't it be nice to have a friend who's always going to have your back, 00:54:20.419 --> 00:54:22.939 who knows everything that's going to happen to you, 00:54:23.079 --> 00:54:25.799 and who's going to hold your hand through the entire thing? 00:54:26.519 --> 00:54:31.899 I didn't realize it in college, but that's actually the perfect time to rely on God. 00:54:31.900 --> 00:54:34.680 Unfortunately, many college kids don't. 00:54:35.139 --> 00:54:35.760 I didn't. 00:54:36.220 --> 00:54:37.280 But I wish that I had. 00:54:37.780 --> 00:54:42.519 It would have saved me from a lot of stress, worrying, pain, and heartache. 00:54:43.920 --> 00:54:48.220 In the summer of 2013, two years after I graduated from college, 00:54:48.400 --> 00:54:52.099 I met a new friend here in New Haven, and he was attending Trinity Baptist Church. 00:54:52.619 --> 00:54:54.960 I was inspired by his close walk with God, 00:54:55.059 --> 00:54:57.900 and I recognized it as something that I needed in my life, too. 00:54:57.900 --> 00:55:00.660 It had been too long since I'd been in church. 00:55:01.039 --> 00:55:05.500 I was curious to find out if this Baptist church was like the ones that I went to growing up. 00:55:05.720 --> 00:55:09.160 So I started coming here in July, and I joined a small group here, too. 00:55:09.680 --> 00:55:15.579 What I found was a welcoming and warm and uplifting experience every time I walked through the doors. 00:55:17.320 --> 00:55:22.700 One Sunday morning last August, Pastor Greg was preaching about God's pursuing love. 00:55:23.280 --> 00:55:26.059 And I sat in my pew, and I had a moment of self-reflection. 00:55:26.059 --> 00:55:31.159 I looked back on the past several years of my life and the mistakes that I had made 00:55:31.159 --> 00:55:35.139 and how I'd distanced myself from God, especially in college. 00:55:35.639 --> 00:55:41.599 I thought about how I'd been resisting Jesus for years, probably my entire life. 00:55:42.420 --> 00:55:47.579 And I thought to myself, if I were God, I probably would have given up on me by now. 00:55:48.940 --> 00:55:54.599 I'd been resisting God for 24 years, but he'd been pursuing me for 24 years, too. 00:55:54.599 --> 00:56:02.519 And in God's perfect timing, in a roundabout way, I had found myself sitting back in church, in that pew right there. 00:56:03.619 --> 00:56:10.339 And I sat in that pew, and I began to sweat, and my breathing became erratic, and my eyes welled up with tears. 00:56:10.759 --> 00:56:14.079 And I felt strongly that I was sitting in church that day for a reason. 00:56:14.659 --> 00:56:18.960 I guess I always knew that God had been working in my life in some abstract sense. 00:56:18.960 --> 00:56:22.340 But in that moment, that was the first time that I could really feel it. 00:56:23.260 --> 00:56:26.860 And it wasn't that God hadn't been working in my life before. 00:56:27.500 --> 00:56:30.880 Sadly, I think I'd just been ignoring him for a really long time. 00:56:31.539 --> 00:56:34.659 But as I was having this realization, I heard Pastor Greg say, 00:56:35.280 --> 00:56:37.260 God could have given up on me, but he never did. 00:56:38.260 --> 00:56:42.659 And those words echoed in my head, and I realized that God never gave up on me either. 00:56:42.659 --> 00:56:46.179 And I cried in that pew for like 20 minutes. 00:56:47.460 --> 00:56:49.219 Needless to say, these were good tears. 00:56:49.759 --> 00:56:52.159 And it wasn't that I had received any new information. 00:56:52.679 --> 00:56:56.679 I always knew that Jesus loved me, but this was the first time that I could really feel it. 00:56:57.139 --> 00:57:00.619 And it's one thing to have the technical knowledge of what salvation is, 00:57:00.879 --> 00:57:05.859 but it's another thing for the lens in which you view your whole life to actually change. 00:57:05.860 --> 00:57:09.099 And so while that was certainly a pivotal day for me, 00:57:09.260 --> 00:57:11.860 I know that salvation is not just one fleeting experience, 00:57:12.620 --> 00:57:15.160 but it actually brings a permanent change in your life. 00:57:15.660 --> 00:57:18.920 And last summer was when I finally stopped resisting God's love. 00:57:20.059 --> 00:57:22.800 After 24 years of God softening my heart, 00:57:23.300 --> 00:57:27.360 the desire to obey God and do things his way has finally come naturally. 00:57:28.039 --> 00:57:30.500 My parents are much like my parents. 00:57:31.120 --> 00:57:33.940 I know that if God sets guidelines for us to follow, 00:57:33.940 --> 00:57:38.340 it's only because he loves us and wants to protect us from harm or pain or heartache. 00:57:38.519 --> 00:57:42.340 He wants us to experience all of the blessings that he has in store for us. 00:57:43.200 --> 00:57:46.159 So today, just a few days before my 25th birthday, 00:57:46.579 --> 00:57:51.139 I'm very excited to be celebrating a new chapter in my life by getting baptized. 00:57:51.980 --> 00:57:55.179 And when I'm submerged under that water, two things are going to happen. 00:57:55.840 --> 00:57:58.960 One, I'm going to ruin a perfectly good hair day. 00:58:03.940 --> 00:58:11.400 And two, I'm giving my life to God and I'm doing things his way from now on. 00:58:12.059 --> 00:58:13.099 Thank you for listening. 00:58:13.099 --> 00:58:13.380 Thank you.