WEBVTT

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 Good morning, we're now going to read God's Word, the Bible.

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 And there are going to be two passages this morning.

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 The first one is Colossians chapter 2, and verses 13 to 15.

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 And the next one will be Romans 3, 9 to 26.

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 The ESV has helpfully labeled the section Alive in Christ.

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 And we're just going to be reading the last few verses of that, 13 to 15.

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 Chapter 2, Colossians.

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 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh,

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 God made alive with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

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 by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.

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 This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

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 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame

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 by triumphing over them in him.

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 And then we turn to Romans, chapter 3, verses 9 to 26.

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 What then?

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 Are we Jews any better off?

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 No, not at all.

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 For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin.

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 As it is written, none is righteous.

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 No, not one.

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 No one understands.

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 No one seeks for God.

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 All have turned aside.

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 Together they have become worthless.

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 No one does good.

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 Not even one.

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 Their throat is an open grave.

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 They use their tongues to deceive.

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 The venom of asps is under their lips.

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 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.

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 Their feet are swift to shed blood.

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 In their paths are ruin and misery,

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 and the way of peace they have not known.

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 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

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 Now we know that whatever the law says,

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 it speaks to those who are under the law,

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 so that every mouth may be stopped

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 and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

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 For by works of the law,

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 no human being will be justified in his sight,

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 since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

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 But now the righteousness of God

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 has been manifested apart from the law,

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 although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,

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 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ

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 for all who believe.

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 There is no distinction,

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 but all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

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 and are justified by his grace as a gift

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 through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

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 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood

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 to be received by faith.

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 This was to show God's righteousness

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 because in his divine forbearance,

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 he had passed over former sins.

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 It was to show his righteousness at the present time

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 so that he might be just

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 and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

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 Why don't we pray as we come to God's word?

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 Let's pray.

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 Our Father in heaven,

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 we only see in part

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 and we can twist and suppress the truth

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 by our intellect

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 or by our moral efforts.

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 We cannot reach into the heavens

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 and see you as you really are.

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 And so I pray that through your word,

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 your holy word,

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 give us a true and a clearer sight

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 of who you are this morning,

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 that we might stand in awe of you

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 and then truly seeing ourselves in your great light.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 It's not easy for God to forgive you.

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 Let me repeat that.

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 It's not easy for God to forgive you or me for that matter.

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 Now I'm hoping your mind is a bit curious,

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 trying to work out what I mean by such a statement

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 and whether it is true,

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 because it seems to fly in the face

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 of the Christian idea of a forgiving God.

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 So let me, with such a statement,

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 let me clarify what I don't mean.

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 I don't mean a whole bunch of things,

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 so let's clarify that.

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 I don't mean that God is like us

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 when we often keep a record of wrongs,

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 when we'd rather cut people out of our lives

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 rather than pursuing the painful path to peace.

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 I'm not saying he's like us when we do those things.

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 I don't mean that what you must do

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 in order for God to forgive is difficult.

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 All religions talk about a fresh start,

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 a washing of past wrongs,

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 and some of the requirements are just really difficult.

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 It's daily meditation.

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 It's daily prayers.

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 It's a pilgrimage.

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 It's all the Christian idea of like a monastery,

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 like becoming a nun,

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 giving up the pleasures of life

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 and strict treatment of the body and the mind,

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 and still, after doing all this,

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 not being 100% sure that God has forgiven you.

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 So I don't mean what you must do to be forgiven

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 makes it difficult for God to forgive.

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 Or perhaps you think it is easy for God to forgive.

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 Simply go to the confessional,

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 say the right words of repentance,

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 have a priest come to you on your deathbed

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 to give you the last rites,

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 and it's just easy.

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 It's all gone.

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 Just do the right ritual and it's gone.

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 All your sin is gone.

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 Some people have that view of Christianity.

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 Or perhaps you have a view of God

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 as if he doesn't want us to talk about our sin.

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 It's just so negative.

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 Surely God wants us to focus on a positive thing,

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 positive relationship.

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 Or maybe you have a view of God

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 that is like a harsh and critical father figure,

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 like too many earthly fathers,

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 as if God is ruthless,

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 quick to anger and slow to forgive.

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 When I say it's not easy for God to forgive you,

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 that is not because he is harsh or reluctant.

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 It's not easy for God to forgive you and me

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 because he's good.

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 And because our sin,

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 as we looked at last week,

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 is so awful.

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 Now to get a feel for this,

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 the Lord gives us the prophet Hosea.

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 It helps us feel the problem.

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 And the prophet Hosea's wife,

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 Goma,

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 whose affection and loyalty

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 should have been only for her husband,

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 instead she goes off

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 and she pursues other lovers,

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 thinking in these lovers

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 she's going to get the protection

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 and the abundant life.

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 Is it easy for Hosea to forgive his wife?

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 No, not at all.

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 There is a justice problem.

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 God's law says such treatment deserves,

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 such unfaithfulness deserves death.

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 There's a justice problem.

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 There's a relational problem.

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 A right jealousy produces anger.

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 And there's a heart problem.

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 Goma doesn't even want to come back.

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 She wants her lovers.

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 She's captivated by them.

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 Her heart is gripped by them.

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 There's a heart problem.

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 What a heart-wrenching picture

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 of our problem with the Lord.

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 And it's even worse than that.

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 Because we were made by the Lord.

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 We belong to him.

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 We owe all our affection and loyalty to him.

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 He deserves all our trust

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 to come to him as the source of all life.

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 And yet, as we saw last week,

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 we try to play God.

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 We try and control our own lives.

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 And we shake the fist at God's rule.

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 And we commit spiritual adultery.

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 Our heart goes to all other places

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 to find life except the source of life.

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 And that heart problem produces evil words and behaviour.

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 How can God, who is holy, easily forgive?

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 There's a justice problem

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 where a person sins,

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 a person deserves to die.

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 There's a relational problem.

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 God's jealousy for his own honour,

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 his jealousy for our total affection

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 is right and it produces anger, wrath.

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 And there's a heart problem.

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 We are held captive.

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 We're enslaved,

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 convinced that life is found

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 apart from intimacy with God.

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 For Hosea to get Goma back,

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 it came at great cost to him

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 to redeem her.

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 And our only hope is redemption.

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 We need a redeemer.

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 And we're going to look at that,

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 what redemption means today.

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 It is a beautiful concept.

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 So if you're overwhelmed by the weight

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 of what I just said,

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 please hang in there.

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 And redemption is wonderful.

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 Just two comments

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 before we dive into what redemption means.

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 I'm leaning heavily on a theologian

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 called Leon Morris

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 and he's got this book and a chapter

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 that goes into much more detail

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 than I can do in a single sermon.

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 So if you would like a copy of that chapter,

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 get in touch with me.

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 I'd love to share it with you.

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 I'd also recommend using the sermon outline

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 with all the Bible passages.

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 Redemption comes up so much in Scripture.

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 Why not use those to go and do your own study

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 and devotion and prayer,

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 either privately or with your family?

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 So what is redemption?

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 We need to buy back this word from our culture

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 because our culture uses redemption

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 in a very different way to what the Bible means.

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 So for example,

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 you might remember a couple of years ago,

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 the Aussie cricketers,

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 Steve Smith,

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 captain of Australia

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 and vice captain David Warner,

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 they got caught for ball tampering.

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 Do you remember this?

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 And they were banned from cricket

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 and their reputation was just shot.

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 But once they returned to test cricket,

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 the media completely changed their tone

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 about these two men.

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 Their cheating was wiped from the record.

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 Their reputation as worthy representatives of Australia

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 was restored.

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 How?

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 By performing well,

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 by hitting a century,

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 by performing.

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 They redeemed themselves,

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 commentators were saying,

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 the media were saying.

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 Or the classic movie,

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 Shawshank Redemption.

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 If you haven't seen it by now,

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 oh, I don't know,

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 you don't have to watch it,

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 but if you haven't seen it,

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 spoiler alert,

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 I'm about to ruin the movie,

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 but I blame you.

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 How does an innocent man

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 restore his freedom

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 after getting a life sentence

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 for something he didn't do?

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 He must make it happen.

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 He's got to escape

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 and win back his freedom.

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 He did it.

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 Scripture knows nothing,

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 nothing of being able to redeem yourself.

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 You can't.

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 The other surprising thing about redemption,

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 it was a common word in biblical times.

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 It was,

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 any Greek speaker

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 would know the word.

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 It wasn't,

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 it wasn't

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 in the religious sphere,

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 although the Old Testament

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 talks about redemption a lot,

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 but every Greek person

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 would understand it.

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 And it had two primary settings,

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 prisoners of war

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 and slaves.

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 It means more than being delivered,

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 it's more precise

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 a meaning than that.

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 So picture a prisoner of war,

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 especially if they're nobility.

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 They were worth a great deal

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 to their family and society back home.

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 So the captors

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 would send a message

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 saying,

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 here's the ransom price

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 if you want this prisoner back.

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 And they would,

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 if they wanted them back,

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 they would send the money over

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 and that person would be restored

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 to their home

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 and to their position in society.

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 Or picture a slave.

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 If someone wealthy enough

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 wanted to,

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 out of the generosity,

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 or whether the slave

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 saved up enough money

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 over years,

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 then they could pay

00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:50.979
 to the temple

00:14:50.979 --> 00:14:52.159
 of the gods,

00:14:52.339 --> 00:14:53.519
 whatever the gods were,

00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.240
 and they would

00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:57.059
 buy their freedom.

00:14:58.460 --> 00:14:59.500
 So for example,

00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.039
 there's an inscription,

00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:01.659
 we know this

00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:03.240
 because we have inscriptions

00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:05.840
 from back in that time period.

00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:07.220
 Here's one of them.

00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.980
 It recorded the date

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:10.019
 and then it said,

00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:11.240
 for freedom,

00:15:12.439 --> 00:15:13.639
 a female slave

00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.960
 whose name is Nicaea

00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:16.000
 by race,

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:16.559
 a Roman,

00:15:17.199 --> 00:15:18.000
 with a price

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:18.899
 of three

00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:20.299
 minae of silver

00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:21.759
 and half a minna.

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.340
 For freedom.

00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:26.919
 Redemption is about

00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:28.699
 someone who is a slave

00:15:28.699 --> 00:15:29.699
 or in captivity

00:15:29.699 --> 00:15:30.960
 being set free

00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:33.860
 by payment of a cost,

00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:34.799
 a price.

00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:37.879
 Which begs the question for us,

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.980
 who or what

00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:41.259
 are we held captive by

00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:42.519
 that we need freeing from?

00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.759
 Now, I think to

00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:48.419
 feel the weight of this,

00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:49.519
 I want to compare it

00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.699
 to other narratives

00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:51.259
 out there

00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:53.379
 in our public community.

00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.279
 marketplace,

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.659
 a public square.

00:15:56.919 --> 00:15:57.539
 Lots of people

00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:59.240
 offer a diagnosis

00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:01.120
 of the main problem

00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.620
 of our society,

00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.360
 of humanity,

00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:05.220
 of Western culture.

00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:06.939
 Let me just give

00:16:06.939 --> 00:16:07.620
 two examples.

00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:08.960
 There's more than this,

00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:10.039
 but one is

00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:11.319
 systemic racism.

00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:13.340
 That's the primary

00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:14.759
 problem in our society.

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.679
 Seeing racism

00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:18.439
 not as just this odd,

00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:19.799
 awful occurrence,

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.679
 and it is awful,

00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:22.479
 but seeing it

00:16:22.479 --> 00:16:23.579
 as built into

00:16:23.579 --> 00:16:24.319
 the fabric

00:16:24.319 --> 00:16:25.399
 of Western culture.

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.519
 That's one narrative

00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:28.059
 at the moment.

00:16:29.299 --> 00:16:30.819
 So that's the main problem.

00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:34.599
 Another popular narrative

00:16:34.599 --> 00:16:35.120
 at the moment

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.859
 is the ever-increasing

00:16:36.859 --> 00:16:38.779
 and even unstoppable

00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:39.699
 destruction

00:16:39.699 --> 00:16:41.539
 caused by climate change.

00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:43.319
 That's the great

00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:45.639
 evil of our times.

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.059
 Now,

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:47.600
 there's many more

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.399
 voices out there.

00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:51.460
 There's only one voice

00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:54.259
 who dares to say

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.399
 that the most serious

00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:55.980
 problem

00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:57.539
 isn't actually

00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:58.679
 outside of us.

00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:00.500
 It's inside

00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.779
 each one of us.

00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.759
 It's in our very nature.

00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.779
 Jesus said,

00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:07.220
 everyone who practices

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:07.819
 sin

00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:09.819
 is a slave

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:11.019
 to sin.

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.139
 Amen.

00:17:11.139 --> 00:17:13.039
 Amen.

00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.560
 The problem

00:17:16.560 --> 00:17:17.140
 isn't that

00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:18.540
 we make mistakes

00:17:18.540 --> 00:17:19.360
 every so often.

00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:20.460
 The problem

00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:21.660
 isn't outside of us.

00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:22.080
 The problem

00:17:22.080 --> 00:17:23.220
 is inside of us.

00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:23.980
 Like Goma,

00:17:25.020 --> 00:17:26.840
 we haven't only

00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:28.040
 committed spiritual

00:17:28.040 --> 00:17:29.220
 idolatry,

00:17:29.340 --> 00:17:30.480
 but by doing so,

00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:31.360
 our hearts

00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:32.340
 have now,

00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:33.720
 we've given our hearts

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:35.660
 over to someone

00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:36.460
 who controls

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.160
 our heart.

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:41.000
 We are held captive

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:43.140
 by sin

00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:44.660
 and its consequences.

00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:47.280
 And we heard it

00:17:47.280 --> 00:17:48.280
 in our readings today.

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.820
 We heard it in Romans

00:17:49.820 --> 00:17:50.540
 chapter 3,

00:17:50.600 --> 00:17:51.180
 verse 9,

00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:52.840
 which says that

00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:53.740
 both Jews

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.400
 and Greeks

00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:55.840
 are under sin.

00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.580
 That's an interesting

00:17:57.580 --> 00:17:58.800
 preposition,

00:17:59.040 --> 00:17:59.780
 under sin.

00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:01.280
 Not just we commit sins,

00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:02.280
 but we're under it.

00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:03.700
 Meaning we're under

00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:04.640
 the power

00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:05.520
 of sin.

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:07.440
 It controls

00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.160
 our hearts.

00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.440
 Or in Colossians 2,

00:18:10.060 --> 00:18:11.300
 before knowing Christ,

00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:12.180
 we are dead

00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:13.280
 in our trespasses

00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:15.160
 and in the uncircumcision

00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:16.019
 of our flesh.

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.700
 That's a Jewish way

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.099
 of saying

00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:19.420
 there's something

00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.819
 rotten inside

00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:23.180
 that needs to be cut out.

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.519
 The problem

00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.399
 is in here.

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:29.460
 Again,

00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:30.660
 leaning on Leon Morris,

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.660
 he helps us grasp

00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:32.119
 the point.

00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.460
 He says this,

00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:35.600
 we who belong

00:18:35.600 --> 00:18:36.220
 to God

00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:39.120
 because he created us

00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:41.240
 have gotten

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.360
 into the power

00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:43.480
 of a strong

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.000
 enemy

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.500
 from which

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.519
 we cannot

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.539
 break free.

00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:50.240
 If I can say it

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:50.740
 reverently,

00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:52.059
 God,

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.519
 if he wants us

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:53.900
 back,

00:18:54.620 --> 00:18:55.380
 must pay

00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.100
 the price.

00:18:56.099 --> 00:19:03.219
 So because

00:19:03.219 --> 00:19:04.279
 we are captives

00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:05.279
 inside our

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:05.879
 very nature,

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:06.759
 that's why

00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.639
 keeping God's

00:19:07.639 --> 00:19:08.059
 laws,

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.240
 it can never

00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:09.599
 work.

00:19:09.699 --> 00:19:10.179
 It can never

00:19:10.179 --> 00:19:10.919
 set us free

00:19:10.919 --> 00:19:12.019
 because that's

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.879
 just external

00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.539
 change.

00:19:13.959 --> 00:19:14.379
 It's not

00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:14.959
 internal.

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:16.799
 Romans 3,

00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:17.759
 19 to 20

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.539
 is the climax

00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.339
 of the argument

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:19.859
 of the first

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.459
 three chapters.

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.679
 All people,

00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.459
 religious or

00:19:22.459 --> 00:19:22.879
 otherwise,

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.740
 are in danger

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.559
 of the anger,

00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:25.679
 the wrath of God

00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.960
 because no one

00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.600
 lives up to

00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:28.120
 what they know

00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:28.660
 to be true

00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:29.320
 about God.

00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:33.700
 Romans 3,

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.019
 19,

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:35.140
 by works of

00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:35.539
 the law,

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.700
 no human

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.259
 being will

00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:38.100
 be justified,

00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.160
 declared good

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.980
 in his sight

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:41.380
 since through

00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:41.820
 the law

00:19:41.820 --> 00:19:42.640
 comes knowledge

00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:43.160
 of sin.

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.279
 God's law

00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:44.900
 is good.

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.500
 It reveals

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.480
 God's character.

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:47.759
 God's law

00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.519
 teaches us

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.519
 what is good

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.620
 and what's evil.

00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:52.220
 There's nothing

00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:53.080
 wrong with the law

00:19:53.080 --> 00:19:54.940
 but it has

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.560
 no power

00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.919
 to free us

00:19:56.919 --> 00:19:57.799
 on the inside.

00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:00.980
 Knowing God's law

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:02.240
 only highlights

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.220
 the gap

00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:04.359
 between how

00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.480
 holy he is

00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.500
 and my character.

00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:08.399
 It gives me

00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:09.359
 knowledge of sin.

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:10.879
 He doesn't

00:20:10.879 --> 00:20:11.399
 free me

00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:11.899
 from sin.

00:20:15.419 --> 00:20:16.159
 And I find

00:20:16.159 --> 00:20:17.599
 Colossians 2,

00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.339
 23

00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:19.319
 startling.

00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.079
 So all

00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:22.700
 these religious

00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.319
 rules

00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:23.340
 rules.

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.539
 Picture a monk

00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:27.080
 again

00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:28.120
 in a monastery

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:30.340
 who struggles

00:20:30.340 --> 00:20:31.120
 with lustful

00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:31.680
 thoughts.

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.620
 A monk

00:20:32.620 --> 00:20:33.180
 in a monastery

00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:33.559
 struggles

00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.080
 with lustful

00:20:34.080 --> 00:20:34.440
 thoughts

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:35.240
 and they

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.420
 are depriving

00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:36.779
 themselves

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.440
 of sleep,

00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.259
 they're depriving

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:38.559
 themselves

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.340
 of food

00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:39.860
 so that they

00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:40.580
 can pray,

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.620
 so that

00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.799
 they can

00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.779
 memorise

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.299
 and study

00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:45.759
 scripture.

00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:48.519
 And Colossians 2

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:50.039
 verse 23

00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:50.720
 says all

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.339
 these rules,

00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.099
 this kind

00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:52.559
 of way

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.879
 of religion,

00:20:56.139 --> 00:20:58.139
 these have

00:20:58.139 --> 00:20:58.960
 indeed an

00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.960
 appearance of

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.839
 wisdom in

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:02.680
 promoting self-made

00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:04.119
 religion and

00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:05.000
 asceticism and

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.599
 severity of the

00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.579
 body, but they

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:08.119
 are of no value

00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:09.819
 in stopping

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:11.500
 the indulgence

00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.299
 of the flesh

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:14.979
 because all

00:21:14.979 --> 00:21:15.959
 that rule

00:21:15.959 --> 00:21:16.879
 keeping doesn't

00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:17.659
 get to the

00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:18.599
 lustful heart.

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.359
 It's of no

00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:23.759
 value.

00:21:26.159 --> 00:21:27.219
 We need a

00:21:27.219 --> 00:21:27.759
 redeemer.

00:21:29.959 --> 00:21:31.439
 God must act

00:21:31.439 --> 00:21:32.379
 contrary to

00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:33.039
 what we deserve.

00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.919
 He must take

00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:35.439
 the initiative

00:21:35.439 --> 00:21:36.219
 to set us

00:21:36.219 --> 00:21:36.579
 free.

00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:44.839
 The silence

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:47.019
 after Romans

00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:48.659
 3, 19

00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:49.139
 and 20,

00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:49.879
 that every

00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:50.619
 mouth will

00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.359
 be stopped

00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:52.019
 before the

00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.079
 judgment seat

00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.579
 of God.

00:21:54.239 --> 00:21:54.979
 The silence

00:21:54.979 --> 00:21:55.879
 is broken

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:57.799
 into in

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.639
 verse 21,

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:00.979
 but now,

00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.599
 but now,

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.719
 God has

00:22:04.719 --> 00:22:05.099
 acted.

00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:05.699
 God's

00:22:05.699 --> 00:22:06.179
 righteousness

00:22:06.179 --> 00:22:06.959
 comes in.

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:09.579
 Jumping

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.079
 to verse

00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:10.719
 23,

00:22:11.719 --> 00:22:12.159
 all have

00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:12.599
 sinned and

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.059
 fall short

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.299
 of the

00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:13.779
 glory of

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.219
 God and

00:22:14.219 --> 00:22:15.059
 are justified

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.099
 by his

00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:16.939
 grace as

00:22:16.939 --> 00:22:17.519
 a gift.

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.059
 How?

00:22:19.239 --> 00:22:20.039
 Through the

00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.599
 redemption

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.379
 that is in

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:22.359
 Christ Jesus.

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.219
 Now,

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:24.619
 here the

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.379
 price paid,

00:22:26.659 --> 00:22:27.399
 whom God

00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:28.359
 put forward

00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:29.619
 as propitiation

00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:30.219
 by his

00:22:30.219 --> 00:22:32.479
 blood to be

00:22:32.479 --> 00:22:33.159
 received by

00:22:33.159 --> 00:22:33.539
 faith.

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:35.480
 God the

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.460
 father put

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.000
 forward his

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.500
 son for

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:38.659
 our

00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:39.099
 redemption.

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:40.559
 And the

00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:41.259
 son gave

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:41.639
 himself

00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:42.240
 willingly

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:44.079
 for our

00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:44.519
 redemption.

00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:45.940
 He stated

00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:46.319
 his

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.779
 willingness

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.659
 very clearly

00:22:47.659 --> 00:22:48.139
 in Mark

00:22:48.139 --> 00:22:48.879
 10, 45.

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.200
 Even the

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:50.740
 son of man

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.139
 came not

00:22:51.139 --> 00:22:51.399
 to be

00:22:51.399 --> 00:22:51.859
 served,

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.339
 but to

00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:52.819
 serve,

00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.519
 and to

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.099
 give his

00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:54.700
 life as

00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.240
 a ransom

00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:55.759
 for many.

00:22:55.759 --> 00:23:00.779
 It's not

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.339
 easy for

00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:01.660
 God to

00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.259
 forgive you.

00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:04.140
 It came

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:04.480
 at a

00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.920
 great price.

00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:08.400
 His

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:08.799
 son,

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.480
 his

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:09.879
 blood.

00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:12.379
 There's

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:12.799
 no such

00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.240
 thing as

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.640
 cheap

00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:14.160
 forgiveness.

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:17.000
 The word

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.920
 propitiation,

00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:18.839
 we don't have

00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.319
 time to go

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:19.980
 into it fully,

00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:21.140
 but it

00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:21.519
 gives a

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:21.960
 sense of

00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.539
 why a

00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.059
 price must

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.440
 be paid,

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:23.720
 because

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.440
 propitiation

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:24.759
 is about

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.700
 taking away

00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:27.180
 the judgment

00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:28.000
 and the

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.319
 anger that

00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:29.700
 our sin

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.100
 deserved.

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:30.700
 It's taken

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.019
 away.

00:23:34.620 --> 00:23:36.319
 But don't

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.140
 try to

00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:37.680
 work out

00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:38.380
 who God

00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:38.759
 paid.

00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:40.059
 That's

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:41.440
 pushing the

00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.019
 picture of

00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.360
 redemption

00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:43.100
 too far.

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.180
 The early

00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:45.000
 church fathers

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.860
 came up

00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:47.140
 with these

00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:47.759
 narratives of

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.340
 God paying

00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:48.779
 Satan.

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.340
 It just

00:23:50.340 --> 00:23:50.799
 doesn't work.

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.640
 That's not

00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.240
 in Scripture.

00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:52.700
 That's not

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.140
 the point

00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.240
 of who

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.759
 God paid.

00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.460
 We need

00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.099
 more

00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:57.519
 pictures of

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.279
 understanding

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.279
 salvation than

00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.700
 redemption.

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.500
 That's why we

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:01.879
 have other

00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:02.559
 words like

00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.480
 justification

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.519
 and

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.160
 reconciliation

00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:07.079
 and atonement.

00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:07.700
 We need

00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.200
 other words.

00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:08.660
 So don't

00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:09.099
 try and work

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.500
 out who

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.160
 God pays.

00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:10.799
 The important

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:11.940
 thing is a

00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.660
 price had to

00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:13.059
 be paid,

00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.140
 and he

00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:14.640
 paid it.

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.519
 His payment

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.680
 not only

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.660
 covers all

00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.400
 those after

00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.220
 Christ died,

00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:23.799
 it also

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.579
 covers all

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.079
 those who

00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:26.079
 trusted in

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:26.339
 God's

00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:27.339
 promises before

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:29.680
 Christ died

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.220
 on the cross.

00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:30.900
 It covers

00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:31.960
 all who

00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.400
 belong to

00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:33.019
 God in

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.400
 all of

00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:33.799
 history.

00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.539
 And like

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.259
 the inscriptions

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.680
 of the

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:40.180
 slaves whose

00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:40.879
 price was

00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:42.980
 paid for

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:44.279
 freedom,

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:47.339
 all those

00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:48.200
 who receive

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.559
 God's

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.139
 redemption as

00:24:49.139 --> 00:24:50.099
 a gift are

00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:51.000
 actually set

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.339
 free.

00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:53.799
 Free now

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.240
 from the

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.119
 penalty of

00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:56.079
 sin, free

00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.819
 now from

00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:57.720
 sin's control

00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.440
 over us,

00:24:58.839 --> 00:24:59.460
 and when

00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.259
 Christ returns,

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.440
 free from

00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.579
 sin's presence

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.660
 and all its

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:04.759
 consequences once

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.559
 and for all.

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:08.579
 So Christian

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.359
 in the room

00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:11.159
 or listening

00:25:11.159 --> 00:25:13.359
 in, when

00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.019
 your guilt

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.980
 and shame

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.940
 piles up,

00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.200
 when sin

00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:18.359
 says you

00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:19.220
 can't let

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:19.759
 me go,

00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:20.779
 you have

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.200
 to give

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:23.720
 in, look

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.079
 to the

00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.599
 cross and

00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.240
 see the

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.339
 inscription for

00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:27.960
 freedom.

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.500
 You are

00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:32.940
 free.

00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:39.639
 no price

00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.299
 left to

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:42.399
 pay, no

00:25:42.399 --> 00:25:43.179
 anger of

00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:43.679
 God at

00:25:43.679 --> 00:25:45.599
 you, you

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.179
 do not

00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:46.559
 have to

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.000
 listen to

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.220
 sin.

00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.519
 For

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.099
 freedom.

00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.460
 I think

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.000
 the hymn,

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:56.960
 I can't

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.359
 remember which

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.839
 one it is,

00:25:57.919 --> 00:25:58.299
 it says,

00:25:58.399 --> 00:25:59.039
 when Satan

00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.960
 tempts me to

00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.759
 despair and

00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.419
 tells me of

00:26:01.419 --> 00:26:01.779
 the guilt

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.179
 within,

00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:03.919
 upward I

00:26:03.919 --> 00:26:04.539
 look and

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.039
 see him

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.440
 there who

00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:05.840
 made an

00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.680
 end to

00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.059
 all my

00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.279
 sin.

00:26:11.580 --> 00:26:12.259
 And this

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:12.700
 freedom,

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.140
 this

00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:13.680
 redemption,

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.779
 scripture speaks

00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.259
 of as

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:16.140
 full and

00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:16.559
 forever.

00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:18.840
 The

00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:19.580
 consequences

00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:20.140
 of sin,

00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:21.900
 the corruption

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.279
 of our

00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:22.600
 bodies,

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.059
 even the

00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.559
 corruption of

00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:23.900
 the whole

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.420
 world.

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.279
 Jesus'

00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:25.799
 blood

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.680
 redeems

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.200
 it all.

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:28.720
 Redemption

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.120
 is a

00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:30.559
 big concept.

00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:31.120
 It's not

00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:31.460
 just the

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.160
 removal of

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:32.519
 sin, but

00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:32.940
 it's actually

00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.759
 the restoration

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.259
 of us

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:35.700
 back to

00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:36.160
 God and

00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:36.259
 the

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.640
 restoration

00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:37.180
 of our

00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:37.779
 bodies and

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.500
 all things.

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.200
 And it

00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:41.779
 is forever.

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.379
 Hebrews 9,

00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:44.980
 12 says

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.759
 that by

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.339
 Christ's

00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:46.619
 blood,

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.279
 he is

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:47.859
 secured

00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:49.079
 and eternal

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.819
 redemption.

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:50.759
 It's

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.059
 forever.

00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:54.140
 Like a

00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:54.740
 prisoner of

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.400
 war, our

00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:56.079
 souls and

00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:56.879
 bodies have

00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:57.920
 returned home

00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:58.480
 to God

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.359
 forever.

00:26:59.359 --> 00:26:59.440
 Forever.

00:26:59.440 --> 00:26:59.519
 Forever.

00:26:59.519 --> 00:26:59.640
 Forever.

00:26:59.640 --> 00:26:59.879
 Forever.

00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:01.559
 Forever.

00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:01.839
 Forever.

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:05.420
 So do

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.920
 you see

00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:07.119
 the heart

00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:07.759
 of God,

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:08.440
 your

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:08.920
 redeemer?

00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:11.500
 The kind

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:11.900
 of God

00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:12.440
 he is.

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.799
 It's not

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.420
 easy for

00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:15.740
 God to

00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.200
 forgive you

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:16.500
 or me.

00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:17.039
 It's not.

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.799
 You and

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.299
 I deserve

00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:20.319
 nothing but

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.839
 his wrath

00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.559
 and justice.

00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.240
 To be

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:23.940
 left in

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.640
 the embrace

00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:24.980
 of our

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.440
 lovers,

00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:26.599
 reaping the

00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:27.160
 misery and

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:27.660
 death of

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:28.240
 sin's hold

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:28.539
 on us,

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.319
 nothing in

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:29.680
 us can

00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.500
 prompt God

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.200
 to act to

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.740
 save us.

00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:33.779
 As

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.339
 Morris said,

00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.480
 if God

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:35.980
 wants us

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.779
 back, he

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.380
 must pay

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:37.900
 the price

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.279
 and he

00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:38.599
 did.

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.660
 Your

00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.140
 freedom,

00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:44.460
 your

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:44.980
 restoration

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.519
 came at

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.440
 great cost.

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.440
 The blood

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:48.700
 of his

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.299
 only son.

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.019
 So how

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.359
 should we

00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:53.200
 respond to

00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:53.759
 such a

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.660
 God who

00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:55.039
 would pay

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.480
 such a

00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:55.839
 price?

00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:57.900
 We need

00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:58.339
 to see

00:27:58.339 --> 00:27:59.039
 God as

00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.579
 he is.

00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.660
 He isn't

00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:02.680
 reluctant to

00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:03.019
 forgive.

00:28:03.300 --> 00:28:03.720
 He's not

00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.180
 reluctant.

00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.279
 He isn't

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.900
 critical and

00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:06.420
 harsh.

00:28:07.060 --> 00:28:07.560
 He wants

00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:08.100
 you back.

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.759
 He isn't

00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.940
 simply okay

00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.779
 with you

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.620
 going through

00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:14.240
 the motions

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.920
 saying you're

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.279
 sorry,

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.500
 acting as if

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.160
 unfaithfulness

00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:18.100
 doesn't matter.

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.640
 It does

00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:18.960
 matter.

00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:19.880
 It mattered

00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:20.640
 so much

00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:20.940
 that his

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.480
 son had

00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:21.980
 to die.

00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.500
 But he

00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.040
 takes no

00:28:26.040 --> 00:28:26.880
 pleasure in

00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.600
 you trying to

00:28:27.600 --> 00:28:28.500
 redeem yourself

00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.779
 by your

00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:29.980
 own

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.660
 performance.

00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:30.759
 He

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:37.720
 wants us

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.100
 back.

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:40.720
 He is

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:40.900
 our

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.320
 redeemer.

00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:43.000
 He is

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.519
 paid the

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.100
 price to

00:28:44.100 --> 00:28:44.420
 bring us

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:44.700
 home.

00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:46.720
 So how

00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:46.940
 do we

00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:47.440
 respond?

00:28:48.800 --> 00:28:49.640
 We should

00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:50.400
 respond in

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:50.900
 awe.

00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:53.580
 What a

00:28:53.580 --> 00:28:53.880
 God.

00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:53.940
 God.

00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.539
 God.

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:56.200
 He is

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:57.000
 worshiping

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.320
 God.

00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.320
 We should

00:28:58.320 --> 00:28:58.840
 respond in

00:28:58.840 --> 00:28:59.340
 faith,

00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:01.080
 receiving his

00:29:01.080 --> 00:29:01.779
 grace as

00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.279
 a gift.

00:29:04.320 --> 00:29:05.000
 Gratitude

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.840
 and living in

00:29:06.840 --> 00:29:07.320
 the freedom

00:29:07.320 --> 00:29:07.960
 of belonging

00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.600
 to Christ,

00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:09.120
 body and

00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:09.340
 soul.

00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.620
 If we

00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:15.320
 see God

00:29:15.320 --> 00:29:15.640
 for who

00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.120
 he is,

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:21.879
 then the mark of a Christian life, whatever we're going through,

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:27.079
 in sorrow or good times, whatever is happening,

00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:32.019
 the mark of a Christian is expressed by singing.

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:40.159
 Because how else do you respond to awe, to how good God has been to us?

00:29:40.719 --> 00:29:44.519
 Singing is the best way to do it.

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:48.960
 That's the mark of not only the Christian life,

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:51.839
 it's going to be the mark of the heavenly life.

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:58.460
 We join the eternal choir of heaven that's pictured in Revelation 5.

00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:02.299
 And they sang a new song.

00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:07.460
 Worthy are you, for you were slain.

00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:12.759
 And by your blood you ransomed people for God,

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:16.619
 from every tribe and language and people and nation.

00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:19.920
 And you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God.

00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:22.700
 And they shall reign on the earth.

00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:25.160
 Worthy are you.

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.480
 You sampai you.

00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:32.240
 Samun