WEBVTT

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 Please have a seat, and perhaps you could turn with me in your Bible to Galatians. I want to look at passages from chapters 2 and 3, page 1169.

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! We've been thinking about the good news that we must never forget, this good news that comes from God, this good news that we are justified, not by our own record of righteousness, but by faith in the Lord Jesus.

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 This week we're thinking about how vital this message is, thinking about the vital news of real freedom in the good news of Jesus.

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 It's recognized, certainly in the Western world, that freedom is one of those basic human rights.

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 I'll take you back to the summer of 2020, in the months following the killing of George Floyd.

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 I remember the worldwide anti-racism protests.

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 And down in Bristol, down in the southeast of England, there was this famous scene where the statue of a chap by the name of Edward Colston, you can see it there, was toppled into the sea.

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 In 1721, the statue was erected with the inscription, you know, Edward Colston, great benefactor of the city of Bristol.

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 So, fast forward 300 years, and he's become the great villain.

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 And the question is, why the change?

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 Why was the statue toppled?

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 Well, the statue was toppled because he was somebody who had made his wealth through the trading of black slaves.

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 And that was seen as beyond the pale.

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 And so, he was toppled.

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 Today, we recognize freedom is a basic human right.

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 Many of us are perhaps familiar with how the U.S. Declaration of Independence begins, 1776.

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 We hold these truths to be self-evident.

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 That all men are created equal.

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 That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights.

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 That among these are life, liberty, there's the freedom word, and the pursuit of happiness.

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 Now, we take it as self-evident today.

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 But sociologists recognize, if you look back through history, since the earliest times, all known societies were actually slave societies.

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 So, what brought the change that means we think that freedom is something that's so essential and vital?

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 Why do we say, you know, any kind of slavery is wrong and should be toppled?

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 And it's really interesting to see that Christians and atheists both recognize that within Western society, it's the Christian worldview that accounts for that.

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 We come to the book of Galatians, written in the mid-40s A.D.

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 And we didn't hear this verse, but let me read it.

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 Chapter 5, verse 1.

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 Here's a great statement from Paul as he writes this letter.

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 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

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 Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

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 So, Paul writes this letter with this great cry of freedom that is a particular kind of slavery that Paul the Apostle wants to topple.

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 And it's the slavery of legalism.

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 It's the slavery of the idea that we need faith in Jesus plus our own good works if we are to be right with God.

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 And Paul says, down with that, that's false thinking.

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 And what he defends and what he celebrates and what he says is vital is that there is freedom in Christ.

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 So, we're going to take two key verses in his letter.

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 We read them both, Galatians 2.20 and Galatians 3.28.

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 We're going to explore two different aspects of God's gospel freedom.

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 And we're going to see how these themes connect with both the desires within our own hearts for freedom,

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 but also how it creates the path towards the kind of world and society and community that we're looking for.

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 So, the good news that we must never forget is that faith in Jesus brings us real freedom.

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 That we are no longer slaves.

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 We're not slaves to performance, and we're not slaves to lines of division.

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 So, let's think about this idea, first of all, this freedom that comes through faith,

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 this freedom that says we are not slaves to performance.

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 Some of you may be familiar with the Korean philosopher who now works in Germany called Byung Chul Han.

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 He wrote a little book that's become really popular called The Burnout Society.

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 And in that little book, he argues that modern life is creating anxieties and depressions.

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 He uses the image of being consumed by work.

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 We are never able to switch off.

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 There is the pressure of competition to find work or within a workplace.

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 We want more stuff.

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 And so, we recognize to get more stuff, we need to earn more money so we work harder and we work longer.

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 And there's a consumption because of work.

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 And then you add the message of our culture, which from a very early age says to us,

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 you can define and redefine yourself.

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 You can be and do anything you want.

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 And that sounds wonderful until we recognize the kind of pressure that puts on people.

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 And what if you can't?

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 What if you can't reach that standard?

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 What if you feel that you're stuck?

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 And then we come to life today in the digital world and we watch stories and there are reels and there are videos.

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 And we feel, again, a pressure, perhaps subliminal, sometimes more overt,

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 to be more adventurous, more beautiful, more witty and wise, more creative.

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 And so many people in our society, and that includes us as Christians, are discovering,

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 if I have to justify myself, if I have to prove myself, that's exhausting.

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 There's no peace in that way of life.

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 There's no security in that way of life.

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 There's no joy to be found there.

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 And so as we begin, I wonder, do you recognize something of yourself in that?

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 Have you or are you trapped on the treadmill of performance?

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 Remember Galatians chapter 5, verse 1.

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 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

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 The church in Galatia needed to hear this message of freedom from a particular kind of performance.

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 So if you weren't here last week, just to very briefly remind you of the situation,

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 we have Paul the apostle writing this letter in great grief.

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 He's defending the true gospel against a false message that the church is being pulled towards.

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 There's a group of false teachers.

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 They're legalistic.

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 They're saying you need to add law keeping to faith in Jesus if you want to be justified.

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 If you really want to be a member of God's church, you need to prove yourself by your moral performance.

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 And this toxic teaching has spread through the church.

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 So even Peter the apostle has come under its spell.

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 He's become guilty in chapter 2, verse 11, onwards of hypocrisy.

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 So he knows.

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 Acts chapter 10, if you read your McShane Bible reading plan, you'll have read Acts chapter 10.

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 Peter has come to discover God shows no favoritism.

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 He knows the gospel.

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 Jesus is all you need for salvation, but his actions in a particular moment are denying those truths.

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 Because he says, unless you keep a diet like the Jews, I'm not going to share fellowship and hospitality with you.

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 And so Paul speaks and acts and writes in this kind of context because he understands

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 that any view of religion and any worldview that says you and I need to perform to be saved and to be accepted,

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 it cannot offer real hope.

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 It cuts us off from Jesus and it severs us from real joy.

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 Because if it is in any way about me or about you, how good is good enough?

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 What is the standard that we apply?

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 What happens to my salvation if I have a bad day or a really spectacular fail?

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 And one of the reasons that Paul writes this letter is to remind the church in every generation

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 that if we want to apply God's law to our lives and say, this is the standard,

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 and if I can just keep this standard, then God will be pleased with me.

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 We need to take that really, really seriously.

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 Because unlike our school or uni exams, God doesn't grade on a curve.

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 He doesn't say, well, 70%, that satisfies for a top-level mark.

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 Or if the exam is particularly difficult, let me lower the bar.

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 God doesn't do that with his law.

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 In fact, what the Bible says is that if we fail at even one point in law obedience,

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 then the whole law is broken.

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 If we don't love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength,

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 with all of our energy all of the time,

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 then the law is broken and we are guilty.

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 If we don't love our neighbor with the same energy and creativity and love that we apply to ourselves,

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 then we are guilty of breaking the law.

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 And remember who our God is.

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 God is holy.

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 He is perfect and he is just.

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 And so he will not accept our excuses.

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 Circumstances made me.

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 And he will not and he cannot sweep sin under the rug.

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 So if we try and make the basis of our salvation our performance,

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 we will always find ourselves failing.

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 Over the holidays, we watched David Attenborough's Wild London show.

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 I don't know if any of you saw it.

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 It's a really lovely show.

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 David Attenborough loves the city that he grew up in.

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 And there's this really nice scene with the hedgehogs.

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 We love hedgehogs.

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 They're very cute.

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 Hedgehogs are blind, almost blind.

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 And so there was this scene of this one hedgehog

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 desperately trying to get to the food that it needed

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 and trying to find its way to a mate.

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 But in London, as in all places, when you have gardens,

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 you have fences and you have walls.

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 And so this poor, blind hedgehog was trying to get to where it needed to go,

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 but was literally bashing its head against a garden fence.

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 No access and no hope,

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 except that the kind people of London have been creating hedgehog highways,

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 cutting out little holes at the bottom of their garden fences

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 so that hedgehogs can move from one garden to the other

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 and find the lady hedgehog and the food that they need.

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 And all is well that ends well.

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 Why am I telling you a story about hedgehogs?

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 Because the Bible would say to us

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 that you and I, by nature, are exactly like that blind hedgehog.

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 And that when we try to perform to enter the kingdom of God,

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 to find life with God,

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 we will come to recognize that we are spiritually blind,

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 we are bashing our heads against the wall of God's law

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 and our broken sin.

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 And what we need is someone to open the way for us.

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 And that's where the gospel comes in.

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 Because the gospel that Paul is talking about says,

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 listen, stop looking at your own performance.

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 The only performance that matters

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 is the perfect performance of the Lord Jesus

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 in His life, in His death, and His resurrection.

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 And the Lord Jesus, by His grace,

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 has created a heavenly highway for us,

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 a way back to God,

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 the means by which you and I,

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 simply by faith in Jesus,

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 are declared righteous,

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 just and accepted by God through faith in Him.

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 And on that basis,

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 faith saves us,

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 and faith is also how we live the Christian life.

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 And that's exactly the point that Paul makes

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 at the end of chapter 2.

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 Galatians chapter 2, verse 20.

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 I have been crucified with Christ,

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 and I no longer live,

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 but Christ lives in me.

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 The life I now live in the body,

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 I live by faith

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 in the Son of God

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 who loved me

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 and gave Himself for me.

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 This is the key to living the Christian life.

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 Freedom comes

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 when we are in Jesus Christ.

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 When we understand

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 that He has died for us,

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 that He has loved us

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 and given Himself for us,

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 and that now by faith,

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 He lives in us.

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 In fact, He is our life.

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 Here's where the freedom of faith comes.

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 By faith,

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 we share

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 in what happened to Jesus.

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 So just as Jesus died on the cross,

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 so we die to the law

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 as the way to get right with God.

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 And we die to sin

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 because the power and penalty of sin

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 has been broken in our lives.

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 And we now die to self

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 so we can live to Christ.

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 We have a new identity.

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 We die to that idea of legalism.

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 I need to perform

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 if I'm going to belong to God.

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 And by faith,

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 we get the security we look for.

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 We are secure in Christ.

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 Martin Luther put it this way,

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 by faith,

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 you are so cemented to Christ

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 that He and you are one person

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 which cannot be separated

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 but remains attached to Him forever.

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 That's the gospel that gives us security.

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 Whatever is true of Jesus

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 is true of us.

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 Wherever Jesus has gone,

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 so we follow.

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 And by faith,

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 Paul says to us,

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 we have a new source

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 for living our lives.

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 We're not relying on our own strength.

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 Rather,

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 we rely on Christ in us.

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 And so the Christian

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 and the Christian church,

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 we sing,

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 Christ is our life.

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 He is my strength.

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 He is my peace.

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 He is my source of love and joy.

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 He is my holiness.

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 He is my hope.

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 So that to be justified

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 by faith in Jesus

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 is to be set free

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 from slavery

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 to the performance mindset.

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 It's to have freedom

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 to rest and trust

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 in Christ alone

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 for our salvation.

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 We are a burnout society.

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 And some of you have been there.

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 How can you and I

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 avoid spiritual burnout?

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 Only as we leave behind

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 that idea of performing

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 to be accepted.

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 Only as we believe

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 and trust

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 in the gospel

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 that says it's through faith

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 in Jesus Christ alone,

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 by God's grace alone,

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 that I'm saved.

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 Perhaps it might be helpful

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.480
 at the start of the year

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 to perform

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 a spiritual health check.

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 How would you honestly answer

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 these questions?

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 Do you think God accepts you

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 only if you are good enough?

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 Do you believe that God

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 loves you more

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 if you have a good day spiritually?

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 Do you find it difficult

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 to admit sin and failure

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 to God and to others?

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 There are many more questions

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 that we could ask,

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.800
 but we need to understand

00:17:50.800 --> 00:17:51.740
 that the temptation

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:53.860
 towards legalism

00:17:53.860 --> 00:17:55.100
 is real.

00:17:55.800 --> 00:17:56.680
 It happened to Peter.

00:17:56.800 --> 00:17:57.660
 It happened to that church

00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.420
 in Galatia.

00:17:59.560 --> 00:18:00.400
 And you and I,

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:02.160
 we need to always be coming back

00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:03.320
 to this good news

00:18:03.320 --> 00:18:04.759
 that we're justified

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.640
 by faith alone,

00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:07.060
 to believe that gospel,

00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.380
 to preach that gospel

00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:09.000
 to ourselves,

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.579
 and to live by faith

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:13.220
 in Jesus each day.

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:15.640
 This evening,

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.140
 we're thinking

00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:17.539
 about the secure identity

00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.299
 that we have

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.900
 as a child of God.

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.700
 That's the answer.

00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.039
 So we have freedom

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.940
 through faith,

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.619
 so we're no longer

00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:27.720
 slaves to performance.

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:29.180
 But secondly,

00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:32.059
 because we have freedom

00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:32.640
 in Christ,

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.559
 we are no longer

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.559
 slaves to dividing lines

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.860
 that we see so often

00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:39.259
 in our society.

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.640
 If we go back

00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.900
 to the protest movements

00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.600
 that we've been seeing

00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:44.559
 in the last few years,

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.160
 what message does that

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.900
 tell us about the society

00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:48.759
 in which we live?

00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:49.880
 Think about the

00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:51.720
 Black Lives Matter movement.

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.860
 What does that say to us?

00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:54.460
 It says to us,

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:54.900
 sadly,

00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:55.620
 tragically,

00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:57.539
 racism is real.

00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:01.059
 What did the Me Too movement

00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:02.000
 remind us of

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.960
 over and over?

00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:04.519
 Violence against women

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:06.079
 is real.

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.339
 What did the protests

00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:09.000
 that we see

00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.480
 outside G8 summits

00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.600
 or in front of big business

00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:12.140
 say to us?

00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:13.299
 The inequality

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.779
 of rich and poor

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:16.279
 is real.

00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.940
 Our society

00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:21.579
 often seems better

00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:23.460
 at building walls

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:23.920
 than we are

00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.940
 at building bridges.

00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:28.980
 whether that's

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.640
 in person

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:31.319
 or digitally.

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.660
 That rise

00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:35.539
 in tribalism,

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.480
 in hate,

00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.559
 we focus on

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.579
 what divides us

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.200
 more than what

00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.200
 brings us together.

00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:43.279
 And it's really

00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.059
 interesting that the

00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:44.980
 first century world

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:45.720
 actually was not

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.460
 so different.

00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:48.539
 When we turn

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.680
 to Galatians chapter

00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.380
 three

00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:51.180
 and those end

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:51.720
 verses,

00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:53.460
 Paul identifies

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:55.279
 the big three

00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.220
 forms of division

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.900
 and prejudice

00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:57.740
 in his day.

00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:00.100
 Hear what he says

00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:00.860
 in chapter three

00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:01.840
 verse 28.

00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:02.779
 There is neither

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:04.039
 Jew nor Gentile,

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:06.019
 neither slave nor free,

00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:07.200
 nor is there

00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.400
 male and female,

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.700
 for you are all

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:11.120
 one in Christ

00:20:11.120 --> 00:20:11.700
 Jesus.

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.779
 One of the most

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.519
 amazing things

00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:15.240
 about the story

00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:16.299
 of the early church

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:16.960
 in the first few

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.460
 centuries

00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.920
 is the way

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.680
 that they tore

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.539
 down those

00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:21.559
 barriers in the

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.279
 Roman world.

00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:23.539
 That this message

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.259
 of freedom

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.299
 in Christ

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.720
 had explosive

00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.380
 power.

00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:28.240
 So here,

00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:28.860
 for the very

00:20:28.860 --> 00:20:29.600
 first time,

00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.120
 it seemed like,

00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:31.319
 women found

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.799
 honor and protection

00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.319
 and they flocked

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:35.140
 to the church.

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.460
 Slaves that were

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:37.240
 dispossessed,

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.220
 they could become

00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.100
 leaders and they

00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:39.700
 could worship

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:41.059
 with their masters

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:42.500
 and so they loved

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.039
 the message

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.880
 of the gospel

00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:45.039
 and the culture

00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.240
 gap was bridged.

00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.779
 that Jew and Gentile

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.720
 who normally hated

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.319
 each other

00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.859
 would gather together

00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.519
 to worship

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.720
 in one house

00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:54.240
 in one church.

00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:56.000
 And it was amazing

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:57.099
 and as people saw

00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:57.900
 this radically

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.759
 different community,

00:20:59.120 --> 00:20:59.839
 they were drawn

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.259
 to ask,

00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:01.259
 what is it that makes

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:02.160
 this place,

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:02.740
 this people,

00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:03.460
 this message

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.559
 so different

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.400
 and so wonderful?

00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.640
 And that helps us

00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:08.140
 to remember

00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:08.920
 why the letter

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:10.120
 to the Galatians

00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:11.059
 is so important

00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:13.039
 because this was

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.799
 under threat.

00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.019
 The church

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:15.920
 was wrestling

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:18.120
 with this message.

00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.240
 What is the basis

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.539
 for belonging

00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.720
 to God's church?

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:24.100
 Is God's grace

00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:25.279
 powerful enough

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.820
 to unite those

00:21:26.820 --> 00:21:27.620
 who are normally

00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:28.240
 divided?

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:31.600
 Can a multi-ethnic

00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:33.080
 church of rich

00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:33.620
 and poor

00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:34.660
 of male and female,

00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:35.900
 can it really flourish?

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:38.160
 Can it show

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.720
 the beauty

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.640
 of the gospel?

00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.980
 And Paul's answer

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:43.019
 through this letter

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.820
 and it's the message

00:21:43.820 --> 00:21:44.620
 of the whole Bible

00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:45.579
 is that yes,

00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:46.539
 it can flourish

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.359
 and indeed

00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.559
 it must.

00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:54.059
 This is God's

00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:55.379
 design for His church.

00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:57.439
 But it's not easy

00:21:57.439 --> 00:21:58.139
 and that's what we see

00:21:58.139 --> 00:21:59.039
 in Galatia.

00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.259
 If God's design

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.059
 for His church

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:02.859
 were to be

00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:03.699
 sort of captured

00:22:03.699 --> 00:22:04.619
 in an artwork

00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.379
 in a canvas,

00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.759
 it wouldn't be

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:08.059
 the canvas

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:10.079
 of geometric shapes,

00:22:10.679 --> 00:22:11.279
 of nice,

00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:11.779
 clear,

00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.720
 crisp lines

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.319
 of everything

00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:14.379
 black and white.

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.000
 Perhaps it would be

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.599
 more like,

00:22:17.659 --> 00:22:19.679
 I'm no art critic,

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:20.720
 but you know

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.359
 when you go into

00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:22.119
 a gallery,

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.419
 perhaps a modern art gallery,

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.799
 and you see those paintings

00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.139
 and you think,

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.639
 a five-year-old

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.339
 could have done that.

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.240
 You know when you just get

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.139
 that sort of mess

00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:29.740
 of color

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.440
 and swirl

00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:31.099
 and it all kind of

00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:32.440
 blends in together

00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:34.039
 and it's messy

00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:34.680
 but you're kind of

00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.299
 drawn to it,

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:37.180
 that's the church

00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.759
 by God's design.

00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:40.080
 It is messy

00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:40.779
 to figure out

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.920
 how these people

00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:42.759
 can come together

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.460
 but there's something

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.279
 beautiful

00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:46.000
 in this kind

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.680
 of community.

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.000
 And Paul,

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.759
 here in chapter 3

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:51.059
 verses 26 to 29

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:52.100
 shows how the gospel

00:22:52.100 --> 00:22:53.220
 has the power

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.799
 to create

00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:56.080
 this new community.

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.240
 Verse 26,

00:22:57.340 --> 00:22:58.500
 so in Christ Jesus

00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:00.160
 you are all

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.340
 children of God

00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.939
 through faith.

00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:04.539
 All believers

00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:06.559
 are part of

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.919
 God's family.

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:09.859
 One father

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.740
 would become

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.740
 brothers and sisters.

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:14.059
 That's a unifying principle.

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.519
 Verse 27,

00:23:16.959 --> 00:23:17.779
 all believers

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.519
 have a new

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.699
 identification.

00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.399
 For all of you

00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:22.199
 who are baptized

00:23:22.199 --> 00:23:23.480
 into Christ

00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.339
 have clothed

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.579
 yourself with Christ.

00:23:25.959 --> 00:23:26.799
 So all of these

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.659
 Gentiles

00:23:27.659 --> 00:23:28.179
 who are becoming

00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:28.619
 Christians

00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:29.419
 for the first time,

00:23:29.639 --> 00:23:30.500
 they're getting baptized

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.159
 and they're doing

00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:32.060
 that as a public

00:23:32.060 --> 00:23:32.720
 statement.

00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:34.420
 I now identify

00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:36.100
 with Jesus as Lord.

00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:36.920
 I'm not going to

00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:38.120
 worship Caesar

00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:39.000
 and the gods of Rome.

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:40.060
 I identify

00:23:40.060 --> 00:23:41.620
 with Jesus as Lord.

00:23:43.040 --> 00:23:43.680
 And then Paul

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.720
 uses this imagery

00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.940
 of being clothed

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.680
 with Christ.

00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:47.840
 And that's an

00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.640
 interesting image

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:50.279
 when in that day

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.180
 when you moved

00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.019
 from childhood

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:53.180
 to adulthood,

00:23:53.540 --> 00:23:54.320
 you literally

00:23:54.320 --> 00:23:55.220
 put on a new

00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.060
 set of clothes

00:23:56.060 --> 00:23:56.600
 to show

00:23:56.600 --> 00:23:57.300
 this new

00:23:57.300 --> 00:23:58.180
 identification.

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.180
 new

00:23:59.180 --> 00:23:59.680
 identification.

00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:00.259
 And the new

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.000
 identification

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:02.460
 for the Christian,

00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.620
 what do we

00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.299
 clothe ourselves

00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:04.519
 with?

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.220
 With Christ

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.700
 himself.

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.360
 He's the new

00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.440
 clothes we put on.

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:12.240
 Verse 28,

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:14.019
 all believers

00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.880
 have a new

00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.900
 identity.

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.279
 There is neither

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.420
 Jew nor Gentile,

00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.880
 neither slave nor free,

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.980
 nor is there male

00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.580
 and female,

00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:24.019
 for you are all

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.340
 one in Christ

00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:25.899
 Jesus.

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:26.919
 What is the

00:24:26.919 --> 00:24:27.839
 badge

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.579
 that identifies

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.319
 you,

00:24:30.439 --> 00:24:31.159
 that identifies

00:24:31.159 --> 00:24:31.740
 me?

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:33.039
 When we introduce

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.699
 ourselves,

00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.559
 we probably have

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.439
 a whole list

00:24:35.439 --> 00:24:37.000
 of characteristics

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.959
 and other people

00:24:37.959 --> 00:24:38.740
 will view us

00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.799
 through certain

00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.299
 lenses,

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.039
 but what Paul

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.899
 wants to say

00:24:41.899 --> 00:24:43.259
 in the gospel,

00:24:43.439 --> 00:24:44.139
 the badge

00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:45.099
 that identifies

00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:46.259
 us as a Christian

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.480
 is,

00:24:46.899 --> 00:24:48.000
 I am in

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.039
 Christ.

00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:50.119
 That's what

00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.779
 comes first.

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.740
 That's what

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.579
 should define us.

00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:54.619
 Now he's not

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:55.819
 saying that

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.500
 all of those

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.099
 things cease

00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:57.839
 to exist,

00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.539
 our gender

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.359
 or our

00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:01.199
 nationality

00:25:01.199 --> 00:25:01.699
 or our

00:25:01.699 --> 00:25:02.619
 social status.

00:25:03.419 --> 00:25:04.179
 He doesn't

00:25:04.179 --> 00:25:04.659
 say that we

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.039
 should all

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.199
 become exactly

00:25:06.199 --> 00:25:06.699
 the same.

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.059
 He's not

00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.459
 saying the

00:25:07.459 --> 00:25:08.000
 church should

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.859
 look uniform,

00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:10.699
 but what he

00:25:10.699 --> 00:25:11.559
 is saying is

00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.219
 that unity

00:25:12.219 --> 00:25:12.959
 in Jesus,

00:25:13.739 --> 00:25:14.799
 that's what

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.339
 matters.

00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.939
 That's how we

00:25:16.939 --> 00:25:17.579
 should see each

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:17.859
 other.

00:25:18.699 --> 00:25:19.839
 Not nationality,

00:25:19.919 --> 00:25:20.299
 not money,

00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:20.939
 not gender.

00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:21.839
 Of course,

00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:22.279
 those things

00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:22.699
 matter,

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.000
 but they're

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.639
 not primary.

00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:25.719
 And then in

00:25:25.719 --> 00:25:26.859
 verse 29,

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.739
 he reminds us

00:25:28.739 --> 00:25:29.099
 that all

00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:29.879
 believers have

00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:30.459
 a new

00:25:30.459 --> 00:25:31.659
 inheritance.

00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:32.419
 If you belong

00:25:32.419 --> 00:25:32.939
 to Christ,

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.259
 then you're

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.059
 Abraham's seed

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.819
 and heirs

00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:37.459
 according to

00:25:37.459 --> 00:25:38.039
 the promise.

00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:39.319
 So he goes

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.719
 back to

00:25:39.719 --> 00:25:40.159
 Abraham.

00:25:41.679 --> 00:25:42.519
 To be in

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.279
 Christ Jesus,

00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.179
 to have faith

00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:44.599
 in Jesus,

00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.319
 means we get

00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:46.359
 all of God's

00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:47.000
 blessings,

00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:48.399
 all that he

00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:49.219
 has promised

00:25:49.219 --> 00:25:50.439
 in the present,

00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.159
 but also

00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:52.139
 thinking about

00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:53.419
 future inheritance,

00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.920
 future glory,

00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:56.320
 life with God

00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:57.400
 that lasts forever.

00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:58.400
 That's true for

00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:00.140
 all who

00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:00.900
 will

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.779
 believe.

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.640
 And so as

00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.259
 Paul writes

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.160
 to this church

00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.420
 that's wrestling,

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:09.080
 and as we find

00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:09.720
 ourselves in the

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.640
 21st century

00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.820
 in a society

00:26:11.820 --> 00:26:13.200
 wrestling with

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.320
 these walls

00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:15.000
 that divide,

00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:17.560
 he introduces us

00:26:17.560 --> 00:26:18.080
 to the power

00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:18.539
 of the true

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.060
 gospel

00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:20.179
 gospel that

00:26:20.179 --> 00:26:20.659
 can create

00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.240
 a gospel

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.879
 community

00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:23.139
 that builds

00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:23.599
 bridges

00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:25.259
 and doesn't

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:26.240
 build walls.

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.059
 And so he

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:28.599
 paints this

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.559
 beautiful canvas

00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:31.500
 of a community

00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.159
 that is free

00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:32.980
 of pride,

00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.240
 that is free

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:35.940
 of prejudice,

00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:37.759
 that is free

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.639
 of hostility

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.299
 and hate.

00:26:41.379 --> 00:26:42.639
 He calls them

00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:43.440
 back to the

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.960
 gospel so that

00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.419
 the church

00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:46.039
 would be a place

00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.839
 where anyone

00:26:46.839 --> 00:26:48.000
 can find members,

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:49.200
 where anyone

00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:49.960
 can find a

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.940
 welcome and

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.720
 hospitality,

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:53.019
 where acceptance

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.119
 and grace

00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:54.859
 is given

00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.960
 and received.

00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.119
 That's what the

00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:00.039
 gospel can do.

00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:00.819
 It's only what

00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.660
 the gospel can do.

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.240
 Doesn't that sound

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.500
 good?

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.420
 Doesn't that sound

00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:05.339
 like a good vision

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.299
 from God for a

00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:06.900
 local church,

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.619
 for a church like

00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:08.019
 ours?

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:10.059
 Doesn't that sound

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:11.299
 like a good place

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:12.740
 to invite people

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.880
 into, people who

00:27:13.880 --> 00:27:14.660
 are hurting, people

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.220
 who are lonely,

00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:15.940
 people who need

00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:16.440
 hope?

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.539
 Now, of course,

00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:19.119
 we need to be

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.579
 honest.

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.200
 Christianity has

00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.079
 not always practiced

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.599
 what it should

00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:22.960
 preach.

00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:24.839
 Of course, you

00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.359
 can look at

00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:26.359
 church history

00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:26.940
 and you can look

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.920
 in our own day

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.559
 and we recognize

00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:29.400
 Christians and

00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:31.460
 churches have

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.660
 been guilty of

00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:34.180
 ugly racism

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:35.799
 and prejudice

00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:37.779
 and we have to

00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.440
 own that.

00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:41.000
 But it is also

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:42.740
 true that

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.339
 Christians have

00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:44.200
 been responsible

00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:45.420
 for wonderful

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.200
 acts that have

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:47.500
 brought unity,

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.740
 that have

00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:51.140
 brought love,

00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.059
 that has

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.559
 brought separate

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:55.259
 people together.

00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:57.480
 That the message

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.240
 of the gospel

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.279
 does have the

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.660
 power to do

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.019
 that.

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:02.880
 And that the

00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:03.680
 gospel does

00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.700
 present for us

00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.779
 this wonderful

00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:07.559
 vision of a

00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.259
 community of

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.700
 faith that is

00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.619
 set free from

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.180
 the usual

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:12.160
 prejudices that

00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:12.960
 we meet in

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.599
 society.

00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:13.719
 community.

00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:16.039
 So how can we

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:17.039
 make progress?

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.799
 How can we look

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:20.000
 to present this

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.959
 light to one

00:28:20.959 --> 00:28:21.779
 another and to

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.259
 the world?

00:28:23.959 --> 00:28:24.740
 Well, Paul would

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:26.119
 say to us, we

00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:27.679
 must begin by

00:28:27.679 --> 00:28:28.679
 believing the

00:28:28.679 --> 00:28:29.259
 gospel.

00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:31.099
 It all begins

00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:32.399
 with faith in the

00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:33.099
 Lord Jesus.

00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:34.779
 Jesus, the

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.599
 eternal Son of

00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.480
 God, who came on

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.159
 God's great

00:28:37.159 --> 00:28:38.500
 redemption mission,

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.219
 who came to

00:28:39.219 --> 00:28:40.679
 reconcile people to

00:28:40.679 --> 00:28:41.459
 God and to one

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:41.860
 another.

00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:44.180
 It all begins

00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:45.480
 with trusting in

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.559
 Jesus, this one

00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.220
 who came from

00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:48.079
 God, the Son of

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.220
 God, who gave up

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:51.000
 his freedom, gladly,

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.920
 willingly, in love

00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:54.380
 to save us.

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.700
 He was betrayed.

00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:57.480
 He was beaten.

00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:59.120
 He was arrested.

00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:00.900
 He was crucified

00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:03.079
 as the way to

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.079
 break our chains

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:04.940
 of sin that lead

00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.380
 to death.

00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:07.319
 As the way to

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.200
 grant forgiveness

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.259
 from God, to give

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.519
 us peace with God

00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.180
 that we can

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:11.960
 experience the

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.940
 freedom of God's

00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.920
 grace to know

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.879
 God's love poured

00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:15.559
 out in our hearts

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.079
 so that we can

00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:16.759
 share that with

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.279
 others.

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:19.180
 So it begins

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:20.539
 with Jesus.

00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:23.519
 And then, but we

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.819
 live out the

00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:26.619
 gospel by faith

00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.200
 in Jesus.

00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:30.220
 With his help, we

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.819
 welcome strangers

00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:33.859
 just as God

00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:34.700
 through Christ

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.859
 has welcomed us

00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.379
 when we were

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.799
 strangers and

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:39.000
 enemies to him.

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:41.200
 we practice

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:43.440
 hospitality, knowing

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.660
 that God welcomes

00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:46.900
 us every day to

00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:47.859
 feast on his

00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:48.500
 goodness and

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:48.819
 mercy.

00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:50.819
 We show patience

00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:51.559
 to one another

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.660
 because God

00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.940
 every day is

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.799
 showing patience

00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:55.660
 to us.

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.440
 We grant

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:59.440
 forgiveness as

00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.480
 those who have

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.460
 known and

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.720
 continually know

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.839
 that God

00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:05.160
 graciously forgives

00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:05.720
 us.

00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:07.500
 And we love

00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:09.660
 sacrificially as

00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.420
 we remember

00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:11.759
 what Jesus, the

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.580
 Son of God, did

00:30:12.580 --> 00:30:14.019
 for us on the

00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:14.660
 cross at

00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.259
 Calvary.

00:30:16.820 --> 00:30:17.640
 Freedom in

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.500
 Christ means we

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.700
 are not slaves to

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.540
 those lines that

00:30:20.540 --> 00:30:20.880
 divide.

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.900
 Now imagine what

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:24.100
 kind of community

00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:26.259
 the gospel of

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.080
 freedom in

00:30:27.080 --> 00:30:28.560
 Christ is able

00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:29.200
 to produce.

00:30:30.320 --> 00:30:31.380
 Think about why

00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:32.620
 our world needs

00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:33.679
 this, why we

00:30:33.679 --> 00:30:34.859
 need this, why

00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.899
 we need to stay

00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:36.679
 close to the

00:30:36.679 --> 00:30:37.159
 gospel.

00:30:38.679 --> 00:30:39.519
 Because you and

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.399
 I need grace.

00:30:40.719 --> 00:30:41.679
 And the gospel

00:30:41.679 --> 00:30:43.079
 produces a community

00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.899
 where people are

00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:45.059
 shown grace.

00:30:46.399 --> 00:30:47.219
 Because our

00:30:47.219 --> 00:30:48.419
 acceptance is not

00:30:48.419 --> 00:30:49.199
 based on our

00:30:49.199 --> 00:30:49.779
 performance.

00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:53.259
 It would be a

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.899
 community that

00:30:53.899 --> 00:30:54.719
 would focus on

00:30:54.719 --> 00:30:55.919
 what unites us,

00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:58.659
 what would draw us

00:30:58.659 --> 00:30:59.219
 together.

00:30:59.220 --> 00:30:59.339
 together.

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:01.120
 We belong to

00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.000
 the Lord Jesus.

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.920
 Not what divides

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.680
 us culturally,

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.240
 socially,

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:05.920
 politically.

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.900
 Faith in Jesus

00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.680
 comes first.

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.640
 The gospel would

00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.400
 produce that kind

00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:14.240
 of community where

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.220
 anyone can belong.

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.900
 Anyone could walk

00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:17.660
 through these doors

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.299
 and they should

00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:19.480
 find a welcome

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.240
 that comes from

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.740
 God himself to

00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.839
 discover God's

00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:24.740
 love in us,

00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.519
 in our words,

00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:26.339
 and in our

00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:26.819
 practice.

00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:29.700
 this is the

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.139
 way.

00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.419
 This is the

00:31:31.419 --> 00:31:32.119
 way of Jesus.

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.480
 This is the

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.119
 freedom that

00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:35.039
 Jesus calls us

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.379
 into.

00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.480
 And this is the

00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.439
 gospel that Paul

00:31:37.439 --> 00:31:38.700
 writes to defend.

00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.299
 And it's the

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.559
 gospel that the

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.439
 Lord Jesus wants

00:31:42.439 --> 00:31:43.700
 you and I to

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:45.259
 pursue in our

00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:46.679
 own lives and

00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:47.419
 as a church.

00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:49.820
 as a church as

00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:49.820


00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:49.820


00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:49.820


00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:49.820


00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:49.820


00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:49.820


00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:49.820


00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:51.360
 as a church as

00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:51.360


00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:52.279
 as a church as

00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:53.660
 as a church as

00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:53.660


00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:54.300
 as a church as

00:31:54.300 --> 00:31:55.700
 as a church as

00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:57.680
 as a church as

00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:57.680


00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:57.680


00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.519
 as a church as

00:31:58.519 --> 00:32:00.519
 as a church as

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00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.560
 as a church as

00:32:01.560 --> 00:32:02.300
 as a church as

00:32:02.300 --> 00:32:04.220
 as a church as

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.340
 as a church as

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