WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.919 Do you be seated? 00:00:04.419 --> 00:00:07.740 We're taking a break from our series in Romans. 00:00:08.519 --> 00:00:10.640 I hope there'll be a number of baptisms this year, 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:10.640 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.379 Let me read it to you. 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:34.880 Proverbs 22 and verse 6. 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:40.480 Train up a child in the way he or she should go, 00:00:41.539 --> 00:00:44.200 and even when he or she is old, 00:00:45.700 --> 00:00:47.359 he or she will not depart from it. 00:00:49.879 --> 00:00:52.219 Train up a child in the way that he should go, 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:54.480 and even when he's old, 00:00:55.379 --> 00:00:56.519 he will not depart from it. 00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:03.300 Aaron and Bexy, like any parents, like all parents, 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:05.719 want the best for their child. 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:09.840 Every one of us wants that. 00:01:11.939 --> 00:01:15.800 We want to give our children a good start in life. 00:01:16.300 --> 00:01:18.079 We want children to have a good start in life. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:22.840 And that is a natural concern, isn't it, that parents have. 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:26.060 That children should be put on the right road. 00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:29.359 But what is the right road? 00:01:31.739 --> 00:01:33.479 There's another proverb, and it says this. 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:34.060 It says this. 00:01:34.979 --> 00:01:39.439 There is a way that seems right to man and woman, men and women, 00:01:39.939 --> 00:01:41.619 but it ends in death. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:44.679 And I don't know about you, 00:01:45.239 --> 00:01:46.879 but I don't want that for my child. 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:51.459 And you don't want that for your children or the children in your family. 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:52.959 So how can we avoid that? 00:01:54.619 --> 00:01:59.140 How can we know what is the right way to bring up our children? 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:03.780 And for those of us who don't have children, 00:02:03.859 --> 00:02:04.659 you're part of this congregation, 00:02:04.920 --> 00:02:08.659 is there a right way to bring up children? 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:11.740 Is it even possible, 00:02:12.420 --> 00:02:13.840 some people would ask that, wouldn't they? 00:02:14.860 --> 00:02:17.240 We can't talk about there being a right way 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:18.979 and a wrong way. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:19.920 One way is as good as another. 00:02:20.060 --> 00:02:21.560 You've got to kind of work it out for yourself. 00:02:22.460 --> 00:02:24.340 Is it even possible to speak about 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:27.300 a correct way of bringing up children? 00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:31.460 There's lots of different ways out there. 00:02:32.300 --> 00:02:33.699 Many different philosophies. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:35.039 Lots of ideas around. 00:02:36.420 --> 00:02:37.659 It's a bit like Spaghetti Junction. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:39.259 You know that? 00:02:39.259 --> 00:02:41.259 I don't think I've ever been on it, 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:42.679 but you know Spaghetti Junction, don't you? 00:02:42.799 --> 00:02:43.759 You've seen photos of it. 00:02:44.519 --> 00:02:45.479 If you haven't seen it, 00:02:45.539 --> 00:02:46.679 it's like a bowl of spaghetti. 00:02:47.899 --> 00:02:49.699 And you go in one way, 00:02:50.699 --> 00:02:52.379 and you think you've taken the right way, 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:54.239 only to come out completely in the wrong direction. 00:02:55.539 --> 00:02:56.959 And life can be like that, can't it? 00:02:58.399 --> 00:02:59.280 And so Aaron and Bexy, 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:00.159 this morning, 00:03:00.239 --> 00:03:01.500 you are at Spaghetti Junction 00:03:01.500 --> 00:03:02.759 with the birth of your first child. 00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:06.319 Because you have to steer 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:07.479 this little one, 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:08.620 this little precious boy, 00:03:08.620 --> 00:03:10.099 onto the right path. 00:03:11.460 --> 00:03:12.900 And you are concerned, 00:03:13.219 --> 00:03:14.719 you want him to go in the right direction, 00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:16.759 you want him to arrive at the right destination. 00:03:17.920 --> 00:03:19.520 And so what a relief it is, isn't it, 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:20.280 to read this morning 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:21.599 that the Bible tells you 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.400 with a message from God 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:24.939 that there is a way that he should go. 00:03:26.640 --> 00:03:27.900 That's what the Bible says, isn't it? 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:28.759 It says, can you see it? 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:31.219 Train up a child in the way that he should go. 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:34.200 And even when he's old, 00:03:34.259 --> 00:03:35.080 he will not depart from it. 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:37.200 Two things in the verse 00:03:37.200 --> 00:03:37.759 that I want you to see, 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:38.319 really simple, 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:39.099 both begin with P. 00:03:39.379 --> 00:03:40.099 First of all, 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:41.379 a pathway and a promise. 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:43.859 Let's look at the pathway. 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:46.319 Train up a child 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:47.859 in the way that he should go. 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:50.599 So let me ask you this question. 00:03:50.739 --> 00:03:52.539 Do you know what Christians were called 00:03:52.539 --> 00:03:56.099 before they were first called Christians? 00:03:57.659 --> 00:03:57.979 Anybody? 00:03:57.979 --> 00:03:58.060 Anybody? 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:00.099 What were Christians called 00:04:00.099 --> 00:04:02.959 before they were called Christians? 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:03.960 Followers of the way. 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:04.960 Followers of the way. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:05.180 Followers of the way. 00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:06.680 That's very good, isn't it? 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:07.260 Who said that? 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:08.040 Followers of the way. 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:08.400 That's right. 00:04:09.020 --> 00:04:09.920 Followers of the way. 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:13.159 I think that's a really brilliant description, 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:13.600 isn't it, 00:04:13.700 --> 00:04:15.140 of those first Christians. 00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:17.500 And what I want to do, 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:18.639 just for a little bit, 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:21.400 is I want to kind of walk you through that 00:04:21.400 --> 00:04:22.920 and show you how they were called that. 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:23.319 Hopefully, 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:25.000 it will come up on the screen behind me. 00:04:25.460 --> 00:04:25.960 Is that going to work? 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:27.379 I hope. 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:27.939 There you go. 00:04:28.459 --> 00:04:29.480 So there's six references 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:31.040 in the Acts of the Apostles. 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:33.959 And it's probably one of the most neglected themes 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:34.980 in all of the Bible. 00:04:36.180 --> 00:04:37.360 So if those churches, 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:38.040 early churches, 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:39.279 had notice boards, 00:04:40.100 --> 00:04:41.259 they didn't have church buildings, 00:04:41.339 --> 00:04:42.620 but if they did notice boards, 00:04:42.740 --> 00:04:43.439 it would have not said 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:44.860 International Presbyterian 00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:46.100 or First Baptist 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:47.639 or Church of England 00:04:47.639 --> 00:04:49.439 or any of those things. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:51.560 It would have said 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:52.600 Followers of the Way. 00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:57.519 It's not just a denominational label, is it? 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:59.000 It's a message. 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:00.419 I think it communicates something 00:05:00.419 --> 00:05:01.319 to the outside world. 00:05:02.459 --> 00:05:03.659 It's very good marketing. 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:06.199 This is how the world thought of them. 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:07.120 So first of all, 00:05:07.180 --> 00:05:07.939 in Acts chapter 9, 00:05:07.979 --> 00:05:08.899 in verses 1 and 2, 00:05:09.099 --> 00:05:10.159 I'm hoping that's behind me, 00:05:11.339 --> 00:05:11.779 Saul, 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:13.560 before he was converted, 00:05:14.099 --> 00:05:14.639 he said this, 00:05:14.799 --> 00:05:15.399 but Saul, 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:16.839 still breathing threats 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:17.620 and murder 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:19.060 against the disciples of the Lord, 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:20.019 he went to the high priest, 00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:21.899 and he asked him for letters 00:05:21.899 --> 00:05:23.560 to the synagogue at Damascus 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:25.740 so that if he found 00:05:25.740 --> 00:05:27.259 any belonging to the 00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:28.139 way, 00:05:29.219 --> 00:05:29.740 men or women, 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:30.319 he might bring them 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:31.039 bound to Jerusalem. 00:05:32.740 --> 00:05:33.459 Next up is 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:34.379 Acts 19, 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:35.500 8 and 9, 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:36.699 where we're told 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:37.759 Paul went to the synagogue 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:38.240 at Ephesus 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:39.879 and he spoke boldly. 00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:41.980 And he entered the synagogue 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:43.039 and for three months 00:05:43.039 --> 00:05:43.959 he spoke boldly, 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:46.279 reasoning and persuading people 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:47.219 about the kingdom of God. 00:05:48.039 --> 00:05:48.839 But when some people 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:49.579 became stubborn 00:05:49.579 --> 00:05:50.920 and continued in unbelief, 00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:52.420 speaking evil of 00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:53.839 the way, 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:55.539 before the congregation 00:05:55.539 --> 00:05:56.039 he withdrew, 00:05:57.239 --> 00:05:57.859 took his disciples 00:05:57.859 --> 00:05:58.259 with him. 00:06:00.159 --> 00:06:01.259 And he reasoned daily 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:02.199 in the hall of Tyrannus. 00:06:03.159 --> 00:06:03.939 So you go back 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:04.719 right to the start 00:06:04.719 --> 00:06:05.619 of the Christian church 00:06:05.619 --> 00:06:06.279 and they're not called 00:06:06.279 --> 00:06:06.819 Anglicans, 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:07.799 they're not called Baptists, 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:08.659 they're not called Brethren, 00:06:09.179 --> 00:06:09.759 they're not called 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:10.719 Presbyterians, 00:06:10.919 --> 00:06:11.699 they were called 00:06:11.699 --> 00:06:12.739 followers of the way. 00:06:15.399 --> 00:06:16.099 And that is how 00:06:16.099 --> 00:06:16.659 they were known 00:06:16.659 --> 00:06:17.659 to the outside world. 00:06:18.979 --> 00:06:19.899 That's how they thought 00:06:19.899 --> 00:06:20.539 of themselves. 00:06:20.540 --> 00:06:22.540 Let me take you 00:06:22.540 --> 00:06:23.600 to the end of chapter 19. 00:06:24.400 --> 00:06:25.660 Chapter 19 verse 21. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:26.879 Now after these events 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:27.800 Paul resolved 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:28.500 in the spirit 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:29.920 to pass through Macedonia 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:30.900 and Achaia 00:06:30.900 --> 00:06:32.260 and to go to Jerusalem 00:06:32.260 --> 00:06:34.100 saying after I've been there 00:06:34.100 --> 00:06:35.420 I must also see Rome. 00:06:36.400 --> 00:06:37.840 And having sent into Macedonia 00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:39.600 goes on to verse 23 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:40.560 saying about that time 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:42.340 there arose no little disturbance 00:06:42.340 --> 00:06:43.820 concerning the way. 00:06:45.400 --> 00:06:46.460 Chapter 22 verse 1 00:06:46.460 --> 00:06:47.700 Paul is defending himself 00:06:47.700 --> 00:06:48.820 against the mob in Jerusalem. 00:06:49.220 --> 00:06:49.960 He's been arrested. 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:51.399 He says brothers and fathers 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:52.399 hear the defense 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:53.500 that I now make before you. 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:55.000 I'm a Jew 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:56.379 born in Tarsus in Cilicia 00:06:56.379 --> 00:06:57.699 but I've been brought up 00:06:57.699 --> 00:06:58.219 to this city. 00:06:58.339 --> 00:06:59.279 I was educated 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:00.699 at the feet of Gamaliel 00:07:00.699 --> 00:07:01.879 this famous Jewish teacher. 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:04.039 According to the strict manner 00:07:04.039 --> 00:07:05.180 of the law of our fathers 00:07:05.180 --> 00:07:07.199 I was zealous for God 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:08.359 as you all are today. 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:10.819 I persecuted this way 00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:13.620 to the death. 00:07:13.919 --> 00:07:14.679 I hated Christians. 00:07:15.679 --> 00:07:16.179 Binding them 00:07:16.179 --> 00:07:17.139 and delivering them 00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:18.719 to prison both men and women. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:20.600 chapter 24 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:21.340 and verse 14 00:07:21.340 --> 00:07:22.180 I confess to you 00:07:22.180 --> 00:07:23.760 that according to the way 00:07:23.760 --> 00:07:25.660 which they call a sect 00:07:25.660 --> 00:07:26.820 I worship the God 00:07:26.820 --> 00:07:27.440 of our fathers. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:29.260 Believing everything 00:07:29.260 --> 00:07:30.120 laid down in the law 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:30.660 and the prophets. 00:07:31.100 --> 00:07:32.340 It's not some Christian sect 00:07:32.340 --> 00:07:32.780 he's saying. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:33.860 This isn't some kind of 00:07:33.860 --> 00:07:34.240 John E. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:35.079 come lately group 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:35.860 that have arrived 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:38.400 that's appeared on the scene. 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:41.800 It's rooted in the Old Testament. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:44.000 And then later on 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:44.680 in that same chapter 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:46.300 Felix says this 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:47.680 having a rather accurate 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:48.639 knowledge of the way 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:49.300 put them off. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:52.920 So can you see 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:54.500 just in that little brief 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:55.579 thing that I've shown you 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:56.960 this is how the early Christians 00:07:56.960 --> 00:07:57.900 described themselves. 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:00.400 That's how they were known 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:02.419 to the world 00:08:02.419 --> 00:08:03.079 as followers 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:04.019 of the way. 00:08:05.599 --> 00:08:06.659 Everyone can relate to that. 00:08:06.739 --> 00:08:08.239 It's not just a denominational label. 00:08:09.679 --> 00:08:10.399 It's a message 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:10.719 isn't it? 00:08:10.739 --> 00:08:11.379 It's a message 00:08:11.379 --> 00:08:13.279 that communicates 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:14.519 to a world 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:15.560 that has lost its way. 00:08:17.479 --> 00:08:18.419 So one Russian writer 00:08:18.419 --> 00:08:19.159 has described 00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:20.039 our world 00:08:20.039 --> 00:08:20.939 as a country 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:21.919 in which there are 00:08:21.919 --> 00:08:23.060 no signposts 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:24.319 because there's nowhere to go. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.979 It's like the council road man 00:08:27.980 --> 00:08:29.680 who was asked 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:31.759 why are you digging that ditch? 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:32.940 And he says 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:33.879 I'm digging the ditch 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:34.639 to get the money 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:35.460 to buy the food 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:36.259 to get the strength 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:37.100 to dig the ditch. 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:38.980 And that's what life 00:08:38.980 --> 00:08:39.820 might be like for you. 00:08:41.180 --> 00:08:41.820 It may be that you 00:08:41.820 --> 00:08:42.740 get up in the morning 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:44.200 and you go to work 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:45.980 and then you come home 00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:46.899 and you eat your supper 00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:48.139 and you watch the telly 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:49.500 and you go to bed 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:50.720 and you get up in the morning 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:51.899 you go to work 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:54.539 you come home 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:55.500 you eat your tea 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:56.879 you watch your telly 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:57.940 and then you go to bed 00:08:57.940 --> 00:08:58.500 and you get up 00:08:58.500 --> 00:08:59.000 in the morning 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:00.200 and you go to work 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:01.660 like a hamster on a wheel. 00:09:03.340 --> 00:09:04.300 Really busy 00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:05.680 but going nowhere. 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:08.100 Doesn't life feel 00:09:08.100 --> 00:09:08.900 like that sometimes? 00:09:10.040 --> 00:09:10.980 Like a desert. 00:09:11.220 --> 00:09:12.480 It's a really dangerous place 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:13.140 to live. 00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:14.700 A desert, isn't it? 00:09:16.300 --> 00:09:17.520 Because the wind blows 00:09:17.520 --> 00:09:18.060 in the desert 00:09:18.060 --> 00:09:19.360 and the landscape changes 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:20.300 and you lose 00:09:20.300 --> 00:09:21.220 your bearings 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:21.800 and you don't know 00:09:21.800 --> 00:09:22.500 where you are. 00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:24.600 Is that what it feels like 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:25.400 for you this morning? 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:28.759 Maybe you look back 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:29.059 and you thought 00:09:29.059 --> 00:09:29.699 there was a time 00:09:29.699 --> 00:09:30.120 where I thought 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:31.120 I knew where I was going. 00:09:32.459 --> 00:09:33.699 I had my bearings 00:09:33.699 --> 00:09:34.659 in life 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:35.319 and I thought 00:09:35.319 --> 00:09:35.980 I really knew 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:36.879 what life was all about 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:38.159 where life was taking me 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:39.779 but then the winds of time 00:09:39.779 --> 00:09:40.740 blew across 00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:41.340 the landscape 00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:42.220 of my life 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:44.259 and now I'm afraid 00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:45.139 to admit that I'm lost. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:48.480 And you don't know 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:49.199 what it's all about. 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:52.580 And so here are 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:53.280 a group of people 00:09:53.280 --> 00:09:54.600 that claim to know 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:55.440 where they're going. 00:09:57.920 --> 00:09:59.540 A group of people 00:09:59.540 --> 00:10:00.440 who claim to know 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:01.080 what it's about. 00:10:02.660 --> 00:10:04.259 And Ruben has been born 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:06.240 into this company 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:06.820 of people. 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:08.860 Followers of the way. 00:10:10.500 --> 00:10:11.259 Here are people 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:11.680 that know 00:10:11.680 --> 00:10:12.520 where they are going. 00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:13.160 Here are people 00:10:13.160 --> 00:10:13.740 who realize 00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:14.540 that life 00:10:14.540 --> 00:10:15.460 is not an end 00:10:15.460 --> 00:10:16.200 in and of itself. 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:18.600 but it's a preparation 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:19.440 for life to come. 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.300 They're followers 00:10:21.300 --> 00:10:21.980 of the way. 00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:26.020 But what is this way 00:10:26.020 --> 00:10:27.720 that we're talking about? 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:30.280 It's not some kind 00:10:30.280 --> 00:10:30.660 of secret. 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:32.840 It's not some kind 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:33.940 of mystical knowledge 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:35.660 that we've discovered. 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:37.520 What is this way 00:10:37.520 --> 00:10:38.920 that the Bible 00:10:38.920 --> 00:10:39.540 is talking about? 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:40.720 It's a person, 00:10:40.800 --> 00:10:41.060 isn't it? 00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:44.440 Did you pick it up 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:45.379 when Kephas read it? 00:10:45.400 --> 00:10:46.100 What did Jesus say? 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:46.740 Jesus said, 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:47.639 what did he say? 00:10:47.700 --> 00:10:47.899 He said, 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:49.019 I am the way, 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:50.980 the truth, 00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:51.420 and the life. 00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:54.159 And no one comes 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:54.680 to the Father 00:10:54.680 --> 00:10:55.540 except through me. 00:10:55.920 --> 00:10:56.399 And sometimes 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:57.139 Christians want to say, 00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:58.879 well, that's a triple claim. 00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:00.560 That he's the way, 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:01.139 he's the truth, 00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:01.659 and he's the life. 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:02.519 I don't really think 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:03.200 it is that. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:05.519 It's a single claim. 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:07.800 In other words, 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:08.540 Jesus is saying, 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:09.639 I am the way, 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:10.759 and I am the true way, 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:11.680 and I'm the living way. 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:13.519 And I'm the only way. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:16.340 I'm not a cul-de-sac, 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:17.539 I'm not a detour, 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.399 I'm not a diversion. 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:22.159 There's loads of people 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:22.679 that think, 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:22.960 don't they, 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:23.519 that Christianity, 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:25.299 that's what it is. 00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:26.699 It's a bit like a cul-de-sac. 00:11:26.819 --> 00:11:27.360 It's a little bit 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.379 like a diversion. 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:32.319 If it helps you, 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:32.960 that's great. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.000 Great for you. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:36.360 If it helps you 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:37.200 get through life 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:38.139 and the bumps of life, 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:39.159 well, that's all right with us. 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:41.340 It's a diversion 00:11:41.340 --> 00:11:44.059 from the real business of living. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:45.019 That's what people think. 00:11:45.059 --> 00:11:46.100 It's nothing of the sort. 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:49.080 Jesus doesn't offer himself 00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:50.000 as a diversion. 00:11:50.700 --> 00:11:51.120 He says, 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:52.019 I'm the way. 00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:55.919 I'm not a detour. 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:58.080 I'm not a diversion. 00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:58.720 I'm the true, 00:11:58.799 --> 00:11:59.580 and I'm the living way. 00:11:59.580 --> 00:12:00.980 So that if a man 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:01.680 or a woman 00:12:01.680 --> 00:12:02.420 or a boy 00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:03.060 or a girl 00:12:03.060 --> 00:12:04.120 believes in the Lord Jesus, 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:05.900 he's going places. 00:12:07.780 --> 00:12:09.300 Because he who believes in me, 00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:09.860 Jesus says, 00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:10.780 has eternal life. 00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:13.240 He has it. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:16.420 And so the moment 00:12:16.420 --> 00:12:19.160 that you put your trust 00:12:19.160 --> 00:12:20.139 in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:21.620 you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:22.460 you are there. 00:12:22.540 --> 00:12:23.440 You have eternal life 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:23.920 as a gift. 00:12:26.160 --> 00:12:27.640 So what is eternal life? 00:12:29.580 --> 00:12:31.160 It's not endless existence. 00:12:33.060 --> 00:12:33.860 No one wants that, 00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:34.120 do they? 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:36.100 No one wants to go on 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:36.960 forever and ever 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:39.040 living like chewing gum. 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:39.840 You know how chewing gum 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:40.320 we just, 00:12:40.520 --> 00:12:41.980 it loses all flavor, 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:42.480 doesn't it? 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:44.460 And you keep on chewing it, 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:44.800 but you don't know 00:12:44.800 --> 00:12:45.500 why you're chewing it. 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:47.420 It's lost its flavor. 00:12:47.460 --> 00:12:48.540 Who wants life like that? 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:51.820 Who wants endless existence? 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.180 That's not heaven. 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:53.800 That's hell. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:55.660 Eternal life 00:12:55.660 --> 00:12:56.740 is not endless existence. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.100 This is eternal life, 00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:58.840 the Bible says. 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:00.600 It is to know God 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:03.120 and Jesus Christ 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:03.980 in whom he has sent. 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:07.180 And so eternal life 00:13:07.180 --> 00:13:08.160 is a relationship 00:13:08.160 --> 00:13:09.700 with the living God. 00:13:09.780 --> 00:13:12.100 So time is a really funny thing 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:12.480 when you're trying 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:13.100 to think about it. 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:16.220 When you're first in love 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:16.519 with someone, 00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:17.379 if you are in love 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:17.720 with someone 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:18.840 and if you have a relationship 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:19.540 with someone, 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:21.320 then time seems to pass, 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:21.860 doesn't it? 00:13:22.420 --> 00:13:23.540 And you're not aware 00:13:23.540 --> 00:13:24.200 of it passing. 00:13:25.780 --> 00:13:26.780 That first date 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:27.819 where you went out 00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:28.379 and you met 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:30.539 at 10.30 for brunch 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:31.419 and you said goodbye 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:31.879 to each other 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:32.860 at half eleven at night 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:33.980 and you don't know 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:34.919 where the time went 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:36.019 because you were so 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:36.860 caught up in each other. 00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:40.220 And that's what eternity 00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:41.120 is like for the Christian. 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.579 It's not endless existence. 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:44.600 It's not boredom. 00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:47.039 It is to know God, 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:50.219 the most exciting person 00:13:50.219 --> 00:13:51.000 in the universe. 00:13:51.839 --> 00:13:52.480 And Jesus says, 00:13:52.719 --> 00:13:53.679 I am the way to that. 00:13:54.579 --> 00:13:55.519 I am the true way 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.459 and I am the living way 00:13:56.459 --> 00:13:57.439 and I am the only way. 00:13:58.459 --> 00:13:59.419 And no one else 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.419 can do this for you. 00:14:02.699 --> 00:14:03.559 The Haman writer says, 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:04.759 there was no other good enough 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:06.199 to pay the price of sin. 00:14:07.079 --> 00:14:08.299 He only could unlock 00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:09.279 the gate of heaven 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:09.779 and another sin. 00:14:09.939 --> 00:14:10.559 There's no one else 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:11.639 in the history of the universe 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:13.839 who's claimed 00:14:13.839 --> 00:14:14.779 to be able to do it, 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:16.699 to even pay the price of sin, 00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:17.780 to put himself 00:14:17.780 --> 00:14:19.100 between a God 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:20.940 who is holy 00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:21.820 and other, 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.720 who cannot even 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:24.540 look at sin, 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:25.259 to put himself 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:26.660 between that God 00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:27.680 and a sinful people. 00:14:29.280 --> 00:14:30.560 To take the punishment 00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:31.500 that is due to us. 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:34.800 No one else even claims that 00:14:34.800 --> 00:14:35.259 but Jesus. 00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:37.980 I am the true 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:38.780 and the living 00:14:38.780 --> 00:14:40.100 and the only way 00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:41.160 into the Father's presence. 00:14:41.920 --> 00:14:42.520 Without me, 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:43.200 he's saying, 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:45.300 you're lost. 00:14:45.420 --> 00:14:46.180 It's very offensive, 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:46.640 isn't it? 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:49.980 I'm the way. 00:14:50.160 --> 00:14:51.220 I'm not just the Western way. 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.800 I'm not just the British way. 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:55.700 I'm not even the Christian way. 00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:58.820 As if there was some other 00:14:58.820 --> 00:14:59.780 kind of way you could choose. 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.460 I am the way, 00:15:00.540 --> 00:15:01.220 the only way. 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.140 Do you notice he says, 00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:05.500 he's not saying, 00:15:05.660 --> 00:15:06.580 I know the way. 00:15:08.540 --> 00:15:09.160 He's not saying, 00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:09.920 I can point you 00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:11.100 in the right direction. 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:13.379 He's not even saying, 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:14.560 I have the way. 00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:14.620 I have the way. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:16.100 Follow my teaching 00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:16.820 and you'll be alright. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.100 He's not even saying that. 00:15:18.180 --> 00:15:18.620 He is saying 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:20.500 something far more personal, 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:20.800 isn't he? 00:15:20.800 --> 00:15:21.220 He is saying, 00:15:21.420 --> 00:15:23.060 I am the way. 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:26.759 And he draws attention 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.820 to himself, 00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:30.360 to his own person. 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.279 And that is what 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:32.340 Christianity is all about. 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:35.720 It's to do with 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.960 a relationship 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:39.600 with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:41.300 It's not about religion. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:44.379 It is about having 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:45.019 a relationship 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:46.759 with the living God. 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.660 That's what the Bible 00:15:47.660 --> 00:15:49.259 talks about 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:49.740 when it says 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:50.639 that we're lost. 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:54.100 So we're not lost 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.060 in terms of our surroundings, 00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:55.560 are we? 00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:58.199 That is not the nature 00:15:58.199 --> 00:15:59.519 of human lostness. 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:02.099 We live at a time 00:16:02.099 --> 00:16:03.659 when our world 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:04.699 has never been more aware 00:16:04.699 --> 00:16:05.359 of its surroundings. 00:16:07.219 --> 00:16:08.179 Scientists can tell us, 00:16:08.219 --> 00:16:08.379 can't they, 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.619 the most amazing things 00:16:09.619 --> 00:16:10.219 about the universe 00:16:10.219 --> 00:16:10.779 in which we live. 00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:11.599 We're not lost. 00:16:12.939 --> 00:16:13.959 We're not lost so much 00:16:13.959 --> 00:16:15.239 in terms of our surroundings. 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.159 We're like, 00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:16.419 aren't we, 00:16:16.439 --> 00:16:17.079 the little boy 00:16:17.079 --> 00:16:18.179 or the little girl 00:16:18.179 --> 00:16:20.459 who's lost in London. 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:21.859 They've lost sight 00:16:21.859 --> 00:16:22.479 of their parents. 00:16:22.599 --> 00:16:23.259 They've become cut off 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.039 from their parents. 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:27.299 And the police 00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:28.419 find this little boy 00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.059 on Oxford Street 00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:29.639 and they say, 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.379 what is your name? 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:30.919 And the little boy 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:31.699 can tell them his name. 00:16:33.699 --> 00:16:34.179 They say, 00:16:34.199 --> 00:16:35.000 do you know your address? 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.699 And the little boy 00:16:35.699 --> 00:16:37.819 can tell the police 00:16:37.819 --> 00:16:38.399 his address. 00:16:40.719 --> 00:16:41.439 And he can even 00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:42.539 tell the police 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.819 what bus he should 00:16:43.819 --> 00:16:44.359 catch home. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.539 He's not lost 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.839 in terms of his surroundings, 00:16:49.599 --> 00:16:50.019 is he? 00:16:52.339 --> 00:16:53.279 But he's lost 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:55.139 in terms of his relationship. 00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:57.939 he's lost sight 00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:58.939 of his parents. 00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:01.319 And he's cold 00:17:01.319 --> 00:17:01.939 and he's miserable 00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:03.000 and he's disorientated 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.819 because he's lost 00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:04.500 sight of his mother. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.759 And that's what the Bible 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.379 means when it talks 00:17:08.379 --> 00:17:09.139 about lostness. 00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:12.000 You're not lost 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.179 in terms of your surroundings. 00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:16.919 You're lost in terms 00:17:16.919 --> 00:17:17.779 of your relationship 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.379 with the God 00:17:18.379 --> 00:17:19.119 who made you. 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:22.479 And what the Bible 00:17:22.479 --> 00:17:23.659 teaches is that sin, 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:24.619 our rebellion, 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:26.079 has broken 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:26.979 that relationship. 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:29.699 And sin has alienated 00:17:29.699 --> 00:17:30.399 us from the God 00:17:30.399 --> 00:17:31.179 who has made us. 00:17:31.439 --> 00:17:32.399 But Jesus Christ says, 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.239 I'm the way back. 00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:35.439 I'm the true 00:17:35.439 --> 00:17:36.619 and I'm the living way. 00:17:38.219 --> 00:17:39.059 And I'm the only way 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:39.699 that you can come 00:17:39.699 --> 00:17:40.579 into a relationship 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.599 with the living God. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:44.359 And that's what we want 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:44.859 for little Reuben. 00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:48.299 Not religion. 00:17:50.419 --> 00:17:52.039 It is a religious ceremony 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.719 that we performed 00:17:53.719 --> 00:17:54.299 this morning. 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:56.279 But we're not wanting 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:58.179 religion for him. 00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:01.539 I once heard somebody 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.460 describe religion 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.880 as a grumbling appendix. 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.039 I think that's 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.080 a really good likeness. 00:18:10.600 --> 00:18:11.460 And maybe that's 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.680 what your Christianity is. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.860 You're not really 00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:15.360 quite sure 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:16.200 why it's there. 00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:18.380 And you're not 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:19.420 quite sure 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:21.019 what religion 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:21.759 is all about. 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.759 But it grumbles. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.019 And it's there. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:26.880 And so every so often 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.140 you give attention 00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:28.440 to it 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:28.820 and you get it 00:18:28.820 --> 00:18:29.300 checked out. 00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.120 And sometimes 00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:31.780 it flares up 00:18:31.780 --> 00:18:32.540 and it gets infected 00:18:32.540 --> 00:18:33.280 and it causes you 00:18:33.280 --> 00:18:34.020 a bit of discomfort. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.420 You see, 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.160 if you are religious 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:38.040 this morning 00:18:38.040 --> 00:18:39.300 and nothing else, 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:40.020 the best thing 00:18:40.020 --> 00:18:40.700 you can do 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.820 is have your religion 00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:42.340 removed. 00:18:43.820 --> 00:18:44.560 To get rid of it 00:18:44.560 --> 00:18:45.040 altogether. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:47.120 It's not a bit 00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:47.580 of good to you. 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:47.880 In fact, 00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:48.360 what it will do 00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:48.740 in the end 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.960 is it will poison you. 00:18:51.580 --> 00:18:52.880 It can destroy you 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.080 in the end. 00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:53.660 We don't want to make 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.320 Reuben religious. 00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:55.320 God forbid 00:18:55.320 --> 00:18:56.220 that he should 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:56.880 become religious. 00:18:58.140 --> 00:19:00.720 We want to see 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.800 him have a relationship 00:19:01.800 --> 00:19:03.060 with the living God. 00:19:04.800 --> 00:19:05.660 And faith 00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:06.440 in Jesus Christ 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:07.480 is what this 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.220 baptism is 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:09.240 all about. 00:19:10.560 --> 00:19:11.440 It's what Christianity 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:12.420 is all about. 00:19:12.560 --> 00:19:13.060 It's a people 00:19:13.060 --> 00:19:14.280 who know God 00:19:14.280 --> 00:19:15.340 through faith 00:19:15.340 --> 00:19:16.640 in Jesus Christ. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:20.040 Let me read 00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:20.480 to you this 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.140 little passage 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:21.759 I read this week 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.880 talking about 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:23.380 the Lord Jesus 00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:23.960 as the only way 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.360 to God. 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:25.620 It says this, 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.480 In the early days 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.120 of the railway 00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:27.900 in Britain, 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.100 some towns 00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:31.259 refused to have 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:31.820 the railways 00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:32.460 go through them 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:34.340 because they feared 00:19:34.340 --> 00:19:35.140 that the sparks 00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:35.820 from the engine 00:19:35.820 --> 00:19:36.540 would set their 00:19:36.540 --> 00:19:37.400 properties alight. 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.000 Instead, 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:39.660 the stations 00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:40.120 were set 00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:40.880 on the outskirts 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:41.500 of the town 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.500 to the immense 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.300 inconvenience 00:19:43.300 --> 00:19:44.360 of later generations 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.019 of townsmen. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.459 Explains an awful lot 00:19:46.459 --> 00:19:47.139 doesn't it? 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.839 Why in Cambridge 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.679 the station 00:19:49.679 --> 00:19:50.339 is miles 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.559 from the centre. 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:52.719 It loads them. 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:53.919 So it says 00:19:53.919 --> 00:19:54.719 they are to construct 00:19:54.719 --> 00:19:55.539 a branch line 00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.399 to the main line 00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:57.879 but not so this way 00:19:57.879 --> 00:19:58.459 with Christ. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.859 He runs right 00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:01.559 through the slums 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.379 of Sin Town 00:20:02.379 --> 00:20:04.199 wherever the child 00:20:04.199 --> 00:20:04.579 of God 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.379 can sometimes get. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.219 He is available 00:20:06.219 --> 00:20:07.240 to us as we are. 00:20:07.939 --> 00:20:08.459 Where we are 00:20:08.459 --> 00:20:08.939 prayerless, 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:09.839 cold and defeated 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.759 we only have to 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.479 acknowledge our 00:20:11.479 --> 00:20:12.119 true condition 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:13.579 and repent of the sin 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.339 that has caused it. 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:15.519 And the grace of God 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.219 reaches us 00:20:16.219 --> 00:20:17.119 in the very place 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:17.679 where we are. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:20.119 We are cleansed 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:20.740 and restored. 00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:22.479 And there and then 00:20:22.479 --> 00:20:22.979 we have stepped 00:20:22.979 --> 00:20:23.639 onto the way. 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.619 What is the way 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.039 to God? 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.759 What is the way 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.759 that you are 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.699 to set Reuben on? 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.199 Jesus says 00:20:31.199 --> 00:20:32.159 I am the way 00:20:32.159 --> 00:20:33.899 to God 00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:34.259 and there is 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.859 no one else. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:36.819 And that is 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.579 very, very embarrassing 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.259 today, isn't it? 00:20:39.959 --> 00:20:40.639 And we are supposed 00:20:40.639 --> 00:20:41.819 to respect all religion. 00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:42.379 We do respect 00:20:42.379 --> 00:20:42.839 all religions 00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:43.379 but we are supposed 00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:44.139 to treat all religions 00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:44.660 the same 00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:45.840 around and about 00:20:45.840 --> 00:20:46.520 but Jesus will have 00:20:46.520 --> 00:20:46.980 none of it. 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:48.940 He says 00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:49.800 I am the way 00:20:49.800 --> 00:20:50.180 and there is 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:50.800 no other way. 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.600 I am the true 00:20:51.600 --> 00:20:52.340 and the living 00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:53.380 and the only way 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.259 and for anyone 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.540 anywhere in the world 00:20:55.540 --> 00:20:56.600 to come to know God 00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:58.360 what's the way 00:20:58.360 --> 00:20:58.740 to God? 00:20:58.860 --> 00:20:59.580 Jesus is the way 00:20:59.580 --> 00:20:59.920 to God. 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.759 What's the way 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.100 to Jesus? 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:04.840 There is no way 00:21:04.840 --> 00:21:05.240 to Jesus. 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.540 He is the way 00:21:07.540 --> 00:21:07.860 and so 00:21:07.860 --> 00:21:08.740 this morning 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:10.319 as the word 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:10.900 of God 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:11.839 is explained 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:12.740 and proclaimed 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.599 and tried to be 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:14.440 applied to your 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.400 conscience 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:16.579 Jesus is here 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.019 this morning. 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.079 Don't think 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.420 that you've got 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:21.200 to find some way 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.480 to him. 00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:24.120 He's come to you. 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.519 So maybe you're thinking 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:28.000 maybe I need to read 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.700 the Bible a bit more. 00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.240 Maybe if I start 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:30.559 to pray 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:31.460 maybe I should attend 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.359 church a bit more. 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.339 Then I may come 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:33.660 to Jesus. 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.859 No, Jesus is the way 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.559 to those things. 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.559 You've got it 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.399 the wrong way around. 00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:39.959 You'll never understand 00:21:39.959 --> 00:21:40.299 the Bible 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:40.719 until you come 00:21:40.719 --> 00:21:41.039 to Jesus. 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.399 You'll never want 00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:44.199 to come to church 00:21:44.199 --> 00:21:45.619 until you come 00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:46.019 to Jesus. 00:21:46.979 --> 00:21:47.679 You'll find it 00:21:47.679 --> 00:21:49.019 an enormous bore 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:50.039 unless you know Jesus. 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.779 No, Jesus is the way 00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:53.699 to those things. 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:55.879 Those things 00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:56.819 are not the way 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.759 to Jesus. 00:21:59.379 --> 00:21:59.839 And so Jesus 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.879 is here this morning 00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:02.259 and he offers himself 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.899 to you 00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:03.659 wherever you are 00:22:03.659 --> 00:22:04.240 in your life. 00:22:05.459 --> 00:22:06.279 Whatever problems 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.799 you've got 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:09.139 whatever condition 00:22:09.139 --> 00:22:10.219 you're in 00:22:10.219 --> 00:22:11.039 whatever the things 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.879 you've gone through 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:14.359 Jesus offers himself 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:15.019 to you and he says 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.859 I am the way. 00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:18.139 And all you've got 00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.779 to do is acknowledge 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.259 your need. 00:22:20.659 --> 00:22:21.740 All you've got to do 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.579 is cry out to me 00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.899 in your heart of hearts 00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:25.419 and you're on the way. 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.059 You're on the way 00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:26.819 to your father's house. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.479 You're on the way 00:22:29.479 --> 00:22:30.099 to the place 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:30.939 that he is preparing 00:22:30.939 --> 00:22:31.359 for you. 00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.079 That's all you need. 00:22:33.179 --> 00:22:33.959 And Jesus says 00:22:33.959 --> 00:22:34.619 I'll bring you home. 00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:37.179 Just acknowledge 00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:37.619 your need. 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:39.539 Just admit 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:40.399 that you're lost 00:22:40.399 --> 00:22:42.479 and step 00:22:42.479 --> 00:22:43.179 my way 00:22:43.179 --> 00:22:43.919 by faith 00:22:43.919 --> 00:22:44.639 and you are home. 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.419 You do not need 00:22:45.419 --> 00:22:45.879 religion 00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:48.679 to get you home. 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.000 Jesus says 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.679 come to me. 00:22:53.679 --> 00:22:54.159 And so that's 00:22:54.159 --> 00:22:54.559 what we want 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.119 for our children. 00:22:56.699 --> 00:22:57.359 We want them 00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:57.959 to grow up 00:22:57.959 --> 00:22:59.519 trusting in the Lord 00:22:59.519 --> 00:22:59.779 Jesus 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.539 knowing him 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.259 as their Lord 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.160 and Savior. 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:04.039 That is the significance 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.799 of what's gone on 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.259 this morning. 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:08.400 That we are setting 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.379 Reuben apart 00:23:09.379 --> 00:23:10.319 to be a Christian. 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.539 We've not made him 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.559 a Christian this morning 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.519 by sprinkling water 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:13.859 on him. 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:16.339 We're not into magic. 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:19.019 Water doesn't make 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.980 anyone a Christian. 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:22.079 Not even baptismal water. 00:23:22.139 --> 00:23:23.539 Not even baptismal water 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.099 that needs to be 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:24.700 cooled down. 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:27.539 It's a sign 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.500 and a seal. 00:23:28.860 --> 00:23:29.380 It doesn't make 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:29.980 people Christians. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.960 We've not made 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.840 Reuben a Christian 00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:34.340 this morning. 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.380 But what we've done 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.279 is we have set him 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:37.860 apart 00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:39.059 that he might be Christ. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.400 We've put him 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.039 on the way. 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:42.559 That isn't going 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.240 to happen automatically. 00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:45.360 Being born 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:46.120 into a Christian home 00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:46.900 doesn't make him 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.200 a Christian. 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.100 So what guarantee 00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:49.000 do we have 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.600 that this child 00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:51.340 will grow to know 00:23:51.340 --> 00:23:51.799 the Lord Jesus 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.460 for himself? 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.000 And secondly 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.220 it's the promise. 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:54.799 Can you see 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.160 the promise 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:55.620 in the verse? 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.019 Train up a child 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:58.360 in the way 00:23:58.360 --> 00:23:58.940 that he should go 00:23:58.940 --> 00:23:59.920 and even when he's old 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:00.660 he will not depart 00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:01.059 from it. 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.420 And baptism 00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.240 is the sign 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.799 and the seal 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.539 of that promise. 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.079 God is saying 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:10.819 to Aaron and Bexie 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.319 this morning 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:12.279 train him up 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:12.600 in the way 00:24:12.600 --> 00:24:13.339 that he should go. 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:16.200 And I promise you 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:17.740 that when he is old 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.500 he won't depart 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:18.839 from it. 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.480 And we need 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.059 that promise. 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:22.500 We need the strength 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.240 of that promise. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:25.519 We need 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.059 the means 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.620 of grace. 00:24:26.860 --> 00:24:27.519 We need baptism 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.620 to remind us 00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:29.620 of that promise. 00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:31.779 As we go 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.160 through life 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.460 for a number 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:32.740 of reasons. 00:24:32.900 --> 00:24:33.720 For one thing 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.380 the way 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:35.620 that he should 00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.059 go 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:36.980 is not the way 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.980 he would go. 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.640 Left to himself. 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.079 If you go to 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.779 chapter 15 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.400 in Proverbs 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.799 verse 15 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.460 of chapter 2 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:46.680 sorry 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.660 just a little bit down 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.580 we're told 00:24:48.580 --> 00:24:49.800 that folly 00:24:49.800 --> 00:24:51.460 is bound up 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:51.840 in the heart 00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:52.420 of a child. 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.779 But the rod 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.259 of discipline 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.920 drives it far 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.340 from him. 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:58.860 Foolishness 00:24:58.860 --> 00:25:00.019 is bound up 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.660 in the heart 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.279 of a child. 00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:05.680 We sometimes 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.200 underestimate 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:06.620 children 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.080 don't we? 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.360 Children 00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:09.480 know a great deal. 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:11.480 Solomon 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.460 who wrote Proverbs 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.620 he doesn't mean 00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:15.100 when he says 00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:15.620 foolishness 00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.100 is bound up 00:25:16.100 --> 00:25:16.420 in the heart 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:16.759 of a child 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.220 that children 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.059 are unintelligent. 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.700 No it's talking 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.299 about the way 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:20.900 that we would 00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:21.319 go left 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.000 to ourselves. 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:24.819 And so even 00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.759 in a small 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.380 child 00:25:26.380 --> 00:25:27.840 there is 00:25:27.840 --> 00:25:28.519 something twisted 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.319 something not 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:29.819 right. 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.120 And we don't 00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:32.620 like to think 00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:33.019 like that 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.420 but that is 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:33.799 what the Bible 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.279 says. 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.559 We're born 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.460 with perversity 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.180 in our hearts. 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:41.320 This is something 00:25:41.320 --> 00:25:41.820 we pick up 00:25:41.820 --> 00:25:42.420 on the way. 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:44.740 We didn't pick it up 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.019 when we went 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.660 to junior school 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.120 or when we went 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:47.160 to secondary school. 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:50.600 Some of you 00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:51.320 know David 00:25:51.320 --> 00:25:51.880 in the Old Testament 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.920 he wrote most 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.480 of the Psalms 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.299 he was the great king 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.160 and when he was 00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:56.160 in his middle age 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.019 his late middle age 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:58.980 disaster came 00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.900 he had a moral 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:00.539 collapse. 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.060 He stole 00:26:02.060 --> 00:26:02.620 another man's 00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.000 wife. 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.539 He got found 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.140 out to try 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.620 and cover up 00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:06.259 his tracks. 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.319 He had 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.180 the husband 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:08.799 killed. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.400 And when David 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.099 actually sat 00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:12.740 back and he 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.640 reflected on 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.220 his life 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:15.279 and he confessed 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.319 his sin to God 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:17.180 he traced it 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:17.779 back and he 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.460 said my sin 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.099 it began 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.279 when did it 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:20.539 begin? 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:20.920 Right at the 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.480 very beginning. 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:23.980 Psalm 51 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.579 says I was 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:25.319 brought forth 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:25.900 in iniquity 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.559 and in sin 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.059 did my mother 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.740 conceive me. 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.180 Why did David 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:32.740 go at the age 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.900 of 50 00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:34.960 and car crash 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.440 his life? 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.559 Why did he 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.279 wreck another 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.140 family for his 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.700 own convenience? 00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.240 Why did he 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:40.720 do such a 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.259 terrible thing? 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:41.599 And David 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:41.980 says do you 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.220 know what I 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:42.759 can trace it 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.200 back to my 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:43.759 mother's womb? 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:45.839 The moment I 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:46.500 began 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:49.259 is the moment 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.400 I was a 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:50.559 sinner. 00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:52.879 Before I ever 00:26:52.879 --> 00:26:53.640 did a sinful 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.140 thing before I 00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:54.680 ever behaved in 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.480 a selfish way 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.220 I was already 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:56.779 a sinner by 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.160 nature. 00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.140 And that's 00:26:59.140 --> 00:26:59.779 true of me. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:02.599 That's true of 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:03.059 Reuben as 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.720 adorable as he 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.000 is. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:09.900 he should 00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.339 go. 00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:11.099 The way he 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.920 should go is 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.460 not the way 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.019 that he would 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.619 go left to 00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.079 himself. 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:16.940 And I 00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:17.440 remember you 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:17.880 will need to 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:18.640 remind him 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:20.660 as you bring 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.200 him up, as 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:21.960 you train him 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.440 and discipline 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:22.880 him and you 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:24.079 correct foolishness, 00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.960 that perversity. 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.039 The last thing 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:28.400 that Christian 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.099 parents should do 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:29.440 to their 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:29.980 children is let 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.299 them just 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.180 express themselves. 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:33.240 because what 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.660 we are by 00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.299 nature is not 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:34.700 what we 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.320 should be. 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.120 Left to 00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:37.720 ourselves is a 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.220 disaster. 00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:40.720 Foolishness is 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.539 bound in the 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:42.200 heart of all 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:42.740 children so 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.400 parents are to 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.259 correct that in 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.720 the ways of 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.100 Christ. 00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.220 And so we 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:46.600 need this 00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:47.180 reminder of 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.580 baptism. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.680 This promise 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.560 brought home to 00:27:50.560 --> 00:27:52.320 us that God 00:27:52.320 --> 00:27:54.460 can cleanse our 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:55.519 hearts from sin 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.259 like the water 00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.900 can wash away 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:57.340 the dirt. 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:59.379 when he 00:27:59.379 --> 00:27:59.959 believes on the 00:27:59.959 --> 00:28:00.299 Lord Jesus 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:00.619 Christ. 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.059 And so you 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.539 are to teach 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:01.919 him that and 00:28:01.919 --> 00:28:02.379 to tell him 00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:02.779 that and to 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.339 model that and 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:03.980 to pray for him 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.419 for that. 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.699 But the way he 00:28:05.699 --> 00:28:06.639 should go is not 00:28:06.639 --> 00:28:07.099 the way he 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:07.500 would go. 00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:08.039 You cannot 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.539 leave him to 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:08.939 himself. 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.339 We all like 00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:11.839 sheep have gone 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.119 astray. 00:28:12.199 --> 00:28:13.019 We've all turned 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.659 everyone to his 00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:14.539 own way but the 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.539 Lord has laid on 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.119 him the iniquity 00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.699 of us all. 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:18.980 Left to 00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:19.939 ourselves we do 00:28:19.939 --> 00:28:20.679 our own thing but 00:28:20.679 --> 00:28:21.359 the truth of the 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:21.980 Bible is that God 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.599 has provided a 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.039 saviour. 00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:24.980 And God 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.740 himself has come 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.259 in the person 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:26.819 of his own 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.419 son to 00:28:27.419 --> 00:28:28.720 Calvary to 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.500 take our 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:29.939 sin upon 00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:30.480 himself. 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.359 And so we've 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:33.799 got to say to 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.399 little Reuben and 00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:35.019 to our children 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:37.339 you and I we 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.220 are sinners by 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:38.939 nature and if 00:28:38.939 --> 00:28:39.819 you carry on in 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.299 your sin you 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:40.899 will perish. 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.139 You will end 00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:43.720 up in eternity 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.679 without God but 00:28:44.679 --> 00:28:45.759 God has provided 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.259 a way of 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:46.720 salvation. 00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:48.200 And God 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.779 himself has 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.259 come to take 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.539 that sin upon 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.179 himself at the 00:28:51.179 --> 00:28:51.659 cross and so 00:28:51.659 --> 00:28:52.359 believe in the 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:52.720 Lord Jesus 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.279 Christ and you 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:53.899 will be saved. 00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.119 You've got 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:56.720 every encouragement 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.160 to believe. 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.100 So did God 00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:58.539 put you into 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.160 this family by 00:28:59.160 --> 00:28:59.600 accident? 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.039 And God has 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.640 promised that if 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.880 you repent and 00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:04.559 if you believe in 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.299 Jesus Christ he 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.079 will wash away 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:06.519 your sin. 00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:06.900 That's what 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.819 baptism means. 00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:11.019 And so we 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.620 bring up our 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:13.220 children on that 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.180 promise God 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.360 made at our 00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:15.740 baptism. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.539 We pray that 00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.720 promise every 00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:21.880 day that God 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:22.620 will do this for 00:29:22.620 --> 00:29:22.819 you. 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:25.140 And that's one 00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:25.640 reason why we 00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:25.940 need this 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.120 promise. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.560 Another 00:29:26.560 --> 00:29:26.940 reason. 00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:29.980 The way that 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.660 he should go 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.040 and the way 00:29:31.040 --> 00:29:32.220 that we 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:32.900 would go is 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:34.759 radically 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.360 different from 00:29:35.360 --> 00:29:35.660 any other 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:35.960 way. 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:38.460 Christianity 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:39.000 is not 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.580 respectable. 00:29:42.580 --> 00:29:43.180 If you at 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:43.620 the time you 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:43.900 could go 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.420 through those 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.100 passages that I 00:29:45.100 --> 00:29:45.660 quoted to you 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:46.120 from Acts and 00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:46.580 you'd see in 00:29:46.580 --> 00:29:47.360 every context 00:29:47.360 --> 00:29:47.640 there was 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:48.160 persecution. 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:49.800 And we 00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:50.180 don't like 00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:50.420 what's 00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:50.800 different. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:53.139 And so 00:29:53.139 --> 00:29:53.799 Paul says 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.200 the apostle 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.539 he says 00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.279 all who 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.659 would live 00:29:55.659 --> 00:29:56.680 godly in 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.200 Christ Jesus 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.680 will suffer 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.259 persecution. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:00.659 The world 00:30:00.659 --> 00:30:01.359 won't persecute 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:01.720 you if you're 00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.039 good. 00:30:03.159 --> 00:30:03.539 It'll pat 00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:03.799 you on the 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.099 back. 00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:05.960 The world 00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:06.599 won't persecute 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:06.940 you if you're 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.279 noble. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:07.859 It'll give 00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:08.359 you an MBE. 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.039 It can 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.619 appreciate that 00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:11.440 but godliness 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.440 is something 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:12.859 different. 00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:15.099 And we're 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.359 not talking 00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:15.720 about Reuben 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.159 growing up 00:30:16.159 --> 00:30:16.440 with good 00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:17.099 morals or 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.539 about kind 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:17.980 living, 00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:19.039 about being 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.460 decent. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.819 But godliness 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.639 is so 00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:23.899 radically 00:30:23.899 --> 00:30:24.599 different that 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:24.960 the world 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.279 will not 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:25.899 tolerate it. 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:27.819 And when 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.240 they saw 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.000 it in the 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.440 Lord Jesus 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.319 they smashed 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:30.740 it on the 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.119 cross. 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:33.539 And Jesus 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.059 says if they 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:35.000 crucify me 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.419 they will 00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:36.559 crucify you. 00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:40.940 And so at 00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:41.940 baptism there 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.419 is something 00:30:42.419 --> 00:30:42.700 isn't it? 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:43.599 It's funny when 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:44.200 the baby gets 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:44.619 covered in 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:44.919 water. 00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:47.099 It's a 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:47.720 beautiful thing 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.159 but it's also 00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:48.619 a really 00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:49.180 really serious 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.559 thing. 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:53.019 baptism is 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.419 a putting 00:30:53.419 --> 00:30:54.399 off of 00:30:54.399 --> 00:30:54.819 one way 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.359 of life 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:56.200 and bringing 00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:56.619 him into 00:30:56.619 --> 00:30:57.059 a new 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:57.359 way of 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:57.779 life. 00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:00.839 And so 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.079 Aaron and 00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:01.460 Bexley you 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:01.779 will need 00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.279 to train 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:02.779 up Reuben. 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.180 You can 00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:04.619 teach without 00:31:04.619 --> 00:31:04.980 training 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:07.099 but training 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:08.099 must involve 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:08.399 teaching. 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:08.700 You will 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.240 show him 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:09.720 and model 00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.279 it and 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.599 live it 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.039 out a 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:11.399 radically 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:11.779 different 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.119 Christian 00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:12.519 way. 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:14.759 And so 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.039 don't be 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.359 afraid to 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:15.700 be different 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:15.899 little 00:31:15.899 --> 00:31:16.180 man. 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:18.660 Don't 00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.120 allow your 00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.820 family life 00:31:19.820 --> 00:31:20.060 to be 00:31:20.060 --> 00:31:20.440 dictated 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:20.779 by the 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.060 world 00:31:21.060 --> 00:31:22.759 so that 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.060 you become 00:31:23.060 --> 00:31:23.500 like everyone 00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:23.759 else. 00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.180 Live it 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:24.560 out as a 00:31:24.560 --> 00:31:24.820 Christian. 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.759 Train the 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.320 child in 00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:26.720 the way 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:26.980 that he 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.340 should go. 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:27.880 Model it 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:28.320 and pattern 00:31:28.320 --> 00:31:28.720 it and 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.000 live it 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.200 out. 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:33.200 And God 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:33.519 says I 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:33.940 promise you 00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.240 that when 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.580 he's old 00:31:34.580 --> 00:31:35.180 despite all 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.740 the opposition 00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.960 despite 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:37.560 everything that 00:31:37.560 --> 00:31:38.000 is against 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.460 him and 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.860 telling him 00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:39.220 otherwise 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:39.560 and all 00:31:39.560 --> 00:31:39.700 the 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.060 pressures 00:31:40.060 --> 00:31:40.779 God 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.220 says my 00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:41.740 grace is 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.220 stronger than 00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:42.600 all that. 00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:43.039 I promise 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.219 you. 00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:43.639 I promise 00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:43.919 you. 00:31:47.439 --> 00:31:47.839 Martin 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.199 Luther the 00:31:48.199 --> 00:31:48.419 German 00:31:48.419 --> 00:31:48.779 reformer 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:48.899 as I 00:31:48.899 --> 00:31:49.079 finish. 00:31:50.699 --> 00:31:51.179 He's a 00:31:51.179 --> 00:31:51.459 man who 00:31:51.459 --> 00:31:51.679 kind of 00:31:51.679 --> 00:31:52.139 suffered 00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:53.219 incredibly. 00:31:54.299 --> 00:31:54.779 He's in 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.079 his room 00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:55.819 working once 00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:56.759 and he 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.000 said it 00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:57.699 was as if 00:31:57.699 --> 00:31:58.099 the devil 00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:58.379 was in 00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:58.639 the room 00:31:58.639 --> 00:31:58.980 with me. 00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:00.179 And he 00:32:00.179 --> 00:32:00.659 was accusing 00:32:00.659 --> 00:32:01.099 me and 00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:01.679 tempting me 00:32:01.679 --> 00:32:02.219 of all 00:32:02.219 --> 00:32:02.679 sorts of 00:32:02.679 --> 00:32:03.240 things. 00:32:04.699 --> 00:32:05.039 He felt 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.219 he was 00:32:05.219 --> 00:32:05.519 going out 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:05.719 of his 00:32:05.719 --> 00:32:06.259 mind. 00:32:07.219 --> 00:32:07.519 And Luther 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.059 picked up 00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:08.839 the inkwell 00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:09.679 and he 00:32:09.679 --> 00:32:10.539 threw it 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.980 across the 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.259 room. 00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:13.699 And he 00:32:13.699 --> 00:32:14.159 shouted at 00:32:14.159 --> 00:32:14.519 the devil. 00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.000 He says 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.259 this. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:15.599 He says 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:15.980 I'm a 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.279 baptized 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:16.819 man. 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:18.839 I am 00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:19.359 baptized. 00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:21.719 I'm 00:32:21.719 --> 00:32:22.039 baptized. 00:32:25.179 --> 00:32:25.699 God has 00:32:25.699 --> 00:32:26.219 made promises 00:32:26.219 --> 00:32:26.639 to me 00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:27.539 in my 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:27.919 baptism. 00:32:30.899 --> 00:32:31.480 I say I 00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:31.699 go to the 00:32:31.699 --> 00:32:32.059 pub tomorrow 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.319 night. 00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:33.779 I've got a 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.119 meeting tomorrow 00:32:34.119 --> 00:32:34.259 night. 00:32:34.399 --> 00:32:35.019 So I won't. 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:35.859 But I'm 00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.480 there and 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.159 these very 00:32:37.159 --> 00:32:37.879 attractive girls 00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:38.259 come and 00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:38.939 talk to me. 00:32:39.679 --> 00:32:40.379 You probably 00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:40.799 think oh 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.839 it's very 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:42.159 unusual. 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:44.919 I'm 00:32:44.919 --> 00:32:45.240 standing at 00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:45.500 the bar. 00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.099 What do 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:46.379 you do at 00:32:46.379 --> 00:32:46.579 that point? 00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:46.859 I don't 00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:47.059 know what 00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:47.299 you do at 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:47.519 that point. 00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:48.019 But what 00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:48.480 do you 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:48.639 do? 00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:49.919 I go 00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:50.259 like this. 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:52.740 I'm a 00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.240 married man. 00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:54.699 You hold up 00:32:54.699 --> 00:32:54.980 your wedding 00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:55.079 ring. 00:32:55.179 --> 00:32:56.039 If you're 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.359 ever in a 00:32:56.359 --> 00:32:56.639 pub and 00:32:56.639 --> 00:32:56.899 you see 00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:57.159 somebody 00:32:57.159 --> 00:32:57.659 taking off 00:32:57.659 --> 00:32:57.839 their 00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.459 wedding ring, 00:32:58.899 --> 00:32:59.459 don't go 00:32:59.459 --> 00:32:59.799 near that 00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.079 person. 00:33:02.719 --> 00:33:03.319 Because this 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:04.039 ring is a 00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:04.539 sign of 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:04.740 God's 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:05.000 promises. 00:33:05.179 --> 00:33:05.439 I'm a 00:33:05.439 --> 00:33:05.699 baptized 00:33:05.699 --> 00:33:06.199 man. 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:07.200 God's 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:06.340 love. 00:33:06.340 --> 00:33:06.700 God's 00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:06.340 love. 00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.620 So I 00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.019 hope some 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:11.319 of you are 00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:11.700 thinking about 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:11.980 becoming 00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:12.580 Christians but 00:33:12.580 --> 00:33:12.960 I need to 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:13.519 tell you that 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.900 sometimes it's 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:15.600 pretty hostile to 00:33:15.600 --> 00:33:16.019 be a Christian 00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:18.059 like it was 00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:18.819 for Martin 00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:19.080 Luther. 00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:21.319 And you 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.080 remind yourself 00:33:22.080 --> 00:33:22.840 remind yourself 00:33:22.840 --> 00:33:23.480 Reuben in years 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.279 to come I'm 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:24.600 baptized. 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.240 I'm engaged 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.819 to be Christ. 00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:29.940 I've been put 00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:30.480 in Christ's 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:30.680 way. 00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:32.480 I'm not going 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:32.940 to go any 00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:33.380 other way. 00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:35.860 I renounce 00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:36.440 the world, 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.040 the flesh, 00:33:37.540 --> 00:33:37.860 and the 00:33:37.860 --> 00:33:38.120 devil. 00:33:39.020 --> 00:33:39.600 I'm Christ. 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.400 I'm a 00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.000 baptized man. 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.760 Let's pray.