WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, I say to you again,

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 welcome to Church of the Advent,

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 especially if you're joining us for the first time.

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 We are delighted that you're here.

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 This is a wonderful Sunday

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 because we have an opportunity to celebrate baptism.

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 We'll have a couple of people baptized

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 a little bit later in the service,

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 and that's very appropriate for this time of year.

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 We're in the season of epiphany,

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 and that's one of the themes of epiphany is baptism.

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 And so I thought it would be appropriate

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 to spend some time this morning

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 before we actually do these baptisms

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 to talk about baptism.

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 It's something that I've preached on a few times,

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 but I've never actually preached specifically

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 on infant baptism

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 and why we would do the practice of infant baptism.

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 So that's what I wanna look at this morning in particular.

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 All Christians, virtually all Christians in the world

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 agree that we should baptize people

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 once they come to faith in Jesus.

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 So that's not really up for debate.

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 But there is a disagreement

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 over the children of believers.

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 What should we do there?

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 Some people believe we should baptize them,

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 and some do not.

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 Why would we baptize a baby

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 before they are old enough to come to faith

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 to choose to follow Jesus for themselves?

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 So that's what we're gonna be talking about this morning.

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 Now, a couple of caveats

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 that we have to hit right up front.

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 Caveat number one,

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 in our church,

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 we have people on both sides of the issue.

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 It's one of the great things about our church,

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 one of the things I love about our church.

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 A lot of people in our church

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 have not come from an Anglican background

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 or come from a background

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 where this was the case.

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 And so this is an area

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 where people in our church disagree.

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 And this is an area

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 where faithful Bible-believing Christians can disagree.

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 So the good news is,

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 everybody's welcome here.

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 As an Anglican church,

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 infant baptism is normative for us.

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 But there is freedom for those who disagree.

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 So ultimately, we encourage parents,

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 we leave it up to parents

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 to decide before the Lord

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 how to raise their children in the faith

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 and the role that baptism plays.

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 But I do think that this is something

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 that we all need to understand.

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 And there are probably people here

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 who have always agreed with infant baptism

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 but never really understood why.

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 Or maybe they agree with it for the wrong reasons.

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 And so I think it's important to spend time on it.

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 That's caveat number one.

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 Caveat number two,

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 this sounds like a super niche topic

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 that only applies to Christian parents of kids.

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 It is, in a sense.

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 But it's also something that I think,

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 hopefully you will agree

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 after we spend some time on it,

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 applies to every single person in this room.

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 And in fact, it's something that applies

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 to every single person in the world.

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 Because the fact is,

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 if you understand baptism,

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 you begin to understand the heart of God.

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 The purpose of baptism is to put on display

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 for the world to see the very heart of God.

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 The fact that God loves you

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 and the lengths to which God will go

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 that you might belong to him

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 as a member of his family.

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 And so my hope is that

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 wherever you are in your journey,

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 if you're a Christian parent

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 about to have a baby

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 trying to figure out what to do,

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 or if you're somebody

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 who just walked in off the street

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 and you're not a Christian

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 and you're like,

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 I think I picked the wrong Sunday.

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 Regardless of where you are,

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 my hope and prayer is that this,

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 by the end,

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 you will see why this is relevant to all of us.

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 So what we're gonna look at,

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 essentially, in a nutshell,

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 is that all of this is about a promise.

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 It's about a promise.

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 It's about a promise given by God to Abraham,

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 signified in Israel by circumcision,

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 and signified in the church by baptism.

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 Let's pray.

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 Lord, we thank you for your word

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 and as always,

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 we come with our own hopes and expectations,

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 needs and distractions.

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 If our hope only rests in our wisdom

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 and our strategy

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 and our highest thoughts,

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 then Lord, we are lost.

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 But our hope rests in the truth

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 that we just celebrated at Christmas,

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 that you are Emmanuel.

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 You're the God who is with us,

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 a God who speaks to us,

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 a God whose word is living and active,

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 a God who desires to renew our hearts.

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 And we pray that through your word this morning,

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 you would do what only you can do.

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 In the power of your spirit,

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 in the name of Jesus, amen.

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 All right, so the first piece of this

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 is to understand

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 that all of this begins with a promise

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 that is given by God to Abraham.

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 In order to understand baptism,

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 we have to understand the origins

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 of the gospel itself,

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 which is the core hope of Christianity

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 and the thing that really sets Christianity apart

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 from all of the other religions and philosophies,

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 ancient and modern,

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 that attempt to offer hope to the world.

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 Because other religions say

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 that the only way to have a relationship with God,

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 the only way to gain the blessing of God,

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 is to earn it.

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 You have to prove through your obedience

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 and your devotion

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 that you are worthy of the blessing of the divine.

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 Only the best get blessed.

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 That's the message.

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 But in the book of Genesis,

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 we meet a man named Abram.

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 And Abram is just like us.

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 He's flawed.

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 He's a sinner.

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 He messes up all the time.

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 And yet he's able to have the kind of relationship

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 with God that we all want.

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 He is loved by God.

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 He is extraordinarily blessed by God.

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 And it raises the question of,

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 how is such a thing possible

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 for such an obviously flawed individual?

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 And the answer is found in Genesis chapter 15.

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 God comes to Abram

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 and he announces his plan

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 to redeem and restore the world

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 through Abram's offspring.

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 I'm gonna build a community

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 as numerous as the stars.

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 And in Genesis 15 verse six,

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 it says this,

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 and Abram believed the Lord

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 and he counted it to him as righteousness.

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 And we cannot overestimate

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 the world-changing importance

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 of this statement.

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 God credits Abram's faith to him

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 as righteousness.

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 In other words, God says this,

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 even though that you're sinful

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 and even though nothing that you do

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 will ever make up for the degree

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 to which you have rebelled against me

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 and rejected me,

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 you'll never make up for that.

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 Even still,

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 if you're willing to trust me,

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 if you're willing to trust my promises

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 and believe them,

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 then I will cover your sin

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 and I will welcome you

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 into relationship with me

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 and I will give you all of the privileges

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 that would come with being

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 a fully righteous person.

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 I will treat you as though you were righteous.

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 And we say,

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 well how could God just overlook sin?

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 We'll get there.

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 So God offers Abram a relationship

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 based on faith,

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 not good works,

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 and he says,

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 I will,

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 if you have faith in me,

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 I will credit this to you

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 as righteousness.

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 So this is now,

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 for the first time in the world,

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 a relationship with God

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 that nobody has ever seen before.

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 You mean,

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 I don't have to earn it

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 through obedience and devotion,

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 but God wants your devotion.

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 God delights in your good works.

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 But your relationship

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 is now based on your faith in him.

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 It changes everything.

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 But it does raise a question.

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 Is this something

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 that only applies to Abram?

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 Or is this something

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 that God intends to do

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 for other people?

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 And at this point in the story,

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 we don't know yet.

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 What we then see

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 is that God makes

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 an eternal promise

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 to Abram

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 that he will do this

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 for anyone

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 and everyone

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 who comes to him in faith.

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 In Genesis chapter 17,

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 two chapters later,

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 God makes a covenant,

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 which is a formal agreement

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 with Abram.

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 And he essentially says this,

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 for all eternity,

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 from here forward

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 for all eternity,

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 when the conditions

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 of the covenant are met,

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 i.e. when you have faith in me,

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 that's your end of the covenant,

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 when the conditions

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 of the covenant are met,

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 meaning faith,

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 God promises

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 that he will forgive their sin

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 and credit their faith

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 to them as righteousness.

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 So God is saying,

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 my plan to renew

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 and restore the world

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 is going to be built

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 on this kind of relationship.

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 Your side of the covenant

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 is to believe in me,

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 to have faith in me,

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 and I will forgive

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 and welcome you

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 into my family.

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 And then God renames him Abraham

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 because he says,

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 as a result of this,

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 I've made you the father

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 of a multitude of nations.

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 Not just your descendants,

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 but a multitude of nations

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 are going to be blessed by this.

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 Because God's going to do it

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 not just for the blood relatives,

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 but for any foreigner

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 who wants to have

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 this kind of relationship

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 with God,

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 any non-Jewish person,

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 this is going to be open

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 to them as well.

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 And then,

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 God gives

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 an outward,

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 invisible sign

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 of this promise.

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 How are people

00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:00.920
 going to know this?

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 How are they going to remember it?

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 What's the way

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 that we're going to

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 stay focused

00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:06.040
 on this promise?

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 God says,

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 I'm going to give you

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 a visible mark.

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 I'm going to seal

00:10:10.340 --> 00:10:11.139
 this promise

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 so that you'll always know

00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:15.320
 that I keep my word.

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 And he gives them

00:10:17.300 --> 00:10:17.940
 the symbol,

00:10:18.100 --> 00:10:19.480
 the sign of circumcision.

00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:21.620
 And we say,

00:10:21.680 --> 00:10:22.500
 well, why circumcision?

00:10:22.580 --> 00:10:24.600
 That sounds kind of odd.

00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:26.259
 It's a bit barbaric.

00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:29.360
 It is barbaric.

00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:31.420
 In circumcision,

00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:33.139
 there is a shedding of blood.

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 Some blood is shed.

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 And this points forward

00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:40.600
 2,000 years into the future

00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:44.340
 when Jesus Christ would come

00:10:44.340 --> 00:10:46.500
 and when Jesus would shed

00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:48.139
 his blood on the cross,

00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:51.480
 which is infinitely more barbaric,

00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:54.399
 in order to pay the price for sin.

00:10:55.299 --> 00:10:55.679
 And you say,

00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:57.500
 well, that's how God is able

00:10:57.500 --> 00:10:58.740
 to cover and forgive

00:10:58.740 --> 00:11:01.059
 the sin of someone like Abraham.

00:11:01.059 --> 00:11:03.539
 Because God knows

00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:04.099
 that one day

00:11:04.099 --> 00:11:04.919
 he's going to send

00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:05.759
 his own son

00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:06.659
 to pay the price

00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:08.079
 for all of that sin.

00:11:08.179 --> 00:11:08.439
 And so,

00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:09.859
 even though they didn't know it

00:11:09.859 --> 00:11:10.579
 at the time,

00:11:11.579 --> 00:11:13.339
 those who were circumcised

00:11:13.339 --> 00:11:15.179
 for 2,000 years,

00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:17.959
 they were ultimately

00:11:17.959 --> 00:11:19.319
 putting their faith in Jesus.

00:11:19.979 --> 00:11:21.000
 They didn't know it.

00:11:21.699 --> 00:11:23.459
 As I shed a little bit of blood,

00:11:23.699 --> 00:11:24.599
 I'm putting my faith

00:11:24.599 --> 00:11:25.859
 in the ultimate shedding of blood.

00:11:27.119 --> 00:11:28.479
 So God tells Abraham

00:11:28.479 --> 00:11:29.559
 to be circumcised

00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:31.119
 and to circumcise

00:11:31.119 --> 00:11:32.619
 his entire household.

00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:36.479
 Every male in Abraham's house

00:11:36.479 --> 00:11:38.299
 and in every future generation.

00:11:38.459 --> 00:11:39.759
 So Abraham gets circumcised.

00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:40.779
 He's 99.

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.019
 That's one of the reasons

00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:44.939
 we recommend doing it

00:11:44.939 --> 00:11:45.519
 a lot earlier.

00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:46.239
 He's 99.

00:11:47.199 --> 00:11:49.899
 And he circumcises his son Isaac

00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:51.419
 when he's 8 days old.

00:11:52.479 --> 00:11:53.379
 And again, we ask,

00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:55.979
 well, so why does he circumcise Isaac

00:11:55.979 --> 00:11:57.239
 when he's only 8 days old?

00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:58.720
 He can't possibly understand

00:11:58.720 --> 00:11:59.620
 the shedding of blood

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.759
 and everything we just said.

00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:03.919
 When Abraham circumcised Isaac,

00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:05.240
 he's saying this to him.

00:12:06.680 --> 00:12:08.060
 I'm gonna raise you

00:12:08.060 --> 00:12:09.100
 and I'm gonna teach you

00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:10.060
 all about the love

00:12:10.060 --> 00:12:11.060
 and the truth of God.

00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:14.840
 And God has promised

00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:17.080
 to do for you, Isaac,

00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:18.419
 what he has done for me.

00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:20.979
 When you come to faith,

00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:22.339
 God has promised

00:12:22.339 --> 00:12:24.919
 that he's going to forgive your sin

00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:26.539
 and he's gonna credit your faith

00:12:26.539 --> 00:12:27.500
 to you as righteousness

00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:29.299
 just like he did for me.

00:12:29.479 --> 00:12:30.639
 And he's gonna adopt you

00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.539
 and make you his son

00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:33.120
 just like he did for me.

00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:35.679
 And how are you going to know this,

00:12:35.819 --> 00:12:36.899
 Isaac, as you grow up?

00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:39.000
 Your circumcision is a sign

00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:40.519
 and a seal of God's promise.

00:12:41.459 --> 00:12:43.019
 So don't just take my word for it.

00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:46.679
 God wanted you to have this sign

00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:48.419
 as a guarantee

00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:50.299
 that God will do this for you

00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:51.360
 when you come to faith.

00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:54.740
 Right, so for 2,000 years,

00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:55.939
 the sign of the covenant

00:12:55.939 --> 00:12:59.379
 was given to believing adults

00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:00.939
 and to their children,

00:13:01.419 --> 00:13:03.100
 the children of believing parents.

00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:06.460
 Did this save Isaac?

00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:08.360
 No.

00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:08.460
 No.

00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:10.720
 Did this guarantee

00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.500
 that Isaac would be saved?

00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:14.319
 No.

00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:17.340
 It is simply God's promise

00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:21.019
 that if and when Isaac comes to faith,

00:13:21.439 --> 00:13:23.559
 God promises that he will do for him

00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:24.559
 what he did for Abraham.

00:13:25.299 --> 00:13:27.019
 I will forgive your sin

00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:29.120
 and I will welcome you into relationship

00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:31.139
 on the basis of your faith alone.

00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:32.879
 That's the promise.

00:13:34.579 --> 00:13:36.899
 So circumcision was a visible sign

00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:38.399
 given to the people of Israel

00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:39.600
 of God's pledge

00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.539
 to forgive the sins of the people

00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:42.779
 who put their faith in him.

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:43.740
 And we say,

00:13:43.819 --> 00:13:44.559
 okay, well that's great,

00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:45.600
 nice Old Testament lesson.

00:13:45.939 --> 00:13:46.960
 What does that have to do

00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:49.199
 with today and the church?

00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:52.899
 After 2,000 years of waiting,

00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:54.919
 Jesus Christ comes into the world.

00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:57.659
 And he comes as a part of,

00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:59.299
 he enters into a family

00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.879
 descended from the line of Abraham.

00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:05.059
 Abraham, and he comes to fulfill everything

00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:07.679
 that God had spoken to Abraham,

00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:09.159
 everything that had been declared.

00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:12.299
 And he sheds his blood,

00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:15.340
 and he brings God's blessing to the nations.

00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:19.080
 And then after his death and resurrection,

00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:23.279
 Jesus stands with his disciples

00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:25.100
 before his ascension,

00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:27.600
 and he gives them their final commissioning.

00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:28.920
 Here's your life mission.

00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:32.420
 All authority in heaven and on earth

00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:33.560
 has been given to me,

00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:34.460
 Jesus says.

00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:39.320
 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.420
 baptizing them

00:14:41.420 --> 00:14:43.360
 in the name of the Father

00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:44.100
 and of the Son

00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:45.019
 and of the Holy Spirit,

00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:46.759
 teaching them to observe

00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:48.220
 all that I have commanded you.

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.920
 And behold, I'm with you

00:14:49.920 --> 00:14:51.899
 to the end of the age.

00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:53.779
 And not long after,

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.679
 after Jesus then ascends,

00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:57.419
 the Holy Spirit comes,

00:14:57.699 --> 00:14:59.360
 and there's a massive outpouring

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.399
 of God's blessing.

00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:02.720
 And the apostle Peter

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:05.220
 stands up in the power of the Holy Spirit,

00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.679
 and he preaches to the multitudes,

00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:08.819
 and he tells the story of Jesus.

00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:11.480
 And they're all cut to the heart,

00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:11.879
 and they say,

00:15:11.959 --> 00:15:13.159
 what should we do?

00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.039
 What do we do?

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.379
 And for the most part,

00:15:15.459 --> 00:15:17.179
 these are circumcised Jews

00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:18.340
 from various places.

00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:19.100
 And they say,

00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:20.000
 what should we do?

00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:23.759
 And Peter says this,

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:26.340
 repent and be baptized,

00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:28.220
 every one of you,

00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:29.460
 in the name of Jesus Christ,

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.480
 for the forgiveness of your sins,

00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:32.519
 and you will receive

00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:34.279
 the gift of the Holy Spirit.

00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:36.600
 Be baptized in the name of Jesus

00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:38.240
 for the forgiveness of sins.

00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.159
 And the same promise

00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:44.460
 that God made to Abraham

00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:46.399
 is extended to the church.

00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.379
 They say, okay,

00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:48.440
 repent and be baptized.

00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.539
 Why should we be baptized?

00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:50.959
 Here's what Peter says.

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:53.000
 For the promise

00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.839
 is for you,

00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:56.779
 and for your children,

00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:59.279
 and for all who are far off,

00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:00.399
 everyone whom the Lord,

00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:00.839
 our God,

00:16:01.079 --> 00:16:01.939
 calls to himself.

00:16:02.099 --> 00:16:03.399
 The same promise

00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:05.399
 that God made to Abraham,

00:16:05.599 --> 00:16:06.559
 that God made to Isaac,

00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.659
 that God made to all

00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:09.019
 of those generations of families,

00:16:09.099 --> 00:16:10.360
 all for 2,000 years,

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.339
 Peter then says,

00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.099
 that promise is for you,

00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.399
 and it's for your children,

00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:15.620
 and it's for anyone

00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:17.019
 that the Lord would call to himself.

00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:22.699
 But the sign of the promise

00:16:22.699 --> 00:16:25.460
 will no longer be circumcision.

00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.419
 From the birth of the church on,

00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:31.000
 there is a new sign.

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.759
 Same promise,

00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:34.259
 new sign.

00:16:35.319 --> 00:16:36.600
 The sign of the promise

00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:37.740
 will no longer be circumcision.

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.519
 From now on,

00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:40.120
 baptism will be the sign

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.299
 of God's promise.

00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:42.639
 After Jesus comes,

00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:44.199
 baptism takes the place

00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:45.439
 of circumcision

00:16:45.439 --> 00:16:48.159
 as the sign of God's promise.

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:49.059
 Same promise,

00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:51.799
 new sign.

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:55.099
 So believing parents

00:16:55.099 --> 00:16:56.319
 were now called

00:16:56.319 --> 00:16:57.279
 to put the mark

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.179
 of God's pledge

00:16:58.179 --> 00:16:59.399
 on their children,

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.959
 not in the form of circumcision,

00:17:01.459 --> 00:17:03.419
 but now in the form of baptism.

00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.700
 Does it save them?

00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:07.579
 No.

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:09.159
 Does it guarantee

00:17:09.159 --> 00:17:10.339
 their salvation?

00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.099
 No.

00:17:11.179 --> 00:17:11.579
 What does it do?

00:17:11.639 --> 00:17:12.439
 The same thing

00:17:12.439 --> 00:17:12.919
 that it's done

00:17:12.919 --> 00:17:14.199
 for 2,000 years.

00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:16.199
 It's a mark

00:17:16.199 --> 00:17:17.199
 of God's pledge

00:17:17.199 --> 00:17:18.379
 that when that child

00:17:18.379 --> 00:17:19.179
 comes to faith,

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.819
 God will forgive their sin

00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:22.619
 and claim them as his own,

00:17:22.679 --> 00:17:23.259
 and they will receive

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.159
 all of the blessings

00:17:24.159 --> 00:17:24.720
 of the covenant.

00:17:25.919 --> 00:17:26.799
 It's a sign

00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.619
 of God's promise.

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:29.980
 And you say,

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:31.039
 well, are we sure?

00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:31.859
 What's the connection

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:32.819
 between circumcision

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.379
 and baptism?

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.399
 How do we know?

00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:36.019
 This is something

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.720
 that Paul,

00:17:36.860 --> 00:17:37.720
 the Apostle Paul,

00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:39.160
 explicitly addresses

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:41.519
 in Colossians chapter 2.

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.980
 He's writing to Christians

00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:45.200
 who have been baptized,

00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.920
 but they've not been circumcised.

00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.940
 And there's a big question

00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:48.420
 in the church.

00:17:48.800 --> 00:17:49.840
 Well, should we also

00:17:49.840 --> 00:17:50.800
 get circumcised?

00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:53.480
 And if you really mean it,

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.180
 should you get both?

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.080
 Should you be circumcised

00:17:55.080 --> 00:17:55.880
 and then baptized?

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.880
 And how does that work?

00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:58.580
 And here's how

00:17:58.580 --> 00:18:00.720
 the Apostle Paul answers this.

00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:02.759
 He says,

00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:05.000
 you don't need

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:05.940
 to get circumcised.

00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:06.299
 Why not?

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:08.079
 Because you're already circumcised.

00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:10.579
 You're already circumcised.

00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:11.700
 And they're like,

00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:14.059
 I'm pretty sure I'm not.

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.400
 And he says,

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:16.640
 no,

00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.519
 you bear the mark

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.420
 of God's promise

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:22.339
 through your baptism.

00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.500
 You've been circumcised

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:27.140
 with a circumcision

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:28.440
 made without hands

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:30.600
 in your baptism.

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:33.039
 And you say,

00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:33.200
 well,

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:35.200
 why would God change the mark?

00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.960
 Why a new sign?

00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:38.860
 Well,

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:41.000
 because Jesus has come.

00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:42.360
 Right?

00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:43.740
 For 2,000 years,

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:45.779
 circumcision looked forward

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:47.500
 to what would need to happen

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:50.019
 as we shed blood.

00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.660
 We know that one day

00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:53.480
 blood will need to be shed

00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.680
 in an ultimate sense

00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:56.100
 for all of the world.

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.299
 So we're looking forward.

00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.279
 Right?

00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:01.519
 Baptism looks back

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:04.059
 and it says,

00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:05.339
 this is the result

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.059
 of the fact

00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:07.539
 that Jesus' blood was shed.

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:09.879
 The focus is not on the fact

00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:10.680
 that it's going to happen.

00:19:10.879 --> 00:19:11.740
 The focus is on

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:13.599
 the effects of that.

00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:16.259
 The washing away of sin

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.799
 through the shedding

00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:17.740
 of Jesus' blood.

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.039
 Right?

00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:21.299
 The death to the old life

00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.440
 and the sin nature

00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:24.659
 and the raising to life again

00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:26.700
 of people in Christ

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:28.279
 and the filling

00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:29.139
 of the Holy Spirit,

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:29.720
 the fulfilling

00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:31.000
 of all of the covenant blessings.

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:33.319
 So circumcision looked forward,

00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:35.220
 baptism looks back

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:35.519
 and says,

00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.859
 because of this,

00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:38.460
 all of these blessings

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.639
 are now ours

00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.720
 to enjoy.

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:44.400
 So to pull all of this together,

00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.559
 all of this,

00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:48.259
 as I said at the beginning,

00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:49.799
 is about God's promise

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:53.039
 that when someone expresses faith,

00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:54.299
 he will forgive sin

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:56.440
 and claim them as his own.

00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.180
 This is a promise

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:58.640
 that was given to Abraham.

00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:01.860
 It's signified in Israel

00:20:01.860 --> 00:20:02.839
 by circumcision

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:04.980
 and it is now signified

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.759
 in the church by baptism.

00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:07.920
 Same promise,

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.500
 new sign.

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:13.059
 Now I know some people hear this

00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:15.059
 and very understandably,

00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:15.480
 people say,

00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:15.940
 well, you know,

00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:17.380
 if this is true,

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.880
 then why do we not have

00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.880
 any examples

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:22.680
 of an infant being baptized

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.359
 in the New Testament?

00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.660
 And I would say,

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:27.119
 yeah, while it's true

00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:29.640
 that there's no specific reference

00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:31.220
 to an infant being baptized,

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.859
 curiously,

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.799
 every single adult baptism

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.819
 that is described

00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.819
 in the New Testament

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:39.899
 explicitly states

00:20:39.899 --> 00:20:40.980
 that they were baptized

00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:43.299
 along with their entire household.

00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:46.019
 So somebody comes to faith,

00:20:46.159 --> 00:20:46.439
 Lydia,

00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:48.159
 or Cornelius,

00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:49.659
 or Crispus,

00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:51.339
 or the Philippian jailer,

00:20:51.379 --> 00:20:52.259
 they come to faith

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.319
 and it says immediately

00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:55.139
 they were baptized

00:20:55.139 --> 00:20:57.220
 along with their entire household.

00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:59.779
 In each case,

00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:00.960
 the adult comes to faith

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.120
 and they're baptized

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:02.799
 along with everybody

00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.660
 who lives in their home.

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:06.019
 The only exception to this

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.559
 is, of course,

00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:08.120
 the Ethiopian eunuch

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:10.900
 who, for obvious reasons,

00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:12.240
 does not have a household,

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.360
 does not have a wife

00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.420
 or children

00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:15.880
 because he's a eunuch.

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.819
 Another question

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.740
 that people will ask,

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.160
 and again,

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.299
 very honest question,

00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:22.319
 where's the verse

00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:22.799
 in the Bible

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.720
 that tells us

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:25.079
 we should baptize babies?

00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:27.720
 And I would say

00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.460
 there's not one.

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.480
 There's not an explicit verse

00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:30.779
 that says,

00:21:30.899 --> 00:21:31.699
 you shall do this.

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.980
 But I would also say this,

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:36.879
 for 2,000 years,

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.240
 God's people

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:38.980
 put the mark

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.819
 of God's promise

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.579
 on their children.

00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.960
 For 2,000 years,

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:43.980
 they put the mark

00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.500
 of his promise

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.220
 on their children.

00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.159
 And then when we look

00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:47.960
 at church history,

00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:50.339
 the early church fathers

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:52.099
 write about infant baptism

00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:54.659
 with the assumption

00:21:54.659 --> 00:21:56.359
 that it is a normative practice.

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:59.339
 Origen actually writes explicitly

00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.639
 that the church received

00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:01.579
 from the apostles

00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.859
 the tradition

00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:04.000
 of giving baptism

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.980
 to infants.

00:22:05.179 --> 00:22:07.119
 We have a liturgy,

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.079
 a baptismal rite

00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:09.419
 from the second century

00:22:09.419 --> 00:22:11.099
 that includes

00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:11.740
 and assumes

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.399
 the inclusion

00:22:12.399 --> 00:22:13.980
 of children

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.980
 and infants

00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:16.759
 in the rite.

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.919
 And then we see

00:22:18.919 --> 00:22:19.819
 that infant baptism

00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:21.480
 is universally practiced

00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.819
 everywhere in the church

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:24.799
 through all of church history

00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.779
 up until after

00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:27.779
 the Protestant Reformation.

00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:29.460
 The magisterial reformers

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.679
 not only upheld it,

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.759
 but they actually

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:33.319
 defended infant baptism

00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:34.500
 with a kind of

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:36.319
 renewed biblical vigor.

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:41.240
 So in light of all of that,

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.299
 we would actually ask

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.379
 the opposite question.

00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:43.700
 You know,

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:45.220
 I would tend to think,

00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:46.039
 where is the verse

00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.679
 that tells us

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.539
 we should not

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:49.759
 baptize infants.

00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.600
 The theological position

00:22:52.600 --> 00:22:53.920
 that rejects infant baptism

00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.519
 is called

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.740
 credo-baptism.

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.500
 And it's the idea

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.240
 that you should only

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.200
 baptize people

00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.759
 after they come to faith.

00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.920
 And this arose

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:04.320
 in the 17th century

00:23:04.320 --> 00:23:05.120
 as a part of

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:06.019
 the English Reformation.

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:06.840
 This is where

00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:07.420
 the origins

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.900
 of this theology

00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:10.519
 really are found.

00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:11.480
 And this led

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.220
 to the formation

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.460
 of certain denominations

00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.759
 that remain

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:17.559
 in our society today

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.220
 and societies

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.019
 all around the world.

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.799
 And again,

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.059
 I want to say,

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.200
 I've sort of made

00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.420
 the argument for you,

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.720
 but I just want to reaffirm

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.880
 to all the brothers

00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.360
 and sisters

00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:27.920
 who hold to this position,

00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:29.920
 tremendous respect

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.340
 for you

00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:31.160
 and for this position.

00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:33.480
 And this is an area

00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.519
 where faithful Christians

00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.200
 can disagree.

00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:36.880
 And in our church,

00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:37.900
 you're free

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.940
 to hold either view

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.279
 and we celebrate both.

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:42.940
 because regardless

00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.460
 of your position on this,

00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:46.160
 we all share

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:47.220
 the same motivation.

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:50.200
 We take very seriously

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.440
 our commitment

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:53.079
 to raise children

00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.639
 to know the love of Jesus

00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.899
 and to follow Him faithfully.

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:57.160
 That is the thing

00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.539
 that we all agree on.

00:23:59.180 --> 00:23:59.240
 Right?

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:02.099
 And either view

00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:03.139
 can become distorted

00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:05.359
 if we're not very careful.

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:06.440
 Right?

00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:08.319
 For people who believe

00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.759
 in the baptism of infants,

00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:11.319
 paedo-baptists,

00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:13.519
 there's a danger

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.099
 for people

00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:15.539
 who practice infant baptism

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.779
 to make the mistake

00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.680
 of believing

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.740
 that baptism

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.900
 saves our children,

00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:20.920
 that there is something

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:22.099
 about the water

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:23.339
 that saves them.

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:25.099
 Or to make the mistake

00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:25.599
 of believing

00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.799
 that because they've been baptized,

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.720
 it guarantees their salvation

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.559
 at some point.

00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.980
 This is not only not

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.299
 seen at all

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:34.140
 in Scripture,

00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:35.400
 but it can actually lead

00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:37.440
 to a very laissez-faire attitude

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.299
 when it comes

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:38.900
 to raising

00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.840
 our children

00:24:39.840 --> 00:24:40.940
 in the faith.

00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.620
 It becomes a kind

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.820
 of box that we check.

00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:46.660
 And that's incredibly dangerous.

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.600
 It's dangerous

00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:49.259
 for the spiritual

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.920
 well-being

00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.559
 of our children.

00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.580
 The responsibility

00:24:52.580 --> 00:24:53.420
 of parents

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:54.600
 is crucial

00:24:54.600 --> 00:24:57.200
 for us

00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.080
 to have a right

00:24:58.080 --> 00:24:58.720
 understanding

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.600
 of baptism.

00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:01.120
 The Bible teaches

00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:02.539
 that God works

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.740
 through believing parents

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.539
 to bring children

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.039
 to faith.

00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.519
 1 Corinthians 7

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:08.079
 has always mystified me.

00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:09.799
 Paul is writing,

00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.899
 imagine a scenario

00:25:10.899 --> 00:25:11.740
 where you have

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.819
 a single parent

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:14.240
 who has come to faith.

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.399
 Their spouse

00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:17.659
 is an unbeliever

00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:19.000
 and they're looking

00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:20.180
 at their young baby

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.359
 and they're thinking,

00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:23.420
 what is possibly

00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:24.200
 going to happen?

00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:25.960
 What hope do I have?

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:27.019
 I'm the only Christian

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.659
 in my household.

00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.480
 So Paul writes

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.299
 to those people

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:32.159
 and he says this,

00:25:32.899 --> 00:25:34.440
 because of your faith,

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:36.299
 your children

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.059
 are holy.

00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.799
 Does he mean

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.539
 they're saved?

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:40.960
 No,

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.799
 but what does he mean?

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.879
 They are set apart.

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:46.079
 They are to be treated

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.359
 as members

00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:48.480
 of the covenant community.

00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:51.259
 Your faith

00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.180
 covers them.

00:25:53.639 --> 00:25:53.700
 Right?

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.599
 Your faith

00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:54.940
 covers,

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:57.039
 and the sanctifying work

00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:57.619
 that God is doing

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.279
 in your life

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.220
 is flowing

00:25:59.220 --> 00:26:00.259
 into their lives.

00:26:00.659 --> 00:26:01.299
 So he's saying,

00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.579
 God will work

00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.379
 in their lives

00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:04.480
 through your faith.

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.720
 And your faith

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.559
 will cover them

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.519
 until they're old enough

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.379
 to express faith

00:26:08.379 --> 00:26:09.240
 for themselves.

00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:11.539
 And so when an infant

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.279
 is baptized,

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.359
 the parents

00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:14.500
 do two things.

00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:14.879
 And they're both,

00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.680
 you're going to see this

00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.279
 in just a moment.

00:26:17.899 --> 00:26:18.299
 First,

00:26:18.399 --> 00:26:19.980
 they make the baptismal vows

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.899
 on behalf

00:26:20.899 --> 00:26:21.819
 of their children

00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.740
 because their faith

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:24.200
 covers their children.

00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.879
 As the Apostle Paul writes.

00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.720
 And then,

00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:28.620
 they promise

00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.640
 to teach the faith

00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.320
 to their children,

00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:31.660
 to devote themselves

00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.420
 to the formation

00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.180
 of their children

00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:35.540
 until the child

00:26:35.540 --> 00:26:36.480
 is able to embrace

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.620
 the faith for themselves.

00:26:37.780 --> 00:26:38.460
 And only then

00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:39.260
 are they saved.

00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:40.440
 And there's a prayer

00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.320
 in the liturgy

00:26:41.320 --> 00:26:42.760
 where we say,

00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:45.420
 we can only use water.

00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:46.720
 God has to baptize

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.440
 with the Holy Spirit.

00:26:47.540 --> 00:26:48.500
 Only God can bring

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:48.920
 this child

00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.720
 to saving faith.

00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.340
 And that's what

00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:50.900
 we pray for.

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.060
 Right?

00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:53.960
 So the role of parents

00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.440
 is crucial.

00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.539
 There's likewise

00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:58.359
 some dangers

00:26:58.359 --> 00:26:59.339
 that come with people

00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.200
 who hold to a

00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:01.159
 believers-only

00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:02.200
 baptism position

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.059
 or what we would call

00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:04.099
 credo-baptists.

00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:05.980
 There's a danger

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.639
 in this view,

00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.919
 a danger of distortion.

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.379
 It doesn't apply

00:27:08.379 --> 00:27:08.839
 to everybody,

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.899
 but for some people,

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:11.839
 there can be

00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.720
 an emphasizing

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.899
 of the experience

00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:14.839
 of the baptism,

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.339
 of focusing on

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.559
 a desire for the child

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.899
 to have the experience

00:27:18.899 --> 00:27:19.659
 and the memory

00:27:19.659 --> 00:27:20.659
 of it.

00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:21.980
 There can also be

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.740
 a kind of

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.859
 focusing on

00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:24.640
 the fact that

00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.120
 baptism,

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.519
 because it's something

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:27.059
 that we do

00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:28.339
 after we come to faith,

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.319
 then the focus

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:29.819
 of baptism

00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.620
 really becomes

00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:31.940
 our individual choice

00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.480
 and commitment

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.099
 to God.

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:35.160
 It's ultimately

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:35.960
 a way for us

00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:37.200
 to pledge ourselves

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.880
 to God.

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.660
 And I've seen

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.759
 the way this can

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.680
 sometimes lead

00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.940
 to fear

00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.819
 and anxiety.

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.779
 Do I really mean it?

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:47.640
 You know,

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.579
 when I got baptized

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.640
 at summer camp

00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:50.599
 as a sixth grader,

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.359
 I really felt it.

00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:53.620
 But now,

00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.200
 as a sophomore

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.799
 in college,

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.880
 I'm really struggling.

00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.319
 And I don't know

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.339
 if I mean it anymore.

00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:00.940
 And what does that

00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:01.480
 mean for me?

00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.420
 Do I need to get

00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:03.220
 baptized again?

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.140
 And so some people

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.859
 over the course

00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:05.299
 of their lives

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:05.980
 will periodically

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:07.140
 rededicate themselves

00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:07.920
 to God

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.579
 because they feel

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.299
 like they have

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:09.859
 fallen away,

00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.359
 that they used

00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:10.700
 to mean it,

00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.220
 but they're not sure

00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.019
 what they think anymore.

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.099
 And their Christian life

00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:15.140
 becomes a place

00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:15.740
 of anxiety.

00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:16.339
 Their baptism

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.500
 becomes a symbol

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.279
 of that anxiety

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:18.859
 and fear

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:19.859
 of how much

00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:20.359
 can I really

00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:21.059
 pledge myself

00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.619
 to God.

00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:23.740
 And I would say

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.460
 if we understand

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.139
 what we've seen

00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:25.819
 here this morning,

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.700
 baptism is not

00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:27.480
 ultimately about

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.019
 the promises

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:28.659
 that we make

00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:29.139
 to God.

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:32.019
 And that's good news

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.779
 because we tend

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.779
 to be really good

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.619
 at breaking promises.

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:37.679
 Baptism is not

00:28:37.679 --> 00:28:38.399
 about the promises

00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:38.980
 that we make

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.500
 to God.

00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.000
 Baptism is about

00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:41.679
 the promises

00:28:41.679 --> 00:28:42.779
 that God

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:44.519
 makes to us.

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:46.539
 and God

00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:48.339
 never breaks

00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.740
 his promises

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.839
 ever.

00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:53.319
 So for a child

00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:54.160
 who has been

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:56.200
 baptized as an infant,

00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.680
 parents may be sad

00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.180
 but they may say

00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:00.000
 well they're never

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.559
 going to remember

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.000
 this.

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.639
 They may not remember

00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:04.379
 when it happened

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:06.599
 but they are going

00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:07.259
 to grow up

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.240
 knowing that God

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.400
 has put his mark

00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:09.799
 on them.

00:29:10.879 --> 00:29:11.519
 That God

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.460
 has already

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.359
 made a promise

00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:13.979
 to them before

00:29:13.979 --> 00:29:14.559
 they were even

00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.039
 conscious.

00:29:16.439 --> 00:29:17.279
 He's already

00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:17.919
 made a promise

00:29:17.919 --> 00:29:18.339
 to them

00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:20.019
 that he stands

00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.859
 ready to receive

00:29:20.859 --> 00:29:21.119
 them.

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.979
 And so every time

00:29:22.979 --> 00:29:23.819
 children are called

00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:24.359
 to remember

00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:25.319
 their baptisms

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:26.599
 what are they

00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:27.000
 remembering?

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.719
 They're remembering

00:29:27.719 --> 00:29:28.519
 the fact that

00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.279
 God's posture

00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:29.859
 toward them

00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.679
 is this.

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:33.019
 I'm ready

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.939
 to receive you.

00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:35.379
 All you have

00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:36.139
 to do is ask

00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:37.679
 and I will wrap

00:29:37.679 --> 00:29:38.519
 my arms around you

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.119
 and there's nothing

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:39.939
 that you can do

00:29:39.939 --> 00:29:42.039
 that will put

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.859
 that in jeopardy

00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.359
 because I've

00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:44.199
 already promised

00:29:44.199 --> 00:29:45.559
 that all you have

00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.019
 to do is come

00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:46.559
 to me and ask

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.439
 and you're mine.

00:29:49.699 --> 00:29:50.439
 And I think

00:29:50.439 --> 00:29:51.559
 that's incredibly

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.159
 powerful

00:29:52.159 --> 00:29:54.139
 for our children

00:29:54.139 --> 00:29:55.559
 to be reminded

00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.139
 of again

00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:56.699
 and again

00:29:56.699 --> 00:29:57.199
 and again.

00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:58.000
 Every time we do

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.419
 a baptism

00:29:58.419 --> 00:29:59.039
 we encourage

00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.819
 all parents

00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:00.599
 of baptized kids

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:02.240
 help them

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.759
 remember their

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.039
 baptism.

00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:03.859
 Tell them the

00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:04.359
 story of it.

00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:05.339
 Light the candle

00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.059
 that we give you

00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:06.819
 and tell them

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:08.139
 all the details

00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:09.859
 of who was there

00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:10.379
 and what was it

00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:10.700
 like

00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.140
 and how did

00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:11.620
 you feel

00:30:11.620 --> 00:30:13.000
 and did you cry

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.540
 and knock the

00:30:13.540 --> 00:30:14.160
 water over

00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:14.480
 and how

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.420
 whatever happened

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.260
 remind them

00:30:16.260 --> 00:30:16.840
 that story

00:30:16.840 --> 00:30:18.160
 and remind them

00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:18.860
 of God's promise.

00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.620
 The point

00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:22.960
 that I want

00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.200
 to leave

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.960
 everybody with

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:25.920
 I told you

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.280
 if you're here

00:30:26.280 --> 00:30:26.700
 you walked in

00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.100
 off the street

00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:27.360
 you think

00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:27.560
 you made

00:30:27.560 --> 00:30:28.120
 a huge mistake

00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:28.440
 there's going

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:28.800
 to be something

00:30:28.800 --> 00:30:29.360
 here for you.

00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.000
 Here's the point.

00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:33.160
 This applies

00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:33.760
 to everyone

00:30:33.760 --> 00:30:34.160
 here.

00:30:35.320 --> 00:30:36.080
 To understand

00:30:36.080 --> 00:30:36.500
 baptism

00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.900
 is to understand

00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:38.880
 the very heart

00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:39.299
 of God.

00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:40.980
 We can often

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.779
 think that God

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.160
 is sort of

00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:43.059
 standing back

00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:45.559
 vaguely

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.140
 or even

00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:46.920
 significantly

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:48.000
 disappointed in us

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.059
 I gave you so much

00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:49.440
 and look what

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:49.779
 you've done

00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:50.140
 with it

00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:52.039
 and that God

00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:52.380
 is kind of

00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:53.200
 waiting for us

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.900
 to get it right

00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:55.579
 waiting for us

00:30:55.579 --> 00:30:56.079
 to get our act

00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.480
 together

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.960
 waiting for us

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.640
 to finally get

00:30:58.640 --> 00:30:59.400
 serious about our

00:30:59.400 --> 00:30:59.779
 faith

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.799
 waiting for us

00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.279
 to finally

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.920
 stop doing

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:03.140
 all that junk

00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:04.319
 that is tearing

00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:04.859
 us down

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:06.379
 and that God

00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:06.699
 is just kind

00:31:06.699 --> 00:31:07.179
 of waiting

00:31:07.179 --> 00:31:07.639
 kind of like

00:31:07.639 --> 00:31:08.319
 a frustrated

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:08.959
 disappointed

00:31:08.959 --> 00:31:09.500
 parent

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:11.339
 about ready

00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:11.839
 to give up

00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:13.079
 or maybe you

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.539
 think that God

00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.139
 has completely

00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:14.619
 given up

00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:17.579
 baptism is

00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:18.000
 meant to be

00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:19.379
 a visible sign

00:31:19.379 --> 00:31:20.019
 and witness

00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:21.159
 to the world

00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:22.139
 of God's heart

00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:23.099
 it is meant

00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:24.019
 to be a public

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:24.479
 symbol

00:31:24.479 --> 00:31:25.319
 it's not just

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.199
 for our assurance

00:31:26.199 --> 00:31:27.359
 it's something

00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:28.000
 that puts the

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:29.119
 gospel on display

00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:30.000
 for the world

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.519
 to see

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:32.159
 that God

00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:33.019
 wants you

00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:33.819
 to come to him

00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:34.579
 in faith

00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:35.240
 that God

00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:36.119
 stands ready

00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:37.139
 to receive you

00:31:37.139 --> 00:31:38.379
 with open arms

00:31:38.379 --> 00:31:38.939
 that there's

00:31:38.939 --> 00:31:39.759
 nothing that can

00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:40.699
 stand in the way

00:31:40.699 --> 00:31:41.319
 of that

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:42.919
 if you're willing

00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:44.019
 to put your faith

00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.720
 in him

00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:47.379
 you can

00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:47.819
 and will

00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:49.039
 belong to him

00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:50.980
 for all eternity

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:53.220
 it's an invitation

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:53.759
 to the world

00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:55.460
 it's an invitation

00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:55.980
 that we have

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.500
 the opportunity

00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:57.439
 to respond to

00:31:57.439 --> 00:31:58.439
 even in this

00:31:58.439 --> 00:31:58.899
 very moment

00:31:58.899 --> 00:32:00.299
 and I pray

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:01.359
 that some of you

00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:02.519
 who are feeling

00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:03.179
 distant and

00:32:03.179 --> 00:32:04.259
 disconnected from God

00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:05.460
 will do just that

00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.859
 let's pray

00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:09.500
 Lord we thank you

00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:11.039
 for your grace

00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:12.700
 may your grace

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.779
 and your promises

00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:15.019
 pervade our time

00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.379
 here

00:32:15.379 --> 00:32:17.779
 may your words

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.379
 that are true

00:32:18.379 --> 00:32:19.339
 sink deeply

00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:20.240
 into our hearts

00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:22.779
 as we remember

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.839
 our own baptism

00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:24.960
 and as we celebrate

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.740
 the baptisms

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.480
 this morning

00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:29.319
 use these

00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:30.899
 as a sign

00:32:30.899 --> 00:32:31.879
 of assurance

00:32:31.879 --> 00:32:33.639
 assure us

00:32:33.639 --> 00:32:35.099
 of your love

00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:35.639
 for us

00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:37.119
 and that we belong

00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.559
 to you

00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.659
 those of us

00:32:38.659 --> 00:32:39.419
 who are struggling

00:32:39.419 --> 00:32:40.639
 who are deconstructing

00:32:40.639 --> 00:32:41.200
 who are filled

00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:41.759
 with doubt

00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.899
 who are hopeless

00:32:42.899 --> 00:32:44.700
 or filled with despair

00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:47.079
 use baptism

00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:49.220
 to shore us

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.659
 up

00:32:49.659 --> 00:32:51.179
 that it's okay

00:32:51.179 --> 00:32:52.279
 to fall apart

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:52.859
 because we

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:54.659
 are held firmly

00:32:54.659 --> 00:32:55.899
 by your grasp

00:32:55.899 --> 00:32:57.500
 and you'll never

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.059
 let us go

00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:58.759
 we pray this

00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.899
 in your son's

00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:00.519
 holy name

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:01.319
 amen

00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:25.700
 to you

00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:27.439
 you