WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.740 Father, thank you for your love for us in the Lord Jesus. 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:03.940 Thank you for this passage. 00:00:05.060 --> 00:00:11.060 Lord, you need to break through so we can understand how deeply, deeply, deeply we need you. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:15.040 And what you've done to bring us home to you. 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:19.359 So help us to come home to you today and we ask it for your sake. 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:20.100 Amen. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:23.839 Many years ago, I worked at a place. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:26.019 It was one of the best jobs in the world as far as I was concerned. 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:28.280 It was Mount Capitan National Park. 00:00:29.100 --> 00:00:31.339 I worked for the National Parks and Wildlife Service. 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:39.939 And Mount Capitan's claim to fame is that it is the highest peak in Australia outside of the Snowy Mountains. 00:00:40.340 --> 00:00:43.600 It's not a massive claim to fame if you live in Europe, but it's a claim to fame. 00:00:44.219 --> 00:00:47.799 It's 1,510 metres above sea level. 00:00:48.740 --> 00:00:50.480 It's hardly even called a mountain, really. 00:00:50.500 --> 00:00:51.140 It's really a hill. 00:00:51.140 --> 00:00:53.579 But it's not so impressive. 00:00:53.579 --> 00:01:01.719 But what makes it impressive is it stands beside the total contrast of the northwest slopes and plains of New South Wales. 00:01:02.219 --> 00:01:08.439 Just 55 kilometres west of Mount Capitan is the town of Narrabri, where I grew up. 00:01:08.739 --> 00:01:13.459 And it stands at a staggering 200 metres above sea level. 00:01:13.459 --> 00:01:18.299 And it's on the edge of the vast plains of western New South Wales. 00:01:18.619 --> 00:01:24.019 And the contrast between Capitan and Narrabri is quite staggering and very significant. 00:01:24.359 --> 00:01:27.959 You see, the view from Narrabri is pretty pathetic, really. 00:01:28.219 --> 00:01:29.699 You can't really see anything at all. 00:01:30.759 --> 00:01:36.699 But on a good day, at the top of Mount Capitan, you can see 11% of New South Wales. 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:39.939 That's even more than what you can see from the top of Mount Kosciuszko. 00:01:41.260 --> 00:01:46.560 Mount Capitan is at least 10 degrees cooler than Narrabri. 00:01:46.820 --> 00:01:51.200 And it got almost twice the amount of rain that Narrabri received. 00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:53.460 A wonderful oasis. 00:01:54.500 --> 00:02:04.040 And there is a similar staggering contrast when you look at the passages that Sam just read to us that's on our sheet this morning. 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:11.540 The contrast is from death to life, from hell to heaven, from slavery to freedom, from pessimism to hope. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:14.719 It's a staggering contrast. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:20.939 The contrast from who we are without Jesus and who we are in Jesus. 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:29.219 For those of us who have joined us for today, the theme over the past few weeks we've been working through here at St. Paul's is the journey home. 00:02:29.219 --> 00:02:38.340 And it might seem a bit strange, after several weeks into that theme, that my goal today is to take us back to the beginning. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:40.939 And where the journey begins. 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:45.560 But Good Friday is where the journey begins. 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:48.280 For all of us. 00:02:48.979 --> 00:02:54.360 And there are three things that I want you to see in these verses this morning from the Bible. 00:02:54.360 --> 00:02:58.100 Firstly, the journey that we need rescuing from. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:02.740 Secondly, the journey that we're rescued for. 00:03:03.820 --> 00:03:07.040 And thirdly, how you begin that journey home. 00:03:08.480 --> 00:03:10.600 So, first of all, the journey we need rescuing from. 00:03:10.700 --> 00:03:12.280 It's in verses 1 to 3. 00:03:13.340 --> 00:03:19.940 And it's really important as we get into this that if you've got an illness, you need a correct diagnosis. 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:22.060 On the side here, I've got an insulin pump. 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:22.680 I'm a diabetic. 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:27.180 It's no good me going to a doctor and a doctor saying to me, what you need is some Panadol. 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:37.560 You need to understand the illness you've got in order to get the correct medicine to deal with the disease you've got or the issue that you've got. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:48.319 And the first three verses are a comprehensive panoramic picture of the human condition outside of God. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:57.419 And it says quite bluntly, dead, dead in transgressions and sins. 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:03.219 Now, the Apostle Paul, who wrote these words, is making an absolute statement. 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:08.340 He doesn't mean that the Christians at Ephesus were merely in danger of death, 00:04:08.340 --> 00:04:14.379 but that they were in a state of real and present death before Jesus intervened. 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:16.860 Death is not a figure of speech here. 00:04:16.899 --> 00:04:18.280 He's not using hyperbole. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:21.259 These people are absolutely dead. 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:27.379 Now, although he speaks of Gentiles in verse 1, 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:31.759 he includes his fellow Jews in verse 3. 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:36.159 The state of spiritual death is universal, is what he's saying. 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:42.819 He's not describing some decadent, depraved segment of society, 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:48.379 but all of humanity from top to bottom, 00:04:49.899 --> 00:04:51.899 dead in transgressions and sins. 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:54.980 All people are spiritually dead apart from Jesus. 00:04:54.980 --> 00:05:03.100 And when Paul says dead, he means it to have universal and an absolute application. 00:05:03.340 --> 00:05:04.620 No exceptions here. 00:05:05.220 --> 00:05:06.200 No exceptions. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:10.580 So what does it mean to be dead in transgressions and sins? 00:05:11.640 --> 00:05:14.220 After all, you know, look at us here today. 00:05:14.520 --> 00:05:18.000 You know, people whose bodies are active and minds are sharp 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:19.480 and whose personalities are brimming. 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:21.379 What does it mean? 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:25.759 It means to be enslaved. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:31.139 Notice the word followed in verse 2, 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:33.500 and it's there again in verse 3. 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:35.240 It says in verse 2, 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:38.740 you followed the ways of the world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air. 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:40.459 And then again in verse 3, it says, 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:46.600 gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. 00:05:46.779 --> 00:05:49.480 And the word followed there means to be mastered. 00:05:49.480 --> 00:05:53.460 It means to be controlled by something. 00:05:53.740 --> 00:05:57.939 The reason we are dead in trespasses and sins 00:05:57.939 --> 00:06:02.620 is that we are as helpless as a dead body. 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:04.340 Completely controlled. 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:06.040 Totally mastered. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:07.740 Unable to move. 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:11.120 Unable to act on our own. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:18.759 There are three things here that we are enslaved to. 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:19.800 Verse 2, it says, 00:06:19.899 --> 00:06:21.600 we're enslaved to the ways of this world. 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:25.420 Verse 2 also says that we're enslaved to the ruler of the kingdom of the air. 00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:27.800 That's talking about Satan, devil. 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:31.579 This morning I want to notice just the key idea. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:32.519 It's in verse 3. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:44.659 Now, the term flesh there in verse 3 doesn't mean human flesh and bones. 00:06:44.859 --> 00:06:46.839 Like, you know, that stuff. 00:06:47.899 --> 00:06:53.359 It literally refers to self-centered human nature. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.639 It's the self-centered human nature which drives us, 00:06:56.960 --> 00:06:59.819 which masters us, which controls us. 00:07:00.259 --> 00:07:01.199 According to the Bible, 00:07:01.300 --> 00:07:03.879 the reason we are dead in trespassions and sins, 00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:06.879 the reason we are enslaved to sin, 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:12.379 is because the human heart is profoundly self-centered. 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:14.899 Every one of us. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:19.759 The 16th century church reformer and theologian Martin Luther 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:23.180 put the condition of the human heart quite succinctly. 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:29.100 He described it as curved in on itself. 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:32.860 Curved in on itself. 00:07:35.659 --> 00:07:37.259 Absorbed in self. 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:39.540 Looking inside self-centered. 00:07:39.540 --> 00:07:43.420 That is what it means to be human apart from God. 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:49.760 And Luther said that our nature is so deeply curved in on itself 00:07:49.760 --> 00:07:52.500 that it, to quote him, 00:07:52.960 --> 00:07:57.040 wickedly, curvedly, and viciously, 00:07:57.320 --> 00:08:04.600 seeks to use all things, even God, for its own sake. 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:09.500 It's like all of us had this little computer 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:12.900 in the center of our heart 00:08:12.900 --> 00:08:18.840 that never, ever, ever stops. 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:23.700 It is constantly analyzing everything, 00:08:23.980 --> 00:08:25.700 every person, every object, 00:08:25.900 --> 00:08:28.140 every interaction, every event, 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:29.140 every setting. 00:08:29.139 --> 00:08:32.879 It's analyzing the basic question, 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:35.939 what's in it for me? 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.600 Everything is being analyzed 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:41.699 by how it benefits my happiness, 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:43.679 how it benefits my glory, 00:08:43.819 --> 00:08:45.519 how it benefits my comfort, 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:46.360 my reputation, 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:48.299 my control of all things. 00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:49.779 How does this help me? 00:08:50.059 --> 00:08:51.580 How does it serve my interests 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:52.439 and fit my interests? 00:08:52.679 --> 00:08:54.200 How does this make me happy? 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:58.020 Everything gets put through that grid 00:08:58.020 --> 00:09:02.140 and the computer never stops. 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:07.780 Now, it's obvious to most of us, I think, 00:09:07.860 --> 00:09:10.280 that self-centeredness can make us a pretty cruel person. 00:09:10.980 --> 00:09:14.440 You know, it's not hard to identify the dictators 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:17.960 and the tyrants who were egotistical and proud 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:20.140 and self-centered and murderous 00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:22.620 and they want to get their own way 00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:24.620 and they will do whatever it takes, 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:26.419 even immoral things, 00:09:26.819 --> 00:09:28.580 in order to get their own way. 00:09:30.379 --> 00:09:32.500 More often than not, though, however, 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:35.960 self-centeredness actually makes you 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:37.860 a really moral person. 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:40.319 It makes you a good person. 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:44.439 If everything is about my need 00:09:44.439 --> 00:09:46.039 to feel good about myself, 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:49.779 then there is no better way 00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:50.819 for that to happen 00:09:50.819 --> 00:09:53.599 than for me to be a good person, 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:56.019 a moral person. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:00.139 You see, self-centeredness drives most people 00:10:00.139 --> 00:10:03.319 towards attempting to live a good life, 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:06.500 trying really hard to serve the needy, 00:10:06.579 --> 00:10:08.740 to be a good child to a parent, 00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:10.259 to honor my parents in some way, 00:10:10.339 --> 00:10:14.039 to be a good parent to my children, 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:16.980 a good friend who assists wherever they possibly can, 00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:18.740 a good person, 00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:21.779 a dutiful person who does what's expected of them. 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:24.899 And what lies beneath all of that 00:10:24.899 --> 00:10:26.319 is a self-centeredness 00:10:26.319 --> 00:10:27.959 where we do it for ourselves, 00:10:28.079 --> 00:10:30.139 where we do it to help ourselves. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:34.980 We do good things to be noticed by people, 00:10:35.079 --> 00:10:37.319 to receive the applause of people. 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:43.879 It's so we can feel like we've got a meaningful life. 00:10:44.699 --> 00:10:46.639 We feel like we're a good person 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:49.039 when we've got the acclaim of others. 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.959 Now, I'm not sure if you remember 00:10:50.959 --> 00:10:52.639 one of the greatest Hollywood classics 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.579 of the last century, 00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:55.500 the first Rocky movie, 00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:58.360 starring Sylvester Stallone. 00:10:58.539 --> 00:10:59.259 Now, quite frankly, 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:00.959 he's an underrated actor 00:11:00.959 --> 00:11:03.019 who should have by now won an Academy Award. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:05.639 Nominated three times, 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:06.860 pipped at the post each time. 00:11:06.939 --> 00:11:07.360 Poor guy. 00:11:08.819 --> 00:11:10.939 It's amazing he was nominated three times, frankly. 00:11:10.940 --> 00:11:14.600 His love interest in that movie 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:17.740 asked him why he was fighting 00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:19.500 the world champion, Apollo Creed. 00:11:20.420 --> 00:11:21.980 It was a spectacle fight. 00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:25.900 He was not expected to win in any sort of way. 00:11:26.920 --> 00:11:27.980 And his reply, 00:11:28.540 --> 00:11:30.400 if you can get through the mumbling 00:11:30.400 --> 00:11:31.680 and get the translation right, 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:34.140 his reply is, 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:37.399 I want to go the distance. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:41.000 Then I'll know I'm not a bum. 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:45.759 Now, deep down inside of us, 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:48.100 if we ever allow ourselves to go 00:11:48.100 --> 00:11:50.679 to that recess of our hearts, 00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:53.080 we all feel like bums. 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:56.680 We're trying to do something 00:11:56.680 --> 00:11:57.879 to convince ourselves 00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:59.120 and to convince the world 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:00.660 that we're not 00:12:00.660 --> 00:12:01.900 and that we're good. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.900 And so we evaluate everything 00:12:05.900 --> 00:12:08.379 in terms of whether it makes me look good 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:10.120 or whether it doesn't make me look good. 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:12.740 Self-centeredness can make you a tyrant. 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:15.020 Self-centeredness can make you 00:12:15.020 --> 00:12:16.560 a moral and a good person. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:17.860 But self-centeredness can almost, 00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:19.560 so make you a very religious person. 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:23.419 We can devote ourselves to obeying God 00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:24.500 and turning up to church 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:25.179 and reading the Bible 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:25.919 and praying and giving 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.219 and doing all the sorts of things 00:12:27.219 --> 00:12:28.199 that we've been doing right here, 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:28.939 right now, 00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:31.359 all good things and right things to do. 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:34.579 So how do I know 00:12:34.579 --> 00:12:35.719 when I'm doing it for me? 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:40.459 When things aren't going well 00:12:40.459 --> 00:12:41.719 for you in life, 00:12:42.319 --> 00:12:43.879 you start to pull away 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:45.099 from these good things. 00:12:45.699 --> 00:12:47.819 It's because you're doing these things 00:12:47.819 --> 00:12:48.839 in order to do, 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:49.879 as Luther says, 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.660 use God. 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:55.660 We do good things 00:12:55.660 --> 00:12:57.920 and expect God to come through for us. 00:12:58.800 --> 00:12:59.940 Be generous to someone. 00:13:00.060 --> 00:13:01.320 God's going to be generous to me. 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:05.300 It means it's all about us. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.480 It's awful to think about it, 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:10.120 but it's possible to, in fact, 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:12.940 even to get into Christianity 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:15.740 to have God serve us 00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:18.100 rather than for us to serve God. 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:20.480 It's astounding. 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:26.160 Self-centeredness clings to everything 00:13:26.160 --> 00:13:28.080 in our lives 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:29.340 like a rash. 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:33.160 Verse 3 uses the word craving 00:13:33.160 --> 00:13:35.040 to describe our self-centeredness. 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:37.460 It's a word that means inordinate desire. 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:39.340 It means that our egos 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:41.100 are addictive. 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:46.639 The little computer is addictive. 00:13:48.280 --> 00:13:51.019 It means that we are living for our own glory 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:53.540 and it will never be enough 00:13:53.540 --> 00:13:56.180 in the same way that a shot of heroin 00:13:56.180 --> 00:13:58.160 for an addict will never be enough. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:00.039 There's got to be more. 00:14:01.959 --> 00:14:03.779 The little computer in us 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:05.259 is in overdrive, 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.860 running evaluations, 00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:08.699 but no amount of glory, 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:10.339 no amount of acclaim, 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.039 recognition, 00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:11.799 comfort 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:14.120 will ever be enough. 00:14:14.219 --> 00:14:14.899 It's addictive. 00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:18.620 And it's never satisfying. 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.720 And it makes you miserable. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:21.419 C.S. Lewis, 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:22.819 the Oxford professor 00:14:22.819 --> 00:14:23.939 and author, 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:25.799 wrote that there is nothing more 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:27.799 enslaving and miserable 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:29.899 than self-centeredness. 00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:34.059 He wrote that it is hell 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:35.659 begun in us 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.840 that will eventually 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:38.179 take us to hell 00:14:38.179 --> 00:14:40.159 because it's taking us 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.819 towards the person 00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:44.220 that we are becoming. 00:14:44.939 --> 00:14:47.179 The ruler of the kingdom of the air 00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:48.819 as Ephesians 2 says. 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:52.519 The framework that every human being 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:54.340 begins with without Jesus 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:55.360 is that if you, 00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:57.139 is that you 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:59.039 give your life 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:00.299 for me. 00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:04.279 It's me first. 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:06.799 You serve my interests. 00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:09.879 That's even how we relate 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:10.599 to our creator, 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.399 our sustainer, 00:15:11.459 --> 00:15:11.980 our God. 00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:12.939 It's me first. 00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:15.139 And the Bible's view of sin 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:16.039 is that every part 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:17.079 of the human person 00:15:17.079 --> 00:15:17.980 is tainted by sin. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:19.199 It doesn't mean that humans 00:15:19.199 --> 00:15:19.959 are not capable 00:15:19.959 --> 00:15:21.559 of any good. 00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:23.259 It doesn't mean that 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.259 there's no dignity 00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:25.079 in human beings. 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:25.740 In fact, 00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:26.399 I would argue 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:27.360 the Bible places 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:29.019 more than any other world 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:29.460 worldview, 00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:31.019 supreme value 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:32.480 on human dignity. 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.579 But it means 00:15:35.579 --> 00:15:37.059 that no part 00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:38.079 of the human being, 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.379 the mind, 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:39.879 the emotions, 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:40.259 the heart, 00:15:40.319 --> 00:15:40.620 the will, 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:41.699 is left untouched 00:15:41.699 --> 00:15:43.120 by sin and self-centeredness. 00:15:43.579 --> 00:15:44.740 And so the consequences 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:46.279 at the end of verse 3 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.319 is shocking 00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:48.519 to our modern context 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:48.980 that says 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:49.759 we want to be able 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:50.659 to live how we want 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:51.840 without any consequences. 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.639 Not only dead, 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.319 but condemned. 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.799 That's the consequence. 00:15:59.139 --> 00:15:59.980 Not only dead, 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:00.740 but condemned. 00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:01.460 Verse 3, 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:02.580 like the rest, 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:03.419 we were by nature 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:05.039 deserving of wrath. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:06.779 That's God's anger. 00:16:06.939 --> 00:16:07.639 God's anger 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:09.539 is not like human anger. 00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:10.659 It's not a bad temper. 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:11.480 It's not spite. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.319 It's not malice. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.280 It's not animosity. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:14.340 It's not revenge. 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:15.820 It's not arbitrary. 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:16.800 It is predictable. 00:16:18.140 --> 00:16:19.420 And it's not governed 00:16:19.420 --> 00:16:20.140 by mood 00:16:20.140 --> 00:16:20.940 or by whim. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:22.440 It is God's personal, 00:16:23.540 --> 00:16:24.020 righteous, 00:16:24.920 --> 00:16:26.100 constant hostility 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:27.260 towards all 00:16:27.260 --> 00:16:28.060 that is evil, 00:16:28.520 --> 00:16:29.020 unjust, 00:16:29.400 --> 00:16:30.140 and sin. 00:16:30.680 --> 00:16:31.840 It is his settled 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:32.500 refusal 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.879 to compromise 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.720 with it 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.620 and his resolve 00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.400 to condemn it. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.879 And that is 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:39.559 the life journey, 00:16:40.319 --> 00:16:41.179 the trajectory 00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:42.879 that we are all on 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.019 and that we need 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.419 rescuing from. 00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:48.360 Now in a moment, 00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:49.419 I'm going to talk 00:16:49.419 --> 00:16:50.699 about how God 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:51.439 saves us 00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:52.480 from that life. 00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:53.039 But first, 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:53.959 I want to take us 00:16:53.959 --> 00:16:54.860 to the end 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.539 of these verses 00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.740 where it talks briefly 00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.819 about the life 00:16:57.819 --> 00:16:58.480 that we are 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:00.960 rescued for. 00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:03.600 This is the kind 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:03.960 of life 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.500 that God wants 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:05.019 to give us 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.779 and this is the life 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.519 he wants to bring 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.319 us into. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.339 Starting at verse 8, 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:11.960 for it is by grace 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:13.259 you have been saved 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:14.039 through faith. 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:14.660 This is not 00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:15.299 from yourselves. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.220 It is a gift 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.700 from God, 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.379 not by work 00:17:17.379 --> 00:17:18.019 so that no one 00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:18.500 can boast. 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.859 For we are 00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:21.779 God's handiwork 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:23.399 created in Christ 00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:24.259 Jesus to do good 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:24.980 works which God 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.839 prepared in advance 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.519 for us to do. 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.399 Now there are a couple 00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:28.440 of fascinating terms 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.059 right in there. 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.500 The first is in verse 8, 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.819 it is by grace 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.799 you've been saved 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.539 through faith 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.379 and this is not 00:17:34.379 --> 00:17:34.899 from yourselves, 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:35.360 as a gift 00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:35.880 from God. 00:17:36.040 --> 00:17:36.940 It is saying 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.040 that we are not 00:17:38.040 --> 00:17:38.680 saved, 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:41.740 we do not 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.560 give ourselves 00:17:42.560 --> 00:17:43.480 the evaluation 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:44.980 of being a good 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.880 person by doing 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.519 good things 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.300 and being moral. 00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:49.320 We are not saved 00:17:49.320 --> 00:17:50.080 by anything 00:17:50.080 --> 00:17:50.820 that we do. 00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.640 God's salvation, 00:17:53.900 --> 00:17:54.480 his gift 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.280 is a gift. 00:17:56.280 --> 00:17:57.460 This new life 00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:57.920 that he wants 00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.660 to bring us into 00:17:58.660 --> 00:17:59.500 is a gift 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:01.380 and once we get 00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:01.960 this gift 00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:02.800 we start to see 00:18:02.800 --> 00:18:03.860 everything in life 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.479 as a gift. 00:18:04.939 --> 00:18:05.539 It's not my 00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.159 entitlement, 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:06.619 it's not there 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:07.439 to serve me. 00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:09.559 Even faith 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:09.959 is something 00:18:09.959 --> 00:18:10.979 that God gives us. 00:18:11.439 --> 00:18:11.879 The life 00:18:11.879 --> 00:18:12.319 that God 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.139 wants us to have 00:18:13.139 --> 00:18:13.919 is a life 00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:14.619 where we see 00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:15.740 everything as a gift. 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:17.399 It's not a life 00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:18.419 where we divide 00:18:18.419 --> 00:18:19.379 the world up to 00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:20.639 into makers 00:18:20.639 --> 00:18:21.379 and takers 00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:21.899 to quote 00:18:21.899 --> 00:18:22.759 a taxi driver 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.319 that we had 00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:24.319 in the United States. 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.219 Everything 00:18:28.219 --> 00:18:29.019 is a gift. 00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.259 We don't 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.240 deserve anything. 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:31.940 It's a life 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:32.400 that is lived 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.240 through faith 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.160 as we're told 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:34.500 here 00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.220 and faith 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:35.799 isn't just 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.640 about intellectual 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.279 belief. 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.359 It means that 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:39.579 but it means 00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.140 much more 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:40.579 than that. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.380 Faith 00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:42.579 means trust. 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.359 It means 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:44.059 resting. 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.299 See, 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:47.140 a Christian person 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.740 is a person 00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.559 who's at rest. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:49.640 They are 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:50.400 characterised 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:50.880 by what 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.640 verse 9 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.200 says, 00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.559 no longer 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:54.240 boasting. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:54.900 They're not 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.740 boasting 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.880 anymore. 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:59.740 Now, 00:18:59.780 --> 00:19:00.160 when we hear 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:00.480 the word 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:00.900 boast, 00:19:01.040 --> 00:19:01.320 we hear 00:19:01.320 --> 00:19:03.100 bragging. 00:19:04.060 --> 00:19:04.280 You know, 00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:04.860 look at the 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:05.400 things I've 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:05.740 done and 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.360 achieved. 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.100 Now, 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:07.460 boasting 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.360 meant something 00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:09.300 a bit 00:19:09.300 --> 00:19:09.920 different 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.100 and probably 00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:12.000 more profound 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.840 in the first 00:19:12.840 --> 00:19:13.340 century. 00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:14.440 Boasting 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.120 for them 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:15.540 was to 00:19:15.540 --> 00:19:16.220 give yourself 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.060 confidence, 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.640 to gee 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.660 yourself up, 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.580 to face 00:19:21.580 --> 00:19:22.400 something really 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:22.900 hard. 00:19:23.020 --> 00:19:23.380 That's what 00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:23.760 boasting 00:19:23.760 --> 00:19:24.600 was in the 00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:25.220 first century. 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.200 So, 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:26.819 imagine a 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.539 military leader 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.860 got his 00:19:28.860 --> 00:19:29.500 troops there, 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.140 rallying his 00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:30.539 troops, 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:31.620 getting them 00:19:31.620 --> 00:19:32.240 pumped up 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:32.519 because they're 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.039 about to run 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.259 in and face 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.740 death. 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.500 He would 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:35.980 stand there 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.200 and he'd 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.460 boast, 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:36.839 look at the 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.200 size of 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.740 our spears, 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:38.960 weeny little 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.279 spears, 00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:39.759 these guys, 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.059 and look at 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.519 how many guys 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.000 we've got. 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:41.579 They've only 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.579 got a few 00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.240 over there. 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.039 Look at 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:45.839 our tactics. 00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:46.960 We've been 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.500 winning all, 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:48.059 our tactics 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:48.380 are much 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:48.660 better than 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:49.059 their tactics. 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:49.620 The soldiers 00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:49.880 would go, 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.559 yeah, 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:51.819 grab these 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.039 spears, 00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:52.420 yeah, 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:53.839 I'm going 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.440 to die. 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.920 That's what 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.339 boasting 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:56.839 is. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:00.100 This is the 00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:00.740 sense here. 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.240 The boasting 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.799 here is 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.460 about 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:05.339 where your 00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:05.900 confidence 00:20:05.900 --> 00:20:06.900 is placed. 00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.100 And we 00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:10.480 are told 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:10.740 here that 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.079 one of the 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:11.740 great things 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.100 about the 00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:12.779 Christian life 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.160 is it 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:13.600 brings to 00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:13.980 an end 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.559 of all 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.640 boasting 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.860 in self 00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:17.799 and into 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.900 placing my 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.420 confidence 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:20.420 in my 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:21.039 fickle 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.620 personal 00:20:21.620 --> 00:20:22.680 hope that 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.019 I'm trying 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.319 to build 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:23.940 for myself. 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:26.759 everyone 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:29.640 is looking 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.580 around for 00:20:30.580 --> 00:20:31.059 something to 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:31.559 boast in, 00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:31.820 to have 00:20:31.820 --> 00:20:32.400 confidence in, 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.059 to trust in, 00:20:33.120 --> 00:20:33.860 to rest in, 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:35.059 in order to 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.299 face life. 00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:38.820 Everyone is 00:20:38.820 --> 00:20:39.380 trying to find 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.039 something to 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:40.500 give us that 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:40.940 sense of 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:41.440 value, 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:42.259 that sense 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:42.920 of worth. 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:43.519 Some of us 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:43.759 look to 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.160 careers, 00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:44.559 some of us 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:44.820 look to 00:20:44.820 --> 00:20:45.400 our family, 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:45.779 some of us 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.059 look to 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.500 salaries, 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:47.120 some of us 00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:47.340 look to 00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:48.120 moral decency, 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:48.580 some of us 00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:48.980 look to 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.620 religious 00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:50.360 performance. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.400 A life 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:51.880 looking at 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:52.380 things to 00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:52.980 boast in is 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.360 a life 00:20:53.360 --> 00:20:53.720 that's 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.440 scrambling, 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.360 scrambling 00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.160 for identity, 00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.539 scrambling 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.200 for self 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:00.740 worth, 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:03.860 and it 00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:04.240 is 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.339 exhausting. 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:07.720 And as 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:07.980 C.S. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.380 Lewis says, 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:08.860 it makes you 00:21:08.860 --> 00:21:09.200 miserable. 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:11.740 And the 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.120 new life 00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:12.440 that God 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:12.839 gives us 00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.299 is a gift, 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:13.680 and because 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.259 it's a gift, 00:21:14.360 --> 00:21:14.759 we are set 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.279 free from 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.539 that, 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.880 liberated from 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.279 trying to 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:17.740 find our 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.839 boast, 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.220 trying to 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:19.640 find our 00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.220 confidence, 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.099 from within 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:21.779 ourselves to 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.059 pin our 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:22.639 hopes on, 00:21:22.899 --> 00:21:23.279 and in 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:23.720 verse 10 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.119 it says 00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:24.680 this wonderful 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.200 vision of 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:25.460 the new 00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:25.759 life, 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.019 he says, 00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:26.539 we are 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:26.920 God's 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.559 handiwork, 00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:28.440 created in 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:28.980 Christ Jesus 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.359 to do 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:29.960 good works, 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:30.639 which God 00:21:30.639 --> 00:21:31.160 prepared in 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:31.579 advance for 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:31.819 us to 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.039 do. 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:33.639 In the 00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:34.119 old life, 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:34.399 we are 00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:34.960 dead in 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.720 our sins, 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.259 but the 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.799 new life 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.319 is described 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:37.899 as God's 00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.359 handiwork, 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:38.720 we are 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.480 his artwork, 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:39.819 his 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.539 masterpiece. 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.299 No longer 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:43.700 dead, 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.379 but instead 00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:45.079 remade, 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.079 set free to 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.519 do good 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.039 works without 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.559 the constant 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.740 calculation of 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.220 whether I've 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:49.879 done enough 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:51.000 to get the 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.680 applause that 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:51.980 I so 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.540 desperately 00:21:52.540 --> 00:21:53.120 desire. 00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:55.100 God's 00:21:55.100 --> 00:21:55.460 greatest 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:56.500 masterpiece is 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.020 humanity 00:21:57.020 --> 00:21:57.760 saved from 00:21:57.760 --> 00:21:58.680 condemnation, 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.060 made alive and 00:22:00.060 --> 00:22:00.820 set free from 00:22:00.820 --> 00:22:01.200 slavery. 00:22:01.320 --> 00:22:02.760 The old life 00:22:02.760 --> 00:22:03.980 means we work 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.880 hard in the 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:05.620 hope of getting 00:22:05.620 --> 00:22:06.420 the applause, 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.380 the praise of 00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:09.140 the praiseworthy, 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.980 the new life 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.760 because we have 00:22:11.760 --> 00:22:12.460 the praise of 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:12.960 the most 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.600 praiseworthy 00:22:13.600 --> 00:22:14.260 already. 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.460 We are set 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.160 free to serve 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:16.800 and love with 00:22:16.800 --> 00:22:17.640 free abandon. 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:20.880 So we've 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.260 seen the 00:22:21.260 --> 00:22:21.940 life that we 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:22.940 need to be 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:23.760 saved from 00:22:23.760 --> 00:22:25.080 and the 00:22:25.080 --> 00:22:25.640 life that we 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:26.120 are saved 00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:26.760 for. 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.280 So how do 00:22:28.280 --> 00:22:28.800 we begin 00:22:28.800 --> 00:22:29.560 this journey? 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:30.840 Where does 00:22:30.840 --> 00:22:31.360 it start? 00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:32.480 And the 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:32.940 answer to 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.760 that is 00:22:33.760 --> 00:22:35.940 both profound 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:37.580 and simple. 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.100 It says in 00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:41.060 verses 4 to 7 00:22:41.060 --> 00:22:42.000 that God has 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.000 done something 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:44.780 incredible in 00:22:44.780 --> 00:22:45.140 Jesus. 00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:47.320 It says, 00:22:47.560 --> 00:22:48.060 because of his 00:22:48.060 --> 00:22:49.040 great love for 00:22:49.040 --> 00:22:49.280 us, 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.019 God who is 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.460 rich in 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:51.539 mercy made 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.119 us alive 00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:52.779 with Christ 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.500 even when we 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.139 were dead in 00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:55.240 transgressions. 00:22:56.139 --> 00:22:56.799 It is by 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.440 grace you've 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.119 been saved. 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.259 And God 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.940 raised us up 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.559 with Christ 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.259 and seated us 00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:02.859 with him in 00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.279 the heavenly 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.039 realms in 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.759 Christ Jesus. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.339 Notice the 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.039 last verse in 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.700 verse 6. 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.539 God has 00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.500 raised us up 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.379 with Christ 00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:12.339 and seated us 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:13.700 with him in 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.420 the heavenly 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:15.519 realms. 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:17.639 Now the 00:23:17.639 --> 00:23:18.339 first recipients 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:18.839 of this 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.339 letter knew 00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:20.299 exactly what 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:20.859 that meant 00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:21.659 in the 00:23:21.659 --> 00:23:22.299 Roman world. 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.359 You see, 00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:24.720 in the first 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.279 century Roman 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.799 world, 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.779 the conquering 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.159 war, 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.919 the general 00:23:27.919 --> 00:23:28.779 would return 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:29.459 from a great 00:23:29.459 --> 00:23:30.480 victory and 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.339 he was given 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.819 as a reward 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.839 the greatest 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.779 place of 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.819 honour in the 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.559 capital city. 00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:38.779 And that is 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.459 the seat 00:23:39.459 --> 00:23:41.259 beside the 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:42.599 throne of the 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:42.919 emperor. 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:45.259 right hand 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.539 seat. 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.940 Jesus died, 00:23:48.560 --> 00:23:48.860 he was 00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:49.720 raised again 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.600 and he was 00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:51.120 given the 00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:51.680 place of 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.620 greatest honour, 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.460 the seat on 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.140 the right hand 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:55.940 throne in the 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.080 heaven. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.660 It can't 00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.840 mean that we 00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:00.440 are raised 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:00.960 from dead 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.620 literally 00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:03.440 because I 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:03.900 don't think 00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:04.259 that I've 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:04.880 died just 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:05.140 yet. 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.640 I'm jet 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:06.019 lagged but 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.340 I'm not 00:24:06.340 --> 00:24:06.620 dead. 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:09.119 It can't 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:09.739 mean that 00:24:09.739 --> 00:24:10.419 I'm in 00:24:10.419 --> 00:24:12.000 heaven because 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.359 I'm still 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:12.719 here. 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.119 It doesn't 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:15.539 mean that we 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.019 are literally 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:16.559 seated with 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.019 him there 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.919 just yet. 00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.459 It means 00:24:19.459 --> 00:24:19.879 that we are 00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:21.099 legally seated 00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.539 with him 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.479 there right 00:24:22.479 --> 00:24:23.399 now in 00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:23.739 Jesus. 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:24.599 You see, 00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:24.899 when you 00:24:24.899 --> 00:24:25.379 believe in 00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:25.739 Jesus, 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:26.559 all your 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.000 sins are 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.659 so hidden, 00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:28.439 they are 00:24:28.439 --> 00:24:29.419 so covered 00:24:29.419 --> 00:24:30.199 that you 00:24:30.199 --> 00:24:30.799 are treated 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.699 as if you 00:24:31.699 --> 00:24:32.299 have done 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.279 everything 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.759 that Jesus 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.759 has ever 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.640 done. 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.140 Through 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:39.599 Jesus, 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.660 God delights, 00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:43.039 he honours, 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.039 he accepts 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.920 and he 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:47.240 rejoices over 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:48.420 us in the 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:49.039 way that he 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.700 has his 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.359 perfect 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.720 obedient son. 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.079 How can 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:54.720 that be when 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:54.940 we have 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:55.619 been so, 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.579 so self-centered? 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:57.799 The key 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.379 there is in 00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:59.019 verse 7, 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:00.980 he might 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:01.440 show the 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.039 incomparable 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.759 riches of 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.339 his grace 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.500 expressed in 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.240 his 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.019 kindness 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:07.240 to us 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.920 in Christ 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:08.339 Jesus. 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.440 The word 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.000 kindness 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.819 there of 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.140 Christ 00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:11.579 Jesus 00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.819 literally 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.559 means a 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.000 costly 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.640 action. 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.819 It's more 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.200 than just 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:16.460 saying, 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:16.759 you know, 00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:17.180 I love 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:17.420 you. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:18.980 It is 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:20.079 putting your 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.680 money where 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.180 your mouth 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:21.400 is, 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:21.960 as we say, 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.559 or for 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:22.859 Jesus' 00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:23.259 sake, 00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:23.940 it is 00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.740 putting his 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.880 life where 00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:26.500 his mouth 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.039 is. 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.160 The first 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:29.779 three verses 00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.500 tell us 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:30.859 that the 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.859 essence of 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.400 sin, 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.660 which is the 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.099 reason why 00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:34.500 we are 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:34.799 dead, 00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:35.379 is putting 00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:36.000 ourselves 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.679 where only 00:25:36.679 --> 00:25:37.379 God should 00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:37.819 be, 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.319 the center 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.819 of our 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.399 lives, 00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:41.339 on the 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:41.980 throne of 00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.619 our lives, 00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.559 in control 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.099 of our 00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:44.679 lives. 00:25:44.919 --> 00:25:45.299 That is 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:45.899 what sin 00:25:45.899 --> 00:25:46.379 is, 00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:46.799 is putting 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.459 ourselves 00:25:47.459 --> 00:25:48.379 where only 00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:49.019 God 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:50.000 deserves 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.980 to be. 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.719 Salvation, 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.799 according to 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.259 the Christian 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.639 faith, 00:25:54.699 --> 00:25:55.079 is the 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:55.740 exact opposite. 00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:56.639 And salvation 00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:57.539 is God 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.500 putting himself 00:25:58.500 --> 00:26:00.920 where we 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:02.259 deserve to 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:02.559 be, 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:04.900 on the 00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:05.279 cross. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.519 That's 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.039 what Good 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:08.980 Friday is 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.700 all about. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.119 Jesus took 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:11.799 the just 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.460 and the 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:12.799 righteous 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.380 punishment 00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:13.920 from God 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.279 that we 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:14.859 deserve for 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.059 putting 00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:15.460 ourselves 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:15.759 in the 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.160 place where 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.900 only God 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:18.019 belongs, 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.799 on the 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.380 throne as 00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:20.819 rulers of 00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.440 our lives. 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:22.619 The punishment 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.160 he took on 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:23.680 the cross 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.000 was much 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.539 more than 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.180 the cruel 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:26.560 and the 00:26:26.560 --> 00:26:27.660 excruciating 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.259 physical 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:28.720 punishment 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:28.920 of 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.759 crucifixion. 00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:30.460 It was 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.160 a cruel 00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:31.600 way to 00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:31.980 die. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.720 He took 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.200 the wrath 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:34.759 of God 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.340 that verse 00:26:35.340 --> 00:26:36.180 3 says 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.180 we deserve. 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.440 He was 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:38.900 cut off 00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.240 from his 00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:40.039 father and 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:41.240 he experienced 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.299 the agony 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:42.880 that we 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:43.539 would experience 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.080 if we were 00:26:44.080 --> 00:26:44.460 cut off 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.000 from God 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.700 for all 00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.299 of eternity. 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.100 And I 00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:48.360 cannot 00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:49.000 imagine, 00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:49.759 even begin 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.460 to imagine 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:51.560 what that 00:26:51.560 --> 00:26:52.120 was like 00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.600 for him. 00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:53.519 He sat 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:54.200 in our 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:55.000 seat so 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.460 that we 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:56.039 now can 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.440 sit in 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:56.960 his seat. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.840 One 00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:00.480 person put 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.259 it so, 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.340 so succinctly, 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.460 the essence 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.220 of sin 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.100 is us 00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:05.779 substituting 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.440 ourselves for 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:06.920 God, 00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:07.519 while the 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.000 essence of 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.480 salvation 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.059 is God 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.660 substituting 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.140 himself for 00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.480 us. 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:11.299 And that's 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.620 what Good 00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:12.539 Friday is 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.299 all about. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.880 We have 00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:16.500 put ourselves 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.100 where only 00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:17.660 God deserves 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.160 to be and 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:18.539 so God 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.019 chooses to 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.539 put himself 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:22.019 where we 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.740 deserve to 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:22.980 be. 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.680 And so 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:24.980 the way 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.240 to be 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.059 blasted 00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.380 out of 00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:26.579 our 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.460 self-centeredness 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.460 is to 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.460 see that 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.380 Jesus saved 00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:30.759 us by 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.319 doing the 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.160 exact opposite 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.700 of us. 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:34.460 He saved 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:34.740 us through 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.059 the most 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:35.620 radically 00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.319 unselfish 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.120 thing anyone 00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:37.740 has ever 00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:38.140 done. 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.200 Though he 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.660 is equal 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.160 with God, 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:40.779 he emptied 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.319 himself of 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:41.680 his glory, 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.120 he came 00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:42.380 down, 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:42.839 he took 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.559 our place 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:43.940 as a 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.200 servant, 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.960 he traded 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.559 his life 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.160 for ours, 00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:46.720 and the 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.700 contrast of 00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.259 these verses 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.099 is startling. 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.160 The very 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:50.860 next words 00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.759 after verse 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.339 3 that 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:53.679 says that 00:27:53.679 --> 00:27:53.859 we are 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.379 deserving of 00:27:54.379 --> 00:27:54.740 God's 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.599 wrath says, 00:27:56.459 --> 00:27:56.959 but because 00:27:56.959 --> 00:27:57.659 of his 00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.359 great love 00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:58.779 for us, 00:27:58.879 --> 00:27:59.379 God who 00:27:59.379 --> 00:27:59.919 is rich 00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:00.539 in mercy 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:00.979 made us 00:28:00.979 --> 00:28:01.519 alive with 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:01.939 Christ. 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:03.359 Even when 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:03.819 we were 00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:04.339 dead in 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:05.059 transgressions, 00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:05.439 it's by 00:28:05.439 --> 00:28:05.959 grace you've 00:28:05.959 --> 00:28:06.559 been saved. 00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.219 We were 00:28:07.219 --> 00:28:07.639 dead in 00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:07.819 our 00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:08.500 transgressions, 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:08.939 but God 00:28:08.939 --> 00:28:09.519 intervened. 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.179 We were 00:28:10.179 --> 00:28:11.740 bondage to 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.359 sin, but 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:13.199 God intervened. 00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:13.639 We were 00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.259 objects of 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.740 wrath, but 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.439 God intervened. 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.219 God who 00:28:16.219 --> 00:28:16.819 is rich in 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.740 mercy intervened. 00:28:17.919 --> 00:28:18.439 Our condition 00:28:18.439 --> 00:28:19.039 was hopeless, 00:28:19.179 --> 00:28:19.479 but God 00:28:19.479 --> 00:28:20.019 intervened in 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.339 grace. 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:22.019 From hell to 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:22.679 heaven, from 00:28:22.679 --> 00:28:23.199 bondage to 00:28:23.199 --> 00:28:23.679 freedom, from 00:28:23.679 --> 00:28:24.599 gloom to 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.919 light, from 00:28:25.919 --> 00:28:26.519 despair to 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.039 hope, from 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.579 wrath to 00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:28.179 glory, from 00:28:28.179 --> 00:28:28.639 death to 00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:29.480 life, that 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:29.939 is the 00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:30.539 glory and 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.359 the magnificence 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:31.619 of Good 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:31.939 Friday. 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.259 That's why 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:33.599 it's called 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.139 Good Friday. 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.379 And when 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:38.859 we see him 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.459 doing that, 00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:40.939 when we know 00:28:40.939 --> 00:28:41.599 he has done 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.359 that, when 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:42.879 we see his 00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:44.000 mercy, his 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:45.240 love, his 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:47.139 grace, then 00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:47.899 it helps us to 00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:48.699 see that our 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.759 sense of who 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.720 we are is 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:52.240 already filled 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.980 up. 00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.319 You can 00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:55.220 disconnect the 00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:55.580 computer. 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.400 His 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:01.360 selflessness has 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.440 overcome our 00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:02.960 selfishness. 00:29:03.340 --> 00:29:03.819 We see 00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.460 ourselves as 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.340 complete because 00:29:05.340 --> 00:29:06.160 we are seated 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:07.819 with God in the 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.519 place of honour. 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.480 We have all the 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.400 acclaim, all the 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.059 honour, all the 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.860 approval, all the 00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.620 acceptance that you 00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:13.620 could possibly want. 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.920 There is only one 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.900 boast that will 00:29:15.900 --> 00:29:17.140 stop all boasting. 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.340 One boast that 00:29:18.340 --> 00:29:19.400 stops us scrambling 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.320 through life trying 00:29:20.320 --> 00:29:21.860 to figure out a 00:29:21.860 --> 00:29:22.600 way to find the 00:29:22.600 --> 00:29:23.360 confidence that we 00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:24.460 need in order to 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.420 face life, whatever 00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.060 it's going to throw 00:29:26.060 --> 00:29:26.420 at us. 00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.480 And it's the same 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:28.740 Apostle Paul who 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.720 wrote in Galatians 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.600 chapter 6, 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:32.180 may I never boast in 00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:34.540 anything else but 00:29:34.540 --> 00:29:36.500 the cross of our 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.880 Lord Jesus Christ 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.780 through which the 00:29:38.780 --> 00:29:39.340 world has been 00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:40.460 crucified to me and 00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:41.120 I to the world. 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:46.279 Now I'm assuming 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:48.619 that there are some 00:29:48.619 --> 00:29:49.599 people in this room 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:51.479 today and you may 00:29:51.479 --> 00:29:53.479 even have been a 00:29:53.479 --> 00:29:54.099 regular in this 00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:55.479 church for decades 00:29:55.479 --> 00:29:57.139 but you need to 00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:58.159 start that journey 00:29:58.159 --> 00:29:58.559 today. 00:29:58.679 --> 00:29:59.639 The journey needs to 00:29:59.639 --> 00:30:00.699 begin for you today. 00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:01.479 You need to get off 00:30:01.479 --> 00:30:02.279 one road and on to 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:02.599 the other. 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:03.739 You need to switch 00:30:03.739 --> 00:30:04.479 roads, stop looking 00:30:04.479 --> 00:30:05.979 to self, start looking 00:30:05.979 --> 00:30:07.259 to God and whatever 00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:08.019 you've done, whatever 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:09.399 you've become on this 00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:10.819 good Friday, 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:13.079 day Jesus has 00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:14.479 possible for you to 00:30:14.479 --> 00:30:15.259 come home to him. 00:30:16.959 --> 00:30:17.879 Make this good Friday 00:30:17.879 --> 00:30:18.699 the day that you come 00:30:18.699 --> 00:30:21.079 to Jesus and experience 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.199 his love and his grace 00:30:22.199 --> 00:30:23.719 and his mercy the day 00:30:23.719 --> 00:30:25.339 you go from hell to 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:26.199 heaven, from bondage to 00:30:26.199 --> 00:30:27.159 freedom, from gloom to 00:30:27.159 --> 00:30:28.939 light, from despair to 00:30:28.939 --> 00:30:30.259 hope, from glory to 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.259 wrath, from death to 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:31.699 life. 00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:34.500 Sorry, from wrath to 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:36.219 glory, death to life. 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:41.100 If that's you, then 00:30:41.100 --> 00:30:41.700 there's a really 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:43.860 crucial prayer for you 00:30:43.860 --> 00:30:46.100 on the back of our 00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:46.720 service sheet. 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:48.480 It's called the 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.579 prayer for belief. 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:50.920 I want to encourage 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.640 everyone to pick one 00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:51.900 up. 00:30:52.620 --> 00:30:53.480 Pick one up and look 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.259 at that prayer at the 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:55.079 end of the back of the 00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:55.600 service sheet. 00:30:57.600 --> 00:30:58.600 It's really simple. 00:30:58.599 --> 00:31:03.519 Lord Jesus, I admit that 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.500 I'm weaker and more 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.319 sinful than I've ever 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:07.019 dared to admit, but 00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:08.059 through you I'm more 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:09.039 loved and accepted than 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.159 I ever dared to hope. 00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:12.559 I thank you for praying 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.699 my debt on the cross, 00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.939 taking what I deserve in 00:31:15.939 --> 00:31:16.679 order to offer me 00:31:16.679 --> 00:31:17.559 complete forgiveness, 00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:19.000 knowing that you've been 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.919 raised from the dead. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:21.840 I turn from my sins and 00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:22.880 receive you as my Lord 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:23.380 and Saviour. 00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:23.779 Amen. 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:26.300 We're going to, Sam's 00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:26.920 going to lead us right 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:27.039 now. 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.080 Come on up, Sam. 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:29.380 He's going to lead us 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:30.779 into the Lord's Supper 00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.740 right now, which is 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:33.539 again a reminder of 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.600 what Christ has done for 00:31:34.600 --> 00:31:34.880 us. 00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:36.620 And as he does that, as 00:31:36.620 --> 00:31:37.800 we go through this, can 00:31:37.800 --> 00:31:40.160 I just encourage you to 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.660 ponder over the words of 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:43.279 that prayer and whether 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.480 or not that prayer is a 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.759 prayer for you to pray 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:47.160 today and to begin the 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:48.340 journey to follow 00:31:48.340 --> 00:31:48.680 Jesus.