WEBVTT

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 Good morning. We're reading from Romans 8, starting from verse 5.

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 For it does not submit to God's law. Indeed, it cannot.

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 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

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 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the spirit.

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 If in fact the spirit of God dwells in you, anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

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 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness.

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 If the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you.

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 I turned it off. Good morning.

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 As Simon has already introduced, we're continuing in our series on Romans 7 through 8 and looking at the issue or the matter of assurance,

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 the assurance that we can actually have in our faith, in our relationship to God.

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 And last week David looked at our foundation, that foundation being in Christ.

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 The key verse, which we used to put on t-shirts back in the day, bumper stickers, all that sort of things, is verse 1.

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 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

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 No condemnation.

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 But gee, if we're going to actually even get through that verse, I think one of the things that we do as a culture at the moment is we kind of skirt around condemnation.

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 If we stay far enough away from it, it's okay.

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 We can read that verse through and then swallow it.

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 But if we get anywhere near the word condemnation, I think we really struggle.

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 See, I'm amazed.

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 I'll try not to slip into a rant here.

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 You know, I'm 50 now.

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 It's starting to come up in me.

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 But there was a time when truth used to come from outside of yourself.

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 There was a time when everyone agreed on what truth was and what right and wrong was.

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 I remember as a child, if I disobeyed, if I broke one of these rules, it didn't matter who caught me up, they would give me a clip around the ear.

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 If I complained to my parents, they would give me another one because they were pretty sure that that first person was right.

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 Now, in my case, maybe that was more often than perhaps it was for you.

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 But that's the reality of things.

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 There was this sense of what is right and what is wrong.

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 And it was understood to be out there, to be out there, to be objective, to be something we could refer to and that everyone in society could refer to as well.

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 Well, now we have a name for people who have that kind of view of the world.

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 We call them old.

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 But here's the problem.

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 You see, that old view is kind of the view that's actually represented by the Ancient of Days, our God.

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 That expectation that there is an objective truth in the world.

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 We've moved to this place where we've actually internalised where we find truth.

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 So we look inside ourselves when we were looking for truth.

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 What that looks like, for example, is that when I'm trying to work out what's right and wrong in my life, I look inside myself and I decide, well, what feels best for me?

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 What do I think will best serve my purposes?

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 What do I think will actually best give me a sense of enjoyment and fulfilment?

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 I want to tell you something up front.

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 Because this concept of pursuing wholeheartedly what I think, I feel or I desire is a really thorny one.

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 If we go down that path, it's a really thorny one on two counts.

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 First, in the direction that it can lead.

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 And second, I think if we go down this path, it's a very hard path to see that we're on.

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 When I judge the world and my own behaviour within it, how I interact within it, on the basis of what I find within, it is very hard for me to see when I'm going wrong.

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 In fact, I'd go so far as to say this, if you are sinning, if you are sinning and you're not enjoying it, you're doing it wrong.

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 So if I'm actually looking internally to find that compass that will actually help to direct me through life, I'm going to really struggle.

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 I'm going to really struggle with how I live.

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 This issue of condemnation, I've got to keep that way away from me.

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 Because it confronts me.

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 But the problem that we have is that we're left in this nebulous place of existence where, man, we don't want people to say that there's something to be condemned.

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 But we really, really want to have some kind of direction in life.

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 We want to know what it means for there now to be no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

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 What does that look like, lived out?

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 That sounds like a passing.

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 What does it look like, lived out?

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 And what happens as we go into verses 5 to 13 is we actually find out what it actually looks like to live it out.

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 Verses 1 to 4 go on to unpack this issue of no condemnation.

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 The removal of condemnation in Christ bit.

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 It unpacks what it, this passage that we're about to go into, unpacks what it means to be in Christ Jesus in an ongoing sense.

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 And as it does, it builds and strengthens the assurance available to us in Christ through the Holy Spirit.

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 Last week, new life in Christ Jesus.

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 This week, new life in the Holy Spirit.

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 Notice that salvation is a Trinitarian work and we'll see this as the Son, then the Father this week, and then the Spirit this week, and then the Father next week.

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 Father, Son, and Spirit are wholeheartedly involved in saving us.

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 Only in Christ are we set free from condemnation and only through the Spirit is this freedom applied to us.

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 In a real and tangible and meaningful sense.

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 So let's look at how Paul does this, because what he does is he actually presents us with a comparison.

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 It begins in verses 5 and 6.

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 Paul has already introduced the role of the Spirit in verse 2.

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 The Spirit applies the truth of the Gospel to us.

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 We'll unpack that a little bit more in a moment.

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 But here in verse 5, what Paul does is he compares flesh and Spirit to show how that role works.

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 He says these words,

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 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.

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 But those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

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 Now, to understand what Paul means here, we need to understand the terms Paul uses.

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 When he says to live according to, he doesn't mean the things that you do in life.

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 He means who you are.

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 The Greek word that Paul uses here for live means to be.

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 It means my life, who I am, what I live for, my foundation for existence.

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 And ultimately, it's a comparison here between life according to the flesh on the one hand, or not Christian,

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 and life according to the Spirit on the other hand, or Christian.

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 He takes life according to the flesh first.

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 Let's start there.

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 Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.

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 Those who live according to the flesh are those who live for themselves.

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 It's when I define myself by who I am, and what I think, and what I feel, and what I desire.

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 It's life apart from God.

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 And living according to the flesh can look like one of two paths.

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 Rebellious, which I think is easy to see.

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 Or religious, which is really interesting because it actually looks very much like the Christian life that we should be living.

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 Let's start and have a look at these then.

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 So the rebellious life.

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 And think too, as Paul is actually speaking to the Roman church,

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 where he's trying to dovetail two different people groups, in the Jews and the Gentiles,

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 coming into one family, one church.

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 Think of how he's drawing these two groups in, and which group these particular groups might represent,

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 rebellious or religious.

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 But think also about ourselves.

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 Let's think about ourselves and how we actually fit into this too.

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 You see, when we talk about rebellious, I think we get what rebellious is.

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 And Paul describes his pathway in Romans 1, verse 18 and following.

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 So you can go and look back at that and get a sense of what it's like.

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 It's basically, in a nutshell, those who actively turn their backs on God.

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 Those who reject the truth.

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 Those who choose to pursue a life that conflicts with God's rule and plan and design.

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 But what it looks like in their minds is not actually a form of rebellion,

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 but a form of pursuit, of fullness of life.

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 A rebel pursues the life that they decide is fruitful.

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 And in terms of wondering, well, how does this actually work?

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 How do I know when this is the path I'm on?

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 Well, let me just suggest this.

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 That people on this path struggle with criticism.

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 Now, everyone struggles with criticism, but let's actually unpack why they struggle with criticism.

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 They struggle because they reject anyone else's right to judge them.

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 If that's the kind of thing that wells up in your heart, hang on a minute.

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 I'm me.

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 I get to choose who me is.

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 How dare you confront or challenge or rebuke me for being me?

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 The religious person, as I said, is slightly different and harder to see.

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 They also struggle with criticism, but we'll come up to that in a moment.

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 The religious person, in fact, it's even possible for us, for some of us here,

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 to think that we're Christians, but be in this camp of religious person.

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 Paul describes a religious pathway in Romans 2, verses 12 and following,

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 as he addresses the Jews.

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 There it's the Jews who obey the Mosaic law zealously,

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 but reject God's offer of salvation through his son when he comes.

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 A religious person pursues God by living the life that they think is worthy.

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 They try really hard to be a good person because it's this goodness,

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 this goodness in their life that determines how good their relationship with God is.

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 And as I've said, people on this path, they also struggle with criticism.

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 But they react badly for a different reason.

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 They react badly because their spiritual identity is defined by how they live.

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 They're chipping away at the very foundation that they're using to build on to move closer to God.

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 If we're going down the religious pathway, we'll also be prone to hiding our flaws

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 and judging others.

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 Not to help them, not to speak truth into their lives,

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 but to rank them on a scale of goodness.

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 Because the religious person builds a sense of spiritual superiority over others

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 on the basis of their goodness.

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 So as Paul speaks of those who are in the flesh,

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 we need to remember that he actually has both the rebellious on the one hand

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 and the religious on the other, both groups in his sights.

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 The rebel abandons God and pursues the life that they decide is fruitful.

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 The religious person pursues God by living a life that they think is worthy.

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 But both reject Christ

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 because both are building their foundation on the flesh.

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 Those who are in the flesh, on the one hand,

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 are not grounded in Christ.

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 But those who live according to the Spirit

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 are grounded in Christ.

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 Paul goes on to say,

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 those who live according to the Spirit

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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

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 Now Paul isn't saying to switch your brains off here

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 just so you understand.

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 You know that old let go and let God type thing,

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 kind of get in touch with our spiritual side.

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 As far as I'm concerned,

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 that's not far off a Christianized version of the Ouija board.

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 What Paul is saying here is actually the opposite.

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 Focus on what the Spirit is doing

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 and get in step with it.

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 Cooperate.

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 Be a part of it.

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 Cheer the Spirit on.

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 My first trip to England,

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 I was about 15, I think I was,

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 when we went across to England.

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 And it was my brother and I who went to visit our relatives

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 who we'd not seen.

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 My parents are English.

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 They brought us out here.

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 Anyway, so I went back to visit my grandparents

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 and my cousins and all that sort of thing.

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 And I had a great opportunity to go and watch Sheffield Wednesday.

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 My family team,

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 the team that my family has supported for generations,

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 to go and watch Sheffield Wednesday play at Liverpool,

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 against Liverpool,

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 at Liverpool,

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 at Anfield Road.

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 Now the thing was,

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 Sheffield Wednesday back then was a decent team.

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 There were lots of people supporting it.

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 And you only get a little thin wedge of supporters

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 if you're playing away.

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 So you've got to get in early to get your tickets.

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 We didn't get a ticket in that area.

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 The only way we could get a ticket

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 was to buy one in the Liverpool area.

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 And so what that meant was,

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 we turned up wearing absolutely no team colours.

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 And when we walked in,

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 we discovered that that made us obvious.

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 That demonstrated exactly who we were supporting.

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 Because we turned up and we walked into the ground

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 and there was this thin wedge of blue and white,

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 surrounded by a sea of red.

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 And there we were in neutral clothes,

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 just jeans and a jumper.

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 Everyone knew what we'd done.

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 We were sitting amongst these guys.

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 The score was two all.

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 At one point,

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 I actually jumped to cheer one of the goals

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 and my brother grabbed the back of my jumper

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 and pulled me back into my seat.

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 Because he didn't want me to give away

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 who I was barracking for.

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 Man.

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 When we get a sense of what's going on here,

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 what Paul is saying is,

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 those who live according to the Spirit

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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

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 He's saying,

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 get on God's side,

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 get on with seeing what the Spirit is doing

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 and cheer Him on

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 as He transforms your life.

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 So what is the Spirit doing?

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 Well, as I said earlier,

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 just a few verses earlier in chapter 8, verse 2,

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 Paul tells us.

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 Here Paul speaks of the law of the Spirit of life

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 setting us free.

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 Now, law in the Bible,

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 even in Romans,

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 can refer to rules,

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 like the Old Testament law,

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 or it can refer to a binding power or authority.

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 And here, in this verse,

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 Paul is saying that the Spirit

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 has that binding power or authority

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 to set us free in Christ.

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 He doesn't introduce a new law that we have to obey,

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 a new rule we have to obey,

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 but he actually represents that power

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 that can liberate us.

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 The Spirit applies the gospel of Jesus Christ

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 to our lives.

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 The Spirit sets us free from condemnation in Christ.

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 That's the work of the Spirit

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 that Paul has in mind here.

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 And what does that look like?

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 Well, it looks like this.

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 The Spirit shows us ourselves

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 and how far we have fallen short

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 of God's righteousness.

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 That's a hard thing to hear

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 if we're defining right and wrong for ourselves.

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 But here's the thing that,

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 this is something that Spurgeon said,

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 which I think is really helpful.

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 He said this,

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 If any man thinks ill of you,

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 do not be angry with him,

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:06.700
 for you are worse than he thinks you to be.

00:17:09.580 --> 00:17:11.680
 Those who live according to the Spirit

00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:13.880
 know the truth of this.

00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:16.860
 They know they are far worse

00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:18.820
 than anyone around them will ever realize.

00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:19.940
 They are far worse

00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:21.880
 than they themselves will realize.

00:17:24.020 --> 00:17:25.540
 This is part of the work of the Spirit,

00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.980
 but the Spirit doesn't stop there.

00:17:27.260 --> 00:17:29.320
 He rebuilds our foundation on Christ.

00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:31.520
 There is no condemnation for us.

00:17:32.780 --> 00:17:33.740
 It's not that we escape

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.600
 or that we're let off.

00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:37.220
 It's that our sin has been punished already.

00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:40.420
 The law has been fulfilled,

00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:41.580
 we read in verse 4.

00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:44.419
 Now David described last week

00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:45.460
 how our sin can undermine

00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.619
 our assurance of salvation.

00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.399
 Big sins in the past,

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.039
 he described,

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:50.779
 that we still feel the shame of

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:53.720
 as they come into our consciousness.

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:56.819
 Persistent sins that we can't get rid of.

00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:00.619
 But nothing we have done

00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:03.319
 or are doing or will do

00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:06.379
 can condemn us

00:18:06.379 --> 00:18:10.559
 because the Spirit is bringing us to life.

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:13.079
 Through the power of the Gospel,

00:18:13.199 --> 00:18:14.859
 he's applying that power to us.

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:20.960
 So for those who live according to the Spirit,

00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:24.339
 life begins now.

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:28.220
 Enjoying the reality of life and peace with God

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:30.039
 begins now.

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:34.099
 And it's a life we're called to participate in.

00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:38.559
 Now there's these two ways of living

00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.539
 that Paul's described here

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.480
 that he's contrasted.

00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:42.179
 And then he goes on to look at the outcomes

00:18:42.179 --> 00:18:42.859
 of those ways.

00:18:42.919 --> 00:18:44.379
 And these are quite confronting again

00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:46.959
 for however we approach life.

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.699
 These are challenging.

00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:50.839
 See, two different lives

00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:52.299
 build on two different foundations,

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:55.079
 both with very different outcomes.

00:18:56.439 --> 00:18:58.019
 Because, as Paul goes on to say,

00:18:58.019 --> 00:19:00.539
 those in the flesh cannot please God.

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.839
 And those in the Spirit

00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:05.119
 receive new life.

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:09.139
 In the flesh,

00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:10.480
 Paul continues in verse 7,

00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:12.339
 for the mind that is set on the flesh

00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:13.240
 is hostile to God,

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.940
 for it does not submit to God's law.

00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:16.059
 Indeed, it cannot.

00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:19.039
 Those who are in the flesh

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:21.220
 cannot please God.

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:26.240
 The mind set on the flesh

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:28.900
 is hostile to God.

00:19:30.600 --> 00:19:31.519
 Please notice,

00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:34.000
 there is no Switzerland here.

00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.819
 In this age of tolerance,

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.120
 I don't think we like to think of ourselves

00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:39.759
 as hostile to anyone,

00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.500
 but we are.

00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:43.259
 We're hostile to anyone

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.960
 who takes away our freedom

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.819
 to think and do what we want.

00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:50.039
 But think about it.

00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.519
 This is something that Abraham Kuyper

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:54.279
 once said.

00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:57.899
 He describes the sovereignty of God

00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:59.039
 over us in this way.

00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:01.440
 There is not one square inch

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.319
 in the whole domain

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.359
 of our human existence

00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.539
 over which Christ,

00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:06.639
 who is sovereign over all,

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.659
 does not cry,

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.619
 mine.

00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.799
 Don't you find that

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.859
 just a little bit jarring?

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.940
 I cannot even keep

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:18.940
 one part of me back from God.

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:21.799
 I can't compartmentalise

00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.820
 just one little bit of me

00:20:22.820 --> 00:20:23.500
 and say that's mine,

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:25.039
 that's how I'm going to live

00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.360
 in that part of my life,

00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.700
 but everything else God can have.

00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.480
 I can't do that

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:32.000
 because it's all God's.

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.500
 And when I try to hold back,

00:20:34.580 --> 00:20:36.160
 I'm actually stealing from him.

00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.380
 Now guys,

00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.779
 we know stealing is a crime.

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.380
 You know,

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:42.440
 we can acknowledge that.

00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:44.100
 But hostility,

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.440
 I think that's something

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.220
 entirely different

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.299
 that we really struggle with.

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.740
 It means being enemies,

00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:50.099
 like two countries fighting.

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.579
 That's what the word,

00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:52.879
 the Greek word means here.

00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:57.000
 And even as we understand fighting,

00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.099
 when two countries fight,

00:20:58.159 --> 00:20:58.839
 we understand that

00:20:58.839 --> 00:21:00.079
 when enemy fighters are captured,

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.799
 they're treated according

00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:02.779
 to the Geneva Convention.

00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:03.839
 They're locked up,

00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:04.659
 but they're cared for.

00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:08.079
 But that's enemy fighters.

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:11.799
 When a member of a country

00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:13.419
 at war

00:21:13.419 --> 00:21:15.199
 chooses to fight

00:21:15.199 --> 00:21:16.720
 against their own country,

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:20.460
 they're not called prisoners of war.

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:23.119
 They're called traitors.

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:26.079
 And what we do with traitors

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.679
 is entirely different.

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:29.919
 Traitors,

00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:31.899
 in the last great war,

00:21:32.679 --> 00:21:33.639
 were executed.

00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:36.580
 Now,

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.180
 Kuyper says,

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.480
 we are gods.

00:21:40.020 --> 00:21:42.000
 So if we go to war against God,

00:21:42.060 --> 00:21:43.060
 we aren't just rebels.

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:46.080
 We are traitors.

00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.560
 We have betrayed

00:21:48.560 --> 00:21:49.780
 our rightful king.

00:21:51.060 --> 00:21:52.720
 Whether openly rebellious

00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:54.600
 or religiously zealous,

00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:56.380
 those who are in the flesh

00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:57.700
 cannot please God.

00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.560
 Because they've rejected

00:21:59.560 --> 00:22:00.620
 their rightful king.

00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.900
 They've switched sides.

00:22:02.300 --> 00:22:02.960
 Worse than enemies,

00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:04.420
 they are traitors.

00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.539
 But, says Paul,

00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.720
 in verse 9,

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.579
 the ray of light shines in.

00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:13.700
 But, says Paul,

00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:15.480
 you are different.

00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:17.840
 Let's look at verse 9.

00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:19.759
 You, however,

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:21.079
 are not in the flesh,

00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:21.940
 but in the spirit,

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.840
 if in fact the spirit of God

00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:24.559
 dwells in you.

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.340
 Anyone who does not have

00:22:26.340 --> 00:22:27.180
 the spirit of Christ

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.180
 does not belong to him.

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.779
 The language here

00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:33.779
 of not being in the flesh,

00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.639
 but in the spirit,

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.619
 is about identity.

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.019
 To be in the spirit

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:39.599
 is to absolutely identify

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:41.119
 with the spirit.

00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:43.759
 It's an all-in commitment.

00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:46.660
 And the mind-boggling thing here

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.579
 is that it's mutual.

00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.799
 I love the way that

00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:50.740
 Sam told the kids' story

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.299
 this morning

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.879
 about the spirit

00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:54.099
 moving into the house.

00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:57.500
 It's mutual.

00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:58.319
 You and I

00:22:58.319 --> 00:23:00.719
 are in the spirit.

00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:01.799
 And,

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:04.039
 the spirit of God

00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:05.059
 dwells in us.

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:07.619
 Christ is in you.

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.599
 And Paul goes on to say

00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.159
 in verse 10

00:23:12.159 --> 00:23:12.899
 that there's some implications

00:23:12.899 --> 00:23:13.359
 to that.

00:23:13.719 --> 00:23:15.359
 But if Christ is in you,

00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:16.679
 although the body is dead

00:23:16.679 --> 00:23:17.539
 because of sin,

00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:19.299
 the spirit is life

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.779
 because of righteousness.

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:24.579
 If the spirit is in you,

00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:25.660
 if Christ is in you,

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:27.259
 then he's for you.

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.399
 That first trip

00:23:30.399 --> 00:23:30.980
 back to England

00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.700
 that I got to go

00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.680
 and watch that football match,

00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.660
 I was on the sides,

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:35.240
 you know,

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:35.960
 wanting to barrack

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:37.279
 with all my heart.

00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:39.519
 But the crazy thing is

00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:41.779
 the God whose power

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:43.079
 is at work in my life

00:23:43.079 --> 00:23:45.059
 is barracking for me.

00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:48.359
 He loves me dearly.

00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:50.299
 He wants to promote

00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.539
 good in my life.

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:57.319
 The Holy Spirit

00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:59.059
 is working zealously

00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.740
 for me.

00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.719
 All the time

00:24:01.719 --> 00:24:03.019
 applying the gospel

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.599
 to me.

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.919
 Now,

00:24:06.459 --> 00:24:08.339
 when I remember

00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:09.479
 that sin that I regret,

00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:12.079
 and you'll know this,

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.740
 you'll know this experience,

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.279
 I'm sure.

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:14.740
 You know,

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.219
 the memories

00:24:15.219 --> 00:24:16.339
 that you hide from people

00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:17.039
 that you don't tell

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:18.299
 even your closest friends.

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:20.039
 The ones that cause you

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:21.199
 to well up with shame.

00:24:24.439 --> 00:24:25.319
 When I remember

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.139
 that kind of sin,

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.379
 and I wonder

00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:29.079
 if I can even

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.899
 be a Christian,

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:33.339
 it's the Spirit

00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:35.079
 who reminds me

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.099
 that God

00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:37.439
 has already condemned

00:24:37.439 --> 00:24:38.539
 that sin on the cross.

00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.419
 It's real,

00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:42.479
 but it's paid for,

00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:43.599
 and I'm free.

00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:48.139
 And when I get caught up

00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:49.319
 in that same weakness

00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:49.939
 again,

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.619
 and again,

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.659
 and again,

00:24:54.659 --> 00:24:55.959
 and the last place

00:24:55.959 --> 00:24:57.879
 I feel I can go to,

00:24:57.939 --> 00:24:58.519
 the last person

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.139
 I feel I can get

00:24:59.139 --> 00:24:59.859
 anywhere near to

00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.439
 is God.

00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:03.099
 The Spirit draws me

00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:04.059
 back to the gospel.

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:06.079
 The Holy Spirit

00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.899
 is there in me

00:25:06.899 --> 00:25:07.179
 saying,

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:07.779
 in Christ,

00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:08.559
 you're forgiven.

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:08.700
 children,

00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.019
 child,

00:25:10.399 --> 00:25:11.379
 you are mine.

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.779
 God already knows

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.899
 who his precious children are.

00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.960
 It's us who have to realize

00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:20.179
 who he is as our Father.

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:26.060
 The Spirit of God

00:25:26.060 --> 00:25:26.860
 is not idle.

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.160
 He is constantly

00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.320
 applying the gospel

00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:30.500
 to my sinful soul.

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.980
 But the Spirit

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.740
 doesn't just

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:36.120
 push back death

00:25:36.120 --> 00:25:37.680
 or push back

00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.400
 condemnation.

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:38.860
 The Spirit

00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:40.100
 brings life.

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.840
 Paul goes on

00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:42.820
 to say in verse 11,

00:25:42.820 --> 00:25:44.039
 If the Spirit

00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:45.060
 of him who raised

00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:46.000
 Jesus from the dead

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.759
 dwells in you,

00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.720
 he who raised

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.380
 Christ Jesus

00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:48.880
 from the dead

00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:50.140
 will also give life

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:51.160
 to your mortal bodies

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.500
 through his Spirit

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.960
 who dwells in you.

00:25:56.040 --> 00:25:56.940
 The Spirit

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:58.240
 gives life

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:59.440
 to our mortal bodies.

00:26:00.280 --> 00:26:00.920
 Let's be clear,

00:26:01.020 --> 00:26:01.880
 we're going to continue

00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:02.740
 to age and die

00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.980
 this side of Christ's return.

00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:07.680
 Paul says in verse 10

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.500
 that we will continue

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.240
 to age and die

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:11.180
 in the flesh.

00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:14.080
 And we do that

00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:14.740
 because our bodies

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.620
 are dead because of sin.

00:26:17.060 --> 00:26:17.980
 Spoiler alert though,

00:26:18.020 --> 00:26:18.840
 there is a time coming

00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:19.520
 when even the dead

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.980
 even that death

00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.859
 will be rolled back.

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:22.720
 It's coming up

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.339
 in a couple of weeks.

00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:24.440
 I think David's got that one,

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.019
 that passage.

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.379
 So,

00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:30.619
 we will continue

00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.440
 to age and die

00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:33.119
 but he also says

00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:33.599
 that the Spirit

00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:34.920
 will bring life now.

00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:36.960
 And I'm going to suggest

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.420
 to you

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.400
 that this means

00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.680
 we are being transformed

00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.519
 now.

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.019
 That new life

00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:44.059
 that we will experience

00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:44.579
 in fullness

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.180
 at some point

00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:45.680
 in the future

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.879
 is breaking in

00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:47.580
 here and now.

00:26:48.540 --> 00:26:49.240
 This life

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.580
 the Spirit

00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:50.600
 gives us now

00:26:50.600 --> 00:26:53.400
 is to put to death

00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:54.800
 the deeds

00:26:54.800 --> 00:26:55.360
 of the body

00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:56.960
 in verse 13.

00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:58.000
 Let's read those verses

00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.240
 out,

00:26:58.300 --> 00:26:59.060
 12 and 13.

00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.120
 So then,

00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:00.480
 brothers,

00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.300
 Paul concludes,

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.560
 we are debtors

00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:03.740
 not to the flesh

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.280
 to live according

00:27:04.280 --> 00:27:04.920
 to the flesh

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.660
 for if you're living

00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:06.580
 according to the flesh

00:27:06.580 --> 00:27:07.180
 you will die.

00:27:08.020 --> 00:27:09.120
 But if by the Spirit

00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:09.860
 you put to death

00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:10.600
 the deeds of the body

00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:11.400
 you will live.

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:14.800
 here's the partnership

00:27:14.800 --> 00:27:16.360
 that means

00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:17.019
 we participate

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.680
 in this.

00:27:18.080 --> 00:27:18.820
 We are involved

00:27:18.820 --> 00:27:19.640
 in setting our minds

00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.060
 on the things

00:27:20.060 --> 00:27:20.600
 of the Spirit.

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.560
 The Spirit is at work

00:27:21.560 --> 00:27:21.920
 in us.

00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.780
 He calls us

00:27:23.780 --> 00:27:24.759
 to actually get involved

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.820
 in what he's doing.

00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:27.900
 We're also involved

00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.840
 in putting to death

00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:29.759
 the old ways

00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.480
 of the flesh.

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.120
 But it's the Spirit

00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:33.480
 that leads this process.

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:35.160
 It's in his power

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:37.000
 that it's accomplished.

00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.500
 And how does he do this?

00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:39.780
 Well,

00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:41.119
 the Spirit exposes

00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:42.200
 our flaws to us.

00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.519
 He teaches us

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.059
 how the Gospel

00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:45.079
 redeems us

00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.119
 from the guilt

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.639
 and shame

00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.379
 of those flaws.

00:27:47.639 --> 00:27:48.319
 And he replaces

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.099
 our old mindset

00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:50.000
 with a new mindset.

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.480
 He transforms us

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.720
 into something better

00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:54.500
 than we could ever

00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:55.279
 conceive

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.299
 alone.

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.480
 I've got to say

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.279
 this here and now

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.339
 that I don't fully

00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.200
 appreciate what the

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:03.200
 Gospel is doing in me.

00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.519
 I can't see

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.339
 what I'm to be

00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:11.279
 because I've never

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.759
 seen it.

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.039
 I need the Spirit

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:17.519
 to do this work

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:17.839
 in me.

00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:22.179
 Our families

00:28:22.179 --> 00:28:23.339
 are fans of

00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:24.399
 a TV show

00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:24.859
 called

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:26.199
 Antiques Roadshow.

00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:28.799
 Perhaps more so

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.539
 because we're flying

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:29.939
 out to England

00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:30.500
 next week

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.919
 and so

00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:32.619
 Joe and I

00:28:32.619 --> 00:28:33.000
 are getting

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:34.119
 re-acclimatised

00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.740
 to the accents

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.679
 in the countryside

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:37.580
 and anticipating

00:28:37.580 --> 00:28:41.420
 our holiday

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:42.680
 and we're kind of

00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.140
 in that point.

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:43.720
 We're not counting

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.000
 down,

00:28:44.060 --> 00:28:44.360
 although it's

00:28:44.360 --> 00:28:45.340
 eight days

00:28:45.340 --> 00:28:45.920
 and seven hours

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.740
 before we fly out.

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.820
 No, we're not

00:28:47.820 --> 00:28:48.759
 counting down the days

00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.880
 but certainly

00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.900
 as we approach

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:52.039
 going back home

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.519
 we start to think

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.220
 about things of England

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.920
 and there's this one

00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:55.840
 particular Antiques

00:28:55.840 --> 00:28:56.560
 Roadshow episode

00:28:56.560 --> 00:28:57.140
 that was really

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:57.640
 interesting.

00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:58.440
 You see,

00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.120
 they introduced me

00:28:59.120 --> 00:28:59.860
 to this concept

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:01.279
 or this craft

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.679
 called

00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:02.719
 Kintsugi.

00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:03.959
 I don't know

00:29:03.959 --> 00:29:04.299
 if you've heard

00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:04.719
 of this

00:29:04.719 --> 00:29:05.879
 but it's a

00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:06.459
 centuries old

00:29:06.459 --> 00:29:07.159
 Japanese art

00:29:07.159 --> 00:29:07.679
 of fixing

00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:08.479
 broken pottery

00:29:08.479 --> 00:29:09.819
 with a special

00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:10.279
 lacquer

00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:11.939
 basically mixed

00:29:11.939 --> 00:29:12.740
 with gold powder.

00:29:14.979 --> 00:29:15.939
 Beautiful seams

00:29:15.939 --> 00:29:16.740
 of gold

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.539
 glint

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.759
 in the cracks

00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.199
 as you can see

00:29:19.199 --> 00:29:19.799
 up on the pictures

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.119
 here

00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:20.959
 of ceramic

00:29:20.959 --> 00:29:21.419
 where once

00:29:21.419 --> 00:29:21.759
 they've been

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.119
 broken

00:29:22.119 --> 00:29:23.319
 is how they

00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:23.879
 fixed them.

00:29:25.159 --> 00:29:25.639
 They give

00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:26.199
 a unique

00:29:26.199 --> 00:29:26.679
 appearance

00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:27.199
 to every

00:29:27.199 --> 00:29:27.979
 single piece.

00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:31.379
 This repair

00:29:31.379 --> 00:29:31.919
 method

00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:33.339
 actually

00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:34.679
 celebrates

00:29:34.679 --> 00:29:36.279
 each pot's

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:37.379
 unique history

00:29:37.379 --> 00:29:39.359
 by emphasising

00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:40.219
 its fractures

00:29:40.219 --> 00:29:41.139
 and breaks

00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:42.599
 instead of

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:43.439
 disguising them

00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:44.519
 as had been

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:44.879
 the case

00:29:44.879 --> 00:29:45.639
 in the past.

00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.219
 Kintsugi

00:29:47.219 --> 00:29:47.740
 often makes

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.459
 a repaired piece

00:29:48.459 --> 00:29:49.379
 even more

00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:49.919
 beautiful

00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:51.339
 than the original.

00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:53.759
 Revitalising

00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.240
 it with new

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.740
 life

00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:56.240
 is what

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.919
 they're aiming

00:29:56.919 --> 00:29:57.319
 for.

00:29:57.319 --> 00:30:00.559
 Friends

00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:00.799
 we

00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:02.779
 we boast

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.039
 in our

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.480
 strengths

00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:03.899
 so when I

00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:04.240
 talk about

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.500
 the role

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:04.740
 of the

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.000
 spirit

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.299
 and actually

00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:05.839
 showing us

00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.419
 our weaknesses

00:30:06.419 --> 00:30:06.980
 and

00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:08.379
 transforming

00:30:08.379 --> 00:30:09.259
 those things

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.099
 towards God's

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.919
 likeness

00:30:10.919 --> 00:30:12.599
 I don't think

00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:12.879
 that's a

00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:13.220
 particularly

00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.039
 welcome thing.

00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:17.700
 We boast

00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.000
 in our

00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.519
 strengths

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:21.599
 whether it

00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:22.500
 be religiously

00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:24.000
 or because

00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.740
 we've chosen

00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.339
 those things

00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:25.980
 to be the

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.339
 defining

00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:26.960
 characteristics

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.360
 of our

00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:27.799
 lives

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:30.180
 but the

00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:30.759
 spirit

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:32.420
 works

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.279
 on our

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:33.860
 weaknesses

00:30:33.860 --> 00:30:36.099
 those cracks

00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:38.039
 those imperfections

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:39.019
 the things

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.880
 we hide

00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:42.319
 are showing

00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.000
 the gospel

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:44.599
 far better

00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:45.440
 than our

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:46.059
 best efforts

00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.720
 to be good

00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.440
 ever could.

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:50.279
 We boast

00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:50.579
 in our

00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:51.200
 strengths

00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:52.759
 the spirit

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.120
 will have

00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:53.279
 us

00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.660
 boasting

00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:54.039
 in what

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.319
 God

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:54.920
 can do

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.299
 with our

00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:55.779
 weaknesses

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:57.220
 breathing

00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:57.940
 new life

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.539
 into us

00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.160
 turning

00:30:59.160 --> 00:30:59.559
 those

00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:00.580
 areas

00:31:00.580 --> 00:31:00.880
 that were

00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:01.299
 just such

00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:02.600
 a source

00:31:02.600 --> 00:31:02.960
 of guilt

00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.380
 and shame

00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:04.019
 to us

00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:05.340
 transforming

00:31:05.340 --> 00:31:06.059
 those areas

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:07.319
 into pure

00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:07.980
 gold

00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:12.460
 in his

00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:12.960
 hands

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:14.200
 our

00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:14.960
 brokenness

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.400
 is turned

00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:15.640
 into

00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:16.079
 beauty

00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:18.200
 and

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:18.720
 nothing

00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.620
 commends

00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:20.140
 the gospel

00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:20.579
 to me

00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.380
 more than

00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.019
 seeing that

00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.360
 at work

00:31:22.360 --> 00:31:22.720
 in my

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.079
 life

00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.960
 and seeing

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.339
 it at work

00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:24.680
 in your

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.120
 lives

00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:27.519
 this is

00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:28.140
 the assurance

00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:28.680
 that Paul

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.420
 offers us

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:31.059
 the God

00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:31.620
 who so

00:31:31.620 --> 00:31:32.059
 identifies

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.720
 with us

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.480
 that he

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:33.960
 not only

00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.519
 dies

00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:34.839
 in our

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.200
 place

00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.059
 but dwells

00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:36.519
 in us

00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:38.460
 and as he

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.980
 dwells in us

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.660
 he transforms

00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.319
 us

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.299
 into something

00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:41.759
 far more

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.039
 beautiful

00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:42.360
 than we've

00:31:42.360 --> 00:31:42.819
 ever seen

00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:43.240
 before

00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:48.920
 and he

00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:49.500
 does this

00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.680
 the last

00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.000
 way

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.839
 we would

00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:52.120
 want him

00:31:52.120 --> 00:31:52.299
 to

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:54.839
 he exposes

00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.500
 our flaws

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:57.339
 and cleanses

00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:57.600
 them

00:31:57.600 --> 00:31:59.600
 and transforms

00:31:59.600 --> 00:32:00.380
 them into his

00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:00.960
 beautiful

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.579
 likeness

00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:03.019
 through the

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.359
 power of

00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:03.779
 the gospel

00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:06.859
 friends

00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:07.579
 that spirit

00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.819
 is at work

00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:09.319
 in you

00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:12.199
 let's pray

00:32:12.199 --> 00:32:20.579
 father god we

00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.279
 don't know what

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.099
 perfection looks

00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:22.519
 like because

00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:22.980
 none of us

00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:24.539
 have achieved

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.220
 it so

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.000
 none of us

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.259
 have ever

00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.679
 seen it

00:32:26.679 --> 00:32:30.839
 but we

00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:31.359
 do know

00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:32.519
 through your

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:32.919
 word

00:32:32.919 --> 00:32:34.059
 that you

00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.819
 are perfect

00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:35.779
 and you

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.059
 have

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.679
 demonstrated

00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:37.139
 it

00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:40.179
 not only

00:32:40.179 --> 00:32:40.439
 have you

00:32:40.439 --> 00:32:40.879
 demonstrated

00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:41.259
 but you've

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:41.979
 invited us

00:32:41.979 --> 00:32:42.479
 into your

00:32:42.479 --> 00:32:43.000
 presence

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:45.259
 cleansing us

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.319
 from unrighteousness

00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:47.199
 not just

00:32:47.199 --> 00:32:47.619
 legally

00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:49.799
 so that we're

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.059
 no longer

00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.599
 condemned

00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.759
 but day

00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.639
 by day

00:32:52.639 --> 00:32:54.579
 purifying

00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:54.879
 us

00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.599
 returning us

00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.159
 and restoring

00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:56.619
 us

00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:57.919
 to the way

00:32:57.919 --> 00:32:58.179
 we were

00:32:58.179 --> 00:32:58.919
 intended to be

00:32:58.919 --> 00:32:59.539
 to just

00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.199
 display your

00:33:00.199 --> 00:33:00.740
 likeness to

00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:01.180
 the world

00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:04.160
 but I

00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.620
 pray that

00:33:04.620 --> 00:33:04.900
 you would

00:33:04.900 --> 00:33:05.579
 help us

00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:06.839
 by your

00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.279
 spirit

00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:08.720
 to build

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.259
 our lives

00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:09.519
 on the

00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:09.859
 truth of

00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.400
 the gospel

00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:12.640
 and not

00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:12.920
 in the

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.259
 hope

00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:14.359
 that we

00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:14.640
 can in

00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:15.240
 any way

00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.960
 approach

00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:17.359
 you through

00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:17.819
 anything we

00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.440
 do

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:20.460
 father god

00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:25.039
 show us

00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:25.559
 the goodness

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:27.559
 in jesus

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:27.919
 name

00:33:27.919 --> 00:33:28.859
 amen