WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:08.679 A while back, I saw an interview with Matt Damon, and he was talking about how he basically 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:10.120 only does action movies now. 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:17.740 And the reason why, I never really knew he did anything but action movies, but he used 00:00:17.740 --> 00:00:18.920 to do, I guess, non-action movies. 00:00:18.980 --> 00:00:25.039 But why he only does action movies now is because with streaming services, people go 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:30.899 to the movies primarily to see action and big special effects, big kind of epics. 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:33.140 And those are the movies that make money. 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:40.500 So it's changed the industry for him and the industry in general. 00:00:40.500 --> 00:00:50.060 And it just got me thinking about how the majority of movies that are in the theaters, there 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:56.660 are fantasy or superhero movies or some kind of big epic good versus evil. 00:00:56.800 --> 00:01:03.719 And oftentimes, the plot surrounds a villain who tries to become some kind of all-powerful 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:05.859 being or a god-like person. 00:01:06.460 --> 00:01:07.320 That's pretty common. 00:01:10.320 --> 00:01:16.680 Never in those movies is a villain satisfied with anything but taking over the entire world 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:18.700 or the entire galaxy or whatever it may be. 00:01:20.060 --> 00:01:27.280 In every case, when those finite characters seek to become like the infinite god, nothing 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:28.180 goes well. 00:01:28.579 --> 00:01:35.920 They don't become loving and benevolent or just, but rather evil, maniacal, and tyrannical. 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:38.900 Power corrupts, and so it does. 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:42.520 And this is a case in our world as well. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:49.700 Idiomin, he was the ruler of Uganda for years. 00:01:50.060 --> 00:01:56.299 He came with promise, left, and they called him the Hitler of Africa. 00:01:58.280 --> 00:01:59.719 Power corrupts. 00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:01.020 It's never enough. 00:02:01.820 --> 00:02:06.260 And regular people become tyrants when regular people try to become like gods. 00:02:07.420 --> 00:02:09.680 Human beings ought not to become gods. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:18.540 It's something that is germane and key all throughout the Bible whenever human beings fashion themselves 00:02:18.540 --> 00:02:21.260 as God's bad things happen. 00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:25.319 So what do we make of God becoming man? 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:31.919 If humans shouldn't become God, what happens when God becomes man? 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.259 And this is what Christmas is about, the incarnation. 00:02:34.859 --> 00:02:39.280 God, the Son of God, the eternal Word, being made flesh. 00:02:40.239 --> 00:02:43.859 He doesn't cease to be God, but he becomes fully man. 00:02:43.860 --> 00:02:51.900 I bring this up as just a bit of a background because the 4th century church father, Athanasius, 00:02:52.140 --> 00:02:53.820 wrote a small book. 00:02:53.920 --> 00:02:54.920 It's worth your time. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:56.440 Maybe you read it every year. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:57.440 It's excellent. 00:02:57.580 --> 00:03:04.960 Apart from scripture, it is the most thorough and worthwhile examination of the incarnation. 00:03:05.480 --> 00:03:07.100 It's actually called On the Incarnation. 00:03:07.099 --> 00:03:15.000 And among other things that Athanasius says, he says a very provocative and scandalous line. 00:03:15.079 --> 00:03:15.659 He says this, 00:03:16.539 --> 00:03:20.400 God became man so that man might become God. 00:03:22.079 --> 00:03:25.579 What did Athanasius mean by such a provocative statement? 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:28.259 Is this a good development in human history? 00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:34.039 Or do we have a closeted heretic here in Athanasius? 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:41.280 Why is it that when man becomes God, or tries to, I should say, things go terribly wrong? 00:03:44.019 --> 00:03:48.819 The story of humanity is not one of joy. 00:03:48.939 --> 00:03:50.000 There's pockets of joy. 00:03:50.139 --> 00:03:52.719 There's beautiful things within the human story. 00:03:52.799 --> 00:03:56.579 But by and large, it is a story of angst and frustration. 00:03:57.019 --> 00:03:59.379 It goes back to the beginning of creation itself. 00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:03.500 A few weeks ago, we had a lessons and carols service. 00:04:03.819 --> 00:04:05.479 And if you're unfamiliar with it, that's okay. 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:10.039 It is a service where we sing Christmas carols. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:17.560 And interspersed with those Christmas carols, we read nine portions of scripture that, in a way, 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:23.819 that's not exhaustive, but in a way tells the entire Christian story leading up to John 1. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:29.819 We start at Genesis chapter 3, the very beginning, at the fall of man and original sin, 00:04:30.159 --> 00:04:37.819 where mankind sins and then the plague of perpetual sin continues on. 00:04:37.899 --> 00:04:39.959 So we start in Genesis chapter 3. 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:43.459 And we actually end in John chapter 1. 00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:50.560 And we see in the biblical story that humanity is plagued with brokenness and sin, 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:55.139 angst and frustration, desire to be like God. 00:04:55.780 --> 00:04:59.939 And when they do, things, again, go terribly, terribly wrong. 00:05:01.339 --> 00:05:06.480 So the biblical story is one of, among other things, 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:12.540 recounting and examining the darkness of the human condition. 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:17.780 The angst that death is coming and cannot be avoided. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:21.340 The angst that there is no happy resolution to the story. 00:05:22.220 --> 00:05:26.939 That when men and women, but oftentimes men, fashion themselves to be gods, 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:28.420 they become devils instead. 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:35.680 God, in his love and wisdom, sees the brokenness. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:46.040 Oftentimes, if I start a project and I mess up at the initial kind of bit, 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:48.819 I usually scrap it. 00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:51.139 Or I start from the beginning. 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:52.720 I strip down what I've done. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:54.860 I am not super handy. 00:05:54.980 --> 00:05:58.579 I'm not a train wreck either with some hammer and nails. 00:05:58.579 --> 00:06:05.919 But seldom do I start a project and it's mistake-free from the beginning to the end. 00:06:06.039 --> 00:06:06.959 Seldom, if ever. 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:11.139 So it makes sense to me that God creates everything. 00:06:12.039 --> 00:06:12.919 He calls it good. 00:06:13.339 --> 00:06:14.079 He creates mankind. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:15.019 He calls it very good. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:17.180 And then mankind sins. 00:06:17.339 --> 00:06:19.439 In my mind, just hit the reset button. 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:20.019 Start again. 00:06:20.479 --> 00:06:21.199 You messed it up. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:21.740 It's okay. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:23.379 People mess things up. 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:24.479 God is perfect. 00:06:24.839 --> 00:06:26.519 I'm not saying somehow God is not perfect. 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:28.359 But in my mind, you just start again. 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:29.399 You figure it out. 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:30.219 You know? 00:06:31.039 --> 00:06:31.680 You regroup. 00:06:31.919 --> 00:06:32.859 Okay, it went wrong there. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:34.039 We're going to adjust. 00:06:34.779 --> 00:06:36.620 But instead, we see something different. 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:40.639 The angst, the darkness, the brokenness, the sin, the death. 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:43.839 How does God deal with it? 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:48.740 Well, we see how he deals with it in John 1, verses 1 to 5. 00:06:48.819 --> 00:06:50.159 And if you have your Bible, follow along. 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:52.779 We read it already, but it bears repeating. 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:54.759 It says this, verse 1. 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:56.079 In the beginning was the Word. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:59.240 And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:06:59.339 --> 00:07:00.799 He was in the beginning with God. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:06.259 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 00:07:06.339 --> 00:07:09.719 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:11.319 Here it is, verse 5. 00:07:11.479 --> 00:07:15.079 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:24.639 The Word, who is God, the Son of God, the Eternal Word, the Creator of all things, the very source of life and light, 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:28.959 does not hit the reset button, but enters into the story itself. 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:36.680 He shines light in the darkness, which is to say that he seeks to fix and restore and redeem. 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:47.079 The incarnation promises that good will triumph over evil, that humanity will not suffer indefinitely in darkness and despair. 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:54.740 It's this beautiful picture of God's mercy and His kindness and His great love for us. 00:07:54.740 --> 00:08:02.860 And yet, such a wonderful gift is not embraced by all, for it threatens the status quo. 00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:07.420 The thing is, we often enjoy darkness a little too much. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:13.199 Not because we are necessarily evil, diabolical, tyrannical people, 00:08:13.340 --> 00:08:20.639 but because the devil we know sometimes can be better than, in this case, the God we don't know. 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:30.000 We're unfamiliar and therefore uncomfortable with our sin, our brokenness, our angst, the darkness, 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:33.019 being exposed and being healed. 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:38.279 We're going to skip over the portion, verses 6 to 8, that speaks of John the Baptist. 00:08:38.700 --> 00:08:41.700 But look with me in verse 9 to 11, and it says this, 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:46.279 The true light which enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:52.679 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:57.419 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 00:08:57.419 --> 00:09:04.839 Although what Jesus did in the incarnation, and when I say the incarnation, 00:09:05.719 --> 00:09:12.719 you can think the entirety of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, his entire ministry, 00:09:13.319 --> 00:09:16.439 although it would be for all people, not everyone would experience the light, 00:09:16.539 --> 00:09:18.579 for darkness has a hold on the human heart. 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:25.339 Our good and godly desires are all too often disordered because of sin. 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:31.259 So, we want to be loved, but we take that desire to be loved, 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:34.259 and all too often turn it into selfishness. 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:37.060 And we hurt others. 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:44.220 We want to have security, but that desire manifests itself in insatiable greed. 00:09:44.220 --> 00:09:53.800 We want to enjoy pleasure, but instead our eyes lust and covet after things that are not ours, 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:55.340 and we ought not to have. 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:57.139 We want to be appreciated. 00:09:57.500 --> 00:10:00.800 Again, all these things are very good, but when they get disordered, bad things happen. 00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:06.220 We want to be appreciated, but what ends up happening is we develop anger and bitterness 00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:07.100 when we're overlooked. 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:13.500 You see, darkness has an interesting hold on our lives, 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:18.159 because there's always bits of light that get distorted, 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:22.519 bits of goodness that become bits of evil. 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:28.800 And what ends up happening is when we reject the light, we claim authority over the light. 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:33.159 We say that the light is really darkness, and the darkness is really light, 00:10:33.319 --> 00:10:37.120 and we start to see confusion abound within the human condition. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:40.740 But what happens when we do embrace the light? 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:45.679 When this creator enters into creation, 00:10:45.899 --> 00:10:50.120 and he shines life and light into darkness and death, 00:10:50.179 --> 00:10:52.359 what happens when we embrace that? 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:54.159 When we bend a knee to Christ the King, 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:59.179 the very essence of everything good and holy and just and loving. 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:01.600 Look with me, verses 12 and 13. 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:03.500 It says this, 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.759 But to all who did receive him, 00:11:06.179 --> 00:11:07.779 that is the word, that is Christ, 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:09.559 who believed in his name, 00:11:09.959 --> 00:11:12.779 he gave the right to become children of God, 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:16.779 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:19.799 nor of the will of man, but born of God. 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:24.159 You see, the God of Scripture, the real and only God, 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:27.759 doesn't interact with mankind to manipulate our affairs, 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:31.479 like Greek gods, or subjugate us, 00:11:31.719 --> 00:11:33.159 like the God of Islam, 00:11:33.819 --> 00:11:36.219 or get a hold of our hearts, 00:11:36.299 --> 00:11:39.079 like the God of secularism and materialism. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:42.000 But what does he do? 00:11:43.079 --> 00:11:46.719 He comes into our experience 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:50.220 to remove our sin and to remedy our death 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:54.320 and conquer the foe of our soul. 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:56.740 The God of Scripture 00:11:56.740 --> 00:12:00.040 does not command us to come to him, 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:01.600 but he comes to us, 00:12:02.040 --> 00:12:06.220 and he shines the light into every dark corner of our being, 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:09.340 if we would but bend a knee and receive him. 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:12.060 He offers a gift. 00:12:13.540 --> 00:12:14.620 Will we say yes? 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:17.480 And what does he do? 00:12:17.560 --> 00:12:19.899 He takes humanity upon himself. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:23.159 And this brings us back to the first part 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:25.500 of that Athanasius provocative statement, 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:27.620 that God became man. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:30.759 Verse 14 says this, 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:33.519 And the Word became flesh, 00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:35.379 and dwelt among us, 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:37.139 and we have seen his glory, 00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:40.639 glory as of the only Son from the Father, 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:42.799 full of grace and truth. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:43.799 You see, 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:46.059 the Word became flesh 00:12:46.059 --> 00:12:47.559 in the original language. 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:48.259 It's literally, 00:12:48.939 --> 00:12:50.679 the Word 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:52.799 became enfleshed 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:54.339 and then 00:12:54.339 --> 00:12:57.219 set up a tent amongst us, 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:58.019 which is to say, 00:12:58.519 --> 00:12:59.620 came into the very 00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:01.019 existence 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:02.439 that he created. 00:13:02.979 --> 00:13:03.799 There is no more, 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:07.740 there's not an aspect 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.659 of the human creation 00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:10.079 that he didn't enter into. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:12.680 Everything that it was 00:13:12.680 --> 00:13:13.540 to become human, 00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:14.620 he became. 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:17.040 God himself, 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:19.360 the light that enlightens everything, 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:21.020 the Word that created all things, 00:13:21.420 --> 00:13:22.600 becomes like you and I. 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:24.180 It's scandalous to think. 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:28.200 Literally human flesh, 00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:28.639 skin, 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:29.139 muscles, 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:29.680 blood, 00:13:30.400 --> 00:13:31.340 hair, 00:13:31.540 --> 00:13:32.040 nails, 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:33.960 Jesus had kneecaps 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:34.879 and big toes, 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.040 lips, 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:36.560 kidneys. 00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:38.180 The Word 00:13:38.180 --> 00:13:39.060 became flesh. 00:13:39.059 --> 00:13:43.599 Light has taken on humanity 00:13:43.599 --> 00:13:45.199 and he dwelt among us. 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:46.919 The incarnation proclaims 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:47.719 the entire light, 00:13:47.959 --> 00:13:48.899 life of Christ. 00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:51.359 When we gather 00:13:51.359 --> 00:13:52.500 on Christmas Day 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:53.899 and of course we think of 00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:55.279 the baby in the manger, 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:55.879 but really 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:57.419 we're thinking that God 00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:59.859 lived amongst us 00:13:59.859 --> 00:14:01.139 and died on our behalf. 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:02.519 It's the full life of Christ. 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:05.419 God became man 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:07.840 yet remained God 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.340 and he never stopped 00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:10.340 becoming God. 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:12.299 This God 00:14:12.299 --> 00:14:13.299 again descends 00:14:13.299 --> 00:14:14.139 to earth 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.000 to become man 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:16.000 and descends 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:16.740 even further 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:17.759 to the point of death, 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:18.220 dying 00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:20.779 as a sinful man 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:22.279 even though 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:23.439 he was without sin. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:25.120 He did not 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:25.460 take 00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:26.419 a death, 00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:27.699 did not die 00:14:27.699 --> 00:14:28.779 on the cross 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:29.819 taking upon 00:14:29.819 --> 00:14:31.299 the sin of himself 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:32.139 but taking upon 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:32.839 our sin. 00:14:34.099 --> 00:14:34.839 He died 00:14:34.839 --> 00:14:36.219 and was buried 00:14:36.219 --> 00:14:37.179 in a borrowed grave 00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:38.620 and then he rose again 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:39.159 to new life. 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.199 It is a beautiful 00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:41.500 picture 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.120 but also 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:43.319 a wondrous mystery 00:14:43.319 --> 00:14:44.659 how the Word 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:45.799 was made flesh 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:46.899 and how he did this. 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:49.299 And it says 00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:50.120 that we are invited 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:52.559 to embrace this. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.639 And what happens 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.479 when we embrace it? 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:56.279 We are united 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:56.659 to him. 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:57.539 And this brings us 00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:58.680 back to the second part 00:14:58.680 --> 00:14:59.820 of Athanasius' 00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:01.279 provocative statement. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:02.820 So if God 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:03.560 became man 00:15:03.560 --> 00:15:04.399 he did so 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.259 so that man 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.500 might become God. 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:07.820 I'll just 00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:09.100 spare you 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:11.480 any of the fears 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:12.440 around Athanasius 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:13.000 being a heretic. 00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:13.620 He was not. 00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:14.320 He was an Orthodox 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:14.920 Christian. 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:16.680 He did not truly 00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:17.820 believe that God 00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:19.159 would allow 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:20.340 and make a way 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:21.440 for regular 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:22.080 human beings 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:22.720 like you and I 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.320 to become 00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:24.720 exactly like him. 00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:26.460 But he said it 00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:26.980 in a way 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:27.820 to articulate 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:29.240 that those 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:30.220 that are in Christ 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:31.440 are united to him. 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.500 They become a part 00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:33.560 of his mystical body. 00:15:35.420 --> 00:15:36.660 They will be made 00:15:36.660 --> 00:15:37.360 perfect. 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.960 So that one day 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.139 even though God 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:40.860 made us 00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:42.379 our original fathers 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:43.160 father, mother 00:15:43.160 --> 00:15:43.720 Adam and Eve 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:44.340 in the garden 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:45.120 perfect 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:46.440 but they had 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:47.100 the propensity 00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:47.700 to sin 00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.360 the possibility 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:48.740 of sin 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.519 one day 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.720 we will be made 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:51.060 perfect 00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:52.320 and it will be 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:52.960 impossible 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:53.460 for us 00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:53.860 to sin. 00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:56.420 This is what 00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:57.120 Athanasius 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.040 is getting at. 00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:00.460 We will enjoy 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.040 the beauty 00:16:01.040 --> 00:16:01.840 and majesty 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.620 and glory 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.260 of heaven 00:16:03.260 --> 00:16:03.740 forever 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.640 in the presence 00:16:04.640 --> 00:16:05.820 of God himself 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:07.720 enjoying his love 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:09.360 never exhausting 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:10.240 his goodness 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:11.300 being with him 00:16:11.300 --> 00:16:11.660 forever 00:16:11.660 --> 00:16:14.200 and we will be 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:14.800 transformed 00:16:14.800 --> 00:16:15.420 into 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:17.880 his likeness 00:16:17.880 --> 00:16:18.400 here on earth. 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:19.240 At least we begin 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.080 that process 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:20.640 here on earth. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:22.080 So what does 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:22.559 it look like 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:23.159 for man 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:23.559 to become 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:23.939 God? 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:24.220 What does 00:16:24.220 --> 00:16:24.639 it look like 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.000 for us 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.779 to grow 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.439 in holiness 00:16:26.439 --> 00:16:27.299 because Christ 00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:27.879 has marked us 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:28.019 out? 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:28.559 We are united 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:28.919 to him. 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:29.679 I'll give a 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.379 wonderful example. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:30.819 I mentioned 00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:31.319 Idi Amin 00:16:31.319 --> 00:16:31.919 at the beginning 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.879 a very horrendous 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.539 tyrant of the 00:16:34.539 --> 00:16:35.259 20th century. 00:16:36.319 --> 00:16:37.319 I'll talk about 00:16:37.319 --> 00:16:38.259 his contemporary 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:39.740 a man named 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:41.220 Bishop Festo 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.480 Kavengra. 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:45.840 Bishop Festo 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:47.160 was a Ugandan 00:16:47.160 --> 00:16:49.040 and instead 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:49.580 of going 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.180 along 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:51.500 with Idi Amin's 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.540 evil 00:16:52.540 --> 00:16:54.480 instead of 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.000 being corrupted 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:55.399 himself 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:56.100 he opposed 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:57.100 Idi Amin. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.000 Him and 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.420 a number 00:17:00.420 --> 00:17:00.720 of other 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.000 bishops 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:01.740 and clerics 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:03.340 were under 00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:04.779 they were 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.600 on a government 00:17:05.600 --> 00:17:06.180 watch list 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:07.420 his archbishop 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.100 was actually 00:17:08.100 --> 00:17:10.700 dealt with 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:12.220 and it 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:12.940 caused Bishop 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.519 Festo 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.160 to run away 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.420 and he fled 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:15.859 Uganda. 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:17.240 He fled 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:17.619 Uganda 00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:18.240 after one 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:18.559 of his 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:19.440 dear friends 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.019 was 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:21.960 dispatched. 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:22.960 Bunch of 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:23.359 kids in the 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:23.500 room. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.180 That was 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.039 in 1977. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.000 That same 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:29.339 year 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:31.799 he wrote 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.059 a book 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:32.259 called 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:32.819 I Love 00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.379 Idi Amin. 00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:34.700 He wrote 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.059 that book 00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.559 the same 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:35.920 year 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:36.759 that his 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.240 good friend 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.799 was dispatched. 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:40.000 I Love 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.559 Idi Amin 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.920 and this 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.259 is what he 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:42.519 said 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.160 when he 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:43.460 was asked 00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:43.799 why he 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:43.940 wrote 00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:44.120 this 00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:44.380 book. 00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:45.440 He said 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:45.660 this 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:45.900 quote 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:46.720 the Holy 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.140 Spirit 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:47.539 showed 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:47.700 me 00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:47.900 that 00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.100 I 00:17:48.100 --> 00:17:48.299 was 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:48.559 getting 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:48.980 hard 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.440 in my 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:49.940 spirit 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.940 and that 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:51.120 my 00:17:51.120 --> 00:17:51.500 hardness 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.200 and bitterness 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:53.140 toward those 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:53.400 who were 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:53.940 persecuting 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.840 us could 00:17:54.840 --> 00:17:55.440 only bring 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.319 spiritual loss. 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:57.500 So I 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:57.940 had to ask 00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.600 for forgiveness 00:17:58.600 --> 00:17:59.420 from the 00:17:59.420 --> 00:18:00.120 Lord and 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:00.579 for grace 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:00.980 to love 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:02.480 President Amin 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.519 even more. 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:04.840 And then he 00:18:04.840 --> 00:18:05.319 would go on 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:05.680 to say 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:06.420 we should 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:07.700 lovingly pray 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.700 for those 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.200 dictators. 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:09.920 We owe 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.340 them the 00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:10.759 debt of 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.279 love for 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:11.980 they are 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.420 part of 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:12.860 those 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:13.779 for whom 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.379 Christ shed 00:18:14.379 --> 00:18:14.979 his precious 00:18:14.979 --> 00:18:15.359 blood. 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.359 As long 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:16.719 as they 00:18:16.719 --> 00:18:17.139 are still 00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:17.759 alive they 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.359 are still 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:19.019 redeemable. 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.039 By the way 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:20.319 he was 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.719 called 00:18:20.719 --> 00:18:22.099 the Hitler 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:22.759 of Africa. 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:25.659 Pray for 00:18:25.659 --> 00:18:26.199 them that 00:18:26.199 --> 00:18:26.699 in the end 00:18:26.699 --> 00:18:27.439 they may see 00:18:27.439 --> 00:18:28.079 a new way 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.539 of life 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.119 rather than 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:29.399 a way 00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:29.819 of death. 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:31.939 God 00:18:31.939 --> 00:18:32.439 God became 00:18:32.439 --> 00:18:33.939 man so 00:18:33.939 --> 00:18:35.000 that man 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:35.740 might become 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.539 God or 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:37.099 better yet 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:38.019 so that we 00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:38.720 could grow 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:39.559 in Christ 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.359 likeness and 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:41.659 extend his 00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:42.700 mercy and 00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.439 grace and 00:18:43.439 --> 00:18:44.159 love wherever 00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:44.639 we go. 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.460 And friends 00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:47.279 this is what 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:47.619 it looks 00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:48.019 like. 00:18:49.419 --> 00:18:49.700 Bishop 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:50.939 Festo would 00:18:50.939 --> 00:18:51.379 live in 00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:52.079 exile until 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:52.639 Idi Amin 00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.659 was deposed 00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:54.579 and left 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:55.460 Uganda and 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:55.839 he came 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.319 back not 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:58.019 necessarily to 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.519 a hero's 00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.200 welcome because 00:18:59.200 --> 00:18:59.720 he lived only 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:00.259 a short time 00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:00.700 later and 00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.039 died of 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:01.379 cancer. 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:03.119 But I'm 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:03.559 telling you 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:04.220 this man 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:06.299 this man 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:08.660 lived as 00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.599 if Jesus 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:11.240 truly came 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:11.920 in the flesh 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.240 lived and 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:13.740 died took 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.339 away his 00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:15.319 sins even 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:15.639 though he 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:16.220 didn't deserve 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.019 it and rose 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.619 again to new 00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:17.900 life. 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:18.519 Bishop 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.059 Festo is 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.680 united to 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.059 Christ. 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:20.839 He has 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.660 become like 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.279 his savior. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:27.920 It's a call 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:28.539 for us and 00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:29.220 I mean listen 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:29.900 we don't have 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.420 to deal with 00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:31.060 Idi Amins. 00:19:31.560 --> 00:19:32.300 Children might 00:19:32.300 --> 00:19:33.160 feel like their 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.320 parents are a 00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:34.940 bit like a 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.600 tyrannical 00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:37.240 dictator but 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.060 by and large 00:19:38.060 --> 00:19:39.759 we're not having 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:40.240 to deal with 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:40.580 this thank 00:19:40.580 --> 00:19:40.920 God. 00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:42.800 But there are 00:19:42.800 --> 00:19:43.480 people in our 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.500 lives you might 00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:45.400 be one of those 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:46.019 people in 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.600 somebody else's 00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:48.800 life where you 00:19:48.800 --> 00:19:49.700 just need God's 00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:51.000 grace to wash 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:51.500 over you. 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.900 God's love to 00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:54.100 direct you for 00:19:54.100 --> 00:19:55.180 God himself to 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.759 transform you and 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.900 continually transform 00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:59.140 you into 00:19:59.140 --> 00:20:00.500 Christ's likeness so 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.040 that you can 00:20:01.040 --> 00:20:02.160 extend the same 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:02.840 ministry that 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:03.720 Christ extended to 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:03.980 you. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:07.660 John he ends 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:09.000 this portion in 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.880 verse 16 and I 00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:10.500 didn't read it in 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.160 the gospel reading 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:11.640 but I'll read it 00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:12.100 for you now. 00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.480 It says this 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:19.900 John 1 16 00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:22.280 and from his 00:20:22.280 --> 00:20:23.240 fullness we have 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.540 all received grace 00:20:24.540 --> 00:20:25.340 upon grace. 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:27.439 friends it takes 00:20:27.439 --> 00:20:28.679 nothing less than 00:20:28.679 --> 00:20:29.859 the grace of God 00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:30.839 at work in our 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.039 lives to 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.579 transform us into 00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.439 Christ's likeness. 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:37.599 The incarnation of 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.339 Jesus this is what 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:38.740 it's about. 00:20:39.399 --> 00:20:39.980 This is what we 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:40.759 celebrate on Christmas 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.059 day. 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.419 Let us pray. 00:20:43.959 --> 00:20:45.000 Father in heaven we 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.980 thank you for 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:48.119 wonderful examples 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:48.839 like Bishop 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.359 Festo 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:51.500 like his archbishop 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:53.059 like countless 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:55.140 others who were 00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.720 lost to history 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.740 but faithfully 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.759 looked to you 00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:00.839 and you gave 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.559 them the grace 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.359 upon grace they 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:03.059 needed to live out 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:04.180 this life and they 00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:05.099 are an example to 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:06.740 us of what it 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.859 means to be united 00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:08.740 to Christ and to 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:10.180 live like him for 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:10.759 his glory. 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.759 Lord we pray that 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:14.259 the incarnation that 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.160 we are reminded of 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:15.660 that we are 00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:16.740 worshipping you for 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:18.319 this morning that it 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.339 will so change our 00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:21.399 lives and that we 00:21:21.399 --> 00:21:23.439 would be conduits of 00:21:23.439 --> 00:21:25.220 God's grace and 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:26.599 love and mercy and 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:28.259 joy so that the 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.019 darkness that we 00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:31.319 experience in our 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:32.220 own lives but also 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:33.299 in the lives and 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.779 situations that we 00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:35.679 experience in this 00:21:35.679 --> 00:21:37.299 life Lord we might 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:39.359 shine your light and 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:41.200 your life and see 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.259 the world transform. 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:43.259 Lord thank you for 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.379 the incarnation thank 00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:45.179 you for your son 00:21:45.179 --> 00:21:47.299 Jesus Christ fully man 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:47.939 and fully God. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.220 Amen.