WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.279 Please join me in turning to Paul's letter to the church at Colossae, the book of your copy of God's Word that we call Colossians. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:23.140 As we continue together our study last week looking at the first two verses, the salutation, as well as some of the background, the occasion for the writing of this letter. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:38.760 It's of interesting note, not in any strange supernatural way, but I was listening to that album this morning as I was kind of doing my last note preparation and praying for the preaching this morning. 00:00:39.980 --> 00:00:42.299 Evan Thomas way. Very good stuff. 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:48.400 And we continue Colossians chapter 3 and I'll read to you through verse 8. 00:00:48.399 --> 00:01:04.700 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:16.159 Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing as it also does among you. 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:23.679 Since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:30.479 He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and is to make known to us your love in the spirit. 00:01:31.679 --> 00:01:39.739 As we turn our minds and our hearts toward God's holy writ, let me remind you that this is God's word to us. 00:01:40.420 --> 00:01:43.120 It was written for his glory and our good. 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:50.300 We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:58.560 Now, as Paul begins to write this letter, we know that he's writing it to correct some type of heresy that was going on. 00:01:58.620 --> 00:02:03.520 And we talked at length about that last week, not knowing exactly what the heresy was, 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:09.340 but being able to see some elements of some common heresy that was going on in the day. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:15.299 Paul wastes no time at all getting to the very meat of his letter to the Colossian believers. 00:02:15.299 --> 00:02:20.060 And he begins, as he rightly should, with the gospel. 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:22.819 Notice the last half of verse 5. 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:25.500 The word of the truth. 00:02:26.359 --> 00:02:26.979 The gospel. 00:02:26.979 --> 00:02:29.259 This is the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:02:29.359 --> 00:02:34.939 The very foundation from which all other truth is built. 00:02:36.399 --> 00:02:44.979 And so we should rightly understand the gospel as well as the outcomes of said good news. 00:02:45.799 --> 00:02:53.500 A wonderful historical summary of the gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15 verses 1 through 4. 00:02:53.500 --> 00:02:55.000 Where Paul says, 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:59.560 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preach to you, 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:05.580 which you received and which you stand, and by which you are being saved, 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:12.400 if you hold fast to the word I preach to you, unless you believed in vain or didn't believe at all. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:13.060 Verse 3, 00:03:13.060 --> 00:03:18.879 For I have delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:24.139 that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:26.259 That He was buried. 00:03:26.699 --> 00:03:31.539 That He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. 00:03:31.539 --> 00:03:39.240 Which Paul repeats twice, which is to say that God had preordained and planned this thing to come to pass. 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:44.219 That Jesus, the one they called the Christ, was in fact God's Son. 00:03:44.219 --> 00:03:48.859 And therefore, the work that was accomplished has veracity. 00:03:49.020 --> 00:03:49.780 It has meaning. 00:03:49.900 --> 00:03:53.400 It actually took its full effect in the world. 00:03:54.039 --> 00:04:00.020 The good news of Jesus Christ is that He came and died for the complete forgiveness of sins. 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:05.719 And then He rose from the dead so that those who believe in Him will live forever. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:11.340 We cannot have good news without bad. 00:04:11.340 --> 00:04:16.360 And the bad news is that all of humanity has inherited the guilt of Adam. 00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:23.740 And we are guilty ourselves of living in direct opposition to the ways of God. 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:30.540 Do not take your sin lightly as little and frivolous. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:35.819 Everything that you have done that has transgressed the law of God has said to Him, 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:36.980 I hate you. 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:38.300 You are my enemy. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:40.300 I know what's best for me. 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:42.780 I am king. 00:04:43.660 --> 00:04:46.480 It is of great offense to a holy God. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:50.139 God cannot tolerate your sin. 00:04:50.939 --> 00:04:52.639 And therefore, you are separated from Him. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:59.460 And you are cast away from Him forever if you die without the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 00:04:59.660 --> 00:05:03.980 Jesus Christ came to save sinners of whom I am foremost. 00:05:03.980 --> 00:05:09.360 And He rose from the dead that we may have believed in Him and have life in Him. 00:05:10.220 --> 00:05:15.900 The word gospel in Greek, euangelion, from which we get the word evangelize. 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:20.879 It's really just a technical term in Greek for good news. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:25.339 It was originally used as a term in relationship to battles. 00:05:25.659 --> 00:05:32.240 In some records of the past, there would be occasions when a certain city would fight against another city. 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:37.600 It was very common in Greece for the country to be divided up into these city-states. 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:41.500 And each city-state would maintain its own army. 00:05:41.700 --> 00:05:43.520 And occasionally they would go to battle. 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:45.520 There would be these great battles. 00:05:45.640 --> 00:05:50.540 And everyone in the city would wait to hear the news of what had happened on the battlefield. 00:05:50.939 --> 00:05:53.200 The armies would ride out and they would go to battle. 00:05:53.320 --> 00:06:02.580 And everyone in the city would wait with this eager anticipation to find out who it was they were going to pay homage to at the end of this battle. 00:06:02.579 --> 00:06:10.479 No Twitter. No Instagram. There was no way for this to be updated except by messengers. 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:13.339 And men would be sent back to the city. 00:06:13.500 --> 00:06:18.120 Runners would be sent back to the city to declare what had happened. 00:06:18.819 --> 00:06:23.819 This was this euangelion, the proclaimers of good news. 00:06:23.939 --> 00:06:26.459 This person would come running from the battlefield declaring, 00:06:26.740 --> 00:06:28.979 We have won. 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:31.979 This is that word. Gospel. 00:06:32.579 --> 00:06:33.219 That we're talking about. 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:37.199 The good news. The good news of victory over our enemy. 00:06:38.159 --> 00:06:41.479 The news of victory over sin. 00:06:42.599 --> 00:06:47.399 This is the reference Paul makes when he speaks of the gospel preached in Romans 10.15. 00:06:47.779 --> 00:06:50.060 When he quotes from Isaiah 52.7, he says, 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:55.039 How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news. 00:06:55.180 --> 00:06:59.500 He's saying those runners who come and declare victory over sin. 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:06.319 And to fully appreciate that citation from Romans 10.15, let me read to you Isaiah 52.7. 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:12.279 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news. 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:14.240 Who publishes peace. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:16.639 Who brings good news of happiness. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:19.199 Who publishes salvation. 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:21.000 Who says to Zion, 00:07:21.740 --> 00:07:24.500 Your God reigns. 00:07:24.500 --> 00:07:29.339 This is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:07:29.339 --> 00:07:34.819 And this is the way in which Paul begins his letter to the Colossian believers. 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:40.000 So let's notice together five things about the gospel. 00:07:40.779 --> 00:07:41.319 Number one. 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:46.639 The gospel gives reason for thanksgiving. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:47.680 Verse 3. 00:07:48.939 --> 00:07:49.639 Paul writes, 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:55.240 We assume that this is Paul and Timothy as the salutation notes for us. 00:07:55.379 --> 00:08:02.139 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. 00:08:02.659 --> 00:08:05.000 We give proper thanksgiving. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:12.480 We give thanks to the proper source of who you are in Christ. 00:08:13.339 --> 00:08:18.899 If my wife, Samantha, she hates it when I call her that, Sam, but for you guests, I want you to know, 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:22.019 my wife's name is Samantha, gave me a present for my birthday. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:25.639 It wouldn't be proper for me to thank one of my sons for the gift. 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:27.399 Wouldn't be proper, would it? 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:29.959 Caden, thank you so much for this wonderful gift. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:34.000 If Sam gave me the gift, it's proper for me to thank Sam for the gift. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:41.899 However, when one of my sons gives me a gift for my birthday, it's proper, after thanking them, to thank my wife, 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:45.159 who is the real source of said gift. 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:51.460 The one who did all the hard work to actually load up boys and take them to a store and keep them from destroying things. 00:08:53.500 --> 00:08:59.980 It's proper for us to ascribe thanksgiving to the proper source, which is what Paul does here. 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:06.200 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:11.879 God was and is the source of the church. 00:09:12.279 --> 00:09:15.360 He was and is the source of the church. 00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:19.519 This is further driven in the last half of verse 6 of Colossians 1. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:26.860 Since the day you heard it, being the gospel, and understood the grace of God in truth. 00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:30.159 This gift given to us by God. 00:09:30.259 --> 00:09:32.779 The grace of God in truth. 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:35.439 The gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:09:36.539 --> 00:09:39.539 Paul writes in Ephesians 2, verses 8 and 9, 00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:43.919 For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:46.179 And this is not your own doing. 00:09:46.319 --> 00:09:48.219 It is the gift of God. 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:52.980 Not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:59.059 And verse 9 is so very important for us to understand what Paul is trying to explain in verse 8. 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:00.740 For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:02.899 And this is not your own doing. 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:06.759 Many people want to say that Paul is referring to the grace given there. 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:10.279 I would argue that he's referring to the faith. 00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:14.860 Because he goes on to say it's not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 00:10:14.939 --> 00:10:16.740 It is fully of God. 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:19.159 Our salvation is monergistic. 00:10:19.379 --> 00:10:22.799 God himself acts upon us. 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:27.679 You can rearrange these things to say that we're saved by grace through the gift of God, 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:32.500 which is faith, and not as a result of our works. 00:10:33.860 --> 00:10:36.559 It's highly debated in churches these days. 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:41.039 By men that I think are worth listening to. 00:10:42.059 --> 00:10:43.059 But let me say to you, 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:50.319 that the changing of our hearts happens before we place faith in Jesus Christ. 00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:54.179 That regeneration precedes faith in Christ. 00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:59.700 That God works in us a new heart so that we can believe. 00:11:00.379 --> 00:11:03.700 And then we are justified by that faith. 00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:07.080 All of this being a work of grace in our lives. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:11.700 Regeneration, faith, justification, sanctification, glorification. 00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:13.680 Regeneration precedes faith. 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:14.920 Happens in a moment. 00:11:15.280 --> 00:11:17.300 I don't really want to parse it all out. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:18.259 It doesn't really matter. 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:19.180 Right? 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:21.280 But we are incapable. 00:11:21.780 --> 00:11:23.740 We cannot do good things. 00:11:23.820 --> 00:11:24.940 We cannot be righteous. 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:30.580 And faith would certainly be included in that category unless we are changed. 00:11:31.400 --> 00:11:32.740 So it's fully of God. 00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:34.740 Regeneration precedes faith. 00:11:35.140 --> 00:11:41.940 We must give Him much praise for the salvation of the Colossian church and for our own. 00:11:42.640 --> 00:11:43.520 All of the glory. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:46.300 All of the honor is ascribed to Him. 00:11:46.299 --> 00:11:49.879 It all belongs to Him and the praise of His name. 00:11:51.479 --> 00:11:52.120 So that's number one. 00:11:52.359 --> 00:11:55.899 The Gospel gives reason for thanksgiving. 00:11:56.459 --> 00:11:57.620 To the proper place. 00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:58.579 To God the Father. 00:11:59.179 --> 00:12:05.159 Secondly, the Gospel is believed by faith. 00:12:06.059 --> 00:12:08.000 First part of verse 4. 00:12:09.079 --> 00:12:14.059 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus. 00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:18.339 And what Paul is talking about here is a saving faith. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:21.519 Not just a mental assent to something. 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:24.759 Not just believing and saying with your mind, 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:26.199 Yeah, that makes sense. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:29.279 Jesus is the Son of God and came and died for our sins. 00:12:29.359 --> 00:12:30.779 But a saving faith. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:34.679 A faith that is preceded by regeneration. 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:40.939 A faith that has as its object the person and work of Jesus Christ. 00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:44.400 There are many people of faith these days. 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:50.600 Saving faith is faith that has as its object the person and work of Jesus Christ. 00:12:51.780 --> 00:12:57.720 Charles Spurgeon tells a story about two men in a boat who are being swept towards a waterfall 00:12:57.720 --> 00:12:59.300 and their certain death. 00:12:59.420 --> 00:13:05.560 And at the same time, one is thrown a rope from shore by a group of men working to save him. 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:08.339 And the other sees a log floating by. 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:10.219 And one jumps onto the log. 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:12.639 The other takes hold of the rope. 00:13:12.839 --> 00:13:18.359 And the point of the story is that the object must be the correct object in order to save us. 00:13:18.839 --> 00:13:21.739 The man jumping onto the log did himself no service. 00:13:21.839 --> 00:13:24.659 He just got really wet before he went over the waterfall. 00:13:25.119 --> 00:13:30.019 The man who held the rope was saved because the object was right and it was proper. 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:38.379 Charles Spurgeon again, and I'm going to throw a little addition to this quote in for you for free 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.460 because it's very good. 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:41.039 He said, 00:13:41.039 --> 00:14:05.579 So an encouragement to you to read Puritans, the old dead guys. 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:08.620 As of them, he says, the old writers tell you, right? 00:14:08.680 --> 00:14:11.480 So the Puritans say that faith is made up of three things. 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:13.220 First, knowledge. 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:15.520 Then, assent. 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:24.000 And then what they call affiance or the laying hold of the knowledge to which we give assent 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:27.660 and making it our own by trusting in it. 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:30.580 So first, we must know something. 00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:32.820 The gospel must be preached to us. 00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:38.240 We must understand the state of our sin, separation from God, the need of a Savior. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:41.920 We must understand that Jesus Christ is that Savior. 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:46.040 We must have some knowledge of double imputation. 00:14:46.280 --> 00:14:50.980 That He takes away our sin and that He gives to us His righteousness. 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:53.620 That that is what is required before God. 00:14:53.660 --> 00:14:55.700 We must have some knowledge of that. 00:14:55.900 --> 00:14:59.120 And then we must have some belief that it's true. 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:01.580 But more than that, we must trust in it. 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:04.500 We must take it up into ourselves. 00:15:05.180 --> 00:15:08.420 We must say, this is a truth that belongs to me. 00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:12.840 That I am saved by this great truth. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:16.440 So knowledge and belief and trust. 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:21.740 How do you know if you have a saving faith? 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:31.600 This is a question that we must ask as American Christians, particularly those who live and likely grew up in the Southeast. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:45.019 Because we live in a place where so many, and I will use my quote unquote fingers, Christian leaders peddle cheap grace. 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:48.559 They would have you many places this morning. 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:52.199 And this is tragic and saddening. 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:57.299 Many places this morning, they would say to somebody, if you doubt that you were a Christian, 00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:01.939 let me draw your mind back to the day in which you made a decision. 00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:04.879 The day in which you walked an aisle. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:07.059 Remember the card you filled out. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:09.580 Flip to the front of your copy of God's Word. 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:12.100 Remember where you wrote down the date. 00:16:12.659 --> 00:16:17.080 Some activity on your part that saved you from the wrath to come. 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:21.939 And certainly, many people have been saved by such activity. 00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:24.220 There was, I shouldn't say by activity. 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:27.299 They were saved in the midst of such activity. 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:30.519 That God worked in that and used it to save them. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:34.139 But it is not the surety of your salvation. 00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:38.500 You've heard me say before, the fact that you have a birth date and you know the date 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:40.480 does not prove to you that you're alive. 00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:44.840 You know that you're alive because you experience life. 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:51.079 You know that you're alive and breathing and that you're working out activity. 00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:54.439 And the same is true of the Christian. 00:16:54.440 --> 00:17:01.720 Our work must reflect the fact that we are saved. 00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:03.880 Our work does not earn us salvation. 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:07.140 We're not found righteous because of the things that we do, 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:11.799 but we will live in righteousness because of who we are. 00:17:12.320 --> 00:17:15.820 It's a great monergistic work of God on our behalf. 00:17:16.100 --> 00:17:19.580 Now our sanctification, the continuing perfection of us being synergistic, 00:17:19.580 --> 00:17:21.180 we have a part to play in it. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.000 An activity to be carried out. 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:28.259 The great marker of Christian maturity is obedience. 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:32.279 I know people who have been Christians for decades 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:37.140 who don't show the maturity that some young believers do 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:40.519 because those young believers are obedient with what they know. 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:43.640 So many of us are so top heavy. 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:46.980 We know so much and do so little with it. 00:17:47.580 --> 00:17:49.340 The great marker of Christian maturity is obedience. 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:55.959 However, obedience is the marker of any truly regenerative individual's life. 00:17:55.960 --> 00:18:01.120 And there are some who call this lordship theology, 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:03.840 although those who believe this to be true would never call it that, 00:18:04.340 --> 00:18:05.500 and they condemn it as heresy. 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:08.620 They think it is a works-based theology. 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:10.000 And beloved, hear me. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:15.380 I never want to cast into doubt your salvation unless it's necessary that I do so. 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:18.240 I don't want you to come in here every Sunday and wonder leaving. 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:20.140 Am I truly saved? 00:18:20.780 --> 00:18:23.880 Is my life progressing in holiness the way it ought to be? 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:25.220 I just don't know. 00:18:25.320 --> 00:18:26.920 I want you to have surety. 00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:28.440 I want you to hold tight to it. 00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:31.640 I want you to join with me even though I still sin, 00:18:31.840 --> 00:18:35.620 to be able to stand up under the condemnation, 00:18:35.780 --> 00:18:39.000 knowing that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.980 I want you to experience the seal of the Spirit on your life, 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:44.380 where you can with confidence go before God, 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:47.160 knowing that you are clothed in Christ's righteousness. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:50.440 But I also do not want you to be led astray. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:55.119 I tend to be a half-glass-empty kind of guy, 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:57.059 and I really don't like that about myself, 00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:58.279 and I try not to be. 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:01.720 I don't want to believe what I'm about to say, 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:07.740 but I think that most of the people sitting in churches in the southeast this morning 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:09.019 think they're Christians, 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:11.019 and they are not. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:13.880 I think that they are tares, 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:17.059 and they're going to be weeded out and thrown into the fire one day 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:19.980 because of this cheap grace idea 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:23.579 that simply there's some assent given, 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.099 some word spoken, 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.559 and now you're a Christian. 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:32.700 Rather than seeing that our lives must be progressing in holiness 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:34.339 to see that we're saved. 00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:35.359 Test yourself. 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:38.459 Examine to make sure you're in the faith. 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:41.000 1 John 5, 1-3. 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:42.759 John says, 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:46.199 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:50.319 and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him. 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:53.199 Okay, so conveniently, many people stop there. 00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:55.379 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. 00:19:55.659 --> 00:20:00.839 But let me tell you that the belief is not simply some mental cognition to the facts, 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:04.299 but rather a belief that changes who you are. 00:20:04.439 --> 00:20:05.159 It's that kind of belief. 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:06.139 It's a trusted belief. 00:20:06.419 --> 00:20:10.599 It's a thing that so defines who you are that you live differently. 00:20:11.459 --> 00:20:12.799 The last half of that verse 1 says, 00:20:12.899 --> 00:20:16.439 And everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him. 00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:17.419 Verse 2, 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:20.000 By this we know that we love the children of God, 00:20:20.320 --> 00:20:23.880 when we love God and obey His commandments. 00:20:24.800 --> 00:20:26.160 For this is the love of God, 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:28.160 that we keep His commandments, 00:20:28.560 --> 00:20:31.800 and His commandments are not burdensome. 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:37.000 This is the proof of what we have said has happened in our lives, 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:39.819 that we begin to live as we should. 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.859 Not perfectly. 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:42.220 Don't hear me saying that. 00:20:42.899 --> 00:20:45.240 I still am in need of grace. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.039 Praise God, 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:49.819 I can trust in the completed work of Jesus Christ on my behalf. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.740 W.E. Vine, in his book, 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:54.799 The Expositional Dictionary of New Testament Words, 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.279 wrote, 00:20:55.279 --> 00:21:05.519 There is no evidence in your life 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:08.500 that you have a saving faith. 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:11.960 Let me plead with you this morning to repent and believe. 00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:13.379 Put down your pride. 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:16.139 I do not care how long you've said you're a Christian 00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:18.039 and you're suddenly realizing that you're not. 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:20.039 Repent and believe. 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:22.700 Your eternal soul is at stake here. 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:28.980 Do not let the cheap grace peddlers lead you astray. 00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:32.740 The Gospel comes by faith, 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:34.080 by saving faith. 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:34.740 Thirdly, 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:39.500 we see this in the first part of verse 5, 00:21:39.580 --> 00:21:41.000 the Gospel gives hope 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:43.980 because of the promise of heaven. 00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:48.220 The text reads, 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:51.700 Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:55.880 The hope of heaven causes us to live for the eternal 00:21:55.880 --> 00:22:00.880 and not to be caught up in the trivial nature of the temporal. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.740 Just in case you're trying to write that down, 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.559 I'll say it one more time. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:07.720 The hope of heaven causes us to live for the eternal 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:12.740 and to not be caught up in the trivial nature of the temporal. 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:17.860 It fuels the daily dying that is necessary to follow our risen Lord. 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:19.359 Remember Mark chapter 8, 00:22:19.459 --> 00:22:21.839 as we just finished studying through Mark. 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:24.319 If we want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, 00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:26.639 we're going to have to take up our cross and follow Him. 00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:29.740 We're going to have to die to the things that we want, 00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:31.219 our self-direction, 00:22:31.399 --> 00:22:33.000 in order to follow Him. 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:37.240 And the hope of heaven is the great charge we need for that. 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:41.240 That we know that one day we will eternally live with Him forever. 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:44.980 We're living for the eternal, not for the temporal. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.400 There's a great example of that in Hebrews chapter 11. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:50.039 I invite you to turn there with me to verse 24. 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:51.420 Hebrews 11 verse 24. 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:01.759 Okay, I'm going to rock. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.259 You'll get there. 00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:02.539 Ready? 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.339 Verse 24. 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:06.440 By faith, Moses, when he was grown up, 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:09.680 refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:11.940 You remember the story Moses put into a basket, 00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:12.980 found by Pharaoh's daughter, 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:15.039 adopted as a son. 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:15.960 Verse 25. 00:23:16.080 --> 00:23:19.500 Choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:23.360 than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.940 The writer of Hebrews giving his commentary 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:26.340 on what's going on with Moses. 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:30.060 Instead, going and being part of the Jewish people 00:23:30.060 --> 00:23:34.060 rather than living in the highest place of luxury, 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:38.420 having everything that his flesh could have possibly desired. 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:41.039 The commentary of the writer of Hebrews says 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:43.180 the fleeting pleasures of sin. 00:23:43.300 --> 00:23:44.980 Certainly pleasurable, but passing. 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:46.039 Verse 26. 00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:48.180 He considered, and I love this, 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:51.279 he considered the reproach of Christ. 00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:53.039 The reproach of Christ. 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:55.700 Not that he knew who Jesus was, 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:58.980 but this writer of Hebrews sees that 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:01.140 all of the suffering of all God's people 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:04.900 was part of the world's condemnation 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:06.540 and rejection of the Savior. 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:08.660 He considered the reproach of Christ 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:11.500 greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, 00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:15.120 for he was looking to the reward. 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.800 The eternal reward. 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:19.160 Not to the temporal, but to the eternal. 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.120 Verse 27. 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.360 By faith he left Egypt, 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:24.200 not being afraid of the anger of the king, 00:24:24.320 --> 00:24:28.120 for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 00:24:28.280 --> 00:24:31.120 Rather than worshiping the king of Egypt, 00:24:31.280 --> 00:24:33.759 Pharaoh, he worshiped God. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:33.839 God. 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:37.259 Jim Elliot is cited in Elizabeth Elliot's 00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:38.680 shadow of the Almighty as saying, 00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:41.839 he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:44.559 to gain what he cannot lose. 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:47.460 Beloved, so many of us 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:49.640 who claim the name of Christ 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:51.160 live for the temporal. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:54.819 We get so wrapped up into the day-to-day 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:58.019 fleeting pleasure of sin. 00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:00.599 The Gospel gives us hope 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:03.039 because of the promise of heaven. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:06.299 It changes the way in which we live. 00:25:06.719 --> 00:25:09.299 Fourthly, last part of verse 4, 00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:12.859 the Gospel produces love. 00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:15.039 The Gospel produces love. 00:25:15.679 --> 00:25:16.259 The text reads, 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:19.119 the love that you have for all the saints 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:22.259 is one of the things that Paul is thanking God for. 00:25:22.399 --> 00:25:23.559 Why is he thanking God for it? 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:25.219 Because it's a supernatural love. 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.439 Notice verse 8. 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:28.759 That Epaphras has made known to us 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:31.200 your love in the Spirit. 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:33.220 One of the fruits of the Spirit being love 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:34.779 has been produced in them 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:36.320 because of the work of God 00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:38.200 on their behalf. 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:40.100 And we see here in our text today 00:25:40.100 --> 00:25:42.259 the triad of Christian virtues. 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:44.620 Faith, hope, and love. 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.480 1 Corinthians 13. 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:48.819 So now, faith, hope, and love 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:50.079 abide these three, 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:52.339 but at the greatest of these 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.920 is love. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:57.319 You see that also in 1 Thessalonians 1.3 00:25:57.319 --> 00:26:00.519 and 1 Thessalonians 5.8. 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:06.240 The great virtue of Christian love. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.519 Let me connect for you 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:10.460 that Christian love 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:14.120 produces Christian unity. 00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:16.759 They're thanking God 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:18.699 for the love that they have 00:26:18.699 --> 00:26:20.919 for one another. 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:22.959 This week, 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.739 if you're part of a community outreach group, 00:26:25.439 --> 00:26:26.339 you studied the beginning 00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:28.099 of Philippians 2. 00:26:29.139 --> 00:26:30.219 You draw your attention 00:26:30.219 --> 00:26:31.359 to verses 2 and 3. 00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.159 Paul says, 00:26:32.439 --> 00:26:33.139 Complete my joy 00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:36.199 by being of the same mind, 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:38.539 having the same love, 00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:40.039 being in full accord 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:41.819 and of one mind. 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:44.139 Do nothing from selfish ambition 00:26:44.139 --> 00:26:44.879 or conceit, 00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:46.259 but in humility, 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.659 count others 00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:49.399 more significant than yourselves. 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:51.559 This is the definition of love. 00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:53.319 That you seek the good of others 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:56.460 before your own good. 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.759 John 17. 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:01.119 I'll get you to turn there with me. 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.240 John 17. 00:27:03.919 --> 00:27:05.740 I'll begin reading in verse 20. 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.919 This is part of 00:27:06.919 --> 00:27:08.379 Jesus' prayer 00:27:08.379 --> 00:27:09.220 that has become known 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:11.279 as the High Priestly Prayer. 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:13.420 I want you to note 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.480 four verses of it. 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.339 John 17, 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.819 verses 20-23. 00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.519 And he prays, 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:31.139 I do not ask for these only, 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.579 he's talking about the apostles, 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.859 but also for those 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.960 who will believe in me 00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:37.099 through their word. 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.899 Now, us. 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.000 This is his prayer 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:40.180 for all of us. 00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:41.360 Those of us who claim 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.500 to follow Christ. 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.120 Verse 21, 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:46.539 that they may all be one. 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.259 Just as you, 00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.000 Father, 00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:49.660 are in me 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.660 and I in you, 00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:53.299 they also may be in us. 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:55.400 So that the world may believe 00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.400 that you have sent me. 00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:58.560 The glory that you have given me, 00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.740 I have given to them. 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.820 That they may be one 00:28:01.820 --> 00:28:03.400 even as we are one. 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.460 I in them 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.140 and you in me. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.279 That they may become 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:08.080 perfectly one. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:09.439 So that the world may know 00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:10.220 that you sent me 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.339 and love them 00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:13.439 even as you loved me. 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:14.539 Notice the repetition 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.379 that's going on there. 00:28:15.439 --> 00:28:16.059 Verse 21, 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:18.000 that they may be one. 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:19.460 Verse 22, 00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.539 they may be one. 00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:21.159 Verse 23, 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:21.980 that they may become 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.259 perfectly one. 00:28:23.399 --> 00:28:24.519 Jesus prays that we 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:26.159 will be unified. 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.139 Why? 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.199 So that the world will know 00:28:29.199 --> 00:28:30.559 that Jesus is the Christ 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.519 and that we are loved 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.259 by God 00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.240 through Him. 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.359 Note again, 00:28:34.419 --> 00:28:34.960 the repetition. 00:28:35.139 --> 00:28:35.619 Verse 21, 00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:36.579 so that the world may believe 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.839 that you have sent me. 00:28:37.979 --> 00:28:38.819 In verse 23, 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.159 so that the world may know 00:28:40.159 --> 00:28:41.059 that you sent me 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.819 and love them 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:44.799 even as you loved me. 00:28:44.939 --> 00:28:46.379 It's meant to be a display 00:28:46.379 --> 00:28:48.039 of the way in which 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:50.059 God loves us 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:51.139 by the way we love 00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:52.779 one another. 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:55.939 Jesus said in John 13, 35, 00:28:56.399 --> 00:28:56.899 by this, 00:28:57.159 --> 00:28:58.059 all people will know 00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:59.179 that you are my disciples 00:28:59.179 --> 00:29:00.399 if you have love 00:29:00.399 --> 00:29:02.099 for one another. 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:03.539 This is the way 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.700 that the world is supposed 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.859 to look at us 00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:06.480 and say, 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:08.019 what a peculiar people 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.139 set apart for God. 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.240 Look at the way 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.200 they love each other. 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.579 Not by signs 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:15.279 or big fancy buildings 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.399 or programs 00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:17.639 or kitschy t-shirts 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:19.019 or cool websites. 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.599 Neat Facebook posts. 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.420 By our love 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:25.220 for one another. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:27.059 This is the defining 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.099 characteristic 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:29.579 of Christians together 00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:30.500 and how the world 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.799 looks at us 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:33.139 and knows we belong 00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:34.359 to God. 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.480 John writes 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:39.119 in 1 John 4, 7 and 8, 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:39.579 Beloved, 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:41.460 let us love one another 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:43.079 for love is from God 00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.759 and whoever loves 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.960 has been born of God 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:46.659 and knows God. 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.859 Anyone who does not love 00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:50.039 does not know God 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:53.519 because God is love. 00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:55.940 How do we love one another? 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.919 Paul writes in Galatians 6, 2, 00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:59.660 bear one another's burdens 00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:01.400 and so fulfill 00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:03.220 the law of Christ. 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.779 He's talking about 00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:05.640 this commandment 00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.539 that Jesus has given 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.980 that we should love 00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.860 one another. 00:30:09.080 --> 00:30:09.580 That we bear 00:30:09.580 --> 00:30:11.259 one another's burdens. 00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:12.980 And beloved, 00:30:13.060 --> 00:30:13.580 I will tell you 00:30:13.580 --> 00:30:14.600 that in most churches, 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.900 including our own, 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:16.860 there are many, 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.440 many people 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.259 who work 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:19.279 to bear the burdens 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.820 of others. 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.920 But that number 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:22.860 is far too few. 00:30:23.060 --> 00:30:24.019 And those people 00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:25.580 are so very burdened 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:27.619 by everybody else's burdens. 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.980 That they often flame out 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.740 very quick. 00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:32.799 They get consumed. 00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:33.899 They have to take 00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:35.139 massive breaks 00:30:35.139 --> 00:30:36.299 in order to be replenished 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:37.279 so that they can get back 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:38.299 and bear burdens 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:39.899 once again. 00:30:40.439 --> 00:30:41.779 There are single individuals 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.559 bearing the burdens 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.379 of many. 00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.139 But the beautiful picture 00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:45.980 is that if we're all 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:47.099 bearing one another's burdens, 00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:50.179 the load gets incredibly light. 00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:52.039 That we pick up the pieces 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:53.339 of one another 00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:55.240 and function as a body together 00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:56.019 that way. 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:57.079 That means 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:58.339 that you have 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.279 a part to play. 00:30:59.380 --> 00:30:59.880 Whether you're part 00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:00.460 of this church 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.220 or another 00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:02.099 and you're just a guest 00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:03.160 here today. 00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:04.500 That you have a part 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.160 to play. 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.900 You have a ministry 00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:08.240 in the church. 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:11.440 The church growth gurus 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:12.620 say that it's incredibly 00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:14.819 important to plug someone in 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:16.240 to give them a job 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.839 within the first six months 00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:18.920 of them coming 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:20.039 to a church. 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:20.779 Right? 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:21.740 You can't know 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.500 somebody's character 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.460 in six months. 00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.559 That's insanity. 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.759 But this is what 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.960 so many are doing 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:28.099 so that people feel 00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:28.839 that they belong 00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:30.159 rather than saying to them 00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:31.460 you have a ministry. 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:33.000 You have a ministry. 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:34.059 It's to one another. 00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:36.720 This means that it's not okay 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.919 just to show up 00:31:37.919 --> 00:31:38.859 on a Sunday morning. 00:31:39.659 --> 00:31:40.960 You can't just walk in 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.899 at 1025, 00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:42.759 1035, 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:44.000 sit down 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:45.480 and when we're done 00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.159 get up and walk 00:31:46.159 --> 00:31:46.879 right back out. 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.779 I know 00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.859 that sometimes 00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:50.019 that's what has to happen 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.599 on a Sunday. 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:52.379 I know the amount 00:31:52.379 --> 00:31:53.339 of time it takes 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:54.079 to invest 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.939 in people 00:31:54.939 --> 00:31:56.159 and to get to know people 00:31:56.159 --> 00:31:57.359 you have to do the work. 00:31:58.159 --> 00:31:58.740 You have to. 00:31:58.919 --> 00:32:00.199 You have to find times 00:32:00.199 --> 00:32:01.119 and opportunities 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:02.379 to get with 00:32:02.379 --> 00:32:03.480 the people of God 00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.819 so that you can 00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.559 display 00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.799 love. 00:32:07.459 --> 00:32:09.099 It's of vital importance 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:09.779 in your service 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.319 to the church 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:11.099 and I guarantee you 00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:12.299 that as you do so 00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:13.539 your burdens 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.500 will be bore 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:14.500 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.380 as well. 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.720 You will also be 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.599 loved. 00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:19.779 It's a work. 00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:20.579 It is hard. 00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:22.799 It has been so many years 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.700 since I ever went 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.380 and fellowshiped 00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:25.059 with a new group 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.579 of people. 00:32:26.140 --> 00:32:26.960 I can remember 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.819 faintly, 00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.599 it's a dim light 00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:29.099 in my mind 00:32:29.099 --> 00:32:29.859 how strange 00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:30.599 and awkward it is 00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.299 to walk into a group 00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:31.619 of people 00:32:31.619 --> 00:32:32.599 that you don't know. 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.680 I know it's hard. 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.339 I know it's hard. 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:36.759 Do the work. 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.940 Put in the time. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.440 Show up to the things 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.480 that we're doing. 00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:42.180 We have meetings 00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:44.279 that are almost exclusively 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:45.139 for the opportunity 00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:45.940 to be able to love 00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:46.359 each other 00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:48.339 in this way. 00:32:49.899 --> 00:32:50.579 So what are some 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.119 practical ways 00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:52.559 you can bear 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.859 another's burdens? 00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:54.700 Just a few 00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.559 that popped in my mind. 00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.399 Help a brother move. 00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:58.779 Moving out 00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.539 at the end of the semester. 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:01.299 Pick up a couple of boxes. 00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:03.660 Be available for a sister 00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.680 at any hour of the night 00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:06.000 or stay up late 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.500 in prayer 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.980 for someone. 00:33:09.639 --> 00:33:10.539 Show up to help 00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:11.240 with a project 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.119 on the property 00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:13.000 here. 00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:16.599 minister alongside 00:33:16.599 --> 00:33:17.279 someone. 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:19.279 Service that somebody 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.359 is doing in the community. 00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:21.700 Join them in that work. 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:23.180 Partner with them in it. 00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.680 Give up your 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:26.819 free time 00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:27.920 for the sake 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:29.240 of the kingdom. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.700 College students, 00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.519 let me speak directly 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.319 to you for a moment. 00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.660 I know that you feel 00:33:33.660 --> 00:33:34.139 busy. 00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:35.559 That's a real feeling 00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:36.059 that you're having. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.279 I don't want to totally 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.019 negate the feeling 00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:38.500 that you're having. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:38.839 I know. 00:33:39.139 --> 00:33:40.359 It is finals week. 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.539 This is maybe 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.159 the only week 00:33:42.159 --> 00:33:43.259 you really have an excuse. 00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:45.420 I know that the burden 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.259 of it is laid 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:46.859 on your shoulders 00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:48.099 and you feel so busy. 00:33:48.399 --> 00:33:49.180 Start getting into 00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:50.159 healthy church habits 00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:50.639 now. 00:33:51.099 --> 00:33:51.940 Serving others. 00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.519 Giving of your time 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.639 because you only 00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:56.019 get busier. 00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:58.220 I don't really 00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:58.759 even know 00:33:58.759 --> 00:33:59.799 the word 00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:00.680 free time. 00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:01.180 Like what 00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:02.579 what is this thing 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:04.559 free time? 00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:08.619 Invest in the kingdom. 00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:10.279 Invest in eternal things. 00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:10.960 And listen, 00:34:11.060 --> 00:34:11.519 I'm not saying 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:11.980 that you can't 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:12.640 have hobbies 00:34:12.640 --> 00:34:13.680 and that it's not 00:34:13.680 --> 00:34:14.420 good and healthy 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:14.900 to unplug 00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.920 from things sometimes 00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:16.540 and just have 00:34:16.540 --> 00:34:17.220 some fun. 00:34:18.120 --> 00:34:18.640 Sam and I 00:34:18.640 --> 00:34:19.420 are taking a vacation 00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:19.920 this summer. 00:34:20.080 --> 00:34:20.519 We're planning 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.160 on taking the boys 00:34:21.160 --> 00:34:21.640 on our first 00:34:21.640 --> 00:34:22.680 canoe camping trip. 00:34:23.240 --> 00:34:24.260 This is a good thing. 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:25.100 Good for our family 00:34:25.100 --> 00:34:25.660 to be together. 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:26.280 Good for me 00:34:26.280 --> 00:34:27.120 to be far, 00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:27.580 far away 00:34:27.580 --> 00:34:28.300 from a cell phone 00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:29.060 signal. 00:34:29.560 --> 00:34:30.760 This has value. 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.460 But I can tell you 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:31.840 this, 00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:32.660 that at the end 00:34:32.660 --> 00:34:33.080 of my life 00:34:33.080 --> 00:34:33.700 I'm not going 00:34:33.700 --> 00:34:34.180 to look back 00:34:34.180 --> 00:34:34.620 on my life 00:34:34.620 --> 00:34:35.160 and wish 00:34:35.160 --> 00:34:35.980 that I had 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:36.980 done more 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:38.380 whitewater paddling 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:40.400 or rock climbing 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:41.539 or played more 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.519 golf. 00:34:42.619 --> 00:34:42.960 I would never 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.420 do that. 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:46.800 Or played more 00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:47.800 video games. 00:34:48.700 --> 00:34:49.360 I think that most 00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:49.700 of us are going 00:34:49.700 --> 00:34:50.079 to look back 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:50.640 on our lives 00:34:50.640 --> 00:34:50.940 and say, 00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:52.180 look at the time 00:34:52.180 --> 00:34:53.640 that I wasted. 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.720 I flittered it away 00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:56.680 on nothing 00:34:56.680 --> 00:34:57.880 rather than investing 00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:59.420 in my future. 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:01.360 You have so much 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:02.400 that you can give 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:03.519 to one another. 00:35:04.660 --> 00:35:05.599 How can you know 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:07.180 someone's burdens? 00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.300 Ask. 00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:12.340 Everybody's hurting 00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:13.300 in some way 00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:14.519 at some time. 00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.139 Ask. 00:35:15.260 --> 00:35:15.780 And be willing 00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:16.579 to hear the answer. 00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.220 Ask somebody 00:35:18.220 --> 00:35:19.000 how they're doing 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:20.119 and actually mean it. 00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.220 When somebody says, 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:22.460 I'm not doing that well, 00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.220 say, 00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:24.079 tell me about it. 00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:25.619 I wasn't just being cordial. 00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:26.539 I really want to know. 00:35:26.720 --> 00:35:27.539 How are you doing? 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.680 And how can I help 00:35:28.680 --> 00:35:29.960 you bear up 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:31.380 when things aren't going 00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.420 that well 00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:33.340 in your life? 00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:34.860 This all means 00:35:34.860 --> 00:35:35.659 that relationships 00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:37.220 in the church matter. 00:35:37.340 --> 00:35:37.820 That the church 00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:39.940 was meant to be relational. 00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:41.199 It's about people 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:43.539 and not programs. 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:45.940 Programs don't matter 00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:46.460 at all 00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:47.519 if they're not helping 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:49.320 people be drawn together 00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:49.980 in love 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.000 for one another. 00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:52.000 They're pointless. 00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:54.079 The relationships 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:55.340 matter. 00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:56.539 We do community 00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:57.460 outreach groups 00:35:57.460 --> 00:35:58.460 as a way to develop 00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:59.139 and to build 00:35:59.139 --> 00:35:59.940 those things. 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:00.639 I've been visiting 00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:02.059 around those groups 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:03.000 and I will tell you 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.559 there are so many 00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.719 good, healthy things 00:36:04.719 --> 00:36:05.139 happening 00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:06.460 in what we're calling 00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:07.099 our COGS. 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.319 Fantastic things 00:36:08.319 --> 00:36:08.879 that are happening 00:36:08.879 --> 00:36:10.199 but there's so much 00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:11.599 more even still. 00:36:12.199 --> 00:36:13.319 In so many ways still 00:36:13.319 --> 00:36:15.579 they're program 00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:17.379 and not people driven. 00:36:18.099 --> 00:36:18.960 We need to be bonded 00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:19.379 together. 00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:20.099 We need to be, 00:36:20.299 --> 00:36:21.299 as I love Kyle Webb 00:36:21.299 --> 00:36:22.059 says so often, 00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:23.539 a faith family. 00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:25.500 Connected that way 00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:26.980 because we're connected 00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:28.199 by the blood 00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:29.639 of Jesus Christ. 00:36:30.059 --> 00:36:30.740 The world should see 00:36:30.740 --> 00:36:31.199 the gospel 00:36:31.199 --> 00:36:31.639 in the way 00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:32.360 that we love each other. 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:34.039 If we have a hope 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:35.340 that produces love 00:36:35.340 --> 00:36:36.900 then people should see it 00:36:36.900 --> 00:36:38.119 and they should want 00:36:38.119 --> 00:36:39.280 to understand it. 00:36:40.340 --> 00:36:41.099 Peter exhorts 00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:42.699 in 1 Peter 3.15 00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:44.420 to always be prepared 00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:46.079 to make a defense 00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:47.519 to anyone who asks you 00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.340 for a reason 00:36:48.340 --> 00:36:49.599 for the hope 00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:50.679 that is in you. 00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.639 His suggestion here 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:54.079 is that if you are living 00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:55.960 as believers ought to live, 00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:57.699 people are going to ask you 00:36:57.699 --> 00:36:58.619 about the hope 00:36:58.619 --> 00:36:59.420 that you have. 00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:01.179 What is this thing 00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:02.039 that has made you 00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:02.800 so different 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:04.139 and changed you? 00:37:04.539 --> 00:37:05.199 And he's suggesting 00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:05.980 that you have an answer 00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.340 for that. 00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:06.980 That you be ready 00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:07.940 to give an answer 00:37:07.940 --> 00:37:09.260 to such a question. 00:37:10.179 --> 00:37:11.000 How many of us 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:11.720 are being asked 00:37:11.720 --> 00:37:13.659 that question? 00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:15.980 Many of us struggle 00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:16.960 in evangelism 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:18.780 because we are peddling 00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:19.420 a product 00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:21.099 that really hasn't worked 00:37:21.099 --> 00:37:22.139 for us. 00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:24.220 There's not all 00:37:24.220 --> 00:37:25.380 that much different 00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:27.099 about who we are. 00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:27.980 There's a chance 00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.960 there's nothing different 00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:30.519 about who you are. 00:37:31.400 --> 00:37:33.099 We need to throw ourselves 00:37:33.099 --> 00:37:34.579 into Christian love 00:37:34.579 --> 00:37:35.619 for one another. 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:37.260 This will overflow 00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:39.920 in our evangelistic efforts. 00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:40.539 Look, 00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:41.860 briefly, 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:42.340 I'm going to read this 00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:43.000 to you fast. 00:37:43.300 --> 00:37:44.019 The early church, 00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:44.660 Acts 2, 00:37:44.760 --> 00:37:45.800 42-47, 00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:47.000 and they devoted themselves 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:47.980 to the apostles' teaching 00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:48.940 and the fellowship, 00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:50.360 to the breaking of bread 00:37:50.360 --> 00:37:50.940 and the prayers, 00:37:51.300 --> 00:37:52.900 and awe came upon every soul 00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.599 and many wonders 00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:54.519 and signs were being done 00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:55.139 through the apostles. 00:37:55.739 --> 00:37:56.579 And all who believed 00:37:56.579 --> 00:37:57.239 were together 00:37:57.239 --> 00:37:58.639 and had all things in common. 00:37:58.980 --> 00:37:59.639 And they were selling 00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:00.179 their possessions 00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:00.860 and belongings 00:38:00.860 --> 00:38:02.219 and distributing the proceeds 00:38:02.219 --> 00:38:03.599 to all as any had need. 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:04.639 And day by day, 00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.659 attending the temple together 00:38:05.659 --> 00:38:06.280 and breaking bread 00:38:06.280 --> 00:38:06.800 in their homes, 00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:07.920 they received their food 00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:09.340 with glad and generous hearts, 00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:10.500 praising God 00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:11.139 and having favor 00:38:11.139 --> 00:38:12.039 with all the people. 00:38:12.239 --> 00:38:12.840 Here they are doing 00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:14.179 all this activity together. 00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:15.179 This is early church. 00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:15.980 Everything they're doing 00:38:15.980 --> 00:38:17.179 is about being together 00:38:17.179 --> 00:38:18.300 and doing things together. 00:38:18.739 --> 00:38:18.920 Right? 00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:20.019 Loving each other 00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:20.900 the way believers 00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:21.759 ought to love each other. 00:38:21.760 --> 00:38:23.420 And then it's finished off. 00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:24.120 Verse 47, 00:38:24.220 --> 00:38:25.480 the Lord added to their number 00:38:25.480 --> 00:38:26.520 day by day 00:38:26.520 --> 00:38:28.680 those who were being saved. 00:38:28.780 --> 00:38:30.680 It was being put on display 00:38:30.680 --> 00:38:33.160 so that people were attracted to it 00:38:33.160 --> 00:38:34.020 or repelled by it. 00:38:34.040 --> 00:38:34.940 That'll happen as well. 00:38:35.320 --> 00:38:36.140 But many, many 00:38:36.140 --> 00:38:37.840 were attracted to it. 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.500 If you're not living 00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:40.480 in a relationship 00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:41.720 with the church, 00:38:42.440 --> 00:38:42.760 begin. 00:38:43.640 --> 00:38:43.980 Repent. 00:38:44.240 --> 00:38:44.540 Believe. 00:38:44.640 --> 00:38:45.520 It's time to start. 00:38:45.820 --> 00:38:46.500 If you are, 00:38:46.760 --> 00:38:47.640 just keep it up. 00:38:48.100 --> 00:38:49.280 Keep plugging away at it. 00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:51.680 I know that it's not easy. 00:38:52.820 --> 00:38:53.800 The toughest thing 00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:55.080 about Christianity 00:38:55.080 --> 00:38:56.380 are Christians. 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.820 We're people. 00:38:58.440 --> 00:38:59.380 We're a mess. 00:38:59.760 --> 00:38:59.960 Right? 00:39:00.120 --> 00:39:02.260 In great need of grace. 00:39:02.500 --> 00:39:03.360 Even though we've been 00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:04.440 delivered from sin, 00:39:05.180 --> 00:39:06.540 our flesh still exists. 00:39:06.680 --> 00:39:07.740 There's a battle going on 00:39:07.740 --> 00:39:08.620 within all of us. 00:39:09.140 --> 00:39:10.080 Praise God 00:39:10.080 --> 00:39:10.780 that the victory 00:39:10.780 --> 00:39:11.620 has been completed 00:39:11.620 --> 00:39:12.500 and the good news 00:39:12.500 --> 00:39:13.540 has conquered. 00:39:14.340 --> 00:39:15.600 We need one another 00:39:15.600 --> 00:39:17.700 to work out 00:39:17.699 --> 00:39:18.919 our sanctification. 00:39:20.259 --> 00:39:20.839 So that was number four. 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:22.679 Number five. 00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:23.139 I'm almost done. 00:39:24.839 --> 00:39:25.500 Number five. 00:39:25.839 --> 00:39:26.679 Notice in the first part 00:39:26.679 --> 00:39:27.460 of verse six. 00:39:29.019 --> 00:39:30.139 The gospel has 00:39:30.139 --> 00:39:31.559 and is 00:39:31.559 --> 00:39:32.599 completing its task. 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:36.599 Paul says, 00:39:36.739 --> 00:39:37.319 this gospel truth 00:39:37.319 --> 00:39:38.199 which has come to you 00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:40.079 as indeed in the whole world 00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:41.099 it is bearing fruit 00:39:41.099 --> 00:39:42.019 and increasing. 00:39:42.019 --> 00:39:43.139 Paul is referring to 00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:44.579 the known world, 00:39:44.819 --> 00:39:46.519 the beyond, 00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:48.619 the Jewish population, 00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.400 the whole world 00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:50.300 is what he's referring to 00:39:50.300 --> 00:39:51.099 here. 00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:53.480 It's bearing fruit. 00:39:53.699 --> 00:39:54.300 It's increasing. 00:39:54.559 --> 00:39:55.599 It's doing the thing 00:39:55.599 --> 00:39:56.599 that it's set out 00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:58.219 to accomplish. 00:39:58.679 --> 00:39:59.739 God is ultimately 00:39:59.739 --> 00:40:00.780 the source 00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:01.699 of the power 00:40:01.699 --> 00:40:02.460 in the gospel. 00:40:03.019 --> 00:40:04.380 And he is accomplishing 00:40:04.380 --> 00:40:04.980 his will 00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:06.059 and his purpose. 00:40:06.360 --> 00:40:08.000 Jesus says in Matthew 16, 18, 00:40:08.739 --> 00:40:10.079 I will build my church 00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:12.079 and the gates of hell 00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:14.340 shall not prevail against it. 00:40:14.340 --> 00:40:16.480 The gospel makes advance 00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:17.260 in the world. 00:40:17.519 --> 00:40:18.900 We don't hold back hell. 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:20.559 Hell shudders 00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:22.640 in front of the gospel. 00:40:23.260 --> 00:40:24.980 The gospel is going to overwhelm 00:40:24.980 --> 00:40:26.059 and knock down 00:40:26.059 --> 00:40:27.180 hell 00:40:27.180 --> 00:40:28.700 and its dominion. 00:40:29.160 --> 00:40:30.120 I will build my church 00:40:30.120 --> 00:40:30.860 and the gates of hell 00:40:30.860 --> 00:40:33.500 shall not prevail against it. 00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.860 The gospel has and is 00:40:34.860 --> 00:40:37.100 completing its task. 00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:39.700 But the gospel has and is 00:40:39.700 --> 00:40:40.940 completing its task 00:40:40.940 --> 00:40:42.119 through the work 00:40:42.119 --> 00:40:44.220 of faithful ministers. 00:40:45.240 --> 00:40:46.679 God uses us 00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:48.220 as his means 00:40:48.220 --> 00:40:49.119 to accomplish 00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:50.300 his ends. 00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:51.740 Verse 7 and 8. 00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:53.539 Just as you learned it 00:40:53.539 --> 00:40:55.440 from Epaphras, 00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:57.260 our beloved fellow servant. 00:40:57.440 --> 00:40:58.340 He is a faithful minister 00:40:58.340 --> 00:40:58.920 of Christ 00:40:58.920 --> 00:40:59.980 on your behalf 00:40:59.980 --> 00:41:01.700 and has made known to us 00:41:01.700 --> 00:41:02.440 your love 00:41:02.440 --> 00:41:03.559 in the Spirit. 00:41:03.820 --> 00:41:04.780 The gospel has and is 00:41:04.780 --> 00:41:05.559 completing its task 00:41:05.559 --> 00:41:06.139 through the work 00:41:06.139 --> 00:41:08.579 of faithful ministers. 00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:10.400 If you were here last week, 00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:11.019 you've heard this. 00:41:11.059 --> 00:41:12.280 If you weren't, 00:41:12.440 --> 00:41:13.420 Paul did not begin 00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:14.960 the church in Colossae. 00:41:15.380 --> 00:41:16.740 It was started by 00:41:16.740 --> 00:41:18.460 a man named Epaphras 00:41:18.460 --> 00:41:19.700 who likely had traveled 00:41:19.700 --> 00:41:20.380 to Ephesus 00:41:20.380 --> 00:41:22.260 some 120 miles to the west, 00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:23.559 had heard the gospel, 00:41:23.900 --> 00:41:24.760 became a believer, 00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:26.519 and as a disciple 00:41:26.519 --> 00:41:27.820 of Jesus Christ should, 00:41:28.180 --> 00:41:29.500 he went back 00:41:29.500 --> 00:41:30.639 and began to preach 00:41:30.639 --> 00:41:31.240 the gospel 00:41:31.240 --> 00:41:32.880 and establish disciples 00:41:32.880 --> 00:41:34.920 which led to a church, 00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:37.940 a gathering of God's people. 00:41:37.940 --> 00:41:38.019 people. 00:41:39.220 --> 00:41:40.340 Earlier I referenced 00:41:40.340 --> 00:41:41.300 the words of Paul 00:41:41.300 --> 00:41:42.119 in Romans 15 00:41:42.119 --> 00:41:42.940 where he says, 00:41:43.420 --> 00:41:45.099 citing Isaiah 52.7, 00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:46.619 how beautiful are the feet 00:41:46.619 --> 00:41:47.579 of those who preach 00:41:47.579 --> 00:41:48.760 the good news. 00:41:49.539 --> 00:41:50.320 Just before this, 00:41:50.380 --> 00:41:52.240 he writes in Romans 10.14 00:41:52.240 --> 00:41:54.800 and the beginning of verse 15, 00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:56.159 hear the rest of that. 00:41:57.860 --> 00:42:00.619 How then will they call on Him 00:42:00.619 --> 00:42:02.639 in whom they have not believed? 00:42:03.460 --> 00:42:04.759 And how are they to believe 00:42:04.759 --> 00:42:05.619 in Him of whom 00:42:05.619 --> 00:42:07.400 they have never heard? 00:42:08.099 --> 00:42:09.339 And how are they to hear 00:42:09.339 --> 00:42:11.619 without someone preaching? 00:42:12.319 --> 00:42:13.739 And how are they to preach 00:42:13.739 --> 00:42:16.460 unless they are sent? 00:42:16.539 --> 00:42:17.039 And then he says, 00:42:17.099 --> 00:42:17.859 how beautiful are the feet 00:42:17.859 --> 00:42:18.699 of those who preach 00:42:18.699 --> 00:42:19.920 the good news. 00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:22.719 There's a real practicality 00:42:22.719 --> 00:42:23.659 to the way in which 00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:24.859 people come to saving faith 00:42:24.859 --> 00:42:25.460 in Jesus Christ. 00:42:25.539 --> 00:42:26.679 They must hear 00:42:26.679 --> 00:42:28.480 the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:42:28.480 --> 00:42:29.819 preached. 00:42:30.619 --> 00:42:31.299 There are stories 00:42:31.299 --> 00:42:32.339 all over the world right now 00:42:32.340 --> 00:42:33.600 about people having visions 00:42:33.600 --> 00:42:35.280 of Jesus and coming to faith 00:42:35.280 --> 00:42:36.480 in Jesus Christ. 00:42:36.600 --> 00:42:37.760 Don't believe it for a minute. 00:42:38.700 --> 00:42:39.860 Maybe some of those things 00:42:39.860 --> 00:42:40.320 are happening 00:42:40.320 --> 00:42:41.620 and leading those individuals 00:42:41.620 --> 00:42:43.300 to ask questions 00:42:43.300 --> 00:42:44.320 of those who can preach 00:42:44.320 --> 00:42:45.120 the gospel to them. 00:42:45.539 --> 00:42:47.160 But the way that the gospel 00:42:47.160 --> 00:42:47.920 of Jesus Christ 00:42:47.920 --> 00:42:49.420 comes to the minds 00:42:49.420 --> 00:42:50.960 and hearts of individuals 00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:52.660 is through the preaching 00:42:52.660 --> 00:42:54.300 of His Word. 00:42:55.300 --> 00:42:57.340 God is raising up an army 00:42:57.340 --> 00:42:59.400 for that very purpose. 00:42:59.579 --> 00:43:00.700 Beloved, that is the purpose 00:43:00.699 --> 00:43:02.460 of our church 00:43:02.460 --> 00:43:03.279 and the purpose 00:43:03.279 --> 00:43:05.259 of every individual in it. 00:43:05.259 --> 00:43:07.059 The primary way 00:43:07.059 --> 00:43:08.460 in which we glorify God 00:43:08.460 --> 00:43:09.579 is by the making 00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:11.099 of disciples. 00:43:11.219 --> 00:43:12.639 This includes so much 00:43:12.639 --> 00:43:13.839 about our Christian living. 00:43:14.239 --> 00:43:15.279 But this is the drive 00:43:15.279 --> 00:43:16.219 and the point. 00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:18.199 Believers in Jesus Christ 00:43:18.199 --> 00:43:19.179 bring about, 00:43:19.539 --> 00:43:20.539 work toward, 00:43:20.980 --> 00:43:22.539 strive for faith 00:43:22.539 --> 00:43:23.460 in other people. 00:43:24.179 --> 00:43:25.759 Ultimately and finally, 00:43:26.039 --> 00:43:27.779 this is all a work of God. 00:43:27.780 --> 00:43:29.720 While we recognize, 00:43:29.860 --> 00:43:30.920 along with Paul and Timothy, 00:43:31.420 --> 00:43:33.320 that God was the ultimate source 00:43:33.320 --> 00:43:34.940 of the Colossian church, 00:43:35.740 --> 00:43:37.140 we must also recognize 00:43:37.140 --> 00:43:39.280 that He graciously involved 00:43:39.280 --> 00:43:41.300 Epaphras in that process. 00:43:42.019 --> 00:43:44.400 Not because God is somehow 00:43:44.400 --> 00:43:46.840 incapable apart from us. 00:43:47.200 --> 00:43:48.240 That God can't accomplish 00:43:48.240 --> 00:43:49.300 exactly what God 00:43:49.300 --> 00:43:50.580 sets out to accomplish. 00:43:50.740 --> 00:43:53.019 He did not need Epaphras, 00:43:53.200 --> 00:43:54.080 but He loved him. 00:43:54.800 --> 00:43:55.660 And because He loved him, 00:43:55.659 --> 00:43:56.460 He included him 00:43:56.460 --> 00:43:57.339 in the great work 00:43:57.339 --> 00:43:58.539 of the gospel advancement 00:43:58.539 --> 00:43:59.219 in the world. 00:43:59.480 --> 00:44:02.299 The same is true of us. 00:44:03.179 --> 00:44:04.139 He doesn't need you, 00:44:04.179 --> 00:44:05.239 but He wants you. 00:44:05.619 --> 00:44:06.879 He wants to bless you 00:44:06.879 --> 00:44:08.119 by involving you 00:44:08.119 --> 00:44:09.679 in His kingdom advancement. 00:44:09.940 --> 00:44:10.980 We get to experience 00:44:10.980 --> 00:44:13.079 who God is 00:44:13.079 --> 00:44:14.920 as we go about the work 00:44:14.920 --> 00:44:16.139 of making disciples. 00:44:16.739 --> 00:44:17.179 You want to know why 00:44:17.179 --> 00:44:18.019 many of you are not growing 00:44:18.019 --> 00:44:18.599 in your faith? 00:44:18.679 --> 00:44:19.239 It's because you're not 00:44:19.239 --> 00:44:20.199 actively working out 00:44:20.199 --> 00:44:20.759 the things God 00:44:20.759 --> 00:44:21.559 has told you to do. 00:44:21.759 --> 00:44:23.159 You're not actually seeing Him. 00:44:23.159 --> 00:44:24.279 You're not beholding Him 00:44:24.279 --> 00:44:26.139 as He works in the world. 00:44:26.659 --> 00:44:27.679 I would strongly suggest 00:44:27.679 --> 00:44:28.599 that you do so. 00:44:29.199 --> 00:44:29.879 It will bless you 00:44:29.879 --> 00:44:30.799 beyond measure 00:44:30.799 --> 00:44:32.500 to see that God 00:44:32.500 --> 00:44:33.619 changes people. 00:44:34.119 --> 00:44:35.039 It will encourage you 00:44:35.039 --> 00:44:35.920 that He can still 00:44:35.920 --> 00:44:36.920 change you. 00:44:38.119 --> 00:44:38.699 You sometimes feel 00:44:38.699 --> 00:44:39.779 trapped in your sin. 00:44:39.859 --> 00:44:40.460 It could be because 00:44:40.460 --> 00:44:41.500 you're not seeing God 00:44:41.500 --> 00:44:44.139 as work in other individuals. 00:44:45.239 --> 00:44:46.179 Paul later in his letter 00:44:46.179 --> 00:44:46.779 to the Colossians 00:44:46.779 --> 00:44:48.420 speaks of making the gospel 00:44:48.420 --> 00:44:49.980 fully known to the Gentiles. 00:44:50.460 --> 00:44:51.099 And then he says 00:44:51.099 --> 00:44:52.400 in chapter 1, verse 29, 00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:54.460 For this I toil. 00:44:54.980 --> 00:44:56.159 For this I labor. 00:44:56.279 --> 00:44:57.099 I work hard. 00:44:57.239 --> 00:44:59.199 Struggling with all 00:44:59.199 --> 00:45:00.500 His energy 00:45:00.500 --> 00:45:02.099 that He powerfully 00:45:02.099 --> 00:45:04.239 works within me. 00:45:05.199 --> 00:45:06.699 The great promise 00:45:06.699 --> 00:45:08.940 of Matthew 28, 18-20 00:45:08.940 --> 00:45:10.159 which is known 00:45:10.159 --> 00:45:10.799 as the Great Commission. 00:45:12.019 --> 00:45:13.339 Jesus came and said to them, 00:45:14.339 --> 00:45:15.219 All authority in heaven 00:45:15.219 --> 00:45:15.559 and on earth 00:45:15.559 --> 00:45:16.779 has been given to Me. 00:45:17.679 --> 00:45:18.519 Go therefore 00:45:18.519 --> 00:45:19.259 and make disciples 00:45:19.259 --> 00:45:19.960 of all nations, 00:45:20.159 --> 00:45:20.860 baptizing them 00:45:20.860 --> 00:45:21.579 in the name of the Father 00:45:21.579 --> 00:45:22.400 and of the Son 00:45:22.400 --> 00:45:23.640 and of the Holy Spirit, 00:45:23.760 --> 00:45:24.740 teaching them to observe 00:45:24.740 --> 00:45:25.900 all that I have commanded you. 00:45:26.400 --> 00:45:27.079 And behold, 00:45:27.260 --> 00:45:28.320 I am with you always 00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:30.240 to the end of the age. 00:45:31.380 --> 00:45:31.840 Note 00:45:31.840 --> 00:45:33.160 that the command 00:45:33.160 --> 00:45:34.420 to make disciples 00:45:34.420 --> 00:45:36.200 is incapped 00:45:36.200 --> 00:45:38.740 by a statement of power 00:45:38.740 --> 00:45:40.700 and by a promise. 00:45:41.740 --> 00:45:42.440 Jesus says, 00:45:42.980 --> 00:45:43.440 All authority 00:45:43.440 --> 00:45:45.039 that doesn't exclude anything. 00:45:45.140 --> 00:45:45.720 All authority 00:45:45.720 --> 00:45:46.579 in heaven and on earth 00:45:46.579 --> 00:45:48.160 has been given to Me. 00:45:48.159 --> 00:45:49.960 I have a people 00:45:49.960 --> 00:45:51.139 that I have redeemed 00:45:51.139 --> 00:45:51.879 for myself. 00:45:52.379 --> 00:45:53.259 My completed work 00:45:53.259 --> 00:45:53.759 on the cross 00:45:53.759 --> 00:45:54.859 has been accomplished. 00:45:55.000 --> 00:45:55.699 There is a people 00:45:55.699 --> 00:45:56.379 that I am seeking 00:45:56.379 --> 00:45:56.899 in the world. 00:45:57.299 --> 00:45:57.619 So, 00:45:57.779 --> 00:45:58.639 go find them. 00:45:59.139 --> 00:46:00.319 I have all authority. 00:46:00.440 --> 00:46:01.539 It's all been given to me. 00:46:01.779 --> 00:46:03.079 All dominion belongs to me. 00:46:03.259 --> 00:46:04.099 And there's a purpose 00:46:04.099 --> 00:46:04.960 I'm going to work out 00:46:04.960 --> 00:46:05.699 in the life 00:46:05.699 --> 00:46:06.719 of your church 00:46:06.719 --> 00:46:07.319 and in you 00:46:07.319 --> 00:46:07.859 as an individual. 00:46:08.019 --> 00:46:08.440 So go 00:46:08.440 --> 00:46:09.859 and make disciples. 00:46:09.860 --> 00:46:12.599 and in the promise 00:46:12.599 --> 00:46:15.340 that He will be with us 00:46:15.340 --> 00:46:17.400 to the end of the age. 00:46:18.280 --> 00:46:18.579 Beloved, 00:46:18.640 --> 00:46:19.519 we have nothing 00:46:19.519 --> 00:46:20.800 to fear 00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:21.880 in advancing 00:46:21.880 --> 00:46:23.079 the good news 00:46:23.079 --> 00:46:24.000 of the Gospel 00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:25.200 of Jesus Christ. 00:46:25.599 --> 00:46:26.640 As God is for us, 00:46:27.480 --> 00:46:28.280 who can be 00:46:28.280 --> 00:46:30.019 against us? 00:46:31.320 --> 00:46:31.960 And so, 00:46:32.140 --> 00:46:32.579 in summary, 00:46:33.400 --> 00:46:34.599 I just remind you 00:46:34.599 --> 00:46:35.180 once again, 00:46:35.960 --> 00:46:36.760 the Gospel gives 00:46:36.760 --> 00:46:38.140 reason for thanksgiving. 00:46:38.139 --> 00:46:40.639 The Gospel is believed 00:46:40.639 --> 00:46:43.079 by saving faith. 00:46:44.019 --> 00:46:45.799 The Gospel gives hope 00:46:45.799 --> 00:46:46.960 because of the promise 00:46:46.960 --> 00:46:48.460 of heaven. 00:46:49.359 --> 00:46:51.879 The Gospel produces love. 00:46:53.819 --> 00:46:56.199 And the Gospel has 00:46:56.199 --> 00:46:59.179 and is completing its task 00:46:59.179 --> 00:47:00.379 through the work 00:47:00.379 --> 00:47:02.519 of faithful ministers. 00:47:03.139 --> 00:47:04.059 Let's pray together.