WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch.

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 Good morning, everybody. I'm Shantanez, Shantanez Jacob, and I'm going to read with you today from the Acts of the Apostle, chapter 1, verse 8, then verse 14, and 36-42 of chapter 2.

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 Let us begin now.

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 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

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 You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

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 Then Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed the crowd.

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 Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this.

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 God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.

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 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles,

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 Brothers, what shall we do?

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 Peter replied, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call.

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 With many other words he warned them, and he pleaded with them, save yourselves from this corrupt generation.

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 Those who accept his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day.

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 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

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 This is the word of our Lord.

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 You may be seated.

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 Well, it's been said already, but happy Pentecost Sunday, Christ Church.

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 Today, we are joining together with the global church, every tribe, language, people, and nation, to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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 When Jesus was resurrected, and he was enthroned at God's right hand, he poured out the Holy Spirit to put new life, to put the divine life of God in our souls,

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 and to empower us across all of our differences to be the one family of the Father, and to be witnesses of Jesus.

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 That's what Pentecost is about.

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 And, you know, at Christmas, God proved that he's with us.

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 At Easter, God proved that he's for us.

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 And at Pentecost, God proves that he's in us.

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 And how amazing would it be if we came up with some new and creative ways to celebrate this amazing gift of Pentecost,

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 the way we celebrate Christmas, and the way we celebrate Easter.

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 So I want to invite us to open our pew Bible today.

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 You've heard this text read, but on page 888, you'll see that this is not a floating text without any context.

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 And page 888, we've been slowly just exploring Acts chapter 1 and chapter 2,

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 because we want to better know and we want to better experience the person and the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit.

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 And we want to be able to answer this question,

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 what does the Holy Spirit do to make a person a Christian?

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 And having made a person a Christian, what does the Holy Spirit do when he fills that Christian with himself,

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 when he fills a collective group of Christians, the church, with himself?

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 And what I want to do today is talk about four things.

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 I want to talk about how God calls you, God baptizes you, God saves you, and God adds you.

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 Okay, God calls you, he baptizes you, he saves you, and he adds you.

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 And I want to start with God, how God calls you.

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 And I want to bring us to verse 38, where Peter replied,

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 after having preached this first Christian sermon ever, on the day of Pentecost,

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 he replied,

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 Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins,

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 and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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 The promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off,

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 for all whom the Lord our God will call.

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 And if you want to underline that last phrase, you can.

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 For all whom the Lord our God will call.

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 A Christian is someone who's been called by God.

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 If you're a Christian, you know that God has called you by name into a living relationship with himself.

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 And how does God call us?

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 Well, he calls us in the same way that he called those people on the day of Pentecost.

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 God poured out his Holy Spirit, and that Spirit is a Spirit of truth.

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 And so the Spirit of truth spoke through Peter's exposition of the Bible.

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 The Spirit spoke through Peter's exposition of the Gospel,

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 and led them into the truth about Jesus.

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 The truth of his life, the truth of his death, the truth of his resurrection.

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 And the Spirit was driving the words of the prophets.

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 He was driving the words of this apostle into the minds, and into the hearts,

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 and into the wills of everyone who was listening.

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 That's how God was calling them.

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 And when God calls us, the first thing he does is he causes us to think.

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 Right?

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 In verse 36, it says that,

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 Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this.

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 God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.

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 The Holy Spirit caused them to start thinking with their minds about Jesus.

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 And the Holy Spirit caused them to engage with the objective historical facts of the person and the work of Jesus.

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 And the logic of Peter's sermon, because of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit,

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 it began to work in their minds.

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 And they said to themselves,

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 Hmm, okay, if God raised Jesus to life,

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 if God made this Jesus whom we crucified, both Lord and King,

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 then we are in deep trouble.

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 Why?

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 Because we crucified him.

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 And we live in a world that when God comes in the flesh,

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 it crucifies him.

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 And they realized that,

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 Oh my goodness,

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 this whole time I've been neglecting and ignoring Jesus.

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 I've been thinking that I had no need of Jesus.

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 I've been completely unconcerned about Jesus.

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 And they realized that if I've not actually accepted Jesus,

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 then I've been rejecting the one that God approves and that God raised and that God has exalted.

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 And it says in verse 37 that when the people heard this,

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 what happened?

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 Well, God began,

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 God's call began to work through their minds down into their hearts.

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 And it says they were cut to the heart.

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 They were convicted.

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 They were disturbed.

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 They were caused to feel this intense inner pain that we talked about last week.

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 They were made uncomfortable and they began to grieve.

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 Why?

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 Because they realize,

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 again,

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 if I've been stiff-arming Jesus,

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 that means I've actually been stiff-arming God.

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 And you see,

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 the Spirit of God is applying the Word of God to their minds and to their hearts.

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 And they experience pain because they realize,

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 we treated God's Messiah so unjustly.

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 They realize that if we've hurt Jesus,

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 we've actually hurt his Father.

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 And they realize that,

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 oh my goodness,

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 our greatest need

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 and our greatest sin

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 is that we failed to see our need of Jesus.

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 We thought so little of Jesus.

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 And it caused them to cry out for help.

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 And they say,

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 brothers,

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 what shall we do?

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 And doing is about the will,

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 right?

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 So God's call to these people in the gospel

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 has penetrated their minds and their thinking.

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 And it's gone down into their hearts

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 and their desiring.

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 And now it's getting down into their wills

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 and their doing.

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 And they say,

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 what shall we do?

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 What should we stop doing?

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 What should we start doing?

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 They realize this truth of Hebrews 9.27

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 that says,

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 people are destined to die once

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 and after that to face judgment.

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 And they realize that we need to be rescued

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 from the judgment of God.

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 We need to be reconciled

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 in a relationship with God.

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 They say,

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 we absolutely do not want to be separated from God

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 and to go on into an eternity

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 of ever increasing misery.

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 And if we don't do something different

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 than what we're doing now,

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 that's what's going to happen to us.

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 But rather they say,

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 we want to be with God.

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 We want to enjoy the pleasures of God

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 for all eternity.

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 And so they cry out,

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 brothers,

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 what shall we do?

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 So what's happening on the day of Pentecost

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 is that this community

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 of 120 Christian disciples,

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 they're bearing witness

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 to these 3,000 people about Jesus.

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 A crowd of more than 3,000 people,

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 but to these 3,000 in particular.

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 And through the witness of

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 this spirit-filled,

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 spirit-empowered church,

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 God is calling these 3,000 people

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 out of condemnation

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 and into a reconciled relationship

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 with himself.

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 So let's pause here

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 for some brief application.

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 Some of us are here

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 and we're exploring Christianity.

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 And what I want you to hear

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 is that God is calling

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 these 3,000 people

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 to come home to him.

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 Right?

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 Just like that prodigal son

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 in Luke chapter 15.

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 This young man

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 who turned his back on the father.

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 He went off to a far country

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 and he plunged himself

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 into a life of self-centeredness

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 where he just did everything

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 that he wanted to do.

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 And one day he got down

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 to the very bottom of his misery

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 and he came to his senses

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 and he remembered his father.

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 He remembered,

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 oh my goodness,

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 my father is rich

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 and my father is generous

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 and if I just turn back

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 to my father,

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 everything may be okay.

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 And so he turns

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 and he realizes

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 as he's walking up the road

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 to go home

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 that this whole time

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 the father's been looking for him,

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 the father's been calling him

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 and the father's now running to him

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 to embrace him

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 and bring him home.

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 And if you are hearing

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 the external call

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 of the gospel

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 in your mind

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 and if you are sensing

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 the internal call

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 of the father

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 in your heart,

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 then your next move,

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 your next step

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 is to answer that call

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 with your will

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 to do something different

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 and that is to turn home

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 to your father

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 and to his embrace.

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 And to apply this for you,

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 if you identify yourself

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 as a Christian,

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 I want you to know

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 that this call of God

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 is a powerful call.

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 That when he calls you,

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 he's exercising

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 and manifesting

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 the same power

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 that he exhibited

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 in the creation

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 of the universe

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 and in the resurrection

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 of Jesus.

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 And here's how

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 the New Testament

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 describes this powerful

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 calling of God.

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 It says,

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 Peter,

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 who's giving this sermon,

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 says in his first epistle,

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 he says,

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 God called you

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 out of darkness

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 into his wonderful light.

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 The God of all grace

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 called you

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 to his eternal glory

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 in Christ.

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 The apostle Paul

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 says to the Thessalonians,

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 he says,

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 God calls you

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 into his kingdom

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 and glory.

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 He called you

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 through our gospel

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 that you might share

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 in the glory

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 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And so the question

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 for you is,

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 has that powerful call

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 happened to you?

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 Have you been called

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 out of darkness

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 and into his wonderful light?

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 Has God called you

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 by his grace

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 into his eternal kingdom

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 to share with you

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 the glory

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 and the honor

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 and the majesty

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 and the beauty

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 of Jesus?

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 Because that's what

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 a Christian is.

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 A Christian is a person

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 who knows

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 that they've experienced

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 this powerful call

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 of God.

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 But it's more than that.

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 God not only calls you

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 but God baptizes you.

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 God baptizes you.

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 If we can go back

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 to verse 38,

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 it says,

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 Peter replied,

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 repent and be baptized

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 every one of you

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 in the name of Jesus Christ

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 for the forgiveness

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 of your sins

00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:46.340
 and you will receive

00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:46.940
 the gift

00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:48.440
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:50.680
 See,

00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:51.600
 Peter's describing

00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:53.680
 what is involved

00:13:53.680 --> 00:13:55.600
 in being joined

00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:56.580
 to this community

00:13:56.580 --> 00:13:57.100
 of Jesus

00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:58.340
 that's had the life

00:13:58.340 --> 00:13:59.720
 and the power of God

00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:00.460
 poured into it

00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:01.300
 by the Holy Spirit.

00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:03.180
 And he's telling us

00:14:03.180 --> 00:14:03.700
 what's involved

00:14:03.700 --> 00:14:05.080
 in this tremendous change

00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:05.860
 that takes place

00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:06.740
 within us

00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:09.600
 and how this inward change

00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:11.320
 begins to show itself

00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:12.060
 outwardly

00:14:12.060 --> 00:14:13.360
 in our lives.

00:14:14.420 --> 00:14:15.240
 And Peter's saying

00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.500
 that this Jesus

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.480
 who God raised

00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.080
 from the dead,

00:14:18.420 --> 00:14:18.580
 right,

00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:19.620
 this Jesus who God

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:20.759
 exalted to his throne,

00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:21.680
 this Jesus who God

00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:22.280
 now calls

00:14:22.280 --> 00:14:23.720
 Lord and Messiah,

00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:25.100
 he's there

00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:26.420
 and he's actually

00:14:26.420 --> 00:14:27.720
 making both promises

00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:29.200
 and demands.

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.820
 And what are his promises?

00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:32.120
 Well,

00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:34.320
 he promises forgiveness

00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.899
 and the freedom

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.899
 that comes with forgiveness

00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.759
 and he promises

00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:38.980
 the Holy Spirit

00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:39.879
 and the power

00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:40.500
 that comes

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.420
 with the Spirit.

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.220
 To be forgiven

00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:46.360
 is our greatest need

00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:48.399
 and it's the thing

00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.200
 that we cannot do

00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:49.920
 for ourselves.

00:14:51.040 --> 00:14:51.320
 Right,

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.040
 all the stuff

00:14:52.040 --> 00:14:52.779
 that you've done

00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:54.460
 and that you said

00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:55.180
 and that you've thought

00:14:55.180 --> 00:14:55.940
 of which you're

00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:57.000
 totally ashamed

00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:58.680
 and would want

00:14:58.680 --> 00:15:00.080
 no one to know about.

00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:02.100
 All the things

00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:03.259
 that you've failed to do

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:04.180
 and failed to say

00:15:04.180 --> 00:15:05.180
 and failed to think

00:15:05.180 --> 00:15:06.240
 of which you are guilty,

00:15:07.160 --> 00:15:07.940
 it's possible

00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:08.860
 to be released

00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.660
 from all of that.

00:15:10.800 --> 00:15:12.060
 And that's the great message

00:15:12.060 --> 00:15:13.700
 of the Christian gospel

00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:14.500
 that Jesus

00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.519
 bore

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.940
 the condemnation

00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:17.920
 that we deserve

00:15:17.920 --> 00:15:19.780
 so that we could

00:15:19.780 --> 00:15:20.740
 receive the forgiveness

00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.460
 that we do

00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:22.620
 not deserve.

00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:24.399
 And he came

00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.360
 to liberate us

00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.240
 from our shame

00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:27.000
 and from our guilt

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.860
 and from the penalty

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:29.379
 of our sins.

00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:29.759
 And again,

00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.539
 this is how Peter

00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:32.460
 puts it in his first letter.

00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:34.279
 He says in 1 Peter 1,

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.120
 you were redeemed

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.460
 with the precious blood

00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:36.960
 of Christ,

00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:38.220
 a lamb without blemish

00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:38.740
 or defect.

00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:40.220
 He himself

00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:40.940
 bore

00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:42.100
 our sins

00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.019
 in his body

00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:43.960
 on the cross

00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:45.179
 so that we might

00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:46.240
 die to sins

00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:47.440
 and live to righteousness.

00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:49.440
 By his wounds

00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:50.220
 you have been

00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:50.980
 healed.

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:53.860
 the first promise

00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:55.159
 that Jesus makes

00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:56.080
 from his throne

00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:56.539
 in heaven

00:15:56.539 --> 00:15:57.440
 is that you can be

00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.320
 forgiven of your sin.

00:15:58.440 --> 00:15:59.300
 The second promise

00:15:59.300 --> 00:16:00.200
 that he makes

00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:01.039
 is that you can have

00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:02.360
 the Holy Spirit

00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:04.120
 living within you.

00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.560
 That the Holy Spirit

00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:09.100
 can come into your heart

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:11.220
 and when he gets

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:11.960
 into your heart

00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.600
 he regenerates you.

00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:14.659
 He gives you,

00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:15.460
 he brings about

00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:16.659
 a new birth.

00:16:16.800 --> 00:16:17.899
 He plants the life

00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:18.439
 of God

00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:20.659
 in your soul

00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.620
 and he makes you

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.799
 a new creature

00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:25.120
 and he causes

00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:26.319
 the presence of God

00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:27.100
 and the power

00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:27.620
 of God

00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.519
 to permanently

00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:29.199
 reside

00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:30.379
 within you.

00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:32.419
 And so the question

00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:32.980
 for you is

00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:33.779
 do you have

00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:34.840
 this promised

00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:36.259
 freedom of forgiveness

00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:38.240
 and this promised

00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:38.819
 power

00:16:38.819 --> 00:16:40.639
 of the Holy Spirit

00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.199
 that Jesus

00:16:41.199 --> 00:16:42.319
 has promised to us?

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.199
 But you see,

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:44.879
 Jesus doesn't

00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:45.899
 just make promises.

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:47.100
 The resurrected Lord

00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:49.000
 from his heavenly throne

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.819
 he also makes demands.

00:16:50.939 --> 00:16:52.100
 And what are his demands?

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.179
 Well, it says

00:16:53.179 --> 00:16:54.000
 in verse 38

00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.899
 Peter replies

00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:56.379
 speaking for Jesus

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.360
 he says repent

00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:59.159
 and be baptized

00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:00.000
 every one of you

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.480
 in the name

00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.720
 of Jesus Christ.

00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.340
 And we talked about

00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:04.319
 this word last week

00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.119
 repentance

00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:05.879
 metanoia

00:17:05.879 --> 00:17:06.839
 metanoeo

00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:08.059
 means to change

00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.299
 your mind entirely.

00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.960
 To have a radical

00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:12.779
 about turn

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.960
 in your attitude.

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.140
 gratitude.

00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.019
 To repent

00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.660
 is to

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.519
 turn

00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.840
 your allegiance

00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:20.240
 away from

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.160
 yourself

00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:22.620
 and away

00:17:22.620 --> 00:17:23.319
 from your sin

00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:23.680
 and away

00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.460
 from all of your

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:26.220
 God substitutes.

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.140
 And repentance

00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:29.559
 is always combined

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:30.460
 with faith

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.319
 and with trust.

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:32.279
 It's turning away

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.759
 and turning toward

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.319
 and faith

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.200
 is implicit here.

00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.440
 There's no possibility

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.500
 of turning

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.480
 from sin

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.059
 negatively

00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:40.559
 unless we turn

00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.380
 to Jesus

00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:42.140
 positively.

00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:43.740
 and this

00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.480
 double turn

00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.480
 from sin

00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:47.340
 to Jesus

00:17:47.340 --> 00:17:48.360
 from self

00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:49.680
 to the living

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.000
 God

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.720
 that's what we call

00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.360
 conversion.

00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:53.420
 And it's such a radical

00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.160
 turning away

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.000
 from ourselves

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.040
 and a turning

00:17:56.040 --> 00:17:56.960
 toward God

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.000
 that it bears

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.600
 fruit

00:17:58.600 --> 00:17:59.860
 in changed

00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:00.360
 behavior.

00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:02.420
 So that people

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.560
 who previously

00:18:03.560 --> 00:18:05.880
 repudiated

00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:06.720
 God's Messiah

00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:08.800
 are now brought

00:18:08.800 --> 00:18:09.420
 to a place

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.259
 where they publicly

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:11.020
 affirm their

00:18:11.020 --> 00:18:12.000
 dependence on Jesus

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.099
 by undergoing

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:13.740
 baptism

00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:15.220
 in his name.

00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:17.079
 Be baptized

00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:18.119
 every one of you

00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:18.859
 in the name

00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:19.900
 of Jesus

00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:21.099
 Peter says.

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.880
 The New Testament

00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.380
 knows

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.400
 of no

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.819
 unbaptized

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.640
 believers.

00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:28.980
 Baptism

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.680
 is the means

00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:32.119
 and the medium

00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:33.420
 by which

00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:34.079
 the promises

00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:34.619
 of Jesus

00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:35.819
 and the demands

00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:36.259
 of Jesus

00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.240
 are expressed

00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.799
 in our lives.

00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.420
 Baptism

00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:40.059
 is how we publicly

00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:40.880
 demonstrate

00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.920
 our repentance

00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.760
 and our faith.

00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:44.680
 And baptism

00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:45.640
 is this outward

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:47.020
 visible public

00:18:47.020 --> 00:18:47.740
 act

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.960
 symbolizing

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.680
 the washing

00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:50.680
 away

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.880
 and the forgiveness

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.460
 of sin

00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.540
 the pouring out

00:18:53.540 --> 00:18:55.160
 of the presence

00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:55.780
 and power

00:18:55.780 --> 00:18:57.020
 of the Holy Spirit

00:18:57.020 --> 00:18:58.120
 are being united

00:18:58.120 --> 00:18:59.100
 to the death

00:18:59.100 --> 00:19:00.100
 and the resurrection

00:19:00.100 --> 00:19:00.580
 of Jesus.

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.200
 We say

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.320
 when we baptize you

00:19:02.320 --> 00:19:03.080
 you've been buried

00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:03.640
 with Christ

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.260
 in baptism

00:19:04.260 --> 00:19:05.340
 and raised

00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:06.040
 with him

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:06.659
 to walk

00:19:06.659 --> 00:19:07.440
 in newness

00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.399
 of life.

00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:10.759
 Baptism

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.559
 is humbly

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.119
 submitting

00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.799
 to

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:16.480
 a name

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:18.139
 and to

00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:19.379
 an authority

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:21.139
 that's symbolized

00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:22.119
 by that name

00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:23.700
 into which

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.539
 you are being baptized.

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.399
 It's a change

00:19:25.399 --> 00:19:26.180
 of your identity

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.180
 and a change

00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:28.039
 of your allegiance.

00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:28.579
 It's saying

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.399
 to the world

00:19:29.399 --> 00:19:30.259
 and to yourself

00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:32.139
 I'm under new management.

00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:34.820
 I have a new Lord.

00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:37.000
 I'm no longer

00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.700
 identified

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.280
 primarily

00:19:38.280 --> 00:19:39.860
 with my own name.

00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.600
 I'm no longer

00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:41.200
 Jonathan

00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.340
 as it were.

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.620
 I'm no longer

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:44.120
 identified

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:44.660
 primarily

00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:45.759
 with my agenda

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.680
 and my will

00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:47.700
 for my life.

00:19:48.020 --> 00:19:48.340
 Rather

00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:49.900
 he's my new identity

00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:51.200
 and his agenda

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.280
 is my agenda.

00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:54.540
 This is where

00:19:54.540 --> 00:19:55.280
 some churches go

00:19:55.280 --> 00:19:55.660
 amen

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.560
 just a little

00:19:56.560 --> 00:19:57.460
 amen.

00:19:59.620 --> 00:20:00.720
 Just for some

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.240
 application

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.359
 if you're exploring

00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:02.960
 Christianity

00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.640
 have you considered

00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.779
 that

00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:06.920
 the freedom

00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:07.680
 and the power

00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:08.319
 that your heart

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:08.759
 wants

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:10.940
 the freedom

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.559
 and the power

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:11.900
 that

00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.880
 you're spending

00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:13.539
 your time

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.200
 and your energy

00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:14.859
 and money

00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:16.000
 trying to

00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.980
 get for yourself

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.960
 through your work

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.819
 and your career

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.880
 through your success

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.980
 and your financial

00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:21.640
 security

00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:23.279
 through friendship

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.180
 and romance

00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:25.160
 through your family

00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:25.900
 through your kids

00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:27.220
 through new adventures

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:29.039
 and travel

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.279
 and experiences

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:32.779
 that none

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.680
 of these

00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:35.119
 are going

00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:35.660
 to be

00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:36.440
 enough for you

00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:36.980
 in this life

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.279
 and they're

00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:37.819
 certainly not

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.079
 going to be

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.559
 enough for you

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.079
 in the life

00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.680
 to come.

00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:41.940
 There's a freedom

00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:43.240
 and there's a power

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.379
 that your heart

00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:44.819
 desires

00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:45.700
 that only Jesus

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.879
 can give to you.

00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:49.319
 The freedom

00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.460
 of divine forgiveness

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.180
 the freedom

00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:52.740
 of living

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.680
 in a reconciled

00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.180
 relationship

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:55.299
 with the living God.

00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:57.440
 the power

00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:58.720
 of divine

00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.240
 indwelling

00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.940
 the power

00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:00.500
 of having

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:00.779
 God

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.460
 the Holy Spirit

00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.099
 permanently

00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:03.180
 residing

00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.339
 within you

00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.099
 your heart

00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:06.379
 will forever

00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.379
 remain restless

00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:08.639
 and will keep

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.799
 restlessly searching

00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.539
 for freedom

00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:11.659
 and for power

00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:12.460
 that this world

00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.980
 simply promises

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.399
 to you

00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.220
 but will not

00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:15.700
 give you.

00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.119
 And Peter says

00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:18.960
 that this freedom

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.879
 and this power

00:21:19.879 --> 00:21:20.500
 it's yours

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.139
 for the taking.

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.519
 It's a free

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.299
 gift

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:23.899
 that all you

00:21:23.899 --> 00:21:24.419
 have to do

00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:24.819
 he says

00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.119
 is just

00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:25.639
 change your

00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:26.079
 mind.

00:21:27.399 --> 00:21:28.180
 Stop putting

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.879
 your faith

00:21:28.879 --> 00:21:29.740
 in yourself

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:31.339
 start putting

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:31.839
 your faith

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.319
 in Jesus

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:33.200
 and start saying

00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.899
 you know what

00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.960
 you're my Lord

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.879
 and you're my King

00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:37.599
 that's your next

00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:37.980
 move.

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.000
 But secondly

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.799
 if you're a Christian

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.659
 to apply this

00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:42.259
 to you

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.139
 do you understand

00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:44.039
 what it means

00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:44.720
 to be baptized?

00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:45.940
 Do you understand

00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:47.240
 what it means

00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:48.000
 to be a baptized

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.019
 Christian?

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.339
 And here are

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:50.960
 some tests.

00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:53.079
 Are you going

00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.639
 to him

00:21:53.639 --> 00:21:54.159
 daily

00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:54.679
 the one

00:21:54.679 --> 00:21:55.439
 in whose name

00:21:55.439 --> 00:21:56.099
 you've been baptized

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.859
 are you going

00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.559
 to him daily

00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.480
 and saying

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:58.839
 Jesus

00:21:58.839 --> 00:21:59.439
 would you please

00:21:59.439 --> 00:22:00.379
 apply to me

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:01.960
 the freedom

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:03.539
 of the forgiveness

00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.299
 that you offer?

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.699
 I'm not living

00:22:05.699 --> 00:22:06.299
 in freedom.

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.339
 Were you going

00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:08.639
 to him

00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:09.419
 on a daily basis

00:22:09.419 --> 00:22:09.839
 and saying

00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.159
 Jesus

00:22:10.159 --> 00:22:11.139
 please refill

00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:12.139
 me with the power

00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:12.899
 of the Holy Spirit?

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.779
 I want to live

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.859
 in the power

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:16.579
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.639
 Are you

00:22:18.639 --> 00:22:20.599
 going to the throne

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.119
 of grace

00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:21.839
 with confidence

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.539
 so that you may

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.359
 receive mercy

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.200
 and find grace

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.940
 to help you

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:25.980
 in your time

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.879
 of need?

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.639
 Is your prayer life

00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.599
 evidence that you

00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:31.779
 have received

00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:33.359
 these heavenly promises

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:35.059
 and that your baptism

00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:36.599
 is expressing itself

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.779
 in your life?

00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:38.619
 And we need to remember

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:41.099
 that for these

00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:42.220
 3,000 converts

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:43.159
 in Jerusalem

00:22:43.159 --> 00:22:43.839
 on the day

00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.599
 of Pentecost

00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.599
 and for many

00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.119
 of our brothers

00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:46.740
 and sisters

00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.859
 around the world

00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:48.599
 in the global church

00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:48.960
 today

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:50.079
 being baptized

00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.680
 meant risking

00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.299
 everything.

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.440
 It meant being

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:55.279
 separated from

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:55.759
 your nearest

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.259
 and dearest

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:56.740
 relatives.

00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.600
 It meant being

00:22:58.600 --> 00:22:59.200
 renounced by

00:22:59.200 --> 00:22:59.799
 your family.

00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.400
 It meant being

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.360
 ostracized by

00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:01.940
 society.

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.579
 It meant that

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.740
 people began

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.940
 to despise you

00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:05.680
 and no longer

00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:07.039
 want to do

00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.840
 business with you

00:23:07.840 --> 00:23:08.480
 or have anything

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.500
 to do with you.

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.380
 Sometimes it meant

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.360
 going to prison.

00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.259
 Sometimes it meant

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.840
 dying for your faith

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.720
 to be baptized

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:16.539
 was a costly thing.

00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.139
 And I wonder

00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:20.419
 if sometimes

00:23:20.419 --> 00:23:21.119
 we forget

00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:22.379
 our baptisms.

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.919
 I wonder

00:23:24.919 --> 00:23:25.619
 if we love

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:26.159
 the one

00:23:26.159 --> 00:23:26.859
 in whose name

00:23:26.859 --> 00:23:27.659
 we've been baptized

00:23:27.659 --> 00:23:29.480
 so much

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:31.319
 that we'd be

00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:32.359
 willing to experience

00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:33.099
 discomfort

00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:35.059
 and inconvenience

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:36.639
 for his sake.

00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.659
 I wonder

00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:39.279
 if we take

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:39.980
 our relationship

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.480
 with Jesus

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.519
 so seriously

00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.899
 like our mothers

00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:43.439
 and fathers

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.120
 in the faith

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.440
 that we're willing

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.039
 to suffer

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:48.039
 for him

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.700
 and even

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.559
 to die for him.

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.340
 That's what

00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:53.019
 baptism

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.460
 represents.

00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:56.059
 Dying with Christ.

00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:57.440
 Being raised

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.120
 with Christ.

00:23:59.860 --> 00:24:00.360
 Repent and be

00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:01.080
 baptized every

00:24:01.080 --> 00:24:02.500
 single one of you

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.940
 Peter says.

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.740
 But God not only

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.299
 calls you

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:05.680
 and not only

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.400
 baptizes you

00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.620
 but God saves you.

00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:09.039
 And look at

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:09.660
 verse 40.

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:10.779
 It says

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.360
 with many other

00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.220
 words he warned

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.019
 them and he pleaded

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.380
 with them

00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:14.360
 save yourselves

00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:15.280
 from this corrupt

00:24:15.280 --> 00:24:16.360
 generation.

00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:17.500
 Jesus trained

00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.400
 Peter for three

00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:18.840
 years.

00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.740
 He equipped

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.120
 Peter.

00:24:21.280 --> 00:24:22.060
 He authorized

00:24:22.060 --> 00:24:22.720
 Peter

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:24.260
 as his apostle

00:24:24.260 --> 00:24:25.860
 to say things

00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.520
 like this.

00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:27.640
 Right?

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.260
 To speak

00:24:28.260 --> 00:24:29.740
 words that not

00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.020
 everybody

00:24:30.020 --> 00:24:31.680
 necessarily wanted

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.320
 to hear.

00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:32.940
 And what's Peter

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.620
 pleading with them

00:24:33.620 --> 00:24:33.860
 to do?

00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:34.600
 He says save

00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:35.300
 yourselves from

00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:36.020
 this corrupt

00:24:36.020 --> 00:24:37.300
 generation.

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.120
 Save yourselves

00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:38.880
 from this crooked

00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:40.240
 and twisted

00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.360
 generation.

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.220
 Some translations

00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:44.520
 say be saved

00:24:44.520 --> 00:24:46.140
 from this

00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:46.680
 generation.

00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.000
 And that's

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.620
 an equally

00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.100
 legitimate

00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:49.900
 translation.

00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:50.980
 Be saved

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.160
 from this

00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:52.780
 generation

00:24:52.780 --> 00:24:54.100
 emphasizes that

00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:55.140
 salvation is a

00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:56.100
 rescue operation

00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:57.400
 initiated and

00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.080
 accomplished by

00:24:58.080 --> 00:24:59.240
 God and God

00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.520
 alone.

00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.060
 We do not

00:25:00.060 --> 00:25:00.880
 save ourselves.

00:25:01.280 --> 00:25:01.940
 God is the

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:03.000
 one who saves

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.180
 us.

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:03.700
 And if you look

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.180
 in your Bible

00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.700
 down at verse

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.620
 47 it says

00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.439
 the Lord added

00:25:06.439 --> 00:25:07.059
 to the church

00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.739
 daily those

00:25:07.739 --> 00:25:08.719
 who were being

00:25:08.719 --> 00:25:09.579
 saved.

00:25:09.719 --> 00:25:10.219
 Saved by who?

00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:11.139
 Saved by God.

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.759
 The difference

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.619
 between a

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:16.379
 Christian and a

00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:18.159
 non-Christian is

00:25:18.159 --> 00:25:18.719
 that a Christian

00:25:18.719 --> 00:25:19.419
 is among the

00:25:19.419 --> 00:25:20.379
 saved and a

00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:21.179
 non-Christian is

00:25:21.179 --> 00:25:21.719
 among the

00:25:21.719 --> 00:25:22.419
 not saved.

00:25:23.739 --> 00:25:24.439
 And you can

00:25:24.439 --> 00:25:25.239
 imagine a house

00:25:25.239 --> 00:25:27.039
 on fire with a

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.579
 bunch of people

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.459
 inside of it and

00:25:28.459 --> 00:25:29.539
 a ladder is put

00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.379
 up to the window

00:25:30.379 --> 00:25:31.339
 and the firemen

00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:32.679
 come and there's

00:25:32.679 --> 00:25:33.699
 a certain number

00:25:33.699 --> 00:25:34.319
 of people that are

00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.079
 rescued that are

00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:35.539
 saved.

00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.000
 Out of that

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.799
 house and then

00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.279
 there are others

00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.899
 who are not.

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:39.899
 Or you can

00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:40.839
 imagine a shipwreck

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.799
 where some people

00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.739
 are saved to shore

00:25:42.739 --> 00:25:43.500
 and then others

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.379
 are not.

00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:46.000
 Or you can

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.479
 imagine a

00:25:46.479 --> 00:25:47.099
 courthouse where

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.239
 some people are

00:25:48.239 --> 00:25:49.419
 accused and

00:25:49.419 --> 00:25:50.000
 they're going to

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.179
 go home acquitted

00:25:51.179 --> 00:25:52.339
 and set free but

00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.359
 other people are

00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:53.979
 not going to go

00:25:53.979 --> 00:25:54.319
 home.

00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.079
 They're going to

00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:55.759
 be condemned.

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.000
 And that's what

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.059
 Peter means when

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.519
 he says be saved

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:01.459
 from this generation.

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.219
 A Christian is a

00:26:02.219 --> 00:26:03.399
 person who has

00:26:03.399 --> 00:26:04.859
 been saved and is

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:06.179
 being saved and

00:26:06.179 --> 00:26:07.579
 will go on to be

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.199
 saved.

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.719
 And that's what the

00:26:09.719 --> 00:26:10.740
 Apostle Paul means

00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.479
 when he talks about

00:26:11.479 --> 00:26:12.699
 you've been justified

00:26:12.699 --> 00:26:13.599
 and you've been

00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.959
 sanctified and you've

00:26:14.959 --> 00:26:15.779
 been glorified.

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:18.000
 A Christian has been

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.500
 saved and put into a

00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.839
 totally new position

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:22.259
 and standing where you

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:24.279
 already stand justified

00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:25.439
 and righteous before

00:26:25.439 --> 00:26:25.839
 God.

00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:25.939
 God.

00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:28.419
 And a Christian is also

00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:31.000
 being saved from the

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.139
 remnants of sin and

00:26:32.139 --> 00:26:33.299
 evil that remain in

00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.639
 our mortal body.

00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.559
 We are slowly,

00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:37.720
 gradually being prepared

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:39.359
 for the glory into

00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:40.379
 which we are going.

00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:42.740
 And a Christian will

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:44.259
 one day be saved

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.959
 completely,

00:26:46.199 --> 00:26:46.939
 delivered from the

00:26:46.939 --> 00:26:48.039
 pollution of sin and

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.299
 the power of death to

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.639
 enjoy and to glorify

00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:51.859
 God and a resurrected

00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:53.419
 body in his new

00:26:53.419 --> 00:26:54.139
 creation.

00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:54.960
 That's what it means

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:56.540
 for God to sovereignly

00:26:56.540 --> 00:26:57.860
 save you from this

00:26:57.860 --> 00:26:59.280
 corrupt generation.

00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:01.240
 So, is our translation

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.960
 correct or incorrect?

00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.900
 Well, yes.

00:27:05.800 --> 00:27:06.720
 It's right.

00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:08.759
 Be saved from this

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.800
 corrupt generation and

00:27:09.800 --> 00:27:11.060
 save yourselves from

00:27:11.060 --> 00:27:12.520
 this corrupt generation.

00:27:13.520 --> 00:27:14.380
 And when Peter says

00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.680
 that, he's just quoting

00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.259
 his Bible.

00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.000
 He's quoting the

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.300
 Torah.

00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:20.299
 Deuteronomy 32.5

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:22.700
 talks about living in a

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:24.159
 corrupt and warped and

00:27:24.159 --> 00:27:25.639
 crooked generation.

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:29.200
 And that refers to the

00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:31.159
 outlook of humanity

00:27:31.159 --> 00:27:33.500
 without reference to God.

00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:35.180
 That's what a corrupt

00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:35.919
 generation is.

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.539
 It's how human beings try

00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:39.339
 to organize themselves and

00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:41.180
 their world apart from and

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:42.779
 separate from God.

00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:45.319
 And Peter says there's

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:47.420
 something corrupt and

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.319
 there's something twisted

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:50.359
 about that approach to

00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:50.639
 life.

00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:52.240
 It's heading for disaster.

00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:53.799
 It's driving over a

00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.139
 cliff.

00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.799
 And Peter urges his

00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:58.019
 listeners to actively

00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:59.759
 separate themselves and

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.859
 to separate and to set

00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:02.160
 themselves apart from this

00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:03.319
 corrupt generation.

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:05.059
 You have an active and an

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:06.279
 urgent responsibility,

00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:09.379
 Peter says, to leave this

00:28:09.379 --> 00:28:11.039
 human centered and God

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:13.779
 resisting generation with

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.920
 all of its corrupt views

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:16.500
 of history and its

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.680
 corrupt views of the

00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.740
 self and its corrupt

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:20.119
 views of God and its

00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:21.220
 corrupt views of Jesus.

00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:23.940
 And you need to move

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:25.000
 into a new reality.

00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:26.319
 You need to move into a

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.059
 new humanity.

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.779
 You need to move into a

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:31.659
 new creation that has a

00:28:31.659 --> 00:28:32.740
 new view of everything.

00:28:32.899 --> 00:28:34.539
 God, life, eternity,

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.940
 human meaning and

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:37.279
 purpose, all of it.

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:40.639
 In Acts chapter 26,

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.879
 verse 18, it says that a

00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:43.119
 Christian is somebody who's

00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:45.500
 been turned from darkness

00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:47.519
 to light and from the

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:49.299
 power of Satan to God.

00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:52.160
 The apostle Paul says in

00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:53.720
 Colossians 1.13, for God

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.700
 has rescued us.

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.960
 He saved us from the

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:57.460
 dominion of darkness and

00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.359
 he's brought us into the

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.879
 kingdom of the son that he

00:28:59.879 --> 00:29:00.339
 loves.

00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:01.579
 And it's the question for

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:03.240
 us, is it clear that you've

00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:04.519
 been saved like that?

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:07.559
 Paul says to the

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.700
 Philippians, he says, be

00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:11.339
 blameless and pure, children

00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.819
 of God without fault in a

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.920
 warped and crooked

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.559
 generation.

00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:16.139
 These apostles love quoting

00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:17.200
 Deuteronomy for some

00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:17.500
 reason.

00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.539
 Be blameless and pure,

00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:20.819
 children of God without

00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:22.240
 fault in a warped and

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.160
 crooked generation.

00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:25.240
 Then you will shine like

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.960
 stars in the night sky.

00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:30.539
 Is your life and is your

00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:32.200
 conduct a clear

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.960
 demonstration?

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:34.920
 Confirmation that you've

00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:37.539
 been saved, you are being

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:39.700
 saved, and you are going

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:41.120
 to be saved.

00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:46.539
 God calls you, God baptizes

00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:48.400
 you, God saves you, and a

00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:50.220
 final word, that God adds

00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:50.440
 you.

00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:52.500
 God adds you.

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:54.360
 Verse 41, we'll come back

00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:55.220
 to this next week.

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:57.180
 But it says, those who

00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:59.019
 accepted Peter's message were

00:29:59.019 --> 00:30:00.900
 baptized and about 3,000 were

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:02.660
 added to their number that

00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.940
 day, and they devoted

00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:05.040
 themselves to the apostles'

00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:06.259
 teaching and to fellowship,

00:30:06.600 --> 00:30:08.300
 to the breaking of bread, and

00:30:08.300 --> 00:30:08.780
 to prayer.

00:30:10.280 --> 00:30:12.280
 So added to this number of

00:30:12.280 --> 00:30:14.480
 120 disciples on the day of

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:16.300
 Pentecost are these 3,000

00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:18.880
 newly baptized Christians, and

00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:19.860
 that means that the Holy

00:30:19.860 --> 00:30:21.560
 Spirit multiplied the church

00:30:21.560 --> 00:30:24.440
 26x in one day.

00:30:24.540 --> 00:30:25.420
 I'm not a math guy.

00:30:25.800 --> 00:30:26.800
 I think that's good.

00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:28.259
 26x, is that good?

00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:29.059
 It's good.

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:32.059
 So, the New Testament knows

00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:34.180
 no unchurched believers.

00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:36.559
 They're all immediately

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.559
 churched.

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:40.660
 Your baptism adds you to the

00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:42.180
 church, and your baptism adds

00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:44.059
 you to the distinctive way of

00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:45.920
 life and devotion in the

00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:46.240
 church.

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:48.859
 And to be a Christian means

00:30:48.859 --> 00:30:49.980
 that you've become a living

00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:52.019
 member of a living church of

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:53.279
 the living Lord.

00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:54.579
 And at first, you did not

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:56.500
 belong, but now you do

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:56.900
 belong.

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:59.940
 And God moved these 3,000

00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:01.740
 people from one position to

00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.200
 another.

00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:03.859
 They were over here, and now

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:05.140
 they're over here.

00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:07.599
 And look at what happens to

00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:07.720
 them.

00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:10.519
 God causes them to undergo a

00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.559
 complete change.

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.880
 Their thinking, their

00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:15.779
 outlooks, their actions are

00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:17.799
 totally revolutionized.

00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:19.700
 They have this new life in

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:21.480
 Christ, and it immediately

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:23.259
 begins to express itself.

00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:25.759
 And we can see this new life

00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.799
 of God that's been planted

00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:28.339
 in their souls being

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:30.019
 expressed in their, the

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.980
 quality of their life

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.680
 together.

00:31:32.839 --> 00:31:34.319
 They gave practical

00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:36.359
 demonstration of their faith

00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:38.140
 by, it says, devoting

00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:39.000
 themselves.

00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:40.779
 Or other translations say

00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:43.259
 continuing steadfastly.

00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:45.599
 And again, we'll explore this

00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.759
 in depth next Sunday, but what

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:48.039
 does it mean as we close?

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:50.159
 It means that they

00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:51.659
 continued together.

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.740
 These people that have been

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.819
 called, that have been

00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:55.859
 baptized, that have been

00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:57.000
 saved, it means they

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:58.799
 continued together in

00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:00.259
 constant devotion.

00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.720
 You could not keep them

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:03.519
 away from each other.

00:32:05.159 --> 00:32:08.440
 Their association with other

00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.859
 Christians was the biggest

00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:11.039
 thing in their life.

00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:12.839
 It was the very center of

00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:13.259
 their lives.

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:14.500
 And they said, we will not

00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:16.900
 let any lesser things get

00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:18.140
 in the way of this main

00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:18.579
 thing.

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:19.940
 And what are the lesser

00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.259
 things?

00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:21.640
 Well, use your imagination.

00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:24.500
 What keeps us away on a

00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:24.720
 Sunday?

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:26.339
 What keeps us away midweek?

00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:29.000
 A lot of lesser things

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:30.019
 that do not matter.

00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:32.759
 And they said, we are not

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:34.220
 going to let that happen to

00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:34.500
 us.

00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.299
 They said, we are going to

00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:36.059
 come together, and we'll

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.879
 see this next week.

00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:38.500
 They came together regularly

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.980
 and willingly, not just one

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.359
 day a week.

00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.279
 It says they came together

00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.579
 day by day.

00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:46.960
 They so wanted to be with

00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:48.000
 each other that they, when

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.879
 they finished their day's

00:32:48.879 --> 00:32:50.099
 work, they'd go to one

00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:51.279
 another's houses, and they

00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:52.519
 would study the Bible, and

00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.140
 they would pray.

00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:53.799
 Why?

00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:55.680
 Because they realized that

00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:56.680
 even though they were from

00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:58.519
 different biological families,

00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:59.960
 they were now part of the

00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:01.720
 same spiritual family.

00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.960
 They shared the same

00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.960
 spiritual life.

00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:05.240
 They were born of the same

00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.059
 spirit.

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:08.160
 They were raised with the

00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:08.900
 same Christ.

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:10.240
 They had the same life of

00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.579
 God the Father in their

00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:12.240
 souls.

00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:15.220
 And they had to express it.

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:18.140
 They were rejoicing in the

00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:20.819
 same Savior, delighting to

00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:23.180
 put their trust in the

00:33:23.180 --> 00:33:24.420
 apostles' teaching about

00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:24.940
 Jesus.

00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:27.480
 Delighting to come to

00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:30.379
 fellowship in Christ Jesus.

00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:33.779
 Delighting to come and to

00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:35.319
 break that bread in communion

00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:36.539
 with Christ Jesus.

00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:38.539
 They were delighting to pray

00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:42.019
 prayers directly to Jesus,

00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:43.599
 directly to the Holy Spirit,

00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.379
 directly to the Father.

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:47.359
 They fixed their eyes on the

00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:48.119
 same thing.

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.940
 Their eyes were fixed together

00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:52.039
 on eternity.

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.500
 They were preparing themselves

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.480
 for the same thing.

00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:56.240
 They were preparing for the

00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:57.940
 life of the world to come, to

00:33:57.940 --> 00:34:00.539
 be ready to live in glory

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:01.579
 everlasting.

00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:04.859
 That's why they came together

00:34:04.859 --> 00:34:08.139
 every day and every Sunday.

00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:11.400
 So the question as we come to

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:13.360
 this table, has God called you?

00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:17.559
 And has God baptized you?

00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:20.139
 And has God saved you?

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:24.900
 And has God added you to his

00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:26.980
 devoted and steadfast people?

00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:29.760
 And is that obvious?

00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:33.199
 Is it obvious that you belong

00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:35.480
 to this God who calls, baptizes,

00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:36.500
 saves, and adds?

00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:40.159
 And that you are a person of

00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:42.800
 devotion and steadfast love?

00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.519
 May it be so.

00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:47.579
 In the name of the Father, Son,

00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:48.260
 and Holy Spirit.

00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.240
 Amen.

00:34:49.240 --> 00:34:49.380
 Amen.

00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.380


00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.380


00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.380


00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.380


00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.380


00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.380