WEBVTT

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 Well, Happy New Year. It's good to see you all here. Glad that you have joined us this morning for worship.

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! It's good to gather together in God's house.

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 You know, I've been reflecting as we move to the new year on the fact that it's now been 23 years that I've been able to be a part of Trinity as a church.

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 And it's been pretty amazing to see what God has done in the last 20 years as we've seen God renew and revitalize this new season that's been going on in this last year.

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 If you don't know, Trinity started in 1973, but there was a turning point after a decline in the 90s and in the last 20 years.

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 It's been a beautiful thing to see what God has done in our church.

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 And I've been blessed to be part of the leadership, the servant leadership for that church for most of it.

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 And we have, as the leaders, wrestled.

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 Because young churches have lots of things to think about.

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 We think about leadership structure. We think about programming decisions.

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 We think about caring for children and families and seniors.

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 Service planning, ministry priorities, building and physical plant, and so on and so forth.

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 And it's been a blessing to see how God has worked in the midst of all those things.

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 And my prayer is that God would continue to do this in our church.

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 But, you know, as you wrestled through, as you think through that list, as we have wrestled through, there's always been a danger.

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 That the pressures and the urgency and the challenges of those decisions could cause us to lose sight of what is central to the church.

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 What is central to what God has called us to, and to allow these other things to become, in fact, our practical center.

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 We make these decisions under the aegis of what our church needs.

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 We wrestle and even fight over what we need to do.

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 We fall into the trap of thinking, if only we had X program or XY personnel or Z priority, then we would finally be the church that we think we should be.

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 I don't know about you, but this isn't a problem only in our church, isn't it?

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 It also can be a problem in our own spiritual lives, isn't it?

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 It's a new year.

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 It's a great time to review and think, how do I want to grow this year?

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 Maybe you're a spiritual seeker and you're thinking, I don't know whether God exists.

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 What do I want to do to pursue that this year?

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 Maybe you've been a Christian for a while and you're thinking, what am I going to do this year?

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 New devotional practices or spiritual disciplines that are going to get me to the next step or the next level.

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 Maybe there are new patterns of obedience that I need to lean into in tithing or fasting or giving or evangelism or serving the poor or whatever it is.

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 Maybe you have new reading lists and strategies of growing in theology and biblical knowledge.

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 New curricula are things to do.

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 Now look, just like with the church, in our own personal lives, these are good things for us to think about.

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 These are not unimportant things.

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 These are not meaningless things.

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 They are good for us to think about, both our personal lives and in our church.

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 But they are not the center.

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 And this brings us to our passage this morning.

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 We are going to begin a series in the book of Galatians.

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 And we're going to start today in Galatians and do it through most of the spring.

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 And we're going to be introducing the book over the next couple of weeks.

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 Because if you read ahead, you will see that the context and the reality of what's going on in the church of Galatia

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 is the content of the first two chapters of the book in many ways.

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 So I'm not going to spend a lot of time on the background today.

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 I will simply say this, the Galatians was probably one of the first letters that Paul wrote.

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 And he was writing to a church that he had planted, that he was involved in starting as he preached the gospel

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 in the region of Galatia in what is now modern Turkey.

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 And this early church had been navigating questions.

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 What do we believe and how do we practice it and how do we live it out?

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 And it seems that in the midst of it, they had lost their center.

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 And so Paul reminds them.

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 He writes to remind them and to teach them what the center must be.

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 So this morning, we're just going to look at the greeting.

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 Verses 1 through 5 of chapter 1 in Galatians 1.

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 In many ways, it's a normal greeting that could be summarized.

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 Paul and the brothers with him to the church in Galatia, grace and peace to you.

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 But you'll see as we read it that he fills that out with a few other comments along the way.

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 And in fact, in those comments, we will see his opening salvo of teaching

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 about what is meant to be at the center of the church.

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 So, page 913, if you're looking at it in a few Bibles,

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 we're going to read Galatians chapter 1, verses 1 through 5.

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 Let's read along together.

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 Paul, an apostle, not from men nor through man,

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 but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead

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 and all the brothers who are with me.

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 To the churches of Galatia, grace to you and peace from God our Father

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 and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins

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 to deliver us from the present evil age

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 according to the will of our God and Father

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 to whom be glory forever and ever.

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 Amen.

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 Please pray with me as we look at God's Word.

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 Lord, we thank you for this new year.

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 We thank you for this new series.

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 Lord, we thank you for your Word,

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 which is not new at all,

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 but in fact has stood for years and centuries,

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 Lord, as your revelation to us.

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 And Lord, I pray for your help this morning.

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 I pray that you would help me to speak clearly your Word.

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 I pray that your Spirit would enable me.

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 Lord, I pray for all of us,

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 that our hearts would be willing to receive your Word.

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 Lord, that our minds would be enabled to understand it.

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 And Lord, that you would move our will,

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 Lord, to respond in obedience.

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 Lord, to love what you love

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 and to do what you have called us to do.

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 We pray these things in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 So friends, this is not rocket science.

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 The center of the church is the gospel of God.

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 The gospel originates with God.

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 The gospel centers on God's saving work in Jesus.

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 And the gospel's goal is the glory of God.

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 So if you're taking notes, there's your outline.

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 We'll look at the gospel originates with God.

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 The gospel centers on God's saving work in Jesus.

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 And the gospel goal is God's glory.

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 And the gospel of God, that is,

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 this is the good news that we proclaim.

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 This is the very core.

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 This is what we say we are all about.

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 When we say we're about a gospel,

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 it is some kind of good news.

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 But we need to make sure we get that good news

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 properly oriented, right?

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 And as you've seen from this,

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 part of what we will see is that the good news

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 that Paul exhorts us to embrace

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 focuses on God.

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 So let's look at it through that lens.

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 So first, in chapter, in verses one and two,

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 the gospel originates with God.

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 Paul, in his greeting, calls himself an apostle.

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 This is common.

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 It's in most of his letters.

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 An apostle at one level simply means someone who is sent.

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 So the Evangelical Dictionary of the New Testament

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 says that an apostle is some authorized as a messenger

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 and representative of the crucified and risen Lord

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 to bring the gospel to the churches.

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 This is the particular role that Paul had,

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 that the 12 had,

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 the 12 who were the followers of Jesus during his life.

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 They are a unique group in history.

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 But this is what Paul has.

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 He identifies himself and says,

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 this is who I am, right?

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 Now, we might read today the New Testament

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 and think Paul is an organizational leader.

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 He's an innovator.

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 He's a church planter.

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 He's someone who built and shaped the work

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 with strategies and plans.

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 And he did all of those things, true.

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 But for Paul, when he talks about what he did,

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 he said, this is the most important thing

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 I want you to know.

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 I am not an apostle by my own choice.

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 I'm not an apostle because other people told me

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 that I should be an apostle.

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 I am an apostle because of God, right?

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 Not from man, not through man,

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 but through Jesus Christ and God the Father.

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 Paul wants us to know that his ministry

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 is all about God, God's call and God's will

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 who sent him.

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 It wasn't because Barnabas took him under his wing.

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 It wasn't because James and Peter

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 gave their seal of approval.

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 But it was because God had done it.

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 Do you remember how Paul describes

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 his experience of God's call on his life?

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 This is from Acts chapter 26, verses 15 through 18,

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 as Paul is explaining where he comes from.

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 He says this.

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 He had this encounter with Jesus

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 as he was going to persecute the Christians.

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 And I'm going to shorten the passage

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 and just pick up here.

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 And he says, and I, that is Paul.

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 And I said, who are you, Lord?

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 And the Lord said, I am Jesus,

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 whom you are persecuting.

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 But rise and stand on your feet,

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 for I have appeared to you for this purpose,

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 to appoint you as a servant and witness

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 to the things in which you have seen me

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 and to those in which I will appear to you,

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 delivering you from your people

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 and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you,

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 to open their eyes so that they may turn

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 from darkness to light and from the power

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 of Satan to God,

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 that they may receive forgiveness of sins

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 and a place among those who are sanctified

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 by faith in me.

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 See, Paul had this amazing experience.

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 If you don't know the story,

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 Paul was a persecutor of the church

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 and God appeared to him miraculously.

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 Jesus appeared to him and struck him blind.

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 And there's a whole story,

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 and I couldn't expand the whole thing

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 because we'd be here all day

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 just talking about that part.

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 But God intervened in his life to say,

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 I am calling you in this unique and special role

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 to take the gospel to people who haven't heard it.

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 And what Paul wants to remind the Galatians

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 and us this morning

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 is that the origin of his gospel

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 was not his best ideas or his plans,

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 but it was God.

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 It was God who gave him that message,

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 and it was God who gave him that commission

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 to proclaim it.

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 And it's interesting, too,

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 if you notice at the end of verse 1,

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 that he goes on to say,

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 it's not just any God,

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 but it's a particular God.

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 It's an amazing God, right?

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 It's a God who raised Jesus from the dead.

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 Right?

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 Why is this important?

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 Because Paul is saying

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 that the message that I'm preaching

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 is about a God who intervened

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 in space-time history.

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 The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

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 actually happened.

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 If there had been movie cameras in that day,

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 or security cameras,

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 or whatever it would have been,

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 they could have actually filmed

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 the resurrection of Jesus Christ

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 because it actually happened.

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 It's not just an idea.

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 It's not just a metaphor

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 for some hopeful new thing,

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 but it actually physically happened

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 in space-time history.

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 And Paul says,

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 my ministry of the gospel

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 originated from a God

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 who interceded and acted

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 in real life today.

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 Now, this is important in our culture,

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 is it not?

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 We live in a relativistic,

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 pluralistic culture

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 where religion is generally viewed

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 as one truth among many.

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 Religion has been relegated

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 to private and experiential beliefs.

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 That's good for you.

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 I'm glad you hold…

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 I'm glad you've had that experience.

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 I'm glad you think those things

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 because I'm glad it's helpful for you.

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 And religion has been really brought down

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 to a level of psychological help

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 of some sort,

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 that it's somehow useful for us

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 regardless of whether it's true.

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 But Paul reminds us,

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 even in this very beginning salvo,

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 that the Bible,

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 the gospel of the Bible

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 challenges that worldview.

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 It says that this is a historically verifiable God

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 who acted in time-space history,

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 right?

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 That the God of the Bible

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 has revealed Himself

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 in a person who you could touch,

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 who you could talk to

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 if you were alive in the first century,

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 and whom we have a historical account,

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 not merely a mythological tale,

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 to tell about who He is

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 when we talk about Jesus.

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 And as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15,

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 if Christ wasn't raised from the dead,

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 if this is all just a great myth,

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 then we are the most to be pitied

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 because we are fools,

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 because we have staked our hope

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 on something that is not actually true.

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 But Paul says,

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 no, it is true.

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 And the gospel that I preach

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 did not come from me

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 or from any other human being.

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 It came from God.

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 But he says more, does he not,

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 as he goes on in verses 3 and 4.

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 It doesn't only originate with God,

00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:11.800
 but it focuses on God and God's work.

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:15.920
 The gospel centers on Jesus' saving work.

00:16:19.300 --> 00:16:21.080
 So this is verses 3 and 4,

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.740
 and we see this normal greeting,

00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.660
 grace and peace,

00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:26.240
 which would be a common greeting in Greek

00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:28.100
 in that time.

00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:30.379
 So it doesn't necessarily

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:33.300
 have great meaning,

00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:37.379
 but Paul fills it with great meaning

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:39.139
 by expanding on

00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:41.920
 what those terms mean

00:16:41.920 --> 00:16:44.639
 in light of the Christian gospel.

00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:46.440
 Right?

00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.720
 Grace, that is,

00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.220
 the true meaning of it is

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.500
 undeserved favor,

00:16:51.940 --> 00:16:53.980
 and peace with God

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:56.480
 is a result of God's work

00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.960
 in Jesus Christ

00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:00.539
 who gave himself for our sins

00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:02.139
 and to deliver us

00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:03.800
 from this present evil age.

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:08.099
 Do you see how this greeting

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.019
 that could have just been,

00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:10.299
 hey, grace and peace to you,

00:17:10.360 --> 00:17:11.120
 I wish you well,

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:11.920
 and moving on,

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.160
 he says, no, no, no.

00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:15.559
 Grace and peace to you

00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:17.519
 because God has worked

00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.539
 in this world.

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:20.819
 This is the very core

00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.299
 of the gospel,

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:25.579
 that Jesus came to give his life

00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:28.579
 for the sins of human beings,

00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:31.500
 of your sin and my sin.

00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:34.579
 He came as a substitute

00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:37.319
 to take our place

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:39.740
 in dying for our sin.

00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:42.220
 He came as a sacrifice,

00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:46.099
 dying to pay the penalty of death,

00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:47.819
 the wages of sin

00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:49.399
 that we deserved.

00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:52.619
 He bore our sins

00:17:52.619 --> 00:17:54.219
 so that Jesus,

00:17:54.699 --> 00:17:56.240
 or so that God the Father

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:58.879
 could forgive our sin.

00:17:59.219 --> 00:18:01.179
 This is the great exchange

00:18:01.179 --> 00:18:04.039
 that Jesus gave himself for us.

00:18:05.199 --> 00:18:06.819
 He gave his righteousness,

00:18:07.379 --> 00:18:08.619
 he gave his life

00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:11.019
 to us

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:13.179
 and took upon himself

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:14.720
 our sin,

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:16.380
 our death,

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.200
 our judgment

00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:19.860
 that we deserve.

00:18:22.320 --> 00:18:23.620
 And so grace and peace

00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:25.539
 is not just a formality here,

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:28.700
 but an incredibly rich greeting.

00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.680
 God has worked

00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:32.259
 so that you might know

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.340
 the grace of God

00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:34.900
 because of what Jesus did.

00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:36.360
 God has worked

00:18:36.360 --> 00:18:37.600
 so that you might have

00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:38.880
 peace with God

00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:41.820
 because the enmity,

00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:43.700
 the broken relationship

00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:45.099
 that you have broken

00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:46.299
 because of your sin,

00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:48.759
 God has dealt with

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.519
 at the cross

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.579
 finally

00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:51.960
 and fully

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:53.179
 and completely.

00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:57.859
 He doesn't just do this

00:18:57.859 --> 00:18:59.179
 so that we can be forgiven

00:18:59.179 --> 00:18:59.899
 of our sin

00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:01.700
 and restored to a relationship

00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.220
 with God,

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:02.819
 but also,

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.460
 as it says,

00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.700
 to deliver us

00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:06.419
 from this present evil age.

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.299
 Now again,

00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.839
 we could preach

00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.799
 a whole sermon

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.799
 on what the New Testament

00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.519
 is talking about

00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.419
 in terms of the ages,

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.119
 but let me give you

00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:13.940
 a brief summary,

00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:14.700
 right?

00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.500
 The Bible

00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.119
 and particularly

00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:17.079
 the New Testament

00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:18.200
 talks about

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.779
 the gospel is coming

00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:21.039
 to bring a transfer

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.740
 of ages.

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:23.240
 We live now

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.879
 in this present evil age

00:19:24.879 --> 00:19:25.899
 and we all know

00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:26.720
 that we live in it

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.779
 because you open the news

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.279
 every day

00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:28.819
 and we see

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:30.419
 we live in a terrible age.

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:32.039
 All sorts of terrible things happen

00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:33.480
 and when we go home,

00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:34.799
 when we go to bed at night

00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:36.079
 and in the stillness

00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:36.819
 of our hearts,

00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:38.019
 we look into our own hearts

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.579
 and we realize

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.619
 this present evil age

00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:40.659
 isn't just out there,

00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:42.419
 but it's in my own heart.

00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:44.180
 I too am full

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.519
 of all sorts of sin

00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.139
 and darkness,

00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:47.500
 of pride

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.379
 and pettiness

00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.139
 and anger

00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:50.019
 and frustration

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.859
 and envy.

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:54.200
 Where sin and death

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.720
 still reign in humanity,

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.839
 this is the present evil age

00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.819
 and our hearts

00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.799
 are in captivity

00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:01.419
 to these dark powers.

00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:04.500
 But Jesus came

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.839
 and died on the cross

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.379
 and rose from the dead

00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:09.480
 to defeat sin and death,

00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:11.120
 to defeat those things

00:20:11.120 --> 00:20:13.600
 so that He might transfer us

00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:14.540
 from the kingdom

00:20:14.540 --> 00:20:15.740
 of this present age

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:17.860
 to the age

00:20:17.860 --> 00:20:19.000
 of His beloved Son,

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:23.480
 to the coming age

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:25.640
 that is the kingdom of God.

00:20:26.320 --> 00:20:26.660
 Right?

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.800
 And here's the amazing thing

00:20:29.800 --> 00:20:30.320
 about it.

00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:32.920
 When Jesus came into the world,

00:20:33.040 --> 00:20:34.220
 He inaugurated that.

00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:34.480
 Right?

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:34.940
 He said,

00:20:35.360 --> 00:20:36.200
 the kingdom of God

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:36.940
 is among you.

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.299
 And the beginning,

00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.519
 the in-breaking

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:41.240
 of this new age

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:43.000
 is still happening now

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.500
 through the church,

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.740
 through the preaching

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.420
 of the gospel,

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.779
 as human hearts

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.740
 are transformed

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.759
 by the message

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.860
 of good news

00:20:50.860 --> 00:20:51.620
 that in Jesus

00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.620
 we can be forgiven

00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:53.279
 of our sin,

00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.740
 that through repentance

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.319
 and faith

00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:57.140
 we can be transformed

00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:59.560
 and begin to live

00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:01.759
 not as slaves

00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.560
 to this present evil age anymore,

00:21:03.560 --> 00:21:05.480
 but in a new life

00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:07.340
 that we have with God

00:21:07.340 --> 00:21:08.060
 that will stretch

00:21:08.060 --> 00:21:09.280
 to all eternity.

00:21:10.340 --> 00:21:10.660
 Right?

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:12.000
 And we know

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.960
 that we're still waiting

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.220
 for the fullness of this.

00:21:14.600 --> 00:21:14.900
 Right?

00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:15.660
 We know

00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:18.360
 that this deliverance

00:21:18.360 --> 00:21:20.040
 is still a future thing

00:21:20.040 --> 00:21:21.000
 in its fullness,

00:21:21.300 --> 00:21:22.740
 but the core of it

00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.680
 and the kernel of it

00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.160
 has already happened.

00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:27.019
 And for those

00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.600
 who have placed

00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:28.860
 their faith in Christ,

00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.600
 for those who have known

00:21:30.600 --> 00:21:31.640
 the renewing,

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.940
 the spiritual rebirth

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:35.000
 that comes,

00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:37.340
 we are already

00:21:37.340 --> 00:21:39.900
 a part of this age to come

00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:41.540
 that is no longer

00:21:41.540 --> 00:21:43.820
 dominated by sin and death,

00:21:44.340 --> 00:21:45.560
 but instead

00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:47.180
 by joy

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:49.200
 and by eternal life

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.180
 with God.

00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:55.060
 This is the good news

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:55.720
 of the gospel.

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.579
 This is what God

00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:59.099
 has done for us.

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.740
 And when Paul says,

00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:02.279
 grace and peace to you,

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:04.019
 and I want to remind you

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.879
 what that's about.

00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.319
 It's about what God

00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:08.480
 has done for us

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:12.359
 in Jesus Christ.

00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.559
 Now,

00:22:14.679 --> 00:22:17.119
 it's worth us thinking

00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.059
 for a few minutes

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:20.119
 how easily we might

00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:21.539
 get the gospel wrong.

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:24.079
 because we see that

00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.039
 as we keep reading

00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:25.680
 Galatians,

00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.039
 the Galatians are getting

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.960
 their gospel wrong,

00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:28.440
 right?

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.180
 In that context,

00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:30.899
 right,

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.759
 in the early,

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:34.119
 in the first century

00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:35.279
 where Christianity

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.940
 was coming out of Judaism

00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:38.099
 in a significant way,

00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.980
 there was a huge discussion

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:41.180
 in the early church

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:42.559
 about how does

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.440
 the work of Jesus

00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.920
 relate to the Old Testament

00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:46.200
 and the Old Testament law.

00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.240
 And there were some

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:47.759
 who were saying,

00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.039
 yeah,

00:22:48.139 --> 00:22:48.879
 Jesus is great,

00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:49.660
 but we still need

00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:50.460
 to keep the law.

00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:51.800
 We still need to be

00:22:51.800 --> 00:22:52.480
 doing this thing.

00:22:52.540 --> 00:22:53.380
 So circumcision,

00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:54.340
 dietary laws,

00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:55.360
 and ritual separation

00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:56.760
 from those who are unclean,

00:22:57.040 --> 00:22:58.120
 we have to keep doing

00:22:58.120 --> 00:22:58.940
 those things in order

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.820
 to be saved,

00:23:00.040 --> 00:23:01.360
 in order to be God's people.

00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:03.840
 Now,

00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:04.520
 I'm just going to put

00:23:04.520 --> 00:23:06.020
 a pause there

00:23:06.020 --> 00:23:06.700
 because that's what

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.560
 the next two chapters

00:23:07.560 --> 00:23:08.740
 are about in Galatians.

00:23:08.820 --> 00:23:09.820
 So come back next week

00:23:09.820 --> 00:23:10.680
 and you'll hear

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.360
 all the answers

00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:12.480
 to why that's not

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.040
 the gospel.

00:23:13.580 --> 00:23:15.220
 But know that Paul

00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.680
 is saying

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.980
 that is not the gospel.

00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:21.800
 It's unlikely

00:23:21.800 --> 00:23:22.640
 that many of us

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.100
 here today

00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:23.600
 are thinking,

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.880
 oh, yeah,

00:23:25.120 --> 00:23:26.060
 I need to keep

00:23:26.060 --> 00:23:27.480
 my dietary laws.

00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.840
 I don't know

00:23:28.840 --> 00:23:29.280
 if I should have

00:23:29.280 --> 00:23:29.920
 had that lobster

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.720
 last weekend

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.260
 or whatever.

00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.420
 It's unlikely

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:34.440
 that that would be

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.380
 our version

00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.380
 of misunderstanding

00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.160
 the gospel.

00:23:37.560 --> 00:23:38.940
 But here are two ways

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.440
 that I think

00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.720
 maybe are a lot closer

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.260
 to home

00:23:41.260 --> 00:23:42.520
 that we might

00:23:42.520 --> 00:23:43.800
 misunderstand the gospel.

00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.240
 The first one

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.840
 is that

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:48.459
 I think

00:23:48.459 --> 00:23:49.599
 in our context

00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:51.019
 many would say

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.000
 that

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.679
 in order to be

00:23:53.679 --> 00:23:54.339
 right with God

00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:55.000
 we just need

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.039
 to be a good person.

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.619
 If we're good enough

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.919
 God will accept us.

00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:00.179
 If we're generally

00:24:00.179 --> 00:24:01.379
 better than the people

00:24:01.379 --> 00:24:01.980
 around us

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:02.319
 who are,

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.059
 you know,

00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:03.759
 if we think

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.679
 we're meeting

00:24:04.679 --> 00:24:06.339
 some general standard

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:07.179
 of goodness

00:24:07.179 --> 00:24:09.579
 isn't that enough?

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.759
 And even

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.740
 in the church

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.699
 where we acknowledge

00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:15.259
 God

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.220
 we just think

00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.019
 God wants me

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:18.120
 to be a good person

00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:19.500
 and that's what

00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:19.980
 it means

00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:20.880
 to know Him

00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.120
 and to follow Him.

00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:24.480
 But friends,

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.319
 do you see

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.400
 why this is not

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.559
 the gospel of God?

00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:29.440
 First,

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.539
 because it denies

00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.240
 the reality

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.559
 of human sinfulness

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:34.360
 that our hearts

00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.120
 are

00:24:35.120 --> 00:24:36.960
 inescapably

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.380
 wicked

00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:39.180
 and rebellious

00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.960
 against God

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.819
 and have broken

00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.640
 our relationship

00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.160
 with God

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:43.400
 and are unable

00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:44.440
 to restore it

00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.120
 on our own.

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.440
 We do not have

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.060
 the righteousness

00:24:47.060 --> 00:24:48.259
 in and of ourselves

00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:48.960
 or goodness

00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.640
 enough to overcome

00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:52.519
 our sinfulness

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:55.400
 in order to have

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:55.820
 fellowship

00:24:55.820 --> 00:24:57.019
 with a holy God.

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.040
 But secondly,

00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:00.400
 because it places

00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:01.700
 the weight

00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.779
 of our salvation

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.660
 on us.

00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.580
 I have to be good.

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.140
 I have to be good enough.

00:25:07.540 --> 00:25:08.980
 And the most crushing thing

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.840
 is when you think

00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:10.700
 you're a good person

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.660
 and then you do

00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.220
 something bad.

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.640
 You know those NBA players

00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:15.140
 who get tossed

00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:15.779
 out of a game

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.340
 because they do

00:25:16.340 --> 00:25:17.980
 something terribly egregious?

00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:19.140
 They like haul off

00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:19.980
 and punch someone

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.279
 and then after the game

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.000
 what do they say?

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.220
 I'm really sorry,

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.779
 that wasn't me.

00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.059
 No,

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.400
 it was you.

00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:28.360
 It was you

00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:29.259
 at your worst.

00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:31.100
 And that's true

00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:32.539
 for all of us.

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:37.519
 We will never

00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.620
 buy our

00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:39.819
 good enough.

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:41.919
 Attempts to be

00:25:41.919 --> 00:25:43.039
 good enough people

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:44.879
 be able to save

00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:46.199
 ourselves from sin.

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:49.359
 Only in Christ

00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:51.099
 can we do it.

00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:56.139
 So that's one version

00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:57.539
 that I think is common

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.919
 in our culture broadly

00:25:58.919 --> 00:25:59.959
 is that we think

00:25:59.959 --> 00:26:00.799
 the gospel is

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:02.039
 if you're a good enough person

00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.659
 God will think

00:26:02.659 --> 00:26:03.519
 okay, you're okay.

00:26:05.199 --> 00:26:06.059
 There can be

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:07.079
 an even more

00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.939
 and I'll use this word

00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:09.879
 carefully

00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:10.559
 evangelical.

00:26:11.139 --> 00:26:12.179
 By that I mean

00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:14.899
 the part of the

00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.779
 Protestant church

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:17.000
 generally that holds

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.740
 to the Bible

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.759
 as authoritative

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.039
 that holds to

00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:21.659
 salvation by grace alone.

00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:23.099
 Even in churches

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.679
 that would say

00:26:23.679 --> 00:26:24.679
 yes, Jesus died

00:26:24.679 --> 00:26:25.179
 on the cross

00:26:25.179 --> 00:26:26.119
 for my sins.

00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:29.019
 We often can fall

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.740
 into believing

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.679
 that the gospel

00:26:30.679 --> 00:26:32.439
 is that when we

00:26:32.439 --> 00:26:34.139
 believe in Jesus

00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:34.940
 enough

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:37.400
 that will save us.

00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:38.720
 Right?

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:40.220
 If

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:42.340
 if I wake up

00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:42.720
 one day

00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.160
 and I'm like

00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:43.980
 oh my faith

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.800
 is really weak

00:26:44.800 --> 00:26:45.400
 I don't know

00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:46.780
 if I'm really saved.

00:26:48.060 --> 00:26:49.580
 I'm struggling today.

00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.580
 My devotions

00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.680
 were really bad.

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.140
 My belief

00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:54.180
 I don't know.

00:26:54.280 --> 00:26:54.700
 I'm really

00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:56.560
 I'm just feeling

00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.580
 weak today.

00:26:57.579 --> 00:27:01.159
 And there's some

00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:01.480
 of us

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.220
 who would

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:03.299
 who have heard

00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:03.939
 the message

00:27:03.939 --> 00:27:04.439
 saying well

00:27:04.439 --> 00:27:05.179
 you just need

00:27:05.179 --> 00:27:06.019
 to believe more.

00:27:06.439 --> 00:27:06.879
 You need to

00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.919
 really believe.

00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:08.980
 Come on

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:10.759
 muster up

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.779
 that energy

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.579
 and that faith

00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.539
 to have more

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.059
 devotion

00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.679
 and more

00:27:14.679 --> 00:27:15.159
 commitment

00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:16.439
 and we might

00:27:16.439 --> 00:27:17.419
 follow this through

00:27:17.419 --> 00:27:18.559
 with a burst

00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.259
 of new

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.199
 spiritual disciplines

00:27:20.199 --> 00:27:20.899
 and new

00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:21.419
 obedience

00:27:21.419 --> 00:27:22.099
 and new

00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:22.480
 things.

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.079
 And again

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.659
 none of those

00:27:23.659 --> 00:27:24.599
 things are bad

00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:26.139
 in and of themselves

00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:27.359
 but if we think

00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:27.819
 that this

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.500
 new

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:30.419
 new fervor

00:27:30.419 --> 00:27:31.419
 is going to say

00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:32.619
 oh now I know

00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.659
 that I'm saved

00:27:33.659 --> 00:27:36.159
 we need to be

00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:37.559
 very very careful

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.459
 about this

00:27:38.459 --> 00:27:41.299
 because it is not

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:41.959
 the strength

00:27:41.959 --> 00:27:42.980
 of our faith

00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:44.339
 that saves us

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.939
 but the object

00:27:45.939 --> 00:27:47.039
 of our faith

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:48.659
 that saves us.

00:27:49.199 --> 00:27:50.139
 This is what

00:27:50.139 --> 00:27:51.179
 Paul is reminding

00:27:51.179 --> 00:27:51.939
 us of

00:27:51.939 --> 00:27:52.919
 in this passage.

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:54.240
 It is about

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.440
 what God

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.079
 has done

00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:57.079
 and Jesus

00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:57.559
 Christ

00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.120
 has done

00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:58.880
 everything

00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.740
 that is sufficient

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.200
 for our salvation.

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.460
 Jesus has done

00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.059
 everything

00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.559
 through his

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.220
 death and

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:04.839
 resurrection

00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:06.059
 and we

00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:07.079
 merely

00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:08.880
 receive this

00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:10.120
 by faith.

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.819
 And even

00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.799
 this friends

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:14.400
 is a gift.

00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:15.579
 Right?

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.519
 Ephesians 2

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.140
 8 and 9

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.940
 For by grace

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.400
 you have been

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:18.980
 saved through

00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:19.980
 faith

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:20.920
 and this is not

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.980
 your own doing.

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.819
 It is the gift

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.599
 of God

00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.859
 not a result

00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.460
 of works

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.700
 so that no one

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.439
 may boast.

00:28:33.439 --> 00:28:34.539
 Do you see

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.519
 how God

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.099
 centered

00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:36.819
 Paul's

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:37.539
 understanding

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.240
 of the gospel

00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:38.779
 is?

00:28:39.399 --> 00:28:40.339
 It's about

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.539
 what God

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.000
 has done

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:43.000
 in Jesus Christ

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:44.139
 and even

00:28:44.139 --> 00:28:45.019
 we can only

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.559
 believe it

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.480
 because God

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.119
 is at work

00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:47.639
 in us

00:28:47.639 --> 00:28:48.539
 giving us

00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.279
 faith

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.960
 to believe

00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:51.099
 these things.

00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.579
 Paul's focus

00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.259
 and ours

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.759
 must be

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.420
 on God

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.579
 in the midst

00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:58.960
 of it.

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.759
 And this

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.639
 leads to

00:29:02.639 --> 00:29:04.539
 the very end

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.259
 of our passage

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:05.920
 does it not?

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.579
 Our very last

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:07.920
 point

00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:09.079
 which is

00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:09.619
 the gospel

00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:10.200
 goal

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:11.859
 is the glory

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:12.899
 of God.

00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:14.320
 Paul ends

00:29:14.320 --> 00:29:14.960
 his greetings

00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:15.759
 in verse 5

00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.140
 with

00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:18.700
 to whom

00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.600
 be glory

00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.400
 forever

00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:21.259
 and ever.

00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:22.920
 Amen.

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:25.040
 Now this

00:29:25.040 --> 00:29:25.620
 is religious

00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.080
 speak

00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:26.900
 at the highest

00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.300
 level.

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.360
 This is stuff

00:29:28.360 --> 00:29:28.940
 that we

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.780
 can throw

00:29:29.780 --> 00:29:30.019
 around.

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:30.420
 If you've

00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:30.740
 grown up

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.160
 in church

00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:31.620
 or read

00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:31.960
 scripture

00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.840
 you throw

00:29:32.840 --> 00:29:33.460
 this around

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:34.080
 like it's

00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:34.720
 popcorn.

00:29:35.360 --> 00:29:36.040
 It's cheap

00:29:36.040 --> 00:29:37.300
 but for Paul

00:29:37.300 --> 00:29:38.800
 it's unique.

00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:39.519
 This is the

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.380
 only greeting

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:40.860
 in which

00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:41.900
 he pointed

00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.320
 to the

00:29:42.320 --> 00:29:42.840
 glory of

00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:43.120
 God

00:29:43.120 --> 00:29:43.620
 in this

00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.040
 way

00:29:44.040 --> 00:29:44.900
 in his

00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.340
 very

00:29:45.340 --> 00:29:45.860
 greeting

00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:48.500
 and he

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.260
 wants us

00:29:49.260 --> 00:29:50.780
 as he

00:29:50.780 --> 00:29:51.280
 wanted the

00:29:51.280 --> 00:29:51.700
 Galatian

00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.100
 church

00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:53.000
 to turn

00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.780
 their hearts

00:29:53.780 --> 00:29:54.140
 and their

00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:54.680
 eyes

00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:55.680
 to put

00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.360
 God

00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:56.940
 in the

00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.280
 center.

00:29:59.040 --> 00:29:59.620
 God

00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.020
 is the

00:30:00.020 --> 00:30:00.600
 goal of

00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:01.120
 the gospel

00:30:01.120 --> 00:30:01.620
 that his

00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:02.340
 glory

00:30:02.340 --> 00:30:02.820
 would be

00:30:02.820 --> 00:30:03.140
 seen.

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.740
 His glory

00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.540
 being the

00:30:04.540 --> 00:30:05.140
 manifold

00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:06.660
 expressions

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.180
 of his

00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:07.680
 beauty

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.440
 and majesty

00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.240
 and greatness

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.100
 that these

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.480
 would be

00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.259
 displayed

00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.519
 and they

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.059
 would be

00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:14.139
 seen by

00:30:14.139 --> 00:30:14.539
 us

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:15.459
 and responded

00:30:15.459 --> 00:30:16.419
 to by

00:30:16.419 --> 00:30:17.000
 worship

00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:18.459
 by praise

00:30:18.459 --> 00:30:19.279
 by obedience

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.919
 by all the

00:30:19.919 --> 00:30:20.519
 things that we

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.199
 are called

00:30:21.199 --> 00:30:21.699
 to do

00:30:21.699 --> 00:30:22.819
 to live out

00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.339
 our lives

00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:23.919
 as God's

00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:24.299
 people

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:25.079
 but we

00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.500
 do this

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.299
 in response

00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:26.799
 to and

00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.339
 in order

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.359
 to bring

00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.000
 glory to

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.639
 him

00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.439
 so that

00:30:30.439 --> 00:30:31.019
 he may

00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:31.439
 be the

00:30:31.439 --> 00:30:31.719
 center

00:30:31.719 --> 00:30:32.259
 of it.

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:33.619
 Right?

00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:35.299
 In Paul's

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:35.819
 mind

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.839
 God is

00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.379
 always

00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:38.279
 the lead

00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:38.799
 character

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.359
 in the

00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:39.899
 story

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:40.700
 God

00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.420
 is always

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.500
 the sun

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.519
 around which

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.400
 the planets

00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:44.940
 orbit

00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:46.140
 in their

00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:46.620
 paths

00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.280
 God

00:30:47.280 --> 00:30:47.960
 is always

00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:49.160
 the monarch

00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:50.480
 who reigns

00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.140
 and who is

00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:51.780
 the center

00:30:51.780 --> 00:30:52.200
 of the

00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:52.620
 kingdom

00:30:52.620 --> 00:30:54.259
 and whose

00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:54.700
 name is

00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.080
 praised

00:30:55.080 --> 00:30:55.460
 in his

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:55.960
 realm

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:58.180
 God

00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:58.600
 is the

00:30:58.600 --> 00:30:58.980
 one

00:30:58.980 --> 00:30:59.840
 for

00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:00.560
 whom

00:31:00.560 --> 00:31:01.259
 it is

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:01.580
 worth

00:31:01.580 --> 00:31:02.019
 counting

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.920
 all things

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.580
 as loss

00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:05.179
 for the

00:31:05.179 --> 00:31:05.559
 sake

00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.299
 of knowing

00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:06.699
 him

00:31:06.699 --> 00:31:07.119
 and being

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.519
 found

00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:07.980
 in him

00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:09.659
 not having

00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:10.240
 a righteousness

00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:10.839
 of our

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.139
 own

00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:12.619
 but having

00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.139
 that which

00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:13.599
 comes

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:14.960
 through faith

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.519
 in Jesus

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.199
 as Paul

00:31:16.199 --> 00:31:16.740
 says in

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.240
 Philippians

00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:17.559
 3

00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:21.240
 and friends

00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.700
 we need

00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:23.079
 to be

00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.559
 aware

00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:24.900
 of how

00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:25.579
 much

00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:25.900
 our

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:26.339
 heart

00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:27.039
 resists

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.539
 this

00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.980
 the human

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.400
 heart

00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:30.059
 always

00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:30.400
 wants

00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:30.799
 to put

00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:31.120
 us

00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.940
 in the

00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:32.299
 center

00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.180
 it is

00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:33.640
 the very

00:31:33.640 --> 00:31:34.380
 core

00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:35.019
 of what

00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:35.420
 happened

00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:35.680
 in the

00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:35.920
 garden

00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.380
 of Eden

00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.019
 when Adam

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.420
 and Eve

00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:37.940
 were tempted

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.380
 with the

00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:38.599
 thought

00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:39.400
 you could

00:31:39.400 --> 00:31:39.900
 be like

00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:40.339
 God

00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:41.319
 you could

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:42.160
 de-center

00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:42.700
 God

00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.160
 from the

00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:43.440
 center

00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:43.980
 from the

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.380
 middle

00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:45.180
 of everything

00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:46.019
 and put

00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:46.500
 yourself

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:46.880
 there

00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:47.279
 instead

00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.859
 and they

00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.440
 succumbed

00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:49.980
 to it

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:52.039
 and friends

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.839
 we do

00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.480
 this every

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:53.899
 day

00:31:53.899 --> 00:31:55.039
 I'm sure

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.379
 you've heard

00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:55.920
 this example

00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:56.299
 before

00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:57.119
 but you know

00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:57.980
 those conversations

00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.519
 you have

00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:58.799
 in your

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.139
 mind

00:31:59.139 --> 00:31:59.839
 where you

00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.160
 are having

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.579
 an argument

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:01.139
 with someone

00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:02.859
 you always

00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:03.259
 win

00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:04.920
 right

00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:05.899
 you always

00:32:05.899 --> 00:32:06.500
 win

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:08.019
 you always

00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:08.480
 say the

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.180
 right thing

00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:10.460
 that's our

00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.059
 human heart

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.859
 putting ourselves

00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:12.259
 in the

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.599
 center

00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:14.200
 if you've

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.619
 ever had

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.119
 a roommate

00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:16.440
 or a spouse

00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.559
 or a child

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.360
 you know

00:32:18.360 --> 00:32:19.059
 that someone

00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:19.519
 else

00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:20.240
 invading

00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:20.799
 your

00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.620
 universe

00:32:21.620 --> 00:32:22.900
 challenges

00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:23.500
 your

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.460
 centeredness

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:26.080
 and so

00:32:26.080 --> 00:32:26.600
 we fight

00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:27.019
 over

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:29.019
 whatever

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.640
 how the

00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.100
 dishwasher

00:32:30.100 --> 00:32:30.580
 is loaded

00:32:30.580 --> 00:32:31.200
 or how

00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:31.440
 late

00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:31.740
 we get

00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.200
 to stay

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:32.460
 up

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.019
 or whatever

00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:33.720
 it is

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:36.080
 why do

00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:36.340
 we do

00:32:36.340 --> 00:32:36.539
 this

00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:36.900
 because

00:32:36.900 --> 00:32:37.460
 we

00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.600
 are so

00:32:38.600 --> 00:32:39.080
 prone

00:32:39.080 --> 00:32:39.420
 to be

00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:39.740
 the

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.140
 center

00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:40.700
 of our

00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:41.360
 worlds

00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:45.580
 Paul

00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.559
 reminds us

00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:48.000
 that we

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.839
 were created

00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:49.439
 in a world

00:32:49.439 --> 00:32:50.240
 where God

00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:50.659
 was the

00:32:50.659 --> 00:32:50.980
 center

00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:52.139
 where God

00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:52.779
 is the

00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.099
 center

00:32:53.099 --> 00:32:54.119
 and we

00:32:54.119 --> 00:32:54.720
 were created

00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:55.659
 to find

00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:56.379
 our place

00:32:56.379 --> 00:32:57.119
 as his

00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:57.759
 creation

00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:59.939
 to glorify

00:32:59.939 --> 00:33:00.439
 him

00:33:00.439 --> 00:33:03.139
 to see

00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:03.899
 his beauty

00:33:03.899 --> 00:33:04.720
 and the beauty

00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:05.179
 of his

00:33:05.179 --> 00:33:05.879
 creation

00:33:05.879 --> 00:33:07.139
 and to reflect

00:33:07.139 --> 00:33:08.179
 back to him

00:33:08.179 --> 00:33:09.019
 through praise

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.740
 and worship

00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:12.199
 the glory

00:33:12.199 --> 00:33:13.019
 that he

00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:13.960
 deserves

00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:16.860
 and most

00:33:16.860 --> 00:33:17.519
 of all

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:18.759
 in the

00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.140
 storyline

00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:19.600
 of the

00:33:19.600 --> 00:33:19.920
 Bible

00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:21.200
 through the

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:21.640
 gospel

00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:23.120
 because this

00:33:23.120 --> 00:33:23.420
 is the

00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:23.819
 place where

00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.200
 we see

00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:24.799
 his glory

00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:26.400
 most fully

00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.299
 presented

00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:28.519
 not in

00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:29.079
 creation

00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:29.720
 but in

00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:30.240
 redemption

00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:31.600
 where Jesus

00:33:31.600 --> 00:33:32.160
 Christ

00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:32.740
 the son

00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.259
 of God

00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:34.120
 took on

00:33:34.120 --> 00:33:34.960
 human form

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:36.000
 walked on

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.600
 this earth

00:33:36.600 --> 00:33:37.220
 to be

00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:37.920
 our savior

00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:38.920
 who went

00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:39.259
 to the

00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:39.640
 cross

00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:40.200
 to die

00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:40.819
 for us

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.420
 who was

00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:42.200
 then raised

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:42.620
 from the

00:33:42.620 --> 00:33:43.019
 dead

00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:45.160
 this is

00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:45.539
 where the

00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:46.259
 glory of

00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:46.599
 God

00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:47.700
 is most

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:49.119
 fully seen

00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.759
 and it's

00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.339
 not about

00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:50.759
 us at

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.220
 all

00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.480
 it is

00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:53.379
 for us

00:33:53.379 --> 00:33:54.039
 but it's

00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:54.680
 not about

00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.139
 us

00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:56.220
 it's about

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:56.900
 God

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:58.059
 and his

00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:58.619
 love

00:33:58.619 --> 00:33:59.519
 and his

00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:00.139
 action

00:34:00.139 --> 00:34:01.200
 in Jesus

00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:01.759
 Christ

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.720
 for us

00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:05.559
 and friends

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.059
 in light

00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:06.779
 of this

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:08.420
 then

00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.699
 a truly

00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.380
 gospel

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:10.719
 centered

00:34:10.719 --> 00:34:11.279
 church

00:34:11.279 --> 00:34:12.059
 is a

00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:12.659
 God

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.059
 centered

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.659
 church

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.899
 that sees

00:34:14.899 --> 00:34:15.879
 everything

00:34:15.879 --> 00:34:16.599
 like John

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.139
 the Baptist

00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:18.039
 we must

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.980
 decrease

00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:19.819
 so that

00:34:19.819 --> 00:34:20.359
 God

00:34:20.359 --> 00:34:20.619
 would

00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.719
 increase

00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:22.299
 in

00:34:22.299 --> 00:34:23.480
 our

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.000
 hearts

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.739
 in our

00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.439
 relationships

00:34:26.439 --> 00:34:27.859
 in our

00:34:27.859 --> 00:34:28.299
 church

00:34:28.299 --> 00:34:28.799
 life

00:34:28.799 --> 00:34:29.859
 in our

00:34:29.859 --> 00:34:30.419
 witness to

00:34:30.419 --> 00:34:31.099
 the community

00:34:31.099 --> 00:34:32.759
 and to

00:34:32.759 --> 00:34:33.459
 our world

00:34:33.459 --> 00:34:34.919
 oh

00:34:34.919 --> 00:34:35.299
 Trinity

00:34:35.299 --> 00:34:35.899
 may we

00:34:35.899 --> 00:34:36.480
 be such

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.000
 a church

00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:38.199
 that the

00:34:38.199 --> 00:34:38.619
 gospel

00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.099
 may be

00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:39.340
 our

00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:39.739
 center

00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:41.039
 and that

00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:41.460
 God

00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:41.820
 would be

00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:42.380
 glorified

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:42.900
 in us

00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:43.699
 let's

00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:44.000
 pray

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:49.099
 Lord we

00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:49.940
 are thankful

00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:50.440
 to you

00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:51.059
 this morning

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:53.059
 that you

00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:53.500
 have not

00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:54.199
 left us

00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:56.139
 that you

00:34:56.139 --> 00:34:56.460
 have not

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:57.059
 left us

00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:57.440
 in the

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:57.940
 small

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:58.219
 and

00:34:58.219 --> 00:34:58.599
 pitiful

00:34:58.599 --> 00:34:59.139
 place

00:34:59.139 --> 00:34:59.619
 of putting

00:34:59.619 --> 00:35:00.079
 ourselves

00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:00.460
 in the

00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:00.780
 center

00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:02.559
 Lord for

00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:02.880
 it is

00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:03.019
 an

00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:03.619
 unbearable

00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:03.980
 weight

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:06.159
 but Lord

00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:06.579
 you have

00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:06.940
 called

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.380
 us

00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:09.760
 and Lord

00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:10.219
 you have

00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:10.599
 worked

00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:11.420
 for us

00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:13.400
 and you

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.079
 have revealed

00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.619
 yourself

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.400
 so that

00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:16.920
 we might

00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:17.760
 be restored

00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:18.440
 to you

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:19.440
 oh Lord

00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:20.639
 we pray

00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:21.019
 that we

00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:21.579
 might be

00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:22.199
 truly

00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:23.440
 a gospel

00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:23.800
 centered

00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:24.340
 church

00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:25.960
 that you

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.920
 would be

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.699
 glorified

00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:28.059
 in our

00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:28.400
 midst

00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:29.880
 we pray

00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:30.380
 this in

00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:31.079
 Jesus name

00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:31.980
 amen