WEBVTT

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 Let's pray together.

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 Heavenly Father, we need you to speak.

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 We are not here to hear a man's words or a man's insight.

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 We want to hear the word of God.

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 We want to be addressed by you,

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 and we need your spirit to illuminate the minds of our hearts.

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 So please, God, move now.

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 Help us to appropriate these truths,

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 to apply them so that we can live and grow in Christ-likeness as a church.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 In Victor Hugo's classic novel, Les Miserables,

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 on his jail to feed his sister's starving children,

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 and after he escapes from prison and he has a life transfer to a bishop,

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 he tries to live a virtuous life.

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 But for the following 19 years, even though he seeks normalcy,

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 even though he's really become quite the virtuous man,

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 he can't escape his past because of this tireless police inspector named Javert.

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 And Javert continues to hunt him down,

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 and though this doesn't actually happen in the book,

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 but in the musical adaptation of the book,

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 Javert repeatedly refers to John Valjean as prisoner 24601.

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 And that conveys that even though it has changed to Javert,

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 he remains this anonymous prisoner.

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 He can't escape his past,

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 even though for 19 years he's been trying to.

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 And sometimes I think that's how we think of ourselves as Christians.

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 We call ourselves sinners,

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 which is a true, wonderful statement of our lives.

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 But often in the way we think about it, in the way we live,

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 the accent falls on the fact that we're sinners,

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 still sinners.

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 And that's a true statement too, right?

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 Indwelling sin is reality.

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 Even though sin has been defeated,

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 it's been eradicated,

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 it lingers on.

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 There's still life in it,

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 even though it is diminishing and weakening.

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 But if you survey the New Testament epistles

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 and search for the word sinner

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 as a way to describe those who already have faith,

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 you'll find true instances when believers are called sinners.

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 James 4.8,

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 Cleanse your hands, you sinners,

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 and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

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 And in 1 Timothy 1.15,

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 the saying is trustworthy and deserved

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 that Christ Jesus came into the world

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 to save sinners,

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 whom I am the apostle Paul speaking.

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 But throughout the New Testament epistles,

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 Christians are addressed as saints 56 times.

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 That's 1 to 28 ratio, right?

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 The biblical accent on our new identity in Christ

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 falls on the fact that we're now saints.

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 We are called to Christ,

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 to live a new life in Christ,

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 not on the fact that we're sinners.

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 And of course,

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 sinners are saved by grace.

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 In order to live as those saints

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 who have been called to us,

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 but we need to recognize this radical change

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 that has taken place in our lives.

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 In fact, we have gone from death to life,

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 as the Bible describes.

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 We've gone from darkness to light.

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 And so because of this reason,

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 we should live in a way

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 that is characterized and motivated

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 not by our indwelling sin,

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 but by the indwelling spirit of God

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 that enjoins holiness

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 and brings new life to the way we live.

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 And that's the main point of this passage from Paul.

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 He says,

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 we should live in keeping

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 with our new identity in Christ.

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 That's what he calls us to.

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 If I may outline it this way,

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 I'll follow.

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 He says,

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 the first,

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 I will describe the old man

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 in chapter four,

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 verses 17 to 19.

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 And then the new man

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 that we're called to be,

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 420 to 32.

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 And then I'll lastly talk about the God man,

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 the Jesus Christ,

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 chapter five,

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 verses one to two.

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 Look at first

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 what Paul says about the old man

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 starting in verse 17.

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 Now this I say

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 and testify in the Lord

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 that you walk as the Gentiles do

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 in the futility of their minds.

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 In the original Greek,

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 there's a transitional word here

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 at the beginning.

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 It says therefore.

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 So the NIV actually has the word

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 so there in the beginning.

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 And it's connecting the exhortation

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 here in this passage

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 to what's preceded in verses one to 16 of chapter four.

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 We have been equipped with God

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 and because we have been equipped for God,

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 now he's saying,

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 I adjure you,

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 you must no longer walk

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 as the Gentiles do.

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 And there's a repetition

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 of the theme of walking,

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 right?

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 Of living in a manner

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 that's appropriate, right?

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 So he called us to walk

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 according to the calling

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 that we have received

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 in earlier in chapter four,

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 verse one.

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 And then that's all kind of

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 hearkening back to chapter two

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 where Paul said that we were saved

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 so that we would walk

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 no longer in the sins

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 but that we would walk

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 according to the good works

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 that God prepared for us to do.

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 And so he's continuing that theme

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 and explaining what it looks like

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 to walk in the newness of life.

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 And Paul explains that the way

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 that the old man walks,

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 the way the Gentiles,

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 which is a reference

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 to all unbelievers really,

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 referring to the unbelieving Greeks

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 at the time.

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 So they walk in the futility

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 of their minds.

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 It says,

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 they are darkened

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 in their understanding,

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 verse 18,

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 alienated from the life of God, right?

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 And this is echoing

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 what Paul said earlier, right?

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 In Jesus Christ,

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 God broke down

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 the dividing wall of hostility

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 between Jews and Gentiles

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 and between humanity and God

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 and in them created one new man, right?

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 And so we are no longer alienated

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 but we are citizens in God's kingdom.

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 We're no longer separated from God

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 but we are included in his family

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 and that's what he's talking about.

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 But unfortunately for Gentiles,

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 because they have no faith

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 in Jesus Christ,

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 they're still alienated

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 from the life of God

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 because they're spiritually dead,

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 not alive.

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 And life,

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 spiritually,

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 comes from God.

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 So they're alienated

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 from the life of God.

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 That's why they're spiritually dead

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 as described in Ephesians 2.

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 And that's what Paul means

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 by the futility of their mind.

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 That's how the old man walks.

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 The Gentile lifestyle

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 is essentially futile.

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 It's meaningless.

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 It's purposeless.

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 And if you're here with us this morning

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 and you are not yet a follower of Jesus,

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 then of course at this point

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 you're probably indignant

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 like what are you talking about, right?

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 My life is full of meaning, right?

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 I do all kinds of things

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 that is good for this world

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 and I have a lot of purpose

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 in the way I live.

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 And of course in a way

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 you would be right

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 because you are fulfilling

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 a part of God's call

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 for humanity.

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 We have been created

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 in God's image

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 to rule over creation.

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 He gave us creativity.

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 He gave us the ability

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 to communicate

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 with one another.

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 He gave us rationality,

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 morality.

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 He taught us

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 and because of that

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 when we live in those ways

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 and you serve the world around you,

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 you are fulfilling

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 a part of that call

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 that God's given

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 all of humanity.

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 But God didn't just create us

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 to rule over creation.

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 He created us also

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 to represent Him.

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 So, what good is it

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 if you dedicate your life

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 to serving human beings,

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 working to improve

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 the life of the impoverished,

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 researching for a cure

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 for cancer, etc.

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 If you do all of this

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 without ever acknowledging

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 the God in whose image

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 we are created

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 and from whom we derive

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 our value as human beings

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 and to whom every single human being

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 is supposed to point.

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 what good is it

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 if you dedicate your life

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 to exploring the laws

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 of nature,

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 to physics,

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 and to exploring

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 the biochemical properties

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 of different elements

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 in order to shed light

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 on the wonders

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 of this world,

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 if you do all of this

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 without ever acknowledging

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 the marvelous creator

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 to whom our creation

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 is supposed to be.

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 To use an analogy,

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 what good is a house sitter,

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 right,

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 who admirably fulfills

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 all the duties

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 of a house sitter,

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 takes great care of the house,

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 keep things in order,

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 keep things clean,

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 but then when the time comes

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 to it,

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 refuses to handle the key,

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 saying,

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 oh no,

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 owner doesn't exist.

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 that's a useful purpose

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 for which that house sitter

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 has been sitting in the house.

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 Same way as human beings

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 created in the image of God,

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 when we are not living for Him,

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 if we're not fulfilling our call

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 that we are allegiance to Him,

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 living essentially in futility,

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 in vanity.

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 And think about it,

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 what difference does it make

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 in the end,

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 right,

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 in a life without God?

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 You will eventually die,

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 and not just you,

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 but everyone whose lives

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 you touch will die.

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 And like every other star,

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 our sun too will die,

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 and even before it dies,

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 it will be so radically changed

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 its composition

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 that it will make Earth

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 longer inhabitable.

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 Everything will be destroyed,

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 no survival will be around,

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 and then no one will remember you

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 or celebrate your accomplishments.

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 Everyone and everything

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 you ever did

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 will be forgotten.

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 Every good deed,

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 every discovery,

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 every accomplishment nullified.

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 That's why Ecclesiastes,

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 Ecclesiastes chapter 1,

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 verses 2 to 3 says,

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 Vanity of vanities,

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 says the preacher,

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 vanity of vanities,

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 all is vanity.

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 What does man gain

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 by all the toil

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 at which he toils

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 under the sun?

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 It's the designer

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 who gives the product

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 meaning and purpose.

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 It's the eternity of life

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 that gives mortality meaning.

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 It's God who gives humanity meaning.

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 That's why Paul says,

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 the Gentiles walk

00:10:04.800 --> 00:10:05.920
 in the futility

00:10:05.920 --> 00:10:07.460
 of their minds.

00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.379
 Then Paul gives two reasons

00:10:10.379 --> 00:10:11.620
 why Gentiles walk

00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:12.639
 in the futility of their minds.

00:10:13.100 --> 00:10:15.220
 With God in verse 18,

00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:16.960
 because of the ignorance

00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:17.899
 that is in them

00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:19.980
 due to the hardness of heart.

00:10:20.040 --> 00:10:21.000
 So the first reason he gives

00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:22.320
 is that because of the ignorance

00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:23.279
 that is in them.

00:10:23.660 --> 00:10:24.740
 And Paul is not saying,

00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:26.060
 oh no, the poor Gentiles,

00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:26.720
 they just,

00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:28.480
 that's why they're doing this.

00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:29.639
 That's not what he means.

00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:30.800
 Because he says

00:10:30.800 --> 00:10:31.960
 in Romans 1, 19 to 20,

00:10:32.040 --> 00:10:33.220
 that they are without excuse

00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:35.519
 because God has revealed himself

00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:36.920
 manifestly in creation.

00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:38.320
 And he's not saying

00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:39.100
 they're ignorant

00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:39.940
 in the sense that

00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:41.180
 they haven't had the opportunity.

00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:42.139
 He's saying that

00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:43.120
 they're ignorant in the sense

00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:44.080
 that they have been

00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.280
 un-righteousness.

00:10:46.060 --> 00:10:47.320
 It's not an ignorance

00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:47.879
 of lack of a,

00:10:48.020 --> 00:10:49.720
 so it's a culpable ignorance

00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:51.360
 in their ignorance.

00:10:52.280 --> 00:10:53.420
 And the second reason

00:10:53.420 --> 00:10:54.180
 for the futility

00:10:54.180 --> 00:10:55.639
 of Gentiles

00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:56.120
 is that they're,

00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:57.200
 due to their hardness

00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:58.420
 of heart.

00:10:58.840 --> 00:10:59.420
 So the ignorance

00:10:59.420 --> 00:11:02.300
 of the heart

00:11:02.300 --> 00:11:02.860
 is that they're not

00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:03.840
 That's why it's,

00:11:03.900 --> 00:11:04.680
 those two things

00:11:04.680 --> 00:11:05.500
 are frequently related

00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:06.000
 in scripture,

00:11:06.160 --> 00:11:06.860
 even though we like

00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:07.780
 to kind of separate them

00:11:07.780 --> 00:11:08.240
 in our minds,

00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:10.140
 and they are distinct ideas.

00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:11.220
 But throughout scripture,

00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:12.480
 there's a lot of overlap

00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:13.300
 between the heart

00:11:13.300 --> 00:11:13.820
 and the mind.

00:11:13.820 --> 00:11:15.120
 That's why sometimes

00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.840
 several times

00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:17.960
 the Old Testament word

00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:19.460
 for heart

00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:20.440
 in Hebrew

00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:21.140
 is translated

00:11:21.140 --> 00:11:22.340
 in the Greek translation

00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:23.460
 as mind

00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:24.420
 because there's a lot

00:11:24.420 --> 00:11:24.900
 of overlap

00:11:24.900 --> 00:11:25.440
 between the two.

00:11:25.520 --> 00:11:26.460
 It's the inner self,

00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:26.760
 right?

00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.680
 And their heart

00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:30.120
 has been hardened.

00:11:31.560 --> 00:11:33.460
 And so futile thinking,

00:11:33.680 --> 00:11:34.840
 it goes hand in hand

00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:35.900
 with a foolish heart,

00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:36.620
 a hardened heart.

00:11:36.980 --> 00:11:37.640
 And Romans 1,

00:11:37.680 --> 00:11:38.520
 21, 24

00:11:38.520 --> 00:11:39.860
 explicates this further.

00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:40.120
 It says,

00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:41.440
 for although they knew God,

00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:42.840
 they did not honor Him

00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:43.340
 as God

00:11:43.340 --> 00:11:44.480
 or give thanks to Him,

00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:46.299
 but they became futile

00:11:46.299 --> 00:11:46.980
 in their thinking

00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:48.720
 and their foolish hearts

00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:49.679
 were darkened.

00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:51.100
 Claiming to be wise,

00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:52.060
 they became fools

00:11:52.060 --> 00:11:53.279
 and exchanged the glory

00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:54.379
 of the immortal God

00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:55.820
 for images resembling

00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:57.419
 mortal birds and animals

00:11:57.419 --> 00:11:57.860
 and creeps.

00:11:57.860 --> 00:12:00.120
 therefore God gave them up

00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:01.379
 to the lusts of their hearts

00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:02.960
 to dismay

00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.019
 and their bodies

00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:05.740
 among themselves.

00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:07.180
 So futile thinking

00:12:07.180 --> 00:12:07.960
 goes hand in hand

00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:09.399
 with a calloused,

00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.919
 foolish heart.

00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:11.980
 And that's why

00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:12.980
 for you,

00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:15.100
 in the following verse 19,

00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:16.320
 to describe that

00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.680
 they become callous

00:12:17.680 --> 00:12:18.820
 and give themselves

00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:19.899
 up to sensuality,

00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:20.960
 greedy to a...

00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:25.800
 Is the mic going on

00:12:25.800 --> 00:12:26.279
 in and out?

00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:26.800
 Yes.

00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:27.180
 Okay.

00:12:27.979 --> 00:12:29.079
 Is that bothering you guys?

00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:29.359
 It's okay.

00:12:29.579 --> 00:12:30.139
 Plug it in.

00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:35.899
 It's plugged in,

00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:36.979
 so I guess

00:12:36.979 --> 00:12:37.799
 we'll have to deal with it.

00:12:38.099 --> 00:12:42.319
 But when you get calloused

00:12:42.319 --> 00:12:42.759
 to something,

00:12:42.859 --> 00:12:44.039
 you don't feel it anymore, right?

00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:46.120
 So a lot of string instruments

00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:48.039
 have calluses

00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:48.799
 on their fingertips,

00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:50.819
 so you feel pain

00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:51.559
 when they press down

00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:53.479
 on those steel strings, right?

00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:54.419
 And imagine,

00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:54.679
 I mean,

00:12:54.719 --> 00:12:56.039
 this is a really important function

00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:56.579
 of our body

00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:57.460
 to feel.

00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:58.379
 So imagine if you

00:12:58.379 --> 00:12:59.220
 are so callous

00:12:59.220 --> 00:13:00.160
 that you are not able

00:13:00.160 --> 00:13:01.160
 to feel when you put

00:13:01.160 --> 00:13:02.700
 your hands on a burning stove

00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:03.900
 and you don't feel anything,

00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:04.320
 right?

00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:06.160
 That's dangerous, right?

00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:07.100
 Because you won't be able

00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:08.139
 to escape the danger

00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:09.420
 that's posed by that fire.

00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:11.500
 And so in a similar way,

00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:13.459
 he's saying that the Gentiles

00:13:13.459 --> 00:13:14.439
 who walk in the futility

00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:14.919
 of their minds

00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:16.240
 become callous

00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:18.199
 in a spiritual sense.

00:13:18.699 --> 00:13:20.639
 They're no longer feeling

00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:22.079
 their loss, right?

00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:23.219
 And they're increasingly

00:13:23.219 --> 00:13:24.879
 becoming desensitized

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.519
 to sin

00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:27.019
 and they're becoming dull

00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:27.879
 to the feelings

00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:28.599
 of their conscience.

00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:31.220
 their hearts

00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:31.840
 have hardened

00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:32.860
 and they have lost

00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:33.820
 their way.

00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:35.100
 So because of that,

00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:35.759
 they give themselves

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.379
 over to sensuality,

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:38.700
 greedy to practice

00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:40.259
 every kind of impurity.

00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:41.580
 And it's ironic, right,

00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:42.720
 that because of their

00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:43.500
 callousness,

00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:45.320
 inability to feel,

00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.399
 that they become

00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:48.220
 given to sensuality,

00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:50.600
 excessively to sensuality.

00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:51.500
 I mean,

00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:56.540
 it's our appetite for God.

00:13:56.680 --> 00:13:57.700
 It's our sensitivity

00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:59.019
 to Him and His ways

00:13:59.019 --> 00:13:59.600
 and the delights

00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:01.040
 that He offers us

00:14:01.040 --> 00:14:02.139
 that keeps us

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:03.379
 from going into those

00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:05.980
 sinful, sensual things.

00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:09.540
 And notice how Paul describes it

00:14:09.540 --> 00:14:10.320
 as they're greedy

00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:10.920
 to practice

00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:12.899
 every kind of impurity.

00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.320
 It's not like, you know,

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.040
 when we're in sin

00:14:16.040 --> 00:14:17.399
 and lost apart from Christ,

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.160
 we just, oh,

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:19.180
 like there's a little bit of sin,

00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:19.920
 I'm just going to enjoy it

00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:20.879
 a little bit at a time.

00:14:21.219 --> 00:14:22.399
 That never happens

00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.120
 because sin,

00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:24.799
 it's in the very nature of sin

00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.959
 to always overgrow

00:14:25.959 --> 00:14:26.639
 its boundaries

00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:28.219
 and to try to take over

00:14:28.219 --> 00:14:28.719
 your life

00:14:28.719 --> 00:14:29.620
 and to control you.

00:14:30.579 --> 00:14:31.740
 And so what happens

00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:34.759
 is that they become

00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.879
 grieved to practice

00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:38.579
 every kind of impurity,

00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:40.399
 the insatiable desire

00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:43.479
 for things that make us

00:14:43.479 --> 00:14:45.259
 profane in the eyes of God,

00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:46.719
 separate from God,

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:47.879
 because I'm not fit

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.219
 in the eyes of God.

00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:59.860
 to say the least.

00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:01.539
 So that's the old man.

00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:04.740
 But this is not the case

00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.879
 for believers,

00:15:06.419 --> 00:15:07.139
 for Christians.

00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.240
 And that brings me

00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:08.959
 to my second point,

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.539
 the new man.

00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:10.479
 He says,

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.820
 Christians are not

00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:12.659
 talking

00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:19.240
 because of the ignorance

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:19.759
 that is in them

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.279
 due to the hardness

00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:20.740
 of heart.

00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:21.580
 And the reason why

00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.659
 they're not like this,

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:23.659
 they're not like the Gentiles,

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.879
 is because of verses 20 to 24.

00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:27.379
 But that is not

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.980
 the way you learned Christ,

00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.460
 assuming that you have

00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:31.360
 heard about Him

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.639
 and were taught in Him

00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.639
 as a truth

00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:37.480
 that belongs to your

00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:38.580
 former life

00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:39.580
 and is corrupt

00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:43.319
 in your mind

00:15:43.319 --> 00:15:45.819
 and is created

00:15:45.819 --> 00:15:47.600
 after the likeness of God

00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:48.919
 in true righteousness

00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:50.340
 and holiness.

00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:52.120
 Our understanding

00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:53.100
 is not darkened

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.899
 and we are not

00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:56.279
 ignorant anymore

00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:57.480
 because we have

00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:58.679
 learned Christ,

00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.039
 it says,

00:15:59.100 --> 00:15:59.600
 because we were

00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:01.000
 taught in Him.

00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:02.259
 And Christians were taught

00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:02.839
 two things,

00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.439
 according to Paul.

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:03.720
 He says,

00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:04.240
 we were taught

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.039
 to put off

00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.319
 our old self

00:16:06.319 --> 00:16:07.539
 and to put on

00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:09.000
 the new self.

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.339
 Right?

00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:11.299
 And the principle

00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:11.919
 putting on

00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:13.779
 is extremely important

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:14.860
 for Christian living.

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.879
 No one likes to wear

00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:18.039
 sweaty,

00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.480
 soiled,

00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:20.360
 stinky clothes

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.079
 after coming out

00:16:21.079 --> 00:16:21.600
 of a shower.

00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.059
 Right?

00:16:22.579 --> 00:16:23.299
 It's in the same way

00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:24.059
 as people

00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:24.899
 who have been

00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:25.939
 created

00:16:25.940 --> 00:16:26.920
 created,

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.160
 made new in Christ

00:16:28.160 --> 00:16:29.400
 have to put on

00:16:29.400 --> 00:16:30.060
 the new man

00:16:30.060 --> 00:16:31.040
 and put off the world.

00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.760
 And the change

00:16:32.760 --> 00:16:34.200
 is so significant

00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:34.900
 and theologians

00:16:34.900 --> 00:16:35.640
 call this

00:16:35.640 --> 00:16:36.620
 the process

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:37.640
 of mortification

00:16:37.640 --> 00:16:38.820
 and vivification.

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:39.280
 Right?

00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.220
 You mortify,

00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:41.740
 you kill your old self,

00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:42.340
 your sin

00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:43.560
 and then you vivify,

00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:44.640
 you make alive,

00:16:44.880 --> 00:16:46.460
 you stir on,

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.240
 you spur on

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:48.080
 the new way

00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.600
 of living in Christ.

00:16:50.020 --> 00:16:50.880
 And this is important

00:16:50.880 --> 00:16:51.620
 because that means

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.600
 we don't just

00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:53.740
 mortify sin,

00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:54.580
 it doesn't end there,

00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.540
 we don't just

00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:57.199
 mortify our sinful

00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:58.659
 greed,

00:16:59.199 --> 00:17:00.019
 instead we have

00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:01.439
 to vivify generosity.

00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:03.419
 We don't just

00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.279
 mortify,

00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:06.159
 let's say,

00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:06.779
 pride

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.879
 and we have

00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:09.319
 to vivify humility

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.159
 by serving

00:17:10.159 --> 00:17:10.700
 one another.

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.099
 It's,

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:12.940
 we can't,

00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:13.259
 I mean,

00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:13.920
 and this is,

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:14.920
 it sounds like

00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.720
 such a simple thing

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.579
 but if you think about it

00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:17.579
 this is really profound.

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.079
 It's very insightful truth

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.859
 into how we ought

00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.700
 to grow as a Christian

00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:21.779
 because our minds

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.180
 and hearts

00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:23.200
 are a lot like

00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:23.759
 our bellies,

00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:24.059
 right?

00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.940
 And what I mean by that

00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:26.600
 is our bellies,

00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.880
 they always have to be filled,

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.240
 right?

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.100
 It's,

00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:30.460
 if you want to quit

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.380
 eating junk food,

00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.759
 you have to fill your bellies

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.600
 with healthy food.

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.000
 I mean,

00:17:34.100 --> 00:17:35.680
 you can't go get around it

00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:36.380
 because it has to be

00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:37.200
 filled with something.

00:17:37.600 --> 00:17:38.720
 Our minds and our hearts

00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.640
 are the same way,

00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.920
 they have to be filled

00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.340
 with something,

00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:42.519
 they're always filled

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.720
 with something

00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:45.180
 and so the best way,

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.200
 our minds are never

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.940
 blank slates,

00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:47.500
 even though some people

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.160
 like to believe that,

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.259
 and our hearts are never

00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:50.539
 just empty vessels

00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.600
 waiting to be filled,

00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.659
 they're always filled

00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:53.179
 with something.

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.099
 That's why you have

00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:55.819
 to displace what is there

00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.939
 and you have to fill

00:17:56.939 --> 00:17:57.959
 the things of God

00:17:57.959 --> 00:17:58.839
 in order to get rid

00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.279
 of the things

00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:01.219
 that are not of Him.

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:02.119
 That's the only way

00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:03.339
 to get rid of sinful habits

00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.379
 and to do vices

00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.480
 is to replace them

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.559
 with virtue.

00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.059
 And that's why he says

00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:08.559
 fill your minds

00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:10.819
 and to have true righteousness

00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:12.500
 and holiness in your life.

00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:14.019
 It's when we are relishing

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:16.099
 the treasures of God

00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:17.099
 and what He's given us

00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:18.639
 that we lose our appetite

00:18:18.639 --> 00:18:19.759
 for the trinkets

00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.419
 of this world.

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.940
 We have to do both.

00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:23.759
 Mortify sin

00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:25.200
 and vitify virtue.

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.000
 And in verses 25 to 32,

00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:29.720
 Paul provides a series

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:31.140
 of specific applications

00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:32.460
 of this principle.

00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:34.259
 He says in verse 25,

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:34.720
 Therefore,

00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.420
 having put away falsehood,

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.320
 let each one of you

00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:39.220
 speak the truth

00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:39.940
 with his neighbor,

00:18:40.340 --> 00:18:41.500
 for we are members

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:43.380
 one of another.

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:44.840
 He's saying living

00:18:44.840 --> 00:18:45.539
 in keeping

00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:46.420
 with our new identity

00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:46.920
 in Christ

00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:48.400
 involves truth-telling.

00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:50.920
 So Paul mentioned

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.380
 the truth earlier

00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:55.360
 in Ephesians 1.13

00:18:55.360 --> 00:18:56.340
 and 4.15,

00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:57.620
 and there the context

00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:58.780
 was one of evangelism

00:18:58.780 --> 00:18:59.600
 and discipleship

00:18:59.600 --> 00:19:01.360
 that referred to the gospel

00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:02.960
 as the truth.

00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:03.980
 But here,

00:19:04.080 --> 00:19:05.460
 he's speaking about truth

00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:06.700
 in a more general way,

00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.540
 and we could tell

00:19:07.540 --> 00:19:08.940
 because he contrasted

00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.900
 with lying,

00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:10.340
 right,

00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:12.400
 with taking off falsehood.

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.660
 And truth-telling

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.100
 is important

00:19:14.100 --> 00:19:15.019
 for obvious reasons,

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.039
 and it's because

00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.700
 God is described

00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:19.539
 in Numbers 23.19

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.779
 and Hebrews 6.18

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.440
 as incapable of lying,

00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.000
 right?

00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:24.599
 So we imitate God

00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:25.819
 when we tell the truth.

00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.259
 And Satan,

00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:28.039
 in contrast,

00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:29.079
 is described repeatedly

00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:29.660
 throughout Scripture

00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:31.019
 as the father of lies,

00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:31.319
 right,

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.660
 in John 8.44.

00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:34.900
 So that's one obvious reason

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.819
 to tell the truth,

00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:36.599
 but that's actually

00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.240
 not the reason

00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.240
 that Paul gives here

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:38.799
 in this passage,

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.200
 right?

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.759
 So look with me.

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.440
 What's the reason

00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:41.279
 that Paul gives

00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.079
 in this passage

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:42.839
 for truth-telling?

00:19:43.159 --> 00:19:44.179
 It's not our

00:19:44.179 --> 00:19:45.220
 vertical accountability

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:45.740
 to God,

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.179
 even though that

00:19:46.179 --> 00:19:46.919
 certainly exists.

00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:48.159
 It's our horizontal

00:19:48.159 --> 00:19:48.740
 accountability

00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.500
 to one another.

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.740
 That's why he tells us

00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:51.399
 to speak the truth.

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:51.699
 He says,

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:53.959
 for we are members

00:19:53.959 --> 00:19:56.179
 one of another.

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:57.419
 Right?

00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:59.019
 We are part of the one

00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.039
 and the same body

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.679
 of Christ.

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.579
 We are members

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:02.799
 of one and the same

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.879
 family of God,

00:20:03.919 --> 00:20:04.819
 and how can we lie

00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:05.439
 to each other?

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.299
 Lying erodes

00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:08.980
 our trust

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:09.639
 for one another,

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:11.099
 and weakens our bond

00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:12.119
 with one another.

00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:13.039
 For this reason,

00:20:13.199 --> 00:20:13.739
 honesty,

00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.619
 which cultivates trust

00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:16.299
 and foundation

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.259
 for the church

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.199
 that is trying

00:20:18.199 --> 00:20:18.919
 to build itself

00:20:18.919 --> 00:20:19.599
 up in love.

00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:24.139
 Imagine there's a child,

00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:24.500
 right,

00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:26.879
 that is in the habit

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:28.379
 of lying

00:20:28.379 --> 00:20:29.259
 to get out of things

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.419
 or feigning sickness,

00:20:30.639 --> 00:20:30.779
 right?

00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:30.979
 So,

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:31.759
 oh, mom,

00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.379
 I'm sick,

00:20:32.459 --> 00:20:33.659
 so I can't do that chore.

00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:34.559
 Oh, mom,

00:20:34.659 --> 00:20:35.039
 oh, dad,

00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.459
 I'm sick,

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.619
 so I can't go to school.

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.439
 Right?

00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.639
 So imagine that this child

00:20:38.639 --> 00:20:39.059
 is in the habit

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.559
 of doing that.

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.599
 When this child

00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.799
 is actually sick

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:44.240
 and the child says,

00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:45.199
 oh, I'm really sick,

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.259
 I can't do this,

00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.980
 the mom and dad,

00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:48.759
 even though they're

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:50.219
 the ones that love her most

00:20:50.219 --> 00:20:51.059
 and want to do

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.059
 what is best for her,

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.500
 can't tell what is best

00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:53.919
 for her

00:20:53.919 --> 00:20:55.079
 because that child's

00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.459
 been lying.

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:56.939
 How do they know

00:20:56.939 --> 00:20:57.959
 if the child's telling

00:20:57.959 --> 00:20:58.740
 the truth in that moment

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.139
 or not?

00:20:59.299 --> 00:20:59.939
 They don't.

00:21:00.439 --> 00:21:01.639
 So they have to second guess

00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:02.619
 what the child says

00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:03.199
 and they have to,

00:21:03.459 --> 00:21:03.619
 you know,

00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:05.539
 that's an erosion

00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.259
 of trust

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:08.379
 that cripples

00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:09.459
 the parent's ability

00:21:09.459 --> 00:21:10.539
 to care for the child

00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:11.279
 that they love

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:11.799
 and they have their,

00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:13.439
 then that's exactly

00:21:13.439 --> 00:21:14.599
 similar to what happens

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.719
 in the church context

00:21:15.719 --> 00:21:16.159
 as well.

00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.639
 When we don't tell

00:21:17.639 --> 00:21:18.500
 the truth to one another,

00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:20.319
 it erodes trust

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:21.159
 in the same way.

00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.559
 So think about it,

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:23.739
 right?

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.000
 I mean,

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:25.299
 there will be times

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:25.979
 as a church,

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:26.859
 as we live together

00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:27.339
 and try to,

00:21:27.479 --> 00:21:29.219
 in love with one another,

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:30.199
 we're going to hurt

00:21:30.199 --> 00:21:30.599
 each other,

00:21:30.739 --> 00:21:30.959
 right?

00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:32.779
 There's going to be times

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.900
 when we offend each other.

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.660
 There's going to be times

00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:35.460
 we're going to be wrestling

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:37.180
 with difficult theological issues.

00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:39.559
 There are going to be times

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.299
 when we're sick,

00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.559
 when we're grieving,

00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:43.640
 lost,

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.460
 right?

00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:46.640
 And then when someone

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.340
 asks you,

00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:47.880
 hey,

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.059
 what's going on?

00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:49.259
 Or,

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.000
 hey,

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.740
 where have you been?

00:21:52.100 --> 00:21:53.360
 And you make something up

00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:55.980
 so that,

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:56.799
 because you don't have to deal

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.920
 with the other member.

00:21:59.519 --> 00:21:59.920
 Well,

00:22:00.340 --> 00:22:00.640
 you're,

00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:02.500
 eroding trust

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:04.920
 by not telling the truth.

00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:07.319
 The very family of God

00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.819
 that have your best interest

00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.340
 in mind

00:22:09.340 --> 00:22:10.480
 and want to care for you

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:10.900
 are,

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:11.759
 are precluded,

00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:13.059
 are unable

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:14.120
 to care for you

00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:14.519
 because

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:16.039
 that foundation of trust

00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.660
 has been eroded.

00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.600
 That's why this is so important.

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.500
 It's the first thing

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.079
 he tells us

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.700
 as an example

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:21.440
 of what a community

00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.400
 is supposed to look like.

00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:26.600
 It's,

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.620
 this is really

00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.680
 a hard lesson

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.259
 and it's,

00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:30.480
 I was convicted by it myself

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.099
 as I was just thinking

00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:32.579
 about how so easily

00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.599
 we just kind of think

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.319
 that our words

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.240
 and things that we promise

00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:35.980
 are fungible.

00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:36.240
 You know,

00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.980
 you can change it.

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.120
 And that's the culture

00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:38.620
 we live in.

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.259
 Words are cheap

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:39.720
 in our culture,

00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.099
 isn't it?

00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:40.740
 Right?

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:40.960
 I mean,

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.319
 people,

00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:41.759
 you know,

00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.420
 take the vow,

00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.240
 oath of office

00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.140
 and then they turn

00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:44.440
 to,

00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:44.640
 you know,

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.360
 demagoguery

00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:46.500
 and take bribes

00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:46.839
 or like,

00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.099
 I mean,

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.219
 people take,

00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:49.419
 say the wedding vows

00:22:49.419 --> 00:22:50.419
 and then they quickly,

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:50.879
 you know,

00:22:50.959 --> 00:22:51.459
 say,

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:51.819
 oh no,

00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:52.659
 this is not going

00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:53.099
 to work out.

00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:54.279
 Let's call it a day.

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:54.939
 Right?

00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.099
 I mean,

00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:55.659
 people just,

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.759
 words are cheap.

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.639
 But here,

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.879
 the person that,

00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.259
 the Christians,

00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:01.980
 the church that is

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:03.379
 building itself up

00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:03.659
 in love

00:23:03.659 --> 00:23:04.299
 has to speak

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.279
 the truth.

00:23:05.439 --> 00:23:06.480
 And in Psalm 15,

00:23:06.659 --> 00:23:07.359
 God describes

00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:07.980
 a blameless man

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.219
 as someone

00:23:08.219 --> 00:23:09.159
 who speaks truth

00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:09.659
 in his heart

00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:10.719
 and swears

00:23:10.719 --> 00:23:12.059
 to his own hurt

00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:14.019
 and does not change.

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:18.279
 When we say things like,

00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:18.519
 oh,

00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:20.059
 just circumstances change

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:22.139
 or when we make excuses

00:23:22.139 --> 00:23:22.819
 in that way,

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:23.980
 we betray the fact

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:25.139
 that our word is good

00:23:25.139 --> 00:23:26.259
 only when it's

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:27.519
 to our advantage.

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.740
 But for Christians,

00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:31.639
 speaking the truth

00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:32.680
 is not about

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.920
 our expedience

00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:35.000
 or convenience.

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.319
 It's an expression

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.079
 of our love

00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:38.059
 for one another.

00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:39.839
 Because we're

00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.940
 members of one another,

00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:42.200
 that's the truth

00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:43.059
 to one another.

00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:43.720
 Put away

00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.180
 from the truth.

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.279
 Speak the truth

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.960
 with his neighbor.

00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:47.019
 For we are members

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.779
 one of another.

00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:51.440
 Paul gives another example

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.160
 of putting off

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:52.600
 the old man,

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.160
 putting on the new

00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:54.079
 in verse 26.

00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.839
 Be angry

00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:56.319
 and do not sin.

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.900
 Do not let the sun

00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.640
 go down

00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.579
 on your anger.

00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:01.319
 This puzzles

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:01.880
 a lot of people

00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.839
 because we usually

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.360
 think of anger

00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:04.220
 as a bad thing, right?

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.440
 Be angry.

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.740
 And that is

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.360
 an imperative.

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.039
 And the reason why

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:09.420
 is this,

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.319
 because he's not saying

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.019
 that we should be

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.000
 in a perpetual state

00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.519
 of anger

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.279
 because anger

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:13.960
 is a good thing.

00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:15.180
 He's saying that

00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.279
 when the occasion

00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.240
 is appropriate

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.059
 for anger,

00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:20.000
 you should be angry.

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.279
 And so be angry

00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:21.920
 in those situations

00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.500
 is what he's saying.

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:24.019
 Jesus is described

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.700
 as being angry

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.559
 in Mark 3, 5.

00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:26.160
 He says he looked

00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:26.799
 around at the

00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.940
 hypocritical Pharisees

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.740
 and then he said

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:30.000
 he had anger

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.980
 and was grieved

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:32.099
 by their hardness

00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.759
 of heart.

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.639
 When we see

00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:36.200
 God dishonored

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:37.639
 and besmirched

00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:38.619
 by sin,

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.660
 we should be angry.

00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:42.440
 When we see injustice,

00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.019
 when we see

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:44.100
 people oppressed,

00:24:44.820 --> 00:24:46.800
 we should be angry.

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:47.779
 Right?

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:49.200
 And John Stott

00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.980
 puts it this way.

00:24:50.040 --> 00:24:50.140
 He says,

00:24:50.340 --> 00:24:51.660
 there is great need

00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:53.000
 in the contemporary world

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:55.600
 for more Christian anger.

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.000
 In the face

00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.160
 of blatant evil,

00:24:58.300 --> 00:24:59.900
 we should be indignant,

00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:00.900
 not tolerant.

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.060
 Angry,

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.080
 not apathetic.

00:25:03.300 --> 00:25:04.700
 If God hates sin,

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.660
 his people

00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:06.660
 should hate it too.

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.600
 If evil arouses

00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.279
 his anger,

00:25:09.699 --> 00:25:10.579
 it should arouse

00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:12.359
 ours also.

00:25:13.199 --> 00:25:13.299
 Right?

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:15.500
 Indifference to injustice,

00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:16.399
 indifference to sin,

00:25:16.459 --> 00:25:17.240
 that's not a virtue.

00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:20.759
 But of course,

00:25:20.879 --> 00:25:22.779
 there is sinful anger.

00:25:23.199 --> 00:25:23.379
 Right?

00:25:23.919 --> 00:25:24.959
 And if our anger

00:25:24.959 --> 00:25:26.179
 is misplaced

00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:27.659
 or mismeasured,

00:25:27.679 --> 00:25:28.879
 then it becomes sinful.

00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.500
 If we're angry

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.679
 for a selfish reason

00:25:30.679 --> 00:25:32.659
 or for no reason at all,

00:25:32.719 --> 00:25:33.480
 which also happens,

00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:33.740
 right?

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:35.679
 And that's a sinful anger.

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:37.119
 It's misplaced.

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:39.399
 Or if we get carried away

00:25:39.399 --> 00:25:40.259
 in the heat of the moment,

00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:41.000
 we get angry

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:42.459
 and then we lash out

00:25:42.459 --> 00:25:43.479
 and we yell,

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:46.579
 we say harsh things

00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:47.279
 that we don't mean

00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:47.899
 in our anger.

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.139
 See,

00:25:48.219 --> 00:25:49.359
 that's when the anger

00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:50.119
 is mismeasured.

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:51.399
 Right?

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.439
 Then we sin

00:25:52.439 --> 00:25:53.479
 in our anger.

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.899
 And so we need to balance

00:25:55.899 --> 00:25:56.659
 this injunction

00:25:56.659 --> 00:25:57.119
 to be angry

00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:59.539
 with Paul's earlier exhortation

00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.119
 to be patient,

00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:01.839
 which literally means

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.099
 slow to anger.

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:03.459
 Right?

00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:04.299
 We need to hold

00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:05.159
 those two things together.

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:07.200
 And because Paul knows

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:07.880
 that angry people

00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.860
 are prone to sin,

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.860
 he adds immediately

00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:10.420
 after saying,

00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:12.680
 be angry and do not sin.

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.500
 Do not let the sun

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.860
 go down on your anger.

00:26:16.540 --> 00:26:17.340
 Paul's here quoting

00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:18.600
 from Psalm 4-4,

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.440
 which says,

00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:20.860
 be angry and do not sin.

00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:22.380
 Ponder in your own hearts

00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:23.100
 on your beds

00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:24.019
 and be silent.

00:26:24.320 --> 00:26:25.040
 So what the psalmist

00:26:25.040 --> 00:26:25.540
 is saying is,

00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:25.840
 you know what?

00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:26.460
 When you're angry,

00:26:26.560 --> 00:26:26.980
 you're probably going

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.580
 to say things

00:26:27.580 --> 00:26:28.580
 that are really going

00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:29.160
 to be sinful

00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:30.120
 and cut people down.

00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:30.900
 So you know what?

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:32.060
 Just be silent

00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:33.460
 and lie down in your bed

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.440
 and think to yourself.

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.500
 That's what the psalmist

00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:35.860
 is saying.

00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:37.380
 So that's the context

00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:37.940
 of the psalm

00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.600
 that he's quoting.

00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.840
 So he's saying here,

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:41.840
 so don't dwell in anger,

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:43.759
 but quickly and decisively

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.960
 deal with anger.

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.700
 And that's the meaning

00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.380
 of the admonition.

00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.720
 Do not let the sun

00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.860
 go down on your anger.

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.019
 I've seen some people

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.160
 who take that very literally.

00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:51.799
 And I mean,

00:26:51.840 --> 00:26:52.340
 I think it's better

00:26:52.340 --> 00:26:53.059
 to take it literally

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.240
 than not take it at all.

00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.220
 But I mean,

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.360
 I don't think that's the sense

00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:57.380
 that's intended here.

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:57.759
 It's like,

00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:59.480
 oh, you have to make sure

00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.019
 you're not angry

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:01.120
 before the sun goes down.

00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:02.299
 Because then, right,

00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.839
 every day the time changes.

00:27:03.979 --> 00:27:05.219
 You better check the newspaper

00:27:05.219 --> 00:27:05.699
 to make sure

00:27:05.699 --> 00:27:06.939
 what time the sun sets, right?

00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:08.359
 But that's not what he's saying.

00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:09.279
 But he is saying,

00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:11.379
 deal with it promptly, right?

00:27:11.459 --> 00:27:12.139
 Do it today.

00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:13.339
 Don't postpone it.

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.539
 Deal with your anger now

00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.559
 so that you don't sin

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.459
 in your anger.

00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:17.719
 If there's someone, right?

00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.019
 I mean,

00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:19.279
 that's what Jesus says

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.639
 in the Beatitudes, right?

00:27:20.979 --> 00:27:21.459
 He talks about

00:27:21.459 --> 00:27:22.039
 when you're offering

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:23.419
 your gifts off the altar

00:27:23.419 --> 00:27:24.479
 and there remember

00:27:24.479 --> 00:27:25.059
 that your brother

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:26.019
 has something against you,

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.399
 leave your gift there

00:27:27.399 --> 00:27:27.859
 in front of the altar.

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:29.459
 First go and be reconciled

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.039
 to your brother.

00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:31.640
 Then come and offer your gift.

00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:33.019
 Concilation is not

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:34.120
 something to delay.

00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:35.640
 We,

00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.460
 with it,

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.900
 off, right?

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.240
 Being, you know,

00:27:39.340 --> 00:27:40.400
 being rash in our anger

00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:41.299
 and put on

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.299
 quickly,

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:42.940
 decisively

00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.819
 dealing with anger.

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.000
 And then Paul

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.600
 strengthens his exhortation

00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:48.340
 even further

00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:49.200
 in verse 27.

00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:49.500
 He says,

00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:50.140
 and give

00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:51.820
 no opportunity

00:27:51.820 --> 00:27:52.520
 to give

00:27:52.520 --> 00:27:52.900
 no opportunity

00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:53.480
 to give

00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:53.620
 no opportunity

00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.400
 to give

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:54.600
 no opportunity

00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:55.759
 to give

00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.759
 no opportunity

00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:56.920
 to give

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.759
 no opportunity

00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.880
 to give

00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:01.600
 no opportunity.

00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.240
 Right?

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.620
 Considering the fact

00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.420
 that there's a lot

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.520
 of spatial language

00:28:05.520 --> 00:28:06.180
 in Ephesians

00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:06.920
 of filling

00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:08.220
 and indwelling,

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.420
 he's probably

00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:10.920
 referring and using it

00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:12.420
 in a more spatial sense.

00:28:12.520 --> 00:28:13.180
 Don't give

00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:13.700
 the devil

00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.640
 a place.

00:28:15.320 --> 00:28:15.460
 Right?

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.259
 And

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.460
 John Calvin

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.300
 explains it this way.

00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:18.560
 He says,

00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.619
 I have no doubt

00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.059
 that Paul

00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:21.019
 was warning us

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.940
 to beware

00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:22.700
 lest Satan

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.179
 should take

00:28:23.179 --> 00:28:23.639
 possession

00:28:23.639 --> 00:28:24.480
 of our mind

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.859
 and do

00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.579
 whatever

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:29.919
 he pleases.

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.720
 The prolonged

00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.460
 anger

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.359
 gives

00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:33.740
 the devil

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.339
 opportunity

00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:35.440
 to give

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:35.799
 no opportunity

00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.440
 to give

00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.500
 no opportunity

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.440
 to give

00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:37.960
 no opportunity

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.440
 to give

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:38.500
 no opportunity

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.099
 gives him

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.980
 a place

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.099
 within our minds

00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.019
 and hearts.

00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.419
 So he's saying

00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:43.279
 don't do it.

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.039
 Now,

00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.460
 one qualification

00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.319
 because by that

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:47.359
 I don't mean

00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.259
 that Christians

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.059
 can be possessed

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.920
 by an evil spirit.

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.420
 That's not what

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.119
 I'm talking about.

00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.379
 Paul says

00:28:53.379 --> 00:28:54.160
 in 2 Corinthians

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:55.420
 6, 16,

00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.400
 what agreement

00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:57.140
 has the temple

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:57.579
 of God,

00:28:57.640 --> 00:28:58.160
 that's our body,

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:58.599
 that's us,

00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.319
 with idols,

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.579
 for we are the temple

00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.579
 of the living God.

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.640
 The Holy Spirit

00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.379
 will not stand

00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:03.960
 to cohabit

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.740
 with evil spirits.

00:29:04.879 --> 00:29:05.779
 That's not going

00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.180
 to happen

00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:07.240
 to Christians.

00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:09.379
 Colossians 1, 13

00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:09.779
 tells us,

00:29:09.859 --> 00:29:10.720
 God has delivered us

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.319
 from the domain

00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:11.819
 of darkness

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.640
 and transferred us

00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.059
 to the kingdom

00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:14.259
 of his beloved son.

00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:15.400
 That means we no longer

00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:16.279
 belong to the devil

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.759
 and the devil

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:18.240
 can't possess us

00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:18.619
 because he has

00:29:18.619 --> 00:29:20.440
 no claim over us

00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.660
 and this is why

00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.359
 even though

00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:24.839
 the word

00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.660
 that is consistently

00:29:25.660 --> 00:29:26.420
 used

00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:29.680
 when a person

00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.420
 is possessed

00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:31.059
 by a demon

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.259
 throughout the gospel,

00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.319
 the thing that Jesus

00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:33.960
 always does

00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:35.059
 is to exorcise,

00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:36.180
 to cast out.

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:36.680
 That's the word

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.339
 that is used.

00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:38.980
 When it comes to,

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:39.819
 and by the way,

00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:41.639
 every single example

00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:42.579
 in scripture

00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.879
 of someone

00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:44.440
 being demon possessed

00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:45.160
 has to do

00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:46.660
 with unbelievers.

00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:47.560
 It's in the context

00:29:47.560 --> 00:29:48.700
 of evangelism usually.

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:49.640
 And now,

00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:50.260
 and when it,

00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:50.700
 and then,

00:29:50.820 --> 00:29:51.840
 that's also the reason

00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:52.480
 why throughout

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.140
 the epistles

00:29:53.140 --> 00:29:55.100
 when Paul instructs

00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:56.680
 believers

00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:58.500
 about how to deal

00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.980
 with evil spirits

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:00.820
 and how to

00:30:00.820 --> 00:30:02.860
 wage spiritual warfare

00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.260
 against them,

00:30:03.300 --> 00:30:04.200
 he never says

00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:05.580
 exorcise them

00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:06.260
 from believers.

00:30:06.760 --> 00:30:08.300
 The words that he uses

00:30:08.300 --> 00:30:09.200
 are remarkably consistent.

00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:10.400
 1 Peter 5, 9,

00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.700
 resist the devil.

00:30:11.800 --> 00:30:12.720
 Ephesians 6, 11,

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.720
 stand against

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.559
 the schemes of the devil.

00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.600
 James 4, 7,

00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:16.900
 resist the devil.

00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:18.500
 He will flee from the devil.

00:30:18.600 --> 00:30:19.880
 When it comes to believers,

00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:21.120
 it's not about,

00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:21.640
 you know,

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.779
 internal possession

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:24.600
 but external oppression.

00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.480
 Believers are never

00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:28.400
 to exorcise themselves.

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:29.360
 They don't need to,

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.220
 but they do need

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.259
 to resist the devil

00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.620
 and stand against the devil.

00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:32.960
 So that,

00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:34.000
 that's just a qualification

00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.700
 so you don't think,

00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:35.200
 oh man,

00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:36.860
 am I about to get

00:30:36.860 --> 00:30:37.620
 possessed by a demon?

00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:37.819
 No,

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.779
 if you're a believer,

00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.799
 that's not going

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.460
 to happen to you.

00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:41.160
 But you know what?

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.620
 You can give ground

00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:43.140
 to the demon.

00:30:43.860 --> 00:30:45.080
 You can give ground

00:30:45.080 --> 00:30:45.980
 to evil spirits

00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:48.380
 by prolonged anger,

00:30:48.800 --> 00:30:49.900
 harboring anger.

00:30:50.540 --> 00:30:51.740
 You smolder in your heart

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:53.080
 and affect in color.

00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.560
 And so he's saying,

00:30:56.800 --> 00:30:57.640
 don't be angry

00:30:57.640 --> 00:30:58.300
 and do not sin.

00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:59.160
 Do not let the sun

00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:00.040
 go down on your anger

00:31:00.040 --> 00:31:01.240
 and give no opportunity

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.820
 to the devil.

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.100
 Paul continues

00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:03.779
 in verse 28,

00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:04.819
 let the thief

00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:05.799
 no longer steal,

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:07.740
 but rather let him labor

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:09.279
 doing honest work

00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:10.660
 with his own hands

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.819
 so that he may have

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.819
 something to share

00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:15.379
 with anyone in need.

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.799
 I got to,

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.200
 it was shocking.

00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:21.440
 I hadn't seen anyone

00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.240
 steal anything

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.980
 until yesterday,

00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.000
 just shopping

00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.819
 at Market Basket

00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:27.200
 and there was this man

00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.759
 who was just

00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.740
 at this table

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.500
 full of grapes

00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.180
 and he was just

00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:31.000
 taking bunches

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.660
 out of each grapes,

00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.440
 just eating them

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.759
 for like two minutes.

00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:34.019
 I mean,

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.980
 he's just like eating

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:36.000
 and I had to tell him

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.420
 like, hey,

00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.279
 you got to buy that

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.100
 before you eat it,

00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:38.320
 right?

00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.700
 Because one,

00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:40.660
 you're taking grapes

00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:42.380
 away from other people

00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:43.279
 who's going to buy that

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.140
 and pay the full price

00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:45.519
 for it to get less grape

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.700
 than they paid for

00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.840
 and then you're also

00:31:47.840 --> 00:31:49.019
 robbed from Market Basket.

00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:49.259
 I mean,

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.920
 they're trying to make

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:50.539
 honest money

00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:51.740
 and then you're stealing

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.200
 from them, right?

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:52.400
 I mean,

00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:52.860
 so it's like,

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:53.660
 and then he's just like,

00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:53.799
 oh,

00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:54.660
 he took the grapes

00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:55.360
 and left, right?

00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:57.460
 But that's exactly

00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.180
 what happens, right?

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.160
 When you steal, right?

00:31:59.220 --> 00:31:59.400
 I mean,

00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:01.100
 you're benefiting

00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:02.220
 from the fruit

00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:03.460
 of other people's labor,

00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:04.940
 right?

00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:06.319
 Instead of working

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.059
 hard yourself,

00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.700
 you're benefiting

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.059
 from,

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.680
 you're stealing

00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.140
 and you're benefiting

00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:10.539
 from other people's labor.

00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.579
 That's why Paul says,

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.819
 put off stealing

00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:15.920
 and put on labor.

00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:16.860
 And labor,

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.640
 the word refers

00:32:17.640 --> 00:32:18.799
 to hard work.

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.120
 It's the word

00:32:20.120 --> 00:32:20.880
 that is used to refer

00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:21.559
 to when you work

00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.279
 to exhaustion.

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.140
 It's labor.

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.759
 You need labor

00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.420
 so that we can be

00:32:25.420 --> 00:32:26.339
 self-sustent,

00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:27.059
 so that we can care

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.620
 for ourselves

00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:28.739
 and not just

00:32:28.739 --> 00:32:29.199
 for kids.

00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.479
 The ultimate goal

00:32:30.479 --> 00:32:31.979
 is so that he may

00:32:31.979 --> 00:32:32.759
 have something

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.519
 to share

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.659
 with anyone

00:32:34.659 --> 00:32:35.559
 in need.

00:32:35.959 --> 00:32:36.819
 Isn't that a beautiful

00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:37.699
 picture of community?

00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:40.239
 That's how the early church

00:32:40.239 --> 00:32:40.959
 was described,

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:41.279
 right?

00:32:42.479 --> 00:32:44.119
 Acts 2.44,

00:32:44.439 --> 00:32:45.759
 they had all things

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.239
 in common.

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.619
 Acts 4.34-35,

00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:49.539
 there was not

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.539
 a needy person

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.119
 among them,

00:32:51.399 --> 00:32:51.899
 for as many

00:32:51.899 --> 00:32:52.659
 as were owners

00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:53.719
 of lands or houses,

00:32:54.119 --> 00:32:55.179
 sold and brought

00:32:55.179 --> 00:32:55.619
 the proceeds

00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.979
 of what was sold

00:32:56.979 --> 00:32:57.739
 and laid it

00:32:57.739 --> 00:32:58.719
 at the apostles' feet

00:32:58.719 --> 00:32:59.679
 and it was distributed

00:32:59.679 --> 00:33:00.339
 to each

00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:01.379
 as any had.

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.319
 When we earn money

00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:07.259
 by doing honest work,

00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:08.219
 our goal is not

00:33:08.219 --> 00:33:09.899
 simply to get richer,

00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:11.439
 but it's to have

00:33:11.439 --> 00:33:12.579
 enough to share

00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:13.639
 with someone in need.

00:33:14.979 --> 00:33:15.859
 What if that was

00:33:15.859 --> 00:33:16.299
 the mindset

00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:17.059
 that we had

00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:17.919
 as a church community

00:33:17.919 --> 00:33:18.359
 together?

00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:20.019
 What if we were

00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.759
 intentional about

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:22.000
 budgeting things

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.819
 not just for

00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.719
 our own goods,

00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:24.599
 but to share

00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:25.379
 with people in need

00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:25.980
 in the church?

00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:27.500
 What if because

00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:28.560
 we did this so well,

00:33:28.780 --> 00:33:29.440
 people could look

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:30.260
 at the church

00:33:30.260 --> 00:33:30.640
 and say,

00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:31.520
 oh, there's not

00:33:31.520 --> 00:33:32.380
 a needy person

00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:32.980
 among them?

00:33:34.340 --> 00:33:35.340
 That's love.

00:33:35.780 --> 00:33:36.420
 That's the love

00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:36.880
 that Paul's

00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:37.460
 enjoying here.

00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.780
 Paul also tells us

00:33:40.780 --> 00:33:41.640
 in verse 29

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:43.040
 to put off speech

00:33:43.040 --> 00:33:43.940
 that tears down

00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:45.100
 and to put on speech

00:33:45.100 --> 00:33:46.180
 that builds up.

00:33:46.840 --> 00:33:47.060
 He says,

00:33:47.280 --> 00:33:48.940
 let no corrupting talk

00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:49.800
 come out of your mouths,

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:50.920
 but only such

00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:51.640
 as is good

00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:52.540
 for building up

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:54.159
 as fits the occasion

00:33:54.159 --> 00:33:55.799
 that it may give grace

00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:57.700
 to those who hear.

00:33:58.659 --> 00:33:59.839
 Paul is using

00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:01.259
 a very colorful word here.

00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:02.599
 The word corrupting

00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:04.319
 is the same word

00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.559
 that can be translated

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.139
 rotten

00:34:06.139 --> 00:34:07.659
 or putrid.

00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:08.820
 So think about

00:34:08.820 --> 00:34:11.179
 a rotting fish,

00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:13.559
 putrid apple.

00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:14.000
 right?

00:34:14.219 --> 00:34:14.420
 Just,

00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:17.059
 that's what he wants

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:18.139
 you to think of

00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:19.019
 when you think of

00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:20.199
 unwholesome talk

00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:20.639
 that come out

00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.179
 of our mouths.

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.900
 He wants us

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.920
 to have this visceral

00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.840
 reaction against

00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:27.000
 unwholesome talk

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:28.039
 that tears

00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.799
 each other down.

00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.119
 And notice

00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:33.099
 how categorical

00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:33.679
 this command is.

00:34:33.799 --> 00:34:35.840
 Let no corrupting talk

00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:37.199
 come out of your mouths.

00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:38.779
 None whatsoever.

00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:39.960
 It means no,

00:34:40.259 --> 00:34:41.519
 zero sarcastic

00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:42.139
 cutting down,

00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:44.480
 zero profane swearing.

00:34:44.819 --> 00:34:45.539
 It means zero

00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:46.480
 flirty talk

00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.460
 that tempts people.

00:34:47.839 --> 00:34:49.659
 No corrupting talk

00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:50.179
 whatsoever.

00:34:51.779 --> 00:34:52.219
 And he doesn't

00:34:52.219 --> 00:34:52.759
 stop there.

00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:54.000
 Let everything

00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:54.759
 you say

00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.639
 before the purpose

00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:56.940
 of building up people

00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:58.319
 and giving grace

00:34:58.319 --> 00:34:59.599
 to those who hear.

00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:00.239
 He says,

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.339
 only such

00:35:01.339 --> 00:35:01.980
 as is good

00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.940
 for building up

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.719
 as fits the occasion

00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:04.940
 that he may give grace

00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:06.359
 to those who hear.

00:35:06.779 --> 00:35:07.400
 The phrase

00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.679
 as fits the occasion

00:35:08.679 --> 00:35:10.619
 is a translation

00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:11.179
 that can be

00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:12.059
 more literally rendered

00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:13.480
 according to their needs.

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.380
 We need to,

00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:14.840
 as a church,

00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:15.500
 be aware

00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:16.559
 of each other's needs

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.219
 and concerns

00:35:17.219 --> 00:35:18.519
 so that we can speak

00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:19.340
 to them in a manner

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:20.099
 that fits

00:35:20.099 --> 00:35:21.279
 that particular occasion

00:35:21.279 --> 00:35:22.119
 and need

00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:23.360
 so that we can build them up

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.440
 and give grace

00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:25.239
 to those people

00:35:25.239 --> 00:35:26.219
 who hear

00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:27.219
 what we say.

00:35:30.259 --> 00:35:31.699
 And we don't take this,

00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:32.099
 I think,

00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:33.380
 nearly seriously enough

00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:34.299
 in general.

00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:34.980
 I think churches

00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:36.239
 all over the world

00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:37.339
 and I think

00:35:37.339 --> 00:35:38.479
 Paul,

00:35:38.959 --> 00:35:39.599
 this is helpful,

00:35:39.779 --> 00:35:40.439
 this author,

00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:40.899
 a Christian author

00:35:40.899 --> 00:35:41.679
 named Paul Tripp

00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:42.939
 writes this in his book,

00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:44.279
 Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands

00:35:44.279 --> 00:35:45.439
 of how we should be

00:35:45.439 --> 00:35:47.059
 ministering to each other

00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:48.179
 through what we say.

00:35:48.739 --> 00:35:49.059
 He says,

00:35:49.419 --> 00:35:50.579
 if you teach

00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:51.719
 a Sunday school lesson,

00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:52.819
 preach a sermon,

00:35:53.479 --> 00:35:54.899
 or lead a Bible study,

00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.699
 you would immediately

00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.439
 ask yourself,

00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:57.959
 do I have the time

00:35:57.959 --> 00:35:58.779
 I need to prepare?

00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:01.359
 We often respond

00:36:01.359 --> 00:36:02.039
 to our neighbor,

00:36:02.839 --> 00:36:03.559
 golfing buddy,

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.639
 or church volunteer

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:06.380
 with little preparation,

00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:07.059
 reflection,

00:36:07.219 --> 00:36:07.599
 or prayer.

00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:09.820
 Why do we spend

00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:10.759
 hours preparing

00:36:10.759 --> 00:36:11.259
 to teach

00:36:11.259 --> 00:36:12.119
 while we offer

00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:14.000
 important personal direction

00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:15.920
 without a second thought?

00:36:16.759 --> 00:36:17.480
 We forget

00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:18.679
 that God uses

00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:19.380
 those interactions

00:36:19.380 --> 00:36:20.119
 to apply

00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:21.579
 the transforming power

00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:22.119
 of scripture

00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:23.679
 to people's hearts.

00:36:23.679 --> 00:36:24.579
 We forget

00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.619
 that God's word

00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:26.860
 is our primary tool

00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:27.500
 of change.

00:36:27.799 --> 00:36:28.159
 Instead,

00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:29.119
 we come up

00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:30.340
 with a little personal wisdom

00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:31.539
 and personal experience

00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:33.059
 and let the words fly.

00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:38.360
 an average person,

00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:41.259
 research varies wildly,

00:36:41.420 --> 00:36:42.659
 but an average person

00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:43.400
 speaks about

00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:45.179
 16,000 words per day.

00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:46.799
 Can you imagine

00:36:46.799 --> 00:36:47.820
 if in all

00:36:47.820 --> 00:36:48.420
 are speaking

00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:49.320
 to one another,

00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:51.279
 if every word

00:36:51.279 --> 00:36:53.320
 was made to count

00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:54.159
 and harness

00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:55.539
 to build each other up?

00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:56.799
 What an impact

00:36:56.799 --> 00:36:57.559
 that would have

00:36:57.559 --> 00:37:02.420
 during the passing

00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.039
 of the peace,

00:37:03.219 --> 00:37:03.440
 right?

00:37:03.559 --> 00:37:05.579
 during our monthly luncheon,

00:37:06.259 --> 00:37:08.019
 before and after

00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:08.739
 the service,

00:37:09.460 --> 00:37:10.539
 during community groups,

00:37:10.900 --> 00:37:11.579
 during the week.

00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:15.259
 These are opportunities

00:37:15.259 --> 00:37:16.759
 for ministering

00:37:16.759 --> 00:37:17.380
 to one another,

00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:18.940
 speaking the truth

00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:19.599
 to one another.

00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:23.699
 And then Paul

00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:26.719
 wants to motivate them

00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:27.339
 further

00:37:27.339 --> 00:37:28.339
 and he adds

00:37:28.339 --> 00:37:28.779
 this kind of

00:37:28.779 --> 00:37:29.699
 summarizing statement

00:37:29.699 --> 00:37:30.519
 in verse 30.

00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:31.659
 He says,

00:37:32.179 --> 00:37:34.179
 And do not grieve

00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:35.819
 the Holy Spirit

00:37:35.819 --> 00:37:36.440
 of God

00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:37.679
 by whom you were

00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:38.699
 sealed for the day

00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:39.539
 of redemption.

00:37:40.380 --> 00:37:41.619
 This is a staggering

00:37:41.619 --> 00:37:42.039
 statement

00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.799
 because he's saying

00:37:42.799 --> 00:37:44.339
 that by what we do,

00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:45.719
 by what we think,

00:37:45.759 --> 00:37:47.380
 and by what we say,

00:37:47.380 --> 00:37:48.760
 we can grieve

00:37:48.760 --> 00:37:50.099
 the Holy Spirit

00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:51.039
 of God himself.

00:37:52.539 --> 00:37:52.780
 See,

00:37:52.840 --> 00:37:53.740
 God is not

00:37:53.740 --> 00:37:55.500
 this disinterested

00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:56.599
 bystander,

00:37:56.680 --> 00:37:56.820
 right?

00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:58.260
 He is intimately

00:37:58.260 --> 00:37:58.940
 involved

00:37:58.940 --> 00:37:59.880
 in our community,

00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:00.599
 in our church,

00:38:00.660 --> 00:38:01.400
 in our lives,

00:38:01.400 --> 00:38:02.460
 and he is

00:38:02.460 --> 00:38:03.860
 invested in us

00:38:03.860 --> 00:38:05.720
 so much

00:38:05.719 --> 00:38:06.939
 so that it grieves

00:38:06.939 --> 00:38:07.219
 him,

00:38:07.279 --> 00:38:08.399
 it saddens him

00:38:08.399 --> 00:38:11.139
 to see us

00:38:11.139 --> 00:38:12.480
 living in the manner

00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.379
 of this old man.

00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:16.799
 This statement

00:38:16.799 --> 00:38:17.339
 also proves

00:38:17.339 --> 00:38:18.039
 that the Holy Spirit

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.619
 is a person,

00:38:18.739 --> 00:38:19.019
 isn't he?

00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:21.079
 He's able to grieve.

00:38:21.619 --> 00:38:22.279
 He's not this

00:38:22.279 --> 00:38:23.659
 impersonal force,

00:38:24.219 --> 00:38:24.459
 right?

00:38:25.480 --> 00:38:27.439
 But it's interesting

00:38:27.439 --> 00:38:28.239
 to note at this point,

00:38:28.299 --> 00:38:29.000
 we just preached

00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:30.019
 on Psalm 51

00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:31.399
 on our Friday service.

00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:31.839
 We go through

00:38:31.839 --> 00:38:32.279
 the Psalms

00:38:32.279 --> 00:38:33.099
 during our corporate

00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:33.639
 prayer services

00:38:33.639 --> 00:38:34.179
 on Fridays.

00:38:34.179 --> 00:38:35.500
 And there,

00:38:35.659 --> 00:38:35.899
 actually,

00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:37.259
 David is at one point,

00:38:37.339 --> 00:38:38.440
 this is after he commits

00:38:38.440 --> 00:38:39.799
 adultery with Bathsheba

00:38:39.799 --> 00:38:40.879
 and is confronted

00:38:40.879 --> 00:38:42.079
 by, you know,

00:38:42.279 --> 00:38:43.739
 prophet Nathan.

00:38:43.899 --> 00:38:44.739
 And so now he's

00:38:44.739 --> 00:38:46.179
 kind of really remorseful

00:38:46.179 --> 00:38:47.019
 and he says this

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:47.639
 in verse 11,

00:38:47.819 --> 00:38:49.059
 cast me not away

00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:49.919
 from your presence

00:38:49.919 --> 00:38:51.199
 and take not

00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:52.559
 your Holy Spirit

00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:53.199
 from me.

00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:55.079
 It's so desperate,

00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:55.699
 right?

00:38:55.779 --> 00:38:56.059
 He's like,

00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:57.099
 please don't take

00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:57.619
 the Holy Spirit

00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.000
 from me.

00:38:58.399 --> 00:38:59.480
 But notice what

00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:00.599
 Paul doesn't say here.

00:39:01.179 --> 00:39:02.139
 He doesn't say,

00:39:02.319 --> 00:39:03.779
 if you don't do this

00:39:03.780 --> 00:39:04.740
 and if you don't

00:39:04.740 --> 00:39:05.640
 put off these things

00:39:05.640 --> 00:39:06.720
 and put on these things

00:39:06.720 --> 00:39:07.900
 that the Holy Spirit

00:39:07.900 --> 00:39:08.880
 is leaving you,

00:39:09.540 --> 00:39:09.740
 right?

00:39:10.180 --> 00:39:10.540
 Instead,

00:39:10.660 --> 00:39:11.920
 he reassures them

00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:12.840
 that the Holy Spirit

00:39:12.840 --> 00:39:13.480
 is with them.

00:39:13.560 --> 00:39:14.160
 Look at what he says.

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:15.420
 You were sealed

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:17.380
 for the day of redemption.

00:39:17.580 --> 00:39:17.980
 He told us

00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:18.600
 earlier in Ephesians

00:39:18.600 --> 00:39:19.740
 that it's the Holy Spirit

00:39:19.740 --> 00:39:20.580
 that sealed us.

00:39:20.820 --> 00:39:21.920
 He is the seal,

00:39:22.200 --> 00:39:22.900
 the guarantee

00:39:22.900 --> 00:39:24.280
 that we would have

00:39:24.280 --> 00:39:25.320
 our heavenly inheritance

00:39:25.320 --> 00:39:26.400
 and our ultimate salvation.

00:39:27.100 --> 00:39:27.640
 So what he's saying

00:39:27.640 --> 00:39:27.820
 is that,

00:39:27.820 --> 00:39:28.160
 you know what?

00:39:28.260 --> 00:39:29.240
 The Holy Spirit

00:39:29.240 --> 00:39:30.260
 is committed to you.

00:39:30.519 --> 00:39:32.019
 He's always by your side.

00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:33.019
 He's sticking to you,

00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:33.619
 with you,

00:39:33.739 --> 00:39:34.639
 through thick and thin.

00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:36.840
 He's not going to leave you,

00:39:36.980 --> 00:39:38.360
 but you can grieve him.

00:39:39.119 --> 00:39:40.460
 Don't grieve the Holy Spirit.

00:39:44.599 --> 00:39:45.820
 Then in verse 31,

00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:47.639
 he offers his last exhortation

00:39:47.639 --> 00:39:48.699
 to put off the old self

00:39:48.699 --> 00:39:49.159
 and put on them.

00:39:49.219 --> 00:39:50.280
 You let all bitterness

00:39:50.280 --> 00:39:51.599
 and wrath and anger

00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:52.679
 and clamor and slender

00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:54.420
 be put away from you

00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:55.860
 along with all malice.

00:39:55.860 --> 00:39:57.460
 And the positive counterpart

00:39:57.460 --> 00:39:57.920
 to that,

00:39:58.239 --> 00:39:58.900
 to put on,

00:39:58.980 --> 00:39:59.699
 is verse 32.

00:40:00.099 --> 00:40:01.519
 Be kind to one another.

00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:02.840
 Tender-hearted,

00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:04.500
 forgiving one another

00:40:04.500 --> 00:40:06.440
 as God in Christ

00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:08.019
 forgave you.

00:40:09.179 --> 00:40:10.420
 Put off bitterness

00:40:10.420 --> 00:40:11.239
 and resentment

00:40:11.239 --> 00:40:12.300
 toward one another.

00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:12.940
 Instead,

00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:14.239
 put on kindness

00:40:14.239 --> 00:40:14.900
 to one another.

00:40:15.280 --> 00:40:16.360
 Put off wrath

00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:16.900
 and anger

00:40:16.900 --> 00:40:17.539
 and clamor

00:40:17.539 --> 00:40:18.179
 toward one another.

00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:18.639
 Instead,

00:40:18.759 --> 00:40:20.219
 put on tender-heartedness.

00:40:20.639 --> 00:40:22.380
 Put off slander

00:40:22.380 --> 00:40:23.099
 of one another

00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:24.920
 and put on forgiveness

00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:26.199
 of one another.

00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:27.460
 And notice how

00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:28.699
 all of these virtues

00:40:28.699 --> 00:40:29.619
 that Paul commends

00:40:29.619 --> 00:40:31.059
 are social virtues.

00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:32.079
 Right?

00:40:32.539 --> 00:40:33.480
 We often think

00:40:33.480 --> 00:40:34.320
 of Christian maturity

00:40:34.320 --> 00:40:36.039
 in such individualistic context.

00:40:36.179 --> 00:40:36.519
 Oh, like,

00:40:36.659 --> 00:40:37.559
 how diligent have I,

00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:38.079
 right,

00:40:38.159 --> 00:40:39.579
 been in serving God?

00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:40.619
 Right?

00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:41.239
 And I'm prone

00:40:41.239 --> 00:40:41.880
 to this as well.

00:40:41.960 --> 00:40:42.099
 Like,

00:40:42.139 --> 00:40:43.259
 how diligent have I been

00:40:43.259 --> 00:40:44.259
 in my devotions?

00:40:44.739 --> 00:40:45.500
 And we think

00:40:45.500 --> 00:40:46.599
 that's a sign of maturity.

00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:47.559
 But for Paul,

00:40:47.739 --> 00:40:48.940
 he can't separate

00:40:48.940 --> 00:40:49.739
 Christian maturity

00:40:49.739 --> 00:40:51.099
 from the corporate context

00:40:51.099 --> 00:40:51.780
 of the church.

00:40:53.059 --> 00:40:54.179
 Because Christian maturity

00:40:54.179 --> 00:40:55.079
 happens when we're

00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:56.320
 ministering to one another

00:40:56.320 --> 00:40:58.219
 and growing together

00:40:58.219 --> 00:40:59.259
 as the body of Christ.

00:40:59.260 --> 00:41:00.720
 that's Christian maturity.

00:41:01.120 --> 00:41:02.040
 That's why all the virtues

00:41:02.040 --> 00:41:02.840
 he enjoins here

00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:04.420
 is social virtues.

00:41:09.720 --> 00:41:11.080
 Because we're members

00:41:11.080 --> 00:41:12.620
 one of another.

00:41:13.720 --> 00:41:14.200
 And then,

00:41:14.320 --> 00:41:16.260
 in case he left off anything,

00:41:16.980 --> 00:41:18.920
 he adds malice,

00:41:19.180 --> 00:41:21.380
 along with all malice.

00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:22.140
 The word malice

00:41:22.140 --> 00:41:23.180
 is kind of the generic

00:41:23.180 --> 00:41:24.900
 Greek word for evil.

00:41:25.340 --> 00:41:25.540
 Right?

00:41:25.539 --> 00:41:26.480
 It's the word that is used

00:41:26.480 --> 00:41:28.119
 to describe good and evil.

00:41:28.199 --> 00:41:29.559
 So he's saying anything evil,

00:41:29.719 --> 00:41:30.480
 anything bad,

00:41:30.719 --> 00:41:31.380
 make sure you don't do

00:41:31.380 --> 00:41:33.059
 any of those things.

00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:34.159
 And that contrast

00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:35.199
 with Paul's repeated

00:41:35.199 --> 00:41:36.440
 use of the word good.

00:41:36.699 --> 00:41:37.559
 He used the word good

00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:38.559
 twice in this passage.

00:41:39.019 --> 00:41:39.980
 He said in verse 28,

00:41:40.099 --> 00:41:41.400
 let the thief no longer steal,

00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:42.759
 but rather let him labor,

00:41:42.880 --> 00:41:44.059
 doing honest work

00:41:44.059 --> 00:41:44.820
 with his own hands.

00:41:44.920 --> 00:41:45.960
 The honest is a translation

00:41:45.960 --> 00:41:46.519
 of the word,

00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:48.099
 generic word for good.

00:41:48.599 --> 00:41:49.300
 Same thing again,

00:41:49.380 --> 00:41:49.880
 verse 29,

00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:51.099
 let no corrupting talk

00:41:51.099 --> 00:41:51.800
 come out of your mouth,

00:41:51.800 --> 00:41:53.840
 but only such as is good

00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:54.700
 for building up.

00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:56.260
 So by drawing this contrast

00:41:56.260 --> 00:41:58.340
 from malice or evil things

00:41:58.340 --> 00:41:59.420
 with the good things

00:41:59.420 --> 00:42:00.340
 that he is enjoining,

00:42:00.640 --> 00:42:01.940
 he's basically telling us

00:42:01.940 --> 00:42:03.980
 to walk the good works

00:42:03.980 --> 00:42:05.280
 that God prepared for us to do

00:42:05.280 --> 00:42:05.860
 that he mentioned

00:42:05.860 --> 00:42:06.780
 in chapter 2,

00:42:06.900 --> 00:42:08.079
 verse 10.

00:42:08.320 --> 00:42:09.880
 And we can't just do one

00:42:09.880 --> 00:42:10.660
 and not the other.

00:42:10.740 --> 00:42:12.500
 We have to put off evil

00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:13.940
 and put on the good,

00:42:14.160 --> 00:42:15.140
 put off the vice

00:42:15.140 --> 00:42:16.760
 and put on the virtue.

00:42:16.960 --> 00:42:18.079
 And this is for us

00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:19.880
 a daily and hourly

00:42:19.880 --> 00:42:22.100
 and moment by moment activity.

00:42:22.099 --> 00:42:25.440
 It takes intentionality.

00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:26.500
 We have to take

00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:27.599
 every thought captive

00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:29.440
 to obey Christ.

00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:32.199
 We need to guard our hearts

00:42:32.199 --> 00:42:33.559
 with all vigilance

00:42:33.559 --> 00:42:34.819
 for from it flows

00:42:34.819 --> 00:42:36.079
 the spring of life.

00:42:37.059 --> 00:42:38.299
 This is something

00:42:38.299 --> 00:42:39.360
 we have to be vigilant

00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:40.339
 about to do every day.

00:42:40.440 --> 00:42:40.579
 I mean,

00:42:40.619 --> 00:42:42.259
 especially as the winter months

00:42:42.259 --> 00:42:42.799
 are approaching,

00:42:43.059 --> 00:42:45.099
 we had daylight savings,

00:42:45.239 --> 00:42:45.380
 right?

00:42:45.420 --> 00:42:46.119
 In New England,

00:42:46.219 --> 00:42:47.000
 you have to wear,

00:42:47.239 --> 00:42:47.519
 right?

00:42:48.079 --> 00:42:49.420
 So that means a lot

00:42:49.420 --> 00:42:49.980
 of putting on

00:42:49.980 --> 00:42:50.619
 and putting off,

00:42:50.719 --> 00:42:50.900
 right?

00:42:50.900 --> 00:42:52.099
 It's just put on

00:42:52.099 --> 00:42:52.639
 a lot of layers

00:42:52.639 --> 00:42:53.400
 and when you get inside

00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:53.980
 to a warm place,

00:42:54.099 --> 00:42:54.599
 take it off,

00:42:54.660 --> 00:42:55.039
 put it off,

00:42:55.139 --> 00:42:55.300
 right?

00:42:56.180 --> 00:42:57.260
 More often than that,

00:42:57.340 --> 00:42:58.240
 more frequently than that,

00:42:58.240 --> 00:42:59.119
 are we intentionally

00:42:59.119 --> 00:42:59.900
 thinking about

00:42:59.900 --> 00:43:01.260
 what we're putting off

00:43:01.260 --> 00:43:02.099
 and what we're putting on?

00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:05.820
 If you have a vice,

00:43:05.880 --> 00:43:07.000
 a sin that you're dealing with,

00:43:07.059 --> 00:43:07.960
 think about the counterpart.

00:43:08.119 --> 00:43:08.680
 What is it

00:43:08.680 --> 00:43:09.460
 that you can put on

00:43:09.460 --> 00:43:10.680
 that you can pursue

00:43:10.680 --> 00:43:12.780
 full steam?

00:43:15.400 --> 00:43:16.380
 But all of this,

00:43:16.380 --> 00:43:16.720
 of course,

00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:18.420
 is easier said than done,

00:43:18.700 --> 00:43:18.900
 right?

00:43:18.900 --> 00:43:20.700
 In fact,

00:43:21.160 --> 00:43:22.460
 it's idealistic

00:43:22.460 --> 00:43:24.139
 and impossible

00:43:24.139 --> 00:43:25.320
 to implement

00:43:25.320 --> 00:43:26.740
 unless

00:43:26.740 --> 00:43:28.660
 God

00:43:28.660 --> 00:43:30.320
 renews us

00:43:30.320 --> 00:43:32.180
 and recreates us

00:43:32.180 --> 00:43:33.160
 through our union

00:43:33.160 --> 00:43:33.920
 with Christ

00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:34.639
 in his death

00:43:34.639 --> 00:43:35.579
 and resurrection.

00:43:35.820 --> 00:43:36.340
 And that brings

00:43:36.340 --> 00:43:37.260
 the final point,

00:43:37.400 --> 00:43:38.119
 the God-man.

00:43:39.320 --> 00:43:40.079
 This is really

00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:40.519
 the heart

00:43:40.519 --> 00:43:41.240
 of what Paul means

00:43:41.240 --> 00:43:41.780
 when he tells us

00:43:41.780 --> 00:43:42.980
 to put off the old self

00:43:42.980 --> 00:43:43.900
 and put on

00:43:43.900 --> 00:43:44.980
 the new self.

00:43:45.420 --> 00:43:45.559
 I mean,

00:43:45.599 --> 00:43:46.200
 there's so many

00:43:46.200 --> 00:43:47.340
 inspirational self-help

00:43:47.340 --> 00:43:48.340
 books nowadays

00:43:48.340 --> 00:43:49.019
 that promise

00:43:49.019 --> 00:43:49.940
 newness,

00:43:50.079 --> 00:43:50.260
 right?

00:43:50.280 --> 00:43:50.900
 I'm sure you've seen

00:43:50.900 --> 00:43:51.600
 some of these titles.

00:43:52.340 --> 00:43:53.120
 Some of them include

00:43:53.120 --> 00:43:54.000
 The New You,

00:43:54.500 --> 00:43:55.720
 A Fresh Start,

00:43:56.180 --> 00:43:56.980
 Brand New You,

00:43:57.480 --> 00:43:57.620
 Oh,

00:43:57.680 --> 00:43:58.840
 The Whole New You,

00:43:59.180 --> 00:43:59.440
 right?

00:44:00.039 --> 00:44:01.380
 These books are promising

00:44:01.380 --> 00:44:02.360
 this new mindset,

00:44:02.600 --> 00:44:02.720
 right?

00:44:03.100 --> 00:44:04.160
 A habit that will

00:44:04.160 --> 00:44:05.079
 change your life.

00:44:05.360 --> 00:44:06.220
 But that's not

00:44:06.220 --> 00:44:07.300
 what Paul is talking about.

00:44:07.360 --> 00:44:08.340
 He's speaking of something

00:44:08.340 --> 00:44:09.820
 far more substantive

00:44:09.820 --> 00:44:11.240
 and significant

00:44:11.240 --> 00:44:11.940
 than that.

00:44:12.240 --> 00:44:13.140
 The old self

00:44:13.140 --> 00:44:13.940
 is not merely

00:44:13.940 --> 00:44:14.380
 a reference

00:44:14.380 --> 00:44:15.500
 to an old lifestyle

00:44:15.500 --> 00:44:16.320
 or a mindset,

00:44:16.679 --> 00:44:17.699
 but it's a reference

00:44:17.699 --> 00:44:19.400
 to our human solidarity

00:44:19.400 --> 00:44:20.500
 with Adam

00:44:20.500 --> 00:44:21.820
 in his original sin,

00:44:22.480 --> 00:44:22.619
 right?

00:44:22.900 --> 00:44:24.420
 Romans 5 to 12 to 29,

00:44:24.659 --> 00:44:25.639
 I'm not going to read

00:44:25.639 --> 00:44:26.059
 the whole thing,

00:44:26.099 --> 00:44:26.380
 but it says,

00:44:26.500 --> 00:44:26.739
 Therefore,

00:44:27.219 --> 00:44:28.320
 just as sin came

00:44:28.320 --> 00:44:28.920
 into the world

00:44:28.920 --> 00:44:30.000
 through one man

00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:30.920
 and death

00:44:30.920 --> 00:44:31.800
 through sin,

00:44:32.119 --> 00:44:32.820
 and so death

00:44:32.820 --> 00:44:34.039
 spread to all men

00:44:34.039 --> 00:44:35.280
 because all sinned,

00:44:35.460 --> 00:44:36.840
 for Adam was a type

00:44:36.840 --> 00:44:37.420
 of the one

00:44:37.420 --> 00:44:38.099
 who was to come.

00:44:38.739 --> 00:44:39.760
 But the free gift

00:44:39.760 --> 00:44:40.639
 is not like

00:44:40.639 --> 00:44:41.360
 the trespass,

00:44:41.500 --> 00:44:42.699
 for if many die

00:44:42.699 --> 00:44:43.739
 through one man's

00:44:43.739 --> 00:44:44.280
 trespass,

00:44:44.280 --> 00:44:45.180
 much more

00:44:45.180 --> 00:44:46.040
 have the grace

00:44:46.040 --> 00:44:46.580
 of God

00:44:46.580 --> 00:44:47.780
 and the free gift

00:44:47.780 --> 00:44:48.640
 by the grace

00:44:48.640 --> 00:44:50.060
 that one man,

00:44:50.160 --> 00:44:50.900
 Jesus Christ,

00:44:51.120 --> 00:44:52.280
 abounded for many.

00:44:53.040 --> 00:44:54.060
 For as by the one

00:44:54.060 --> 00:44:55.000
 man's disobedience

00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:55.720
 the many were made

00:44:55.720 --> 00:44:56.000
 sinners,

00:44:56.280 --> 00:44:56.960
 so by the one

00:44:56.960 --> 00:44:57.780
 man's obedience

00:44:57.780 --> 00:44:58.980
 the many will be

00:44:58.980 --> 00:45:00.240
 made righteous.

00:45:02.060 --> 00:45:03.280
 That's the man.

00:45:03.620 --> 00:45:04.360
 It's Adam

00:45:04.360 --> 00:45:05.060
 that we are all

00:45:05.060 --> 00:45:05.660
 a part of,

00:45:05.880 --> 00:45:06.720
 and the new man

00:45:06.720 --> 00:45:07.720
 is Jesus Christ

00:45:07.720 --> 00:45:08.380
 with whom

00:45:08.380 --> 00:45:09.920
 we are now united.

00:45:11.060 --> 00:45:11.960
 Like this,

00:45:12.019 --> 00:45:12.140
 I mean,

00:45:12.180 --> 00:45:12.700
 you guys know

00:45:12.699 --> 00:45:13.000
 about,

00:45:13.899 --> 00:45:14.699
 you guys all

00:45:14.699 --> 00:45:15.099
 have heard

00:45:15.099 --> 00:45:15.500
 the story

00:45:15.500 --> 00:45:15.819
 of David

00:45:15.819 --> 00:45:16.359
 and Goliath,

00:45:16.679 --> 00:45:16.939
 maybe,

00:45:17.119 --> 00:45:17.299
 right?

00:45:17.480 --> 00:45:18.799
 And they're in battle

00:45:18.799 --> 00:45:19.419
 and sometimes

00:45:19.419 --> 00:45:20.399
 to spare the lives

00:45:20.399 --> 00:45:21.299
 of all the soldiers,

00:45:21.739 --> 00:45:23.139
 they elect a champion

00:45:23.139 --> 00:45:24.639
 to represent the army,

00:45:24.819 --> 00:45:25.000
 right?

00:45:25.539 --> 00:45:27.199
 And so get the best

00:45:27.199 --> 00:45:28.159
 fighter from your camp,

00:45:28.399 --> 00:45:28.960
 have them fight

00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:29.579
 the best fighter

00:45:29.579 --> 00:45:30.259
 from our camp,

00:45:30.599 --> 00:45:31.899
 and whoever wins,

00:45:32.099 --> 00:45:33.319
 their whole side wins,

00:45:33.739 --> 00:45:34.079
 right?

00:45:34.199 --> 00:45:35.139
 And the rest of you

00:45:35.139 --> 00:45:35.939
 will be our slaves,

00:45:36.079 --> 00:45:36.239
 right?

00:45:36.239 --> 00:45:36.960
 That's the idea,

00:45:37.139 --> 00:45:37.319
 right?

00:45:37.320 --> 00:45:38.760
 So David and Goliath,

00:45:38.880 --> 00:45:39.160
 right there,

00:45:39.180 --> 00:45:40.100
 is an example of that.

00:45:40.420 --> 00:45:40.559
 See,

00:45:40.700 --> 00:45:42.760
 Adam was our head.

00:45:43.120 --> 00:45:44.240
 He was our representative.

00:45:44.820 --> 00:45:45.960
 He was our champion.

00:45:46.820 --> 00:45:47.740
 He lost.

00:45:48.420 --> 00:45:49.280
 He failed.

00:45:49.940 --> 00:45:51.080
 And because of him,

00:45:51.220 --> 00:45:51.980
 all of us

00:45:51.980 --> 00:45:52.740
 were conquered,

00:45:53.180 --> 00:45:53.940
 enslaved,

00:45:54.600 --> 00:45:55.780
 enslaved to sin

00:45:55.780 --> 00:45:56.620
 and death.

00:45:57.039 --> 00:45:58.400
 Nothing we could do

00:45:58.400 --> 00:45:58.940
 about it.

00:45:59.600 --> 00:46:00.280
 We're hopeless.

00:46:01.140 --> 00:46:02.620
 And then comes Jesus.

00:46:04.120 --> 00:46:04.500
 He says,

00:46:04.600 --> 00:46:05.900
 he is the new man

00:46:05.900 --> 00:46:07.420
 that Adam was pointing to.

00:46:07.920 --> 00:46:09.300
 That he is our new champion.

00:46:09.940 --> 00:46:10.980
 He fights

00:46:10.980 --> 00:46:12.840
 and he wins.

00:46:13.360 --> 00:46:14.340
 And because of him,

00:46:14.460 --> 00:46:15.240
 all of us

00:46:15.240 --> 00:46:16.080
 are victorious.

00:46:16.440 --> 00:46:17.480
 That's the reality

00:46:17.480 --> 00:46:18.680
 that Paul's speaking of.

00:46:18.860 --> 00:46:20.100
 That's the old man.

00:46:20.220 --> 00:46:20.440
 No,

00:46:20.519 --> 00:46:21.340
 you are not part

00:46:21.340 --> 00:46:22.320
 of that old man anymore.

00:46:22.680 --> 00:46:24.240
 Don't live in the life of sin

00:46:24.240 --> 00:46:25.900
 that you were once enslaved to.

00:46:25.940 --> 00:46:26.920
 Don't live a life

00:46:26.920 --> 00:46:28.519
 that smells of death.

00:46:29.120 --> 00:46:29.900
 Live now

00:46:29.900 --> 00:46:31.360
 in the newness of life

00:46:31.360 --> 00:46:32.280
 because you have been united

00:46:32.280 --> 00:46:34.119
 with the Lord Jesus Christ

00:46:34.119 --> 00:46:34.940
 who is victorious.

00:46:35.820 --> 00:46:36.440
 Isn't that amazing?

00:46:36.900 --> 00:46:37.740
 That's the gospel

00:46:37.740 --> 00:46:39.139
 of Jesus Christ.

00:46:40.500 --> 00:46:41.599
 And because

00:46:41.599 --> 00:46:42.860
 of that once

00:46:42.860 --> 00:46:44.240
 and for all reality

00:46:44.240 --> 00:46:44.880
 of what Christ

00:46:44.880 --> 00:46:46.139
 has accomplished for us,

00:46:46.240 --> 00:46:47.539
 that is precisely

00:46:47.539 --> 00:46:48.500
 what enables

00:46:48.500 --> 00:46:50.119
 and enjoins

00:46:50.119 --> 00:46:51.780
 our daily putting off

00:46:51.780 --> 00:46:52.900
 and putting on.

00:46:53.220 --> 00:46:54.360
 We can't put off

00:46:54.360 --> 00:46:55.220
 and sin

00:46:55.220 --> 00:46:55.820
 and put on

00:46:55.820 --> 00:46:57.059
 holiness

00:46:57.059 --> 00:46:58.880
 apart from

00:46:58.880 --> 00:46:59.860
 that once

00:46:59.860 --> 00:47:00.380
 and for all

00:47:00.380 --> 00:47:00.960
 putting off

00:47:00.960 --> 00:47:01.680
 of the old man

00:47:01.680 --> 00:47:02.380
 and putting on

00:47:02.380 --> 00:47:02.920
 of the new man

00:47:02.920 --> 00:47:03.940
 in Jesus Christ.

00:47:05.599 --> 00:47:06.920
 To try to put on

00:47:06.920 --> 00:47:07.840
 good days

00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:08.559
 and good works

00:47:08.559 --> 00:47:09.420
 apart from

00:47:09.420 --> 00:47:10.900
 that renewing work

00:47:10.900 --> 00:47:12.220
 and recreating work

00:47:12.220 --> 00:47:12.519
 of God

00:47:12.519 --> 00:47:13.260
 in Jesus Christ,

00:47:13.260 --> 00:47:14.440
 it would be like

00:47:14.440 --> 00:47:15.740
 putting on new clothes

00:47:15.740 --> 00:47:16.619
 even though you're still

00:47:16.619 --> 00:47:17.960
 stinky and soiled

00:47:17.960 --> 00:47:18.559
 and smelly,

00:47:18.619 --> 00:47:18.780
 right?

00:47:18.780 --> 00:47:21.660
 it's pointless.

00:47:24.300 --> 00:47:24.780
 Soon,

00:47:25.540 --> 00:47:26.060
 your clothes

00:47:26.060 --> 00:47:26.860
 will be soiled,

00:47:26.980 --> 00:47:27.560
 the new clothes

00:47:27.560 --> 00:47:28.000
 will be soiled

00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:28.880
 just like your body.

00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:29.640
 It will reflect

00:47:29.640 --> 00:47:30.800
 your squalor,

00:47:31.420 --> 00:47:32.280
 our sin,

00:47:32.480 --> 00:47:33.240
 our filth.

00:47:34.340 --> 00:47:35.140
 We need

00:47:35.140 --> 00:47:36.280
 the renewing,

00:47:36.960 --> 00:47:37.620
 creating work

00:47:37.620 --> 00:47:38.260
 of Jesus.

00:47:41.280 --> 00:47:42.160
 And notice

00:47:42.160 --> 00:47:42.980
 how he says that.

00:47:43.200 --> 00:47:44.060
 He kind of

00:47:44.060 --> 00:47:44.820
 talks about

00:47:44.820 --> 00:47:45.660
 our responsibility

00:47:45.659 --> 00:47:46.239
 and then he

00:47:46.239 --> 00:47:46.859
 follows that

00:47:46.859 --> 00:47:47.579
 with God's

00:47:47.579 --> 00:47:48.039
 action

00:47:48.039 --> 00:47:48.679
 in verses

00:47:48.679 --> 00:47:49.679
 23 to 24.

00:47:49.920 --> 00:47:50.879
 He tells us

00:47:50.879 --> 00:47:51.599
 to put off

00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:52.179
 your old self

00:47:52.179 --> 00:47:52.859
 in verse 22.

00:47:53.039 --> 00:47:53.359
 That's something

00:47:53.359 --> 00:47:54.199
 we have to do.

00:47:54.440 --> 00:47:55.059
 But then he tells

00:47:55.059 --> 00:47:55.879
 in verse 23

00:47:55.879 --> 00:47:56.739
 we have to be

00:47:56.739 --> 00:47:57.559
 renewed in the

00:47:57.559 --> 00:47:58.359
 spirit of your minds.

00:47:58.619 --> 00:47:59.519
 It's a passive verb.

00:47:59.619 --> 00:48:00.539
 It's what God does.

00:48:00.599 --> 00:48:01.599
 He renews us.

00:48:02.259 --> 00:48:03.119
 In verse 14,

00:48:03.199 --> 00:48:03.619
 he tells us

00:48:03.619 --> 00:48:04.339
 to put on

00:48:04.339 --> 00:48:04.940
 the new self.

00:48:05.000 --> 00:48:05.299
 That's something

00:48:05.299 --> 00:48:06.259
 we have to do.

00:48:06.579 --> 00:48:07.299
 And then he continues

00:48:07.299 --> 00:48:08.099
 putting on

00:48:08.099 --> 00:48:08.559
 the new self

00:48:08.559 --> 00:48:09.319
 involves being

00:48:09.319 --> 00:48:10.059
 created

00:48:10.059 --> 00:48:11.319
 after the likeness.

00:48:11.739 --> 00:48:12.139
 It's again

00:48:12.139 --> 00:48:13.119
 a passive verb.

00:48:13.299 --> 00:48:14.440
 That's what God does.

00:48:14.440 --> 00:48:15.240
 It's because

00:48:15.240 --> 00:48:16.260
 we have been renewed

00:48:16.260 --> 00:48:17.139
 and because we have

00:48:17.139 --> 00:48:17.920
 been recreated

00:48:17.920 --> 00:48:18.700
 that we can

00:48:18.700 --> 00:48:20.240
 put on.

00:48:20.440 --> 00:48:21.260
 It's because of

00:48:21.260 --> 00:48:22.240
 what Jesus has done

00:48:22.240 --> 00:48:23.039
 we can live

00:48:23.039 --> 00:48:23.599
 in keeping

00:48:23.599 --> 00:48:24.360
 with our new

00:48:24.360 --> 00:48:25.260
 identity.

00:48:25.920 --> 00:48:26.440
 And that's why

00:48:26.440 --> 00:48:26.980
 at the heart

00:48:26.980 --> 00:48:27.820
 of this passage

00:48:27.820 --> 00:48:28.900
 Paul continues

00:48:28.900 --> 00:48:29.500
 to bring people

00:48:29.500 --> 00:48:30.019
 back to that

00:48:30.019 --> 00:48:30.659
 reality of union

00:48:30.659 --> 00:48:31.179
 with Christ.

00:48:31.539 --> 00:48:32.059
 Verse 20,

00:48:32.320 --> 00:48:33.280
 but that is not

00:48:33.280 --> 00:48:33.960
 the way you

00:48:33.960 --> 00:48:35.019
 learned Christ.

00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:37.400
 This is an

00:48:37.400 --> 00:48:38.460
 unprecedented use

00:48:38.460 --> 00:48:39.000
 of the word

00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:39.980
 learn here.

00:48:40.200 --> 00:48:41.280
 Usually you learn

00:48:41.280 --> 00:48:42.139
 a content.

00:48:42.659 --> 00:48:43.920
 You learn the law.

00:48:43.920 --> 00:48:45.119
 You learn the statutes.

00:48:45.360 --> 00:48:46.079
 You don't learn

00:48:46.079 --> 00:48:46.880
 a person.

00:48:47.680 --> 00:48:48.700
 But that's exactly

00:48:48.700 --> 00:48:49.440
 what Paul says.

00:48:49.559 --> 00:48:50.320
 You learned

00:48:50.320 --> 00:48:51.579
 Christ.

00:48:52.519 --> 00:48:53.220
 What he's saying

00:48:53.220 --> 00:48:54.119
 is you got to

00:48:54.119 --> 00:48:54.720
 know him.

00:48:55.340 --> 00:48:56.200
 You got to have

00:48:56.200 --> 00:48:56.760
 a relationship

00:48:56.760 --> 00:48:57.340
 with him.

00:48:57.760 --> 00:48:58.760
 You got to have

00:48:58.760 --> 00:48:59.579
 fellowship with him,

00:48:59.680 --> 00:49:00.579
 commune with him.

00:49:01.860 --> 00:49:02.639
 It has to be

00:49:02.639 --> 00:49:03.300
 understood in light

00:49:03.300 --> 00:49:05.340
 of what Paul says

00:49:05.340 --> 00:49:06.039
 in Colossians 2,

00:49:06.099 --> 00:49:06.480
 6, 7.

00:49:06.480 --> 00:49:06.719
 Therefore,

00:49:06.840 --> 00:49:07.639
 as you received

00:49:07.639 --> 00:49:08.360
 Christ Jesus

00:49:08.360 --> 00:49:08.820
 the Lord,

00:49:09.119 --> 00:49:10.059
 so walk in him,

00:49:10.480 --> 00:49:11.440
 rooted and built

00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:12.039
 up in him,

00:49:12.079 --> 00:49:12.619
 and established

00:49:12.619 --> 00:49:15.240
 as you were taught.

00:49:16.320 --> 00:49:17.980
 To learn Christ

00:49:17.980 --> 00:49:18.719
 is to welcome

00:49:18.719 --> 00:49:19.920
 him into your life

00:49:19.920 --> 00:49:21.679
 as a living person

00:49:21.679 --> 00:49:22.900
 and to daily,

00:49:23.480 --> 00:49:24.199
 moment by moment,

00:49:24.559 --> 00:49:25.599
 walk with him

00:49:25.599 --> 00:49:25.960
 and to be

00:49:25.960 --> 00:49:27.240
 increasingly defined

00:49:27.240 --> 00:49:28.199
 by and characterized

00:49:28.199 --> 00:49:29.940
 by who he is,

00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:30.579
 his thoughts,

00:49:31.000 --> 00:49:32.019
 his priorities,

00:49:32.320 --> 00:49:33.000
 his teachings.

00:49:33.000 --> 00:49:35.800
 That's why Paul

00:49:35.800 --> 00:49:36.840
 grounds his

00:49:36.840 --> 00:49:37.840
 final exhortations

00:49:37.840 --> 00:49:39.139
 in what Christ

00:49:39.139 --> 00:49:39.840
 has first done

00:49:39.840 --> 00:49:40.480
 for us in verse

00:49:40.480 --> 00:49:41.480
 32 and following.

00:49:41.820 --> 00:49:42.619
 He says,

00:49:42.840 --> 00:49:43.699
 Be kind to one

00:49:43.699 --> 00:49:44.039
 another,

00:49:44.599 --> 00:49:45.179
 tenderhearted,

00:49:45.320 --> 00:49:45.900
 forgiving one

00:49:45.900 --> 00:49:46.199
 another,

00:49:46.500 --> 00:49:48.420
 as God in Christ

00:49:48.420 --> 00:49:49.440
 forgave you.

00:49:51.119 --> 00:49:52.059
 Chapter 5,

00:49:52.099 --> 00:49:52.699
 verses 1 to 2,

00:49:52.780 --> 00:49:53.079
 Therefore,

00:49:53.340 --> 00:49:54.239
 be imitators

00:49:54.239 --> 00:49:54.880
 of God

00:49:54.880 --> 00:49:55.460
 as beloved

00:49:55.460 --> 00:49:55.880
 children

00:49:55.880 --> 00:49:56.760
 and walk in love

00:49:56.760 --> 00:49:58.099
 as Christ

00:49:58.099 --> 00:49:59.239
 loved us

00:49:59.239 --> 00:50:00.480
 and gave himself

00:50:00.480 --> 00:50:01.639
 up for us.

00:50:01.820 --> 00:50:02.420
 A fragrant

00:50:02.420 --> 00:50:02.900
 offering

00:50:02.900 --> 00:50:04.059
 and sacrifice

00:50:04.059 --> 00:50:05.360
 to God.

00:50:08.099 --> 00:50:08.920
 So we've come

00:50:08.920 --> 00:50:09.619
 full circle,

00:50:09.840 --> 00:50:09.960
 right?

00:50:10.019 --> 00:50:10.420
 We began

00:50:10.420 --> 00:50:11.099
 in chapter 4,

00:50:11.139 --> 00:50:11.539
 verse 1,

00:50:11.680 --> 00:50:12.380
 Walk in a manner

00:50:12.380 --> 00:50:13.180
 worthy of the calling

00:50:13.180 --> 00:50:13.680
 to which you have

00:50:13.680 --> 00:50:14.099
 been called.

00:50:14.360 --> 00:50:15.400
 And now in chapter 5,

00:50:15.440 --> 00:50:15.800
 verse 2,

00:50:15.880 --> 00:50:16.519
 this is a unit,

00:50:16.639 --> 00:50:17.160
 it's enclosed

00:50:17.160 --> 00:50:18.220
 together by this phrase,

00:50:18.579 --> 00:50:19.400
 Walk in love

00:50:19.400 --> 00:50:20.760
 as Christ loved us

00:50:20.760 --> 00:50:22.000
 and gave himself

00:50:22.000 --> 00:50:23.360
 up for us.

00:50:23.820 --> 00:50:24.559
 We become more

00:50:24.559 --> 00:50:25.300
 like Christ

00:50:25.300 --> 00:50:26.619
 by walking with him,

00:50:26.680 --> 00:50:27.599
 by living in the light

00:50:27.599 --> 00:50:28.400
 of his forgiveness

00:50:28.400 --> 00:50:29.200
 of our sins.

00:50:30.539 --> 00:50:31.200
 And that's really

00:50:31.200 --> 00:50:32.300
 the heart of discipleship,

00:50:32.300 --> 00:50:32.680
 isn't it?

00:50:33.000 --> 00:50:33.920
 It's imitation.

00:50:34.880 --> 00:50:35.800
 Sometimes we think

00:50:35.800 --> 00:50:36.440
 of discipleship

00:50:36.440 --> 00:50:37.200
 as something fancy

00:50:37.200 --> 00:50:37.940
 that only trained

00:50:37.940 --> 00:50:38.720
 ministers can do.

00:50:38.760 --> 00:50:39.240
 That's not true.

00:50:39.300 --> 00:50:39.800
 All of you guys

00:50:39.800 --> 00:50:40.340
 can do it.

00:50:40.900 --> 00:50:41.500
 It's about

00:50:41.500 --> 00:50:42.500
 more mature believer

00:50:42.500 --> 00:50:43.500
 walking with

00:50:43.500 --> 00:50:44.539
 a less mature believer

00:50:44.539 --> 00:50:45.460
 and saying

00:50:45.460 --> 00:50:46.340
 what Paul said,

00:50:46.640 --> 00:50:46.780
 hey,

00:50:46.900 --> 00:50:47.860
 imitate me

00:50:47.860 --> 00:50:49.140
 as I imitate Christ.

00:50:50.420 --> 00:50:51.360
 That's discipleship

00:50:51.360 --> 00:50:52.460
 because there are

00:50:52.460 --> 00:50:53.039
 things that have

00:50:53.039 --> 00:50:53.560
 to be taught,

00:50:53.700 --> 00:50:54.539
 but a lot of things

00:50:54.539 --> 00:50:55.340
 about the Christian life

00:50:55.340 --> 00:50:56.420
 has to be caught.

00:50:56.980 --> 00:50:57.920
 It has to be modeled.

00:51:03.140 --> 00:51:03.960
 And that's

00:51:03.960 --> 00:51:04.640
 what I want you

00:51:04.640 --> 00:51:05.300
 to walk away with

00:51:05.300 --> 00:51:05.820
 at the end of it

00:51:05.820 --> 00:51:06.880
 is that as we walk

00:51:06.880 --> 00:51:07.440
 with Christ

00:51:07.440 --> 00:51:09.200
 and learn about him,

00:51:09.300 --> 00:51:10.019
 learn him,

00:51:10.220 --> 00:51:11.160
 and internalize

00:51:11.160 --> 00:51:12.100
 his radical mercy

00:51:12.100 --> 00:51:12.920
 and grace,

00:51:13.140 --> 00:51:14.039
 that's when

00:51:14.039 --> 00:51:14.760
 his forgiveness

00:51:14.760 --> 00:51:15.860
 of our sins

00:51:15.860 --> 00:51:18.059
 releases the power

00:51:18.059 --> 00:51:18.800
 in our lives

00:51:18.800 --> 00:51:19.880
 to forgive one another.

00:51:19.880 --> 00:51:21.400
 It's when we walk

00:51:21.400 --> 00:51:21.860
 with Christ

00:51:21.860 --> 00:51:22.420
 and learn his

00:51:22.420 --> 00:51:23.280
 self-giving love

00:51:23.280 --> 00:51:24.019
 for us,

00:51:24.160 --> 00:51:24.960
 that's when the

00:51:24.960 --> 00:51:25.820
 fragrance of the

00:51:25.820 --> 00:51:26.579
 love of Christ

00:51:26.579 --> 00:51:27.599
 begins to emanate

00:51:27.599 --> 00:51:28.680
 from our own lives.

00:51:30.980 --> 00:51:32.000
 It's as we walk

00:51:32.000 --> 00:51:32.579
 with Christ

00:51:32.579 --> 00:51:33.700
 who is the truth

00:51:33.700 --> 00:51:34.619
 that we begin

00:51:34.619 --> 00:51:35.760
 to speak the truth

00:51:35.760 --> 00:51:36.700
 to one another.

00:51:37.720 --> 00:51:38.700
 It's when we walk

00:51:38.700 --> 00:51:39.360
 with Christ

00:51:39.360 --> 00:51:40.680
 and learn his

00:51:40.680 --> 00:51:41.240
 generosity

00:51:41.240 --> 00:51:43.300
 that we learn

00:51:43.300 --> 00:51:45.000
 to stop stealing

00:51:45.000 --> 00:51:46.480
 and to work hard

00:51:46.480 --> 00:51:47.160
 and share with

00:51:47.160 --> 00:51:47.599
 one another.

00:51:49.880 --> 00:51:53.059
 So let's live

00:51:53.059 --> 00:51:53.579
 in keeping

00:51:53.579 --> 00:51:54.280
 with our new

00:51:54.280 --> 00:51:55.059
 identity

00:51:55.059 --> 00:51:56.280
 in Christ.

00:51:56.660 --> 00:51:57.320
 Walk with Christ.