WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.940 I'm going to read the Bible. If you can turn to Colossians chapter 3. 00:00:04.280 --> 00:00:09.380 We're going to start at the beginning and go on to verse 17. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:16.780 If then you've been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is, 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:22.539 seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, 00:00:22.660 --> 00:00:29.160 not on things that are on earth, for you've died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.060 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 00:00:38.620 --> 00:00:41.659 Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you. 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:52.120 Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry. 00:00:52.379 --> 00:00:55.659 On account of these, the wrath of God is coming. 00:00:55.659 --> 00:01:05.780 In these, you too once walked when you were living in them, but now you must put them all away. 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:15.079 Anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:20.759 Do not lie to one another, seeing you've put off the old self with its practices, 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:27.760 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:37.380 Here, there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, side-in, slave, free, 00:01:38.060 --> 00:01:41.820 but Christ is all and in all. 00:01:41.819 --> 00:01:56.059 Put on, then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 00:01:56.759 --> 00:01:57.919 bearing with one another. 00:01:58.679 --> 00:02:02.299 And if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, 00:02:02.679 --> 00:02:06.759 as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:15.080 And above all of these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:22.819 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. 00:02:23.740 --> 00:02:24.540 And be thankful. 00:02:26.540 --> 00:02:33.740 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, 00:02:33.740 --> 00:02:40.560 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your heart to God. 00:02:41.700 --> 00:02:49.640 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:53.640 giving thanks to God the Father through him. 00:02:53.639 --> 00:03:04.639 Over six weeks now, we've been bouncing our series in Colossians against the cultural air we breathe. 00:03:05.539 --> 00:03:09.519 And we've sort of summed up the cultural air we breathe in the term, 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:14.259 therapeutic expressive individualism. 00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:22.099 It's a worthwhile term to remember because it's so pervasive in our society. 00:03:22.419 --> 00:03:27.759 And what it is really is it's the determination that people express today to be authentic people, 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:30.060 to be true to who they really are. 00:03:30.739 --> 00:03:33.299 And that is driven by a desire for happiness, 00:03:34.259 --> 00:03:40.099 which requires freedom to take the desires and feelings that are within me 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:46.379 and bring them to the surface and build my identity, my meaning and purpose from those feelings 00:03:46.379 --> 00:03:52.159 with nobody daring to challenge how I want to express that good life. 00:03:56.259 --> 00:04:02.120 One of the, perhaps the unintended consequences of that is that it has left people 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:06.539 with a very, very deep, profound sense of entitlement. 00:04:06.539 --> 00:04:12.859 And I don't know whether you observe that, but that's one of the things I feel myself bumping up against every day 00:04:12.859 --> 00:04:18.319 in society is this profound sense of entitlement that people are expressing. 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:27.219 An entitlement to do whatever they believe will deliver personal happiness and fulfillment, 00:04:27.819 --> 00:04:30.300 no matter the cost to those around them. 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:37.620 To be free from any demands, free from any demands and expectations of others. 00:04:37.620 --> 00:04:40.040 Don't you question me in the way I live. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:45.040 And free to develop their own lifestyle. 00:04:45.580 --> 00:04:49.319 The way I live is good, whatever that is. 00:04:51.540 --> 00:04:56.120 The sense of entitlement to resist all external authority. 00:04:56.120 --> 00:05:01.360 I think people mostly use their hands these days not to eat, 00:05:01.459 --> 00:05:05.100 but to give the bird to anybody who tries to exert authority over them. 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:17.579 Anything that challenges my self-approving, my self-governing right to this good and full life. 00:05:17.579 --> 00:05:22.539 And I think it's particularly ugly. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:27.279 Even though people think that that's freedom. 00:05:29.339 --> 00:05:32.860 Now against that, we've seen in Paul's letter to the Colossians, 00:05:33.479 --> 00:05:37.819 that true authentic living, being true to yourself as a person, 00:05:37.899 --> 00:05:42.419 and being a true person, true well-being, ultimate happiness, 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:45.959 true fulfillment, says Paul, lies in Jesus. 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:53.120 And there we have quite a sharp divide between the cultural air we breathe 00:05:53.120 --> 00:06:00.199 and what we read and understand, and I believe, are committed to in the scriptures. 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:05.560 But here's a bit of a problem that arises out of that, 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:08.779 because we can never be apart from our culture. 00:06:08.779 --> 00:06:17.459 And we'd be foolish in the extreme if we don't allow for the fact that we're constantly being tutored by our culture 00:06:17.459 --> 00:06:23.639 as we observe how people around us live their lives and what's important to them. 00:06:23.939 --> 00:06:28.359 And so almost inevitably, well actually inevitably, we will actually be part of our culture. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:34.419 We will take some of that therapeutic, expressive individualism into our own way of living. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:38.759 That's the power of culture. 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:50.339 The question then is, how much are we shaped by our culture, and how much are we shaped by the gospel? 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:59.199 How much do we still look for fullness in this therapeutic, expressive individualism, 00:06:59.259 --> 00:07:00.319 this sense of entitlement? 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:06.079 And how much do we see and find fullness and rest in that in Christ? 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:12.659 Now, we need to be really careful not to reach for an easy answer here. 00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:17.939 And if you've got my sermon script and a number you get each week, there's an important not in there. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:21.100 We must not reach for a simple answer. 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:29.120 We must not think for a moment that we're immune to therapeutic, expressive individualism. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:34.660 We must not think for a moment that we automatically find our fullness in Christ. 00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:46.459 As I say, there'll be some degree of our cultural air shaping how we think and act, 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:52.920 both as individual Christians and, I would argue, as a community here together, a church family. 00:07:52.920 --> 00:08:01.340 And the big question then is not if that's happening, but to recognize when it happens and how it happens, 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:08.240 so we might have a chance to resist it as we push back into the gospel and fullness in Christ. 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:13.960 For example, and see what you would do with these examples. 00:08:15.660 --> 00:08:22.519 Are the examples of therapeutic, expressive individualism in our church family or in our own personal thinking? 00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:24.259 So here we go, three or four examples. 00:08:25.139 --> 00:08:30.180 Do you think that your life in Christ is a private, individual matter? 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:34.080 And that you should be left alone in that space? 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:42.220 Do you think that your personal expression of faith is what matters, 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:47.419 while engaging in a church family community like this is perhaps an optional extra? 00:08:47.419 --> 00:08:59.079 Is church something you do, providing it delivers what you want? 00:09:00.219 --> 00:09:02.719 So if it makes you feel happy, then I'm happy to be in it. 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:05.459 If I'm not too tired, I'm happy to be in it. 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:09.019 If it doesn't demand anything significant of me, then I'll be in it. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:16.500 Or is church something you are by virtue of being a Christian? 00:09:17.419 --> 00:09:26.439 And when you come to church, do you engage in worship because it makes you feel good? 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:31.179 Because you think that perhaps through doing that, then you'll get good things from God? 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:39.939 Or do you worship God for his own beauty and worth? 00:09:39.940 --> 00:10:06.460 Do you think that that trumps other concerns in a community such as forgiving, loving, forbearing with others, maintaining unity? 00:10:06.460 --> 00:10:19.300 So our question this morning then is, how will individual fullness in Christ be evident in community? 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:23.480 In this community, in our church family? 00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:29.759 Well, into Colossians 3 then, verses 1 to 4 of Colossians 3 is a bridge. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:35.100 So a bridge summarizes what's already been explained about fullness of life in Christ, 00:10:35.559 --> 00:10:42.519 which then becomes also the launch pad for application into specific areas and circumstances of life. 00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:46.580 And this morning we're looking particularly in the application of the community. 00:10:48.439 --> 00:10:49.460 Look at verses 1. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:56.779 And you'll see how the summary thing, the ESV has if then, but just as well or even better to call it since then. 00:10:56.779 --> 00:11:02.679 Since then, because of what's all been said at the minute, since then you've been raised with Christ. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:04.299 Look at verse 3. 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:07.360 Since then you have died with Christ. 00:11:07.860 --> 00:11:10.139 Since then your life is hidden with Christ. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:11.439 Verse 4. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.720 Since Christ, who is your life? 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:20.379 Very, very strong summary statements. 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:22.360 Christ is your life. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:25.579 Not just a part of your life as a Christian. 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:27.480 Christ is your life. 00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:30.980 He's the entirety. 00:11:31.420 --> 00:11:34.180 He's the fullness or the completeness of life. 00:11:38.540 --> 00:11:39.560 Put it in other words. 00:11:40.180 --> 00:11:48.160 As we've seen over recent weeks, we are inseparably connected forever to God through Jesus. 00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:52.000 And the word there in chapter 3, the picture there is hidden. 00:11:52.100 --> 00:11:54.960 Your life is hidden with Christ in God. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:12:03.340 Now that's the word that means that we're so sort of enfolded into Jesus. 00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:09.060 We're so embedded into Jesus that the distinction blurs. 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:17.040 And we can say that we're so deeply held, so closely held by Jesus that my life is his life. 00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:18.100 His life is my life. 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:19.420 Christ is our life. 00:12:19.420 --> 00:12:21.560 Christ is our life. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:27.480 And when Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:35.060 So, Jesus is our life individually. 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:40.840 Because we must be saved individually. 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.659 Renewed individually. 00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:49.059 So, it is right that each believer may say, I am in Christ. 00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:51.559 I say that to you this morning. 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:52.839 I am in Christ. 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:59.339 With the guarantee that I experience the sufficiency of Jesus' work for me as a Savior. 00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:03.860 I may also say as a believer that Christ is in me. 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:11.620 With the guarantee that I receive and enjoy all the benefits and blessings of being united with him as Lord. 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:14.560 We've seen that over the last few weeks. 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:18.279 Using the picture from last Sunday. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.659 Listen up, boys. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:22.179 Using the picture from last Sunday. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:25.799 Our bucket individually is absolutely full. 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:32.000 With the fullness of life that only Jesus can deliver. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:39.559 So, as it says in Colossians 3, 1-4. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:41.159 As it commands us. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.980 It's appropriate then that we set our bearings. 00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:45.720 Set your mind on. 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:47.320 Set your bearings by. 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:51.519 Set your bearings daily according to this heavenly reality. 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:54.539 Of our fullness of life in Christ. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:57.620 Shaping our lives as a daily practice. 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:01.759 Based on the source of life. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:06.480 The source of our life in heaven. 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:07.620 The Lord Jesus. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:10.059 But there's more. 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:15.679 We must also go on to say that Jesus is our life in community. 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:25.600 Salvation in Jesus is always more than personal or individual. 00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:29.200 Now, that's a point I don't think we've got as Christians. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.820 Or we deliberately ignore maybe that. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:34.679 Is actually of itself expressive individualism. 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:39.779 Salvation is always more than personal. 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:47.639 It is right and proper for me to say that I am saved into an individual relationship of faith. 00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:49.980 And into a personal walk with Jesus. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.019 That is right. 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:56.639 It is wrong, however, if I go from there to think about salvation individualistically. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:06.639 Jesus knows nothing of solitary believers. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:08.779 Individualistic believers. 00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:10.419 God's salvation plan. 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:10.439 God's salvation plan. 00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:11.899 You see it right through the scriptures. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:19.799 God's salvation plan was always to save his people into new community. 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.439 Resurrection community. 00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:22.620 The church. 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:27.060 God's salvation plan. 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.419 This is Paul's emphasis too. 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:34.279 He, so for all you English Nazis out there, you just have to, your ears will jar. 00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:39.960 But that's why the word use that's common speak these days is such a good word. 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:42.820 Or if you want to be Southern American, y'all. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.860 It picks up a deficiency in English grammar. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:53.240 Because all the words that Paul uses throughout Colossians and most of his letters are plural. 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:53.299 You plural. 00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.779 You plural. 00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:57.700 Use. 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:05.879 When Paul addresses the church, writes the church at Colossae, he wants the community as a whole 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:14.740 to understand that Christ is their collective life as he is their individual life. 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:24.340 He expects them to express fullness in Christ in community. 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:33.480 Shaping their community life or church culture according to the gospel. 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.460 And that's what we are. 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:40.980 As we live out what we believe the gospel is, then we create a culture. 00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:43.480 We adopt a culture and we develop a culture. 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:46.740 We have a culture here in our church. 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:48.000 And we'll ask the question later on. 00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:51.419 What is that culture in essence? 00:16:57.180 --> 00:17:05.180 Paul wants them to express and live out a culture, display a culture that's in line with the heavenly reality 00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:08.539 of being God's resurrection community. 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:12.259 Set your mind on things above. 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:25.399 Where you will be home with Christ in heaven as the church, praising and glorifying and living proper, full lives under the Lord Jesus. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:31.819 Well, make that reality the very thing that drives and shapes life now in community. 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:35.119 As a microcosm of heaven on earth. 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:42.259 Paul also uses body language to describe their life in community. 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:49.259 If you turn back to chapter 1 verse 17 and verse 18, we're told there in that section about the preeminence of Jesus. 00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:54.779 Jesus is the one who holds or binds everything together in God's world. 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:57.639 And then immediately it launches on to give an example. 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:03.480 The primary example of Jesus binding and making everything together. 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:06.099 His body, the church. 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:10.559 That's the first cab of the rank. 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:16.559 When we talk about what Jesus binds and brings together in himself. 00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:20.519 And if you look at chapter 2 verse 19. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.879 We looked at this week, last week. 00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:24.519 Jesus is the head. 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:30.799 And the head, organically connected to the body, is what gives the body life. 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:37.559 And we said last week that Jesus was the ligament that actually holds the bones and the parts of the body together 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:39.019 and gives it structural integrity. 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.160 It's a community. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.240 It's a community. 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:45.839 It's a corporate picture. 00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:48.039 We are the body. 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:50.319 Connected to the head. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.200 Individual, yes. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.940 But not individualistic. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:56.079 We can't be individualistic in a body. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.900 This doesn't make any sense to try and do it. 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:04.139 And we're told there in chapter 2 verse 19. 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:09.700 That growth from God, therefore, happens in community. 00:19:12.020 --> 00:19:14.600 Now I don't think that's something we think about very often. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:20.040 That our growth and maturing in Christ happens in community. 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:24.920 In this community. 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:29.799 And it's the same idea then. 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:32.180 We've already seen it in chapter 3 verses 1 to 4. 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:39.099 True spiritual maturity is achieved through vibrant and close connection with their head, 00:19:39.659 --> 00:19:41.000 our head, the Lord Jesus, 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:47.099 and living in the light of that reality in this salvation community. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:56.279 Paul also speaks of servants and fellow servants to describe the reality of salvation community. 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:58.539 Now this is one you could probably argue with. 00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:02.339 I've raised a few times a staff meeting and each time it hasn't got very much of a guarantee. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.779 But I'm going to try it anyway this morning. 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:06.819 Feel free to reject it if you want to. 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:10.519 I think it's really interesting that in chapter 1 verse 1, 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:12.819 Paul introduces himself as apostolos. 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:14.619 He's an apostle. 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:16.679 That's his formal title. 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:19.019 That's his formal commission from the Lord Jesus. 00:20:20.139 --> 00:20:22.079 But within the body of the letter, 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:26.559 whenever he is interacting with other Christians here in Colossae, 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:29.839 he always uses the term servant. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:38.379 which brings him down to the level of others. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:38.779 And we'll see, 00:20:38.959 --> 00:20:41.220 I'll want to try and demonstrate that connection to you. 00:20:42.659 --> 00:20:44.199 In 1 chapter 23, 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.099 sorry, 00:20:45.199 --> 00:20:46.359 chapter 1 verse 23, 00:20:47.159 --> 00:20:50.959 Paul says that, 00:20:51.959 --> 00:20:53.819 which has been claimed, 00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.599 they're talking about the gospel, 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:56.679 which has been claimed in all creation under heaven, 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.980 and of which I, 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:59.220 Paul became a minister. 00:20:59.360 --> 00:21:00.279 That's the word servant. 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:04.839 And then he goes on in verse 25 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:06.660 to make a connection, 00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.620 a seamless connection, 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:08.920 a servant of Christ. 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.980 Paul's a servant of Christ, 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:10.480 which means, 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.160 verse 25, 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:14.460 he becomes a servant of the Colossian church. 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:17.740 And if you go back to chapter 1, 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:20.839 he talks about being a fellow servant with Epaphras, 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:22.140 who brought the gospel 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:24.380 and was responsible for these guys being converted. 00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:26.180 And, 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:30.559 so putting that together, 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:33.000 Paul says, 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.620 to be, 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:34.940 for him to be a Christian 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:38.740 is to be a servant of Christ, 00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:43.000 is to be a servant of his body, 00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:43.640 the church, 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:46.599 is to be a fellow servant 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:48.380 with everybody else in the church. 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:51.079 And if you follow through in chapter 4, 00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:52.279 you'll see that servant, 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:54.140 fellow servant language used heaps. 00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:57.140 Friends, 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.980 putting it all together, 00:22:02.340 --> 00:22:03.140 here's the point. 00:22:04.860 --> 00:22:07.580 Church is not something we do, 00:22:08.580 --> 00:22:13.200 especially not as we feel like it. 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:16.180 Church is something we are 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:19.560 by virtue of being united with Christ. 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:19.619 Christ. 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:25.440 And here's a thing 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.700 I want you to take away with you today. 00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:28.480 Gospel doctrine, 00:22:29.679 --> 00:22:31.079 experienced personally, 00:22:32.679 --> 00:22:33.740 ought always 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.899 to produce 00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:36.839 gospel culture 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:39.579 in community. 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:51.579 Friends, 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.240 to go back to the bucket illustration, 00:22:54.919 --> 00:22:56.279 your bucket of fullness 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.720 is not 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:59.399 simply contained 00:22:59.399 --> 00:23:00.159 to you 00:23:00.159 --> 00:23:01.839 in some individualistic way. 00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:04.000 Your bucket of fullness 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.720 actually overflows 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.720 through you 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:08.059 into 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:09.240 fullness 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.140 in this community. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.559 A community 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.480 of saved people. 00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.380 Why? 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:19.700 So that together 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.860 we might 00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:21.819 enjoy 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.380 fullness 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:23.140 in Christ. 00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.720 And we will do that 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.339 together, 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.480 I would argue, 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:28.460 in a way that we cannot 00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:29.259 actually do it 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.799 individually. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.539 Because that's the way 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:34.680 Jesus has set it up. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:38.539 And all of that 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.400 is a launch pad 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:40.839 for verses 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:42.000 5 to 17. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:43.920 And so 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:45.140 you'll see how this 00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:45.920 sort of flows on 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.339 from there. 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.100 As a family unit, 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.880 as a community 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.700 of saved people, 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.240 yous 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.220 or y'all 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:55.400 should be struggling 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.019 together 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:57.460 to express 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.100 fullness 00:23:58.100 --> 00:23:58.920 in Christ. 00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:00.799 That's essentially 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.400 Paul's point 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.180 as he moves forward. 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:06.420 Now, 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:11.960 verses 5 to 11, 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.820 Paul says 00:24:15.820 --> 00:24:16.240 that means 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.220 getting rid of 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.560 everything 00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:19.500 on anything 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:21.539 which is at odds 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.380 with your new 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:22.820 identity, 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.740 your fullness 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.759 in Christ. 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.580 Your new 00:24:29.580 --> 00:24:30.200 orientation 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.060 to Christ. 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:33.839 get rid of it. 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.220 Again, 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.599 the bucket 00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.039 illustration. 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.339 If the bucket 00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:37.159 is full 00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:38.119 with all the 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:38.740 fullness of 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.139 deity, 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.000 if the bucket 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.440 is full 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.220 of the 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.639 character 00:24:41.639 --> 00:24:42.359 of God 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:43.099 through Jesus 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:43.759 and grace 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.319 and mercy, 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.039 when it 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.599 overflows 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.119 into the 00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.919 local church 00:24:46.919 --> 00:24:47.359 community, 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:47.940 what would 00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.519 you expect? 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.259 You wouldn't 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.279 expect a 00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:51.059 pile of stuff 00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.559 like you just 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.079 dipped into 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.879 a sullage pit. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.200 No, 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.019 it will overflow 00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:56.460 with the 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.019 character of 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.460 Christ, 00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:59.579 with grace 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.240 and mercy. 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:01.579 the fullness 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.139 of deity. 00:25:06.179 --> 00:25:06.819 So we've 00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.179 got to get 00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:07.500 rid of 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:07.980 anything 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.720 that's 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.460 inconsistent 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:09.940 with that, 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:10.159 that's 00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:10.879 incongruous 00:25:10.879 --> 00:25:11.299 with that. 00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:15.579 And so 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.379 we could 00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:17.119 spend hours 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:17.759 working through 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.059 each of 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.539 these words. 00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:19.179 There's such 00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:20.399 dense words, 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.539 such intense 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.339 stuff in here, 00:25:22.399 --> 00:25:22.779 but I'm just 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.460 going to 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.500 slide across 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:24.919 the top 00:25:24.919 --> 00:25:25.220 and try 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.879 and lift 00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:26.079 it up 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.539 and summarize 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:26.799 it. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:28.379 verses 00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:28.839 5 and 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:29.180 6. 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:31.899 I'll 00:25:31.899 --> 00:25:32.220 read them 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:32.460 and then 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:32.720 I'll just 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.159 make a 00:25:33.159 --> 00:25:33.460 summary 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:33.899 comment. 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:37.019 Here we 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.180 go. 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:37.960 Put to 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.220 death, 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:38.619 therefore, 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:39.740 what is 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.359 earthly in 00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:40.539 you. 00:25:41.139 --> 00:25:41.339 And then 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:41.539 there's a 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.180 list of 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:43.379 sexual 00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:43.960 vices, 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.639 sexual 00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:45.220 immorality, 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.519 impurity, 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:47.859 passion, 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.299 evil 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.799 desire, 00:25:50.879 --> 00:25:51.659 covetousness, 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:52.619 which is 00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:53.180 idolatry. 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:55.080 on account 00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:55.440 of these, 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:55.940 the wrath 00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:56.299 of God 00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:56.700 is coming. 00:26:01.360 --> 00:26:01.980 As a 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.400 community, 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.000 we've got 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.440 to say 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.620 no to 00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:05.380 selfish 00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:06.980 expressions 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:08.039 of sexuality. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.220 Our world 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:13.660 says, 00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:15.560 I am a 00:26:15.560 --> 00:26:16.420 sexual being. 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:18.779 I can 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.400 only be 00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:19.900 authentic 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.420 and true 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.060 to myself 00:26:21.060 --> 00:26:22.140 and complete 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:22.720 in myself 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.579 when I'm 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:24.140 free to 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:24.940 express my 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.400 sexual 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:25.759 desires, 00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:26.039 whatever 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.600 they may 00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:27.779 manifest as, 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.319 when I'm 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:28.740 free to 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.380 express my 00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:29.740 sexual 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.920 desires and 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.539 use others 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.180 around me 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:32.660 for my 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.360 satisfaction, 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:35.240 no matter 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:35.700 the cost 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:35.980 to them. 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.380 That's 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:38.839 essentially 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.200 what our 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.420 world 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:39.839 says. 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.480 God 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:42.700 says, 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:43.420 that's 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.819 got no 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.500 place among 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.019 my people. 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:48.620 Verses 00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:48.960 7 and 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:49.160 8. 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.779 In 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.380 these you 00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:52.120 too once 00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.500 worked, 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.059 when you 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:53.420 were living 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:53.720 in them, 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.259 but now 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.539 you must 00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:54.880 put them 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.380 all away. 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:56.519 Anger, 00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:57.779 wrath, 00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.319 malice, 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.220 slander, 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:02.880 seen talk 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.220 from your 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.539 mouth. 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.220 Those are 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:08.740 all 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:10.700 statements 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:12.240 of 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.860 manipulation 00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:14.200 and 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:14.940 exploitation. 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:16.559 And Paul 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:16.779 says, 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.620 we've got 00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:17.960 to say 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.740 no to 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.400 manipulation 00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:20.120 and 00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:20.640 exploitation. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.280 Again, 00:27:22.360 --> 00:27:22.740 our world 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:22.980 says, 00:27:23.580 --> 00:27:24.680 I can 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.280 only be 00:27:25.280 --> 00:27:25.780 happy and 00:27:25.780 --> 00:27:26.280 fulfilled 00:27:26.280 --> 00:27:27.400 when my 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:27.860 desires, 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.780 my cravings 00:27:28.780 --> 00:27:29.140 are met 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:29.540 to my 00:27:29.540 --> 00:27:30.200 satisfaction. 00:27:31.540 --> 00:27:32.080 And this 00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:32.800 gives me the 00:27:32.800 --> 00:27:33.180 right to 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:33.680 manipulate, 00:27:34.040 --> 00:27:34.900 to exploit, 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.019 to consume, 00:27:36.840 --> 00:27:37.480 to control 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.160 people around 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:39.160 me in the 00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:40.100 pursuit of 00:27:40.100 --> 00:27:40.519 my own 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.120 happiness and 00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:41.500 fulfillment. 00:27:44.560 --> 00:27:45.300 Paul says, 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:47.599 that's got 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.680 no place 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:50.159 in a 00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:50.599 resurrection 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:51.259 community. 00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:54.839 Verses 00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.119 9 and 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:55.339 10. 00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:56.740 Do not 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.159 lie to 00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:57.639 one another, 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.279 saying that 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.680 you have put 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.200 off the old 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:01.639 self with 00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:02.299 its practices 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.039 and put on 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.339 the new 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:03.799 self which 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.079 has been 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.839 renewed in 00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:05.359 the knowledge 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:05.919 after the 00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:06.339 image of 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:06.859 its creator. 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:12.980 Say 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.500 no 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:15.160 to any 00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:15.720 thought that 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.480 the end 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.740 justifies the 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.099 means. 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:20.359 See, 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:20.640 again, 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.440 our world 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.039 says to us, 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.480 happiness and 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.420 validation is 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.420 so important 00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:27.220 that I'm 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.759 prepared to, 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.700 I'm entitled 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.400 to manipulate 00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:30.660 truth to my 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.319 own advantage. 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.220 Even if it 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:34.740 means telling 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.779 bold-faced 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:38.359 lies when 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:38.799 necessary. 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.519 Truth's 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:41.839 relative. 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:43.759 truth will 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.220 trump your 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:46.740 truth in 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.099 the pursuit 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:47.419 of my 00:28:47.419 --> 00:28:47.720 happiness. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.079 That's what 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.419 our world 00:28:48.419 --> 00:28:49.059 says to us. 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.379 Paul says 00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:50.659 no. 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.259 In 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:52.879 community, 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.519 the resurrection 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.199 community has 00:28:54.199 --> 00:28:54.619 got to deal 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.240 with truth. 00:28:57.439 --> 00:28:58.099 Got to be 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.699 known for 00:28:58.699 --> 00:28:59.099 truth. 00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.220 Get rid of 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:01.279 such thinking. 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:02.759 In verse 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.759 11, I 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.319 pondered this 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.079 one a fair 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:06.019 while but I 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:06.399 think this 00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:06.759 might be 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.039 okay. 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.220 Paul says, 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:08.740 here there's 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.399 not Greek 00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:10.099 and Jews 00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:10.919 circumcised 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.940 and uncircumcised, 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.100 barbarian, 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:13.779 Scythian, 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:18.360 slave, 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.340 free, 00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:20.400 but Christ 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:21.080 is all 00:29:21.080 --> 00:29:21.480 and in 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:21.759 all. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.200 Say no 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:27.560 to evaluating 00:29:27.560 --> 00:29:28.480 people according 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.460 to the world's 00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.080 categories. 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.060 See, our 00:29:35.060 --> 00:29:35.600 world says, 00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:37.120 I need to be 00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:37.640 on top of 00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.160 the pile. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.259 Whatever pile 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:39.800 that is I'm 00:29:39.800 --> 00:29:40.340 operating in, 00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:40.720 I need to 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:40.939 be the 00:29:40.939 --> 00:29:41.220 top of 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:41.299 it. 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:41.519 It might 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.339 be a 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.220 racial pile, 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:43.559 it might 00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:43.799 be a 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.119 political 00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:44.559 pile, 00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:44.859 it might 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:46.059 be an 00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:46.439 economic 00:29:46.439 --> 00:29:46.799 pile, 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.059 it might 00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:47.299 be an 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:47.759 intellectual 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.039 pile, 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:48.579 it might 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.059 even be a 00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:49.599 spiritual 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.079 pile. 00:29:50.639 --> 00:29:51.059 Well, I 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:51.419 need to be 00:29:51.419 --> 00:29:52.000 on top of 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.459 it and the 00:29:52.459 --> 00:29:52.779 way to be 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.299 on top of 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:53.659 it is to 00:29:53.659 --> 00:29:54.039 knock other 00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:54.579 people down. 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:56.359 I build 00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:57.139 myself up by 00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:57.619 knocking other 00:29:57.619 --> 00:29:58.119 people down. 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.480 And so we 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:01.980 pull out the 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.619 racial card, 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.240 we pull out 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:04.220 the economic 00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:04.639 card, 00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:05.319 we pull out 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.439 the whatever 00:30:06.439 --> 00:30:07.099 card it is, 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:07.480 the super 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:07.919 spiritual 00:30:07.919 --> 00:30:08.319 card. 00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:10.980 Paul says, 00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:11.480 no, 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:13.199 there's no 00:30:13.199 --> 00:30:13.839 place for 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.919 that in the 00:30:14.919 --> 00:30:15.240 resurrection 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.919 community. 00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:22.079 And then he 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:22.399 goes on to 00:30:22.399 --> 00:30:23.359 verse 12 to 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:25.480 17 to talk 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.000 about putting 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.359 on, 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.819 to put on 00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:29.559 or to be 00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:30.299 shaped by 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.279 things that we 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.220 already have. 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.779 So the word 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.519 there is like 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.100 clothing, so 00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:35.360 it's putting 00:30:35.360 --> 00:30:35.960 on a jacket. 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.019 You already 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:37.400 have the 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:37.860 jacket that's 00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:38.120 there. 00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:38.680 All you need 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:39.059 to do is put 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:40.000 it on, is 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.559 Paul's point. 00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:41.539 We already 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.579 have all 00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.799 these graces 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.500 in Christ. 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.200 That's what it 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.579 is to be 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.140 renewed in 00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:46.420 Christ. 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:47.120 We just 00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:47.440 need to 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.039 embrace them. 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:48.339 We just 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:48.759 need to put 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.059 them on. 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.319 We need 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.559 to be 00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:50.259 shaped by 00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:50.460 them. 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.039 And the 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:53.339 more we 00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:53.779 get rid 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:55.220 of these 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.640 things that 00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:56.240 have no 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:57.519 place in 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:57.900 Christ's 00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.180 community, 00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:00.000 the more 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:00.380 we'll be 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.019 seen to be 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:01.500 dressed. 00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:02.640 in the 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:03.000 things that 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.480 should 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.660 adorn us 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.799 as Christ's 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.180 community. 00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:07.759 Verses 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:09.440 12 to 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:09.799 17. 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.500 We don't 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:11.799 need to 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.240 create them. 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.019 We simply 00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:13.400 need to 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:13.920 embrace them. 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:15.720 And here 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.180 again, that 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:16.779 connection is 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.140 lovely. 00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:18.400 That gospel 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:19.140 doctrine 00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:21.500 ought always 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:23.559 and easily 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:25.200 overflow 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:26.279 into gospel 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.900 culture. 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:28.660 Our bucket 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:30.120 is full of 00:31:30.120 --> 00:31:30.660 the fullness 00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.200 of deity 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:31.759 in Christ. 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:33.259 the 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:33.579 other 00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:34.019 flood 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:35.360 will be 00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:35.759 gospel 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.279 culture. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:40.360 Rich 00:31:40.360 --> 00:31:40.900 gospel 00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:41.400 culture, 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:42.440 a culture 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.160 of grace. 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.200 The 00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:44.539 gospel 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:44.980 doctrine 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.460 of grace, 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:47.039 gospel 00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.680 culture 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.319 of grace 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.759 in all 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.440 its richness 00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:51.860 in our 00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.279 community, 00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:52.860 our church. 00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:53.799 What will 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.380 this gospel 00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:55.039 culture look 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.299 like? 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:56.480 Well, 00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:57.039 again, 00:31:57.100 --> 00:31:57.279 we could 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:57.960 spend weeks 00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:59.240 on these 00:31:59.240 --> 00:31:59.819 individual 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.519 characteristics 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:00.920 here. 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:02.859 But I 00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:03.180 think I 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.480 can just 00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.000 summarize it 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.259 by saying, 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:04.720 what will 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.339 gospel culture 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:05.839 look like? 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.139 It will 00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:08.420 look like 00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:08.819 Jesus. 00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:11.359 It will 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:12.900 smell with 00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:13.539 a savor 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.200 of Jesus. 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.340 Jesus. 00:32:15.340 --> 00:32:16.580 It will 00:32:16.580 --> 00:32:18.400 speak like 00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:18.900 Jesus. 00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:20.440 It will 00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:21.519 absorb hurts 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.420 and grievances 00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:24.279 and offense 00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:25.580 like Jesus. 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:28.539 It will 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.380 forbear with 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:29.620 others' 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.160 failures 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:32.180 like Jesus. 00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:34.960 Gospel 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.680 categories, 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:36.819 gospel 00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:37.420 culture. 00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:42.720 Let's 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:43.160 jump 00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:43.380 through 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:43.640 these 00:32:43.640 --> 00:32:43.900 fairly 00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:44.240 quickly. 00:32:49.620 --> 00:32:50.140 Verses 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.400 12, 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:50.740 13, 00:32:50.800 --> 00:32:51.279 and 14. 00:32:52.340 --> 00:32:52.920 Put on 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.460 then as 00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:53.880 God's 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:54.320 chosen 00:32:54.320 --> 00:32:54.759 ones, 00:32:55.800 --> 00:32:56.220 holy and 00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:56.519 beloved. 00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.060 There you 00:32:57.060 --> 00:32:57.180 go. 00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:58.140 There's the 00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:58.620 orientation 00:32:58.620 --> 00:32:59.420 thing again. 00:32:59.460 --> 00:32:59.800 That's what 00:32:59.800 --> 00:33:00.279 you are. 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:01.660 You're now 00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:02.180 God's 00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:02.519 chosen 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:02.800 ones, 00:33:03.600 --> 00:33:04.380 holy and 00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:04.700 beloved. 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:04.820 Beloved. 00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:10.420 compassion, 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.539 kindness, 00:33:14.620 --> 00:33:15.140 humility, 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.060 meekness, 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:18.779 patience, 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:20.460 bearing with 00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:20.900 one another. 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:22.480 And if 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.320 one has a 00:33:23.320 --> 00:33:24.039 complaint against 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:24.380 another, 00:33:25.340 --> 00:33:26.100 forgiving each 00:33:26.100 --> 00:33:26.800 other as 00:33:26.800 --> 00:33:27.440 the Lord 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:28.300 has forgiven 00:33:28.300 --> 00:33:28.860 you, 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.080 so you 00:33:33.080 --> 00:33:33.600 must also 00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:34.039 forgive. 00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:42.860 see, 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.400 all these 00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:43.800 gospel 00:33:43.800 --> 00:33:44.560 categories 00:33:44.560 --> 00:33:47.980 have been 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.500 modeled 00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:49.560 strongly to 00:33:49.560 --> 00:33:49.980 us by 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.360 Jesus. 00:33:52.340 --> 00:33:53.240 And that's 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:53.779 what we 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.779 need to 00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:55.960 make these 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.600 commands work. 00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.140 Commands will 00:33:57.140 --> 00:33:57.500 never be 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:57.840 enough. 00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:58.940 Forgiveness 00:33:58.940 --> 00:33:59.759 and forbearing 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:01.500 and kindness 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:01.940 and patience, 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:02.640 all these 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:02.980 things are 00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.480 hard. 00:34:05.400 --> 00:34:05.820 Simply be 00:34:05.820 --> 00:34:06.500 commanded to 00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:06.860 do them will 00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:07.359 never work 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:07.879 for us. 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.039 But when 00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:10.279 we have 00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:10.619 gospel 00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:11.299 categories 00:34:11.299 --> 00:34:13.000 modeled to 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.319 us by 00:34:13.319 --> 00:34:13.799 Jesus, 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:14.799 when we 00:34:14.799 --> 00:34:15.339 realize that 00:34:15.339 --> 00:34:15.839 we're holy 00:34:15.839 --> 00:34:16.639 and beloved, 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:17.819 chosen 00:34:17.819 --> 00:34:18.619 children, 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.219 then we're 00:34:21.219 --> 00:34:21.799 in a 00:34:21.799 --> 00:34:22.339 zone. 00:34:22.799 --> 00:34:23.279 The heavenly 00:34:23.279 --> 00:34:24.599 reality will 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:25.319 enable us to 00:34:25.319 --> 00:34:25.940 do the hard 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.599 work here 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:28.199 of being 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:28.980 Christ's 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.359 community. 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:36.940 and it 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:37.180 will be 00:34:37.180 --> 00:34:37.980 expressed in 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:39.460 offering 00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.200 radical 00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:41.500 forgiveness, 00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.160 gospel 00:34:43.160 --> 00:34:44.260 reconciliation. 00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:45.059 Now, 00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:45.320 what does 00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:45.680 gospel 00:34:45.680 --> 00:34:46.260 reconciliation 00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:47.059 and peace 00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:48.660 do in the 00:34:48.660 --> 00:34:48.820 body? 00:34:49.140 --> 00:34:49.300 Well, 00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:50.640 gospel forgiveness 00:34:50.640 --> 00:34:51.380 and reconciliation 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:53.099 resets the 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.720 relationship. 00:34:53.719 --> 00:34:53.819 relationship. 00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:56.399 And it 00:34:56.399 --> 00:34:57.219 does so at 00:34:57.219 --> 00:34:58.059 great cost 00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:59.199 to self. 00:34:59.299 --> 00:34:59.659 That's the 00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:00.059 model of 00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.339 Jesus. 00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:03.079 It also 00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:04.099 commits never 00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:05.459 to use that 00:35:05.459 --> 00:35:06.279 offense against 00:35:06.279 --> 00:35:07.139 the person in 00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:08.159 future relationship. 00:35:09.859 --> 00:35:10.299 And my friends, 00:35:10.379 --> 00:35:11.480 that's how each of us 00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:12.439 individually has been 00:35:12.439 --> 00:35:12.799 forgiven. 00:35:13.779 --> 00:35:14.779 That's what it is to 00:35:14.779 --> 00:35:15.659 understand and live 00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:16.339 in grace. 00:35:16.340 --> 00:35:23.680 And add to 00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:24.200 that being 00:35:24.200 --> 00:35:25.079 other person 00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.519 centered. 00:35:27.140 --> 00:35:28.280 Being servant 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:28.920 hearted. 00:35:30.780 --> 00:35:31.460 Bearing with one 00:35:31.460 --> 00:35:32.100 another's failures 00:35:32.100 --> 00:35:32.640 as I've already 00:35:32.640 --> 00:35:32.880 said. 00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:34.539 Loving strongly 00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:35.300 while speaking 00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:35.880 truth. 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.240 Being committed 00:35:37.240 --> 00:35:37.860 to the best 00:35:37.860 --> 00:35:38.440 interests of 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.000 those around 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.440 us. 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:41.180 Regardless 00:35:41.180 --> 00:35:42.640 of personal 00:35:42.640 --> 00:35:43.240 cost in 00:35:43.240 --> 00:35:43.500 that. 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:45.539 That's the 00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:46.079 model of 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.440 Jesus. 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.719 And when we 00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:52.099 talk about 00:35:52.099 --> 00:35:52.599 forgiveness, 00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:53.980 gospel forgiveness, 00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:55.460 it will be so 00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.679 different from 00:35:56.679 --> 00:35:57.779 cultural forgiveness. 00:35:58.159 --> 00:35:58.779 Forgiveness is a 00:35:58.779 --> 00:35:59.380 big thing in our 00:35:59.380 --> 00:36:00.599 society these days. 00:36:01.279 --> 00:36:01.819 But it's always 00:36:01.819 --> 00:36:02.799 self-interested 00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:03.400 forgiveness. 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.239 It's always a 00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:06.000 given, I will 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:06.699 forgive because it 00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:07.340 makes me feel 00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:07.840 better about 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:08.380 myself. 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.480 It doesn't 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:11.059 actually matter 00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:11.960 if I resume 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.960 relationship, full 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.599 relationship with 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:13.920 a person. 00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:14.579 No, it's just 00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.619 something I do. 00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:17.440 It makes me feel 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.319 better about 00:36:18.319 --> 00:36:18.639 myself. 00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:19.539 Or it allows me 00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:20.440 to take control 00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:21.019 back of the 00:36:21.019 --> 00:36:21.659 situation. 00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:23.480 It stops them 00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:24.099 from hurting me 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:24.400 more. 00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:26.139 I cut myself 00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:26.619 off from 00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:27.679 negative people, 00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:28.719 negative vibes. 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:28.880 It's not 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:37.019 the gospel 00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:37.500 forgiveness 00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:38.900 that Jesus 00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:40.179 models and we've 00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:40.759 experienced. 00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:42.960 Forgiveness at 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:43.659 great cost 00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:44.139 himself. 00:36:45.740 --> 00:36:46.619 Verse 16. 00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:48.860 Let the word 00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.639 of Christ dwell 00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:50.280 in you richly, 00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.019 teaching and 00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.679 admonishing one 00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:52.220 another in all 00:36:52.220 --> 00:36:53.260 wisdom, singing 00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:54.260 psalms and hymns 00:36:54.260 --> 00:36:55.179 and spiritual songs 00:36:55.179 --> 00:36:55.940 with thankfulness 00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:56.659 in your hearts to 00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:56.980 God. 00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:59.240 And whatever you 00:36:59.240 --> 00:37:00.139 do, in word or 00:37:00.139 --> 00:37:02.039 deed, do 00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:04.780 everything in the 00:37:04.780 --> 00:37:05.420 name of the 00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:06.039 Lord Jesus. 00:37:08.360 --> 00:37:09.619 Giving thanks to 00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:10.400 God the Father 00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:11.019 through him. 00:37:14.280 --> 00:37:15.860 Well, so many 00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:16.420 words in there, 00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:17.280 but again, we're 00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:18.639 just to be steeped 00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:19.780 in God's word. 00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:23.180 So steeped, so 00:37:23.180 --> 00:37:24.680 familiar with 00:37:24.680 --> 00:37:25.720 God's word that 00:37:25.720 --> 00:37:27.000 actually shapes our 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:28.059 concerns for one 00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:28.360 another. 00:37:29.200 --> 00:37:30.240 It shapes our 00:37:30.240 --> 00:37:31.260 interactions with 00:37:31.260 --> 00:37:31.840 one another. 00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:34.500 Rather than being 00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.599 driven by our 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.460 personal hurts, 00:37:37.160 --> 00:37:37.740 our personal 00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:38.519 desires, our 00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:39.460 personal grievances, 00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:39.599 righteousness. 00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:46.119 And all of that 00:37:46.119 --> 00:37:47.000 is in the context 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:47.760 of thanks, 00:37:48.059 --> 00:37:48.659 thankfulness. 00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:50.099 Verse 17. 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:52.599 Very similar thing 00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:53.460 when it all boils 00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:53.679 down. 00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:55.920 Being as Christ 00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:56.619 to one another 00:37:56.619 --> 00:37:57.579 in all these ways, 00:37:58.400 --> 00:37:59.280 being as Christ 00:37:59.280 --> 00:37:59.900 to one another 00:37:59.900 --> 00:38:01.480 is the greatest 00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:02.780 expression of 00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:04.320 thankfulness that 00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:05.139 we as individual 00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:06.039 Christians can show. 00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:09.059 Because it shows 00:38:09.059 --> 00:38:10.079 an understanding 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:11.440 of what I 00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:12.460 personally have 00:38:12.460 --> 00:38:13.380 experienced in 00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:13.840 Christ. 00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:22.599 Being as Christ 00:38:22.599 --> 00:38:23.119 to one another 00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:24.079 is the greatest 00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:25.000 expression of 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:25.320 worship. 00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:33.039 Being as Christ 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:33.500 to one another 00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:34.139 is the greatest 00:38:34.139 --> 00:38:34.960 expression of 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:36.119 authentic Christian 00:38:36.119 --> 00:38:36.920 living, authentic 00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:37.599 living of any 00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:37.839 sort. 00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:41.279 Friends, this is 00:38:41.279 --> 00:38:42.039 what gospel 00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:43.159 culture looks 00:38:43.159 --> 00:38:43.559 like. 00:38:46.659 --> 00:38:47.339 And then we 00:38:47.339 --> 00:38:47.839 move to a very 00:38:47.839 --> 00:38:48.519 simple question, 00:38:48.639 --> 00:38:49.480 but perhaps a 00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:50.259 challenging question. 00:38:51.639 --> 00:38:53.139 Is this what 00:38:53.139 --> 00:38:53.980 our church 00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:55.139 culture looks 00:38:55.139 --> 00:38:55.539 like? 00:38:55.539 --> 00:39:03.559 And are you 00:39:03.559 --> 00:39:04.420 on a weekly, 00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:05.599 daily basis 00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:07.340 so engaged 00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:07.860 in the community 00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:09.139 that you are 00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:10.300 helping build 00:39:10.300 --> 00:39:11.579 a gospel culture 00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.480 in our church 00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:14.059 as opposed 00:39:14.059 --> 00:39:16.079 to building 00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:16.940 something else 00:39:16.940 --> 00:39:17.800 that's just 00:39:17.800 --> 00:39:18.539 not fitting? 00:39:19.219 --> 00:39:19.480 Allah, 00:39:19.619 --> 00:39:20.440 verses 5 to 00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:20.719 11. 00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:20.800 Amen. 00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:26.080 Are these 00:39:26.080 --> 00:39:26.780 the attitudes 00:39:26.780 --> 00:39:27.460 and actions 00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:28.820 which overflow 00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:29.560 in you 00:39:29.560 --> 00:39:31.840 because of 00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:32.539 fullness in 00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:32.880 Christ? 00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:35.500 If they're not, 00:39:36.180 --> 00:39:36.940 then again, 00:39:37.080 --> 00:39:37.780 we're breaking 00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:38.360 something that 00:39:38.360 --> 00:39:38.940 should be together. 00:39:39.320 --> 00:39:40.120 We've got gospel 00:39:40.120 --> 00:39:40.740 doctrine, 00:39:42.140 --> 00:39:42.860 we're talking 00:39:42.860 --> 00:39:43.460 the talk, 00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:46.019 but not walking 00:39:46.019 --> 00:39:46.880 the walk of 00:39:46.880 --> 00:39:47.700 gospel culture. 00:39:47.699 --> 00:39:53.039 I just want 00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:53.519 to conclude 00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:55.799 with the 00:39:55.799 --> 00:39:56.319 question we've 00:39:56.319 --> 00:39:56.839 asked each 00:39:56.839 --> 00:39:57.339 week in this 00:39:57.339 --> 00:39:57.619 series, 00:39:57.699 --> 00:39:57.960 and that is 00:39:57.960 --> 00:39:58.259 what will 00:39:58.259 --> 00:39:58.619 keep us 00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:59.519 from experiencing 00:39:59.519 --> 00:40:00.279 and modelling 00:40:00.279 --> 00:40:01.679 fullness in 00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:02.139 community, 00:40:02.259 --> 00:40:02.799 our resurrection 00:40:02.799 --> 00:40:03.239 community, 00:40:03.579 --> 00:40:04.059 in our church 00:40:04.059 --> 00:40:04.619 family unit? 00:40:05.359 --> 00:40:05.579 Well, 00:40:05.839 --> 00:40:06.819 at risk of 00:40:06.819 --> 00:40:07.319 there's always 00:40:07.319 --> 00:40:07.839 a thing about 00:40:07.839 --> 00:40:08.679 landing sermons, 00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:09.960 but I'm just 00:40:09.960 --> 00:40:10.679 going to stop. 00:40:10.899 --> 00:40:11.659 So I may 00:40:11.659 --> 00:40:12.659 seem to be 00:40:12.659 --> 00:40:13.039 abrupt, 00:40:13.319 --> 00:40:14.019 probably seem 00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:14.460 to be a bit 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:15.059 eorish, 00:40:15.219 --> 00:40:15.759 a bit negative, 00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:17.299 but I just 00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:17.860 want to end 00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:18.460 by listing 00:40:18.460 --> 00:40:19.700 four things 00:40:19.700 --> 00:40:20.120 I've already 00:40:20.120 --> 00:40:20.860 mentioned in 00:40:20.860 --> 00:40:21.380 the body of 00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:21.960 my talk here 00:40:21.960 --> 00:40:22.380 this morning, 00:40:22.980 --> 00:40:23.380 and I want 00:40:23.380 --> 00:40:23.780 to list them 00:40:23.780 --> 00:40:24.080 just for 00:40:24.080 --> 00:40:24.460 emphasis, 00:40:25.460 --> 00:40:26.360 because there 00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:26.600 are four 00:40:26.600 --> 00:40:26.980 things that 00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:27.600 will rob us 00:40:27.600 --> 00:40:28.200 of fullness 00:40:28.200 --> 00:40:28.680 as a 00:40:28.680 --> 00:40:29.260 community of 00:40:29.260 --> 00:40:29.620 Christ's 00:40:29.620 --> 00:40:29.840 people. 00:40:31.360 --> 00:40:31.780 One, 00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:34.180 continuing to 00:40:34.180 --> 00:40:35.300 be therapeutic, 00:40:36.500 --> 00:40:37.120 expressive 00:40:37.120 --> 00:40:38.440 individualists, 00:40:39.220 --> 00:40:41.780 rather than 00:40:41.780 --> 00:40:42.800 Christ-filled, 00:40:44.019 --> 00:40:44.660 expressive 00:40:44.660 --> 00:40:46.420 individuals and 00:40:46.420 --> 00:40:46.840 community. 00:40:47.300 --> 00:40:48.440 if you hear 00:40:48.440 --> 00:40:49.039 the way I'm 00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:49.300 trying to 00:40:49.300 --> 00:40:49.580 play the 00:40:49.580 --> 00:40:50.060 two terms 00:40:50.060 --> 00:40:50.519 off against 00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:50.940 each other. 00:40:53.820 --> 00:40:54.060 See, 00:40:54.380 --> 00:40:54.980 each of us 00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:55.580 needs to 00:40:55.580 --> 00:40:56.539 work hard, 00:40:57.620 --> 00:40:58.180 each of us 00:40:58.180 --> 00:40:58.900 individually 00:40:58.900 --> 00:41:00.060 and together 00:41:00.060 --> 00:41:00.620 we need to 00:41:00.620 --> 00:41:01.360 work hard 00:41:01.360 --> 00:41:03.860 to understand 00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:04.600 how our 00:41:04.600 --> 00:41:05.580 world continues 00:41:05.580 --> 00:41:06.380 to influence 00:41:06.380 --> 00:41:07.060 us and our 00:41:07.060 --> 00:41:07.620 thinking and 00:41:07.620 --> 00:41:08.080 our actions, 00:41:08.280 --> 00:41:09.000 and where 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:10.140 those influences 00:41:10.140 --> 00:41:10.680 are coming. 00:41:12.720 --> 00:41:13.620 Only then 00:41:13.620 --> 00:41:14.140 will we have 00:41:14.140 --> 00:41:14.720 any chance 00:41:14.719 --> 00:41:15.279 of resisting. 00:41:17.079 --> 00:41:17.779 But until 00:41:17.779 --> 00:41:18.199 we do the 00:41:18.199 --> 00:41:18.639 hard work 00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:19.119 of analysis, 00:41:19.459 --> 00:41:20.000 we won't 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:20.579 see anything 00:41:20.579 --> 00:41:21.179 to resist. 00:41:23.239 --> 00:41:24.000 Number two, 00:41:25.459 --> 00:41:26.319 continuing to 00:41:26.319 --> 00:41:26.759 think that 00:41:26.759 --> 00:41:27.219 church is 00:41:27.219 --> 00:41:27.739 something we 00:41:27.739 --> 00:41:28.219 do, 00:41:29.439 --> 00:41:29.959 an optional 00:41:29.959 --> 00:41:30.599 extra when 00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:31.359 it suits me 00:41:31.359 --> 00:41:32.239 or makes me 00:41:32.239 --> 00:41:32.859 feel happy, 00:41:33.859 --> 00:41:35.399 rather than 00:41:35.399 --> 00:41:36.539 understanding 00:41:36.539 --> 00:41:37.079 that church 00:41:37.079 --> 00:41:37.639 is what I 00:41:37.639 --> 00:41:38.859 am in 00:41:38.860 --> 00:41:39.300 Christ. 00:41:41.019 --> 00:41:42.180 A fundamental 00:41:42.180 --> 00:41:43.760 expression of 00:41:43.760 --> 00:41:44.480 being united 00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:45.460 with Christ. 00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:50.039 Number three, 00:41:51.579 --> 00:41:52.420 seeing two 00:41:52.420 --> 00:41:53.260 when we 00:41:53.260 --> 00:41:53.820 ought only 00:41:53.820 --> 00:41:54.579 to see one. 00:41:56.960 --> 00:41:57.539 Gospel 00:41:57.539 --> 00:41:58.019 doctrine, 00:41:58.820 --> 00:41:59.200 gospel 00:41:59.200 --> 00:42:00.680 culture. 00:42:02.380 --> 00:42:02.519 See, 00:42:02.620 --> 00:42:02.940 churches 00:42:02.940 --> 00:42:04.000 are very, 00:42:04.140 --> 00:42:06.240 very skewed, 00:42:06.340 --> 00:42:06.599 I think, 00:42:06.680 --> 00:42:07.300 to protecting 00:42:07.300 --> 00:42:08.460 gospel doctrine, 00:42:08.460 --> 00:42:08.980 especially the 00:42:08.980 --> 00:42:09.400 churches that 00:42:09.400 --> 00:42:09.920 we are part 00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:10.699 of and 00:42:10.699 --> 00:42:11.019 associate 00:42:11.019 --> 00:42:11.460 with. 00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:12.440 They're very 00:42:12.440 --> 00:42:12.960 skewed to 00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:13.380 protecting 00:42:13.380 --> 00:42:15.039 gospel doctrine, 00:42:15.320 --> 00:42:15.780 and that's 00:42:15.780 --> 00:42:16.240 important. 00:42:17.940 --> 00:42:19.019 But ultimately, 00:42:19.699 --> 00:42:20.699 protecting gospel 00:42:20.699 --> 00:42:21.840 doctrine, if it 00:42:21.840 --> 00:42:22.800 doesn't flow 00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:23.280 through into 00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:24.159 gospel culture, 00:42:24.720 --> 00:42:25.420 is just 00:42:25.420 --> 00:42:26.519 intellectualism. 00:42:30.740 --> 00:42:31.579 And vice 00:42:31.579 --> 00:42:31.900 versa. 00:42:32.619 --> 00:42:33.199 Some churches 00:42:33.199 --> 00:42:34.039 are skewed to 00:42:34.039 --> 00:42:34.880 promoting gospel 00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:35.780 culture and the 00:42:35.780 --> 00:42:36.960 vibe and the 00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:37.460 relationship. 00:42:37.460 --> 00:42:37.539 relationship. 00:42:38.260 --> 00:42:38.840 But if that's 00:42:38.840 --> 00:42:39.539 promoted at the 00:42:39.539 --> 00:42:40.320 expense of 00:42:40.320 --> 00:42:41.440 gospel truth, 00:42:42.099 --> 00:42:42.760 then all you 00:42:42.760 --> 00:42:43.039 have is 00:42:43.039 --> 00:42:43.860 sentimentalism. 00:42:51.920 --> 00:42:52.920 These are not 00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:53.920 options, 00:42:55.079 --> 00:42:55.860 gospel doctrine, 00:42:56.119 --> 00:42:56.800 gospel culture. 00:42:57.199 --> 00:42:57.800 These are two 00:42:57.800 --> 00:42:58.460 sides of one 00:42:58.460 --> 00:42:58.720 coin. 00:42:58.719 --> 00:43:02.339 number four. 00:43:04.399 --> 00:43:05.319 Trying to be 00:43:05.319 --> 00:43:06.099 the church 00:43:06.099 --> 00:43:07.199 without 00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:08.579 Christ-full 00:43:08.579 --> 00:43:10.119 gospel categories 00:43:10.119 --> 00:43:10.819 to shape our 00:43:10.819 --> 00:43:11.619 interactions with 00:43:11.619 --> 00:43:12.099 one another. 00:43:14.299 --> 00:43:15.079 In other 00:43:15.079 --> 00:43:16.679 words, if we 00:43:16.679 --> 00:43:17.639 try and be the 00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:19.539 church without a 00:43:19.539 --> 00:43:20.519 deep commitment 00:43:20.519 --> 00:43:21.359 to truthing, 00:43:23.039 --> 00:43:23.559 loving, 00:43:23.559 --> 00:43:26.019 forbearing, 00:43:27.779 --> 00:43:28.340 forgiving, 00:43:30.159 --> 00:43:30.880 reconciling, 00:43:32.219 --> 00:43:33.019 encouraging one 00:43:33.019 --> 00:43:33.320 another, 00:43:35.320 --> 00:43:37.179 then, as I 00:43:37.179 --> 00:43:37.719 understand this 00:43:37.719 --> 00:43:38.500 passage, if we 00:43:38.500 --> 00:43:39.340 try and do that, 00:43:39.860 --> 00:43:40.860 then we will not 00:43:40.860 --> 00:43:41.699 have a distinctive. 00:43:42.460 --> 00:43:43.340 We might be 00:43:43.340 --> 00:43:45.000 passionate, we 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:45.679 might be serious 00:43:45.679 --> 00:43:46.239 minded, but we 00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:46.579 won't be 00:43:46.579 --> 00:43:47.039 distinctive. 00:43:47.039 --> 00:43:52.139 And if we're 00:43:52.139 --> 00:43:52.759 not distinctive, 00:43:53.460 --> 00:43:55.219 then we'll 00:43:55.219 --> 00:43:56.219 bring shame 00:43:56.219 --> 00:43:57.380 to our 00:43:57.380 --> 00:43:59.559 Lord, not 00:43:59.559 --> 00:43:59.840 honor. 00:44:02.599 --> 00:44:03.340 Join me in 00:44:03.340 --> 00:44:03.559 prayer. 00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:10.579 Lord, these 00:44:10.579 --> 00:44:11.619 words, as we 00:44:11.619 --> 00:44:12.300 always find when 00:44:12.300 --> 00:44:12.840 we dig into 00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:14.039 your word, 00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:15.739 these words are 00:44:15.739 --> 00:44:16.440 very challenging. 00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:19.739 Lord, help us 00:44:19.739 --> 00:44:20.800 to do the 00:44:20.800 --> 00:44:21.460 hard work, 00:44:22.639 --> 00:44:23.380 and in lots 00:44:23.380 --> 00:44:23.739 of ways, the 00:44:23.739 --> 00:44:24.900 scary work of 00:44:24.900 --> 00:44:27.400 analyzing what 00:44:27.400 --> 00:44:28.739 culture we do 00:44:28.739 --> 00:44:30.679 exude individually 00:44:30.679 --> 00:44:32.400 and as a 00:44:32.400 --> 00:44:32.980 church family. 00:44:34.039 --> 00:44:34.679 Help us to 00:44:34.679 --> 00:44:35.119 see the 00:44:35.119 --> 00:44:36.300 difference, Lord, 00:44:36.380 --> 00:44:38.519 between sprouting 00:44:38.519 --> 00:44:40.219 gospel doctrine 00:44:40.219 --> 00:44:43.099 and not 00:44:43.099 --> 00:44:43.480 actually 00:44:43.480 --> 00:44:45.199 expressing that 00:44:45.199 --> 00:44:45.779 in gospel 00:44:45.779 --> 00:44:46.239 culture. 00:44:47.039 --> 00:44:49.159 Lord, help us 00:44:49.159 --> 00:44:49.739 to hear your 00:44:49.739 --> 00:44:50.019 word. 00:44:50.539 --> 00:44:51.019 Help us to 00:44:51.019 --> 00:44:51.440 have that 00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:52.659 passionate desire 00:44:52.659 --> 00:44:54.460 to grow together 00:44:54.460 --> 00:44:55.019 in community. 00:44:55.980 --> 00:44:56.840 Help us to be a 00:44:56.840 --> 00:44:57.719 distinctive community 00:44:57.719 --> 00:44:58.360 so that, Lord, 00:44:58.420 --> 00:44:59.179 when people come 00:44:59.179 --> 00:45:00.820 among us, they 00:45:00.820 --> 00:45:02.019 might really see 00:45:02.019 --> 00:45:03.159 something authentic 00:45:03.159 --> 00:45:05.239 and compelling 00:45:05.239 --> 00:45:07.179 and satisfying. 00:45:09.079 --> 00:45:10.179 In Jesus' name I 00:45:10.179 --> 00:45:10.400 pray. 00:45:10.599 --> 00:45:10.860 Amen. 00:45:10.860 --> 00:45:13.039 Amen. 00:45:13.039 --> 00:45:13.300 Amen. 00:45:15.760 --> 00:45:16.559 Amen. 00:45:17.059 --> 00:45:17.500 Amen. 00:45:23.700 --> 00:45:27.700 Amen. 00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:28.620 Amen. 00:45:28.620 --> 00:45:28.940 Amen. 00:45:28.940 --> 00:45:29.920 Amen. 00:45:29.920 --> 00:45:30.019 Amen. 00:45:30.019 --> 00:45:30.200 Amen.