WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, church. It's good to see you all this morning.

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 If this is your first time to Trinity, let me welcome you.

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 Today we have the joy and the privilege of celebrating baptism.

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 That's what this big tank is up here on the stage.

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 In a little bit, Josue and Zerion are going to share their stories of coming to faith in Christ,

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 and they're going to be baptized.

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 Now, baptism is an outward act

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 that symbolizes a believer's union with Jesus Christ through faith

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 and the brand new life that they have by God's grace.

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 And baptism is also a public act that says,

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 I've committed to live as a follower of the Lord Jesus

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 and as a member of His body, the church.

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 Now, if you're new to Christianity,

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 you might be wondering, what is this all about?

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 Maybe your previous experience with Christianity

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 has just seemed like a lot of restrictive rules

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 or maybe just a bunch of empty religious ceremonies.

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 But maybe it hasn't seemed like something

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 that would engage and command the devotion

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 and be the life-giving center of your entire life.

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 Well, this fall, we've actually been studying

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 the book of Ecclesiastes.

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 And Ecclesiastes is a book of ancient wisdom

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 that was written thousands of years ago.

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 But even though it is very old,

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 at the same time, it feels incredibly contemporary.

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 The writer of Ecclesiastes wrestles

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 with some of the most perennial questions

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 and problems of human existence.

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 He's asking the deep questions of life.

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 And a few weeks ago, we started working our way

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 sequentially through this book, passage by passage.

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 And today, we come to chapter 3, verse 16.

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 You can turn with me there in the Pew Bible.

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 That's page 519.

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 If you're new to the Bible,

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 the big number are the chapters

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 and the small numbers are the verses.

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 We're going to look at this passage together

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 on page 519 in the Pew Bible.

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 And there are two big questions

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 that Ecclesiastes confronts us with

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 in this section of his book.

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 This section that starts in chapter 3, verse 16

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 and runs to the end of chapter 4.

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 And his first question is this.

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 Where do we find real justice?

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 In a world full of injustice,

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 where can we find real justice?

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 And his second question is,

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 where do we find real comfort?

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 In a world full of oppression,

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 where can we find real and lasting comfort?

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 So let's look together

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 at what Ecclesiastes has to say

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 as he highlights these questions.

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 Let's look at the first problem

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 Ecclesiastes confronts.

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 Where can we find real justice?

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 Let me read chapter 3, verses 16 through 22.

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 It says this.

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 Moreover, I saw under the sun

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 that in the place of justice,

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 even there was wickedness.

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 And in the place of righteousness,

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 even there was wickedness.

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 I said in my heart,

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 God will judge the righteous and the wicked,

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 for there is a time for every matter

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 and for every work.

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 I said in my heart with regard

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 to the children of man

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 that God is testing them,

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 that they may see that they themselves

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 are but beasts.

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 For what happens to the children of man

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 and what happens to the beasts

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 is the same.

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 As one dies,

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 so dies the other.

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 They all have the same breath.

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 And man has no advantage over the beasts,

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 for all is vanity.

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 All go to one place.

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 All are from the dust,

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 dust,

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 and to dust all return.

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 Who knows whether the spirit of man

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 goes upward

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 and the spirit of the beast

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 goes down into the earth.

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 So I saw that there's nothing better

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 than that a man should rejoice in his work,

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 for this is his lot.

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 Who can bring him to see

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 what will be after him?

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 So in verse 16,

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 Ecclesiastes highlights the problem.

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 In the place of justice,

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 in the place of righteousness,

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 even there was wickedness.

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 You know, it's one thing to look

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 kind of at the broader world

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 and to see people not treating each other

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 as they ought to be treated,

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 to see evil and injustice and exploitation,

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 but it's another thing

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 to look specifically at the places

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 where justice and righteousness

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 are meant to be upheld

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 and to see that even there

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 there's wickedness.

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 To look at the law courts

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 or to look at the police stations

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 or to look at the halls of government,

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 to look at those places

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 where wrongs are supposed to be put right

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 and even there

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 to see the opposite,

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 to see the very same injustice

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 and wickedness at work,

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 to see prejudice

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 and favoritism and partiality,

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 to see bribery

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 and exploitation

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 and self-interest.

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 to see judges

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 wrongfully convict

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 innocent people,

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 to see crooked police officers

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 and politicians

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 working not for the good

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 of their communities

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 but for their own gain.

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 In the place of justice,

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 in the place of righteousness,

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 even there was wickedness.

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 And with the writer of Ecclesiastes,

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 don't our hearts

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 just cry out

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 against this?

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 Doesn't it just cause something

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 to stir up within us?

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 And you know,

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 that heart cry

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 is something

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 that we should all listen to.

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 We should listen to that heart cry

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 against the injustice

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 in those places

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 of righteousness.

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 Because when we listen,

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 we start to hear

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 in that moment

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 two very important things.

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 We are realizing

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 in that heart cry

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 two very important things.

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 First,

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 first thing we realize

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 is that there is

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 such a thing

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 as justice

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 and righteousness.

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 There is such a thing

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 as right and wrong.

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 There is a moral reality

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 that is bigger

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 and more permanent

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 than my own wants

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 and desires.

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 Some things really are wrong.

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 Some things really are right

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 no matter who does

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 or who doesn't do them.

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 There is an objective

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 moral reality

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 that we just can't shake

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 as human beings

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 no matter how hard

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 we try to tell ourselves

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 that everything is relative

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 or that your truth

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 is your truth

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 and mine is mine.

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 There is a very definite sense

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 that there is

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 an objective moral reality

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 in the world.

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 And the reason why that is

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 is because the world

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 and everything in it

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 was created by a good

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 and righteous God.

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 the one true God

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 who made all things

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 to flourish

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 and to rejoice

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 and to share

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 in this goodness.

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 And God made human beings

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 in His own image

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 to worship Him

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 and to rule over creation,

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 to steward creation

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 justly to His glory.

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 As humans,

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 we have this indelible,

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 undeniable sense

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 that there is

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 an objective moral reality

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 because the world

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 is not an accident

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 but because the world

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 is the creation

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 of an objectively good

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 and righteous God.

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 In other words,

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 there is a moral law

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 because there is

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 a moral law giver

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 who made all things

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 to relate rightly to Him

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 and then to flourish

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 as a result.

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 But you know,

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 when our heart cries out

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 against injustice,

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 we don't just see evidence

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 that there is a good God

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 who upholds our sense

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 of moral reality.

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 We also see

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 that the world

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 is not the way

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 it's supposed to be.

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 God made the world good.

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 God created humans

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 to love and to worship Him.

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 God made us to be

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 just stewards of creation

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 that we might flourish

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 before Him.

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 But that's not

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 what we see now,

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 is it?

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 The world's not

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 a place of flourishing

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 but a place of suffering

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 and evil

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 and injustice.

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 Things are not the way

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 they're supposed to be.

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 You see,

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 we might take

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 verse 16

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 and we might apply it

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 to the whole

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 created order.

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 In the place of justice,

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 in the place

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 of righteousness,

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 the justice

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 that was supposed to be,

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 the created righteousness

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 that God intended,

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 there's wickedness.

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 What went wrong?

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 What went wrong

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 is that humans

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 sinned against God.

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 Rather than worship

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 and serve God,

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 we decided to put ourselves

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 in the place of God

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 and to ignore God

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 in the world

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 that God has made.

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 we rejected God's

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 good ways and laws

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 and we became

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 a law unto ourselves.

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 And although God

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 created humans

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 to live before Him,

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 now because of this sin,

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 because of this rupture

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 in our relationship

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 with God,

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 death has entered

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 the world.

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 And in verses 18

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 through 20

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 of Ecclesiastes,

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 we find the writer

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 making this

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 sober observation

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 that now humans

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 die just like

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 the beasts

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 in the field.

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 All are from dust

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 and to dust

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 all return.

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 This

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 is the curse

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 of sin

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 upon human life.

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 Death.

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 And you know,

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 for a moment,

00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:50.519
 Ecclesiastes

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 is unsure

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 whether there's

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 any difference now

00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:55.439
 between humans

00:10:55.439 --> 00:10:55.899
 and beasts.

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 He says

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 somewhat agnostically

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 in verse 21,

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 who knows

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 whether the spirit

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 of man goes upward

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 and the spirit

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 of the beast

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 goes down

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 into the earth.

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 Now keep in mind

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 that Ecclesiastes

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 is reflecting

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 on human injustice

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 here.

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 And seeing

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 the pervasive

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 ravages of human

00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:13.220
 evil and injustice,

00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:14.720
 he begins to question

00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:16.939
 whether human sin

00:11:16.939 --> 00:11:18.419
 has allowed

00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:19.620
 any humanity

00:11:19.620 --> 00:11:20.960
 to remain with us.

00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:24.740
 Verse 18,

00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:25.580
 maybe God's just

00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:26.440
 showing us

00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:27.379
 and proving to us

00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:28.320
 that now,

00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:29.340
 because of all

00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:29.919
 this injustice,

00:11:30.060 --> 00:11:30.519
 we're no better

00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:31.340
 off than the animals.

00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:32.680
 Perhaps sin

00:11:32.680 --> 00:11:34.560
 has dehumanized

00:11:34.560 --> 00:11:35.360
 us to such

00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:35.980
 a degree

00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:37.700
 that we are now

00:11:37.700 --> 00:11:38.419
 no different

00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:39.120
 from the beasts

00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:39.580
 who die

00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:40.480
 and return to dust.

00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:42.720
 Ecclesiastes

00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:43.539
 is grappling

00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:44.039
 with this

00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:45.200
 despairing thought

00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:45.639
 that maybe

00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:46.379
 we've fallen

00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:47.399
 so far

00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:48.919
 that we've

00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:49.580
 utterly lost

00:11:49.580 --> 00:11:50.419
 the image of God

00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:51.100
 in which we were

00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:51.519
 created.

00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:54.159
 Are we any

00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:55.120
 better than

00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:55.699
 the beasts?

00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:56.659
 Ecclesiastes

00:11:56.659 --> 00:11:57.059
 asks.

00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:01.799
 Well,

00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:02.600
 our passage

00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:03.519
 seems to offer

00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:05.179
 two alternative

00:12:05.179 --> 00:12:06.039
 ways forward.

00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:08.439
 And you know,

00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:09.500
 this is the style

00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.480
 of this kind of

00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:11.399
 strange and mysterious

00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:12.379
 book of Ecclesiastes

00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:13.159
 in the Old Testament.

00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:14.159
 Ecclesiastes

00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:14.759
 will often

00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:16.220
 juxtapose

00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:17.079
 seemingly

00:12:17.079 --> 00:12:17.939
 contradictory

00:12:17.939 --> 00:12:19.059
 approaches to life

00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:20.399
 and challenge

00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:20.899
 us then

00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:21.679
 to think it

00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:22.019
 through for

00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:22.500
 ourselves.

00:12:23.619 --> 00:12:24.099
 And in

00:12:24.099 --> 00:12:24.899
 challenging us

00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:25.479
 in this way,

00:12:25.959 --> 00:12:26.579
 the book is

00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:27.399
 forcing us

00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:28.099
 to grow

00:12:28.099 --> 00:12:29.179
 in real wisdom.

00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:31.279
 To not just

00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:31.979
 take what we've

00:12:31.979 --> 00:12:33.039
 been spoon-fed,

00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:34.039
 but to wrestle

00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:34.599
 it out

00:12:34.599 --> 00:12:36.599
 for ourselves

00:12:36.599 --> 00:12:37.019
 anew.

00:12:38.699 --> 00:12:39.459
 So what are

00:12:39.459 --> 00:12:39.979
 the alternatives?

00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:42.379
 Well,

00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:42.659
 on the one

00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:42.979
 hand,

00:12:44.319 --> 00:12:44.819
 perhaps there

00:12:44.819 --> 00:12:45.439
 is no hope

00:12:45.439 --> 00:12:46.079
 for real

00:12:46.079 --> 00:12:46.519
 justice.

00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:48.600
 Perhaps we

00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:49.079
 aren't any

00:12:49.079 --> 00:12:49.480
 better than

00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:49.899
 the beasts.

00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:50.679
 And perhaps

00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:51.179
 the best

00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:51.559
 that we can

00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:52.039
 do in this

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.879
 life is what

00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:53.480
 verse 22

00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:53.899
 says.

00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:54.960
 So I saw

00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:55.379
 there's nothing

00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:55.819
 better than

00:12:55.819 --> 00:12:56.179
 that a man

00:12:56.179 --> 00:12:56.639
 should rejoice

00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:57.120
 in his work,

00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:57.500
 for that's

00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:57.879
 his lot.

00:12:58.519 --> 00:12:58.919
 Who can

00:12:58.919 --> 00:12:59.220
 bring him

00:12:59.220 --> 00:12:59.519
 to see

00:12:59.519 --> 00:12:59.860
 what will

00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:00.279
 be after

00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:00.519
 him?

00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:04.079
 Feels a bit

00:13:04.079 --> 00:13:04.799
 like resignation,

00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:05.379
 doesn't it?

00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:06.659
 Maybe we

00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:06.960
 can't do

00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.559
 anything about

00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:07.960
 injustice,

00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:08.539
 and maybe we

00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:08.960
 just have to

00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:09.840
 get whatever

00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:10.720
 enjoyment we

00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:11.379
 can out of

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.360
 this life and

00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.179
 realize that our

00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:13.779
 futures are

00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:14.259
 unknown.

00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.460
 There are

00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:17.860
 many of

00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:19.360
 us who

00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:19.759
 live that

00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:20.299
 way today,

00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:21.399
 aren't there?

00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.639
 But that's

00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:25.259
 not the only

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:25.819
 alternative.

00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:28.319
 Earlier in

00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:28.759
 the passage,

00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:29.579
 we read this,

00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:31.240
 I said in

00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:31.819
 my heart,

00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:33.939
 God will

00:13:33.939 --> 00:13:34.639
 judge the

00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.139
 righteous and

00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:35.500
 the wicked,

00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:37.439
 for there

00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:38.159
 is a time

00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:39.460
 for every

00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:40.919
 matter and

00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:41.319
 for every

00:13:41.319 --> 00:13:41.740
 work.

00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:45.220
 Ecclesiastes

00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:47.040
 sees that

00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:47.340
 if there

00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:48.920
 is hope

00:13:48.920 --> 00:13:49.300
 for the

00:13:49.300 --> 00:13:49.720
 world,

00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:51.680
 if there

00:13:51.680 --> 00:13:52.100
 is a

00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:52.960
 prospect for

00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:53.960
 real lasting

00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:54.639
 justice,

00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:57.279
 it has to

00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:58.240
 come from

00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.300
 outside of

00:13:59.300 --> 00:13:59.700
 the world.

00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:01.360
 In other

00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:01.519
 words,

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:03.000
 human effort

00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:03.920
 alone will

00:14:03.920 --> 00:14:04.940
 not produce

00:14:04.940 --> 00:14:05.160
 it.

00:14:06.180 --> 00:14:06.740
 In fact,

00:14:06.800 --> 00:14:07.360
 we are very

00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:07.960
 much part of

00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:08.500
 the problem.

00:14:09.560 --> 00:14:10.440
 The injustice

00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:11.060
 and evil in

00:14:11.060 --> 00:14:11.580
 the world

00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:13.340
 runs right

00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:13.920
 through our

00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:14.579
 own hearts.

00:14:16.099 --> 00:14:16.399
 You see,

00:14:16.479 --> 00:14:17.120
 verse 16

00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:17.699
 applies not

00:14:17.699 --> 00:14:18.179
 just to the

00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:18.679
 world as a

00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:19.019
 whole,

00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:20.879
 but it

00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:21.360
 applies to

00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:21.699
 each and

00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:22.079
 every one

00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:22.479
 of us.

00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:23.919
 In the

00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:24.399
 place of

00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:24.919
 righteousness,

00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:26.819
 even there,

00:14:27.419 --> 00:14:28.039
 in my own

00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:28.479
 heart,

00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:29.839
 there was

00:14:29.839 --> 00:14:30.439
 wickedness.

00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:32.179
 You see,

00:14:32.199 --> 00:14:32.539
 in our own

00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:32.799
 hearts,

00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:34.360
 we know we

00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:35.019
 should strive

00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:35.919
 for justice

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:36.500
 and righteousness,

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.059
 but even

00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:38.399
 there,

00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:38.980
 we see that

00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:39.439
 our desires

00:14:39.439 --> 00:14:40.159
 are not pure

00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:40.779
 and our

00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:41.219
 actions are

00:14:41.219 --> 00:14:42.079
 not impartial,

00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:42.620
 that we

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.199
 don't love

00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:43.660
 righteousness,

00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:44.440
 that we

00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:44.900
 too are

00:14:44.900 --> 00:14:45.220
 part of

00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:45.840
 the problem.

00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:47.100
 And so,

00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:47.800
 rescue must

00:14:47.800 --> 00:14:48.520
 come not

00:14:48.520 --> 00:14:49.180
 from us.

00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:50.560
 If there's

00:14:50.560 --> 00:14:51.379
 any hope

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:51.680
 for the

00:14:51.680 --> 00:14:52.080
 world,

00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:53.680
 God must

00:14:53.680 --> 00:14:53.980
 be the

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:55.140
 one to

00:14:55.140 --> 00:14:56.060
 judge and

00:14:56.060 --> 00:14:56.320
 to put

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:56.860
 things right.

00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.480
 You see,

00:14:59.520 --> 00:14:59.720
 as the

00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:00.020
 creator,

00:15:00.180 --> 00:15:00.879
 God doesn't

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.500
 just have

00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:02.060
 the right

00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:02.640
 to judge.

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.120
 He alone

00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:04.580
 has the

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.220
 ability

00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:05.980
 to judge.

00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:08.740
 In fact,

00:15:09.800 --> 00:15:10.600
 God is

00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.300
 the judge

00:15:11.300 --> 00:15:11.820
 that we

00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:12.460
 long for.

00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.460
 God

00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:14.960
 alone

00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.900
 is good

00:15:15.900 --> 00:15:18.520
 and impartial

00:15:18.520 --> 00:15:20.360
 and righteous.

00:15:21.660 --> 00:15:21.980
 God

00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:22.400
 alone

00:15:22.400 --> 00:15:22.940
 can judge

00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:23.120
 with

00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.060
 perfect

00:15:24.060 --> 00:15:24.980
 equity

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:26.320
 and perfect

00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:26.920
 knowledge.

00:15:28.520 --> 00:15:29.000
 That's

00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:29.280
 why the

00:15:29.280 --> 00:15:29.759
 Psalms

00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.759
 repeatedly

00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.340
 say

00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.580
 that when

00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:32.900
 God,

00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:33.060
 their

00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:33.460
 creator,

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.379
 finally

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.120
 acts

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.879
 to put

00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:36.280
 the world

00:15:36.280 --> 00:15:36.879
 to rights,

00:15:37.660 --> 00:15:38.340
 when God

00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.379
 finally steps

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:39.840
 into his

00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:40.700
 broken creation

00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:41.180
 to put an

00:15:41.180 --> 00:15:41.840
 end to

00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.320
 evil and

00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:42.780
 injustice,

00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:43.980
 when God

00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.480
 finally makes

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:45.940
 the world

00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:47.340
 new through

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:47.960
 his act of

00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:48.900
 redeeming judgment,

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:50.120
 the psalmists

00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:50.360
 say,

00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:51.420
 the trees

00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:51.960
 will clap

00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:52.760
 their hands

00:15:52.760 --> 00:15:53.600
 and the

00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:54.280
 rivers will

00:15:54.280 --> 00:15:54.860
 sing for

00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:55.300
 joy.

00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.720
 Creation

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.860
 will rejoice

00:15:58.860 --> 00:16:00.640
 when this

00:16:00.640 --> 00:16:01.700
 perfectly good

00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:02.660
 God comes

00:16:02.660 --> 00:16:03.200
 to judge

00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:03.980
 because it

00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:04.260
 will mean

00:16:04.260 --> 00:16:04.879
 the end

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.860
 of evil

00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.760
 and injustice

00:16:06.760 --> 00:16:07.800
 and suffering

00:16:07.800 --> 00:16:08.580
 once and

00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.080
 for all.

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:09.280
 hope.

00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:11.440
 That

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.300
 is the

00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:12.660
 world's

00:16:12.660 --> 00:16:13.500
 only

00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.480
 lasting

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:14.940
 hope.

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.660
 But here's

00:16:18.660 --> 00:16:19.100
 the troubling

00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:19.580
 thing.

00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:23.040
 When God's

00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:23.620
 perfect judgment

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:25.259
 comes to

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.020
 judge perfectly

00:16:26.020 --> 00:16:26.580
 and to make

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.060
 all things

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:27.400
 new,

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:29.120
 before the

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.780
 bar of this

00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:30.180
 utterly

00:16:30.180 --> 00:16:31.120
 impartial

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.540
 goodness

00:16:31.540 --> 00:16:32.460
 and justice,

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.900
 where will

00:16:34.900 --> 00:16:35.460
 you and I

00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:35.879
 stand?

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:42.379
 as sinners,

00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:44.179
 we will

00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:44.480
 stand

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:44.980
 condemned.

00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.360
 And so

00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:48.799
 the question

00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:49.259
 is,

00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:50.899
 is there

00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.559
 any hope

00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:52.740
 for us

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.580
 sinners

00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:55.120
 before the

00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.539
 good

00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.860
 judgment

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.399
 of God?

00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:00.279
 You see,

00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:00.679
 the only

00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:01.279
 hope that

00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:01.980
 we have

00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:05.279
 hope isn't

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:05.759
 in our

00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:06.059
 own

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.559
 righteousness,

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:09.059
 for we

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:09.599
 have none

00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:10.339
 that will

00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.559
 avail before

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.039
 the judgment

00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.440
 seat of

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:12.740
 God.

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.900
 Our only

00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:15.420
 hope isn't

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:15.779
 in our

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.039
 own

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.460
 righteousness,

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:18.660
 but in

00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:19.180
 the righteousness

00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:19.819
 of another.

00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:22.599
 The good

00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:23.019
 news of the

00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.440
 Bible is

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:23.799
 this,

00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:24.819
 that God

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.500
 will judge

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:25.940
 the world

00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:26.360
 and put

00:17:26.360 --> 00:17:26.920
 things right,

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:27.940
 but he's

00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:28.920
 also made

00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:29.400
 a way

00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.740
 for sinners

00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.759
 to be safe

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.539
 in that

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.059
 judgment.

00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:35.019
 Imagine you're

00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.720
 walking home

00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:37.059
 from work

00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:37.640
 or you're

00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:38.079
 walking home

00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:38.740
 from class

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.940
 and unexpectedly

00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:40.539
 a great

00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.140
 rainstorm

00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:41.500
 appears.

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:42.720
 I was on

00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.220
 campus on

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:43.539
 Thursday

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.160
 and it

00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:44.539
 was raining

00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:44.799
 and there

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.160
 were a lot

00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:45.400
 of wet

00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:45.660
 people

00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.000
 walking

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.359
 around.

00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:49.940
 Unexpectedly

00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.379
 this great

00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:50.900
 rainstorm

00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:51.579
 crops up,

00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:52.160
 the heavy

00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:52.700
 rain begins

00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.000
 to fall.

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:53.240
 What do

00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:53.539
 you do?

00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:55.799
 You

00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.220
 immediately

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:56.799
 run for

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.140
 shelter,

00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:57.420
 right?

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:57.779
 You find

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.200
 a doorway,

00:17:58.379 --> 00:17:58.640
 you find

00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.119
 an awning,

00:17:59.240 --> 00:17:59.480
 you find

00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.039
 an alcove,

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:00.640
 you find

00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.180
 some kind

00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:01.579
 of shelter,

00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:02.299
 shelter to

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:02.839
 keep you

00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.559
 safe while

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.139
 the storm

00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:04.960
 passes by.

00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:08.379
 And friends,

00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:08.659
 you see,

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:10.079
 God has

00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:11.559
 done just

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:13.339
 that when

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.059
 he became

00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:15.079
 incarnate in

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.599
 the person

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.000
 of Jesus

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.579
 Christ.

00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:18.980
 Jesus lived

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.539
 the life you

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.019
 and I ought

00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:20.319
 to have

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.980
 lived in

00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:21.379
 perfect

00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:21.839
 righteousness

00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.500
 before God

00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:22.939
 the Father.

00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:24.460
 And Jesus

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.159
 Christ died

00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:25.619
 the death

00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:25.899
 that you

00:18:25.899 --> 00:18:26.099
 and I

00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:26.799
 deserve to

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.139
 die.

00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:27.519
 On the

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:27.799
 cross,

00:18:27.879 --> 00:18:28.139
 he bore

00:18:28.139 --> 00:18:28.740
 the full

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.740
 curse of

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.039
 God's

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:30.299
 judgment

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:30.579
 against

00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:30.859
 human

00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:31.180
 sin.

00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:32.259
 And on

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.579
 the third

00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:32.779
 day,

00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:32.980
 Jesus

00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.659
 Christ rose

00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:34.000
 from the

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.299
 grave,

00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:35.000
 demonstrating

00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:35.399
 that he

00:18:35.399 --> 00:18:35.980
 was the

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.259
 Son of

00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:36.559
 God,

00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:37.720
 and that

00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:37.980
 he would

00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:38.359
 now be

00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:38.980
 the shelter

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:40.019
 for all

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.440
 who take

00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.019
 refuge in

00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.259
 him.

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.960
 You and

00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.799
 I can

00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:46.440
 flee to

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:46.819
 him,

00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:48.619
 and his

00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.000
 perfect

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.519
 righteousness

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.639
 and his

00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:51.339
 sin-bearing

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:51.859
 death

00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:52.759
 will cover

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.180
 you,

00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.240
 you see.

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.779
 He already

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:58.639
 endured

00:18:58.639 --> 00:19:00.099
 the storm

00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:02.440
 so that

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:02.759
 you and

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.160
 I don't

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:03.799
 have to.

00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:05.619
 Jesus

00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:05.980
 Christ

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.579
 willingly

00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:07.160
 stood

00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.519
 in the

00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:09.039
 winds

00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:09.519
 and the

00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.079
 rain of

00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:10.480
 judgment.

00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:11.279
 He

00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:11.819
 willingly

00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.460
 allowed

00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.139
 that storm

00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:13.899
 to fall

00:19:13.899 --> 00:19:14.879
 hard on

00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:15.420
 himself

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:17.000
 so that

00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.379
 you could

00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:17.960
 be safe

00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:18.339
 beneath

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:18.680
 him.

00:19:21.399 --> 00:19:22.099
 You see,

00:19:22.139 --> 00:19:22.379
 the only

00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:22.759
 place,

00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.319
 the only

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:23.839
 place

00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:25.119
 where real

00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:25.699
 justice

00:19:25.699 --> 00:19:26.419
 can be

00:19:26.419 --> 00:19:26.859
 found

00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:27.759
 in an

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.220
 unjust

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.779
 world

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.659
 is at

00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:31.099
 the cross

00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:31.459
 of Jesus

00:19:31.459 --> 00:19:31.939
 Christ.

00:19:33.959 --> 00:19:34.859
 At the

00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.299
 cross,

00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.699
 God judged

00:19:36.699 --> 00:19:37.319
 human sin.

00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:38.939
 The storms

00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:39.319
 of his

00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:39.939
 wrath fell

00:19:39.939 --> 00:19:40.819
 fully upon

00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.159
 human

00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:41.539
 injustice

00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:42.000
 and evil

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.819
 as Jesus

00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.139
 Christ

00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:43.639
 became

00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.159
 sin for

00:19:44.159 --> 00:19:44.439
 us.

00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:45.879
 And at

00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:46.399
 the cross,

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.299
 God freely

00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:47.980
 offers his

00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:48.579
 righteousness

00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.399
 to all

00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:49.980
 who believe.

00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:51.519
 Paul says

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:51.839
 he was

00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:52.579
 delivered up

00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.759
 for our

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.519
 trespasses

00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:56.199
 and he

00:19:56.199 --> 00:19:56.879
 was raised

00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:57.619
 for our

00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:58.220
 justification.

00:20:00.179 --> 00:20:00.500
 So you

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:00.599
 see,

00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:00.799
 at the

00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.059
 cross,

00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:01.519
 justice

00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:01.980
 and love

00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:02.199
 meet

00:20:02.199 --> 00:20:02.699
 perfectly.

00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:04.259
 Justice

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.460
 because God

00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.539
 maintains

00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:07.740
 his righteous

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.500
 opposition to

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:08.819
 sin and

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.099
 evil,

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.859
 and love

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.480
 because God

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.199
 forgives

00:20:12.199 --> 00:20:13.399
 and receives

00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:15.220
 unjust

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:15.839
 sinners who

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.460
 repent and

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:16.859
 trust in

00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:17.240
 his son.

00:20:18.939 --> 00:20:19.619
 Because

00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:19.980
 Jesus

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.839
 willingly

00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:21.439
 stood in

00:20:21.439 --> 00:20:22.059
 your place,

00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:24.359
 God is

00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:25.199
 both just

00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:26.879
 and the

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:27.559
 justifier

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.639
 of those

00:20:28.639 --> 00:20:29.039
 who believe

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:29.419
 in him.

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.059
 And for

00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:34.439
 those who

00:20:34.439 --> 00:20:35.039
 know

00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.559
 God's

00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.240
 justifying

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:37.879
 grace

00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:38.480
 in this

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:38.980
 way,

00:20:40.199 --> 00:20:40.699
 something

00:20:40.699 --> 00:20:41.319
 happens.

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.839
 For those

00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.199
 who take

00:20:44.199 --> 00:20:44.859
 shelter under

00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:45.279
 the love

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.899
 and righteousness

00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:46.460
 of Jesus

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.119
 their Lord,

00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.779
 a change

00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.359
 begins.

00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.359
 righteousness,

00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:51.419
 we start

00:20:51.419 --> 00:20:51.939
 to become

00:20:51.939 --> 00:20:53.459
 people who

00:20:53.459 --> 00:20:54.079
 love

00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:54.659
 righteousness

00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.759
 more and

00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.019
 more,

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.759
 and who

00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.979
 work for

00:20:58.979 --> 00:20:59.500
 justice

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.599
 more and

00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:00.839
 more.

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:02.399
 Jesus

00:21:02.399 --> 00:21:02.819
 says that

00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.699
 his followers

00:21:03.699 --> 00:21:04.219
 are those

00:21:04.219 --> 00:21:04.939
 who hunger

00:21:04.939 --> 00:21:06.219
 and thirst

00:21:06.219 --> 00:21:07.519
 for righteousness.

00:21:08.699 --> 00:21:09.819
 When you

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.439
 genuinely

00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:12.159
 receive this

00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:13.059
 gift of

00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.500
 righteousness,

00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:15.219
 you will

00:21:15.219 --> 00:21:16.199
 become passionate

00:21:16.199 --> 00:21:17.639
 about extending

00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.560
 that gift to

00:21:18.560 --> 00:21:19.000
 others.

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:20.800
 Having been

00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:22.060
 freely put

00:21:22.060 --> 00:21:22.500
 right with

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.100
 God through

00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:23.520
 the cross

00:21:23.520 --> 00:21:24.100
 of Christ,

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.340
 Christians now

00:21:25.340 --> 00:21:26.600
 seek to go

00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:28.960
 out in the

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.640
 power of the

00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:30.160
 Spirit to

00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:31.240
 restore and put

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.980
 all things

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.600
 right in the

00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:32.920
 name of

00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:33.300
 Christ.

00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:33.339
 Christ.

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.799
 We hunger

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.319
 and thirst

00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:35.940
 for righteousness

00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:37.059
 in every

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.879
 area of

00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.200
 God's

00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:38.579
 world.

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.039
 Where

00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.539
 injustice

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.440
 and wickedness

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.899
 dwell,

00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.119
 there is a

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.740
 place for

00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.359
 God's grace

00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:46.819
 and God's

00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.399
 kingdom work

00:21:47.399 --> 00:21:47.960
 to begin.

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.480
 Just as it

00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:50.879
 has begun

00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:51.480
 in our own

00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:53.379
 hearts when

00:21:53.379 --> 00:21:54.139
 Christ forgave

00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:54.940
 and reconciled

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:57.159
 us, so we

00:21:57.159 --> 00:21:58.220
 must see that

00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.119
 righteousness made

00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.940
 visible all

00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.659
 around us.

00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:03.560
 And this

00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:04.040
 means that the

00:22:04.040 --> 00:22:04.560
 Christian's

00:22:04.560 --> 00:22:05.080
 pursuit of

00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:06.960
 justice won't

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.180
 grow dim or

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.360
 wear out or

00:22:09.360 --> 00:22:10.360
 get cynical when

00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.080
 things get

00:22:11.080 --> 00:22:11.540
 difficult.

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.100
 This is a

00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:12.800
 great problem,

00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:13.200
 isn't it?

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.300
 It's easy to be

00:22:14.300 --> 00:22:15.240
 passionate for

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.840
 putting things

00:22:15.840 --> 00:22:17.680
 right only within

00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:19.640
 months or years

00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.300
 to just grow

00:22:20.300 --> 00:22:21.500
 deeply discouraged

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.360
 and embittered.

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:25.880
 But not so for

00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.500
 those who have

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.519
 come to know the

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.400
 righteousness of

00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:30.840
 Christ because

00:22:30.840 --> 00:22:32.019
 our hungering and

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.700
 thirsting for

00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.540
 righteousness is

00:22:33.540 --> 00:22:34.840
 rooted in an

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.700
 already finished

00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:37.560
 work and in an

00:22:37.560 --> 00:22:38.440
 ultimate hope of

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.200
 His kingdom.

00:22:41.780 --> 00:22:42.720
 And at the same

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.120
 time, the

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.980
 Christian pursuit of

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.800
 justice doesn't grow

00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:46.300
 proud or self-

00:22:46.300 --> 00:22:47.480
 congratulatory when

00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.320
 things go well.

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.560
 Maybe you've been

00:22:50.560 --> 00:22:51.240
 around people like

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:51.500
 that.

00:22:52.100 --> 00:22:53.360
 They're so in tune

00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:53.980
 with righteousness

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.560
 that they're just

00:22:54.560 --> 00:22:55.640
 completely unbearable

00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:56.220
 to be around,

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:56.600
 right?

00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:58.019
 They're just

00:22:58.019 --> 00:23:00.179
 immensely proud and

00:23:00.179 --> 00:23:00.740
 condemning of

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.319
 everyone around

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.619
 them.

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.579
 But for the

00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:04.240
 Christian, that can

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.259
 never be the case.

00:23:05.899 --> 00:23:06.159
 Why?

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.279
 Because we know

00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.559
 that no matter how

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.699
 hard we hunger and

00:23:11.699 --> 00:23:12.099
 thirst for

00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:13.159
 righteousness, we

00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:14.159
 are always just

00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:15.219
 sinners saved by

00:23:15.219 --> 00:23:16.139
 sheer grace.

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.480
 Any advance of

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.240
 God's kingdom and

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.139
 His righteousness is

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:21.099
 ultimately His work

00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:22.119
 and not ours.

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:26.539
 So this is

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.439
 Ecclesiastes' first

00:23:27.439 --> 00:23:27.859
 question.

00:23:28.419 --> 00:23:29.159
 Where can we find

00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:30.019
 real justice?

00:23:31.419 --> 00:23:32.059
 Friends, the answer

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:33.139
 is only found in

00:23:33.139 --> 00:23:35.459
 God and supremely in

00:23:35.459 --> 00:23:36.259
 the cross of Jesus

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.179
 Christ where God

00:23:37.179 --> 00:23:38.799
 justifies sinners by

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:40.459
 His grace, renews

00:23:40.459 --> 00:23:41.299
 them, and sends them

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.399
 out to be agents of

00:23:42.399 --> 00:23:43.039
 His grace in the

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.319
 world.

00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:47.039
 Ecclesiastes' second

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.739
 question comes in

00:23:47.739 --> 00:23:48.359
 chapter 4.

00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:50.740
 And this time,

00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:51.719
 having reflected on

00:23:51.719 --> 00:23:52.879
 justice, he kind of

00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:54.799
 turns a little bit to

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:57.219
 a related topic and

00:23:57.219 --> 00:23:58.219
 he asks, where can

00:23:58.219 --> 00:23:59.899
 real comfort be found

00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:01.259
 in the midst of

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.599
 oppression?

00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:02.799
 Let me read chapter 4

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.299
 for us.

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.240
 Ecclesiastes says,

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.919
 again, I saw all the

00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:07.559
 oppressions that are

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.339
 done under the sun,

00:24:08.899 --> 00:24:10.099
 and behold, the tears

00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:11.719
 of the oppressed, and

00:24:11.719 --> 00:24:12.319
 they had no one to

00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:12.819
 comfort them.

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.019
 On the side of their

00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.799
 oppressors there was

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:17.879
 power, and there was

00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:18.680
 no one to comfort

00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:18.980
 them.

00:24:20.020 --> 00:24:20.780
 And I thought the

00:24:20.780 --> 00:24:22.120
 dead who are already

00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:23.760
 dead more fortunate

00:24:23.760 --> 00:24:24.820
 than the living who

00:24:24.820 --> 00:24:25.740
 are still alive.

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.520
 But better than both

00:24:27.520 --> 00:24:29.060
 is he who has not yet

00:24:29.060 --> 00:24:31.260
 been and has not seen

00:24:31.260 --> 00:24:32.100
 the evil deeds that

00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:33.020
 are done under the sun.

00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:35.560
 Then I saw all the

00:24:35.560 --> 00:24:37.480
 toil and all skill and

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:39.320
 work come from a man's

00:24:39.320 --> 00:24:40.500
 envy of his neighbor.

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.580
 This also is vanity

00:24:42.580 --> 00:24:43.380
 and is striving after

00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:43.640
 wind.

00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.560
 The fool folds his

00:24:44.560 --> 00:24:45.300
 hands and eats his

00:24:45.300 --> 00:24:46.940
 own flesh, betters a

00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.920
 handful of quietness

00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:48.660
 than two hands full

00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.400
 of toil and a

00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:50.400
 striving after wind.

00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:53.580
 Again, I saw vanity

00:24:53.580 --> 00:24:54.240
 under the sun.

00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.799
 One person who has

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:57.440
 no one, either son or

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.680
 brother, and yet there's

00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.180
 no end.

00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.279
 All his toil and his

00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:01.299
 eyes are never satisfied

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:02.820
 with riches, so that he

00:25:02.820 --> 00:25:04.779
 never asks, for whom am I

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.860
 toiling and depriving

00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:06.820
 myself of pleasure?

00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:09.279
 This also is vanity and

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.320
 an unhappy business.

00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:13.080
 Two are better than one

00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:13.980
 because they have a good

00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:15.039
 reward for their toil.

00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:18.059
 For if they fall, one will

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.859
 lift up his fellow.

00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:21.159
 But woe to him who is

00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:22.319
 alone when he falls and

00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:23.420
 has not another to lift

00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:23.839
 him up.

00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:25.899
 If two lie together, they

00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:26.899
 keep warm, but how can

00:25:26.899 --> 00:25:27.879
 one keep warm alone?

00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:29.659
 And though a man might

00:25:29.659 --> 00:25:30.799
 prevail against one who

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.639
 is alone, two will

00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.519
 withstand him.

00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:36.039
 A threefold cord is not

00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.720
 quickly broken.

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.720
 Better was a poor and

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.680
 wise youth than an old

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:42.220
 and foolish king who no

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.139
 longer knew how to take

00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:45.020
 advice, for he went from

00:25:45.020 --> 00:25:46.520
 prison to the throne,

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.300
 though in his own

00:25:47.300 --> 00:25:48.100
 kingdom he had been

00:25:48.100 --> 00:25:48.480
 poor.

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.300
 I saw all the living who

00:25:50.300 --> 00:25:51.300
 move about under the sun

00:25:51.300 --> 00:25:52.460
 along with that youth who

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.600
 was to stand in the king's

00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:54.000
 place.

00:25:54.560 --> 00:25:55.640
 There was no end of all the

00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:56.900
 people, all of whom he

00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:57.160
 led.

00:25:58.560 --> 00:25:59.600
 Yet those who come later

00:25:59.600 --> 00:26:00.800
 will not rejoice in him.

00:26:02.320 --> 00:26:03.660
 Surely this also is vanity

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:05.000
 and a striving after wind.

00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:07.800
 Okay, now we don't have

00:26:07.800 --> 00:26:09.480
 time to explore all the

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.400
 details of this chapter.

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.380
 And in fact, we're

00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:12.519
 actually going to return

00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:14.160
 to many of the themes

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:15.660
 that begin in this chapter

00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:16.620
 in the coming weeks.

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:18.019
 As Ecclesiastes proceeds,

00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:19.140
 it's often going to revisit

00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:20.840
 the same ideas as the

00:26:20.840 --> 00:26:21.380
 book goes on.

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.540
 It kind of moves elliptically

00:26:22.540 --> 00:26:24.040
 through the same themes as

00:26:24.040 --> 00:26:24.620
 it progresses.

00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:27.280
 But today, I just want to

00:26:27.280 --> 00:26:28.560
 notice again these opening

00:26:28.560 --> 00:26:30.480
 verses where he says,

00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:32.060
 Behold the tears of the

00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:34.360
 oppressed, and they had no

00:26:34.360 --> 00:26:35.320
 one to comfort them.

00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:37.360
 On the side of their

00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:39.100
 oppressors there was power,

00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:41.139
 and there was no one to

00:26:41.139 --> 00:26:41.759
 comfort them.

00:26:44.679 --> 00:26:46.139
 Who will comfort the

00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:47.519
 oppressed in this life?

00:26:48.659 --> 00:26:49.639
 Ecclesiastes asks.

00:26:53.219 --> 00:26:55.740
 But do you see, do you see

00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.959
 how the gospel of Jesus

00:26:56.959 --> 00:26:59.539
 Christ opens up a new

00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:02.159
 horizon that Ecclesiastes

00:27:02.159 --> 00:27:03.699
 could not yet see?

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:06.340
 For what does the gospel

00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:07.039
 tell us?

00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:09.799
 It tells us that God

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:13.340
 himself stood in the place

00:27:13.340 --> 00:27:14.059
 of the oppressed.

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:16.539
 Jesus Christ entered into

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:18.380
 the life of the poor, the

00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:19.299
 downtrodden, the broken

00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:19.819
 hearted.

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:22.039
 There is no tier of human

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:23.380
 experience that he himself

00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:24.240
 has not personally

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:24.779
 understood.

00:27:26.080 --> 00:27:28.600
 He's joined himself to all

00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:29.779
 of our sufferings, all of

00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.620
 our sorrows.

00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:33.219
 So, friend, if you are

00:27:33.219 --> 00:27:35.579
 weary, or you are weeping,

00:27:36.139 --> 00:27:37.699
 or you are oppressed today,

00:27:38.199 --> 00:27:39.699
 you are not alone.

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.939
 Even if you feel that

00:27:41.939 --> 00:27:43.339
 everyone has abandoned you,

00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:45.539
 the Lord Jesus has not.

00:27:47.239 --> 00:27:48.579
 He is with you in every

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.899
 sorrow and in every tear.

00:27:50.919 --> 00:27:52.799
 And he is there not merely

00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:54.519
 to sympathize with you,

00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:57.699
 but to really comfort you.

00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:01.519
 Because of what God has

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.819
 done in Jesus Christ, you

00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:06.460
 see, power is no longer

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:08.220
 ultimately on the side of

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.120
 the oppressors.

00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:10.960
 Why?

00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.960
 Because God is the only

00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:12.860
 true source of power.

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.279
 God is almighty and

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:15.700
 sovereign, and the almighty

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:17.039
 God took on flesh and

00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.720
 lived among us.

00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:19.019
 And when he lived among us

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.860
 in the flesh, with whom

00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:20.559
 did he fellowship?

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:22.299
 With whom did he live and

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:22.680
 work?

00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:24.080
 With whom did he unite

00:28:24.080 --> 00:28:25.340
 himself in his cause?

00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:28.179
 His power was not joined

00:28:28.179 --> 00:28:29.379
 to the oppressors of this

00:28:29.379 --> 00:28:30.899
 world, those who worked

00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.919
 and toiled just out of

00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:32.919
 envy for their neighbor to

00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:33.599
 get ahead.

00:28:35.699 --> 00:28:36.259
 No.

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.779
 When the almighty and

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.919
 sovereign God took on

00:28:39.919 --> 00:28:41.319
 flesh and walked among us,

00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:44.639
 he was with the weak and

00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:46.519
 the lowly and the outcast.

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:50.099
 God placed himself in his

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:51.659
 almighty power on behalf

00:28:51.659 --> 00:28:53.699
 of the poor and on behalf

00:28:53.699 --> 00:28:55.299
 of the sorrowful and on

00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.619
 behalf of those who mourn.

00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:58.799
 And that means there is

00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:00.599
 coming a day when

00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:03.099
 oppression will cease and

00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:04.399
 oppressors will be called

00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:04.960
 to account.

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:07.440
 God will have the last

00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:09.200
 word, and God will stand

00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.559
 with his people, and God

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:12.680
 will see that every tear is

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.700
 wiped from their eyes.

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:16.680
 And all sorrows, even death

00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:18.379
 itself, will be swallowed up

00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:20.799
 in God's victory on behalf

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.460
 of the oppressed.

00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:25.799
 And you see, God has not just

00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:27.019
 promised that one day all

00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:28.120
 oppression will cease.

00:29:28.340 --> 00:29:30.240
 He's also promised that even

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:32.100
 the afflictions of this life

00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:34.120
 cannot stop his current

00:29:34.120 --> 00:29:35.279
 redemptive work from going

00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:35.720
 forth.

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:39.000
 What the world means for evil,

00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:42.240
 God will intend for good.

00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:44.600
 In fact, because of who God is

00:29:44.600 --> 00:29:45.920
 in his power and in his

00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:47.480
 goodness, he has promised that

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:49.299
 all things work together for

00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.399
 good, for those who love him

00:29:50.399 --> 00:29:51.680
 and who are called according

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.379
 to his purpose.

00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:55.879
 You see, friends, lasting

00:29:55.879 --> 00:29:59.099
 comfort is found in the same

00:29:59.099 --> 00:30:00.740
 place where lasting justice is

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.039
 found.

00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:05.919
 For the sinner, lasting justice

00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:07.440
 can only be found in the cross

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.579
 and resurrection of the Lord

00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:08.899
 Jesus.

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:13.619
 For the sufferer, lasting

00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:15.940
 comfort, too, can only be found

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:18.119
 in the cross and resurrection of

00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:18.739
 the Lord Jesus.

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:22.479
 You see, his scars are both

00:30:22.479 --> 00:30:25.519
 your justification and your

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:25.879
 redemption.

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:28.059
 They are your righteousness and

00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:28.559
 your freedom.

00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:31.299
 They speak over you his word of

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:33.119
 forgiveness and his word of

00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:34.719
 protecting love.

00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:37.639
 You are mine and no one will

00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:38.979
 take you out of my hands.

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:45.339
 And in the embrace of his

00:30:45.339 --> 00:30:47.400
 scarred hands in the cross and

00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:48.880
 resurrection of Jesus Christ,

00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.579
 a new community is forged.

00:30:53.620 --> 00:30:54.920
 Ecclesiastes 4, 9 through 12

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:57.319
 lifts up the power and comfort

00:30:57.319 --> 00:30:59.099
 of relationship, of community.

00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:00.579
 How many people have been to a

00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:01.720
 wedding and you've heard this

00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:02.860
 passage read, right?

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.279
 You're like, oh, this is the one

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:05.559
 passage in this crazy text I've

00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.559
 actually heard before, right?

00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.680
 Because I was at a wedding and

00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.160
 they read it.

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.960
 But what's Ecclesiastes really

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:11.420
 getting on about here, right?

00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:15.500
 He's talking about the power of

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:17.620
 community, of living not for

00:31:17.620 --> 00:31:20.100
 yourself but with and for others.

00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:22.820
 And this is exactly what the

00:31:22.820 --> 00:31:24.240
 church of Jesus Christ is.

00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:26.039
 It is the fulfillment of verses

00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.880
 9 through 12.

00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:29.360
 All who believe in Jesus Christ

00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:31.140
 become a part of this community,

00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:31.820
 of the church.

00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:33.759
 We no longer work alone.

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:36.279
 We no longer rise or fall alone.

00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.960
 We no longer face battles or

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.720
 defeats alone.

00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:40.879
 We're woven together in Christ by

00:31:40.879 --> 00:31:42.819
 the Holy Spirit like a threefold

00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:44.259
 cord that can't be broken.

00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:48.519
 And this is why baptism isn't just

00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:51.099
 a sign of being united to Jesus in

00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:52.879
 his death and in his resurrection,

00:31:53.139 --> 00:31:55.819
 but being united to all those who

00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:57.139
 have been united to Jesus in his

00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:58.259
 death and resurrection, of being

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:59.859
 united to the visible church.

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:03.140
 And this is why becoming a member

00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:04.779
 of a local church is so important.

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:08.319
 Because we aren't made to live

00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:08.759
 alone.

00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:13.000
 God rescues us to become a people.

00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:17.180
 A people who hunger and thirst for

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:18.339
 righteousness together.

00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:21.299
 A people who together comfort one

00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:23.140
 another in all our afflictions.

00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:27.880
 And that's what this baptism today

00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:28.400
 is all about.

00:32:29.800 --> 00:32:31.600
 It's about the work of God saving

00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:33.940
 grace, saving us through the death

00:32:33.940 --> 00:32:35.160
 and resurrection of his son,

00:32:35.580 --> 00:32:37.280
 making us new creations in him,

00:32:37.580 --> 00:32:39.400
 and at the same time grafting us

00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:41.580
 into a new family, making us a new

00:32:41.580 --> 00:32:43.500
 people who love and serve not just

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:45.400
 one another, but who seek to love

00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:46.560
 our neighbors as ourselves.

00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:51.220
 And God holds this out to all of us

00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:53.559
 today.

00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:55.740
 Friend, you can find his justice

00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.500
 and his comfort.

00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:59.400
 You can know that your sins are

00:32:59.400 --> 00:32:59.720
 forgiven.

00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:03.319
 You can find your place in his people

00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:04.440
 and be known.

00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:07.220
 Turn from your sins.

00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:09.839
 Trust in Jesus Christ who died and

00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:10.740
 rose again for you.

00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:13.740
 And you too will find real justice

00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:15.220
 and real comfort.

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.420
 Let's pray together.

00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:17.480
 Amen.

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:26.299
 Lord, we pray

00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:30.000
 that you would be with us now

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:32.519
 as we consider these words from

00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:34.360
 Ecclesiastes and as we look at these

00:33:34.360 --> 00:33:35.240
 waters of baptism.

00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:38.279
 Lord, we see represented here,

00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:41.420
 Father, how you, through your son,

00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:44.019
 bore the weight of human sin and death

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:45.799
 and rose again so that we might live

00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:46.860
 anew unto you.

00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:51.179
 God, I ask that this message of

00:33:51.179 --> 00:33:53.759
 saving grace would work in all of our

00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.539
 hearts this morning.

00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:57.539
 Lord, for those who are new to

00:33:57.539 --> 00:34:00.599
 spiritual things, would you be opening

00:34:00.599 --> 00:34:03.019
 their eyes to the rich, deep, and good

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:05.459
 realities of who you are and all that

00:34:05.459 --> 00:34:06.299
 you've done in Christ?

00:34:07.399 --> 00:34:08.859
 Lord, for those who have been wrestling

00:34:08.859 --> 00:34:11.500
 with you for some time, God, by your

00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:12.920
 spirit, would you break down their

00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:13.440
 defenses?

00:34:15.200 --> 00:34:17.180
 Would you call them by your love?

00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:19.000
 Would you liberate them by your spirit

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:21.079
 that they might believe in Jesus Christ

00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.760
 and be saved?

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.559
 And God, for those of us who profess

00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:27.139
 faith in you, along with Hoshua

00:34:27.139 --> 00:34:29.220
 and along with Zeran, would we together

00:34:29.220 --> 00:34:32.119
 be the kind of people that you've called

00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:33.639
 and redeemed us to be, a people

00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:36.539
 of righteousness, a people of comfort,

00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:40.420
 a people who hold high the name of Jesus,

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:43.659
 our righteousness, and our King.

00:34:44.240 --> 00:34:45.539
 We pray this in his mighty name.

00:34:45.680 --> 00:34:45.880
 Amen.