WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.360 Amen. 00:00:01.780 --> 00:00:05.940 So this is the last session of the sovereignty of God. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:09.679 And so we're going to have half term next week. 00:00:10.060 --> 00:00:12.339 And then we'll be starting a new series. 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:13.339 ! It's going to be a one-off. 00:00:13.540 --> 00:00:16.800 And then Sam Tannercliffe is going to be doing a series on history for you. 00:00:17.580 --> 00:00:19.920 So I'll keep an eye out on your emails. 00:00:20.039 --> 00:00:21.359 I'll send out a little video on that. 00:00:21.780 --> 00:00:24.240 But this is our last session on the sovereignty of God. 00:00:24.780 --> 00:00:27.100 And we've been thinking this term. 00:00:27.100 --> 00:00:31.100 We've seen this term that God is sovereign over all things. 00:00:32.300 --> 00:00:35.620 Every detail of the universe, he's sovereign over. 00:00:35.700 --> 00:00:45.219 And by sovereign, we mean God's kingly rule and power and control and authority and plan over all things. 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:51.340 God is sovereign over all things because he has decreed it all from eternity. 00:00:51.740 --> 00:00:53.920 He's already said what's going to come to pass. 00:00:54.400 --> 00:00:56.420 And so we've been looking at the confession. 00:00:56.420 --> 00:01:04.280 Remember, if Sunday school is like a zoo, we're gathering all the data into one place, all the data of the Bible into one place like a zoo, all the animals together. 00:01:04.740 --> 00:01:08.519 And the confession is like our map, our guide around the zoo. 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:10.799 And so look at 3.1 of the confession. 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:20.620 God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own world freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass. 00:01:21.460 --> 00:01:21.900 Everything. 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:26.700 And last week, we thought about that lingering question in all of this. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:28.640 What about free will? 00:01:29.540 --> 00:01:36.040 If God is sovereign in this way, doesn't that make us robots or puppets on a string? 00:01:36.800 --> 00:01:40.700 And if so, doesn't that make us not responsible for sin? 00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:45.900 If God decreed it, we might say, well, God surely made me do it then. 00:01:47.100 --> 00:01:52.859 Well, we saw last week, we often wrongly assume what type of free will we have. 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:56.879 We wrongly assume we have what we call absolute free will. 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:00.879 Freedom just to do whatever we want. 00:02:00.960 --> 00:02:02.600 Every option is equally possible. 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:09.120 But actually, as we thought last week, we aren't free in all sorts of ways. 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:10.400 So do you remember? 00:02:10.759 --> 00:02:11.359 We aren't. 00:02:11.519 --> 00:02:14.680 So if all options in life are like doors, right? 00:02:14.780 --> 00:02:16.759 You've got infinite doors in front of us. 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:20.579 All those, not all those doors are open to us, right? 00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:23.560 I'm not free to fly like Superman. 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:28.060 I'm not free just to be perfectly sinless right now. 00:02:28.140 --> 00:02:29.920 I don't, I can't choose that option. 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:38.599 And we also saw Jesus wasn't free to walk away from the cross, right? 00:02:38.939 --> 00:02:41.939 That wasn't a possibility in the plan of God. 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:48.620 And so there are all sorts of things that we aren't free to do. 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:51.120 So just to assume, oh, but we have free will. 00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:51.980 We can do everything. 00:02:51.979 --> 00:02:53.939 Everything should be possible. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:57.219 That isn't the freedom that we have. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:03.699 And importantly, we aren't free to choose something outside the sovereign will of God. 00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:07.939 So if we can see, if we can't fly, we can't be sinners, 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:10.599 but we also need to just recognize other limitations. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:14.780 We aren't free to act outside of God's will. 00:03:16.019 --> 00:03:19.099 And the Bible shows us our decisions and our choices, 00:03:19.099 --> 00:03:23.739 and even our hearts are ultimately under God's sovereignty. 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:31.079 Yet, at the same time, the Bible affirms that we do have choices. 00:03:31.859 --> 00:03:34.340 And our choices really do belong to us. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:36.900 It is our will, our hearts, our choices. 00:03:36.900 --> 00:03:42.360 And when you hear that, it kind of, it jars you, doesn't it, right? 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:44.860 But hold on, how can that be? 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:47.939 And that's the mystery to all of this. 00:03:48.700 --> 00:03:51.819 These are simply two truths that we hold together. 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:54.939 We don't know exactly how they can fit. 00:03:55.020 --> 00:03:57.640 It's beyond our finite minds. 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:01.359 But God is sovereign over our wills and our decisions. 00:04:01.779 --> 00:04:04.439 Yet, at the same time, they do belong to us. 00:04:05.139 --> 00:04:07.379 They are real in that sense. 00:04:07.519 --> 00:04:09.839 We do have real wills and choices. 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:13.279 And again, the confession holds these two together. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:19.259 God, from all eternity, did by the most wise and counsel of his own will, 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:22.779 freely and unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to pass. 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:27.319 Yet, so as thereby, neither is God the author of sin, 00:04:27.619 --> 00:04:30.599 nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, right? 00:04:30.619 --> 00:04:32.419 It doesn't destroy our will. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:36.919 Nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:38.539 but rather established. 00:04:39.019 --> 00:04:41.239 Now, this last phrase we're going to look at in a moment. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:45.119 So, it is simply both, right? 00:04:45.979 --> 00:04:47.419 And this is the mystery. 00:04:47.979 --> 00:04:50.479 And it's not always easy to sit with. 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:53.140 This is something you can puzzle over your whole life. 00:04:54.620 --> 00:04:57.960 But it's just something that we need to humbly hold together. 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:00.520 And rather than let our minds say, 00:05:00.620 --> 00:05:01.300 no, no, no, hold on. 00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:02.580 I don't like that. 00:05:02.660 --> 00:05:04.340 Those things can't fit together. 00:05:04.700 --> 00:05:05.640 That can't be the case. 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:11.120 Rather than that, we need to let the Bible tell us what is true 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:12.280 and what is reality. 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:15.699 And then when we don't understand some of those things, 00:05:16.059 --> 00:05:18.639 to humbly accept, okay, this must be true. 00:05:19.139 --> 00:05:21.539 And so, I will trust God and accept it. 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:29.419 And in fact, rather than God being a puppeteer controlling us like puppets, 00:05:30.299 --> 00:05:37.239 actually, we ended last week seeing that God's sovereignty actually establishes our free will. 00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:42.800 It is only because God has sovereignly decreed all of this 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:45.519 and created all of this and is upholding everything. 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:50.040 It's only because of that that we are able to have any freedom at all. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:53.280 So, God's sovereignty, you can kind of think of it like this. 00:05:53.379 --> 00:05:58.280 It's not, he's not like a puppeteer from above moving us with invisible strings. 00:05:58.699 --> 00:06:00.120 It's not so much that. 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:04.400 It's more like, God's sovereignty is more like the ground beneath which, 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.159 on which we can have any choice at all, right? 00:06:08.579 --> 00:06:15.159 But we left off last week thinking about what the Bible does speak about our wills. 00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:19.659 So, if that's kind of not how to think about it and kind of generally the right way to think about it. 00:06:19.939 --> 00:06:24.859 Okay, but what does the Bible say, positively say about our wills? 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:28.459 What does it say about the freedom that we do have? 00:06:28.459 --> 00:06:32.719 And we left off last week, didn't have enough time to finish this, 00:06:32.799 --> 00:06:39.819 but we saw that it doesn't speak of us having free will, absolute free will in that sense. 00:06:40.419 --> 00:06:45.219 It speaks of our wills as choosing what our hearts want, right? 00:06:45.899 --> 00:06:49.500 Our wills mean that we choose what our hearts want. 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:54.099 And there are four states of our hearts that we can choose from, right? 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:55.700 And this is the first thing I want us to see today. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:58.260 We're kind of finishing off a bit from last week, 00:06:58.320 --> 00:07:01.000 and then we'll move on to something a little bit different in the second half, right? 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:04.260 I want us to look at the four states of our hearts. 00:07:04.640 --> 00:07:08.540 So, the Bible speaks of our wills. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:14.480 I want us to see how the Bible speaks about our wills, our decision-making, 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:18.020 and how the Bible speaks about true freedom. 00:07:18.019 --> 00:07:20.859 And to do this, I want you to break out into groups. 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:24.779 There's a little, in the dotted box, there are five questions. 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:26.639 So, break out into groups. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:28.699 I'll give you a few minutes for that. 00:07:28.740 --> 00:07:30.339 We're going to look at the four states of our heart, 00:07:30.419 --> 00:07:34.439 the four types of decision-making the Bible speaks about. 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:36.939 Let's see what we have. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:41.740 So, the first question, how does the Bible speak of how we make our choices? 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:43.539 Daily worry. 00:07:43.539 --> 00:07:43.579 Daily worry. 00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:52.680 Yeah, yeah, the first one. 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:54.519 How does the Bible speak of how we make choices? 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:55.500 Like, the very top question. 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:58.000 It comes in, it comes out, and it's different. 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:00.519 When the heart comes out, it's our action. 00:08:00.779 --> 00:08:01.539 Oh, okay, yes. 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:02.259 Yeah, yeah, do you see that? 00:08:02.779 --> 00:08:06.680 We make our choices from our hearts, right? 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.599 So, the choices ahead of us, 00:08:09.719 --> 00:08:12.819 they're not determined just by kind of random choice, 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:17.620 or that we can just equally choose among all the options of the doors. 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:21.579 No, we make our choices from our hearts, right? 00:08:22.280 --> 00:08:25.000 This is how the Bible speaks of free will. 00:08:25.540 --> 00:08:30.180 We are free in the sense that we do what our hearts want. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:33.659 This is how the Bible speaks of freedom. 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:37.679 And this is also why we are responsible for our choices. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:42.219 When I choose to do something, I choose to do it. 00:08:43.339 --> 00:08:48.479 So, when I choose to do something, in my heart, I want to do it. 00:08:49.139 --> 00:08:51.579 Therefore, I was free to do it, in that sense. 00:08:52.079 --> 00:08:53.479 I'm responsible for it. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:56.279 And when the Bible speaks of this freedom, 00:08:56.279 --> 00:09:02.699 it particularly speaks of our freedom to sin or not sin, right? 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:03.959 Or obey God, right? 00:09:05.079 --> 00:09:08.159 And as soon as you start thinking in those categories, 00:09:09.059 --> 00:09:12.319 we need to understand that there are four states of the heart 00:09:12.319 --> 00:09:19.139 that we need to consider when humans choose to sin or not sin, right? 00:09:19.459 --> 00:09:21.240 Four types of freedom, you could say. 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:26.919 And with that in mind, let's think of those next four questions. 00:09:27.060 --> 00:09:31.460 When it comes to sinning, what was Adam's heart able to do? 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:34.240 Let's start at the beginning, the first human heart. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:36.840 What was Adam's heart able to do? 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:38.340 Genesis 2. 00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:40.060 Rebecca. 00:09:44.220 --> 00:09:45.899 Okay, he was able. 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:47.480 He had the choice, the freedom. 00:09:47.560 --> 00:09:49.440 He was able to sin. 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:51.860 What was he also able to do? 00:09:52.380 --> 00:09:53.220 To not sin, right? 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:55.180 There was the choice between him. 00:09:55.660 --> 00:09:58.620 You can eat or you can not eat, right? 00:09:59.260 --> 00:10:01.500 And his heart, when you think about his heart, 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:05.100 his heart was able to choose either, right? 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:06.840 He hadn't fallen yet. 00:10:06.900 --> 00:10:09.020 He wasn't pulling towards sin. 00:10:09.560 --> 00:10:12.080 He could have chosen, in terms of his heart, 00:10:12.140 --> 00:10:14.180 he could have chosen either, right? 00:10:15.400 --> 00:10:18.320 He was able to sin and able to not sin. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.820 And so we're not thinking about God's decree here. 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:24.340 We, of course, know God planned all things. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:28.720 And so in some sense, in terms of the decree of God, 00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:31.700 he was always going to eat the apple. 00:10:32.420 --> 00:10:34.620 But in terms of his heart, that freedom, 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:37.140 he could have done either. 00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:40.059 And this is the first state, 00:10:40.199 --> 00:10:42.960 the first way you can understand the human heart. 00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:47.460 So if we have the choice of sin here, 00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:49.059 or not sin, 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:52.819 or obedience, or righteousness, right? 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:54.919 The first state, 00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:56.899 to think back, is Adam. 00:10:56.899 --> 00:11:03.439 And he had the freedom to not sin, 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:07.199 and the freedom to sin. 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:09.759 That's a little heart there, by the way, 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:10.679 if you don't know what that is, right? 00:11:10.959 --> 00:11:12.799 His heart could have gone either way. 00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:17.819 But now let's think about the second state of humanity. 00:11:18.059 --> 00:11:19.340 Before we are saved, 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:21.079 so that now Adam has fallen, 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:23.220 and we have fallen in him. 00:11:24.020 --> 00:11:25.120 Before we are saved, 00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:27.500 what are our hearts able to do? 00:11:28.620 --> 00:11:29.620 Noah, go for it. 00:11:30.259 --> 00:11:30.460 Sorry? 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:32.700 Commit sin, right? 00:11:34.900 --> 00:11:36.980 We're slaves to sin, exactly. 00:11:37.560 --> 00:11:39.620 We can't help but sin. 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:42.000 That's what our hearts want. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:45.740 Our hearts and our wills just naturally want to sin. 00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:48.259 And in that sense, 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:49.720 we aren't free. 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:52.279 We're enslaved, right? 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:54.680 Because that's all we can do. 00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:56.899 But in another sense, 00:11:57.100 --> 00:11:59.240 we do still have free will, remember? 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:00.420 Think about, 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:03.100 if free will is doing what our hearts want, 00:12:03.560 --> 00:12:05.779 we are free to sin, right? 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:07.200 Because we want to. 00:12:07.259 --> 00:12:09.259 We freely choose to sin 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:11.000 because that's what our hearts want. 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:14.960 But we aren't free not to sin, right? 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:17.200 We're enslaved in that way. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:21.259 And that's why God must sovereignly save us. 00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:23.500 Remember, we're dead in sin, 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:24.740 but we're trapped in it. 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:26.000 And so, 00:12:26.160 --> 00:12:27.440 this is the second way to understand it. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:28.500 I've drawn that one too small. 00:12:28.580 --> 00:12:29.160 That's not good. 00:12:29.940 --> 00:12:30.140 All right. 00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:32.259 Still a bigger person here. 00:12:33.780 --> 00:12:34.160 All right. 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:35.040 So in sin, 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.120 we are, 00:12:36.660 --> 00:12:37.259 sorry, 00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:38.000 this way. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.179 we are only 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:43.600 choosing to sin. 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:46.019 That's where our freedom takes us. 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:49.000 But now let's think about the third state. 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:50.740 When God saves us, 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:53.139 what are our hearts able to do? 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.460 Look at Romans 6. 00:12:55.460 --> 00:13:00.060 John. 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:05.660 Not sin and produce righteousness. 00:13:06.060 --> 00:13:06.180 Okay. 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:07.620 We've got a third one. 00:13:08.560 --> 00:13:09.379 We are now, 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:13.000 because that's what the command in Romans 6, 00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:17.800 do not present your members to unrighteousness, 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:18.879 but to righteousness. 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:19.580 All right. 00:13:19.900 --> 00:13:22.780 So we are able to not sin. 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:24.299 But also, 00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:26.059 what does that commandment assume as well? 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:28.959 What are we also able to do? 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:31.179 Also able to sin. 00:13:33.699 --> 00:13:34.179 Okay. 00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:36.419 But this, 00:13:37.199 --> 00:13:38.079 this is huge. 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:41.319 Something changes when God saves us. 00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:44.779 Sin's power over our hearts gets broken. 00:13:45.079 --> 00:13:47.620 We're no longer slaves to sin, 00:13:47.620 --> 00:13:49.000 only going in one direction. 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:52.019 But now, 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:54.600 we are free not to sin. 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:55.460 Right? 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:58.220 We can actually start obeying God 00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.799 and living righteous lives. 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:00.320 Now, 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:01.519 we will still sin. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:04.019 We will still kind of choose that, 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:05.639 have that desire in our heart. 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:08.559 But now there's a pull in both directions. 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:11.600 God has transformed our hearts. 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:11.879 So, 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:14.320 we now want to love God. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:17.060 You can even feel that in your heart now. 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:17.340 Right? 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:18.180 That, 00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:18.460 that, 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:20.480 even smallest, 00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.720 struggling desire, 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:24.680 but even the smallest one to love God, 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:26.760 that is you transformed, 00:14:27.060 --> 00:14:28.400 raised from the dead by God. 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:32.200 We are now free to not sin. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:33.480 All right. 00:14:33.540 --> 00:14:35.080 So we've got a pull in both directions. 00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:37.280 But now let's think about glory 00:14:37.280 --> 00:14:38.880 in the new creation, 00:14:39.060 --> 00:14:39.700 in the resurrection. 00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:41.680 What will our hearts be able to do? 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.719 Rory Hunter, 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.279 you're looking at me. 00:14:45.199 --> 00:14:47.519 They're not able to sin. 00:14:47.779 --> 00:14:48.059 Oh, 00:14:48.239 --> 00:14:49.059 very good. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:49.379 Right? 00:14:49.979 --> 00:14:50.899 In glory, 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:53.500 sin will be an impossibility. 00:14:53.839 --> 00:14:54.019 Right? 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:56.199 We will not be able to sin. 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.939 There's nothing unclean. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.079 Do you see in Revelation 21? 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:00.559 Nothing unclean. 00:15:00.719 --> 00:15:01.299 Not even 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:03.899 the smallest desire in our heart. 00:15:04.099 --> 00:15:04.279 Right? 00:15:04.859 --> 00:15:06.819 We will only be able 00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:08.500 to not sin. 00:15:10.059 --> 00:15:10.219 Right? 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:12.200 That pull in our hearts 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.379 towards sin 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:14.800 will be gone. 00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:15.920 Our wills will be 00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:17.500 totally released 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.160 to love God. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.300 And in that sense, 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.120 if you think about that, 00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:22.100 in that sense, 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:24.160 we will be the free, 00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:25.320 the most free 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:26.759 that we could possibly be. 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.680 The most human 00:15:28.680 --> 00:15:29.899 we could possibly be. 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:31.759 Sin will be no more 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.920 and we'll be 00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:34.200 freely, 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:35.960 truly free 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:38.340 to be who we are meant to be. 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:40.259 who God designed humanity 00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:40.780 to be. 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:43.000 And this is the fourth state 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.740 of human freedom. 00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:46.519 And this is how 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:47.879 the Bible gets us 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:49.000 to think about 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:51.040 free will and freedom. 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.120 We are all free 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:55.060 in the sense that 00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:57.160 we do what our hearts want. 00:15:57.159 --> 00:16:01.919 but it's in this 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:03.179 final state here 00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:03.919 in glory 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:06.199 that we are most free 00:16:06.199 --> 00:16:07.319 because our will 00:16:07.319 --> 00:16:08.159 and our heart 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.199 will not be bound 00:16:09.199 --> 00:16:10.120 by sin anymore. 00:16:11.459 --> 00:16:12.360 And so when people think, 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:12.759 no, no, no, 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:13.039 hold on, 00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:14.419 to be truly free, 00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:16.159 we must be able 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:16.779 to choose 00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:17.959 all the options 00:16:17.959 --> 00:16:18.500 out there, 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:19.719 open up all the doors 00:16:19.719 --> 00:16:20.159 equally 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.500 to sin 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:22.179 or not to sin 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:23.679 or to do anything. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:24.839 I must be able 00:16:24.839 --> 00:16:25.299 to choose 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:25.839 or not choose 00:16:25.839 --> 00:16:26.419 all those things 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:27.500 then I'm free. 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:29.679 Well if we think 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:29.979 like that 00:16:29.979 --> 00:16:31.000 we've just got 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.000 freedom all wrong. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.120 True freedom 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:34.959 is actually 00:16:34.959 --> 00:16:36.839 not being able 00:16:36.839 --> 00:16:37.539 to do something, 00:16:37.739 --> 00:16:38.659 not being able 00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:39.120 to sin. 00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:41.120 And that is what 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.079 God has saved us for. 00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:44.019 That's our destiny 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.739 and God's sovereignty 00:16:45.739 --> 00:16:47.139 doesn't destroy 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.000 that freedom. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:49.379 In fact, 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:50.519 God's sovereignty 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:52.279 is our only hope 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:53.379 of having that freedom. 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:55.620 Because it's in 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.299 God's sovereignty 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:57.599 that he raises us 00:16:57.599 --> 00:16:58.199 from the deadness 00:16:58.199 --> 00:16:58.819 of our sin, 00:16:59.339 --> 00:17:00.239 releases us 00:17:00.239 --> 00:17:01.459 from the slavery 00:17:01.459 --> 00:17:01.979 of sin, 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.659 transforms our hearts, 00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:05.200 frees us from that guilt 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.639 and that power of sin 00:17:06.639 --> 00:17:08.079 and makes us 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.200 truly free 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:09.879 in Christ. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.700 And so 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:13.639 all those in Christ 00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:14.079 here today, 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.779 we are free now. 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:17.819 Christ has freed us 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:18.519 from the slavery of sin. 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.659 We can now 00:17:19.659 --> 00:17:20.419 not sin 00:17:20.419 --> 00:17:21.419 and love God. 00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:24.259 but one day 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:25.539 our hearts 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.060 are going to be 00:17:26.060 --> 00:17:27.820 truly free forever. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:29.500 And so it's this 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.380 final state 00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:31.779 that this is how 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.400 the Bible speaks 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:33.400 of true freedom. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:36.420 We're going to move 00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:36.779 on to something 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:37.420 a little bit different 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:38.360 now because this was 00:17:38.360 --> 00:17:39.240 meant to be on the 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.360 tail end of last week. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.860 But let me pause 00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:42.840 for questions there. 00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.980 Any questions on this? 00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:50.120 Yeah. 00:17:50.120 --> 00:17:50.220 Yeah. 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:51.720 Two questions. 00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:51.980 Yeah. 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:53.339 One of the characters 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:54.279 is saying that 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.440 if we understand 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.240 freedom is just 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.640 having any choice 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.019 we want, 00:17:58.120 --> 00:17:58.900 that's not the right 00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.339 definition, 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:01.039 but rather it's 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:02.299 freedom from control 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.539 and that's 00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:04.360 in this diagram 00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:05.579 where we're 00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.420 being set free 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:07.740 from the control 00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.200 of sin 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:09.120 to the point 00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:10.480 where there is 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.160 no control 00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:11.599 over us 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.319 apart from our 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:12.920 feelings of the 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:14.980 God's mind 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.200 that's 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.220 that way. 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:16.640 Yeah. 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:18.920 Yes. 00:18:19.300 --> 00:18:19.460 Yeah. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:22.500 So there are 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:25.580 lots of ways 00:18:25.580 --> 00:18:26.200 to understand 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:26.960 freedom, right? 00:18:27.060 --> 00:18:27.940 So first of all, 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.519 we're not saying 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.440 absolute freedom 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:29.880 to choose 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:30.779 absolutely anything, 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:31.100 right? 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:31.759 So it's not that. 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.620 But in one sense, 00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:35.060 even in the 00:18:35.060 --> 00:18:36.160 slavery of sin, 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.480 we're free 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.180 in the sense 00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:39.200 of we do 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:39.800 what our hearts 00:18:39.800 --> 00:18:40.080 want. 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.120 So if we define 00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:42.660 freedom as 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.200 doing what 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:43.580 our hearts 00:18:43.580 --> 00:18:44.120 want, 00:18:44.320 --> 00:18:45.259 we're free 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:45.640 in that sense. 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.519 We freely 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.540 choose to sin 00:18:47.540 --> 00:18:49.420 before we're 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:49.800 saved, right? 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:51.580 We love it. 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:52.519 We want to do it. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.400 So in that sense, 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:53.940 we're free. 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.380 If you kind of 00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.120 zoom out a little 00:18:56.120 --> 00:18:56.480 bit, 00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:57.720 we realise 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:59.220 actually 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.420 that that's 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.259 not true 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:01.740 freedom. 00:19:02.560 --> 00:19:03.080 That's, 00:19:03.300 --> 00:19:03.420 yeah, 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.019 we are, 00:19:04.120 --> 00:19:04.820 we're trapped 00:19:04.820 --> 00:19:05.580 in that 00:19:05.580 --> 00:19:07.360 wanting to sin. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.799 and so 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.579 there is a 00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.779 different way 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.219 we can now 00:19:11.219 --> 00:19:11.619 think about 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:11.939 freedom. 00:19:12.179 --> 00:19:12.839 It's being 00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.679 released from 00:19:13.679 --> 00:19:14.819 that pull 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.619 and power 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.159 of sin 00:19:16.159 --> 00:19:17.479 to actually 00:19:17.479 --> 00:19:18.519 now be free 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.139 to love 00:19:19.139 --> 00:19:19.500 God. 00:19:19.939 --> 00:19:20.559 So I know 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.000 I'm kind of 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.519 swapping 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.379 definitions a 00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:22.699 little bit 00:19:22.699 --> 00:19:23.159 as we go 00:19:23.159 --> 00:19:23.719 over this. 00:19:24.179 --> 00:19:24.639 It's because 00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:25.919 it's kind of 00:19:25.919 --> 00:19:26.559 speaking in 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:26.959 freedom in 00:19:26.959 --> 00:19:27.539 different ways. 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:27.859 Yeah. 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.059 I don't know 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.579 if that clarified. 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.220 Yeah. 00:19:30.379 --> 00:19:30.939 My second 00:19:30.939 --> 00:19:31.480 question was 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.500 about state 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:32.839 one, 00:19:33.179 --> 00:19:33.559 the idea 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.000 that Adam 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.480 is free 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:34.919 to choose 00:19:34.919 --> 00:19:35.339 either. 00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:35.799 Yeah. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:36.779 But then we 00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:37.439 know that 00:19:37.439 --> 00:19:40.720 for always 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.240 were days 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:41.659 before. 00:19:42.919 --> 00:19:43.759 So in 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.240 what sense 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.000 then was 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.500 he actually 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.240 free to 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:46.460 choose? 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.679 In what 00:19:47.679 --> 00:19:48.199 sense exactly? 00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.740 So remember 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.559 I keep kind 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.199 of like swapping 00:19:51.199 --> 00:19:52.059 between definitions 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:53.539 or needing 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.159 to address, 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:54.559 maybe not 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.000 swapping, 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:55.500 needing to 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.079 address all 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:56.919 these different 00:19:56.919 --> 00:19:57.319 types of 00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:57.679 definitions, 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:57.980 right? 00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.159 He's free 00:19:59.160 --> 00:19:59.540 in what 00:19:59.540 --> 00:20:00.080 your questions, 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:00.620 in what 00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:01.180 sense is 00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.480 he free? 00:20:01.820 --> 00:20:02.519 He's free 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.180 in the sense 00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:04.019 of his 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.680 heart. 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.060 Okay. 00:20:05.080 --> 00:20:05.380 Remember 00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:06.560 when we 00:20:06.560 --> 00:20:06.900 think about 00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:07.380 freedom of 00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:07.700 the heart, 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:07.980 so you've 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.120 got, 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.660 that's the 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:10.220 middle one 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.519 I kind of 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:10.860 point out 00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:11.019 here, 00:20:11.120 --> 00:20:11.279 right? 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.160 We are 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:12.740 free to 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.060 do what 00:20:13.060 --> 00:20:13.440 our heart 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.040 wants. 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:14.620 Okay. 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.519 If we 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:15.880 understand 00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:16.300 free will 00:20:16.300 --> 00:20:16.660 in that 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.120 sense, 00:20:17.860 --> 00:20:18.180 when we 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.400 look at 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:18.660 Adam's 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:18.880 heart, 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.300 he hadn't 00:20:19.300 --> 00:20:19.980 fallen yet. 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:20.400 He was 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:20.900 still in 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.380 an innocent 00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:21.980 state. 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.300 He was 00:20:23.300 --> 00:20:23.920 free to 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.820 not sin 00:20:24.820 --> 00:20:25.920 and also 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.380 to sin 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:26.779 as we 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.560 found out, 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:27.840 right? 00:20:28.300 --> 00:20:29.080 It was, 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:29.860 kind of 00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:30.560 physically 00:20:30.560 --> 00:20:32.340 heart-wise 00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:33.240 possible to 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:33.740 do both. 00:20:34.600 --> 00:20:35.019 But now 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.460 you ask, 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.500 but in 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:36.860 terms of 00:20:36.860 --> 00:20:37.279 God's 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:37.840 decree, 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:38.440 actually let's 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:38.759 kind of 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.200 go back 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:39.440 this way, 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:39.740 in terms 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.120 of God's 00:20:40.120 --> 00:20:40.680 decree, 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:43.560 you couldn't 00:20:43.560 --> 00:20:43.800 have, 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:44.000 right? 00:20:44.040 --> 00:20:44.420 God had 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.100 decreed the 00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:45.340 fall. 00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:46.300 Yes, 00:20:46.340 --> 00:20:46.640 but now 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:47.140 we're changing 00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:47.900 a different, 00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:48.759 we're now 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.420 speaking of 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:49.759 freedom in 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.220 a different 00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:50.720 sense, 00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:51.140 right? 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.100 So, 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:52.560 yeah, 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.200 ultimately 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:54.640 nothing can 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.360 happen outside 00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:55.920 of God's 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:56.220 will, 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:58.740 but in 00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.200 terms of 00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.740 in time, 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.180 in creation, 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:00.839 as we look 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.180 at Adam's 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:01.319 heart, 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:01.859 he was 00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:02.339 free to 00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:02.559 choose 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:02.819 either. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:03.759 Now, 00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.240 we're trying 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.500 to hold 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:06.839 these two 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.500 together at 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:07.759 the same 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.059 time, 00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:08.380 aren't we? 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:08.700 We're trying 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.000 to hold 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.400 the two 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:09.839 definitions 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.259 and like 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:10.940 in time, 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:11.799 in eternity, 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.160 hold them 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:12.380 together. 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.200 How can 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.700 that be? 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.140 And I 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.519 know kind 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.180 of our 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:16.700 brains start 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:16.980 to kind 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.180 of, 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.440 the cogs 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:18.839 start to 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.440 crank here. 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:20.920 That's the 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:21.839 mystery. 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.939 And so 00:21:22.939 --> 00:21:23.879 what I'm 00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:24.119 trying to 00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:24.399 do is 00:21:24.399 --> 00:21:25.319 just speak 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.699 of freedom 00:21:26.699 --> 00:21:27.299 in the way 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:27.759 that the 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.339 Bible speaks 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:28.679 of it. 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:29.519 And it 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:29.759 can, 00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:30.199 yeah, 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:30.799 it can get 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:31.279 confusing when 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:31.699 we start 00:21:31.699 --> 00:21:31.919 to use 00:21:31.919 --> 00:21:32.220 different 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:32.699 definitions 00:21:32.699 --> 00:21:33.119 and then 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:33.799 holding them 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.159 together. 00:21:34.419 --> 00:21:34.679 Exactly. 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.299 Toby. 00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:40.679 So, 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.339 before the 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:42.559 Paul, 00:21:42.639 --> 00:21:42.839 there was 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.699 no sin. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.519 So Adam 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.220 was not 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:46.559 a slave 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:46.939 in sin. 00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:47.579 Correct, 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:47.899 yeah. 00:21:47.899 --> 00:21:47.980 Yeah. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:55.879 perfect. 00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:56.699 Thanks. 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.059 Yeah, 00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:57.500 yeah, 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:57.819 yeah, 00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:57.899 yeah. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:00.199 So he, 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.720 he, 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:03.139 he wasn't, 00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:04.699 his heart, 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:06.059 how was his 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:06.339 heart, 00:22:06.459 --> 00:22:06.980 how was he 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:11.759 free and how 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.179 was he 00:22:12.179 --> 00:22:13.319 escaping? 00:22:15.199 --> 00:22:16.299 Are you 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:16.699 asking, 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:18.139 okay, 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.799 if he, 00:22:18.899 --> 00:22:19.259 if he 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:19.679 wasn't 00:22:19.679 --> 00:22:20.779 fallen yet, 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.259 so he 00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.779 didn't have 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.220 that pull 00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:22.819 towards sin, 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:23.460 are you 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:23.660 asking, 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:23.859 well, 00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:24.240 why did 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.379 he, 00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:24.639 if it 00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.180 didn't exist, 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:25.759 he couldn't 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.099 have had 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:26.359 a pull 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:26.720 first. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:26.960 Yeah, 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.460 right, 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:27.720 yeah. 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:30.319 But are 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:30.839 you asking, 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.399 so then how 00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:32.920 could he have 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.500 chosen it 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:33.799 then? 00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:34.319 Yeah. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:34.759 Yeah, 00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:35.000 yeah. 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:36.720 Don't know. 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.039 Don't know. 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:39.660 We know it's 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.279 a possibility, 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.460 God laid it 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.000 out there, 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.359 but how 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:43.839 could an 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.240 innocent 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.980 heart 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:46.740 choose sin, 00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:47.220 like a 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:47.660 corruption 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.019 that was 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.639 never there? 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.359 Yeah, 00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.039 it's a good 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.460 question. 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.519 I don't 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:52.779 know. 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.680 And there's, 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:54.639 there's, 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.599 it's right to 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.019 ask the 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.359 question. 00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:57.240 If you think 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.579 about the 00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.099 nature of 00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.420 sin, 00:22:59.339 --> 00:22:59.799 so a 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.119 helpful way 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:00.519 of understanding 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.299 sin is, 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:03.099 sin is mad, 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:03.559 bad, 00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.220 and sad, 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:04.740 right? 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:06.180 Or bad, 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:06.700 sad, 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.160 and mad, 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.379 right? 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:08.220 It's bad in the 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.940 sense of it's 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.359 wrong, 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.700 it's morally 00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:10.940 wrong, 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.279 it breaks 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:11.759 God's law, 00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.460 it's bad. 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.680 It's sad 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.200 because sin 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.119 causes misery, 00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:16.379 it's just a 00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:17.180 sad thing to 00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:17.960 be in a stage 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.180 of sin, 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:19.080 and it's 00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:19.980 mad as 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.140 well. 00:23:20.580 --> 00:23:21.299 There's no 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.240 reason behind 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.580 it, 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:22.920 right? 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.380 Why would 00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:26.360 I sin 00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:27.900 this past 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.960 week when 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.779 my God has 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.720 saved me and 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.400 I love my 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.320 God and it's 00:23:32.320 --> 00:23:33.440 just misery to 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.220 choose sin and 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:34.880 it just ruins 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.380 relationship? 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:36.279 Why would I 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.220 still do that? 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.360 Because it's 00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:38.880 mad. 00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:40.759 In some sense 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.779 you start peeling 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.460 back the layers 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.160 of sin and it 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:43.840 just keeps going 00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:44.000 on. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.460 there's almost 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:47.619 an infinite 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.240 reason, 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:50.000 a mad reason 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.700 behind it. 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.319 It's just a 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.079 void of 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:53.420 darkness. 00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.079 That's why 00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.599 Jesus says 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.039 they hated 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.460 me without 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.119 a cause. 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.099 And so 00:23:59.099 --> 00:23:59.920 you can kind 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:00.539 of apply 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.799 that with 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.619 also sprinkling 00:24:02.619 --> 00:24:03.220 of mystery 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.000 to the 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.359 fall. 00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.440 Why would 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:05.819 Adam, 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:06.359 when he had 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:07.079 all of this, 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:07.539 there was no 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.000 corruption, 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.000 he loved 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.279 God, 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:09.779 he communed 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.160 with God, 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:10.660 God walked 00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.000 with him in 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.460 the garden, 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.140 he had 00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:12.579 everything. 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.279 Why would 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:13.759 he choose 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.039 that? 00:24:14.639 --> 00:24:15.220 It's mad. 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.539 Yeah. 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.859 And sprinkle 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.299 that with a 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:18.599 lot of 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:18.980 mystery. 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:19.960 Yeah. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:20.559 Don't know 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:20.799 why. 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:21.879 Yeah. 00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:23.279 Or don't 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:23.779 know how. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.440 Yeah. 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:27.139 Go for it. 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:28.539 So we 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:28.839 say there 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.180 is no 00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:30.399 sin in 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:31.139 the 00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:31.420 fall. 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:33.779 In 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.139 Adam's 00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:34.379 heart, 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:34.680 yeah. 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.039 There'd 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.460 be no... 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:37.859 Go on. 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.839 So there 00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:40.099 sin when 00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:40.440 she 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:42.819 ran to 00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:42.980 the 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.240 tree 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:43.480 of 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:43.680 the 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:43.680 of 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:43.680 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.640 tree 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.640 the 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.160 tree 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.160 tree 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.160 tree 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.640 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.160 tree 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.160 tree 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.160 tree 00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:46.180 of 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:46.180 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:47.180 of 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.180 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.180 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.180 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.180 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.180 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.180 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.960 tree 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:47.960 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:47.960 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:47.960 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:47.960 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:47.960 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:47.960 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.720 ! 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:50.480 tree 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.480 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:19.480 There is no sin, but there is one restriction. 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:20.339 Yeah. 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:27.279 There is one comment that's just like, she's seen. 00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:32.980 Yeah, so she did sin. 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:35.099 It's kind of taken, I guess, a whole event. 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.440 Yeah, she did sin. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.860 But what's the issue? 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:47.120 You're saying she sinned before the fall that Adam caused. 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:50.120 And so how can those two fit together, are you saying? 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:53.960 Yeah, the sin was available. 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:56.099 The sin was available? 00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:56.680 Yes. 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:02.680 I think I know what you're getting at. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.740 Let's chat afterwards. 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.500 Yeah. 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.579 Is that okay? 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.140 If you want to. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:07.559 Yeah, yeah. 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:10.680 Hands up if you want me to keep pursuing this question. 00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:12.579 Great. 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.880 Do it afterwards. 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.559 Do it afterwards. 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:16.299 I want to also clarify. 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.120 Let's think about something. 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.180 This is going to be quite different. 00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:21.440 Prayer and evangelism. 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:21.880 Right. 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:24.180 Oh, man, we've got five minutes to do this. 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:24.480 Right. 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:24.980 Right. 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:24.980 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.900 Right. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:28.180 We'll, we probably won't finish this. 00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:28.940 Let's just go. 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:35.099 So another common issue we have, we might have in our minds is, okay, if God is sovereign, 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:41.620 if he has planned all things, all events and decreed all things and nothing can change his will, 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.619 why pray. 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:43.039 Why pray? 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:52.500 Why ask God to change these events we're going through or protect us in the future and ask him for anything, really? 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:56.119 And related to that question, well, why evangelize? 00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:56.479 Right. 00:26:57.019 --> 00:27:04.619 If God is the one who saves, if he has his elect and those names are written in the book of life and nothing can add to or change that number, 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:08.839 why bother preaching or evangelizing or showing the gospel? 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:21.339 Well, I want us to see, rather than being a problem to prayer and evangelism, I want us to see God's sovereignty is exactly what we need for prayer and evangelism. 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:24.879 But to answer this, we need to see something first. 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:27.679 This might seem a bit odd, what we're doing here, but roll with me. 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:28.980 Hopefully it will click. 00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:29.259 Right. 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:32.259 I want you to, I want us to see point A. 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:37.659 God uses second causes to achieve his eternal decree. 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:38.399 Right. 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:40.579 I know, I know this sounds a bit weird. 00:27:40.939 --> 00:27:41.519 Roll with me. 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:41.720 Right. 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:44.399 Just look at what the confession has to say about this. 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:53.859 So God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to pass. 00:27:54.199 --> 00:28:06.359 Yet so as thereby, neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:09.879 So just look at that little phrase at the end. 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:10.480 There's two words. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:10.780 There's two words. 00:28:10.780 --> 00:28:11.700 Second causes. 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.220 All right. 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:15.800 There's lots of other words, but I'll try and simplify this. 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:16.020 Right. 00:28:17.300 --> 00:28:21.620 In the confession, it says we can speak of two causes. 00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:22.300 Right. 00:28:23.080 --> 00:28:26.400 God is the first eternal cause. 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:26.600 Right. 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:31.759 He's the reason why anything happens and everything is dependent on him. 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.199 Right. 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.980 So we decree all things. 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:37.959 God is the first cause. 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:41.840 Okay. 00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:47.660 But there are also second causes within creation. 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:48.140 Right. 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:52.039 Created things that also cause things to happen. 00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:55.200 So like a cloud causing rain. 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:55.759 Right. 00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:59.200 Or fire causing wood to burn. 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:02.079 Or bees causing pollination. 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.700 Or let's now think of human things. 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:08.980 Governments causing law and order in the land. 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:12.100 Kings causing wars. 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:17.960 And a part of that would be human choice is a second cause. 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.200 Right. 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:26.400 Like a human willfully choosing 30 pieces of silver causing a crucifixion. 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:27.840 Okay. 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:30.439 So that's all you need to know just for now. 00:29:30.699 --> 00:29:32.079 There are first causes. 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:35.439 There is the first cause of God eternally. 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:38.559 And then lots of second causes in time. 00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:38.980 Right. 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:48.259 And the confession is saying God's first sovereign cause of his decree and his providence and his predestining all things and governing all things. 00:29:48.959 --> 00:29:53.480 It is saying that doesn't destroy the second causes. 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:54.159 Right. 00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.759 Second causes down here. 00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:56.179 Right. 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.539 Second causes. 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:03.019 It doesn't destroy those things but rather establishes them. 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:03.619 Right. 00:30:03.959 --> 00:30:10.059 That is to say that these second causes of fire and clouds and governments and kings. 00:30:10.179 --> 00:30:10.359 Right. 00:30:10.919 --> 00:30:13.679 These second causes are real. 00:30:13.899 --> 00:30:15.039 But they're not an illusion. 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.439 They belong to the creature. 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.899 Our will is our will. 00:30:17.899 --> 00:30:24.579 But these things are only possible because God has first decreed and caused them to be. 00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:27.099 Otherwise they couldn't even exist. 00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:27.539 Right. 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:35.839 In fact, God uses these second causes to achieve his eternal decree. 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:36.839 They're not independent of him. 00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:36.839 00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:45.819 They're not independent of him and separate from him as if like he just creates creation, steps back and all these things just happen on their own. 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.039 No. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:50.559 He's still thoroughly sovereign over them and in them. 00:30:50.559 --> 00:31:02.339 But the relationship is that he uses second causes to achieve his purpose. 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:09.440 So God doesn't just kind of zap things, zap his decree into existence and it just starts happening in time. 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.440 He doesn't use invisible strings. 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:14.440 He doesn't use invisible strings in the universe and kind of puppeteers everything. 00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:19.039 It's that he, God, decrees all things. 00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:21.440 He has his plan. 00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:25.680 Let's call it his plan in action when it actually happens in time. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:32.920 So the crucifixion or I can see healing existing, right? 00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.779 Plan in action. 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:36.060 But how does that come about? 00:31:36.060 --> 00:31:48.279 Well, he uses second causes to bring that about. 00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:53.220 That's the means by which he achieves his will. 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:56.139 So let's expand that even more. 00:31:57.619 --> 00:31:58.039 Here we go. 00:31:58.139 --> 00:31:58.500 Here we go. 00:31:59.399 --> 00:32:09.339 So God is the first cause, but he uses lots of other things in creation to achieve his plan, his decree, right? 00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:15.299 So he's decreed rain will fall yesterday, right? 00:32:15.399 --> 00:32:15.899 Last night. 00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:20.060 So he used clouds, second causes to achieve that. 00:32:20.780 --> 00:32:26.100 When fire burns, that's all in his decree, but he uses the fire, when wood burns, right? 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:28.100 But he uses fire to achieve that. 00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:33.400 When there's a war, that's all in God's decree and he uses kings to achieve that. 00:32:34.560 --> 00:32:43.360 When you are encouraged, when God wants your heart to be encouraged, he uses people's words for that or he uses someone texting on WhatsApp. 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:45.819 That is God using second causes. 00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:49.519 And we see this throughout scripture, right? 00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:50.599 So think about Joseph. 00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:52.839 Genesis 50, 20. 00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:55.359 As for you, you... 00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:56.740 Did I get to write this down for you? 00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.319 I haven't even written it. 00:32:59.359 --> 00:32:59.719 Oh, yes. 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.240 I have, yeah, yeah. 00:33:00.479 --> 00:33:01.240 Genesis 50, 20. 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:08.700 See, as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring it about that many people should be kept alive. 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:21.759 So do you see, God is the first cause, but he uses and intends the second cause of Joseph's brothers and their actions to achieve his eternal purpose of saving lives. 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:24.200 Or think about Isaiah. 00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:26.200 We thought about this in the very first week. 00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:32.379 Assyria, the rod of my anger, the staff in their hands is my fury. 00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:43.819 So Assyria's actions, like the staff in their hands is really God's intended fury, right? 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:49.519 So God used the second cause of Assyria to bring judgment on Israel. 00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:52.379 They were the second cause he used. 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:53.700 And think about the cross. 00:33:54.720 --> 00:34:01.439 This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of all his men. 00:34:02.639 --> 00:34:05.319 So God intended all of this. 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:12.039 And he used the second cause of the Pharisees' hearts and their choices, their free choices, what they wanted to do. 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:19.719 And Pilate's governing and his judgment, he used all of that to achieve his eternal decree of Christ saving sinners. 00:34:21.259 --> 00:34:32.420 And that is how we can get a little bit closer to understanding God's eternal, how God's eternal decree relates to our choices and our hearts and our wills. 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:37.099 All these second causes are genuine, right? 00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:41.139 So let's think of, for example, cross, right? 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:44.780 He uses people's hearts, Judas, Judas is free choice. 00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:48.639 He uses that to achieve his decree. 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:54.400 And all these second causes are genuine and real and our free will really does belong to us. 00:34:54.780 --> 00:35:00.019 And God uses these things to achieve his eternal decree. 00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:07.119 And this is how we can understand both evangelism and prayer. 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:09.239 I'm just going to quickly do this. 00:35:09.300 --> 00:35:12.019 I'm basically just going to state it and we can discuss afterwards, right? 00:35:12.780 --> 00:35:16.539 So look at Romans 10 in your little breakout box, right? 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:20.099 Now, if God has eternally elected his people, right? 00:35:20.179 --> 00:35:22.920 He's got a people that he knows he's going to save. 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:27.239 That number cannot change, be lessened or added to. 00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:31.300 How does he actually save those elects in time? 00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:32.960 Well, Romans 10. 00:35:33.320 --> 00:35:36.659 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:39.900 And how are they to believe in him of whom they've never heard? 00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:42.079 And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:44.079 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? 00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:48.139 So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. 00:35:49.299 --> 00:35:49.940 James 1. 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:55.719 Of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 00:35:58.219 --> 00:36:04.860 So God doesn't just zap down salvation to his elect, right? 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:10.480 God uses the preaching of his word to call and save his elect. 00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:13.140 So God's given faith, right? 00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:17.460 Sovereignly given from God comes through the hearing of the gospel. 00:36:18.180 --> 00:36:20.900 That is the second cause God uses, right? 00:36:22.660 --> 00:36:27.880 And so that is how we can understand why evangelism, right? 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:39.619 As we preach here on Sundays, as we run Easter mission weeks, as the gospel goes out in Club 16 and ignites or hope explored, or we just share the gospel with neighbours. 00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:44.380 That is how God saves his elect, right? 00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:51.720 That is the second cause God establishes and uses to achieve his eternal decree. 00:36:52.760 --> 00:36:55.900 And it's actually an amazing privilege that we're seeing here. 00:36:55.900 --> 00:37:00.280 We genuinely become a part of God's eternal plan. 00:37:01.740 --> 00:37:09.740 And so think, why, the second question, why is God's sovereignty actually needed for prayer and evangelism rather than just negating it? 00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:15.760 Well, without God's sovereignty, our evangelism would just be pointless. 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:18.360 We couldn't raise the dead. 00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:20.539 We can't convince hard hearts. 00:37:20.619 --> 00:37:23.420 We can't release people from the slavery of sin. 00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:26.840 But we can be assured that God can do that. 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:29.519 In fact, God is the only one who can. 00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:30.240 We need him. 00:37:30.380 --> 00:37:34.260 God's sovereignty means our evangelism and our preaching. 00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:36.380 It's actually worthwhile. 00:37:37.700 --> 00:37:40.099 God will call his elect through us. 00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:46.699 Let's just finish with prayer. 00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:50.519 Because that is how we can also think about prayer. 00:37:51.659 --> 00:38:02.099 So just like God uses clouds to bring us rain, or Assyria to bring his judgment, or our preaching and words to bring salvation to his elect. 00:38:02.799 --> 00:38:07.259 Well, God also uses our prayers to bring about his plan. 00:38:07.260 --> 00:38:13.140 Now, this is why James says, James 4.2, you do not have because you do not ask. 00:38:13.540 --> 00:38:16.780 There's a genuine effectiveness to prayer. 00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:23.500 Prayer is the second cause, the means by which God achieves his eternal decree. 00:38:23.500 --> 00:38:28.800 And this is the reason why prayer works and is so powerful. 00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:31.719 God uses our prayers. 00:38:31.820 --> 00:38:33.320 He actually uses them. 00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:42.280 He has said, I promise to hear the prayers of my people, to use those prayers and work through them to bring about my plan. 00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:47.059 So just because God has a plan doesn't mean we shouldn't pray. 00:38:47.059 --> 00:38:51.579 No, God has elected his people, but we should still preach the gospel. 00:38:52.039 --> 00:38:55.380 He commands us to preach, and so he commands us to pray as well. 00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:57.860 And he uses both those things. 00:38:58.279 --> 00:39:07.500 In fact, we may ask, some people may ask, or when you think about the sovereignty of God, people may ask, well, if God is sovereign, why pray? 00:39:07.500 --> 00:39:13.860 But really, we should ask, well, if God isn't sovereign, why should we pray? 00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:20.739 If he isn't sovereign, then there's no guarantee that he can answer our prayers or use them or do anything to help us. 00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:22.639 There's no guarantee of the future at all. 00:39:23.699 --> 00:39:24.659 But God is sovereign. 00:39:25.780 --> 00:39:29.719 And graciously, he uses our prayer to achieve his eternal decree. 00:39:29.719 --> 00:39:36.219 And so this is the reason and confidence that you can have to pray. 00:39:36.959 --> 00:39:37.939 He hears you. 00:39:38.059 --> 00:39:39.099 He wants you to pray. 00:39:39.299 --> 00:39:43.639 And he is able to answer because God is sovereign. 00:39:46.199 --> 00:39:46.679 Right. 00:39:46.739 --> 00:39:49.399 That was about 15 minutes worth in about two minutes. 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:50.859 So you might have questions. 00:39:51.139 --> 00:39:52.919 We'll do a couple of minutes for questions on that. 00:39:52.919 --> 00:39:53.119 Thank you.