WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.600
 Please take out your copy of God's Word, which I hope you have with you today.

00:00:04.600 --> 00:00:08.800
 I pray that it's well read and treasured in your heart.

00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:13.019
 And turn with me to the book of Acts chapter 21.

00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:21.140
 We've now been in our verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Acts for quite some time.

00:00:21.240 --> 00:00:25.600
 This is Luke's second account of the ministry of Jesus Christ.

00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:30.060
 The first, the Gospel according to Luke, of Jesus' earthly ministry.

00:00:30.540 --> 00:00:33.380
 The second now, of Jesus' ascended ministry.

00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:38.820
 He's working in the lives of His church by the power of His Holy Spirit.

00:00:39.020 --> 00:00:42.240
 And so we see Him still at work.

00:00:42.659 --> 00:00:50.939
 And the main character in our past study, quite a few chapters now, has been Paul and Paul's missionary journeys.

00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:53.799
 He's completed his third missionary journey.

00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:56.359
 He has traveled now to Jerusalem.

00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:03.479
 And the series of events we're going to see in the coming chapters are hastening him along to Rome.

00:01:03.599 --> 00:01:09.759
 So we find ourselves in the conclusion of Luke's account, witnessing these things.

00:01:10.500 --> 00:01:16.539
 Our text for today is verses 17 through 26 of Acts chapter 21.

00:01:16.540 --> 00:01:24.200
 And before I lead us in reading that, let me remind you that this is God's Word to us.

00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:26.300
 It's written for His glory and our good.

00:01:26.380 --> 00:01:33.940
 And we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands.

00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.400
 And I begin reading in verse 17.

00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:41.760
 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:48.000
 On the following day, Paul went in with us to James and all the other elders were present.

00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:54.560
 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through His ministry.

00:01:55.140 --> 00:01:57.880
 And when they heard it, they glorified God.

00:01:57.879 --> 00:01:59.879
 And they said to him,

00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:05.399
 You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed.

00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:08.120
 They are all zealous for the law.

00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:14.620
 And they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses,

00:02:15.259 --> 00:02:19.460
 telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.

00:02:20.219 --> 00:02:21.460
 What then is to be done?

00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:24.039
 They will certainly hear that you have come.

00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:26.859
 Do therefore what we tell you.

00:02:26.860 --> 00:02:29.700
 We have four men who are under a vow.

00:02:30.340 --> 00:02:36.480
 Take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads.

00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:41.120
 Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you,

00:02:41.460 --> 00:02:44.800
 but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.

00:02:45.660 --> 00:02:47.480
 But as for the Gentiles who have believed,

00:02:47.640 --> 00:02:52.280
 we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols

00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:56.740
 and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality.

00:02:56.860 --> 00:03:03.080
 Then Paul took the men and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple,

00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:09.300
 giving notice when the days of purification will be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.

00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:14.180
 So upon Paul and his companions arrival in Jerusalem,

00:03:14.580 --> 00:03:18.860
 we find them received gladly by the brothers.

00:03:19.600 --> 00:03:24.920
 These brothers are likely those Christians in close relationship with Mason of Cyprus,

00:03:25.020 --> 00:03:27.900
 who we find out in verse 16 of chapter 21,

00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:30.900
 Paul and his companions are lodging with.

00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:35.020
 So those that are in close relation, moving in and out of his home.

00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:43.040
 The next day they visit James and all of the other elders of the church of Jerusalem.

00:03:43.379 --> 00:03:48.240
 Here I think the word for church being used in a broader sense.

00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:54.020
 So likely church is as there's many, many, many believers now in Jerusalem,

00:03:54.160 --> 00:03:57.700
 but all of the elders that were in Jerusalem were gathered.

00:03:57.699 --> 00:04:05.879
 It is now almost three decades since the church of Jerusalem was founded on the day of Pentecost.

00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:11.560
 Tradition holds that all of the apostles are now on missionary journeys,

00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:14.579
 or in the case of James, the son of Zebedee,

00:04:14.659 --> 00:04:16.980
 not the James that we're referring to in this text,

00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:19.240
 but James, the son of Zebedee, martyred.

00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:24.180
 The James of our text is James, the brother of Jesus,

00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:29.019
 who is now serving alongside other elders to oversee the church.

00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:32.579
 It would appear that he has taken the place of Peter,

00:04:32.860 --> 00:04:36.379
 a spokesman on behalf of the elders.

00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:42.420
 In verse 19, we are told that Paul does not give them a sweeping overview

00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:44.660
 of his ministry amongst the Gentiles,

00:04:44.660 --> 00:04:51.400
 but rather he related one by one the things that God had done.

00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:58.420
 Rightly, Paul speaks to the power of God through his working, right?

00:04:58.740 --> 00:05:05.560
 He tells them the story one by one of the things that God had done through his ministry.

00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:08.980
 And it has its proper effect among the elders.

00:05:09.080 --> 00:05:10.560
 What do they do when this happens?

00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:13.000
 They hear the telling of what God has done.

00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:15.680
 They glorified God.

00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:21.199
 The elders of the church of Jerusalem recognized that God's amazing grace

00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:26.040
 was working in an ever-broadening way amongst the Gentiles.

00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:30.779
 That God would call those outside of Israel to himself,

00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:35.600
 and that he would not require them to keep the ceremonial or civil laws

00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:40.959
 was difficult for Jewish Christians to understand.

00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:46.779
 But further, so fierce was their sense of national identity.

00:05:47.060 --> 00:05:50.839
 Remember, that they are a conquered people, right?

00:05:50.859 --> 00:05:51.680
 They're living in their land.

00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:56.759
 They're living in Jerusalem, but under Roman rule.

00:05:57.819 --> 00:06:01.519
 And the suggestion that Jews were no longer bound by the ceremonial or civil law

00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:04.259
 and not justified by the moral law,

00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:10.459
 but now justified only by the grace of God in Christ's perfect life and perfect sacrifice,

00:06:10.459 --> 00:06:15.939
 was not always easy for them to wrap their minds around.

00:06:17.300 --> 00:06:23.180
 Paul speaks to this issue in Ephesians 2, verses 11-18.

00:06:23.180 --> 00:06:29.039
 In this case, he's writing to Gentile believers, but he speaks to this.

00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:31.800
 Beginning in verse 11, Paul writes,

00:06:31.939 --> 00:06:36.480
 Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh,

00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:42.140
 called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision,

00:06:42.840 --> 00:06:46.860
 Gentiles and Jews, which is made in the flesh by hands,

00:06:46.980 --> 00:06:51.000
 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ,

00:06:51.840 --> 00:06:56.759
 alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise,

00:06:56.759 --> 00:06:59.920
 having no hope and without God in the world.

00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:02.740
 But now in Christ Jesus,

00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:07.719
 you who were once far off been brought near by the blood of Christ,

00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:11.259
 for he himself is our peace,

00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:16.560
 who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:20.339
 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances

00:07:20.339 --> 00:07:25.359
 that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two,

00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:27.839
 so making peace,

00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:33.039
 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross,

00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:35.699
 thereby killing the hostility.

00:07:36.479 --> 00:07:38.519
 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off

00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:40.579
 and peace to those who were near,

00:07:40.919 --> 00:07:46.199
 for through him we both have access in one spirit to the Father.

00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:52.420
 So Paul speaks to this very issue that the gospel has gone forth to Gentile believers,

00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:54.060
 to Jew and Gentile alike,

00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:58.039
 and he's broken down the dividing wall of hostility between the two.

00:07:58.599 --> 00:08:02.560
 That we now have redemption in Christ alone,

00:08:02.659 --> 00:08:03.899
 by grace alone through faith alone,

00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:06.159
 in Christ alone.

00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:09.839
 The law never justified anybody before God.

00:08:10.180 --> 00:08:15.139
 It was difficult for the Jewish population to always wrap their mind around this.

00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:20.060
 People professing to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ had gone forth,

00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:23.139
 they'd gone out into Gentile churches.

00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:24.819
 We call them the Judaizers, right?

00:08:24.979 --> 00:08:26.279
 And they went out and they said,

00:08:26.419 --> 00:08:27.500
 yes, faith in Christ,

00:08:27.819 --> 00:08:29.879
 but also circumcision,

00:08:30.259 --> 00:08:34.259
 but also ceremonial, sacrificial law.

00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:39.340
 They heaped onto the Gentiles burdens that weren't theirs to bear.

00:08:39.939 --> 00:08:43.279
 This is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.

00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.839
 But I think we have to really work,

00:08:46.179 --> 00:08:47.959
 we really have to have some imagination

00:08:47.959 --> 00:08:54.339
 to try to put ourselves in the shoes of first century Jewish believers, right?

00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:58.620
 People who had in their minds devoted their lives to God,

00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:03.980
 have been exposed to the proper way to be restored to Him in Christ,

00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:09.519
 but yet still holding their national identity and their customs all the same.

00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:14.319
 So there's a lot of confusion, I think, in these days for them.

00:09:15.319 --> 00:09:18.860
 And this sets the stage for the conflict of our text,

00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:24.059
 which is presented to Paul in verses 20 through 22.

00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:25.519
 Elders say to them,

00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:29.779
 there were many, many believing Jews.

00:09:30.379 --> 00:09:33.419
 And these Jews are zealous for the law.

00:09:33.939 --> 00:09:37.480
 I take that to mean the ceremonial law, right?

00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:39.080
 James is referring to, right?

00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:40.500
 Because of the text that follows

00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:44.620
 and the things that Paul is asked to participate in.

00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:48.240
 Luke is not suggesting that they didn't believe,

00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:50.399
 that they weren't followers of Christ, right?

00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:53.860
 They're shown here to be believing Jews, right?

00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:56.779
 But they still held to the customs.

00:09:57.840 --> 00:09:59.200
 And they had heard,

00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:02.200
 and they had believed a nefarious rumor

00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:06.240
 that Paul was seeking to strip Jewish believers

00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:09.879
 of their national and cultural identity.

00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:14.420
 Paul most certainly taught Gentile believers

00:10:14.420 --> 00:10:16.340
 that they were not to circumcise their children

00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:18.700
 or walk according to Jewish customs.

00:10:18.800 --> 00:10:20.460
 But that's not the concern here.

00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:22.120
 If you look in verse 21,

00:10:22.520 --> 00:10:23.680
 they've been told about you,

00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:26.560
 that you teach all the Jews

00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:29.699
 who are among the Gentiles, right?

00:10:29.839 --> 00:10:33.839
 Scattered amongst largely Gentile populations,

00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:35.579
 there were Jews.

00:10:35.739 --> 00:10:37.779
 And recall as we've been studying through Acts

00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:39.319
 that Paul's primary strategy

00:10:39.319 --> 00:10:42.439
 was to go first to the synagogue in a town

00:10:42.439 --> 00:10:44.219
 and to find the Jewish populace.

00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:47.139
 They had a basis for which to believe in God, right?

00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:48.979
 They had read the Old Testament Scriptures.

00:10:49.099 --> 00:10:50.399
 It was a starting point for him

00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:52.939
 to minister the gospel in those places.

00:10:52.940 --> 00:10:57.440
 And so there are Jews mixed in amongst Gentile believers.

00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:01.180
 So Paul did teach this to Gentile believers,

00:11:01.380 --> 00:11:03.980
 but not to Jewish.

00:11:04.580 --> 00:11:06.280
 We can read Paul's strong words

00:11:06.280 --> 00:11:07.320
 to the Galatian believers

00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:08.420
 concerning this very matter

00:11:08.420 --> 00:11:10.060
 in Galatians 3, 1 through 3, right?

00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:16.000
 So the Church of Galatia was infected by Judaizers, right?

00:11:16.260 --> 00:11:17.780
 Many of them were being convinced

00:11:17.780 --> 00:11:19.460
 that they needed to be circumcised

00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:20.640
 in order to please God.

00:11:20.780 --> 00:11:21.860
 And Paul says this to them,

00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:24.639
 O foolish Galatians,

00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:26.600
 who has bewitched you?

00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:28.139
 It was before your eyes

00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:30.820
 that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:32.919
 Let me ask you only this.

00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:35.659
 Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law

00:11:35.659 --> 00:11:38.519
 or by hearing with faith?

00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:40.539
 Are you so foolish,

00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:41.840
 having begun by the Spirit,

00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:45.659
 are you now being perfected by the flesh?

00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:50.539
 Well, Paul's rebukes were sharp to Gentile believers

00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:52.559
 who were beginning to believe

00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:55.319
 that they were justified by the law

00:11:55.319 --> 00:11:58.959
 and therefore keeping it for their justification.

00:11:59.959 --> 00:12:02.319
 But Paul did not instruct Jewish believers

00:12:02.319 --> 00:12:03.819
 to forsake their customs

00:12:03.819 --> 00:12:06.839
 and therefore their national identity.

00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:10.899
 He was very pleased to have Gentiles

00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:13.300
 in matters that were not sin

00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:17.639
 and Jews in matters that were not sin

00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:21.399
 maintain their national and cultural identities,

00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:25.280
 but united as a new people

00:12:25.280 --> 00:12:29.139
 who were ultimately identified by Christ.

00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:33.059
 The Jerusalem elders are not concerned

00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:35.340
 about Paul's teaching, right?

00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:37.439
 They know this to be true of him.

00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:39.600
 What they are concerned about

00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:41.939
 are the many Jewish believers

00:12:41.939 --> 00:12:43.960
 who have been misled to believe

00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:45.519
 that Paul was erring,

00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:48.519
 and they are concerned about the division

00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:50.539
 that this will cause.

00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:52.199
 They say,

00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:54.300
 they will certainly hear

00:12:54.300 --> 00:12:56.460
 that you have come.

00:12:56.940 --> 00:12:59.140
 This is going to cause an uproar

00:12:59.140 --> 00:13:01.280
 amongst the church in Jerusalem.

00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:03.900
 So they devised a plan

00:13:03.900 --> 00:13:05.040
 for Paul to participate

00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:06.900
 in a Jewish custom,

00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:08.560
 which brings us to our outline

00:13:08.560 --> 00:13:09.220
 for our study

00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:10.720
 of the rest of this text.

00:13:11.040 --> 00:13:11.820
 This morning,

00:13:11.900 --> 00:13:13.360
 I will ask three questions

00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:15.420
 and work by grace

00:13:15.420 --> 00:13:17.920
 to answer them for your benefit.

00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:19.259
 And those questions are as follows.

00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:19.800
 Number one,

00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:22.199
 what was the custom

00:13:22.199 --> 00:13:24.359
 Paul was asked to participate in?

00:13:25.359 --> 00:13:26.319
 What was the custom

00:13:26.319 --> 00:13:28.139
 that Paul was asked to participate in?

00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:29.799
 Number two,

00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:32.019
 why was Paul asked

00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:34.099
 to participate in the custom?

00:13:36.719 --> 00:13:38.039
 Why was Paul asked

00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:39.779
 to participate in the custom?

00:13:40.439 --> 00:13:41.399
 Now, I will answer

00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:43.459
 the first two questions in brief.

00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.199
 I hope.

00:13:44.319 --> 00:13:44.799
 That's my plan.

00:13:45.479 --> 00:13:46.639
 And then spend the majority

00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:47.559
 of our time together

00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:48.779
 answering the third,

00:13:48.939 --> 00:13:49.459
 which is,

00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:51.079
 number three,

00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:53.159
 why did Paul participate

00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:53.879
 in the custom?

00:13:54.859 --> 00:13:55.159
 Why?

00:13:55.579 --> 00:13:56.759
 Why did Paul participate

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:58.199
 in the custom?

00:13:59.939 --> 00:14:00.639
 Number one,

00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:01.519
 what was the custom

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.759
 Paul was asked

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.259
 to participate in?

00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:05.439
 Verse 23,

00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:06.519
 in the first part,

00:14:06.719 --> 00:14:09.120
 the first part,

00:14:09.579 --> 00:14:10.579
 the first part,

00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:13.919
 the first part

00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:16.439
 of verse 24.

00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:17.440
 verse 24,

00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:19.300
 the elders say,

00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:20.580
 we have four men

00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:22.120
 who are under a vow.

00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.500
 Take these men

00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:24.520
 and purify yourself

00:14:24.520 --> 00:14:25.220
 along with them

00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:26.200
 and pay their expenses

00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:27.760
 so that they may

00:14:27.760 --> 00:14:28.720
 shave their heads.

00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.020
 And the vow

00:14:30.020 --> 00:14:30.780
 that these four men

00:14:30.780 --> 00:14:31.420
 were under

00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:32.240
 was called

00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:34.040
 a Nazarite vow,

00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:35.700
 which you may recall

00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:36.440
 we considered a bit

00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:37.440
 as Paul participated

00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:38.780
 in the same type

00:14:38.780 --> 00:14:39.300
 of vow

00:14:39.300 --> 00:14:40.580
 recorded in Acts

00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:41.660
 chapter 18,

00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:43.580
 verse 18.

00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:45.320
 The details

00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.180
 of the Nazarite vow

00:14:46.180 --> 00:14:47.300
 are expounded upon

00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:49.060
 in Numbers chapter 6.

00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:50.120
 So if you would like

00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:50.960
 to study the matter

00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.740
 at length,

00:14:51.800 --> 00:14:53.060
 I invite you to do so.

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.000
 It's very interesting.

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:56.000
 But for our purposes,

00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:56.520
 I'm going to give us

00:14:56.520 --> 00:14:57.540
 a brief version

00:14:57.540 --> 00:14:59.180
 of what a Nazarite vow

00:14:59.180 --> 00:14:59.580
 was

00:15:00.400 --> 00:15:01.200
 and what it was meant

00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:01.879
 to picture.

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.060
 The Nazarite vow

00:15:04.060 --> 00:15:04.580
 symbolized

00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.580
 total separation

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:08.259
 to God.

00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:10.000
 It was usually

00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.939
 made to express

00:15:10.939 --> 00:15:12.279
 gratitude for provision

00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:13.019
 or protection

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:15.000
 or in seeking

00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.500
 future provision

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.819
 or protection.

00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:19.740
 The person

00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.740
 who made the vow

00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.939
 was to abstain

00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:22.580
 from alcohol

00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:23.879
 and other products

00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:25.120
 derived from grapes,

00:15:25.319 --> 00:15:26.039
 so vinegar

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.919
 would be an example,

00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:28.659
 let their hair

00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.279
 grow long

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.120
 and cut their hair

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:30.779
 during this period

00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:31.200
 of time

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:33.860
 and avoid contact

00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:34.960
 with dead bodies,

00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:35.500
 which seems like

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:35.919
 the easiest

00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:37.220
 of those expectations

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.420
 to me.

00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:41.160
 The typical length

00:15:41.160 --> 00:15:42.060
 for a Nazarite vow

00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:43.680
 was 30 days.

00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:44.980
 But there are some

00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.759
 biblical exceptions

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.180
 to this,

00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:47.740
 like Samson and Samuel

00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:49.000
 and John the Baptist

00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:50.279
 were all lifelong

00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:51.460
 Nazarites.

00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.639
 They kept a vow

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.500
 of this nature

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.639
 for the entirety

00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.259
 of their lives.

00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:57.720
 The vow would be ended

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:59.500
 through a purification

00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.700
 ceremony,

00:16:01.160 --> 00:16:02.220
 part of which

00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:02.899
 was the shaving

00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:03.500
 of the head

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.820
 and an offering

00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:06.820
 made of the hair

00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:08.840
 that was shaved off.

00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:10.680
 Now,

00:16:10.760 --> 00:16:11.680
 we cannot know

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:12.440
 with certainty

00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:13.420
 how it is

00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:14.060
 that Paul

00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:16.240
 was to purify himself

00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:18.540
 along with them.

00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:19.520
 We just don't get

00:16:19.520 --> 00:16:20.420
 the details

00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:21.480
 in the text.

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.660
 I read a lot

00:16:22.660 --> 00:16:23.400
 of commentary

00:16:23.400 --> 00:16:24.400
 this week

00:16:24.400 --> 00:16:25.280
 of people

00:16:25.280 --> 00:16:26.160
 guessing

00:16:26.160 --> 00:16:27.080
 at what was

00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:27.920
 happening here.

00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:29.820
 He would not

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.360
 have had time

00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:31.580
 to begin a 30-day vow

00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:32.480
 in order to join them

00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:33.200
 in its completion.

00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:34.620
 There is no hint

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.040
 in the text

00:16:35.040 --> 00:16:35.860
 that it took

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:36.560
 that long

00:16:36.560 --> 00:16:37.840
 for it to happen.

00:16:38.140 --> 00:16:38.520
 In fact,

00:16:38.640 --> 00:16:40.140
 in verse 27,

00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:41.460
 possibly it was

00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:42.580
 only seven days

00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:43.220
 from the time

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.300
 he agreed to do this

00:16:44.300 --> 00:16:44.800
 to the time

00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:46.860
 that it actually happened.

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.120
 So,

00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:47.879
 he wouldn't have been

00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.460
 able to begin

00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:49.500
 it that way.

00:16:50.640 --> 00:16:50.840
 Now,

00:16:50.900 --> 00:16:51.660
 there was a Jewish

00:16:51.660 --> 00:16:52.940
 custom of purification

00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:54.060
 for one returning

00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:56.460
 from Gentile lands

00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:57.620
 back to Jerusalem.

00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:58.040
 They were seen

00:16:58.040 --> 00:16:58.740
 as unclean,

00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.060
 so there was

00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:00.720
 a purification process

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.639
 they were meant

00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.160
 to go through

00:17:02.160 --> 00:17:03.340
 upon coming back

00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:04.400
 into Jerusalem.

00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.039
 So,

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:06.380
 maybe this is

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.019
 the purification

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.680
 he underwent

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.299
 before going

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:10.059
 to the temple

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:10.620
 with them.

00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:12.440
 But,

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.480
 and this is my guess,

00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:14.579
 I want you to know this,

00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:16.480
 my postulation,

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.279
 in Acts 18.18,

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:19.799
 Luke states

00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.680
 that Paul shaved

00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.319
 his head,

00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.039
 but we see

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.680
 no record

00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.440
 of him making

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.120
 an offering

00:17:25.120 --> 00:17:26.039
 of the hair.

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.019
 We see no record

00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:27.680
 of him traveling

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.339
 to Jerusalem

00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:29.380
 in order to make

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.539
 that offering.

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:32.100
 In the following chapters,

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.360
 we see him hastening,

00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.839
 he's working quickly

00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:35.880
 to make his way

00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:37.559
 to Jerusalem,

00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:39.819
 and the law

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.660
 made provision

00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:41.480
 for travelers

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:43.100
 upon completing

00:17:43.100 --> 00:17:43.799
 such a vow

00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:45.180
 to save

00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:46.480
 some of the hair

00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.600
 and offer it

00:17:47.600 --> 00:17:48.759
 at a later time.

00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:49.980
 So,

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.380
 maybe,

00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:51.259
 again,

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.460
 my postulation,

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.000
 maybe,

00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.100
 he completed

00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:54.759
 his vow

00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.579
 along with

00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.319
 the four men,

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.380
 even though

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:58.640
 that 30-day period

00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.600
 had already passed

00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.199
 when he was

00:18:00.199 --> 00:18:01.240
 on his last

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.299
 missionary journey.

00:18:02.399 --> 00:18:02.480
 So,

00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:02.959
 maybe he still

00:18:02.959 --> 00:18:04.599
 had that hair

00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:05.139
 and he still

00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:05.939
 intended to make

00:18:05.939 --> 00:18:07.000
 that final sacrifice

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:08.559
 along with him.

00:18:09.459 --> 00:18:10.579
 We cannot know

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.079
 with certainty

00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:12.159
 how he participated

00:18:12.159 --> 00:18:13.359
 in the purification,

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:14.939
 but the point

00:18:14.939 --> 00:18:15.759
 is that

00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.439
 Paul

00:18:16.439 --> 00:18:17.659
 participated.

00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:19.019
 He participated

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:21.039
 in the purification

00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.339
 custom.

00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:23.779
 And not only

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.319
 did he participate

00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:25.759
 in the vows

00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.379
 of the four men,

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.159
 but also

00:18:27.159 --> 00:18:28.179
 he paid

00:18:28.179 --> 00:18:30.039
 their expenses,

00:18:30.679 --> 00:18:31.220
 which would have

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:31.679
 been charged

00:18:31.679 --> 00:18:32.579
 as part of

00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.500
 the offering.

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:33.899
 So,

00:18:33.959 --> 00:18:34.699
 he came alongside

00:18:34.699 --> 00:18:35.519
 and showed

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.439
 clearly

00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:38.519
 that he was

00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.480
 not against

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.119
 the Jewish

00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:41.139
 custom.

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:41.799
 So,

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.740
 this was the

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.500
 custom that Paul

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.899
 was asked

00:18:44.899 --> 00:18:45.399
 to be part of.

00:18:46.199 --> 00:18:46.720
 Secondly,

00:18:46.899 --> 00:18:47.519
 why was Paul

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.459
 asked to participate

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:50.019
 in the custom?

00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:51.840
 We're

00:18:51.840 --> 00:18:53.059
 hinting around

00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:53.620
 this for sure

00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:53.960
 and we'll get

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.480
 into this more

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.160
 as we answer

00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:56.019
 the third question.

00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:56.420
 But if you look

00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:56.880
 at the last

00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:57.759
 half of verse

00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.860
 24 and

00:18:58.860 --> 00:19:00.400
 verse 25,

00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:01.980
 we can see

00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:02.640
 that the Jerusalem

00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.860
 elders wanted

00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:05.140
 the rumor

00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:07.120
 laid to rest.

00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.299
 They said,

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.340
 this is going

00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:10.480
 to be a problem.

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.559
 Let's get out

00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:12.480
 ahead of it.

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.240
 Let's be wise

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.759
 in the way

00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.360
 we deal

00:19:15.360 --> 00:19:16.039
 with this

00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.740
 potential issue

00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.900
 that's before

00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:19.380
 us.

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.220
 The last

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:20.500
 half of

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.059
 verse 24,

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:21.759
 they say,

00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:22.799
 thus all

00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.460
 will know

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.200
 that there

00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:24.839
 is nothing

00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:25.259
 in what

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:25.640
 they have

00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.019
 been told

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.440
 about you.

00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:26.720
 There's

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.200
 nothing

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:27.539
 in what

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:27.720
 they have

00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:27.960
 been told

00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.339
 about you.

00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:28.539
 It's

00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:29.079
 false

00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:30.180
 that you

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:30.680
 yourself

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:31.640
 also live

00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:32.920
 in observance

00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:33.980
 of the law.

00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:35.039
 As a Jewish

00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.420
 believer,

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.240
 you yourself

00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:37.059
 are keeping

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:38.299
 the customs.

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:40.000
 At the same

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.460
 time,

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:41.819
 they wanted

00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.539
 Paul to know

00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:43.339
 that they

00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:43.799
 did not

00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.400
 desire to lay

00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.140
 any burden

00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:45.819
 on the

00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.380
 Gentile

00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:47.099
 believers.

00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:48.199
 They were

00:19:48.199 --> 00:19:48.459
 not

00:19:48.459 --> 00:19:49.079
 Judaizers.

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:49.519
 They wanted

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.119
 to be clear

00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:50.539
 of that.

00:19:50.939 --> 00:19:51.199
 They did

00:19:51.199 --> 00:19:51.699
 not expect

00:19:51.699 --> 00:19:52.199
 the Gentiles

00:19:52.199 --> 00:19:52.740
 to conform

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.019
 to their

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.339
 Jewish

00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:53.740
 national

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.679
 identity

00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:55.339
 and culture,

00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:57.179
 but to be

00:19:57.179 --> 00:19:57.619
 sensitive

00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:59.199
 to it.

00:20:00.199 --> 00:20:01.179
 Working to

00:20:01.179 --> 00:20:01.679
 maintain

00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.259
 the unity

00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.240
 of the

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.480
 Spirit.

00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:04.039
 So they

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.759
 tell Paul

00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.619
 in the last

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:05.879
 part of

00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:06.519
 verse 25

00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.519
 that they

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.240
 sent a letter

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:08.619
 with their

00:20:08.619 --> 00:20:09.099
 judgment

00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:10.500
 that they,

00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.000
 being the

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.379
 Gentiles,

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.059
 should abstain

00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:12.399
 from what

00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:12.619
 has been

00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:13.379
 sacrificed to

00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:14.480
 idols and

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.179
 from blood

00:20:15.179 --> 00:20:15.519
 and from

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:15.899
 what has been

00:20:15.899 --> 00:20:16.719
 strangled.

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:17.559
 And from

00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:18.099
 sexual

00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:19.099
 immorality.

00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:21.000
 Which was

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:22.419
 a restatement

00:20:22.419 --> 00:20:23.699
 of the decision

00:20:23.699 --> 00:20:24.359
 made at the

00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:25.259
 Jerusalem Council

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.500
 in A.D. 49.

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.519
 So about

00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.559
 11 years

00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.379
 earlier.

00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.119
 They're just

00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:30.879
 restating the

00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:31.619
 very same

00:20:31.619 --> 00:20:32.079
 thing.

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:32.959
 There are

00:20:32.959 --> 00:20:34.339
 some culturally

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.240
 sensitive

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.939
 issues as

00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:37.519
 it pertains

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.419
 to Gentiles

00:20:38.419 --> 00:20:39.099
 and Jews.

00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:39.819
 Don't do

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.539
 those things.

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.159
 Love your

00:20:41.159 --> 00:20:41.879
 brothers in

00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:42.399
 the faith

00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:43.279
 who are

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.699
 Jewish.

00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:44.279
 And of

00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.459
 course,

00:20:44.639 --> 00:20:44.899
 sexual

00:20:44.899 --> 00:20:45.319
 immorality

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:45.759
 is not

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.599
 negotiable

00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.379
 in that

00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:48.200
 list.

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.419
 You can

00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:49.759
 read more

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.359
 about this

00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:50.859
 in Acts

00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.799
 chapter 15.

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.099
 And I would

00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:53.519
 encourage you

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:53.879
 to go to

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.319
 our website

00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:54.619
 if you'd

00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:54.799
 like to

00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.059
 hear a

00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.259
 sermon.

00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.139
 Clay

00:20:56.139 --> 00:20:56.659
 preached it

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.339
 on that

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:57.859
 text as

00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:58.279
 well to

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.299
 understand

00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:00.399
 to greater

00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:01.659
 degree what

00:21:01.659 --> 00:21:02.259
 they mean

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:02.659
 in sending

00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:03.179
 this letter.

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.000
 But the

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.579
 point being

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:07.119
 that the

00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.839
 Jerusalem elders

00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.659
 did not want

00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:09.379
 Paul to think

00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:09.899
 that they were

00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:10.480
 laying the

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.220
 burden of

00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.480
 ceremonial law

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.680
 on top of

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.339
 Gentile

00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:15.120
 believers.

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.720
 Now,

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.180
 thirdly,

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.120
 why did

00:21:20.120 --> 00:21:20.740
 Paul participate

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.400
 in the

00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:21.680
 custom?

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.900
 Well,

00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.160
 for the

00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:24.579
 same reason

00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:24.860
 that the

00:21:24.860 --> 00:21:26.039
 Jerusalem elders

00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:26.599
 wanted him

00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:26.980
 to.

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:27.960
 Paul did

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.480
 not want

00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:28.799
 to see

00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.460
 the unity

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.420
 of the

00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:30.819
 Jerusalem

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.440
 church,

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.519
 the unity

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:32.960
 between

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.579
 Gentile

00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:33.980
 believers

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.880
 and Jewish

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.539
 believers

00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.720
 severed.

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:38.059
 But rather,

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.500
 he desired

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:38.920
 to see it

00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.559
 flourish

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.500
 and was

00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:40.919
 willing to

00:21:40.919 --> 00:21:41.679
 submit to

00:21:41.679 --> 00:21:42.259
 the instruction

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:42.619
 of the

00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:42.940
 Jerusalem

00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.679
 elders to

00:21:43.679 --> 00:21:44.220
 see it

00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:45.019
 so.

00:21:45.159 --> 00:21:45.379
 And I

00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:46.039
 love that.

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:46.740
 I love

00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.000
 that the

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.099
 apostle Paul

00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:49.179
 comes to

00:21:49.179 --> 00:21:49.740
 Jerusalem,

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.379
 right,

00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.700
 having apostolic

00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.339
 authority,

00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.279
 and the

00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.099
 elders say,

00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:54.559
 hey,

00:21:54.679 --> 00:21:55.279
 we have a

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.720
 suggestion

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.359
 for you.

00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.159
 And he

00:21:57.159 --> 00:21:57.980
 follows that

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.500
 suggestion,

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:58.919
 right,

00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.379
 coming to

00:21:59.379 --> 00:22:00.099
 their city

00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:00.720
 and the

00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.159
 church they

00:22:01.159 --> 00:22:01.500
 were given

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.200
 charge to

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.700
 oversee,

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:03.819
 and he

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.619
 follows their

00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.919
 suggestion.

00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.700
 This text

00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.359
 today serves

00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.539
 as an example

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.299
 of Paul's

00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:11.139
 desire to

00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:12.440
 become all

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.899
 things to

00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:14.920
 all people,

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.579
 as he states

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.480
 in 1 Corinthians

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.000
 9,

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:18.000
 22.

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.839
 I want to

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.200
 look at the

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:20.920
 larger portion

00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.379
 of Scripture

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:22.119
 in 1 Corinthians

00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:22.519
 9,

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.180
 but before

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:23.720
 we do,

00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:25.440
 let's first

00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:25.879
 look at an

00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:26.579
 example of

00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.139
 what Paul

00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:28.240
 is not

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:28.680
 doing,

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:29.559
 right,

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.559
 in this

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.079
 activity,

00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:31.539
 right,

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.359
 and the

00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:32.920
 activity that

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.339
 he would

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.359
 condemn in

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.180
 doing this.

00:22:35.399 --> 00:22:35.539
 So,

00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.039
 turn with

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.180
 me,

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:36.480
 please,

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.319
 to Galatians

00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:38.180
 chapter 2.

00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:52.720
 So good

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:52.980
 to hear

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.619
 real paper

00:22:53.619 --> 00:22:54.299
 pages flipping.

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.420
 Thank you.

00:22:58.920 --> 00:22:59.279
 Now,

00:22:59.319 --> 00:22:59.579
 I mentioned

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.039
 previously,

00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:00.460
 the letter

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.500
 primarily

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:01.980
 written to

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.259
 the church

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:02.700
 of Galatia

00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.059
 was written

00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:03.980
 because of

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.579
 the Judaizers,

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:04.879
 right,

00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:05.400
 because they

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.520
 had ceased

00:23:06.520 --> 00:23:07.860
 believing in

00:23:07.860 --> 00:23:08.220
 the gospel

00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.520
 of Jesus

00:23:08.520 --> 00:23:09.000
 Christ,

00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:09.400
 right,

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:09.980
 that our

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.340
 justification

00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:10.940
 comes by

00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:11.320
 grace alone

00:23:11.320 --> 00:23:11.640
 through faith

00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:11.940
 alone,

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.720
 in Christ's

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.180
 person and

00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.240
 work alone,

00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:15.520
 but they

00:23:15.520 --> 00:23:15.940
 had begun

00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.860
 to add

00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.520
 to that

00:23:17.520 --> 00:23:18.640
 laws,

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.200
 right,

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.380
 to begin

00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.280
 to find

00:23:21.280 --> 00:23:21.660
 themselves

00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:22.260
 justified

00:23:22.260 --> 00:23:23.300
 by those

00:23:23.300 --> 00:23:24.260
 laws.

00:23:24.360 --> 00:23:24.600
 And so he

00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:24.940
 writes this

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.220
 letter to

00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:25.560
 them and

00:23:25.560 --> 00:23:26.160
 he uses

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:26.680
 as an

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.360
 example,

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:28.840
 a poor

00:23:28.840 --> 00:23:29.480
 example,

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:32.519
 Cephas.

00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:33.839
 So Galatians

00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.259
 chapter 2

00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:34.839
 verses 11

00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.599
 through 14,

00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:37.259
 by recounting

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:37.779
 an event

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:39.099
 in order

00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:39.720
 to instruct

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.860
 the Galatian

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:41.740
 church.

00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:42.400
 It says in

00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:42.839
 verse 11,

00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:43.680
 but when

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.319
 Cephas,

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.799
 now Cephas

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:47.279
 was Peter's

00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:47.680
 name in

00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.360
 Aramaic.

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.920
 So Peter

00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.460
 is the

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.079
 Roman

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:51.860
 version,

00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:53.740
 Cephas

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.259
 is the

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.900
 Jewish

00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.519
 version

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.579
 of his

00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:56.839
 name.

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.839
 So Paul

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.180
 here is

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.860
 referring to

00:23:58.860 --> 00:23:59.440
 him by

00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.539
 his Jewish

00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.180
 name to

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.259
 the Galatian

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.940
 church.

00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:04.100
 But when

00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:04.779
 Cephas

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.440
 came to

00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.039
 Antioch,

00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:06.779
 Antioch was

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.220
 kind of

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.320
 Paul's

00:24:08.320 --> 00:24:08.920
 home base,

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.400
 his home

00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:09.900
 church,

00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.360
 all of the

00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:10.580
 missionary

00:24:10.580 --> 00:24:10.980
 journeys,

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.799
 left from

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.200
 there and

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.720
 went back

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:12.960
 to there.

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.259
 That's how

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.480
 we know

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.059
 they concluded.

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:14.400
 He went

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:14.880
 back to

00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.279
 the church

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:15.799
 that

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.140
 commissioned

00:24:16.140 --> 00:24:17.120
 him to

00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:17.500
 go out.

00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.120
 So when

00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:19.220
 Cephas

00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:19.940
 Peter came

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.320
 and visited

00:24:20.320 --> 00:24:20.539
 him in

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:20.960
 Antioch,

00:24:21.320 --> 00:24:21.960
 I opposed

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.120
 him to

00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:23.940
 his face

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:25.019
 because he

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.660
 stood

00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.519
 condemned.

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.240
 For before

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.740
 certain

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.579
 men came

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:29.880
 from

00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:30.620
 James,

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.539
 James from

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:31.940
 our text

00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.480
 today,

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.140
 so elders

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:33.559
 from the

00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:33.900
 church,

00:24:34.859 --> 00:24:35.099
 Cephas

00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:35.980
 was eating

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.599
 with the

00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.180
 Gentiles.

00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:38.539
 But when

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.279
 they came,

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.200
 he drew

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.019
 back and

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.660
 separated

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.339
 himself,

00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:44.259
 fearing the

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:44.859
 circumcision

00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:45.400
 party.

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.019
 And the

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.480
 rest of the

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.099
 Jews acted

00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:48.839
 hypocritically

00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:49.700
 along with

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.660
 him, so

00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.000
 that even

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.660
 Barnabas was

00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.220
 led astray

00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.059
 by their

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.759
 hypocrisy.

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.460
 But when

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.079
 I saw

00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.799
 that their

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.500
 conduct was

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.220
 not in

00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.059
 step with

00:24:59.059 --> 00:24:59.779
 the truth

00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.539
 of the

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:00.960
 gospel,

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.480
 I said

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.180
 to Cephas

00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:03.859
 before them

00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.259
 all,

00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.779
 if you,

00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:06.660
 though a

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:06.940
 Jew,

00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:08.099
 live like a

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:08.599
 Gentile and

00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.220
 not like a

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.900
 Jew, how

00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:10.299
 can you

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.819
 force the

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.900
 Gentiles to

00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:13.440
 live like

00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:13.920
 Jews?

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.359
 So you

00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:15.619
 see what's

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:15.940
 happening

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.279
 here.

00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.759
 Peter ceased

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.700
 associating with

00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.559
 the Gentiles,

00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:21.879
 instead

00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.760
 associating

00:25:22.760 --> 00:25:23.560
 with the

00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:24.980
 party that

00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.300
 was called

00:25:25.300 --> 00:25:26.020
 the circumcision

00:25:26.020 --> 00:25:26.700
 party, those

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:26.920
 that were

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.240
 trying to

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.680
 have people

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.260
 circumcised

00:25:28.260 --> 00:25:28.740
 in order to

00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:30.000
 keep the

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.300
 law.

00:25:31.300 --> 00:25:31.540
 But he

00:25:31.540 --> 00:25:32.200
 did so

00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:32.660
 out of

00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.200
 concern

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.060
 for himself

00:25:35.060 --> 00:25:36.260
 at the

00:25:36.260 --> 00:25:36.500
 end of

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.000
 verse 12,

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:38.440
 fearing the

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.140
 circumcision

00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:40.140
 party.

00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:41.140
 He ceased

00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:41.760
 associating with

00:25:41.760 --> 00:25:42.340
 the Gentiles

00:25:42.340 --> 00:25:42.700
 out of

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.980
 concern for

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.900
 himself, and

00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:46.000
 Paul rebuked

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.840
 him publicly

00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:48.400
 and sharply

00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.240
 for this.

00:25:50.340 --> 00:25:51.200
 In today's

00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.680
 text,

00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:53.620
 Paul participates

00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:54.040
 in the

00:25:54.040 --> 00:25:54.320
 Jewish

00:25:54.320 --> 00:25:56.280
 custom for

00:25:56.280 --> 00:25:57.040
 the sake

00:25:57.040 --> 00:25:58.560
 of others,

00:25:58.920 --> 00:25:59.640
 not for

00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:00.860
 himself, for

00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:01.340
 the sake

00:26:01.340 --> 00:26:02.880
 of others.

00:26:03.840 --> 00:26:04.140
 And this

00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.640
 brings us to

00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.160
 1 Corinthians

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.340
 chapter 9, so

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:06.960
 join me there.

00:26:07.080 --> 00:26:07.600
 1 Corinthians

00:26:07.600 --> 00:26:08.420
 chapter 9,

00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:10.080
 verses 19

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:11.120
 through 23.

00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:22.859
 1 Corinthians

00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:23.479
 9, 19

00:26:23.479 --> 00:26:23.879
 through 23,

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.319
 which we'll

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.579
 spend the

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.039
 majority of

00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.339
 the rest of

00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:26.859
 our time on

00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:28.279
 together.

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:34.339
 Paul writes,

00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.059
 for though I

00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:35.920
 am free from

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:37.599
 all, I

00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.019
 have made

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.920
 myself a

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.460
 servant to

00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.440
 all, that I

00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.180
 might win

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:41.899
 more of

00:26:41.899 --> 00:26:42.099
 them.

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.460
 To the

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:43.720
 Jews I

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.119
 became as

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:44.799
 a Jew in

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.220
 order to

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.220
 win Jews.

00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.359
 To those

00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:47.700
 under the

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:47.940
 law I

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.339
 became as

00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:49.000
 one under

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.519
 the law,

00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.399
 though not

00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:51.339
 being myself

00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:52.019
 under the

00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:53.259
 law, that I

00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:53.839
 might win

00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.819
 those under

00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:55.519
 the law.

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:57.339
 those outside

00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:57.700
 the law

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.160
 became as

00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:58.740
 one outside

00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:00.160
 the law, not

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.660
 being outside

00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:01.039
 the law of

00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.359
 God, but

00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.099
 under the

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:03.079
 law of

00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:04.379
 Christ, that

00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:05.059
 I might win

00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:06.319
 those outside

00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:06.859
 the law.

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.119
 To the

00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:08.400
 weak I

00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:09.039
 became weak,

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.440
 that I

00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:09.900
 might win

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.599
 the weak.

00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:11.559
 I have

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.220
 become all

00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:13.139
 things to

00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:13.779
 all people,

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.720
 that by all

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.379
 means I

00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:16.220
 might save

00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:16.619
 some.

00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:17.980
 I do it

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.480
 all for the

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:18.799
 sake of the

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.259
 gospel, that

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:19.819
 I may share

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:21.440
 with them in

00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.059
 its blessings.

00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.240
 So Paul

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.059
 begins,

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.180
 in verse

00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:28.039
 19, saying

00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:28.500
 that he

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:30.299
 is free

00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:32.279
 from all.

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:33.900
 Having been

00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:34.440
 justified

00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.619
 through grace

00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.639
 by faith

00:27:36.639 --> 00:27:37.740
 in Christ,

00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:39.339
 he is free

00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:40.379
 from the

00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:41.440
 condemnation

00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.819
 of the

00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:43.420
 law and

00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:44.180
 anyone who

00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:45.339
 would place

00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.200
 burden upon

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:47.839
 him for

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:48.139
 it.

00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.539
 This we

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.240
 often call

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.940
 Christian

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.920
 liberty.

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:52.619
 We've been

00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.599
 given freedom

00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:55.339
 in Christ.

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:57.359
 many will

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.119
 say that

00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:58.859
 this text

00:27:58.859 --> 00:27:59.599
 is about

00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.220
 Paul

00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:01.460
 foregoing

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.160
 or laying

00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:02.920
 aside or

00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:04.059
 not exercising

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.879
 his Christian

00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.519
 liberty.

00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:06.279
 And I

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:07.400
 disagree

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:08.759
 entirely.

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.039
 I think

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.619
 it's wrong

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.220
 to say,

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:11.799
 well, I

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.660
 am free,

00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.379
 but I'll

00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:13.859
 no longer

00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:14.579
 be free.

00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:15.539
 No, we

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.339
 are free.

00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.480
 We are

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.240
 free in

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.639
 Christ.

00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:19.660
 He didn't

00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:20.379
 forego the

00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:20.879
 use of his

00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.480
 Christian liberty,

00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:22.359
 but he

00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:23.019
 used it.

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:24.460
 he used

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:24.940
 the fact

00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.299
 that he

00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:26.299
 is free

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:27.319
 for the

00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:27.599
 good of

00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:27.940
 others.

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.240
 He made

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.180
 decisions

00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:31.599
 within that

00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:32.480
 freedom for

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.539
 the good

00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.680
 of others.

00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:36.379
 He willfully

00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:37.519
 bound himself

00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.859
 to the service

00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.460
 of other

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.119
 people's

00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:41.119
 souls.

00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:42.839
 Jesus

00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:43.519
 stated in

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:43.819
 Mark

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.619
 chapter 10

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:46.039
 verse 45,

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:47.980
 for even

00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.519
 the Son

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:48.960
 of Man

00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:50.259
 came not

00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.859
 to be

00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.379
 served,

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.519
 but to

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.940
 serve and

00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.180
 to give

00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:54.759
 his life

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.200
 as a

00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.720
 ransom for

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.019
 many.

00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.920
 Now, we

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.759
 don't get to

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.039
 give our

00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:00.559
 lives as a

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:00.980
 ransom for

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.440
 many in

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:01.980
 the way

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.579
 that Jesus

00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.700
 did.

00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.859
 But we

00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:05.440
 ought to

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:05.879
 model our

00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:06.700
 lives after

00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.259
 our

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:07.920
 Lord's,

00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:09.039
 following

00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:09.619
 him,

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:09.980
 being

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:10.659
 followers

00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.399
 of Jesus

00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:12.359
 Christ,

00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:12.879
 not to

00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.599
 be served,

00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:14.980
 but to

00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:16.380
 serve.

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:17.960
 Paul

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.559
 modeled his

00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:19.000
 ministry

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:19.880
 after that

00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:21.180
 of our

00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:21.480
 Lord.

00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.400
 Fill in

00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:24.799
 the blank

00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:26.140
 in the

00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:26.720
 quiet of

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.200
 your mind,

00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.819
 for to

00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:29.740
 me to

00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:32.660
 live is...

00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:34.200
 If you

00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:34.839
 put any

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:35.620
 word in

00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.319
 that blank

00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:37.660
 other than

00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:38.960
 Christ or

00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.740
 some variance

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.140
 of that

00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:40.579
 matchless

00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:40.920
 name,

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:42.579
 then you're

00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.000
 faced with

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:44.200
 two options.

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:46.259
 number one,

00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:48.000
 you are not

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.799
 a follower

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.519
 of Jesus

00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:50.019
 Christ.

00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:51.599
 It's very

00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.220
 possible that

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.420
 you have

00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:53.880
 never tasted

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.720
 and seen

00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.339
 the goodness

00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:55.839
 of God

00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.420
 to us

00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.259
 in Jesus

00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.759
 Christ.

00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.059
 That you

00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.339
 couldn't

00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:00.299
 possibly say,

00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:01.440
 for to me

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.120
 to live

00:30:02.120 --> 00:30:03.599
 is Christ.

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.339
 This is from

00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:04.720
 Philippians

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.279
 1.21.

00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.819
 He is my

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.180
 greatest

00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:07.660
 treasure.

00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.000
 I would

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.700
 gladly give

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.360
 up all

00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:10.740
 else for

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.200
 the sake

00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:11.880
 of his

00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.240
 name,

00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:12.519
 that I

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.420
 might gain

00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:15.420
 more of

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:15.740
 him.

00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.120
 It is

00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:17.680
 possible that

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:17.880
 you have

00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:18.440
 not been

00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.100
 saved by

00:30:19.100 --> 00:30:19.640
 his grace

00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:20.640
 and you

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:21.039
 need to

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.920
 repent and

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.340
 believe in

00:30:22.340 --> 00:30:22.620
 him.

00:30:24.080 --> 00:30:24.740
 The other

00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.300
 option is that

00:30:25.300 --> 00:30:25.900
 you are a

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:27.100
 follower of

00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:27.660
 Jesus Christ,

00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.160
 but you

00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:28.740
 just have

00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.400
 simply stopped

00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.060
 following.

00:30:31.120 --> 00:30:31.660
 You have

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.259
 forgotten that

00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:32.900
 Jesus came

00:30:32.900 --> 00:30:33.300
 into the

00:30:33.300 --> 00:30:33.759
 world to

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.220
 seek and

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.640
 to save

00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:35.220
 the lost,

00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.420
 and you

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.160
 have started

00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:38.600
 living for

00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:39.200
 yourself.

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.340
 And of

00:30:40.340 --> 00:30:40.740
 this,

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.700
 you need

00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.640
 to

00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:42.880
 repent.

00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:43.380
 We need

00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:43.960
 to join

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.559
 with Paul

00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.120
 in saying,

00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:45.559
 for to

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:45.900
 me,

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.160
 to live

00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:48.140
 is

00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:49.420
 Christ.

00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.220
 We need

00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:50.759
 to follow

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.200
 him and

00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.759
 follow his

00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.519
 example in

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.340
 laying our

00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:54.160
 lives down

00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:55.460
 for the

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:57.080
 sake of

00:30:57.080 --> 00:30:57.580
 others.

00:30:59.100 --> 00:30:59.860
 Beginning in

00:30:59.860 --> 00:31:00.960
 verse 20 of

00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.019
 1 Corinthians

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.759
 9, Paul

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.539
 gives us

00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:04.100
 some of

00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:05.319
 the particulars.

00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:07.039
 He says

00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.580
 to the

00:31:07.580 --> 00:31:07.840
 Jews,

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.460
 I became

00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.860
 as a

00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:10.120
 Jew.

00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.740
 Paul was

00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.220
 Jewish,

00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:11.860
 you remember,

00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:13.079
 but he

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.880
 picked up

00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:14.980
 the customs

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.740
 of the

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.100
 Jews.

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:16.720
 In order

00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.680
 to what?

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.000
 Win

00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:20.279
 Jews.

00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.579
 To those

00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:21.900
 under the

00:31:21.900 --> 00:31:22.180
 law,

00:31:22.360 --> 00:31:22.779
 I became

00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.120
 as one

00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.940
 under the

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.339
 law,

00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:26.240
 though not

00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.420
 being myself

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.160
 under the

00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.400
 law.

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:28.680
 And he's

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.120
 saying that

00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.519
 is,

00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:29.900
 right,

00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.220
 his

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:30.700
 righteousness

00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.259
 and our

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.660
 righteousness

00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.539
 does not

00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:33.680
 come from

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.779
 the law.

00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:35.839
 So in

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.100
 the case

00:31:36.100 --> 00:31:36.299
 of our

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:36.839
 text today

00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:37.180
 in Acts

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:37.740
 21,

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.240
 right,

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.620
 he

00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:39.200
 participated

00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:39.720
 in the

00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:40.259
 custom,

00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.340
 fully

00:31:41.340 --> 00:31:41.860
 recognizing

00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:42.140
 that he

00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:42.840
 was not

00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:43.600
 justified

00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:45.480
 by the

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:45.900
 custom.

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.200
 Much in

00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:47.480
 the same

00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:47.740
 way,

00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.160
 we might

00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.600
 participate

00:31:48.600 --> 00:31:49.180
 in a

00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:49.360
 church

00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:49.779
 fellowship.

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.759
 We're not

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.340
 justified

00:31:51.340 --> 00:31:52.299
 by coming

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.000
 to church,

00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:53.500
 right,

00:31:53.620 --> 00:31:54.180
 but it is

00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:54.680
 a good and

00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.240
 proper thing

00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:55.660
 for us

00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:56.279
 to do,

00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:56.759
 right?

00:31:56.840 --> 00:31:57.080
 It's

00:31:57.080 --> 00:31:57.400
 commanded

00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:57.900
 to us,

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.380
 it's a

00:31:58.380 --> 00:31:58.720
 good thing

00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.100
 for our

00:31:59.100 --> 00:31:59.360
 soul,

00:31:59.440 --> 00:31:59.660
 it's a

00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.059
 means of

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.299
 grace

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.799
 to us,

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:02.160
 so we

00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:03.019
 participate

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:04.160
 in that

00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.559
 way.

00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:06.839
 He

00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:07.139
 goes on

00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:07.399
 to say

00:32:07.399 --> 00:32:07.659
 in verse

00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.019
 20,

00:32:08.159 --> 00:32:08.440
 that I

00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.059
 might win

00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:09.799
 those under

00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.339
 the law.

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:10.819
 Verse

00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.279
 21,

00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.279
 to those

00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.000
 outside the

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.319
 law,

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:13.980
 he's not

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.379
 talking about

00:32:14.379 --> 00:32:14.960
 Gentiles,

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:15.299
 people who

00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:15.679
 are not

00:32:15.679 --> 00:32:15.960
 Jewish,

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.299
 to those

00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:16.960
 outside the

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.099
 law,

00:32:17.179 --> 00:32:17.480
 I became

00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:17.899
 as one

00:32:17.899 --> 00:32:18.679
 outside

00:32:18.679 --> 00:32:20.399
 the law.

00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:21.700
 So he

00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:21.919
 may have

00:32:21.919 --> 00:32:22.259
 picked up

00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:22.599
 and eaten

00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:23.159
 something he

00:32:23.159 --> 00:32:23.460
 may not

00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:23.799
 have eaten

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.279
 in a

00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:24.599
 different

00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:25.639
 context.

00:32:26.659 --> 00:32:26.960
 And then

00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.079
 the

00:32:27.079 --> 00:32:27.639
 parenthetical,

00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:28.500
 not being

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:29.679
 outside the

00:32:29.679 --> 00:32:30.279
 law of

00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:30.819
 God,

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.039
 here he's

00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.980
 referring to

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.079
 the

00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:34.939
 moral law

00:32:34.939 --> 00:32:35.519
 of God,

00:32:35.919 --> 00:32:37.000
 but under

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.819
 the law

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.539
 of

00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:40.079
 Christ.

00:32:40.439 --> 00:32:40.960
 But under

00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.519
 the law

00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:42.919
 of Christ.

00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:44.139
 Beloved,

00:32:44.199 --> 00:32:44.839
 Christianity is

00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.240
 unique from

00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:45.740
 every other

00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.240
 religion in

00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:46.699
 the world

00:32:46.699 --> 00:32:47.359
 because every

00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:47.839
 other religion

00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.359
 in the world

00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:48.699
 can be

00:32:48.699 --> 00:32:49.119
 boiled down

00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:49.799
 to this.

00:32:50.679 --> 00:32:51.279
 You must

00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:52.179
 act in

00:32:52.179 --> 00:32:52.720
 order to

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.480
 be accepted

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.139
 by God.

00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.599
 Do the

00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.460
 following things

00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:57.199
 in the right

00:32:57.199 --> 00:32:57.759
 way and

00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.559
 enough of

00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.220
 it and

00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.659
 maybe you'll

00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:01.159
 be accepted

00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:02.179
 by God.

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:02.539
 This is a

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:03.059
 frightful

00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:03.779
 proposition.

00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:04.699
 If you

00:33:04.699 --> 00:33:04.980
 know

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.439
 yourself

00:33:05.439 --> 00:33:06.240
 at all,

00:33:06.859 --> 00:33:07.079
 you'll

00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:07.359
 know you'll

00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:07.759
 never do

00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.139
 enough.

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:08.359
 It's

00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:08.839
 impossible.

00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:09.939
 My

00:33:09.939 --> 00:33:10.579
 wickedness

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:11.259
 so often

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:11.980
 far outweighs

00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:12.539
 any good

00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:13.179
 that I

00:33:13.179 --> 00:33:13.539
 could do.

00:33:14.439 --> 00:33:14.679
 You

00:33:14.679 --> 00:33:15.799
 act to

00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:16.019
 be

00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:16.519
 accepted.

00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.399
 Christianity

00:33:17.399 --> 00:33:17.919
 is the

00:33:17.919 --> 00:33:18.519
 opposite of

00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:18.759
 that.

00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.439
 We are

00:33:20.439 --> 00:33:21.159
 accepted

00:33:21.159 --> 00:33:22.619
 and therefore

00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:24.480
 we act.

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:25.879
 And this

00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.079
 is a

00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:26.319
 proper

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:26.919
 understanding

00:33:26.919 --> 00:33:27.699
 of the

00:33:27.699 --> 00:33:28.439
 gospel of

00:33:28.439 --> 00:33:28.679
 Jesus

00:33:28.679 --> 00:33:29.179
 Christ.

00:33:30.139 --> 00:33:30.319
 There

00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:30.759
 is

00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:33.079
 floating

00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:33.460
 out there

00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.039
 a teaching

00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:35.379
 that there

00:33:35.379 --> 00:33:36.059
 is a

00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:36.920
 heresy

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:38.019
 called

00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:38.960
 lordship

00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:39.579
 theology.

00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:42.140
 And we

00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:42.779
 believe that.

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.400
 So this is

00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:43.660
 what I'm

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.220
 talking about

00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:44.759
 right now.

00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:45.539
 But there

00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:45.859
 are people

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.379
 out there

00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:46.980
 even in

00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:47.279
 our own

00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:47.799
 denomination

00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.279
 that would

00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:48.859
 suggest

00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:50.879
 that those

00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.160
 who would

00:33:51.160 --> 00:33:52.500
 say that

00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:53.740
 the evidence

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.119
 of your

00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:54.960
 salvation is

00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:55.339
 that you

00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:56.200
 pursue

00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.019
 Christ as

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.759
 your lord

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:59.279
 that that's

00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.640
 heretical.

00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:02.779
 They would

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.460
 suggest that

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.000
 you can have

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.480
 Jesus as

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:04.940
 your savior

00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:05.640
 and not

00:34:05.640 --> 00:34:06.480
 as your

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:06.759
 lord.

00:34:07.840 --> 00:34:08.800
 And that

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.059
 is a

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.440
 lie from

00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:09.840
 hell.

00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:11.940
 The book

00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:12.619
 of James

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.480
 says it's

00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:14.199
 our work

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:15.360
 that evidences

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.079
 our faith.

00:34:16.720 --> 00:34:17.300
 It's that

00:34:17.300 --> 00:34:18.539
 shows that

00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:19.260
 we are in

00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:20.340
 fact in

00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:21.400
 Christ.

00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:22.139
 That we're

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.619
 regenerate,

00:34:22.699 --> 00:34:22.900
 we've been

00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:23.800
 made different,

00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:24.720
 that we've

00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:25.199
 repented,

00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:25.820
 we've turned

00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:26.280
 from our

00:34:26.280 --> 00:34:26.640
 sin.

00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:27.380
 We no

00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:27.940
 longer love

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.340
 the things

00:34:28.340 --> 00:34:28.660
 we used

00:34:28.660 --> 00:34:29.059
 to love.

00:34:29.120 --> 00:34:29.480
 We now

00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:30.360
 love God

00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.039
 and his

00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:31.800
 ways.

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:32.860
 This is the

00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:33.080
 truth of

00:34:33.080 --> 00:34:33.500
 the gospel.

00:34:34.620 --> 00:34:35.320
 Which is

00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:36.800
 why I

00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:37.080
 want to be

00:34:37.080 --> 00:34:38.220
 careful when

00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:38.559
 we try to

00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:39.140
 preach the

00:34:39.140 --> 00:34:39.680
 way we

00:34:39.680 --> 00:34:40.420
 should go.

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.300
 There are

00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:41.980
 things we

00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.640
 should be

00:34:42.640 --> 00:34:43.320
 doing as

00:34:43.320 --> 00:34:43.720
 Christian

00:34:43.720 --> 00:34:44.440
 people.

00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:45.680
 They're

00:34:45.680 --> 00:34:46.280
 good for

00:34:46.280 --> 00:34:46.600
 us.

00:34:46.900 --> 00:34:47.080
 They're

00:34:47.080 --> 00:34:47.380
 good for

00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:47.840
 the kingdom.

00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:48.620
 They're

00:34:48.620 --> 00:34:49.600
 evidencing.

00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:50.980
 You want

00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.120
 to have

00:34:51.120 --> 00:34:51.860
 assurance of

00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:52.380
 your salvation?

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:53.360
 Start

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:54.160
 working it

00:34:54.160 --> 00:34:54.580
 out.

00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.240
 With

00:34:55.240 --> 00:34:55.700
 fear,

00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:56.539
 trembling.

00:34:57.280 --> 00:34:57.720
 Start

00:34:57.720 --> 00:34:58.059
 being

00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:58.800
 obedient to

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:58.920
 the

00:34:58.920 --> 00:34:59.280
 commands

00:34:59.280 --> 00:34:59.840
 of God.

00:35:00.140 --> 00:35:00.380
 And when

00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:01.039
 you find

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.940
 there's no

00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:02.960
 inclination in

00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.280
 you for

00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:03.740
 those things

00:35:03.740 --> 00:35:04.120
 at all,

00:35:04.740 --> 00:35:05.160
 you have

00:35:05.160 --> 00:35:05.940
 no desire

00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:06.440
 to pick

00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:06.780
 up and

00:35:06.780 --> 00:35:07.620
 read and

00:35:07.620 --> 00:35:08.080
 obey,

00:35:08.740 --> 00:35:09.140
 you're not

00:35:09.140 --> 00:35:09.360
 in the

00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:09.760
 faith.

00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:11.220
 Jesus is

00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:11.580
 not your

00:35:11.580 --> 00:35:12.000
 Savior because

00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.280
 he's not

00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:12.640
 your Lord.

00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:15.100
 You find

00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:15.539
 in you that

00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:16.100
 impulse,

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.840
 as small as

00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:18.280
 it can be

00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:18.880
 sometimes,

00:35:19.120 --> 00:35:19.640
 in your

00:35:19.640 --> 00:35:20.120
 heart and

00:35:20.120 --> 00:35:20.559
 in mind,

00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:21.660
 as cold

00:35:21.660 --> 00:35:22.140
 as it can

00:35:22.140 --> 00:35:22.480
 be,

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:24.420
 that impulse

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:25.579
 to want

00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:26.079
 to please

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.519
 God,

00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:27.500
 to want

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:27.960
 to walk

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.219
 in his

00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:28.619
 ways,

00:35:28.760 --> 00:35:29.539
 to recognize

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:29.960
 that his

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.659
 counsel is

00:35:30.659 --> 00:35:31.420
 good.

00:35:32.840 --> 00:35:33.599
 I'm a

00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:34.079
 child of

00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:34.599
 the Most

00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.059
 High.

00:35:35.820 --> 00:35:36.179
 This is

00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:36.519
 where our

00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.079
 assurance

00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:37.820
 comes from.

00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:39.139
 I can

00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:39.619
 stand before

00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:39.960
 you in

00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:40.320
 all my

00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:41.119
 failings and

00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:41.480
 say to

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:41.740
 you,

00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:42.940
 I am

00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:43.500
 possessed

00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:44.240
 by God.

00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:44.599
 He has

00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:45.360
 saved me

00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:45.860
 and he is

00:35:45.860 --> 00:35:46.619
 keeping me

00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.740
 because he's

00:35:47.740 --> 00:35:48.460
 working in

00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:48.940
 me.

00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.740
 I know

00:35:49.740 --> 00:35:50.260
 this to

00:35:50.260 --> 00:35:50.860
 be true

00:35:50.860 --> 00:35:52.679
 because I

00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:53.480
 am laboring

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:54.200
 in obedience

00:35:54.200 --> 00:35:55.039
 and I'm

00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:55.860
 seeing him

00:35:55.860 --> 00:35:56.559
 work in

00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:57.079
 and through

00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:57.780
 me to

00:35:57.780 --> 00:35:58.420
 accomplish

00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.539
 his good

00:35:59.539 --> 00:35:59.960
 pleasure.

00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:00.740
 That's what

00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.559
 Paul means

00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.240
 when he

00:36:02.240 --> 00:36:02.579
 says,

00:36:02.659 --> 00:36:03.000
 not being

00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.539
 outside the

00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:03.760
 law of

00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:03.940
 God,

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.579
 but under

00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:05.599
 the law

00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:07.320
 of Christ.

00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:09.039
 Don't let

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:10.000
 anybody sell

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:11.700
 you a

00:36:11.700 --> 00:36:12.840
 cheap grace

00:36:12.840 --> 00:36:13.940
 theology

00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:15.280
 that simply

00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:15.880
 says,

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.159
 make a

00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:17.579
 decision,

00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:18.480
 and that's

00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:18.639
 what's

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.599
 expected of

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:19.740
 you.

00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:20.780
 So much

00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:21.079
 more,

00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.079
 so much

00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:22.480
 better,

00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:23.619
 so much

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:24.579
 good,

00:36:25.219 --> 00:36:26.159
 and it

00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:26.440
 gives the

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:26.880
 evidence that

00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.219
 we are,

00:36:27.380 --> 00:36:27.659
 in fact,

00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:30.039
 in Christ.

00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:32.480
 And so

00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:33.099
 Paul says,

00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:34.480
 to those

00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:34.880
 outside the

00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.099
 law I

00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:35.360
 became as

00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:36.280
 one outside

00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:36.699
 the law,

00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:37.440
 that I

00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:37.880
 might win

00:36:37.880 --> 00:36:38.719
 those outside

00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:40.320
 the law.

00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:42.079
 To those

00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:42.480
 outside the

00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:42.719
 law I

00:36:42.719 --> 00:36:43.119
 became as

00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:43.740
 one outside

00:36:43.740 --> 00:36:44.300
 I read it

00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:44.480
 again.

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.539
 Verse 22,

00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:46.000
 excuse me.

00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:46.740
 To the

00:36:46.740 --> 00:36:48.219
 weak I

00:36:48.219 --> 00:36:49.059
 became weak

00:36:49.059 --> 00:36:50.199
 that I

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:50.739
 might win

00:36:50.739 --> 00:36:51.579
 the weak.

00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:51.799
 And I

00:36:51.799 --> 00:36:52.439
 believe here

00:36:52.439 --> 00:36:53.399
 Paul is

00:36:53.399 --> 00:36:53.980
 referring to

00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:54.500
 those who

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.039
 are weak

00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:56.059
 in faith,

00:36:57.099 --> 00:36:57.659
 who still

00:36:57.659 --> 00:36:58.079
 have not

00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:58.939
 quite wrapped

00:36:58.939 --> 00:36:59.699
 their mind

00:36:59.699 --> 00:37:00.719
 around the

00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:02.019
 goodness of

00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:02.559
 God and the

00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:03.039
 gospel of

00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:03.819
 Jesus Christ,

00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:04.939
 who still

00:37:04.939 --> 00:37:05.659
 think the

00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:06.119
 customs,

00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:07.179
 have some

00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:07.639
 value,

00:37:07.759 --> 00:37:08.099
 have some

00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:08.879
 importance,

00:37:09.219 --> 00:37:09.519
 ultimate

00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.779
 importance in

00:37:10.779 --> 00:37:11.319
 their pursuit

00:37:11.319 --> 00:37:12.339
 of God.

00:37:12.759 --> 00:37:13.039
 He goes,

00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:13.539
 that's okay,

00:37:13.739 --> 00:37:14.059
 they're weak

00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:14.539
 in faith,

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:15.860
 but I

00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:16.420
 myself,

00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:17.699
 I myself

00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:18.340
 can observe

00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:19.320
 these things

00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:20.219
 that I

00:37:20.219 --> 00:37:20.799
 might win

00:37:20.799 --> 00:37:22.559
 the weak.

00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:24.119
 They become

00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:24.779
 all things

00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:25.219
 to all

00:37:25.219 --> 00:37:25.799
 people that

00:37:25.799 --> 00:37:26.299
 by all

00:37:26.299 --> 00:37:26.980
 means I

00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:28.719
 might save

00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:29.159
 some.

00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:30.980
 And here's

00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:31.579
 the driving

00:37:31.579 --> 00:37:32.320
 force behind

00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:33.039
 Paul's desire

00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:33.500
 to give

00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:34.000
 his life

00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.440
 away,

00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:35.340
 to use

00:37:35.340 --> 00:37:35.840
 his liberty

00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:36.199
 for the

00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:36.539
 sake of

00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:36.820
 others,

00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:38.039
 to willfully

00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:38.940
 bind himself

00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:39.299
 to the

00:37:39.299 --> 00:37:40.119
 service of

00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:41.320
 other people's

00:37:41.320 --> 00:37:41.880
 souls.

00:37:42.279 --> 00:37:42.880
 Verse 23,

00:37:42.880 --> 00:37:43.680
 I do it

00:37:43.680 --> 00:37:43.960
 all for

00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:44.200
 the sake

00:37:44.200 --> 00:37:44.400
 of the

00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:44.720
 gospel,

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.380
 that I

00:37:45.380 --> 00:37:45.920
 may share

00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:46.740
 with them

00:37:46.740 --> 00:37:47.840
 in its

00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:49.160
 blessings.

00:37:50.440 --> 00:37:51.039
 The blessings

00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:51.480
 of the

00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:52.019
 gospel are

00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:52.920
 far better

00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:53.760
 than anything

00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:55.240
 that we

00:37:55.240 --> 00:37:55.519
 may be

00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.039
 permitted to

00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:56.760
 experience as

00:37:56.760 --> 00:37:57.200
 a result

00:37:57.200 --> 00:37:57.720
 of our

00:37:57.720 --> 00:37:58.099
 Christian

00:37:58.099 --> 00:37:58.860
 liberty.

00:37:59.440 --> 00:37:59.980
 The blessings

00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:00.380
 of the

00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:01.360
 gospel are

00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:01.820
 better,

00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:02.780
 far better,

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:03.820
 immeasurably

00:38:03.820 --> 00:38:04.579
 better than

00:38:04.579 --> 00:38:05.440
 anything you

00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:06.200
 might experience

00:38:06.200 --> 00:38:06.980
 temporally

00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:08.300
 because of

00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:09.559
 your Christian

00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:10.700
 liberty.

00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:12.539
 being set

00:38:12.539 --> 00:38:13.139
 free from

00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:13.480
 the law

00:38:13.480 --> 00:38:14.039
 is not

00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:14.819
 meant to

00:38:14.819 --> 00:38:15.359
 serve your

00:38:15.359 --> 00:38:15.980
 temporal

00:38:15.980 --> 00:38:16.819
 whims,

00:38:16.939 --> 00:38:17.299
 but your

00:38:17.299 --> 00:38:17.819
 eternal

00:38:17.819 --> 00:38:19.119
 soul.

00:38:20.859 --> 00:38:21.500
 Jesus Christ

00:38:21.500 --> 00:38:21.899
 kept the

00:38:21.899 --> 00:38:22.599
 law perfectly

00:38:22.599 --> 00:38:23.599
 because we

00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:24.779
 could not.

00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:26.299
 By faith,

00:38:26.339 --> 00:38:26.739
 he grants

00:38:26.739 --> 00:38:27.339
 us his

00:38:27.339 --> 00:38:28.439
 perfection.

00:38:29.419 --> 00:38:29.899
 Jesus Christ

00:38:29.899 --> 00:38:30.319
 died the

00:38:30.319 --> 00:38:30.599
 death that

00:38:30.599 --> 00:38:30.919
 we could

00:38:30.919 --> 00:38:31.500
 not to

00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:31.960
 cancel the

00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:32.219
 debt of

00:38:32.219 --> 00:38:32.739
 our sin.

00:38:32.899 --> 00:38:33.559
 By faith,

00:38:33.619 --> 00:38:34.059
 he grants

00:38:34.059 --> 00:38:35.739
 us forgiveness.

00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:37.980
 This is the

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.679
 liberty that we

00:38:38.679 --> 00:38:39.319
 now have,

00:38:39.399 --> 00:38:39.980
 and it is to

00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:40.659
 be used for

00:38:40.659 --> 00:38:41.460
 our joy

00:38:41.460 --> 00:38:42.280
 in Christ,

00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:43.159
 and it is to

00:38:43.159 --> 00:38:43.740
 be shared

00:38:43.740 --> 00:38:44.500
 with others

00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:45.380
 for the

00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:46.240
 magnification

00:38:46.240 --> 00:38:47.820
 of our

00:38:47.820 --> 00:38:48.240
 joy.

00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:49.780
 I do it

00:38:49.780 --> 00:38:50.340
 all for the

00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:50.780
 sake of the

00:38:50.780 --> 00:38:51.679
 gospel that I

00:38:51.679 --> 00:38:52.400
 may share

00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:53.260
 with them

00:38:53.260 --> 00:38:55.039
 in its

00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:55.579
 blessings.

00:38:57.280 --> 00:38:58.179
 So what are

00:38:58.179 --> 00:38:58.900
 you unwilling

00:38:58.900 --> 00:38:59.639
 to give up

00:38:59.639 --> 00:39:01.059
 for the

00:39:01.059 --> 00:39:01.360
 sake of

00:39:01.360 --> 00:39:01.659
 others?

00:39:02.780 --> 00:39:03.280
 Do you

00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:04.460
 practice your

00:39:04.460 --> 00:39:05.579
 liberty in

00:39:05.579 --> 00:39:06.079
 service to

00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:06.639
 yourself,

00:39:07.240 --> 00:39:08.260
 or in

00:39:08.260 --> 00:39:09.159
 humble service

00:39:09.159 --> 00:39:10.019
 to the

00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:10.420
 kingdom of

00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:10.719
 God?

00:39:12.299 --> 00:39:12.819
 Today's

00:39:12.819 --> 00:39:13.359
 text gives

00:39:13.359 --> 00:39:13.639
 us an

00:39:13.639 --> 00:39:14.399
 example of

00:39:14.399 --> 00:39:15.179
 Paul's

00:39:15.179 --> 00:39:16.139
 love for

00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:16.480
 others,

00:39:16.799 --> 00:39:17.539
 seeking their

00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:18.399
 good at

00:39:18.399 --> 00:39:20.420
 his expense,

00:39:20.779 --> 00:39:21.179
 literal,

00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:22.299
 his expense.

00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:23.019
 He paid

00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:23.659
 for the

00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:24.079
 ceremony.

00:39:25.219 --> 00:39:25.639
 Paul desired

00:39:25.639 --> 00:39:26.019
 to preserve

00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:26.539
 the unity of

00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:26.799
 the church

00:39:26.799 --> 00:39:27.319
 in Jerusalem

00:39:27.319 --> 00:39:28.279
 for the

00:39:28.279 --> 00:39:28.579
 sake of

00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:29.239
 the individuals

00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:30.319
 of the

00:39:30.319 --> 00:39:30.599
 church,

00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:31.440
 but also

00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:32.779
 for those

00:39:32.779 --> 00:39:33.679
 outside the

00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:35.199
 church who

00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:35.899
 watched it

00:39:35.899 --> 00:39:36.719
 with great

00:39:36.719 --> 00:39:37.099
 care.

00:39:38.659 --> 00:39:39.559
 There are

00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:41.019
 a lot of

00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:41.799
 examples that

00:39:41.799 --> 00:39:42.480
 we could talk

00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:42.899
 about when it

00:39:42.899 --> 00:39:43.239
 comes to

00:39:43.239 --> 00:39:43.819
 Christian liberty

00:39:43.819 --> 00:39:44.339
 and how to

00:39:44.339 --> 00:39:45.480
 best serve in

00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:46.019
 our community.

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.779
 So many that I

00:39:47.779 --> 00:39:48.139
 thought, you

00:39:48.139 --> 00:39:48.739
 know, I'm just

00:39:48.739 --> 00:39:49.099
 going to give

00:39:49.099 --> 00:39:50.419
 one from my

00:39:50.419 --> 00:39:51.119
 life that's

00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:52.000
 really simple.

00:39:53.319 --> 00:39:54.500
 The way I

00:39:54.500 --> 00:39:55.279
 dress on

00:39:55.279 --> 00:39:56.139
 Sunday mornings

00:39:56.139 --> 00:39:57.879
 is a practice

00:39:57.879 --> 00:39:59.179
 of my Christian

00:39:59.179 --> 00:40:00.779
 liberty for

00:40:00.779 --> 00:40:01.919
 your sake.

00:40:01.920 --> 00:40:03.780
 I know that

00:40:03.780 --> 00:40:03.960
 I don't

00:40:03.960 --> 00:40:05.099
 dress impressively.

00:40:05.400 --> 00:40:05.940
 That's by

00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:06.480
 design.

00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:08.079
 Come to a

00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:08.680
 wedding sometime.

00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:09.300
 I'll put on

00:40:09.300 --> 00:40:10.200
 duds for you.

00:40:10.440 --> 00:40:11.119
 I'll wear my

00:40:11.119 --> 00:40:11.780
 bow tie and

00:40:11.780 --> 00:40:12.240
 my pocket

00:40:12.240 --> 00:40:13.559
 square for

00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:13.780
 you.

00:40:14.700 --> 00:40:15.340
 But as I

00:40:15.340 --> 00:40:15.820
 prayerfully

00:40:15.820 --> 00:40:16.300
 considered,

00:40:16.440 --> 00:40:16.780
 how do I

00:40:16.780 --> 00:40:17.480
 love and

00:40:17.480 --> 00:40:18.300
 serve Christ

00:40:18.300 --> 00:40:18.860
 Family Church

00:40:18.860 --> 00:40:19.579
 Dahlonega when

00:40:19.579 --> 00:40:20.220
 I step up

00:40:20.220 --> 00:40:21.059
 onto the

00:40:21.059 --> 00:40:21.539
 stage?

00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:22.940
 It seemed

00:40:22.940 --> 00:40:23.820
 appropriate to

00:40:23.820 --> 00:40:24.980
 me to try

00:40:24.980 --> 00:40:25.519
 to mitigate

00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:26.240
 the offense

00:40:26.240 --> 00:40:26.860
 that I might

00:40:26.860 --> 00:40:27.539
 give to a

00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:28.139
 guest who

00:40:28.139 --> 00:40:29.180
 expects me to

00:40:29.180 --> 00:40:29.519
 be in a

00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:30.059
 suit and tie.

00:40:30.539 --> 00:40:31.099
 And those

00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:31.659
 people exist

00:40:31.659 --> 00:40:31.920
 in our

00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:32.219
 culture.

00:40:32.879 --> 00:40:33.139
 And I

00:40:33.139 --> 00:40:33.500
 can tell you

00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:34.000
 that if I

00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:34.399
 were the

00:40:34.399 --> 00:40:35.000
 pastor of a

00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:35.319
 church that

00:40:35.319 --> 00:40:35.899
 expected that,

00:40:35.980 --> 00:40:36.199
 I would

00:40:36.199 --> 00:40:37.039
 gladly do

00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:37.199
 it.

00:40:37.420 --> 00:40:37.679
 It would

00:40:37.679 --> 00:40:38.420
 be no

00:40:38.420 --> 00:40:39.039
 problem at

00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:39.500
 all for

00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:39.699
 me to

00:40:39.699 --> 00:40:40.079
 put on a

00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:40.199
 suit.

00:40:40.379 --> 00:40:40.659
 It wouldn't

00:40:40.659 --> 00:40:40.899
 be my

00:40:40.899 --> 00:40:41.420
 favorite thing.

00:40:41.759 --> 00:40:42.039
 I wouldn't

00:40:42.039 --> 00:40:42.359
 want to get

00:40:42.359 --> 00:40:42.799
 suits dry

00:40:42.799 --> 00:40:43.119
 cleaned all

00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:43.420
 the time.

00:40:43.500 --> 00:40:43.779
 I'd probably

00:40:43.779 --> 00:40:44.219
 ask for a

00:40:44.219 --> 00:40:44.719
 dry cleaning

00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:45.259
 line item

00:40:45.259 --> 00:40:45.480
 in our

00:40:45.480 --> 00:40:45.739
 budget.

00:40:46.739 --> 00:40:47.259
 But I

00:40:47.259 --> 00:40:47.519
 would do

00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:47.679
 it.

00:40:47.839 --> 00:40:48.039
 I would

00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:48.399
 don a

00:40:48.399 --> 00:40:49.059
 suit every

00:40:49.059 --> 00:40:49.339
 single

00:40:49.339 --> 00:40:50.379
 Sunday so

00:40:50.379 --> 00:40:50.879
 that I

00:40:50.879 --> 00:40:51.279
 wouldn't

00:40:51.279 --> 00:40:51.839
 offend

00:40:51.839 --> 00:40:52.599
 anybody so

00:40:52.599 --> 00:40:53.379
 that they

00:40:53.379 --> 00:40:54.179
 could hear

00:40:54.179 --> 00:40:55.359
 the truth

00:40:55.359 --> 00:40:56.679
 being preached.

00:40:57.839 --> 00:40:58.500
 On the

00:40:58.500 --> 00:41:00.139
 flip side of

00:41:00.139 --> 00:41:00.359
 that,

00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:00.980
 I think

00:41:00.980 --> 00:41:01.440
 that if I

00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:02.039
 wore a

00:41:02.039 --> 00:41:02.380
 suit,

00:41:02.920 --> 00:41:03.420
 jacket,

00:41:03.620 --> 00:41:04.180
 and tie

00:41:04.180 --> 00:41:04.900
 every Sunday,

00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:05.820
 you guys

00:41:05.820 --> 00:41:06.200
 would think

00:41:06.200 --> 00:41:06.579
 that I was

00:41:06.579 --> 00:41:07.019
 separating

00:41:07.019 --> 00:41:07.720
 myself from

00:41:07.720 --> 00:41:08.059
 you and

00:41:08.059 --> 00:41:08.480
 I wouldn't

00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:09.140
 be relatable

00:41:09.140 --> 00:41:09.980
 to you

00:41:09.980 --> 00:41:10.420
 because some

00:41:10.420 --> 00:41:10.640
 of you

00:41:10.640 --> 00:41:10.940
 aren't even

00:41:10.940 --> 00:41:11.579
 wearing shoes

00:41:11.579 --> 00:41:12.120
 right now.

00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:17.220
 And I

00:41:17.220 --> 00:41:17.700
 think that's

00:41:17.700 --> 00:41:18.660
 okay to

00:41:18.660 --> 00:41:20.360
 be clear.

00:41:20.680 --> 00:41:20.940
 So I

00:41:20.940 --> 00:41:21.340
 try to hit

00:41:21.340 --> 00:41:21.579
 the middle

00:41:21.579 --> 00:41:21.960
 of the road,

00:41:22.059 --> 00:41:22.380
 tuck my

00:41:22.380 --> 00:41:22.920
 shirt in when

00:41:22.920 --> 00:41:23.280
 the shirt's

00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:23.620
 meant to be

00:41:23.620 --> 00:41:23.960
 tucked in,

00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:24.240
 not this

00:41:24.240 --> 00:41:24.480
 morning,

00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:26.240
 throw on a

00:41:26.240 --> 00:41:26.539
 jacket,

00:41:26.660 --> 00:41:26.880
 yes,

00:41:26.960 --> 00:41:27.260
 the same

00:41:27.260 --> 00:41:28.120
 jacket every

00:41:28.120 --> 00:41:28.680
 Sunday,

00:41:28.900 --> 00:41:29.579
 which I am

00:41:29.579 --> 00:41:30.019
 hot in.

00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:31.019
 I'm warm

00:41:31.019 --> 00:41:31.500
 up here

00:41:31.500 --> 00:41:31.920
 at the

00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:32.139
 moment.

00:41:33.500 --> 00:41:34.239
 That is an

00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:34.900
 example though,

00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:35.320
 right?

00:41:35.519 --> 00:41:35.980
 And I don't

00:41:35.980 --> 00:41:36.519
 feel bound

00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:37.119
 by that.

00:41:37.860 --> 00:41:39.199
 If the

00:41:39.199 --> 00:41:40.719
 demographic of

00:41:40.719 --> 00:41:41.159
 our church

00:41:41.159 --> 00:41:42.019
 suddenly shifted

00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:43.380
 dramatically and

00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:43.980
 I was expected

00:41:43.980 --> 00:41:44.340
 to wear a

00:41:44.340 --> 00:41:44.519
 suit,

00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:45.219
 I would

00:41:45.219 --> 00:41:46.079
 exercise my

00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:46.820
 Christian liberty

00:41:46.820 --> 00:41:47.780
 in donning a

00:41:47.780 --> 00:41:48.780
 suit every

00:41:48.780 --> 00:41:49.340
 Sunday morning

00:41:49.340 --> 00:41:50.280
 for the sake

00:41:50.280 --> 00:41:50.940
 of the gospel

00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:51.780
 that I might

00:41:51.780 --> 00:41:52.559
 share with

00:41:52.559 --> 00:41:53.380
 you in

00:41:53.380 --> 00:41:54.780
 its blessing.

00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:56.920
 On your

00:41:56.920 --> 00:41:57.360
 bulletin this

00:41:57.360 --> 00:41:58.039
 morning is a

00:41:58.039 --> 00:41:58.880
 quote from

00:41:58.880 --> 00:41:59.500
 Charles Spurgeon,

00:41:59.500 --> 00:41:59.820
 which I'd

00:41:59.820 --> 00:42:00.099
 like to

00:42:00.099 --> 00:42:00.420
 read.

00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:02.079
 He wrote,

00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:02.619
 My brethren,

00:42:02.900 --> 00:42:03.920
 let me say,

00:42:04.820 --> 00:42:05.719
 be like Christ

00:42:05.719 --> 00:42:06.940
 at all times.

00:42:07.699 --> 00:42:08.300
 Imitate Him

00:42:08.300 --> 00:42:08.820
 in public.

00:42:09.800 --> 00:42:10.400
 Most of us

00:42:10.400 --> 00:42:11.000
 live in some

00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:12.039
 sort of public

00:42:12.039 --> 00:42:12.780
 capacity.

00:42:13.659 --> 00:42:14.260
 Many of us

00:42:14.260 --> 00:42:14.820
 are called to

00:42:14.820 --> 00:42:16.000
 work before our

00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:16.519
 fellow men

00:42:16.519 --> 00:42:17.619
 every day.

00:42:18.179 --> 00:42:18.599
 We are

00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:19.239
 watched.

00:42:19.800 --> 00:42:20.400
 Our words

00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:21.000
 are caught.

00:42:21.239 --> 00:42:21.860
 Our lives

00:42:21.860 --> 00:42:22.739
 are examined,

00:42:23.099 --> 00:42:23.639
 taken to

00:42:23.639 --> 00:42:24.079
 pieces.

00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:26.699
 The eagle-eyed,

00:42:27.519 --> 00:42:28.380
 Argus-eyed,

00:42:28.460 --> 00:42:28.819
 which if you

00:42:28.819 --> 00:42:29.159
 don't know who

00:42:29.159 --> 00:42:29.639
 Argus is,

00:42:29.679 --> 00:42:29.940
 he was a

00:42:29.940 --> 00:42:30.699
 hundred-eyed

00:42:30.699 --> 00:42:31.679
 giant in

00:42:31.679 --> 00:42:32.420
 Greek mythology.

00:42:33.139 --> 00:42:34.179
 The Argus-eyed

00:42:34.179 --> 00:42:35.699
 world observes

00:42:35.699 --> 00:42:36.880
 everything we

00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:38.079
 do, and

00:42:38.079 --> 00:42:38.920
 sharp critics

00:42:38.920 --> 00:42:39.739
 are upon us.

00:42:40.239 --> 00:42:40.880
 Let us live

00:42:40.880 --> 00:42:41.559
 the life of

00:42:41.559 --> 00:42:42.219
 Christ in

00:42:42.219 --> 00:42:42.579
 public.

00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:43.460
 Let us

00:42:43.460 --> 00:42:44.259
 take care that

00:42:44.259 --> 00:42:45.139
 we exhibit our

00:42:45.139 --> 00:42:46.299
 master and not

00:42:46.299 --> 00:42:47.840
 ourselves, so

00:42:47.840 --> 00:42:48.259
 that we can

00:42:48.259 --> 00:42:49.920
 say, it is no

00:42:49.920 --> 00:42:50.980
 longer I that

00:42:50.980 --> 00:42:52.000
 live, but

00:42:52.000 --> 00:42:53.619
 Christ that

00:42:53.619 --> 00:42:54.400
 lives in me.

00:42:55.820 --> 00:42:56.139
 And in

00:42:56.139 --> 00:42:56.739
 conclusion, I

00:42:56.739 --> 00:42:57.059
 want to give

00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:58.019
 you just

00:42:58.019 --> 00:42:58.840
 another example,

00:42:59.280 --> 00:42:59.599
 but an

00:42:59.599 --> 00:43:00.139
 example from

00:43:00.139 --> 00:43:01.460
 history, a

00:43:01.460 --> 00:43:02.360
 better example

00:43:02.360 --> 00:43:03.380
 than my

00:43:03.380 --> 00:43:03.940
 Sunday morning

00:43:03.940 --> 00:43:05.059
 attire.

00:43:06.139 --> 00:43:06.699
 In the

00:43:06.699 --> 00:43:07.800
 mid-1800s,

00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:09.159
 Hudson Taylor

00:43:09.159 --> 00:43:10.079
 went to China

00:43:10.079 --> 00:43:11.000
 as a Christian

00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:12.039
 missionary.

00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:13.860
 While he was

00:43:13.860 --> 00:43:14.320
 there, he

00:43:14.320 --> 00:43:14.920
 founded the

00:43:14.920 --> 00:43:15.679
 China Inland

00:43:15.679 --> 00:43:16.260
 Mission in

00:43:16.260 --> 00:43:17.179
 order to work

00:43:17.179 --> 00:43:18.179
 in the interior

00:43:18.179 --> 00:43:19.559
 of China, a

00:43:19.559 --> 00:43:20.460
 place that very

00:43:20.460 --> 00:43:21.679
 few missionaries

00:43:21.679 --> 00:43:22.659
 had ventured.

00:43:22.739 --> 00:43:22.919
 It was

00:43:22.919 --> 00:43:23.759
 extremely

00:43:23.759 --> 00:43:24.919
 dangerous in

00:43:24.919 --> 00:43:25.279
 his day.

00:43:26.679 --> 00:43:27.559
 Taylor argued

00:43:27.559 --> 00:43:28.000
 from the

00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:28.659
 example of

00:43:28.659 --> 00:43:29.219
 the Apostle

00:43:29.219 --> 00:43:30.519
 Paul, let

00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:30.859
 us in

00:43:30.859 --> 00:43:32.299
 everything not

00:43:32.299 --> 00:43:33.219
 sinful become

00:43:33.219 --> 00:43:34.099
 like the

00:43:34.099 --> 00:43:35.399
 Chinese, that

00:43:35.399 --> 00:43:36.480
 by all means

00:43:36.480 --> 00:43:37.879
 we may save

00:43:37.879 --> 00:43:38.879
 some.

00:43:39.919 --> 00:43:40.579
 In saying

00:43:40.579 --> 00:43:41.679
 that, Taylor

00:43:41.679 --> 00:43:42.359
 was taking a

00:43:42.359 --> 00:43:42.919
 different approach

00:43:42.919 --> 00:43:43.599
 than most of

00:43:43.599 --> 00:43:44.079
 the missionaries

00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:44.699
 at the time,

00:43:44.899 --> 00:43:45.859
 who expected

00:43:45.859 --> 00:43:46.679
 converts to

00:43:46.679 --> 00:43:47.659
 Christianity to

00:43:47.659 --> 00:43:48.980
 adopt Western

00:43:48.980 --> 00:43:50.259
 culture.

00:43:50.260 --> 00:43:51.100
 people

00:43:51.100 --> 00:43:57.080
 were even

00:43:57.080 --> 00:43:58.840
 given English

00:43:58.840 --> 00:43:59.420
 names,

00:43:59.980 --> 00:44:01.640
 forbidden

00:44:01.640 --> 00:44:02.200
 from speaking

00:44:02.200 --> 00:44:02.900
 in their own

00:44:02.900 --> 00:44:03.440
 tongue.

00:44:04.920 --> 00:44:05.380
 Hudson Taylor

00:44:05.380 --> 00:44:06.080
 grew his hair

00:44:06.080 --> 00:44:06.340
 out.

00:44:06.420 --> 00:44:07.180
 He wore it

00:44:07.180 --> 00:44:07.880
 in a long

00:44:07.880 --> 00:44:08.400
 braid.

00:44:09.460 --> 00:44:10.380
 He strictly

00:44:10.380 --> 00:44:11.180
 ate Chinese

00:44:11.180 --> 00:44:11.580
 food.

00:44:11.720 --> 00:44:12.000
 He wore

00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:12.600
 traditional

00:44:12.600 --> 00:44:13.880
 Chinese clothing

00:44:13.880 --> 00:44:14.600
 and he learned

00:44:14.600 --> 00:44:15.440
 their language

00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:16.920
 and stories.

00:44:18.120 --> 00:44:18.280
 Taylor

00:44:18.280 --> 00:44:19.000
 recognized

00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:20.060
 forcing his

00:44:20.060 --> 00:44:20.660
 culture on

00:44:20.660 --> 00:44:21.380
 the Chinese

00:44:21.380 --> 00:44:22.860
 wouldn't work,

00:44:22.940 --> 00:44:23.740
 so he became

00:44:23.740 --> 00:44:24.280
 like the

00:44:24.280 --> 00:44:25.260
 Chinese as

00:44:25.260 --> 00:44:26.280
 much as he

00:44:26.280 --> 00:44:27.600
 could without

00:44:27.600 --> 00:44:28.620
 sinning in

00:44:28.620 --> 00:44:29.840
 order that he

00:44:29.840 --> 00:44:31.440
 might save

00:44:31.440 --> 00:44:31.900
 some.

00:44:33.740 --> 00:44:34.720
 May we be

00:44:34.720 --> 00:44:35.400
 more like

00:44:35.400 --> 00:44:36.920
 Hudson Taylor,

00:44:37.740 --> 00:44:38.700
 more like the

00:44:38.700 --> 00:44:39.440
 Apostle Paul,

00:44:39.640 --> 00:44:40.060
 and most

00:44:40.060 --> 00:44:40.720
 importantly,

00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:41.400
 more like

00:44:41.400 --> 00:44:42.940
 our Lord and

00:44:42.940 --> 00:44:43.240
 Savior,

00:44:43.740 --> 00:44:44.420
 Jesus Christ.

00:44:44.940 --> 00:44:45.340
 Let's pray

00:44:45.340 --> 00:44:45.620
 together.

00:44:45.619 --> 00:45:15.599
 Let's pray.