WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.120 In this Easter season, we're working through the book of 2 Peter, the second letter that we have Peter wrote. 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:16.800 And as we learned two weeks ago, Peter's written this letter to young Christians, both Jew and Gentile, 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:19.699 and he's writing to help them in their spiritual growth. 00:00:20.460 --> 00:00:26.679 And in this chapter, chapter 2, we learn of a danger that Christians can succumb to 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:33.659 as they grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, as Peter wrote in chapter 1. 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:42.879 Now, to describe this danger, Peter used his language he would have used a lot and was familiar with from his first vocation, 00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:44.719 that as a fisherman. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:53.420 In verses 14 and 18, we read that Christians can be enticed or lured away. 00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:58.760 Now, to be lured away requires bait. 00:00:59.460 --> 00:01:04.980 And the ones that dangle that bait drew Peter's ire. 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:07.900 I mean, not just ire. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:14.840 We're talking about Peter, a man known for his passion and perhaps his impulsivity. 00:01:15.240 --> 00:01:20.480 He was the first to say openly that Jesus was the Messiah. 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:20.560 Yeah. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:28.280 And yet a couple times he had the nerve to rebuke and correct Jesus. 00:01:28.980 --> 00:01:33.159 One time when he felt Jesus was being threatened, he grabbed the sword and just hacked away. 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:36.500 Now, fortunately, he was a fisherman and not a swordsman. 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:39.960 So he just managed to cut off a guy's ear and not anything worse. 00:01:40.520 --> 00:01:42.060 Jesus healed that. 00:01:42.740 --> 00:01:46.600 One time he was out in the boat with the other disciples and they saw Jesus ashore. 00:01:46.599 --> 00:01:52.659 And instead of just waiting for the boat to move ashore, he jumps in and swims to shore. 00:01:52.859 --> 00:01:54.399 Very passionate. 00:01:54.599 --> 00:01:58.959 And passionate Peter, he sees young Christians being lured into danger. 00:01:59.099 --> 00:02:09.199 And he unleashes this invective of biblical portions against those he sees as false teachers. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:16.339 We're going to look at these false teachers and what it seems that they're teaching. 00:02:17.179 --> 00:02:22.239 And we're going to look at how all of this is relevant to us today. 00:02:22.399 --> 00:02:23.199 So let's pray. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:23.280 Amen. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:44.699 Father, we move about day to day in a cacophony of competing voices and worldviews. 00:02:44.699 --> 00:02:48.879 We feel tugged and lured left and right. 00:02:49.519 --> 00:02:58.399 And we're here in silence and humility to hear the truth. 00:03:01.339 --> 00:03:04.179 Now, help me as I teach. 00:03:04.299 --> 00:03:08.519 If anything I am saying is unclear, would your spirit make it clear here? 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:17.980 So that we can walk out of here refreshed, with our sanity restored. 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:21.100 We pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:03:21.420 --> 00:03:21.660 Amen. 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:28.100 So who are these false teachers and how are they described? 00:03:28.760 --> 00:03:31.200 Well, first of all, they're described as greedy. 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:35.219 They're seeking their own enrichment. 00:03:35.219 --> 00:03:38.960 Verse 14 says they're experts in greed. 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:45.400 And we also learn in verse 14 that they have eyes full of adultery. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:50.300 They're constantly looking for the next person to have sex with. 00:03:50.900 --> 00:03:54.659 We learn in verse 15 that they are backslidden Christians. 00:03:55.520 --> 00:04:02.099 At one time, it seems that they were followers of Jesus, but have since turned away from him. 00:04:02.099 --> 00:04:05.500 We learn in verse 10 that they despise authority. 00:04:06.500 --> 00:04:09.099 We also learn that they slander angels. 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:12.099 I don't know anyone who's ever tried that. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:13.539 I don't know how you would do that. 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:18.719 And commentators themselves are also kind of perplexed as to what this means. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:21.079 But everyone seems to agree that it's a sign of their arrogance. 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:26.420 And notice what Peter doesn't say about them. 00:04:26.719 --> 00:04:28.379 He doesn't give us their names. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:30.699 I think he knew who they were. 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:34.479 I think he heard a name or two and is not using their names. 00:04:34.539 --> 00:04:35.639 And I think there's a good reason. 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:36.800 Actually, two. 00:04:36.939 --> 00:04:42.560 The first is he wants this to serve as a warning to all teachers. 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:45.399 People like Tommy and myself. 00:04:47.599 --> 00:04:50.319 And any who find themselves in positions of authority. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:58.579 It's a warning that an awful judgment awaits anyone who willingly leads God's people astray. 00:04:58.579 --> 00:05:03.920 Who would seek to serve and enrich themselves before serving the family of God. 00:05:05.779 --> 00:05:07.120 James chapter 3 says, 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:26.759 And the second reason I think he doesn't give us their names is he doesn't want us to be distracted by particular people and their personalities. 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:31.360 And he wants us to pay close attention to what we are taught. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:37.259 It's ultimately the lies that the false teachers tell that would lead us astray. 00:05:38.379 --> 00:05:45.300 Lastly, he tells us that these teachers are destined for destruction, for the gloom of darkness. 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:56.879 He compares their fate with that of those angels that rebelled against God, with Sodom and Gomorrah, with those in the days of Noah who were rebellious. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:01.439 So what were these false teachers teaching? 00:06:02.659 --> 00:06:08.519 Well, Jesus told his disciples that after his resurrection from the dead, he would go away. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.560 And he did. He ascended into heaven bodily. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:15.540 And then later, he would come back to judge the inhabitants of the earth. 00:06:16.219 --> 00:06:22.879 And it seems that the apostles believed that this would happen in their lifetimes. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:27.399 And those who the apostles taught also believed this. 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:34.300 However, after waiting and waiting, that first generation of Christians started to pass away. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:37.219 And Jesus still hadn't returned. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:41.259 So these false teachers said, well, it's not going to happen. 00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:42.579 It's never going to happen. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:49.079 And if Jesus isn't coming back, well, that means there must be no judgment coming. 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:55.120 And if there's no judgment coming, well, then it seems we can just do whatever we like, right? 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:57.279 No consequences. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:04.000 And so they enticed some weak Christians into lives of sensuality. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:11.240 Not only was sexual gratification an attractive element of these false teachers' teachings, 00:07:11.599 --> 00:07:15.339 but so was inclusion into the social life of the culture. 00:07:15.339 --> 00:07:22.060 Christian morality excluded the early Christians from many aspects of business and social life. 00:07:22.419 --> 00:07:28.259 Businesses and social clubs often held meetings in temples associated with the worship of pagan gods. 00:07:29.719 --> 00:07:34.120 The idolatry and sexual immorality associated with that kind of worship 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:38.620 would have precluded many Christians from participating in those gatherings. 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:47.000 So Christians are being told, I can still be a Christian, plus be sexually gratified in whatever way I want, 00:07:47.340 --> 00:07:52.420 plus I can be included in every aspect of culture and social life. 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:53.579 That sounds great. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:55.280 Why not? 00:07:57.060 --> 00:08:01.939 So now consider this teaching against the backdrop of a particular worldview 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:06.420 in Greek and Roman thought called Epicureanism. 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:12.500 Epicureanism taught that the highest good is pleasure. 00:08:13.460 --> 00:08:16.900 That we're to seek not just pleasure, but the absence of pain. 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:22.460 And ultimately, what we're to strive for is a state of tranquility. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:30.259 We reach tranquility when we free ourselves from the anxiety that comes from thinking about death 00:08:30.259 --> 00:08:37.100 and a possible judgment by the gods or God in the afterlife. 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:41.620 Why fear death when our atoms will just disperse? 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:43.779 We won't experience that. 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:45.879 We'll have experienced painlessness. 00:08:46.299 --> 00:08:47.419 So it's nothing to fear. 00:08:47.419 --> 00:08:56.299 And this kind of thought filters down into Jewish and Greek thinking in more popular forms. 00:08:57.019 --> 00:09:00.139 It certainly could have influenced the audience of this letter. 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:03.939 Now, there weren't teachers saying, 00:09:04.699 --> 00:09:08.839 hey, if you like this Jesus guy, then you're also going to like this guy named Epicurus 00:09:08.839 --> 00:09:10.079 and the things he taught. 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:15.639 They wouldn't have done that because those two systems of thought are very much opposed. 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:24.660 But that doesn't exclude the possibility of an amalgamation of different ideas and worldviews and moral frameworks. 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:30.080 So what I think is important for us to observe is that the presence of Epicureanism 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:39.500 and the background noise of the culture prepared many weak Christians to be lured into accepting some of Epicureanism's implications 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:44.120 without actually subscribing wholesale to that philosophical system. 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:45.920 Does that make sense? 00:09:47.300 --> 00:09:51.560 So in this case, they end up following Jesus plus Epicureanism. 00:09:51.660 --> 00:09:56.620 They've been like prepped to assimilate some of the more attractive parts of Epicureanism. 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:59.259 And it could have happened in other parts of the empire differently. 00:09:59.259 --> 00:10:02.039 So here it's Jesus and Epicureanism. 00:10:02.139 --> 00:10:04.659 Somewhere else it could be Jesus plus Stoicism. 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:09.000 A little later on, it could be Jesus plus Gnosticism. 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:15.240 I'm not trying to give us a philosophy lesson because I'm not qualified to do that. 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:20.519 But what's important for us to know is that there are all kinds of philosophical systems 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:24.120 floating around in the background noise of our culture. 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:32.039 And unless we're hypervigilant, we tend to adopt a Christianity plus something else. 00:10:32.039 --> 00:10:38.599 And we've looked at these false teachers and their teachings. 00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:43.919 And now we're going to discuss why it's relevant to us. 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:44.599 That's what we're doing. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:49.899 Just as popular ideas in the surrounding culture prepared weak Christians to be enticed by false teaching, 00:10:50.219 --> 00:10:50.919 so can we. 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:55.819 This is because beneath the layer of day-to-day cognition lies what? 00:10:55.939 --> 00:10:57.019 It's our desires. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:10:57.899 Right? 00:10:58.719 --> 00:11:03.419 We're feeling, desiring, loving creatures. 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:08.299 And those desires, they're shaped and they're formed. 00:11:08.699 --> 00:11:09.039 Right? 00:11:09.699 --> 00:11:10.459 By what? 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:15.100 By our day-to-day rhythms, our practices. 00:11:16.280 --> 00:11:19.940 And over time, those shape the things we love. 00:11:20.180 --> 00:11:24.940 Often contrary to the things that we believe or to the things that we think. 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:31.240 And we end up making our decisions based on our gut feelings and not by the things that we think. 00:11:31.700 --> 00:11:37.180 You can call those rhythms and practices that shape our feelings as liturgies. 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:40.899 And so there's like liturgies of materialism that shape our desires. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:42.259 We want things. 00:11:42.359 --> 00:11:46.539 And there's other liturgies that shape and form the things that we want. 00:11:47.439 --> 00:11:55.159 We can say that we are catechized into a way of feeling. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:58.739 Into a certain kind of imagining. 00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:04.539 Now, if you sat through our foundations class, you've already gotten this. 00:12:04.539 --> 00:12:10.639 And if you haven't, I highly recommend you taking our foundations classes and our other catechesis classes. 00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:20.480 But what I thought would be helpful here today is to look at, maybe walk through a checklist of ways that we tend to have Christianity plus something else. 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:23.659 Ways our desires have been formed. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:26.120 So let's look at hospitality. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:34.639 How frequently do I invite into my home people who are profoundly different than myself? 00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:40.960 Ethnically, socioeconomically, politically. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:47.899 When is the last time I shared a meal in my home with someone of a different color of skin? 00:12:47.899 --> 00:13:01.539 Now, if that doesn't happen very often or doesn't happen at all, it may mean that I've been catechized into our culture's liturgies of tribalism. 00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:07.839 I stick with my tribe, with people like myself, who look like me or think like me. 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:14.259 I surround myself where I live with people who look and think like me. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:19.079 I cater my Twitter feed to those that look and think like me. 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:24.259 But the Bible presents a very different view of things. 00:13:24.660 --> 00:13:28.840 That a way to justice is through hospitality. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:35.120 I was once a stranger and now I've been welcomed into God's family and his household. 00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:37.379 And now I must welcome the stranger. 00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:40.540 So that's hospitality. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.660 What about finances? 00:13:42.660 --> 00:13:48.620 Do I consider every penny that I have as belonging to God to be used according to his purposes? 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:51.240 For his glory? 00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:58.060 Or do I consider my money a means to my own fulfillment, security, and happiness? 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:04.759 Our culture constantly teaches, it catechizes us to be consumers. 00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:09.040 Don't think twice about laying down four, five, six dollars on a cup of coffee. 00:14:09.780 --> 00:14:11.620 Accumulate the best stuff. 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:13.700 Take the best vacations. 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:20.920 My culture catechizes me into believing that the good life comes through accumulation. 00:14:21.420 --> 00:14:22.440 Through getting stuff. 00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:26.680 But the gospel teaches us that Jesus forsook everything. 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:29.879 That he who was rich became poor. 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:35.360 And that the good life is union with him. 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:39.700 And we become radically generous with the money he's given us. 00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:43.360 What about our bodies? 00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:45.440 How do we view our bodies? 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:49.220 Do we steward them as God would have us? 00:14:52.000 --> 00:15:00.280 Or do I view my body or my genitals as just a means to my self-fulfillment? 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:08.000 Or have I been catechized by the gospel which teaches me that my body exists for his purposes? 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:12.419 That he has a very specific design in mind when it comes to sex. 00:15:14.699 --> 00:15:18.299 And that when I live in accordance with his design, 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:25.720 I proclaim to the world God's self-giving, sacrificial, generative love. 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:30.980 About politics. 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:38.800 Do I feel perfectly at home in any one political party or ideology? 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:42.420 I'm not saying it's wrong to belong to a political party. 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:44.660 Or to work for one. 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:46.279 Or to be active on behalf of one. 00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:50.940 But the gospel tells us that if we belong to Jesus, 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:55.520 then we belong to his kingdom first and foremost. 00:15:56.540 --> 00:16:00.140 And he says in John 18.36 that his kingdom is not of this world. 00:16:00.380 --> 00:16:03.700 So we should always expect there to be points of profound disagreement 00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:07.780 between ourselves and any earthly political party we might belong to. 00:16:09.760 --> 00:16:11.420 Finally, let's look at anger. 00:16:13.260 --> 00:16:15.760 Are we patient with one another? 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:23.939 Or have we been catechized, shaped, formed by our culture of outrage? 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:30.519 Do I find myself frustrated that other Christians just don't get it? 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:35.319 Do I look down on my brothers and sisters who can't seem to get their act together? 00:16:36.340 --> 00:16:38.019 Who think this way or that way. 00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:39.580 You know, I am hospitable. 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.480 And I love justice. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.439 And I'm generous. 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:43.799 And I'm chaste. 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:47.019 And it pisses me off that other Christians aren't that way. 00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:48.219 What's wrong with them? 00:16:52.339 --> 00:16:56.079 Or have I been catechized by the gospel? 00:16:57.359 --> 00:17:02.299 Which tells me that we are all desperately knocked about the head. 00:17:03.479 --> 00:17:04.379 Especially me. 00:17:06.139 --> 00:17:07.619 Especially me. 00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:13.539 I am the one in most need of patience and grace and forgiveness. 00:17:13.879 --> 00:17:16.599 And only the righteousness that I have. 00:17:17.239 --> 00:17:21.679 And the only righteousness that I have comes from outside of myself. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.519 Given to me. 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.179 Imputed to me. 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:26.039 By the grace of God. 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:34.799 Now for those of you who wouldn't call yourself a Christian. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:40.759 Perhaps you're skeptical of the claims of Jesus. 00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:47.079 Perhaps you've been exploring his claims but have yet to jump in with both feet. 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:55.819 And you've thought in our time together this evening. 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:57.019 Wait. 00:17:57.139 --> 00:18:04.039 Did he just say something about Jesus coming back and judging the world? 00:18:05.419 --> 00:18:07.319 Like some kind of final judgment? 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.319 Like doom and destruction? 00:18:08.679 --> 00:18:10.899 Like I see on all those paintings. 00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:13.960 Like in those big churches in Rome or whatever. 00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:15.900 That's a bit crazy. 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.300 Isn't it? 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:18.500 Well yeah. 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.140 Yeah. 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:23.360 That might sound rather fantastical to you. 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:27.519 That there's going to be some kind of cosmic judgment day at the end of all things. 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:34.460 And I won't go into much detail about what that might look like. 00:18:34.580 --> 00:18:36.680 That's Tommy's job next week. 00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:39.019 But yes. 00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:40.259 That is what we believe. 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.440 That's what we believe. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:50.440 It's a very radically supernatural thing that Christians believe and have always believed. 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.700 Jesus himself said it would happen. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:55.359 And his first disciples taught it. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:57.299 It's embedded in our creeds. 00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:59.680 We're going to confess it in a few minutes. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:04.180 That Jesus will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. 00:19:04.180 --> 00:19:13.080 Let me respond to your skepticism with just one suggestion to consider. 00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:16.740 I'm not going to try and attempt to change your minds on anything. 00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:18.180 I'd just like you to consider one thing. 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:25.920 What do you do with the feeling that things in the world aren't the way they should be? 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:31.980 What do you do with the things that are very wrong in this world? 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:35.319 What do you do when you see the news? 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:41.700 And you see children who first get a runny nose and then tightness in the chest. 00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:43.700 And then they start to drool. 00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:46.539 And then they lose control of their bodily functions. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.140 And they vomit. 00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:49.019 And they defecate. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:49.920 And they urinate. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.539 They begin to twitch. 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:52.580 And jerk. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.299 And finally suffocate. 00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:57.779 Because some man and his regime. 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:58.779 Regime. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:19:59.460 Excuse me. 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:02.000 Some man didn't want to give up power. 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:03.599 And so he gassed a village. 00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:04.619 What do you do with that? 00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:18.799 Is there any kind of justice that can be doled out sufficiently to make rights for such a heinous crime? 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:26.740 For such a crime on top of the other sarin gas attacks that they've committed. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:33.259 On top of the 70,000 barrel bombs that have been dropped in Syria over the last several years. 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.240 What do you do with that? 00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:38.759 Is there any justice that's possible? 00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:46.220 And what do you do with all the other atrocities committed in this world in these last 104 years? 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:51.420 Should we do what the Epicureans suggest? 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:54.620 That we be free of any anxiety. 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:57.700 We're all just atoms that are going to disperse anyway. 00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:59.779 So just don't worry and be happy. 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:07.400 Or is that desire for justice there for a reason? 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:16.680 Maybe it's by design that I long for things to be set to rights. 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:20.040 Maybe we're designed that way. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:23.280 Not only that we might seek justice in the here and now. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:31.259 But also because the one who made us has promised to fulfill that desire that each and every one of us has. 00:21:31.540 --> 00:21:32.900 A desire for justice. 00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:38.660 Now there's something else for us all to consider. 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:46.700 If there is a final reckoning, how do I know I'm right with God? 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:51.940 I mean, I haven't committed any atrocities personally. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:56.340 But is that the only confidence I have? 00:21:56.339 --> 00:22:01.819 I desire justice, but am I, wait, exempt from it? 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:04.119 I'm no Mother Teresa. 00:22:04.699 --> 00:22:06.119 I'm no John Paul II. 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:10.039 I'm no Tim Tebow. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:11.819 Sorry. 00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:19.819 Is there a standard by which I and everyone else will be judged? 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:22.779 And what happens maybe if I don't meet that standard? 00:22:22.899 --> 00:22:25.159 Well, there's good news and there's bad news. 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:28.440 The bad news is this, that the standard is impossibly high. 00:22:28.800 --> 00:22:29.580 You can't keep it. 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:30.519 Neither can I. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.060 Neither can anybody. 00:22:32.540 --> 00:22:34.640 The standard is God himself. 00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:36.440 We all fall short. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:42.080 The good news is that there is actually one who can keep that standard and that is God himself. 00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:43.779 And he did that for us. 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:45.740 God can meet his own standards. 00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:47.560 And that's what the cross is for. 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:56.559 All the justice that you and I ever deserved is satisfied on the cross. 00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:06.919 Sinless Jesus absorbs God's judgment for us and for the world. 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:09.799 And he gives us his perfect record. 00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:14.000 So on that final judgment day, we are rescued. 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:18.779 And God doesn't see all the ways we fall short. 00:23:18.919 --> 00:23:20.059 He sees his son. 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.440 He sees the cross. 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:24.559 He sees Jesus' own record, not our own. 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:28.759 That's our only comfort in life and in death. 00:23:28.919 --> 00:23:32.899 Our only comfort isn't the pursuit of pleasure or the absence of pain. 00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:38.280 Our comfort isn't that a final judgment doesn't take place. 00:23:39.040 --> 00:23:42.820 Our comfort isn't that we will be judged worthy in and of ourselves. 00:23:43.060 --> 00:23:44.920 As the Heidelberg Catechism states, 00:23:45.300 --> 00:23:54.100 my only comfort is that I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, 00:23:56.019 --> 00:24:00.400 but belong unto my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:05.200 who with His precious blood is fully satisfied for all my sins 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:09.420 and delivered me from all the power of the devil and so preserves me 00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:15.259 that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head. 00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:19.280 Yes, that all things must be subservient to my salvation. 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:24.960 And therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:30.819 and makes me sincerely willing and ready henceforth to live unto Him. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:34.059 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:34.759 Amen.