WEBVTT

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 All right, good morning, everybody.

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 It's good to see everyone.

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 It's nine o'clock.

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 People will be rolling in as we go.

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 As we embark on just a wonderful topic of God's love for us,

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 Father in heaven, we thank you that you have an everlasting love for your children,

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 that this is an inseparable love,

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 a love that had no beginning and will have no end.

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 And, Father, as Jesus told his disciples,

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 those whom he loves, he loves to the very end.

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 And so we pray that this time we would glory in this love together

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 and how you persevere with us in your grace.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Okay.

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 Well, last week, if you recall, we discussed God's distinguishing love for us.

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 At the cross, he goes with your name on his very heart.

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 Jesus loved his sheep with a special, unique, covenantal love, a distinguishing love.

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 And in this class, we'll consider the topic that those whom he loves,

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 he loves to the very end.

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 This everlasting love, this special love that we discussed last week,

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 is the ground of our assurance.

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 John Owen, who we used last week as a conversation partner,

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 right before he died, he wrote one final letter to his friends.

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 And these were some of his last words.

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 Owen wrote,

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 So this everlasting love is a ground for your consolation as well, brother and sister.

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 Before we begin, let me ask you a question.

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 It's a rhetorical question.

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 But have you ever started a race that you weren't sure that you could finish?

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 Have you ever started a race that you're not quite sure you could finish?

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 Have you ever run a race where there were difficult hills?

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 Struggling?

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 Weary?

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 You're tired?

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 You feel like you can't go any further?

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 This is the Christian life, after all.

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 Hebrews 12 depicts the race of faith in this way.

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 Not as a leisurely jog, but an agonizing race.

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 A struggle.

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 Faith wanes and weakens.

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 Hands drooping.

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 Knees are weak.

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 We stumble in many ways.

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 The devils accuse us.

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 Inwardly, our flesh and pride drag us down.

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 And in this race, we see others just limping along.

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 Exhausted.

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 We see fellow participants dropping out of this race.

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 Paul would write,

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 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me.

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 And so, as you run this race, you carry the heartache of beloved companions who have deserted you.

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 And you run this race against the grain of the world.

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 Because in this race, spectators aren't cheering us.

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 No, they're jeering us.

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 The wind is not at our back.

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 Jesus said, Expect as much in John 15, verse 18 to 19.

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 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

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 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own.

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 But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore, the world hates you.

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 And this hatred, for many, leads to the runners being persecuted, slander, beatings, even death.

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 The hour is coming, Jesus said, when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.

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 Mocked, ridiculed, scorned by your family.

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 Some even killed.

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 Of course, the apostles knew this firsthand.

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 History tells us Paul was probably beheaded by Emperor Nero.

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 Peter tortured for a long while, then crucified upside down.

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 In Rome, Circus Maximus.

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 But whether it's physical death or not, there's always the death of the old man or woman in this race.

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 As Bonhoeffer said, when Christ calls you, he bids you come and die.

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 In this race, there are dangers not only from outside, but inside, aren't there?

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 Fellow participants can deceive us.

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 Satan comes as an angel of light.

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 They run alongside you.

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 They talk about loving Jesus.

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 They say, you know, you see the hill of difficulty?

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 There's an easier way.

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 Follow me.

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 And then they lead people astray to a dead end of destruction.

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 Jesus warned of these false teachers.

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 They'll come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly, they're ravenous wolves.

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 Have you ever run a race that you're not sure you could finish?

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 Are you confident that you will finish?

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 Friends, this everlasting love that Owen speaks of is the ground of our comfort.

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 A security that whom Christ has loved everlastingly, he will love to the very end.

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 And in this class, we'll say not only will Christians finish, God has made such a promise.

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 Paul would write, I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

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 By the power of God, he will make sure his children are preserved until you reach the finish line.

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 A helper will come alongside you in this race, brother and sister.

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 Here's how our statement of faith puts it.

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 It's a pretty good way of putting it. I like that.

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 So the first point is simply this, that we'll discuss today.

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 All who are truly born anew by the Spirit will finish the race.

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 In this race, the Apostle John writes,

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 Everyone that is born of God overcomes the world.

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 1 John 5, verse 4.

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 We limp, we stumble, we fall.

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 But if you are born of God, you will overcome.

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 You will keep limping along until you reach the finish line.

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 The Apostle John is so confident that this is the case, that he puts this overcoming in the past tense.

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 Speaking to Christians on Satan's schemes in chapter 4, he says,

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 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them.

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 Past tense. It's already happened.

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 What's the ground of this confidence?

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 Well, John tells us, he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

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 John's confidence is God's Spirit working powerfully and persistently in you.

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 And like John in Paul's mind,

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 this guarantee that is so sure that he can speak a future glorification in the past tense.

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 Romans 8 is about the eternal security of the believer.

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 Romans 8, Paul would write this,

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 God will lose none in the process.

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 So there's a golden chain that began in eternity past.

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 He predestined.

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 You were beloved before the foundation of the world.

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 This love was expressed at his death.

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 This love was expressed in the Spirit's calling you.

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 And this love continually is expressed in our lives each and every day.

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 And this love will go into eternity future.

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 He glorifies.

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 And Paul puts this future glorification in the past tense.

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 And in his mind, it's as good as done.

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 You've already been glorified in God's minds.

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 No one can break the chain.

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 Romans 8 is the Mount Everest of eternal security.

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 Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God.

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 So when the grace of God takes hold of you, it will never let you go.

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 The chapter begins with no condemnation.

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 It ends with no separation.

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 And there's a perfection of God's love for us, isn't there?

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 An inseparable love.

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 For I'm convinced, Paul writes, that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons,

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 neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor height, nor depth,

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 nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us

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 from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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 He says not anything else in all creation.

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 That includes everything.

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 That includes the sins that constantly tempt our hearts to be drawn away from Christ.

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 Pornography.

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 It includes your own fallen human heart.

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 What a triumphant note.

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 Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of Christ.

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 Inseparable love.

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 We said last week, if he gave us the most precious object, his son,

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 will he not give us lesser things?

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 If he was willing to expend his son's blood to gain you, will he now deny his power to keep you?

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 Of course not.

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 No, he will keep you.

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 He sent his son to die for you.

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 Now, if you turn to John 6 with me, notice the certainty of Jesus' words in verse 38.

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 Jesus is speaking about his mission.

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 Why he has come down from heaven.

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 Verse 38.

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 I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

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 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me,

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 but raise them up at the last day.

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 Jesus will not look out at the countless multitudes of sheep and say,

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 well, I'm glad that 85% made their way home.

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 No.

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 Notice the certainty, the totality of verse 38.

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 Jesus will lose none, no one, that the Father has given him.

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 And if that's the belt, he adds suspenders and then a clasp connecting the two so nothing falls to the ground.

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 It's not just the will of the Son.

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 This is the will of the Father in verse 40.

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 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life.

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 And I will raise him up at the last day.

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 In no uncertain terms, Jesus makes a promise here.

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 Everyone who believes in Christ has eternal life.

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 They will never perish.

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 That's the nature of eternal life.

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 He will cause us to persevere through deep valleys and hard trials for his glory.

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 We walk with a limp, but we keep walking.

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 Our safety, our security, is that each person of the Trinity loves us.

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 One author whom I love is Richard Sibbes.

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 Richard Sibbes was a...

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 Yeah, 16th century in Cambridge.

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 And just a congenial man.

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 People called him the sweet dropper.

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 Because people who came with guilty consciences would just find that his words developed...

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 Give him a consolation about Christ's love.

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 And it says that hardened sinners would have intentionally avoided going to that part of town.

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 Because they didn't even want to have the chance that they might hear Sibbes and be converted.

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 So that was kind of his reputation in Cambridge.

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 Richard Sibbes says this.

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 We are far more safe in his comprehending of us than in our clasping and holding of him.

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 As we say of the mother and the child, both hold.

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 But the safety of the child is that the mother holds him.

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 See, Christ's love holds us up the way a mother holds up her child.

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 The mother loves the child.

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 It will not let the child go.

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 Remember Jude's doxology?

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 We say it all the time at our benediction.

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 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling.

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 And to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.

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 I love that verse.

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 Maybe an underrated verse in the book of Jude is verse 1 of that chapter.

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 He writes,

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 To those who are called, beloved in God the Father, kept for Jesus Christ.

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 Called, beloved, kept, protected, preserved.

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 So brother, sister, you are secure because he keeps you.

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 One more, Ephesians chapter 1 verse 13.

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 Speaking of our complete assurance that when we put our faith in Christ,

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 every Christian was sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

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 And Paul writes,

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 That is a guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,

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 to the praise of his glory.

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 Do you see the certainty of those words?

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 It's a guarantee.

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 All who are truly born anew by the Spirit will finish the race.

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 Not because of our personal fortitude,

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 because God has an everlasting love for us as his children.

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 Well, that's point number one.

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 Point number two is only those who finish the race are truly born anew.

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 So many go astray at this point.

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 They've heard everything that we've just said.

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 And they wrongly think,

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 Well, if you're secure, it doesn't matter what you do.

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 You know, someone says,

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 You know, I have a son named Bill.

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 When Bill was eight, he said a prayer at a Bible camp.

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 And he walked the aisle.

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 He was baptized.

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 Well, today Bill is a Buddhist.

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 He denies the divinity of Jesus,

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 but I believe he's secure, right?

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 Well, no.

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 That's not what the Scripture teaches.

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 Only those who finish the race are truly born anew.

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 Hebrews 3, verse 14.

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 Paul would write,

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 Well, we don't know who the writer of Hebrews is,

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 but maybe it's Paul.

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 For we have come to share in Christ,

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 if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

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 You see, eternity hangs on a two-letter word there.

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 If.

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 It's an ongoing condition.

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 If we hold our confidence until the end.

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 The point that the author of Hebrews makes

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 is that remaining in the faith

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 is one of the clear signs

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 that someone truly is in the fold,

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 that you've come to share in Christ.

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 And the book of Hebrews sees two possibilities.

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 The first possibility is we hold fast our confession.

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 And the other possibility

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 is that our hearts become hardened

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 by the deceitfulness of sin

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 and fall away from,

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 with the heart of unbelief.

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 The writer of Hebrews gives warnings.

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 And the primary function of those warnings

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 is to test us.

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 Do you have a true faith?

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 And that warning goes to the church

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 because you see that the membership

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 in a visible congregation

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 does not automatically prove

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 that you have membership in the invisible church.

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 The visible church,

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 the member roles in a congregation,

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 the visible church

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 consists of those who are Christians

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 and those who are not.

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 And Hebrews really is all about

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 a book on how to persevere,

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 calling each person to account,

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 to test ourselves.

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 And God who ordained the ends

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 also ordains the means.

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 And those means are an obedience

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 flowing from a renewed heart.

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 The writer of Hebrews 3, verse 13,

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 he says this,

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:30.359
 Now this verse has been massive

00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:31.299
 in my own life.

00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:34.639
 When I don't feel like attending church,

00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.940
 I'm like, not this week.

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:38.720
 I just don't feel like coming.

00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:40.940
 I remember this verse.

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:43.319
 I remember that the writer of Hebrews

00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:45.019
 is warning me that my heart

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:45.859
 is being hardened.

00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:48.079
 Sin is deceiving me.

00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:50.660
 This week, out of all weeks,

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:52.779
 I need to be with the people of God.

00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:56.379
 I need to be exhorted every day

00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:59.099
 so that my heart might not be hearted.

00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:03.759
 And friends, isn't that the same for you?

00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:05.160
 When you come to church,

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.819
 you might not feel like

00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:08.299
 you even belong here.

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:11.559
 But then God used your brothers and sisters

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:13.240
 to help you.

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.740
 Think of all the one-anothering.

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.139
 To love one another,

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.139
 to meet with each other,

00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.779
 to pray for one another,

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.940
 to partake of the Lord's Supper together,

00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:23.519
 to exhort and admonish each other.

00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:25.900
 Maybe it's after the first, second hymn

00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:28.160
 where your icy heart begins to thaw

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.099
 and you begin to worship God

00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:32.559
 as He deserves to be worshipped.

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:37.299
 God will use those means of singing together

00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:39.879
 for your brothers and sisters,

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:42.099
 for you to be around them

00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:45.220
 to secure the ends that He has ordained.

00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:49.440
 Maybe like Florence made Chadwick.

00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.599
 Florence made Chadwick,

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:53.220
 she was a swimmer,

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:55.720
 a long-distance swimmer in 1952.

00:18:55.720 --> 00:19:00.519
 And she attempted to swim 23 miles

00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:03.539
 across the English Channel in both directions.

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:08.720
 Fifteen straight hours she spent swimming in the water.

00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.759
 Emotionally and physically,

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.620
 she was exhausted.

00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.200
 And toward the end,

00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:16.799
 there was a thick fog that began to set in.

00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:19.079
 And the fog clouded her vision.

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.700
 She couldn't see the end,

00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:24.039
 which made the swimming much more difficult.

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:26.339
 All she could see was the fog.

00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.259
 And she had a trainer who was there

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.519
 to look out for sharks.

00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:34.099
 And she begged him to pull her out of the water.

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:37.079
 Another hour passed and she called it quits.

00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:38.740
 She said, I'm done.

00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.680
 And she later discovered

00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:42.879
 that the shore was only a half mile away.

00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:44.779
 A half mile away.

00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.740
 If she would have kept going,

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:47.480
 she would have made it to the end.

00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.900
 And the next day she said,

00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.720
 afterward in an interview,

00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:53.420
 she said, all I could see was the fog.

00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:55.559
 I think if I could have seen the shore,

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.380
 I would have made it.

00:19:57.859 --> 00:20:00.180
 Doesn't the Bible repeatedly command us

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:00.900
 to do such a thing?

00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.099
 In the fog of difficulties,

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.519
 set your sights on Jesus.

00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:07.000
 Set your sights on the finish line.

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.759
 And the following year,

00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.740
 Chadwick tried again.

00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:11.279
 And the fog set in again,

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.400
 just like last time.

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:14.039
 But this time she had a mental image

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:15.700
 of the shoreline in her mind.

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:17.839
 And she pushed herself along.

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.779
 And this time she finished the race.

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:22.099
 And she did it in record time.

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:22.980
 She became the first woman

00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:24.279
 to swim across the English Channel

00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:24.960
 in both directions.

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:27.779
 So our actions do matter.

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:28.779
 Don't they?

00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:31.539
 The message of the apostles is never,

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.039
 they never say, you know,

00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:34.120
 since you are secure,

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.599
 your actions don't have any significance.

00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.960
 Paul tells the church in Corinth

00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.740
 to stand firm.

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.380
 firm.

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:43.019
 Paul and Barnabas urged churches

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:45.000
 to continue in the grace of God.

00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.279
 Continue in the faith.

00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.980
 One of my favorite Christmas movies

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.019
 around this time of year

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:54.140
 is the movie Rocky.

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.859
 Rocky Balboa, the boxer.

00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:58.220
 Yeah, it's a Christmas movie.

00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:00.039
 It's definitely a Christmas movie.

00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:03.420
 Rocky, Die Hard,

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.400
 is a Christmas movie as well.

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.060
 Yes, it is.

00:21:07.840 --> 00:21:09.320
 So Rocky beats

00:21:09.320 --> 00:21:10.320
 the Soviet Union's

00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:12.880
 most dangerous boxer, Drago,

00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:15.500
 a 15-round heavyweight contest

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:17.040
 on Christmas Day

00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:18.819
 and ends the Cold War.

00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.519
 I mean, that's a Christmas movie

00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.759
 if I've ever heard of one.

00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:25.980
 And The Karate Kid,

00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:27.359
 Easter movie,

00:21:27.399 --> 00:21:28.240
 but we can talk about that

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:28.700
 another time.

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:32.099
 So Rocky's determination

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:33.899
 to go the distance,

00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:35.480
 that resonates with me.

00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.599
 The apostles' message

00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:39.159
 to the churches is always

00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:40.519
 go the distance.

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:41.839
 Fight it out.

00:21:42.139 --> 00:21:43.059
 Finish the race.

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.839
 Not in our own strength.

00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:46.980
 No, we rely upon God's grace.

00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.220
 And the paradox

00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:50.180
 is that God,

00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:52.119
 who is keeping us,

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:55.720
 is working that grace out

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.539
 in our hearts

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.740
 as we have perseverance

00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:59.019
 and persistence.

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:03.720
 You'll recall the preaching series

00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.599
 we just went through

00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.099
 in Revelation.

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:07.019
 What is the repeated refrain

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:08.599
 to the seven churches

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:10.079
 that we heard about?

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:12.519
 Jesus continually comes back to,

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:13.740
 He says,

00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:14.700
 you must overcome

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.899
 to be a conqueror.

00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:18.900
 You must conquer.

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.259
 In Rome,

00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:20.860
 all the citizens

00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:21.900
 would be clothed in white

00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:23.860
 as the general returns

00:22:23.860 --> 00:22:25.400
 after a great victory.

00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:27.980
 And white is a prominent color

00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.500
 in Revelation.

00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:31.000
 White represents forgiveness,

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:33.000
 but it also represents conquering.

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.900
 Believers are said

00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.960
 to be clothed

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.420
 in white garments.

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.920
 They overcome

00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:40.380
 their conquerors

00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:42.160
 after their earthly struggle.

00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.080
 Jesus,

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.860
 speaking to the church

00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:44.539
 of Thyatira,

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.200
 says,

00:22:45.300 --> 00:22:46.920
 to the one who is victorious

00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:47.900
 and does my will

00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:48.500
 to the end,

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:50.100
 I will give authority

00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:52.220
 over the nations.

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:55.720
 So only those

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.160
 who are finished

00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.519
 the race

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.600
 are truly born anew.

00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:59.779
 We must conquer.

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.860
 We must finish

00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:02.819
 the race.

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.039
 And Hebrews

00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:05.620
 and Revelation

00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:07.160
 have many passages

00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:07.839
 like this.

00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:10.960
 And they also have warnings.

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.299
 They say,

00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.740
 to those who do not conquer,

00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:16.460
 God will not delight in you,

00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:18.180
 but He will destroy you.

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:21.279
 There's stark warnings.

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.859
 Hebrews 10,

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.220
 but the righteous one

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.240
 shall live by faith

00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.180
 and he shrinks back.

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.920
 My soul has no pleasure in him.

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.680
 And those verses,

00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:30.420
 those warnings

00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.579
 are not put in there

00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.720
 to frighten you,

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.299
 but to make sure

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:35.339
 we do not fall away.

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.220
 It's a warning.

00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:37.799
 It's like you're driving

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:38.500
 down a highway

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:40.539
 and you see a road sign

00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:41.859
 that cautions drivers

00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:43.240
 about the dangers ahead.

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:46.420
 The scriptures will warn us,

00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:48.440
 be careful,

00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:50.019
 do not turn back.

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.500
 You know,

00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:52.019
 parents,

00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:52.559
 we might do this

00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.180
 with our children.

00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:53.980
 You say,

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.339
 dear,

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.660
 you see that substance

00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:57.440
 you're about to eat?

00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:58.579
 Please don't eat that.

00:23:59.200 --> 00:23:59.359
 Well,

00:23:59.379 --> 00:23:59.900
 it has one of those

00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:01.240
 hazardous toxic signs.

00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.519
 You probably shouldn't eat that.

00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:03.460
 Well,

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:05.319
 we might not say it like that.

00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:05.859
 We probably use

00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:07.160
 much stronger language.

00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:08.480
 Honey,

00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:09.160
 if you eat it,

00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.019
 you will die

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.480
 in no uncertain terms.

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.500
 And that's why Hebrews

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.559
 and Revelation

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:15.819
 have such stark warnings for us.

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.539
 And God uses these warnings

00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:19.500
 to accomplish his ends.

00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.859
 His children cry out for strength,

00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:23.700
 keep me safe, Lord.

00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:25.519
 Keep me safe.

00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.579
 Okay, well,

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.639
 I think this question

00:24:29.639 --> 00:24:30.259
 has been asked

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.059
 in previous weeks.

00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:32.339
 What about those

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:33.679
 who fall away like Bill?

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.159
 What about us?

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.519
 Could we think

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.359
 that we're Christians

00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:41.879
 and not be like Bill?

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:42.519
 Well,

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.439
 that is a possibility.

00:24:44.159 --> 00:24:45.619
 It's a very real possibility.

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.119
 Now,

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.679
 Bill is somewhat

00:24:46.679 --> 00:24:48.299
 of an obvious example.

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.480
 Oftentimes,

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.599
 we don't know

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:52.539
 what is in someone's heart.

00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:53.500
 You know,

00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.299
 Judas appeared

00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:55.220
 like a real disciple.

00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:56.700
 He wasn't.

00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.399
 Samson,

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.019
 on the other hand,

00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:00.000
 with all his flaws

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.779
 and foibles,

00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.879
 he did not commit apostasy.

00:25:03.419 --> 00:25:04.399
 He's in the Hall of Faith

00:25:04.399 --> 00:25:05.099
 in Hebrews 11.

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:06.439
 You know,

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.779
 Peter denied Jesus,

00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.379
 just like Judas,

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.899
 but Peter was restored.

00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:12.899
 You know,

00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:14.159
 one story

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:16.500
 that I think about

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.460
 in these terms

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.779
 about those

00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.720
 who fall away

00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:21.340
 and the warnings

00:25:21.340 --> 00:25:22.519
 that Hebrews gives us

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.940
 is Thomas Cranmer.

00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:24.980
 So,

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:25.920
 Thomas Cranmer

00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:28.140
 is one of the people

00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:28.800
 that created

00:25:28.800 --> 00:25:30.000
 the Book of Common Prayer.

00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:32.000
 He was an Anglican.

00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:32.980
 He's very similar

00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.400
 to Peter.

00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:36.280
 when Queen Mary

00:25:36.280 --> 00:25:37.300
 came into power

00:25:37.300 --> 00:25:38.460
 in England,

00:25:39.540 --> 00:25:40.519
 Cranmer was stripped

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.240
 of his power

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.340
 as archbishop

00:25:42.340 --> 00:25:44.400
 and he was imprisoned.

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.540
 Queen Mary

00:25:47.540 --> 00:25:48.420
 threatened to burn him

00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:48.920
 at the stake

00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:50.620
 unless he recanted

00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:51.720
 his gospel teachings.

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:55.140
 Afraid of such a prospect,

00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:56.380
 he recanted everything.

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.900
 He denied Jesus

00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:00.380
 everything.

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:01.980
 But,

00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:02.920
 in Cranmer's life,

00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:04.060
 that wasn't the last word.

00:26:05.040 --> 00:26:06.040
 While in prison,

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.360
 the spirit began

00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:08.300
 to work on him.

00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:10.180
 He became deeply sorrowful

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:11.200
 over his denial

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.940
 of gospel teachings.

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.940
 And the authorities

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.500
 wanted to make

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.680
 an example of him,

00:26:17.040 --> 00:26:19.080
 so they had him

00:26:19.080 --> 00:26:20.400
 read his recantation

00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.160
 publicly.

00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:22.980
 But to their surprise,

00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:24.240
 he withdrew it.

00:26:25.340 --> 00:26:27.240
 And in his final words,

00:26:27.320 --> 00:26:27.920
 he offered to put

00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.840
 his right hand,

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.740
 the hand that signed

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.340
 the document

00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:31.600
 that Mary gave him,

00:26:31.820 --> 00:26:32.900
 into the fire first.

00:26:33.800 --> 00:26:34.560
 And that's exactly

00:26:34.560 --> 00:26:35.100
 what he did.

00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:37.960
 He was burned.

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:41.900
 The issue is

00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:43.060
 whether we definitively

00:26:43.060 --> 00:26:44.840
 deny Jesus or not.

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:47.300
 We often don't know

00:26:47.300 --> 00:26:48.340
 what's in someone's heart.

00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.000
 When someone

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.279
 might be

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:51.500
 seeming like

00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.519
 they're denying Jesus,

00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:55.580
 God by his grace

00:26:55.580 --> 00:26:56.400
 might bring them back.

00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.940
 So we don't know

00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.560
 what's in their heart.

00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.360
 But if there is

00:26:59.360 --> 00:27:01.240
 continued unrepentance,

00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:03.400
 it's a very good indication

00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.100
 that their faith

00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:04.640
 was never

00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:06.080
 real or not.

00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:07.620
 1 John 2,

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.519
 verse 19,

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.740
 sums this idea

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.220
 well.

00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:11.280
 John writes,

00:27:11.560 --> 00:27:12.500
 They went out from us,

00:27:12.840 --> 00:27:13.680
 but they did not

00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.680
 belong to us.

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.860
 For if they had

00:27:15.860 --> 00:27:16.640
 belonged to us,

00:27:17.040 --> 00:27:18.259
 they would have

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.080
 remained with us.

00:27:19.540 --> 00:27:20.440
 But their going

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.440
 shows that none of them

00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.140
 belonged to us.

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:24.420
 Right?

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:27.600
 Jesus is very clear

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.259
 on this topic.

00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.100
 Not everyone

00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:30.720
 who says to me,

00:27:30.820 --> 00:27:31.460
 Lord, Lord,

00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:32.519
 shall enter the kingdom

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:32.920
 of heaven,

00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.200
 but he who does

00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.960
 the will of my Father

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.480
 who is in heaven.

00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.480
 On that day,

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.200
 many will say to me,

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.640
 Lord, Lord,

00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.500
 did we not prophesy

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:38.980
 in your name,

00:27:39.580 --> 00:27:40.120
 cast out demons

00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:40.560
 in your name,

00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.360
 and do many mighty

00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.080
 works in your name?

00:27:42.300 --> 00:27:42.920
 And then I will

00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.539
 declare to them,

00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.539
 I never knew you.

00:27:45.300 --> 00:27:45.920
 Depart from me.

00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:48.500
 There's some scary words.

00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:51.000
 Notice the language here.

00:27:51.340 --> 00:27:51.460
 It's,

00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.740
 I never knew you.

00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.180
 Remember last week?

00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:55.940
 I never had that

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:57.220
 covenantal,

00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:00.180
 intimate knowledge of you.

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.080
 I never knew you

00:28:02.080 --> 00:28:02.620
 in an intimate,

00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:03.240
 loving way

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:04.360
 that I know my sheep.

00:28:06.560 --> 00:28:07.640
 And those who fall away

00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.779
 may give external signs

00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.340
 of conversion.

00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.299
 All right,

00:28:11.320 --> 00:28:12.400
 remember Jesus' parable

00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.640
 of the sower.

00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:14.980
 You recall that the seed

00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:16.080
 was put on rocky soil

00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:17.480
 and it sprung up

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.320
 in different places?

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.920
 And the seed grew

00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:20.440
 for a time

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.100
 in the rocky soil

00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:21.940
 and they received

00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.160
 the word with joy.

00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:24.720
 Can you imagine

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.799
 meeting somebody

00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:27.240
 in the sanctuary?

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.340
 They received the word

00:28:28.340 --> 00:28:28.980
 with joy

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:31.060
 about Jesus'

00:28:31.320 --> 00:28:32.100
 death and resurrection?

00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:34.920
 But Jesus says

00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.940
 they have no root.

00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.640
 They last only

00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.400
 for a short time.

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:38.799
 The cares of the world

00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:40.220
 choke out the faith.

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:42.900
 So there is a real possibility

00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:45.360
 that you begin the race

00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:47.240
 but you don't finish the race.

00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.360
 Well,

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.259
 if that's the case,

00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:53.059
 can we actually truly

00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.660
 have assurance

00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.420
 in the race?

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:56.500
 Can we actually be assured

00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.759
 that we will finish it?

00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.059
 You know,

00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:00.079
 we know that God

00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:01.600
 preserves His people,

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.319
 but how do we know

00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:03.680
 that we are actually,

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.220
 in fact,

00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:07.000
 one of God's own,

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:07.900
 that He will protect

00:29:07.900 --> 00:29:08.320
 and preserve

00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:09.060
 until the very end?

00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:11.180
 I think many

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:12.420
 good Christians

00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.640
 have questions about this.

00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:15.220
 There are a lot

00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.180
 of good Christians

00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:18.180
 who sincerely love

00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:18.519
 the Lord

00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.400
 and there's sometimes

00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.880
 a black rope figure

00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.540
 of doubt.

00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:22.300
 You know,

00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:23.080
 a Dementor

00:29:23.080 --> 00:29:23.840
 from Azkaban,

00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:25.140
 one of those guys.

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:27.220
 They might follow you around,

00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.180
 perhaps on a Sunday,

00:29:28.360 --> 00:29:29.240
 sit right next to you

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.700
 on the pew,

00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.380
 whispers in your ear

00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:34.500
 that you're no child

00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:34.900
 of God.

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:36.519
 Look at your life.

00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:39.840
 many earnest Christians

00:29:39.840 --> 00:29:40.880
 have experienced this.

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:43.040
 They doubt regarding

00:29:43.040 --> 00:29:44.000
 the reality of God's

00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.800
 forgiveness in their

00:29:44.800 --> 00:29:45.360
 own life.

00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.100
 Normally,

00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:48.200
 it's an ongoing sin.

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.460
 It's a grievous sin.

00:29:49.820 --> 00:29:50.720
 Our conscience points

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.980
 the finger and accuses us.

00:29:52.800 --> 00:29:54.320
 The clouds of doubt

00:29:54.320 --> 00:29:55.000
 just seem to be

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:56.360
 hanging over our heads.

00:29:57.780 --> 00:29:58.140
 In fact,

00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:58.880
 we can actually see

00:29:58.880 --> 00:29:59.640
 some of that

00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:00.740
 in David's own life.

00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.220
 One of my favorite psalms,

00:30:03.320 --> 00:30:04.160
 Psalm 3,

00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:06.180
 verse 2 of that psalm,

00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:08.980
 David wrote this,

00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.140
 many are saying

00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:11.060
 of my soul,

00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.980
 there is no salvation

00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.900
 for him and God.

00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.140
 They're saying,

00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:16.360
 you know,

00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:17.500
 God can save others,

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.660
 but there's no salvation

00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.279
 for you.

00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:22.460
 You had your chances.

00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.600
 God has forsaken you.

00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:26.120
 You are irredeemable.

00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:28.959
 You know,

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.579
 we know the Lord

00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.139
 loved David,

00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.719
 but David is hearing

00:30:31.719 --> 00:30:32.519
 loud voices

00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.459
 of condemnation.

00:30:34.219 --> 00:30:35.000
 Maybe you can relate

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.739
 to those loud voices

00:30:35.739 --> 00:30:36.379
 of condemnation

00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:37.979
 in your own conscience.

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:38.699
 You know,

00:30:38.719 --> 00:30:38.979
 in fact,

00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.119
 in 2 Samuel 16,

00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:41.099
 we read that

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:41.799
 there's a guy,

00:30:41.959 --> 00:30:42.339
 Shimei,

00:30:42.399 --> 00:30:43.019
 who's actually

00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:44.039
 following him around

00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.639
 and yelling

00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:45.599
 and screaming at him,

00:30:46.239 --> 00:30:46.500
 David,

00:30:46.639 --> 00:30:47.659
 you are a man of blood.

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.339
 You are a worthless man.

00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:52.139
 So those loud voices

00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:52.739
 of condemnation

00:30:52.739 --> 00:30:53.359
 were not just coming

00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:54.539
 from his own mind.

00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.480
 They're actually

00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:56.359
 from people

00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:57.339
 who are following him around.

00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.659
 And certainly,

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.879
 David had his flaws,

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.619
 but he was not

00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.420
 a worthless man.

00:31:04.359 --> 00:31:04.759
 But the,

00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:06.200
 I think what one

00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:08.220
 of the complexities

00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:09.240
 of this is that

00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:10.420
 David's own conscience

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.420
 knew that the enemy

00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.000
 had grounds

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.779
 for these accusations.

00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:14.819
 David is fleeing

00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.500
 from Absalom

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.240
 in Psalm 3.

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.180
 And those events

00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.399
 were set in motion

00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:19.759
 how?

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:20.720
 Well,

00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.819
 it's his own

00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:22.500
 grievous sin

00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.279
 against Bathsheba.

00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:24.440
 His murder

00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.120
 of Uriah

00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:26.360
 and his subsequent

00:31:26.360 --> 00:31:26.920
 adultery.

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.160
 Right?

00:31:30.320 --> 00:31:30.420
 So,

00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.380
 Satan's accusations

00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:33.279
 often are not

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.039
 just falsities.

00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.279
 Like,

00:31:34.320 --> 00:31:35.180
 there's bits of truth

00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.519
 in them.

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.400
 You have done wrong,

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.100
 haven't you?

00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.480
 In Bunyan's

00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.059
 Pilgrim's Progress,

00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:42.980
 one of my favorite books,

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.019
 which I'm rereading now,

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.420
 which is an allegory

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:46.180
 of the Christian life,

00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:48.039
 there's a character,

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:48.960
 his name is

00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:49.820
 Mr. Littlefaith.

00:31:50.620 --> 00:31:51.600
 Mr. Littlefaith

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.719
 was assaulted

00:31:52.719 --> 00:31:53.480
 and robbed

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.919
 by faintheart,

00:31:55.199 --> 00:31:55.659
 mistrust,

00:31:55.719 --> 00:31:56.099
 and guilt.

00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:59.079
 Three robbers.

00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.579
 And he was wounded

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:01.339
 and left for dead

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:02.439
 by guilt,

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:02.919
 mistrust,

00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:03.500
 and faintheart.

00:32:04.179 --> 00:32:04.579
 Mistrust

00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.799
 picked his pockets

00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:06.759
 and then guilt

00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:07.719
 beat him over the head.

00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:09.159
 And the robber

00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:10.159
 stole all the coins

00:32:10.159 --> 00:32:10.839
 out of his pockets.

00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:11.439
 And so,

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.339
 Mr. Littlefaith

00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:13.659
 was left to beg

00:32:13.659 --> 00:32:14.299
 on the streets

00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:15.579
 mostly for the rest

00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.099
 of his life.

00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:17.980
 And being hungry,

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:19.139
 Mr. Littlefaith's heart

00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:20.360
 was filled with grief

00:32:20.360 --> 00:32:21.080
 and bitterness

00:32:21.080 --> 00:32:22.240
 over this,

00:32:23.320 --> 00:32:24.280
 his current condition.

00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:26.900
 But then Bunyan

00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:27.440
 points out,

00:32:27.580 --> 00:32:28.340
 while Mr. Littlefaith

00:32:28.340 --> 00:32:29.140
 had a weak faith,

00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:30.440
 it was still a sincere one.

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.840
 These robbers

00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:32.920
 couldn't reach

00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:33.820
 or steal the jewels

00:32:33.820 --> 00:32:34.520
 that he carried

00:32:34.520 --> 00:32:34.900
 with them.

00:32:34.900 --> 00:32:35.480
 And those jewels

00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.560
 represented

00:32:36.560 --> 00:32:38.000
 Mr. Littlefaith's

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.860
 inheritance

00:32:38.860 --> 00:32:39.980
 in Christ's kingdom.

00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.940
 And he had the

00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:43.120
 opportunity to sell them,

00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:44.040
 just like Esau

00:32:44.040 --> 00:32:44.960
 sold his birthright,

00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:46.100
 to relieve

00:32:46.100 --> 00:32:46.840
 some of the hardships,

00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:48.279
 but Mr. Littlefaith

00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:49.559
 refused to do that.

00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.459
 He would not,

00:32:50.639 --> 00:32:51.259
 he could not

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.859
 ever part

00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:52.480
 with the jewels

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.759
 that God

00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.319
 had given him.

00:32:55.399 --> 00:32:55.919
 And so Bunyan

00:32:55.919 --> 00:32:56.439
 is saying,

00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:57.480
 there's a difference

00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:58.199
 between the jewels

00:32:58.199 --> 00:32:59.679
 and the coin purse.

00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:01.159
 The coin purse

00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:02.240
 is our assurance

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:04.139
 and peace of mind.

00:33:05.139 --> 00:33:06.220
 It can be plundered

00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:07.399
 when we fall prey

00:33:07.399 --> 00:33:07.879
 to doubt,

00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:08.279
 shame,

00:33:08.339 --> 00:33:08.659
 and guilt,

00:33:09.159 --> 00:33:09.819
 but our jewels

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.559
 are secure.

00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:12.399
 Those are always safe.

00:33:12.939 --> 00:33:14.159
 The value of those jewels

00:33:14.159 --> 00:33:15.000
 are immeasurable.

00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:17.539
 And who can overcome

00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.359
 these robbers?

00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.740
 Well, Bunyan writes,

00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:21.460
 only Mr. Great Grace

00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:22.180
 could overcome

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:22.779
 the robbers.

00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:24.660
 It was the great grace

00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:25.319
 of our Lord Jesus

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:27.299
 who restored Peter.

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:29.380
 And he could restore you too.

00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:30.680
 But I think

00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:31.440
 rather than going

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.460
 to Mr. Great Grace,

00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.799
 the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:36.039
 we tend in those moments

00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.640
 when we feel

00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:38.359
 those feelings of guilt,

00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:40.259
 we tend in those moments

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:41.019
 to constantly

00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:41.680
 and obsessively

00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.559
 look at ourselves.

00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:44.680
 We say to ourselves,

00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:46.480
 if I can just act better,

00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.000
 be better,

00:33:48.100 --> 00:33:49.060
 maybe I'll feel

00:33:49.060 --> 00:33:49.900
 more like a Christian.

00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.460
 I'll feel like

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.180
 a child of God.

00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:53.799
 And so maybe

00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:56.180
 when you're feeling guilty,

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.620
 we start to

00:33:57.620 --> 00:33:58.220
 white-knuckle

00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:58.660
 obedience

00:33:58.660 --> 00:33:59.500
 for a little while,

00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:01.220
 but then we fall

00:34:01.220 --> 00:34:02.380
 and we're sitting

00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:03.299
 right next to that

00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:04.259
 black-robed

00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:04.799
 Dementor,

00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:06.259
 that figure of doubt.

00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:07.220
 He visits us again.

00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:08.880
 And so what happens

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.440
 is we're on a

00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.579
 performance hamster wheel.

00:34:10.680 --> 00:34:11.039
 We're all

00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:12.159
 inwardly legalists.

00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:13.519
 We stumble

00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:15.239
 and we're right back

00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:15.779
 where we started.

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:18.000
 Our friend,

00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:18.859
 the black-robed

00:34:18.859 --> 00:34:19.619
 figure of doubt.

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:21.500
 But I think

00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.420
 it's instructive

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.199
 what David did

00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:23.980
 in Psalm 3.

00:34:24.739 --> 00:34:26.000
 What David did

00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:29.480
 is at the end,

00:34:29.899 --> 00:34:30.099
 well,

00:34:30.319 --> 00:34:31.019
 he doesn't look

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:31.920
 inside himself.

00:34:32.399 --> 00:34:33.299
 David looks

00:34:33.299 --> 00:34:34.119
 outside of him.

00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.319
 Psalm 3 ends

00:34:35.319 --> 00:34:36.079
 with this statement,

00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:37.899
 salvation belongs

00:34:37.899 --> 00:34:38.940
 to the Lord.

00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:40.800
 David writes,

00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:41.159
 look,

00:34:41.220 --> 00:34:42.119
 I'm in a small tent,

00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.460
 I'm going to be killed,

00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:44.619
 but God is still

00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:45.679
 on his holy hill.

00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:47.579
 God is still God

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:48.280
 and he gets

00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:49.420
 the last word.

00:34:50.800 --> 00:34:51.539
 1 John 3,

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.400
 verse 20

00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.280
 makes the same point.

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:53.960
 For whenever

00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:55.300
 our hearts condemn us,

00:34:55.780 --> 00:34:56.659
 God is greater

00:34:56.659 --> 00:34:57.480
 than our hearts.

00:34:58.780 --> 00:34:59.400
 So John

00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:00.559
 and David,

00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:01.440
 they both know

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.460
 our hearts condemn us.

00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:04.159
 There will be moments

00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:05.440
 where we do feel

00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:06.119
 condemnation

00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:06.960
 for those grievous

00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.860
 sins in our lives.

00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:08.820
 But see,

00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:09.620
 God is greater

00:35:09.620 --> 00:35:10.280
 than your hearts.

00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:11.120
 See,

00:35:11.160 --> 00:35:12.280
 he holds the gavel

00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:13.360
 and his verdict

00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:14.160
 over your life

00:35:14.160 --> 00:35:15.780
 is what really matters.

00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:18.420
 So take what

00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:18.920
 your conscience

00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:20.019
 tells you seriously,

00:35:20.140 --> 00:35:20.660
 brother and sister,

00:35:20.780 --> 00:35:21.900
 but don't let your conscience

00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:23.400
 have the final word.

00:35:23.640 --> 00:35:24.380
 Don't let it have

00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:25.079
 the last word.

00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.460
 And there are

00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:28.160
 a few sources

00:35:28.160 --> 00:35:28.720
 of assurance.

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.620
 So if this is you,

00:35:29.720 --> 00:35:30.960
 let me just encourage you.

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.860
 There are a few sources

00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:32.320
 of assurance

00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:32.800
 that the scripture

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:33.519
 gives us here

00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:34.840
 that we can

00:35:34.840 --> 00:35:36.400
 hold on to.

00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:38.680
 And the first one,

00:35:38.820 --> 00:35:39.460
 which is what we just

00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:40.400
 kind of talked about,

00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:41.180
 is the truth

00:35:41.180 --> 00:35:41.740
 of the gospel.

00:35:42.780 --> 00:35:43.860
 The first foundation

00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:44.500
 of assurance

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.240
 are the truths

00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:45.880
 of the gospel.

00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:47.740
 The believer,

00:35:48.240 --> 00:35:48.860
 when struggling

00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:49.880
 with their own sin,

00:35:50.340 --> 00:35:51.539
 must flee

00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.599
 for refuge

00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:54.139
 to Christ crucified.

00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:56.000
 Paul asks,

00:35:56.099 --> 00:35:56.619
 who will bring

00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.340
 any charge

00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:58.260
 against God's elect?

00:35:59.380 --> 00:36:00.260
 The answer to that

00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:00.740
 is nobody.

00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:01.760
 Is it because

00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:02.539
 we never fail,

00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:03.260
 we never stumble,

00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:04.119
 we never fall?

00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:04.599
 No,

00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:05.639
 it's because

00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:06.139
 we believe

00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:06.619
 in a message

00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.239
 of grace.

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.980
 Christ has

00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:10.659
 accomplished it

00:36:10.659 --> 00:36:11.359
 for us.

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:12.559
 Paul continues,

00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:13.239
 it is God

00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:14.039
 who justifies.

00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:15.039
 So the verdict

00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:15.739
 over your life

00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:17.699
 is from the court

00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.699
 of the highest jurisdiction

00:36:18.699 --> 00:36:19.559
 and that already

00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:20.440
 has been handed down.

00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:21.099
 It's the message

00:36:21.099 --> 00:36:22.299
 that when you are

00:36:22.299 --> 00:36:23.299
 resting on Christ,

00:36:23.779 --> 00:36:24.480
 God declares

00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:25.440
 that you are

00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:26.279
 in the right

00:36:26.279 --> 00:36:27.980
 and His righteousness

00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:28.900
 imputed to you.

00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:30.000
 So that exists

00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.799
 whether you feel

00:36:30.799 --> 00:36:31.279
 like a Christian

00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:31.760
 or not.

00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:33.980
 And no one

00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:34.680
 can reverse it.

00:36:35.700 --> 00:36:36.720
 Robert Murray McShane,

00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:37.860
 an old Scottish minister,

00:36:38.340 --> 00:36:38.560
 says,

00:36:38.660 --> 00:36:39.180
 for every look

00:36:39.180 --> 00:36:39.680
 itself,

00:36:40.300 --> 00:36:41.000
 take ten looks

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.480
 at Christ.

00:36:43.620 --> 00:36:44.220
 I've always

00:36:44.220 --> 00:36:44.580
 thought about

00:36:44.580 --> 00:36:44.980
 this verse

00:36:44.980 --> 00:36:45.220
 because,

00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:45.420
 you know,

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:46.160
 when you're driving,

00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:47.340
 right,

00:36:47.600 --> 00:36:48.720
 and you notice

00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:49.280
 the windshield

00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:49.980
 is dirty.

00:36:50.620 --> 00:36:51.040
 It's all these

00:36:51.040 --> 00:36:52.120
 stains and smudges

00:36:52.120 --> 00:36:52.480
 on them.

00:36:52.680 --> 00:36:53.780
 You don't constantly

00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:54.840
 look at how dirty

00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:55.740
 your windshield is.

00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:56.360
 You're going to

00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:56.940
 crash the car.

00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.380
 No, you look

00:36:57.380 --> 00:36:58.560
 through the windshield

00:36:58.560 --> 00:36:59.340
 at the object.

00:36:59.340 --> 00:37:01.039
 So when we look

00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:01.840
 inside ourselves,

00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:02.539
 we will see

00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.440
 our faith often

00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:06.260
 is like a dirty

00:37:06.260 --> 00:37:06.760
 windshield.

00:37:07.640 --> 00:37:08.340
 But we look

00:37:08.340 --> 00:37:09.039
 at the object

00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:09.640
 of our faith.

00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:11.059
 You must look

00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:11.800
 to the promises

00:37:11.800 --> 00:37:12.260
 of God

00:37:12.260 --> 00:37:12.800
 in all their

00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:13.519
 bright array.

00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:14.920
 Even if you

00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:15.380
 believe you are

00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.019
 ungodly,

00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:16.700
 sinful,

00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:18.180
 utterly hopeless,

00:37:18.600 --> 00:37:19.000
 the worst

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:19.760
 of the worst,

00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:20.980
 friend,

00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:21.760
 the cross

00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:22.220
 beckons you

00:37:22.220 --> 00:37:22.559
 to look to

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.000
 the cross,

00:37:23.260 --> 00:37:23.780
 to Jesus.

00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:25.140
 There is simply

00:37:25.140 --> 00:37:26.160
 no condemnation

00:37:26.160 --> 00:37:26.780
 for those who

00:37:26.780 --> 00:37:27.840
 belong in Christ

00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:28.180
 Jesus.

00:37:28.179 --> 00:37:29.399
 There is nothing

00:37:29.399 --> 00:37:30.119
 that can separate

00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:31.119
 you from the

00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:31.679
 love of Christ.

00:37:32.219 --> 00:37:33.379
 God chose to set

00:37:33.379 --> 00:37:34.460
 his love on you.

00:37:35.019 --> 00:37:35.419
 He didn't have

00:37:35.419 --> 00:37:36.199
 any help from you

00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:36.759
 to accomplish

00:37:36.759 --> 00:37:37.379
 that salvation.

00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:39.139
 So you put

00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:39.899
 your trust

00:37:39.899 --> 00:37:41.500
 in the cross.

00:37:42.799 --> 00:37:43.559
 So the truth

00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:44.039
 of the gospel

00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:44.639
 are the first

00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:45.379
 main source

00:37:45.379 --> 00:37:45.799
 of assurance

00:37:45.799 --> 00:37:46.379
 that we have.

00:37:46.799 --> 00:37:47.460
 The second

00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:47.980
 source

00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:50.259
 is the subjective

00:37:50.259 --> 00:37:50.819
 witness of the

00:37:50.819 --> 00:37:51.259
 Holy Spirit.

00:37:52.219 --> 00:37:53.079
 The subjective

00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:54.059
 witness of the

00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:54.500
 Holy Spirit.

00:37:54.919 --> 00:37:55.619
 Now this is a

00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.659
 supernatural source

00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:58.420
 of assurance,

00:37:58.759 --> 00:37:59.539
 especially in

00:37:59.539 --> 00:37:59.980
 suffering.

00:38:01.299 --> 00:38:02.059
 Will you cry

00:38:02.059 --> 00:38:02.559
 out with Fanny

00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:03.039
 Crosby,

00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:04.019
 blessed assurance,

00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:05.019
 Jesus is mine.

00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:05.659
 Oh, what a

00:38:05.659 --> 00:38:06.319
 foretaste of

00:38:06.319 --> 00:38:07.219
 glory divine.

00:38:07.879 --> 00:38:08.299
 Now we don't

00:38:08.299 --> 00:38:08.779
 have much time

00:38:08.779 --> 00:38:09.279
 to talk about

00:38:09.279 --> 00:38:10.019
 this supernatural

00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:11.839
 form of

00:38:11.839 --> 00:38:12.159
 assurance,

00:38:12.379 --> 00:38:12.739
 but read

00:38:12.739 --> 00:38:13.259
 Romans chapter

00:38:13.259 --> 00:38:13.779
 5,

00:38:13.899 --> 00:38:15.000
 read 1 Peter 1.

00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:16.039
 There is a

00:38:16.039 --> 00:38:17.019
 subjective witness

00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:17.739
 of the Spirit

00:38:17.739 --> 00:38:18.319
 where the love

00:38:18.319 --> 00:38:18.779
 of God is

00:38:18.779 --> 00:38:19.319
 poured into

00:38:19.319 --> 00:38:19.799
 your heart.

00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:22.180
 and they

00:38:22.180 --> 00:38:22.580
 begin to

00:38:22.580 --> 00:38:22.840
 pray,

00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.280
 God,

00:38:24.080 --> 00:38:24.880
 begin to

00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:25.260
 pray for

00:38:25.260 --> 00:38:25.580
 that

00:38:25.580 --> 00:38:27.360
 witness of

00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:27.640
 the Spirit

00:38:27.640 --> 00:38:27.860
 in your

00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:28.140
 life.

00:38:29.120 --> 00:38:29.860
 And finally,

00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:30.860
 and this is

00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:31.220
 the most

00:38:31.220 --> 00:38:32.400
 complicated one,

00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:33.500
 the last

00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:33.840
 source of

00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:34.460
 assurance are

00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:34.940
 the fruits

00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:35.460
 of obedience

00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:35.860
 in your

00:38:35.860 --> 00:38:36.200
 life.

00:38:37.640 --> 00:38:38.019
 Ah,

00:38:38.120 --> 00:38:39.200
 there's the,

00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:41.039
 I don't know

00:38:41.039 --> 00:38:41.480
 if I can,

00:38:42.280 --> 00:38:42.820
 I don't know

00:38:42.820 --> 00:38:43.300
 if that's

00:38:43.300 --> 00:38:45.519
 going to help

00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:46.380
 my cause.

00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:47.460
 but Jesus

00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:48.480
 says you

00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:48.900
 will know

00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:49.320
 them by

00:38:49.320 --> 00:38:49.960
 their fruits,

00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:51.320
 right?

00:38:51.720 --> 00:38:52.559
 You can look

00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:52.960
 at the fruit

00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.260
 in your

00:38:53.260 --> 00:38:53.680
 life,

00:38:54.200 --> 00:38:55.440
 and that

00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:56.800
 should give

00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:57.700
 you a

00:38:57.700 --> 00:38:58.680
 sense of

00:38:58.680 --> 00:38:59.079
 whether you

00:38:59.079 --> 00:38:59.619
 actually are

00:38:59.619 --> 00:38:59.980
 in Christ

00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:00.420
 or not.

00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:01.519
 Of course,

00:39:01.559 --> 00:39:01.840
 this causes

00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.720
 all kinds

00:39:02.720 --> 00:39:03.280
 of questions,

00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:04.900
 and I

00:39:04.900 --> 00:39:05.440
 will say

00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:06.019
 you might

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.400
 not be the

00:39:06.400 --> 00:39:06.920
 best person

00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:07.480
 to assess

00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:07.860
 this in

00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:08.160
 your own

00:39:08.160 --> 00:39:08.519
 life,

00:39:09.780 --> 00:39:10.099
 and that's

00:39:10.099 --> 00:39:10.320
 why you

00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:10.599
 become a

00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:10.880
 member of

00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:11.200
 a church,

00:39:11.700 --> 00:39:11.960
 right?

00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:12.980
 We look at

00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.320
 each other's

00:39:13.320 --> 00:39:13.640
 lives,

00:39:13.680 --> 00:39:13.920
 and we can

00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:14.440
 say as best

00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:14.940
 I can tell,

00:39:15.019 --> 00:39:15.420
 I think the

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:15.640
 Lord is

00:39:15.640 --> 00:39:16.019
 working in

00:39:16.019 --> 00:39:16.140
 you,

00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:16.440
 brother and

00:39:16.440 --> 00:39:16.639
 sister.

00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:17.619
 You know,

00:39:17.659 --> 00:39:17.859
 C.S.

00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:18.139
 Lewis,

00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:20.420
 he once

00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:21.239
 counseled not

00:39:21.239 --> 00:39:21.739
 to compare

00:39:21.739 --> 00:39:22.299
 yourself with

00:39:22.299 --> 00:39:22.819
 others in

00:39:22.819 --> 00:39:23.379
 this respect.

00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:24.279
 He says,

00:39:24.500 --> 00:39:25.059
 suppose there's

00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:25.719
 an advertisement

00:39:25.719 --> 00:39:26.319
 for toothpaste

00:39:26.319 --> 00:39:26.960
 to make your

00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:27.559
 teeth whiter,

00:39:27.719 --> 00:39:27.960
 cleaner,

00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.279
 and suppose

00:39:29.279 --> 00:39:30.679
 someone inherited

00:39:30.679 --> 00:39:32.420
 greater teeth

00:39:32.420 --> 00:39:33.400
 and another

00:39:33.400 --> 00:39:34.359
 bad teeth.

00:39:34.879 --> 00:39:35.659
 A person

00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:36.299
 with bad

00:39:36.299 --> 00:39:36.739
 teeth is

00:39:36.739 --> 00:39:37.179
 genuinely

00:39:37.179 --> 00:39:37.679
 using the

00:39:37.679 --> 00:39:38.139
 toothpaste

00:39:38.139 --> 00:39:39.420
 to brush

00:39:39.420 --> 00:39:39.839
 their teeth

00:39:39.839 --> 00:39:40.739
 every morning,

00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:42.079
 but their

00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:42.900
 teeth don't

00:39:42.900 --> 00:39:43.819
 look as nice

00:39:43.819 --> 00:39:44.440
 as someone

00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.319
 born with

00:39:45.319 --> 00:39:45.859
 just naturally

00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.360
 good teeth.

00:39:47.160 --> 00:39:47.380
 Mrs.

00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:47.820
 White's

00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:48.039
 smile,

00:39:48.120 --> 00:39:48.440
 he says,

00:39:48.500 --> 00:39:48.820
 who never

00:39:48.820 --> 00:39:49.460
 once uses

00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:49.760
 toothpaste,

00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:50.200
 but she

00:39:50.200 --> 00:39:50.539
 was born

00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:50.920
 with great

00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:51.240
 teeth.

00:39:52.200 --> 00:39:52.820
 Does that

00:39:52.820 --> 00:39:53.220
 mean the

00:39:53.220 --> 00:39:53.500
 toothpaste

00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.260
 doesn't work?

00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:55.240
 No,

00:39:55.280 --> 00:39:55.820
 of course not.

00:39:56.220 --> 00:39:56.620
 In the same

00:39:56.620 --> 00:39:56.840
 way,

00:39:56.920 --> 00:39:57.400
 Lewis writes,

00:39:57.680 --> 00:39:58.320
 some people,

00:39:58.460 --> 00:39:58.599
 you know,

00:39:58.640 --> 00:39:58.920
 they can be

00:39:58.920 --> 00:40:00.099
 naturally very

00:40:00.099 --> 00:40:00.720
 angry,

00:40:01.720 --> 00:40:02.280
 but God,

00:40:02.360 --> 00:40:03.039
 by his grace,

00:40:03.120 --> 00:40:03.820
 you are making

00:40:03.820 --> 00:40:04.460
 improvements in

00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:05.579
 that area of

00:40:05.579 --> 00:40:05.980
 your life,

00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:07.420
 despite the

00:40:07.420 --> 00:40:07.960
 fact that you

00:40:07.960 --> 00:40:08.660
 might be more

00:40:08.660 --> 00:40:09.180
 angry than

00:40:09.180 --> 00:40:09.740
 other people.

00:40:10.780 --> 00:40:10.900
 Right?

00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:11.840
 Your temperament,

00:40:11.840 --> 00:40:13.160
 you're born

00:40:13.160 --> 00:40:13.480
 with it,

00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:13.760
 but it's

00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:14.140
 under new

00:40:14.140 --> 00:40:14.539
 management.

00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:15.860
 And so,

00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:16.860
 don't compare

00:40:16.860 --> 00:40:17.280
 yourself with

00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:17.800
 other people.

00:40:18.740 --> 00:40:18.820
 Right?

00:40:19.220 --> 00:40:19.920
 Be encouraged

00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:20.539
 that God

00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:20.740
 is,

00:40:20.940 --> 00:40:22.360
 he is,

00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:24.019
 he's working

00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:24.519
 your life,

00:40:24.579 --> 00:40:24.880
 and even

00:40:24.880 --> 00:40:25.680
 small improvements

00:40:25.680 --> 00:40:26.720
 are ways that we

00:40:26.720 --> 00:40:27.300
 can be encouraged

00:40:27.300 --> 00:40:28.420
 of the fruits of

00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:28.960
 obedience in our

00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:29.280
 lives.

00:40:29.860 --> 00:40:30.519
 But now,

00:40:30.620 --> 00:40:31.100
 the fruits of

00:40:31.100 --> 00:40:31.860
 obedience do

00:40:31.860 --> 00:40:33.120
 not drive our

00:40:33.120 --> 00:40:33.519
 assurance.

00:40:34.620 --> 00:40:35.640
 They confirm

00:40:35.640 --> 00:40:37.140
 and corroborate

00:40:37.140 --> 00:40:37.539
 that we,

00:40:37.660 --> 00:40:38.000
 in fact,

00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:38.860
 are children of

00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:39.140
 God.

00:40:39.800 --> 00:40:40.559
 If you see

00:40:40.559 --> 00:40:40.900
 fruit,

00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:41.820
 you should

00:40:41.820 --> 00:40:42.599
 improve your

00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:44.240
 confidence that

00:40:44.240 --> 00:40:44.700
 you are a new

00:40:44.700 --> 00:40:45.180
 creation,

00:40:45.300 --> 00:40:45.760
 that the old

00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:46.120
 is gone,

00:40:46.180 --> 00:40:46.579
 the new has

00:40:46.579 --> 00:40:46.900
 come.

00:40:47.720 --> 00:40:48.400
 But if the

00:40:48.400 --> 00:40:49.220
 cupboard is

00:40:49.220 --> 00:40:49.660
 barren,

00:40:50.740 --> 00:40:51.380
 scripture would

00:40:51.380 --> 00:40:51.920
 have us to

00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:52.320
 be warned.

00:40:53.440 --> 00:40:53.840
 So,

00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:54.340
 if you're not

00:40:54.340 --> 00:40:54.780
 sure of

00:40:54.780 --> 00:40:55.480
 whether,

00:40:57.380 --> 00:40:58.280
 how to view

00:40:58.280 --> 00:40:58.720
 this in your

00:40:58.720 --> 00:40:59.280
 own life,

00:40:59.860 --> 00:41:00.099
 you know,

00:41:00.240 --> 00:41:00.760
 let me encourage

00:41:00.760 --> 00:41:01.240
 you to read

00:41:01.240 --> 00:41:02.019
 Galatians chapter

00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:03.120
 five this week

00:41:03.120 --> 00:41:05.340
 and ask yourself,

00:41:05.460 --> 00:41:06.079
 is my life

00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:06.980
 characterized by

00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:07.620
 the fruit of the

00:41:07.620 --> 00:41:08.420
 spirit or the

00:41:08.420 --> 00:41:08.840
 fruit of the

00:41:08.840 --> 00:41:09.380
 flesh,

00:41:09.660 --> 00:41:10.640
 and then pray

00:41:10.640 --> 00:41:11.000
 that God

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:11.780
 would reveal

00:41:11.780 --> 00:41:12.360
 that to you.

00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:14.140
 But if

00:41:14.140 --> 00:41:15.320
 you're not

00:41:15.320 --> 00:41:16.300
 quite sure,

00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:16.740
 you know,

00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:17.039
 maybe,

00:41:17.180 --> 00:41:17.980
 I just feel

00:41:17.980 --> 00:41:18.780
 like I'm

00:41:18.780 --> 00:41:20.280
 more characterized

00:41:20.280 --> 00:41:20.700
 by the fruit

00:41:20.700 --> 00:41:21.180
 of the flesh

00:41:21.180 --> 00:41:21.579
 than I'd like

00:41:21.579 --> 00:41:21.840
 to be.

00:41:22.600 --> 00:41:23.160
 We don't

00:41:23.160 --> 00:41:23.660
 approach the

00:41:23.660 --> 00:41:24.280
 problem of

00:41:24.280 --> 00:41:25.079
 fixing that

00:41:25.079 --> 00:41:26.000
 by trying to

00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:26.460
 yield more

00:41:26.460 --> 00:41:26.840
 fruit,

00:41:27.100 --> 00:41:27.360
 right?

00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:28.420
 Let me give

00:41:28.420 --> 00:41:28.539
 you an

00:41:28.539 --> 00:41:28.900
 illustration.

00:41:29.420 --> 00:41:30.000
 When driving

00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:30.680
 a car,

00:41:31.579 --> 00:41:31.780
 you know,

00:41:31.860 --> 00:41:32.440
 our works

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:33.019
 are kind of

00:41:33.019 --> 00:41:33.320
 like a

00:41:33.320 --> 00:41:33.800
 speedometer,

00:41:34.600 --> 00:41:34.820
 right?

00:41:34.860 --> 00:41:35.059
 If the

00:41:35.059 --> 00:41:35.480
 speedometer

00:41:35.480 --> 00:41:35.780
 is at

00:41:35.780 --> 00:41:36.220
 zero,

00:41:36.700 --> 00:41:37.539
 how would

00:41:37.539 --> 00:41:37.840
 you try

00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:38.240
 to fix

00:41:38.240 --> 00:41:38.559
 that?

00:41:39.559 --> 00:41:40.019
 Well,

00:41:40.059 --> 00:41:40.279
 would you

00:41:40.279 --> 00:41:40.559
 try to

00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:41.719
 reach out

00:41:41.719 --> 00:41:41.960
 to the

00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:42.440
 speedometer

00:41:42.440 --> 00:41:42.779
 and then

00:41:42.779 --> 00:41:43.139
 move it

00:41:43.139 --> 00:41:43.719
 from zero

00:41:43.719 --> 00:41:44.599
 to 60?

00:41:45.779 --> 00:41:46.719
 Then you

00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:47.599
 kind of

00:41:47.599 --> 00:41:48.019
 get more

00:41:48.019 --> 00:41:48.519
 works.

00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:49.900
 And so

00:41:49.900 --> 00:41:52.299
 everything's

00:41:52.299 --> 00:41:52.699
 all solved.

00:41:52.779 --> 00:41:53.239
 The speedometer

00:41:53.239 --> 00:41:53.820
 says it's

00:41:53.820 --> 00:41:54.099
 60.

00:41:55.019 --> 00:41:55.480
 No,

00:41:55.579 --> 00:41:56.179
 you don't

00:41:56.179 --> 00:41:56.559
 do that.

00:41:56.659 --> 00:41:57.119
 What you

00:41:57.119 --> 00:41:57.579
 would do

00:41:57.579 --> 00:41:57.940
 if the

00:41:57.940 --> 00:41:58.299
 speedometer

00:41:58.299 --> 00:41:58.579
 is not

00:41:58.579 --> 00:41:59.079
 working is

00:41:59.079 --> 00:41:59.340
 you would

00:41:59.340 --> 00:41:59.779
 lean your

00:41:59.779 --> 00:42:00.239
 weight on

00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:00.940
 the accelerator.

00:42:02.059 --> 00:42:02.880
 You lean

00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:03.400
 your weight

00:42:03.400 --> 00:42:03.779
 on the

00:42:03.779 --> 00:42:04.880
 promises of

00:42:04.880 --> 00:42:05.480
 the gospel

00:42:05.480 --> 00:42:06.300
 and God's

00:42:06.300 --> 00:42:06.820
 character.

00:42:08.280 --> 00:42:08.460
 Right?

00:42:08.559 --> 00:42:09.179
 And if it's

00:42:09.179 --> 00:42:09.780
 not moving,

00:42:09.860 --> 00:42:10.139
 maybe the

00:42:10.139 --> 00:42:10.639
 engine needs

00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:10.980
 to be

00:42:10.980 --> 00:42:11.500
 something in

00:42:11.500 --> 00:42:11.840
 the engine.

00:42:12.219 --> 00:42:12.820
 Maybe your

00:42:12.820 --> 00:42:13.420
 faith,

00:42:14.039 --> 00:42:14.719
 you need to

00:42:14.719 --> 00:42:15.639
 go back to

00:42:15.639 --> 00:42:15.980
 the truth of

00:42:15.980 --> 00:42:16.440
 the gospel

00:42:16.440 --> 00:42:17.480
 and ask

00:42:17.480 --> 00:42:17.699
 yourself,

00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:18.179
 am I really

00:42:18.179 --> 00:42:19.539
 trusting in

00:42:19.539 --> 00:42:19.820
 these?

00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:20.500
 Am I relying

00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:21.059
 upon them?

00:42:21.860 --> 00:42:22.579
 If you see a

00:42:22.579 --> 00:42:23.280
 tree with

00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:24.539
 mushy brown

00:42:24.539 --> 00:42:25.119
 fruit,

00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:25.699
 right,

00:42:25.699 --> 00:42:26.019
 you don't

00:42:26.019 --> 00:42:26.659
 like go to

00:42:26.659 --> 00:42:27.119
 the tree

00:42:27.119 --> 00:42:27.619
 and like take

00:42:27.619 --> 00:42:28.099
 one out and

00:42:28.099 --> 00:42:28.639
 start painting

00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:29.240
 it red or

00:42:29.240 --> 00:42:29.639
 green,

00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:30.639
 right?

00:42:30.980 --> 00:42:31.400
 You have to

00:42:31.400 --> 00:42:31.920
 attend to the

00:42:31.920 --> 00:42:32.280
 root of the

00:42:32.280 --> 00:42:32.540
 tree.

00:42:33.180 --> 00:42:33.880
 So don't

00:42:33.880 --> 00:42:34.600
 ignore the

00:42:34.600 --> 00:42:35.440
 root and

00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:35.940
 just start,

00:42:36.200 --> 00:42:37.200
 you know,

00:42:37.700 --> 00:42:38.860
 painting fruits

00:42:38.860 --> 00:42:39.360
 to make it

00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:39.860
 look like,

00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:40.360
 you know,

00:42:40.560 --> 00:42:41.080
 maybe that

00:42:41.080 --> 00:42:41.500
 will solve

00:42:41.500 --> 00:42:42.040
 the problem.

00:42:43.460 --> 00:42:43.760
 And this

00:42:43.760 --> 00:42:44.120
 is how Romans

00:42:44.120 --> 00:42:44.620
 chapter 4

00:42:44.620 --> 00:42:45.260
 describes how

00:42:45.260 --> 00:42:46.200
 Abraham grew

00:42:46.200 --> 00:42:46.560
 in his

00:42:46.560 --> 00:42:46.880
 faith.

00:42:47.840 --> 00:42:48.200
 He grew

00:42:48.200 --> 00:42:48.820
 in faith

00:42:48.820 --> 00:42:49.740
 and so he

00:42:49.740 --> 00:42:50.080
 grew in

00:42:50.080 --> 00:42:50.440
 holiness.

00:42:51.620 --> 00:42:51.900
 Abraham

00:42:51.900 --> 00:42:52.460
 convinced of

00:42:52.460 --> 00:42:52.760
 God's

00:42:52.760 --> 00:42:53.220
 promises,

00:42:54.260 --> 00:42:55.320
 Romans 4

00:42:55.320 --> 00:42:55.860
 20 says

00:42:55.860 --> 00:42:56.140
 this,

00:42:56.260 --> 00:42:57.120
 no unbelief

00:42:57.120 --> 00:42:57.660
 made him

00:42:57.660 --> 00:42:58.060
 waver

00:42:58.060 --> 00:42:58.820
 concerning the

00:42:58.820 --> 00:42:59.340
 promise of

00:42:59.340 --> 00:42:59.580
 God,

00:42:59.640 --> 00:43:00.000
 but he grew

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:00.560
 strong in

00:43:00.560 --> 00:43:01.040
 his faith

00:43:01.040 --> 00:43:02.019
 as he gave

00:43:02.019 --> 00:43:02.500
 glory to

00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:02.780
 God,

00:43:02.900 --> 00:43:03.500
 fully convinced

00:43:03.500 --> 00:43:04.019
 that God

00:43:04.019 --> 00:43:04.539
 was able to

00:43:04.539 --> 00:43:05.000
 do what he

00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:05.639
 had promised.

00:43:07.300 --> 00:43:07.639
 You see

00:43:07.639 --> 00:43:08.099
 that he

00:43:08.099 --> 00:43:09.759
 grew strong

00:43:09.759 --> 00:43:10.219
 in his

00:43:10.219 --> 00:43:10.780
 faith as

00:43:10.780 --> 00:43:11.059
 he gave

00:43:11.059 --> 00:43:11.699
 glory to

00:43:11.699 --> 00:43:12.019
 God.

00:43:12.599 --> 00:43:13.000
 So maybe

00:43:13.000 --> 00:43:13.360
 one of the

00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:13.840
 best things

00:43:13.840 --> 00:43:14.400
 you can do

00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:15.699
 to help

00:43:15.699 --> 00:43:16.219
 you grow

00:43:16.219 --> 00:43:16.820
 in your

00:43:16.820 --> 00:43:18.420
 fruit bearing

00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:19.619
 is to really

00:43:19.619 --> 00:43:20.340
 consider and

00:43:20.340 --> 00:43:20.739
 meditate on

00:43:20.739 --> 00:43:21.219
 these doctrines

00:43:21.219 --> 00:43:21.539
 of grace

00:43:21.539 --> 00:43:21.759
 we've been

00:43:21.759 --> 00:43:22.259
 talking about.

00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:23.199
 If you give

00:43:23.199 --> 00:43:23.820
 God more

00:43:23.820 --> 00:43:24.380
 glory,

00:43:25.139 --> 00:43:25.619
 you grow

00:43:25.619 --> 00:43:26.340
 more strong

00:43:26.340 --> 00:43:26.599
 in your

00:43:26.599 --> 00:43:26.920
 faith,

00:43:27.159 --> 00:43:27.800
 that is what

00:43:27.800 --> 00:43:28.780
 grows your

00:43:28.780 --> 00:43:29.099
 holiness.

00:43:30.699 --> 00:43:30.840
 Okay.

00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:33.780
 All right.

00:43:34.280 --> 00:43:34.460
 Well,

00:43:34.500 --> 00:43:34.920
 one final

00:43:34.920 --> 00:43:35.480
 piece of

00:43:35.480 --> 00:43:36.420
 advice that

00:43:36.420 --> 00:43:38.539
 if you say,

00:43:38.619 --> 00:43:38.659
 look,

00:43:38.719 --> 00:43:39.280
 I'm doing

00:43:39.280 --> 00:43:39.500
 that,

00:43:39.559 --> 00:43:39.920
 I'm still

00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:40.420
 struggling.

00:43:41.259 --> 00:43:41.679
 You might

00:43:41.679 --> 00:43:41.840
 say,

00:43:41.900 --> 00:43:41.980
 look,

00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:42.340
 I don't

00:43:42.340 --> 00:43:42.860
 love the

00:43:42.860 --> 00:43:43.219
 things I

00:43:43.219 --> 00:43:43.519
 ought to

00:43:43.519 --> 00:43:43.880
 love and

00:43:43.880 --> 00:43:44.239
 I don't

00:43:44.239 --> 00:43:44.679
 hate the

00:43:44.679 --> 00:43:44.980
 things I

00:43:44.980 --> 00:43:45.239
 ought to

00:43:45.239 --> 00:43:45.519
 hate.

00:43:47.099 --> 00:43:47.460
 Well,

00:43:47.500 --> 00:43:47.820
 one piece

00:43:47.820 --> 00:43:48.119
 of advice

00:43:48.119 --> 00:43:48.519
 I give

00:43:48.519 --> 00:43:48.800
 you,

00:43:50.119 --> 00:43:52.980
 which has

00:43:52.980 --> 00:43:53.340
 been such

00:43:53.340 --> 00:43:53.780
 an encouragement

00:43:53.780 --> 00:43:54.360
 to me and

00:43:54.360 --> 00:43:54.699
 many other

00:43:54.699 --> 00:43:55.039
 people,

00:43:55.559 --> 00:43:55.960
 is that

00:43:55.960 --> 00:43:56.619
 struggling

00:43:56.619 --> 00:43:57.019
 against

00:43:57.019 --> 00:43:57.500
 indwelling

00:43:57.500 --> 00:43:58.019
 sin is

00:43:58.019 --> 00:43:58.440
 in fact

00:43:58.440 --> 00:43:58.820
 evidence

00:43:58.820 --> 00:43:59.239
 of grace

00:43:59.239 --> 00:43:59.480
 in your

00:43:59.480 --> 00:43:59.900
 own life.

00:44:01.260 --> 00:44:01.579
 John

00:44:01.579 --> 00:44:02.000
 Owen writes,

00:44:02.380 --> 00:44:02.860
 the spirit's

00:44:02.860 --> 00:44:03.579
 operation is

00:44:03.579 --> 00:44:04.039
 known by

00:44:04.039 --> 00:44:04.639
 the flesh's

00:44:04.639 --> 00:44:05.199
 opposition.

00:44:05.940 --> 00:44:06.400
 We find

00:44:06.400 --> 00:44:06.860
 a man's

00:44:06.860 --> 00:44:07.579
 strength by

00:44:07.579 --> 00:44:08.000
 the burden

00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:08.679
 he carries,

00:44:08.960 --> 00:44:09.460
 not the

00:44:09.460 --> 00:44:09.820
 pace that

00:44:09.820 --> 00:44:10.300
 he goes.

00:44:11.440 --> 00:44:11.719
 He says,

00:44:11.880 --> 00:44:12.079
 oh,

00:44:12.219 --> 00:44:12.480
 wretched

00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:13.119
 man that

00:44:13.119 --> 00:44:13.599
 I am,

00:44:13.760 --> 00:44:14.219
 who shall

00:44:14.219 --> 00:44:14.820
 deliver me

00:44:14.820 --> 00:44:15.619
 from this

00:44:15.619 --> 00:44:16.199
 body of

00:44:16.199 --> 00:44:16.519
 death?

00:44:17.260 --> 00:44:17.639
 Owen writes,

00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:18.260
 that's a

00:44:18.260 --> 00:44:18.860
 better evidence

00:44:18.860 --> 00:44:19.480
 of grace

00:44:19.480 --> 00:44:21.139
 than saying,

00:44:21.599 --> 00:44:22.559
 God,

00:44:22.619 --> 00:44:22.980
 I thank

00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:23.119
 you,

00:44:23.199 --> 00:44:23.639
 I'm not

00:44:23.639 --> 00:44:24.239
 as these

00:44:24.239 --> 00:44:25.300
 other men.

00:44:25.300 --> 00:44:27.260
 So if

00:44:27.260 --> 00:44:27.480
 you can

00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:27.680
 say,

00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:27.860
 oh,

00:44:27.960 --> 00:44:28.180
 wretched

00:44:28.180 --> 00:44:28.620
 man that

00:44:28.620 --> 00:44:29.019
 I am,

00:44:29.080 --> 00:44:29.480
 I don't

00:44:29.480 --> 00:44:29.860
 do the

00:44:29.860 --> 00:44:30.180
 things I

00:44:30.180 --> 00:44:30.560
 want to

00:44:30.560 --> 00:44:30.780
 do,

00:44:31.080 --> 00:44:31.320
 that's

00:44:31.320 --> 00:44:31.780
 actually a

00:44:31.780 --> 00:44:32.700
 very strong

00:44:32.700 --> 00:44:33.539
 indicator the

00:44:33.539 --> 00:44:34.200
 spirit is

00:44:34.200 --> 00:44:34.640
 working in

00:44:34.640 --> 00:44:35.120
 your life.

00:44:36.220 --> 00:44:36.580
 And God

00:44:36.580 --> 00:44:36.900
 mercifully

00:44:36.900 --> 00:44:37.640
 receives even

00:44:37.640 --> 00:44:38.600
 the imperfect

00:44:38.600 --> 00:44:39.380
 obedience of

00:44:39.380 --> 00:44:39.960
 all who are

00:44:39.960 --> 00:44:40.420
 accepted in

00:44:40.420 --> 00:44:40.760
 his son.

00:44:42.180 --> 00:44:42.840
 John Owen

00:44:42.840 --> 00:44:43.280
 continues,

00:44:43.640 --> 00:44:44.080
 know that

00:44:44.080 --> 00:44:44.960
 God despises

00:44:44.960 --> 00:44:45.720
 not small

00:44:45.720 --> 00:44:46.100
 things.

00:44:46.220 --> 00:44:46.560
 He takes

00:44:46.560 --> 00:44:47.720
 notice of

00:44:47.720 --> 00:44:48.120
 the least

00:44:48.120 --> 00:44:48.780
 breathings of

00:44:48.780 --> 00:44:49.340
 our hearts

00:44:49.340 --> 00:44:50.800
 after him

00:44:50.800 --> 00:44:51.260
 when we

00:44:51.260 --> 00:44:51.720
 ourselves

00:44:51.720 --> 00:44:52.240
 can see

00:44:52.240 --> 00:44:52.860
 nor perceive

00:44:52.860 --> 00:44:53.280
 no such

00:44:53.280 --> 00:44:53.580
 thing.

00:44:53.579 --> 00:44:55.440
 He's

00:44:55.440 --> 00:44:55.639
 saying,

00:44:55.739 --> 00:44:55.880
 look,

00:44:55.940 --> 00:44:56.380
 you might

00:44:56.380 --> 00:44:56.799
 think your

00:44:56.799 --> 00:44:57.219
 faith,

00:44:57.360 --> 00:44:58.219
 it's kind

00:44:58.219 --> 00:44:58.599
 of like a

00:44:58.599 --> 00:44:59.460
 smoldering

00:44:59.460 --> 00:45:00.119
 flax.

00:45:01.179 --> 00:45:01.340
 There's

00:45:01.340 --> 00:45:02.039
 not much,

00:45:02.739 --> 00:45:03.279
 it's just

00:45:03.279 --> 00:45:03.960
 a small

00:45:03.960 --> 00:45:05.679
 little flame.

00:45:06.079 --> 00:45:06.559
 It feels

00:45:06.559 --> 00:45:06.799
 like it's

00:45:06.799 --> 00:45:07.139
 about to

00:45:07.139 --> 00:45:07.519
 go out.

00:45:08.319 --> 00:45:08.659
 It doesn't

00:45:08.659 --> 00:45:09.340
 feel like a

00:45:09.340 --> 00:45:10.039
 roaring flame.

00:45:10.880 --> 00:45:11.259
 Owen writes,

00:45:12.980 --> 00:45:13.179
 look,

00:45:13.299 --> 00:45:13.699
 you might

00:45:13.699 --> 00:45:14.759
 just see

00:45:14.759 --> 00:45:15.159
 lead or

00:45:15.159 --> 00:45:15.420
 clay,

00:45:15.519 --> 00:45:15.799
 but he

00:45:15.799 --> 00:45:16.239
 sees the

00:45:16.239 --> 00:45:16.539
 gold.

00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:17.739
 Even

00:45:17.739 --> 00:45:18.619
 when we

00:45:18.619 --> 00:45:19.259
 continue in

00:45:19.259 --> 00:45:19.539
 sin,

00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:20.799
 your struggle

00:45:20.799 --> 00:45:21.500
 against sin

00:45:21.500 --> 00:45:22.000
 pleases

00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:23.000
 God more

00:45:23.000 --> 00:45:23.300
 than your

00:45:23.300 --> 00:45:23.800
 actions.

00:45:25.039 --> 00:45:25.420
 Everything

00:45:25.420 --> 00:45:26.480
 that is

00:45:26.480 --> 00:45:26.920
 of him

00:45:26.920 --> 00:45:27.340
 is noted

00:45:27.340 --> 00:45:27.760
 in his

00:45:27.760 --> 00:45:28.099
 book,

00:45:28.699 --> 00:45:29.159
 though not

00:45:29.159 --> 00:45:29.639
 in ours.

00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:30.719
 Here's

00:45:30.719 --> 00:45:31.219
 what I

00:45:31.219 --> 00:45:31.760
 love about

00:45:31.760 --> 00:45:32.440
 what he

00:45:32.440 --> 00:45:32.800
 says.

00:45:33.519 --> 00:45:34.019
 Here's a

00:45:34.019 --> 00:45:34.300
 wonderful

00:45:34.300 --> 00:45:34.699
 verse,

00:45:35.219 --> 00:45:36.059
 a wonderful

00:45:36.059 --> 00:45:36.579
 piece of

00:45:36.579 --> 00:45:36.920
 advice that

00:45:36.920 --> 00:45:37.300
 Owen gives.

00:45:37.900 --> 00:45:38.559
 He remembers

00:45:38.559 --> 00:45:39.360
 the duties

00:45:39.360 --> 00:45:39.780
 which we

00:45:39.780 --> 00:45:40.199
 forget,

00:45:40.940 --> 00:45:41.619
 and forgets

00:45:41.619 --> 00:45:42.079
 the sins

00:45:42.079 --> 00:45:42.480
 which we

00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:42.800
 remember.

00:45:43.940 --> 00:45:44.519
 There is

00:45:44.519 --> 00:45:45.059
 more mercy

00:45:45.059 --> 00:45:45.500
 in Christ

00:45:45.500 --> 00:45:45.960
 than sin

00:45:45.960 --> 00:45:46.420
 in us.

00:45:47.139 --> 00:45:47.519
 So the

00:45:47.519 --> 00:45:48.000
 very things

00:45:48.000 --> 00:45:48.239
 that you

00:45:48.239 --> 00:45:48.739
 constantly

00:45:48.739 --> 00:45:49.300
 remember in

00:45:49.300 --> 00:45:49.739
 your mind,

00:45:50.440 --> 00:45:50.719
 if you're

00:45:50.719 --> 00:45:51.039
 in Christ,

00:45:51.119 --> 00:45:51.340
 God has

00:45:51.340 --> 00:45:51.579
 forgotten

00:45:51.579 --> 00:45:51.960
 about those

00:45:51.960 --> 00:45:52.239
 things.

00:45:53.000 --> 00:45:53.760
 And the

00:45:53.760 --> 00:45:54.099
 things that

00:45:54.099 --> 00:45:54.340
 you've

00:45:54.340 --> 00:45:54.719
 forgotten,

00:45:55.480 --> 00:45:56.619
 those true

00:45:56.619 --> 00:45:57.139
 works of

00:45:57.139 --> 00:45:57.500
 faith that

00:45:57.500 --> 00:45:57.760
 you've

00:45:57.760 --> 00:45:58.559
 actually done

00:45:58.559 --> 00:45:58.820
 in the

00:45:58.820 --> 00:45:59.059
 name of

00:45:59.059 --> 00:45:59.300
 the Lord

00:45:59.300 --> 00:45:59.599
 Jesus,

00:45:59.800 --> 00:46:00.280
 he still

00:46:00.280 --> 00:46:00.659
 remembers

00:46:00.659 --> 00:46:00.920
 those

00:46:00.920 --> 00:46:01.239
 things.

00:46:02.320 --> 00:46:02.440
 And

00:46:02.440 --> 00:46:03.500
 he's a

00:46:03.500 --> 00:46:03.739
 God of

00:46:03.739 --> 00:46:04.139
 grace.

00:46:05.840 --> 00:46:06.099
 All right,

00:46:06.139 --> 00:46:06.380
 let me

00:46:06.380 --> 00:46:08.000
 conclude.

00:46:08.840 --> 00:46:09.460
 We begin

00:46:09.460 --> 00:46:10.039
 reflecting on

00:46:10.039 --> 00:46:10.599
 the everlasting

00:46:10.599 --> 00:46:11.579
 love of God

00:46:11.579 --> 00:46:12.260
 by Owen.

00:46:12.300 --> 00:46:12.460
 Let me

00:46:12.460 --> 00:46:12.920
 conclude with

00:46:12.920 --> 00:46:13.760
 Amy Carmichael

00:46:13.760 --> 00:46:15.300
 who found

00:46:15.300 --> 00:46:16.039
 this same

00:46:16.039 --> 00:46:17.119
 love as

00:46:17.119 --> 00:46:17.980
 an everlasting

00:46:17.980 --> 00:46:19.320
 consolation for

00:46:19.320 --> 00:46:19.480
 her.

00:46:20.019 --> 00:46:20.800
 Amy Carmichael

00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:21.440
 has great

00:46:21.440 --> 00:46:21.940
 poetry.

00:46:22.200 --> 00:46:22.420
 If you've

00:46:22.420 --> 00:46:22.740
 never read

00:46:22.740 --> 00:46:23.160
 her stuff,

00:46:23.240 --> 00:46:23.620
 you ought

00:46:23.620 --> 00:46:23.840
 to.

00:46:24.960 --> 00:46:25.680
 She has

00:46:25.680 --> 00:46:26.700
 one poem

00:46:26.700 --> 00:46:27.800
 which I've

00:46:27.800 --> 00:46:28.140
 carried with

00:46:28.140 --> 00:46:28.460
 me for the

00:46:28.460 --> 00:46:28.800
 last few

00:46:28.800 --> 00:46:29.120
 years,

00:46:29.260 --> 00:46:29.480
 and it's

00:46:29.480 --> 00:46:29.780
 called

00:46:29.780 --> 00:46:30.640
 Before I

00:46:30.640 --> 00:46:31.060
 Was.

00:46:32.460 --> 00:46:33.280
 Amy writes

00:46:33.280 --> 00:46:33.680
 this,

00:46:35.100 --> 00:46:35.760
 speaking to

00:46:35.760 --> 00:46:36.000
 God,

00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:46.699
 You love

00:46:46.699 --> 00:46:47.119
 me because

00:46:47.119 --> 00:46:47.440
 you love

00:46:47.440 --> 00:46:47.639
 me.

00:46:48.239 --> 00:46:48.679
 No other

00:46:48.679 --> 00:46:49.179
 reason can

00:46:49.179 --> 00:46:49.719
 I find,

00:46:50.260 --> 00:46:50.840
 no other

00:46:50.840 --> 00:46:51.300
 reason can

00:46:51.300 --> 00:46:51.719
 there be.

00:46:52.440 --> 00:46:53.260
 No human

00:46:53.260 --> 00:46:53.659
 love,

00:46:53.719 --> 00:46:54.219
 were it not

00:46:54.219 --> 00:46:54.699
 blind,

00:46:54.820 --> 00:46:55.159
 could ever

00:46:55.159 --> 00:46:55.599
 care for

00:46:55.599 --> 00:46:55.800
 me.

00:46:56.719 --> 00:46:57.199
 But thy

00:46:57.199 --> 00:46:57.860
 pure eyes

00:46:57.860 --> 00:46:58.260
 do read

00:46:58.260 --> 00:46:58.719
 me through.

00:46:58.880 --> 00:46:59.360
 My soul

00:46:59.360 --> 00:46:59.800
 is naked

00:46:59.800 --> 00:47:00.340
 unto thee,

00:47:00.420 --> 00:47:00.800
 and yet,

00:47:00.900 --> 00:47:01.039
 oh,

00:47:01.139 --> 00:47:01.719
 wonder ever

00:47:01.719 --> 00:47:02.039
 knew,

00:47:02.619 --> 00:47:03.320
 my Lord,

00:47:03.460 --> 00:47:03.699
 thou

00:47:03.699 --> 00:47:04.159
 lovest

00:47:04.159 --> 00:47:04.599
 me.

00:47:04.599 --> 00:47:06.279
 And thou

00:47:06.279 --> 00:47:06.819
 wilt love,

00:47:06.900 --> 00:47:07.279
 if good of

00:47:07.279 --> 00:47:07.759
 mine had

00:47:07.759 --> 00:47:08.460
 caused thy

00:47:08.460 --> 00:47:09.239
 glorious love

00:47:09.239 --> 00:47:09.719
 to be,

00:47:10.039 --> 00:47:10.940
 then surely

00:47:10.940 --> 00:47:11.460
 would thy

00:47:11.460 --> 00:47:12.420
 love decline

00:47:12.420 --> 00:47:13.679
 and weary

00:47:13.679 --> 00:47:14.219
 Lord of

00:47:14.219 --> 00:47:14.440
 me.

00:47:15.779 --> 00:47:16.500
 I may

00:47:16.500 --> 00:47:17.079
 not fear,

00:47:17.179 --> 00:47:17.699
 for to the

00:47:17.699 --> 00:47:18.739
 end thou

00:47:18.739 --> 00:47:19.360
 loves,

00:47:19.639 --> 00:47:19.779
 oh,

00:47:19.839 --> 00:47:20.119
 Lord,

00:47:20.380 --> 00:47:20.659
 oh,

00:47:20.739 --> 00:47:21.400
 who but thee,

00:47:21.480 --> 00:47:22.099
 the sinner's

00:47:22.099 --> 00:47:23.159
 savior and his

00:47:23.159 --> 00:47:23.440
 friend,

00:47:23.500 --> 00:47:23.940
 would set his

00:47:23.940 --> 00:47:24.539
 love on me.

00:47:25.400 --> 00:47:25.799
 And on thee

00:47:25.799 --> 00:47:26.380
 now my heart

00:47:26.380 --> 00:47:26.739
 is set,

00:47:27.019 --> 00:47:27.579
 thy name is

00:47:27.579 --> 00:47:28.400
 music unto me.

00:47:28.619 --> 00:47:28.880
 Oh,

00:47:28.980 --> 00:47:29.739
 help me never

00:47:29.739 --> 00:47:30.480
 to forget

00:47:30.480 --> 00:47:31.819
 that I am

00:47:31.819 --> 00:47:32.519
 loved by thee.

00:47:34.019 --> 00:47:34.460
 Amen.

00:47:34.599 --> 00:47:36.139
 All right.

00:47:37.980 --> 00:47:38.679
 It's a

00:47:38.679 --> 00:47:39.219
 wonderful

00:47:39.219 --> 00:47:41.239
 poem about

00:47:41.239 --> 00:47:41.759
 God's love

00:47:41.759 --> 00:47:42.159
 for her,

00:47:43.519 --> 00:47:44.099
 and that if

00:47:44.099 --> 00:47:44.559
 he loved

00:47:44.559 --> 00:47:44.900
 her,

00:47:45.739 --> 00:47:48.360
 that's an

00:47:48.360 --> 00:47:48.719
 everlasting

00:47:48.719 --> 00:47:49.099
 love.

00:47:50.139 --> 00:47:50.619
 Okay,

00:47:50.739 --> 00:47:50.880
 well,

00:47:50.920 --> 00:47:51.599
 let's open

00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:52.000
 it up for

00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:52.599
 a few minutes

00:47:52.599 --> 00:47:53.360
 of questions

00:47:53.360 --> 00:47:54.239
 or comments,

00:47:54.420 --> 00:47:55.119
 clarifications.

00:47:56.480 --> 00:47:57.000
 We've got

00:47:57.000 --> 00:47:57.440
 about five

00:47:57.440 --> 00:47:57.819
 minutes.

00:47:57.820 --> 00:48:00.900
 faith is the

00:48:00.900 --> 00:48:01.620
 assurance of

00:48:01.620 --> 00:48:02.200
 things hoped

00:48:02.200 --> 00:48:02.580
 for,

00:48:03.039 --> 00:48:03.660
 the evidence

00:48:03.660 --> 00:48:04.300
 of things

00:48:04.300 --> 00:48:05.180
 not seen.

00:48:05.860 --> 00:48:07.140
 I've contemplated

00:48:07.140 --> 00:48:07.660
 on that.

00:48:09.500 --> 00:48:10.360
 Faith is a

00:48:10.360 --> 00:48:10.559
 gift.

00:48:10.700 --> 00:48:11.080
 It's given

00:48:11.080 --> 00:48:11.460
 to me.

00:48:11.700 --> 00:48:12.300
 I don't work

00:48:12.300 --> 00:48:12.980
 my way up,

00:48:13.519 --> 00:48:14.480
 but that's the

00:48:14.480 --> 00:48:15.360
 assurance that I

00:48:15.360 --> 00:48:15.559
 have.

00:48:15.620 --> 00:48:16.100
 If I have

00:48:16.100 --> 00:48:16.460
 faith,

00:48:16.740 --> 00:48:17.480
 that assures

00:48:17.480 --> 00:48:18.100
 me that I'm

00:48:18.100 --> 00:48:18.559
 a Christian.

00:48:18.800 --> 00:48:19.380
 And Romans 8,

00:48:19.440 --> 00:48:19.840
 16,

00:48:19.940 --> 00:48:20.300
 it says,

00:48:20.820 --> 00:48:21.320
 the Spirit

00:48:21.320 --> 00:48:21.960
 of God

00:48:21.960 --> 00:48:22.900
 bears with us

00:48:22.900 --> 00:48:23.580
 that we are

00:48:23.580 --> 00:48:24.200
 his children.

00:48:24.199 --> 00:48:25.799
 I can't

00:48:25.799 --> 00:48:26.379
 prove that

00:48:26.379 --> 00:48:27.000
 empirically.

00:48:27.639 --> 00:48:28.179
 I know.

00:48:28.779 --> 00:48:29.099
 Yeah.

00:48:30.279 --> 00:48:30.919
 That's

00:48:30.919 --> 00:48:31.500
 supernatural

00:48:31.500 --> 00:48:33.319
 assurance.

00:48:33.719 --> 00:48:33.719


00:48:33.719 --> 00:48:34.159
 difficult,

00:48:34.799 --> 00:48:35.599
 simple thing

00:48:35.599 --> 00:48:35.960
 I've ever

00:48:35.960 --> 00:48:36.460
 had to do

00:48:36.460 --> 00:48:37.039
 in my life.

00:48:37.859 --> 00:48:38.379
 Yes.

00:48:39.819 --> 00:48:40.539
 Thank you.

00:48:40.739 --> 00:48:40.839
 Well,

00:48:40.919 --> 00:48:41.759
 that's Elizabeth.

00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:42.039
 Yeah.

00:48:42.039 --> 00:48:42.199
 So,

00:48:42.419 --> 00:48:43.119
 talk a little

00:48:43.119 --> 00:48:43.659
 more about

00:48:43.659 --> 00:48:44.779
 the coin purse

00:48:44.779 --> 00:48:45.619
 and the jewels.

00:48:45.879 --> 00:48:46.460
 What is that?

00:48:47.199 --> 00:48:47.480
 Yeah,

00:48:47.579 --> 00:48:48.359
 the coin purse

00:48:48.359 --> 00:48:49.519
 is when

00:48:49.519 --> 00:48:50.179
 faith,

00:48:51.000 --> 00:48:51.480
 when Mr.

00:48:51.480 --> 00:48:51.980
 Little Faith

00:48:51.980 --> 00:48:52.659
 was beaten

00:48:52.659 --> 00:48:53.119
 over the head

00:48:53.119 --> 00:48:53.639
 by guilt,

00:48:54.500 --> 00:48:55.139
 mistrust,

00:48:55.699 --> 00:48:56.339
 and faint heart.

00:48:57.139 --> 00:48:58.440
 That's an allegory

00:48:58.440 --> 00:48:59.480
 of a Christian

00:48:59.480 --> 00:49:00.619
 who is experiencing

00:49:00.619 --> 00:49:01.579
 loud voices

00:49:01.579 --> 00:49:02.480
 of condemnation,

00:49:03.019 --> 00:49:03.859
 of their guilt,

00:49:04.139 --> 00:49:05.659
 and those robbers

00:49:05.659 --> 00:49:06.440
 stole all of his

00:49:06.440 --> 00:49:06.839
 coins,

00:49:07.319 --> 00:49:07.759
 and he had to

00:49:07.759 --> 00:49:08.279
 beg for the rest

00:49:08.279 --> 00:49:08.839
 of his life.

00:49:09.420 --> 00:49:09.679
 And so,

00:49:09.759 --> 00:49:10.359
 the coins

00:49:10.359 --> 00:49:11.219
 are assurance.

00:49:11.839 --> 00:49:12.339
 The coins

00:49:12.339 --> 00:49:13.679
 are our comfort

00:49:13.679 --> 00:49:14.299
 in the faith.

00:49:14.940 --> 00:49:16.099
 But the jewels,

00:49:16.359 --> 00:49:17.019
 they couldn't steal

00:49:17.019 --> 00:49:17.819
 the jewels from him.

00:49:18.279 --> 00:49:19.199
 No amount of guilt

00:49:19.199 --> 00:49:20.400
 or our own voice

00:49:20.400 --> 00:49:21.000
 of condemnation

00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:21.599
 will ever take

00:49:21.599 --> 00:49:22.500
 those away from us.

00:49:22.599 --> 00:49:23.599
 That represents

00:49:23.599 --> 00:49:24.799
 our inheritance

00:49:24.799 --> 00:49:25.960
 in Christ's kingdom.

00:49:26.400 --> 00:49:27.339
 That represents

00:49:27.339 --> 00:49:28.000
 the,

00:49:28.699 --> 00:49:30.860
 that represents

00:49:30.860 --> 00:49:31.360
 pretty much

00:49:31.360 --> 00:49:32.519
 this whole first point.

00:49:32.839 --> 00:49:33.779
 That he keeps us,

00:49:33.819 --> 00:49:34.539
 he loves us,

00:49:34.639 --> 00:49:35.860
 it's an everlasting love,

00:49:36.119 --> 00:49:36.880
 and we will never

00:49:36.880 --> 00:49:38.119
 lose those.

00:49:38.519 --> 00:49:38.779
 So,

00:49:38.980 --> 00:49:40.380
 it kind of shows

00:49:40.380 --> 00:49:41.199
 that you could be

00:49:41.199 --> 00:49:41.739
 a Christian

00:49:41.739 --> 00:49:43.519
 and not experience

00:49:43.519 --> 00:49:44.539
 a lot of assurance

00:49:44.539 --> 00:49:45.759
 of faith in your own life.

00:49:46.619 --> 00:49:47.239
 And you could struggle

00:49:47.239 --> 00:49:47.619
 with that.

00:49:47.900 --> 00:49:48.440
 But that doesn't mean

00:49:48.440 --> 00:49:48.920
 that you're not

00:49:48.920 --> 00:49:49.500
 actually...

00:49:49.500 --> 00:49:50.280
 What are the coins?

00:49:51.320 --> 00:49:54.179
 The coins are...

00:49:54.179 --> 00:49:54.820
 What coins are your

00:49:54.820 --> 00:49:55.639
 worldly goods?

00:49:56.420 --> 00:49:57.539
 Not necessarily.

00:49:57.860 --> 00:50:00.679
 How we feel about it.

00:50:00.679 --> 00:50:00.879
 salvation.

00:50:01.159 --> 00:50:01.579
 Yeah.

00:50:01.919 --> 00:50:02.179
 Yeah.

00:50:02.179 --> 00:50:02.239
 Yeah.

00:50:02.239 --> 00:50:02.500
 That's right.

00:50:02.940 --> 00:50:03.899
 So Bunyan's drawing

00:50:03.899 --> 00:50:04.379
 a distinction

00:50:04.379 --> 00:50:05.759
 between our salvation

00:50:05.759 --> 00:50:07.399
 and our assurance

00:50:07.399 --> 00:50:08.159
 of our salvation.

00:50:08.279 --> 00:50:09.279
 Those are two different things.

00:50:09.539 --> 00:50:09.940
 Yes.

00:50:10.480 --> 00:50:12.339
 We have peace with God

00:50:12.339 --> 00:50:12.980
 through Christ Jesus

00:50:12.980 --> 00:50:13.579
 our Lord.

00:50:14.179 --> 00:50:15.159
 We might not always

00:50:15.159 --> 00:50:16.259
 feel that peace.

00:50:16.539 --> 00:50:17.039
 That's what

00:50:17.039 --> 00:50:17.639
 the distinction

00:50:17.639 --> 00:50:18.299
 Bunyan's drawing.

00:50:18.300 --> 00:50:19.300
 Susan.

00:50:19.300 --> 00:50:20.600
 So I'm Bill Bright's famous

00:50:20.600 --> 00:50:21.800
 for a spiritual walk.

00:50:21.860 --> 00:50:23.200
 The last page you find

00:50:23.200 --> 00:50:24.920
 is the train, right?

00:50:25.640 --> 00:50:26.000
 And he says

00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:27.300
 the locomotion,

00:50:27.760 --> 00:50:28.900
 the energy

00:50:28.900 --> 00:50:30.200
 of that train

00:50:30.200 --> 00:50:31.180
 is Christ

00:50:31.180 --> 00:50:32.560
 and he's accomplished

00:50:32.560 --> 00:50:34.140
 work for our salvation.

00:50:34.500 --> 00:50:35.720
 Our emotions are the truth.

00:50:36.880 --> 00:50:37.160
 So,

00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:38.440
 you know,

00:50:39.420 --> 00:50:40.700
 if we base

00:50:40.700 --> 00:50:41.760
 our assurance

00:50:41.760 --> 00:50:42.600
 on how we feel

00:50:42.600 --> 00:50:43.420
 from the other day,

00:50:43.980 --> 00:50:45.100
 it's going to be

00:50:45.100 --> 00:50:46.280
 a hard slog.

00:50:48.300 --> 00:50:49.640
 When you talk about Bill,

00:50:49.760 --> 00:50:50.019
 right?

00:50:50.220 --> 00:50:50.519
 So,

00:50:50.740 --> 00:50:51.180
 Bill,

00:50:51.400 --> 00:50:52.080
 for anybody

00:50:52.080 --> 00:50:53.320
 who's a parent's Bill,

00:50:54.280 --> 00:50:56.300
 the fact that

00:50:56.300 --> 00:50:56.880
 Bill

00:50:56.880 --> 00:50:58.120
 knew Christ,

00:50:58.519 --> 00:50:58.800
 right?

00:50:58.920 --> 00:50:59.960
 And then kind of

00:50:59.960 --> 00:51:01.680
 was exposed

00:51:01.680 --> 00:51:02.560
 to other things

00:51:02.560 --> 00:51:02.980
 like

00:51:02.980 --> 00:51:04.240
 the general function.

00:51:05.019 --> 00:51:05.900
 We can have

00:51:05.900 --> 00:51:06.740
 so much time

00:51:06.740 --> 00:51:08.100
 if they're a product

00:51:08.100 --> 00:51:09.480
 and they have Christ

00:51:09.480 --> 00:51:10.920
 that we will

00:51:10.920 --> 00:51:12.000
 hold on

00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:12.320
 because

00:51:12.320 --> 00:51:14.780
 nothing can take us

00:51:14.780 --> 00:51:15.519
 away from that,

00:51:15.580 --> 00:51:15.800
 right?

00:51:15.900 --> 00:51:16.200
 So,

00:51:16.760 --> 00:51:18.280
 if they have that,

00:51:18.300 --> 00:51:18.519
 that,

00:51:18.680 --> 00:51:18.940
 right?

00:51:19.140 --> 00:51:19.300
 So,

00:51:19.360 --> 00:51:19.840
 we can have

00:51:19.840 --> 00:51:20.840
 some assurance

00:51:20.840 --> 00:51:21.880
 of a parent

00:51:21.880 --> 00:51:22.460
 of Bill

00:51:22.460 --> 00:51:24.740
 or a grandparent

00:51:24.740 --> 00:51:25.280
 of Bill,

00:51:25.640 --> 00:51:26.200
 right?

00:51:26.519 --> 00:51:27.560
 I know what you mean.

00:51:27.680 --> 00:51:28.640
 I don't think

00:51:28.640 --> 00:51:29.039
 you can have

00:51:29.039 --> 00:51:29.820
 assurance of his

00:51:29.820 --> 00:51:30.460
 salvation,

00:51:30.460 --> 00:51:31.280
 but you can

00:51:31.280 --> 00:51:32.019
 certainly

00:51:32.019 --> 00:51:33.280
 know that

00:51:33.280 --> 00:51:33.900
 your efforts

00:51:33.900 --> 00:51:34.800
 to raise Bill

00:51:34.800 --> 00:51:36.300
 and teach him

00:51:36.300 --> 00:51:36.700
 the scriptures

00:51:36.700 --> 00:51:37.500
 are not in vain

00:51:37.500 --> 00:51:38.400
 and we can pray

00:51:38.400 --> 00:51:39.000
 that God

00:51:39.000 --> 00:51:40.600
 can use that

00:51:40.600 --> 00:51:42.039
 to bring Bill,

00:51:42.440 --> 00:51:42.740
 you know,

00:51:42.820 --> 00:51:43.800
 like a prodigal son.

00:51:43.800 --> 00:51:45.820
 I know my father

00:51:45.820 --> 00:51:46.300
 is generous.

00:51:46.980 --> 00:51:47.680
 My mother taught

00:51:47.680 --> 00:51:48.300
 me the scripture

00:51:48.300 --> 00:51:49.680
 and so maybe

00:51:49.680 --> 00:51:50.260
 God will work

00:51:50.260 --> 00:51:50.620
 that out

00:51:50.620 --> 00:51:51.320
 in Bill's life

00:51:51.320 --> 00:51:52.660
 and we can pray

00:51:52.660 --> 00:51:52.940
 for that

00:51:52.940 --> 00:51:53.640
 and hope for that.

00:51:54.660 --> 00:51:55.420
 One of my

00:51:55.420 --> 00:51:56.620
 favorite examples

00:51:56.620 --> 00:51:56.960
 in history

00:51:56.960 --> 00:51:57.420
 is Monica

00:51:57.420 --> 00:51:57.900
 who prayed

00:51:57.900 --> 00:51:58.539
 for Augustine.

00:51:58.900 --> 00:51:59.720
 Augustine was a Bill.

00:52:01.260 --> 00:52:02.260
 Augustine was

00:52:02.260 --> 00:52:04.539
 a billion miles

00:52:04.539 --> 00:52:05.180
 away from God

00:52:05.180 --> 00:52:05.720
 and Monica

00:52:05.720 --> 00:52:06.660
 taught him

00:52:06.660 --> 00:52:07.060
 the scriptures,

00:52:07.200 --> 00:52:07.900
 continued to pray

00:52:07.900 --> 00:52:08.380
 for him

00:52:08.380 --> 00:52:10.000
 and God

00:52:10.000 --> 00:52:10.500
 used that

00:52:10.500 --> 00:52:11.079
 mightily

00:52:11.079 --> 00:52:11.720
 in his life.

00:52:12.300 --> 00:52:12.900
 But I don't

00:52:12.900 --> 00:52:13.660
 think we can

00:52:13.660 --> 00:52:16.260
 use any

00:52:16.260 --> 00:52:17.000
 sort of

00:52:17.000 --> 00:52:18.480
 previous experience

00:52:18.480 --> 00:52:19.340
 as a present

00:52:19.340 --> 00:52:20.860
 assurance

00:52:20.860 --> 00:52:21.340
 that Bill

00:52:21.340 --> 00:52:21.760
 is in fact

00:52:21.760 --> 00:52:22.200
 a Christian.

00:52:22.500 --> 00:52:22.860
 I don't think

00:52:22.860 --> 00:52:23.460
 we can do that.

00:52:23.880 --> 00:52:24.000
 Yeah?

00:52:24.360 --> 00:52:25.340
 I think two

00:52:25.340 --> 00:52:26.019
 scriptures

00:52:26.019 --> 00:52:27.140
 that are encouraging

00:52:27.140 --> 00:52:28.099
 I think particularly

00:52:28.099 --> 00:52:29.380
 to parents

00:52:29.380 --> 00:52:29.900
 is,

00:52:30.240 --> 00:52:30.920
 well,

00:52:31.039 --> 00:52:31.200
 one,

00:52:31.300 --> 00:52:32.440
 looking at God's

00:52:32.440 --> 00:52:33.039
 love that he

00:52:33.039 --> 00:52:33.800
 wishes not to

00:52:33.800 --> 00:52:34.019
 parents,

00:52:34.180 --> 00:52:35.000
 but another one

00:52:35.000 --> 00:52:35.500
 is that

00:52:35.500 --> 00:52:37.000
 it's faith

00:52:37.000 --> 00:52:37.800
 like a mustard

00:52:37.800 --> 00:52:38.280
 seed.

00:52:38.740 --> 00:52:39.519
 And then the

00:52:39.519 --> 00:52:39.960
 other one

00:52:39.960 --> 00:52:40.619
 is train up

00:52:40.619 --> 00:52:41.180
 a child

00:52:41.180 --> 00:52:41.619
 in the way

00:52:41.619 --> 00:52:42.119
 they should go

00:52:42.119 --> 00:52:42.519
 and when they're

00:52:42.519 --> 00:52:43.180
 old they won't

00:52:43.180 --> 00:52:44.000
 depart from it.

00:52:44.440 --> 00:52:45.140
 I think these

00:52:45.140 --> 00:52:45.660
 sorts of

00:52:45.660 --> 00:52:46.640
 small planted

00:52:46.640 --> 00:52:47.400
 seeds

00:52:47.400 --> 00:52:49.099
 and God's

00:52:49.099 --> 00:52:49.579
 character

00:52:49.579 --> 00:52:50.260
 combined

00:52:50.260 --> 00:52:50.820
 that's like

00:52:50.820 --> 00:52:51.400
 the type

00:52:51.400 --> 00:52:52.000
 of that

00:52:52.000 --> 00:52:52.860
 love of the

00:52:52.860 --> 00:52:53.200
 father

00:52:53.200 --> 00:52:54.300
 I think

00:52:54.300 --> 00:52:55.380
 gives parents

00:52:55.380 --> 00:52:56.800
 the ability

00:52:56.800 --> 00:52:57.220
 to like

00:52:57.220 --> 00:52:57.940
 open their

00:52:57.940 --> 00:52:58.500
 hands

00:52:58.500 --> 00:52:59.900
 to their

00:52:59.900 --> 00:53:00.260
 children

00:53:00.260 --> 00:53:01.220
 and surrender

00:53:01.220 --> 00:53:01.800
 them to the

00:53:01.800 --> 00:53:02.140
 Lord.

00:53:02.760 --> 00:53:03.539
 I think

00:53:03.539 --> 00:53:04.380
 those are...

00:53:04.380 --> 00:53:05.160
 They're exposed

00:53:05.160 --> 00:53:05.579
 so much

00:53:05.579 --> 00:53:06.260
 to others

00:53:06.260 --> 00:53:06.940
 telling them

00:53:06.940 --> 00:53:08.119
 how can you

00:53:08.119 --> 00:53:08.619
 believe in it

00:53:08.619 --> 00:53:08.900
 and not

00:53:08.900 --> 00:53:09.319
 do it

00:53:09.319 --> 00:53:09.719
 around

00:53:09.719 --> 00:53:10.859
 this awful

00:53:10.859 --> 00:53:11.659
 thing

00:53:11.659 --> 00:53:12.359
 and all

00:53:12.359 --> 00:53:12.819
 of that.

00:53:13.359 --> 00:53:13.819
 Yeah.

00:53:13.980 --> 00:53:16.500
 And a reason

00:53:16.500 --> 00:53:17.159
 for God

00:53:17.159 --> 00:53:17.659
 to talk

00:53:17.659 --> 00:53:18.679
 about that.

00:53:19.480 --> 00:53:19.880
 Yeah.

00:53:20.679 --> 00:53:21.199
 And if they're

00:53:21.199 --> 00:53:21.940
 still open to

00:53:21.940 --> 00:53:22.279
 prayer,

00:53:22.280 --> 00:53:23.280
 they're not

00:53:23.280 --> 00:53:24.280
 going to

00:53:24.280 --> 00:53:25.860
 pray with you

00:53:25.860 --> 00:53:25.140
 and they want

00:53:25.140 --> 00:53:25.880
 to pray with you

00:53:25.880 --> 00:53:27.019
 and they want

00:53:27.019 --> 00:53:25.860
 to pray with you

00:53:25.860 --> 00:53:27.019
 and they want

00:53:27.019 --> 00:53:27.580
 to pray with you

00:53:27.580 --> 00:53:28.519
 and they want

00:53:28.519 --> 00:53:29.280
 to pray with you

00:53:29.280 --> 00:53:31.820
 and none of

00:53:31.820 --> 00:53:32.980
 those labors,

00:53:33.700 --> 00:53:34.220
 all of them

00:53:34.220 --> 00:53:34.880
 are kept in God's

00:53:34.880 --> 00:53:35.100
 book.

00:53:35.180 --> 00:53:35.680
 He knows each

00:53:35.680 --> 00:53:36.220
 one of them.

00:53:37.160 --> 00:53:37.560
 Elizabeth.

00:53:37.560 --> 00:53:37.920
 So,

00:53:38.320 --> 00:53:39.300
 God loves them

00:53:39.300 --> 00:53:39.640
 more.

00:53:41.400 --> 00:53:42.160
 Talk a little

00:53:42.160 --> 00:53:42.860
 bit more about

00:53:42.860 --> 00:53:43.440
 the black

00:53:43.440 --> 00:53:43.920
 robe,

00:53:44.140 --> 00:53:45.500
 whatever that is.

00:53:45.720 --> 00:53:46.200
 Oh, yeah.

00:53:47.000 --> 00:53:47.900
 This is the last

00:53:47.900 --> 00:53:48.500
 question.

00:53:48.500 --> 00:53:49.659
 That's the

00:53:49.659 --> 00:53:50.179
 black robe

00:53:50.179 --> 00:53:50.880
 figure of doubt

00:53:50.880 --> 00:53:51.539
 who whispers in

00:53:51.539 --> 00:53:51.840
 your ear,

00:53:51.940 --> 00:53:52.460
 you're no child

00:53:52.460 --> 00:53:52.940
 of God.

00:53:53.519 --> 00:53:56.139
 I think that

00:53:56.139 --> 00:53:56.699
 could be the

00:53:56.699 --> 00:53:56.960
 enemy,

00:53:57.360 --> 00:53:57.920
 whispering in

00:53:57.920 --> 00:53:58.380
 our ears,

00:53:58.599 --> 00:53:59.559
 accusing us.

00:53:59.739 --> 00:53:59.980
 It could be

00:53:59.980 --> 00:54:00.960
 your conscience.

00:54:01.679 --> 00:54:02.119
 Yeah, it

00:54:02.119 --> 00:54:02.500
 could be any

00:54:02.500 --> 00:54:02.920
 of those.

00:54:03.579 --> 00:54:04.699
 But I think

00:54:04.699 --> 00:54:05.219
 like David,

00:54:06.219 --> 00:54:07.039
 when you're

00:54:07.039 --> 00:54:08.559
 beloved of

00:54:08.559 --> 00:54:09.000
 God,

00:54:09.659 --> 00:54:10.619
 your salvation

00:54:10.619 --> 00:54:11.239
 is secure,

00:54:11.420 --> 00:54:11.980
 he loves you

00:54:11.980 --> 00:54:12.460
 until the very

00:54:12.460 --> 00:54:12.840
 ends.

00:54:13.480 --> 00:54:13.860
 There's still

00:54:13.860 --> 00:54:14.619
 sometimes those

00:54:14.619 --> 00:54:15.820
 black robe

00:54:15.820 --> 00:54:16.539
 figures of doubt

00:54:16.539 --> 00:54:17.179
 who come to

00:54:17.179 --> 00:54:17.559
 us.

00:54:17.559 --> 00:54:18.960
 and want

00:54:18.960 --> 00:54:19.360
 to call

00:54:19.360 --> 00:54:19.920
 into question

00:54:19.920 --> 00:54:20.679
 our identity

00:54:20.679 --> 00:54:22.259
 as a son

00:54:22.259 --> 00:54:22.639
 or daughter

00:54:22.639 --> 00:54:23.099
 of God.

00:54:24.000 --> 00:54:24.980
 And it

00:54:24.980 --> 00:54:25.480
 could be

00:54:25.480 --> 00:54:26.340
 spiritual warfare,

00:54:26.840 --> 00:54:27.199
 it could be

00:54:27.199 --> 00:54:28.059
 our consciences,

00:54:28.779 --> 00:54:30.000
 but at the

00:54:30.000 --> 00:54:30.199
 end of the

00:54:30.199 --> 00:54:30.480
 day,

00:54:30.779 --> 00:54:32.360
 it's just a

00:54:32.360 --> 00:54:32.599
 metaphor.

00:54:34.079 --> 00:54:34.980
 I just wanted

00:54:34.980 --> 00:54:35.440
 to highlight

00:54:35.440 --> 00:54:35.779
 when you

00:54:35.779 --> 00:54:36.259
 talked about

00:54:36.259 --> 00:54:36.779
 the symbolism

00:54:36.779 --> 00:54:37.799
 of white

00:54:37.799 --> 00:54:38.460
 and wearing

00:54:38.460 --> 00:54:39.039
 the white

00:54:39.039 --> 00:54:40.340
 robe as

00:54:40.340 --> 00:54:42.199
 both forgiveness

00:54:42.199 --> 00:54:43.779
 and conquering

00:54:43.779 --> 00:54:44.440
 victory,

00:54:45.039 --> 00:54:45.239
 I mean,

00:54:45.279 --> 00:54:45.619
 that's like

00:54:45.619 --> 00:54:46.179
 a totally

00:54:46.179 --> 00:54:46.940
 profound

00:54:46.940 --> 00:54:48.240
 unity of

00:54:48.240 --> 00:54:48.820
 thought in

00:54:48.820 --> 00:54:49.340
 terms of

00:54:49.340 --> 00:54:49.659
 like,

00:54:50.579 --> 00:54:51.480
 when you

00:54:51.480 --> 00:54:52.099
 look and

00:54:52.099 --> 00:54:52.700
 live your

00:54:52.700 --> 00:54:53.559
 life as

00:54:53.559 --> 00:54:54.300
 a race,

00:54:54.940 --> 00:54:55.659
 it really

00:54:55.659 --> 00:54:56.119
 is the

00:54:56.119 --> 00:54:56.760
 ministry of

00:54:56.760 --> 00:54:57.300
 reconciliation

00:54:57.300 --> 00:54:57.940
 and it

00:54:57.940 --> 00:54:58.559
 really is

00:54:58.559 --> 00:54:59.019
 the call

00:54:59.019 --> 00:54:59.740
 of forgiveness

00:54:59.740 --> 00:55:02.099
 on the

00:55:02.099 --> 00:55:02.880
 followers of

00:55:02.880 --> 00:55:04.179
 Jesus to

00:55:04.179 --> 00:55:05.400
 bring the

00:55:05.400 --> 00:55:05.940
 love of

00:55:05.940 --> 00:55:06.460
 Christ to

00:55:06.460 --> 00:55:06.900
 the world

00:55:06.900 --> 00:55:07.559
 because it

00:55:07.559 --> 00:55:08.380
 really is

00:55:08.380 --> 00:55:08.880
 this like

00:55:08.880 --> 00:55:10.579
 challenge,

00:55:10.840 --> 00:55:11.220
 like the

00:55:11.220 --> 00:55:12.400
 great mountain

00:55:12.400 --> 00:55:13.800
 of forgiveness

00:55:13.800 --> 00:55:14.740
 and reconciliation,

00:55:14.740 --> 00:55:16.240
 that is the

00:55:16.240 --> 00:55:16.860
 transformative

00:55:16.860 --> 00:55:19.539
 thing in the

00:55:19.539 --> 00:55:19.800
 world.

00:55:20.280 --> 00:55:20.539
 Amen.

00:55:20.780 --> 00:55:21.320
 And so that

00:55:21.320 --> 00:55:21.720
 is the

00:55:21.720 --> 00:55:22.079
 victory,

00:55:22.300 --> 00:55:22.500
 right?

00:55:22.599 --> 00:55:22.980
 And like

00:55:22.980 --> 00:55:24.000
 the reality

00:55:24.000 --> 00:55:25.599
 is as

00:55:25.599 --> 00:55:26.099
 Christians,

00:55:26.099 --> 00:55:26.820
 we acknowledge

00:55:26.820 --> 00:55:27.700
 we cannot

00:55:27.700 --> 00:55:28.720
 what Christ

00:55:28.720 --> 00:55:29.079
 did.

00:55:30.880 --> 00:55:31.680
 So I think

00:55:31.680 --> 00:55:32.740
 that was a

00:55:32.740 --> 00:55:33.300
 really profound

00:55:33.300 --> 00:55:33.840
 moment when you

00:55:33.840 --> 00:55:34.559
 put those two

00:55:34.559 --> 00:55:35.539
 adjacent to

00:55:35.539 --> 00:55:35.880
 each other.

00:55:38.079 --> 00:55:38.900
 Great way to

00:55:38.900 --> 00:55:39.180
 end the

00:55:39.180 --> 00:55:39.539
 class.

00:55:39.980 --> 00:55:40.380
 Forgiveness,

00:55:40.820 --> 00:55:41.480
 conquering,

00:55:42.160 --> 00:55:43.180
 they're

00:55:43.180 --> 00:55:43.519
 together.

00:55:43.780 --> 00:55:44.160
 Amen.

00:55:44.519 --> 00:55:44.860
 Thank you,

00:55:44.920 --> 00:55:45.059
 Beth.

00:55:45.460 --> 00:55:45.800
 All right.

00:55:45.900 --> 00:55:46.360
 Well, friends,

00:55:46.400 --> 00:55:46.760
 we have one

00:55:46.760 --> 00:55:47.539
 more class next

00:55:47.539 --> 00:55:47.920
 week, Lord

00:55:47.920 --> 00:55:48.160
 willing.

00:55:48.320 --> 00:55:48.860
 John will

00:55:48.860 --> 00:55:49.860
 come and

00:55:49.860 --> 00:55:50.420
 conclude our

00:55:50.420 --> 00:55:50.940
 journey together.