WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.500 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.280 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:25.580 --> 00:00:27.379 Okay, here we go. 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:29.640 Reading from the prophet Isaiah. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:32.380 9-1. 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:36.719 But there will be no gloom for her who is in anguish. 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:41.240 And the former time he brought unto contempt the land of? 00:00:41.420 --> 00:00:43.500 And the land of? 00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:48.579 But in the later time he has made glorious the weight of the sea, 00:00:48.740 --> 00:00:52.960 and the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of all the nations. 00:00:53.379 --> 00:00:56.719 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:01:01.879 Those who dwelt in the land of dark, deep darkness on them has light shown. 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:04.439 You have multiplied the nation. 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:06.819 You have increased its joy. 00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:14.259 They rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:23.500 For the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of? 00:01:23.500 --> 00:01:24.060 The day of? 00:01:24.060 --> 00:01:24.580 The day of? 00:01:24.579 --> 00:01:36.719 And for the boot of the tramping warrior in the battle, Tomah, and every garment rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for the fire. 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:43.840 For as a child is born, to us a son is given. 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:46.939 And the government shall be upon his shoulder. 00:01:47.180 --> 00:01:54.659 And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:01:54.659 --> 00:01:59.640 And of the increase of his government and the peace, there will be no end. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:08.219 On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness, 00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:14.519 from this time forth and forevermore, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 00:02:14.939 --> 00:02:17.859 The grass withers, the flowers fade. 00:02:18.500 --> 00:02:20.659 The word of our God, and forever. 00:02:20.659 --> 00:02:23.280 Okay, you ready for number two? 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:28.139 Reading from the Gospel according to John. 00:02:28.659 --> 00:02:32.340 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. 00:02:32.519 --> 00:02:33.879 And the Word was God. 00:02:34.340 --> 00:02:36.620 He was in the beginning with God. 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:43.359 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:47.979 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 00:02:47.979 --> 00:02:52.739 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:02:53.119 --> 00:02:56.319 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 00:02:56.739 --> 00:03:03.919 He came as a witness to bear witness about the light, and all might believe through him. 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:08.280 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 00:03:08.679 --> 00:03:13.120 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 00:03:13.539 --> 00:03:17.039 He was in the world, and the world was made through him. 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:18.799 Yet the world did not know him. 00:03:19.179 --> 00:03:23.659 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 00:03:23.939 --> 00:03:30.680 But to all who did receive him, who believe his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:37.019 who were born not of blood, nor of will, of the flesh, nor the will of man, but God. 00:03:37.419 --> 00:03:39.340 This is the Gospel of the Lord. 00:03:39.899 --> 00:03:41.439 Praise be to you, O God. 00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:42.939 You may be seated. 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:49.139 Thank you, Gail. 00:03:49.379 --> 00:03:50.379 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:54.599 My name is Andrew, one of the pastors here, and I look forward to bringing God's Word to you today. 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:56.120 Will you join me in prayer? 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:05.580 Lord God, we want to give our attention to your Word, the Scriptures, but also your Word, your Son. 00:04:06.259 --> 00:04:14.360 As we look forward to his return, would you fill us with hope and faith and love, 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:21.480 and would we prepare our hearts rightly in anticipation of the great hope you've set before us in this Advent season? 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:25.580 So be honored in the preaching of your Word, and we pray these things in the name of Jesus. 00:04:26.220 --> 00:04:26.460 Amen. 00:04:26.459 --> 00:04:35.239 You know, every single Sunday when I come up here to preach, I bring up with me the baggage of my best friend. 00:04:35.339 --> 00:04:40.759 Many of you have heard me mention this best friend before, and he's given me permission to share about him. 00:04:41.459 --> 00:04:45.679 But yeah, every time I come up here, I come up here with my best friend in mind, 00:04:45.779 --> 00:04:49.079 this best friend who is no longer walking with Jesus. 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:56.800 Because after watching his grandmother die a slow, gruesome, and painful death from cancer, 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:02.560 he now finds it too hard, too hard to believe, and too hard to trust, 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:08.779 and too hard to hope in an all-good, all-powerful, divine author of history. 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:14.799 The darkness was just too dark for him to believe in any ultimate light. 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:21.560 And you know, growing up with him, I always just thought of him as a glass-half-empty kind of a guy. 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.040 Growing up, this was a kid who used to say things like, 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:26.660 Oh, I just can't wait for Jesus to come back. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:30.020 Oh, I just want to get out of here. I just want to go to heaven. 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:32.780 And as an adult, he'll still say things like, 00:05:33.139 --> 00:05:35.240 I never, never want to have kids. 00:05:36.420 --> 00:05:38.460 There are just so many things that could go wrong. 00:05:38.459 --> 00:05:44.859 And, you know, why would I want to bring more human life into this broken world filled with despair? 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:48.719 And you see this also come out in just the way he's chosen to live his life. 00:05:48.799 --> 00:05:52.359 He's not living a life trying to pursue lofty ambitions, 00:05:52.539 --> 00:05:54.000 but he's trying to live a safe life. 00:05:54.379 --> 00:05:59.019 A life that minimizes any possible experience of pain and loss. 00:05:59.179 --> 00:06:02.179 He lives simply and with great contentment, 00:06:02.419 --> 00:06:05.399 just trying to enjoy what he can while he can. 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:10.359 And, you know, for the most part, the strategy of avoiding loss, 00:06:11.060 --> 00:06:15.000 admittedly dependent on a ton of privilege and, you know, good fortune, 00:06:15.179 --> 00:06:16.979 it's worked out pretty well for him. 00:06:17.599 --> 00:06:23.459 I've actually never seen him just absolutely downcast or overcome with sorrow. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:30.019 I mean, I've also never really seen him overjoyed and head over heels about anything either. 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:35.599 But, you know, if I'm honest, sometimes, especially recently, I envy him. 00:06:36.419 --> 00:06:39.560 And the simplicity of his life, just avoiding the darkness. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:44.500 Because sometimes the darkness is just too dark, right? 00:06:45.039 --> 00:06:46.680 Sometimes it's just too dark. 00:06:47.259 --> 00:06:48.379 It's really dark, isn't it? 00:06:48.419 --> 00:06:53.479 I don't think I need to convince this particular church family today 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:57.640 of the depth and darkness of the darkness. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:02.660 The gloom and the anguish spoken of by the prophet Isaiah in our text this morning, 00:07:02.780 --> 00:07:05.220 they are so real, right? 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:06.660 They're so real. 00:07:07.620 --> 00:07:12.180 And for those of us privileged enough to escape for a time 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:14.939 and to close our eyes and cover our ears 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:18.580 and minimize our exposure to the depths of this darkness, 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:20.860 it's tempting, isn't it? 00:07:20.860 --> 00:07:26.160 For those of us who can, it's tempting to bypass the agony of Advent 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:30.699 and to skip ahead to distract ourselves with a commercial Christmas, right? 00:07:31.020 --> 00:07:35.340 Stringing up hundreds, even thousands of artificial man-made Christmas lights 00:07:35.340 --> 00:07:38.879 as if they'll overcome the darkness we're trying to avoid. 00:07:39.960 --> 00:07:42.360 And that's one way of dealing with the darkness, 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:44.740 trying to ignore it, trying to forget it, 00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:49.040 trying to minimize its devastation in our lives. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:52.780 But while this strategy might work for a season or so, 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:54.100 it's never a sure thing. 00:07:54.900 --> 00:07:57.540 Never actually victorious over the darkness. 00:07:57.840 --> 00:08:02.960 Avoidance is but a poor and unreliable substitute for a lasting victory. 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:07.259 You know, my friend, now that he's stepped away from the faith 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:11.360 and from the hope of Christ, he is now inhabiting a new story. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:15.740 One in which darkness is a mere and inevitable reality, 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:20.860 best avoided by hard work, but mostly just by luck and chance. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:24.520 He's inhabiting this story in which the chief end of humanity 00:08:24.520 --> 00:08:28.439 is to hopefully experience more artificial light 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:34.800 than impending darkness during one's temporary state of consciousness here on earth. 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:38.060 And you might say that the Advent that he is living for, 00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:40.939 the only coming that he is preparing himself for, 00:08:41.359 --> 00:08:43.519 is the coming of death and darkness. 00:08:44.099 --> 00:08:49.839 Preparing for the inevitable by merely avoiding and delaying death and darkness. 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:53.419 But as we open up the Gospel of John today, 00:08:53.539 --> 00:08:56.779 the good news of John, God shows us a better way. 00:08:57.259 --> 00:09:03.199 A better way of responding to the real, deep darkness that so overwhelms us. 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:06.940 The prophet Isaiah, he caught a glimpse of this better Advent, 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:09.400 this better story we're invited to inhabit. 00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:12.060 The prophet Isaiah caught a glimpse of it when he foretold 00:09:12.060 --> 00:09:14.400 the dawning of a great and ultimate light 00:09:14.400 --> 00:09:17.300 that was going to shine upon people dwelling in deep darkness. 00:09:17.640 --> 00:09:22.420 A light to come at the arrival of a child who himself would be mighty God. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:26.860 From the very first verse, verse 1, John's Gospel, it retells the story. 00:09:27.540 --> 00:09:31.360 It retells the story of the world and invites us to inhabit God's story. 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:34.800 The most ancient story, a story not just of creation, 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:37.500 but a story of new creation. 00:09:37.700 --> 00:09:40.080 In the beginning, it says, look there, in the beginning. 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:44.800 Echoing the first words of the Christian Scriptures from Genesis chapter 1, verse 1, 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:47.240 the story of light overcoming darkness. 00:09:47.659 --> 00:09:49.740 From the very beginning of the creation of the world, 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:52.379 when God spoke with a word over the deep darkness, 00:09:52.700 --> 00:09:55.220 let there be light, and there was light. 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:57.220 Just because he said so. 00:09:57.899 --> 00:09:58.960 Just because he said so. 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:02.780 And the good news of John is that we are invited into this better story 00:10:02.780 --> 00:10:07.320 in which just as creation came about by the personal divine word of God, 00:10:07.540 --> 00:10:13.639 so also will new creation come about by the personal divine word of God. 00:10:14.160 --> 00:10:17.820 And that's what these opening verses of John's Gospel are getting at. 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:20.400 In the beginning was the word. 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.340 And the word was with God. 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:24.220 And the word was God. 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:27.120 He was with God from the beginning. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:31.440 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.340 In him was life, and this life was the light of men. 00:10:35.539 --> 00:10:40.279 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:44.799 John's Gospel is given to us, a people dwelling in darkness, 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:50.519 to remind us that God, the creator, who overcame darkness at the creation of the world 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:57.779 by the mere power of his word, he has sent forth another final word of new creation 00:10:57.779 --> 00:11:02.139 to permanently dispel all our darkness. 00:11:02.419 --> 00:11:06.120 John's Gospel is a reminder to us about the word of God. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:08.819 And the word of God alone is the hope of the world. 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:11.059 It's the hope of the world, and it's a sure hope. 00:11:11.059 --> 00:11:18.339 You know, sometimes I wonder if we need a reminder in this Advent season that Advent isn't first and foremost about our longing, 00:11:19.339 --> 00:11:22.419 but it's actually about our Messiah's coming. 00:11:23.359 --> 00:11:29.259 I wonder if we need a reminder that while Advent longing is definitely appropriate to this season, 00:11:29.939 --> 00:11:33.299 even more appropriate is Advent preparation. 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:41.000 The preparation of our hearts to receive this coming one with repentance and faith and hope and trust. 00:11:41.839 --> 00:11:46.859 The takeaway application of Advent and the whole takeaway application of John's Gospel 00:11:46.859 --> 00:11:51.120 is not to simply be real about the darkness and just linger in our longing. 00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:54.620 John tells us that the main purpose of this Gospel account, 00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:57.039 in chapter 20, verse 31, he says, 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:59.539 These things are written that you may believe, 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:02.599 that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:07.300 and that by believing, you may have life in His name. 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:12.460 The takeaway application of Advent from John is to believe. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:13.820 To believe. 00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:15.480 Even when it's hard, 00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:20.240 and even when the darkness seems like the realest and most ultimate thing, 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:25.159 John's Gospel calls us not into a generic longing for some ambiguous better day, 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:27.560 but to faith in Jesus, 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:29.740 in the midst of our longing. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:33.159 And so as we open up John's Gospel starting today, 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:36.860 we're going to see that the point of Advent is not simply to indulge our longings, 00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:41.159 but it's to direct our longings toward our sure hope, 00:12:41.220 --> 00:12:43.360 toward the one who came and who's coming again, 00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:45.419 the one who made all things. 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.500 This is the Word, right? 00:12:46.560 --> 00:12:47.799 The Word made all things. 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:51.740 That's who we direct our hope and our longing toward, 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:53.279 this Word who made all things, 00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:54.220 and this Word who said, 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:56.720 behold, I am making all things new. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:58.860 Write this down. 00:12:59.019 --> 00:13:01.360 These words are trustworthy and true, he says. 00:13:01.820 --> 00:13:02.700 It is done. 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:05.720 I am the Alpha and the Omega, 00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:07.200 the beginning and the end. 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:08.379 This is the sure hope 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:11.580 that Advent and John's Gospel invite us 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:13.740 to direct our longings toward the Word, 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:16.779 who was with God from the beginning, 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.759 and who is God Himself. 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:23.600 And my prayer is that as we look at this Word that John talks about, 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:26.240 that our hearts would indeed be prepared, 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:28.379 firm in faith, sure in hope, 00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:31.720 longing with love to joyfully receive this Word, 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:34.059 who came and who's coming again. 00:13:34.939 --> 00:13:35.899 Now I want to look at this text 00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:38.639 because I imagine that this first line of John's Gospel 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:40.419 could be quite confusing, right? 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:41.319 This verse 1, 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:43.240 In the beginning was the Word, 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:45.220 and the Word was with God, 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.500 and the Word was God. 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:48.879 He was in the beginning with God. 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:49.620 It could be confusing. 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:52.879 But I think that if we just slow down 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.100 and break it down 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:55.240 and observe a couple things, 00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:56.480 I think this will really help us. 00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:57.080 So first of all, 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:58.120 what we need to notice is that 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:00.659 while this language might seem strange to us, 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:03.799 for John's monotheistic Jewish readers, 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:05.220 he was making very explicit 00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:07.960 what had always been implicit in their tradition. 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:08.360 He was saying, 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:11.240 you know your tradition, right, 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.720 that says that God is a self-expressing God 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:17.019 who revealed himself and created the world by his Word? 00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:18.180 John is saying, 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:20.240 well, that creative Word who was with God 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:22.080 is also God, 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:25.620 and he was with God from the beginning. 00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:27.620 What John is doing here 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:30.300 is he is making explicit the Trinity, 00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:32.720 the triune nature of God, 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:34.940 the mysterious paradox of our Christian faith, 00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:36.100 that God is one God, 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.379 and yet also three distinct persons, 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:40.139 Father, Son, and Spirit. 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:42.819 And what he's also doing at the same time, 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:45.039 he is also making an explicit claim 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:47.319 to his Greek readership as well. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:49.960 See, the Greeks were looking for 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:52.059 and often debated something called the logos. 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.860 That's the Greek word for word. 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:56.179 They were looking for something called the logos, 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:58.460 this ultimate principle of reason, 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:00.379 this essence of rationality, 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:02.039 this meaning and purpose and direction 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:04.139 and order of all things. 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:06.659 And here John is saying that this logos 00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:08.980 that the Greeks discussed and debated 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:12.639 was not some abstract concept like mere being, 00:15:12.699 --> 00:15:14.219 it wasn't some principle or law 00:15:14.219 --> 00:15:15.579 like the law of non-contradiction. 00:15:15.699 --> 00:15:16.159 John was saying, 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:18.600 yes, there's an ultimate order to this world, 00:15:18.699 --> 00:15:20.819 an ultimate reason and purpose and principle, 00:15:21.219 --> 00:15:23.179 but it's not an impersonal principle, 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.279 it's a person. 00:15:24.939 --> 00:15:26.659 Notice he uses the personal pronoun here, 00:15:26.719 --> 00:15:26.980 it says, 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:27.779 he, 00:15:28.439 --> 00:15:29.639 he was in the beginning, 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:32.500 the divine Word by whom the world was made, 00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:35.419 the one who was with God and who was God, 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:36.659 he is the logos. 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:39.100 So this is what John is getting at 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:40.519 when he opens his gospel account 00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:43.179 by introducing this concept of the Word, 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:43.700 the logos. 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.980 He's getting at two things, 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:45.799 that one, 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.460 God is triune, 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.899 one God and three persons, 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.240 and that two, 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:54.440 the logos is the divine and personal Word of God 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:56.100 revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures, 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:58.240 that that which is behind and holding together 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.379 all reason and meaning and purpose 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.820 and reality as we know it, 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.059 is a person, 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:05.259 the second person of the Trinity, 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:06.899 the Word who created all things. 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.340 Now, okay, 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:11.120 I know that was super abstract, right? 00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:12.519 I know that was super abstract, 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.519 so let's get down to it. 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.659 Why should any of this matter to us? 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:19.939 What is the significance of God's triune nature 00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:24.279 and what is the significance of this personal divine logos? 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:25.860 Well, actually, 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.960 a relatively newcomer to our church, 00:16:28.299 --> 00:16:29.820 he came over to my house a couple weeks, 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:31.320 a couple weeks ago with Josh Lynn, 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:33.420 and we sat around my table 00:16:33.420 --> 00:16:35.520 with watered-down boba and popcorn chicken, 00:16:36.140 --> 00:16:38.980 and he actually asked me this very first question, 00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:39.180 like, 00:16:39.260 --> 00:16:40.900 what is the significance of the Trinity? 00:16:41.020 --> 00:16:41.460 He said to me, 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:41.640 you know, 00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:43.440 I've been investigating Christianity, 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:46.500 I've read the Bible from cover to cover, 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:48.500 and there are tons of things that resonate with me, 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:50.120 that God is powerful, 00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:51.680 and that He's authoritative, 00:16:51.780 --> 00:16:52.860 and He's the Creator, 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:54.960 and I love His mercy and love, 00:16:55.020 --> 00:16:56.980 and that there's forgiveness through Jesus. 00:16:56.980 --> 00:17:00.460 But there are some things that really don't make sense to me, 00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:04.319 and I'm wondering how important they could really be. 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:08.279 I'm wondering if I really need to agree with them to have a genuine faith, 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.180 like the Trinity, 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:09.660 he said. 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.480 Is it really that clear, 00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:16.980 and do I really need to believe in this Trinity that I can't make sense of? 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:21.339 And I really appreciated the honesty of his genuine question, 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:24.779 and there were a bunch of ways that I thought about answering the question, 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.440 but you know what I said? 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:25.779 I said, 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:26.880 you know, 00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:32.319 we could open up the Scriptures to various places that indicate this doctrine of the Trinity, 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.740 and I talked about John 1, 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:35.360 and how the Word was God, 00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.759 and the Word was with God, 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.180 right? 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:38.700 But I said, 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.099 or, 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:41.120 or we can talk about, 00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:41.299 you know, 00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:42.019 church history, 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:46.539 and how Christians have for a long time recognized this doctrine of the Trinity. 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:48.379 And I said, 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:50.859 I'm happy to chat about all these things, 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.799 but really briefly, 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:56.559 if I could share with you what I personally find most compelling about the Trinity, 00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:58.159 there are two things. 00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.859 So this is what I said to him, 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:00.680 these two things. 00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:01.799 First, 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:04.220 the mysterious paradox of the Trinity, 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:08.579 and the way it confounds my human categories of understanding, 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.579 it actually gives me comfort, 00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.460 that God is God, 00:18:12.879 --> 00:18:13.819 and that I am not. 00:18:13.819 --> 00:18:16.539 And that even when I can't understand him, 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.799 this is good, 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:18.859 and right, 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:21.419 and actually a confirmation of who he is, 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.559 and of who I am. 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:23.399 He is the creator, 00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:25.159 and I am the creature. 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:27.019 And what he reveals to me, 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:31.419 even if I cannot wrap my finite and fallible mind around it, 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.359 I can say, 00:18:32.659 --> 00:18:32.700 yes, 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.059 Lord, 00:18:33.139 --> 00:18:34.960 and trust that he is good, 00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:35.740 and faithful, 00:18:35.899 --> 00:18:36.319 and true, 00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:36.919 apart, 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.559 apart from what I think. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:42.960 I'm so glad to have a God who doesn't need to fit in my small, 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:45.019 small box of understanding. 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:47.559 That's the first thing I said about the Trinity, 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.819 this paradox that we confess as Christians. 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.240 But secondly, 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:51.839 I said this, 00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:53.740 and the other thing I love about the Trinity, 00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:56.480 probably what I love the most about the Trinity, 00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:58.539 is that at the heart, 00:18:58.879 --> 00:19:01.980 at the core of who this triune God is, 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:07.059 is a father loving a son with his entire being, 00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:09.339 with his entire spirit. 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:13.660 That before and completely independent of creation, 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:17.339 before and completely independent of this world, 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.360 love, 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.240 and life, 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.059 and joy, 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:20.759 and harmony, 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.279 have always been enjoyed, 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.559 and beheld, 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:25.779 and shared in God. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.180 See, 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.799 a God who is not triune, 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:31.579 cannot in its essence be loving, 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.639 or caring, 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.679 or dynamic, 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.819 or personal, 00:19:35.199 --> 00:19:35.939 in and of itself. 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.679 It would need something, 00:19:37.939 --> 00:19:39.960 it would need someone to love, 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.460 and care for, 00:19:41.699 --> 00:19:42.480 and to interact, 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:43.419 and be present with. 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:46.220 But the triune God of the Scriptures, 00:19:46.419 --> 00:19:46.539 see, 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:51.039 he did not need creation to be a God who is dynamically loving, 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.240 and joyful, 00:19:52.659 --> 00:19:53.559 and harmonious, 00:19:53.679 --> 00:19:55.359 and a beauty beheld from all eternity. 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:58.000 The Father has always loved the Son, 00:19:58.419 --> 00:20:00.819 in the joyful presence of the Spirit's witness. 00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:04.619 Love and harmony have always existed, 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:08.099 because the triune God has always existed. 00:20:08.939 --> 00:20:11.359 And because he is all these things in himself, 00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:12.639 as one God in three persons, 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:15.139 we can know that the world was created, 00:20:15.399 --> 00:20:16.919 out of a personal love, 00:20:17.179 --> 00:20:17.439 joy, 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:17.980 peace, 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.539 kindness, 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.099 unity, 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:19.720 harmony, 00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:20.339 and beauty. 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:21.339 Like, 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:25.159 these concepts aren't mere social constructs, 00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:26.980 or superior evolutionary developments, 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:28.819 developments of enlightened humanity, 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.700 they're reflections, 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:32.579 of our triune God, 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:34.440 who is all these things, 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.759 in his very essence. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.819 If you've known and enjoyed love, 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.779 it is not just because of certain neurons firing in your brain, 00:20:42.860 --> 00:20:44.700 because of certain contexts that you're in, 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:48.000 it's because you're created by a God, 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.920 who is love. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.859 Isn't that profound? 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:54.220 Isn't that amazing? 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.119 It's amazing to me. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:58.259 Because there's no other faith like this. 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:01.720 Either you have polytheism with impotent, 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:02.380 tribal, 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:31.140 is it okay tonight? 00:21:32.380 --> 00:21:33.340 Is that just like, 00:21:34.060 --> 00:21:34.820 I got a mic. 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.260 Okay. 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:56.900 So this is what's distinctive about our God. 00:21:57.760 --> 00:21:58.760 He is three, 00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.880 and he is one. 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:01.540 There is no other God 00:22:01.540 --> 00:22:03.360 like this guy. 00:22:04.040 --> 00:22:04.700 No other God. 00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:05.540 Now, 00:22:05.540 --> 00:22:06.100 not only this, 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:06.280 John, 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:07.120 one of us understands 00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:09.420 the humanitarian imitations of the law, 00:22:09.540 --> 00:22:11.060 but he also wants us to understand 00:22:11.060 --> 00:22:12.900 the lordship of the law. 00:22:13.120 --> 00:22:13.420 Remember, 00:22:13.560 --> 00:22:14.660 for the ancient Greeks, 00:22:14.780 --> 00:22:17.460 the law was the rational principle 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:19.800 by which the world was logically ordered. 00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:21.500 It was the most basic, 00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:24.020 most fundamental foundation of reality 00:22:24.020 --> 00:22:25.300 that made sense of 00:22:25.300 --> 00:22:27.340 and directed all things. 00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:29.240 And this may sound abstract 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:31.119 and irrelevant to us today, 00:22:31.199 --> 00:22:31.500 but you see, 00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.839 what the Greeks were searching for, 00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:34.679 it's the same thing 00:22:34.679 --> 00:22:36.699 that we are searching for today. 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:38.199 They were trying to make sense of the world 00:22:38.199 --> 00:22:39.379 and of reality 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:41.980 by identifying an authoritative voice, 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.220 an authoritative word. 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:44.399 They were looking for something 00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:45.480 or someone to tell them 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.299 their purpose 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.139 and the world's purpose, 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:49.059 some guiding principle to live by 00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:51.079 that aligned with the essence of reality. 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:53.779 And is that not what we are doing today? 00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:55.779 Is that not what we're after today? 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:57.679 A right understanding of who we are 00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:58.939 and what we're made for 00:22:58.939 --> 00:22:59.839 and who our neighbors are 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:00.740 and how we're to relate 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:02.500 to the rest of this world. 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:05.139 And haven't we, 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.720 just like these ancient Greeks, 00:23:06.939 --> 00:23:07.599 haven't we come up 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:08.899 with several different kinds of answers 00:23:08.899 --> 00:23:09.859 to this question? 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.819 Think of all the words, 00:23:11.939 --> 00:23:13.079 think of all the different logoses 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.559 that have been offered up 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.619 to answer the question 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:18.059 of the meaning of life. 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.460 Right? 00:23:19.099 --> 00:23:21.299 For the consumeristic materialists, 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.579 they live by the logos, 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.059 get money, get paid. 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:24.619 Right? 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:27.319 For the pluralistic relativists, 00:23:27.399 --> 00:23:28.259 they live by the logos, 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.599 you do you. 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.720 The hedonists say, 00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:32.339 YOLO, 00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:33.539 you only live once. 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:35.799 The traditionalists might say, 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.839 family first. 00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:39.119 And even those who don't think 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.399 that we can know 00:23:40.399 --> 00:23:42.279 or identify a single logos 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.879 that makes sense of the world, 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.220 even agnostics have a word 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:45.879 that governs them. 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.359 They say, 00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:48.379 who knows? 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.639 Who knows? 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.099 Or maybe if you're just like me, 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:52.039 a simple, selfish, 00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:53.459 egotistical person, 00:23:53.979 --> 00:23:55.279 the logos that you live by 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.679 is me first. 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:57.859 Mine. 00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.359 What about me? 00:24:00.439 --> 00:24:01.379 And my point is, 00:24:01.459 --> 00:24:01.579 see, 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.740 if we don't use, 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.679 even if we don't use 00:24:03.679 --> 00:24:05.019 the language of logos, 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.539 we all live by 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.919 a controlling word 00:24:07.919 --> 00:24:09.579 that tells us what is good 00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:10.279 and right 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.039 and true 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.779 and real. 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.759 And the question is, 00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:15.219 as the ancient Greeks debated, 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:16.579 what is the true logos? 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.539 What is the logos 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:20.600 that makes the most sense? 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:21.579 Now, 00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.360 I don't have time 00:24:22.360 --> 00:24:23.259 to make that argument 00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:24.019 and John himself 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.740 is not concerned 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.600 to make that argument 00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:26.420 here either, 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.440 but what he does intend 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.079 to make clear 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:29.079 in these verses 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:30.519 is who he 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.240 and who the rest 00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.360 of Jesus' apostles 00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:33.680 believe the logos 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.500 to be. 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.000 For John, 00:24:36.100 --> 00:24:37.279 the logos is none other 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.100 than the word 00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:38.960 who was with God 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.140 and who was God, 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:40.900 creating the world 00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:41.900 and giving life 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:42.680 to all. 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:44.720 this one, 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.660 the one who 00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:46.539 John the Baptist 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:48.299 came and bore witness to. 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.960 The one the rest 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.880 of the gospel of John 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.640 is going to talk about 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:52.940 is Jesus Christ. 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:53.840 Jesus Christ 00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.400 is the logos. 00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:55.620 Now, 00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:56.840 maybe you are here 00:24:56.840 --> 00:24:57.820 and you're exploring 00:24:57.820 --> 00:24:58.460 Christianity 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.960 and maybe you're, 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:00.680 you know, 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.480 or maybe you're just 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:01.860 a Christian 00:25:01.860 --> 00:25:02.620 who struggles 00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.700 with a lot of doubt 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.440 and it's frustrating 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.120 to you that 00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:06.500 I'm not making a case 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:08.019 for why you should believe 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:09.160 what John has to say 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:10.320 about the logos. 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:11.700 But you know what? 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.399 This is actually 00:25:12.399 --> 00:25:13.240 intentional. 00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:14.319 I want you to look 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.919 at verse 4. 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.659 Verse 4 says, 00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:17.099 in him was life 00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:18.700 and this life 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:19.700 was the light 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.279 of men. 00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:21.819 Do you know why 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.859 John doesn't make 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:23.379 an argument 00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:24.099 for his claim 00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:24.700 about the logos? 00:25:25.419 --> 00:25:25.899 Do you know why 00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:26.619 I'm not trying 00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:27.119 to make 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.879 an argumentative case? 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.259 It's because 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.379 even those of us 00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:31.919 who say 00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:32.859 with the very tongue 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.240 and lips 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.899 that God created, 00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:34.919 I'm not sure 00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:35.659 if God exists. 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.779 Even those of us 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.759 who think to ourselves, 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:38.819 is God real? 00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:40.240 With the very minds 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.319 that God gave us, 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:43.099 that we have lives 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:43.880 at all. 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.240 Every life 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.319 is actually 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:47.180 a light 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.279 that reveals 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:49.380 the truth about God 00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:49.980 as our maker 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.120 and our sustainer. 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:53.279 John doesn't give us 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:54.519 a logical proof 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.200 of God 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:55.839 and I won't bother 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.460 either because 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.200 each of us 00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.259 having life 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.799 from God himself, 00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.620 we cannot actually 00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:02.620 escape the light 00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.079 of God. 00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:04.400 Apostle Paul 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.099 indicates this 00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:06.019 in Romans chapter 1 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.480 when he says, 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.539 for what can be known 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.079 about God 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.559 is plain 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.879 because God 00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:10.539 has shown it 00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.899 for his invisible 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.519 attributes, 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.879 namely his eternal power 00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:14.919 and divine nature 00:26:14.919 --> 00:26:15.659 have been clearly 00:26:15.659 --> 00:26:16.259 perceived 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.139 ever since 00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:17.939 the creation 00:26:17.939 --> 00:26:19.019 of the world 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:20.579 in the things 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.500 that have been made. 00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:23.339 So we are without excuse 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:23.819 for although 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:24.879 we knew God, 00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:25.819 we did not honor him 00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.199 as God 00:26:26.199 --> 00:26:27.099 or give thanks to him 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:28.139 but became futile 00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:28.980 in thinking 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.819 and our foolish hearts 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.460 were darkened 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.539 claiming to be wise, 00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:32.619 we became fools 00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:33.819 and exchanged 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.899 the truth about God 00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:35.920 for a lie 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:36.460 and worshipped 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.340 and served the creature 00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:39.060 rather than the creator. 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.720 See, the light 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:42.380 has always shone upon us. 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.560 People made 00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:44.320 in the image of God, 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.060 we all know 00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:46.000 deep down 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.800 who we are 00:26:46.800 --> 00:26:48.480 and what we're made for 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.160 and who our lives 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:49.860 belong to. 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.140 Just like Woody 00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:52.180 from Toy Story, 00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:53.740 Woody's cowboy boot 00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.640 has always had 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:56.220 Andy written on it. 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.200 Just like 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.460 a Buzz Lightyear sleeve 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.259 has always had 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.300 Made in Taiwan 00:27:00.300 --> 00:27:01.840 etched into it. 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.600 Our lives 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:04.519 were given to us 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.299 and they're owed 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:06.859 to our life giver. 00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:08.259 He's given us 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.299 plenty of light. 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.220 But see, 00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.299 the heinousness of sin 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:12.200 is that we've chosen 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.420 darkness instead. 00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.379 We've chosen 00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:16.059 to live by words 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:16.920 other than 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.819 the logos, 00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:19.000 words other than 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.980 the word of God. 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.460 And with this 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.700 re-entrance of darkness 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.480 and sin, 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.359 because of our 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:25.420 rejection of God's word, 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.460 we become confused 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.519 about what is light 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.740 and what is darkness, 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:30.160 unable to distinguish 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.619 truth from falsehood, 00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:32.759 right from wrong. 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.440 And that's why God 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.259 sent witnesses 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.000 like the prophets, 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:36.960 like John the Baptist, 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.680 to bear witness 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.140 to the light, 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.900 as it says in verses 00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:39.580 6 to 8. 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.580 And God even sent 00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:42.059 his own final word, 00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:42.420 his son, 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.180 the true light, 00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:44.180 it says in verse 9. 00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:46.460 But verses 10 and 11, 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.880 while this world 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.820 was made by him 00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:50.480 and he came to his own, 00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:52.840 his own did not 00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:53.519 recognize him. 00:27:53.580 --> 00:27:54.340 His own did not 00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:55.299 receive him. 00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.660 Just like Buzz Lightyear 00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.580 refused to acknowledge 00:27:57.580 --> 00:27:58.500 he was made in Taiwan 00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:59.279 and it ended 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.580 in a crash. 00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:02.439 And this is the 00:28:02.439 --> 00:28:03.599 insidious nature 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.259 of sin. 00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:05.859 This is the depravity 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:06.899 of living by a word 00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:08.619 other than God's word. 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:10.399 When we give up 00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:11.179 on God's word, 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.799 the obvious truth 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:14.419 is no longer obvious. 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.859 And darkness 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:17.059 creeps right in 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:18.299 and all things, 00:28:18.399 --> 00:28:19.399 including you and me 00:28:19.399 --> 00:28:20.139 and our whole lives 00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:21.259 and our very understanding, 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.559 it all gets twisted 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.159 and distorted 00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:24.460 and put off course 00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.419 from the way things 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:26.579 were meant to be. 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:28.099 And so really, 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.559 the problem of unbelief 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.579 is not a lack 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:30.980 of evidence. 00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:32.839 God's light 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:34.059 has always shown clearly. 00:28:34.199 --> 00:28:34.980 He has sent many 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:36.039 of his witnesses 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:37.879 to bear witness 00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:38.579 to the light. 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.799 He even sent 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.859 his true light. 00:28:40.939 --> 00:28:42.220 The problem is not 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:42.699 that God 00:28:42.699 --> 00:28:43.659 has not revealed enough. 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.519 It's that our sinful 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:47.039 and darkened minds 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:48.819 have not rightly received 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.899 this revelation. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.899 We have not rightly 00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:53.339 received his word. 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:55.139 And this is the reason 00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:56.299 why Advent longing 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.960 even exists at all 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.879 because of our sinful 00:28:58.879 --> 00:29:00.839 rejection of the word. 00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.539 But listen, 00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:03.940 our text this morning 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:05.379 ends with good news. 00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:07.319 See, though we've all 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.240 been infected by sin 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.399 and our minds 00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:10.559 have been darkened 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.500 making unbelief 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:11.940 and doubt 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.700 and skepticism 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:14.099 more natural 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:14.940 than trusting 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.659 in God's word, 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.539 God has still 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.419 held out 00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:19.359 his gracious promise 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:19.759 to us. 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.579 Verse 12, 00:29:21.419 --> 00:29:21.940 But to all 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:23.059 who did receive him, 00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.359 who believed 00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:25.180 in his name, 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.119 he gave the right 00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:27.139 to become 00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:28.699 children of God 00:29:28.699 --> 00:29:29.599 who were born 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.339 not of blood 00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:31.139 nor of the will 00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:31.679 of the flesh 00:29:31.679 --> 00:29:32.519 nor of the will 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:32.979 of man 00:29:32.979 --> 00:29:34.039 but of God. 00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:35.119 And see, 00:29:35.219 --> 00:29:36.119 this is the gospel. 00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:37.479 This is the good news 00:29:37.479 --> 00:29:38.099 that the light 00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:39.339 shines in the darkness 00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.179 and the darkness 00:29:40.179 --> 00:29:41.579 has not overcome it. 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:42.619 That even 00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:43.719 when we insisted 00:29:43.719 --> 00:29:45.079 upon the darkness, 00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:46.259 God insisted 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.759 on our adoption. 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.839 He has relentlessly 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:51.500 pursued our inclusion 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.460 and continues 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:52.720 and continues to 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.480 hold out 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.200 his offer 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.680 for us 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:55.480 to join his family. 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:55.900 How? 00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:57.920 Not by insisting 00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.380 that we have 00:29:58.380 --> 00:30:00.160 the right blood lineage, 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:02.240 not by insisting 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.960 that we exert 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:03.640 our wills 00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:04.599 to obey him 00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:05.160 or measure up 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:06.960 to some man-made standard. 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.079 We join his family 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:09.720 by simply trusting 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.859 in his word, 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.619 trusting in his one 00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.599 and only son, 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.359 the one he sent. 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.940 That's all it takes. 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.779 That's all it takes. 00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:18.880 Just trust. 00:30:19.760 --> 00:30:20.860 He's already taken care 00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:21.720 of all the rest. 00:30:21.800 --> 00:30:22.220 He's done 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:23.660 all the heavy lifting. 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.280 He sent his only 00:30:25.280 --> 00:30:26.300 begotten son. 00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:28.240 He sent his only 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.960 begotten son. 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:31.360 He denied the argument 00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:31.980 that it was 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.940 no longer good 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.500 or worthwhile 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.460 to bring a child 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.540 into this world 00:30:35.540 --> 00:30:36.540 knowing full well 00:30:36.540 --> 00:30:37.780 all the terrible things 00:30:37.780 --> 00:30:38.260 that could 00:30:38.260 --> 00:30:39.320 and would happen 00:30:39.320 --> 00:30:40.600 to his only son. 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.680 Knowing that the world's 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.060 deepest, 00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:43.940 darkest day 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.980 was still yet to come 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:45.900 upon his son 00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:47.340 hanging from a cross 00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:48.220 at Gilgotha. 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.900 He sent him anyway. 00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:51.760 He sent him anyway 00:30:51.760 --> 00:30:52.760 all to pay 00:30:52.760 --> 00:30:53.720 for our inclusion 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:55.200 into his family. 00:30:55.340 --> 00:30:56.040 God drew near 00:30:56.040 --> 00:30:57.200 to the darkness 00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.920 of shame 00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.940 and death 00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.940 and defeat. 00:31:01.060 --> 00:31:02.180 And he defeated it. 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.540 And he defeated it. 00:31:04.340 --> 00:31:05.060 And this is the hope 00:31:05.060 --> 00:31:05.500 of Advent, 00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.200 Christ Church. 00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:07.060 This is the hope 00:31:07.060 --> 00:31:07.360 of Advent 00:31:07.360 --> 00:31:08.320 that the coming one 00:31:08.320 --> 00:31:09.620 is the Lord, 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:10.840 the Logos 00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:11.780 of the triune God, 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:12.760 the one from whom 00:31:12.760 --> 00:31:13.900 all eternity, 00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:15.100 the one who 00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:16.300 from all eternity 00:31:16.300 --> 00:31:17.400 enjoyed the loving 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:18.840 smile of the Father 00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:19.600 and the affirming 00:31:19.600 --> 00:31:20.660 presence of the Spirit. 00:31:21.320 --> 00:31:22.360 The hope of Advent 00:31:22.360 --> 00:31:23.320 is that he is coming. 00:31:24.080 --> 00:31:25.160 This is the kind of God 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:26.060 who is making 00:31:26.060 --> 00:31:27.500 all things new. 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.360 And he's coming for us 00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:30.759 that we might enjoy 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.960 the eternal love 00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:32.620 and assurance 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:33.700 of the Father 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.840 with him forever. 00:31:35.840 --> 00:31:36.640 Will you pray with me? 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:43.680 Lord, we confess 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.740 that there is no God 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.240 like you. 00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:48.360 We are so glad 00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:49.020 that your Son 00:31:49.020 --> 00:31:49.860 is the Logos 00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:52.060 and that the Logos 00:31:52.060 --> 00:31:53.680 who is loved 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.540 from eternity 00:31:54.540 --> 00:31:56.300 by the Father 00:31:56.300 --> 00:31:56.860 in the presence 00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:57.620 of the Spirit 00:31:57.620 --> 00:31:59.340 is a Logos 00:31:59.340 --> 00:31:59.820 of love 00:31:59.820 --> 00:32:00.600 toward us. 00:32:01.600 --> 00:32:02.720 He's given himself 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:04.160 for us. 00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:04.980 Who's come near 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.500 the darkness 00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.559 that we might be 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.759 adopted into 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.799 the family of God? 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:11.259 Lord, would you 00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:12.160 open our eyes 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:13.660 to the great privilege 00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:14.559 that you have offered 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.140 to us 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:16.120 that we might be 00:32:16.120 --> 00:32:16.680 called children 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.559 of God 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:20.059 to have access 00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:20.860 to you, 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.339 the Creator, 00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:25.079 to be near you, 00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.360 to be embraced 00:32:26.360 --> 00:32:27.279 into your chest 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:28.059 as your Son 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:28.599 has been 00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:29.700 from all eternity. 00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:32.539 Open our eyes 00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:34.240 to that great privilege 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.000 and honor 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.779 and would we not 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:37.639 squander this offer 00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:39.399 but would we 00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:40.799 joyfully prepare 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.420 our hearts 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.399 to receive 00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:43.920 your Son 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:45.539 and enjoy 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.920 our Sonship 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:48.019 in Christ 00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:48.519 we pray. 00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:49.480 Amen. 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.859 Amen. 00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:52.859 Amen. 00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.859 Amen. 00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:54.859 Amen. 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.859 Amen. 00:32:55.859 --> 00:32:56.859 Amen. 00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:57.859 Amen. 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:58.859 Amen. 00:32:58.859 --> 00:32:58.920 Amen. 00:32:58.920 --> 00:32:58.980 Amen. 00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.000 Amen. 00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.019 Amen. 00:32:59.019 --> 00:32:59.039 Amen. 00:32:59.039 --> 00:32:59.059 Amen. 00:32:59.059 --> 00:32:59.579 Amen. 00:32:59.579 --> 00:32:59.599 Amen. 00:32:59.599 --> 00:32:59.619 Amen. 00:32:59.619 --> 00:32:59.639 Amen. 00:32:59.639 --> 00:32:59.659 Amen. 00:32:59.659 --> 00:32:59.680 Amen. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:32:59.700 Amen.