WEBVTT

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 The scripture reading comes from Romans chapter 3 and 1 Peter chapter 1.

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 Please follow along on the screen, the bulletin, or your own Bible.

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 In Romans 3 verse 21, we read,

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 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,

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 although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,

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 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

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 For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

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 and are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

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 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood to be received by faith.

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 Then, in 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 14, we read,

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 Amen.

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 Great. Thank you so much, Janet.

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 Good morning, everybody.

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 On behalf of Claire and myself, I know it's the 10th of January,

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 but I want to just welcome you to 2021 and say Happy New Year.

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 I really wish that we could do this face-to-face.

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 I wish I could see you and give you a big hug,

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 look you in the eye, and wish you the best for this next year.

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 But I guess doing it through the screen, it's just not quite the same.

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 But really, all the best for this new year to each and every one of us.

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 And I have been praying for us.

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 The elders have been praying for us as a church.

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 Many of you, we've been praying for you by name over the last couple of weeks.

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 And we really are trusting that this year,

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 despite all the challenges that we face,

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 will be an outstanding year for us.

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 A year in which we walk deeply with Christ.

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 A year in which we experience His grace in a whole new and profound way.

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 And so really, just trusting for a fantastic year as we walk with God together.

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 We want you to know that we love you.

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 We're so grateful to be able to walk this journey called life and ministry

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 and following Jesus together with you.

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 And so a warm welcome to you.

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 Will you join us as we pray together?

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 I am very excited for this morning.

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 I have been praying so much for this morning's message.

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 And I'd love for you to join me as we pray together.

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 Let's ask God to speak to us from His Word.

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 So Heavenly Father, as we come to Your Word this morning,

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 God, we say this so often,

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 we're not in the least bit interested in hearing the opinions of man.

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 We are not in the least bit interested, God,

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 in what I have to say or think.

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 We want to know what the truth of Your Word is.

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 We want Your Word, God, to arrest our hearts and to set us free.

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 And God, this morning as we look at this incredible teaching of Your Word,

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 how You died, Jesus, to set us free,

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 God, I pray that that will happen.

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 I pray, God, that You really, by the power of Your Spirit,

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 will be at work in our hearts.

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 And so I pray, God, may Your Word come alive to us this morning.

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 May You bring healing and restoration,

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 redemption to our hearts and our lives, God.

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 I pray, God, by the power of Your Spirit,

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 won't You be at work?

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 God, I pray, let us hear and take stock of only that which You want us to hear.

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 God, come and glorify Your own name.

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 Come and speak to us this morning.

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 We want to hear from the living, risen God from Your Word.

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 And so we ask that in Your powerful and Your gracious name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 When I was growing up, I grew up in South Africa.

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 We had a lot of space.

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 And our family loved playing sports.

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 I had two brothers, an older brother, a younger brother.

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 And we were forever playing sports, cricket, rugby, soccer.

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 And I had a very happy childhood in many ways.

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 But one of the challenges was that my dad had a bad back.

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 The lower vertebra of his back were damaged earlier on in his life.

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 And so even as he would play sports with us, cricket and soccer,

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 we were always very aware of the pain in his back and his lack of mobility,

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 his lack of ability to move.

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 When I was about 10 or 12 years old, somewhere around there,

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 my dad had another back operation, I think his third or fourth operation.

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 And finally in this one, what they did was they took the three vertebra,

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 the lower part of his back, they put bone in the middle,

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 cleaned out the disc, and then they put titanium rods

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 through that kind of new infrastructure and fused these vertebra together.

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 And thereafter, my dad's back was rock solid, as strong as you could imagine.

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 After that, he went hiking to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of Africa.

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 He hiked to the base camp of Mount Everest in the Himalayas.

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 He's gone on motorbike trips and camping trips.

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 And today my dad is almost 70, and he is as strong and as healthy as most 50-year-olds.

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 That operation brought a freedom to my dad that I had never seen in the years growing up before that.

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 Now I'll tell you that story because we're doing this series called Gospel Orthodoxy.

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 And the word ortho in the beginning of orthodoxy means straight or upright or correct.

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 And it's the same word that is in the word orthopedics.

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 An orthopedic surgeon is somebody who is concerned with the skeleton, the bone structure of your body,

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 to make sure that your body is healthy and strong.

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 If a body has a healthy or strong skeleton, especially a spine, a backbone,

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 it gives incredible freedom and mobility and ability to the body to do all sorts of things.

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 But when your skeleton, when your backbone is damaged, it's broken,

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 when it's not working well, it restricts you in incredible ways, just like my dad experienced.

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 In the same way, just like a human body needs to have a strong and healthy skeleton,

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 needs to be straight and upright and correct,

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 so our belief structure, what we know and understand about the Gospel,

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 about who God is, about who we are in God,

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 needs to be correct and straight and upright

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 in order for our spiritual lives to flourish, to be healthy and strong.

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 As any doctor will tell us, that if our bone structure, our skeleton,

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 is out of joint or damaged or we have a bad posture,

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 it can really affect us for years to come, often later down the road.

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 In the same way, when we've got a crooked orthodoxy,

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 a crooked understanding of who God is and what the Gospel is all about,

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 it will lead to spiritual disease and decay and apathy in the years to come.

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 And so that's what this series is really all about.

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 And so last week, Chris helped us, we looked at the biblical doctrine of justification.

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 And justification says that if you are in Christ, you're given a new status before God.

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 You're no longer under the category of condemned, you're under the category of the righteous.

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 No longer under the category of guilty, under the category of grace.

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 Grace.

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 And this is not because of what we've done, it's because of what Jesus has done.

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 Christ's righteousness is given to us, credited to us.

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 You may remember that amazing verse in 2 Corinthians.

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 It says,

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 And friends, to the degree to which we understand and know this incredible truth will change your life.

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 To the degree to which we understand this will be the degree to which we experience freedom,

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 freedom from condemnation, freedom from guilt, freedom from performance,

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 freedom from having to worry about whether God loves us and accepts us.

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 To the degree to which we know this will be the degree to which we experience deep security in God's love and acceptance of us.

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 Most Christians functionally live as if our acceptance of God is based on our performance.

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 The gospel tells us that our acceptance before God is found on Christ's performance, on the cross,

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 and that that is credited to us as if it were our own.

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 This is the scandalous good news of the gospel.

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 So that's justification which we looked at last week.

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 This morning, I want us to look at this another amazing doctrine which is the doctrine of redemption.

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 Redemption.

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 If justification means freedom from guilt, redemption means freedom from slavery.

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 Now when we hear of slavery,

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 we might think in our minds have this image of 18th century transatlantic slave trade,

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 where people, many from Africa, were kidnapped, trafficked into slavery,

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 sent across the ocean to work in the new American colonies.

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 But actually slavery in the ancient world was very different.

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 It was not nearly as brutal as that.

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 It was far more common in many ways.

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 And slavery in the ancient world,

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 people found themselves in slavery for a variety of reasons.

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 It could have been because of warfare or battle.

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 People were taken as the spoils of war.

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 But actually a very common form of slavery was

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 when people got into financial difficulty or debt,

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 they would often, as a form of indentured servanthood,

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 submit themselves to a kind of slavery in order to pay off their debt.

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 In the ancient world, often people put themselves into slavery,

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 whether voluntarily or involuntarily,

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 to pay off a debt that they earn.

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 And yet unlike the 18th century slave trade in North America,

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 generally speaking, a slave in the ancient world could purchase their freedom,

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 either through they themselves or someone else paying off their debt

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 by paying what was called a ransom.

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 And so what would happen is someone would get into financial difficulty,

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 maybe debt,

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 and they would either sell a property of theirs

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 or maybe themselves into slavery in order to pay off that debt.

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 And then they would work for a period of time,

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 a couple of years perhaps,

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 to work towards their freedom.

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 But often what would happen is a family member would come

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 and pay off their debt for them

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 or buy out their freedom

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 in order to either restore that property

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 or restore them to a state of freedom

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 by paying this ransom price.

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 And that act of paying money to buy someone's freedom

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 was called redemption.

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 And so redemption really means to be released

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 or set free or restored by way of payment,

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 to be freed by way of ransom.

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 In the New Testament,

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 the word ransom and the word redemption are almost identical.

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 They have the same Greek root word.

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 And so having been taken captive or enslaved,

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 upon the payment of some price,

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 your freedom was restored.

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 You were redeemed.

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 Now, in the Bible,

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 there's lots of stories or imageries that illustrate this.

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 One of the best ones is the story of Hosea.

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 You might know the story,

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 but Hosea was a prophet,

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 a well-respected man of God in ancient Israel.

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 He was given a message by God to speak to God's people.

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 And one of the ways he delivered this message

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 was through dramatization,

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 through acting it out.

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 And God calls Hosea to marry a lady called Goma.

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 The trouble is Goma is a prostitute.

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 And so just as today the case was in the ancient times,

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 many people found themselves in prostitution,

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 not by way of career choice.

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 They found themselves there because they were forced into it.

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 They were often owned by a pimp,

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 some kind of master.

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 And they were maybe sold into prostitution

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 because of a family debt.

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 A family member maybe sold someone into prostitution.

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 Maybe they put themselves into prostitution

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 because of a debt or poverty that they came across in their lives.

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 Maybe they were taken as a spoil of all.

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 But however it happened,

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 Goma finds herself trapped,

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 enslaved in the world of prostitution.

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 And God calls Hosea to marry her.

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 In order to do so,

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 he first needs to go and redeem her,

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 to buy her out of slavery.

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 And so Hosea goes down to the marketplace,

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 to the town square,

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 and he says,

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 I want to marry Goma.

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 And her owners say,

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 okay,

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 well,

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 that's going to cost you.

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 And so Hosea brings a sum of money,

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 15 silver coins,

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 350 liters of barley,

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 a massive amount of harvest of barley.

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 Together,

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 it comes to 30 pieces of silver,

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 the price for a common slave.

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 And he hands it over,

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 and he buys Goma out of her slavery.

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 He redeems her,

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 and he brings her home.

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 This time,

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 not as an object of lust and abuse,

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 but as his wife.

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 He brings her home,

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 not just to satisfy himself,

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 but to pour out his love upon her.

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 Hosea wasn't just buying her out of prostitution.

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 He was redeeming her humanity,

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 her personhood.

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 Friends,

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 can you imagine how Goma must have felt

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 when she hears that here comes another man

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 that wants to take her for himself.

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 Here's going to be another man

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 she must have thought

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 is going to treat me like everyone else.

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 And yet,

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 unbelievably,

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 incredibly,

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 she finds that

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 Hosea is not going to abuse her and use her.

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 Hosea is redeeming her

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 to pour out his love upon her.

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 Redeeming her

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 to bring her home

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 as his wife.

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 Friends,

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 you know,

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 this is what Christianity

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 is all about.

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 Christianity is not a self-improvement project

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 and attempt to be a better person

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 and attempt to become a more moral person.

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 Christianity is not a philosophy

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 about how to get in touch with your inner self

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 or how to become a more spiritual person.

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 The declaration of Scripture

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 is that apart from Christ,

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 outside of Jesus,

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 we are lost.

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 We are enslaved to our sinful nature.

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 We are enslaved to our sinful habits

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 and to the power of Satan.

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 And yet,

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 Christ Jesus is our Redeemer,

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 a Deliverer,

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 one who has come to buy us out of slavery,

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 buy us out of captivity,

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 to set us free,

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:50.500
 to buy us out of the controlling influence of Satan,

00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:52.319
 out of the destructive patterns

00:15:52.319 --> 00:15:53.460
 of our sinful nature

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:54.600
 and addictions,

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.299
 and to bring us into freedom.

00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:58.519
 Colossians chapter 1 says this,

00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:00.519
 He has redeemed us

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:02.579
 out of the kingdom of darkness

00:16:02.579 --> 00:16:03.819
 and transferred us

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:05.919
 into the kingdom of His beloved Son.

00:16:06.699 --> 00:16:07.259
 In Jesus,

00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:08.419
 we have a Redeemer,

00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:11.339
 one who has come to pay the ransom price,

00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:12.620
 the redemption price,

00:16:12.719 --> 00:16:14.740
 not just 30 silver coins,

00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:16.519
 but with His life.

00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:19.439
 Remember that great passage

00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:21.079
 that Janet read to us earlier.

00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:21.740
 It says this,

00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:23.279
 you were ransomed,

00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.519
 you were redeemed,

00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:26.460
 not with perishable things

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.779
 such as silver or gold.

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.440
 Jesus didn't come and say,

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.159
 okay,

00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:31.019
 let me come,

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.519
 I got a billion dollars,

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:34.639
 I got 50 billion dollars,

00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.639
 how much do you want?

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.500
 Jesus ransomed us,

00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.539
 Jesus redeemed us

00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:44.519
 with His precious blood,

00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:48.179
 with His life on the cross.

00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:50.120
 Mark chapter 10,

00:16:50.219 --> 00:16:51.059
 Jesus says this,

00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:53.299
 the Son of Man has come,

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:55.159
 not to be served,

00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:56.159
 but to serve,

00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:58.959
 to give His life as a redemption,

00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:01.860
 as a ransom for you and I.

00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.659
 So there's this great hymn

00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:05.619
 Francis Light wrote

00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:06.940
 hundreds of years ago,

00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:08.460
 Praise my soul,

00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.359
 the King of heaven,

00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:11.839
 to His feet thy tribute bring,

00:17:12.399 --> 00:17:13.179
 ransomed,

00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.019
 healed,

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.039
 restored,

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:15.579
 forgiven,

00:17:16.439 --> 00:17:17.159
 who like thee

00:17:17.159 --> 00:17:19.019
 His praise should sing.

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.399
 Friends,

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.559
 this is the gospel,

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.659
 this is Christianity,

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:22.779
 this is what

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:24.939
 the entire Bible is about,

00:17:25.179 --> 00:17:26.279
 how we were lost

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:27.079
 and enslaved

00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:28.159
 to our sinful nature,

00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:29.519
 to the forces of Satan,

00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:31.139
 but Christ has come

00:17:31.139 --> 00:17:32.019
 to redeem us

00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:33.299
 and to ransom us,

00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:34.979
 to buy us out of slavery

00:17:34.979 --> 00:17:35.779
 and bondage,

00:17:35.959 --> 00:17:36.500
 ransomed,

00:17:36.659 --> 00:17:36.979
 healed,

00:17:37.179 --> 00:17:37.659
 restored,

00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:38.519
 forgiven,

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:40.420
 this is the gospel.

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:41.759
 Now,

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:43.799
 the question is,

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.859
 what exactly

00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.900
 has Jesus

00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:48.599
 ransomed us from?

00:17:49.639 --> 00:17:51.039
 What does Jesus,

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:51.859
 in what way

00:17:51.859 --> 00:17:52.960
 does Jesus redeem us?

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.160
 I mean,

00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:53.940
 not many of us

00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.720
 are walking around

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.460
 with chains

00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:56.740
 tied to our ankles

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.639
 or our feet,

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.960
 so what exactly

00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.639
 does it mean

00:17:59.639 --> 00:18:00.579
 when Scripture says

00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.619
 that in Him

00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:03.240
 we have redemption?

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.519
 Well,

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.559
 that's a brilliant question.

00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:05.599
 redemption.

00:18:06.399 --> 00:18:07.119
 This morning,

00:18:07.159 --> 00:18:07.700
 I want us to look

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:09.019
 at how the New Testament

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.759
 speaks of three ways

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.639
 that we have redemption

00:18:11.639 --> 00:18:12.200
 in Christ.

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.200
 In Christ,

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.079
 we have freedom

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:15.319
 from the penalty of sin,

00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.440
 we have freedom

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.740
 from the power of sin,

00:18:18.159 --> 00:18:18.980
 and thirdly,

00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.240
 freedom from the very

00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.519
 presence of sin.

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.240
 Let's look at the first one,

00:18:23.639 --> 00:18:25.339
 freedom from the penalty

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.259
 of sin.

00:18:27.659 --> 00:18:28.819
 Look at me,

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.899
 look with me

00:18:29.899 --> 00:18:31.220
 at Romans chapter 3,

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.220
 and this is what

00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.480
 Janet read to us earlier.

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.680
 Paul writes this.

00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:35.720
 We looked at this

00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:36.660
 last week with Chris.

00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:37.720
 Paul writes,

00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:40.200
 For all have sinned

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.559
 and fallen short

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.779
 of the glory of God,

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.779
 but are justified

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:46.180
 by His grace

00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:47.039
 as a gift

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:49.120
 through the redemption,

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.559
 there's our word,

00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:52.420
 that is in Jesus Christ,

00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:53.920
 by His blood

00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:55.240
 to be received

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:55.940
 by faith.

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.640
 In Galatians chapter 3,

00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.559
 Paul says it this way,

00:18:58.620 --> 00:18:58.779
 he says,

00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:00.220
 Christ redeemed us,

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:00.819
 there's our word,

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.099
 from the curse

00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.740
 of the law,

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:03.779
 by becoming

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:05.659
 a curse for us.

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.419
 Christ redeemed us

00:19:07.419 --> 00:19:08.240
 from the curse

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.659
 of the law.

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:08.899
 Now,

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.719
 what on earth

00:19:09.719 --> 00:19:10.799
 does that mean?

00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:12.019
 What it means

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.679
 is that Christ

00:19:12.679 --> 00:19:13.959
 has redeemed us,

00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:15.179
 brought us out of slavery,

00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:16.119
 out of bondage,

00:19:16.219 --> 00:19:17.779
 from the charge,

00:19:17.919 --> 00:19:18.679
 the curse,

00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.799
 that was hanging

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.959
 over our heads,

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:22.259
 on account of us

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.980
 having broken

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.019
 God's holy law.

00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:25.819
 So picture this with me.

00:19:26.199 --> 00:19:27.000
 Imagine you are

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.839
 traveling in some

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.500
 foreign country,

00:19:28.659 --> 00:19:29.299
 you go somewhere

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:29.939
 for work,

00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:31.039
 and you've been

00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.700
 there two weeks,

00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.519
 you've done some work,

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.180
 you're on your way

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:33.940
 back to the airport

00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:35.160
 to come back home

00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:35.779
 to Hong Kong.

00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:37.480
 And while you're in the taxi

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.440
 on the way to the airport,

00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.500
 you're minding

00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.160
 your own business

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:41.039
 and you hear

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.100
 all these sirens,

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.100
 these police sirens

00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:43.840
 and motorbikes

00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:44.960
 coming up behind you

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.400
 and you think,

00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.200
 oh, that's interesting.

00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.580
 And the next minute,

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.519
 they pull in front

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.080
 of your taxi

00:19:49.080 --> 00:19:50.340
 and they steer your taxi

00:19:50.340 --> 00:19:51.220
 off the road

00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:52.820
 to a standstill.

00:19:54.120 --> 00:19:54.940
 And the next minute,

00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.019
 these policemen

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.000
 jump out of the car,

00:19:57.120 --> 00:19:58.360
 they open the taxi doors,

00:19:58.359 --> 00:19:59.339
 they pull you out,

00:19:59.719 --> 00:20:00.359
 tie your hands

00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:01.019
 behind your back,

00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:01.919
 they arrest you

00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:02.939
 and put you

00:20:02.939 --> 00:20:03.879
 in a police vehicle.

00:20:04.439 --> 00:20:04.899
 And you say,

00:20:04.959 --> 00:20:06.019
 what on earth is going on?

00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.859
 And all they say is,

00:20:07.919 --> 00:20:08.579
 you have the right

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.359
 to remain silent.

00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.519
 Anything you say

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.279
 can and will be

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.000
 held against you.

00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:14.039
 You go to the police station

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:15.079
 and you say,

00:20:15.139 --> 00:20:16.000
 what's going on?

00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.819
 And you find out

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.859
 that you've broken

00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.899
 some law

00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:21.379
 of the land,

00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:24.479
 some very serious law.

00:20:25.719 --> 00:20:26.039
 Friends,

00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:27.500
 you are under the curse,

00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:28.960
 the charge,

00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:30.420
 of having broken

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.619
 the law.

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.740
 You are detained

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.500
 as you face

00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.180
 the charges

00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:35.460
 of the law.

00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.259
 Friends,

00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:37.319
 look at what Paul says here.

00:20:37.379 --> 00:20:37.700
 He says,

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:39.339
 all of us have sinned

00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:40.819
 and fallen short

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.859
 of God's standard

00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:42.359
 of glory.

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.539
 All of us have come

00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.539
 under the charge

00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.920
 of having broken

00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:47.000
 God's holy law.

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.839
 All of us have lived

00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.460
 for ourselves.

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:51.440
 We've exalted ourselves

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.519
 and honored ourselves

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.759
 rather than Christ

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:55.240
 and God our maker.

00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:57.359
 We have pushed him aside

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:59.259
 and we've worshipped ourselves.

00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:00.619
 We've neither loved God

00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.559
 nor loved others

00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.480
 more than ourselves.

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.660
 We have broken

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.640
 God's holy law.

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.680
 You've done it,

00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.339
 I've done it,

00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.140
 we've all done it.

00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:07.920
 And the result is

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.700
 that we are under

00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.480
 a charge,

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.700
 under a curse

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.700
 of having broken

00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.339
 God's law.

00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:13.359
 And so look at

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.359
 what Galatians says.

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:15.539
 He says,

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.759
 Jesus Christ

00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:18.180
 redeemed us,

00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:19.160
 brought us

00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:19.839
 out of

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:21.240
 the bondage

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.460
 of the curse

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.059
 of the law

00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:24.559
 by becoming

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.779
 a curse for us.

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:27.039
 By taking on

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.299
 that curse himself.

00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:29.799
 Jesus brought us

00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.779
 out of bondage

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.660
 by suffering

00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.960
 the consequences

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.839
 of our guilt

00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:34.599
 in our place.

00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:36.339
 Jesus had his life

00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.380
 taken from him

00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:37.900
 on the cross.

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.460
 He paid the price

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.559
 that we deserve

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.740
 so that we can be

00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.440
 set free

00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:43.839
 from that charge

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.539
 that is leveled

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:45.059
 against us.

00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:46.259
 The price has been paid,

00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.599
 the debt has been settled,

00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:49.120
 the charge of guilt

00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:50.559
 has been nullified

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.279
 and removed.

00:21:51.419 --> 00:21:52.159
 The charge sheet

00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:53.419
 has been torn in two

00:21:53.419 --> 00:21:55.359
 and has been cast aside.

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.699
 Ephesians 1

00:21:56.699 --> 00:21:57.479
 says it like this,

00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:59.359
 In him we have redemption.

00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.279
 There's our word.

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.659
 Through his blood

00:22:01.659 --> 00:22:02.799
 the forgiveness

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.359
 of our sins.

00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:06.439
 Friends,

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.579
 this is the great news

00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.759
 of the gospel.

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:09.859
 Now,

00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.159
 as a sidebar,

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.319
 the New Testament

00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:12.839
 says something

00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.500
 very interesting

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.379
 because it says

00:22:14.379 --> 00:22:15.039
 that Christ

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.079
 has also redeemed us

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.839
 from the power

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:18.079
 of Satan.

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:18.919
 Now,

00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.539
 in what way

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.839
 has Jesus redeemed us

00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.359
 from the power

00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:21.799
 of Satan?

00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.819
 One of the ways

00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:24.319
 that the Bible

00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.159
 says Satan

00:22:25.159 --> 00:22:26.379
 torments

00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:27.659
 and makes life

00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:28.039
 difficult

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:28.599
 for followers

00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:29.099
 of Jesus

00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:30.139
 is through

00:22:30.139 --> 00:22:31.199
 his accusation.

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:31.519
 In fact,

00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.419
 the book of Revelation

00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:33.859
 Satan is called

00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:34.799
 the accuser.

00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.619
 And Satan

00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.399
 often comes to

00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:37.779
 believers

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.399
 and he says,

00:22:38.919 --> 00:22:39.519
 How can God

00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:39.980
 love you?

00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:41.299
 You're such a sinner.

00:22:41.939 --> 00:22:42.859
 Do you really think

00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.679
 that God loves you,

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.659
 that God accepts you

00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:45.419
 when you've done

00:22:45.419 --> 00:22:46.819
 this and this?

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:48.119
 How on earth

00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:48.599
 can you think

00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.539
 that God loves you?

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.659
 And he accuses us

00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:51.720
 and he reminds us

00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:52.879
 of our sin.

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.200
 But friends,

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:54.879
 in the gospel,

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:56.779
 Jesus has dismantled

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:58.279
 that accusation

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:58.700
 of Satan.

00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.539
 He's taken

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.679
 his primary weapon

00:23:00.679 --> 00:23:01.779
 and he's disarmed him.

00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.339
 Look at how

00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:03.539
 Colossians says it.

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.919
 Having forgiven us

00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:05.919
 our trespasses

00:23:05.919 --> 00:23:07.299
 by cancelling

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.039
 the record

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.720
 of debt

00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:09.500
 that stood

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.139
 against us

00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:11.559
 with its legal demands

00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:13.079
 through his self-offering

00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.599
 at the cross,

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:15.599
 Jesus disarmed

00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:16.219
 the rulers

00:23:16.219 --> 00:23:16.959
 and the authorities

00:23:16.959 --> 00:23:17.859
 and put them

00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:19.179
 to open shame.

00:23:19.699 --> 00:23:20.240
 Jesus took

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.219
 the very weapon

00:23:21.219 --> 00:23:22.759
 that Satan uses,

00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:24.179
 they're accusing us

00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:24.659
 of our sin,

00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:26.319
 and he disarms him.

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:29.619
 He renders him

00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.359
 a void.

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.659
 David Mathis

00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:32.500
 says it like this,

00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.539
 The decisive weapon

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.219
 the demons had

00:23:35.219 --> 00:23:35.919
 against us

00:23:35.919 --> 00:23:37.179
 was accusation

00:23:37.179 --> 00:23:38.399
 of our unforgiven sin.

00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:39.639
 But when Jesus

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.679
 poured out his blood

00:23:40.679 --> 00:23:41.379
 in our place

00:23:41.379 --> 00:23:42.159
 to forgive us

00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:42.660
 of our sins,

00:23:43.060 --> 00:23:43.980
 he freed us

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.660
 from captivity.

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:46.680
 He redeemed us

00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.540
 from Satan

00:23:47.540 --> 00:23:48.500
 and the record

00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:49.060
 of debt

00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:50.779
 and legal demands

00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.580
 that stood

00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.300
 against us.

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.680
 See what's happened there?

00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.440
 Friends,

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.500
 if you are in Christ,

00:23:55.580 --> 00:23:56.300
 if you've come to him

00:23:56.300 --> 00:23:57.300
 in faith and repentance,

00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:58.779
 Satan comes to you

00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.019
 and says,

00:23:59.120 --> 00:24:00.200
 You're such a miserable sinner.

00:24:00.800 --> 00:24:01.340
 How do you think

00:24:01.340 --> 00:24:02.540
 God could ever love you

00:24:02.540 --> 00:24:03.340
 or accept you?

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.420
 And do you know

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:04.880
 what you do?

00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:05.820
 At first,

00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:07.040
 you start to feel condemned.

00:24:07.800 --> 00:24:08.620
 You feel guilty.

00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:09.779
 You feel like,

00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:09.980
 Yeah,

00:24:10.580 --> 00:24:11.800
 I'm such a terrible Christian.

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.399
 How could God

00:24:12.399 --> 00:24:13.059
 ever love you?

00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:14.899
 And then suddenly,

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.220
 you go to CG

00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:18.039
 or you go to church

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:19.619
 and one of your brothers

00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.119
 or sisters

00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:21.539
 reminds you of the gospel.

00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.559
 They read something

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.659
 in the scripture

00:24:23.659 --> 00:24:25.519
 and suddenly you realize,

00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.599
 I've been free.

00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:27.980
 I've been set free.

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.720
 And so you say to Satan,

00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:30.599
 Satan,

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.819
 shut it.

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.659
 The debt has been paid.

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:35.180
 I have been justified.

00:24:35.399 --> 00:24:36.359
 I've been redeemed,

00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:37.359
 ransomed,

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:37.859
 healed,

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.500
 restored,

00:24:38.919 --> 00:24:39.319
 forgiven.

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.279
 You preach the gospel

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.819
 to yourself

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.240
 and you say,

00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:43.799
 Jesus is my redeemer.

00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:45.740
 He has canceled

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.579
 the record of debt

00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.519
 that stood against me

00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.939
 with its legal demands.

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:50.179
 It is finished.

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.859
 It has been paid

00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:52.779
 in full.

00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:53.700
 Friends,

00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:55.119
 Jesus redeems us

00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:55.819
 from the penalty

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:57.159
 of sin.

00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:58.879
 Now,

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.639
 as wonderful

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.419
 and as powerful

00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:02.039
 as that is,

00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.819
 in many ways,

00:25:02.919 --> 00:25:03.720
 that's transaction

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.879
 that takes place

00:25:04.879 --> 00:25:06.039
 in the heavens.

00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:08.099
 But for those of us

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:08.680
 that are in Christ,

00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:10.079
 our record has been settled.

00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.379
 The debt has been paid.

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:13.159
 But how does Christ's

00:25:13.159 --> 00:25:14.000
 redemption work

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.519
 actually help us today

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.319
 or tomorrow

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.359
 or this week?

00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.420
 Well,

00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.319
 that's a great question.

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.139
 Secondly,

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:22.379
 Christ frees us

00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:24.119
 from the power of sin.

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.539
 I wonder how many of us

00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.639
 feel like the death

00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:28.779
 and resurrection of Jesus,

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.940
 as wonderful as it is

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.759
 for our past

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.680
 and as good news

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.799
 as it is for our future,

00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.779
 has very little bearing

00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.960
 on our lives today.

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:36.460
 And yet,

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.379
 we couldn't possibly

00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:38.500
 be more wrong.

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:39.899
 The New Testament

00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:41.059
 tells us again and again

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:42.700
 that the death of Christ

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.700
 has ransomed us,

00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.579
 redeemed us,

00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.279
 set us free

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.359
 on account of His death,

00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:48.099
 not only from the record

00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:49.220
 of sin of our past,

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.859
 but also from the power

00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:52.099
 of sin in our present,

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:52.899
 today.

00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.319
 Look at how

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:56.079
 the Apostle Peter says it.

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:56.960
 Janice read this

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.539
 to us earlier.

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.660
 He says this,

00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:00.279
 As God's children,

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:02.160
 do not be conformed

00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:02.819
 to the passions

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:04.240
 of your former ignorance,

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:06.279
 but as He who called you

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:06.680
 is holy,

00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.940
 so you also be holy

00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.859
 in all your conduct.

00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:11.319
 Since it is written,

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.759
 You shall be holy

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.559
 for I am holy.

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.619
 So let's just pause it.

00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.559
 Just think about that.

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.779
 God is saying that

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:19.359
 it's His will

00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.180
 that as Christians,

00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:21.799
 our lives reflect something

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.799
 of Jesus' nature

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.339
 and character.

00:26:23.899 --> 00:26:25.160
 Just as God is holy,

00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.319
 we ought to be holy.

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.920
 God doesn't want us

00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.639
 to live

00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:30.119
 in the way

00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:30.779
 that we lived

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.899
 when we were ignorant

00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:32.859
 about the gospel

00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.660
 and who God is.

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.660
 He doesn't want us

00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.279
 to live as if

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:37.180
 we don't know

00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:37.920
 who Jesus is,

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:38.740
 we don't understand

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.240
 the gospel,

00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:39.900
 we don't know

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:40.980
 about the holiness

00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.600
 of God.

00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:42.420
 Friends,

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.080
 if you're a Christian,

00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:43.860
 we shouldn't say,

00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.080
 Well,

00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:45.200
 Jesus died for my sin,

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.340
 I can just carry on sinning,

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:46.920
 it doesn't matter,

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.279
 it's all forgiven anyway.

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.880
 God is holy

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:51.080
 and He wants our lives

00:26:51.080 --> 00:26:52.400
 to reflect His holiness.

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:54.100
 Just as it is written,

00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:55.120
 You shall be holy

00:26:55.120 --> 00:26:56.580
 just as God is holy.

00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.440
 But then He says,

00:26:58.560 --> 00:26:59.660
 Knowing that,

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.400
 so there's something

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:02.060
 that we should know

00:27:02.060 --> 00:27:02.840
 or understand,

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:04.019
 something we need

00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.620
 to believe

00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.820
 that's going to help us

00:27:05.820 --> 00:27:06.960
 to live lives

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.660
 of holiness.

00:27:08.060 --> 00:27:08.220
 Okay?

00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:09.500
 Knowing what?

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:11.340
 Knowing that you were

00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.120
 ransomed

00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:14.300
 from the futile ways

00:27:14.300 --> 00:27:15.980
 inherited from your forefathers,

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.940
 not with perishable things

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:19.180
 such as silver or gold,

00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:20.900
 but with the precious

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:23.400
 blood of Christ.

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:24.779
 Friends,

00:27:24.820 --> 00:27:25.620
 you see what Peter is saying?

00:27:26.459 --> 00:27:27.639
 Jesus' death on the cross

00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:29.500
 wasn't just to forgive us,

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.739
 wasn't just to pay

00:27:30.739 --> 00:27:31.959
 for the penalty of sin,

00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:33.239
 as wonderful as that is,

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:35.039
 Jesus' death on the cross

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:36.559
 also redeems us

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:38.979
 from the futile ways

00:27:38.979 --> 00:27:41.219
 that we live naturally,

00:27:41.959 --> 00:27:42.799
 that we inherit

00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.739
 from our forefathers,

00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:45.259
 the futile ways of life

00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.519
 outside of the gospel.

00:27:46.959 --> 00:27:47.639
 What Christians

00:27:47.639 --> 00:27:48.799
 in previous generations

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:51.000
 called our besetting sins.

00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:52.379
 Those sins that keep

00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:53.359
 on plaguing us

00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.619
 and tormenting us

00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:55.539
 that we struggle

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.279
 to get free from,

00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:57.679
 Jesus died to set us

00:27:57.679 --> 00:27:58.379
 free from that.

00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.059
 Friends,

00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:02.339
 I wonder what areas

00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:03.679
 of our lives

00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:06.779
 don't reflect

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.439
 the holiness

00:28:07.439 --> 00:28:08.639
 and the beauty

00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.159
 of Jesus.

00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:11.359
 Don't reflect

00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:13.419
 the redeeming,

00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.419
 ransoming power

00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:15.019
 of Christ.

00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.599
 Friends,

00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:17.079
 when you look

00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:17.739
 at your life,

00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:19.159
 what patterns,

00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:20.019
 what behavior

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:21.459
 keep on tripping you up?

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.519
 Things you just can't seem

00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.779
 to get the better of.

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:26.740
 Friends,

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:28.039
 what sinful patterns

00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:28.859
 of behavior?

00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:31.480
 What sinful patterns

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.200
 of thought?

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.220
 What destructive

00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:35.400
 coping mechanisms?

00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:38.019
 What toxic relationships

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:39.099
 do you find

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:40.839
 you keep going back to?

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:43.759
 Friends,

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.480
 what addictions

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.539
 do you find yourself

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.339
 trapped in?

00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.639
 Addictions that you hate

00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.820
 but you just can't seem

00:28:49.820 --> 00:28:50.780
 to get the better of?

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:52.960
 Friends,

00:28:53.020 --> 00:28:53.600
 what idols

00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.460
 do you find yourself

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.640
 trusting in again

00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:56.160
 and again

00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:56.880
 out of fear

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:58.580
 or insecurity?

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.620
 Christ's death

00:29:01.620 --> 00:29:02.360
 on the cross

00:29:02.360 --> 00:29:04.259
 was meant to ransom us,

00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:05.220
 redeem us,

00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:06.300
 even out of those

00:29:06.300 --> 00:29:07.640
 patterns of our life.

00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:10.060
 In my life,

00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:11.600
 over the last couple

00:29:11.600 --> 00:29:11.980
 of years,

00:29:12.040 --> 00:29:12.980
 I've become aware

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.960
 of just how

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:15.480
 enslaved I am

00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:17.579
 to people's approval

00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.900
 and affirmation

00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:19.559
 of me.

00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:22.200
 I find it

00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.440
 often very difficult

00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.460
 to say no

00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.039
 to people.

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.400
 I find it very difficult

00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:28.579
 to disagree,

00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.440
 extremely difficult

00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.019
 to disagree

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.799
 with anyone

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.840
 in authority.

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.539
 Often I find it

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.440
 difficult to say no

00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.200
 to requests

00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:36.059
 that are made of me.

00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.700
 Even if I know

00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.740
 it's not a good idea,

00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:38.700
 I will go along

00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.100
 with it.

00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:41.039
 I often find

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:43.659
 that I hate

00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:44.299
 making people

00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.319
 feel uncomfortable

00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.519
 or awkward.

00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.119
 I find that

00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:48.759
 this leads me

00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:49.420
 from time to time

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.720
 to being less than honest.

00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.539
 I find myself

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.440
 talking to someone

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.839
 and even though

00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.579
 I disagree with

00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.680
 everything that they're saying,

00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:56.359
 I find myself

00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:57.019
 nodding my head

00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.339
 and saying,

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:57.599
 yeah,

00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:59.599
 I agree with you.

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.859
 All out of this fear

00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:03.240
 of what will people

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:04.000
 think of me

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.819
 if I disagree with them

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.839
 or what will

00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:08.079
 out of this fear

00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.759
 of

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:11.759
 people not

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.500
 approving me

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.640
 or affirming me.

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.339
 I find that

00:30:15.339 --> 00:30:15.879
 I get myself

00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.579
 in situations

00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.759
 I don't want to be in

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:19.160
 or because I'm afraid

00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:20.339
 to disagree with people

00:30:20.339 --> 00:30:21.779
 or say what I really feel.

00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:23.859
 And as I've thought

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:24.319
 about this

00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:26.079
 over the years,

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.599
 one of the things

00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:27.339
 I've realized

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.319
 is that actually

00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.539
 in a very deep

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.640
 part of my heart,

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:32.240
 I love

00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:33.019
 and treasure

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:33.779
 and value

00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.680
 the approval

00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.519
 of people

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:37.180
 actually more

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:37.940
 than I value

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:38.559
 and treasure

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.620
 God

00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:41.420
 and who He is

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.039
 and what He has

00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.900
 to say about me.

00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:45.059
 In many ways,

00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:45.960
 there's this idol

00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:47.460
 that's deeply rooted

00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.320
 in my heart

00:30:48.320 --> 00:30:49.580
 that is the idol

00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:51.220
 of I find security

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:51.940
 and comfort

00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:52.680
 and peace

00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:54.539
 in people affirming me

00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.539
 and people approving me

00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:56.620
 even more than I do

00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:58.039
 in who God is.

00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.299
 Now,

00:30:59.340 --> 00:30:59.880
 I'm sure I'm not

00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:00.539
 the only one

00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.840
 that feels like this,

00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:03.100
 but one of the things

00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:03.940
 I found fascinating

00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:04.900
 is that even though

00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:05.759
 I hate it,

00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:06.580
 even though

00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:07.620
 it has this controlling

00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:08.700
 influence of my life,

00:31:08.840 --> 00:31:09.500
 every year,

00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.120
 at New Year's,

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:10.900
 I make a New Year's

00:31:10.900 --> 00:31:11.360
 resolution.

00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.380
 This is the year

00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:13.160
 I'm going to be courageous.

00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.100
 This is the year

00:31:14.100 --> 00:31:14.840
 I'm going to be bold.

00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:15.920
 This is the year

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:16.900
 I'm not going to give in

00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:18.420
 to people pleasing.

00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:19.240
 And yet,

00:31:19.280 --> 00:31:19.980
 a couple of weeks,

00:31:20.080 --> 00:31:20.960
 months down the road,

00:31:21.040 --> 00:31:22.800
 I find that I'm

00:31:22.800 --> 00:31:23.820
 controlled by this

00:31:23.820 --> 00:31:24.600
 and I find myself

00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:25.480
 giving in to it.

00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:27.120
 And the besetting sin

00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:27.980
 of people pleasing

00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:28.860
 seems to have this

00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:29.660
 hold on me.

00:31:30.340 --> 00:31:31.000
 And even though

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.600
 I hate it,

00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:32.580
 I feel incapable

00:31:32.580 --> 00:31:33.940
 of breaking free from it.

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:36.519
 A couple of months ago,

00:31:36.620 --> 00:31:37.840
 I realized this

00:31:37.840 --> 00:31:38.980
 and was processing this

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.840
 and praying through it

00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:40.900
 and I realized that

00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:42.420
 I had to confess

00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:44.539
 that this controlling

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.420
 influence of my life

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:46.299
 is not just because

00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:47.039
 of my personality,

00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:48.160
 it's not just because

00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.820
 of my culture,

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:50.400
 it's not just middle

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.180
 child syndrome

00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.880
 or some other

00:31:51.880 --> 00:31:52.920
 psychological thing

00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:53.840
 I want to blame it on.

00:31:54.580 --> 00:31:55.039
 Actually,

00:31:55.340 --> 00:31:56.580
 deep in my heart,

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:59.759
 in my psychology,

00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:00.299
 I guess,

00:32:00.820 --> 00:32:02.480
 there is an idol there

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:04.380
 that treasures

00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:05.140
 and loves

00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:06.079
 to prove with people

00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:06.720
 more than God.

00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:07.720
 There is an idol

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.620
 that I've set up

00:32:08.620 --> 00:32:09.380
 that I trust

00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:09.920
 and hope in

00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:10.579
 more than Jesus.

00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.579
 And so over the process

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.579
 of a couple of weeks,

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.940
 I really felt like

00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:16.200
 I did deep confession.

00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:18.079
 I started to hate

00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:19.319
 and despise this idol

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:20.759
 and bring it into the light

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:22.140
 and started to do

00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:23.299
 deep repentance

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.200
 as I brought this

00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:24.779
 before God

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.019
 and said,

00:32:25.099 --> 00:32:25.220
 God,

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.000
 I'm so sorry

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.339
 that actually

00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:28.299
 in my heart of hearts,

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:29.379
 I often love people

00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:30.259
 more than I love you.

00:32:30.379 --> 00:32:30.659
 God,

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.359
 I'm sorry,

00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:32.599
 won't you forgive me?

00:32:33.419 --> 00:32:34.159
 And as I did

00:32:34.159 --> 00:32:35.579
 the deep soul work

00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.319
 of confession

00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:36.960
 and repentance,

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.259
 I started to discover

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:39.319
 the most amazing thing.

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:41.279
 I started to discover

00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.079
 a freedom

00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:43.779
 that I had not experienced

00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:44.639
 for years

00:32:44.639 --> 00:32:45.539
 and years

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.359
 and years.

00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:46.559
 Now,

00:32:46.619 --> 00:32:47.279
 I can't pretend

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.879
 that I've got it all sorted

00:32:48.879 --> 00:32:50.419
 and that it never rears its head.

00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.519
 But friends,

00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.319
 for the first time

00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:53.460
 in years and years,

00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:54.519
 I've experienced

00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:55.200
 this freedom

00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.680
 from this deep-seated

00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:57.139
 hold

00:32:57.140 --> 00:32:58.020
 and idolatry

00:32:58.020 --> 00:32:59.300
 in my life.

00:32:59.759 --> 00:32:59.960
 Now,

00:33:00.020 --> 00:33:00.420
 look again

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.259
 at what Peter says.

00:33:01.780 --> 00:33:02.120
 He says,

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:03.280
 As children of God,

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.660
 do not be conformed

00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:05.280
 to the passions

00:33:05.280 --> 00:33:06.480
 of your former ignorance,

00:33:07.360 --> 00:33:08.600
 for He has called you

00:33:08.600 --> 00:33:09.380
 to be holy,

00:33:10.080 --> 00:33:10.800
 since it's written,

00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:11.560
 you shall be holy

00:33:11.560 --> 00:33:12.220
 as I am holy,

00:33:12.860 --> 00:33:13.720
 knowing this,

00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:15.900
 that you were ransomed

00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:17.880
 from the futile ways

00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:18.420
 inherited

00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:20.840
 from your forefathers,

00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:21.540
 generations,

00:33:22.020 --> 00:33:23.540
 not with perishable things

00:33:23.540 --> 00:33:24.800
 such as silver or gold,

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.440
 but with the precious

00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:27.360
 blood of Jesus.

00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:28.380
 The Apostle Paul

00:33:28.380 --> 00:33:29.200
 says it the same way

00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:29.880
 when he writes it

00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:30.680
 to Titus.

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.240
 He says this,

00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.180
 Our Savior,

00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:33.080
 Jesus Christ,

00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:35.220
 gave Himself for us

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:36.519
 to redeem us,

00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.080
 there's our word,

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.460
 from the lawlessness

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:40.160
 and to purify for Himself

00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:40.759
 a people

00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.740
 for His own possession.

00:33:42.600 --> 00:33:43.480
 Galatians tells us

00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.640
 that Christ redeemed us

00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:45.799
 from the curse of the law,

00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:46.880
 the charge that hangs

00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:47.460
 over our head

00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:48.360
 that says guilty.

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.059
 Paul tells us

00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:50.799
 in Titus

00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:51.640
 and Peter

00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:53.960
 that Christ has redeemed us.

00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.279
 What?

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.960
 Not just from the charge,

00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:57.759
 but from the futile ways

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.879
 that have a bondage

00:33:58.879 --> 00:33:59.399
 over our life,

00:33:59.480 --> 00:34:00.460
 that control us.

00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:02.059
 Christ has redeemed us

00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:02.899
 to set us free

00:34:02.899 --> 00:34:03.980
 so that we can become

00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:04.480
 the people

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.599
 that He's called us to be.

00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:06.960
 We sang it earlier,

00:34:07.139 --> 00:34:08.820
 What can take away my sin?

00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:10.619
 Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:13.239
 What can make me whole again?

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:16.860
 Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:17.739
 Friends,

00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:19.019
 the gospel is not just

00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.920
 that Jesus died

00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:21.039
 to take away your sin,

00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:22.119
 but now you've just

00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:22.779
 got to suffer

00:34:22.779 --> 00:34:24.259
 and live as if

00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:25.779
 one day you'll get to heaven

00:34:25.779 --> 00:34:27.019
 but it has no bearing

00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:27.539
 in your life.

00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.619
 This day,

00:34:28.779 --> 00:34:29.279
 this week,

00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:30.639
 Christ's power

00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:32.119
 of overcoming the grave

00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:33.360
 is given to you

00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:34.340
 to set you free

00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:35.300
 from the besetting,

00:34:35.460 --> 00:34:36.000
 controlling,

00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:36.719
 addictive,

00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:38.079
 powerful sins

00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:39.539
 in your life.

00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:40.300
 Friends,

00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:40.880
 for those of us

00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:41.559
 who are in Christ,

00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:43.000
 addiction is an

00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:44.779
 illegitimate master.

00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:45.940
 It's a trapment.

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:47.000
 Scripture says

00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:48.119
 it is for freedom

00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.500
 that Christ has set you free.

00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:51.000
 Stand firm then

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.579
 in your freedom

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:53.480
 and do not be enslaved

00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:55.000
 by a pattern of slavery.

00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.039
 Friends,

00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.619
 your freedom

00:34:56.619 --> 00:34:57.380
 has been purchased.

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:58.699
 The price has been paid

00:34:58.699 --> 00:35:00.159
 by the power of the Spirit.

00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:00.739
 Christ says,

00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.760
 walk in the freedom

00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.599
 that He's purchased

00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:03.960
 for you.

00:35:05.820 --> 00:35:06.260
 Freedom

00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:08.079
 from the penalty of sin,

00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:08.559
 freedom

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.760
 from the power of sin.

00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:11.179
 Thirdly and finally,

00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:11.940
 this will be quick,

00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:13.000
 freedom

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:14.480
 from the presence of sin.

00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:16.480
 One day,

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.880
 Jesus is going to return

00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:19.420
 and He's going to

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.160
 take us home.

00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:22.260
 And when we get

00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:22.960
 to be with Him

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.500
 in glory,

00:35:24.280 --> 00:35:24.840
 there will be

00:35:24.840 --> 00:35:26.619
 no more brokenness,

00:35:26.720 --> 00:35:27.440
 no more sin,

00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.539
 no more defection,

00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:31.240
 no more anything

00:35:31.240 --> 00:35:31.840
 that's wrong

00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:32.619
 with our lives,

00:35:32.680 --> 00:35:33.220
 our hearts,

00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:33.760
 our bodies,

00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:34.340
 with our souls.

00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:35.660
 We will be completely,

00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:36.180
 finally,

00:35:36.300 --> 00:35:37.220
 and fully redeemed.

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:39.300
 In Luke chapter 21,

00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:40.300
 Jesus is talking

00:35:40.300 --> 00:35:41.340
 to His disciples

00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:42.140
 and He's telling them

00:35:42.140 --> 00:35:42.740
 about the time

00:35:42.740 --> 00:35:43.200
 when He's going to

00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:43.920
 return again.

00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:45.180
 and He says this,

00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:45.940
 when you see

00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:46.820
 these signs

00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:48.519
 beginning to take place,

00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.700
 straighten up,

00:35:50.340 --> 00:35:51.159
 lift up your head

00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:53.059
 because your redemption

00:35:53.059 --> 00:35:54.180
 is near.

00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:54.659
 Now,

00:35:54.680 --> 00:35:55.220
 He's not talking

00:35:55.220 --> 00:35:56.019
 about your salvation.

00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:56.619
 That happens

00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.260
 the day you put

00:35:57.260 --> 00:35:58.099
 your faith in Christ.

00:35:58.360 --> 00:35:58.900
 He's talking

00:35:58.900 --> 00:36:00.159
 about this other redemption,

00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:01.740
 this full and final

00:36:01.740 --> 00:36:02.220
 redemption

00:36:02.220 --> 00:36:03.680
 that's going to take place

00:36:03.680 --> 00:36:04.920
 when Christ returns

00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:06.099
 and He takes us

00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:07.019
 with Him to glory.

00:36:08.780 --> 00:36:09.940
 We sang it earlier,

00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:11.220
 there we will rise

00:36:11.220 --> 00:36:12.280
 to meet the Lord,

00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:13.580
 their sin and death

00:36:13.580 --> 00:36:15.180
 will be destroyed.

00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:17.080
 This final redemption

00:36:17.080 --> 00:36:17.700
 that's coming.

00:36:18.280 --> 00:36:19.140
 So Romans chapter 8

00:36:19.140 --> 00:36:19.860
 says like this,

00:36:20.260 --> 00:36:21.620
 We know that the whole

00:36:21.620 --> 00:36:22.400
 of creation

00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:24.280
 has been groaning together

00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:25.680
 in the pains of childbirth

00:36:25.680 --> 00:36:26.240
 until now.

00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:26.980
 It's talking about how

00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:28.280
 our world is broken,

00:36:28.640 --> 00:36:29.880
 our own bodies are broken,

00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.940
 we feel the effects

00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:31.840
 of sin in our life.

00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:34.280
 Sorry,

00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:35.000
 someone's just trying

00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:35.640
 to call me there

00:36:35.640 --> 00:36:36.340
 on my iPad.

00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:37.560
 Okay,

00:36:37.660 --> 00:36:38.320
 Romans 8.

00:36:39.240 --> 00:36:40.360
 We know that the whole

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:41.480
 creation's been groaning,

00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:43.000
 not only creation,

00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:43.880
 but we ourselves,

00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.740
 our own bodies

00:36:44.740 --> 00:36:45.760
 feel the effect of it.

00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:47.280
 We who have the first

00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:48.119
 fruits of the Spirit,

00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:49.980
 we groan inwardly

00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:51.480
 as we await eagerly

00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:52.880
 our adoption,

00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:54.460
 the redemption

00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:55.639
 of our bodies.

00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:57.179
 And so this Christian life

00:36:57.179 --> 00:36:57.699
 in many ways,

00:36:57.800 --> 00:36:58.900
 there are these various stages.

00:36:59.059 --> 00:36:59.539
 There's the day

00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:00.780
 you put your faith in Jesus,

00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:01.760
 you become a follower

00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:02.219
 of Jesus,

00:37:02.659 --> 00:37:03.619
 you are redeemed

00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:04.880
 from the penalty of sin.

00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:05.920
 There's this day

00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:06.480
 in the future

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.820
 when our bodies

00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:08.800
 will be redeemed

00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:09.780
 from the defective

00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:10.880
 effects of sin

00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:11.480
 in this world.

00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:12.820
 No more cancer,

00:37:13.340 --> 00:37:14.260
 no more anxiety,

00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:15.619
 no more depression,

00:37:16.200 --> 00:37:16.940
 no more COVID,

00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:18.900
 no more hunger,

00:37:19.680 --> 00:37:20.680
 no more anger,

00:37:21.160 --> 00:37:22.059
 no more worry.

00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.660
 But then in between

00:37:23.660 --> 00:37:25.019
 this Christ's redemption,

00:37:25.160 --> 00:37:26.320
 redeeming power

00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:26.820
 is at work

00:37:26.820 --> 00:37:27.260
 in our lives

00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:27.880
 as He starts

00:37:27.880 --> 00:37:28.660
 to redeem us

00:37:28.660 --> 00:37:30.019
 from even the effects

00:37:30.019 --> 00:37:31.000
 of sin in our life

00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:32.160
 and from the power

00:37:32.160 --> 00:37:32.559
 of sin.

00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:33.920
 Friends,

00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:35.599
 Jesus has come

00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.640
 to do this for us.

00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:38.000
 This is the power

00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.619
 of the gospel.

00:37:40.219 --> 00:37:41.239
 Let me close

00:37:41.239 --> 00:37:42.940
 with a personal story

00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:44.159
 of when I experienced

00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:45.000
 the redeeming power

00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:46.159
 of God in my life.

00:37:47.260 --> 00:37:47.980
 It's a story

00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:48.500
 I haven't told

00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:49.219
 to many people

00:37:49.219 --> 00:37:50.059
 so if we can just

00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:50.860
 keep it between

00:37:50.860 --> 00:37:52.340
 the 300 of us

00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:53.179
 that would be great.

00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:55.119
 I say that jokingly.

00:37:55.260 --> 00:37:56.159
 But it's a story

00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:56.920
 I haven't shared

00:37:56.920 --> 00:37:57.760
 with many people

00:37:57.760 --> 00:37:59.400
 but I grew up in,

00:37:59.559 --> 00:37:59.940
 as I said,

00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:00.800
 the most amazing,

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:01.699
 wonderful family.

00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:03.179
 The best family

00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:03.679
 you could ever

00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:04.539
 hope and wish for.

00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:05.099
 And I had a very

00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.860
 happy childhood

00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:06.579
 in many ways.

00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:08.699
 When I was 17,

00:38:09.159 --> 00:38:12.219
 someone who was

00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:13.079
 not a family member

00:38:13.079 --> 00:38:13.679
 but somebody

00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.880
 that I was very close to,

00:38:15.800 --> 00:38:16.599
 there was a breakdown

00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:17.380
 in the relationship

00:38:17.380 --> 00:38:19.079
 and this person

00:38:19.079 --> 00:38:20.219
 said a whole bunch

00:38:20.219 --> 00:38:21.360
 of things to me,

00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:22.699
 words to me

00:38:22.699 --> 00:38:23.800
 that were very hurtful

00:38:23.800 --> 00:38:24.360
 and harmful

00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.579
 and for some reason,

00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:26.420
 I'm not sure why,

00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:27.320
 but for some reason,

00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:28.360
 these words

00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:29.960
 lodged deeply

00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:30.739
 in my heart

00:38:30.739 --> 00:38:31.960
 and they went

00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:32.960
 deep inside of me

00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:33.460
 and they kind of

00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:34.219
 stayed there.

00:38:34.219 --> 00:38:35.099
 They're almost like

00:38:35.099 --> 00:38:35.739
 the tentacles

00:38:35.739 --> 00:38:36.559
 of these words

00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:37.599
 put roots

00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:38.500
 deep in my heart.

00:38:39.539 --> 00:38:40.039
 And for the next

00:38:40.039 --> 00:38:41.019
 couple of years,

00:38:41.279 --> 00:38:41.980
 I would go through

00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:42.839
 these seasons

00:38:42.839 --> 00:38:44.439
 where these words

00:38:44.439 --> 00:38:45.119
 would just ring

00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:46.059
 in my mind

00:38:46.059 --> 00:38:46.519
 and I would

00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:48.139
 absolutely hate myself.

00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:50.299
 I'd go through

00:38:50.299 --> 00:38:50.919
 these seasons

00:38:50.919 --> 00:38:51.599
 where I just felt

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.899
 useless and miserable,

00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:54.179
 a pile of nothingness.

00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:55.579
 And so for the next

00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:56.179
 couple of years,

00:38:56.259 --> 00:38:56.719
 I would go through

00:38:56.719 --> 00:38:57.299
 these seasons

00:38:57.299 --> 00:38:58.299
 where for two or three

00:38:58.299 --> 00:38:59.099
 weeks at a time,

00:38:59.179 --> 00:39:00.099
 I would wake up

00:39:00.099 --> 00:39:01.579
 and the very first thought

00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:02.219
 I had in the morning,

00:39:02.299 --> 00:39:02.939
 before I knew

00:39:02.939 --> 00:39:04.159
 what day it was,

00:39:04.219 --> 00:39:05.219
 what time it was,

00:39:05.299 --> 00:39:06.099
 where I was,

00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:07.599
 while I was still

00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:08.459
 trying to wake up,

00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:09.379
 I'd have this thought

00:39:09.379 --> 00:39:09.919
 in my mind,

00:39:09.959 --> 00:39:11.059
 I'd hear this voice

00:39:11.059 --> 00:39:12.879
 that was as clear as day

00:39:12.879 --> 00:39:14.279
 and I would say

00:39:14.279 --> 00:39:15.000
 these things like,

00:39:15.279 --> 00:39:15.500
 Kevin,

00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:16.299
 you're such an idiot.

00:39:17.179 --> 00:39:18.239
 You're so useless.

00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:20.599
 You're such a disgrace.

00:39:21.599 --> 00:39:22.500
 And I was kind of

00:39:22.500 --> 00:39:23.079
 half awake.

00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:23.719
 I didn't even know

00:39:23.719 --> 00:39:24.599
 what day it was

00:39:24.599 --> 00:39:25.519
 or what time it was,

00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:26.519
 but absolutely

00:39:26.519 --> 00:39:27.319
 I knew

00:39:27.319 --> 00:39:28.839
 that I was a disgrace.

00:39:28.840 --> 00:39:30.039
 I was useless.

00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:31.840
 And so I'd go through

00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:32.640
 a couple of weeks

00:39:32.640 --> 00:39:33.260
 of just where

00:39:33.260 --> 00:39:35.300
 this voice in my mind

00:39:35.300 --> 00:39:36.600
 just controlled me.

00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.760
 And throughout the day,

00:39:37.800 --> 00:39:38.680
 I would just feel

00:39:38.680 --> 00:39:39.539
 beaten up.

00:39:40.220 --> 00:39:41.079
 And then it would

00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:42.059
 dissipate

00:39:42.059 --> 00:39:43.120
 and a couple of months later,

00:39:43.120 --> 00:39:43.600
 I'd go through

00:39:43.600 --> 00:39:44.920
 one of these seasons again.

00:39:45.680 --> 00:39:46.460
 And I couldn't

00:39:46.460 --> 00:39:47.380
 break free from it.

00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:48.640
 And so for four

00:39:48.640 --> 00:39:49.440
 or five years,

00:39:49.579 --> 00:39:50.300
 this happened.

00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:51.620
 And eventually,

00:39:51.780 --> 00:39:52.019
 one day,

00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:53.220
 I was about 21, 22,

00:39:53.539 --> 00:39:54.599
 I was on a mission trip

00:39:54.599 --> 00:39:55.419
 in Lesotho.

00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.339
 Lesotho is a small

00:39:56.339 --> 00:39:57.159
 African country

00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:58.099
 next to South Africa.

00:39:58.799 --> 00:39:58.980
 I was there

00:39:58.980 --> 00:39:59.839
 with a bunch of friends

00:39:59.839 --> 00:40:00.759
 and I was in one

00:40:00.759 --> 00:40:02.619
 of these funk stages.

00:40:02.819 --> 00:40:03.239
 And I remember

00:40:03.239 --> 00:40:03.799
 one morning,

00:40:03.839 --> 00:40:04.519
 I woke up

00:40:04.519 --> 00:40:06.439
 and I didn't even know

00:40:06.439 --> 00:40:07.079
 where I was,

00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:08.159
 but one thing I knew,

00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:09.439
 I was an idiot.

00:40:09.859 --> 00:40:10.859
 I was a disgrace.

00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:11.679
 I was useless.

00:40:12.459 --> 00:40:13.279
 And I was convinced

00:40:13.279 --> 00:40:14.559
 that nobody and nothing

00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:16.000
 could ever love me

00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:16.959
 or accept me.

00:40:18.079 --> 00:40:20.339
 And later on that day,

00:40:20.459 --> 00:40:22.319
 we were in a church service

00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:23.400
 and there's a time

00:40:23.400 --> 00:40:24.160
 of sung worship

00:40:24.160 --> 00:40:25.700
 and I was just

00:40:25.700 --> 00:40:26.420
 feeling miserable

00:40:26.420 --> 00:40:28.559
 and I heard this voice.

00:40:28.760 --> 00:40:30.000
 It wasn't audible,

00:40:30.260 --> 00:40:30.840
 but it almost

00:40:30.840 --> 00:40:31.660
 could have been audible.

00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:33.080
 It was so clear.

00:40:33.940 --> 00:40:34.860
 I heard this voice

00:40:34.860 --> 00:40:35.800
 and the voice was God

00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:36.380
 saying to me,

00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:37.240
 and this is what he said.

00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:37.660
 He said,

00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:38.100
 Kevin,

00:40:38.480 --> 00:40:40.340
 my power is in this place.

00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:41.700
 What do you want me

00:40:41.700 --> 00:40:42.440
 to do for you?

00:40:43.640 --> 00:40:44.440
 And I remember

00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:46.000
 I crossed my arms like this

00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:47.220
 and I said,

00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:47.640
 God,

00:40:47.700 --> 00:40:48.920
 I want you to set me free

00:40:48.920 --> 00:40:50.000
 from hating myself.

00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:54.380
 And in an instant,

00:40:55.140 --> 00:40:56.700
 I felt the love of God

00:40:56.700 --> 00:40:57.840
 in a way I've never felt it.

00:40:58.340 --> 00:41:00.039
 I felt the power of God

00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:01.260
 in a way I've never felt it.

00:41:02.080 --> 00:41:02.580
 And friends,

00:41:02.680 --> 00:41:03.519
 from that day,

00:41:03.640 --> 00:41:05.640
 I have never once

00:41:05.640 --> 00:41:08.519
 gone through one of those stages again.

00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:12.039
 Not once in the last 14 years

00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:13.280
 has that ever come back.

00:41:13.800 --> 00:41:14.920
 I was set free.

00:41:15.460 --> 00:41:16.440
 I was redeemed

00:41:16.440 --> 00:41:17.559
 in a moment

00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:19.300
 by the power of God

00:41:19.300 --> 00:41:21.019
 from the effects of sin

00:41:21.019 --> 00:41:22.159
 and other people's sin

00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:23.940
 in my life.

00:41:25.340 --> 00:41:25.619
 Friends,

00:41:25.659 --> 00:41:26.380
 I tell you that story

00:41:26.380 --> 00:41:27.519
 because Jesus Christ

00:41:27.519 --> 00:41:28.360
 is our great Redeemer.

00:41:29.460 --> 00:41:30.659
 He's gone to the cross.

00:41:30.759 --> 00:41:31.780
 He laid down His life.

00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:32.599
 He redeemed us

00:41:32.599 --> 00:41:33.800
 from the penalty of sin.

00:41:33.860 --> 00:41:34.360
 That's true.

00:41:34.980 --> 00:41:35.900
 But He also has come

00:41:35.900 --> 00:41:36.559
 to redeem us

00:41:36.559 --> 00:41:37.480
 from the power of sin.

00:41:37.539 --> 00:41:38.179
 The power of sin

00:41:38.179 --> 00:41:38.920
 in our own life,

00:41:39.480 --> 00:41:40.259
 but also the power

00:41:40.259 --> 00:41:41.759
 that other people's sin

00:41:41.759 --> 00:41:43.480
 have over us.

00:41:44.300 --> 00:41:44.599
 Friends,

00:41:44.659 --> 00:41:46.119
 one day Jesus will redeem us

00:41:46.119 --> 00:41:47.860
 from the very presence of sin.

00:41:49.159 --> 00:41:49.460
 Friends,

00:41:49.460 --> 00:41:51.139
 this week I've been praying for us.

00:41:51.199 --> 00:41:53.139
 I've been praying for many of us

00:41:53.139 --> 00:41:53.780
 by name.

00:41:54.139 --> 00:41:55.220
 I've been praying

00:41:55.220 --> 00:41:56.460
 and I really do believe

00:41:56.460 --> 00:41:57.679
 that God wants to set

00:41:57.679 --> 00:41:59.559
 some of us free today.

00:42:00.240 --> 00:42:00.980
 For some of us,

00:42:01.059 --> 00:42:02.240
 it's from the power of sin

00:42:02.240 --> 00:42:02.980
 in our own lives.

00:42:03.059 --> 00:42:04.460
 It's addictions that hold us

00:42:04.460 --> 00:42:05.760
 and we just can't feel

00:42:05.760 --> 00:42:07.440
 that we can ever get free from it.

00:42:08.179 --> 00:42:08.440
 Friends,

00:42:08.500 --> 00:42:09.559
 the Bible says that actually

00:42:09.559 --> 00:42:10.860
 the way to be free

00:42:10.860 --> 00:42:12.500
 and the way to start

00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:13.380
 the redemption process

00:42:13.380 --> 00:42:14.880
 is actually through confession

00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:16.199
 and repentance.

00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:18.380
 Without confession and repentance,

00:42:18.380 --> 00:42:19.500
 there is no freedom.

00:42:21.320 --> 00:42:23.599
 And so even the smallest step

00:42:23.599 --> 00:42:25.320
 requires us just to

00:42:25.320 --> 00:42:26.860
 confess and acknowledge,

00:42:26.980 --> 00:42:27.780
 God, I need you.

00:42:27.900 --> 00:42:28.640
 I'm so sorry.

00:42:29.160 --> 00:42:29.960
 In my own life,

00:42:30.019 --> 00:42:32.800
 the idolatry of people pleasing it,

00:42:32.920 --> 00:42:34.320
 God has broken the power of that

00:42:34.320 --> 00:42:35.860
 as I've taken the small step

00:42:35.860 --> 00:42:37.920
 of confessing and repenting that.

00:42:39.200 --> 00:42:39.680
 Friends,

00:42:39.740 --> 00:42:40.900
 I wonder how many of us

00:42:40.900 --> 00:42:41.619
 this morning

00:42:41.619 --> 00:42:43.440
 need to be free

00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:45.820
 from destructive patterns

00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:47.120
 of sin in our own life,

00:42:48.059 --> 00:42:48.980
 destructive patterns

00:42:48.980 --> 00:42:49.960
 of behavior.

00:42:51.480 --> 00:42:51.700
 Friends,

00:42:51.760 --> 00:42:52.620
 will you come to Jesus

00:42:52.620 --> 00:42:53.240
 this morning

00:42:53.240 --> 00:42:54.580
 in confession and repentance?

00:42:55.539 --> 00:42:56.660
 Will you come and acknowledge

00:42:56.660 --> 00:42:57.519
 there's this idol

00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:58.840
 that out of fear

00:42:58.840 --> 00:42:59.480
 or insecurity

00:42:59.480 --> 00:43:00.600
 you just hold on to?

00:43:01.860 --> 00:43:02.580
 Confess it.

00:43:03.539 --> 00:43:04.900
 Christ wants to set you free.

00:43:06.600 --> 00:43:06.940
 Friends,

00:43:06.980 --> 00:43:07.660
 for some of us,

00:43:08.200 --> 00:43:10.039
 we need to be set free

00:43:10.039 --> 00:43:10.620
 from bitterness

00:43:10.619 --> 00:43:11.519
 and resentment

00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:13.480
 and forgiveness.

00:43:15.079 --> 00:43:16.179
 For some of us,

00:43:16.259 --> 00:43:16.960
 it's anger

00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:18.219
 in our hearts.

00:43:19.139 --> 00:43:21.039
 It has this controlling power

00:43:21.039 --> 00:43:21.400
 over us

00:43:21.400 --> 00:43:22.480
 that we just can't get free

00:43:22.480 --> 00:43:23.759
 and we excuse it

00:43:23.759 --> 00:43:24.639
 and justify it.

00:43:24.699 --> 00:43:26.440
 We use all these arguments

00:43:26.440 --> 00:43:27.500
 why we justified.

00:43:28.380 --> 00:43:28.719
 Friends,

00:43:28.779 --> 00:43:29.460
 it's idolatry.

00:43:29.619 --> 00:43:29.920
 It's sin.

00:43:30.679 --> 00:43:32.079
 Jesus wants to set us free

00:43:32.079 --> 00:43:33.139
 from it today.

00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:34.659
 Friends,

00:43:34.679 --> 00:43:35.339
 for some of us,

00:43:35.420 --> 00:43:37.119
 it's sexual addiction,

00:43:38.099 --> 00:43:38.599
 pornography.

00:43:38.599 --> 00:43:39.440
 Friends,

00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:40.980
 for some of us,

00:43:41.039 --> 00:43:41.960
 it's people pleasing.

00:43:43.279 --> 00:43:43.779
 Some of us,

00:43:43.880 --> 00:43:45.360
 maybe it's other addictions

00:43:45.360 --> 00:43:46.460
 like comfort eating,

00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:49.259
 spending money uncontrollably.

00:43:50.199 --> 00:43:50.960
 It's greed.

00:43:51.339 --> 00:43:53.139
 It's these other things

00:43:53.139 --> 00:43:54.940
 that hold us

00:43:54.940 --> 00:43:56.159
 and we can't be free from it.

00:43:56.839 --> 00:43:57.099
 Friends,

00:43:57.159 --> 00:43:57.980
 will you come to Jesus

00:43:57.980 --> 00:43:58.880
 your great redeemer?

00:43:59.779 --> 00:44:01.139
 He wants to set you free.

00:44:03.119 --> 00:44:03.519
 Friends,

00:44:03.559 --> 00:44:04.319
 for some of us,

00:44:04.819 --> 00:44:05.679
 it's not so much

00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:06.559
 the sins of our life.

00:44:06.619 --> 00:44:07.239
 It's those that have

00:44:07.239 --> 00:44:08.099
 sinned against us.

00:44:08.099 --> 00:44:09.299
 It's hurts and wounds

00:44:09.299 --> 00:44:09.900
 of the past.

00:44:10.019 --> 00:44:11.000
 It's words that people

00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:12.139
 have said over us.

00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:13.960
 Friends,

00:44:14.019 --> 00:44:14.339
 Christ,

00:44:14.440 --> 00:44:15.119
 the great redeemer,

00:44:15.219 --> 00:44:15.679
 wants to come

00:44:15.679 --> 00:44:16.420
 and set us free.

00:44:17.900 --> 00:44:18.139
 Friends,

00:44:18.179 --> 00:44:18.799
 for some of us,

00:44:18.960 --> 00:44:21.460
 it's the words

00:44:21.460 --> 00:44:22.199
 of our parents.

00:44:22.819 --> 00:44:24.000
 It's the lack of love

00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:24.860
 that they showed us.

00:44:24.980 --> 00:44:25.920
 It's the affirmation

00:44:25.920 --> 00:44:26.779
 we long for

00:44:26.779 --> 00:44:28.339
 and we never get.

00:44:29.539 --> 00:44:29.860
 Friends,

00:44:29.980 --> 00:44:30.319
 Christ,

00:44:30.420 --> 00:44:30.920
 your redeemer,

00:44:31.179 --> 00:44:32.119
 who went to the cross

00:44:32.119 --> 00:44:34.139
 not only to pay for your sin

00:44:34.139 --> 00:44:35.299
 but to break the power

00:44:35.299 --> 00:44:36.279
 of sin over your life.

00:44:36.280 --> 00:44:38.040
 Jesus died

00:44:38.040 --> 00:44:38.900
 to set you free.

00:44:40.200 --> 00:44:40.860
 Can I ask you

00:44:40.860 --> 00:44:41.700
 to stand with me

00:44:41.700 --> 00:44:42.460
 if you're comfortable?

00:44:44.740 --> 00:44:45.440
 Maybe if you don't

00:44:45.440 --> 00:44:45.820
 want to stand,

00:44:45.900 --> 00:44:46.460
 you might want to get

00:44:46.460 --> 00:44:47.100
 on your knees.

00:44:49.600 --> 00:44:50.480
 Maybe you want to lift

00:44:50.480 --> 00:44:51.240
 up your hands

00:44:51.240 --> 00:44:51.580
 and

00:44:51.580 --> 00:44:53.480
 will you join me

00:44:53.480 --> 00:44:54.380
 as we pray together?

00:44:54.519 --> 00:44:55.760
 I'd love to pray for us

00:44:55.760 --> 00:44:57.360
 that Christ,

00:44:57.420 --> 00:44:58.180
 our great redeemer,

00:44:58.860 --> 00:44:59.980
 will set us free.

00:44:59.980 --> 00:45:02.139
 Let's pray together.

00:45:05.599 --> 00:45:06.860
 Lord Jesus Christ,

00:45:07.659 --> 00:45:09.659
 awesome and magnificent God,

00:45:09.960 --> 00:45:11.740
 the sovereign God of the heavens,

00:45:11.860 --> 00:45:12.659
 you who are seated

00:45:12.659 --> 00:45:13.440
 on the throne,

00:45:13.960 --> 00:45:15.579
 you rule and you reign,

00:45:15.699 --> 00:45:16.139
 but God,

00:45:16.219 --> 00:45:17.519
 you are not just transcendent

00:45:17.519 --> 00:45:18.099
 and distant,

00:45:18.860 --> 00:45:19.860
 you are intensely

00:45:19.860 --> 00:45:21.280
 near and imminent,

00:45:21.440 --> 00:45:22.260
 you are personal

00:45:22.260 --> 00:45:22.960
 and close.

00:45:24.599 --> 00:45:25.039
 God,

00:45:25.099 --> 00:45:25.900
 I pray for us

00:45:25.900 --> 00:45:26.400
 this morning,

00:45:26.480 --> 00:45:27.440
 I pray for myself,

00:45:27.599 --> 00:45:28.559
 I pray for my brothers

00:45:28.559 --> 00:45:30.139
 and sisters across Hong Kong.

00:45:30.799 --> 00:45:31.219
 God,

00:45:31.279 --> 00:45:31.960
 for those of us

00:45:31.960 --> 00:45:33.400
 that are in Christ,

00:45:33.480 --> 00:45:34.719
 I pray that you will come

00:45:34.719 --> 00:45:35.380
 and set us free.

00:45:36.259 --> 00:45:36.679
 God,

00:45:36.739 --> 00:45:37.119
 I pray

00:45:37.119 --> 00:45:38.719
 that you set us free

00:45:38.719 --> 00:45:39.219
 from

00:45:39.219 --> 00:45:42.000
 patterns of sin.

00:45:43.440 --> 00:45:43.840
 God,

00:45:43.960 --> 00:45:45.179
 from idols in our life

00:45:45.179 --> 00:45:46.360
 that have controlled us

00:45:46.360 --> 00:45:47.039
 for too long.

00:45:47.880 --> 00:45:48.299
 God,

00:45:48.360 --> 00:45:49.239
 from the accusations

00:45:49.239 --> 00:45:50.759
 and the lies

00:45:50.759 --> 00:45:51.360
 of the devil,

00:45:51.940 --> 00:45:52.920
 where Satan has come

00:45:52.920 --> 00:45:53.820
 and told us

00:45:53.820 --> 00:45:54.920
 that we will never be free,

00:45:55.019 --> 00:45:56.119
 it's just who we are.

00:45:56.759 --> 00:45:57.019
 God,

00:45:57.079 --> 00:45:58.219
 where Satan has told us

00:45:58.219 --> 00:45:59.379
 that you will never love us

00:45:59.379 --> 00:46:00.179
 and accept us,

00:46:00.239 --> 00:46:01.419
 that we're just mediocre.

00:46:02.179 --> 00:46:02.539
 Christ,

00:46:02.599 --> 00:46:03.779
 I pray that the power

00:46:03.779 --> 00:46:04.259
 of the Spirit

00:46:04.259 --> 00:46:05.480
 will break into our lives

00:46:05.480 --> 00:46:06.879
 and set people free now.

00:46:07.839 --> 00:46:08.099
 God,

00:46:08.159 --> 00:46:08.819
 come and do that,

00:46:08.859 --> 00:46:09.239
 I pray.

00:46:10.519 --> 00:46:11.619
 Set people free,

00:46:11.739 --> 00:46:12.000
 God.

00:46:12.879 --> 00:46:13.199
 God,

00:46:13.259 --> 00:46:14.399
 I pray for those of us

00:46:14.399 --> 00:46:16.799
 that feel enslaved

00:46:16.799 --> 00:46:17.959
 and trapped to anger.

00:46:18.539 --> 00:46:18.939
 Christ,

00:46:19.019 --> 00:46:19.539
 set us free

00:46:19.539 --> 00:46:20.519
 as we confess that

00:46:20.519 --> 00:46:21.279
 and repent it.

00:46:21.719 --> 00:46:22.039
 God,

00:46:22.139 --> 00:46:23.099
 where there's addiction

00:46:23.099 --> 00:46:24.599
 to sexual sin

00:46:24.599 --> 00:46:25.439
 and pornography,

00:46:26.039 --> 00:46:26.359
 Christ,

00:46:26.459 --> 00:46:27.019
 set us free

00:46:27.019 --> 00:46:28.079
 as we confess that

00:46:28.079 --> 00:46:29.659
 and admit the reality

00:46:29.659 --> 00:46:29.980
 of that.

00:46:30.099 --> 00:46:31.219
 Jesus set us free.

00:46:33.440 --> 00:46:33.860
 Christ,

00:46:33.920 --> 00:46:34.460
 for those of us

00:46:34.460 --> 00:46:35.380
 that feel trapped,

00:46:35.500 --> 00:46:36.099
 enslaved,

00:46:36.579 --> 00:46:37.259
 by the sins

00:46:37.259 --> 00:46:37.920
 that have been

00:46:37.920 --> 00:46:39.599
 sinned against us,

00:46:40.360 --> 00:46:41.699
 words spoken of us,

00:46:42.259 --> 00:46:43.059
 beatings,

00:46:43.539 --> 00:46:44.699
 physical abuse,

00:46:45.579 --> 00:46:46.780
 emotional abuse,

00:46:47.460 --> 00:46:48.699
 psychological abuse,

00:46:49.840 --> 00:46:50.259
 Christ,

00:46:50.360 --> 00:46:50.880
 I pray

00:46:50.880 --> 00:46:52.380
 by the power

00:46:52.380 --> 00:46:53.559
 of the risen God,

00:46:53.700 --> 00:46:54.240
 that Jesus,

00:46:54.380 --> 00:46:55.320
 you who died

00:46:55.320 --> 00:46:56.260
 and rose again

00:46:56.260 --> 00:46:57.320
 to conquer

00:46:57.320 --> 00:46:59.059
 the power of Satan,

00:46:59.240 --> 00:46:59.480
 God,

00:46:59.519 --> 00:47:00.860
 once you set your people free,

00:47:01.860 --> 00:47:04.660
 Jesus,

00:47:04.800 --> 00:47:05.660
 come and have your way.

00:47:06.680 --> 00:47:06.900
 God,

00:47:07.019 --> 00:47:08.140
 just as you set me free

00:47:08.140 --> 00:47:09.099
 all those years ago,

00:47:09.180 --> 00:47:10.559
 I pray that you'll do that

00:47:10.559 --> 00:47:11.700
 for my brothers and sisters

00:47:11.700 --> 00:47:12.400
 today.

00:47:12.960 --> 00:47:13.180
 God,

00:47:13.240 --> 00:47:14.240
 I pray tomorrow morning

00:47:14.240 --> 00:47:15.039
 we'll wake up

00:47:15.039 --> 00:47:16.340
 with a new sense of life

00:47:16.340 --> 00:47:16.940
 and freedom

00:47:16.940 --> 00:47:17.559
 and joy

00:47:17.559 --> 00:47:19.180
 and power in God

00:47:19.179 --> 00:47:21.079
 because we've experienced

00:47:21.079 --> 00:47:21.839
 the living God.

00:47:33.039 --> 00:47:33.739
 Oh God,

00:47:33.799 --> 00:47:34.399
 we need you.

00:47:36.239 --> 00:47:36.679
 God,

00:47:36.739 --> 00:47:38.019
 we stand secure

00:47:38.019 --> 00:47:39.940
 in our justification

00:47:39.940 --> 00:47:41.319
 and the fact

00:47:41.319 --> 00:47:42.059
 that the penalty

00:47:42.059 --> 00:47:42.699
 has been paid.

00:47:42.779 --> 00:47:43.559
 We are free from it.

00:47:43.599 --> 00:47:44.619
 We stand secure.

00:47:45.399 --> 00:47:45.839
 God,

00:47:45.879 --> 00:47:46.539
 now we pray,

00:47:46.659 --> 00:47:47.919
 come and make us free

00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:49.960
 that the power of sin,

00:47:50.119 --> 00:47:51.039
 the power of Satan,

00:47:51.579 --> 00:47:52.240
 will have no

00:47:52.240 --> 00:47:53.099
 hold effect

00:47:53.099 --> 00:47:54.059
 in our lives.

00:47:56.240 --> 00:47:57.119
 We experience

00:47:57.119 --> 00:47:57.780
 what it means

00:47:57.780 --> 00:47:58.159
 to be

00:47:58.159 --> 00:47:59.720
 sons and daughters of you.

00:47:59.920 --> 00:48:00.539
 You pray this,

00:48:00.619 --> 00:48:00.780
 God,

00:48:00.820 --> 00:48:01.720
 in your powerful name.

00:48:03.400 --> 00:48:03.700
 Friends,

00:48:03.740 --> 00:48:04.380
 as we continue

00:48:04.380 --> 00:48:05.500
 to worship

00:48:05.500 --> 00:48:06.380
 and sing songs

00:48:06.380 --> 00:48:07.000
 of adoration,

00:48:07.200 --> 00:48:08.420
 I urge you,

00:48:08.539 --> 00:48:10.000
 take whatever posture

00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:10.380
 you want.

00:48:10.460 --> 00:48:11.240
 You can stand,

00:48:11.360 --> 00:48:12.840
 you can jump,

00:48:13.000 --> 00:48:13.380
 jump.

00:48:13.740 --> 00:48:14.500
 If you need to

00:48:14.500 --> 00:48:15.740
 shout it out,

00:48:15.820 --> 00:48:16.900
 if you need to say something,

00:48:16.900 --> 00:48:17.639
 if you need to just

00:48:17.639 --> 00:48:18.720
 lie flat on the floor,

00:48:18.840 --> 00:48:19.599
 do whatever you want.

00:48:19.660 --> 00:48:20.320
 But friends,

00:48:21.059 --> 00:48:22.000
 come to Christ,

00:48:22.800 --> 00:48:23.619
 your great Redeemer.

00:48:24.720 --> 00:48:25.980
 He died to set you free.

00:48:26.660 --> 00:48:27.220
 He's given you

00:48:27.220 --> 00:48:27.780
 the spirit

00:48:27.780 --> 00:48:28.599
 to set you free.

00:48:29.440 --> 00:48:30.320
 Galatians 5 says,

00:48:30.440 --> 00:48:31.280
 it is for freedom

00:48:31.280 --> 00:48:31.820
 that Christ

00:48:31.820 --> 00:48:32.360
 has set us free.

00:48:32.539 --> 00:48:33.460
 Stand firm then

00:48:33.460 --> 00:48:34.780
 and do not allow yourself

00:48:34.780 --> 00:48:35.880
 to be yoked again

00:48:35.880 --> 00:48:37.920
 by a spirit of bondage.

00:48:39.220 --> 00:48:39.559
 Friends,

00:48:39.639 --> 00:48:39.880
 Jesus,

00:48:40.019 --> 00:48:40.900
 come to set us free.

00:48:40.900 --> 00:48:41.000
 Amen.

00:48:41.000 --> 00:48:41.039
 Amen.

00:48:41.039 --> 00:48:41.079
 Amen.

00:48:41.079 --> 00:48:41.119
 Amen.

00:48:41.119 --> 00:48:41.200
 Amen.

00:48:41.200 --> 00:48:41.220
 Amen.