WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.259 We're going to be looking at Philippians. Let's pray just before we open God's Word. 00:00:04.759 --> 00:00:13.240 Father, we ask that the Holy Spirit would convict us of our selfishness and pride and draw us to Jesus. 00:00:13.820 --> 00:00:22.199 That we might be disciples of Jesus whose confidence and joy is found in who Jesus is and what he accomplished for us on the cross. 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:25.320 And we ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:30.940 Hello folks, my name is George Sinclair, pastor here at Church of the Messiah. 00:00:31.699 --> 00:00:35.560 And for some of you, this might be a little bit of a surprise. 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:39.600 If you haven't come to the church, we're not going to really do anything at all about Mother's Day today. 00:00:42.900 --> 00:00:52.439 We sort of almost ignore Mother's Day and Father's Day and Thanksgiving and Halloween and a couple of other secular holidays. 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:55.579 It's just who we are. We just sort of keep going. 00:00:56.059 --> 00:00:58.460 But for the moms there, a shout out to all the moms. 00:00:59.059 --> 00:01:02.259 And so we're looking at Philippians. 00:01:03.140 --> 00:01:05.079 And we're not going to explain. 00:01:05.299 --> 00:01:14.039 One of the things which is different about us as a church by modern Canadian standards is that we go through books of the Bible. 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:20.240 And one of the good things about, I mean there's lots of good things about that, I'm not going to get into a defense about it, 00:01:20.260 --> 00:01:23.540 but if you're watching this and you're not familiar with us as a church, 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:30.760 one of the really good things about going through books of the Bible is it's like going through a complicated contract line by line, 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:32.020 but not as boring. 00:01:32.800 --> 00:01:35.660 What it means is that we don't hide fine print. 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:38.060 We walk towards hard things. 00:01:38.060 --> 00:01:43.820 Like today there's a text that touches on abortion and a text that touches on hell. 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:53.400 Both of those hard topics, not topics that in my flesh, so to speak, as a good Canadian that I would normally want to walk towards. 00:01:54.219 --> 00:02:02.659 But the advantage, it is an advantage for Christians to learn how together to walk towards hard texts and walk towards hard things. 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:09.120 And for those of you who are curious about the Christian faith, maybe in recovery from the Christian faith 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:14.519 and trying to figure out if you can get back into it or had no connection to the Christian tradition, whatever, just a bit curious, 00:02:15.079 --> 00:02:18.060 the good news is that we don't hide anything. 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:20.819 We walk towards those difficult topics. 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:23.060 And so that's what we're going to be doing. 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:28.340 So we're going to be looking at Philippians chapter 1, beginning at verse 27, 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:31.159 because we're going through the book of Philippians. 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:38.500 And as some of you find that or, you know, looking it up on your phone or you can just listen because I'm going to read the whole thing. 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:42.379 Philippians chapter 1, verse 27, just a bit of a context. 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:49.019 This began, this was a letter originally to the very first European Christians. 00:02:49.659 --> 00:02:55.180 The first place in Europe that heard about the Christian faith, that heard about Jesus was in Philippi. 00:02:55.180 --> 00:02:57.639 That's where the gospel entered Europe. 00:02:57.639 --> 00:03:03.239 And this is being written, I don't know, maybe about 10 years or so after the gospel came to Europe. 00:03:03.359 --> 00:03:04.679 It's written around the year 60. 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:14.039 And it's written by a man named Paul, who was originally a very, very, very bad man, like a real religious fanatic. 00:03:14.099 --> 00:03:15.039 He becomes a Christian. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:17.739 His heart is filled with love for people in the world. 00:03:18.399 --> 00:03:19.359 But he's in jail. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:26.460 He's in jail in Rome or sort of he's under house arrest, but in chains in Rome when he writes this letter. 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:28.460 And what's going on so far? 00:03:28.540 --> 00:03:30.280 He's letting people know about what's going on. 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:35.220 He's just shared this wonderful Christian line to live as Christ and to die as gain. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.480 It's been very, very clear that there's different problems in the church. 00:03:39.580 --> 00:03:41.040 They're not a perfect church. 00:03:41.420 --> 00:03:45.680 And now the letter continues on into sort of a new section beginning at verse 27. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:47.219 Here's how it goes. 00:03:47.780 --> 00:03:50.939 And actually, we're going to get right into one of those hard topics almost immediately. 00:03:51.480 --> 00:03:54.400 I'll just read these first few verses and then we'll talk about it. 00:03:56.580 --> 00:04:01.300 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:06.700 so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you, 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:10.439 that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind, 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:16.980 striving side by side for the faith of the gospel and not frightened at anything by your opponents. 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:24.720 This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God. 00:04:25.300 --> 00:04:28.060 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ, 00:04:28.220 --> 00:04:32.800 you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake, 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:39.060 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:43.600 So here's one of the first things. 00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:48.420 And there will be points if you can't see them in the little comments section later on. 00:04:48.500 --> 00:04:51.160 You can go online and you'll see them on our webpage. 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:57.160 You enter the Jesus way alone, but alone in quotes. 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:01.579 You enter the Jesus way alone, but you walk the Jesus way with Jesus and others. 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:04.740 That's an important thing to understand about the Christian faith. 00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:09.960 You make it your own personal decision or appropriate, you know, who you are, what you are. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:11.740 In a sense, you do that by yourself. 00:05:11.939 --> 00:05:13.199 It's alone in quotes. 00:05:13.300 --> 00:05:17.500 There's a lot of theological reasons why you're not really alone, but it's an individual thing. 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:19.300 But you don't walk the Christian way by yourself. 00:05:19.379 --> 00:05:21.160 You walk it with Jesus and others. 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:24.939 And that can be seen here with all of this language about walking together. 00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:31.819 But some of you might say, George, there's two really troubling things about that part that you just read. 00:05:31.899 --> 00:05:33.160 First of all, what is this? 00:05:33.180 --> 00:05:35.100 You all have to think the exact same thing? 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:41.800 Like, are you, you know, if you've watched that Netflix series about the Branch Davidians and David Koresh, 00:05:41.899 --> 00:05:48.139 like, George, are you saying that Christians all have to be, like, brainwashed and think the exact same thing? 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:49.500 Like, that's crazy. 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:56.579 Those of you who watch the Netflix series Wild Wild Country about an Indian guru named Osho, 00:05:58.300 --> 00:05:59.879 it's one of the interesting things. 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:01.980 They never showed it in the documentary. 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:07.339 But if you go hunting around, you'll see that above the ashram, when you entered into the presence of Osho, 00:06:07.420 --> 00:06:13.279 there was a sign that said, leave your shoes and your mind here. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:18.019 And so some of you might be wondering, George, is that what Christianity is all about? 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:21.159 Well, we're going to actually talk about that in a couple of minutes, 00:06:21.379 --> 00:06:25.659 because Paul actually addresses the topic to explain what he means. 00:06:26.139 --> 00:06:30.159 But some of you might be also wondering, George, like, what is this about destruction? 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:33.680 Is that talking about, like, hell? 00:06:34.359 --> 00:06:35.120 Really, George? 00:06:36.539 --> 00:06:40.979 So those of you who know me, and we're going to make some reference to it here throughout the sermon, 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:47.520 I spend time in at least one good academic commentary, top-level academic commentary, 00:06:47.660 --> 00:06:49.259 as part of my preparation for every sermon. 00:06:49.379 --> 00:06:54.819 And sometimes I can share with you how the original language, something isn't like it sounds. 00:06:55.420 --> 00:07:00.420 The fact of the matter here is, I have to tell you that if you read the academic commentaries, 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:06.040 the original language, you have to understand both salvation and destruction in their full sense. 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:08.939 Heaven and hell. 00:07:10.200 --> 00:07:14.660 Like, in other words, the original language makes it harder for Canadians, not easier. 00:07:15.860 --> 00:07:17.500 And I'm going to actually talk about that. 00:07:17.540 --> 00:07:22.460 If you just give me a bit of a pause, I'm going to explain a little bit about a way how to understand that 00:07:22.460 --> 00:07:25.439 if you look towards the end of the sermon. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:32.259 And if I forget to do it, because I don't read from a text, I look at notes, but I try to talk directly to you. 00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:34.779 Send me an email, give me a phone call, I'll talk about it. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:35.579 But I'm going to talk about it. 00:07:35.579 --> 00:07:38.279 I'm not going to avoid the topic, pretend it's not there. 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:45.300 But here's one of the things about all of this, 00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:53.459 is that Jesus will lead you to walk towards and through hard things. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:58.699 Jesus will lead you to walk towards and through hard things. 00:07:59.539 --> 00:08:01.500 And that's what I'm trying to model here. 00:08:01.539 --> 00:08:03.219 Not that I'm Jesus, far from it. 00:08:03.699 --> 00:08:08.779 But you see in this text, because the text, because the Bible deals with very, very hard things, 00:08:08.859 --> 00:08:12.819 it's already talked about the problem of envy and rivalry and strife. 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:21.000 If you read the whole book of Philippians, you'll see that Paul walks towards the problems of opponents, of persecution. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:23.720 He walks towards the problem of being in jail. 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:30.339 He walks towards the problem of very, very hard, unpopular doctrines like eternal destruction. 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:33.820 But the fact of the matter is, is that when you come to Jesus, 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:38.679 he will help you to walk towards hard things and through hard things. 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:45.220 And this is really profoundly good news, because everybody has to walk towards and through hard things. 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:51.240 And that's yet another reason to just understand how precious Jesus is. 00:08:52.060 --> 00:08:54.220 So let's look at the whole issue about brainwashing. 00:08:54.940 --> 00:08:57.340 It's going to be dealt with in the very next few verses. 00:08:58.040 --> 00:08:59.620 Are Christians brainwashed? 00:08:59.680 --> 00:09:01.820 You have to leave your mind behind to become a Christian. 00:09:02.160 --> 00:09:05.899 Let's look at chapter 2, verses 1 to 4, where this is addressed. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:07.840 It goes like this. 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:11.300 Actually, you'll see here it begins with so. 00:09:11.420 --> 00:09:13.040 It could also be translated as therefore. 00:09:13.800 --> 00:09:16.620 What Paul is doing is he's resuming the argument. 00:09:17.280 --> 00:09:23.600 He's pushing us towards how he's going to resolve, unpack, resolve these particular issues. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:33.220 So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Holy Spirit, 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:42.159 any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, 00:09:42.920 --> 00:09:46.700 being in full accord and of one mind. 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:54.200 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 00:09:54.940 --> 00:10:00.180 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:01.600 And we'll just sort of pause there. 00:10:02.020 --> 00:10:04.860 In the original language, that's all one long sentence. 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:09.180 And actually, one of the interesting things about it is, in that whole long sentence, 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:13.640 if you look at the dominant clause and the dominant verse, the one that governs the whole sentence, 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:17.799 and this is a bit of a surprise to many people about what the Christian faith is, 00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:25.379 but the dominant phrase in that long sentence and the dominant verb is the first few words of verse 2. 00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:27.419 Complete my joy. 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:32.580 Or more literally, the verb is make my joy complete. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:37.019 Like, here's a little talking point, a third one. 00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:40.460 Jesus rescued you for a fullness of joy. 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:47.560 You know, the Old Testament talks about how in God's presence there is a fullness of joy. 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:55.780 The New Testament talks about how Jesus, for the joy set before him, endured the cross. 00:10:56.280 --> 00:11:01.300 And the idea of joy is one of the key ideas in the book of Philippians. 00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:06.919 And the fact of the matter is, is that Jesus doesn't deliver us from all that besets us, 00:11:06.939 --> 00:11:10.740 so that we will live drab, uninteresting, boring lives. 00:11:11.339 --> 00:11:17.120 He rescues us to begin to experience and grow into joy. 00:11:18.059 --> 00:11:20.079 And I'm not going to talk about that very much right now. 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:24.159 It's going to become a more important topic in some of the subsequent texts of Scripture, 00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:25.639 where it's addressed more completely. 00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:29.939 But I want to let you know that's the dominant verb of this sentence. 00:11:29.940 --> 00:11:34.780 But how is it that it begins, how is it that it talks with the, 00:11:34.880 --> 00:11:40.260 how is it that it talks about the problem of brainwashing? 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:43.840 Well, if you look at it, look at it in verse 3 and 4. 00:11:44.680 --> 00:11:48.020 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:51.340 count others more significant than yourselves. 00:11:51.880 --> 00:11:56.840 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 00:11:56.840 --> 00:12:05.860 So, what this Bible text is telling us is that the problem isn't people thinking different thoughts. 00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:11.740 It isn't that people have different perspectives or ideas or nuances. 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:15.500 The problem for a Christian isn't any of those things. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:20.759 It isn't saying, listen, if you just all exactly learn to say everything that George says, 00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:24.120 in the way that George says it, then we're fine. 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:25.300 It's not like that at all. 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:29.740 The problem is not different perspectives, different ideas, different insights. 00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:33.799 I mean, obviously there can be an extreme where things are just wrong or evil. 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:38.799 Like to say that Jesus and Satan are the same isn't a different nuance or perspective. 00:12:38.979 --> 00:12:39.819 It's just wrong. 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.659 So, there can be wrong things. 00:12:41.659 --> 00:12:48.159 But the Christian walk, the Christian worldview is very, very big, very, very encompassing, 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:57.519 and very, very fluid and dynamic and developing and growing and deepening. 00:12:58.039 --> 00:13:03.579 I talked last week about how in the Christian faith the idea is further up and further in. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:06.899 Like it's something you can continue to plunge in and immerse yourself in. 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:09.959 But the problem isn't different ideas or perspectives. 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:12.059 The problem is selfishness. 00:13:12.939 --> 00:13:13.980 That's the problem. 00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:16.959 Here's how I put it as a talking point. 00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:18.000 Verse number four. 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:21.939 On the Jesus way, the problem is not different insights. 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:25.279 The problem is selfishness and pride. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.659 On the Jesus way, the problem is not different insights. 00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:34.319 The problem is selfishness and pride. 00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:41.299 In fact, one of the things that you could say about this is that, in fact, actually this 00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:46.860 could be the fifth point, sort of very closely connected to it, is that pride and selfishness 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:50.759 give temporary pleasure but rob you of joy. 00:13:51.519 --> 00:14:00.059 Pride and selfishness give temporary pleasure but rob you of joy. 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:03.179 I could just think about it for a little bit here now. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:07.299 At the heart of selfishness is the idea of me first. 00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:15.139 And if it's me first, because I'm better, that means everybody else is second. 00:14:16.219 --> 00:14:18.419 Sucks to be you, me first. 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:23.879 So pride is inherently competitive. 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:29.240 Pride and selfishness is inherently isolating. 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:37.799 And pride and selfishness inherently mean that you lose touch with concern. 00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:40.799 You stop having a real concern for what's true. 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:42.919 It inevitably follows. 00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:45.580 You see, you just think about it for a second. 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:53.799 If I have a high opinion of myself, I have to have a lower opinion of others. 00:14:53.799 --> 00:15:02.419 And that means that in terms of truth, I love truth if it enlarges me. 00:15:03.359 --> 00:15:06.459 And I hate truth if it accuses me. 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:07.559 Isn't that true? 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:10.299 You say, yeah, George, that's true for you. 00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:13.679 I mean, I should say for you as well. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.979 You love truth if it enlarges you. 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:19.519 You hate it if it accuses you. 00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:24.060 You love truth if it reveals faults in others. 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:28.680 You hate truth if it reveals faults in you. 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:33.859 And if that's the case, do you actually love truth? 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:35.439 How can you? 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:40.719 I mean, this is a deep, deep, deep human problem. 00:15:43.099 --> 00:15:44.959 It reveals a deep problem. 00:15:45.219 --> 00:15:46.879 I have a deep pride problem. 00:15:47.579 --> 00:15:48.899 It gets even worse. 00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:56.480 Because you see, I'm a bit proud that I recognize I have a pride problem and you don't. 00:15:58.059 --> 00:16:03.139 And then I'm proud because I confessed I have a pride problem. 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:06.659 I realize that saying that makes me proud. 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:07.799 And I realize that. 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:09.120 You see what I mean? 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:16.179 You all of a sudden, you go down this like unending spiral or corridor that every type of accomplishment, 00:16:16.179 --> 00:16:20.779 even at the moment that you do things that makes you more humble, more humble, more humble, more humble, more humble. 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:22.459 And then you get proud about it. 00:16:23.219 --> 00:16:25.179 That, in fact, you can't escape it. 00:16:25.699 --> 00:16:27.739 And if you think about it for a second then, 00:16:27.979 --> 00:16:31.500 that means that there's not going to be any real solution to the pride problem. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.979 Like more education doesn't solve it. 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:35.819 That can just make you more pride. 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:40.839 New techniques, better ways to meditate, better ways to become mindful, 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:42.599 better ways to do yoga, 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:47.240 better knowledge of religious texts or religious ceremonies, 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.840 better knowledge of the Bible. 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:53.360 Everything that you can do can just further this sense of pride, 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:58.639 this enlarging of yourself and the looking down on others. 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:05.420 And if you think about it, it's hard to look the one you love eye to eye, 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:08.380 which is at the heart of friendship and the heart of love, 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:10.519 if you're looking down your nose at them. 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:13.119 It's hard to actually know the true and living God. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:15.220 It's hard to look up to the true and living God 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:17.119 if you're looking down your nose at other people. 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:19.960 And the fact of the matter is, 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.779 is that when we're filled with pride, 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:23.599 we look down our nose at God. 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:26.379 Like there's a deep problem here. 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:29.720 And this leads me to, 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.460 in a sense, another point. 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.420 Number six, 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.900 you cannot escape pride. 00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:40.740 You need to be rescued. 00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:43.060 I cannot escape pride. 00:17:43.580 --> 00:17:45.820 I need to be rescued. 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:49.100 And that's what Paul is pushing us to here. 00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:50.240 This very, 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:52.540 very important text in the whole Bible, 00:17:52.540 --> 00:17:56.160 which we're going to unpack a little bit this week and a little bit next week. 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:56.580 Because, 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:57.220 you know, 00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:57.640 in a sense, 00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:59.540 if you look at how the book is written, 00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:02.740 there's this argument that leads you to chapter two, 00:18:02.820 --> 00:18:04.040 verses six to 11. 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:06.079 In other words, 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:12.159 it's leading you here and bringing you here so that you understand how it solves all these problems 00:18:12.159 --> 00:18:13.359 and helps to deal with them. 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:19.619 And then verses six to 11 is going to be something which is going to sort of push you forward into a whole lot of other topics. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:22.500 And so I'm going to look a little bit at it today and a little bit at it next. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:24.039 But let's look at verse five first. 00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:25.019 Right. 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:26.159 Because in a sense, 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:28.039 the text is posing to us a problem. 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:30.440 And the problem is, 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:30.960 well, 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:32.480 how do you do all of that stuff? 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:32.779 Like, 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:37.279 how is it that you don't get proud of the fact that you have this mind? 00:18:37.379 --> 00:18:40.539 How is it you don't get proud of the fact that you look out for other people's interests, 00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:41.399 but not your own? 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.139 How is it you don't get pride, 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:46.299 proud about how you don't have selfish ambition or conceit? 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:49.779 And you're better at considering others better than yourself. 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:53.659 How is it that that doesn't create just a different, 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.980 obnoxious, 00:18:55.320 --> 00:18:55.920 hateful, 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:56.940 foul, 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:00.040 reeking stench of religious pride? 00:19:02.820 --> 00:19:04.180 You can't escape it. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.100 You need to be rescued. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:08.040 So look how it begins to talk about what this is. 00:19:08.080 --> 00:19:10.840 And this is where it gets into the glory and the beauty of the gospel. 00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:12.340 Look at verse five. 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:15.120 Have this mind among yourselves, 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:17.740 which is yours in Christ Jesus. 00:19:18.360 --> 00:19:20.460 And in the original language, 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.720 it's a, 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.220 it's a very, 00:19:22.340 --> 00:19:24.559 very interesting phrase because in fact, 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.519 in the original language, 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:30.960 it has two senses at the same time and English can't duplicate it. 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:33.420 So what it means is for translators, 00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:35.480 they have to choose one or the other form. 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.700 But in the original language, 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:42.000 the original hearers would have heard this double message that on one hand, 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:43.019 when it says, 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.440 need to find it here, 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.920 have this mind among yourselves, 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:47.660 which is yours in Christ Jesus. 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:47.860 Jesus, 00:19:48.100 --> 00:19:50.820 it's talking about being in Jesus. 00:19:51.540 --> 00:19:52.840 And so you have this. 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:55.000 On the other hand, 00:19:55.060 --> 00:19:59.380 it can also be understood as the message that shapes you. 00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:01.480 That in other words, 00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.019 if you, 00:20:02.080 --> 00:20:04.440 if you listen to this and remember this, 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:06.779 which you have in terms of who Jesus is, 00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:08.180 this truth will shape you. 00:20:08.560 --> 00:20:08.800 So the, 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:10.620 in the original language and some, 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.640 if you're looking at it with, 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:15.360 if you go online and look at a really good place like YouVersion or Bible Gateway, 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:16.799 and you get lots of different translations, 00:20:16.959 --> 00:20:21.000 you'll see that those two things are reflected because the original language, 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:23.059 both are being implied at the same time. 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:27.219 So it's something in and something that shapes you. 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.740 But once again, 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.979 that doesn't really deal with the pride. 00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:31.759 But here's how we get to the rescue. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.679 I'm going to read it. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.500 And then we're going to, 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:35.000 I'll say a few things about it. 00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:36.319 And then I'm going to read it again. 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.719 Verses six to 11. 00:20:40.479 --> 00:20:40.799 Who, 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.839 read verse five again, 00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:44.139 Have this mind among yourselves, 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:46.279 which is yours in Christ Jesus, 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.099 who, 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:49.740 though he was in the form of God, 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:53.359 did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:57.279 but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, 00:20:58.139 --> 00:21:00.079 being born in the likeness of men, 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:02.639 and being found in human form. 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:06.759 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, 00:21:07.179 --> 00:21:08.559 even death on a cross. 00:21:09.439 --> 00:21:09.839 Therefore, 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:14.919 God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:17.059 so that at the name of Jesus, 00:21:17.199 --> 00:21:20.519 every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:24.199 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:26.419 to the glory of God, 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:27.419 the Father. 00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:28.779 Now, 00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:29.359 just, 00:21:30.139 --> 00:21:30.659 here's, 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.199 in a sense, 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:32.539 the big picture idea. 00:21:32.939 --> 00:21:34.559 We're going to spend a bit of time here with this. 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:36.039 And the big picture idea is this. 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:41.539 The gospel is the good news that the triune God has acted to rescue you. 00:21:42.399 --> 00:21:46.859 The gospel is the good news that the triune God has acted to rescue you. 00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:49.899 I'm not going to talk much about the Trinity in this talk. 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:50.539 Next week, 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.899 when we look at these same verses, 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.480 I'm going to talk a little bit about the Trinity, 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:59.400 and how this undergirds the whole idea and the significance in terms of what follows next. 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.079 But, 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:02.140 there's no way that you can, 00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:03.960 I was saying to one person, 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:09.799 one of the academic commentaries that I have spends 80 pages 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:13.579 on chapter two, 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.519 verses one to here, 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.799 almost all of it on this, 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.460 because it's a very, 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:17.720 very, 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.680 very deep thing. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:19.379 And, 00:22:19.419 --> 00:22:19.619 and, 00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:20.879 and in the original language, 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:23.159 one of the things to understand is in the original language, 00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:25.139 this is usually called something like a hymn. 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.779 It has a very, 00:22:27.899 --> 00:22:28.119 very, 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:30.079 very interesting structure. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.559 That's obviously, 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.980 it's like a hymn. 00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:36.379 It's like a creed. 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:39.639 It's very poetic with very, 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:40.639 very powerful, 00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:43.240 pithy little sayings. 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:45.039 And probably what it is, 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:47.120 is something that Paul didn't write, 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.500 but that he's just going from memory with, 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:52.519 whether he does it exactly word for word for how it's used. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:52.740 But, 00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:53.220 see, 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:56.380 one of the interesting things about the Christian faith is people wonder about this, 00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:58.120 is that the early Christians, 00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:59.420 they had the message of Jesus, 00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:01.259 and they had what we now call the Old Testament. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.839 Our Jewish friends call it the Tanakh. 00:23:03.120 --> 00:23:04.200 We call it the Old Testament. 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:06.740 So how is it that the Christian faith was taught? 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.740 Well, 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:09.920 there's different hints in first Corinthians and, 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.779 and here, 00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:12.559 and in other passages in the New Testament, 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:20.200 that probably what they did is they came up with these types of memorable teaching aids or structures to help the, 00:23:20.399 --> 00:23:23.480 communicate the Christian faith. 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.159 So, 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:24.740 for instance, 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.720 our, 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:29.700 our church has started a seminary called Ryle Seminary. 00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:34.059 One of the things I have is that we have is a mission statement for that seminary. 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:37.519 And the mission statement is to equip unashamed workers, 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.919 unashamed of the gospel, 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.679 and unashamed of the whole counsel of God. 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:42.879 For those of you who know the Bible very well, 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.159 you go, 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:43.359 oh, 00:23:43.419 --> 00:23:45.379 that's a reference to Ephesians 4, 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.039 and this text, 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:46.579 and this text, 00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.200 and this text. 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.340 And it's, 00:23:48.380 --> 00:23:49.420 it's something that, 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.059 on one level, 00:23:50.100 --> 00:23:52.180 I can just say and communicate something, 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:55.299 but if I wanted to unpack that to describe what is, 00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:58.299 that it should be involved to be equipped for ministry, 00:23:58.539 --> 00:24:00.059 to learn what it means to be a minister, 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:01.400 I could take that, 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.660 that little framework, 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.539 and I could do four talks, 00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.200 or eight talks, 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.960 or 12 talks, 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:07.220 because I could go to Ephesians, 00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:08.799 and I could go to the pastoral epistles, 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:10.240 and I could go to the book of Acts. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.779 You know, 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.579 and all of a sudden, 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.859 you have something which is very, 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.539 very memorable, 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.880 but you could go and you could teach from. 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:19.940 Every Sunday, 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:20.900 we do colics, 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:22.960 and one of the things to understand about a colic, 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:24.079 is it's the same thing. 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:26.099 It's a concise theology, 00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:28.519 and a prayer that you can pray. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.700 And in a sense, 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:32.500 then it becomes a bit of a teaching aid, 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:35.039 if you were to memorize it. 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:37.660 Like the thing that we begin with at the beginning, 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.579 the colic for purity, 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.359 Almighty God, 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.619 and to whom all hearts be open, 00:24:40.699 --> 00:24:41.619 all desires known, 00:24:41.679 --> 00:24:43.599 and from whom no secrets are hid. 00:24:43.719 --> 00:24:45.059 Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:46.939 by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.879 that we may perfectly love thee, 00:24:48.939 --> 00:24:50.899 and worthily magnify thy holy name. 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.399 If you were to take that, 00:24:52.479 --> 00:24:54.019 go back and see it from the thing, 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:55.059 and you look at it, 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:57.319 that's an unbelievably packed, 00:24:58.259 --> 00:25:00.939 comprehensive theology of worship. 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:05.240 You could write several books unpacking that. 00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:07.139 Just like you could take any colic, 00:25:07.199 --> 00:25:08.000 you could pray it, 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:10.980 you could also use it as an outline of theology. 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:12.759 You could use it then as a springboard 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:14.359 to add your other prayers. 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:16.559 And that's what we see here with this hymn. 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:18.220 I'm going to read it again, 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:20.500 and I'm going to read it in a version 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:22.680 which is almost perfectly literal. 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.839 So you can follow along on your own, 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.519 but what I'm reading, 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:27.240 it comes from one of the academic scholars, 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:30.619 and it's been grouped in little groups of three, 00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:34.079 because that's one of the ways that you can group it 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:35.640 to try to have it as a teaching aid. 00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:37.220 And here it is, 00:25:37.280 --> 00:25:39.120 almost word for word literal. 00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:40.800 So it's not going to be as grammatic, 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:42.620 but it's a literal way of understanding. 00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:45.000 You can follow along and see how our version 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:46.080 tries to smooth it out. 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:47.020 It goes like this, 00:25:47.860 --> 00:25:49.960 referring to Jesus Christ, 00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:52.480 who in the form of God existing, 00:25:53.300 --> 00:25:55.240 not an advantage considered, 00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:57.580 his being equal with God. 00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:58.759 Next group. 00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:01.019 But nothing he made himself, 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:05.200 the form of a servant slash save adopting, 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.599 in likeness of men becoming. 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:09.240 Next phrase. 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:12.079 In the appearance, 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:12.700 sorry, 00:26:12.879 --> 00:26:15.039 and in appearance being found as man, 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.839 he humbled himself, 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:19.140 becoming obedient to death, 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:21.059 and death of a cross. 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.920 And just pause. 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:24.500 There's different ways that this can be grouped 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.759 into sort of stanzas. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.359 Stanzas. 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:28.579 And one of the interesting things about this, 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:30.339 and it was probably a design feature, 00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:34.059 is that whatever way you group it into stanzas, 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:35.599 which would mean that you could teach it 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:37.319 in different contexts as a schema, 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:41.140 there's always one line that doesn't fit. 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:44.700 And the one line that doesn't fit 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:46.039 is, 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.940 and death of a cross. 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:50.580 It's the jarring note. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:54.220 It's the slamming door in the middle of a song 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:57.279 that makes you jump up and listen to a particular message. 00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:58.820 It has this, 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.600 it's an out-of-place, 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:05.000 an intentional out-of-place design feature. 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.580 The next group. 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:10.019 Therefore also exalted him God, 00:27:10.580 --> 00:27:12.039 and granted him the name 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:13.880 that's above every name. 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.559 Number five. 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:17.299 Or grouping five. 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:19.879 So that in the name of Jesus, 00:27:20.399 --> 00:27:22.659 every knee may bow of those in heaven, 00:27:23.159 --> 00:27:24.940 and on earth and under the earth, 00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:26.079 and the last. 00:27:26.679 --> 00:27:28.419 And every tongue may confess 00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:30.500 that Jesus Christ is Lord, 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:32.440 to God the Father's glory. 00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:34.720 So in the original language, 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:37.679 it's very clear that there's this type of a teaching aid 00:27:37.679 --> 00:27:38.579 that would have been used 00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:40.019 as they took their Old Testaments, 00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:41.220 as they tell you about Jesus. 00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:44.139 And it's a very, very, very interesting teaching aid. 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:45.500 If you go back, 00:27:45.540 --> 00:27:47.320 you want to look at some of the academic commentaries, 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.540 because it's a teaching aid 00:27:48.540 --> 00:27:49.640 that allows you to connect 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:52.180 to a whole range of Old Testament texts, 00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:55.140 and the overarching story of the Old Testament. 00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:56.620 It's a teaching aid 00:27:56.620 --> 00:27:58.780 that allows you to go and look at the Gospels, 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:00.340 and see all of the different incidents 00:28:00.340 --> 00:28:01.320 in the life of Jesus, 00:28:01.800 --> 00:28:03.020 and see how they fit together. 00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:04.120 It's a teaching aid 00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:06.220 that allows them to be evangelistic. 00:28:06.320 --> 00:28:07.940 It shares the Gospel with people. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.180 It's a teaching aid 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:10.640 that allows them to connect 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:12.259 the difference and the similarities 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:14.100 and the differences of the Christian faith 00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:15.860 to the other religions in the world. 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:18.440 And it's a teaching aid in its language 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:20.840 that allows you to connect the Gospel 00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:24.120 with different philosophical systems and worldviews. 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:25.880 It's an unbelievably rich 00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:28.380 and fruitful teaching aid. 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:31.120 But at the very, very heart of it 00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:33.320 is that there's this one act of God. 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:35.799 And this one act of God 00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:37.839 is that God, the Son of God, 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:40.460 taking and setting aside 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:42.179 all of his appearance of God, 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:44.720 but remaining fully and utterly God, 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:47.939 takes into himself our human nature. 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.639 He doesn't, in a sense, 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:51.879 hold on to all of the privileges 00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.779 and the prerogatives 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.740 and looking like God, 00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.939 but he sets them all aside, 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:57.200 but he still never stops being God. 00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:59.379 And he takes into himself 00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.339 our human nature. 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:04.299 And he continues to humble himself. 00:29:04.419 --> 00:29:05.899 It's the opposite of selfishness, 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:07.399 the reverse of pride. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:10.559 And he continues to humble himself 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:12.179 in terms of a fully human life 00:29:12.179 --> 00:29:14.220 and even humbles himself to that 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:16.339 which the entire ancient world 00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:19.039 saw as a shameful and cursed death, 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:21.319 which is death on a cross. 00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:23.679 Because he's bearing our shame, 00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:25.099 he's bearing our curse, 00:29:25.439 --> 00:29:26.919 he's bearing our sin, 00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:28.699 he's bearing our pride. 00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:30.660 He, in his person, 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.559 is reversing 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:35.660 the bent nature of human beings 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:38.120 towards pride and selfishness. 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.920 And then the response 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:42.100 is this great exaltation, 00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:44.940 which is in verses 9 to 11, 00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:46.759 of this vindication 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:48.420 and recognition by God 00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.380 so that the name, 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.779 the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:51.900 is above every name. 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:55.240 And it leads to this profound feeling 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:57.299 of exaltation and joy. 00:29:57.299 --> 00:30:01.200 And it touches on the abortion issue here. 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:03.099 And I, you know, 00:30:03.159 --> 00:30:03.740 I don't like, 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.700 as a Canadian, 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.899 I don't like talking about it. 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:08.180 And for those of you 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:08.740 who are listening 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:10.299 who have had abortions, 00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:11.940 I'm not talking this 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:13.019 to try to shame you. 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:16.220 The fact of the matter is 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:17.899 is that Jesus loves you 00:30:17.899 --> 00:30:20.480 and the way forward in your life 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.319 is to know Jesus. 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.159 But here's the thing. 00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:25.840 From both a philosophical 00:30:25.840 --> 00:30:27.580 and a scientific point of view, 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.820 once the egg 00:30:28.820 --> 00:30:31.480 within your mother's womb 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:32.420 was fertilized 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.740 and attaches to the wall 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:36.800 of the womb, 00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:40.320 from a scientific point of view, 00:30:40.580 --> 00:30:41.940 everything that is you 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.779 is there. 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:45.360 The fact that I have 00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.380 the skull shape 00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:47.680 of my mom's father, 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:49.560 the fact that I have eyes 00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:50.779 more like my dad 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.759 than like my mom 00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.539 who needed glasses 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.460 at an early age. 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.180 The fact that I got 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.500 my mom's allergies. 00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:56.920 Like, 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:58.460 everything about it, 00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.460 even whether or not 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.119 I was going to have 00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:00.859 heart problems 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.639 or high cholesterol, 00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:02.500 all of that 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:05.039 is scientifically encoded. 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.539 No different 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:08.220 in that moment 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:09.359 in the womb 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:10.859 than it is for me right now. 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.579 Even though 00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:12.519 from a human, 00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.680 like from how we understand 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.700 what human beings look like, 00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:15.740 you couldn't even see it 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.559 with your eyes 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.960 and it wouldn't look 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.599 anything like human, 00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:19.319 but it is. 00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.980 And from a philosophical 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:21.779 point of view, 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:22.759 it's the same type of thing 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.759 and that's what you see here 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.879 in a sense in a reverse 00:31:24.879 --> 00:31:26.019 is that all of 00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:27.619 the appearance of God, 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:28.480 the Son of God, 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.579 all of the power, 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.480 all of the prerogatives, 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.639 they're all set aside, 00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:33.960 but his fundamental identity 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:35.259 as deity has remained 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.659 and he takes into himself 00:31:36.659 --> 00:31:37.619 our human nature 00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:38.879 and he does it 00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:40.500 to rescue us. 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.819 That the gospel 00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:43.779 is the good news 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:45.019 that the triune God 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.940 has acted 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:47.359 to rescue you. 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:49.339 Now here I have to be 00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:50.059 wrapping it up. 00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.920 I told you I was going 00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:51.819 to talk about hell 00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:55.960 and so I'll try to do that 00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.759 in just a couple of moments. 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.359 I'm also going to talk 00:31:57.359 --> 00:31:57.859 about heaven. 00:31:59.399 --> 00:32:01.899 You see this odd phrase here 00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:04.379 that if you look at 00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:08.259 verse 9 and 10, 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.160 therefore God has highly 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.839 exalted him 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.680 and bestowed on him 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.460 the name that is above 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:13.039 every name 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:13.879 so that at the name 00:32:13.879 --> 00:32:14.339 of Jesus 00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.500 every knee should bow 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:15.980 in heaven 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:17.000 and on earth 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.720 and under the earth 00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.420 and every tongue 00:32:18.420 --> 00:32:19.740 confess that Jesus Christ 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.259 is Lord 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:21.500 to the glory of God 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.059 the Father. 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.720 What this is talking 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.220 about here 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.960 is that at the end 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.480 of the day 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:28.180 coming face to face 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:29.960 to the triune God 00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.879 is unavoidable. 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.980 It's unavoidable. 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:35.059 And God always respects 00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:35.680 your freedom. 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.180 But to meet 00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:39.940 the triune God 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:41.559 when you don't want 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:42.799 to be in his presence, 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:46.299 when pride and selfishness 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.779 is still a key aspect 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:49.099 of who you are 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:51.539 and you want to be above 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:53.279 and everything else below, 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:55.899 to come into the presence 00:32:55.899 --> 00:32:57.200 of the triune God 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.700 where that illusion 00:32:58.700 --> 00:33:01.539 will only cause you pain 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.339 and suffering 00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:03.879 in the presence of that 00:33:03.879 --> 00:33:06.279 which is undeniably God 00:33:06.279 --> 00:33:07.019 and greater, 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:10.539 the presence of the fact 00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:11.440 that your mind 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.539 and your whole being 00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:13.339 is acknowledging 00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:14.400 that there is in fact 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.400 a greater one 00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:18.319 is causing you 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:20.879 destruction and pain. 00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:25.160 So George, 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:25.639 are you saying 00:33:25.639 --> 00:33:26.460 that you don't have that? 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.660 No, no, far from it. 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:29.460 You see, 00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.480 the heart of the Christian faith 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.740 is being in Christ. 00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.259 See, 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.460 it offends our pride 00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:35.940 to think that you have 00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.740 to be rescued. 00:33:38.140 --> 00:33:39.840 It offends my pride 00:33:39.840 --> 00:33:41.400 that I have to be rescued, 00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:43.059 that I don't contribute 00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:44.860 anything to it at all, 00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.440 that I am, 00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:47.000 in a sense, 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:48.240 completely and utterly 00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:48.880 trusting 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:50.319 in the pity 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:50.940 and the mercy 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:51.759 and the love 00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:53.640 of the triune God. 00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:57.220 And all I can do, 00:33:58.060 --> 00:33:58.320 you see, 00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:02.360 here's my final point. 00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.000 It is, 00:34:04.080 --> 00:34:05.420 the gospel proclaims, 00:34:05.640 --> 00:34:06.420 it is a rescue 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:07.420 that shapes you, 00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:08.840 draws you, 00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.119 and brings you 00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:11.440 into a new relationship 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.460 with the rescuer. 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.320 It is a rescue 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:14.800 that shapes you, 00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:15.740 draws you, 00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:16.800 and brings you in 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:18.180 to a new relationship 00:34:18.180 --> 00:34:19.860 with the rescuer. 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:25.519 I take some time 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.440 to try to 00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:27.620 completely unpack that, 00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:28.320 and it's time 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.079 that I don't have. 00:34:30.740 --> 00:34:31.039 But, 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:33.680 you know, 00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:34.559 you have this mind 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.200 in Christ. 00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:35.780 Remember I said 00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:36.260 it's something 00:34:36.260 --> 00:34:36.980 that gets you 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:39.059 into Christ. 00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:42.120 And the justice 00:34:42.120 --> 00:34:43.800 that my pride 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.980 and vain glory 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:46.180 and selfishness, 00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:48.320 that the, 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:48.800 in a sense, 00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:49.780 the consequences 00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:51.080 of that falls on him. 00:34:51.180 --> 00:34:52.200 The curse that comes 00:34:52.200 --> 00:34:53.580 from that falls on him. 00:34:54.560 --> 00:34:55.580 The shame 00:34:55.580 --> 00:34:56.760 that comes from that 00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:57.860 falls on him. 00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.700 And when I am in him, 00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:01.740 I share in his 00:35:01.740 --> 00:35:02.900 unraveling 00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:04.220 and unbending. 00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.840 It becomes mine 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:07.900 because I am in him, 00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:09.740 because he has rescued me. 00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:13.200 And that means 00:35:13.200 --> 00:35:15.860 that when that time 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:17.160 comes when I appear 00:35:17.160 --> 00:35:17.820 before God 00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:18.720 face to face, 00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:20.880 I stand before him 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:21.480 in Christ. 00:35:22.220 --> 00:35:23.560 I stand before him 00:35:23.560 --> 00:35:25.000 fully and truly known. 00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:26.880 I stand before him 00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:28.440 fully and truly judged. 00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:30.019 I stand for him 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:30.940 before him 00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:32.720 fully and truly rescued. 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:34.180 I stand before him 00:35:34.180 --> 00:35:35.320 fully and truly 00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:36.460 enwrapped 00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.440 in the love 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.060 and mercy 00:35:38.060 --> 00:35:38.800 and kindness 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:39.539 and goodness 00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.700 of God. 00:35:41.260 --> 00:35:42.580 And so it is 00:35:42.580 --> 00:35:43.680 that that gospel 00:35:43.680 --> 00:35:44.840 and that presence 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:45.580 of the rescuer 00:35:45.580 --> 00:35:46.260 that is beginning 00:35:46.260 --> 00:35:47.520 to work within me 00:35:47.520 --> 00:35:48.280 and shape me 00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:48.880 and bring me 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:50.120 into a new way 00:35:50.120 --> 00:35:50.980 of starting to be able 00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:52.180 to die to pride 00:35:52.180 --> 00:35:53.120 and selfishness. 00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:54.179 when that day 00:35:54.179 --> 00:35:55.460 finally comes 00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.819 that with all 00:35:56.819 --> 00:35:58.079 the other redeemed 00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:59.539 and with angels 00:35:59.539 --> 00:36:00.339 and archangels 00:36:00.339 --> 00:36:01.359 and all the company 00:36:01.359 --> 00:36:01.880 of heaven 00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:03.319 that I bow 00:36:03.319 --> 00:36:03.980 the knee 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:05.219 and proclaim 00:36:05.219 --> 00:36:06.460 that Jesus Christ 00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:06.940 is Lord 00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:07.579 to the glory 00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:08.839 of God the Father. 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:10.559 Welling from deep 00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:11.480 within me 00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:12.619 will be this 00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.839 profound joy. 00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.420 Free at last. 00:36:15.819 --> 00:36:16.759 Free at last. 00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:18.480 Praise God almighty. 00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:20.139 I'm free at last. 00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:22.099 And I share this 00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:22.599 with you 00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:23.679 and Paul shares 00:36:23.679 --> 00:36:24.279 this with you 00:36:24.279 --> 00:36:25.859 because our desire 00:36:25.859 --> 00:36:27.139 is that that will be 00:36:27.139 --> 00:36:27.960 your cry 00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:29.159 with us. 00:36:29.879 --> 00:36:31.159 You, like me, 00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:32.440 need to be rescued. 00:36:36.879 --> 00:36:38.400 And it's not just 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:39.599 that you are rescued 00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:40.319 in him 00:36:40.319 --> 00:36:41.879 but that you walk 00:36:41.879 --> 00:36:43.839 towards hard things 00:36:43.839 --> 00:36:45.420 with your rescuer. 00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:48.339 That the picture 00:36:48.340 --> 00:36:49.240 and the shape 00:36:49.240 --> 00:36:50.220 of the rescue 00:36:50.220 --> 00:36:51.519 shapes you. 00:36:52.220 --> 00:36:53.039 The picture 00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:54.160 and the shape 00:36:54.160 --> 00:36:54.920 of the rescue 00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:55.600 and what it will 00:36:55.600 --> 00:36:56.840 culminate at the end 00:36:56.840 --> 00:36:58.000 draws you. 00:36:58.740 --> 00:36:59.900 And what the rescue 00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.860 has done for you 00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:02.079 is that upon which 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:03.360 you begin to stand 00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:04.380 which is why 00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:05.380 the mission statement 00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:07.519 is to be confident 00:37:07.519 --> 00:37:08.660 joyful disciples 00:37:08.660 --> 00:37:09.780 of Jesus Christ 00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:10.700 where our confidence 00:37:10.700 --> 00:37:12.780 is in the rescue 00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:14.620 and our joy 00:37:14.620 --> 00:37:16.039 is in the rescue 00:37:16.039 --> 00:37:17.079 and the rescuer. 00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:19.599 And we want 00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:20.199 to be shaped 00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:20.739 by it 00:37:20.739 --> 00:37:22.199 and walk out of it 00:37:22.199 --> 00:37:23.199 and live out of it. 00:37:23.980 --> 00:37:24.420 Friends, 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:25.860 consider Jesus. 00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:27.480 Here's the wonderful thing 00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.480 as this grips you. 00:37:31.340 --> 00:37:32.179 Are you scared 00:37:32.179 --> 00:37:32.920 of the faults 00:37:32.920 --> 00:37:34.019 the truth will reveal? 00:37:34.299 --> 00:37:35.159 So am I. 00:37:35.340 --> 00:37:36.059 I hate it. 00:37:36.759 --> 00:37:37.960 But there is no fault 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:39.039 that Jesus didn't know 00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:39.900 and there's no fault 00:37:39.900 --> 00:37:41.000 that he hasn't dealt with. 00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:41.519 In fact, 00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:42.279 the fact of the matter 00:37:42.279 --> 00:37:43.340 is that the faults 00:37:43.340 --> 00:37:44.019 in you and me 00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:45.039 are vastly more 00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:45.619 than we know 00:37:45.619 --> 00:37:46.679 or anybody else knows. 00:37:46.679 --> 00:37:47.980 But still you're loved 00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:48.659 and rescued 00:37:48.659 --> 00:37:50.000 in Christ. 00:37:51.339 --> 00:37:52.399 And the promise 00:37:52.399 --> 00:37:53.139 of glory 00:37:53.139 --> 00:37:54.819 which you're almost 00:37:54.819 --> 00:37:55.759 that you're vastly 00:37:55.759 --> 00:37:56.500 too embarrassed 00:37:56.500 --> 00:37:57.539 to even consider 00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:58.440 because it would seem 00:37:58.440 --> 00:37:59.519 like the height of pride 00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:00.879 is your promise 00:38:00.879 --> 00:38:01.460 in Christ. 00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:03.000 Let's pray. 00:38:04.379 --> 00:38:04.940 Father, 00:38:05.259 --> 00:38:06.079 make us 00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:06.879 disciples 00:38:06.879 --> 00:38:07.639 of Jesus 00:38:07.639 --> 00:38:09.279 whose confidence 00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:11.920 is in our rescue 00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:13.420 and the rescuer 00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:15.019 and whose joy 00:38:15.019 --> 00:38:16.660 is in the rescue 00:38:16.660 --> 00:38:18.000 and the rescuer. 00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.320 And we ask this 00:38:19.320 --> 00:38:20.360 in Jesus' name. 00:38:20.760 --> 00:38:21.040 Amen.