WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.179 Why don't we try this while I'm eating these. 00:00:05.179 --> 00:00:09.220 I'm going to ask you to pray for me later. 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:09.220 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.200 So I'm going to crunch on these, and you are not going to be distracted, and you are going 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:44.799 to plead with the Holy Spirit to work in me and to work in you. 00:00:46.939 --> 00:00:51.019 It'll take me a couple minutes, so you go right ahead and use the time wisely. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:53.600 I apologize. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:57.859 The alternative is not good. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.340 And once I start, there's no turning back. 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:19.920 How many of you this morning, as we were singing, were cross-referencing things with the Scriptures? 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:20.659 Were you doing that? 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:25.760 I want everybody to nod. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:26.379 Just do it. 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:29.760 Okay. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:41.760 Beloved, I plead with you that when you listen to anything, the benchmark against which you 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:44.420 judge all things is the Word of God. 00:01:46.180 --> 00:01:48.340 And here's the truth. 00:01:48.340 --> 00:01:54.400 If what is being said is good, are you listening? 00:01:54.400 --> 00:02:02.340 Cross-referencing it against the Scriptures amplifies its value and encourages your heart. 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:03.120 Does that make sense? 00:02:03.960 --> 00:02:10.060 It's like, this is a thing that I want to say yes to, and God's in business with this one. 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:10.740 I like it. 00:02:10.740 --> 00:02:21.620 And so, I would plead with you that, boy, that last song that we were singing, my mind was just doing this overdrive search in Ephesians chapter 1. 00:02:21.620 --> 00:02:23.759 That's where I was. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:23.759 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:35.960 As Paul says this, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:37.960 That's verse 3. 00:02:37.960 --> 00:02:38.540 That's verse 3. 00:02:38.539 --> 00:02:43.840 And then in verse 6, it says that we have been accepted in the beloved. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:51.579 I tell you, there is nothing sweeter, truthfully to me, than recognizing that I am accepted in the beloved. 00:02:51.580 --> 00:02:57.080 If there is one thing that is significant about Tim Kenoyer, it is this. 00:02:59.020 --> 00:03:09.080 I am loved by Christ, and I'm the child of God, and nothing else counts in comparison. 00:03:10.820 --> 00:03:16.840 The journey to heaven is cloudy, stormy. 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:24.740 I was talking with Pastor Ken, or Ken Lauro earlier this week, and we were talking about ministry, and he says, 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:28.180 you know, there's somebody I know who's told me that ministry is all uphill. 00:03:29.460 --> 00:03:31.920 I said, yeah, that's true. 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:33.039 But you know what? 00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:46.360 Nothing, nothing, nothing is more priceless than knowing that I am the child of God, beloved son of the eternal father. 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:56.240 And really, the truth of the matter is, is that what we're doing here this morning is just kind of a warm-up for the someday when we are going to see him face-to-face. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:57.199 Isn't that going to be wonderful? 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:02.539 And I hope one of the things that's happening is, as you go through your journey and through your day, 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:10.099 that you keep on coming back to thinking about the fact that today is not the final draft or final story. 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:11.840 There is a better day coming. 00:04:12.019 --> 00:04:19.300 There is a day when we are going to be face-to-face with the Lord of glory, and we will rejoice in his presence forevermore. 00:04:19.659 --> 00:04:22.659 It will get better than this. 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:23.420 Amen. 00:04:23.420 --> 00:04:29.100 I want you to look with me at Ephesians chapter 2. 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:32.420 My sugar is kicking in, so we're good. 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:38.140 Let me read it to you just a little bit. 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:53.860 Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:58.919 and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 00:04:58.920 --> 00:05:14.080 But now, in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:22.200 Father God, I am reminded of the words of the prophet Zechariah, 00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:29.579 not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord. 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:37.420 And it is my prayer, and I know that other believers here this morning join me in praying together 00:05:37.420 --> 00:05:43.120 that you would work among us, that the glory of Christ would be seen in our hearts, 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:48.399 would be quickened to see the things that are true and pure and wholesome, 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:52.879 and that we would grow to be more like Jesus. 00:05:55.099 --> 00:05:56.879 We ask this in your precious name. 00:05:57.739 --> 00:05:58.039 Amen. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:03.919 How many of you recognize that probably one of the most difficult things about Christian life 00:06:03.919 --> 00:06:05.899 is that you keep on having to do it over and over again? 00:06:06.859 --> 00:06:07.560 Do you realize that? 00:06:08.659 --> 00:06:13.019 I mean, there's one day that's up and pretty good, 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:14.839 and then there's another day that's a little more challenging, 00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:19.739 and then day after day after day after day, they're the constant challenges, 00:06:20.060 --> 00:06:22.060 and our emotions peak. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:25.339 They wane, and they come and go. 00:06:26.659 --> 00:06:30.039 And practically speaking, I'm just curious, as you sit here this morning, 00:06:30.579 --> 00:06:33.719 if you can think of when the last time was 00:06:33.719 --> 00:06:38.839 where your heart was just kind of overwhelmed with thanksgiving for your salvation, 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:45.479 where just the thought of you being delivered from the burden and bondage of your sin 00:06:45.479 --> 00:06:50.839 took your heart and your affections away from the burdens and heartaches of the moment 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:55.199 and just kind of brought to you that overwhelming sense of thanksgiving. 00:06:55.359 --> 00:06:56.919 It's like, yes! 00:06:57.679 --> 00:06:58.859 I'm blessed! 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:04.299 When was the last time that you just found yourself thinking, 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:08.100 wow, I can't believe it, that I have peace with God? 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:13.819 All of you here can remember, if you stop and ponder, 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:19.060 that there was a day when you made your journey of life with a cloud over you. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:22.000 You never knew what was going to happen next, 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:28.199 and you faced the uncertain prospect of the doom of the judgment of God against you 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:30.379 because you stood condemned as a sinner. 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:36.959 And Christ Jesus came and saved you and delivered you from the bondage that you had, 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:39.420 and He gave you a new song and a new hope. 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:44.659 And what a blessing to have all of that and peace with God. 00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:49.379 I wonder when the last time was that you were actually moved to tears. 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:54.000 Now, I know some of us reserve tears for very, very special moments like funerals and weddings, 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:55.939 but others of us cry periodically. 00:07:55.939 --> 00:08:01.219 So, you know, I mean, when were you last moved to tears when you thought about the fact that Christ loved you? 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:04.019 I mean, it just overwhelmed you. 00:08:07.300 --> 00:08:09.079 Should that happen fairly regularly? 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:09.819 What's the answer? 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:11.579 It should. 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:18.759 Now, I don't want to presuppose that all of us have to be as emotional as the next person 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:22.519 because I admit that we're all hardwired differently. 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:23.360 Do you understand that? 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:27.460 God, in order to help me understand the practicality of that, 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:32.360 gave me a darling wife who is much more placid than I am. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:34.279 Do you know what I mean by placid? 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:37.080 She's the calm pond, you know? 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:38.759 Ripples seldom happen. 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:42.419 I have a tempest in a teapot, you know? 00:08:42.460 --> 00:08:43.820 It's like things happen all the time. 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:49.620 And, you know, I've sometimes looked with great envy at why she's so calm, 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:54.480 and I imagine she's kind of looked at me and thought, man, I wish I just, you know, had those whoo! 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:56.700 Then the other thing, you know. 00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:59.100 But, you know, here's the deal. 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:08.720 It's fair to say, so when, when has my heart been caught up with just affection and delight 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:11.419 in the reality of the blessing I have? 00:09:11.419 --> 00:09:16.439 Ephesians is all about our salvation. 00:09:17.459 --> 00:09:24.000 It is an incredible book that talks about the blessing of God's work in redeeming us, 00:09:24.099 --> 00:09:30.379 and particularly the first chapter is really loaded with the issue of the blessing of our salvation 00:09:30.379 --> 00:09:34.019 and that God chose us before the foundation of the world, 00:09:34.179 --> 00:09:37.039 and He's chosen us to bless us with all spiritual blessings. 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:44.360 Chapter 2, then, kind of amplifies that a little bit by explaining in greater detail where we were. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:49.480 And the reason that that's so important is because when we forget where we've come from, 00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:52.299 we get kind of caught with the details of the moment, 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:57.000 and we get kind of buried, and we don't appreciate where we're from. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:04.200 And so chapter 2 looks at our past from two different perspectives. 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:08.019 Chapter 2, we look first of all at verses 1 through 10, 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:12.360 in which the apostle talks about where we were in broad terms. 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:15.220 And if you were to kind of work your way down through this, 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:18.860 you'll find out that we are reminded in chapter 2, verse 1 through 10, 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:21.960 that we were at one point dead in trespasses and sin. 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.639 We were the slaves of Satan. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:28.299 We were on our way to hell. 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:30.620 We were children of wrath. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:36.639 And over us, the cloud of the wrath of God against us was clearly defined 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:43.480 and something that our conscience understood and stayed under the weight and burden of that. 00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:49.799 Now, we come to the second part, and our study this morning is going to take us from chapter 2, 00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:51.479 verse 11 down through 18. 00:10:51.979 --> 00:10:56.879 And in this, we are going to find that the apostle wants to amplify our understanding of our past 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:00.539 by helping us realize that we who are Gentiles... 00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:02.279 Is there anybody here that's not a Gentile? 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:08.399 By the way, those who are not Gentiles, in terms of the economy of the New Testament and Old Testament, 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:09.519 guess who they are? 00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:10.679 They're Jews. 00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:10.759 Jews. 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:14.679 I was studying this week and kind of thinking, 00:11:14.819 --> 00:11:18.419 is there anybody in our fellowship that is a genuine Jew? 00:11:18.599 --> 00:11:20.419 Now, I'm talking about genetically. 00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:22.059 Because what it... 00:11:22.059 --> 00:11:22.439 Are you? 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:23.099 Hi! 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:24.219 Cheryl, raise your hand. 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:25.259 We have one over here. 00:11:25.979 --> 00:11:26.379 Good. 00:11:27.839 --> 00:11:28.959 Is it Eddie's side? 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:29.359 What is it? 00:11:30.819 --> 00:11:31.459 Your mom. 00:11:31.659 --> 00:11:31.919 Okay. 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:32.559 Well, there we go. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:33.879 I didn't know that. 00:11:33.939 --> 00:11:34.379 I'd forgotten. 00:11:34.539 --> 00:11:35.419 Probably knew it and forgot. 00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:38.659 But for the rest of us, that's about... 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:42.059 You know, you're about 1.0% of the congregation this morning. 00:11:42.319 --> 00:11:45.399 The rest of us fit safely into that little category called what? 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:47.360 Uncircumcised Gentiles. 00:11:48.459 --> 00:11:54.519 And Paul was writing to a church there in Ephesus that was made up, for the most part, of Gentiles. 00:11:54.599 --> 00:11:59.500 And so he wants them to understand the blessing of salvation that they've received 00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:03.740 and to understand it in relationship to the Old Testament and the promises that were there. 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:11.879 And so he speaks in verses 11 through 18 of this matter, of our background and the blessing 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:16.799 that we have in being brought near to Christ through His blood. 00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:22.399 So our study is going to delve a little bit into this subject of what God has done for us 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:23.560 who are Gentiles. 00:12:24.180 --> 00:12:28.320 And Cheryl, you kind of think about this in relationship to Bob and the rest of us because 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:29.220 it applies. 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:29.860 Okay? 00:12:30.420 --> 00:12:35.580 So let's pick up there, if we will, in Ephesians 2, verse 11. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.100 And we want to remind ourselves of our past. 00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:39.440 We look here and it says, 00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:45.860 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:51.139 Let's pick up on something that we mark here in this very beginning verse, in verse 11, 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:59.179 that we have to admit all cultures have prejudices if those who are in the majority, well I shouldn't 00:12:59.179 --> 00:13:03.039 say if, but when those who are in the majority kind of gather together, they have a tendency 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:06.519 to look with a dismissive spirit to those who are not in the majority. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:11.939 I mean, right now in our congregation, most of us are of a certain ethnic background. 00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:18.600 I remember growing up in India, and there were very few white people around. 00:13:20.640 --> 00:13:24.140 Guess what we were called by those who were in the majority? 00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:26.720 All kinds of names. 00:13:28.180 --> 00:13:30.560 Now one of the distinct advantages, you remember that? 00:13:30.660 --> 00:13:35.940 I see Tom and Carrie and Marcy kind of nodding because when they were missionaries in Japan, 00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:36.460 what were you called? 00:13:36.540 --> 00:13:36.880 Gaijin? 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:37.879 Gaijin? 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:38.200 Gaijin? 00:13:38.439 --> 00:13:38.840 Gaijin? 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:39.620 Yeah. 00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:41.419 You were called aliens. 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:42.100 Aliens. 00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:43.100 Yes, aliens. 00:13:43.700 --> 00:13:45.500 Well, that's nicer than what I was called. 00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:47.259 I was called a red monkey, okay? 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.539 Lal bandor. 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:53.200 Lal bandor means red monkey, or sada bandor means white monkey. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:58.539 And the only pleasure I had when those things were said is most people didn't figure I knew 00:13:58.539 --> 00:14:03.539 their language, and growing up I actually knew three of the languages in the area, and so 00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:08.259 I would let them carry on, and they were having ho, ho, ho, and I would let it go for a little 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:15.639 while, and then I just began speaking in Manipuri or Hindi, and they just go, what did I say? 00:14:16.599 --> 00:14:16.779 Okay. 00:14:17.939 --> 00:14:26.659 But the truth of the matter is, is that sadly, because of the fall, this prejudicial attitude 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:27.860 exists in every culture. 00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.719 It exists in India. 00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:29.620 It exists in China. 00:14:29.959 --> 00:14:30.879 It exists in Japan. 00:14:31.099 --> 00:14:32.000 It exists in Africa. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:33.279 It exists here in America. 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:37.960 And it existed back then in the church. 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:43.919 Those who were Jews had their nose up in the air towards those who weren't. 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:49.799 And Paul reflects on this in this letter, and he talks about the fact that this congregation 00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:55.860 that was made up of a mixture of Jews and Gentiles together, there must have been some kind of ethnic 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:58.620 tension because we see it hinted here in the passage. 00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:05.080 It says, you Gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision by the circumcision. 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:05.480 Okay. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:11.700 Now, in God's eyes, does circumcision and uncircumcision make any difference in the church? 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:13.080 And the answer is, not in the least. 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:20.420 But to these ethnically sensitive individuals, their attitude was, well, you're an uncircumcised. 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.759 Well, yeah. 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:22.639 Okay. 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:24.440 And I'm circumcised. 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:25.280 I must be better. 00:15:25.520 --> 00:15:27.600 And the church kind of had this division. 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:32.020 And Paul says, listen, that was not something profitable. 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:40.059 But he says, listen, that is a reflection of the fact that in the Old Testament, God did 00:15:40.059 --> 00:15:40.899 call Abraham. 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:47.639 And God called Abraham to be the father of the nation, but also the man through whom all 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:49.539 the nations of the earth would be blessed. 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:59.379 And God's intention actually was that the Jewish nation would become evangelists for him, that 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:06.759 they would go around the world spreading first the glory and character of God and also the 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:08.480 law of God, the purposes that God has. 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:12.179 And by the way, when God gives us a law, is that law bad? 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.579 What's the purpose of the law? 00:16:14.339 --> 00:16:15.819 It's always good. 00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:21.460 Let me use a very, very, and it's maybe not a good illustration, but how many of you know 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:22.800 what Chilton's is? 00:16:23.640 --> 00:16:27.260 A little in the previous day, Tim, I got a smile out of you on that one. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:33.280 If you had any inclination towards auto mechanics, you had a Chilton somewhere in your house. 00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:35.900 Now, that's before you have the internet. 00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:36.620 What? 00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:39.460 You have several Chilton's, right? 00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:43.340 You know, it's how to fix your Dodge Dart 1969. 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:47.720 You know, it's like, how do you take that fuel pump apart? 00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:49.160 You know, where does that screw go? 00:16:49.800 --> 00:16:53.660 And everything that is in Chilton's wasn't put in there to frustrate you. 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:56.300 Actually, it was put in there to make your life easier. 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.139 Do you follow that? 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:02.399 Now, if Chilton's was made for your sake, I got to tell you, the word of God is far more 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.560 valuable than Chilton's. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:07.559 And when God says, do something, he means it's for your good. 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:14.679 And the nation of Israel had been called by God to bear witness to his glory and to his 00:17:14.679 --> 00:17:20.179 character and his goodness, and also to model the value and the wisdom of God's law. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:26.899 Being a Jew was an advantage because you had received the law. 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:28.839 You had the covenants. 00:17:28.919 --> 00:17:29.700 You had the promises. 00:17:29.700 --> 00:17:35.460 And as you look here in the passage, it talks about the fact that those who were Gentiles, 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:41.160 not part of the Jewish nation, they had some distinct disadvantages that were recognized 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:46.000 and it was worthy of remembering because when you stop and think about what your salvation 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.880 has brought you, it's fair to realize how far you've come. 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:56.100 And so here in verse 12, it says, remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, 00:17:56.099 --> 00:18:01.279 alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:04.699 no hope and without God in the world. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:12.500 Those of us who are today Gentiles have to recognize and admit that our history and our ethnicity 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:17.919 puts us as a distinct disadvantage over the blessings that the Jews had. 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:19.980 We have them tracked there in verse 12. 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:25.539 When it says separated from Christ, it's talking about the messianic promises that were given to 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:29.279 the Old Testament saint and particularly to the Jewish nation. 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:35.099 The Messiah would come through the Jewish nation and the blessing was associated with that. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:40.599 Alienated from the commonwealth, the family of Israel, strangers to the covenants. 00:18:40.639 --> 00:18:42.119 And what were the benefits of the covenants? 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:45.960 They were promises that God made to the nation of Israel that He kept. 00:18:46.899 --> 00:18:48.200 He said, I'll give you a land. 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:50.599 He said, I'll give you blessings. 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:52.240 And He did keep those blessings. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:57.059 I remember as I was thinking through this of thinking of the one passage in Deuteronomy 00:18:57.059 --> 00:19:03.500 where Moses, as he is recapping his ministry, says, listen, I want to remind you that every 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:06.740 single one of the promises that God has made to you, He's kept. 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:10.259 There's not a single one that He has failed to accomplish. 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:16.640 And so Paul, as he is speaking to the church there in Ephesus, 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:25.220 He reminds us of our past, our ethnic past, and He does so to increase our thanks for our salvation 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.080 and not to shame us. 00:19:26.120 --> 00:19:28.420 Is there anything bad with being a Gentile? 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.120 What's the answer? 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:29.740 No. 00:19:30.300 --> 00:19:33.820 Is being a Gentile any worse than being an unbelieving Jew? 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.520 What's the answer? 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.080 No. 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:39.039 Where does an unbelieving Jew and an unbelieving Gentile go? 00:19:39.199 --> 00:19:40.220 The same place. 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:49.699 And so Paul is saying, listen, I want you to stop and just realize that your past is what it is. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:58.579 There's a sense in which the truth of all of our and each of our paths and pasts is an honest 00:19:58.579 --> 00:20:03.119 contributor to the blessing and the sense of appreciation we have for where we are. 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:06.439 Let me illustrate this by a couple different passages. 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:12.139 I want you to turn for one to where Paul thinks about his past and the reality of what his past 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:16.119 was kind of amplifies his appreciation for his salvation. 00:20:16.439 --> 00:20:19.939 Turn over in your Bible to 1 Timothy chapter 1. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:26.319 1 Timothy chapter 1 and pick up there, if you will, in verse 13 through 15. 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:36.279 Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent, I received mercy because 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:38.119 I acted ignorantly in unbelief. 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:44.139 And the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:45.139 Now what is he saying? 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:49.799 He's saying, listen, I started out in a pretty miserable place. 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:52.899 And the grace of our Lord Jesus overflowed. 00:20:52.919 --> 00:20:54.099 But then look at verse 15. 00:20:54.700 --> 00:21:01.019 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:03.819 to save sinners of whom I am what? 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:07.000 Foremost, chief. 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:09.159 Now, question. 00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:13.159 Was Paul just saying something for emphasis? 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:19.240 How many of you have been in a conversation with a person who is grieving and suffering 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:23.340 and you've been tempted to say, I understand exactly how you feel? 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.100 You ever done that? 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:27.440 I've got to tell you, that's not a wise thing to say. 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:27.980 Do you know why? 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.700 None of us can understand exactly what someone else is feeling. 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:40.300 But however, in our desire to be sympathetic, we want to communicate our companionship, our association. 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:46.759 I've got to tell you, when Paul says what he does here, he's not just trying to help us understand that he's one of us. 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:56.059 He is speaking the truth from his heart because when a humble heart considers the reality of their own wickedness 00:21:56.059 --> 00:22:00.700 and their own state before Christ, what do we end up thinking about ourselves? 00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:05.279 We don't have a very positive self-image, do we? 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:08.680 And Paul in this passage says, let me tell you something. 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:13.000 When I stop and consider, I recognize that I was chief among sinners. 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:23.600 And I point this out to your attention because it was Paul's appreciation for the absolute depth of his wickedness 00:22:23.600 --> 00:22:26.700 that caused him to appreciate his grace more. 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.779 Let's try this. 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:37.180 I'm not going to ask you to raise your hands if it ever happened, but let's just imagine that you, on your final exam, 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:41.399 that meant you either passed or failed college entirely, you got an F. 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:43.440 I mean, you got a, let's say a 40. 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.619 That's pretty bad. 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.359 Okay? 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.119 A 40. 00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:56.199 I want to tell you, my first semester in seminary, I came in as an unpracticed student. 00:22:57.039 --> 00:23:00.299 For whatever reasons, I had been able to get through college. 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:04.239 I didn't get through high school easily, but I got through college without studying at all. 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:04.719 Never did. 00:23:05.439 --> 00:23:09.899 And I got to seminary, and they suddenly expected me to study, and I had no idea what study was. 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:11.759 I knew it was a word, but I really didn't. 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:20.040 And I'll tell you what, I got a 56 on my first exam in seminary, and I had sold our house, moved my family up. 00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:27.019 We were living in a little apartment, and when I got that 56 on my exam sheet, the room went dark in front of me. 00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:28.660 It did. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:32.040 By the way, I got a 98 on the next one, just so you know. 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:32.820 I mean, I did get through. 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:41.859 But if you got a 40 on the first exam, and someone else sitting right next to you gets a 98, 00:23:44.639 --> 00:23:49.279 and the teacher in just an absolutely amazing display of grace says, 00:23:49.379 --> 00:23:51.379 Listen, I'm going to give everybody 100. 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:55.819 Do you think the person who gets 98 is as excited about it as the person who got 40? 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:55.939 Hmm? 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:04.079 So, Paul says, I want you to remember where you came from. 00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:08.200 I want you to remember where you came from. 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:12.240 I want you to look at another passage, and I love this one. 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.639 I love this one. 00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:18.460 I've had people say to me, Well, you know, I don't know about coming to church yet. 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:23.519 There's still a lot of things in my life that just, you know, my past is pretty ugly. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.859 And I said, Well, join the crowd. 00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:27.420 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:35.299 Now, I do want you to pay attention to the way in which this passage reads, 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.480 because it's pretty significant. 00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:39.299 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 9. 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:43.940 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:50.440 Not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters. 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:52.879 Since then, you would need to go out of the world. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:57.819 But now I'm writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother, 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:04.000 if he's guilty of sexual immorality or greed or is an idolater, reveler, drunkard, or swindler. 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:06.099 Don't even eat with such one as that. 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:12.339 And what Paul is reminding us of is that our past, by the way, where were we at one time? 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:16.059 You look forward into 6, and you pick up there in verse 9. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:19.619 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? 00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.859 Don't be deceived. 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:27.000 Neither the sexually immoral or idolater or adulterer or men who practice homosexuality. 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:32.919 Nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revelers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.659 And such were what? 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.479 Some of you. 00:25:37.739 --> 00:25:39.759 How many of you had pretty lousy past? 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:41.059 Don't raise your hand and wave at me. 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.879 We all did. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:45.900 You may have been saved when you were 5. 00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:53.560 But you were as miserably encased in the hardness of your sin as the person who was saved when they were 45. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:58.320 Because there is none righteous, no, not one. 00:25:58.420 --> 00:26:00.280 There's not a one that seeks after God. 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:03.960 And Paul here, he says, let me remind you what your past was. 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:11.600 An appreciation for our past leads us to have a greater appreciation for the blessing of our salvation. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:16.619 And that is what Paul wants us to understand going back to the passage in Ephesians. 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.559 Let's look at the text. 00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:22.399 It's not just that we were dead in our sins. 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:27.139 But as it tells us there in the verse, in verse 12 and 13, 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:33.899 we were separated from God with no hope and strangers. 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:38.219 Separated, no hope, and strangers. 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:49.759 And I want to remind you that to not appreciate the past that we have is something that leads us to kind of be marginally insensitive and indifferent to our salvation. 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:56.200 And one of the things that's a giveaway is that when you have lost your affection for the blessing of your salvation, 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:58.819 it begins to creep into every part of your life. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.660 Do you understand that? 00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:08.420 Think about the passage over in the book of Revelation where John says this, or actually it's Jesus. 00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:11.019 He says, you've lost your first what? 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.240 Your first love. 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.940 How does that happen? 00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:19.500 We begin loving something else. 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:30.960 Something else begins to take the place of the Savior who delivered us from the absolute depravity and brokenness of our state as an unbelieving person. 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:33.460 And we forget what it is to be saved. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:35.980 And we lose our affection and our passion. 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:38.579 And it's a sad, sad predicament to be in. 00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:49.720 Our thankfulness in the present and our hope in the future has its roots in a firm grasp of the past. 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.379 I think about the songwriter. 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:53.439 It says, I was sinking deep in sin. 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:54.859 How many of you know the words to that? 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:57.119 Far from the peaceful shore. 00:27:57.659 --> 00:28:01.079 Sinking deep, deep within, never to rise no more. 00:28:01.199 --> 00:28:02.500 But, what? 00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:09.740 The master of the storms heard my despairing cry and from the waters lifted me. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.900 Now safe am I. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:19.799 I want you to recognize this morning that we as believers, even those who are here today that have been saved for many, many years, 00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:24.259 it is appropriate for us to remind ourselves on occasion where did we come from? 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:25.779 What was our past like? 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:29.079 How miserably afflicted were we in our sin? 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:32.160 And what was our state prior to our conversion? 00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:35.440 Well, I want us to grasp what we have in Christ. 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:38.559 Picking up there, if you will, in verse 13. 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:44.759 It says, but now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:47.200 Let's grasp what we have in the Lord Jesus. 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:54.259 As I've said, remembering the truth of our past makes a difference in thinking about our present and our future. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:58.460 And the verses that follow in the passage are going to flesh that out for us. 00:28:58.460 --> 00:29:02.480 Once we were far off, now we are brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:11.039 Being far off doesn't sound quite as bad as it really is, but theologically what it means is that we're distant from God, 00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:16.259 and we have no ability, no hope of having any contact or reference point with Him. 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:19.880 How many of you remember praying about something that you were really concerned about, 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:23.200 and you felt like the heavens were brass, and you were never heard? 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:25.680 It's a frustrating state to be. 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:30.360 You want something to happen, and there's no connection, there's no relationship. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:34.559 And I want you to understand that Paul draws on that in verse 13. 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:34.920 He says, 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:38.779 You who were once far off have now been brought near. 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:41.379 You've been brought near. 00:29:41.379 --> 00:29:53.619 In the ancient world, to be able to come near to the king or to the power was something that granted you a great sense of comfort, 00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:56.519 but it also gave you particular blessings. 00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:59.339 How many of you remember the story of Esther? 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.559 And remember Esther? 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:06.519 She'd been away from the king for a long time, and there was this threat against the Jewish nation, 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:08.599 and Mordecai said, 00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.779 You better go talk to the king. 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.099 She said, 00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:12.180 Well, hey, I'm not real sure about going into his presence, 00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:16.420 because if I go into his presence and I'm not accepted, what are the consequences? 00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.039 What would happen? 00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:18.559 Death. 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:23.980 And she went in, and the king invited her to come forward, 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:26.139 and she received the blessing that came from that. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:31.599 In the ancient world, to be brought near was a distinct honor and a blessing. 00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:41.039 And Paul is writing to Gentiles who had no right to come close at all to the temple or to the worship that took place there, 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:43.319 and they were distantly removed. 00:30:43.439 --> 00:30:43.919 And here it says, 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:46.939 Listen, you have now been made near. 00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:56.799 I want you to think with me just for a moment of what that must have meant to the Jew or the Gentile as they were thinking about that 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:58.279 when they thought about the temple. 00:30:59.139 --> 00:31:00.599 The temple had divisions. 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:06.500 There was the outer wall, and then there was the court of the Gentiles, 00:31:06.639 --> 00:31:09.439 and then there were two other parts where you could go into, 00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:11.379 and there was finally the Holy of Holies. 00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:13.559 Who all got to go into the Holy of Holies? 00:31:14.879 --> 00:31:18.039 One person, once a year, with sacrifice. 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:22.779 And the Gentiles, they were allowed in the court of the Gentiles, 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:25.779 but if they went past that, there was actually a stone. 00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:27.000 There was engraving that said, 00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:29.939 If you go past this, you go on pain of death. 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:37.219 And they have actually found synagogues where there's inscriptions saying, 00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:40.639 Beyond this point, you go at your pain of death if you're a Gentile. 00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:45.280 And Paul writes, and he says, Listen, because of the blood of Christ, 00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:49.580 you who were once far off have now been brought near. 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:51.340 You can come in. 00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.640 You're close. 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:58.000 I want you to think with me just for a moment of just the blessing that that is to us, 00:31:58.700 --> 00:32:00.960 of being able to come into the presence of God, 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:05.400 being able to come and share with Him our burdens and our heartaches, 00:32:05.540 --> 00:32:09.640 and have that sense that He knows our need, 00:32:09.780 --> 00:32:12.680 and He's paying attention to what's going on in our life. 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:15.440 Have you ever felt like nobody cares and nobody knows? 00:32:15.780 --> 00:32:16.200 You ever been there? 00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:21.460 The truth of the matter is that God cares because He's your Father. 00:32:22.620 --> 00:32:25.059 And He invites you to come into His presence, 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:28.680 and there He wants you to sense His love and His concern, 00:32:29.080 --> 00:32:32.519 and you have the right of coming into His presence. 00:32:32.840 --> 00:32:33.180 Why? 00:32:33.340 --> 00:32:34.420 Because you're a good person? 00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:35.259 No. 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:39.019 You look in the passage and mark what it says there in verse 13. 00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:42.559 We come near by the blood of Christ. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:44.799 That's pretty significant. 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:48.799 It's a reminder that we're brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:32:48.919 --> 00:32:53.500 The imagery of being brought near in the blood bring back the pictures of the Old Testament sacrifice. 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:59.480 And remember, it was the sacrifice that allowed the Old Testament believer to have that access. 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:03.559 And without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin. 00:33:04.679 --> 00:33:07.440 And so Paul is reminding the Gentile believer, 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:13.279 the reason you have this privilege of access is because of the blood of Christ shed for all, 00:33:13.580 --> 00:33:14.759 shed once for all, 00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:18.320 and it is because of that that you have this privilege of being close. 00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:23.320 I want you to turn over now, if you will, just move forward a little bit to verse 14 through 18, 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.559 and mark what it says, 00:33:24.620 --> 00:33:26.120 For He Himself is our peace, 00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:29.519 who has made us both one and broken down in His flesh, 00:33:29.600 --> 00:33:31.120 the dividing wall of hostility. 00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:36.899 That wall that marked off the Jew from the Gentile was a wall of hostility. 00:33:37.459 --> 00:33:43.839 And for the Gentile to cross across it was not a good career decision because it could jeopardize his life. 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.539 And Paul says, 00:33:45.639 --> 00:33:47.339 Listen, He has made us one. 00:33:47.699 --> 00:33:54.579 He abolished the law of commandments expressed in ordinances that He might create in Himself one new man. 00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:58.059 And in the body of believers in the New Testament church, 00:33:58.159 --> 00:34:02.019 is there a distinction between the Jew and the Gentile in terms of faith? 00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:02.759 What's the answer? 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:03.619 Not at all. 00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:04.339 No. 00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:05.659 One new man. 00:34:06.119 --> 00:34:07.419 Because of the blood of Christ, 00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:10.460 we are one in our spiritual ethnicity, 00:34:10.819 --> 00:34:13.019 and the other things are irrelevant, aren't they? 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:15.179 I want you to understand that's important. 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:18.599 I want you to mark also what it says there, 00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:23.219 that He might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, 00:34:23.339 --> 00:34:24.699 thereby killing the hostility. 00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:27.699 And He came and preached peace to you who were far off, 00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:29.319 and peace to those who were near. 00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:33.679 Christ's testimony and message was an encouragement. 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:37.619 Listen, God is there beckoning you to come to Him 00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:41.679 and have peace through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:45.500 And then there in verse 18 it says, 00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:51.380 For through Him we both have access in one spirit to the Father. 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:54.440 Through Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:58.880 we both have access in one spirit to the Father. 00:34:59.099 --> 00:35:00.940 And I want you to ponder with me just for a moment 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:06.159 of the blessing that we have in being able to come directly into His presence 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:10.219 and come boldly making requests in our time of need. 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:14.300 Turn over in your Bible so we can follow this a little more closely. 00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:17.380 Turn over to Hebrews 4, verse 16. 00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:20.460 Hebrews 4, verse 16. 00:35:21.640 --> 00:35:28.560 The imagery of the book of Hebrews is all about the Old Testament Levitical priesthood 00:35:28.560 --> 00:35:33.080 and the practice of the sacrifices whereby the Old Testament saint had access. 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:41.380 And as you know, the Old Testament saint particularly did not have access into the Holy of Holies, 00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:43.079 did not have the right of access. 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:46.139 The high priest alone had that privilege once a year. 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:49.799 And yet here's what we read in verse 16. 00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.739 Let me read it to you. 00:35:50.819 --> 00:35:52.880 Hebrews 4, 16 or 15. 00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:58.160 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, 00:35:58.160 --> 00:35:59.780 talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:36:00.220 --> 00:36:04.420 but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without sin. 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.539 And then in verse 16. 00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:11.440 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:17.039 that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:22.920 Are you sitting there this morning with a burden and a difficulty that is overwhelming to you? 00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:26.539 The probability is that in the week that's passed, 00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:33.340 every one of us have been in the situation where it seems like the clouds of life are pressing us down. 00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:35.199 What do we do? 00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:39.960 The passage says, and let me read it to you again, 00:36:40.539 --> 00:36:42.739 Let us then with confidence. 00:36:42.739 --> 00:36:43.139 Confidence. 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:47.399 Growing up in India, 00:36:48.799 --> 00:36:54.819 I had a real tendency to play with knives and get cut. 00:36:56.179 --> 00:37:01.759 I have little nicks and scratches and cuts all over my body. 00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:08.659 One of the distinct advantages I had over all the other kids around me 00:37:08.659 --> 00:37:12.139 was that my father was the only surgeon within probably 30 miles. 00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:16.199 And when I got cut, guess what my privilege was? 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:22.619 I would hold on to the bleeding part and just walk right up to where dad was and say, 00:37:22.779 --> 00:37:24.799 Dad, I cut myself. 00:37:25.979 --> 00:37:26.419 Again? 00:37:28.839 --> 00:37:31.199 I need to think about taking knives away from you. 00:37:31.259 --> 00:37:31.839 It never happened. 00:37:32.119 --> 00:37:35.559 But, you know, I'd just be holding on so it wasn't spurting or whatever else. 00:37:35.739 --> 00:37:39.179 And the next thing I know, we would get a Novocaine injection. 00:37:39.319 --> 00:37:40.399 That was always painful. 00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:43.500 But after that, guess what happened? 00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:45.880 I was prof... 00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:48.460 Let me read this again so you don't miss this here. 00:37:48.559 --> 00:37:48.840 It says, 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:51.119 You draw near with confidence. 00:37:51.260 --> 00:37:52.820 I would come and I knew two things. 00:37:52.940 --> 00:37:54.380 I knew, number one, I'm getting in. 00:37:55.260 --> 00:37:57.539 And number two, it'll be better when I leave. 00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:02.619 Now, I had the blessing because of my relationship. 00:38:02.740 --> 00:38:03.480 Do you understand that? 00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:06.000 So let me ask you a question. 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:09.360 When it seems like the wheels are coming off in your life, 00:38:10.139 --> 00:38:13.300 when it seems like there's more than you can bear, 00:38:14.659 --> 00:38:19.880 do you remember where you were and what you now have in Christ? 00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:25.260 You have the right of access into the Holy of Holies 00:38:25.260 --> 00:38:31.300 to find help in time of need because of Jesus. 00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:36.240 And I would encourage you this morning under the burden that you are facing 00:38:36.240 --> 00:38:38.780 that what you would do is remind yourself, 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:46.740 Man, Lord, I don't want to ever take my eyes off of what you've done for me ever again. 00:38:46.739 --> 00:38:50.500 I wish that were true for all of us. 00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:51.299 I've got to tell you something. 00:38:51.379 --> 00:38:54.759 About three weeks ago, I came by my wife and I just told her, 00:38:54.819 --> 00:38:54.979 I said, 00:38:55.079 --> 00:38:58.699 How many of you have had those days where the clouds are just not in, 00:38:58.799 --> 00:38:59.839 but they're overwhelming you? 00:39:00.199 --> 00:39:01.079 And it was one of those days, 00:39:01.279 --> 00:39:04.079 and it's been a long time since I've had one of those emotional, 00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:07.319 and I remember going to Judith and I just can't take it. 00:39:08.359 --> 00:39:08.879 And she says, 00:39:08.919 --> 00:39:09.419 What's wrong? 00:39:10.539 --> 00:39:10.859 I said, 00:39:10.899 --> 00:39:11.599 Well, here's the truth. 00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:14.439 I've taken my eyes off of Christ and I'm doing a Peter thing. 00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:18.039 And my wife is profoundly blunt. 00:39:18.240 --> 00:39:19.139 You know, she's not one of those, 00:39:19.579 --> 00:39:21.440 Oh, Tim, I'm so sorry. 00:39:22.300 --> 00:39:22.480 You know, 00:39:22.579 --> 00:39:25.599 I didn't get any of that. 00:39:27.380 --> 00:39:29.220 It was something along the lines of, 00:39:29.320 --> 00:39:30.480 Well, why don't you stop sinning? 00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:33.500 I'll start right now. 00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:36.820 And that's what I did. 00:39:38.019 --> 00:39:38.960 That's what I did. 00:39:40.400 --> 00:39:41.460 I said, 00:39:41.539 --> 00:39:44.420 Lord, will you forgive me for being so self-focused? 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:50.000 And taking my eyes off the blessing of what you have done in saving me 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:53.260 and the fact that your love doesn't change. 00:39:57.260 --> 00:39:59.200 Let me read that passage again. 00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:02.460 Going back to Ephesians, 00:40:03.240 --> 00:40:04.200 and we'll close. 00:40:04.199 --> 00:40:07.759 Let me ask you, 00:40:07.759 --> 00:40:21.119 Let me ask you, 00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:25.119 Are you sitting here this morning 00:40:25.119 --> 00:40:35.259 and you have allowed Satan to rob you of the joy and certainty of the relationship you have in Christ? 00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:39.119 And the clouds seem too much. 00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:41.920 This verse is for you. 00:40:43.059 --> 00:40:46.059 You've been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:40:46.059 --> 00:40:55.420 Are you here this morning and your life is far more burdened with doubt and fear 00:40:55.420 --> 00:40:57.779 than it is with an abiding confidence 00:40:57.779 --> 00:41:01.440 that when this chapter of life ends, 00:41:01.799 --> 00:41:06.239 that the rest is all good in his presence? 00:41:06.239 --> 00:41:09.639 How many of you know how the story ends? 00:41:11.139 --> 00:41:12.599 When my story ends, 00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:15.139 I will be home with Jesus, 00:41:15.739 --> 00:41:17.699 and that's going to be good. 00:41:19.859 --> 00:41:23.859 I wonder if there are some of you here today that do not know Christ, 00:41:23.860 --> 00:41:28.420 and really the biggest reason for the cloud and the uncertainty in your life 00:41:28.420 --> 00:41:33.400 is that you face an uncertain and fearful future 00:41:33.400 --> 00:41:35.460 in the hands of a holy God. 00:41:37.320 --> 00:41:41.420 And I would plead with you in Christ's stead what it says in 2 Corinthians, 00:41:41.880 --> 00:41:43.740 Be reconciled to God. 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:46.900 Scripture says it's profoundly simple. 00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:51.000 If you'll confess your sins, 00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:53.440 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:41:53.440 --> 00:41:54.280 you shall be saved. 00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:56.639 And if you're sitting here today 00:41:56.639 --> 00:41:58.880 and you do not know Christ as your personal Savior, 00:41:59.280 --> 00:42:00.059 I'll tell you what, 00:42:00.119 --> 00:42:02.300 there is no reason to walk out that door 00:42:02.300 --> 00:42:05.960 without dealing with the subject the Scriptures make clear. 00:42:06.720 --> 00:42:08.840 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 00:42:09.099 --> 00:42:10.059 and you're one of them. 00:42:11.559 --> 00:42:13.700 And don't let your pride interfere 00:42:13.700 --> 00:42:17.340 with the humility that is necessary to confess Christ. 00:42:17.960 --> 00:42:19.039 Let's close in prayer. 00:42:21.840 --> 00:42:22.940 Our precious Father, 00:42:22.940 --> 00:42:23.440 Father, 00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:27.420 this morning as we revel in the fact that we who were once far off 00:42:27.420 --> 00:42:29.679 have been brought near by the blood of Christ, 00:42:29.740 --> 00:42:31.700 we would ask that you would give to us 00:42:31.700 --> 00:42:36.000 a renewed sense of thanksgiving for the blessing of our salvation. 00:42:36.380 --> 00:42:38.900 Not something that rises from a human emotion, 00:42:39.280 --> 00:42:42.220 but something that is the distinct work of the Spirit of God, 00:42:42.460 --> 00:42:45.559 that Christ alone would be exalted in our midst. 00:42:45.559 --> 00:42:48.440 Pray for us who are believers 00:42:48.440 --> 00:42:50.820 that our hearts would revel in this truth 00:42:50.820 --> 00:42:52.739 and rejoice in it and be strengthened. 00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:54.360 And pray for those who are here today 00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:55.960 that do not know Christ, 00:42:56.059 --> 00:42:58.920 that today they would be convicted of their sins 00:42:58.920 --> 00:43:00.019 and trust in Jesus, 00:43:00.400 --> 00:43:01.779 in whom alone is salvation. 00:43:02.739 --> 00:43:04.440 We ask this in your precious name. 00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:05.000 Amen. 00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:05.099 Amen.