WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.980 Good morning, everyone. For those who haven't met me, I'm Simon. I'm the vicar here. 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:13.500 And if you don't know, I arrived only a few weeks ago. And very warmly welcomed. Thank you very much. 00:00:13.980 --> 00:00:19.900 And I arrived to see, wonderfully, that scheduled was a whole summer's worth of teaching. 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:28.580 And I thought, brilliant, what a gift. And from this day onward, we are going to be looking at the mighty book of Romans. 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:39.320 Romans. Brilliant, I thought. Together, we are going to explore the breadth and the depth of God's love for humanity expressed through Jesus Christ. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:48.920 Brilliant. If you're new to these things, the book of Romans was written by St. Paul to the Christians living in Rome in about 57 AD. 00:00:49.539 --> 00:00:58.219 And I can tell you, it's epic. It's huge. It's wonderful. And through history, lives have been transformed as they've grappled with this book. 00:00:58.579 --> 00:01:09.039 Arguably, the whole of Western civilization has been shaped by it due to its central role that it played in the Protestant Reformation. 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:15.200 And so I thought, what an opportunity to preach also to start the series off. Brilliant. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:21.900 And then I looked at the verses that had been allocated to me. Less brilliant, I thought. 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:33.079 Because they contain, if you spotted them amongst others, two subjects that the wider church seems to have got increasingly uncomfortable talking about. 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:40.700 And so I have to warn you this morning, it's going to feel a bit like doing a deep dive straight into the marine pool. 00:01:41.299 --> 00:01:47.519 OK. Whereas my temperament would be to sort of dip a toe in gently and gradually sort of get myself used to it. 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:52.239 This is going to be a plunge. And rather we led by my temperament. 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:55.939 We are going to be led by the word of God as it is written, as it is directed. 00:01:55.939 --> 00:02:00.439 So this is a warning. It's going to be like a deep dive into a cold pond. 00:02:01.179 --> 00:02:04.900 It will be a shock at first, but we will leave glad that we did it. 00:02:05.140 --> 00:02:07.759 OK. Are you ready? OK. 00:02:08.180 --> 00:02:15.360 So the first of these topics in our passage that has become increasingly difficult to talk about is sex. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:24.600 Now, there is a story told of a youth worker in a church who rang up the vicar to ask him whether he'd be able to come along to his youth group 00:02:24.600 --> 00:02:27.840 and talk to the young people about sex and relationships. 00:02:28.860 --> 00:02:31.400 It was on a Wednesday evening, some weeks ahead. 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:34.620 So the vicar thinks for a little while. 00:02:35.140 --> 00:02:38.620 He looks at the family diary with the hope that there might be a clash. 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:40.460 But there wasn't. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.840 So he felt obliged to agree to the talk. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:48.319 And so after putting the phone down, he went to the family diary and he wrote, 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:52.460 Talk at youth group about, oh, I can't write sex. 00:02:53.020 --> 00:02:54.659 I'll write sailing instead. 00:02:55.699 --> 00:02:56.920 Then I'll know what I mean. 00:02:57.240 --> 00:02:57.560 Perfect. 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:04.039 Anyway, a few weeks later, the obviously very conscientious youth worker rang up the vicarage again 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:06.539 to check that everything was still OK for next Wednesday. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:09.420 This time it was the vicar's wife who picked up the phone. 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:13.280 Hi, I was just checking your husband was still OK to do the talk on Wednesday. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:16.159 The vicar's wife replied, I'll just check. 00:03:16.180 --> 00:03:17.360 Let me just check the family diary. 00:03:17.640 --> 00:03:18.219 Yep, he's written. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:18.900 What? 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:20.860 What's he doing talking that about? 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:22.780 He's only done it twice. 00:03:22.980 --> 00:03:24.280 The first time he was sick. 00:03:24.480 --> 00:03:25.860 The second time his hat fell off. 00:03:25.860 --> 00:03:39.180 The church's reluctance to talk about sex and God's intentions for it over the past many decades 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:41.800 has led us into a real mess. 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:47.380 As society's views on sex have veered away from the biblical vision, 00:03:48.020 --> 00:03:54.480 there's been a lot of, let's call it, defensive scrabbling about to try and work out what the church should be saying 00:03:54.480 --> 00:03:56.660 and believing about such issues. 00:03:57.240 --> 00:03:59.500 And so now the church, both nationally and globally, 00:04:00.060 --> 00:04:04.020 stands divided on issues of sexuality and relationships. 00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:06.760 And there's been a lot, you've probably been aware of them, 00:04:06.820 --> 00:04:09.120 a lot of recent discussions and debates in the Church of England, 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:12.340 particularly under the banner of living in love and faith, 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:16.639 that have quite frankly been ugly and divisive. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:23.019 And it's because this topic is both deeply personal and life-affecting, 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:29.180 especially for those whose sexuality and sexual experience is not necessarily straightforward, 00:04:29.780 --> 00:04:31.840 or that of the majority, let's say. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:34.839 And I'm aware that there will be people here this morning, 00:04:35.099 --> 00:04:36.659 or if you're listening in on the recording, 00:04:37.019 --> 00:04:39.339 for whom this is your experience. 00:04:40.339 --> 00:04:43.219 Or you're here and you're thinking of a family member or a friend 00:04:43.219 --> 00:04:46.500 who identifies as LGBTQI+. 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:55.519 People with different views to those of traditional Christian thinking on sexual ethics, 00:04:56.479 --> 00:04:58.259 I have to say, have often been demonised, 00:04:58.259 --> 00:05:01.759 scapegoated, and sometimes even abused 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:06.000 by those who supposedly represent the loving God of the Bible, 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:09.500 who after contact with church, 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:12.259 have felt more stigmatised and more marginalised, 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:15.680 more shamed, rather than less. 00:05:17.539 --> 00:05:19.159 So I want to begin this morning, 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:23.240 in as much as I can in my capacity as an all-day minister in the church, 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:25.220 to say, sorry. 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:31.720 You know, we have often failed to treat people as Jesus would have done. 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:34.160 And we want to repent of that, 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:37.199 and learn to dialogue and love each other 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:42.319 in a much more constructive and healthy and loving way. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:46.759 So if you do identify as LGBTQI+, 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:49.019 I want to say you are welcome here, 00:05:49.819 --> 00:05:54.019 as we together sit under the word of God 00:05:54.019 --> 00:05:57.079 to be instructed and to be given a vision 00:05:57.079 --> 00:05:59.899 of God's loving intentions for our lives. 00:06:02.180 --> 00:06:04.800 And so as this passage that Sonia read for us 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:06.539 talks about sexual behaviours, 00:06:06.540 --> 00:06:08.819 as well as many other behaviours 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:12.740 that may take us outside of God's intentions for us, 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:14.920 I want you to know 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:18.040 that we are all being put under the spotlight. 00:06:18.540 --> 00:06:22.740 All of us are to come under God's word. 00:06:23.240 --> 00:06:24.720 And that there is good news, again, 00:06:24.840 --> 00:06:28.180 for all of us in Jesus Christ. 00:06:28.939 --> 00:06:30.259 And I'll do my best this morning 00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:32.379 to explain why it is that St. Paul 00:06:32.379 --> 00:06:35.240 seems to single out sexual behaviour, 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:39.139 in particular, as part of a wider point, 00:06:39.259 --> 00:06:40.939 a wider argument that he is making 00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:43.980 as he writes to these Christians in Rome. 00:06:45.780 --> 00:06:47.900 So again, just as we start this series, 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:50.319 it's probably worth us setting the scene a little bit. 00:06:51.180 --> 00:06:53.759 Paul is writing to Christians that he's never met. 00:06:55.139 --> 00:06:57.240 They are mainly Gentile Christians. 00:06:57.840 --> 00:06:59.040 What I mean by that is that they are 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:01.639 non-Jewish followers of Jesus. 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:05.860 So as Paul, writing, we think, from Corinth, 00:07:06.419 --> 00:07:07.959 seeks to encourage them 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:10.439 by expounding and explaining 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:13.099 the good news of Jesus, the Gospel, 00:07:14.279 --> 00:07:16.379 he's particularly keen to demonstrate 00:07:16.379 --> 00:07:17.919 how this Gospel, 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:21.860 which is essentially a belief in a Jewish Messiah 00:07:21.860 --> 00:07:24.779 beginning amongst Jewish people in Judea, 00:07:24.779 --> 00:07:27.519 how can that be good news 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:29.259 to those without that heritage? 00:07:31.559 --> 00:07:35.159 And so he also has to set the scene as he begins. 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:37.799 And before he gets to the good news, 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:39.819 and before we get to the good news, folks, 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:43.479 he has to outline just how bad the situation is 00:07:43.479 --> 00:07:45.819 for the whole of humanity. 00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:50.199 Which brings us to our second topic 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:53.180 that has become very difficult to talk about. 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:56.079 The wrath of God. 00:07:57.779 --> 00:08:01.019 Let me read verse 18 for us. 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:03.360 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:06.800 against all the godlessness and wickedness of people 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:10.219 who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:14.539 Now, many of us will be hearing that, 00:08:14.540 --> 00:08:16.500 and immediately the question is, 00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:19.240 how does the wrath, the anger of God, 00:08:19.420 --> 00:08:21.980 how does that fit with a loving God? 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:26.200 Again, in the church's reluctance 00:08:26.200 --> 00:08:27.780 to talk about this aspect, 00:08:27.960 --> 00:08:30.080 this difficult aspect of God, 00:08:30.640 --> 00:08:32.139 many have decided it is better actually 00:08:32.139 --> 00:08:34.019 to redraw what God is like, 00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:36.000 rather than face up to the fact 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:40.240 that references to God's divine anger, 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:41.860 fury, judgment, 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:44.420 occur over 600 times. 00:08:44.539 --> 00:08:45.779 throughout the Bible. 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:53.699 The fact that God is loving 00:08:53.699 --> 00:08:57.399 means that he also must get angry. 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:01.679 It's because he loves so intensely 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:05.299 that he hates all that hurts 00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:07.099 the ones he loves. 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:10.580 Now, any parent amongst us 00:09:10.580 --> 00:09:12.580 will have an impression of this. 00:09:13.540 --> 00:09:17.100 Because if anyone hurts or bullies our child, 00:09:17.800 --> 00:09:18.259 are we apathetic? 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:19.940 Ah, never mind. 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:20.779 No. 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:24.420 We too are hurt and jealous 00:09:24.420 --> 00:09:26.980 to protect our loved one. 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:31.620 However, God's anger is not like your or mine anger 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:33.440 because we will often, 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:34.279 at least I do, 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:35.360 will flip into anger 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:37.940 or when our egos have been bruised 00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:39.659 or because of some past trauma 00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:40.460 that's been triggered. 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:42.519 So our wrath, as it were, 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:43.860 is often uncontrolled 00:09:43.860 --> 00:09:45.800 and misdirected. 00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:47.679 not God. 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:50.299 His steady anger 00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:52.819 against all that might destroy 00:09:52.819 --> 00:09:54.059 his good creation, 00:09:54.659 --> 00:09:56.339 it's more like a furnace. 00:09:57.339 --> 00:09:59.179 Steady, controlled, 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:01.199 but incredibly hot. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:04.220 And it is a fire 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:06.160 against injustice. 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:08.660 That's what he is angry about. 00:10:10.040 --> 00:10:11.220 We're told in the passage, 00:10:11.340 --> 00:10:12.020 they use this term, 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:12.820 we're told his wrath 00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:14.660 is against all the godlessness 00:10:14.660 --> 00:10:16.440 and wickedness of people 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:18.040 who suppress the truth. 00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:19.500 And that word wickedness, 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:21.120 it could just as well be translated 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.180 injustice. 00:10:24.400 --> 00:10:25.100 And again, 00:10:25.780 --> 00:10:26.660 when we see 00:10:26.660 --> 00:10:28.520 the results of wickedness 00:10:28.520 --> 00:10:29.500 in our world, 00:10:29.640 --> 00:10:30.500 and we've been praying about 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:31.980 some of the consequences of them, 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:33.159 aren't we angered? 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:36.460 Surely it is hardwired in us 00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:37.559 to recognise 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:38.940 what is right 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:39.879 and what is wrong. 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:41.860 And Paul says 00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:42.600 that is so. 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:44.080 Verse 19 and 20, 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:44.519 it says this, 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:46.159 since what may be known about God 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:47.320 is plain to them 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:48.659 because God has made it 00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:49.279 plain to them. 00:10:49.899 --> 00:10:50.779 For since the creation 00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:51.360 of the world, 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:53.460 God's invisible qualities, 00:10:53.779 --> 00:10:54.759 his eternal power 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:55.639 and divine nature 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:57.200 have been clearly seen, 00:10:57.659 --> 00:10:58.299 being understood 00:10:58.299 --> 00:10:59.419 from what has been made 00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:00.440 so that people 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:02.080 are without excuse. 00:11:05.900 --> 00:11:06.380 Paul, 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:07.100 writing that, 00:11:07.180 --> 00:11:08.140 is taking us 00:11:08.140 --> 00:11:08.820 all back 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:09.940 to the first pages 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:10.680 of the Bible 00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:12.100 where, again, 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:13.680 the foundational truths 00:11:13.680 --> 00:11:14.480 are 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:16.160 that God made humans 00:11:16.160 --> 00:11:18.220 in his image. 00:11:19.880 --> 00:11:21.300 And part of being made 00:11:21.300 --> 00:11:22.200 in God's image 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.880 is that we are each given 00:11:23.880 --> 00:11:25.160 a God-shaped 00:11:25.160 --> 00:11:27.340 sense of right and wrong, 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:30.100 a sense of a divine power 00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:31.379 that is working 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.720 beyond us. 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:35.820 So you might be asking, 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:36.100 well, 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:37.300 how come then 00:11:37.300 --> 00:11:38.200 there are atheists? 00:11:38.300 --> 00:11:39.060 How come there are people 00:11:39.060 --> 00:11:39.620 who deny 00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:40.740 that God exists? 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:42.139 Well, 00:11:42.180 --> 00:11:43.740 Paul tells us 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:45.940 why there are atheists. 00:11:46.300 --> 00:11:47.480 He explains what happens 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:48.940 and he explains it 00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:50.960 as if it's an outworking 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:53.280 of the wrath of God. 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:54.120 God's image 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:54.819 because atheism 00:11:54.819 --> 00:11:56.240 is a self-prescribed, 00:11:56.379 --> 00:11:56.720 if you like, 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:57.860 it's a self-chosen 00:11:57.860 --> 00:11:58.439 punishment 00:11:58.439 --> 00:12:00.500 from God. 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:03.480 Again, 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:04.779 thinking about being a parent, 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:06.960 you may have got 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:07.500 to the point 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:08.480 where no matter 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.539 how much you tell 00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:10.240 your child 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:12.159 not to do something, 00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:13.879 the only thing 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:14.700 that will stop them 00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:15.320 doing it 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:16.259 is letting them, 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:17.559 by their own experience, 00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:18.659 taste a bit 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:19.559 of the consequences 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:20.799 of their action. 00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:21.720 Is that right? 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:22.399 And obviously, 00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:23.120 a good parent 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.039 holds that within 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:25.259 the boundaries 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:26.019 of safety. 00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:28.399 But allowing small people 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:29.559 to get a taste 00:12:29.559 --> 00:12:30.579 of the consequences 00:12:30.579 --> 00:12:32.019 can actually be 00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:33.679 an expression of love 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:35.579 by a parent 00:12:35.579 --> 00:12:36.539 because we want them 00:12:36.539 --> 00:12:37.000 to grow, 00:12:37.199 --> 00:12:38.279 we want them to understand, 00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:40.399 we want them to see 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:40.980 whether they're going 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:41.699 to learn from that 00:12:41.699 --> 00:12:42.240 or not, 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:43.480 an open question. 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:45.419 And obviously, 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:45.939 God, 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:46.360 ultimately, 00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:47.779 God is the perfect version 00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:48.600 of that parent. 00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:50.740 He allows the choices 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:52.079 of wicked humans 00:12:52.079 --> 00:12:54.019 to take their course 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:55.539 whilst he steers them away 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:57.259 from complete annihilation. 00:12:57.259 --> 00:13:00.159 He lets them taste 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:01.720 their own injustice 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:02.939 because no matter 00:13:02.939 --> 00:13:03.980 how many times 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:05.379 and how clear he is, 00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:06.720 and Scripture gives 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:09.240 a great long story, 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:10.559 a history of that, 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:12.779 we will not listen. 00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:15.620 And so Paul, 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:17.240 recognising this, 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:20.059 presents a picture, 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:21.539 a kind of downward spiral 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:23.120 of what happens 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:24.519 when we're given over 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.659 to the consequences 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:27.360 of our thoughts 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:28.419 and actions. 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:29.419 Let me just read those 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:31.199 in verses 21 to 23. 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.039 For although they, 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:33.840 that is, 00:13:34.199 --> 00:13:35.240 fallen humanity, 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:36.579 although they knew God, 00:13:36.939 --> 00:13:38.139 they neither glorified him 00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:38.519 as God 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.639 nor gave thanks to him, 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:40.840 but in their thinking 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.879 became futile 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:43.419 and their foolish hearts 00:13:43.419 --> 00:13:44.179 were darkened. 00:13:44.819 --> 00:13:45.519 Although they claimed 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.159 to be wise, 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:47.419 they became fools 00:13:47.419 --> 00:13:49.179 and exchanged the glory 00:13:49.179 --> 00:13:50.100 of the immortal God 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:50.639 for images 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.720 made to look like 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:52.899 a mortal human being 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:54.620 and birds and animals 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:56.000 and reptiles. 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.000 So do you see 00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.639 how failure 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.720 to acknowledge God 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:02.259 and give thanks for him 00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.720 and to him 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:04.879 leads firstly 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.079 to futile thinking 00:14:06.079 --> 00:14:08.860 and then darkened heart. 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:10.419 It affects our thinking 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:11.639 and our emotions. 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:13.179 And then we begin 00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:14.340 to overestimate 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:15.620 our own wisdom. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.120 Actually, 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.279 they're making us foolish. 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:20.539 and then we begin 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:21.579 to exchange 00:14:21.579 --> 00:14:23.220 created things 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:24.659 and putting them 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:25.220 in the place 00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:26.600 of the creator. 00:14:27.839 --> 00:14:28.919 We as humans 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:30.459 begin to worship idols. 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.379 That's the language 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.860 the Bible talks about 00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.740 when we replace 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:34.480 something that's 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:35.559 supposed to be God 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:36.259 and worship 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.379 the living true God 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:38.579 and replace it 00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:39.000 with things 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:39.980 that have been created. 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.459 Let me just get my 00:14:43.459 --> 00:14:47.000 prop here. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:52.120 I've found 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:52.519 that 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.620 in the past 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:54.279 that the idea 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:54.820 of us 00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:56.019 being a mirror 00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:57.100 us as humans 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:58.159 being a mirror 00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:59.039 to reflect 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:00.580 God's truth 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:02.519 and beauty 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:04.139 to be a really useful one 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:04.720 when we think 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.659 about being created 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:07.179 in the image of God. 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:08.379 And I have to say 00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:09.139 I have used this 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.860 as an illustration 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:10.500 in the past 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:12.000 and I've taken that mirror 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.279 as a reflecting 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.000 all God's goodness 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.679 and I've then smashed it. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:17.139 I've smashed it 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.459 to show that 00:15:18.459 --> 00:15:18.959 this is what we 00:15:18.959 --> 00:15:18.959 00:15:18.959 --> 00:15:20.239 when we reject 00:15:20.239 --> 00:15:21.279 the knowledge of God. 00:15:22.359 --> 00:15:23.719 And it's a good 00:15:23.719 --> 00:15:24.120 illustration 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.079 because what happens 00:15:25.079 --> 00:15:25.759 then is shattered. 00:15:26.099 --> 00:15:26.719 Although you can see 00:15:26.719 --> 00:15:28.339 glimpses of God's goodness 00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:29.659 it is ruined. 00:15:29.819 --> 00:15:30.799 The image is ruined 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:31.799 and it just has 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:32.639 to be replaced. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:34.839 But I'm not going 00:15:34.839 --> 00:15:35.479 to inflict to you 00:15:35.479 --> 00:15:36.259 or the host team 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:37.279 with the mess 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:38.239 that that is going to make. 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:38.939 It's a health 00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:39.779 and safety nightmare. 00:15:40.199 --> 00:15:40.699 But instead 00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:41.679 and probably more 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.120 in keeping 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.099 with Paul's argument 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:44.399 I'm going to take 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:46.000 this mirror 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:47.980 you can imagine 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:49.399 I might darken it 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:50.040 as it were 00:15:50.040 --> 00:15:51.120 so it becomes less clear 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.540 and instead of having 00:15:52.540 --> 00:15:52.960 a mirror 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.680 I am going to place 00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.560 an image 00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:56.740 of a created thing 00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.420 onto it. 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.560 For the sake 00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:02.379 of those listening 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.139 and those in the back 00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:03.440 of the church 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:03.960 who can't see 00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:04.779 I have placed 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.180 a picture 00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:06.580 of George Clooney 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.399 lowless 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:09.540 onto my mirror. 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:10.860 Other sex icons 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.700 are available. 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.519 I use that term 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.039 advisedly 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:14.539 I have to say. 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:16.560 So what happens now 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.000 if we look 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.600 into the mirror 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:20.259 and we see 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:20.840 this image 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.800 men if you look 00:16:21.800 --> 00:16:22.039 at it 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:22.399 and you think 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:22.980 oh yeah 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.759 it's a bit like me 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.440 you're deluded. 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.220 Women if you look 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:27.720 at this image 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.779 and you start swooning 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.759 then that's just 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.259 a testament 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:30.779 to the truth 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:31.820 I'm about to explain. 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:32.200 You see 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:33.340 one area 00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:35.139 in which Paul says 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:36.019 that this downward 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:36.960 spiral happens 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:37.680 in a particularly 00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:38.759 poignant way 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:40.139 is in the area 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:41.580 of our human bodies 00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:42.480 and in sex. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.720 Because in the 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:45.460 Garden of Eden 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.340 again back to the 00:16:46.340 --> 00:16:47.019 beginning of the Bible 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.980 he made humans 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:48.939 to reflect his image 00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:49.720 and what he tells us 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:50.340 is that God 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.279 created mankind 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:52.539 in his own image 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.699 in the image of God 00:16:53.699 --> 00:16:54.860 he created them 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:56.720 male and female 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.819 he created them. 00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.559 And there's something 00:16:59.559 --> 00:16:59.980 about this 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.600 complementary 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:02.319 nature of male 00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:02.960 and female 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:03.620 that speaks 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.539 of the diversity 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:06.000 within the Godhead 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.019 itself. 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:08.799 And Paul 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.079 here and elsewhere 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:11.079 in his writings 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:11.940 in the New Testament 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:13.399 often holds up 00:17:13.399 --> 00:17:14.180 marriage 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.960 as particularly 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:16.500 important 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:18.180 in reflecting 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:18.859 and imaging 00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:20.339 this 00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:21.659 God 00:17:21.659 --> 00:17:22.579 that we are now 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:23.299 in a covenant 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.299 relationship 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:25.399 with. 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:26.460 In fact 00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:26.759 he says 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.819 in Ephesians 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:29.039 that this mystery 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.500 that's being 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.099 imaged 00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:30.460 that's being 00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.019 reflected 00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:31.659 in marriage 00:17:31.659 --> 00:17:32.399 even if sometimes 00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:33.159 faintly 00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:34.159 is the picture 00:17:34.159 --> 00:17:34.940 of Christ 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:36.539 and his bride 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.580 the church. 00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:38.799 So it's a really 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.980 important image. 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.740 So if you start 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.600 exchanging 00:17:42.600 --> 00:17:43.740 parts of that image 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.220 out 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.700 you're going to get 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.660 at the very least 00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:47.460 a distortion 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:49.200 of the original 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:49.860 picture 00:17:49.860 --> 00:17:50.500 that was being 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.680 painted by God 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.100 who created us. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.360 And 00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:56.519 to come back 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:56.980 to George 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.759 if you put 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:00.059 a George Clooney 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:00.220 image 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:02.100 in the place 00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:03.019 of for example 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:03.779 your spouse 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:05.099 you start 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:06.019 distorting the love 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:06.500 that is supposed 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.319 to be between 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:07.799 a husband 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.480 and his wife. 00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:09.220 The husband 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:09.799 gets jealous 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.220 the wife 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.700 starts thinking 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.660 adulterous thoughts 00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.579 and taking 00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:13.379 to its extreme 00:18:13.379 --> 00:18:13.700 and although 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.220 I'm doing it 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:14.879 jokingly 00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:16.099 the marriage 00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:16.900 falls apart. 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:18.940 You know 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.700 I am only 00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:20.200 teasing you 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:20.740 with Mr. Clooney 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:22.119 but if we 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:23.220 start idolizing 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:23.920 others 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:25.839 and thinking 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.339 about that's 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.900 what life 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:27.400 is for 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.180 and worshipping 00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:28.700 them 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:30.000 it will send 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.700 our desires 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:31.539 into meltdown 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.480 it makes 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:32.980 our thinking 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.480 futile 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.140 it darkens 00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:34.740 our hearts 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.640 and it will 00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:36.519 send our desires 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.319 into meltdown 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.120 and it will 00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:38.720 join this 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:40.299 downward spiral. 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.019 And the fact 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.420 is 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.559 let me place 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:44.099 it down there 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:49.900 God gave 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:50.700 each of us 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.960 sexual desires 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:53.279 actually as a 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.299 taste of what 00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:54.860 it means to 00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:55.819 yearn after 00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:56.180 him. 00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:56.759 Why did God 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.759 give us sex? 00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.259 Why did God 00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:58.839 give us sexual 00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.259 desires? 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.319 That longing 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:01.960 that we 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:03.039 have for 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.599 intimacy 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:04.200 of a loved 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.539 one 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:05.059 the Bible 00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:05.379 says it's 00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:06.519 only a taste 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.279 of what the 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:07.980 Bible promises 00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:09.399 is to come 00:19:09.399 --> 00:19:10.980 a perfect 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.599 intimacy 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.599 with the 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:13.019 God who 00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.639 made us. 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:15.099 So sexual 00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:15.740 desire was 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.299 given to us 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:16.720 as a gift 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.740 as an imprint 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.639 of this longer 00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:19.279 term 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.119 greater 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:21.379 longing. 00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:23.439 So even 00:19:23.439 --> 00:19:24.159 if in this 00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:24.700 life our 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.460 sexual desires 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:25.899 are only 00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:26.919 partially met 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.400 or we've 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.380 never met 00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:30.180 even more 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.380 so in 00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:31.920 that yearning 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.380 we get a 00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:32.860 sense that 00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:33.620 sex cannot 00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:34.660 be an 00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:35.019 end of 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.380 itself. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.060 It points 00:19:37.060 --> 00:19:37.680 us beyond 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.960 that desire 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.279 to the 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:39.900 possibility 00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:40.840 of an 00:19:40.840 --> 00:19:41.340 eternal 00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:42.160 marriage. 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.519 And if you 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.060 remember Jesus 00:19:45.060 --> 00:19:45.960 tells us that 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.360 we won't 00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:46.779 actually be 00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.380 married in 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:48.279 heaven in 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:48.519 the new 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:48.940 creation 00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:50.539 because again 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:52.100 it's because 00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.600 the earthly 00:19:52.600 --> 00:19:53.120 marriage is 00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:53.640 only really a 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:54.019 pointer 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:55.740 towards what 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.279 will be 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:56.900 fulfilled. 00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.200 And so even 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:58.720 in the best 00:19:58.720 --> 00:19:59.480 marriage where 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.379 there's this 00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:01.379 covenantal love 00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:02.460 between two 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.259 corresponding 00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.180 complementary 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:04.819 individuals, 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:05.220 male and 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:05.440 female, 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.019 even when 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:06.240 that's 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:06.680 mirrored, 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.299 even where 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:07.579 there is 00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:08.000 mutual 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.519 intimacy, 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.279 nakedness 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.240 and the 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:10.859 thrill is 00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.559 experienced, 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.000 it still is 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:14.680 nothing compared 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.859 to what that 00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.759 sex points 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.099 to, 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:18.619 finding its 00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:19.480 fulfillment in 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.099 the arms of 00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.759 our ever-loving 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.000 God when we 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:22.680 see him face 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.200 to face. 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:25.160 And that is 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:26.160 why through 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:27.480 the ages the 00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.039 church has 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:28.980 only sanctified 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.500 that one 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:29.900 picture, 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.379 that one 00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:32.000 image of 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.960 marriage between 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.119 one man and 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:35.440 one woman and 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.279 has encouraged 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:38.220 celibacy elsewhere 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:41.019 so that all of 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:42.819 humanity's desires 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:43.799 can be directed 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:45.039 towards the groom 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.440 who made us for 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.319 ourselves and for 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:47.819 whom we are 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.160 made. 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.200 And so to do 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.660 otherwise is to 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.480 draw a different 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.180 image, is to 00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:53.879 draw a different 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:55.040 picture from 00:20:55.040 --> 00:20:55.720 what we were 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.620 created to 00:20:56.620 --> 00:20:57.820 reflect and 00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:58.300 one that has 00:20:58.300 --> 00:20:58.880 come from our 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:00.280 own dimmed 00:21:00.280 --> 00:21:01.620 imaginations and 00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:03.500 distorted desires. 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:07.660 Now, if that 00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:08.520 jars with you, 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.420 as it will do 00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:11.180 for many of you, 00:21:11.580 --> 00:21:13.180 I expect it also 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:14.080 did with Paul's 00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:14.980 first readers. 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:16.400 You see, 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.000 Christians in 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:18.340 Rome would have 00:21:18.340 --> 00:21:19.600 been living in a 00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:20.380 society where 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:21.260 sex was used to 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.000 promote a very 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.500 different picture of 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:23.960 life. 00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.119 You know, the 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.819 historians will 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.359 tell us, you 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:27.980 know, women and 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.759 even children were 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.539 used by the 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.980 powerful really as 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.599 sort of sexual 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.339 trophies. 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:34.900 And Greco-Roman 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:36.019 attitudes to sex 00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:36.740 paint a very 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:38.160 different picture to 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.960 what is on Paul's 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:40.259 mind as he writes 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:40.759 to them. 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.019 And Paul, 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:42.539 remember, is 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:44.319 steeped in this 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.259 Jewish heritage, 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.740 believing in the 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:48.120 created order of 00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:48.920 the image of God 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.680 being reflected 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:51.400 particularly in 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:51.859 marriage. 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:54.140 So this critique, 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:54.980 as he writes this 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.920 letter, of 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:57.200 alternative uses of 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.799 sex would have 00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:59.759 clashed with the 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.500 surrounding culture, 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:00.900 where they were 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.200 living. 00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:03.299 To accept Paul's 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.079 viewpoint would have 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:04.559 been to really 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.640 kind of stick out 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:07.079 and be a minority 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.539 view. 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:07.940 It would have 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:08.539 almost been like a 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.460 rebellion against the 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.339 prevailing culture. 00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.620 And I feel that 00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.420 that's the same 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:14.380 increasingly today. 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.519 Today, sex is used 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.259 to prop up 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.940 various ideologies. 00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:20.220 You know, sexual 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.539 liberation tends to 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.180 go hand in with 00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.960 this sort of 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:23.900 hedonistic dream, 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.279 doesn't it? 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:26.500 You know, live for 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.180 your own happiness. 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.059 You know, that's the 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.700 thing we kind of 00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.700 idolize in a way, 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.019 isn't it? 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:30.960 Our own happiness. 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.079 Or part of the 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:33.139 personal fulfillment 00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:33.980 fantasy, you know, 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.960 we can have it all. 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:37.700 Or it's also part of 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.480 the picture of 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.720 individualism, isn't 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:39.879 it? 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:41.359 And self-definition. 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:43.059 Many use sex as a 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:44.440 central expression of 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:45.779 their personal 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.639 identity. 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.839 But these are all 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:50.480 alternative pictures 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.879 for sex. 00:22:52.399 --> 00:22:52.960 And for all their 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.920 gloss and glamour 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:55.539 often, they have 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:56.680 major limitations 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:58.220 and large 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.379 shadow sides. 00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:00.799 You know, the 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:02.279 cracks quickly 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:04.119 show where these 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:04.899 pictures are lived 00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:05.960 out and the spiral 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:07.079 takes root. 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:09.019 We increasingly live 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.680 in a fatherless 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:10.220 society. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.639 Increasingly, 00:23:11.639 --> 00:23:12.420 children are growing 00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:13.180 up across split 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.740 families. 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.819 Our society is 00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.900 full of broken 00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:16.839 and bruised 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.640 relationships. 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:18.720 And it seems to 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.559 me that the less 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.440 commitment there is 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:22.779 alongside sex, it's 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.819 normally the women 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:24.779 who end up at the 00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:25.599 brunt of receiving 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.059 abuse or get cast 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.579 aside. 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.980 So much for sexual 00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.440 liberation. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.700 And I know that 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.620 marriage itself is 00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:35.000 open to abuse. 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:37.039 It too is subject to 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.640 the effect of 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.120 godlessness. 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:38.319 forgiveness. 00:23:39.439 --> 00:23:40.039 But when it's 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.979 modelled on the 00:23:40.979 --> 00:23:41.639 sacrificial, 00:23:42.239 --> 00:23:43.339 compassionate love 00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:44.579 Jesus has for his 00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.679 church, who he 00:23:45.679 --> 00:23:46.159 wants to see 00:23:46.159 --> 00:23:46.879 honoured and 00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:48.559 beautified, and 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.599 that love is then 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:51.319 returned, it really 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.759 does allow both 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:54.019 husband and wife 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:55.199 to thrive. 00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.699 I was interested to 00:23:57.699 --> 00:23:59.359 read, back last 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:00.679 November, I came 00:24:00.679 --> 00:24:01.419 across an article in 00:24:01.419 --> 00:24:02.099 the Spectator 00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:02.419 magazine. 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:02.799 So that's a 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.599 completely secular 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:06.159 magazine, a news 00:24:06.159 --> 00:24:06.819 magazine. 00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:07.980 And the title of 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.720 the article was 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.799 Marriage is the 00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.659 Real Rebellion. 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:12.299 And the article was 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.359 bemoaning the decline 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:14.559 of marriage, and it 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:15.460 was recognising the 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.639 strength marriage 00:24:16.639 --> 00:24:18.099 offers in society, 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.579 and particularly the 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.399 protection it offers 00:24:20.399 --> 00:24:21.279 to people, particularly 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.859 women, that is often 00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:24.159 lacking when that 00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:25.480 covenantal, legal 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.399 love is missing. 00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:32.759 So just as I stop 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.659 talking about sex for 00:24:33.659 --> 00:24:34.639 a little bit, I'll 00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.359 just render this. 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.539 It's a well-worn 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:38.019 analogy, but sex is 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.899 like superglue. 00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:40.899 It is designed for 00:24:40.899 --> 00:24:41.699 bonding two 00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:42.679 corresponding people 00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:44.139 together within a 00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:45.240 loving, lifelong 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:45.639 union. 00:24:45.719 --> 00:24:46.479 And when you try and 00:24:46.479 --> 00:24:47.619 tear those two 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:48.740 people apart, or put 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.459 glue in the wrong 00:24:49.459 --> 00:24:51.339 place, it causes a 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:52.779 lot of tears and a 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.459 lot of tears. 00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:56.959 But lest we think we 00:24:56.959 --> 00:24:57.919 can point fingers at 00:24:57.919 --> 00:24:58.959 those who have lived 00:24:58.959 --> 00:25:00.000 out those alternative 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.959 images for sex, Paul 00:25:01.959 --> 00:25:03.459 swiftly moves from 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:03.980 like this sort of 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:06.120 case study to show 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.840 us that it is 00:25:06.840 --> 00:25:07.440 actually part of a 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.779 much bigger, broader 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:10.039 picture of a 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:11.160 downward spiral, and 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:12.299 one that actually we 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:14.220 each contribute to. 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.299 Let me just read 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:17.180 again verses 28 to 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:17.579 32. 00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:19.059 Furthermore, just as 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:19.880 they did not think it 00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:20.960 worthwhile to retain 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.840 the knowledge of God, 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:23.200 so God gave them over 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.860 to a deprived mind, so 00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:26.120 they do what ought not 00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:26.720 to be done. 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.019 They've become filled 00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.840 with every kind of 00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:30.019 wickedness, evil, greed, 00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:30.579 depravity. 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.599 They're full of envy, 00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:33.039 murder, strife, deceit, 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:33.539 and malice. 00:25:33.919 --> 00:25:35.460 They're gossips, slanderers, 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.599 God-haters, insolent, 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.699 arrogant, and boastful. 00:25:37.939 --> 00:25:38.919 They invent ways of 00:25:38.919 --> 00:25:39.419 doing evil. 00:25:39.659 --> 00:25:40.299 They disobey their 00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:40.879 parents. 00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:41.679 They have no 00:25:41.679 --> 00:25:42.500 understanding, no 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.819 fidelity, no love, no 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.359 mercy. 00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:46.139 Although they know God's 00:25:46.139 --> 00:25:47.059 righteous decree that 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.839 those who do such 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.879 things deserve death, 00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:50.599 they not only continue 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.279 to do these very 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.500 things, but also 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:54.259 approve of those who 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.859 practice them. 00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:58.639 You see, we're all 00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.619 actually quite good at 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:01.139 deceiving ourselves into 00:26:01.139 --> 00:26:02.699 thinking, well, okay, 00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:03.839 at least I'm not as 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:05.719 bad as that person or 00:26:05.719 --> 00:26:06.559 them over there. 00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:09.719 In fact, in the next 00:26:09.719 --> 00:26:10.459 chapter, if you read 00:26:10.459 --> 00:26:11.679 on, Paul calls out the 00:26:11.679 --> 00:26:12.819 religious types who 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.219 judge others whilst 00:26:14.219 --> 00:26:15.159 breaking God's law 00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:15.919 themselves. 00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:18.659 But what I struck back 00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:20.399 as I read that sort of 00:26:20.399 --> 00:26:22.399 litany of sinful 00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:24.419 behaviours, even our lack 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:26.480 of love and lack of 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.600 mercy, for which I'm 00:26:28.600 --> 00:26:29.900 daily guilty of, 00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:31.800 demonstrates where our 00:26:31.800 --> 00:26:33.060 sort of natural human 00:26:33.060 --> 00:26:33.880 tendency lies. 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:36.060 We are all, in our own 00:26:36.060 --> 00:26:37.840 rights, in trouble. 00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:40.240 We are heading for 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.300 divine judgment. 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:44.039 We are part of the 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.779 picture that God is so 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.560 angry about. 00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:49.039 The injustice that is 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:51.240 causing, as we've 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.860 already used the 00:26:51.860 --> 00:26:52.800 illustration, earthquakes 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:54.200 earthquakes across the 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:55.200 world, destroying 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:55.839 lives. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.579 Again, Paul writes in 00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.759 chapter three, there is 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:02.180 no one righteous, not 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:02.759 even one. 00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:05.000 All have turned away. 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:08.039 We are all rightly 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:10.119 deserving of God's 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.460 wrath. 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:14.840 Now, I realise some of you 00:27:14.840 --> 00:27:16.559 are thinking, I like last 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.079 week's vicar. 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:17.779 What's wrong with it? 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.340 Didn't he have a bad 00:27:18.340 --> 00:27:18.960 half term? 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.940 You know, last week was 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.840 all kind of Holy Spirit 00:27:21.840 --> 00:27:22.579 coming, speaking our 00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:22.960 language. 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.460 So much more palatable 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.400 than this stuff, right? 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:28.620 Well, I spoke then, and I 00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:29.559 spoke in previous weeks, 00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:31.079 about the sense of our 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:32.779 church increasingly 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:35.140 desiring to be blown by 00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:37.180 the Spirit of God, to see 00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:39.100 spiritual renewal, right? 00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:40.420 That's kind of on our 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.200 heart as we journey 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:41.660 forward. 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:43.799 And perhaps you desire 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:44.640 that in your own heart, 00:27:45.100 --> 00:27:46.759 a spiritual renewal, a 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.840 new life, fullness of 00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:48.940 life you've never 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.980 experienced before. 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.380 Well, folks, that 00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:54.340 spiritual renewal will 00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:56.080 only happen as we 00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:57.620 increasingly become 00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:59.580 reliant on the grace of 00:27:59.580 --> 00:27:59.920 God. 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:02.180 Not in our own sense of 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:03.480 goodness, not on our 00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:06.160 track records, no, on 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:07.500 our sense of dependency 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:09.440 on God for his 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:12.019 goodness, his ways, his 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.560 righteousness. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:14.820 And so actually to be 00:28:14.820 --> 00:28:17.519 convicted of our sin, of 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.519 our own wickedness and 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:20.840 godlessness, and to 00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:23.000 repent, to turn to God 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:24.660 and cry out to him for 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.019 help. 00:28:26.560 --> 00:28:29.000 For us to recognize our 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:31.160 own need to be rescued 00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:33.080 from this downward spiral 00:28:33.080 --> 00:28:34.400 of godlessness and 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:34.960 wickedness. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.940 that we're all 00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:37.559 contributing to, and to 00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.720 have it redeemed, to 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.720 have it rescued. 00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:44.340 That is at the heart of 00:28:44.340 --> 00:28:46.340 what God is calling us to 00:28:46.340 --> 00:28:47.579 recognize, particularly 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:50.460 through God's words this 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:50.779 morning. 00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:56.259 I'll say it now. 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:57.579 I remember my experience 00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:59.180 of coming to faith when I 00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:00.220 was a music student in 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:03.980 London, and hand in hand 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:05.720 with sort of hearing the 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:07.180 word of God spoken and 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:08.500 understanding about Jesus, 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.839 actually became a 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:11.640 recognition of this 00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:12.360 downward spiral. 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.640 And I distinctly remember 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.480 walking through the streets 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:16.100 of London, and suddenly the 00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:18.200 advertising hoardings, I 00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:19.200 could suddenly sort of see 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:22.279 all the sort of powers at 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.799 work that were sort of 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:26.339 selling stuff, sex included. 00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:28.039 I was like, wow. 00:29:28.399 --> 00:29:29.319 My eyes were suddenly 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:30.740 open to the sort of powers 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.659 and the evil that was 00:29:31.659 --> 00:29:31.980 about. 00:29:32.199 --> 00:29:33.459 But at the same time, my 00:29:33.459 --> 00:29:34.399 heart was coming alive 00:29:34.399 --> 00:29:36.439 because I recognized, oh 00:29:36.439 --> 00:29:37.220 my goodness, I'm part of 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:37.679 that problem. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.480 I put myself in the 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:41.039 center of life and getting 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.959 people to revolve around 00:29:41.959 --> 00:29:42.159 me. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.419 What happened if I put God 00:29:43.419 --> 00:29:43.939 in the center? 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.319 And it kind of came side 00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.240 by side, but I remember 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:49.759 distinctly a sort of a 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.500 mind change, transforming of 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:53.240 the mind and my heart that was 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.740 both aware of the depths of 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:56.720 depravity, but also the 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:59.500 wonders of God's love that 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:02.380 came and rescued me and all 00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:03.039 of humanity. 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.900 Because that is what 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:04.140 happened. 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:05.240 We know that God's desire 00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:07.019 for us is good because he 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:09.759 sent his son Jesus, who left 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:12.180 the Father's eternal embrace 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:14.900 to come down to earth to 00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:16.480 rescue people, people like you, 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:19.120 people like me, lost in the 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:20.440 depths of darkness. 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:23.779 And Jesus lived the perfect 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:26.220 life, and yet he chose to 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.440 identify with us. 00:30:28.860 --> 00:30:30.360 And he chose also to become a 00:30:30.360 --> 00:30:32.259 recipient of God's wrath. 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:34.480 He took upon himself the 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:35.840 consequence of human 00:30:35.840 --> 00:30:37.460 godlessness, and he took it 00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:38.519 to its kind of final degree. 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:40.279 He experienced betrayal. 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.840 He experienced torture. 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:43.380 He experienced death. 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:45.039 He was killed by the vilest 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:46.960 wickedness and injustice. 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:51.240 And as he died, as he was 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:53.759 torn from the life and love 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.759 of his father, he cried, 00:30:54.840 --> 00:30:56.120 my God, my God, why have you 00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:57.000 forsaken me? 00:31:00.340 --> 00:31:02.860 But he did this for me. 00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:05.779 He did this for you in our 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:08.299 place so that we might never 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:09.620 have to face the full 00:31:09.620 --> 00:31:11.400 consequences of our 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:13.380 godlessness and wickedness, 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:15.360 so that we might never have to 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:17.099 be torn from the love of our 00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:17.539 father. 00:31:18.959 --> 00:31:20.879 Because, as we know from the 00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:23.219 story, Jesus, in his perfect 00:31:23.219 --> 00:31:25.240 obedience, he conquered death. 00:31:25.639 --> 00:31:27.179 He rose to life, and he 00:31:27.179 --> 00:31:28.099 promised that those who 00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:29.679 believe in him would be 00:31:29.679 --> 00:31:31.619 redeemed and would share his 00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:34.479 status as an eternally loved 00:31:34.479 --> 00:31:36.679 daughter or son of God. 00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.759 He would make us spotless. 00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.199 He would make us like the 00:31:40.199 --> 00:31:41.039 perfect bride. 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.119 God. 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:44.579 And it's because of Jesus 00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:47.579 that we can now know, in 00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:49.519 this life and into eternity, 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:53.159 this love that the Father has 00:31:53.159 --> 00:31:53.680 for us. 00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:56.839 His Holy Spirit pours that love 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:58.740 into our hearts, and he unites 00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.720 us with God. 00:32:00.159 --> 00:32:02.519 He immerses us in his love. 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:05.000 And as that love flows from 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:06.599 heaven, we are increasingly 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:11.259 remade to fulfill God's 00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:13.619 intended picture for life 00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:14.759 on this earth. 00:32:16.139 --> 00:32:17.539 And that grace, that 00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:19.039 undeserved kindness of God 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:21.000 that demonstrated to us in 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:23.599 Jesus, and the power of the 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.740 Holy Spirit, that is 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.500 spiritual renewal. 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.599 That's the thing we're after, 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.000 folks. 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:30.259 That is taking what is dead 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.740 and making it alive. 00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:33.439 What is dark and shining a 00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:34.919 light into it. 00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:40.060 And so, as I come to a 00:32:40.060 --> 00:32:41.920 close, and before we pray, 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:45.200 I just want to give you a 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:50.200 moment to sit before God. 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:54.039 Well, maybe just allow the 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:56.640 Holy Spirit to speak further 00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.720 what he's already been saying 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.220 this morning. 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:00.500 You know, there may be some 00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:01.680 of you amongst us who are, 00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:03.700 who even as I've spoken, 00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:06.059 and have become convicted of 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:07.980 where there are aspects of 00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:09.180 your life which actually 00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:10.259 have become part of this 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:11.120 downward spiral. 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:12.480 That you're actually 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.420 contributing to the 00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:15.019 injustice that hurts God so 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.420 much. 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.940 If that's you this morning, 00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:21.160 then you might just want to 00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:22.200 spend these moments just 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:23.140 calling out to God for 00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:23.559 forgiveness. 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:27.660 Turning to Christ, asking for 00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:30.640 him to redeem, to make 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:32.000 better what is broken. 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:40.460 And for all of us, that 00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:41.880 actually our lives, as we 00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:43.240 move from here, might become 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:44.940 in step with the Spirit, as 00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:46.120 Paul writes elsewhere in his 00:33:46.120 --> 00:33:46.380 letters. 00:33:47.940 --> 00:33:49.460 That actually the compassion 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:51.680 that God shows us might flow 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:53.880 out in compassion to others. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:56.340 The mercy we receive from God 00:33:56.340 --> 00:33:57.559 might make us more merciful. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.460 The love we receive might make 00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.120 us more loving. 00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:06.160 And I'm also aware, just 00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:08.500 Phil, a nudge to share, you 00:34:08.500 --> 00:34:09.260 know, there are people, as we've 00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:11.940 already said today, have come 00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:13.340 here this morning with such 00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:15.579 grieving hearts because death 00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:18.900 is part of the brokenness of 00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:20.619 our lived experience. 00:34:21.780 --> 00:34:22.840 And I just feel the Lord wants to 00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:23.579 say, I know that. 00:34:23.699 --> 00:34:25.800 I know how terribly painful it is. 00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:29.440 And I want to be there with you. 00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:32.000 And I want to show my love, even 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:33.260 in that dark place. 00:34:34.160 --> 00:34:35.100 So come, Holy Spirit. 00:34:35.740 --> 00:34:36.900 Come amongst us. 00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:38.780 Do that work of convicting. 00:34:42.640 --> 00:34:43.820 Pouring out compassion. 00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:51.920 Would you show each of us the step 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:56.080 we next need to take towards the 00:34:56.080 --> 00:35:00.440 light, towards the life. 00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:09.820 Would you remake us in your image? 00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:14.220 And wherever we have distorted that 00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:16.440 in our minds, in our hearts, in our 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:19.720 behaviour, thank you, Jesus, that 00:35:19.720 --> 00:35:20.800 your grace is enough. 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:24.800 And that you desire us to, wherever 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:26.559 we're at, to pick up our mats and 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.140 follow you. 00:35:34.140 --> 00:35:35.880 So, Lord Jesus, thank you that you've 00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:39.680 come into this dark world, whether 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:42.440 there is death, whether it's pain, and 00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:43.219 whether it's injustice. 00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:48.759 And thank you, as the book of Romans 00:35:48.759 --> 00:35:50.779 goes on to say, that you didn't just 00:35:50.779 --> 00:35:52.259 come to die for the good people, the 00:35:52.259 --> 00:35:52.960 people who have sorted out. 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:54.279 You came to die for sinners. 00:35:54.819 --> 00:35:55.960 And you came when we were sinners. 00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:57.279 You've come just at the right time, 00:35:57.339 --> 00:35:58.239 where we need rescuing. 00:35:59.480 --> 00:36:02.099 So we hold out our hands once more and 00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:03.599 say, Lord, we need you. 00:36:05.319 --> 00:36:06.960 We need your grace and your love, 00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:07.839 where we are so lacking. 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:10.000 Fill us once again. 00:36:10.740 --> 00:36:11.740 Fill us for the first time. 00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:13.920 Fill us for the hundredth time with 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:16.079 your love and grace, that we might be 00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:19.000 people restored in your image to love 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:20.240 and serve those around us. 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:22.280 Thank you, Holy Spirit. 00:36:22.280 --> 00:36:24.400 Amen. 00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:24.480 Amen.