WEBVTT

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 right so right towards the the back of our bibles the letter of first peter chapter 1

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 verses 13 to 21 so we've been thinking together as a church for the last number of weeks

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 about what is the gospel what do we believe about the gospel and then what kind of life

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 should that create in an individual and in a church last week we thought about humility

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 that as we think about all that jesus has done for us that it should humble us and cause us to

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 humbly seek to serve others this week the gospel creates holiness so we're going to read first

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 peter 1 verse 13 to 21 and let's again hear god's word therefore with minds that are alert and fully

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 sober set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when jesus christ is revealed at his coming

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 as obedient children do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance

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 but just as he who called you is holy so be holy in all you do for it is written be holy because i

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 am holy since you call on a father who judges each person's work impartially live out your time as

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 foreigners here in reverent fear for you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or

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 gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors

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 but with the precious blood of christ a lamb without blemish or defect he was chosen before the

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 creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake through him you believe in god

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 who raised him from the dead and glorified him and so your faith and hope are in god amen

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 so as we begin i want us to think about the life of an exile some of you will be very familiar with

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 the highland clearances a very dark period in scottish history in the mid 19th century when people who had

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 worked the land for generations were forcibly removed to make way for sheep that were more profitable and so

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 they were sent off on ships off to the new world to america and places like that and as they went

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 they sang songs and they wrote poetry and those songs and that poetry spoke of lament and it spoke of loss

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 the loss of a home that the vast majority of them would never ever see again but one of the interesting

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 things to know about these highlanders who who were forced to leave is that they kept preserved their

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 culture and their identity they retained their language they retained their practices they lived as

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 exiled highlanders and and pushing 200 years later you can still find communities of exiled highlanders

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 around the world and they will still be engaged in highland games and the light peter is writing to the

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 christian church here and he says to them in chapter 1 in verse 1 you are god's elect you are exiles

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 so the church are told you are exiles of heaven heaven is your true home he was writing to a group of

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 christians who were because of their faith living on the margins of society beginning to feel the squeeze

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 of opposition and so he writes this letter to encourage them to say keep your culture and your identity

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 identity the culture of heaven the identity that you have because you've been saved by jesus set your

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 hearts on him and live holy lives in ephesians chapter 1 and verse 4 when paul writes paul writes a letter

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 to a different church he reminds them in his introduction that one of the reasons jesus came and died to save

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 people was to save people was to save people holy and that's what we're going to think about today

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 this reality that if we are a people who treasure god's saving grace

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 then we will care deeply to pursue holiness knowing that without holiness it's impossible to see god

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 and just as peter writes this letter to encourage these exiles of heaven in the backdrop of their

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 cultural chaos so we find ourselves in the 21st century still surrounded by cultural chaos but being

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 called to live out our identity as citizens of heaven to live a culture of faith and hope and love

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 to live in god's grace and to live out of god's truth as we find it in god's word

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 and so we're going to think about this reality that one of the goals for which jesus came and died

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 is so that churches and christians would be committed to the gospel of god's grace and committed to pursuing

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 godliness and holiness and holiness and we're going to think about what that means this idea of being

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 set apart for god and set apart to live in obedience to him there are three things from our reading in

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 verses 13 to 21 i want to draw your attention to in thinking about um being holy the first is this to be

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 holy we need to fix our hope on jesus so look with me again at verse 13 where we're told therefore

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 with minds that are alert and fully sober set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when jesus

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 christ is revealed at his coming so the verse begins with a therefore and whenever there's a therefore we

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 ask what's the there for therefore and it's there to connect us to this great section of thanksgiving

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 that we didn't read in verses 3 to 12 but if you look with me at verse 3 begins with praise praise

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 be to the god and father of our lord jesus christ and then it goes on in his great mercy he has given

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 us new birth into a living hope and that living hope comes through the resurrection of jesus christ from

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 the dead so because jesus is alive christians have a living hope and the rest of this thanksgiving

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 it speaks about the promise of eternal rewards the promise of future salvation the reality of life

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 with christ this is our living hope and peter then says therefore because these things are true because

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 this hope is is real therefore set your hope fully on grace still to come set your hope on future grace

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 set your hope on the return of christ make the goal of your life be the desire to see jesus and to be with

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 jesus and to enjoy jesus forever and he says then because of the resurrection

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 you can bank on this hope this future hope this isn't wishful thinking this is certain hope based on

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 the historic event of the resurrection because jesus is alive we have living hope and so the

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 question then becomes well what does this future hope have to do with how i live today how does this

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 future hope of of the return of jesus make a difference to my life of obedience and holiness

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 let's go back to verse 13 where peter in a sense reminds us that holiness is a battle for the mind and for

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 the will our holiness will involve right thinking so peter says to them you know therefore wait with hope

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 but he also tells them to wait with minds that are alert and fully sober wait with hope wait with holiness

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 the idea of alerts is the idea of being ready for action being ready for battle

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 the idea of being fully sober the idea of thinking clearly living self-controlled lives

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 recognizing the battle for holiness

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 is a battle for our minds

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 thinking about this first i started thinking about those images that we see in the news from time to time

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 of when maybe a reporter goes

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 um on a tour with with let's say un peacekeepers you know so they're in hostile territory

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 um and they're they're maybe in the armored convoy and what do you see there you see

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 soldiers who've got their bulletproof vests on they've got their helmets on and you see them

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 constantly scanning the horizon they are fully alert because they know an attack could come from any

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 corner from anywhere

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 and so for us in the battle with holiness we need to be alert and fully sober

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 jesus told a whole range of parables on that theme of be ready be watchful be serving

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 always in light of the fact that he is the king he is the master

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 who will one day return

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 and he wants to find

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 his servants doing his will

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 so because we know jesus is coming back

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 we are to choose the way of obedience

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 so as christians we put on the full armor of god

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 as christians we are to stay alert to temptation and spiritual attack some of that comes from within

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 that battle that rages because of our sinful nature

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 but also those temptations that come from outside of us

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 temptations that we see in the world temptation that comes from the devil

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 we wait with hope and we wait with holiness

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 our future hope our future home in heaven what's that going to be like

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 it's going to be a holy place heaven is a holy place there is no sin in heaven

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 there is no anger in heaven there is no jealousy in heaven there is no pride in heaven

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 so if our hope is a holy place then we're being asked to live holy lives in preparation for that

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 that's what jesus has secured for us

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 that's what we're being prepared for

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 and so we're called to live holy lives

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 and bearing in mind that this is a battle for our mind and for our will

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 one of the things that we need to learn as christians

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 is constantly to be talking to ourselves

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 in the sense of preaching the gospel to ourselves

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 when we find ourselves in a moment of temptation

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 in a moment of trial we need to talk to ourselves

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 to remind ourselves jesus is better and his reward is greater than what this temptation is offering me

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 when we are going through trials we need to remember following jesus and his reward is absolutely worth it

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 we need to let the word of christ dwell in us richly so that when we are faced with a decision

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 we're asking the question how am i going to obey jesus and his word in this moment

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 so we need to talk to ourselves if we are to pursue holiness

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 there's one image and if our projectors were working we would we would have sung about christ our sure and steady anchor

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 but but think about this if our hope anchors on something

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 you know we all want our life to to be governed by something we're all living for something

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 so if our hope is anchored and that anchor connects us to what we love most

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 if it ties us to that sets the pattern for our life

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 one question that we always need to be asking and reflecting

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 where is my hope today

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 where is my hope anchored today what's the focus for my life

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 and peter is saying to us to be holy

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 is to have our hope fully anchored in jesus and his grace

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 there'd be that gravitational pull towards him

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 that he would be directing the course of our lives towards love and holiness

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 motivated by the reality of future hope and future reward

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 so to be holy we are to fix our hope on jesus

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 he's thinking about our minds

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 to be holy secondly we are to fix our identity

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 on jesus this is verses 14 to 17

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 so again just to think big picture for a moment

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 to ask the question why did if you're a christian why did god save you

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 if you're not a christian why would god save you what would be his purpose in saving you

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 why does god in the gospel take an enemy of god

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 somebody deserving of god's wrath

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 why does god send his son jesus to die for us

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 to take god's wrath for us

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 to reconcile us to himself

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 to justify us to adopt us into his family

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 why does he do it

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 again to go back to the book of ephesians

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 in part to make us holy

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 we have a new life

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 and we have a new identity

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 first peter chapter 2 verse 9 if you turn over a page

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 you will find this wonderful description

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 used of the old testament believer

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 used of the new testament believer

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 you are a chosen people

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 a royal priesthood

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 a holy nation

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 god's special possession

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 that you may declare the praises of him

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 who called you out of darkness

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 into his wonderful light

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 totally transformed identity

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 to reflect to display the glory of god

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 to draw others to him

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 so think about this for a first century christian

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 so all of the folks that peter is writing to

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 so if he's writing to

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 people who've recently become followers of jesus

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 from a jewish background

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 they are absolutely outsiders in their community

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 they're not believing that the law saves them

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 they're not doing the same rituals

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 they're not using the food laws in the same way perhaps

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 but if he's writing to people who've been saved

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 and they're from a roman background

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 they're also outsiders in roman culture

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 because they're not saying caesar's lord

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 they're saying jesus is lord

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 they're not worshipping a whole bunch of different idols

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 they're worshipping the one true and living god

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 through jesus his son

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 and so they are beginning to feel the weight

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 of being outsiders

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 to be pushed to the margins

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 this is part of the cost of discipleship

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 and some of us know this

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 perhaps if we're the only christian in our family

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 perhaps we're christians from a part of the world

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 where it's very difficult

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 to be a follower of jesus

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 and so we feel the weight of this

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 so the question then is this

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 well why

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 why be holy

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 if it's going to mean things like

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 mockery

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 if it's going to mean that

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 the faith that we have is going to be misunderstood

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 if perhaps it's going to be missing out on certain things

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 missing out on certain friendships

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 missing out on certain promotions perhaps

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 or

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 to go even more extreme

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 and to think about

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 people all around the world

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 why be holy if it means

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 being sent to prison

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 why be holy if it means

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 your whole family and community

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 want nothing to do with you

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 and in fact would like to kill you

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 why be holy

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 and so peter wants to encourage

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 a group of believers

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 who are feeling the weight of that

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 and what he wants to encourage them with

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 is to remember their true identity

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 saying to them

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 be who you truly are in christ

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 so let's see how he says that

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 what is our identity

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 as christians

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 peter says in verse 14

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 you are obedient children

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 as obedient children

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 do not conform to the evil desires

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 you had when you lived in ignorance

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 but just as he has called you as holy

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 so be holy

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 in all you do

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 that's who we're called to be

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 obedient children

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 living holy lives

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 because the father who called us is holy

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 so we read earlier in leviticus

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 and leviticus

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 in 19 verse 2

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 be holy because i am holy

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 is something of a motto verse

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 in the book of leviticus

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 so the old testament israelites

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 they were chosen by god's grace

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 and they were set apart

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 among the nations

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 to be his people

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 to live lives of worship

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 and obedience

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 and because they were god's people

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 and because god is holy

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 they were told to be holy

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 and the same is absolutely true

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 of the church in every age and generation

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 it's made plain in first peter 2 verse 9

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 and so because that's true

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 that peter says in verse 14

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 we are no longer

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 to conform to our evil desires

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 why

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 because that's no longer who we truly are

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 so so we don't

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 get comfortable with sin anymore

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 and we don't let the world

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 squeeze us into its mold

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 rather we show sin

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 no mercy

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 and we determine to live in faith

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 and obedience

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 so peter says to them

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 you know just as

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 as children physically

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 share the characteristics

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 of their parents

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 for better or for worse

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 just as children learn by copying

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 and just as we expect children

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 to take on the family values

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 that they've been brought up in

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:10.299
 so it is in god's family

00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:13.759
 our god is a holy father

00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:16.880
 his children must be holy

00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:19.860
 that is an essential family value

00:19:19.860 --> 00:19:21.600
 within god's church

00:19:21.600 --> 00:19:26.220
 sometimes we ask the question

00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.240
 and it's an important question

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:29.240
 what's the will of god for my life

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.819
 well again

00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:33.279
 paul cuts through a lot of that confusion

00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:35.120
 in first thessalonians 4 verse 3

00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:35.539
 when he says

00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.859
 it is god's will

00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:38.960
 that you be sanctified

00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:40.599
 that you be set apart

00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.980
 and that you live holy lives

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:43.960
 it's god's desire

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.980
 for his children

00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:48.420
 verse 17

00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:50.480
 since you call on a father

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:53.019
 who judges each person's work impartially

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:55.799
 live out your time as foreigners here

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.519
 in reverent fear

00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:00.379
 so just as jesus our elder brother

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:03.000
 lived his life determined at every point

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:04.639
 to honour his father

00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:07.200
 and to obey his commands

00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.680
 and to fear god

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:10.720
 rather than live with the fear of man

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:13.720
 and to follow the law of love at every turn

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:17.400
 so he sets a pattern for us

00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:19.700
 as his brothers and sisters in the church

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:23.619
 so we understand that when my identity

00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:26.000
 it is shaped by jesus

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:30.179
 that has implications for how i live and act and speak

00:20:30.179 --> 00:20:32.519
 i want to please my father in heaven

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:36.000
 i want to follow in the footsteps of jesus

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:38.919
 remembering jesus is our saviour

00:20:38.919 --> 00:20:39.959
 but not just our saviour

00:20:39.959 --> 00:20:41.739
 he is also our role model

00:20:41.739 --> 00:20:43.899
 he shows us what holiness looks like

00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:48.180
 and we're reminded in verses 17

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.220
 in verse 17

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:51.820
 that when i fear and honour

00:20:51.820 --> 00:20:53.820
 my father in heaven

00:20:53.820 --> 00:20:57.480
 it's his judgment of me that counts

00:20:57.480 --> 00:21:00.259
 it's his opinion of me that counts

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:03.220
 he is the one whose approval i want to live for

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:06.620
 and by extension that means living as a foreigner in the world

00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:08.580
 because this world is not our true home

00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:11.980
 so to be holy we need to fix our identity

00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:13.359
 on who we truly are

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.519
 and so we need to again

00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:16.539
 learn to talk to ourselves

00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:19.039
 who am i

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:22.099
 you know there are so many voices in our culture

00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:23.879
 that want to tell us who we are

00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:26.119
 as christians we need to hear

00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:28.019
 god speak in his word

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:29.879
 saying to us

00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:31.379
 if you are in christ

00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:32.899
 you're a new creation

00:21:32.899 --> 00:21:35.359
 if you are in christ

00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:36.799
 you're a child of god

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:38.659
 if you are in christ

00:21:38.659 --> 00:21:39.480
 you are saved

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.639
 to be holy

00:21:40.639 --> 00:21:44.039
 and don't we see how this matters then

00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:44.879
 for our everyday life

00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:46.039
 so leviticus 19

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:47.119
 see how comprehensive

00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:49.480
 god's view of holiness is

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.819
 our words

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:52.059
 our actions

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:53.399
 our relationships

00:21:53.399 --> 00:21:54.480
 our workplace

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.599
 our sense of justice

00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.899
 and mercy

00:21:56.899 --> 00:21:58.460
 and care for the poor

00:21:58.460 --> 00:22:00.460
 all wrapped up in

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:03.460
 the reality that i'm an obedient child of god

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.579
 and so i want to live

00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:05.759
 his way

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:08.180
 so we pursue holiness

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.299
 peter says

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.579
 so that we can honor

00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:12.160
 our holy father

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:14.980
 but we also

00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:16.700
 choose holiness

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:19.480
 for the sake of our mission

00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:23.619
 we could go back to first peter 2

00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:25.099
 verse 9

00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:26.019
 for a moment

00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:27.279
 where he tells

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:27.799
 tells him

00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:28.619
 this is who you are

00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:30.220
 this is how you are to live

00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:32.500
 so that you may declare

00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:34.359
 god's praises

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:37.480
 for the sake of the world

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.299
 who is watching

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.880
 we need to show people

00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:40.579
 truly

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:42.680
 what is god like

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:45.380
 is jesus good

00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:46.359
 and true

00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:49.559
 we also remember

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:51.519
 the words of the great commission

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.339
 matthew 28

00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.119
 jesus said

00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:54.160
 go and make disciples

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.099
 of all nations

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:56.539
 and after talking about

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.500
 baptizing people

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.099
 he said

00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:59.419
 teaching them to observe

00:22:59.419 --> 00:23:00.099
 and to obey

00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:01.679
 all that i have commanded

00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:03.019
 so obedience

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:04.399
 and holiness

00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:05.639
 is built into

00:23:05.639 --> 00:23:08.679
 our life as disciples

00:23:08.679 --> 00:23:10.279
 god wants the world

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.159
 to know

00:23:11.159 --> 00:23:12.139
 jesus

00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:14.099
 and to believe

00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:15.139
 in jesus

00:23:15.139 --> 00:23:17.099
 and to obey

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:18.039
 jesus

00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:20.000
 and so we have to

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.099
 encourage one another

00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:22.379
 to obey

00:23:22.379 --> 00:23:23.299
 jesus

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.539
 and we have to show

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.019
 others

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:27.059
 in our obedience

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.919
 in our love

00:23:27.919 --> 00:23:29.139
 the goodness

00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:29.680
 and the beauty

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:31.019
 of our god

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:31.639
 we are

00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:33.519
 in a very real way

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:33.919
 i think

00:23:33.919 --> 00:23:35.079
 the lens

00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.480
 through which the gospel

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.399
 is going to be read

00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:38.940
 people are going to look

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.579
 at jesus

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.579
 through the lens

00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:41.559
 of our character

00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:42.879
 our lives

00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:43.559
 and that's something

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.259
 we need to think about

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.960
 when it comes to

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.460
 our holiness

00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:47.379
 as a church

00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:48.240
 and as christians

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:51.240
 finally

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:52.359
 to be holy

00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:55.219
 having fixed our hope

00:23:55.219 --> 00:23:55.979
 on jesus

00:23:55.979 --> 00:23:57.459
 and fixed our identity

00:23:57.459 --> 00:23:58.119
 on jesus

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:59.279
 to be holy

00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.919
 we need to fix our heart

00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.579
 on jesus

00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:04.439
 so here's a question

00:24:04.439 --> 00:24:05.299
 whenever we're thinking

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.039
 about holiness

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:08.419
 it's really important

00:24:08.419 --> 00:24:08.639
 to think

00:24:08.639 --> 00:24:09.819
 how am i going to avoid

00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:11.439
 that stereotype

00:24:11.439 --> 00:24:12.159
 of holiness

00:24:12.159 --> 00:24:14.839
 that really puts people off

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:16.279
 that comes across

00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.039
 as really critical

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.879
 and judgmental

00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.439
 where it's all about

00:24:18.439 --> 00:24:19.799
 a long list of do's

00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.299
 and don'ts

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.099
 or where it just seems

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:22.059
 like dull duty

00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:23.799
 how can we

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:25.519
 actually love

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.419
 the idea of holiness

00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.700
 how can we see

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.919
 that it's good news

00:24:28.919 --> 00:24:29.399
 for us

00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:30.659
 how can we make it

00:24:30.659 --> 00:24:31.480
 seem beautiful

00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.259
 to others

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.639
 it's a really

00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.519
 important question

00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.960
 and the answer

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.460
 is only

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.779
 by the power

00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.539
 of the gospel

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:40.599
 it's only because

00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:42.059
 jesus has come

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.579
 to bring this

00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.579
 wonderful redemption

00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:45.000
 and it's only

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.819
 as we fix

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.039
 our hearts

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.579
 on what jesus

00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:49.480
 has done for us

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.339
 and continues

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:51.620
 to do for us

00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:53.079
 that will be

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.559
 empowered

00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.360
 and motivated

00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:55.319
 towards holiness

00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:55.900
 and obedience

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:58.220
 so let's look

00:24:58.220 --> 00:25:00.539
 at verse 18

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.759
 first of all

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.500
 to notice something

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.360
 that we are redeemed

00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:04.059
 from

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:05.920
 what does jesus

00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:07.000
 redeem us from

00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:09.000
 for you know

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.440
 it was not

00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.160
 with perishable

00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:10.980
 things such as

00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:11.799
 silver or gold

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.700
 that you were

00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.259
 redeemed

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:14.900
 from the empty

00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.620
 way of life

00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.640
 handed down to you

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.520
 from your ancestors

00:25:17.520 --> 00:25:21.280
 you've been

00:25:21.280 --> 00:25:21.600
 redeemed

00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:22.140
 from an empty

00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:22.800
 way of life

00:25:22.800 --> 00:25:25.180
 so that's either

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:25.840
 so thinking about

00:25:25.840 --> 00:25:26.700
 this background

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:26.980
 here

00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.600
 that's either

00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:29.080
 a group of christians

00:25:29.080 --> 00:25:29.740
 who've been saved

00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.580
 out of a roman

00:25:30.580 --> 00:25:31.020
 background

00:25:31.020 --> 00:25:31.480
 and they've been

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.080
 saved from the

00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:32.800
 false worship

00:25:32.800 --> 00:25:33.880
 of idols

00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:34.960
 and empty

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.660
 sacrifices

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.220
 or

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:37.300
 there's folks

00:25:37.300 --> 00:25:38.160
 from a jewish

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:38.540
 background

00:25:38.540 --> 00:25:39.400
 and they've been

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.120
 saved from

00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:41.060
 a religion

00:25:41.060 --> 00:25:42.000
 based entirely

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:42.560
 on law

00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:43.160
 do this

00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.780
 do that

00:25:43.780 --> 00:25:44.440
 and if you do

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:44.860
 well enough

00:25:44.860 --> 00:25:45.480
 maybe god

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.380
 will be pleased

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.460
 and what peter

00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.360
 says is he cuts

00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:48.900
 through

00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:50.580
 either of those

00:25:50.580 --> 00:25:51.060
 and says that

00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:51.720
 they're both

00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:53.080
 empty

00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:54.820
 any attempt

00:25:54.820 --> 00:25:56.000
 to be holy

00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:57.700
 and good enough

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.900
 by ourselves

00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:00.040
 for a holy god

00:26:00.040 --> 00:26:01.080
 will never

00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:02.020
 be

00:26:02.020 --> 00:26:03.120
 enough

00:26:03.120 --> 00:26:05.400
 and so he's

00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:06.740
 rescuing us here

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:08.180
 from a temptation

00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:08.800
 so we hear

00:26:08.800 --> 00:26:10.340
 we need

00:26:10.340 --> 00:26:10.920
 we need to be

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.500
 more holy

00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.400
 he's saving us

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.180
 simply from saying

00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.880
 okay what i need

00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:14.460
 to do is i need

00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.260
 to roll my sleeves

00:26:15.260 --> 00:26:15.800
 up i need more

00:26:15.800 --> 00:26:16.260
 willpower

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.740
 i need more

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.339
 resolution

00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:18.740
 that the reality

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:20.000
 is what we need

00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.960
 to be holy

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.599
 is we need

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.799
 spiritual resurrection

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.660
 nothing short

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.839
 of that will empower

00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.920
 or lead

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:28.579
 to holiness

00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:31.220
 so we're redeemed

00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:31.759
 from an empty

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.200
 way of life

00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.640
 and we are

00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.200
 redeemed

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:35.680
 by something

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.740
 first of all

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.579
 i want us to

00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.240
 notice that we're

00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:38.700
 redeemed

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.240
 by or in line

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.000
 with the eternal

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.140
 plan of god

00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:44.460
 look at verse 20

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.140
 having spoken

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.160
 having spoken

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:45.980
 about jesus

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.160
 as the lamb

00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.799
 without blemish

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.299
 or defect

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:48.779
 we're told he

00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.400
 was chosen

00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:49.920
 before the

00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.440
 creation of

00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:50.880
 the world

00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:52.299
 but was revealed

00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:52.920
 in these last

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.660
 times for your

00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.039
 sake

00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.380
 so just to

00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:56.519
 remind us

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:56.960
 that in the

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.059
 eternal plan

00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.680
 the eternal

00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.980
 will of god

00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.880
 jesus

00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.000
 jesus

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:02.120
 the sinless

00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:02.740
 son of god

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.620
 was chosen

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.620
 to be a

00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.120
 savior

00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:07.339
 for unholy

00:27:07.339 --> 00:27:08.940
 unfaithful

00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.920
 unwilling

00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:10.900
 sinners

00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:11.640
 like us

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:13.420
 and then

00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.440
 in the fullness

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.039
 of god's time

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.660
 he was revealed

00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.700
 in the last

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.160
 times

00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:18.039
 he was revealed

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.740
 in verse 21

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:20.059
 as the savior

00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.880
 to believe in

00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:21.420
 that because

00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:22.420
 he has died

00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:23.220
 and he has been

00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.839
 raised again

00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.839
 and god has glorified

00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.079
 him

00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:25.960
 and we believe

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.299
 in him

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:26.819
 and our faith

00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.339
 and our hope

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.180
 are in god

00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:30.299
 so we're redeemed

00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.759
 by or according

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.880
 to god's eternal

00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.920
 plan of salvation

00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:36.360
 that's a wonderful

00:27:36.360 --> 00:27:36.980
 privilege

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:38.480
 and we've been

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:38.860
 redeemed

00:27:38.860 --> 00:27:39.759
 verse 19

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:41.640
 with the precious

00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:42.320
 blood

00:27:42.320 --> 00:27:43.740
 of christ

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:46.920
 in the evenings

00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:47.440
 we've been thinking

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:47.880
 about the book

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.519
 of exodus

00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:50.039
 and we get to the

00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:50.480
 passover

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:50.940
 we'll be there

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.380
 in a couple of

00:27:51.380 --> 00:27:51.680
 weeks

00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:52.640
 that's a powerful

00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.160
 picture

00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:54.840
 so so god

00:27:54.840 --> 00:27:55.299
 announces

00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:55.799
 that judgment

00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.259
 is going to

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.660
 come

00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.500
 upon

00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.259
 egypt

00:27:58.259 --> 00:28:00.180
 but there is

00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:00.579
 a way

00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.359
 for israel

00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:02.200
 to be spared

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:02.720
 the judgment

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.180
 and that's

00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:03.579
 through this

00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:04.880
 passover lamb

00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.779
 this pure

00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.759
 lamb that is

00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.599
 to be looked

00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.140
 after

00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:09.019
 and then it is

00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.740
 to be killed

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.660
 and the blood

00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:12.039
 is to be sprinkled

00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.799
 so that

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:15.140
 on the night

00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:16.160
 when the judgment

00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:17.240
 of god

00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:18.099
 passes

00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:19.059
 through

00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:19.839
 egypt

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.720
 and falls

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.559
 on egypt

00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.619
 it will pass

00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.720
 over

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:25.400
 the houses

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.119
 of israel

00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:27.379
 why

00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:29.339
 not because

00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:29.639
 they were

00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:30.059
 sinless

00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.739
 and perfect

00:28:30.739 --> 00:28:31.979
 but because

00:28:31.979 --> 00:28:32.599
 the judgment

00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:33.439
 has fallen

00:28:33.439 --> 00:28:34.299
 on the

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:34.759
 passover

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.259
 lamb

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:36.359
 the lamb

00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:37.179
 has died

00:28:37.179 --> 00:28:38.079
 so they

00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.000
 might be

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.939
 redeemed

00:28:39.939 --> 00:28:41.699
 the lamb

00:28:41.699 --> 00:28:43.059
 has been

00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:44.539
 the sacrifice

00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.439
 who has

00:28:45.439 --> 00:28:46.259
 taken sin

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:46.539
 who has

00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.279
 turned away

00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:48.139
 the anger

00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:48.639
 of god

00:28:48.639 --> 00:28:49.979
 so that

00:28:49.979 --> 00:28:51.219
 god's people

00:28:51.219 --> 00:28:52.039
 might go free

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.720
 that's a

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.180
 wonderful

00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:54.879
 picture

00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:56.720
 of what

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.339
 jesus does

00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:57.619
 for us

00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:57.819
 on the

00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:58.359
 cross

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.899
 jesus

00:28:59.899 --> 00:29:00.720
 takes

00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.460
 the judgment

00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.200
 of god

00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:03.079
 so we

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:03.379
 might be

00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:03.720
 forgiven

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.159
 and set

00:29:04.159 --> 00:29:04.480
 free

00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.359
 and set

00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:05.879
 free

00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:07.399
 to become

00:29:07.399 --> 00:29:07.879
 that kingdom

00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.559
 of priests

00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.759
 to become

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.799
 that holy

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.399
 nation

00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:11.720
 to become

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.079
 that people

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:12.819
 who don't

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.299
 live for

00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:13.920
 ourselves

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.460
 rather we

00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.279
 live for

00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:15.720
 the glory

00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.319
 of god

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:16.799
 the one

00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.240
 who loved

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:17.579
 us and

00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.440
 gave his

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:18.799
 son

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.339
 for us

00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:22.440
 and so it

00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.440
 becomes clear

00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.720
 then that

00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.200
 to be

00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:26.759
 holy we

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.960
 must first

00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.079
 be born

00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:29.500
 again

00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:31.859
 we need

00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:32.659
 the saving

00:29:32.659 --> 00:29:33.759
 work of god

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.500
 through jesus

00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.099
 in our hearts

00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:35.500
 and lives

00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:35.819
 so we need

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.460
 to come

00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.759
 to jesus

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:40.440
 and then to

00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.039
 live these

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.720
 holy lives we

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.440
 must fix our

00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.319
 hearts

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:44.720
 on jesus

00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:46.200
 again to

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.000
 preach the

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.480
 gospel

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.579
 into our

00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.119
 hearts

00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.679
 every day

00:29:50.679 --> 00:29:52.359
 so that we

00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:53.079
 be pursuing

00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.799
 holiness

00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.960
 and obedience

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.819
 not as a

00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:56.240
 sense of

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:57.299
 dull duty

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:58.779
 not thinking

00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.159
 we need to

00:29:59.159 --> 00:29:59.779
 work hard

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.220
 enough to

00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:00.799
 earn it

00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:02.720
 but because

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.059
 we are

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:03.619
 children of

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.119
 grace

00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:05.539
 and because

00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.079
 of a profound

00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.639
 sense of

00:30:06.639 --> 00:30:07.179
 gratitude

00:30:07.179 --> 00:30:08.379
 for what god

00:30:08.379 --> 00:30:08.759
 has done

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.199
 in sending

00:30:09.199 --> 00:30:10.019
 jesus to be

00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:10.599
 our savior

00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:14.779
 so as we

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.319
 draw this

00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:16.740
 to conclusion

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.960
 let's ask

00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:18.299
 ourselves

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.160
 the question

00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:21.140
 am i

00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:21.720
 ready

00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:23.340
 to live

00:30:23.340 --> 00:30:23.600
 as an

00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:24.140
 exile

00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:26.340
 am i

00:30:26.340 --> 00:30:26.900
 ready

00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:28.640
 to choose

00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:29.000
 the way

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.660
 of holiness

00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:31.360
 so i was

00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:31.700
 thinking about

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.680
 this week

00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:32.920
 you know

00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.579
 thinking about

00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:35.880
 those highlanders

00:30:35.880 --> 00:30:36.980
 setting sail

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.279
 in their

00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:37.680
 boats

00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.539
 you know

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.059
 having

00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:40.180
 bidden a

00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.960
 tearful farewell

00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.740
 to those few

00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.200
 who remain

00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.579
 behind

00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.539
 and seeing

00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:44.519
 the land

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.960
 pass on

00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.579
 the horizon

00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.519
 they would

00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:47.799
 all have

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.159
 been faced

00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:48.439
 with a

00:30:48.439 --> 00:30:48.980
 choice

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.779
 knowing

00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:50.000
 you're

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.220
 heading

00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:50.559
 to the

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:50.740
 new

00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:51.220
 world

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.379
 you've

00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:52.539
 got a

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:52.919
 choice

00:30:52.919 --> 00:30:53.679
 you can

00:30:53.679 --> 00:30:55.059
 move on

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:56.559
 you can

00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:57.059
 forget the

00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:57.720
 old ways

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.220
 maybe the

00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:58.639
 new ways

00:30:58.639 --> 00:30:59.139
 are better

00:30:59.139 --> 00:31:01.159
 or

00:31:01.159 --> 00:31:01.980
 that's what

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.379
 so many

00:31:02.379 --> 00:31:02.639
 of them

00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:02.899
 did

00:31:02.899 --> 00:31:04.019
 they can

00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.500
 constantly

00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.099
 hear the

00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:05.579
 call of

00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:05.980
 home

00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:07.880
 and they'll

00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:08.240
 protect

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.740
 their

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.240
 culture

00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:10.640
 and they'll

00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:11.360
 treasure their

00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:11.819
 sense of

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.380
 identity

00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:13.339
 even as

00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:13.640
 they live

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.360
 as exiles

00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:16.539
 you and i

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.000
 are called

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.480
 to our own

00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:17.819
 choice

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.220
 today and

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.759
 every day

00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:20.440
 first of all

00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.099
 to hear the

00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:21.700
 call of the

00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.200
 gospel

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:23.480
 to hear the

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:24.079
 voice of

00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:24.700
 jesus

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:26.360
 calling us

00:31:26.360 --> 00:31:26.779
 away

00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:27.339
 calling us

00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:27.819
 out of

00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:28.740
 empty ways

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:31.039
 calling us

00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:31.680
 out of

00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.640
 those evil

00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:33.339
 desires

00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:35.180
 so that we

00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.680
 would receive

00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.720
 his redemption

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.279
 would receive

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.480
 his rescue

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:38.900
 from our

00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.600
 slavery from

00:31:39.600 --> 00:31:39.940
 sin

00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:41.420
 that we be

00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:42.019
 changed from

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.460
 the inside

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:42.900
 out

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:44.060
 so that we

00:31:44.060 --> 00:31:44.680
 would live

00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.860
 as a child

00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:46.259
 of god

00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:46.840
 and a citizen

00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:47.380
 of heaven

00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:49.940
 and then

00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.700
 we're called

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.620
 then to

00:31:51.620 --> 00:31:52.259
 live out

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:53.000
 the culture

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.320
 of the

00:31:53.320 --> 00:31:53.820
 gospel

00:31:53.820 --> 00:31:56.080
 to take

00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:56.900
 seriously

00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:58.700
 our call

00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.000
 to be

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.500
 obedient

00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.039
 children

00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:01.860
 not just

00:32:01.860 --> 00:32:02.299
 in some

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:02.660
 of life

00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:03.160
 but in all

00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:03.600
 of life

00:32:03.600 --> 00:32:04.360
 not just

00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:04.660
 when it's

00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:04.880
 easy

00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:05.160
 but when

00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:05.299
 it's

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:05.660
 hard

00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:07.400
 following

00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:08.240
 jesus

00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:08.860
 pattern

00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:09.480
 of love

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.700
 walking

00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.040
 in the

00:32:11.040 --> 00:32:11.400
 footsteps

00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:12.140
 of jesus

00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:12.580
 our elder

00:32:12.580 --> 00:32:12.960
 brother

00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:14.240
 guided

00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.480
 by god's

00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:15.880
 word

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:16.779
 to

00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.340
 recognize

00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:17.779
 how

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.360
 to

00:32:18.360 --> 00:32:18.740
 obey

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:20.380
 so let's

00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:20.800
 fix

00:32:20.800 --> 00:32:21.779
 our eyes

00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:23.040
 on jesus

00:32:23.040 --> 00:32:24.320
 let him

00:32:24.320 --> 00:32:24.720
 be

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:26.000
 our hope

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:28.259
 let him

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.560
 be the

00:32:28.560 --> 00:32:29.060
 one our

00:32:29.060 --> 00:32:29.700
 life is

00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.259
 centered

00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.779
 on

00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:32.320
 let our

00:32:32.320 --> 00:32:32.660
 hearts

00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:33.360
 be fixed

00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:33.960
 on him

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:35.019
 so that

00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:35.100
 we

00:32:35.100 --> 00:32:35.220
 would

00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:35.420
 truly

00:32:35.420 --> 00:32:35.840
 live

00:32:35.840 --> 00:32:36.860
 as

00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:37.620
 exiles

00:32:37.620 --> 00:32:38.100
 of

00:32:38.100 --> 00:32:38.480
 heaven

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.799
 let's

00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.100
 pray

00:32:40.100 --> 00:32:40.640
 together

00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:40.900
 once

00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:41.160
 again

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:48.340
 father

00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:48.660
 god

00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.079
 we thank

00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:49.299
 you for

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:49.840
 this wonderful

00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:50.620
 privilege that

00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:51.259
 by faith

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.880
 in jesus

00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:53.540
 we can

00:32:53.540 --> 00:32:53.900
 live

00:32:53.900 --> 00:32:53.920
 we can live

00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.760
 as obedient

00:32:54.760 --> 00:32:55.460
 children

00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:57.420
 that we can

00:32:57.420 --> 00:32:58.220
 dare to call

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:58.880
 you father

00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:01.540
 lord thank you for

00:33:01.540 --> 00:33:03.420
 reminding us that your

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:08.200
 call to save us also comes with a call to live holy and obedient lives

00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:22.420
 lord we recognize how often we are inconsistent we recognize how easy we can find it to to ignore those parts of your word that challenge us or make us feel uncomfortable

00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:38.880
 lord we pray that you would fix our eyes on jesus that he would be our savior he would be our pattern that we be reading your word that the spirit would be guiding us to know what obedience looks like day by day

00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:55.660
 lord that we would want to honor and fear you as our father that we want to display your glory and your goodness in our lives that we want our church to be a place marked by genuine holiness

00:33:55.660 --> 00:34:15.680
 not by a legalistic set of rules and regulations or a sense of dull duty but a sense of living joy because we have a living hope that our holiness would be a living one following the way of jesus and his way of love

00:34:15.680 --> 00:34:21.240
 and we pray in jesus name that you would help us so that we might glorify you

00:34:21.240 --> 00:34:22.300
 amen