WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.919 All right, let's pray together. 00:00:02.520 --> 00:00:04.099 Lord, we ask for your presence. 00:00:04.299 --> 00:00:07.000 We ask for your help as we consider you tonight. 00:00:07.100 --> 00:00:09.240 We want to talk about you and think about you 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:11.259 as you've revealed yourself to us. 00:00:11.339 --> 00:00:12.720 And so we ask that you would help us 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:14.800 think your thoughts after you. 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:17.500 Lord, that we would be able to know more of you 00:00:17.500 --> 00:00:18.960 and to delight more in you 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:21.500 and to have affections oriented toward you, 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:23.240 to have our loves rightly ordered 00:00:23.240 --> 00:00:25.140 so that we would love you above all else. 00:00:25.560 --> 00:00:26.859 And so we come in the middle of the week 00:00:26.859 --> 00:00:29.100 with all sorts of weeks that have already happened 00:00:29.100 --> 00:00:31.780 with different states of emotion, 00:00:32.100 --> 00:00:34.240 different states of celebration or grief, 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:36.240 all of us in here in different places. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:38.780 But we do ask for a refreshment tonight, 00:00:38.939 --> 00:00:42.280 for renewal of faith before we go back out into the city 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:44.679 to complete our week before we come to worship you. 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:46.680 And so help us tonight, be with us, 00:00:46.740 --> 00:00:48.340 we ask in Christ's name, amen. 00:00:49.159 --> 00:00:50.900 All right, we are kicking off tonight 00:00:50.900 --> 00:00:55.439 in our new, really, we're calling it something different. 00:00:55.560 --> 00:00:57.200 It's the exact same thing we've been doing forever 00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:58.680 and that's teaching and prayer. 00:00:59.100 --> 00:01:01.179 But this is just calling it what it is. 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:05.460 And I come tonight with an amazing new technological toy 00:01:05.460 --> 00:01:06.939 that Allie has built, 00:01:07.379 --> 00:01:09.879 which allows people to write on the screens 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:11.560 and do all sorts of cool things. 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:14.579 So we're thankful for that and for his hard work on that. 00:01:14.939 --> 00:01:17.340 And I think this will pay dividends for the church 00:01:17.340 --> 00:01:19.140 and all sorts of venues for years and years. 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:21.980 So including, I think they're going to use it this weekend 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:23.540 at the ETS conference. 00:01:23.780 --> 00:01:25.200 So that's great. 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:28.340 So just a real quick, 30 seconds. 00:01:28.579 --> 00:01:30.879 Courses, same thing as we've always been doing, 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:33.280 but we are breaking the year into trimesters, 00:01:33.659 --> 00:01:35.020 a good biblical number, three. 00:01:35.520 --> 00:01:38.219 And we're going to focus on doctrine, first trimester, 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:40.240 then Bible, second trimester, 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:42.500 and then a topic in the Christian life, third trimester. 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:46.140 And the hope is that we'll get other teachers in 00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:49.159 for different courses based on maybe a particular thing 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:50.060 that they're gifted in. 00:01:50.060 --> 00:01:53.560 So somebody maybe that's very gifted in teaching Ezekiel 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:55.740 or Romans or something like that in time 00:01:55.740 --> 00:01:57.480 and have these courses built up, 00:01:57.719 --> 00:01:58.980 hopefully over the years for us. 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:00.140 So tonight we start, 00:02:00.540 --> 00:02:03.340 and you can switch over to the My PowerPoint now, 00:02:03.420 --> 00:02:04.420 guys at the back, if you want. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:08.000 Tonight we'll start on the course, 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:09.080 Delighting in the Trinity. 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:13.900 And the focus obviously is the Trinity. 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:16.180 Press pause on that. 00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:17.140 I'll come to that in just a moment. 00:02:17.139 --> 00:02:20.000 Oh, I've got, you taught me to do this. 00:02:20.519 --> 00:02:20.959 There we go. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:22.799 Don't look at that quote yet. 00:02:23.379 --> 00:02:25.039 You taught me to go to the holding screen, 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:25.859 so I'm going to do that. 00:02:27.979 --> 00:02:34.560 The hope of this course is not just to think about the Trinity, 00:02:34.779 --> 00:02:36.019 but to delight in the Trinity. 00:02:36.779 --> 00:02:39.419 So that requires understanding something of the Trinity 00:02:39.419 --> 00:02:41.500 and knowing what we mean by the word Trinity 00:02:41.500 --> 00:02:42.859 or the triune God, 00:02:42.860 --> 00:02:45.580 and then ultimately getting to a place 00:02:45.580 --> 00:02:48.280 where we can see ourselves delighting more and more 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:50.200 in the Trinity and the pathway to do that. 00:02:50.320 --> 00:02:52.260 And so that's the hope of this class. 00:02:52.760 --> 00:02:54.420 And this is such an important thing. 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:55.560 One of the things that we'll do 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:58.300 is actually defend the doctrine of the Trinity a little bit, 00:02:58.580 --> 00:02:59.700 especially next time. 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:01.220 And that's important 00:03:01.220 --> 00:03:03.100 because somebody might come up to you and ask, 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:06.560 how is it that you can have one God in three? 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:09.780 And they'll say to you, 00:03:10.219 --> 00:03:13.379 the math does not add up, one in three. 00:03:13.640 --> 00:03:15.920 And so in a Muslim community, for example, 00:03:16.379 --> 00:03:18.159 they would call the doctrine of the Trinity 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:19.500 veiled polytheism. 00:03:20.539 --> 00:03:22.199 And so we need to be able to understand 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:24.539 why we can believe in the triune God 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:28.020 and not say that we believe in three gods, tritheism. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:31.180 So what does it mean to say God is one in three? 00:03:31.340 --> 00:03:33.819 And so that's one of the obviously big questions 00:03:33.819 --> 00:03:35.140 that we want to ask. 00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:37.019 Now, another reason, secondly, 00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:38.379 I've got seven things for you tonight. 00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:39.339 We're already at number two. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:43.179 Secondly, why this course I think matters so much 00:03:43.179 --> 00:03:45.159 is because we take the Trinity for granted 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:47.299 in the life of the church. 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:49.939 You know, we focus on the atonement, 00:03:50.079 --> 00:03:51.019 if we're going to talk about theology. 00:03:51.119 --> 00:03:52.139 We focus on salvation. 00:03:52.299 --> 00:03:54.579 We focus on the cross and what it means. 00:03:54.939 --> 00:03:57.299 But rarely do we actually think 00:03:57.299 --> 00:03:59.279 about the triunity of God. 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:00.919 And it's a big deal. 00:04:01.259 --> 00:04:03.679 If you get the doctrine of the Trinity wrong, 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:07.400 then you risk every other doctrine falling down. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:08.480 So here's an example. 00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:09.700 If you talk about the cross 00:04:09.700 --> 00:04:14.740 and you say that God the Father died at the cross 00:04:14.740 --> 00:04:17.519 with God the Son, God the Spirit, 00:04:17.980 --> 00:04:19.040 if you say something like that, 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:21.420 you've committed a heresy called patropassianism. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:26.759 And the cost of that is not fancy words for heresies. 00:04:26.840 --> 00:04:29.500 The cost of that is that you have said something 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:31.300 like God is actually a creature 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:33.500 or God is eternally changeable. 00:04:34.139 --> 00:04:36.500 And the cost of that is actually the loss of the gospel. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:39.399 So we'll get into next time in time three together 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:42.060 a little bit of how these things work out. 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:45.579 Another example, it is a wrong instinct 00:04:45.579 --> 00:04:46.860 to say something like, 00:04:47.420 --> 00:04:52.959 the Father has built up wrath for centuries for humanity. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:56.019 And the Son comes into the world 00:04:56.019 --> 00:04:59.419 to appease the wrath and assuage the wrath of the Father. 00:05:00.419 --> 00:05:02.519 And so the Son is the God of love 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:04.579 and the Father is the God of justice and wrath. 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:05.939 And thank goodness for the Son 00:05:05.939 --> 00:05:08.719 who assuages the wrath of His Father. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.099 And that's more of actually a pagan instinct, 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:13.819 not a Christian instinct 00:05:13.819 --> 00:05:16.199 into understanding the relations of the Trinity 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:18.120 and how they relate in what we call 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:20.939 the work or economy of salvation and grace. 00:05:20.939 --> 00:05:24.579 And so if you make missteps on the relationship 00:05:24.579 --> 00:05:26.500 among the triune persons, 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:28.899 you start to ultimately lose the gospel. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:30.719 That's one of the biggest takeaways. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:34.540 Now, Trinity, delighting in the Trinity. 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:37.519 The word Trinity, just to be clear, is a placeholder. 00:05:39.060 --> 00:05:40.300 So when we talk about Trinity, 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:42.279 we're talking about the triune God. 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:45.019 So people will say things like the Trinity, 00:05:45.740 --> 00:05:47.339 but Trinity is actually a word 00:05:47.339 --> 00:05:50.420 that encapsulates so many other doctrines, 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:52.960 so many other things we want to say about God. 00:05:53.520 --> 00:05:55.500 And that's the way it's been used for centuries. 00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:57.280 And so, okay, now I'm ready for my, 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:59.379 if I can get out, 00:05:59.699 --> 00:06:01.000 how do I get out of the holding screen? 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:02.939 There we go. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:03.480 All right. 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:07.420 Just listen, this is John Calvin 00:06:07.420 --> 00:06:09.240 in his famous book, The Institutes, 00:06:10.540 --> 00:06:12.780 addressing a question about whether or not 00:06:12.780 --> 00:06:14.759 people are upset about using words 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:15.800 that aren't in the Bible, 00:06:15.960 --> 00:06:17.200 like Trinity or person. 00:06:17.939 --> 00:06:18.639 And this is what he says, 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:20.039 I could wish that they were buried. 00:06:20.099 --> 00:06:21.339 He's talking there about the terms, 00:06:22.019 --> 00:06:24.979 effectively saying the singular word Trinity 00:06:24.979 --> 00:06:26.839 is not the important thing, 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:29.919 only if this faith were universally agreed upon 00:06:29.919 --> 00:06:32.219 that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are one God, 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:33.599 yet the Son is not the Father, 00:06:33.659 --> 00:06:35.060 nor the Spirit, the Son, et cetera. 00:06:35.219 --> 00:06:39.659 So the Trinity is describing a whole world of content 00:06:39.659 --> 00:06:43.019 in a way that we want to describe God ultimately. 00:06:43.180 --> 00:06:44.659 So I've got two questions for you 00:06:44.659 --> 00:06:45.740 as we begin this course. 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:47.160 Of course, it is a course, 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:48.939 so every week is going to, 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.060 every two weeks is going to build on each other. 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:52.699 We only have five times together, 00:06:53.220 --> 00:06:53.879 and we're going to, 00:06:53.939 --> 00:06:56.519 I think the plan is to hold off posting these 00:06:56.519 --> 00:06:57.420 until the end. 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:00.180 So I do want you to come back if you can, 00:07:00.400 --> 00:07:02.460 and I know sometimes people have to miss, 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:05.319 but because we will build. 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:07.579 Every time will be somewhat distinct, 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:08.240 but we'll build. 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:09.500 But I have two questions for you. 00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:12.240 Number one, do you know what you mean, 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:13.160 what the church means, 00:07:13.220 --> 00:07:15.800 what we believe when we say Trinity, 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:17.620 or the triunity of God? 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:19.240 Do you have clarity on that? 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:21.379 That's the first question that I have for you 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:21.900 in this course. 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:22.740 The second one is, 00:07:23.400 --> 00:07:25.480 is the Trinity, the triune God, 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:27.040 the object of your worship, 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:29.420 the object of your delight, 00:07:29.540 --> 00:07:30.579 the object of your joy? 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:32.400 And the reason I ask that question 00:07:32.400 --> 00:07:34.100 is because everything the church does, 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:35.660 you know, we make buildings, 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:38.180 we create charities and institutions 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:39.079 and have charity numbers, 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:42.120 we have accountancy that we have to use here in the church, 00:07:42.199 --> 00:07:43.159 we have AV teams, 00:07:43.659 --> 00:07:45.419 we have ministers that you call, 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:47.039 we have gatherings, 00:07:47.180 --> 00:07:48.859 but actually the entire point 00:07:48.859 --> 00:07:51.579 of the entire existence of this institution 00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:55.139 is simply to help people delight in the triune God. 00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:56.459 That's really the big thing. 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:57.779 That is what church is for. 00:07:58.159 --> 00:07:59.779 That is what Christianity is all about, 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:02.079 is communing with the triune God more and more. 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:03.399 And so that's the question I have for you. 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:05.259 I hope this won't feel to you like, 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:08.779 you know, too much of an academic weight 00:08:08.779 --> 00:08:09.519 or anything like that. 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:10.920 I don't think that's what we're up to at all. 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:12.920 Instead, we are trying to re-encounter 00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:14.620 what the church has said about God 00:08:14.620 --> 00:08:15.819 for all the centuries. 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:16.779 And so that's the big goal. 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:17.939 Okay, thirdly, 00:08:18.719 --> 00:08:20.899 thirdly, who is the Trinity 00:08:20.899 --> 00:08:22.639 or who is the triune God? 00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:25.079 So just a brief foray into that 00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:26.639 and then we'll pick back up on that question 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.159 in depth next week. 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:28.839 But I want to, 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:30.060 obviously if we're going to say 00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:30.899 delighting in the Trinity, 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:33.279 let's at least get a definition 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:36.039 for what we mean by the triune God. 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:37.139 And so, all right, 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:38.539 I don't think I can change the slides, right? 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:39.559 No? 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:40.720 Okay, next slide, please. 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:41.139 Yeah. 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:43.980 So first we say two things. 00:08:44.199 --> 00:08:45.399 God is one, God is three. 00:08:45.819 --> 00:08:47.720 Now this is where the problems start to come up. 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:51.000 First, God is one. 00:08:51.459 --> 00:08:53.319 So Deuteronomy 6, 4, very famously, 00:08:53.539 --> 00:08:56.019 that's the great pronouncement. 00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:58.779 It's called the Shema in Deuteronomy. 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.899 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, 00:09:00.959 --> 00:09:01.860 the Lord is one. 00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:04.879 And when that statement is given in Deuteronomy, 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:07.960 it's saying the Lord is one, not many. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.779 Not like the pagan deities, 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:11.360 not a pantheon, 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:14.080 not a polytheistic deity that you worship. 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:18.060 The Lord is radically one, monotheism. 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:21.159 And yet, God is three. 00:09:21.300 --> 00:09:21.800 And so you start, 00:09:22.019 --> 00:09:23.879 just imagine yourself as a first-time reader 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:24.659 of the whole Bible 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:26.340 and you're collecting thoughts 00:09:26.340 --> 00:09:27.019 through the whole Bible 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:28.500 and you come to all these passages 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:31.480 and start to see that while God is one, 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:33.600 there's also this sense of multiplicity. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:37.659 And you get to baptism in Matthew 28 00:09:37.659 --> 00:09:40.779 and maybe think of your own baptism. 00:09:41.100 --> 00:09:42.500 And the minister would have said, 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:44.039 in the name of the Father and the Son 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:44.620 and the Holy Spirit, 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:47.019 go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:51.480 baptizing in the name Father, Son, and Spirit. 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:53.920 And notice, you can't see it as well in English, 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:54.879 but it is there in English, 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.560 and that's, it's the singular name 00:09:57.560 --> 00:09:59.820 of Father, Son, and Spirit. 00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:01.180 And that's so notable 00:10:01.180 --> 00:10:05.639 that it's one name, singular, not plural, 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:07.539 not names of Father, Son, and Spirit, 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:09.779 but the name Father, Son, and Spirit. 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:11.800 So now there's this oneness 00:10:11.800 --> 00:10:13.620 and this threeness going on. 00:10:14.100 --> 00:10:14.960 Okay, next slide, please. 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:19.639 So if you were to say to somebody, 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:20.740 well, what does Trinity mean? 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.980 And you say, well, God is three in one. 00:10:22.680 --> 00:10:24.940 That's where the confusion is especially arises 00:10:24.940 --> 00:10:26.799 because you can stick in any noun 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:28.460 after three in one, 00:10:29.060 --> 00:10:31.440 and they can say the logic doesn't work. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:33.360 The mathematics don't work out in that. 00:10:33.460 --> 00:10:35.659 What does it mean to say something is three in one? 00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:37.500 And that's where we have to say 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:40.820 God is very carefully in the history of the church, 00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:43.919 God is three persons in one being. 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:45.419 And we'll come back next time 00:10:45.419 --> 00:10:47.519 to talk about those two terms more specifically 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:50.019 and the language underneath them. 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:51.819 But God is three persons in one being. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:54.699 So God is not three gods in one God. 00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:57.919 God is not three persons in one person. 00:10:58.620 --> 00:11:00.639 God is not three beings in one being. 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:01.840 But very specifically, 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:05.019 God is three persons in one being. 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:07.139 And sorry, that last little, 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:08.600 that whole thing's not from Fred Sanders, 00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:10.319 but just that last little snippet 00:11:10.319 --> 00:11:11.860 in the smaller print there 00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:15.059 is a quote from a theologian called Fred Sanders. 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:16.439 Okay, next slide, please. 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:20.079 And this is another way to say it 00:11:20.079 --> 00:11:21.519 or some of the other words you can use. 00:11:21.619 --> 00:11:22.579 God is one being, 00:11:22.619 --> 00:11:24.539 or you could say one in essence. 00:11:25.219 --> 00:11:27.439 So essence just means what something is 00:11:27.439 --> 00:11:28.459 or substance. 00:11:28.459 --> 00:11:30.939 That's another word for being or essence or nature. 00:11:31.179 --> 00:11:33.559 So you might see all these different words used 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:36.379 if you open up a book in the history of theology 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:38.479 or from your favorite theologian, 00:11:38.579 --> 00:11:40.079 no matter what level it's at, 00:11:40.119 --> 00:11:41.079 they'll say things like this. 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:43.100 And all those words are interchangeable. 00:11:43.560 --> 00:11:45.700 And the word person is especially important. 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:47.800 And we have to define it really carefully. 00:11:48.100 --> 00:11:49.720 Okay, one more slide for me. 00:11:50.900 --> 00:11:53.360 Okay, so just to break this down very quickly, 00:11:53.920 --> 00:11:55.180 what does that mean? 00:11:55.180 --> 00:11:58.220 God is one being in three persons. 00:11:58.800 --> 00:12:00.340 So we can think about it like this. 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:03.820 Being is what makes you what you are. 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:06.259 So let me ask you, 00:12:07.180 --> 00:12:09.000 what kind of being am I? 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:11.460 This is dangerous, 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:13.720 but shout it out. 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:15.799 What kind of being am I? 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:18.360 Human being, right? 00:12:18.940 --> 00:12:21.100 Human being, as the BFG would say. 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:21.860 Human being. 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:24.700 And all of you are human beings as well. 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:28.500 So we all share this quality, 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:31.159 this essence, this nature called being, 00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.440 and it's human. 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:34.039 We be human. 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:38.139 And then that's different if I would say, 00:12:38.339 --> 00:12:40.159 but who am I? 00:12:41.079 --> 00:12:41.899 And you might say, 00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:42.659 well, you're Corey, 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.639 and I'm, you know, James, 00:12:44.719 --> 00:12:45.439 or whoever else. 00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:47.120 And you see, 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:49.939 being is what you share with everybody else. 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:50.599 Human being, 00:12:50.719 --> 00:12:51.659 the type of being you are, 00:12:51.719 --> 00:12:53.179 but person is what makes you you. 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:56.699 So when we attach a name to a person, 00:12:57.179 --> 00:13:00.299 and we share the broad category of being, 00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:01.039 human being, 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:01.740 being together. 00:13:02.079 --> 00:13:02.319 All right, 00:13:02.339 --> 00:13:04.519 so you can flip the slide one time for me. 00:13:05.099 --> 00:13:05.439 I think, 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:05.919 ah, sorry, 00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:07.000 I've gone one too many. 00:13:07.339 --> 00:13:07.819 You can just, 00:13:08.579 --> 00:13:09.439 holding screen. 00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:11.339 Just don't read that yet, 00:13:11.439 --> 00:13:11.639 okay? 00:13:12.339 --> 00:13:12.699 Eventually, 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:14.299 I'm going to be able to change the slides myself, 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:15.339 and not mess up like that. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:18.120 That's entirely my fault. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:20.079 So let me say it to you like this. 00:13:20.099 --> 00:13:22.019 When we say that God is one being, 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:22.659 and three persons, 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.379 we are saying, 00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:24.939 God is three, 00:13:25.219 --> 00:13:26.719 in distinction of person, 00:13:26.819 --> 00:13:27.599 or personalities. 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:29.019 The Father, 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:30.399 the Son, 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.399 the Spirit, 00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:34.220 without any division 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:37.120 in His being or essence. 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:40.740 So God is not three different beings, 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:42.240 the Father, 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:42.560 the Son, 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.000 and the Spirit, 00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:44.680 but God is one God, 00:13:44.800 --> 00:13:45.460 one being. 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:47.700 It's not like a pie chart, 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:48.519 where you've got 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:50.659 three equal slices, 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:51.060 Father, 00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:51.360 Son, 00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:51.820 and Spirit, 00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:53.100 each making up together 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:54.240 a part of the whole pie 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:54.879 that is God. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:55.740 But instead, 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.120 no, 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.299 in God, 00:13:57.439 --> 00:13:57.899 the Father, 00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:58.179 Son, 00:13:58.200 --> 00:13:58.559 and Spirit 00:13:58.559 --> 00:13:59.700 is the pie, 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:00.480 is God. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:03.700 All sharing the essence, 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:07.320 and yet distinct in three persons. 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:07.679 Now, 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:08.740 the next thing to say, 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:09.179 sorry, 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:10.419 keep messing up, 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:11.200 you guys up back there. 00:14:11.439 --> 00:14:12.500 Now we're ready to go forward. 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:13.340 Now, 00:14:13.439 --> 00:14:14.259 that's to say, 00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:15.600 when you say something like that, 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.759 and we'll just leave it at that for today, 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.860 and come back to it next time, 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.480 just that headline article, 00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:20.840 that's to say this, 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.220 that means God is very different from us. 00:14:24.800 --> 00:14:25.720 He is not a creature. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:26.840 And when you say, 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:29.899 how could it be that God could be three persons 00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:30.620 and one being? 00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:31.840 The answer is, 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.080 He is God, 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.120 and He's not a creature. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:34.820 And therefore, 00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:36.879 any attempt to understand that 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.420 in any comprehensive way 00:14:38.420 --> 00:14:39.259 will not work. 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:42.279 Because there's a radical distinction 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.360 between us and Him, 00:14:43.800 --> 00:14:44.540 and what we are. 00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:45.960 And so we can't understand that. 00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:46.639 And that's normal. 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.779 That's to be expected. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:48.820 So if you think, 00:14:48.920 --> 00:14:50.160 I don't really know what that means, 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:50.860 that's okay. 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.540 That's okay. 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:53.120 So we know God, 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.839 but not the way God knows God. 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:55.899 That's how we like to say it. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.579 So there's some fancy terms here, 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:59.019 but they're quite simple concepts. 00:14:59.339 --> 00:15:02.019 And this is from Franciscus Junius, 00:15:02.319 --> 00:15:03.559 an old theologian. 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:06.299 And he says it like this, 00:15:06.339 --> 00:15:08.039 and just don't worry about archetypal, 00:15:08.099 --> 00:15:08.419 archetypal, 00:15:08.459 --> 00:15:08.860 I'm just going to, 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.759 I'm going to explain them, 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:10.500 but they're, 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.599 it's an important thing to know 00:15:12.599 --> 00:15:13.639 if you just get the concept. 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:15.199 Archetypal theology 00:15:15.199 --> 00:15:17.279 is God's own perfect knowledge of Himself. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:19.299 So an archetype is just an original. 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:20.639 The language actually comes 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.539 from printing press terminology 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:24.299 when the printing press was invented. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.159 So, you know, 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:27.439 in the old world of printing newspapers, 00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:29.620 you got an original, right? 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:31.319 The one that is the original, 00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:33.019 and then you got all the copies. 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:35.419 And the archetypal is the original. 00:15:35.819 --> 00:15:36.699 So God, 00:15:36.839 --> 00:15:39.079 only God has original knowledge of God. 00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:40.419 In other words, 00:15:40.959 --> 00:15:41.839 only the Father, 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.139 Son, 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:43.579 and Spirit know the Father, 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:43.839 Son, 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.259 and Spirit, 00:15:44.459 --> 00:15:45.740 and can explain the Father, 00:15:45.839 --> 00:15:45.939 Son, 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:46.279 and Spirit. 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:46.399 Spirit. 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.299 We cannot. 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:48.360 We're creatures. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:51.139 That's fundamental to what we believe. 00:15:51.579 --> 00:15:53.199 But we have a copy, 00:15:53.339 --> 00:15:53.959 you might say, 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:56.319 an imprint of His knowledge 00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:58.220 gifted to us. 00:15:58.959 --> 00:16:00.419 And that gift is what? 00:16:00.579 --> 00:16:01.360 It's revelation. 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.019 It's Scripture. 00:16:02.339 --> 00:16:03.620 It's the way God has revealed Himself. 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:05.919 So when God enters into the world 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:07.699 and He communicates to us 00:16:07.699 --> 00:16:09.539 by grace for His own glory, 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.279 as Junius says, 00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:11.759 even Scripture 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:14.939 is not God's knowledge of God outright. 00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:17.360 It's not the utmost knowledge. 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:17.600 No, 00:16:17.880 --> 00:16:18.280 God is, 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:19.180 as Calvin put it, 00:16:19.420 --> 00:16:21.040 speaking in baby talk to us 00:16:21.040 --> 00:16:21.820 when He writes Scripture 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.500 about Himself. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:24.380 He's accommodating to us. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:26.660 And so only God knows God perfectly. 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:28.500 We know God relatively as creatures, 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.640 but yet truly, 00:16:29.880 --> 00:16:30.900 because it's God who's spoken. 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:32.420 And that means 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:34.320 that we can say 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.580 when we define the Trinity, 00:16:36.880 --> 00:16:38.580 when we talk about God's triunity, 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:40.220 we have to get to a place, 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.340 one more slide for me, 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:43.220 that I think this is right, 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:45.200 where somebody like Gillis Emery 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:46.040 is just quoting 00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:47.540 from the whole Christian tradition, 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:50.120 our words cannot do any better than this. 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:51.500 There's a point where human words 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.200 just fail 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:53.840 because of the majesty, 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:56.259 the magnanimousness of God. 00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:59.740 Only God can truly define God. 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:02.060 And we make as good of an attempt 00:17:02.060 --> 00:17:03.080 as we can at it. 00:17:03.300 --> 00:17:03.540 Okay. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:04.539 All right. 00:17:04.600 --> 00:17:05.940 We'll press pause for that 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:07.340 and come back to it next time. 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:07.980 Fifthly, 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.519 sorry, I've got, 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.640 I think one more. 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.600 You can just, 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:13.240 yeah, scroll on for me, please. 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.620 I'll come back to that next time 00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:17.779 just because we're running out of time. 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:18.680 Okay. 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:19.420 Now, tonight, 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.140 I just want to finish 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:20.860 with a few thoughts 00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:23.519 on helping us delight, 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.140 grow in delighting God. 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:27.160 So we see this idea 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:28.400 in Jesus in the Gospels 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.400 in John 15, 11. 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:32.799 He says in that upper room discourse, 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:35.840 I've come so that my joy 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:37.339 may be in you 00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:39.799 and that your joy may be full. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.599 So God, 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:41.939 what was, 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.799 one of the ways to say it is 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:44.859 what was God up to before creation? 00:17:45.459 --> 00:17:46.039 Trick question. 00:17:46.159 --> 00:17:47.459 There is no before creation 00:17:47.459 --> 00:17:48.779 because time began 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.720 when the creation began. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:52.179 But God in his eternality, 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:52.559 what was, 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:53.500 what has he been up to? 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:55.079 And really the answer is 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:56.619 he's been delighting in himself. 00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:59.319 The father delighting in the son, 00:17:59.399 --> 00:18:00.619 the son delighting in the spirit, 00:18:00.699 --> 00:18:01.659 the spirit delighting 00:18:01.659 --> 00:18:03.099 in the father and the son. 00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.740 And here you come to the gospel 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:06.140 and Jesus says on the night 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:07.079 he was good to be crucified, 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.720 before he was to be crucified, 00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:10.359 I've come so that you 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:11.440 would have the joy 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:14.720 that I share with the father 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.420 and with the spirit. 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.559 And so he gives you 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:19.440 this big mission in your life, 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:21.039 which is to delight in the Trinity. 00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:23.500 And you can cast that slide 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.599 over for me at the back. 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:28.779 I love the way George Mueller 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:31.240 talks about seeking this in his life, 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.500 delighting in the Trinity, 00:18:32.659 --> 00:18:33.339 delighting in God. 00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:36.119 George Mueller was the great founder 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:37.659 of so many orphanages in England. 00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:40.159 I mean, they say he cared 00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:42.599 for over 10,000 orphans personally 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:44.639 in the course of his ministry. 00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:46.139 But he writes this in 1841. 00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:49.959 I saw more clearly than ever on this day 00:18:49.959 --> 00:18:51.879 that the first great and primary business 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:53.840 to which I ought to attend every day 00:18:53.840 --> 00:18:56.780 was to have my soul happy in the Lord. 00:18:58.220 --> 00:19:00.140 The first thing to be concerned about 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:01.760 was not how much I might serve the Lord, 00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.560 how I might glorify the Lord, 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.560 but how I might get my soul 00:19:05.560 --> 00:19:06.940 into a happy state 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:09.520 and how my inner life might be nourished, 00:19:09.820 --> 00:19:10.920 inner man might be nourished. 00:19:12.260 --> 00:19:13.020 So he talks about, 00:19:13.100 --> 00:19:13.800 Mueller in other places, 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.860 talks about discovering 00:19:14.860 --> 00:19:16.060 that secret of life 00:19:16.060 --> 00:19:17.360 later in his life, 00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:18.520 that it took him too long 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:20.680 to realize that the entire point 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:22.119 was to grow into a place 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:23.740 where you could be happy in God 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.779 or delight in God. 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.319 All right, so you scroll, 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:28.379 you can scroll that slide as well for me. 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:30.559 I mean, just press pause for one second. 00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:32.200 I mean, if you think about a few things, 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:35.660 one, we're working through Genesis 4 to 11 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.839 on Sunday mornings, right? 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:39.160 And if you back up to Genesis 1 and 2, 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.599 God made Adam and Eve 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.420 and he put them in Eden. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:44.440 The word Eden in Hebrew means delight. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:47.019 It is the garden of delight. 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.920 The whole point was delight in God. 00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:51.539 And then I think about it 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:54.079 in the lens of the Westminster Confession, 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.079 the Westminster Assembly, 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:58.440 you know, you take a bunch of English 00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.779 and Welsh and Scotsmen 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.579 and a few Dutchmen 00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:02.259 and you put them in a cold room 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.799 in London for seven years 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:06.160 and you don't expect them 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:06.859 to come up with 00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:08.900 Westminster Shorter Catechism number one. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.339 What is the most important thing 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.720 they ever really told us? 00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:12.680 And they said, 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.200 what is the chief end of humanity? 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:18.039 Yeah, to glorify God 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.779 and what did they say? 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:19.779 Enjoy Him. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.980 So they came up with that 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:22.160 seven years of work 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:24.299 to say the big thing to know 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:26.900 is that you were made 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:28.000 in your chief purpose 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.740 to enjoy God forever. 00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:30.500 Right? 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.500 So just quickly, 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:32.400 we won't go through these 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:34.019 in any at all. 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:35.200 I just want to highlight to you, 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:36.920 I've got four straight slides 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:39.480 of some of the text in the Bible. 00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:40.639 These are hard to see, sorry. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:44.259 But I'll highlight. 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:46.340 So there's the word joy there. 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.840 Hold on, I'm going to switch colors. 00:20:48.360 --> 00:20:48.940 Joy there. 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:49.759 See, joy. 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.480 Delight yourself in the Lord. 00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.600 You will delight yourself 00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:53.220 in the Almighty. 00:20:53.520 --> 00:20:54.080 Job 22. 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.759 Delight in the Almighty. 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.620 Job 27. 00:20:57.860 --> 00:20:58.920 And every single one of these 00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.740 is going to be like this. 00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:00.240 That might, 00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:01.900 there's John 15 again. 00:21:02.040 --> 00:21:03.060 All right, keep scrolling for me. 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:04.920 I just want to give folks snippets 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:06.140 of how common this is. 00:21:06.580 --> 00:21:07.460 Habakkuk 3. 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.660 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.700 Psalm 5. 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:12.420 Let those who love the Lord 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.120 exult. 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:14.759 Exult. 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.200 Rejoice. 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:17.360 Exult. 00:21:18.040 --> 00:21:18.400 Joy. 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.820 Keep going. 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.860 A couple more of these. 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.460 These are different accents 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.440 and I don't have time 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:25.440 to get into them. 00:21:25.820 --> 00:21:27.180 But oh, taste and see 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:28.100 that the Lord is good. 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:29.460 Taste it and see. 00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:31.200 That's joy and delight language. 00:21:31.800 --> 00:21:32.680 Your steadfast love 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.800 is better than life. 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:35.680 Satisfaction language here. 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:38.620 There's nothing on our desire. 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.939 desire language 00:21:39.939 --> 00:21:41.059 besides you. 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.219 And we can go on 00:21:42.219 --> 00:21:42.639 and on and on. 00:21:42.719 --> 00:21:43.879 Here at Jeremiah 15 00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:44.739 is an important one 00:21:44.739 --> 00:21:46.000 because this is where 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.679 Jeremiah eats the scroll, 00:21:47.879 --> 00:21:49.000 eats the word of God. 00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.379 And then he says, 00:21:50.659 --> 00:21:52.319 your word became to me 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:54.119 joy and the delight 00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:54.799 of my heart. 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.559 And so that's what 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.039 George Mueller 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.859 was talking about 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:58.579 is letting the word 00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.259 every morning 00:21:59.259 --> 00:22:00.799 become joy 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.819 and delight to him. 00:22:01.919 --> 00:22:02.559 That was the secret 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.279 that he discovered. 00:22:03.679 --> 00:22:04.599 I think there's one more. 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:07.959 Yes, gladness 00:22:07.959 --> 00:22:08.619 and worship 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:09.839 in God's presence. 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.079 And you can see 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:12.159 a whole smattering of those. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:15.299 There are about 800 instances 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.859 in the English Bible, 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.959 even just the ESV, 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.500 of delight, 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.179 rejoice, 00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:21.259 joy, 00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.439 pleasure, 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:23.779 satisfaction, 00:22:24.659 --> 00:22:25.500 and maybe one 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.459 or two other synonyms. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.480 800 instances. 00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:29.399 And so we've looked at, 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:29.659 you know, 00:22:29.699 --> 00:22:30.359 16 maybe. 00:22:31.179 --> 00:22:32.659 So it really becomes 00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:33.879 the entire theme 00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:34.759 of the object 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.659 of God's work 00:22:35.659 --> 00:22:36.099 of redemption 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:38.019 is to grow into a person 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.359 who can delight 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:40.000 in the Trinity. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.000 Okay, 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.859 you can carry on 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.579 to the next slide 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.039 for me. 00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:46.899 Oh, there's another one. 00:22:46.959 --> 00:22:47.579 Sorry, I forgot. 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.139 Keep going. 00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:48.719 Keep going. 00:22:51.719 --> 00:22:53.500 Okay, so lastly, 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.959 I just want to take a second 00:22:54.959 --> 00:22:55.679 to talk about 00:22:55.679 --> 00:22:56.619 what it looks like 00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:57.579 to actually cultivate 00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:59.980 this in your life 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.759 a little bit more. 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.879 And one of the keys 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.299 to that 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.960 is to just take 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:07.000 two minutes 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.699 to think about 00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:08.679 the way we talk 00:23:08.679 --> 00:23:09.659 about the word emotion. 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:11.119 So we could think 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:12.299 of delighting in God 00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:13.439 as merely an emotion. 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.579 Something that we 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.539 sort of, 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.379 if we're not getting 00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.119 the butterflies, 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.259 if we're not getting 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.579 good vibes 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.319 and good feelings 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.639 in morning prayer, 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.319 in worship, 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.199 are we really delighting 00:23:25.199 --> 00:23:25.779 in the Trinity, 00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:26.359 the very thing 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:27.059 that we were made to do, 00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:28.139 delighting in growing. 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:31.740 And the word emotion 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.819 was not used 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.659 in the English language 00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:34.039 at all, 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:34.299 really, 00:23:34.379 --> 00:23:35.399 until the 18th century. 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.359 And it didn't become 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:37.219 normal at all 00:23:37.219 --> 00:23:38.559 until the late 19th century. 00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:39.740 And that word 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.819 flattened out 00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:42.119 a bunch of distinctions 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:43.379 that were present prior 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.759 that were very normal 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.619 in church life. 00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:46.259 And these are a few 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.259 of them there. 00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:47.759 One is, 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.079 people used to talk 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:50.219 about our appetites, 00:23:50.379 --> 00:23:50.539 you know, 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.339 hunger drive, 00:23:52.479 --> 00:23:53.099 thirst drive, 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.299 that's an appetite. 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.480 And then they would 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.480 talk about passions, 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.059 and that's really 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.700 the way we use 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.720 the word emotion today. 00:23:59.259 --> 00:23:59.919 And a passion 00:23:59.919 --> 00:24:01.480 is a surge of feeling 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:03.419 that's sort of involuntary, 00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:04.960 like rage, 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.159 or lust, 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.599 or things that 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.839 normally we would say 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.399 we need to keep 00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:10.379 a control on that. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.180 That's a passion. 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:13.220 But then the real word 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:13.960 that people use 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.879 were not emotions, 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:16.159 it was affections 00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:17.419 for this. 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:18.099 So when we say 00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:19.019 delighting in God, 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:20.039 we're attaching ourselves 00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:21.200 to an old term 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.440 that used to be used 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:22.819 in the church 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.359 all the time, 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.359 and that's growing 00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:26.079 in affection for God. 00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:28.319 And affection is 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:30.539 not an emotion primarily. 00:24:30.899 --> 00:24:32.439 Affection is a settled, 00:24:32.659 --> 00:24:34.000 deliberate inclination 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.699 of your soul. 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.339 So how does an affection 00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:36.879 take place? 00:24:36.939 --> 00:24:37.439 An affection 00:24:37.439 --> 00:24:39.559 first starts in your mind, 00:24:40.219 --> 00:24:41.419 and you're persuaded 00:24:41.419 --> 00:24:42.619 that something's true. 00:24:43.819 --> 00:24:44.819 And then that drives 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.799 down to your heart 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.779 to say in your heart, 00:24:46.979 --> 00:24:48.139 I'm convicted 00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:49.059 that this is true. 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:50.699 So this is a hill 00:24:50.699 --> 00:24:51.399 that I'll die on. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.699 That's what affection is. 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:55.860 And then that mind 00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:56.640 to heart 00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:58.380 then starts to transform 00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:58.960 your passions 00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.539 or emotions. 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.539 And then it expresses 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:02.759 itself in your will 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.539 where it actually 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.600 breaks forth 00:25:04.600 --> 00:25:05.380 into actions 00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:06.100 of some kind. 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.160 And so affection 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.799 is the word 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:09.240 for how the whole 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:10.400 person operates. 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.680 And so Jonathan Edwards 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.680 wrote a very famous book 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.480 called The Religious 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.240 Affections 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.620 and said we're 00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.580 pursuing affection 00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:17.100 for God. 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:17.960 That's the big purpose 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:19.120 of our existence. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.759 You can scroll 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.400 the next slide. 00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.299 I think I've got 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.200 a little chart here. 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.519 Yeah, so just real quick. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:25.279 The difference in affections 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.899 and emotions. 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.279 Affections are rooted 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.059 in what you believe 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.779 is true, 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.639 whereas emotion 00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:31.440 can float free of belief. 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.180 You know, you might get 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:32.819 road rage. 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.619 That has nothing to do 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.159 with what you believe 00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:34.700 to be true. 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:36.619 That's just a passion 00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:37.819 that's risen within you. 00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:40.559 An affection is settled. 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.079 It's very hard 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.879 to break an affection. 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.759 So it's something 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.779 that you've committed 00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.740 yourself to mentally 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.839 and in your heart. 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:49.120 It's easy to move on 00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:49.779 from a passion 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.839 or an emotion. 00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:53.279 An affection moves the will. 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:53.920 So in other words, 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.980 it produces an action 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.180 in you to worship, 00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.579 to serve someone, 00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.900 whereas an emotion 00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:00.519 often doesn't 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.640 or can often produce 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:02.839 a very negative movement 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.299 of the will. 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.660 You do something 00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:05.339 you regret, 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.299 you didn't want to do. 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:07.059 It's not carefully 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.660 thought through. 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.120 And then lastly, 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:10.200 affections are about 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.960 the whole person 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:12.420 and emotions 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:13.599 are often just 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.299 on the surface. 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:15.359 Okay, you can scroll 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:16.359 forward for me there. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.299 Thank you. 00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:18.480 So a little summary statement. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:19.139 Therefore, 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.519 what does it mean? 00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.500 Delighting in God 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.680 isn't manufacturing 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:24.659 a feeling on command. 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.399 So when George Mueller 00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:27.339 talks about being happy 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:27.680 in God, 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.460 he's not saying 00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.779 all my emotions 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.639 were there every day. 00:26:31.419 --> 00:26:32.180 That's not what he means. 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:34.279 It's having your deepest affection 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.339 rightly ordered 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:36.119 toward the one 00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:37.480 actually worthy of them. 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:39.059 And that can involve 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:40.299 strong feelings sometimes, 00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:41.599 but it is not reducible 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.460 to strong feelings. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.980 And it can be cultivated 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.880 even on days 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.519 that feelings 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.620 are ultimately 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:47.640 very faint. 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.480 So I just want to finish 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.220 by giving you 00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:50.579 a few ways 00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:51.599 to pursue this. 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:53.259 And we've got 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.779 three minutes left. 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.640 So you can scroll 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.440 that slide for me, 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:58.180 Ila, thanks. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.299 How do you do this? 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.460 Here's my invitation 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:01.940 to you throughout 00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:02.720 the rest of the course. 00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:03.900 One of the ways 00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:05.160 to grow your affections 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:05.680 for God 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.799 is to be more informed 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.460 about God. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:09.680 Informed 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.660 isn't the best word 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:10.960 to use, 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:12.319 but pursuing 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:12.839 the knowledge 00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:13.159 of God 00:27:13.159 --> 00:27:13.639 more and more. 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.399 So affections 00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:15.779 arise from truth 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.559 grasped 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:18.159 with the whole person. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.679 Growth means 00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:20.439 knowing the Trinity 00:27:20.439 --> 00:27:21.059 more clearly, 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.259 knowing the work 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.659 of the Father 00:27:22.659 --> 00:27:23.019 and the work 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.379 of the Son 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.659 and the work 00:27:23.659 --> 00:27:24.039 of the Spirit 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.339 more. 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.159 Secondly, 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.799 scroll one more time, 00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:28.339 more settled. 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.679 So you know 00:27:29.679 --> 00:27:30.519 that your affections 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:30.980 are growing 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.959 the more and more 00:27:31.959 --> 00:27:33.139 your actual 00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:34.079 emotive life, 00:27:34.199 --> 00:27:35.139 the life of your passions 00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:36.079 does settle. 00:27:36.879 --> 00:27:37.919 That's been a common thing. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.500 You see that all 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.379 over Jonathan Edwards. 00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:41.400 So passions spike. 00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:42.260 You know, 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:43.180 you get road rage 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.920 and then it goes away. 00:27:44.780 --> 00:27:45.960 You recover from it. 00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:47.300 But affections, 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.560 when they're rightly oriented, 00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:49.660 your loves 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.840 are rightly formed, 00:27:51.540 --> 00:27:52.640 are constant. 00:27:52.780 --> 00:27:53.900 They create a constancy 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:54.560 in your life 00:27:54.560 --> 00:27:56.540 where you're less affected 00:27:56.540 --> 00:27:57.940 by the negative passions. 00:27:58.140 --> 00:27:59.300 That's been a consistent 00:27:59.300 --> 00:28:01.260 evidence of what it looks like 00:28:01.260 --> 00:28:02.060 to have more and more 00:28:02.060 --> 00:28:03.720 affection for God 00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.700 is you're less affected. 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:07.740 your mind is reoriented, 00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:08.660 your heart is reoriented, 00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:10.880 your will is daily reoriented. 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.340 And so that means 00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:14.100 you have a more settled person, 00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:14.720 if you will. 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.539 Lastly, 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:18.059 more active. 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.600 So we said that 00:28:19.600 --> 00:28:20.200 the affections, 00:28:20.340 --> 00:28:20.759 what does it mean 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.440 to be a person 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.400 growing in delight 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:22.940 in the Trinity? 00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:23.620 Well, 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:25.220 it will over the years 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:27.279 produce a more active believer. 00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:29.240 And so real affections 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.840 move the will. 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.799 Growth shows up 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.840 in what a person does. 00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:32.899 So, 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.859 it doesn't mean that 00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:36.379 you're always coming to worship 00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:37.359 with the highest emotions 00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:37.939 in the world 00:28:37.939 --> 00:28:39.220 or the best feelings 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.699 in the world. 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.720 What it means is that 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:42.399 it does change the depth 00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:43.659 of your worship over time. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.199 It changes 00:28:44.199 --> 00:28:45.779 how you treat people. 00:28:46.419 --> 00:28:47.439 It changes your willingness 00:28:47.439 --> 00:28:48.679 to acknowledge your vices, 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.699 your desire to actually 00:28:50.699 --> 00:28:51.480 look at your idols. 00:28:51.659 --> 00:28:52.879 These are actually evidences 00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:54.480 of the affections 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.879 of delighting in the Trinity 00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:56.799 growing or God 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.539 growing and growing 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.439 over time. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.259 So really just 00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.619 looking for change. 00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.720 That's an acknowledgement 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.420 of affection. 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:03.460 All right. 00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:04.740 I want to finish 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.660 on a quote, 00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:07.420 a little series of quotes. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:07.880 It actually, 00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:10.100 you can skip past that. 00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:10.480 I won't. 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.079 This is, 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.600 this is, 00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:12.940 sorry, 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.860 this is hard to see. 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.220 But I'll just, 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.880 I'll read it 00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:17.240 and I'll say one sentence 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.519 about it in plainer language. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:20.460 But this is from Fred Sanders 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.240 and I think 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.900 he really summarizes 00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.700 so well 00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:24.819 what we're talking 00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:25.500 about tonight. 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:27.019 It's a little cloudy 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.920 the way he writes it, 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.779 but hopefully I can say 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.259 a word or two 00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:29.860 to make it clear 00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:30.400 and we'll finish. 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:32.540 He talked about 00:29:32.540 --> 00:29:33.380 two different kinds 00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:33.940 of Christians 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:35.340 and he's really saying 00:29:35.340 --> 00:29:37.019 that there's a point 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.920 in the Christian life 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.759 where you sort of 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:40.680 step into longing 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:42.160 to grow in your affections 00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.680 for the Trinity, 00:29:42.820 --> 00:29:43.220 for God, 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:44.259 and you really do start 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.640 to hunger to know more 00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:47.259 and to grasp the truth 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:47.860 of who God is 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:48.340 more and more. 00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:49.360 And so he says 00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:50.340 the first kind of believer 00:29:50.340 --> 00:29:51.200 that hasn't yet 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:52.400 taken that step, 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.840 hears the word like Trinity, 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.140 nods and says, 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:55.380 yes, 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:55.580 you know, 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.700 I agree to that technically 00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:58.080 and immediately asks, 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:58.380 wait, 00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.559 but why does this matter? 00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:01.100 The doctrine is to them 00:30:01.100 --> 00:30:01.980 an itch, 00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:02.240 you know, 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.279 it's creating an itch, 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:04.519 it's not yet the scratch 00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:06.059 to the itch they already had. 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.519 They're vulnerable 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:09.080 to any cheesy explanations, 00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:09.720 perhaps, 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.519 applications, 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.920 analogies that come along, 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:12.580 you know, 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:14.120 that God is H2O 00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:15.319 or water vapor, 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.319 you know, 00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:17.039 these kind of things, 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:18.080 a three-leaf clover, 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:18.640 et cetera. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:21.160 You know, 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.300 whatever they might listen to 00:30:22.300 --> 00:30:23.220 on this week's episode, 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.060 as long as it involves 00:30:24.060 --> 00:30:24.680 the number three, 00:30:24.800 --> 00:30:25.680 you can somehow get to 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.840 caring about it. 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:29.259 So it's to say that 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:30.040 you might be in a place 00:30:30.040 --> 00:30:31.700 where you're just stepping into 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.660 saying, 00:30:32.800 --> 00:30:33.800 actually do want to 00:30:33.800 --> 00:30:35.580 understand what we mean 00:30:35.580 --> 00:30:36.620 by the triunity of God 00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:37.240 more seriously, 00:30:37.360 --> 00:30:37.740 and that's what he's 00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.300 talking about here. 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:39.259 Secondly, 00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:39.940 Isla, 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:42.920 but the second kind of believer 00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:43.820 hears the word Trinity 00:30:43.820 --> 00:30:44.560 and is aware 00:30:44.560 --> 00:30:45.460 they've just received 00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.160 a signal 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:48.180 about the great open secret 00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:49.480 of the glory of God 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.960 and the depth of salvation. 00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:51.820 This kind of Christian, 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:53.180 any hint in the Trinity 00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:54.080 is evocative. 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:55.039 It strikes a chord 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.759 and resonates 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:57.640 deep calls to deep 00:30:57.640 --> 00:30:59.039 at the roar of your waterfalls, 00:30:59.140 --> 00:30:59.920 the psalmist says. 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:01.080 This kind of Christian 00:31:01.080 --> 00:31:02.980 longs for the deep things of God. 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.060 And so there's an invitation, 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:06.480 I think, 00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:07.460 to ask you, 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.200 you know, 00:31:08.340 --> 00:31:08.820 are you ready? 00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:10.180 Do you want to take a step? 00:31:10.340 --> 00:31:11.220 And many of you will 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.400 and do it to say, 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:14.039 I do want to hunger more 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:15.500 for the deep things of God 00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.000 to know 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.420 what it is 00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:18.920 to talk about God, 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.600 Father, 00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:19.820 Son, 00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:20.279 and Spirit 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:22.019 in His eternality 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:23.000 and things like that. 00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.620 So I've got one more 00:31:24.620 --> 00:31:25.960 and this one's truly 00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:26.560 the last one. 00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:28.960 What these Christians 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.860 instinctively do 00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:30.640 without necessarily 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.259 working out 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.380 all the theological details 00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:33.220 is associate 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.039 the Trinity 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.019 with the gospel. 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.600 So why does the Trinity 00:31:37.600 --> 00:31:38.519 matter so much? 00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:39.480 Well, 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:41.019 because when you realize 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.620 it does, 00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.380 you start to say, 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:42.740 oh, 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:43.100 ah, 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:43.840 the gospel, 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:45.379 the Father 00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:46.539 sent the Son, 00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:47.199 the Son 00:31:47.199 --> 00:31:48.500 sent the Spirit 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:49.039 to me, 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.159 I now have 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:50.659 the fellowship 00:31:50.659 --> 00:31:51.299 of the Spirit 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.339 in the Son 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:52.939 and the Father, 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.639 you start to live out 00:31:54.639 --> 00:31:55.879 John 15 to 17 00:31:55.879 --> 00:31:56.740 and realize that 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:58.059 that is the whole point. 00:31:58.199 --> 00:31:58.819 That's the whole point 00:31:58.819 --> 00:31:59.319 of Christianity. 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:00.959 And so he says here, 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:02.059 that associative move 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:02.799 is the whole trick. 00:32:02.919 --> 00:32:03.599 Trinity and gospel 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:04.439 belong together 00:32:04.439 --> 00:32:05.759 and anyone whose habit 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.459 of mind is trained 00:32:06.459 --> 00:32:07.639 to keep them close together 00:32:07.639 --> 00:32:09.299 is constantly in touch 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.339 with the deep grounding 00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:12.099 of the Christian spiritual life. 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:13.980 All right. 00:32:14.679 --> 00:32:15.219 Let's pray. 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:15.480 Father, 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.319 we ask that you would 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:17.599 give us great affection 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.139 for you. 00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:19.799 And we pray that 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.419 in Christ's name. 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:20.980 Amen. 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.539 All right. 00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:23.379 We'll dig into 00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:25.240 Trinitarian terminology.