WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080
 In Luke chapter 12, I'll read it out loud for us.

00:00:07.940 --> 00:00:13.200
 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together,

00:00:13.700 --> 00:00:18.780
 that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first,

00:00:19.980 --> 00:00:24.019
 Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:27.820
 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed.

00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:31.379
 Or hidden that will not be known.

00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:37.020
 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light.

00:00:37.740 --> 00:00:42.380
 And what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:47.519
 I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body,

00:00:47.780 --> 00:00:50.460
 and after that have nothing more that they can do.

00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:53.519
 But I will warn you whom to fear.

00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:59.340
 Fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.

00:01:00.120 --> 00:01:02.420
 Yes, I tell you, fear him.

00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:06.100
 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?

00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:09.420
 And not one of them is forgotten before God.

00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:12.320
 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:13.800
 Fear not.

00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:17.920
 You are of more value than many sparrows.

00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:23.120
 And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men,

00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:27.740
 the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God.

00:01:28.359 --> 00:01:34.060
 But the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:39.540
 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven.

00:01:40.219 --> 00:01:45.659
 But the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

00:01:45.659 --> 00:01:50.560
 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities,

00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.920
 do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say.

00:01:55.459 --> 00:02:01.679
 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.

00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:04.979
 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:11.099
 In the preceding passage, Jesus preached a very hard-hitting sermon

00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:14.400
 denouncing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the scribes.

00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:18.159
 And he denounced the fact that they pretended to be righteous on the outside,

00:02:18.280 --> 00:02:21.159
 even though they were wicked and sinful on the inside.

00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:26.700
 He denounced the fact that they moralistically and legalistically kept the minutia of the law

00:02:26.700 --> 00:02:30.159
 while neglecting the most important commands of God's word.

00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:35.140
 He denounced the fact that they sought these prominent seats and long praises from people

00:02:35.140 --> 00:02:37.900
 rather than humbly seeking God's glory.

00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:43.140
 So in today's passage, Jesus transitions from denouncing the Pharisees and the scribes

00:02:43.140 --> 00:02:45.180
 to addressing his own disciples.

00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:49.300
 And he warns them about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the scribes

00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:54.300
 and then teaches them how not to be hypocrites like they were.

00:02:54.740 --> 00:02:57.599
 And Jesus' main point is this.

00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:05.180
 The fact that all will be revealed and judged by God enables us to be authentic witnesses,

00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:07.959
 followers of Christ, even in the midst of persecution.

00:03:08.219 --> 00:03:08.939
 That's his main point.

00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:15.359
 And I'm going to unpack that by looking at the way Jesus exposes the way compartmentalize our lives.

00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:18.979
 And we're going to look at the public space versus private space,

00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:24.079
 temporal death versus eternal death, earthly court versus the heavenly court.

00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:28.500
 So let's first look at the public space and the private space that Jesus speaks of.

00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:29.400
 In verse 1,

00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:34.180
 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together

00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:35.560
 that they were trampling one another,

00:03:36.020 --> 00:03:38.140
 he began to say to his disciples first,

00:03:38.260 --> 00:03:41.160
 Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

00:03:41.939 --> 00:03:43.820
 Jesus is getting so popular here.

00:03:43.920 --> 00:03:47.960
 This is like a Black Friday shopping mad dash

00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:49.920
 where people literally trample each other

00:03:49.920 --> 00:03:52.260
 because they're trying to get into a store

00:03:52.259 --> 00:03:54.500
 and find the items that they want to get the best deals.

00:03:54.819 --> 00:03:56.879
 People are literally trampling each other

00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:59.319
 because Jesus has become so popular

00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:03.599
 and there's throngs of people that are crowding to see him.

00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:06.500
 And as this is happening,

00:04:06.620 --> 00:04:09.859
 we've been noting the rising popularity of Jesus throughout the Gospel of Luke,

00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:14.180
 but there's always this lingering sense that that popularity will not last.

00:04:14.979 --> 00:04:16.699
 This bubble is going to burst at some point.

00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:22.699
 And instead of, you know, regaling the crowds with an entertaining message,

00:04:22.899 --> 00:04:24.680
 Jesus issues a solemn warning,

00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:27.439
 and then he speaks to his disciples first,

00:04:27.579 --> 00:04:30.599
 Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:36.599
 The word leaven is used more generically nowadays in our culture

00:04:36.599 --> 00:04:39.300
 to refer to all kinds of leavening agents, like yeast,

00:04:39.919 --> 00:04:43.379
 and anything that causes fermentation and the expansion of the dough in baking.

00:04:43.379 --> 00:04:46.839
 So sometimes when we hear leaven, we think of yeast,

00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:50.240
 but it's a much more restricted word than that.

00:04:51.019 --> 00:04:56.699
 Leaven is a fermented dough that's taken from an old batch of dough

00:04:56.699 --> 00:05:00.819
 that's set aside and combined with the new batch of dough.

00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:03.500
 And since that old batch is already fermenting,

00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:06.899
 you can use that to produce fermentation in the new batch of dough.

00:05:06.899 --> 00:05:11.379
 And so, because yeast was very rare in the ancient world.

00:05:11.859 --> 00:05:14.120
 And so all you need is that first batch that's fermented,

00:05:14.299 --> 00:05:16.159
 and then you could make fermented dough, you know,

00:05:16.219 --> 00:05:18.339
 you could bake bread all you want.

00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:22.000
 The danger, of course, with this kind of baking method

00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:24.659
 is that with each subsequent bread that you make,

00:05:24.739 --> 00:05:29.019
 the chance of dangerous bacteria growing in that bread increases.

00:05:29.019 --> 00:05:35.539
 And this health concern using old leaven may have been behind,

00:05:35.719 --> 00:05:39.060
 may have been one of the reasons behind the command

00:05:39.060 --> 00:05:41.560
 that God gave to the Israelites in Exodus 12

00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:44.879
 to observe the feast of unleavened bread,

00:05:45.419 --> 00:05:49.579
 where for seven days they would purge their houses of all leavened bread

00:05:49.579 --> 00:05:51.099
 and eat only unleavened bread,

00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:53.839
 so they could start up that fermentation process anew.

00:05:54.799 --> 00:05:58.000
 And so because of that practice among the Jews,

00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:02.319
 the word leaven came to represent for them

00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:09.240
 how sin and evil can spread insidiously among the people of God

00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:12.420
 until it has affected the entire dough.

00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:18.060
 So on the outside, the Pharisees' religiousness looked wholesome,

00:06:18.259 --> 00:06:22.160
 but inside there were like dangerous bacteria lurking

00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:24.819
 that could infect the entire population.

00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:26.800
 And so Jesus warns them,

00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:28.819
 beware of such hypocrisy.

00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:30.819
 Make sure you're wholesome on the inside,

00:06:30.900 --> 00:06:31.860
 not just on the outside.

00:06:32.579 --> 00:06:33.819
 And then in verses 2 to 3,

00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:37.420
 Jesus gives the reason why such authenticity is important.

00:06:37.420 --> 00:06:45.540
 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed.

00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:49.420
 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light,

00:06:49.520 --> 00:06:54.780
 and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

00:06:55.460 --> 00:06:56.980
 Nothing is covered up.

00:06:57.480 --> 00:06:59.460
 All will be revealed.

00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:05.180
 Of course, we're careful about how we speak to each other on a polite Sunday morning.

00:07:05.180 --> 00:07:10.900
 But if we speak harshly to our spouse or to our children behind closed doors,

00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:13.420
 that will be made known.

00:07:13.420 --> 00:07:19.780
 Perhaps we appear chaste and self-controlled on the outside,

00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:21.640
 but inside our imagination,

00:07:21.640 --> 00:07:25.460
 in the seclusion of our dorm rooms,

00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:28.740
 or on the private browsers of our laptops,

00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:33.540
 we indulge forbidden lusts.

00:07:33.540 --> 00:07:36.420
 This too will be revealed.

00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:43.720
 If we compartmentalize our lives to public spaces and private spaces

00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:46.939
 and only care about the public perception

00:07:46.939 --> 00:07:52.259
 and not about the private, the reality that we live in,

00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:57.120
 we will be shocked and ashamed on the day when God brings all things to light.

00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:01.660
 And this is true not just of evil things,

00:08:01.660 --> 00:08:03.379
 but also of good things.

00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:10.720
 The secret prayers that you utter on behalf of your brothers and sisters in your room.

00:08:13.699 --> 00:08:19.720
 The good deeds that you do on behalf of the poor that no one else sees,

00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:23.459
 all of that too will be revealed on that great day.

00:08:23.459 --> 00:08:26.139
 That's an encouragement.

00:08:27.699 --> 00:08:32.879
 This is such a needful tonic in our toxic celebrity culture.

00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:37.179
 Nowadays, in order to get a book published,

00:08:37.460 --> 00:08:41.659
 amassing a large social media following is more important than writing a good book.

00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:49.480
 Nowadays, image control trumps character and self-control.

00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:55.320
 Nowadays, just because people jump on the bandwagon

00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:59.519
 and then affix the appropriate hashtags on the social media posts

00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:04.120
 for, say, Black History Month or Women's History Month,

00:09:04.980 --> 00:09:08.300
 people delude themselves into thinking that all of a sudden now

00:09:08.300 --> 00:09:10.240
 they're activists and revolutionaries.

00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:15.940
 when in reality,

00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:18.799
 in the reality of their day-to-day lives,

00:09:18.940 --> 00:09:20.820
 they don't give a rip about equality.

00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:30.200
 Anyone can curate a glowing social media profile,

00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:32.139
 but who are you for real?

00:09:32.139 --> 00:09:39.199
 What do you say and do when no one is looking?

00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:45.199
 Divine omniscience, the fact that God knows all things,

00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:48.179
 divine omniscience motivates Christian authenticity.

00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:51.340
 Because God sees everything,

00:09:51.580 --> 00:09:55.419
 we live every moment before the watching eyes of God.

00:09:55.419 --> 00:10:00.079
 This is what ancient Christians used to call coram deo.

00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:03.479
 In Latin, it's a phrase that means in the presence of God,

00:10:03.779 --> 00:10:05.259
 before the face of God.

00:10:05.339 --> 00:10:08.059
 We live every moment before the face of God,

00:10:08.839 --> 00:10:10.339
 under the authority of God,

00:10:10.719 --> 00:10:11.939
 to the glory of God.

00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:13.519
 That's how we ought to live as Christians.

00:10:14.839 --> 00:10:15.819
 Some of you might think,

00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:17.719
 oh man, that sounds quite stressful,

00:10:19.539 --> 00:10:21.740
 constraining your life that way,

00:10:21.839 --> 00:10:24.639
 trying to live a blameless life as if God's watching you at every moment.

00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:27.299
 But actually, quite the opposite is true.

00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:30.500
 Think about it.

00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:32.679
 It's liberating to be blameless.

00:10:34.199 --> 00:10:38.059
 It's people who are always violating the traffic rules,

00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:40.620
 speeding and running by red lights,

00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:43.179
 that panic when they see a police car.

00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:46.559
 They're always anxious.

00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:50.399
 If you're always driving and observing the rules,

00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:52.179
 you don't panic when you see a police car.

00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:57.000
 It's the people, right,

00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:58.259
 who gossip,

00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:02.059
 slander people behind their backs,

00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:06.399
 who are always afraid of being backstabbed by their friends

00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:09.039
 and fear that other people are talking behind their back.

00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:15.000
 It's people who are constantly trying to take advantage of others

00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:16.240
 for their selfish gain,

00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:18.699
 that are always living in perpetual fear

00:11:18.699 --> 00:11:20.500
 that people are trying to cheat them,

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.759
 that are trying to take advantage of them.

00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:27.879
 It's the people who have mixed motives,

00:11:28.059 --> 00:11:29.039
 ulterior motives,

00:11:29.659 --> 00:11:30.559
 when they do things,

00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:34.700
 that are always afraid of being exposed for the fraud that they are.

00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:38.420
 Only people with integrity

00:11:38.420 --> 00:11:41.340
 who live the outside and inside the same way

00:11:41.340 --> 00:11:42.340
 can live with freedom.

00:11:43.060 --> 00:11:45.500
 Only they can live with freedom and without fear.

00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:48.060
 That's what God's calling us to.

00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:50.680
 The fact that all will be revealed and judged by God

00:11:50.680 --> 00:11:53.960
 enables us to be authentic witnesses of Christ

00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:55.060
 in public and in private.

00:11:55.059 --> 00:11:59.399
 That's the point that kind of undergirds

00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:01.119
 the next two points that Jesus makes.

00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:04.519
 First, the second contrast is a temporal death

00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:06.239
 versus eternal death.

00:12:06.479 --> 00:12:08.719
 Because if we live authentic Christian lives,

00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:12.019
 we will face persecution from a world that is opposed to Christ.

00:12:13.479 --> 00:12:14.679
 And aware of this,

00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:17.299
 Jesus gives us stern warnings on the one hand,

00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:19.279
 but also warm assurances

00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:22.079
 that can sustain us and help us to persevere.

00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:24.119
 So let's look at verses 4 to 7

00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:26.700
 where he distinguishes the temporal death and eternal death

00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:27.720
 and tells us to be mindful

00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:29.919
 not just of the temporal death,

00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:31.240
 but also of the eternal death.

00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:35.120
 I tell you, my friends,

00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:37.539
 do not fear those who kill the body

00:12:37.539 --> 00:12:40.100
 and after that have nothing more that they can do.

00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:43.200
 But I will warn you whom to fear.

00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:45.580
 Fear him who after he has killed

00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:47.580
 has authority to cast into hell.

00:12:47.700 --> 00:12:49.700
 Yes, I tell you, fear him.

00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:53.279
 Fear of death is really the most basic

00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:55.279
 kind of primal fear that drives us, right?

00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:59.579
 We fear the physical harm that people can do to us.

00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:01.120
 But here in the United States

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:02.839
 where we enjoy freedom of religion,

00:13:02.959 --> 00:13:06.120
 we need not fear being killed for our faith

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.860
 like many of our brothers and sisters throughout the world.

00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:13.159
 Not like the disciples of Jesus.

00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:14.519
 They have to worry about that.

00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:17.159
 But we nevertheless can fear

00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:19.539
 what people might do to us

00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:22.220
 when we live authentic lives

00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:24.340
 of witnessing for Jesus Christ.

00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:26.819
 We can fear character assassination.

00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:32.600
 We fear that by sharing the saving news of Jesus Christ

00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:33.480
 with our friends and neighbors

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:36.079
 that we'll be seen as ignorant and superstitious.

00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:40.660
 We fear that by standing up for biblical truth

00:13:40.660 --> 00:13:42.320
 that we will be seen

00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:45.040
 and will be caricatured as these backwards bigots.

00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:50.520
 We fear that by being a public Christian in academia

00:13:50.520 --> 00:13:53.520
 that we will forfeit our respectability

00:13:53.520 --> 00:13:55.800
 and jeopardize our careers.

00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:01.480
 Sometimes our fear is even less direct.

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:08.039
 We cheat or plagiarize at school.

00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:11.480
 Misrepresent our reading reports

00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:14.899
 because we fear that people will give us bad grades

00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:17.560
 that will then give us bad jobs.

00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:20.360
 We fear what people might do to us.

00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.960
 We flatter our managers

00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:28.039
 and help them carry out unethical business practices

00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:30.200
 because we fear their retaliation.

00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:33.960
 And we desire the promotion that they can give us.

00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:39.440
 But why do we fear what men can do to us

00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:42.360
 more than what God can do to us?

00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:44.779
 God is watching

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:47.519
 and our actions here and now will echo into eternity

00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:49.519
 and that's what Jesus is reminding us of here.

00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:54.200
 When the 16th century Scottish pastor and reformer,

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.879
 John Knox, died

00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:57.379
 and he was being buried,

00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.279
 lowered to his grave,

00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:00.460
 the presiding minister apparently

00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:02.759
 has said to have said this about the man,

00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:03.379
 John Knox.

00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:07.840
 Here lies one who feared God so much

00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:10.920
 that he never feared the face of man.

00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:15.620
 He who fears God will fear no man.

00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:21.720
 And in order to emphasize the contrast of fearing man

00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.500
 and fearing God,

00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:23.759
 once we are told,

00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:25.299
 do not fear men,

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:27.100
 do not fear those who kill the body

00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:28.740
 and after that can do nothing else.

00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:31.200
 But three times we're told to fear God.

00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:32.700
 Fear God who after he has killed

00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:33.899
 has authority to cast into hell.

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:34.440
 Fear.

00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:36.700
 Fear, fear him.

00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:40.480
 And this is the only time that Luke uses the word hell

00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.139
 in this,

00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.980
 in his entire gospel.

00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:45.220
 And the Greek word for hell

00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:48.539
 is named after a valley of Hinnom

00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:50.360
 in kind of south of Jerusalem.

00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:54.159
 And that was the place in earlier history of Israel

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:56.100
 that these idol worshipers

00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:58.300
 burned their own children in sacrifice.

00:15:58.299 --> 00:16:02.179
 And it became a desecrated place.

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.459
 And for that reason,

00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:06.519
 the valley was used as a trash heap.

00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.639
 They would dump all the trash,

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:09.599
 all the carcasses of dead animals

00:16:09.599 --> 00:16:12.359
 and all the executed criminals,

00:16:12.479 --> 00:16:13.579
 their bodies would be dumped there

00:16:13.579 --> 00:16:14.539
 and it would all be burned.

00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:17.759
 So it was said by historians of the ancient world

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.519
 that there was always smoke rising up

00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.479
 from the valley of Hinnom.

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.879
 It's a picture,

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:26.699
 an apt picture of the eternal destruction

00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:29.680
 that awaits evildoers

00:16:29.680 --> 00:16:31.840
 who refuse to repent of their sins.

00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:38.060
 The temporal harm that people can do to us

00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:40.879
 is nothing compared to the eternal hell

00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:43.100
 that God consigns evildoers to.

00:16:43.180 --> 00:16:46.560
 So why should we fear what men say about us?

00:16:48.280 --> 00:16:49.900
 Whatever they might do to us,

00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:51.920
 it will only be for this life,

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.980
 this momentary life.

00:16:54.660 --> 00:16:56.100
 We need not fear their threats.

00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:57.560
 No human,

00:16:57.660 --> 00:16:59.540
 no matter how powerful or authoritative,

00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:02.020
 have any authority to decide

00:17:02.020 --> 00:17:03.160
 our eternal fate.

00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:06.019
 That's God's exclusive prerogative.

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.720
 And we can rest in that.

00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.319
 Some of us might object at this point,

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.400
 well God, that's great.

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:16.120
 That's great that our eternal life is in your hands.

00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:19.240
 And you're right that that's more important

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.620
 than how we fare in this life.

00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:22.039
 But what about this life?

00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:28.000
 That's great that I'll enjoy heavenly inheritance and riches,

00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:30.079
 but what if I'm poor and hungry now?

00:17:32.739 --> 00:17:34.979
 That's great that I'll be safe in eternity,

00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:39.119
 but what if I'm afraid and feel threatened right now?

00:17:41.239 --> 00:17:43.219
 Eternity seems off in the distance,

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.500
 but this right now,

00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.160
 that's immediate.

00:17:46.600 --> 00:17:48.019
 The pain is real.

00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:50.579
 The fear is crippling.

00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:52.720
 How can I get through this life?

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:57.180
 Jesus anticipates that objection

00:17:57.180 --> 00:18:00.500
 and answers it in verses six to seven.

00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:03.240
 Having reminded us of God's authority

00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:04.860
 over our eternal future,

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:08.120
 Jesus also reminds us of God's care for us

00:18:08.120 --> 00:18:09.180
 in the present.

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.180
 He says,

00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:13.500
 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:18.160
 And not one of them is forgotten before God.

00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:18.600
 Why?

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:23.440
 Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

00:18:24.320 --> 00:18:25.140
 Fear not.

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:28.460
 You are of more value than many sparrows.

00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:30.900
 This is amazing.

00:18:31.820 --> 00:18:33.700
 God is saying, in essence,

00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:36.960
 you concern yourself being my faithful witness

00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:39.080
 and don't worry about anything else.

00:18:39.860 --> 00:18:41.779
 Don't worry about protecting yourself,

00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.880
 fending for your own life,

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:45.279
 worrying about the people who might persecute you and kill you.

00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:46.800
 I'll take care of that.

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:51.240
 A sparrow is one of the smallest,

00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:54.440
 most common, and cheapest birds.

00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:57.920
 They're all over the place.

00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:03.779
 Maybe you're more familiar with pigeons in the city.

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.680
 They're not valuable.

00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:11.860
 I think I see a roadkill of a pigeon every week

00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:13.600
 somewhere around the Twin City Plaza.

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.500
 No one pays any heed.

00:19:15.560 --> 00:19:16.779
 They just walk right by it.

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:18.619
 The only thing they care about is that they don't step on it.

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.740
 They don't care about the pigeon.

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.559
 Nobody cares about that pigeon.

00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:24.660
 It's worthless, essentially.

00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.539
 But God says, no,

00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:31.920
 not even one of those pigeons,

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:36.539
 not even one of those sparrows is forgotten by me.

00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:40.720
 Similarly, God says,

00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:43.099
 even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:47.759
 According to my quick Google search,

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:52.019
 that's all research is nowadays, isn't it?

00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:52.619
 It's kind of sad.

00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:55.000
 But I didn't need to look very far for this.

00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:57.799
 An average human head has about 100,000 hair follicles.

00:19:57.799 --> 00:20:03.399
 And each follicle grows about 20 individual hair in its lifetime.

00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:06.700
 And so we lose hair all the time, right?

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:10.379
 They say that we lose about 100 stands of hair per day.

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:12.299
 Literally, if you've ever cleaned your house,

00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:13.240
 you have found hair.

00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.399
 They're everywhere.

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:21.860
 And hair grows back.

00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.600
 And there's so much of it.

00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:24.640
 So you don't care.

00:20:25.080 --> 00:20:26.320
 You don't care about losing hair.

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.580
 They always grow back,

00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:29.120
 unless you're a middle-aged man

00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:31.220
 who's genetically predisposed to losing hair.

00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:33.800
 But the point is,

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:36.620
 but the point is,

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.700
 hair is cheap.

00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:39.700
 No one's going to pay your money for it.

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:41.259
 In fact, you have to pay someone to cut it for you.

00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:44.400
 But guess what?

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:48.379
 God has every single strand of your hair numbered.

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:54.440
 He knows how tens of thousands of hairs,

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.960
 how many of them are on your head.

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:58.359
 And when one is lost,

00:20:58.420 --> 00:21:01.660
 He knows it is not forgotten by Him.

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.859
 And this is the point.

00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:04.900
 If God cares about a sparrow,

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:09.019
 if God cares about a strand of hair on your head,

00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:13.099
 how much more than does God care for you?

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:17.599
 How much does God care for you?

00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:21.420
 The pinnacle of His creation.

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:24.599
 Man and woman creating an image of God.

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:26.460
 How much does God care for you?

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:31.359
 And you think that God doesn't care

00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.619
 what that man did to you those years ago?

00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:37.159
 You think God doesn't care

00:21:37.159 --> 00:21:39.579
 what that woman said to you last week?

00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:45.379
 You think God doesn't care that you're sick?

00:21:45.439 --> 00:21:46.699
 You think God doesn't care

00:21:46.699 --> 00:21:48.879
 how that person made you feel?

00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.739
 You think God doesn't care

00:21:50.739 --> 00:21:52.079
 that your job is miserable?

00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.879
 You think God doesn't care

00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:57.439
 that you are depressed and suicidal?

00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:00.700
 You think God doesn't care

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:02.080
 about the desires of your heart?

00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.860
 That He doesn't know about your knees?

00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:05.100
 That He doesn't care

00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:06.120
 that you are lonely?

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.180
 He doesn't care

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.259
 that your life is hard?

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:11.559
 Don't believe those lies of the enemy.

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:13.019
 God cares about you.

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:16.759
 He knows the number of hair on your head.

00:22:18.100 --> 00:22:19.500
 He cares for the sparrow.

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:27.359
 He's never forgotten about you

00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:29.640
 and He will never forget you.

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:35.220
 Are you following the logic

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.579
 of verses 4 to 7?

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:38.819
 Don't fear those who can kill

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.579
 only the body.

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:42.259
 God can cast into hell.

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.920
 Prioritize eternity.

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.759
 Prioritize heaven.

00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:48.059
 And don't worry about your life on earth.

00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.559
 Don't worry about how people

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.720
 might mistreat you and kill you

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.960
 because of your faith in me.

00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:53.099
 I'll take care of that.

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:56.359
 I'm keeping a close watch over you.

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.639
 God's not like this, you know,

00:22:58.659 --> 00:23:00.480
 bad, selfish boss who says,

00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.899
 you know, hey, sacrifice your health.

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:03.559
 Sacrifice your work-life balance.

00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.819
 Sacrifice your family.

00:23:05.159 --> 00:23:05.779
 Do everything.

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:07.139
 Focus only on increasing

00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:08.980
 the profit margin of the company

00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.980
 because that's your job

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.720
 and if you don't do it,

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.579
 I'm going to fire you.

00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:13.679
 That's not the kind of manager

00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:14.700
 or boss God is.

00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:16.220
 God's the kind of boss who says,

00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:17.960
 hey, I'll take care of everything else.

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:20.960
 I'll make sure you make enough money.

00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:22.559
 I'll take care of your family.

00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:24.180
 I'll make sure you have health benefits.

00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:25.539
 I'll take care of everything else.

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:27.039
 You just worry about doing the job

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.700
 I've given you.

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:35.380
 We can be preoccupied with heaven

00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:37.279
 because God has promised

00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.700
 to take care of us on earth.

00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:42.900
 We can seek first the kingdom of God

00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:45.720
 because God has promised to meet our needs

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:47.060
 here in the kingdom of man.

00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:51.280
 And unless we believe that,

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:54.360
 unless we believe that God will take care of us,

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:56.820
 we cannot live for God

00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:58.200
 with sacrifice and abandon.

00:23:58.200 --> 00:24:03.080
 Now, this does not mean

00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:04.340
 that you will never know hardship

00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:05.440
 and never be persecuted.

00:24:07.580 --> 00:24:09.319
 Jesus' earlier exhortation

00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:11.220
 not to fear those who kill the body

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:14.059
 shows that there are people

00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:15.600
 who will kill the followers of Jesus.

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:19.559
 The story of Jesus' apostles

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.720
 in the book of Acts,

00:24:20.840 --> 00:24:22.660
 which is Luke's sequel to his gospel,

00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:25.779
 we see many of them martyred for their faith.

00:24:26.300 --> 00:24:27.900
 But this does mean

00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:29.860
 that when you are suffering

00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:31.540
 for his namesake,

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:34.480
 that when you are going through trials,

00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:36.220
 when you are being persecuted

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.360
 for your faith,

00:24:37.540 --> 00:24:40.740
 you can be assured that he is with you.

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.940
 He is not far off.

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.440
 He is near.

00:24:45.860 --> 00:24:46.900
 He is engaged.

00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:48.320
 He is involved.

00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:51.160
 This past Wednesday

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.620
 during our weekly prayer service,

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:54.700
 we looked at Psalm 116 together.

00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:57.080
 In Psalm 116, verse 15,

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:57.500
 it says,

00:24:57.800 --> 00:24:59.940
 Precious in the sight of the Lord

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:01.900
 is the death of his saints.

00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.820
 The word precious there means rare,

00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:06.259
 costly, weighty.

00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:09.220
 It's the exact opposite idea

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.860
 of what the pagans used to say

00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:11.500
 in the ancient world.

00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:12.120
 They used to say,

00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:13.660
 Whom the gods love die young.

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.480
 You have a man who dies young

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.720
 or a child that dies.

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.180
 Oh, it's because gods must love them.

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.940
 They want them with him.

00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:20.220
 That's what the pagans said.

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.279
 What the Bible taught

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.500
 was exactly the opposite.

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:24.319
 Precious in the sight of the Lord

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.640
 is the death of his saints.

00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:27.220
 No, God does not take

00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:29.160
 the death of his saints casually.

00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.640
 It's weighty to him

00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:34.019
 because you are valuable to him.

00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:36.740
 It's costly to him.

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.440
 He cares about it

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.460
 so you can be assured

00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:41.140
 that when you are being persecuted

00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:43.039
 and if you ever had the privilege

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:44.019
 of being martyred

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.640
 for your faith in Jesus Christ,

00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:47.019
 that God is with you.

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.680
 He's watching you.

00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.620
 He loves you

00:25:49.620 --> 00:25:50.680
 and he cares for you.

00:25:54.060 --> 00:25:55.519
 I've used this quote before

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.560
 but as Charles Spurgeon

00:25:56.560 --> 00:25:57.519
 once said,

00:25:57.640 --> 00:25:59.880
 The refiner is never far

00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:01.860
 from the mouth of the furnace

00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:03.600
 when his gold is in the fire.

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:07.480
 When you're in the fire of trial,

00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:08.940
 you are being persecuted.

00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:09.620
 You're hurting.

00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:10.980
 You can be sure

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.820
 that the heavenly father

00:26:11.820 --> 00:26:12.680
 is not far away.

00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:17.759
 Next in verses 8 to 12,

00:26:17.860 --> 00:26:19.960
 Jesus gives us another stern warning

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:22.019
 followed by a warm assurance

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:24.700
 so that we might be authentic witnesses

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:27.019
 for Christ even in the midst of persecution.

00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:30.100
 He says in verses 8 to 9,

00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:31.580
 And I tell you,

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:33.840
 everyone who acknowledges me before men,

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.640
 the son of man,

00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.600
 also will acknowledge

00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:36.900
 before the angels of God.

00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:39.200
 But the one who denies me before men

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.860
 will be denied

00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:41.620
 before the angels of God.

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.440
 The word acknowledge

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.720
 is sometimes translated

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.480
 as declare

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:47.059
 or confess.

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:49.340
 And it refers to

00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:51.259
 a public profession

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:52.340
 of faith.

00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:56.860
 Everyone who acknowledges me

00:26:56.860 --> 00:26:57.720
 before men,

00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.700
 it's public.

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.779
 The son of man

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.819
 also will acknowledge

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:03.380
 before the angel of God.

00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:05.160
 The Christian faith

00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:06.800
 is intended to be public,

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:07.980
 not private.

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.600
 This is not a matter

00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:11.840
 of personal opinion.

00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.540
 It's a matter

00:27:13.540 --> 00:27:15.300
 of universal truth.

00:27:17.540 --> 00:27:19.019
 You can see this clearly

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:20.800
 in John chapter 12,

00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:22.220
 verses 42 to 43.

00:27:22.360 --> 00:27:22.560
 It says,

00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.460
 Nevertheless,

00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:24.740
 many,

00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:26.160
 even of the authorities,

00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:28.080
 believed in him.

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.100
 They believed in Jesus.

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.120
 But for fear

00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:32.360
 of the Pharisees,

00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:33.100
 they did not

00:27:33.100 --> 00:27:34.300
 confess it.

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:37.480
 so that they would not

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.540
 be put out of the synagogue.

00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:40.340
 For they loved the glory

00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:42.000
 that comes from man

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.880
 more than the glory

00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:44.920
 that comes from God.

00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.759
 The word translated

00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.480
 confess here

00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.820
 is the exact same word

00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:49.920
 as the word acknowledged

00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.580
 in our passage.

00:27:51.320 --> 00:27:52.880
 So you see the contrast

00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:53.860
 between believing

00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.980
 in secret

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:56.400
 and confessing

00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.540
 in public.

00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.880
 There were Jewish authorities

00:27:59.880 --> 00:28:01.019
 who believed

00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:02.400
 in Jesus secretly.

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:04.880
 but for the fear

00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.920
 of the Pharisees

00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:06.440
 that they might

00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:07.640
 be persecuted by them

00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.980
 and be excommunicated

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.480
 by them,

00:28:09.560 --> 00:28:10.740
 they did not

00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:12.600
 confess Jesus publicly.

00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:14.200
 And John's assessment

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:14.640
 of them

00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.440
 is not good.

00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:17.500
 They loved the glory

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:19.000
 that comes from man

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.259
 more than the glory

00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:21.460
 that comes from God.

00:28:21.540 --> 00:28:22.160
 They were not

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.300
 true followers

00:28:23.300 --> 00:28:24.140
 of Jesus

00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:25.380
 because they were

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.420
 ashamed of Christ

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.200
 and his words.

00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:30.160
 They loved the glory

00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:30.560
 of man

00:28:30.560 --> 00:28:31.180
 more than the glory

00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:31.420
 of God.

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.680
 That's why in Romans 10

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.620
 also, 9-10,

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:33.980
 it says,

00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.560
 if you confess

00:28:35.560 --> 00:28:36.840
 with your mouth

00:28:36.840 --> 00:28:38.720
 that Jesus is Lord

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.360
 and believe

00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:40.440
 in your heart

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.900
 that God raised him

00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.460
 from the dead,

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.299
 you will be saved.

00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.460
 For with the heart

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.279
 one believes

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.080
 and is justified

00:28:46.080 --> 00:28:47.220
 and with the mouth

00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:48.400
 one confesses

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.440
 and is saved.

00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.580
 Believing in the heart

00:28:50.580 --> 00:28:51.560
 is not enough.

00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:54.700
 You must also confess

00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:55.539
 with your mouth.

00:28:58.340 --> 00:28:59.279
 Genuine faith

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:05.500
 faith in Jesus Christ

00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:07.099
 radically reorients

00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:08.539
 all of our purposes

00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.180
 and priorities

00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.079
 from top to bottom.

00:29:10.879 --> 00:29:12.359
 It's a new allegiance

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:14.440
 that is life-altering.

00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:15.819
 It's impossible

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:17.099
 not to confess it.

00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.319
 Can you imagine

00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:23.180
 a man telling a woman,

00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:25.019
 hey, let's just

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.180
 sign the papers

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.620
 privately

00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.580
 and get married?

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:28.860
 Make sure

00:29:28.860 --> 00:29:30.100
 you don't call me

00:29:30.100 --> 00:29:30.900
 honey in public.

00:29:31.840 --> 00:29:33.019
 Don't hold my hands

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.519
 in public.

00:29:35.820 --> 00:29:36.799
 Let's get married,

00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.140
 but hey,

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:37.620
 don't tell me,

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.680
 but don't change your status

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.340
 on Facebook.

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.660
 Keep it single.

00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.480
 Definitely don't tell

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:43.980
 my parents

00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.740
 because they might

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.420
 disapprove.

00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:47.140
 And a ring,

00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:47.460
 oh yeah,

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:47.920
 you definitely

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.660
 can't wear that.

00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:51.440
 Can you imagine

00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.100
 a man saying that

00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:52.340
 to a woman?

00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:52.860
 You think the woman

00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:53.220
 will say,

00:29:53.360 --> 00:29:53.600
 yes,

00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:54.600
 I'd love to marry you?

00:29:59.120 --> 00:30:00.300
 That's not a marriage.

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:02.620
 You're demonstrating

00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:04.180
 by all of your

00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:05.080
 public acts

00:30:05.080 --> 00:30:06.080
 that your wife

00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:07.160
 is not the most

00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:08.019
 important person

00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.740
 in your life.

00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:10.800
 You're demonstrating

00:30:10.800 --> 00:30:11.700
 by all of your

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.640
 public acts

00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:13.860
 that you are not

00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:14.880
 in an exclusive

00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:16.120
 covenant relationship

00:30:16.120 --> 00:30:17.320
 with that woman.

00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:19.159
 because if you're

00:30:19.159 --> 00:30:19.859
 truly married,

00:30:19.939 --> 00:30:20.720
 you can't help

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.899
 but publicly declare

00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:23.339
 you live together.

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:25.019
 You love each other.

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.579
 You serve one another.

00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:27.679
 You enjoy intimacy

00:30:27.679 --> 00:30:28.379
 with each other

00:30:28.379 --> 00:30:29.359
 that you don't share

00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:30.599
 with anyone else

00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.339
 in the whole

00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:32.679
 wide world.

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.899
 How can that

00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:34.740
 not be public?

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.939
 Acknowledging Christ

00:30:39.939 --> 00:30:40.339
 is similar.

00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:41.099
 When we become

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:41.720
 a Christian,

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.519
 we accept Jesus Christ

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.279
 as a Savior

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.259
 and Lord

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.220
 over our lives.

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.440
 everything we say

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:47.819
 and do

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.380
 is now

00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:49.400
 for His glory

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.880
 and not our own glory.

00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:51.940
 We love Him

00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:52.360
 more than

00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:53.799
 we love anyone else

00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:55.079
 in the whole world.

00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.339
 How can a true

00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:56.779
 Christian

00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.799
 live without

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:59.019
 acknowledging Christ?

00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:01.440
 Without confessing Him?

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:04.079
 It's impossible.

00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.740
 Jesus is repeating

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.380
 the same thing

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:09.519
 He said earlier

00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.339
 in different words

00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:11.460
 in Luke 9, 26.

00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:12.539
 Whoever is ashamed

00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.700
 of me and my words

00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.380
 of him will the

00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:14.839
 Son of Man

00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:15.439
 be ashamed

00:31:15.439 --> 00:31:16.659
 when He comes

00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:17.240
 in His glory

00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:17.740
 and the glory

00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.220
 of the Father

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:19.319
 and of the Holy Angels.

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:21.759
 So are you ashamed

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.299
 of Christ

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:23.039
 and His words?

00:31:24.459 --> 00:31:25.599
 Do you believe

00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:27.179
 in Christ secretly

00:31:27.179 --> 00:31:27.939
 in your heart

00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:29.279
 but never confess Him

00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.819
 with your mouth?

00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:31.439
 I think this is also

00:31:31.439 --> 00:31:32.019
 another reason

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:32.639
 why baptism

00:31:32.639 --> 00:31:33.419
 is so important.

00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.199
 It's a public

00:31:34.199 --> 00:31:35.139
 profession of faith.

00:31:39.179 --> 00:31:40.299
 Do people in your life

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:40.819
 know that you're

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.240
 a Christian?

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:44.960
 Now don't get me wrong.

00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:46.120
 Jesus is not saying

00:31:46.120 --> 00:31:47.079
 that if you ever

00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:48.019
 deny Christ

00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:48.559
 before men

00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.620
 that He will deny you

00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.279
 forever in the

00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:50.759
 heavenly court.

00:31:50.859 --> 00:31:51.660
 You just do it once

00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:53.160
 and I'll deny you

00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:53.380
 forever.

00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.339
 That's not what He's saying.

00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:55.400
 If that were the case

00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:56.539
 no one in this whole world

00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:57.220
 would be saved.

00:31:59.140 --> 00:32:00.339
 We have all two

00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.099
 varying degrees

00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:02.019
 deny Jesus.

00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:05.420
 At a work social

00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:06.359
 a co-worker

00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:07.120
 takes the name

00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:07.980
 of our Lord Jesus

00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.579
 in vain

00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:09.939
 and uses His name

00:32:09.939 --> 00:32:10.859
 as a swear word

00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:12.199
 but you don't defend

00:32:12.199 --> 00:32:12.960
 the honor of

00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:14.619
 your Savior's name

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:16.039
 and you feel

00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:17.000
 a tinge of guilt.

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:19.960
 During lunch

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.699
 your classmates

00:32:20.699 --> 00:32:22.500
 mock the fundamental

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.740
 tenets of Christianity

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.419
 but then you

00:32:24.419 --> 00:32:25.799
 fearing embarrassment

00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.759
 and ostracism

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.339
 you maintain

00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:28.559
 a shameful silence.

00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:32.839
 At a neighborhood barbecue

00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.359
 your neighbor

00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.399
 asks you a question

00:32:34.399 --> 00:32:35.779
 that sets you up

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:37.220
 perfectly for you

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.419
 to talk about your faith

00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:39.380
 and share the good news

00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:39.800
 of Jesus

00:32:39.800 --> 00:32:40.680
 but instead

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:42.240
 because of your fear

00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.300
 you utter general

00:32:43.300 --> 00:32:44.680
 pleasantries and platitudes

00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:46.440
 that are just shallow

00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.420
 enough to be safe

00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:49.019
 not to offend anybody else.

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.279
 These are all

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.060
 varying shades

00:32:55.060 --> 00:32:55.740
 of denial

00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:57.360
 of failure

00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:58.220
 to confess

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:59.160
 Jesus Christ.

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.160
 Our denial

00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:01.680
 can of course

00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.720
 be much more obvious.

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.400
 Peter

00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:04.340
 the first disciple

00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:04.779
 of Jesus

00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:05.820
 and the leader

00:33:05.820 --> 00:33:06.960
 among the twelve apostles

00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:09.079
 later in Luke chapter 22

00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:10.559
 publicly denies

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.200
 Jesus

00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:12.620
 three times

00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:13.920
 the same day.

00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:16.579
 And yet

00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.160
 we know

00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:18.380
 that his faith

00:33:18.380 --> 00:33:19.840
 ultimately did not fail

00:33:19.840 --> 00:33:21.880
 because Jesus

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:23.059
 prayed for Peter

00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:23.880
 earlier in Luke

00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:24.220
 that

00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:25.759
 that his faith

00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:26.519
 may not fail.

00:33:27.100 --> 00:33:28.779
 And after his denials

00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:29.380
 it says that

00:33:29.380 --> 00:33:30.500
 Peter went out

00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:31.279
 and wept

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:32.480
 bitterly.

00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.640
 Why?

00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:34.700
 Because he still

00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.960
 believed in Jesus

00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:37.019
 and loved him

00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:38.480
 and was heartbroken

00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:39.480
 that he had failed.

00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:41.940
 Peter's denial

00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:43.019
 was a temporary

00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:44.779
 lapse of courage

00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:46.160
 not a permanent

00:33:46.160 --> 00:33:47.140
 loss of conviction.

00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:51.920
 So Peter

00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:52.579
 repented

00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:53.319
 of his denials

00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:54.900
 and Jesus

00:33:54.900 --> 00:33:56.039
 not only restored him

00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:56.759
 as the disciple

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:58.360
 but also reinstated him

00:33:58.360 --> 00:33:59.579
 as an apostle

00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:00.180
 the leader

00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:01.039
 among the apostles.

00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:02.940
 But if you are

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:04.299
 unrepentant

00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:05.339
 in your denial

00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:06.579
 of Jesus Christ

00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:08.440
 if you refuse

00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.460
 to confess

00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:10.779
 Christ before man

00:34:10.779 --> 00:34:11.980
 because you lack

00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:12.980
 genuine faith

00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:15.440
 if you deny

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.639
 Christ before man

00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.960
 due to the absence

00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:19.639
 of true conviction

00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:20.880
 then Jesus

00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:22.400
 will also deny you

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.639
 in the heavenly court

00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.539
 on the day of judgment.

00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:28.360
 Jesus takes this

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.159
 one step further

00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:29.759
 in verse 10

00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:30.300
 and everyone

00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:30.940
 who speaks

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.320
 a word

00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:31.980
 against the son

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.320
 of man

00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:33.020
 will be forgiven

00:34:33.020 --> 00:34:34.300
 but the one

00:34:34.300 --> 00:34:35.200
 who blasphemes

00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:36.280
 against the Holy Spirit

00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:37.760
 will not be forgiven.

00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:40.480
 The unforgivable sin

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:40.500
.

00:34:42.580 --> 00:34:43.060
 Blasphemy

00:34:43.060 --> 00:34:44.080
 against the Holy Spirit.

00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:46.020
 It's also mentioned

00:34:46.020 --> 00:34:46.580
 in Matthew

00:34:46.580 --> 00:34:47.540
 chapter 12

00:34:47.540 --> 00:34:48.840
 verses 22 to 32

00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:50.100
 and in Mark

00:34:50.100 --> 00:34:51.600
 chapter 3

00:34:51.600 --> 00:34:53.100
 verses 20 to 35

00:34:53.100 --> 00:34:54.140
 and it's helpful

00:34:54.140 --> 00:34:54.760
 to examine

00:34:54.760 --> 00:34:55.320
 those parallels

00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:56.300
 because they give us

00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.320
 a little more context

00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:58.160
 than Luke does

00:34:58.159 --> 00:34:59.139
 here in our passage.

00:34:59.819 --> 00:35:01.099
 In both Matthew

00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.659
 and Mark

00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:03.119
 Jesus says this

00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:04.319
 in the context

00:35:04.319 --> 00:35:05.500
 of an exorcism.

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:07.799
 Jesus casts out

00:35:07.799 --> 00:35:08.319
 a demon

00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:10.319
 from a man

00:35:10.319 --> 00:35:11.920
 and the man

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.579
 is healed

00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:14.599
 and the Pharisees

00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.179
 and the scribes

00:35:15.179 --> 00:35:15.980
 who observe that

00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.519
 then say

00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:17.500
 it then slander

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.059
 the work

00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.899
 of the Holy Spirit

00:35:18.899 --> 00:35:20.279
 by saying that

00:35:20.279 --> 00:35:21.399
 Jesus is casting out

00:35:21.399 --> 00:35:21.659
 demons

00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:22.699
 not by the power

00:35:22.699 --> 00:35:23.460
 of the Holy Spirit

00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:25.199
 but by Beelzebul

00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:27.019
 the prince of demons

00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:29.399
 which then prompts

00:35:29.399 --> 00:35:30.139
 Jesus to say

00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:30.759
 that blasphemy

00:35:30.759 --> 00:35:31.359
 against the Spirit

00:35:31.359 --> 00:35:32.559
 is an unforgivable sin.

00:35:32.659 --> 00:35:33.059
 So even though

00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:33.939
 it's a little removed

00:35:33.939 --> 00:35:35.079
 in our present context

00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.759
 that's actually

00:35:35.759 --> 00:35:36.419
 the context

00:35:36.419 --> 00:35:38.139
 that precedes

00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:39.019
 this passage also

00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:40.019
 in Luke 11.

00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:42.299
 But the detail

00:35:42.299 --> 00:35:43.279
 that Mark provides

00:35:43.279 --> 00:35:43.839
 in particular

00:35:43.839 --> 00:35:45.259
 is very illuminating

00:35:45.259 --> 00:35:46.759
 in Mark 3

00:35:46.759 --> 00:35:48.000
 verses 28 to 30

00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:48.339
 it says

00:35:48.340 --> 00:36:08.320
 So that gives us

00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:09.039
 a clue as to what

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.760
 the blasphemy

00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:11.140
 against the Holy Spirit

00:36:11.140 --> 00:36:11.500
 is.

00:36:13.260 --> 00:36:14.600
 If we were to define it

00:36:14.600 --> 00:36:15.220
 we can define it

00:36:15.220 --> 00:36:15.579
 this way

00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:16.220
 blasphemy

00:36:16.220 --> 00:36:17.220
 against the Holy Spirit

00:36:17.219 --> 00:36:18.859
 is a decisive

00:36:18.859 --> 00:36:20.339
 rejection

00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:22.599
 of the manifestation

00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:23.539
 the demonstration

00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:25.059
 of God's

00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:26.459
 saving power

00:36:26.459 --> 00:36:27.419
 through the Holy Spirit.

00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:29.480
 You experience it

00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:30.199
 you witness

00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:31.359
 the powerful

00:36:31.359 --> 00:36:32.219
 demonstration

00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:33.099
 the manifestation

00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:35.199
 of the saving power

00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:36.119
 His presence

00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:37.699
 and then you turn around

00:36:37.699 --> 00:36:37.980
 and say

00:36:37.980 --> 00:36:38.799
 that is not God.

00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:46.559
 If you examine

00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.500
 the larger context

00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:48.139
 of Mark 3

00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:48.779
 it yields

00:36:48.779 --> 00:36:49.799
 even further insight

00:36:49.799 --> 00:36:50.880
 that passage

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.440
 is structured

00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:52.239
 as a famous

00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:53.239
 Markan sandwich.

00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:55.860
 In a typical sandwich

00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.840
 you have bread on top

00:36:56.840 --> 00:36:57.299
 and you have bread

00:36:57.299 --> 00:36:57.719
 on the bottom

00:36:57.719 --> 00:36:58.599
 and you have the goodies

00:36:58.599 --> 00:36:59.259
 in the middle

00:36:59.259 --> 00:36:59.559
 right?

00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:00.960
 You have the meat

00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:01.340
 in the middle

00:37:01.340 --> 00:37:02.840
 or the vegetables.

00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:04.239
 Mark

00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:06.079
 frequently inserts

00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:06.840
 a story

00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:08.840
 in between

00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:09.380
 in the middle

00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:10.679
 of another story

00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:12.380
 and he uses

00:37:12.380 --> 00:37:13.880
 those two bread pieces

00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:14.519
 to highlight

00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:15.300
 to explain

00:37:15.300 --> 00:37:15.860
 and emphasize

00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:16.400
 the stuff

00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:16.960
 that's in the middle

00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:18.340
 and that's what

00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:19.179
 that passage is

00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:19.960
 about the blasphemy

00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:20.599
 of the Holy Spirit

00:37:20.599 --> 00:37:21.300
 and you can see

00:37:21.300 --> 00:37:22.079
 the sandwich structure

00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.400
 here.

00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.300
 First

00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:24.239
 Jesus' family

00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:25.300
 says that

00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:26.099
 Jesus is out

00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:26.599
 of his mind

00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:27.480
 that's what you see

00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.440
 that's the top bread

00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:29.880
 and then

00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:31.559
 scribes say

00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:32.139
 that Jesus

00:37:32.139 --> 00:37:32.639
 is possessed

00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.519
 by Beelzebul

00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:35.159
 and Jesus teaches

00:37:35.159 --> 00:37:35.980
 that while all

00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:36.940
 other blasphemies

00:37:36.940 --> 00:37:37.639
 even blasphemies

00:37:37.639 --> 00:37:38.119
 against him

00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:38.539
 included

00:37:38.539 --> 00:37:39.559
 can be forgiven

00:37:39.559 --> 00:37:40.460
 but whoever

00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:40.980
 blasphemes

00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:41.780
 against the Holy Spirit

00:37:41.780 --> 00:37:42.360
 will never have

00:37:42.360 --> 00:37:42.659
 forgiveness

00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:43.159
 but he's guilty

00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:43.519
 of eternity

00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:43.879
 and now

00:37:43.879 --> 00:37:45.019
 the bottom bread

00:37:45.019 --> 00:37:46.399
 which is a continuation

00:37:46.399 --> 00:37:47.179
 of the top bread

00:37:47.179 --> 00:37:48.739
 Jesus' family then

00:37:48.739 --> 00:37:49.440
 because they think

00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:50.219
 he's out of his mind

00:37:50.219 --> 00:37:51.359
 they stage an intervention

00:37:51.359 --> 00:37:52.519
 they're trying to help him

00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:53.699
 he's out of his mind

00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:54.539
 let's help him

00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:55.099
 stop him

00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:56.460
 they go to try to stop him

00:37:56.460 --> 00:37:57.379
 and then Jesus says

00:37:57.379 --> 00:37:58.980
 no my true family

00:37:58.980 --> 00:38:01.440
 is not just my biological family

00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:02.319
 it's actually those

00:38:02.319 --> 00:38:03.119
 who believe

00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:05.259
 and obey the word of God

00:38:05.260 --> 00:38:10.800
 how does this help

00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:11.680
 to explain

00:38:11.680 --> 00:38:12.580
 the blasphemy

00:38:12.580 --> 00:38:13.360
 against the Holy Spirit

00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:14.500
 the family of Jesus

00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.260
 is an example

00:38:15.260 --> 00:38:15.900
 of blasphemy

00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:16.800
 against the Son of Man

00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:19.580
 they say

00:38:19.580 --> 00:38:20.380
 he's out of his mind

00:38:20.380 --> 00:38:21.000
 he's crazy

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:22.520
 he's not

00:38:22.520 --> 00:38:23.200
 Son of God

00:38:23.200 --> 00:38:26.080
 yet they can be forgiven

00:38:26.080 --> 00:38:27.620
 they're ignorant

00:38:27.620 --> 00:38:31.120
 they need to repent

00:38:31.120 --> 00:38:31.740
 and believe

00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:33.080
 but they can be forgiven

00:38:33.080 --> 00:38:33.920
 and they are later

00:38:33.920 --> 00:38:35.500
 they come to faith

00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:36.000
 in Jesus

00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:37.380
 but the scribes

00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:37.960
 and the Pharisees

00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:38.599
 they're blaspheming

00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:39.400
 against the Spirit

00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:41.280
 they have witnessed

00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:43.420
 the powerful presence

00:38:43.420 --> 00:38:45.260
 the saving activity

00:38:45.260 --> 00:38:45.820
 of the Spirit

00:38:45.820 --> 00:38:47.420
 and after having tasted it

00:38:47.420 --> 00:38:48.659
 after having seen it

00:38:48.659 --> 00:38:49.780
 with their own eyes

00:38:49.780 --> 00:38:50.220
 they say

00:38:50.220 --> 00:38:51.440
 no that is of the devil

00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:52.980
 that's not God

00:38:52.980 --> 00:39:01.320
 I think

00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:02.740
 the blasphemy

00:39:02.740 --> 00:39:03.380
 against the Spirit

00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:04.800
 is unforgivable

00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:05.360
 because

00:39:05.360 --> 00:39:06.480
 it's unique

00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:08.340
 because of the Spirit's

00:39:08.340 --> 00:39:09.340
 unique role

00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:11.019
 within the triune Godhead

00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:12.519
 the Father plans

00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:13.039
 our redemption

00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:14.280
 the Son accomplishes

00:39:14.280 --> 00:39:14.720
 our redemption

00:39:14.720 --> 00:39:15.400
 and the Spirit

00:39:15.400 --> 00:39:16.300
 manifests

00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:17.240
 our redemption

00:39:17.240 --> 00:39:19.260
 the Spirit

00:39:19.260 --> 00:39:20.280
 bears witness

00:39:20.280 --> 00:39:21.019
 to Christ

00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:22.000
 it's the Spirit

00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:22.780
 that manifests

00:39:22.780 --> 00:39:24.000
 the power of God

00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:24.860
 it's the Spirit

00:39:24.860 --> 00:39:25.500
 that applies

00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:26.680
 the salvation of God

00:39:26.680 --> 00:39:27.280
 it's the Spirit

00:39:27.280 --> 00:39:28.220
 that pours out

00:39:28.220 --> 00:39:29.039
 the love of God

00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:29.780
 into our hearts

00:39:29.780 --> 00:39:30.619
 it's the Spirit

00:39:30.619 --> 00:39:31.340
 that enlightens

00:39:31.340 --> 00:39:32.320
 the eyes of our hearts

00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:33.000
 so that we might have

00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:33.940
 knowledge of God

00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:34.980
 it's the Spirit

00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:36.019
 that brings about

00:39:36.019 --> 00:39:37.480
 that final stage

00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:38.900
 of our redemption

00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:40.539
 of our repentance

00:39:40.539 --> 00:39:41.280
 and faith

00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:42.880
 and so when you

00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:44.600
 come to face

00:39:44.600 --> 00:39:45.840
 the very reality

00:39:45.840 --> 00:39:46.440
 and power

00:39:46.440 --> 00:39:47.380
 of the Spirit of God

00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:48.780
 and you decisively

00:39:48.780 --> 00:39:49.740
 reject it

00:39:49.740 --> 00:39:51.500
 there's nothing left

00:39:51.500 --> 00:39:52.660
 for you

00:39:52.659 --> 00:39:59.279
 you're foreclosing

00:39:59.279 --> 00:39:59.940
 the possibility

00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.920
 of future repentance

00:40:00.920 --> 00:40:02.099
 there's no turning back

00:40:02.099 --> 00:40:04.379
 there may be some of you

00:40:04.379 --> 00:40:04.839
 who are wondering

00:40:04.839 --> 00:40:05.299
 whether or not

00:40:05.299 --> 00:40:06.119
 you have ever committed

00:40:06.119 --> 00:40:06.799
 this eternal

00:40:06.799 --> 00:40:07.920
 unforgivable sin

00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:09.839
 so I want to offer

00:40:09.839 --> 00:40:10.519
 some clarification

00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:11.099
 assurance

00:40:11.099 --> 00:40:11.859
 for those of you

00:40:11.859 --> 00:40:12.639
 who are thinking

00:40:12.639 --> 00:40:13.219
 in that way

00:40:13.219 --> 00:40:13.679
 and I think

00:40:13.679 --> 00:40:14.239
 the passages

00:40:14.239 --> 00:40:15.239
 that speak

00:40:15.239 --> 00:40:15.779
 of the sin

00:40:15.779 --> 00:40:16.559
 of apostasy

00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.319
 in the book

00:40:17.319 --> 00:40:17.859
 of Hebrews

00:40:17.859 --> 00:40:19.480
 are related

00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:21.199
 for example

00:40:21.199 --> 00:40:21.619
 it says

00:40:21.619 --> 00:40:22.519
 in Hebrews 6

00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:23.260
 46

00:40:23.260 --> 00:40:24.719
 it is impossible

00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:25.380
 in the case

00:40:25.380 --> 00:40:25.760
 of those

00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:26.240
 who have once

00:40:26.240 --> 00:40:26.760
 been enlightened

00:40:26.760 --> 00:40:27.699
 who have tasted

00:40:27.699 --> 00:40:28.880
 the heavenly gift

00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:29.559
 that's the Spirit

00:40:29.559 --> 00:40:30.820
 and have shared

00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:32.000
 in the Holy Spirit

00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:33.380
 and have tasted

00:40:33.380 --> 00:40:33.920
 the goodness

00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:35.000
 of the Word of God

00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:35.860
 and the powers

00:40:35.860 --> 00:40:36.280
 of the age

00:40:36.280 --> 00:40:36.539
 to come

00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:37.159
 and then

00:40:37.159 --> 00:40:38.480
 have fallen away

00:40:38.480 --> 00:40:39.820
 to restore them

00:40:39.820 --> 00:40:41.119
 again to repentance

00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:42.280
 since they are

00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:43.440
 crucifying once again

00:40:43.440 --> 00:40:44.119
 the Son of God

00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:45.079
 to their own harm

00:40:45.079 --> 00:40:46.079
 and holding Him

00:40:46.079 --> 00:40:47.260
 up to contempt

00:40:47.260 --> 00:40:49.240
 notice that

00:40:49.240 --> 00:40:50.040
 those who reject

00:40:50.040 --> 00:40:50.400
 God

00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:51.400
 after having

00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:52.360
 experienced

00:40:52.360 --> 00:40:53.340
 the Holy Spirit

00:40:53.340 --> 00:40:54.280
 in some measure

00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:55.760
 cannot then

00:40:55.760 --> 00:40:56.420
 be restored

00:40:56.420 --> 00:40:57.420
 to repentance

00:40:57.420 --> 00:40:58.760
 they cannot

00:40:58.760 --> 00:40:59.460
 repent

00:40:59.460 --> 00:41:01.160
 hence there is

00:41:01.160 --> 00:41:01.820
 no forgiveness

00:41:01.820 --> 00:41:05.800
 Hebrews 12

00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:06.780
 uses Esau

00:41:06.780 --> 00:41:07.620
 as an example

00:41:07.620 --> 00:41:07.960
 of this

00:41:07.960 --> 00:41:08.560
 it says that

00:41:08.560 --> 00:41:09.680
 oh sorry

00:41:09.680 --> 00:41:10.300
 I didn't display

00:41:10.300 --> 00:41:10.900
 the rest of that

00:41:10.900 --> 00:41:11.620
 quote earlier

00:41:11.620 --> 00:41:13.320
 Hebrews 12

00:41:13.320 --> 00:41:13.980
 uses Esau

00:41:13.980 --> 00:41:14.320
 as an example

00:41:14.320 --> 00:41:14.600
 it says

00:41:14.600 --> 00:41:15.020
 for you know

00:41:15.020 --> 00:41:15.560
 that afterward

00:41:15.560 --> 00:41:16.640
 when he desired

00:41:16.639 --> 00:41:17.219
 to inherit

00:41:17.219 --> 00:41:17.819
 the blessing

00:41:17.819 --> 00:41:19.259
 he was rejected

00:41:19.259 --> 00:41:19.980
 for he found

00:41:19.980 --> 00:41:20.679
 no chance

00:41:20.679 --> 00:41:21.359
 to repent

00:41:21.359 --> 00:41:22.059
 though he

00:41:22.059 --> 00:41:22.460
 sought it

00:41:22.460 --> 00:41:22.940
 with tears

00:41:22.940 --> 00:41:23.559
 so Esau

00:41:23.559 --> 00:41:24.059
 if you remember

00:41:24.059 --> 00:41:25.000
 he despised

00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:25.659
 his birthright

00:41:25.659 --> 00:41:26.099
 and sold

00:41:26.099 --> 00:41:26.639
 his birthright

00:41:26.639 --> 00:41:27.039
 to his younger

00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:27.599
 brother Jacob

00:41:27.599 --> 00:41:28.259
 for a bowl

00:41:28.259 --> 00:41:28.739
 of soup

00:41:28.739 --> 00:41:29.920
 and then

00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:30.379
 when it came

00:41:30.379 --> 00:41:30.940
 time for his

00:41:30.940 --> 00:41:31.679
 father to pass

00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:32.319
 and before that

00:41:32.319 --> 00:41:32.960
 to bless their

00:41:32.960 --> 00:41:33.299
 children

00:41:33.299 --> 00:41:34.219
 especially his

00:41:34.219 --> 00:41:34.799
 elder son

00:41:34.799 --> 00:41:35.739
 he still wanted

00:41:35.739 --> 00:41:36.579
 the elder son's

00:41:36.579 --> 00:41:36.900
 blessing

00:41:36.900 --> 00:41:37.440
 even though he

00:41:37.440 --> 00:41:37.980
 had despised

00:41:37.980 --> 00:41:38.619
 his birthright

00:41:38.619 --> 00:41:39.500
 but he gets

00:41:39.500 --> 00:41:39.920
 deceived

00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:40.539
 and Jacob

00:41:40.539 --> 00:41:41.420
 takes the blessing

00:41:41.420 --> 00:41:42.500
 and Esau

00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:44.779
 is dejected

00:41:44.780 --> 00:41:45.920
 and this is

00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:46.380
 what he says

00:41:46.380 --> 00:41:46.940
 to his father

00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:47.900
 what about me

00:41:47.900 --> 00:41:50.300
 in Genesis

00:41:50.300 --> 00:41:51.380
 27 30

00:41:51.380 --> 00:41:51.980
 Esau said

00:41:51.980 --> 00:41:52.340
 to his father

00:41:52.340 --> 00:41:52.900
 have you

00:41:52.900 --> 00:41:53.480
 but one

00:41:53.480 --> 00:41:53.920
 blessing

00:41:53.920 --> 00:41:54.500
 my father

00:41:54.500 --> 00:41:55.540
 bless me

00:41:55.540 --> 00:41:56.120
 even me

00:41:56.120 --> 00:41:56.580
 also

00:41:56.580 --> 00:41:57.300
 my father

00:41:57.300 --> 00:41:58.120
 and Esau

00:41:58.120 --> 00:41:58.980
 lifted up

00:41:58.980 --> 00:41:59.500
 his voice

00:41:59.500 --> 00:42:00.840
 and wept

00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:02.300
 what is Esau

00:42:02.300 --> 00:42:03.060
 crying for

00:42:03.060 --> 00:42:03.960
 he's not crying

00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:05.300
 for repentance

00:42:05.300 --> 00:42:06.900
 he's crying

00:42:06.900 --> 00:42:07.960
 for the blessing

00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:09.000
 Esau never

00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:09.580
 repents

00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:13.819
 he had no

00:42:13.819 --> 00:42:14.559
 chance to

00:42:14.559 --> 00:42:14.880
 repent

00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:15.699
 or more

00:42:15.699 --> 00:42:16.000
 literally

00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:16.880
 no place

00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:17.360
 to repent

00:42:17.360 --> 00:42:17.880
 as the

00:42:17.880 --> 00:42:18.420
 NASB

00:42:18.420 --> 00:42:19.000
 translates

00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:20.900
 he never

00:42:20.900 --> 00:42:21.380
 repents

00:42:21.380 --> 00:42:22.159
 he's unable

00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:22.699
 to come

00:42:22.699 --> 00:42:23.380
 to repentance

00:42:23.380 --> 00:42:28.679
 so then

00:42:28.679 --> 00:42:29.259
 if you are

00:42:29.259 --> 00:42:29.579
 wondering

00:42:29.579 --> 00:42:29.940
 whether you

00:42:29.940 --> 00:42:30.480
 have committed

00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:31.079
 the unforgivable

00:42:31.079 --> 00:42:31.460
 sin

00:42:31.460 --> 00:42:32.500
 my exhortation

00:42:32.500 --> 00:42:32.920
 to you

00:42:32.920 --> 00:42:33.719
 is repent

00:42:33.719 --> 00:42:34.840
 of your

00:42:34.840 --> 00:42:35.219
 rebellion

00:42:35.219 --> 00:42:35.880
 against God

00:42:35.880 --> 00:42:39.780
 repent

00:42:39.780 --> 00:42:40.440
 of your

00:42:40.440 --> 00:42:40.800
 denial

00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:41.400
 of Christ

00:42:41.400 --> 00:42:42.140
 repent

00:42:42.140 --> 00:42:42.820
 of your

00:42:42.820 --> 00:42:43.300
 sins

00:42:43.300 --> 00:42:44.840
 as Acts

00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:45.240
 3 9

00:42:45.240 --> 00:42:45.420
 says

00:42:45.420 --> 00:42:45.920
 repent

00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:46.400
 therefore

00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:46.920
 and turn

00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:47.200
 back

00:42:47.200 --> 00:42:47.579
 that your

00:42:47.579 --> 00:42:48.079
 sins

00:42:48.079 --> 00:42:48.820
 may be

00:42:48.820 --> 00:42:49.280
 blotted

00:42:49.280 --> 00:42:49.599
 out

00:42:49.599 --> 00:42:50.019
 if you

00:42:50.019 --> 00:42:50.420
 repent

00:42:50.420 --> 00:42:50.800
 then there

00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:51.180
 is

00:42:51.180 --> 00:42:51.880
 forgiveness

00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:54.940
 those who

00:42:54.940 --> 00:42:55.640
 blaspheme

00:42:55.640 --> 00:42:56.000
 the Holy

00:42:56.000 --> 00:42:56.300
 Spirit

00:42:56.300 --> 00:42:57.079
 decisively

00:42:57.079 --> 00:42:57.720
 turn away

00:42:57.720 --> 00:42:58.160
 from God

00:42:58.160 --> 00:42:58.680
 despite

00:42:58.680 --> 00:42:59.140
 their

00:42:59.140 --> 00:42:59.700
 experience

00:42:59.700 --> 00:43:00.019
 of him

00:43:00.019 --> 00:43:00.280
 and there

00:43:00.280 --> 00:43:00.380
 is

00:43:00.380 --> 00:43:00.760
 nothing

00:43:00.760 --> 00:43:01.039
 that

00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:01.200
 can

00:43:01.200 --> 00:43:01.480
 restore

00:43:01.480 --> 00:43:01.660
 them

00:43:01.660 --> 00:43:01.900
 to

00:43:01.900 --> 00:43:02.460
 repentance

00:43:02.460 --> 00:43:03.180
 they

00:43:03.180 --> 00:43:03.640
 cannot

00:43:03.640 --> 00:43:04.300
 and will

00:43:04.300 --> 00:43:04.539
 not

00:43:04.539 --> 00:43:04.920
 repent

00:43:04.920 --> 00:43:05.700
 so you

00:43:05.699 --> 00:43:06.199
 repent

00:43:06.199 --> 00:43:07.000
 if you

00:43:07.000 --> 00:43:07.319
 do

00:43:07.319 --> 00:43:07.519
 you

00:43:07.519 --> 00:43:07.679
 can

00:43:07.679 --> 00:43:07.819
 be

00:43:07.819 --> 00:43:08.239
 assured

00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:08.639
 of

00:43:08.639 --> 00:43:08.960
 the

00:43:08.960 --> 00:43:09.339
 forgiveness

00:43:09.339 --> 00:43:09.599
 of

00:43:09.599 --> 00:43:09.960
 Christ

00:43:09.960 --> 00:43:14.739
 and

00:43:14.739 --> 00:43:15.000
 those

00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:15.279
 who

00:43:15.279 --> 00:43:15.599
 by

00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:15.939
 all

00:43:15.939 --> 00:43:16.480
 external

00:43:16.480 --> 00:43:17.059
 appearances

00:43:17.059 --> 00:43:17.480
 seem

00:43:17.480 --> 00:43:17.719
 like

00:43:17.719 --> 00:43:18.199
 deviled

00:43:18.199 --> 00:43:18.759
 followers

00:43:18.759 --> 00:43:19.019
 of

00:43:19.019 --> 00:43:19.419
 God

00:43:19.419 --> 00:43:20.019
 like

00:43:20.019 --> 00:43:20.239
 the

00:43:20.239 --> 00:43:20.779
 Pharisees

00:43:20.779 --> 00:43:20.899
 and

00:43:20.899 --> 00:43:21.059
 the

00:43:21.059 --> 00:43:21.559
 scribes

00:43:21.559 --> 00:43:21.960
 can

00:43:21.960 --> 00:43:22.559
 so

00:43:22.559 --> 00:43:23.059
 harden

00:43:23.059 --> 00:43:23.339
 their

00:43:23.339 --> 00:43:23.719
 hearts

00:43:23.719 --> 00:43:24.119
 that

00:43:24.119 --> 00:43:24.299
 they

00:43:24.299 --> 00:43:24.799
 blaspheme

00:43:24.799 --> 00:43:24.919
 the

00:43:24.919 --> 00:43:25.119
 Holy

00:43:25.119 --> 00:43:25.439
 Spirit

00:43:25.439 --> 00:43:25.579
 and

00:43:25.579 --> 00:43:25.719
 never

00:43:25.719 --> 00:43:26.119
 repent

00:43:26.119 --> 00:43:28.480
 that's

00:43:28.480 --> 00:43:28.679
 why we

00:43:28.679 --> 00:43:28.839
 have

00:43:28.839 --> 00:43:28.960
 the

00:43:28.960 --> 00:43:29.099
 book

00:43:29.099 --> 00:43:29.219
 of

00:43:29.219 --> 00:43:29.519
 Hebrews

00:43:29.519 --> 00:43:31.159
 the

00:43:31.159 --> 00:43:31.339
 whole

00:43:31.339 --> 00:43:31.619
 thing

00:43:31.619 --> 00:43:31.779
 is

00:43:31.779 --> 00:43:32.039
 about

00:43:32.039 --> 00:43:32.399
 warning

00:43:32.399 --> 00:43:32.819
 believers

00:43:32.819 --> 00:43:33.199
 against

00:43:33.199 --> 00:43:33.799
 apostasy

00:43:33.799 --> 00:43:33.960
 and

00:43:33.960 --> 00:43:34.539
 persevering

00:43:34.539 --> 00:43:34.679
 to

00:43:34.679 --> 00:43:34.819
 the

00:43:34.819 --> 00:43:35.099
 end

00:43:35.099 --> 00:43:36.519
 true

00:43:36.519 --> 00:43:37.019
 Christians

00:43:37.019 --> 00:43:37.239
 are

00:43:37.239 --> 00:43:37.559
 those

00:43:37.559 --> 00:43:37.719
 who

00:43:37.719 --> 00:43:38.360
 persevere

00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:38.679
 in

00:43:38.679 --> 00:43:39.099
 faith

00:43:39.099 --> 00:43:39.219
 and

00:43:39.219 --> 00:43:39.659
 obedience

00:43:39.659 --> 00:43:40.219
 until

00:43:40.219 --> 00:43:40.739
 the

00:43:40.739 --> 00:43:41.159
 end

00:43:41.159 --> 00:43:45.139
 that's

00:43:45.139 --> 00:43:45.380
 what we

00:43:45.380 --> 00:43:45.839
 are told

00:43:45.839 --> 00:43:46.000
 in

00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:46.179
 Hebrews

00:43:46.179 --> 00:43:46.360
 to

00:43:46.360 --> 00:43:46.880
 exhort

00:43:46.880 --> 00:43:47.099
 one

00:43:47.099 --> 00:43:47.480
 another

00:43:47.480 --> 00:43:48.259
 every

00:43:48.259 --> 00:43:48.719
 day

00:43:48.719 --> 00:43:49.719
 as long

00:43:49.719 --> 00:43:50.059
 as it is

00:43:50.059 --> 00:43:50.239
 called

00:43:50.239 --> 00:43:50.500
 today

00:43:50.500 --> 00:43:50.799
 so that

00:43:50.799 --> 00:43:51.059
 none

00:43:51.059 --> 00:43:51.299
 of us

00:43:51.299 --> 00:43:51.539
 may be

00:43:51.539 --> 00:43:51.819
 hardened

00:43:51.819 --> 00:43:52.199
 by the

00:43:52.199 --> 00:43:52.679
 deceitfulness

00:43:52.679 --> 00:43:53.239
 of sin

00:43:53.239 --> 00:43:54.159
 for if

00:43:54.159 --> 00:43:54.440
 we have

00:43:54.440 --> 00:43:55.119
 come to

00:43:55.119 --> 00:43:56.000
 share

00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:56.159
 in

00:43:56.159 --> 00:43:56.619
 Christ

00:43:56.619 --> 00:43:58.159
 we

00:43:58.159 --> 00:43:58.440
 have

00:43:58.440 --> 00:43:58.739
 come to

00:43:58.739 --> 00:43:58.880
 share

00:43:58.880 --> 00:43:59.019
 in

00:43:59.019 --> 00:43:59.279
 Christ

00:43:59.279 --> 00:43:59.940
 if

00:43:59.940 --> 00:44:01.159
 indeed

00:44:01.159 --> 00:44:02.039
 we hold

00:44:02.039 --> 00:44:02.440
 our

00:44:02.440 --> 00:44:03.039
 original

00:44:03.039 --> 00:44:03.659
 confidence

00:44:03.659 --> 00:44:04.199
 firm to

00:44:04.199 --> 00:44:04.739
 the end

00:44:04.739 --> 00:44:06.839
 we need

00:44:06.839 --> 00:44:07.259
 each other

00:44:07.259 --> 00:44:07.579
 we need to

00:44:07.579 --> 00:44:08.199
 exhort each

00:44:08.199 --> 00:44:08.359
 other

00:44:08.359 --> 00:44:08.759
 because the

00:44:08.759 --> 00:44:09.339
 deceitfulness

00:44:09.339 --> 00:44:09.879
 of sin

00:44:09.879 --> 00:44:10.519
 can seep

00:44:10.519 --> 00:44:10.799
 in

00:44:10.799 --> 00:44:11.299
 it can

00:44:11.299 --> 00:44:11.739
 harden

00:44:11.739 --> 00:44:12.439
 our hearts

00:44:12.439 --> 00:44:13.139
 gradually

00:44:13.139 --> 00:44:13.659
 until we

00:44:13.659 --> 00:44:14.039
 are weaned

00:44:14.039 --> 00:44:14.799
 away from

00:44:14.799 --> 00:44:15.819
 the love

00:44:15.819 --> 00:44:16.239
 of Christ

00:44:16.239 --> 00:44:16.960
 altogether

00:44:16.960 --> 00:44:19.539
 all true

00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:20.059
 Christians

00:44:20.059 --> 00:44:20.719
 persevere

00:44:20.719 --> 00:44:21.279
 to the end

00:44:21.279 --> 00:44:22.239
 God

00:44:22.239 --> 00:44:22.799
 guarantees

00:44:22.799 --> 00:44:23.079
 that

00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:24.259
 he holds

00:44:24.259 --> 00:44:24.879
 us fast

00:44:24.879 --> 00:44:27.019
 but we

00:44:27.019 --> 00:44:27.460
 don't have

00:44:27.460 --> 00:44:27.960
 God's

00:44:27.960 --> 00:44:28.759
 perfect

00:44:28.759 --> 00:44:30.059
 omniscient

00:44:30.059 --> 00:44:30.619
 perspective

00:44:30.619 --> 00:44:32.380
 so

00:44:32.380 --> 00:44:32.699
 our

00:44:32.699 --> 00:44:33.099
 job

00:44:33.099 --> 00:44:33.519
 is to

00:44:33.519 --> 00:44:33.859
 grow

00:44:33.859 --> 00:44:34.059
 in

00:44:34.059 --> 00:44:34.179
 our

00:44:34.179 --> 00:44:34.759
 assurance

00:44:34.759 --> 00:44:34.960
 of

00:44:34.960 --> 00:44:35.440
 salvation

00:44:35.440 --> 00:44:36.319
 by

00:44:36.319 --> 00:44:37.099
 growing

00:44:37.099 --> 00:44:37.319
 in

00:44:37.319 --> 00:44:37.480
 our

00:44:37.480 --> 00:44:38.199
 perseverance

00:44:38.199 --> 00:44:39.099
 in

00:44:39.099 --> 00:44:39.359
 faith

00:44:39.359 --> 00:44:39.480
 and

00:44:39.480 --> 00:44:39.940
 obedience

00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:43.559
 but as

00:44:43.559 --> 00:44:44.019
 he did

00:44:44.019 --> 00:44:44.219
 in the

00:44:44.219 --> 00:44:44.619
 preceding

00:44:44.619 --> 00:44:44.980
 verses

00:44:44.980 --> 00:44:45.619
 after

00:44:45.619 --> 00:44:45.960
 stern

00:44:45.960 --> 00:44:46.279
 warning

00:44:46.279 --> 00:44:46.579
 Jesus

00:44:46.579 --> 00:44:47.039
 gives

00:44:47.039 --> 00:44:47.179
 us

00:44:47.179 --> 00:44:47.319
 a

00:44:47.319 --> 00:44:47.779
 comforting

00:44:47.779 --> 00:44:48.299
 assurance

00:44:48.299 --> 00:44:48.480
 in

00:44:48.480 --> 00:44:48.699
 verses

00:44:48.699 --> 00:44:49.059
 11

00:44:49.059 --> 00:44:49.219
 to

00:44:49.219 --> 00:44:49.599
 12

00:44:49.599 --> 00:44:51.199
 and

00:44:51.199 --> 00:44:51.440
 when

00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:51.639
 they

00:44:51.639 --> 00:44:51.940
 bring

00:44:51.940 --> 00:44:52.099
 you

00:44:52.099 --> 00:44:52.420
 before

00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:52.639
 the

00:44:52.639 --> 00:44:53.199
 synagogues

00:44:53.199 --> 00:44:53.299
 and

00:44:53.299 --> 00:44:53.420
 the

00:44:53.420 --> 00:44:53.699
 rulers

00:44:53.699 --> 00:44:53.880
 and

00:44:53.880 --> 00:44:54.000
 the

00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:54.420
 authorities

00:44:54.420 --> 00:44:54.659
 do

00:44:54.659 --> 00:44:54.920
 not

00:44:54.920 --> 00:44:55.139
 be

00:44:55.139 --> 00:44:55.480
 anxious

00:44:55.480 --> 00:44:55.739
 about

00:44:55.739 --> 00:44:55.960
 how

00:44:55.960 --> 00:44:56.159
 you

00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:56.319
 should

00:44:56.319 --> 00:44:56.699
 defend

00:44:56.699 --> 00:44:57.099
 yourself

00:44:57.099 --> 00:44:57.360
 or

00:44:57.360 --> 00:44:57.599
 what

00:44:57.599 --> 00:44:57.779
 you

00:44:57.779 --> 00:44:57.960
 should

00:44:57.960 --> 00:44:58.279
 say

00:44:58.279 --> 00:44:58.719
 for

00:44:58.719 --> 00:44:58.860
 the

00:44:58.860 --> 00:44:59.079
 Holy

00:44:59.079 --> 00:44:59.440
 Spirit

00:44:59.440 --> 00:44:59.639
 will

00:44:59.639 --> 00:44:59.960
 teach

00:44:59.960 --> 00:45:00.079
 you

00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:00.179
 in

00:45:00.179 --> 00:45:00.319
 that

00:45:00.319 --> 00:45:00.559
 very

00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:00.900
 hour

00:45:00.900 --> 00:45:01.159
 what

00:45:01.159 --> 00:45:01.360
 you

00:45:01.360 --> 00:45:01.579
 ought

00:45:01.579 --> 00:45:01.739
 to

00:45:01.739 --> 00:45:02.019
 say

00:45:02.019 --> 00:45:04.279
 so

00:45:04.279 --> 00:45:04.460
 when

00:45:04.460 --> 00:45:04.539
 you

00:45:04.539 --> 00:45:04.639
 are

00:45:04.639 --> 00:45:05.019
 arrested

00:45:05.019 --> 00:45:05.259
 for

00:45:05.259 --> 00:45:05.500
 bearing

00:45:05.500 --> 00:45:05.759
 witness

00:45:05.759 --> 00:45:05.920
 to

00:45:05.920 --> 00:45:06.179
 Jesus

00:45:06.179 --> 00:45:06.460
 and

00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.699
 brought

00:45:06.699 --> 00:45:06.920
 to

00:45:06.920 --> 00:45:07.239
 jail

00:45:07.239 --> 00:45:07.739
 brought

00:45:07.739 --> 00:45:07.920
 to

00:45:07.920 --> 00:45:08.239
 trial

00:45:08.239 --> 00:45:08.480
 for

00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:08.799
 before

00:45:08.799 --> 00:45:09.019
 the

00:45:09.019 --> 00:45:09.299
 rulers

00:45:09.299 --> 00:45:09.460
 and

00:45:09.460 --> 00:45:09.860
 authorities

00:45:09.860 --> 00:45:10.339
 he

00:45:10.339 --> 00:45:10.480
 says

00:45:10.480 --> 00:45:10.880
 don't

00:45:10.880 --> 00:45:11.059
 be

00:45:11.059 --> 00:45:11.420
 anxious

00:45:19.599 --> 00:45:20.000
 spirit

00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:20.179
 of

00:45:20.179 --> 00:45:20.500
 God

00:45:20.500 --> 00:45:20.900
 the

00:45:20.900 --> 00:45:21.219
 spirit

00:45:21.219 --> 00:45:21.900
 himself

00:45:21.900 --> 00:45:22.299
 will

00:45:22.299 --> 00:45:22.799
 help

00:45:22.799 --> 00:45:23.079
 you

00:45:23.079 --> 00:45:23.500
 and

00:45:23.500 --> 00:45:24.019
 speak

00:45:24.019 --> 00:45:24.460
 through

00:45:24.460 --> 00:45:24.819
 you

00:45:24.819 --> 00:45:25.239
 rather

00:45:25.239 --> 00:45:25.480
 than

00:45:25.480 --> 00:45:25.699
 you

00:45:25.699 --> 00:45:26.059
 speaking

00:45:26.059 --> 00:45:26.400
 against

00:45:26.400 --> 00:45:26.539
 the

00:45:26.539 --> 00:45:26.699
 Holy

00:45:26.699 --> 00:45:27.059
 Spirit

00:45:27.059 --> 00:45:29.059
 this

00:45:29.059 --> 00:45:29.259
 is a

00:45:29.259 --> 00:45:29.599
 wonderful

00:45:29.599 --> 00:45:30.019
 promise

00:45:30.019 --> 00:45:30.139
 and

00:45:30.139 --> 00:45:30.259
 we

00:45:30.259 --> 00:45:30.420
 see

00:45:30.420 --> 00:45:30.599
 it's

00:45:30.599 --> 00:45:31.039
 fulfillment

00:45:31.039 --> 00:45:31.380
 throughout

00:45:31.380 --> 00:45:31.559
 the

00:45:31.559 --> 00:45:31.719
 book

00:45:31.719 --> 00:45:31.880
 of

00:45:31.880 --> 00:45:32.299
 Acts

00:45:32.299 --> 00:45:33.259
 in

00:45:33.259 --> 00:45:33.519
 Acts

00:45:33.519 --> 00:45:33.799
 chapter

00:45:33.799 --> 00:45:34.119
 4

00:45:34.119 --> 00:45:34.559
 Peter

00:45:34.559 --> 00:45:34.819
 who

00:45:34.819 --> 00:45:34.960
 had

00:45:34.960 --> 00:45:35.279
 formally

00:45:35.279 --> 00:45:35.699
 denied

00:45:35.699 --> 00:45:36.119
 Jesus

00:45:36.119 --> 00:45:36.500
 three

00:45:36.500 --> 00:45:37.139
 times

00:45:37.139 --> 00:45:37.739
 is

00:45:37.739 --> 00:45:38.059
 taken

00:45:38.059 --> 00:45:38.259
 to

00:45:38.259 --> 00:45:38.400
 the

00:45:38.400 --> 00:45:38.839
 authorities

00:45:38.839 --> 00:45:39.139
 and

00:45:39.139 --> 00:45:39.400
 placed

00:45:39.400 --> 00:45:39.579
 on

00:45:39.579 --> 00:45:39.980
 trial

00:45:39.980 --> 00:45:40.839
 and

00:45:40.839 --> 00:45:40.980
 he

00:45:40.980 --> 00:45:41.219
 says

00:45:41.219 --> 00:45:41.380
 there

00:45:41.380 --> 00:45:41.519
 is

00:45:41.519 --> 00:45:41.799
 no

00:45:41.799 --> 00:45:42.099
 other

00:45:42.099 --> 00:45:42.400
 name

00:45:42.400 --> 00:45:42.639
 under

00:45:42.639 --> 00:45:42.940
 heaven

00:45:42.940 --> 00:45:43.199
 given

00:45:43.199 --> 00:45:43.400
 to

00:45:43.400 --> 00:45:43.719
 mankind

00:45:43.719 --> 00:45:44.079
 by

00:45:44.079 --> 00:45:44.279
 which

00:45:44.279 --> 00:45:44.380
 we

00:45:44.380 --> 00:45:44.539
 must

00:45:44.539 --> 00:45:44.719
 be

00:45:44.719 --> 00:45:45.139
 saved

00:45:45.139 --> 00:45:45.880
 Jesus

00:45:45.880 --> 00:45:46.300
 alone

00:45:46.300 --> 00:45:46.460
 is

00:45:46.460 --> 00:45:46.579
 your

00:45:46.579 --> 00:45:46.840
 hope

00:45:46.840 --> 00:45:47.639
 and

00:45:47.639 --> 00:45:47.800
 then

00:45:47.800 --> 00:45:47.960
 when

00:45:47.960 --> 00:45:48.119
 they

00:45:48.119 --> 00:45:48.480
 threaten

00:45:48.480 --> 00:45:48.659
 him

00:45:48.659 --> 00:45:48.800
 and

00:45:48.800 --> 00:45:49.099
 charge

00:45:49.099 --> 00:45:49.259
 him

00:45:49.259 --> 00:45:49.480
 never

00:45:49.480 --> 00:45:49.679
 to

00:45:49.679 --> 00:45:49.960
 speak

00:45:49.960 --> 00:45:50.059
 in

00:45:50.059 --> 00:45:50.139
 the

00:45:50.139 --> 00:45:50.239
 name

00:45:50.239 --> 00:45:50.340
 of

00:45:50.340 --> 00:45:50.519
 Jesus

00:45:50.519 --> 00:45:50.940
 again

00:45:50.940 --> 00:45:51.420
 he

00:45:51.420 --> 00:45:51.679
 says

00:45:51.679 --> 00:45:51.900
 you

00:45:51.900 --> 00:45:52.239
 tell

00:45:52.239 --> 00:45:52.440
 me

00:45:52.440 --> 00:45:52.619
 whether

00:45:52.619 --> 00:45:52.820
 I

00:45:52.820 --> 00:45:52.960
 should

00:45:52.960 --> 00:45:53.259
 obey

00:45:53.259 --> 00:45:53.599
 man

00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:53.739
 or

00:45:53.739 --> 00:45:54.019
 obey

00:45:54.019 --> 00:45:54.400
 God

00:45:54.400 --> 00:45:55.500
 and

00:45:55.500 --> 00:45:55.619
 he

00:45:55.619 --> 00:45:56.179
 continues

00:45:56.179 --> 00:45:56.380
 to

00:45:56.380 --> 00:45:56.539
 go

00:45:56.539 --> 00:45:56.739
 on

00:45:56.739 --> 00:45:57.119
 preaching

00:45:57.119 --> 00:45:58.559
 that's

00:45:58.559 --> 00:45:58.779
 the

00:45:58.779 --> 00:45:59.159
 power

00:45:59.159 --> 00:45:59.320
 of

00:45:59.320 --> 00:45:59.480
 the

00:45:59.480 --> 00:45:59.759
 spirit

00:45:59.759 --> 00:45:59.940
 to

00:45:59.940 --> 00:46:00.380
 embolden

00:46:00.380 --> 00:46:00.659
 his

00:46:00.659 --> 00:46:01.159
 disciples

00:46:01.159 --> 00:46:01.380
 and

00:46:01.380 --> 00:46:01.539
 to

00:46:01.539 --> 00:46:01.779
 give

00:46:01.779 --> 00:46:02.079
 them

00:46:02.079 --> 00:46:03.159
 assurance

00:46:03.159 --> 00:46:06.960
 sometimes

00:46:06.960 --> 00:46:07.279
 in a

00:46:07.279 --> 00:46:07.599
 passage

00:46:07.599 --> 00:46:07.880
 like

00:46:07.880 --> 00:46:08.119
 this

00:46:08.119 --> 00:46:08.259
 we

00:46:08.259 --> 00:46:08.380
 can

00:46:08.380 --> 00:46:08.519
 get

00:46:08.519 --> 00:46:08.840
 stuck

00:46:08.840 --> 00:46:09.019
 on

00:46:09.019 --> 00:46:09.159
 our

00:46:09.159 --> 00:46:09.559
 high

00:46:09.559 --> 00:46:10.299
 obligations

00:46:10.299 --> 00:46:10.599
 and

00:46:10.599 --> 00:46:10.820
 miss

00:46:10.820 --> 00:46:11.000
 the

00:46:11.000 --> 00:46:11.219
 even

00:46:11.219 --> 00:46:11.799
 loftier

00:46:11.799 --> 00:46:12.320
 promises

00:46:12.320 --> 00:46:12.539
 of

00:46:12.539 --> 00:46:12.759
 God

00:46:12.759 --> 00:46:12.920
 but

00:46:12.920 --> 00:46:13.000
 I

00:46:13.000 --> 00:46:13.079
 want

00:46:13.079 --> 00:46:13.159
 to

00:46:13.159 --> 00:46:13.519
 remind

00:46:13.519 --> 00:46:13.719
 you

00:46:13.719 --> 00:46:13.920
 of

00:46:13.920 --> 00:46:14.279
 these

00:46:14.279 --> 00:46:14.980
 lofty

00:46:14.980 --> 00:46:15.420
 promises

00:46:15.420 --> 00:46:19.259
 don't

00:46:19.259 --> 00:46:19.539
 fear

00:46:19.539 --> 00:46:19.880
 men

00:46:19.880 --> 00:46:20.840
 though

00:46:20.840 --> 00:46:20.980
 they

00:46:20.980 --> 00:46:21.179
 might

00:46:21.179 --> 00:46:21.679
 persecute

00:46:21.679 --> 00:46:21.820
 and

00:46:21.820 --> 00:46:22.019
 kill

00:46:22.019 --> 00:46:22.159
 you

00:46:22.159 --> 00:46:22.400
 because

00:46:22.400 --> 00:46:22.559
 of

00:46:22.559 --> 00:46:22.679
 your

00:46:22.679 --> 00:46:23.039
 allegiance

00:46:23.039 --> 00:46:23.340
 to

00:46:23.340 --> 00:46:23.719
 Christ

00:46:23.719 --> 00:46:24.239
 that's

00:46:24.239 --> 00:46:24.360
 the

00:46:24.360 --> 00:46:24.679
 command

00:46:24.679 --> 00:46:25.920
 but

00:46:25.920 --> 00:46:26.139
 here's

00:46:26.139 --> 00:46:26.279
 the

00:46:26.279 --> 00:46:26.779
 comfort

00:46:26.779 --> 00:46:28.219
 God

00:46:28.219 --> 00:46:28.440
 the

00:46:28.440 --> 00:46:28.820
 father

00:46:28.820 --> 00:46:29.119
 is

00:46:29.119 --> 00:46:29.320
 the

00:46:29.320 --> 00:46:29.900
 ultimate

00:46:29.900 --> 00:46:30.539
 eternal

00:46:30.539 --> 00:46:31.019
 judge

00:46:31.019 --> 00:46:31.259
 and

00:46:31.259 --> 00:46:31.699
 he

00:46:31.699 --> 00:46:32.139
 who

00:46:32.139 --> 00:46:32.279
 is

00:46:32.279 --> 00:46:32.400
 the

00:46:32.400 --> 00:46:32.960
 cosmic

00:46:32.960 --> 00:46:33.400
 ruler

00:46:33.400 --> 00:46:33.699
 of

00:46:33.699 --> 00:46:33.860
 the

00:46:33.860 --> 00:46:34.440
 universe

00:46:34.440 --> 00:46:35.099
 is

00:46:35.099 --> 00:46:35.460
 not

00:46:35.460 --> 00:46:35.960
 too

00:46:35.960 --> 00:46:37.059
 preoccupied

00:46:37.059 --> 00:46:37.480
 with

00:46:37.480 --> 00:46:37.840
 running

00:46:37.840 --> 00:46:38.039
 the

00:46:38.039 --> 00:46:38.400
 world

00:46:38.400 --> 00:46:38.759
 to

00:46:38.759 --> 00:46:39.099
 forget

00:46:39.099 --> 00:46:39.400
 about

00:46:39.400 --> 00:46:39.720
 you

00:46:39.720 --> 00:46:42.619
 he

00:46:42.619 --> 00:46:42.920
 has

00:46:42.920 --> 00:46:43.079
 the

00:46:43.079 --> 00:46:43.340
 hairs

00:46:43.340 --> 00:46:43.519
 of

00:46:43.519 --> 00:46:43.619
 your

00:46:43.619 --> 00:46:43.860
 head

00:46:43.860 --> 00:46:44.320
 numbered

00:46:44.320 --> 00:46:44.980
 he

00:46:44.980 --> 00:46:45.139
 will

00:46:45.139 --> 00:46:45.500
 never

00:46:45.500 --> 00:46:46.019
 forsake

00:46:46.019 --> 00:46:46.740
 you

00:46:46.740 --> 00:46:49.720
 don't

00:46:49.720 --> 00:46:50.000
 deny

00:46:50.000 --> 00:46:50.360
 Christ

00:46:50.360 --> 00:46:50.639
 before

00:46:50.639 --> 00:46:50.960
 men

00:46:50.960 --> 00:46:51.840
 if

00:46:51.840 --> 00:46:51.960
 you

00:46:51.960 --> 00:46:52.119
 do

00:46:52.119 --> 00:46:52.260
 you

00:46:52.260 --> 00:46:52.360
 will

00:46:52.360 --> 00:46:52.460
 be

00:46:52.460 --> 00:46:53.039
 denied

00:46:53.039 --> 00:46:53.260
 by

00:46:53.260 --> 00:46:53.460
 him

00:46:53.460 --> 00:46:53.599
 on

00:46:53.599 --> 00:46:53.880
 judgment

00:46:53.880 --> 00:46:54.099
 day

00:46:54.099 --> 00:46:54.380
 that's

00:46:54.380 --> 00:46:54.500
 the

00:46:54.500 --> 00:46:54.920
 command

00:46:54.920 --> 00:46:55.579
 but

00:46:55.579 --> 00:46:55.840
 here's

00:46:55.840 --> 00:46:55.980
 the

00:46:55.980 --> 00:46:56.539
 comfort

00:46:56.539 --> 00:46:57.300
 if

00:46:57.300 --> 00:46:57.440
 you

00:46:57.440 --> 00:46:57.960
 acknowledge

00:46:57.960 --> 00:46:58.519
 Christ

00:46:58.519 --> 00:46:58.980
 before

00:46:58.980 --> 00:46:59.619
 feeble

00:46:59.619 --> 00:47:00.139
 fickle

00:47:00.139 --> 00:47:00.500
 men

00:47:00.500 --> 00:47:01.480
 Christ

00:47:01.480 --> 00:47:01.700
 will

00:47:01.700 --> 00:47:02.099
 acknowledge

00:47:02.099 --> 00:47:02.240
 you

00:47:02.240 --> 00:47:02.480
 before

00:47:02.480 --> 00:47:02.700
 the

00:47:02.700 --> 00:47:03.200
 angels

00:47:03.200 --> 00:47:03.420
 of

00:47:03.420 --> 00:47:03.820
 God

00:47:03.820 --> 00:47:04.700
 before

00:47:04.700 --> 00:47:05.059
 the

00:47:05.059 --> 00:47:05.400
 throne

00:47:05.400 --> 00:47:05.639
 of

00:47:05.639 --> 00:47:06.099
 God

00:47:06.099 --> 00:47:06.760
 himself

00:47:06.760 --> 00:47:07.460
 Christ

00:47:07.460 --> 00:47:07.680
 will

00:47:07.680 --> 00:47:07.840
 be

00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:08.079
 your

00:47:08.079 --> 00:47:08.940
 unfailing

00:47:08.940 --> 00:47:09.599
 and

00:47:09.599 --> 00:47:10.619
 unchanging

00:47:10.619 --> 00:47:11.539
 advocate

00:47:11.539 --> 00:47:13.659
 we're

00:47:13.659 --> 00:47:14.099
 sinful

00:47:14.099 --> 00:47:14.420
 and

00:47:14.420 --> 00:47:14.940
 unworthy

00:47:14.940 --> 00:47:15.320
 and if

00:47:15.320 --> 00:47:15.420
 you

00:47:15.420 --> 00:47:15.780
 imagine

00:47:15.780 --> 00:47:16.220
 on the

00:47:16.220 --> 00:47:16.400
 day

00:47:16.400 --> 00:47:16.539
 of

00:47:16.539 --> 00:47:16.860
 judgment

00:47:16.860 --> 00:47:17.400
 we stand

00:47:17.400 --> 00:47:17.760
 before

00:47:17.760 --> 00:47:17.960
 the

00:47:17.960 --> 00:47:18.740
 all-knowing

00:47:18.740 --> 00:47:19.159
 eyes

00:47:19.159 --> 00:47:19.340
 of

00:47:19.340 --> 00:47:19.700
 God

00:47:19.700 --> 00:47:20.400
 we're

00:47:20.400 --> 00:47:20.780
 going to

00:47:20.780 --> 00:47:21.099
 feel

00:47:21.099 --> 00:47:21.460
 very

00:47:21.460 --> 00:47:22.240
 exposed

00:47:22.240 --> 00:47:23.119
 we're

00:47:23.119 --> 00:47:23.400
 going to

00:47:23.400 --> 00:47:23.700
 feel

00:47:23.700 --> 00:47:24.119
 naked

00:47:24.119 --> 00:47:28.119
 and

00:47:28.119 --> 00:47:28.400
 Satan

00:47:28.400 --> 00:47:28.420
 and Satan

00:47:28.420 --> 00:47:28.579
 the

00:47:28.579 --> 00:47:28.920
 accuser

00:47:28.920 --> 00:47:29.139
 will

00:47:29.139 --> 00:47:29.460
 surely

00:47:29.460 --> 00:47:29.759
 point

00:47:29.759 --> 00:47:29.900
 at

00:47:29.900 --> 00:47:30.059
 us

00:47:30.059 --> 00:47:30.159
 and

00:47:30.159 --> 00:47:30.299
 say

00:47:30.299 --> 00:47:30.500
 well

00:47:30.500 --> 00:47:30.659
 you

00:47:30.659 --> 00:47:30.960
 see

00:47:30.960 --> 00:47:31.179
 all

00:47:31.179 --> 00:47:31.359
 his

00:47:31.359 --> 00:47:31.679
 sins

00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:33.199
 you

00:47:33.199 --> 00:47:33.519
 see

00:47:33.519 --> 00:47:33.880
 all

00:47:33.880 --> 00:47:34.199
 her

00:47:34.199 --> 00:47:34.839
 shortcomings

00:47:34.839 --> 00:47:38.139
 but

00:47:38.139 --> 00:47:38.599
 Jesus

00:47:38.599 --> 00:47:39.099
 will

00:47:39.099 --> 00:47:39.420
 stick

00:47:39.420 --> 00:47:39.659
 out

00:47:39.659 --> 00:47:39.900
 his

00:47:39.900 --> 00:47:40.139
 neck

00:47:40.139 --> 00:47:40.359
 for

00:47:40.359 --> 00:47:40.559
 us

00:47:40.559 --> 00:47:40.699
 on

00:47:40.699 --> 00:47:40.900
 that

00:47:40.900 --> 00:47:41.119
 day

00:47:41.119 --> 00:47:43.940
 if

00:47:43.940 --> 00:47:44.099
 you

00:47:44.099 --> 00:47:44.559
 acknowledged

00:47:44.559 --> 00:47:44.900
 him

00:47:44.900 --> 00:47:45.359
 here

00:47:45.359 --> 00:47:45.539
 on

00:47:45.539 --> 00:47:45.779
 earth

00:47:45.779 --> 00:47:46.699
 Christ

00:47:46.699 --> 00:47:47.079
 will

00:47:47.079 --> 00:47:47.339
 say

00:47:47.339 --> 00:47:47.759
 yes

00:47:47.759 --> 00:47:48.099
 that

00:47:48.099 --> 00:47:48.579
 sinful

00:47:48.579 --> 00:47:49.000
 man

00:47:49.000 --> 00:47:49.639
 is

00:47:49.639 --> 00:47:49.920
 a

00:47:49.920 --> 00:47:50.299
 child

00:47:50.299 --> 00:47:50.500
 of

00:47:50.500 --> 00:47:50.839
 God

00:47:50.840 --> 00:47:51.480
 yes

00:47:51.480 --> 00:47:51.780
 that

00:47:51.780 --> 00:47:52.160
 weak

00:47:52.160 --> 00:47:52.539
 woman

00:47:52.539 --> 00:47:53.180
 is

00:47:53.180 --> 00:47:53.360
 a

00:47:53.360 --> 00:47:53.740
 child

00:47:53.740 --> 00:47:53.940
 of

00:47:53.940 --> 00:47:54.200
 God

00:47:54.200 --> 00:47:54.600
 and

00:47:54.600 --> 00:47:54.760
 they

00:47:54.760 --> 00:47:54.900
 are

00:47:54.900 --> 00:47:55.019
 to

00:47:55.019 --> 00:47:55.180
 be

00:47:55.180 --> 00:47:55.600
 counted

00:47:55.600 --> 00:47:56.140
 as

00:47:56.140 --> 00:47:56.680
 righteous

00:47:56.680 --> 00:47:57.320
 in

00:47:57.320 --> 00:47:57.539
 the

00:47:57.539 --> 00:47:57.860
 throne

00:47:57.860 --> 00:47:58.079
 room

00:47:58.079 --> 00:47:58.260
 of

00:47:58.260 --> 00:47:58.420
 God

00:47:58.420 --> 00:47:58.559
 in

00:47:58.559 --> 00:47:58.700
 the

00:47:58.700 --> 00:47:58.980
 heavenly

00:47:58.980 --> 00:47:59.300
 court

00:47:59.300 --> 00:47:59.720
 because

00:47:59.720 --> 00:48:00.120
 I

00:48:00.120 --> 00:48:00.480
 paid

00:48:00.480 --> 00:48:00.640
 for

00:48:00.640 --> 00:48:00.820
 their

00:48:00.820 --> 00:48:01.300
 sins

00:48:01.300 --> 00:48:01.900
 because

00:48:01.900 --> 00:48:02.440
 I

00:48:02.440 --> 00:48:03.240
 clothed

00:48:03.240 --> 00:48:03.400
 them

00:48:03.400 --> 00:48:03.600
 with

00:48:03.600 --> 00:48:03.860
 my

00:48:03.860 --> 00:48:04.300
 righteousness

00:48:04.300 --> 00:48:04.720
 because

00:48:04.720 --> 00:48:05.220
 I

00:48:05.220 --> 00:48:05.920
 washed

00:48:05.920 --> 00:48:06.200
 them

00:48:06.200 --> 00:48:06.620
 with

00:48:06.620 --> 00:48:06.940
 my

00:48:06.940 --> 00:48:07.440
 blood

00:48:07.440 --> 00:48:09.059
 that's

00:48:09.059 --> 00:48:09.240
 the

00:48:09.240 --> 00:48:09.780
 comfort

00:48:09.780 --> 00:48:10.600
 that

00:48:10.600 --> 00:48:10.820
 God

00:48:10.820 --> 00:48:11.340
 gives

00:48:11.340 --> 00:48:11.940
 to

00:48:11.940 --> 00:48:12.200
 people

00:48:12.200 --> 00:48:12.380
 who

00:48:12.380 --> 00:48:12.800
 acknowledge

00:48:12.800 --> 00:48:13.079
 him

00:48:13.079 --> 00:48:13.220
 on

00:48:13.220 --> 00:48:13.360
 earth

00:48:13.360 --> 00:48:17.260
 that's

00:48:17.260 --> 00:48:17.360
 a

00:48:17.360 --> 00:48:17.620
 comfort

00:48:17.620 --> 00:48:17.920
 that I

00:48:17.920 --> 00:48:18.120
 hope

00:48:18.120 --> 00:48:18.519
 to offer

00:48:18.519 --> 00:48:18.980
 to all

00:48:18.980 --> 00:48:19.240
 of you

00:48:19.240 --> 00:48:19.400
 but

00:48:19.400 --> 00:48:19.600
 some

00:48:19.600 --> 00:48:19.820
 of you

00:48:19.820 --> 00:48:19.960
 have

00:48:19.960 --> 00:48:20.200
 not

00:48:20.200 --> 00:48:20.559
 yet

00:48:20.559 --> 00:48:21.000
 put

00:48:21.000 --> 00:48:21.180
 your

00:48:21.180 --> 00:48:21.500
 faith

00:48:21.500 --> 00:48:21.680
 in

00:48:21.680 --> 00:48:21.940
 Jesus

00:48:21.940 --> 00:48:22.320
 Christ

00:48:22.320 --> 00:48:22.960
 and

00:48:22.960 --> 00:48:23.120
 I

00:48:23.120 --> 00:48:23.400
 can't

00:48:23.400 --> 00:48:23.640
 offer

00:48:23.640 --> 00:48:23.860
 you

00:48:23.860 --> 00:48:24.100
 those

00:48:24.100 --> 00:48:25.120
 comforts

00:48:25.120 --> 00:48:25.360
 I

00:48:25.360 --> 00:48:25.519
 want

00:48:25.519 --> 00:48:25.620
 to

00:48:25.620 --> 00:48:25.900
 offer

00:48:25.900 --> 00:48:26.120
 you

00:48:26.120 --> 00:48:26.380
 those

00:48:26.380 --> 00:48:28.120
 comforts

00:48:28.120 --> 00:48:29.760
 confess

00:48:29.760 --> 00:48:30.460
 Jesus

00:48:30.460 --> 00:48:30.900
 Christ

00:48:30.900 --> 00:48:31.340
 today

00:48:31.340 --> 00:48:32.720
 repent

00:48:32.720 --> 00:48:33.100
 of

00:48:33.100 --> 00:48:33.260
 your

00:48:33.260 --> 00:48:33.680
 sins

00:48:33.680 --> 00:48:38.000
 and

00:48:38.000 --> 00:48:38.360
 finally

00:48:38.360 --> 00:48:38.840
 don't

00:48:38.840 --> 00:48:39.460
 blaspheme

00:48:39.460 --> 00:48:39.760
 against

00:48:39.760 --> 00:48:39.900
 the

00:48:39.900 --> 00:48:40.059
 Holy

00:48:40.059 --> 00:48:40.400
 Spirit

00:48:40.400 --> 00:48:40.559
 for

00:48:40.559 --> 00:48:40.760
 there's

00:48:40.760 --> 00:48:40.900
 no

00:48:40.900 --> 00:48:41.340
 repentance

00:48:41.340 --> 00:48:41.660
 and

00:48:41.660 --> 00:48:42.039
 forgiveness

00:48:42.039 --> 00:48:42.440
 beyond

00:48:42.440 --> 00:48:42.680
 that

00:48:42.680 --> 00:48:43.000
 that's

00:48:43.000 --> 00:48:43.160
 the

00:48:43.160 --> 00:48:43.559
 command

00:48:43.559 --> 00:48:44.180
 but

00:48:44.180 --> 00:48:44.420
 here's

00:48:44.420 --> 00:48:44.539
 the

00:48:44.539 --> 00:48:44.900
 comfort

00:48:44.900 --> 00:48:45.140
 the

00:48:45.140 --> 00:48:45.640
 spirit

00:48:45.640 --> 00:48:46.100
 of

00:48:46.100 --> 00:48:46.260
 the

00:48:46.260 --> 00:48:46.500
 living

00:48:46.500 --> 00:48:46.780
 God

00:48:46.780 --> 00:48:47.280
 himself

00:48:47.280 --> 00:48:47.880
 will

00:48:47.880 --> 00:48:48.220
 dwell

00:48:48.220 --> 00:48:48.539
 within

00:48:48.539 --> 00:48:48.920
 you

00:48:48.920 --> 00:48:49.599
 the

00:48:49.599 --> 00:48:49.980
 spirit

00:48:49.980 --> 00:48:50.180
 who

00:48:50.180 --> 00:48:50.680
 directs

00:48:50.680 --> 00:48:50.800
 the

00:48:50.800 --> 00:48:51.200
 course

00:48:51.200 --> 00:48:51.340
 of

00:48:51.340 --> 00:48:51.680
 human

00:48:51.680 --> 00:48:52.220
 history

00:48:52.220 --> 00:48:52.740
 will

00:48:52.740 --> 00:48:53.240
 himself

00:48:53.240 --> 00:48:53.960
 personally

00:48:53.960 --> 00:48:54.680
 guide

00:48:54.680 --> 00:48:55.099
 you

00:48:55.099 --> 00:48:56.119
 step

00:48:56.119 --> 00:48:56.340
 by

00:48:56.340 --> 00:48:56.740
 step

00:48:56.740 --> 00:48:57.000
 and

00:48:57.000 --> 00:48:57.360
 give

00:48:57.360 --> 00:48:57.599
 you

00:48:57.599 --> 00:48:57.800
 the

00:48:57.800 --> 00:48:58.099
 words

00:48:58.099 --> 00:48:58.320
 to

00:48:58.320 --> 00:48:58.659
 say

00:48:58.659 --> 00:49:03.300
 this

00:49:03.300 --> 00:49:03.900
 wonderful

00:49:03.900 --> 00:49:04.320
 promise

00:49:04.320 --> 00:49:04.880
 the fact

00:49:04.880 --> 00:49:05.360
 that all

00:49:05.360 --> 00:49:05.680
 will be

00:49:05.680 --> 00:49:06.200
 revealed

00:49:06.200 --> 00:49:06.860
 and judged

00:49:06.860 --> 00:49:07.460
 by God

00:49:07.460 --> 00:49:08.860
 enables

00:49:08.860 --> 00:49:09.480
 us to be

00:49:09.480 --> 00:49:10.019
 authentic

00:49:10.019 --> 00:49:10.579
 witnesses

00:49:10.579 --> 00:49:11.220
 of Christ

00:49:11.220 --> 00:49:12.500
 even in the

00:49:12.500 --> 00:49:12.880
 midst

00:49:12.880 --> 00:49:13.420
 of

00:49:13.420 --> 00:49:13.900
 persecution

00:49:13.900 --> 00:49:25.960
 of

00:49:25.960 --> 00:49:27.800
 church

00:49:27.800 --> 00:49:29.039
 to

00:49:29.039 --> 00:49:30.720
구

00:49:30.860 --> 00:49:40.360
 to