WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.400 Welcome everyone. Grab a Bible. You'll need Bibles today. Hand out pen. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:47.400 Welcome. Hand out pen and Bible all at the back. Good to see everyone on this gloomy morning. 00:00:47.399 --> 00:01:01.939 Thank you. If you're new to Adult Sunday School, welcome. We're on our second session of being human. 00:01:02.140 --> 00:01:07.219 We're figuring out this term, what it means to be human. What does the Bible teach us about being human? 00:01:08.259 --> 00:01:11.180 I'll do a bit of a recap, but let me pray first. 00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:26.980 Lord God, we know that we are wonderfully and fearfully made by you, that you are our wise creator, 00:01:27.740 --> 00:01:31.219 and that we are not mere animals, but we are something far greater. 00:01:31.219 --> 00:01:37.019 And Lord, would you help us to know who we are, to give us clarity in that, 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:42.239 and to get a vision of how wonderfully and wise you have made us. 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:48.039 And would we know that our lives are made for you. We ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:51.180 So let's do a quick recap. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:55.920 So last week we saw that we are creatures. Human beings are creatures. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:58.340 We're fundamentally made out of dust. 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:04.820 So we are entirely dependent on God for everything, life and breath and everything. 00:02:05.700 --> 00:02:08.340 But also, we are more than just creatures. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:13.500 We are made and designed very different to every other creature. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:20.420 We are the final, the climax of creation, made with extra thought and care. 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:24.480 We are, how do we summarise it, we are the crown of creation. 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:30.000 And we're made, not according to our own kind, like the other creatures. 00:02:30.379 --> 00:02:33.719 You know, they were made after their own kind, after their own kind, according to their own kind. 00:02:33.899 --> 00:02:37.899 But we are made according to another kind. We're made according to God. 00:02:38.539 --> 00:02:42.719 We're made in his image, in his likeness. We reflect and represent God. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:50.560 And how do we do that? Well, we reflect him in that we are made in knowledge and righteousness and holiness. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:54.800 So to be an image means we are rational creatures made in knowledge. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:59.560 We can know God and his law and his world in a way that animals can't. 00:03:01.099 --> 00:03:03.180 And to be an image means we are moral creatures. 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:05.460 We are made in righteousness and holiness. 00:03:05.640 --> 00:03:09.400 We can know good and we can know God's law and love God. 00:03:09.460 --> 00:03:13.780 We have consciences and we're specially accountable to God like no other creature. 00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:17.719 And we also saw that to be an image is to be either male or female. 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:20.580 Relationality is built into who we are. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:22.300 We are relational creatures. 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:27.620 And also an image, as images, we represent God. 00:03:28.539 --> 00:03:30.960 God is king over all the earth, isn't he? 00:03:31.539 --> 00:03:34.039 But we are under kings, vice regents. 00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:35.580 We rule on his behalf. 00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:41.340 So in Genesis 1, we see that we've been given dominion over creation. 00:03:41.600 --> 00:03:48.040 We are to care for, nurture, control, cultivate, harness and multiply over the earth. 00:03:48.220 --> 00:03:49.340 Make this our home. 00:03:50.760 --> 00:03:53.680 And so we are unique and special creatures. 00:03:54.040 --> 00:03:57.439 And all this means that we have dignity, don't we? 00:03:58.320 --> 00:03:59.820 We aren't just bags of cells. 00:03:59.920 --> 00:04:01.520 We aren't just advanced apes. 00:04:01.700 --> 00:04:04.540 No, human life is infinitely valuable. 00:04:04.539 --> 00:04:06.939 And that's what it means to be human. 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:09.019 We are images of God. 00:04:09.079 --> 00:04:15.239 But now this week, I want us to go into detail about one aspect of what it means to be an image. 00:04:15.799 --> 00:04:19.560 I want us to dive into the idea that we are moral creatures. 00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:28.959 Because, yes, we are creatures with the ability to know good and bad and understand God's holiness and we have a conscience. 00:04:29.459 --> 00:04:32.100 But actually, it means a lot more than that. 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:41.800 To be human means we have a specific, special and unique responsibility to God. 00:04:42.760 --> 00:04:44.580 Unique only to us. 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:51.040 We exist in a special and particular moral relation to God. 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:52.939 And what is that? 00:04:52.939 --> 00:05:03.759 Well, as we venture further into Genesis, as we will do today, we will see that as the story unfolds, yes, we are moral creatures. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:07.539 But we are also covenantal creatures. 00:05:08.539 --> 00:05:09.680 And this is the first point to this. 00:05:09.740 --> 00:05:10.920 The first thing I want us to see today. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:12.420 We are covenantal creatures. 00:05:12.539 --> 00:05:14.180 Handouts are at the back if you want to follow along. 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:21.060 So if you were here last year for my Two Giants Sunday school, I want us to revisit some of what we learned about Adam. 00:05:21.219 --> 00:05:23.139 And I want us to see something new about it. 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:25.919 So look at Genesis 1.26. 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:27.899 I've got all these verses written out for you. 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:30.099 Look at God's design for man. 00:05:31.139 --> 00:05:45.979 Then God said, let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish, over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 00:05:45.980 --> 00:05:48.980 So what are we designed for? 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:51.800 We are designed to rule over the earth, aren't we? 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:53.520 We are vice regents. 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:55.420 That's what we learned last week. 00:05:55.759 --> 00:06:02.960 So we are made to rule over creation, right? 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:03.879 That's all of creation. 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:19.620 But then in Genesis 2.7-8, we zoom in onto day six, kind of when we get to chapter two and Adam's created, we actually go back in time and go back into day six, right? 00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:24.519 And we zoom in on when God created the first man, Adam, and Genesis 2.7-8. 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:32.500 Then the Lord God formed the man of the dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:40.759 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 00:06:41.919 --> 00:06:42.839 Look at 2.15. 00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:50.419 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:57.180 So we are designed to rule over the whole earth, but where is Adam put when he's made? 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:03.379 He's put in one area called Eden, and in that area, a garden. 00:07:04.580 --> 00:07:05.840 So how is Adam made? 00:07:07.900 --> 00:07:11.800 There's an area, I'm just going to draw right at the top there. 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:18.520 There's an area called Eden, and in that area, God plants a garden, and he puts Adam. 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:21.399 In that garden, right? 00:07:23.539 --> 00:07:30.079 So when Adam is created, he's not yet ruling over the whole earth, is he? 00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:34.899 God has given him a small portion to rule over. 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:42.199 We should make us think here, huh, something isn't complete yet. 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:46.039 There's more to come for Adam. 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:49.720 He's yet to rule over the whole earth. 00:07:50.980 --> 00:07:53.560 And there's something else that should make us think more is to come. 00:07:53.860 --> 00:07:55.819 Look what's in the garden, Genesis 2.9. 00:07:56.200 --> 00:08:03.220 There's the tree of life, which suggests that there's more life to be had for Adam. 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:04.140 Right? 00:08:04.580 --> 00:08:05.420 He's got life. 00:08:05.520 --> 00:08:06.000 He's alive. 00:08:06.180 --> 00:08:07.360 But there's the tree of life. 00:08:07.420 --> 00:08:08.880 There's more life to be had. 00:08:09.340 --> 00:08:15.000 And in fact, if we skip to the end of the Bible, Revelation 22, we see in the new creation, 00:08:15.780 --> 00:08:22.680 when Christ returns and sin is no more, and we all live in glory, at that point, we see the tree of life again. 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:28.819 And it says, I've written it down there for you, it says, the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 00:08:28.819 --> 00:08:35.879 So the tree of life in this garden is not just a tree that gives general life. 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:39.379 It is a tree that gives eternal life. 00:08:40.179 --> 00:08:42.139 It brings everlasting glory. 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:44.779 Eternal life was possible for Adam. 00:08:44.899 --> 00:08:45.299 Glory. 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:52.839 And so when we say that there was more to come for Adam, we mean he was to rule over the whole creation. 00:08:53.659 --> 00:08:57.859 We mean that he was to get eternal life. 00:09:01.459 --> 00:09:04.079 We mean, in summing up, glory. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:05.939 Right? 00:09:05.940 --> 00:09:18.120 And also, if you know the creation story well, we know that in Genesis 3, we see that God walked in the garden with Adam, didn't he? 00:09:19.060 --> 00:09:23.440 The intention was always for God to dwell with man. 00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:25.120 That's how things were created. 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:28.620 And so the plan was God to dwell with man. 00:09:29.260 --> 00:09:32.400 He was in the garden with Adam, but eventually all creation. 00:09:33.260 --> 00:09:35.440 And so we could actually add another one here. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:36.300 I'm going to add another one. 00:09:36.380 --> 00:09:37.020 Presence. 00:09:37.780 --> 00:09:38.660 Meaning God's presence. 00:09:41.160 --> 00:09:43.980 So this is the goal of humanity here. 00:09:44.920 --> 00:09:54.820 A people, a united humanity, made in the image of God, reflecting God's glory, in a place, the whole earth, in God's presence. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:57.880 Knowing him and enjoying him forever. 00:09:59.180 --> 00:10:01.820 But how is Adam going to get to this? 00:10:02.180 --> 00:10:04.180 Well, look at Genesis 2, 15 to 17. 00:10:04.179 --> 00:10:05.579 I've got it written there for you. 00:10:06.579 --> 00:10:11.219 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 00:10:12.059 --> 00:10:13.799 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:23.979 You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat. 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:29.120 For in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:35.360 A choice, a test, is set before Adam here. 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:38.899 There is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:41.940 And God says, you cannot eat of it. 00:10:42.299 --> 00:10:43.899 This is God's command to Adam. 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:46.120 This is God's law in the garden. 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:49.299 And if Adam disobeys God, what will happen? 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:52.019 He says, you will surely die. 00:10:55.560 --> 00:10:57.620 So here, here's death. 00:10:57.720 --> 00:11:01.379 Here's a broken, death-filled world. 00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:05.539 And how will that happen? 00:11:06.779 --> 00:11:10.460 Well, it's all hinging on what he does with this tree. 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:21.340 So if he disobeys, disobey, there's death. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.660 You shall surely die. 00:11:23.900 --> 00:11:31.300 And so it's implied, well, if you don't eat, if Adam is obedient to God in this, what will he get? 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:33.019 Life. 00:11:33.680 --> 00:11:40.160 It is by obeying God and not eating of this tree that Adam will get all of this. 00:11:40.780 --> 00:11:41.980 Eternal life, glory. 00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:43.759 So how do you get that? 00:11:45.160 --> 00:11:45.700 You obey. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:48.379 You obey in this situation. 00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:50.519 So this is a test. 00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:52.720 Adam was given a test. 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:55.740 Or another way to put it is, Adam was put on probation. 00:11:56.660 --> 00:12:00.360 So if you've ever had a job or you've heard of getting a job, 00:12:01.540 --> 00:12:04.740 you can get probation when you first start a job. 00:12:04.800 --> 00:12:07.240 Usually like the first three months of probation or something like that. 00:12:07.540 --> 00:12:09.000 It's like a trial period. 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:10.300 A testing period. 00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:13.139 And so if you pass, your job is secured. 00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:13.819 You're in. 00:12:15.099 --> 00:12:18.279 Well, Adam is on probation here in the garden. 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:27.559 And what I want to see here, that this whole arrangement, how Adam was created instantly, 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:31.620 this whole arrangement, this setup, this is called a covenant. 00:12:32.959 --> 00:12:34.939 And a covenant, it just means contract. 00:12:34.940 --> 00:12:41.300 So God relates to man through a covenant through this setup. 00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:45.400 And man relates to God through a covenant through this setup. 00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:49.360 And so, how can we picture this? 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:56.779 So here's God. 00:12:56.779 --> 00:12:59.039 Here's God. 00:12:59.680 --> 00:13:00.220 Here's man. 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:01.960 And how does God relate to man? 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:02.019 Here's man. 00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:09.620 through covenant. 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:17.480 So God writes man through a covenant. 00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:24.059 And this, just think how man is made here. 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:29.460 Just think that this is a wonderful, remarkable thing. 00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:38.379 God says to Adam, and he says this to no other creature, God says to Adam, you are a creature special to me. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:42.879 A moral creature, specially accountable to me. 00:13:43.780 --> 00:13:50.000 And so you get to know me and know my law and obey it and enjoy it. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:56.259 And you get to live your life, not making things up by yourself, but you get to live your life trusting me. 00:13:56.259 --> 00:14:02.819 But the God of all goodness, you get to rely on me and I'm going to be your source of life. 00:14:02.939 --> 00:14:09.120 And so your heart, how you're made, your heart is designed to love me. 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:12.980 And you are designed to know my love. 00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:21.080 And I've made you so that you and I can dwell on this earth together forever. 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:26.399 And God has done all this through a covenant. 00:14:27.779 --> 00:14:32.220 And specifically what's happening in the garden is called the covenant of works. 00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:35.860 Because all this hinged upon Adam's work of obedience. 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:39.399 And this is how the Westminster Confession summarizes it. 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:41.539 So look at 7.1. 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:46.439 So the confession over this next year, the confession is always going to be our guide in all of this. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:48.720 So 7.1. 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:56.759 The distance between God and the creature is so great that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, 00:14:57.620 --> 00:15:01.159 yet they could never have any fruition of him as their blessedness and reward. 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:11.759 But by some voluntary condescension coming down of God on God's part, which he has been pleased to express by way of covenants. 00:15:12.719 --> 00:15:14.799 Okay, well, what about this covenant in the garden? 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.439 Well, 7.2. 00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:25.159 The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam and in him to his posterity, 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:29.319 upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:32.400 And so, if I had a flip board, that would be a lot easier. 00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:35.400 But I hope you see how that applies. 00:15:36.900 --> 00:15:39.760 And so just a side note at this point, but before we go any further. 00:15:40.280 --> 00:15:41.020 Just a side note. 00:15:41.160 --> 00:15:45.860 Notice in all this that there's no sin in Adam here at this point, is there? 00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:49.720 Adam wasn't made a sinner. 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:53.780 Adam could have obeyed and done all this. 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:57.740 He was made in knowledge and righteousness and holiness. 00:15:57.740 --> 00:16:04.919 And so, to be truly human actually means to have no sin. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:11.519 We often now think that to be human is to be a sinner, don't we? 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:14.139 Because sin has become the norm, right? 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:15.960 But actually, no. 00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:17.200 Look how we're made. 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:19.980 Sin is not the norm. 00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:23.399 Sin is an abnormality. 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:24.399 Sin is an abnormality. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:28.860 Being truly human means being sinless. 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:31.819 And so, this is our blueprint. 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:33.659 This is how we are meant to be. 00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:36.039 So, that's a side note. 00:16:36.459 --> 00:16:46.399 But the key thing to see here is that God has not come to humanity and relating to humanity and created humanity. 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:48.860 He's not done all this in a vague way. 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:51.059 Not just a general relationship. 00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:53.500 God didn't think, okay, huh. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:57.419 Let's make man really special and rational and moral. 00:16:58.319 --> 00:16:59.879 But now, off they go. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.819 Do what you like. 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:02.459 No. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.799 How has God made us? 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:06.759 What is in our very blueprint? 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:23.900 In our very blueprint, we are designed to know his law and obey his law and live our lives trusting God. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:32.400 And as with all obedience, that means we are designed to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:39.680 And we're designed to be with God, walk with him, dwell with him and love him and enjoy him. 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.340 Eternal life with God. 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:42.540 That's what we're made for. 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:45.800 And so, how can we sum all that up? 00:17:46.560 --> 00:17:48.720 We're made to worship God. 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:53.220 And so, we are no ordinary creature. 00:17:54.340 --> 00:17:56.480 We have a special existence. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:18:10.140 We are to live all our life knowing God and delighting in him, knowing his law and obeying his law and walking with him and loving him and worshipping him. 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:12.960 That's what we're designed for. 00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:17.019 In short, we are made for God. 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:20.099 We are made for God. 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:28.000 And so, being a covenantal creature is not just one way God's just telling us stuff to do. 00:18:28.919 --> 00:18:29.139 No. 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:36.119 God reveals himself to us and we are intent to relate to God. 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:38.819 Hopefully, you can see these two arrows here. 00:18:43.379 --> 00:18:44.119 There you go. 00:18:47.439 --> 00:18:48.599 And we are to relate to God. 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:50.039 And how are we to relate to God? 00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:52.319 But we are to be morally accountable to him. 00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:53.539 We're moral creatures, right? 00:18:54.919 --> 00:18:56.099 We are... 00:18:57.179 --> 00:18:59.059 That means we are to know his law. 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:02.799 We are to obey his law. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:07.279 What else does it mean? 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:11.039 It means we're to live lives of faith, trusting in him. 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:14.339 Listening to his word. 00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:21.980 We're to love and enjoy and dwell with him. 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:27.619 And in short, we are to worship him. 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.179 All in covenant. 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:37.819 In our very essence, down to our core, this is who we are. 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.819 We are covenantal creatures. 00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:40.700 We are covenantal creatures. 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:44.720 And it's in covenant with God. 00:19:45.919 --> 00:19:52.819 This is where we find our purpose and our happiness and our fulfillment. 00:19:52.819 --> 00:19:56.919 This is how we flourish as human beings. 00:19:56.920 --> 00:20:04.019 So, a car is made for the road, not for the water, isn't it? 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:09.940 So, you take the car off the road and drive it into water. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.920 It's ruined, isn't it? 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:14.879 But you put it on what it's made for. 00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:19.619 You put it on the roads and you could say the car flourishes, doesn't it? 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:21.259 But that's where it's meant to be. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:24.740 Well, we are made for God. 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:27.779 And we only flourish. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:33.559 We are only truly human when we are with God like this. 00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:38.200 And if we go any other way, what's going to happen? 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:40.359 We're going to get ruined. 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:48.740 And so, by design, every single human being relates to God in this way. 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:50.200 Through a covenant. 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:52.700 It is impossible. 00:20:53.120 --> 00:20:57.759 It is impossible not to be a covenantal human being. 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:03.500 Now, we must say, if a human being is not in Christ, 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:07.220 they're going to relate to God through the covenant made with Adam, 00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:10.600 which means that they're going to be covenant breakers. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:12.400 They're going to be cursed in the eyes of God. 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:17.640 Or if you're a Christian, you're going to relate to God through another covenant, 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:19.940 through the covenant of grace, because you're in Christ. 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:22.900 And so, in Christ, we are covenant keepers in God's eyes. 00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:25.019 If you want more of that, come back next year. 00:21:25.080 --> 00:21:26.400 We'll do two giants again. 00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:29.019 But either way, right? 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:32.440 Either way, you are a covenantal creature. 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:39.820 Whoever you are, you are designed to know, obey, love, and dwell with God. 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:48.379 So, we all have something built into us, into the core of our being, down to our very soul. 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:50.659 We have something built into us. 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:52.839 We are made to be with God. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:22:00.779 And so, no human is truly an individual on their own walking this planet. 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:04.539 We are, by nature, covenantal creatures. 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:09.460 We are hardwired, hardwired with this connection with God. 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:18.799 Every human being has inside them a pattern, an instinct, a God-shaped hole that needs to be connected to God. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:24.839 Which is to say, we are religious creatures. 00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:27.099 We are religious creatures. 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:30.399 And this is my second point today, if you're following along. 00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:32.619 But we'll stop for questions, I think, at the end. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:36.319 Because we're going to just move on to a few other things, then I'll stop for questions. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:42.659 So, if this is how we're designed, I want you to have a think. 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:52.220 If this is how we're designed, is it then possible to be a human and not relate to God in some way? 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:57.720 Is it even possible to not know God? 00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:01.740 Well, I want us to break out into groups to figure that out. 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:08.460 So, in your little dotted box, I want you to look up Romans 1, 18-25 and answer the following questions. 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:09.940 Break out into little groups. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.160 I'll give you a few minutes to do that. 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.440 Thank you so much. 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:32.440 00:23:32.440 --> 00:24:02.420 Thank you. 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:32.420 Thank you. 00:24:32.440 --> 00:25:02.420 Thank you. 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:32.420 Thank you. 00:25:32.440 --> 00:26:02.420 Thank you. 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:32.420 Thank you. 00:26:32.440 --> 00:27:02.420 Thank you. 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:32.420 Thank you. 00:27:32.420 --> 00:28:02.400 Thank you. 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:32.400 Thank you. 00:28:32.420 --> 00:29:02.400 Thank you. 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.660 Okay, let's bring it together. 00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:06.080 I'm hearing some good discussion. 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.259 Okay. 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.900 Let me ask. 00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:14.740 So, Romans 1, 18 to 25. 00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:16.740 First question. 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:18.940 Who knows God? 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:18.940 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.740 Yes. 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:22.980 Yes. 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:24.120 Yes. 00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:24.120 00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:30.859 So, it's, I mean, it's specifically talking about unbelievers here. 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:32.559 So, Gentile unbelievers. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.259 But that's the past that's the past that people who have the past that people who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have the past who have 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:07.039 Yeah, where's he shown it to them? 00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:17.259 Yeah, clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:20.159 So they are without excuse, verse 20. 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:27.399 Yeah, God has revealed himself to all people, every single human being in creation. 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:31.099 So people fundamentally, they don't need to be told about God. 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:34.179 They already know about him, right? 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:36.779 And what do they know about God? 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:41.899 Let's pick on Moses. 00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:46.240 Yeah, there you go. 00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:48.219 How can we sum that up? 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:52.599 Well, they know that he is there and that he's powerful. 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:55.740 At the very least, they know that. 00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:59.799 And in sin, what do we do with that knowledge? 00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.740 Harry Ovi. 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.799 They suppress the truth. 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:08.059 Say it again. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:10.399 They suppress the truth and refuse to honor. 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.640 Exactly, yeah. 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:14.120 So verse 18, they suppress the truth. 00:31:14.580 --> 00:31:16.720 That they push it down inside of them. 00:31:17.040 --> 00:31:18.960 So they get the knowledge, but they push it down. 00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:20.200 They suppress it. 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:25.780 And so, kind of answer there, but what do we do instead of worshipping God then? 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:28.059 Can I just throw? 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.759 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:28.940 Go for it. 00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:30.480 Well, I think they don't just suppress it. 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.740 They also exchange it. 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:32.539 Oh, here we go. 00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:32.940 Here we go. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.119 Yeah. 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:34.200 So what... 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:35.220 Go for it. 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:38.059 So what we do is, you have the four points of the Christian worldview. 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.940 Creation, four redemption, consummation. 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:42.099 God's made us through sins. 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.440 How do we get rescued? 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:44.220 And where are we going? 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:47.480 And everyone has a narrative for those four. 00:31:47.899 --> 00:31:50.139 But it won't be the Christian one. 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:54.060 So they'll ask them, how do you think we got here? 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.259 What do you think is wrong? 00:31:55.360 --> 00:31:58.440 Which is normally your wrong answer, because you're making me feel sinful. 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.420 You know, I'm the victim or whatever. 00:32:00.580 --> 00:32:03.080 But thirdly, how do I get rescued by... 00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:04.580 What do they do to get righteousness? 00:32:05.080 --> 00:32:06.700 But number four, where are they going? 00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:10.940 So that exchange, I think, is fascinating for evangelism. 00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:12.000 Yeah, yes. 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:14.060 Yeah, that's really good to highlight. 00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:15.180 So it's a suppression issue. 00:32:15.540 --> 00:32:17.280 But there's an exchange in there. 00:32:17.280 --> 00:32:19.140 So what do we do instead of worshipping God? 00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:19.220 What? 00:32:19.840 --> 00:32:21.080 Verse 23, 25. 00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:23.520 We worship the creation instead. 00:32:24.520 --> 00:32:26.780 We can't help but worship. 00:32:27.080 --> 00:32:28.780 We do something, right? 00:32:29.300 --> 00:32:33.360 And so we choose to worship the creation instead. 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.920 Yeah, there's an exchange. 00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:38.860 How about looking at Romans 2, 14 and 15. 00:32:39.320 --> 00:32:40.740 What do we all know naturally? 00:32:42.340 --> 00:32:42.720 Alana. 00:32:43.780 --> 00:32:44.580 Did you get that? 00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:50.600 You know the law? 00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.880 You know what's right and wrong? 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.460 Yes. 00:32:52.560 --> 00:32:52.840 Yeah, yeah. 00:32:53.060 --> 00:32:55.360 We, by nature, know the law. 00:32:56.180 --> 00:33:02.960 So even though no one's ever been told the Ten Commandments, we have the law written on our heart. 00:33:03.060 --> 00:33:04.680 It's there deep down. 00:33:05.060 --> 00:33:07.820 We know what God requires of us. 00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:09.620 We know what is right and wrong. 00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:10.740 We know God is there. 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.660 We know he's holy. 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:16.980 And so, is it possible to be a true atheist? 00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:19.000 Hands up. 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:21.079 Did anyone have any interesting discussions on that? 00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:25.039 Hands up. 00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:26.579 Elliot. 00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:27.299 No. 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:31.240 Why not? 00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:32.639 Why not? 00:33:36.639 --> 00:33:40.799 God has shown us to us, and by nature, we... 00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:46.839 We can't say anyone has not known about it. 00:33:47.179 --> 00:33:49.220 It's powerful decisions. 00:33:50.419 --> 00:33:51.599 Right, right, yeah. 00:33:52.179 --> 00:33:54.899 So it's kind of, yeah, a bit of a slippery question. 00:33:54.900 --> 00:33:57.940 Well, what do you mean by atheist, and is it subjective or object? 00:33:58.060 --> 00:33:58.220 Yeah. 00:33:58.580 --> 00:34:03.940 But, I mean, if you take it in the sense of, does anyone truly not know God? 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.380 No. 00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:10.660 Is it possible to be a human and not relate to God in some way? 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:13.039 Is it possible to not know God? 00:34:14.200 --> 00:34:15.300 What does Romans 1 say? 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:15.680 No. 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:22.039 Even the hardest unbeliever, deep down, knows God. 00:34:22.700 --> 00:34:24.860 They cannot escape his reality. 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.980 And why? 00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:32.079 Because we are covenantal creatures by design. 00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:35.559 Which means we are religious by design. 00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:39.440 And so, did you notice, when we suppress the truth about God, 00:34:40.180 --> 00:34:43.480 Paul doesn't say we stop worshipping entirely, do we? 00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:48.000 No, he says we just start worshipping something else. 00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.000 There's an exchange. 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:51.500 We start worshipping the creation. 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.559 So look at verse 25. 00:34:53.679 --> 00:35:00.679 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator. 00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:10.460 We are so hardwired to worship God, we find it impossible to not worship something. 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:24.900 This is why, after the fall, and humanity turns from God, suppresses the truth, and you let humanity grow and spread across the world and do their own thing for thousands of years. 00:35:24.900 --> 00:35:28.059 But what do you find humanity doing across the world? 00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:30.860 You find us worshipping. 00:35:30.860 --> 00:35:33.780 So look at the Mayan temples. 00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:38.420 Look at the countless statues and shrines and sacred places. 00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:44.660 Think of Zeus and the Greek gods, the Roman gods, the Norse gods, the Egyptian gods, the Hindu gods. 00:35:45.220 --> 00:35:50.059 Think of all the countless religions in every country of the world across all time. 00:35:50.059 --> 00:36:00.360 If we don't worship the true and living gods, we can't help but worship something else instead. 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:02.299 Why? 00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:06.760 Because we are hardwired to be religious creatures. 00:36:08.060 --> 00:36:22.440 And so if we're built with this arrow inside of us, and we're built for it to point to God, we can't get rid of this arrow, you could say, this religious impulse in us. 00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:25.780 And so if we don't point it to God, what do we find ourselves doing? 00:36:26.720 --> 00:36:33.220 We start pointing to the creation. 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:42.500 There you go, that's meant to be a golden calf, as you can tell. 00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:42.960 There you go. 00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:48.420 It needs to point somewhere else. 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:52.200 And so in sin, we just point it down to the creation. 00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:57.260 We worship and serve the creature rather than the creator. 00:36:58.460 --> 00:37:05.960 And this goes even for the most secular atheists out there who would say, no, I am entirely non-religious. 00:37:07.300 --> 00:37:15.139 Because actually, when you examine their hearts and their life, they do treat something like God. 00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:18.679 And we find actually, it's usually ourselves. 00:37:18.679 --> 00:37:30.079 So if you were to actually really deeply ask them, and they were to honestly answer, and you ask them, and they ask themselves, who am I morally accountable to? 00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:32.599 Who tells me what to do? 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:34.259 The answer is, well, me. 00:37:35.619 --> 00:37:37.139 Who defines the law? 00:37:37.239 --> 00:37:38.420 Who defines right and wrong? 00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:40.599 Ultimately, it comes down to me. 00:37:41.739 --> 00:37:43.179 Who do I follow and obey? 00:37:43.480 --> 00:37:45.219 Well, it's really me. 00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:48.139 How do I find enjoyment? 00:37:48.279 --> 00:37:50.179 It's when life is all about me. 00:37:51.459 --> 00:37:52.819 And so what do I really love? 00:37:53.619 --> 00:37:53.919 Me. 00:37:53.920 --> 00:38:02.820 And so in all of humanity, hardwired into us, we all have this deep down knowledge that God is there. 00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:06.820 We have ingrained in our hearts a sense of his law. 00:38:07.200 --> 00:38:10.380 Our consciences can't escape the holiness of God. 00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:13.400 And we're built to worship him. 00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:17.599 And so we all have this compulsion to worship. 00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:22.039 We all have this sense, this deep down feeling that God is there. 00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:27.519 And this feeling is often called the sense of divinity. 00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:32.079 Or in Latin, it's called the sensus divinitatis, if you want to be fancy. 00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:39.360 And the theologian, French theologian, called John Calvin, he moved to Geneva and did a lot of his ministry in Switzerland. 00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:43.199 John Calvin, he kind of coined this term, the sense of divinity. 00:38:43.840 --> 00:38:45.500 And so here's a big quote from him. 00:38:45.779 --> 00:38:50.519 I don't often like quotes, and I certainly don't like longer quotes, but I couldn't help. 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.559 It's too good. 00:38:52.039 --> 00:38:56.739 So this is John Calvin talking about this this sense of divinity inside of us. 00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:59.300 So and there's a little picture for you as well. 00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:00.340 That's what he looked like. 00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:02.079 So let's read this. 00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:13.179 There is no nation so barbarous, no race so wild that it does not have a heartfelt impression that there is a God. 00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:19.059 And those who in other areas of their life seem scarcely to differ from brute beasts. 00:39:19.779 --> 00:39:23.219 Nevertheless, preserve some seed of religion. 00:39:23.879 --> 00:39:29.419 So rooted is this universal concept in every mind and so firmly fixed in every heart. 00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:36.860 Therefore, since from the beginning of the world, no country, town or even household has managed to do without religion. 00:39:36.860 --> 00:39:47.860 There we have a tacit admission of a demonstration that in that in the heart of every human being is stamped a feeling for divinity. 00:39:47.860 --> 00:39:50.099 Sensus divinitatis. 00:39:50.099 --> 00:39:58.860 So because he, man, humanity would rather honor wood and stone than be reckoned to have no God at all. 00:39:59.400 --> 00:40:03.279 We can clearly see how strong is this perception of divine majesty. 00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:13.079 We can less easily wipe it from his man can less easily wipe it from his mind than he can deny his own natural inclinations. 00:40:13.079 --> 00:40:15.759 What is Calvin saying here? 00:40:16.299 --> 00:40:19.579 We are covenantal religious creatures. 00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:25.960 We cannot escape that sense of God because who are we made for? 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:28.119 We're made for God. 00:40:29.119 --> 00:40:33.940 And this is why when you speak to your non-Christian friends about God, 00:40:34.900 --> 00:40:41.679 they may say something like, well, I don't believe in God, but I feel like something is out there. 00:40:41.679 --> 00:40:44.799 Or I want there to be a God. 00:40:45.699 --> 00:40:47.559 Or they'll say, I'm spiritual. 00:40:47.759 --> 00:40:50.779 I know that there is some higher power out there. 00:40:51.839 --> 00:40:53.440 And stuff like that is common to hear. 00:40:53.539 --> 00:40:55.460 I'm sure we've all heard stuff like that. 00:40:55.960 --> 00:41:00.419 And the fact that we've all heard something like that, that's no coincidence. 00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:05.659 That is because we are covenantal creatures. 00:41:05.659 --> 00:41:13.259 And what they're feeling, that feeling is the sense of divinity beating inside of them. 00:41:14.539 --> 00:41:19.019 Or you may see your friends or family or colleagues or maybe even in yourself, 00:41:19.940 --> 00:41:26.379 you see them looking for this happiness or fulfillment or meaning or purpose in life. 00:41:26.380 --> 00:41:27.619 And so what do they do? 00:41:27.660 --> 00:41:32.099 They dive into relationships or their career or drugs. 00:41:32.980 --> 00:41:36.059 And they try to find fulfillment in all of that. 00:41:37.099 --> 00:41:40.640 And it's kind of like an itch they're trying to scratch, isn't it? 00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:43.980 But all this stuff, it never satisfies. 00:41:45.640 --> 00:41:46.519 Well, this is why. 00:41:46.519 --> 00:41:53.380 It's the sense of divinity pressing in on them, causing that itch. 00:41:54.119 --> 00:41:57.820 They are made for God and they will only find happiness with him. 00:41:58.980 --> 00:42:01.719 Because we are covenantal religious creatures. 00:42:03.480 --> 00:42:05.360 And so what does humanity need? 00:42:06.139 --> 00:42:09.460 What do we need to satisfy that deep down longing? 00:42:10.539 --> 00:42:12.259 What will make us truly happy? 00:42:12.360 --> 00:42:13.759 What will make us truly human? 00:42:13.760 --> 00:42:19.560 We need to know God and we need to worship him. 00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:27.480 This is the only state that we will be satisfied in and truly flourish as humans. 00:42:29.260 --> 00:42:30.680 And so what does Christ come to do? 00:42:31.700 --> 00:42:35.660 He's come to remake us into the true image of God. 00:42:36.280 --> 00:42:41.000 Take us out of our sin and radically remake us into how we should be. 00:42:41.280 --> 00:42:43.440 He's come to make us truly human. 00:42:44.480 --> 00:42:46.400 And so he calls us to worship. 00:42:48.180 --> 00:42:49.340 Look at John 4. 00:42:49.740 --> 00:42:50.640 I've got it there for you. 00:42:51.780 --> 00:42:52.700 The words of Jesus. 00:42:52.840 --> 00:42:55.760 The hour is coming and is now here. 00:42:56.640 --> 00:43:00.640 When the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. 00:43:01.180 --> 00:43:04.180 For the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 00:43:04.179 --> 00:43:07.460 This is the glory of the gospel. 00:43:08.599 --> 00:43:12.119 In his grace God is bringing us back to himself. 00:43:12.119 --> 00:43:14.099 Bringing us back into covenant. 00:43:14.099 --> 00:43:16.480 So that we can know him. 00:43:16.480 --> 00:43:18.279 And enjoy him. 00:43:18.599 --> 00:43:20.179 And worship him. 00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:23.420 And it's when we're worshipping him. 00:43:23.579 --> 00:43:24.299 Praying to him. 00:43:24.519 --> 00:43:25.360 Bowing before him. 00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:26.360 Praising him. 00:43:26.819 --> 00:43:27.679 Receiving his word. 00:43:27.860 --> 00:43:29.119 Being with him at his table. 00:43:29.659 --> 00:43:31.219 Enjoying him in his presence. 00:43:31.219 --> 00:43:33.759 It's then. 00:43:33.859 --> 00:43:37.639 That we find ourselves doing exactly what we're made for. 00:43:38.679 --> 00:43:39.899 And it's then. 00:43:40.359 --> 00:43:42.339 That we are most truly human. 00:43:42.340 --> 00:43:45.920 I'm going to pause there. 00:43:46.460 --> 00:43:49.340 We've got 35 seconds for questions. 00:43:55.900 --> 00:43:56.600 Yeah, Finchow. 00:43:56.599 --> 00:43:58.779 I know this is a very big question. 00:43:59.000 --> 00:43:59.920 Speak up, Gerard. 00:43:59.980 --> 00:44:01.319 I know this is a very big question. 00:44:01.500 --> 00:44:01.659 Yeah. 00:44:02.159 --> 00:44:04.039 I kind of wanted to ask. 00:44:04.239 --> 00:44:05.039 What are the practices? 00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:09.159 How does this press up into way and way it is? 00:44:09.299 --> 00:44:12.699 Understanding that we are covenantal leaders. 00:44:12.980 --> 00:44:15.579 So the covenant is where they're from. 00:44:15.819 --> 00:44:21.119 What does that actually mean? 00:44:22.279 --> 00:44:22.880 Yes. 00:44:22.880 --> 00:44:26.700 First thing I'll do is plug. 00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:29.940 Some is for a few half terms time. 00:44:30.079 --> 00:44:31.680 I think in the spring term. 00:44:31.940 --> 00:44:33.360 We're going to do something about apologetics. 00:44:34.059 --> 00:44:36.000 Which basically takes this. 00:44:36.180 --> 00:44:38.680 And says, okay, how do we interact with unbelief now? 00:44:38.760 --> 00:44:39.660 If this is the case. 00:44:40.240 --> 00:44:41.119 How do we interact with unbelief? 00:44:41.119 --> 00:44:42.320 So that's the first thing. 00:44:42.360 --> 00:44:43.340 Come back with apologetics. 00:44:44.160 --> 00:44:44.960 Second thing is. 00:44:46.140 --> 00:44:46.860 I'd say this. 00:44:48.280 --> 00:44:51.740 It helps us understand the state of humanity and sin. 00:44:51.739 --> 00:44:54.359 I don't know if this is exactly what you're getting at. 00:44:55.039 --> 00:44:56.479 There are lots of avenues to go down. 00:44:56.719 --> 00:44:58.439 It helps us understand humanity. 00:44:59.000 --> 00:45:03.019 This is why humanity is guilty and condemned. 00:45:03.179 --> 00:45:06.839 Because we are by nature connected to God. 00:45:06.939 --> 00:45:08.659 We have a responsibility to Him. 00:45:08.659 --> 00:45:15.819 And so people often ask, well, what about that tribe out there that's never heard of God? 00:45:15.960 --> 00:45:17.420 Never heard of the gospel? 00:45:17.639 --> 00:45:18.219 Never, you know. 00:45:18.579 --> 00:45:19.039 No, you know. 00:45:19.039 --> 00:45:19.500 No, you know. 00:45:20.420 --> 00:45:22.619 Yet you're saying that they're guilty before God. 00:45:23.719 --> 00:45:27.000 And we say, yeah, because they're made with Him. 00:45:27.000 --> 00:45:28.719 They really do know Him. 00:45:29.559 --> 00:45:31.099 And it's enough to be condemned. 00:45:31.619 --> 00:45:35.280 So that's one aspect to take. 00:45:35.460 --> 00:45:47.340 And the third is, we'll unpick this more in apologetics, but it helps us understand what's going on in the people around this exchange. 00:45:47.340 --> 00:45:53.059 As Rico points out, they're finding fulfillment in something else. 00:45:53.340 --> 00:45:59.120 They're trying to have this covenant, this religious relationship with something else because they're compelled to be. 00:45:59.119 --> 00:46:11.199 And this will help us in our evangelism and in our apologetics to realize that if you're really looking for something, and what that is, that's the sense of divinity that just points somewhere else. 00:46:11.199 --> 00:46:14.839 So let me show you something even better than what we're looking for. 00:46:14.839 --> 00:46:16.559 This is what you've been looking for the whole time. 00:46:17.440 --> 00:46:19.259 And that's what we find in the gospel. 00:46:19.699 --> 00:46:21.420 It's an alternative if you belong in. 00:46:22.359 --> 00:46:23.460 Is that what you're after? 00:46:23.699 --> 00:46:24.579 Or is that why you're not? 00:46:24.920 --> 00:46:28.699 I guess I was looking at how does that flag in. 00:46:29.119 --> 00:46:30.400 Just ordinarily. 00:46:30.980 --> 00:46:32.179 In conversation, do you mean? 00:46:32.199 --> 00:46:32.599 No, no, no. 00:46:32.699 --> 00:46:33.539 We're very different. 00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:34.900 We're in a personal life. 00:46:35.239 --> 00:46:36.359 In a ordinary personal life. 00:46:36.799 --> 00:46:36.380 We're in a personal life. 00:46:36.799 --> 00:46:37.759 We're in a way to do that. 00:46:38.219 --> 00:46:38.480 Yeah. 00:46:39.679 --> 00:46:40.659 It shapes everything. 00:46:40.659 --> 00:46:46.799 It means every waking moment, every sleeping moment, we are designed for God. 00:46:47.199 --> 00:46:48.019 We're made for God. 00:46:48.159 --> 00:46:49.659 We have on the day. 00:46:49.719 --> 00:46:54.039 Whether in private and secret, we're still in a relationship with God. 00:46:54.039 --> 00:46:59.340 And it really shapes our view of Sunday as well. 00:47:00.300 --> 00:47:02.559 What are we made for? 00:47:03.219 --> 00:47:05.420 What really makes us true people? 00:47:05.679 --> 00:47:08.099 It's coming here and worshipping God. 00:47:08.099 --> 00:47:14.019 But that should really help us understand the importance of what we're doing every Sunday. 00:47:16.079 --> 00:47:19.699 But I mean, we chat the days about the other implications. 00:47:19.960 --> 00:47:20.059 Yeah. 00:47:20.920 --> 00:47:21.380 Go first. 00:47:21.380 --> 00:47:35.099 Because what you've been pointing out in this conversation essentially is giving us the blueprint for how do we actually flourish as God's image bearers. 00:47:35.240 --> 00:47:45.160 And so you've been pointing out for us all the ways in which God wants us to be living the most fulfilled life in relationship to him. 00:47:45.159 --> 00:47:58.119 And so maybe that's another angle of addressing how it kind of rubs up against how we, logistically speaking, live our lives through these things that you've been pointing out. 00:47:58.279 --> 00:47:58.440 Yeah. 00:47:58.779 --> 00:47:59.000 Yeah. 00:47:59.379 --> 00:47:59.619 Yeah. 00:48:00.019 --> 00:48:01.559 It helps us to understand sin. 00:48:01.639 --> 00:48:05.539 Sin says what real fulfillment is if you do this out there. 00:48:06.440 --> 00:48:07.259 And it's a lie. 00:48:08.139 --> 00:48:08.480 No, no. 00:48:08.519 --> 00:48:09.699 True fulfillment is with God. 00:48:09.819 --> 00:48:10.579 This is the better way. 00:48:10.639 --> 00:48:11.440 This is the better way. 00:48:11.500 --> 00:48:11.859 Absolutely. 00:48:11.859 --> 00:48:12.259 Yeah. 00:48:12.260 --> 00:48:15.860 Let me close and pray. 00:48:16.080 --> 00:48:17.120 And then we'll be questions after. 00:48:19.840 --> 00:48:23.840 Lord, we praise and we thank you that you have made us for yourself. 00:48:25.120 --> 00:48:28.840 That we are made to know you and love you and worship you. 00:48:29.640 --> 00:48:32.160 Help us to understand that and appreciate that. 00:48:32.720 --> 00:48:34.900 We thank that you've called us back to yourself. 00:48:34.900 --> 00:48:38.539 That the Lord Jesus is calling us to worship. 00:48:39.519 --> 00:48:42.280 To, to, to, to what we're truly made for. 00:48:43.059 --> 00:48:45.119 So we thank that, that today we worship you. 00:48:45.220 --> 00:48:48.900 That we can, that we're doing the thing that makes us truly human. 00:48:49.800 --> 00:48:53.300 And we, we pray that we will live that out. 00:48:53.680 --> 00:48:55.380 And that we will love and worship you today. 00:48:55.880 --> 00:48:56.519 In Jesus' name. 00:48:56.760 --> 00:48:56.980 Amen. 00:48:56.980 --> 00:48:57.119 Amen. 00:48:57.119 --> 00:48:57.119 00:48:57.119 --> 00:48:58.119 Amen. 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.119 00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:59.119 Amen. 00:48:59.119 --> 00:49:00.119 Amen. 00:49:00.119 --> 00:49:00.119 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:05.599