WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.699 Ephesians chapter 1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus, grace to you and peace from our God and Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:16.699 --> 00:00:35.039 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:49.719 In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace with which he has blessed us in the beloved. 00:00:49.719 --> 00:01:18.659 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:37.379 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things, according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:54.979 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory. 00:01:54.980 --> 00:02:24.759 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you. 00:02:24.979 --> 00:02:40.539 What are the riches of his glory in the saints, and what is the glory of his glory in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might, that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead, 00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:55.539 and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 00:02:55.539 --> 00:03:07.159 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:16.460 Over eight weeks now we've been looking at the doctrines of grace, or that notion of how we experience God's absolute sovereignty in our salvation. 00:03:17.419 --> 00:03:27.859 We've dug into that, we've looked at some questions this morning, our final question is, as Martin's already introduced, do they really matter in 2021? 00:03:27.860 --> 00:03:30.940 It's a lot of fuss about nothing. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:43.640 Historically, how we experience God's sovereignty in salvation has become a great theological divide. 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:52.619 On one side of the divide is the notion that God must, needs to save sinners. 00:03:53.239 --> 00:03:54.119 He can't save themselves. 00:03:55.939 --> 00:04:06.199 On the other side of the divide is those who believe that God helps sinners to save themselves. 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:13.819 That is, people have some ability at some point to move towards God, and then God helps them in that effort. 00:04:15.079 --> 00:04:17.259 It's a big theological divide. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:22.500 The debate, the divide was at the heart of the Reformation 500 years ago. 00:04:23.899 --> 00:04:25.480 But it actually wasn't new then. 00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:30.959 It raged 1,100 years before that, because all the way back to the 5th century, and earlier than that even. 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:40.879 And so in the Reformation, what we call the Doctrines of Grace was a formal statement representing the major Protestant reformers. 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:56.839 And they, as a unit, were convinced from the Bible that the nature and extent of sin renders a person unable and unwilling to move towards God or to save themselves. 00:04:56.839 --> 00:05:16.079 So, quite naturally then, from there, they determined that every aspect of salvation from start to finish had to be God's initiative, had to be God's sovereign power intervening in a sinful life, a sinful person, and turning that life around. 00:05:18.159 --> 00:05:20.000 It had to be through grace alone. 00:05:21.059 --> 00:05:24.519 God doing for and in the sinner what they could never do for themselves. 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:28.819 And that was in sharp contrast to what many believed and taught. 00:05:29.819 --> 00:05:31.000 And it goes something like this. 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:39.879 In sharp contrast to people who saw that, well, okay, yes, we agree that people generally are, or people universally, are severely affected by sin. 00:05:40.219 --> 00:05:41.359 No question at all about that. 00:05:42.620 --> 00:05:53.680 But we also believe that still within that person, they have a freedom to choose and the ability to choose to move towards God in the right circumstances. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:58.720 And that indeed, God recognizes that and then helps them along the way, as it were. 00:05:59.300 --> 00:06:00.819 So, it's a joint effort. 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:08.259 Partly my contribution and then partly God supplying what I can't do. 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:13.539 There's two powers at work in there. 00:06:13.539 --> 00:06:19.740 God's sovereign power and some of my own remnant power, sovereign power. 00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:25.879 But interestingly, the debate's not about God's sovereignty. 00:06:26.139 --> 00:06:33.680 We'd be wrong if we thought it was about God's sovereignty because both sides of the divide actually concede the necessity for God's sovereignty, 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:36.379 for God's sovereign power to be at work in our salvation. 00:06:36.379 --> 00:06:43.259 The issue is whether God's sovereign, powerful action is required at every point in salvation or not. 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:53.480 Or whether we maintain some sovereign power enabling us to contribute at whatever point to whatever degree. 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:59.180 Now, to me, it's a massive theological divide. 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:16.560 But I think the climate of Christians and evangelicals today is that so many Christians would just dismiss this issue as a historically and theologically redundant issue. 00:07:17.060 --> 00:07:18.860 It's a waste of time, people would say. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:21.579 What does it matter, they say? 00:07:21.579 --> 00:07:27.899 Why do Christians just get so nitpicking about these detailed processes of something like salvation? 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:32.579 Let's focus on the majors we hear and not the minors. 00:07:32.779 --> 00:07:39.740 And so people are actually relegating a discussion like this to the minors, something that's just sidetracking Christians. 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:46.819 And so we hear today, many people said, look, what's really important is that we just love and affirm one another. 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:51.980 And not fuss about this process of being saved. 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:57.939 So I say again to you, do they really matter in 2021? 00:07:57.939 --> 00:08:15.120 Well, the first thing I want to say in terms of answering this is that no, the doctrines of grace do not matter, comma, in the sense that it's not necessary to believe them to be saved. 00:08:17.699 --> 00:08:20.040 Now, I want to be really, really clear here. 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:35.379 It's possible for a person to be saved, genuinely saved, and not believe in election, predestination, particular atonement, God's effect of our irresistible calling, or the final perseverance of the saints. 00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:38.039 It's possible to be a Christian and not believe any of that. 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:59.039 The Lord's not limited by our lack of understanding, or our sinful refusal to consider such important issues, or even to make them important, or even sinful pride in thinking that our faith is our contribution to salvation. 00:08:59.339 --> 00:09:04.899 The Lord's not limited by any of those things in his purpose of salvation. 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:18.459 However, I would argue the experience of any believer over a period of time pushes us more and more towards the idea of God's absolute sovereignty and grace in our salvation. 00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:20.179 And it works like this. 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:33.299 As I become more and more aware of my sinful failings, and just my abject step before God, and become aware of God's grace and mercy in moving towards me, 00:09:33.299 --> 00:09:36.679 then what happens is that I become smaller. 00:09:38.319 --> 00:09:40.579 And God's grace becomes bigger and bigger. 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:46.779 As I understand myself more, looking on the inside, I think, yeah, that would never have happened. 00:09:46.839 --> 00:09:54.079 I would never have done that except of God's sovereign action in my life to turn me around, to turn my thinking around, turn my desires around. 00:09:54.080 --> 00:10:15.540 And equally true, I think, therefore, also, individual Christians and church communities will not be as mature as they might be if they relegate this great divide or debate to something unimportant. 00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:17.539 Why? 00:10:17.539 --> 00:10:18.779 Why? 00:10:18.779 --> 00:10:27.519 Because it will be a church of individuals with a very seriously diminished view of God. 00:10:29.819 --> 00:10:35.779 A very diminished view of God's specific love, specific commitment to their salvation. 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:47.039 Perhaps even it will be a church where they claim for themselves that which is rightfully God's to claim and take glory for. 00:10:49.559 --> 00:11:00.439 And so, again, you see, in churches where these things are relegated as unimportant, then I think God will be smaller in their thinking than he ought to be. 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:07.220 And conversely, individual Christians will be bigger in their thinking than they ought to be. 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:12.960 But here's the point, the main point I wanted to make in this section. 00:11:14.880 --> 00:11:24.580 As those who do thoroughly believe in the doctrines of grace, and I include myself, as those who do thoroughly believe in the doctrines of grace, the golden chain of salvation, 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:33.580 we have no business suggesting that others who do not hold this position are not and cannot be genuine believers. 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:47.400 Now, sad to say, I make this point because that's exactly what some have done who hold the doctrines of grace over the generations. 00:11:47.660 --> 00:11:49.140 And they do so without biblical warrant. 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:51.580 They've taken a superior position. 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:56.019 It's actually unbecoming of the very gospel they claim to be defending. 00:11:58.899 --> 00:12:03.580 Second answer is this, that the doctrines of grace do really matter in 2021. 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:06.500 First sub-point then. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:14.840 They are nothing else than the sum and substance of how and why God saves us. 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:24.180 They underpin and permeate the whole of scripture. 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:28.040 Now, why can I say that? 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:34.519 Because in the end, the doctrines of grace are just really about God's character. 00:12:36.660 --> 00:12:43.060 You can look at them lots of different ways, but at the end of the day, the doctrines of grace are just a display of God's character. 00:12:43.059 --> 00:12:50.819 And God's character is displayed right across the breadth of the Bible in two closely related words. 00:12:51.239 --> 00:12:59.559 First one is the word grace that we're so familiar with here in this church, which means God's act of blessing or showing mercy. 00:13:00.699 --> 00:13:03.099 Something that's entirely of his own choice. 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:09.800 And he does this to those who are totally undeserving of anything from him except condemnation. 00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:14.300 And every page of the Bible, we see that's God's character. 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:20.139 To move towards people who cannot command anything from him. 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:25.340 The second word, very closely related, is steadfast love. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:27.220 In the New Testament, it's more agape. 00:13:27.939 --> 00:13:30.659 In the Old Testament, it's the Hebrew chesed. 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:37.779 God's unwavering loyalty to those he has committed himself to bless. 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:40.080 He sets himself to love. 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:47.460 And nothing that that person can do, good or bad, will cause him to waver in his commitment. 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:54.600 And that chesed, that steadfast love is expressed mostly in God's plan and purpose of salvation. 00:13:55.879 --> 00:14:06.379 He determines he's going to save out of this sinful pool a great multitude of those who will show his glory and reflect his character. 00:14:07.420 --> 00:14:08.360 And he does just that. 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:21.440 And in spite of sin wrecking everything good in God's creation, we're shown repeatedly that God's steadfast love is both powerful and unwavering. 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:28.440 And that his grace is unconditional and free to those who do not deserve it in any shape or form. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:31.320 And we pick up here in Ephesians now. 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:38.940 Paul's language is repeatedly and overwhelmingly and just overflows from Paul all the time. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:44.900 He speaks about the riches of God's grace and how God has lavished that upon us. 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:46.780 It's extravagant language. 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:56.379 Paul talks about being overwhelmed by the sheer generosity and beauty of God's actions towards sinful people. 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:59.059 And we pick it up in Ephesians chapter 1. 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:01.220 We've looked at this passage several times in this series. 00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:03.319 But it's worth coming back to again. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:04.679 Paul in verse 3 says, 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:15.059 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:18.259 It's extravagant language. 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:21.259 It's overflow language. 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:29.039 This is how we see God's character is Paul's point to these Christians in Ephesus. 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:37.299 And we just need to let that sit. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:41.019 And we just need to sort of swim in that for a little bit. 00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:47.299 Because Paul then goes on in verses 4 through to 14 to spell that out a little bit. 00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:50.460 What does he mean when he talks about every spiritual blessing? 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:54.600 Well, verses 4 onwards is this golden chain of salvation again. 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:57.700 Where Paul just starts from eternity past. 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:02.519 God determining before the creation of the world to love the unlovely. 00:16:04.780 --> 00:16:07.780 God's character to love the unlovely. 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:13.040 Promising to renew and restore relationship with them. 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:16.280 God's grace. 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:20.440 Restoring relationship when condemnation would be the right thing. 00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.540 Rightful path ahead. 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:27.700 Actually saving them by securing forgiveness at great cost in the death of his son. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:32.100 Somebody must pay the penalty for these sins. 00:16:32.280 --> 00:16:33.259 There must be a death. 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:35.840 But I will cover the cost. 00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:37.180 I'll absorb the cost myself. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.639 Through the death of my son. 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.639 God's character on display. 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:47.379 Effectively moving people to respond. 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:51.759 When left to themselves, they would not have cared less about Jesus' death. 00:16:54.519 --> 00:17:00.699 God making sure that each individual has the benefits of Christ's death applied to them. 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:03.460 When, as I say, left to themselves, they couldn't have cared less. 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:07.640 Leading them into full knowledge and enjoyment of himself. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:13.600 And overcoming all the obstacles to the fulfillment of this promise that arise at every stage and throughout life itself. 00:17:13.840 --> 00:17:16.720 So that that saved person will make it home to heaven. 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:19.500 Eternity. 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:20.200 Future. 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:20.240 Future. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.420 At every point. 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:29.620 We, what we call salvation is just the sum and substance of God's character. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.100 Why he saves us. 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.039 How he saves us. 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:35.840 Both of those are explained by God's character. 00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:37.259 His grace. 00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:38.779 And his steadfast love. 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:49.180 So friends, the point I want you to grasp here is that the doctrines of grace are biblical truth. 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:53.779 But I don't want us just to think of them as a sort of bland biblical truth. 00:17:54.839 --> 00:18:01.859 The doctrines of grace are a display of God's sovereign character and purpose in this world. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:07.039 They're to be embraced, therefore. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.980 What a great God. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:15.899 He's come looking for me when I was hiding from him. 00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:20.039 They're to be treasured. 00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:27.619 God has actually done something for me that I could never have done for myself. 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:34.000 They're to be guarded for successive generations. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:44.900 I want my children and grandchildren and everybody else in this country to know the same character of God that offers them the same option of salvation. 00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:50.559 I don't want to let that go as an inconsequential thing. 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:52.000 I want it to be front and center. 00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:58.180 I want it to be my legacy as I leave this church and go home to be in heaven with the Lord. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:03.680 I want the next generation and the next generation of this church to be teaching the same stuff for the same reasons. 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:14.840 And the doctrines of grace cannot rightly be dismissed as a historical creed. 00:19:15.320 --> 00:19:21.779 They have been, but they cannot rightly be dismissed as a historical creed that perhaps has some value in its day, 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:26.039 but no longer an issue for genuine believers who want to serve the Lord. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:35.500 If we're going to serve the Lord, we must serve the Lord within response to his character. 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:42.279 Second point, it pushes to have proper supernaturalism with respect to our salvation. 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:51.720 The cry of all Bible writers and indeed the teaching of Jesus himself is that salvation is of the Lord. 00:19:58.019 --> 00:20:11.160 But sadly, again, I suggest to you this morning, this concept has been severely diminished or even lost among some so-called evangelical Christians today. 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:15.000 I think it works like this. 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:21.519 No longer do we hear of the need for a person to be saved or to be converted. 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:35.099 Because both those statements emphasize God's action of rescuing a person from their hopeless plight and renewing them. 00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:42.679 Now, the common statement we hear, so many evangelicals teach, is that people need to make a commitment. 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:47.659 They need to make a decision to follow Jesus. 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:51.679 Now, do you hear the difference in the verb there? 00:20:51.919 --> 00:20:56.919 It suggests that it's something the person does primarily and substantially. 00:20:56.920 --> 00:21:05.080 Now, I think this is more than just modernizing language. 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:10.019 I think it expresses a radical change in our theology of salvation. 00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:15.060 Now, clearly, and I want you to hear me carefully here, 00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:19.620 Scripture does call us to be committed to Christ at every point in life. 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:25.559 But that's always in response to being saved. 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:28.219 God's action in our life, to start with. 00:21:30.639 --> 00:21:33.039 The one can't cancel out the other. 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.599 The one doesn't replace the other. 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:45.619 It appears that desperate issues of salvation, that is being dead, being under God's wrath, being made alive, that we see here in Ephesians 2, 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:54.039 it appears that those desperate issues of salvation have been lost or rejected or so toned down as to be unimportant. 00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:59.939 And therefore, Jesus becomes more of a model of morality, a lifestyle to emulate or reproduce, 00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:03.240 rather than a substitutionary sacrifice for sin. 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:12.599 And so, if we ask why professing Christians today argue that the doctrines of grace do not matter, 00:22:14.199 --> 00:22:19.339 I think sometimes we find the answer in this change of theology. 00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:26.399 The modern gospel, which is so common among evangelicals today, 00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:33.159 plays down the holiness of God, especially in respect of his anger at sin and rebellion, 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:38.440 and plays up the basic goodness of a person or people individually. 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:44.320 Saying that, well, yeah, we've got some problems, but we're not all bad. 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:49.620 We've got some good things that we can rightly bring to the table when we approach God. 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:59.000 Even though they'll also say that, yes, when we do that, we still need God's help. 00:23:01.639 --> 00:23:08.299 The modern gospel promotes, my friends, I'm going to, this is probably the most provocative thing I'll say this morning. 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:11.959 The modern gospel, I think, promotes shared sovereignty. 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:20.600 Now, they'll quickly add that our sovereignty is not equal to God's, so it's not an equal sovereignty, 00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:21.940 but it's a shared sovereignty. 00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:26.400 Something that is, something that's real, something that we have the right to bring with us 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:28.480 when we're approaching God. 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:33.900 Something that we can actually bring to the table as we say, well, okay, what's going to make me acceptable to you, Lord? 00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:35.220 Well, I'll bring this. 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:37.200 I recognize that you need to provide that. 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:46.300 My friends, the doctrines of grace, I believe, put things back in the proper perspective. 00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:54.640 As I've said already, it makes God big, demanding his supernatural activity at every step in our salvation. 00:23:54.640 --> 00:24:06.259 And equally important, it makes us small, demanding our humble dependence and thankfulness for God's mercy and grace. 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:12.200 Third sub-point, then, is they get glory for God like nothing else. 00:24:12.280 --> 00:24:14.680 The doctrines of grace get glory for God like nothing else. 00:24:16.020 --> 00:24:17.700 Very simple point here. 00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:26.680 The more hopeless the plight of the condemned person, the greater will be the love, adoration, and sense of indebtedness 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:29.819 of the one forgiven and rescued and freed into new life. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:37.400 For Paul, when he talks about the gap between God and sinful people, 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:40.660 he's talking in terms of the gap between heaven and hell. 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:52.100 Between being saved by grace alone, chapter 2, and being without hope and without God in the world. 00:24:53.340 --> 00:24:54.120 Massive gap. 00:24:55.340 --> 00:24:59.380 And four times in this one chapter here, and I don't have time to go through them all, 00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:03.279 but in verse 6 and 7 and verses 12 and 14, 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:08.340 four times Paul bounces from describing the spiritual blessings we have in Christ 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:10.579 as a result of God's salvation purpose to saying, 00:25:11.199 --> 00:25:14.019 he just stops, and it's all too much for him, 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:16.439 and he just stops to the praise of his glory. 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:18.000 To the praise of his glory. 00:25:18.459 --> 00:25:19.579 To the praise of his glory. 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:26.439 It's just so overwhelming that Paul just has to stop and breathe. 00:25:27.899 --> 00:25:28.759 To the breathe. 00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:30.039 I've done a day of thought again. 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.419 To the praise of his glory. 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:41.140 And Paul goes on from there in the following chapters in his letter to the church at Ephesus 00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:47.080 to speak about the beautiful mystery of God's grace that is salvation in Jesus. 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:50.940 The unsearchable riches of God's grace in Christ. 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.779 Chapter 3. 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:55.340 These very things that create the church, 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:58.140 the community of resurrected people, of saved people, 00:25:58.140 --> 00:26:03.560 through whom God's incredible wisdom and love, faithfulness and purpose is shown. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.740 Again, God's character. 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:10.420 And from here in chapter 4, and from there in chapter 4, 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.960 he urges a whole of life response. 00:26:17.060 --> 00:26:18.759 And here's Paul's point. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:23.280 Since God is sovereign in salvation, 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:28.680 since salvation is really an experience we have, 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:30.879 a very personal experience of God's character, 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:33.799 of grace and steadfast love and mercy. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.839 And because of that, we're new. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:40.319 Join heirs with Jesus. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.559 Then, says Paul, chapter 4, 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:46.579 we owe him everything. 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:50.539 We owe him everything. 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:50.619 We owe him everything. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.279 Heirs with Jesus. 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.539 And that's why, my friends, 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.960 Christian songwriters, 00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:00.200 modern and ancient, 00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:03.440 write over and over and over again 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:05.200 about amazing grace. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.399 I remember when I was a bit younger, 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:09.920 I used to think, 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:12.460 why do Christian songwriters have these cliches? 00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:15.920 Because amazing grace is in so many songs. 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.240 And I've come to appreciate now 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.119 that it's not a cliche, 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.940 unless it's in my mind a cliche. 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:24.200 It's the essence, 00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.980 the sum and total of God's character 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:29.440 that we experience every single day 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:32.500 as we experience at that single point 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:34.180 when we were saved and made alive. 00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:40.600 To say that salvation is of the Lord 00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:42.140 in conception, 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.660 in planning, 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.580 accomplishment, 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:45.740 application, 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:48.640 such that sinners like you and me 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:50.740 will be in heaven with the Father forever, 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.859 is simply to give God 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:55.200 the glory he deserves. 00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:58.559 So the better we understand 00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:00.660 the doctrines of grace, 00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:04.680 the more we respond to God's grace 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:06.099 and mercy and love 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:09.299 by showing we owe him everything, 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:12.460 the more glory he gets from us. 00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:17.779 It literally is to the praise of his glory. 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.319 Second point then, 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:24.120 and we're getting close to being done. 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:27.180 The doctrines of grace free us. 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:30.720 They free us and encourage us 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:32.819 to confident Christian living. 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:35.039 Two sides of this coin, 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:36.759 encouraging us to come to Christ 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.779 in all our sinfulness. 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:40.779 Now I suspect you're just like me. 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:42.579 If you're not, 00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:43.920 then you just listen in for this moment. 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.299 But so often, 00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:51.180 I fear I'm too sinful to be saved. 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:58.019 Perhaps we, 00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:59.240 if you're like me, 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:01.519 perhaps it's some big sin in the past. 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:01.879 You think, 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:05.200 I can understand God being forgiving 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.740 and all this, 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.680 but this one, 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.740 no, that one's just too big. 00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:07.799 No. 00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:13.279 Too awful for God to forgive. 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:17.160 Or it can be more immediate. 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:20.099 So sometimes we can get worn down, 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:22.099 not just by that big sin from the past 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:23.980 that we cogitate on, 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:26.579 but sometimes it's our small, 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.559 daily, 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.879 repeated sins 00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:31.099 that just rise up 00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:32.839 to cause fear. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:34.019 And it's when we go to pray, 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:35.940 because we're praying and confessing 00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:37.820 the same sin today 00:29:37.820 --> 00:29:39.380 as we confessed yesterday 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:40.480 and the day before 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.340 and the day before 00:29:41.340 --> 00:29:42.180 and the week before 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.960 and the month before. 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.740 And we think to ourselves, 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.140 really? 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:49.740 Is God going to listen to this again? 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:54.180 You see, 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.759 in Ephesians chapter 1, 00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:58.740 Paul gives us 00:29:58.740 --> 00:30:00.720 the tools of freedom. 00:30:02.120 --> 00:30:03.180 By saying it is, 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:05.720 it's not about my failures, 00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:08.720 it's about God's commitment to me. 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:14.339 It's about his golden chain of salvation 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:16.480 that he didn't leave anything to chance. 00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:18.839 He didn't leave any part of my salvation 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:21.659 down to my own resources 00:30:21.659 --> 00:30:23.019 because he knew jolly well 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:24.099 that I would stuff it up. 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.859 In Christ, 00:30:29.179 --> 00:30:32.539 we have every spiritual blessing 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.819 in the heavenly realm. 00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:37.480 There is nothing else, my friends, 00:30:37.959 --> 00:30:40.779 nothing else that God could do for us 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:42.119 or give us 00:30:42.119 --> 00:30:44.899 that would make us more secure, 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:47.319 that would make us more new. 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:55.759 So when our fears threaten to overwhelm us, 00:30:56.159 --> 00:30:58.659 we need to drive them away 00:30:58.659 --> 00:31:01.119 by praying as Paul prays 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:03.459 in verses 15 to 23. 00:31:04.659 --> 00:31:06.339 I've even got it written down here wrong. 00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:08.179 Thanks for embarrassing me, Liz. 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:11.159 From 15 to 23, 00:31:11.379 --> 00:31:13.220 we need to drive away those fears 00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:15.039 by praying as Paul prays. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:16.259 And again, 00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:18.680 I don't have time to go through this prayer in detail, 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:19.799 but I'd encourage you, 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:21.480 urge you to go through it in detail 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.359 in your own time. 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:28.259 Freedom from fear 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:31.259 is knowing the doctrines of grace, 00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:33.399 to use the terminology, 00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:35.039 but move away from the terminology. 00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:36.379 Freedom from fear 00:31:36.379 --> 00:31:38.639 is knowing God's power 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:40.540 and God's grace 00:31:40.540 --> 00:31:41.880 and God's commitment 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:43.420 and God's purpose 00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.920 in salvation. 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:47.759 Not just to make salvation 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.640 available 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.600 and hope to goodness 00:31:49.600 --> 00:31:50.940 that somebody might be interested in it, 00:31:51.280 --> 00:31:52.880 but to actually save those 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:53.780 he set his love on 00:31:53.780 --> 00:31:55.560 and bring them home to heaven. 00:31:56.340 --> 00:31:58.080 So they'll be part of this 00:31:58.080 --> 00:31:59.380 vast multitude 00:31:59.380 --> 00:32:00.820 that no man can number 00:32:00.820 --> 00:32:02.740 who will just be singing 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:04.220 the praises of God's glory. 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:09.600 And this in turn, 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:09.920 you see, 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:12.079 frees us to confident Christian living. 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:14.200 It frees us 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.740 from the performance treadmill 00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:18.259 of always trying 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:19.600 to earn favour with God 00:32:19.600 --> 00:32:20.680 by getting things right. 00:32:23.900 --> 00:32:24.640 And friends, 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.779 this also includes freedom 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:27.519 to fail again and again 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.200 as we do. 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.900 Then to seek God's forgiveness. 00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:32.420 Once more determined 00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:33.120 to live and act 00:32:33.120 --> 00:32:33.740 and think in a way 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:35.000 that shows a proper response 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.539 of gratitude 00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.160 and worship 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:37.900 for his mercies to us. 00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.839 I'm still confident 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.799 even in our failures 00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.859 that God is working 00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:44.740 with us and in us 00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:47.160 to make us more like Christ 00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:47.859 little by little. 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:56.200 Jude chapter 24 00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:57.579 says this. 00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:01.220 I'm going to read this one too. 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:01.960 I'm going to find it. 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:04.120 I should have a look at it. 00:33:04.120 --> 00:33:04.400 I should have a look at it. 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:04.860 Okay. 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.860 It's commonly used 00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:09.640 as a doxology. 00:33:10.840 --> 00:33:11.559 Now to him 00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:12.779 who is able 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.640 to keep you 00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:14.440 from stumbling 00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:17.019 and to present you 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:17.700 blameless 00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:18.880 before the presence 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:19.700 of his glory 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.700 with great joy 00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:23.180 to the only God 00:33:23.180 --> 00:33:23.759 our Saviour 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.640 through Jesus Christ 00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:25.019 our Lord 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:26.079 be glory, 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.420 majesty, 00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:28.240 dominion 00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.940 and authority 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:30.140 before all time 00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:31.160 now and forever. 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.759 God's character 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:36.340 our freedom 00:33:36.340 --> 00:33:37.080 and security 00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:38.540 God's glory. 00:33:41.040 --> 00:33:41.820 The second 00:33:41.820 --> 00:33:42.380 the other side 00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:42.800 of this coin 00:33:42.800 --> 00:33:43.660 is they encourage us 00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.680 to encourage others 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.759 to come to Christ. 00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:46.980 Now friends 00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:47.560 there's no question 00:33:47.560 --> 00:33:47.920 about it 00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:48.900 at least in my experience 00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:49.600 that evangelism 00:33:49.600 --> 00:33:50.240 is hard work. 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.400 Which of us 00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:52.900 can change 00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:53.960 a single attitude 00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:54.700 or desire 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:56.140 in another person? 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:57.940 Which of us 00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:58.660 can cut through 00:33:58.660 --> 00:33:59.759 that deep 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:01.480 instinct of hostility 00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.540 that people have 00:34:02.540 --> 00:34:04.160 towards God 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:05.000 or that deep 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:05.600 inclination 00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:06.660 to hide from God? 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.619 The answer is 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:09.920 thankfully 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.660 we don't have to. 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:12.720 As we saw 00:34:12.720 --> 00:34:13.360 two weeks ago 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:13.860 our job 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:14.440 is to simply 00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.460 preach God's word 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:17.579 get on with our stuff 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:19.119 and let God 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:19.860 do his stuff. 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.980 That's a beautiful 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:21.480 freedom. 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:24.500 We just need to 00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.400 speak when we 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:26.019 have opportunity. 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:27.139 Tell our friends 00:34:27.139 --> 00:34:27.860 tell our families 00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.619 tell our neighbours 00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:29.880 tell our workmates. 00:34:30.820 --> 00:34:31.599 It's God's work 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:32.219 then to create 00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:32.800 new life 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:33.340 and repentance 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:33.800 and faith 00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:34.240 in the person. 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.699 I just find 00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:37.280 that such a 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:38.679 relaxing partnership. 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.559 The doctrines 00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:46.980 of grace 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:47.820 are the platform 00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:48.639 for confident 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:49.400 evangelism 00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:50.400 and cross 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.000 cultural 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.360 mission 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:51.720 work. 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.460 As I said 00:34:55.460 --> 00:34:56.280 two weeks ago 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:57.039 not only 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:57.559 has God 00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.000 determined 00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:58.599 that 00:34:58.599 --> 00:35:00.260 a great multitude 00:35:00.260 --> 00:35:00.900 would be saved 00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.539 he's determined 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.000 how 00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:02.880 and when 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:04.400 through the 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:04.660 preaching 00:35:04.660 --> 00:35:05.220 of the gospel. 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:07.420 God's work 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:08.320 God's stuff 00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:09.400 our stuff 00:35:09.400 --> 00:35:11.680 wonderful freedom 00:35:11.680 --> 00:35:12.740 in that. 00:35:12.739 --> 00:35:13.279 God's work 00:35:13.279 --> 00:35:13.979 God's work 00:35:13.979 --> 00:35:14.979 God's work 00:35:14.979 --> 00:35:15.639 God's work 00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:15.879 I just want 00:35:15.879 --> 00:35:16.399 to conclude 00:35:16.399 --> 00:35:17.279 the series 00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:17.779 then by 00:35:17.779 --> 00:35:19.019 reading to you 00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:19.599 from Acts 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:20.559 chapter 18 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.179 verse 10 00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:23.819 Paul knew 00:35:23.819 --> 00:35:25.179 the travail 00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:26.799 of being a witness 00:35:26.799 --> 00:35:27.419 for Christ 00:35:27.419 --> 00:35:28.339 and speaking 00:35:28.339 --> 00:35:29.639 the gospel 00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:30.359 to people 00:35:30.359 --> 00:35:32.159 who were lost 00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:33.019 in their sin 00:35:33.019 --> 00:35:34.579 and unwilling 00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:35.500 even to hear it 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:37.719 and he says 00:35:37.719 --> 00:35:38.139 this 00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:40.480 or rather 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:41.420 the Lord 00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:41.880 says this 00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:42.880 to Paul 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:46.659 the Lord 00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:47.159 said to Paul 00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:47.519 one night 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:47.940 in a vision 00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:49.440 do not be 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:49.880 afraid 00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:51.460 but go 00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.139 on speaking 00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:53.760 and do not 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:54.300 be silent 00:35:54.300 --> 00:35:56.300 here it comes 00:35:56.300 --> 00:35:57.920 for I am 00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.480 with you 00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:59.679 and no one 00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:00.219 will attack 00:36:00.219 --> 00:36:00.860 you to harm 00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.500 you for I 00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.219 have many 00:36:02.219 --> 00:36:03.179 in this city 00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:04.199 who are my 00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:04.500 people 00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:06.340 where was 00:36:06.340 --> 00:36:06.699 he working 00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:07.800 Corinth 00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:10.440 that den 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:11.139 of iniquity 00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:13.659 bit like 00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:14.280 our country 00:36:14.280 --> 00:36:15.199 isn't it 00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:17.900 I have 00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:18.380 many 00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:19.099 in this city 00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:19.480 who are my 00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:19.760 people 00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:20.780 go on 00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:21.139 speaking 00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:21.619 do not 00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:22.059 be silent 00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:23.519 our stuff 00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.699 God's stuff 00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:29.079 Paul's 00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:29.480 confidence 00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:30.219 in a very 00:36:30.219 --> 00:36:31.159 hostile city 00:36:31.159 --> 00:36:33.239 with a 00:36:33.239 --> 00:36:33.659 strong 00:36:33.659 --> 00:36:34.159 worldview 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:34.480 that was 00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:34.839 openly 00:36:34.839 --> 00:36:35.299 opposed 00:36:35.299 --> 00:36:35.839 to God 00:36:35.839 --> 00:36:36.559 was 00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:38.000 God's 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.440 sovereignty 00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:40.039 in salvation 00:36:40.039 --> 00:36:43.119 God has 00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:43.679 his elect 00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:44.239 people in 00:36:44.239 --> 00:36:44.579 Corinth 00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:46.859 and nothing 00:36:46.859 --> 00:36:48.299 would stop 00:36:48.299 --> 00:36:49.039 those appointed 00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:49.799 for salvation 00:36:49.799 --> 00:36:50.859 from being 00:36:50.859 --> 00:36:51.279 saved 00:36:51.279 --> 00:36:53.739 Paul could 00:36:53.739 --> 00:36:54.399 roll out of bed 00:36:54.399 --> 00:36:54.839 in the morning 00:36:54.839 --> 00:36:56.399 sometimes even 00:36:56.399 --> 00:36:57.019 nursing his 00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.460 bruises 00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:59.760 and get on 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:00.240 the job 00:37:00.240 --> 00:37:00.740 of speaking 00:37:00.740 --> 00:37:01.380 with Jesus 00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:04.300 let me pray 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:11.400 Lord we 00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:12.199 are just 00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:13.059 literally 00:37:13.059 --> 00:37:13.559 overwhelmed 00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:13.960 by your 00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:14.420 character 00:37:14.420 --> 00:37:17.740 that you 00:37:17.740 --> 00:37:18.519 pursue us 00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:19.280 in love 00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:20.260 and mercy 00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:22.940 you call 00:37:22.940 --> 00:37:23.280 us back 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:23.720 to yourself 00:37:23.720 --> 00:37:24.460 in grace 00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:27.140 and you 00:37:27.140 --> 00:37:27.560 love us 00:37:27.560 --> 00:37:27.900 with a 00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:28.380 steadfast 00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:28.820 love 00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:33.520 help us 00:37:33.520 --> 00:37:33.860 never 00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:34.520 Lord to 00:37:34.520 --> 00:37:37.900 even think 00:37:37.900 --> 00:37:38.620 about diminishing 00:37:38.620 --> 00:37:39.900 that at our 00:37:39.900 --> 00:37:40.680 front and 00:37:40.680 --> 00:37:41.340 center piece 00:37:41.340 --> 00:37:43.400 help us to 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:44.360 make you 00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:44.680 big 00:37:44.680 --> 00:37:45.820 and ourselves 00:37:45.820 --> 00:37:46.260 small 00:37:46.260 --> 00:37:47.340 in Jesus 00:37:47.340 --> 00:37:47.740 name I 00:37:47.740 --> 00:37:47.980 pray 00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:48.640 Amen 00:37:48.640 --> 00:37:50.200 thank you 00:37:50.200 --> 00:37:50.540 very much 00:37:50.540 --> 00:37:50.920 for listening