WEBVTT

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 Well, good evening and welcome once again to our short church service.

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 Let me begin with words that we find in 1 Peter chapter 1.

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 Words that speak hope to suffering Christians, reminding them, reminding us, of the true identity that is ours in Christ.

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 So listen to how the letter begins, verse 1 and 2.

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 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, exiles, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,

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 through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood.

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 And then in chapter 2, he says of this suffering, struggling church,

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 you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession,

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 that you may declare the praises of him who called you of darkness into his wonderful light.

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 Now, we're going to read together in our Bibles from 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.

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 Again, it would be helpful to have a Bible in front of you, but the words should also be on the screen so that you can follow along.

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 We're thinking again about the Holy Spirit in the believer's life.

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 And here we're thinking about the Holy Spirit and his work in sanctifying.

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 And we'll think about that in a moment.

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 So 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.

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 Let's hear God's word together.

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 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God as in fact you are living.

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 Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

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 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

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 It is God's will that you should be sanctified, that you should avoid sexual immorality,

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 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable,

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 not in passionate lust like the pagans who do not know God,

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 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.

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 The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins as we told you and warned you before.

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 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

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 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being,

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 but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

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 Now about your love for one another, we do not need to write to you,

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 for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

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 And in fact, you do love all of God's family throughout Macedonia.

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 Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,

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 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life.

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 You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,

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 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders,

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 and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

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 Goals matter for motivation, don't they?

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 If you're listening and you're a student or a pupil,

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 you will know that it's really hard to be motivated without the push of final exams.

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 It's really hard to do your best without a teacher who's checking over your work,

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 if you're in homeschool.

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 And we see it in the life of athletes as well.

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 They are on those gruelling schedules.

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 They make sacrifices and they push their bodies through the pain barrier

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 for the sake of glory and championships.

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 And it's really hard for them to keep motivated when there is no sport happening.

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 As a Christian, if you are a Christian,

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 I wonder if you know what is the goal of your life.

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 What is God's goal for your life?

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 There's a wonderful little phrase in verse 3 here.

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 God's will for you and me is that you should be sanctified.

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 What does God want for us?

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 Sanctification.

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 So what is that?

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 And what does it have to do with the Holy Spirit

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 who we've been thinking about for the last few weeks?

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 Well, sanctification is one aspect of God's grace to us in Jesus Christ.

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 It is part of his ongoing work by the Holy Spirit

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 so that more and more we are living free of sin

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 and we are becoming more and more like Jesus.

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 That's a progressive work of Christian maturity,

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 of growing in holiness.

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 So unlike justification, which is 100% God's work,

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 God declares a believer to be in right standing with him,

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 righteous in his sight because of the finished work of Jesus

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 and because of God's grace that applies justification.

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 So we're justified in Christ and that's all God's work

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 and we receive that freely as a gift.

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 The sanctification is 100% the work of the Spirit in a believer's life

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 and 100% the work of a believer working out our salvation.

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 So this is an area where we are involved in work.

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 So the Christian life, and the Bible is really clear about this,

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 the Christian life is about fighting and striving.

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 So the Holy Spirit is guiding us towards God's goal, holiness,

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 sanctification, becoming more like Jesus.

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 But we have to fight, we have to strive, we have to work,

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 to obey, to kill sin, to believe the truth.

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 Jenny Bridges, who's written a very helpful book called

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 The Pursuit of Holiness,

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 it says that God has made it possible for us to walk in holiness,

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 but he has given us the responsibility of doing the walking.

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 So we are to aim for holiness,

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 but we do that fuelled by faith in Jesus.

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 We pursue godliness,

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 but we do that empowered by the Spirit.

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 So we work as God's Spirit works in us.

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 So let's use 1 Thessalonians 4 to begin to see how this works.

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 So first of all,

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 the Holy Spirit guides us in holiness.

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 You look at the first couple of verses here.

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 What is Paul saying to these new Christians?

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 He says,

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 So you are pleasing God.

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 Now we ask you and urge you to do this more and more.

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 So you are pleasing.

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 Go on and do it more and more.

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 Your ethics,

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 your moral behaviour,

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 is obedient and pleasing to God.

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 Now keep on

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 that path

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 of obedience.

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 So remember,

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 God wants us

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 to be sanctified,

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 to be holy,

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 to becoming more like Jesus.

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 And the Spirit's work is to guide

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 a person to know what that looks like.

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 So this sanctification is an active and ongoing process

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 of being taught and given power

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 to know how on the one hand

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 to love God

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 and also to love our neighbour.

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 Now that's holiness

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 is doing the will of God.

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 It's about loving God,

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 loving neighbour.

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 So here,

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 what does that look like

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 for the Thessalonians?

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 Well,

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 they're given really practical instructions.

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 In verses 4 to 8,

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 Paul talks to this group of young Christians

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 about sexual ethics,

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 calling them away

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 from the sexual immorality

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 that they were used to

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 in their former pagan lifestyle.

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 In verses 9 and 10,

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 he encourages them

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 to go on

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 and to grow

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 in their love

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 for believers.

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 In verse 11,

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 it looks like

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 avoiding

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 controversy

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 and

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 gossip.

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 In verse 11 and 12,

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 it also looks like

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 working hard

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 and working

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 well.

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 So there is guidance

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 in all these practical areas

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 of holiness.

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 God says,

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 be holy

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 because I

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 am holy.

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 All sin

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 is

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 unholy.

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 It is a contradiction

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 of

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 God's holiness.

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 Therefore,

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 we are to be

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 fighting against it.

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 There should be

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 in a Christian

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 an inner conflict

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 where we want

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 to kill sins

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 so that we can do

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 the will of God.

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 So when you look

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 at the language

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 Paul uses

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 in verse 1,

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 he urges them

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 to keep on living

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 to please God.

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 In verse 7,

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 he says,

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 God calls you

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 to live

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 a holy life.

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 Here is your way

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 of life.

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 Here is your work.

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 Here is your hard work.

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 There is no room

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 for laziness

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 as the Holy Spirit

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 guides us

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 to holiness

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 and obedience.

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 Now before we go

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 any further,

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 there are two,

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 as it were,

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 ditches to avoid.

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 If holiness

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 is a path

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 that we are to take,

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 there are two ways

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 that we can fall

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 off the path.

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 The one side

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 is legalism

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 where we get

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 the idea

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 that we are

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 to obey

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 in our strength

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 or we are

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 to obey

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 to earn

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 the favour

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 of God.

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 and that

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 will end

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 in defeat

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 and failure.

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 So that's one

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 ditch to avoid

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 on the path

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 of holiness.

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 The other ditch

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 is the mindset

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 that says,

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 well,

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 we simply

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 let go

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 and let God.

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 The idea

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 that obedience

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 comes to us

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 as some kind

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 of automatic

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 upgrade

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 where a person

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 becomes a follower

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 of Jesus

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 and then we always

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 make good and wise

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 decisions

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 and we always

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 love well.

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 No,

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 the Bible says

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 we need to work

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 out our obedience.

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 We need to work

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 hard at holiness

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 but we do that

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 not in our own strength.

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 We do that guided

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 and empowered

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 by God's Holy Spirit.

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 So thinking about

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 the Holy Spirit

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 who guides us

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 in holiness,

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 how do we know

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 what holy living

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 looks like?

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 How do we know

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 what holy living

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 sounds like?

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 It takes us

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 to our second point

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 that the Holy Spirit

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 guides us

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 in the truth,

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 guides us

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 into

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 the Bible,

00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:44.160
 the truth

00:11:44.160 --> 00:11:45.020
 of God's word.

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 We've already

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 seen that.

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 All through

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 the Old Testament

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 and the New Testament

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 we find

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 the law,

00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:52.600
 we find ethics,

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 we find a way

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 of life

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 being presented

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 to the Christian

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 and again

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 this is not our way

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 to earn God's favour,

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 we're saved by grace

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 not by law

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 but law

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 and ethics

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 they do give us

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 a guide to what

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 pleases God.

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 They do show us

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 what the way

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 of holiness

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 looks like.

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 Look at verse

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 2 again.

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 Paul says

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 something striking

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 here,

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 verse 2,

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 for you know

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 what instructions

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 we gave you

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 by the authority

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 of the Lord Jesus.

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 So Paul is saying

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 that the ethical

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 and moral teaching

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 this very practical

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 instruction,

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 it has the same

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 divine authority

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 as his gospel

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 message.

00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.560
 They both come

00:12:40.560 --> 00:12:41.700
 with the authority

00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:42.240
 of Jesus.

00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:44.100
 We need both

00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:45.720
 as Christians.

00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.960
 Look at verse 7

00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:48.379
 and 8.

00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:49.539
 Again,

00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:50.220
 very striking.

00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:51.340
 God did not call us

00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:52.139
 to be impure

00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:53.259
 but to live a holy life.

00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:53.799
 Therefore,

00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:56.220
 anyone who rejects

00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:57.000
 this instruction

00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:58.620
 does not reject

00:12:58.620 --> 00:12:59.519
 a human being

00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.220
 but God,

00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:02.019
 the very God

00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:02.779
 who gives you

00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:03.659
 his Holy Spirit.

00:13:04.699 --> 00:13:05.980
 So to reject

00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:08.159
 the clear moral

00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:08.919
 instruction

00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:10.179
 that we find

00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:11.019
 in the Bible

00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:12.379
 here delivered by Paul

00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:13.299
 is to choose

00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:14.460
 impurity rather than

00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:14.879
 holiness

00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:16.939
 is to reject

00:13:16.939 --> 00:13:17.659
 God.

00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:18.519
 Further,

00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.500
 it is to reject

00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:20.439
 God's Holy Spirit

00:13:20.439 --> 00:13:21.159
 who both gives

00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:21.740
 the instruction

00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:23.539
 and empowers

00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:24.620
 the way to obey.

00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:28.580
 So hopefully

00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:29.220
 what's become

00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:30.179
 clear to us

00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:31.039
 is that for us

00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:32.820
 to be sanctified,

00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:35.159
 for us to grow

00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:35.899
 in our holiness,

00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:36.519
 to grow

00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:37.919
 into the image

00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:38.419
 of Jesus,

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.840
 we need to know

00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:41.200
 our Bibles

00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:42.720
 and we need

00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:43.900
 to obey

00:13:43.900 --> 00:13:45.280
 our Bibles.

00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:47.480
 One of the

00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:48.460
 pictures that the

00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:49.940
 Bible uses of itself

00:13:49.940 --> 00:13:51.160
 and we find it

00:13:51.160 --> 00:13:51.879
 in the Psalms

00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:52.800
 and Jesus uses it

00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:53.560
 is that God's Word

00:13:53.560 --> 00:13:54.480
 is like a lamp,

00:13:55.040 --> 00:13:56.020
 it's like a light

00:13:56.020 --> 00:13:57.960
 and the Spirit

00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:58.340
 is the one

00:13:58.340 --> 00:13:59.080
 who inspired

00:13:59.080 --> 00:13:59.720
 the Word of God

00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:00.280
 so the Spirit

00:14:00.280 --> 00:14:01.280
 uses the lamp

00:14:01.280 --> 00:14:02.020
 of God's Word

00:14:02.020 --> 00:14:04.060
 to illuminate

00:14:04.060 --> 00:14:05.780
 certain realities

00:14:05.780 --> 00:14:06.300
 for us.

00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:06.700
 There's that

00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:07.460
 illumination,

00:14:07.660 --> 00:14:08.120
 brightening,

00:14:08.280 --> 00:14:08.720
 lightening up

00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:09.280
 that takes place

00:14:09.280 --> 00:14:10.060
 in at least three ways.

00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.020
 First of all,

00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:12.900
 the Spirit uses

00:14:12.900 --> 00:14:13.980
 the Word of God

00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:15.060
 as a lamp

00:14:15.060 --> 00:14:16.160
 to expose

00:14:16.160 --> 00:14:17.440
 the darkness

00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:18.180
 of sin

00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:19.720
 in our hearts.

00:14:21.540 --> 00:14:22.400
 Maybe one way

00:14:22.400 --> 00:14:23.300
 we can think about it

00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:23.780
 is this.

00:14:24.140 --> 00:14:25.060
 Imagine cleaning

00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:25.800
 your car

00:14:25.800 --> 00:14:27.100
 in the half-light

00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:28.620
 or as it's getting dark.

00:14:29.520 --> 00:14:30.160
 You know when you

00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:32.100
 put loads of water

00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:32.440
 on it

00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:32.900
 and you put a bit

00:14:32.900 --> 00:14:33.400
 of soap on it,

00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:34.420
 it always looks good,

00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:34.800
 doesn't it?

00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:35.440
 Always,

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.560
 until the water dries

00:14:36.560 --> 00:14:37.600
 and until the sun shines

00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:38.040
 and then,

00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:39.320
 unless you know

00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:40.000
 a really good job,

00:14:40.040 --> 00:14:41.180
 you see the dirty

00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:42.699
 marks in various places.

00:14:43.819 --> 00:14:45.399
 We can think

00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:46.199
 that we are

00:14:46.199 --> 00:14:48.259
 doing really well

00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:52.120
 when we're judging

00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:53.239
 by our own standards

00:14:53.239 --> 00:14:54.579
 or even judging

00:14:54.579 --> 00:14:55.819
 by some of the things

00:14:55.819 --> 00:14:56.159
 that we know

00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:56.539
 in the Bible,

00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:57.419
 but the Spirit

00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:58.139
 always wants us

00:14:58.139 --> 00:14:59.299
 to go deeper.

00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:00.879
 It wants us

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.539
 to be reading

00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:01.979
 the Bible

00:15:01.979 --> 00:15:03.339
 and to be reflecting

00:15:03.339 --> 00:15:04.299
 on it

00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:07.000
 that it's exposing

00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:08.259
 some of the darkness,

00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:09.099
 some of the unbelief,

00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:10.340
 some of the sin,

00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:11.240
 the stain of sin

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:12.200
 in our own hearts

00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.019
 and lives.

00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:15.300
 So there's illumination

00:15:15.300 --> 00:15:16.259
 to expose

00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:18.519
 sin and stain.

00:15:19.040 --> 00:15:19.879
 But there's also

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.460
 the Holy Spirit

00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:21.279
 uses the Bible

00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.700
 to illuminate

00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:23.620
 and to reveal

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:25.259
 the beauty

00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:25.740
 and truth

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.320
 of the Bible.

00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:30.879
 So it's always helpful,

00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:31.720
 it's so important

00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.519
 for us to pray

00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:33.259
 before we come

00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:33.980
 to read the Bible,

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:34.259
 you know,

00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.100
 open my eyes

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.600
 to see wonderful

00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.560
 things in your word

00:15:37.560 --> 00:15:38.980
 so that we wouldn't

00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:39.800
 just read the Bible

00:15:39.800 --> 00:15:40.899
 as any other book,

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.519
 that we wouldn't

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.240
 just read it

00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:43.899
 as something

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.540
 so that we can,

00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:44.899
 you know,

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:45.940
 tick it off

00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:47.259
 our list

00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:48.220
 so we can feel good.

00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.980
 We want to be reading

00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:51.180
 so that we see

00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:53.379
 more of God's glory,

00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:54.399
 more of the beauty

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.820
 of God's truth.

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.480
 And especially,

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:59.019
 the third thing

00:15:59.019 --> 00:15:59.720
 to focus on,

00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.840
 the Spirit uses

00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:01.320
 the lamp

00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:02.399
 of God's word

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.820
 to illuminate

00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.500
 for us

00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:07.040
 the glory

00:16:07.040 --> 00:16:09.060
 of Jesus

00:16:09.060 --> 00:16:11.360
 on every page.

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:12.860
 Think about

00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.360
 a theatre

00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:15.660
 and imagine

00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:16.379
 that stage

00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:17.100
 spotlight

00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:17.960
 shining.

00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.360
 Where does it

00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:19.780
 shine?

00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:21.420
 It always is

00:16:21.420 --> 00:16:22.399
 shining so that

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:22.980
 we can see

00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.920
 the star

00:16:23.920 --> 00:16:24.879
 of the show.

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:27.060
 The Spirit

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.259
 wants to do

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:28.940
 that

00:16:28.940 --> 00:16:30.300
 to help us

00:16:30.300 --> 00:16:30.940
 to see

00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:31.740
 Jesus.

00:16:31.880 --> 00:16:32.560
 So we read

00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:33.440
 the Bible

00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:34.180
 so that we see

00:16:34.180 --> 00:16:34.940
 Jesus as the

00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:36.220
 true king,

00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.320
 to see

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.520
 Jesus as

00:16:38.520 --> 00:16:39.460
 the glory

00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:40.380
 of God

00:16:40.380 --> 00:16:41.920
 revealed to us,

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:42.800
 the true hero,

00:16:42.920 --> 00:16:43.780
 the true champion,

00:16:43.920 --> 00:16:45.580
 the true star.

00:16:47.040 --> 00:16:47.620
 And the Spirit

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.300
 would have us

00:16:48.300 --> 00:16:49.100
 to see

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:49.880
 Jesus

00:16:49.880 --> 00:16:51.200
 and see the good news

00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.220
 that we have

00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:52.760
 in Jesus

00:16:52.760 --> 00:16:53.740
 and see all the

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:54.840
 spiritual blessings

00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:55.540
 that are ours

00:16:55.540 --> 00:16:56.000
 in Christ

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.800
 so that

00:16:56.800 --> 00:16:58.860
 we would become

00:16:58.860 --> 00:16:59.980
 what we

00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.560
 behold.

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.279
 That the more

00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:03.300
 we enjoy

00:17:03.300 --> 00:17:04.759
 and experience

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.579
 of the love

00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:06.099
 and the goodness

00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:06.660
 of Jesus,

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.720
 the more we'll be

00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.759
 changed into

00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:10.660
 his image.

00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:12.900
 Now one very

00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:13.920
 practical thing

00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.259
 as we think

00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:15.839
 about this truth

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:16.680
 that the Holy Spirit

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.759
 guides us

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.740
 in the truth

00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.180
 that we find

00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:19.620
 in the Bible,

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.299
 this means

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.120
 the Spirit

00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:22.160
 will never

00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.480
 guide you and I

00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.180
 to act in an

00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:25.079
 unbiblical way.

00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:27.599
 That is basic.

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.379
 he will never

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:29.279
 contradict himself,

00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:29.839
 he will never

00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.839
 contradict the word.

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.839
 I've had

00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:34.980
 pastoral meetings

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:35.980
 and discussions

00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:36.679
 and maybe you've

00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:37.519
 had them as well

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:39.019
 where somebody

00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:39.719
 will sit down

00:17:39.719 --> 00:17:40.279
 opposite me

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:40.519
 and say,

00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:41.679
 well I prayed

00:17:41.679 --> 00:17:43.259
 and I really feel

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:43.779
 at peace

00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:44.799
 with this decision

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:47.359
 and that decision

00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:47.839
 is something

00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:48.319
 that's just

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.419
 thoroughly unbiblical

00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:51.759
 or I feel

00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.400
 that the Spirit

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.560
 is guiding me

00:17:53.560 --> 00:17:54.420
 in this way

00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:56.640
 but again

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.560
 it's not a way

00:17:57.560 --> 00:17:58.480
 that's in line

00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.200
 with the truth

00:17:59.200 --> 00:17:59.759
 of the Bible.

00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:03.960
 1 John

00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:05.140
 tells us

00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:05.759
 to test

00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.240
 the Spirit

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:08.160
 to recognise

00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.560
 that just as

00:18:09.560 --> 00:18:10.180
 there is the Spirit

00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.560
 of God

00:18:10.560 --> 00:18:11.060
 so also

00:18:11.060 --> 00:18:11.840
 there are evil

00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:12.580
 spirits

00:18:12.580 --> 00:18:13.440
 and what do

00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:13.940
 they want to do?

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.720
 They want to halt

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.300
 our progress

00:18:15.300 --> 00:18:16.100
 in sanctification.

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:16.700
 They want to take

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.400
 us off course.

00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:17.920
 They want to make

00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:18.600
 us want to fall

00:18:18.600 --> 00:18:19.500
 into ditches

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.900
 to not grow

00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:22.920
 in the image

00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:23.660
 of Jesus.

00:18:25.300 --> 00:18:26.100
 So we don't

00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:27.380
 trust our hunches,

00:18:28.080 --> 00:18:28.800
 our feelings,

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:29.759
 our intuition.

00:18:31.580 --> 00:18:32.720
 We want to trust

00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.740
 the Holy Spirit

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.600
 to guide us

00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:36.600
 into the Bible.

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.820
 He's always

00:18:37.820 --> 00:18:38.620
 going to guide us

00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:40.000
 towards sanctification,

00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:40.920
 towards holiness

00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:42.300
 and never towards sin.

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.840
 He's always

00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:44.560
 going to guide us

00:18:44.560 --> 00:18:45.160
 in line with

00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:45.880
 biblical teaching.

00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:46.560
 He's never going to

00:18:46.560 --> 00:18:47.640
 reveal some new truth.

00:18:48.560 --> 00:18:49.440
 So the Holy Spirit

00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.180
 guides us

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:50.539
 in the truth

00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:50.960
 of the Bible.

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.340
 Last thing

00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:54.640
 and in many ways

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.700
 the most important

00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:56.380
 thing

00:18:56.380 --> 00:18:57.880
 to motivate us

00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.519
 towards the goal

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.300
 of sanctification

00:18:59.300 --> 00:18:59.680
 is this,

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.580
 the Holy Spirit

00:19:00.580 --> 00:19:01.620
 guides us

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.220
 to live out

00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:03.279
 our true identity.

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.039
 Now there is a question,

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.620
 well there are many

00:19:06.620 --> 00:19:07.660
 questions I dread

00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:08.580
 in a public setting

00:19:08.580 --> 00:19:09.220
 but one that's

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:10.400
 particularly painful

00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:10.880
 is this,

00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:11.519
 when you get that

00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.240
 open-ended,

00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:13.660
 you're being introduced

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.180
 to a new group,

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.440
 it's like,

00:19:14.560 --> 00:19:15.700
 tell us about yourself.

00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.279
 That's just,

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:18.860
 what do you do

00:19:18.860 --> 00:19:19.340
 with that one?

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.319
 But it's interesting

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:22.200
 to think about

00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:23.380
 identity

00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:24.500
 and how we choose

00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:26.880
 to identify

00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:27.640
 ourselves.

00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:29.700
 Often,

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.779
 we identify

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.519
 in terms of

00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.019
 place,

00:19:32.600 --> 00:19:33.600
 I am from,

00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:35.100
 sky,

00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:36.880
 I live in

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:37.460
 Edinburgh,

00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:39.360
 we identify

00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:39.860
 ourselves

00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:40.460
 in terms

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.079
 of people,

00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:42.660
 our family

00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.500
 relationships

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.799
 or maybe we tend

00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.360
 to identify

00:19:45.360 --> 00:19:45.840
 ourselves

00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:46.299
 in terms

00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.240
 of our position.

00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:48.500
 Here is the work

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:48.880
 I do,

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.500
 here is the work

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:49.840
 I did,

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.299
 whether that's

00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.740
 paid or unpaid.

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:52.480
 Now,

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:54.079
 for you and I

00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:54.960
 to make progress

00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:56.059
 towards God's goal

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.620
 for our life

00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:57.220
 which is

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:58.360
 sanctification,

00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:01.279
 the most important

00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:01.940
 thing for us

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:02.660
 to understand

00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:04.380
 is our true

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.559
 identity.

00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:05.679
 identity.

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.379
 So much of

00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.639
 Christian ethics

00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:09.299
 and the Christian

00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:09.720
 way of life

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.659
 is bound up

00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:11.859
 with becoming

00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:13.200
 who we truly

00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.779
 are.

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.139
 Not who we are

00:20:15.139 --> 00:20:15.960
 by nature

00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:17.460
 but who we are

00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.619
 by God's grace

00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:19.440
 becoming who we

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.379
 truly are

00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:22.220
 in Christ.

00:20:23.419 --> 00:20:25.539
 Hundreds of times

00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.279
 in Paul's

00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:27.599
 letters he talks

00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.319
 about being

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:30.519
 in Christ.

00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:32.519
 It's crucial

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.899
 to see what is

00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:35.460
 already true

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.120
 of us

00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:37.299
 so that we

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.799
 would then

00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:39.059
 live like

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:40.120
 it's true.

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.740
 So even here

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.640
 in verse 1

00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.600
 we see it.

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:46.100
 We ask you

00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:47.740
 and urge you

00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:49.100
 in the Lord

00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:49.500
 Jesus

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.220
 as those

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:50.680
 who are

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:52.340
 in Jesus

00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:53.920
 continue to

00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.380
 live

00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:55.700
 to please

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.660
 God.

00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.799
 What does

00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.220
 the Bible

00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:00.880
 tell us

00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:01.360
 about our

00:21:01.360 --> 00:21:02.480
 true identity

00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.680
 as believers?

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:05.080
 who says

00:21:05.080 --> 00:21:05.580
 things like

00:21:05.580 --> 00:21:06.600
 in Christ

00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.700
 you are

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.880
 dead to sin

00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:10.240
 and you are

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.600
 alive in Christ.

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.180
 You have a new

00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:13.700
 master,

00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.180
 you have a new

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:15.860
 power.

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.279
 It says

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.060
 in Christ

00:21:18.060 --> 00:21:18.840
 you are a new

00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:19.500
 creation.

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.380
 God's

00:21:21.380 --> 00:21:22.340
 power has

00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:23.400
 worked in you

00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:23.900
 so that now

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:24.640
 you might live

00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:25.220
 for Christ

00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.840
 and not

00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:26.960
 live for yourself.

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:29.240
 in Christ

00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.600
 you are not

00:21:30.600 --> 00:21:31.059
 a child

00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:32.019
 of disobedience.

00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.920
 You are

00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:34.120
 a child

00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:34.660
 of God.

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.980
 In Christ

00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.860
 you are

00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.380
 holy,

00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.500
 you are

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.039
 precious,

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.319
 you are a

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:41.940
 treasured

00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.460
 possession.

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.299
 So live

00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:44.920
 that way.

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:47.279
 In so

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.519
 many ways

00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:49.920
 the New

00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.259
 Testament

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.259
 reminds us

00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.000
 of who

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.960
 we are

00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:54.039
 and then

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.500
 it tells

00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:54.700
 us

00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.319
 in light

00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:55.860
 of that

00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:56.720
 identity,

00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:57.819
 in light

00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:58.140
 of all

00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:58.380
 those

00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:59.420
 spiritual

00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.019
 blessings

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.799
 you enjoy

00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.340
 because you

00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:02.000
 are united

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.440
 to the

00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.059
 Lord Jesus

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.680
 Christ,

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.700
 live as

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.420
 those who

00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:06.880
 are in

00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:07.200
 Christ.

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:08.960
 And that's

00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.160
 what the

00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:09.539
 Holy Spirit

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.120
 does.

00:22:10.840 --> 00:22:11.400
 He guides

00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:12.079
 us to see

00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.920
 who we

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.920
 truly are.

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.740
 So we

00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.220
 need

00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:17.700
 the work

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:17.900
 of the

00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.440
 Holy Spirit

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:18.900
 so that we

00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:19.380
 might grow

00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:19.960
 in holiness

00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:21.620
 because he

00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:22.480
 shows us

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.180
 what holiness

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:23.880
 looks like

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:25.220
 in God's

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:25.519
 word.

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.160
 He shows

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:27.579
 us the

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.100
 gospel

00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:29.579
 so we

00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.420
 see the

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:30.980
 pattern of

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:31.860
 true holiness,

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.380
 the beauty

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.620
 of Jesus

00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:36.340
 and we

00:22:36.340 --> 00:22:36.740
 see in the

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.319
 gospel who

00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:37.940
 we truly

00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:39.620
 are so

00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:39.860
 that we

00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:40.340
 might live

00:22:40.340 --> 00:22:40.819
 that way.

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.940
 So remember

00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:46.340
 the goal

00:22:46.340 --> 00:22:47.319
 of God

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.220
 for your

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.600
 life.

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.440
 It is

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.080
 God's

00:22:50.080 --> 00:22:50.460
 will

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:51.840
 that you

00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:52.920
 should be

00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:54.259
 sanctified.

00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:56.080
 So remember

00:22:56.080 --> 00:22:56.799
 we work

00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:58.080
 hard at

00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:59.539
 that but

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.160
 we work

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:00.539
 with the

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:00.980
 help of

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.460
 the Holy

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.680
 Spirit who

00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.400
 helps us

00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.440
 in that

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:06.000
 every step

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.559
 of the way.