WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.760 Do sit and turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 6. 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:07.360 We're going through the Beatitudes. 00:00:07.620 --> 00:00:08.620 ! Matthew chapter 5 actually. 00:00:09.060 --> 00:00:09.859 Matthew chapter 5. 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:13.439 And we're looking at what Jesus means by happiness. 00:00:14.620 --> 00:00:14.859 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.740 So listen to this piece of poetry. 00:00:38.939 --> 00:00:40.620 It's a 16th century epitaph. 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:46.920 It's written for a man who was killed by falling from his horse. 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:49.799 And this is what's written on his tombstone. 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:53.240 My friend, judge not me. 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:56.079 Thou seest, I judge not thee. 00:00:57.079 --> 00:00:59.140 Betwixt the stirrup and the ground. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.000 Mercy I asked. 00:01:01.939 --> 00:01:02.759 Mercy I found. 00:01:04.460 --> 00:01:06.700 He fell off the horse. 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:09.079 And from falling off the saddle to the ground, he says, 00:01:09.140 --> 00:01:12.400 I cried for mercy and I found mercy before I hit the ground. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:13.620 Well, he left it late, didn't he? 00:01:14.460 --> 00:01:15.200 But not too late. 00:01:15.960 --> 00:01:17.460 He asked for mercy. 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:19.379 And apparently he found mercy. 00:01:20.740 --> 00:01:23.200 It's never too late to seek God's mercy. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:26.560 Whatever your past history may be tonight. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:29.240 Whatever sins you've committed. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:30.859 Whatever debts you might have plumbed. 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:32.879 It's still possible at the 11th hour. 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:35.020 To know the mercy of God. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:37.359 But the Bible also tells us, doesn't it? 00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:37.859 The other truth. 00:01:37.939 --> 00:01:39.480 It says don't take God's mercy for granted. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:45.000 So William Guthrie says that the Bible ranges over about 4,000 years. 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:49.599 It records but one instance of a deathbed conversion. 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:51.980 One that none may despair. 00:01:53.140 --> 00:01:54.879 And but one that none may presume. 00:01:54.879 --> 00:02:00.000 Jesus says, blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.039 And so let me ask you right at the start tonight. 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:03.299 Have you obtained mercy? 00:02:05.899 --> 00:02:10.659 And I think you might be here tonight and you're not sure whether you've obtained mercy from God. 00:02:10.939 --> 00:02:13.819 And it's really important for you and I to face that question. 00:02:13.819 --> 00:02:20.919 Jesus doesn't say, blessed are those who know that there's such a thing as mercy. 00:02:22.799 --> 00:02:25.819 They know that there's mercy available somehow in some way or another. 00:02:26.180 --> 00:02:29.419 He says, blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:31.319 So have you obtained mercy? 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:35.139 If you say, I don't know. 00:02:35.239 --> 00:02:36.560 Can you see the oddness of that? 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:39.280 You don't do your shopping like that do you? 00:02:39.459 --> 00:02:45.979 You don't go to the co-op and come back knowing, not knowing whether you've bought the thing you went in to buy for in the first place. 00:02:47.099 --> 00:02:48.599 You know whether you've obtained it. 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:55.479 And we are supposed to know whether or not we've obtained mercy from God. 00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:57.879 It's a really important thing. 00:02:57.959 --> 00:03:00.180 I want to give you three Ps. 00:03:00.180 --> 00:03:01.760 So first of all, there's a promise, isn't there? 00:03:01.900 --> 00:03:02.480 Really obviously. 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:04.439 They shall obtain mercy. 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:08.420 And then secondly, I want to look at the persons to whom the promise is made. 00:03:08.540 --> 00:03:13.379 Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy or they shall obtain mercy. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:15.520 And then thirdly, there's a problem. 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:17.819 And if you haven't seen the problem yet, you will. 00:03:18.920 --> 00:03:20.140 So first of all, the promise. 00:03:24.040 --> 00:03:29.800 Perhaps the best example and illustration of what mercy is, is found in the story of the Good Samaritan. 00:03:31.140 --> 00:03:34.319 It's an old story, isn't it, with a really modern ring. 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:39.939 There's a man on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho. 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:43.780 And on the way to Jericho, he gets mugged. 00:03:43.859 --> 00:03:45.459 He's set upon by a gang of thugs. 00:03:45.539 --> 00:03:46.259 He gets beaten up. 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:47.019 His wallet is stolen. 00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:47.719 They take his phone. 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:50.299 He's left for dead on the side of the road. 00:03:50.300 --> 00:03:54.280 It happened a lot then, like it does today. 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:58.520 For a lot of people, it was just another headline in the newspaper. 00:03:59.580 --> 00:04:01.500 Just another figure in the crime statistics. 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:06.379 And the guy's left there for dead on the side of the road. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:10.259 And the priest and the Levite come along. 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:12.280 The church and the law. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:15.560 Two great pillars of the establishment. 00:04:15.560 --> 00:04:18.839 Well, what they could do for this man? 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:19.800 What can they do for this man? 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:20.740 Well, you know the story. 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:22.620 And they do nothing for the man. 00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:24.240 We're told that they pass by. 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:25.860 You're not even next to him on the other side of the street. 00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:29.340 Why? 00:04:29.560 --> 00:04:36.920 Well, probably not because they're indifferent to the state and the condition of the poor man. 00:04:37.020 --> 00:04:39.340 They're not totally lacking in the milk of human kindness. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:41.780 But it wasn't safe. 00:04:43.620 --> 00:04:45.740 It would be a risky business to cross the road. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:50.759 They would think, well, I might face the same treatment as this man got. 00:04:52.340 --> 00:04:53.620 It's better not to get involved. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:55.759 It's better to leave this kind of thing to the professionals. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:57.580 And so off they go. 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:01.040 And then a Samaritan comes along. 00:05:01.900 --> 00:05:03.439 Do you remember the Samaritans and the Jews? 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:04.360 They're sworn enemies. 00:05:05.400 --> 00:05:07.900 The Samaritans have suffered a great deal at the hands of the Jews. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:15.020 So to get the point, let's imagine it's a Palestinian and an Israeli. 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:18.400 It's that kind of situation. 00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:21.379 David and Marshall were telling me in the Persian Bible study. 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:27.879 They spoke about what would you do if it was a member of the Revolutionary Guard that was lying there. 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:31.159 And they said, our Persian brothers were absolutely horrified. 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:33.159 How could you help somebody from the Revolutionary Guard? 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:38.620 And it's that kind of situation. 00:05:38.760 --> 00:05:40.640 The Jews and the Samaritans are sworn enemies. 00:05:40.760 --> 00:05:41.680 They've got nothing in common. 00:05:42.220 --> 00:05:43.680 The Samaritan owed nothing to the Jew. 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:45.520 He'd suffered a great deal at the hands of the Jews. 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:50.120 And yet it's the Samaritan who crossed the road and tended to the man's wounds. 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:51.279 Takes him to an Airbnb. 00:05:52.159 --> 00:05:54.560 And pays for his bed and breakfast for a few days. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:59.519 And then he comes back and he settles the debt. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:02.459 And that's the story of the Good Samaritan. 00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:03.399 That is what mercy is. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:05.459 It's a flesh and blood illustration of mercy. 00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:06.120 What is mercy? 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:07.139 It's more than kindness. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:10.280 Somebody has put it like this. 00:06:10.280 --> 00:06:10.800 Mercy. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:16.000 Kindness is a friend calling on you when you're well. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:20.259 Kindness is a friend calling on you when you're well. 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:23.740 Mercy is that same friend calling on you when you're sick. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:26.420 Mercy is more than kindness. 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:29.180 What is mercy? 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:30.319 Feeling sorry for someone? 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:30.839 Yes. 00:06:31.019 --> 00:06:32.699 Feeling empathy for someone? 00:06:32.780 --> 00:06:33.379 That's part of it. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:34.160 But it's much more. 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:38.959 It's feeling sorry for somebody who's treated you badly. 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:42.600 It's moving into that situation. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:45.360 Crossing the road and doing something about the situation. 00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:48.060 It's meeting the person in their misery. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:50.079 That's what mercy is. 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:55.099 Of course the best illustration of that is what God has done for us in Jesus. 00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:00.659 God could have operated on a policy of non-involvement. 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:02.019 If you wanted. 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:04.740 But he has come into our humanity. 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:08.740 He's come to us in all our fallenness. 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:14.199 He's come into this world where men and women are bruised and broken by the fall. 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:15.980 Dead in their trespasses and sins. 00:07:16.780 --> 00:07:18.960 And God has come here in the person of his son Jesus Christ. 00:07:20.460 --> 00:07:22.699 And he's come to help and he's come to take on our enemies. 00:07:24.500 --> 00:07:25.860 And that's what Calvary is about isn't it? 00:07:25.860 --> 00:07:26.960 That's what happened at the cross. 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:30.519 He came to destroy sin and Satan. 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:33.040 He came to destroy the enemies of the human race. 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:34.240 That have held us captive. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:37.100 And he's come not to take us to an Hebbian Bay. 00:07:37.220 --> 00:07:38.400 But to take us to his home. 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:41.400 To the new creation. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:42.740 To heaven to live with him forever. 00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:43.620 That is mercy. 00:07:43.780 --> 00:07:44.800 And so have you got it? 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:46.060 Do you know it? 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:52.240 The Apostle Paul describes himself in this way. 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:53.860 As a man who has obtained mercy. 00:07:53.980 --> 00:07:56.079 So just come with me if you want to 1 Timothy. 00:07:56.500 --> 00:07:58.000 1 Timothy chapter 1. 00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:00.319 And he speaks of himself in that passage. 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:03.400 And he describes himself as the chief of sinners. 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:04.739 Let me read it to you. 00:08:04.979 --> 00:08:06.839 1 Timothy chapter 1. 00:08:14.839 --> 00:08:16.319 And he says there in verse 12. 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:19.620 I thank God who has given me strength. 00:08:19.739 --> 00:08:22.019 Christ Jesus our Lord because he has judged me faithful. 00:08:22.419 --> 00:08:23.539 Appointed me to his service. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:25.479 Though formerly I was a blasphemer. 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:26.359 A persecutor. 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:27.819 And an insolent opponent. 00:08:28.239 --> 00:08:29.759 But I received mercy. 00:08:30.719 --> 00:08:32.860 Because I had acted ignorant in unbelief. 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:35.379 And the grace of our Lord overflowed for me. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:37.480 With the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:41.560 Saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:43.560 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:44.960 Of whom I'm the foremost. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:45.800 The biggest sinner. 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:49.360 But I received mercy for this reason. 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:51.019 That in me as the foremost. 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:53.840 Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience. 00:08:54.019 --> 00:08:56.940 As an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 00:08:56.940 --> 00:08:59.720 So the king of the ages. 00:08:59.900 --> 00:09:00.260 Immortal. 00:09:00.440 --> 00:09:00.780 Invisible. 00:09:00.920 --> 00:09:01.560 The only God. 00:09:01.640 --> 00:09:03.280 Be honour and glory forever and ever. 00:09:03.560 --> 00:09:03.880 Amen. 00:09:07.400 --> 00:09:07.960 He says. 00:09:08.040 --> 00:09:08.900 I was the chief of sinners. 00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:09.820 The greatest of sinners. 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:11.400 And yet I received mercy. 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:13.920 And his reasoning is this. 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:16.320 If I obtained mercy. 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:17.560 If I was shown mercy. 00:09:17.560 --> 00:09:18.900 There's mercy there for you. 00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:22.120 If I'm the pattern. 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:23.860 For all who will come after me. 00:09:24.299 --> 00:09:26.500 If Jesus Christ has shown mercy to me. 00:09:26.579 --> 00:09:27.500 The chief of sinners. 00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:29.779 Then surely he can show mercy to you. 00:09:32.699 --> 00:09:34.159 Have you persecuted the church? 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:35.679 Have you hounded down Christians? 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:37.299 Slaughtered them? 00:09:37.319 --> 00:09:38.100 You haven't done that. 00:09:38.179 --> 00:09:38.360 Have you? 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:41.899 You see. 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:43.059 When Paul speaks to himself. 00:09:43.199 --> 00:09:43.939 As the chief of sinners. 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:45.419 It isn't just a mock humility. 00:09:45.819 --> 00:09:46.799 I'm the worst of the worst. 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:47.099 You know. 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:50.639 It isn't just a subjective feeling. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:52.000 That he has concerning himself. 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:55.639 There's no one as bad as I am. 00:09:55.659 --> 00:09:56.799 It isn't just that. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:09:59.539 Paul's argument. 00:09:59.539 --> 00:10:01.219 Is that he objectively was. 00:10:01.339 --> 00:10:02.639 The chief of sinners. 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:03.959 No one has ever been. 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:04.939 As great a sinner. 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:05.719 As he. 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:06.519 And he says. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:08.439 If God had mercy on me. 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:10.059 Then he'll have mercy on you. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:13.919 Spurgeon puts this brilliantly. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:14.559 He says this. 00:10:14.939 --> 00:10:15.659 If a bridge. 00:10:15.939 --> 00:10:16.579 Is strong enough. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:17.520 To bear an elephant. 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:19.060 It will certainly. 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:19.940 Carry a mouse. 00:10:21.280 --> 00:10:22.440 And if the greatest sinner. 00:10:22.580 --> 00:10:23.300 Who has ever lived. 00:10:23.420 --> 00:10:24.120 Has entered heaven. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:24.879 By the bridge. 00:10:26.680 --> 00:10:27.820 The greatest sinner. 00:10:27.940 --> 00:10:28.720 Who's ever lived. 00:10:28.780 --> 00:10:29.460 Has entered heaven. 00:10:29.540 --> 00:10:30.080 By the bridge. 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:30.680 Of the atoning. 00:10:31.040 --> 00:10:31.980 Sacrifice of Christ. 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:34.320 No man. 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:35.020 Who has ever lived. 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:35.759 May ever say. 00:10:35.920 --> 00:10:36.420 My sin. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:37.240 Is beyond forgiveness. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:41.500 And so. 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:42.140 There's the promise. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:42.720 The promise. 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:43.340 Is the promise. 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:44.060 Of mercy. 00:10:44.060 --> 00:10:45.000 In Jesus Christ. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:45.700 For sinful men. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:45.919 And women. 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:46.519 Boys and girls. 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:47.159 Like you and I. 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:50.519 For those who are bruised. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:51.440 And broken by the fall. 00:10:51.500 --> 00:10:52.860 For those who are out of a relationship. 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:53.379 With God. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:54.080 In this world. 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:55.159 Who are without hope. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:55.980 And without God. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:57.100 There is mercy tonight. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:11:01.540 And God. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:02.620 Want you to know. 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:03.000 Tonight. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:04.420 That he not only cares for you. 00:11:04.540 --> 00:11:05.240 In your life. 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:07.320 And in your hurts. 00:11:07.540 --> 00:11:08.340 And in your problems. 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:09.300 And in your difficulties. 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:10.519 But he wants you to know. 00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:11.620 That he's done something about it. 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.779 He sent his son into this world. 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:15.420 To put things right. 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:18.060 And so there's the mercy promise. 00:11:18.180 --> 00:11:18.600 Now secondly. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:19.379 I want you to notice. 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:21.399 The persons to whom this promise is made. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:24.360 The persons to whom this promise is made. 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:27.759 Jesus says. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:28.720 Blessed are the merciful. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.220 For they shall obtain mercy. 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.080 And the emphasis. 00:11:32.259 --> 00:11:33.080 As we've seen all the way through. 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:33.840 Is right in the beginning. 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.340 Right slap bang. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:37.419 In the middle of the verses. 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:38.700 Jesus saying. 00:11:38.779 --> 00:11:39.500 Blessed are the merciful. 00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:40.000 For they. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:40.960 And only they. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.000 Shall receive mercy. 00:11:44.259 --> 00:11:45.800 Only those who are merciful. 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:46.820 Will obtain mercy. 00:11:46.820 --> 00:11:52.980 Let me show you how this works. 00:11:53.180 --> 00:11:53.720 Think of a man. 00:11:53.780 --> 00:11:55.260 His name is called Onesiphorus. 00:11:56.140 --> 00:11:56.960 It's a funny name. 00:11:58.600 --> 00:11:59.920 He's a character in the New Testament. 00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:01.000 You might not know of him. 00:12:02.180 --> 00:12:03.000 And he's one of. 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:04.520 The least known characters. 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:05.460 In all the New Testament. 00:12:06.300 --> 00:12:07.100 Paul speaks about him. 00:12:07.780 --> 00:12:08.680 In 2 Timothy. 00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:10.880 And he puts it like this. 00:12:10.880 --> 00:12:11.880 He compares Onesiphorus. 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:13.400 With the attitude of. 00:12:14.020 --> 00:12:14.880 All the other believers. 00:12:15.400 --> 00:12:15.860 In Asia. 00:12:17.020 --> 00:12:17.980 And he says. 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:18.780 In verse 15. 00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:19.940 Of 2 Timothy. 00:12:20.560 --> 00:12:21.860 He says. 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:22.840 All of those in Asia. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:23.900 Have deserted me. 00:12:25.560 --> 00:12:26.200 So remember. 00:12:26.300 --> 00:12:27.200 Why Paul is writing that letter. 00:12:27.280 --> 00:12:27.820 He's an old man. 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:28.300 He's in prison. 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:29.260 He's on death row. 00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:29.900 And he says. 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:30.580 All in Asia. 00:12:30.640 --> 00:12:31.480 Have turned away from me. 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:33.460 Nobody cared less. 00:12:33.520 --> 00:12:34.100 About me in prison. 00:12:34.260 --> 00:12:35.180 As far as they were concerned. 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:36.260 It was not their business. 00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:37.940 It was somebody else's business. 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:42.020 He says. 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:42.520 Among them. 00:12:42.640 --> 00:12:43.380 Are these people. 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:44.840 Homogenies. 00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:47.560 And he goes on. 00:12:47.580 --> 00:12:48.340 To describe. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:49.460 The man. 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:50.000 2 Timothy. 00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:51.800 Chapter 1. 00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:54.080 He says. 00:12:54.540 --> 00:12:55.300 Verse 15. 00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:55.500 He says. 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:56.300 You are aware. 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:56.980 That all in Asia. 00:12:57.060 --> 00:12:57.620 Turned away from me. 00:12:57.660 --> 00:12:58.120 Among whom are. 00:12:58.280 --> 00:12:59.399 Phygelus and Homogenies. 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:02.460 And then he says this. 00:13:02.540 --> 00:13:02.800 He says. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:04.040 May the Lord. 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:04.740 Grant mercy. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:05.360 To the household. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:06.320 Of Anasiphorus. 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:08.620 For he has often. 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:09.260 Refreshed me. 00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:10.000 And was not ashamed. 00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:10.720 Of my chains. 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:12.879 And when he arrived in Rome. 00:13:12.920 --> 00:13:13.600 He searched for me. 00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:14.060 Earnestly. 00:13:14.060 --> 00:13:14.800 And he found me. 00:13:14.900 --> 00:13:15.379 May the Lord. 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.060 Grant him. 00:13:16.140 --> 00:13:17.260 To find mercy. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.340 From the Lord. 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:19.080 On that day. 00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:21.140 And you well know. 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:21.660 All the service. 00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:22.260 He rendered to me. 00:13:22.780 --> 00:13:23.540 At Ephesus. 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:24.340 He was. 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:25.340 Maybe a businessman. 00:13:25.540 --> 00:13:26.379 Who went to Rome. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:31.040 We know. 00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:32.120 That he searched diligently. 00:13:32.280 --> 00:13:32.540 He wasn't. 00:13:32.640 --> 00:13:33.180 It was hard. 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:33.759 To find Paul. 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:34.179 In the prison. 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:36.699 But he went. 00:13:36.839 --> 00:13:37.620 To show mercy. 00:13:37.739 --> 00:13:38.759 He did all that he could. 00:13:38.819 --> 00:13:39.839 To care for Paul. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.319 He was a merciful man. 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:41.779 Now. 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:42.679 Do you see the point there? 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:44.419 The point is. 00:13:44.719 --> 00:13:45.939 Because Anasiphorus. 00:13:45.959 --> 00:13:46.779 Was merciful. 00:13:47.459 --> 00:13:47.899 Paul says. 00:13:47.959 --> 00:13:48.539 I pray that God. 00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:49.459 Will be merciful to him. 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:52.179 I pray that God. 00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:52.759 Will be merciful. 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:53.539 To his family. 00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:54.439 And his household. 00:13:55.719 --> 00:13:56.519 I pray that God. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.579 Will be merciful to him. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.299 On that day. 00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:59.139 When he will most. 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.219 Need the mercy of God. 00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:02.599 On the day. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.079 When the accounts. 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:03.500 Have settled. 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.360 On the day of judgment. 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.720 I pray that Anasiphorus. 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.480 Will know mercy. 00:14:06.520 --> 00:14:08.080 Because he is a merciful man. 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:12.200 And so this is really important. 00:14:12.400 --> 00:14:13.000 It's really important. 00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:13.960 That you and I. 00:14:14.020 --> 00:14:14.740 Have got no right. 00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:15.480 To expect. 00:14:16.040 --> 00:14:17.360 That we'll have mercy. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.620 On the day of judgment. 00:14:19.020 --> 00:14:19.360 If. 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:20.980 We're not merciful people. 00:14:23.420 --> 00:14:24.340 That's what the Bible teaches. 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:29.400 Think about our Lord's teaching. 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.520 On the day of judgment. 00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:31.680 From Matthew 25. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:34.399 And he describes. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.899 The day of judgment. 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:37.899 He describes. 00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:39.059 That great day. 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:39.779 Of settling. 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:40.659 Accounts. 00:14:41.839 --> 00:14:42.719 He says this. 00:14:43.719 --> 00:14:44.559 When the son of man. 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:45.419 Comes in his glory. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:46.199 And all the angels. 00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:46.579 With him. 00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:47.079 He will sit. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:48.419 On his glorious throne. 00:14:50.319 --> 00:14:51.039 Verse 34. 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:51.479 Then the king. 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:51.979 Will say to those. 00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:52.500 On his right. 00:14:52.599 --> 00:14:53.000 Come you. 00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.500 Who are blessed. 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.219 By my father. 00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:54.979 Inherit. 00:14:55.059 --> 00:14:55.339 The kingdom. 00:14:55.459 --> 00:14:55.859 Prepared. 00:14:55.939 --> 00:14:56.099 For you. 00:14:56.099 --> 00:14:56.819 Before the foundation. 00:14:56.820 --> 00:14:57.160 In the world. 00:14:57.260 --> 00:14:57.820 If I was hungry. 00:14:57.920 --> 00:14:58.520 And you fed me. 00:14:59.660 --> 00:15:00.379 I was thirsty. 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:01.260 And you gave me a drink. 00:15:01.400 --> 00:15:02.080 I was a stranger. 00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:02.740 You welcomed me. 00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:03.260 I was naked. 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:03.940 And you clothed me. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.400 I was sick. 00:15:04.420 --> 00:15:05.200 And you visited me. 00:15:05.300 --> 00:15:05.879 I was in prison. 00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:06.320 And you came. 00:15:07.520 --> 00:15:07.980 To me. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.180 Before the water you won. 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:10.440 It says. 00:15:10.540 --> 00:15:10.940 Then he will say. 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.580 To those on his left. 00:15:11.660 --> 00:15:12.200 Depart from me. 00:15:12.540 --> 00:15:13.000 You cursed. 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:13.800 Into eternal fire. 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.640 Prepared for the devil. 00:15:14.680 --> 00:15:15.280 And his angels. 00:15:15.640 --> 00:15:16.260 If I was hungry. 00:15:16.260 --> 00:15:17.320 And you gave me no food. 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:18.440 Thirsty. 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:19.440 And you gave me no drink. 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:21.960 So can you see. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:22.880 What Jesus says. 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:23.660 Is the criteria. 00:15:23.660 --> 00:15:24.320 For judgment. 00:15:26.140 --> 00:15:27.040 It's mercy. 00:15:28.260 --> 00:15:28.700 Mercy. 00:15:30.680 --> 00:15:31.500 It's what you and I. 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:32.280 Will be judged on. 00:15:33.540 --> 00:15:35.080 That is the evidence. 00:15:36.180 --> 00:15:37.360 That we brought into court. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:38.460 And God will assess. 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:39.760 Whether we're really Christians. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:40.740 By the criteria. 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.460 Of mercy. 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:47.300 I came across this letter. 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:47.880 In preparation. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.060 From a homeless woman. 00:15:49.059 --> 00:15:50.099 Who'd been turned. 00:15:51.219 --> 00:15:52.019 She'd gone to a kind of. 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:52.719 Country vicar. 00:15:53.439 --> 00:15:53.619 And. 00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.759 He turned her away. 00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:56.659 Let me read it to you. 00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.199 She wrote. 00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.839 To the country vicar. 00:16:00.979 --> 00:16:01.959 I was hungry. 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:02.799 And you formed. 00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:03.739 A humanities group. 00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.639 To discuss my hunger. 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:07.259 I was imprisoned. 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.359 And you crept off. 00:16:08.479 --> 00:16:09.479 Quietly to your chapel. 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.399 And prayed for my release. 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.839 I was naked. 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:13.739 And in your mind. 00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:14.659 You debated. 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:15.959 The morality of my appearance. 00:16:17.459 --> 00:16:18.339 I was sick. 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:19.040 And you knelt. 00:16:19.040 --> 00:16:19.740 And thanked God. 00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:20.320 For your health. 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:22.540 I was homeless. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.420 And you preached to me. 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.420 Of the spiritual shelter. 00:16:24.420 --> 00:16:25.200 Of the love of God. 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:27.120 I was lonely. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:28.200 And you left me alone. 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:28.800 To pray for me. 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:31.560 You seem so holy. 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:32.620 So close to God. 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.540 But I am still. 00:16:33.540 --> 00:16:34.180 Very hungry. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:34.780 And lonely. 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.379 And cold. 00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:37.300 They are very challenging words. 00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:38.500 The times. 00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:43.479 The times. 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:43.859 And the Bible. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.679 Really brings you up short. 00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:44.919 Isn't there? 00:16:44.959 --> 00:16:46.099 James 2 verse 13. 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:46.519 Says. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.079 For judgment. 00:16:47.219 --> 00:16:48.279 Is without mercy. 00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:49.719 To the one. 00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:50.259 Who has shown. 00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:51.019 No mercy. 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:54.839 That means. 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:56.019 To appear before God. 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:57.000 On the last day. 00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:57.819 And to be dealt with. 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.759 As we deserve. 00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.879 To be dealt with. 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.659 Without any mercy. 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.019 At all. 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:03.819 Judgment. 00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:04.839 Is without mercy. 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:05.740 For those who show. 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.539 No mercy. 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:08.839 And so. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.059 There is a problem. 00:17:10.159 --> 00:17:10.420 Isn't there? 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.619 And I hope. 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.319 You have seen the problem. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.159 The problem is. 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:16.859 How does this fit. 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:17.899 With Romans 1 to 4? 00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.319 Is Christianity. 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:21.980 Really all about. 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:22.859 Being a good Samaritan? 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.059 Is it. 00:17:25.379 --> 00:17:26.159 Salvation by works. 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.000 Because it sounds it. 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:28.779 Blessed. 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:28.779 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:28.779 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:28.779 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:28.779 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:28.779 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:28.779 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:28.779 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:28.779 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:28.779