WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.240 Human beings have always valued freedom, they've valued choice. 00:00:06.259 --> 00:00:11.200 A couple of millennia ago, Aristotle and Plato, two Greek philosophers, 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:16.039 whose philosophy of the bedrock of Western civilisation, 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:22.780 called for freedom of the individual and called for democracy. 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:27.780 Although for both Aristotle and Plato, it was only ever limited. 00:00:27.780 --> 00:00:32.740 They saw that freedom and democracy was to be limited, 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:41.359 and amazingly, only for a certain slice of the population should have freedom. 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:47.060 All these centuries later, personal individual freedom 00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:51.400 is perhaps the only publicly shared and acknowledged moral value 00:00:51.400 --> 00:00:53.540 of our culture and society today. 00:00:53.539 --> 00:00:58.219 Everything else is up for grabs except for personal individual freedom. 00:00:59.659 --> 00:01:02.679 In fact, one way or another, whether you're on the right or the left, 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:05.260 you're arguing for personal individual freedom. 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:18.740 It's one of those values that is so clear and so self-evident in our day and age 00:01:18.740 --> 00:01:26.540 that very few are even bothering to explain what it actually is or means. 00:01:26.600 --> 00:01:28.300 It's just an assumption that we have. 00:01:28.299 --> 00:01:32.019 It's an assumption that is non-negotiable. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:38.280 The assumption is that choice is a good thing in life, 00:01:38.420 --> 00:01:41.579 and the more choice that we have in life, 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:44.060 the more options we have in life, 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:47.079 the happier we will be in life. 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:51.099 That's the underlying assumption of personal individual freedom. 00:01:51.099 --> 00:01:58.759 And along with this view is the view that any sort of authority in life 00:01:58.759 --> 00:02:04.339 that restricts my choices is inherently suspect. 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:10.180 This has been a trajectory for several decades in Western civilisation 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:17.419 to the point where police forces nowadays in Western society 00:02:17.419 --> 00:02:19.979 are regarded as inherently suspect. 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:26.419 They were the people who used to constrain evil so that I could have choice. 00:02:27.139 --> 00:02:29.439 Now they're regarded as suspect themselves. 00:02:32.259 --> 00:02:35.679 We don't want anybody to have the right to tell us 00:02:35.679 --> 00:02:38.019 what we should think or how we should behave. 00:02:38.919 --> 00:02:44.019 The only thing that isn't tolerated in our society is intolerance. 00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:48.740 Our society regards freedom as the highest good. 00:02:50.200 --> 00:02:55.180 That becoming free is the only heroic story we have left. 00:02:56.320 --> 00:03:01.660 And that giving individuals freedom is the main role of any institution 00:03:01.660 --> 00:03:04.660 or in our society in itself. 00:03:05.420 --> 00:03:10.420 And in fact, it's the role of society to give me freedom of choice. 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:14.339 That's the baseline cultural narrative of Western civilisation. 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:18.379 The deepest core roots of our value system. 00:03:19.419 --> 00:03:22.279 And so today we're looking at a very important concept 00:03:22.279 --> 00:03:25.459 in living the new Christian life. 00:03:26.819 --> 00:03:29.000 The freedom of the Christian. 00:03:30.060 --> 00:03:31.739 1 Peter 2, verse 16. 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:33.219 If you've got your Bibles there, 00:03:33.659 --> 00:03:35.759 not if you've got your Bibles, get a Bible, I should say. 00:03:36.459 --> 00:03:37.039 Open it up. 00:03:37.119 --> 00:03:38.399 1 Peter 2, verse 16. 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:40.480 Live as free people. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:43.200 It's a short statement. 00:03:44.939 --> 00:03:48.140 And it's a theme that runs through the entire New Testament. 00:03:49.040 --> 00:03:50.480 And we see that and we go, 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:52.800 Amen, Jesus, you got that right. 00:03:54.260 --> 00:03:55.340 Live as free people. 00:03:57.200 --> 00:03:59.680 The 16th century church reformer, Martin Luther, 00:04:00.140 --> 00:04:01.400 wrote an article called 00:04:01.920 --> 00:04:04.860 The Freedom of the Christian in 1520. 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:08.040 And he summarised the freedom of the Christian like this. 00:04:08.540 --> 00:04:12.960 A Christian is perfectly free, Lord of all, subject to none. 00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:18.080 A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:28.659 He went on to say that these two statements appear on the surface to contradict each other. 00:04:30.039 --> 00:04:34.860 The Apostle Paul said the same thing in 1 Corinthians 9, verse 19. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:39.939 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone. 00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:43.439 That's the paradox of the Christian life. 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:52.220 Christian freedom, through submission, service, obedience, is complete opposite to our culture. 00:04:52.220 --> 00:04:59.300 And yet, because we breathe the air of our culture each day, 00:05:01.260 --> 00:05:07.680 Christians have a great deal of difficulty understanding what true, genuine freedom is. 00:05:09.100 --> 00:05:10.440 And so that's what our journey is today. 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:12.500 What is this new freedom that we have in Christ? 00:05:12.880 --> 00:05:14.000 So three points. 00:05:14.080 --> 00:05:15.060 You've got the St Paul's app there. 00:05:15.140 --> 00:05:16.140 The paradox of freedom. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:18.340 Experiencing true freedom. 00:05:18.900 --> 00:05:20.680 And taking steps to freedom. 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:22.879 So the paradox of true freedom. 00:05:23.860 --> 00:05:28.980 The way freedom is used in the Bible is so different the way it's used in society. 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:33.360 I would argue that society has in fact got freedom wrong. 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:41.480 I preached a sermon on this, which you'll all remember, back in November last year, 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:46.040 in John chapter 8 and 9, with the title Abundant Freedom. 00:05:46.259 --> 00:05:49.399 You can get that online if you want to explore this a bit more. 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:53.560 I'm going to go over a little bit of it here. 00:05:54.419 --> 00:06:00.000 Because this issue of freedom is so foundation to our value system in Australian society. 00:06:00.419 --> 00:06:02.000 And we've got it so wrong. 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:04.500 Look at verse 16 again. 00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:06.319 1 Peter 2. 00:06:06.579 --> 00:06:11.539 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. 00:06:11.540 --> 00:06:13.540 Live as free people. 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:15.540 Live as God's slaves. 00:06:17.540 --> 00:06:20.600 That's what Luther was quoting there. 00:06:21.939 --> 00:06:27.980 Another way Peter might have put that is that we can live as free people because we are God's slaves. 00:06:27.980 --> 00:06:41.020 In fact, the whole first paragraph here is about serving others, submitting ourselves to others, giving ourselves to others. 00:06:41.660 --> 00:06:42.000 Why? 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:43.100 Why would we? 00:06:43.200 --> 00:06:44.020 Because we're free. 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:45.839 That's why. 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:50.240 Because the Christian is a slave to God. 00:06:50.579 --> 00:06:58.779 And the reason we are confused by that is because our culture defines freedom in completely negative terms. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:00.759 Not positive terms. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:02.419 It's completely negative terms. 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:07.359 It's what philosophers call nowadays total negative freedom. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:12.560 Freedom is freedom from stuff. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:14.420 Freedom from constraints. 00:07:14.900 --> 00:07:16.900 Freedom from restrictions. 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:25.740 And to the degree that we are obeying, serving, or keeping a promise to someone is to the degree that we consider ourselves not free. 00:07:27.660 --> 00:07:29.040 That's negative freedom. 00:07:30.460 --> 00:07:32.960 And there are two assumptions I'm working here. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.860 And we see both of these assumptions in the New Testament. 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:46.439 Firstly, negative freedom, as our society defines it, is simplistic, unworkable, and it's actually an illusion. 00:07:47.540 --> 00:07:51.259 Because everyone is a slave to something. 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:52.879 Everyone. 00:07:55.100 --> 00:08:00.520 Any commitment we make in life brings with it a constraint in life. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:04.639 You sign a contract at work, you are no longer free. 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:13.379 Your second assumption of the Bible is that no person is truly free from constraints. 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:18.480 Then we all need to choose the most liberating constraints in life. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:22.300 That's the choice we make. 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:24.279 And this works right through society as well. 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:27.000 It works in my life. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:29.319 I've mentioned this illustration before. 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:30.480 I'll do it again just for your sake. 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:32.620 Attached to me here on one side is a microphone. 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:35.340 Attached to me on the other side is an insulin pump. 00:08:35.779 --> 00:08:36.580 I'm a diabetic. 00:08:36.779 --> 00:08:37.600 Type 1 diabetic. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:48.860 Now, what if I chose as a diabetic to exercise my personal freedom by detaching the pump from me and eating whatever I chose in life? 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:50.580 Chocolate cake. 00:08:50.700 --> 00:08:51.139 Tim Tams. 00:08:51.300 --> 00:08:51.700 Rice. 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:53.300 Yes, rice is evil. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:54.420 Rice. 00:08:54.680 --> 00:08:55.180 Burgers. 00:08:55.920 --> 00:08:56.540 Coke. 00:08:56.800 --> 00:08:57.620 No constraints. 00:08:57.620 --> 00:09:00.120 I am free to do what I... 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.600 You doctor cannot tell me how to live my life. 00:09:02.659 --> 00:09:03.100 I'm free. 00:09:04.379 --> 00:09:12.500 What happens when your free choices and passions contradict other free choices and passions in your life? 00:09:15.340 --> 00:09:18.960 On the one hand, I want to eat any food that I want to eat. 00:09:19.340 --> 00:09:24.879 But on the other hand, I want good health and experience life. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:34.080 Once upon a time, before insulin pumps and insulin injections, the diagnosis of diabetes was a 15-year death sentence. 00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:47.159 So the only option before me, if I want to live my life beyond 15 years, is to choose one constraint over another constraint. 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:58.299 I need to constrain one element of freedom on my life in order to experience another element of freedom in my life. 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:01.319 That is the way it works for all of us. 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:06.959 True freedom is not the absence of constraints on my life. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:11.860 It's choosing the liberating constraints on my life. 00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:22.560 It's the strategic loss of some freedoms to gain the more liberating constraints and freedoms. 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:30.360 And the liberating constraints are the ones that are in line with our design. 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:41.460 I remember years ago now, I was a very new Christian and I was reading a book by the English pastor John Stott. 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:54.259 I can't remember the name of the book, but I remember one illustration that he wrote in the book that was so vivid for me 30 years ago that it's very vivid for me till today. 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:57.259 And I continue to use this illustration. 00:10:57.659 --> 00:10:58.939 I get it from Stott. 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:00.879 It goes something like this. 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:04.259 Imagine right here, up on the stage right now, I had a fishbowl. 00:11:06.019 --> 00:11:07.100 With a fish in it. 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:21.679 And this fish, let's call him Eric, is cruising around his little fishbowl and he sees all these people out here getting up, going to the bathroom, on their phones. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:24.039 Some listening. 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:30.559 And he says, I wish I was like those people out there. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:31.559 I mean, look at them. 00:11:31.979 --> 00:11:33.199 They can wear what they want. 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:34.639 They come and go as they please. 00:11:34.719 --> 00:11:37.599 Here am I, just circling around in my little fishbowl. 00:11:38.319 --> 00:11:39.199 Again and again. 00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:42.259 I wish I was free like those people. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:44.819 And little Eric decides to escape. 00:11:44.959 --> 00:11:50.379 And so he catapults himself up from the depths of his bowl, managed to flip over the top. 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:53.279 He hits the stage and then flops onto the floor. 00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:56.860 And he's flipping and he's flopping and gasping for breath. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:59.340 Is he free? 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:03.460 He's no longer constrained to his fishbowl. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:06.139 Is he free? 00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:15.220 If you've ever seen a fish out of water, that's what it's not free at all. 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:16.000 It's dying. 00:12:16.340 --> 00:12:18.139 That is, the fish is not designed. 00:12:18.819 --> 00:12:19.580 It hasn't got legs. 00:12:19.699 --> 00:12:20.519 It hasn't got lungs. 00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:25.500 It's not designed to be on the floor helping itself to the toilet like we do. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:27.159 It's not designed for that. 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:30.159 It's designed for the constraints of water. 00:12:31.219 --> 00:12:35.519 And providing it is within the water, it is as free as it needs to be. 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:40.199 And the moment that you pick up little Eric and put him back in the fishbowl, away he will go. 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:43.799 Depends how long he's been out of the water, I suspect. 00:12:44.079 --> 00:12:47.079 But he'll do his little kick and away he'll go. 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:52.059 Don Cartzer puts it like this in his commentary on John 8. 00:12:52.059 --> 00:13:11.659 Christian faith declares that there is a God who created all things with a purpose. 00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:14.919 Our God created us for himself. 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:24.599 And so we are only truly free if we accept his constraints on our life. 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:32.039 And those constraints are service of God and of others. 00:13:33.319 --> 00:13:38.639 And when we choose primarily a primary allegiance to God in our life, 00:13:39.099 --> 00:13:43.139 we're actually choosing freedom and we are choosing life. 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:47.719 So that moves me to my second point. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:50.319 There's three things that I want to highlight from 1 Peter. 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:52.899 And I'm not constrained to 1 Peter 2. 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:56.179 I'm looking over several passages in the end of 1 Peter here. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:00.479 Three things I want to highlight. 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:05.639 There are many more in 1 Peter, but there are certainly many more in the New Testament 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:09.120 in terms of what we are free from. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:15.840 So firstly, we have freedom from uncontrollable and enslaving emotions and desires. 00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:18.340 I get that from chapter 4 verse 2. 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:23.639 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:26.519 but rather for the will of God. 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:29.639 Peter is talking here about Christians. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:33.060 He's saying that as a result of being born again, 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:36.000 the new birth that we have, which is back there in chapter 1, 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:44.220 following Jesus means that we no longer live for evil human desires. 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:46.820 Now, I've mentioned this before multiple times, 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:50.799 but I'm going to say it again because I don't expect you to remember it, 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:56.960 is that Peter is using a Greek word here 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:00.539 that shows up constantly in the New Testament. 00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:09.379 It's the word epithymia, epithymia, which means an over-desire. 00:15:11.179 --> 00:15:17.620 Verse 3 refers to living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:19.419 and detestable idolatry. 00:15:19.719 --> 00:15:22.219 Now, we tend to think there that Peter is saying, 00:15:22.599 --> 00:15:25.599 you Christians, stay away from those terrible parties. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:31.220 For you, that may be the case. 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:35.399 But even here, that's not what Peter's talking about. 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:40.700 The word lust that he uses isn't referring to sexual lust. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:48.340 It's the same word that he uses in verse 2 for over-desire, an over-desire. 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:55.440 So Christian freedom is freedom from over-desires. 00:15:55.960 --> 00:16:00.460 Freedom from desiring things that are so intense that it drives you, 00:16:00.540 --> 00:16:02.320 but it will never, ever satisfy you. 00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:04.780 Never satisfy you. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:10.879 For instance, health is a good thing. 00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:13.879 Health is a good thing. 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:24.500 On the other hand, a hypochondriac is a person who has an over-desire for health. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:26.720 That's what a hypochondriac is. 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.939 It's an over-desire for health. 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:33.120 They're anxious constantly about their health. 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:38.179 They are anxious and they are miserable, and so is everyone around them. 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:43.200 There's nothing wrong with romance. 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:46.179 But an over-desire for it is a problem. 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:50.039 Likewise for security, career, status, etc. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.759 And over-desires control us. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.360 It's the New Testament version of idolatry. 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:05.960 When something threatens that thing that we have an over-desire for, 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:09.440 that's when the emotions start to rise. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:12.720 And they become uncontrollable. 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:19.000 Whenever someone in front of me is angry, 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:23.559 one of the first things I'm thinking of 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:30.700 is what over-desire have I triggered here in this person? 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:42.000 The second freedom that new life in Jesus brings into our lives 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.600 is the freedom from circumstances. 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:48.080 Chapter 5, verses 5 to 7, we read, 00:17:48.079 --> 00:18:04.240 Part of the freedom that we have in Jesus is that we don't have to be controlled by anxiety anymore. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:09.960 Now, that doesn't mean that you'll never be anxious and you'll never worry. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:19.140 But it does mean that that anxiety and that worry doesn't have to paralyze you with fear. 00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:24.140 I don't want to say any more than that. 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:29.259 Third one is the freedom, the new life that Jesus brings into our lives, 00:18:29.320 --> 00:18:31.820 is the freedom to serve people. 00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:39.480 All of chapter 2, verses 13 to 17, 00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:42.140 is talking about social contracts. 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:47.880 Submit yourselves to the Lord's sake to every human authority. 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:51.280 That's citizenship, social contract. 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:53.860 Show proper respect to everyone. 00:18:54.540 --> 00:18:57.520 That is also citizenship, social contract. 00:18:57.800 --> 00:19:00.120 In society, it's all about neighbourliness. 00:19:01.540 --> 00:19:03.100 Love the family of believers. 00:19:03.800 --> 00:19:04.940 That's church membership. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:09.180 We are told here to live as free people 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:11.780 because we are God's slaves 00:19:11.780 --> 00:19:15.620 and that gets worked out in our service of others. 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:19.199 You'll see that as we go through 1 Peter as well 00:19:19.199 --> 00:19:20.839 and the New Testament. 00:19:20.959 --> 00:19:21.679 How does that work? 00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:25.259 Why would I need to be a slave of God in order to serve other people? 00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:28.759 Well, in his book, Making Sense of God, 00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:33.359 Tim Keller references an interview that's conducted 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:36.519 with the famous French novelist, 00:19:36.919 --> 00:19:37.619 François Salon. 00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:40.759 It's for a French magazine. 00:19:40.919 --> 00:19:41.879 This is many years ago. 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:44.699 She's being asked about her life 00:19:44.699 --> 00:19:47.179 and how her life has gone. 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:50.399 And at one point, the interviewer asked her, 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:55.759 then if you had all the freedom that you wanted, 00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:58.579 Sagan says, 00:19:58.579 --> 00:20:18.599 So there's a woman who has completely embraced 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:21.220 the modern understanding of freedom. 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:26.700 She's right to see that the modern understanding of freedom 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.880 and love for others 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:31.860 as being polar opposites to one another. 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.100 She's right. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.140 She's identified that. 00:20:36.600 --> 00:20:39.360 The more you are in a love relationship, 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:42.120 the more you lose your freedom. 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:45.119 The deeper the relationship goes, 00:20:46.199 --> 00:20:51.500 the less able you are able to live as you please. 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:56.839 But I would ask François Salon 00:20:56.839 --> 00:21:01.439 and I would also ask our society and potentially you, 00:21:02.939 --> 00:21:05.599 when do we most feel joy? 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:08.559 When do we most feel alive? 00:21:09.419 --> 00:21:11.739 When do we most feel secure and settled? 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:14.119 When do we most feel loved? 00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:20.219 When do we most feel like a fish 00:21:20.219 --> 00:21:22.839 getting thrown back into the fish bowl? 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:28.359 Is it when things have gone well at work? 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:33.179 Is it when you've done that deal? 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:39.259 Is it not mutual love relationships? 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:46.619 Now, I'm not talking here about purely romantic relationships. 00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:51.019 I mean relationships where I am loved for who I am. 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:56.039 That's when we feel the greatest sense of freedom. 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:59.960 That's why the modern definition of freedom 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:02.079 has gone way too far. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.940 Way too far. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:06.180 In his book, The Happiness Hypothesis, 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:10.099 American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt writes this, 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:33.839 He's not a Christian. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.399 He's an atheist. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:41.600 The modern definition and assumption of freedom 00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:49.320 is basically a veil for self-centeredness 00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:52.180 and finding hope in yourself 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:54.840 and finding joy and freedom in yourself. 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:57.000 It's just a veil for self-centeredness. 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:04.599 Selfishness is, in fact, the enemy of love. 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:12.759 Love is the fuel that our lives run on. 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:16.539 And when it does run on it, we feel truly free. 00:23:18.219 --> 00:23:22.659 Christian freedom is a freedom for love. 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:29.380 So, lastly, what does it mean to take next steps 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:32.400 to experience more and more of this freedom? 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:37.779 There is a reality that none of us, 00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:40.519 even those who have been Christian for a long time, 00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:45.580 are still not that free from enslaving emotions. 00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:52.039 We are often paralyzed by fear 00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:56.119 and we are often not free from our selfishness, 00:23:56.699 --> 00:23:58.699 particularly in the Western church. 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:03.439 So, how do we grow taking steps 00:24:03.439 --> 00:24:06.319 into a greater freedom in life? 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:08.119 There are two practical things. 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:13.839 Very quickly, the first one is, 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:16.719 is not to be afraid of making promises. 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:21.919 This point comes up from a bunch of places in 1 Peter. 00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:24.279 For instance, chapter 5, verse 5, 00:24:24.619 --> 00:24:25.119 it says, 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.619 In the same way, 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.759 you who are younger, 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:31.459 submit yourselves to your elders. 00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:35.439 Now, that's a verse there about church membership. 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:38.660 It's saying that when you join a church, 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.880 you are making a promise. 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:43.900 You make a promise to serve others. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.660 When you get married, 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:48.180 you make a promise. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.400 Have you ever noticed, 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.279 this is a side point, 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.120 not in the script, 00:24:56.080 --> 00:24:58.600 how often I've been to marriages, 00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:00.779 and particularly a secular marriage, 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:04.460 where the person doing the wedding ceremony says, 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:06.779 today's all about love. 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.140 And I want to go, 00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:10.779 actually, no, it's not. 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:13.940 You'll notice that in the vows. 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:16.120 It's actually not about love. 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:17.019 It's actually about commitment. 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:19.100 Loves are given by the time we get here. 00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.680 It's actually, 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.640 a wedding ceremony 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.259 is actually a ceremony 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.680 about commitment. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.700 That's why I'm there signing it off 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.720 on behalf of the government. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:28.819 Amen. 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.480 When you get married, 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.180 you make promises. 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:37.539 When you become a citizen, 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.519 you make promises. 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:40.420 When you get baptised, 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.240 you make a promise. 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:44.360 When you get confirmed, 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:45.880 which is happening in a couple of weeks, 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.799 you make promises. 00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:49.319 Don't be afraid to make the promises 00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:50.640 that teach your heart 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:53.000 to move away from selfishness 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.840 that will enslave you 00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:56.340 into love relationships. 00:25:56.339 --> 00:26:00.339 And so I would encourage you 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.299 to take your next steps 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:02.179 here at St Paul's. 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:03.839 In worshipping God, 00:26:03.959 --> 00:26:04.939 loving your church family 00:26:04.939 --> 00:26:06.000 and serving the world, 00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:08.799 it is for your freedom. 00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:11.619 Your next step 00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:13.579 is for your freedom. 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.879 And the second thing 00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:19.179 and the most important thing here 00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:20.720 is to look to Jesus on the cross. 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.039 Chapter 4, verse 1, 00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:23.879 Therefore, since Christ suffered 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.579 in his body, 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.720 arm yourselves also 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.700 with the same attitude. 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:28.079 Have the attitude 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:29.119 of Jesus Christ. 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:29.879 What's that attitude? 00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:31.579 What's chapter 4, verse 1 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.319 referring to? 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:35.299 Philippians 2 puts it like this. 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:36.119 It's saying the same thing 00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:36.500 as Peter. 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.680 In your relationships 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.359 with one another, 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.480 have the same mindset 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:41.700 as Christ Jesus, 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:43.440 who being in very nature God, 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.579 did not consider equality 00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.339 with God something 00:26:45.339 --> 00:26:46.279 to be used 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.559 for his own advantage. 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.980 Rather, he made himself 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:51.519 nothing by taking 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.539 the very nature of a servant 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:54.059 being made in human likeness 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:54.920 and being found 00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:56.019 in appearance as a man. 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:57.259 He humbled himself 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.660 and became obedient to death, 00:26:58.900 --> 00:27:00.299 even death on a cross. 00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:04.639 Therefore, God exalted him 00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:05.579 to the highest place 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.440 and gave him the name 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.619 that is above every name, 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.559 that at the name of Jesus, 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:10.359 every knee should bow 00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.559 in heaven and on earth 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.379 and under the earth 00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.579 and every tongue acknowledge 00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:16.160 that Jesus Christ is Lord 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:18.740 to the glory of God the Father. 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:21.059 Jesus has gone 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.799 from the highest heights 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:25.799 to the deepest depths 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:27.120 for you 00:27:27.120 --> 00:27:28.799 and for me. 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:31.480 Not because we are worthy, 00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:33.700 not because we are lovable, 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:35.980 but because he is 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:39.799 all driven by 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:41.819 the unconditional love 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.599 and obedience 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:44.640 to the Father's plan. 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:49.720 We have to see 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.840 what he's done for us 00:27:50.840 --> 00:27:52.940 again and again and again. 00:27:53.280 --> 00:27:53.740 That's why 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.880 for and more is crucial. 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:56.180 You will not live 00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:57.080 the Christian life 00:27:57.080 --> 00:27:58.180 if you're not doing it. 00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.380 I don't care 00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.080 what heritage 00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:01.200 of theological knowledge 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.259 you've got from the past. 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.980 If you are not constantly 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:05.100 in his word 00:28:05.100 --> 00:28:07.120 gazing at his glory 00:28:07.120 --> 00:28:08.600 and his sacrifice for you, 00:28:08.800 --> 00:28:09.940 you will not grow. 00:28:10.320 --> 00:28:11.400 You will not take 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.460 your next steps to freedom. 00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:15.940 I don't know 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:17.240 how much I need to say that. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:19.480 Over and over again 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.759 for 18 months. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:28.680 We have to see it again 00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:30.680 as a famous Christian song 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:32.700 which we did the rounds 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:34.120 decades ago now, 00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:36.700 which had this line in it, 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:39.140 he who flung stars 00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:40.200 into space 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:42.220 to cruel nails 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:42.799 surrendered. 00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.340 Jesus, 00:28:47.340 --> 00:28:48.519 the Son of God, 00:28:49.600 --> 00:28:52.000 totally and utterly free, 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:55.519 free for all of eternity 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:58.559 in a mutual love relationship 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.500 with the Father 00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.580 and the Son, 00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.980 mutually indwelling, 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.580 fully giving each other 00:29:03.580 --> 00:29:04.740 of serving the other, 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:06.779 in mutual love, 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:10.680 broke free from that. 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:14.879 Firstly, 00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:16.160 becoming constrained 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:18.099 by human flesh, 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:21.680 the invincible God 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:23.359 without any limit 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:25.460 became a baby, 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.440 reliant upon 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:30.740 a woman whom he created, 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:37.059 then constrained 00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.799 by being nailed 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.519 to a cross. 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.799 And then the 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:45.980 eternal God 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:47.160 who always existed 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:48.220 in blazing light, 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:49.180 the one who never 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:49.839 had a beginning, 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:51.519 was constrained 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.319 for three days 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:52.880 in the darkness 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.480 of the tomb. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.859 Jesus Christ 00:29:56.859 --> 00:29:57.299 surrendered 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:58.779 his infinite freedom 00:29:58.779 --> 00:30:00.579 so that you and I 00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.259 could be free. 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:04.839 Free from selfishness. 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:07.599 Free from self-centeredness. 00:30:09.139 --> 00:30:10.240 He became enslaved 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.160 to free us 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:11.859 from our sin. 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:14.139 The sin of rejecting God, 00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:15.720 the sin of disobeying God, 00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:17.220 the sin of choosing 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:18.180 life our way, 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:18.839 the sin of 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:20.480 I need to take this 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.039 for me, 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.440 I need to do this 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.039 for me. 00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:25.299 Free from all of that. 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:25.420 And 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:25.440 free from all of that. 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.819 As John Gospels 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.379 tells us, 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:31.920 if the Son 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:32.779 sets you free, 00:30:32.879 --> 00:30:33.859 you'll be free indeed. 00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:35.299 So what is 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:36.099 the next step 00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:36.839 you are taking? 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.680 Think about 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.579 the next big step 00:30:41.579 --> 00:30:42.200 you are taking. 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.980 Is it because 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.440 the Son 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:47.399 has set you free? 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.339 Or it's because 00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:49.819 I'm choosing 00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:50.579 freedom for myself? 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.660 If the Son 00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.319 sets you free, 00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:57.099 you'll be free indeed. 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:57.740 Trust him, 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.660 trust him, 00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.759 he is so very good. 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.660 And if you trust him, 00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:03.140 you will experience 00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:04.039 freedom like you've 00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.940 never experienced 00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.460 before. 00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.819 Freedom from sin, 00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:08.099 freedom from guilt, 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.380 freedom from shame, 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.680 freedom from condemnation, 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.680 freedom from enslaving 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.940 emotions and desires, 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:14.279 free from 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:15.279 what people think 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:15.700 of you, 00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:16.799 free from 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.559 needing to prove 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:17.920 yourself, 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:18.859 freedom from fear, 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:19.920 freedom from loneliness, 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.460 free from the fear 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.099 of failure, 00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.839 free from the fear 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:24.380 of sickness, 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.180 free from the fear 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:25.900 of insecurity, 00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:27.300 free from the fear 00:31:27.300 --> 00:31:27.980 of death. 00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:29.300 To give 00:31:29.300 --> 00:31:30.720 allegiance to God 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.700 will inquire 00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:33.480 trust for sure, 00:31:33.800 --> 00:31:34.920 but he is 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:35.540 trustworthy. 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.900 He's not calling us 00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:40.460 to do anything 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:40.960 that he's already 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.840 done for himself, 00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:43.259 already himself, 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:45.240 out of love for us. 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:47.860 The fuel in our tank 00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:48.560 of obedience, 00:31:48.780 --> 00:31:49.340 of surrender, 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.160 of submission, 00:31:50.820 --> 00:31:51.680 of service, 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.860 is the unconditional 00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:54.799 love of the 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:56.180 only lovable 00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:56.660 one. 00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.420 And so, 00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:00.259 the more we trust 00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:00.500 him, 00:32:01.320 --> 00:32:02.299 the more we are 00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.039 committed to him, 00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.820 the more we conform 00:32:04.820 --> 00:32:06.160 to him and obey 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:06.640 him, 00:32:07.320 --> 00:32:09.039 the freer we will 00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:09.600 become, 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:12.080 as he himself 00:32:12.080 --> 00:32:13.480 is truly alive 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.060 and free. 00:32:14.560 --> 00:32:15.340 If the Son 00:32:15.340 --> 00:32:16.240 sets you free, 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.700 you will be free 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.279 indeed. 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:19.859 look to Jesus 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:21.299 and take your 00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:21.879 next step. 00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:25.180 I'm going to ask 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.899 Gary to come up 00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:26.559 and read the Bible. 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:29.420 We did it backwards 00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.119 today, 00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:32.079 deliberately, 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:32.779 intentionally. 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:34.899 It's because if I've 00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:35.779 asked Gary to read 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.299 the Bible, 00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:38.079 before I preach 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:38.859 that message, 00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.319 you will read 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:41.220 all these sections 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.099 in 1 Peter 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:44.099 and automatically 00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:45.719 bring to bear 00:32:45.719 --> 00:32:46.799 all of your 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.619 prejudices 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.879 and your excuses. 00:32:49.659 --> 00:32:50.519 Now there's none. 00:32:57.439 --> 00:32:59.019 1 Peter chapter 2, 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:01.500 reading from verse 13. 00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:02.919 Please follow in your 00:33:02.919 --> 00:33:04.619 Bibles or on the screen. 00:33:04.619 --> 00:33:08.299 Submit yourselves 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:09.439 for the Lord's sake 00:33:09.439 --> 00:33:10.539 to every human 00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:11.059 authority, 00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:12.459 whether to the 00:33:12.459 --> 00:33:13.379 emperor as a 00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:14.199 supreme authority 00:33:14.199 --> 00:33:15.419 or to governors 00:33:15.419 --> 00:33:16.799 who are sent by him 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.819 to punish those 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.559 who do wrong 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.659 and to commend 00:33:19.659 --> 00:33:20.799 those who do right. 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.819 For it is God's 00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:24.059 will that by 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.819 doing good 00:33:24.819 --> 00:33:26.099 you should silence 00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:27.319 the ignorant talk 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:28.639 of foolish people. 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.599 Live as free 00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:31.099 people, 00:33:31.699 --> 00:33:32.719 but do not use 00:33:32.719 --> 00:33:33.279 your freedom 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:34.019 as a cover-up 00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:34.500 for evil. 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.700 Live as God's 00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:37.299 slaves. 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.220 Show proper 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.220 respect to everyone. 00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:41.619 Love the family 00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.279 of believers. 00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.700 Fear God. 00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:45.319 Honor the emperor. 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:47.839 Slaves, 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:49.259 in reverent fear 00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.839 of God, 00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:51.220 submit yourselves 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.259 to your masters, 00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:54.200 not only to those 00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.680 who are good 00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.480 and considerate, 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:57.099 but also to those 00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:57.960 who are harsh. 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.400 And then to chapter 3 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.279 from verse 1. 00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:03.240 Wives, 00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:04.720 in the same way, 00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.799 submit yourselves 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.940 to your own husbands 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:09.360 so that if any of them 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.699 do not believe the word, 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:12.659 they may be won over 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:14.099 without words 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:15.719 by the behaviour 00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:16.659 of their wives 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.780 when they see 00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:18.400 the purity 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:20.139 and reverence 00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:21.099 of your lives. 00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:23.159 down to verse 7. 00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:23.179 And then to verse 7, 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:23.980 husbands, 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:25.819 in the same way, 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.739 be considerate 00:34:26.739 --> 00:34:27.719 as you live 00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:28.519 with your wives 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:29.659 and treat them 00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:30.500 with respect 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.299 as the weaker 00:34:31.299 --> 00:34:31.839 partner 00:34:31.839 --> 00:34:33.380 and as heirs 00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:33.980 with you 00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:34.739 of the gracious 00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:35.799 gift of life 00:34:35.799 --> 00:34:37.179 so that nothing 00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:37.779 will hinder 00:34:37.779 --> 00:34:38.659 your prayers. 00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:40.319 Finally, 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.420 all of you, 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.920 be like-minded, 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:43.940 be sympathetic, 00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.440 love one another, 00:34:45.839 --> 00:34:46.659 be compassionate 00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:47.519 and humble. 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:49.139 Do not repay 00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:50.079 evil with evil 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.380 or insult 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:52.159 with insult. 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.800 On the contrary, 00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.280 repay evil 00:34:55.280 --> 00:34:55.960 with blessing 00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:57.820 because to this 00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:58.880 you were called 00:34:58.880 --> 00:35:00.219 so that you may 00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:01.259 inherit a blessing. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.340 And to chapter 4, 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:05.980 verse 1. 00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:07.380 Therefore, 00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:08.260 since Christ 00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:09.440 suffered in his body, 00:35:09.740 --> 00:35:10.599 arm yourselves 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:12.059 also with the same 00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:12.460 attitude 00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:14.059 because whoever 00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:15.079 suffers in the body 00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:16.420 is done with sin. 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:17.940 As a result, 00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.760 they do not live 00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:19.420 the rest of their 00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.300 earthly lives 00:35:20.300 --> 00:35:20.940 for evil, 00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:22.240 human desires, 00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:23.559 but rather 00:35:23.559 --> 00:35:25.280 for the will of God. 00:35:26.280 --> 00:35:27.360 For you have spent 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:28.139 enough time 00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:28.860 in the past 00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:30.059 doing what pagans 00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:30.900 choose to do, 00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:32.440 living in debauchery, 00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.099 lust, 00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:34.159 drunkenness, 00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:35.119 orgies, 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:36.019 carousing 00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:37.079 and detestable 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:37.779 idolatry. 00:35:38.900 --> 00:35:39.880 They are surprised 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:41.000 that you do not 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:41.500 join them 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.139 in their reckless 00:35:42.139 --> 00:35:42.799 while living 00:35:42.799 --> 00:35:43.659 and they will 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:44.559 heap abuse 00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:45.059 on you, 00:35:46.099 --> 00:35:46.639 but they will 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:47.139 have to give 00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.619 an account 00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.299 to him 00:35:48.299 --> 00:35:49.259 who is ready 00:35:49.259 --> 00:35:49.940 to judge 00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:50.420 the living 00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:51.239 and the dead. 00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:53.039 Verse 7. 00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:54.400 The end of all 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:55.259 things is near, 00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:56.900 therefore be alert 00:35:56.900 --> 00:35:58.199 and of sober mind 00:35:58.199 --> 00:35:59.559 so that you may pray. 00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:01.099 Above all, 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.239 love each other 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:02.779 deeply 00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:04.160 because love 00:36:04.160 --> 00:36:04.980 covers over 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.560 a multitude 00:36:05.560 --> 00:36:06.460 of sins. 00:36:07.560 --> 00:36:08.300 Offer hospitality 00:36:08.300 --> 00:36:09.320 to one another 00:36:09.320 --> 00:36:10.160 without grumbling. 00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.160 Each of you 00:36:12.160 --> 00:36:12.760 should use 00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:13.480 whatever gift 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:14.420 you have received 00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.780 to serve others 00:36:15.780 --> 00:36:17.540 as faithful stewards 00:36:17.540 --> 00:36:18.660 of God's grace 00:36:18.660 --> 00:36:20.300 in its various forms. 00:36:21.560 --> 00:36:22.600 Chapter 5, 00:36:22.660 --> 00:36:23.160 verse 1. 00:36:23.159 --> 00:36:24.460 To the elders 00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:25.119 among you, 00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:26.319 I appeal 00:36:26.319 --> 00:36:27.399 as a fellow elder 00:36:27.399 --> 00:36:28.460 and a witness 00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:29.420 of Christ's 00:36:29.420 --> 00:36:30.019 sufferings 00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:31.339 who also 00:36:31.339 --> 00:36:31.980 will share 00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:32.480 in the glory 00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:33.239 to be revealed. 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:34.940 Be shepherds 00:36:34.940 --> 00:36:35.839 of God's flock 00:36:35.839 --> 00:36:36.739 that is under 00:36:36.739 --> 00:36:37.420 your care, 00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:38.940 watching over me, 00:36:39.139 --> 00:36:40.500 not because you 00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:40.960 must, 00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.299 but because you 00:36:42.299 --> 00:36:42.799 are willing 00:36:42.799 --> 00:36:44.219 as God wants 00:36:44.219 --> 00:36:44.699 you to be, 00:36:45.339 --> 00:36:46.239 not pursuing 00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:47.279 dishonest gain, 00:36:47.539 --> 00:36:48.179 but eager 00:36:48.179 --> 00:36:49.139 to serve, 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:50.899 not lording it 00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:52.000 over those 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:53.139 entrusted to you, 00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:54.579 but being examples 00:36:54.579 --> 00:36:55.480 to the flock. 00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:57.000 And when the 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:57.599 chief shepherd 00:36:57.599 --> 00:36:58.180 appears, 00:36:58.420 --> 00:36:59.180 you will receive 00:36:59.180 --> 00:37:00.320 the crown of glory 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:00.980 that will never 00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:01.740 fade away. 00:37:02.680 --> 00:37:03.579 In the same way, 00:37:04.059 --> 00:37:05.079 you who are younger 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:06.320 submit yourselves 00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:07.300 to your elders. 00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:08.720 All of you 00:37:08.720 --> 00:37:09.980 clothe yourselves 00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.760 with humility 00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:11.880 toward one another 00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:13.579 because God 00:37:13.579 --> 00:37:14.900 opposes the proud 00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:16.619 but shows favour 00:37:16.619 --> 00:37:17.760 to the humble. 00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:19.540 anderen 00:37:19.540 --> 00:37:19.860 conning 00:37:19.860 --> 00:37:20.760 todos 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:33.820 no 00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:35.280 yap 00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:36.040 般 00:37:36.040 --> 00:37:36.380 Mohammed 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:36.480 faz 00:37:36.640 --> 00:37:36.760 compartil 00:37:36.760 --> 00:37:36.860 pero 00:37:36.860 --> 00:37:37.860 iz 00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:38.200 と 00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:38.380 isto 00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:38.980 基本