WEBVTT

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 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should

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 not perish but have eternal life.

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 John 3.16 has been described as the gospel in a nutshell, and rightly so because it succinctly

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 summarizes the core claim of Christianity.

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 And for that reason, it's perhaps the most frequently cited Bible verse ever.

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 And you see it referenced a lot in our culture.

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 I remember when Tim Tebow was a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback with the Florida Gators.

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 In 2009, he had John 3.16 on his eye black.

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 If you guys are from California or around the area, you guys know the In-N-Out Prince John

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 3.16 reference on their soda cups.

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 Or Forever 21, their bags has John 3.16 on there as well.

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 So due to this widespread usage, even many people who have never opened the Bible for themselves

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 have at least a passing familiarity with John 3.16.

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 But this passing familiarity actually presents a danger because it can make us gloss over it,

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 assume that we know it.

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 And this is not a small danger because as J. Max Stiles, who's a missionary and an author,

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 writes in his book, Marks of the Messenger, losing the gospel doesn't happen all at once,

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 but it happens in what is usually a four-step process.

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 First, the gospel is accepted.

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 Second, the gospel is assumed.

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 And then third, the gospel is confused.

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 And then fourth, the gospel is lost.

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 We are in a historical and cultural moment in the U.S.

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 where the gospel is certainly assumed and confused and in many places even lost.

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 And so it's, and because, and even for believers and for Christians, we can take this truth easily for granted.

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 For God still loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

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 Well, of course, God loves the world, we think, right?

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 Well, of course, God gave his son.

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 Of course, whoever believes in him will be saved.

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 But these truths are not obvious, right?

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 As I'm going to demonstrate to you.

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 And I'm going to use this morning John 3, 16 as the outline for this entire passage to talk about God's reason, his action, and his purpose.

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 The reason, the action, and the purpose.

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 And the three things namely are the reason for his action is that God so loved the world.

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 For God so loved the world.

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 That's his reason.

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 His action is that he gave his only son.

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 And his purpose is this, that whoever believes should not perish but have eternal life.

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 Whoever believes in him.

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 So that's going to be the outline that I'll follow.

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 So first, let's talk about the reason.

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 For God so loved the world.

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 The way the sentence is structured, it intentionally highlights the intensity of God's love.

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 So if you were to translate that a little bit more literally to bring the force of that structure out,

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 you might say something like,

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 God loved the world in such a way that he indeed gave his only son.

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 That's kind of what it says.

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 God loved the world in such a way that he indeed gave his only son.

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 But this love is often assumed and confused in our culture.

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 And we think that this is obvious and not remarkable.

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 But of course, God loves the world.

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 We say the world is so big and full of many people.

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 How can he not love the world?

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 In fact, even I love the world.

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 In fact, I think most people in the world love the world.

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 Right?

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 So what do you mean?

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 Why is it remarkable that God loves the world?

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 But the word love frequently rolls off our tongues,

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 not because people think highly of love,

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 but because people think lightly of love.

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 And we see this very, I mean,

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 pervasively in popular bumper stickers that you see when cars are driving around.

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 Right?

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 For example, one bumper sticker says,

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 Make love, not war.

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 And you guys have, I'm sure, seen that.

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 Right?

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 As if a simple commitment to love will erase all, you know,

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 occasions for conflict in the world.

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 Right?

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 Or another one says, Believe in love.

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 And the letters of that phrase, believe in love,

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 are spelled with symbols of the world's various religions and philosophies.

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 As if there's no significant or real theological differences.

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 And all those things should be set aside and simply uphold and to love one another.

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 And when we hold these cultural assumptions,

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 the statement, God so loved the world, doesn't amaze us.

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 Because we think the world is a wonderful place.

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 We think that it's just grumps and warmongers and religious extremists that don't love the world.

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 Other reasonable and high-minded folks all love the world.

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 So why is it remarkable at all that God loves the world?

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 But if we think this way, then our estimation of the world is too high.

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 And our understanding of God's love is naive and simplistic.

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 Just think about the headlines of newspapers this week.

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 There are people who perpetrate heinous crimes in this world.

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 There are narcissistic and seemingly psychopathic dictators and terrorists who oppress people.

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 And to go up to these people who are suffering at the hands of these people,

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 who face moral threats from these people and tell them,

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 make love, not war.

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 I mean, that's hippie nonsense, right?

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 Likewise, telling all sincere adherents of world religions

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 that they just need to set aside their genuine theological differences

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 and simply come together and try to love each other

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 as if there's no substantial disagreements among them

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 and about the most important things in life,

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 as if their disagreements don't affect the way they ought to love.

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 That's arrogant and hypocritical.

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 It's really the slogan, believe in love,

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 understood in that sense is not much more than make believe.

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 But the Bible's assessment of this world,

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 on the other hand, is not naive and simplistic.

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 It's honest and realistic.

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 Because God's love is not a vague sentimentality,

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 but it's a raw and real love.

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 And you see this throughout the context of John

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 because the word love occurs very frequently in the Gospel of John.

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 He's known as the Apostle of Love.

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 But apart from John 3.16,

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 the world is never the object of God's love.

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 It's never the object of love, period, in the Gospel of John.

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 In numerous places, John talks about how God the Father loves God the Son.

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 In numerous places, he talks about how Christians ought to love God.

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 In a lot of places, he talks about how Christians ought to love one another

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 and about how God loves his people, his believers.

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 But in stark contrast, the world and those who belong to it

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 are described in the Gospel of John consistently as those devoid of love,

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 those lacking love.

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 For example, chapter 5.42,

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 Jesus accuses unbelieving Jews, saying,

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 I know that you do not have the love of God within you.

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 In 8.42, Jesus argues that they don't love him

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 because they do not belong to the Father but to the devil.

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 And in our present passage, in verse 19, it says,

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 The light has come into the world,

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 and people love the darkness rather than the light

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 because their works were evil.

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 The world, in John's understanding,

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 is a dark and evil place.

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 The world is...

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 That's why in the epistle of John, in 1 John,

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 that is written by the same author, chapter 2.15-16,

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 he tells believers,

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 Do not love the world or the things in the world.

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 If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

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 I mean, that's this.

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 And so if you look at that context of all of John's writings,

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 consistently the world is never the object.

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 If you know that, then you know this is remarkable.

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 You know that this is atypical.

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 The fact that God is telling us,

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 teaching us that God loves the world.

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 And of course, there's no contradiction here

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 between God loving the world

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 and then commanding us not to love the world

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 because the love that God forbids

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 is a fawning love that participates in sin

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 opposed to God's love,

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 which is a redeeming love

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 that rescues people from sin.

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 So that's two different things.

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 So there's no contradiction there.

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 And we are to love the world in the same way

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 God loves the world as well.

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 But how can it be that the holy God

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 loves the sinful world?

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 The focus of the statement is not

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 how big and beautiful the world is,

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 how deserving of God's love the world is,

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 oh, God so loved the world.

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 No, but the focus of the sentence is on God's love,

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 how radical and unpredictable,

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 surprising even it is,

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 that God loves the world.

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 And if we honestly examine ourselves

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 and our history,

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 I think we would all admit this

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 because 5,000 years of recorded human history

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 have borne out the reality

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 that we are sinful people,

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 that we live in a broken world.

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 As a theologian,

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 Raynald Niebuhr was fond of saying,

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 he said that men are sinful

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 is one of the best attested

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 and empirically verified facts

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 of human existence.

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 Yet God loves this world.

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 The very world that stands under his wrath.

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 And that's the magnanimity of God.

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 That's the graciousness of God.

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 That's the immeasurable depth

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 and extent of God's love

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 that even this world is its object.

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 And this love is the reason

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 for his saving action.

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 He loved us first.

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 His love is prior to his saving action.

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 It's not as though we have to meet

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 a certain set of criteria.

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 We have to clean ourselves up a little bit

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 before God starts to love us.

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 No, God loves us first.

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 He loves the world.

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 This sinful world.

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 The world that tears itself apart

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 and daily defies him.

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 He loves this world.

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 As verse 17 elaborates,

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 For God did not send his son into the world

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 to condemn the world,

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 but in order that the world

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 might be saved through him.

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 If you're a believer with us this morning,

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 do we understand that Christ's mission

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 was a rescue operation?

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 Right?

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 Our job is not to point the finger

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 at the sinful world in judgment,

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 in prideful judgment,

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 but rather to point our finger toward Christ.

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 Say that that's where your redemption lies.

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 That's where your rescue from sin lies.

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 We expose the darkness of this world

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 with the light of Christ,

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 not to judge and to condemn,

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 but to save in the way that Christ came to save.

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 And we have to remember

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 that we all also have been saved

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 out of this world.

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 We all once belonged to this world.

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 But God so loved the world.

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 This is a marvelous truth.

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 It's not obvious.

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 It's something that we can't gloss over.

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 But then how can we be sure

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 that God does in fact love the world?

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 We can be certain of God's love

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 because God gave his only son

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 in order to save the world.

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 This is God's action.

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 Right?

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 This is what he did.

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 He gave his only son.

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 God so loved the world

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 that he gave his only son.

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 Right?

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 The phrase only son

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 stresses the greatness of the gift.

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 And I've been,

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 as some of you guys know,

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 as part of launching a church plant,

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 at the beginning of the life of the church plant,

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 you don't have as many people giving towards it.

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 So you need to fundraise from external sources.

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 And as I've been doing that,

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 there's been few people

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 who have been giving really faithfully

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 even though they don't have much to give.

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 And that's really meaningful

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 because they haven't given sparingly

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 out of their access,

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 but they have given sacrificially

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 out of their own need.

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 And that's more meaningful a gift.

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 Right?

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 Because they're giving in that way.

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 And they're not giving

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 what is expendable to them,

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 but what is precious to them

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 in order to support this ministry and mission.

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 So in a similar way,

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 the word son,

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 the only son,

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 conveys that kind of preciousness of Christ.

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 Someone that God cannot spare.

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 Right?

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 And only son also implies

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 a unique irreplaceable relationship.

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 It's almost like a unique son.

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 For example,

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 in the Old Testament,

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 in the Greek translation

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 of the Old Testament,

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 Isaac,

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 Abraham's son Isaac,

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 is referred to as an only son.

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 Which, of course,

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 literally is not true

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 because Abraham had another son

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 named Ishmael.

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 But Ishmael was a son

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 of his wife's servant,

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 Hagar.

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 And Sarah was so desperate

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 for any kind of offspring,

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 she gave her servant,

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 Hagar,

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 to Abraham

00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.259
 and they had a son

00:12:42.259 --> 00:12:42.939
 named Ishmael.

00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.820
 But Isaac

00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:45.899
 was the son

00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:47.019
 that God gave him

00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:47.820
 in his old age

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:48.960
 through his own wife,

00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:49.580
 Sarah.

00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:52.379
 And so in Genesis 22-2,

00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:53.200
 Isaac is called

00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:54.539
 Abraham's only son.

00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.120
 And it says that Abraham

00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:56.960
 loved him

00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:57.759
 in a special way.

00:12:58.059 --> 00:12:59.259
 He was the apple of his eye.

00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:01.179
 The same language

00:13:01.179 --> 00:13:02.220
 is used to describe

00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:03.980
 God's only son,

00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:05.080
 Jesus Christ.

00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:05.700
 Right?

00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:06.139
 Of course,

00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.320
 he's the father

00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:08.960
 of all creation.

00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:09.500
 In that sense,

00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:10.679
 he's all of our father.

00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:11.299
 Right?

00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:13.120
 But Jesus is unique

00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.240
 because he actually shares

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.419
 the nature of the father.

00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:15.940
 Right?

00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:17.000
 As Colossians says,

00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:17.879
 it's in chapter 1,

00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:18.980
 he's the firstborn

00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:19.940
 of all creation

00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:21.440
 but not a part of creation

00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:22.460
 for by Jesus,

00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:23.059
 by him,

00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:24.100
 all things were created.

00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:25.139
 He's the image

00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:26.220
 of the invisible God.

00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.179
 The fullness of God

00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:28.279
 dwells in Christ.

00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.759
 In Philippians 2-6,

00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.720
 that he is in the very form

00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.179
 of God.

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:32.480
 Right?

00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.220
 And the early Christians

00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:37.100
 described this unique relationship

00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:38.220
 between God the Father

00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:38.940
 and God the Son

00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:40.380
 by using the word begotten.

00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:40.980
 Right?

00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:42.000
 And so some of you guys

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:42.900
 who have memorized

00:13:42.900 --> 00:13:43.660
 John 3-16

00:13:43.660 --> 00:13:44.820
 in older translations

00:13:44.820 --> 00:13:46.000
 may remember that,

00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:46.340
 for example,

00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:47.040
 KJV,

00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:48.300
 the old NIV,

00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:49.840
 as well as NASB,

00:13:49.900 --> 00:13:50.380
 they all say,

00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:51.300
 God so loved the world

00:13:51.300 --> 00:13:51.780
 that he gave

00:13:51.780 --> 00:13:53.060
 his only begotten son.

00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:53.360
 Right?

00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:55.720
 And this idea of begotten

00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:57.560
 highlights this unique relationship

00:13:57.560 --> 00:13:59.140
 because to beget something

00:13:59.140 --> 00:13:59.740
 is to become

00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:00.800
 the father of something.

00:14:00.800 --> 00:14:01.200
 Right?

00:14:01.420 --> 00:14:02.380
 Which is different

00:14:02.380 --> 00:14:03.780
 from creating something

00:14:03.780 --> 00:14:04.840
 or making something.

00:14:05.040 --> 00:14:05.100
 Right?

00:14:05.140 --> 00:14:06.260
 Because what you beget

00:14:06.260 --> 00:14:07.920
 shares your own nature

00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.019
 while what you make

00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:09.719
 does not share

00:14:09.719 --> 00:14:10.319
 your own nature.

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:10.740
 Right?

00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:12.740
 So humans beget humans.

00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:13.240
 Right?

00:14:13.339 --> 00:14:14.539
 Dogs beget dogs.

00:14:14.819 --> 00:14:14.939
 Right?

00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:16.879
 But humans,

00:14:17.079 --> 00:14:17.259
 right,

00:14:17.479 --> 00:14:17.599
 we,

00:14:18.099 --> 00:14:19.379
 but making things

00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:19.959
 is different.

00:14:20.199 --> 00:14:21.120
 So civil engineers

00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:21.919
 can make bridges.

00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:22.399
 Right?

00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.319
 Chefs make pumpkin pies.

00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:24.979
 Right?

00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:25.979
 Artists make

00:14:25.979 --> 00:14:27.959
 very realistic looking statues

00:14:27.959 --> 00:14:29.099
 of notable figures

00:14:29.099 --> 00:14:30.319
 and they could even draw

00:14:30.319 --> 00:14:31.059
 really realistic

00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:31.699
 self-portraits

00:14:31.699 --> 00:14:32.259
 of themselves

00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:33.919
 but they're still not people.

00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.500
 They're not humans.

00:14:35.699 --> 00:14:35.919
 Right?

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.159
 It's because they're created.

00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:38.219
 They're made.

00:14:38.719 --> 00:14:40.459
 But Jesus is not made.

00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.019
 He's a begotten son.

00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:42.799
 He's,

00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:43.860
 and that highlights

00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.479
 his uniqueness

00:14:44.479 --> 00:14:45.759
 and because he's begotten

00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:46.599
 of the father,

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.099
 he's of the father.

00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:49.279
 He shares the same nature

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:49.879
 as the father

00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:50.899
 and he's God.

00:14:50.979 --> 00:14:51.779
 He's a son of God

00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:52.819
 unlike us

00:14:52.819 --> 00:14:53.819
 who are created.

00:14:53.959 --> 00:14:54.479
 We're creatures.

00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:55.779
 We're made by him.

00:14:55.819 --> 00:14:56.740
 We are not God.

00:14:57.059 --> 00:14:57.139
 Right?

00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:59.919
 So then in all of history,

00:15:00.079 --> 00:15:01.199
 indeed all eternity,

00:15:01.599 --> 00:15:02.980
 there has ever only been

00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:04.299
 one begotten son

00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:05.899
 and that's Jesus Christ.

00:15:05.979 --> 00:15:07.439
 He's God's only son,

00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:08.859
 a unique son,

00:15:08.939 --> 00:15:10.079
 a beloved son,

00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:11.439
 a precious son,

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.959
 a perfect son,

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:15.339
 an irreplaceable son

00:15:15.339 --> 00:15:18.240
 and God gave him

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.759
 for us.

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:23.059
 Mere creatures,

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:24.719
 mean,

00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:25.620
 despicable,

00:15:26.099 --> 00:15:26.659
 profane,

00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:27.839
 selfish,

00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:29.259
 arrogant,

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.199
 greedy creatures

00:15:30.199 --> 00:15:30.659
 at that.

00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:34.620
 Do you feel that disparity?

00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.699
 There never was there

00:15:36.699 --> 00:15:37.600
 in history

00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:40.039
 a more unequal exchange.

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.379
 I think about this sometimes

00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:45.279
 and my daughter

00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:46.279
 is only two years old

00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:48.159
 and the day is far out

00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:49.159
 but sometimes I think

00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:49.719
 about the day

00:15:49.719 --> 00:15:50.659
 when she will get married

00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:54.679
 and giving her away

00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:55.939
 to another man,

00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:57.860
 however exceptional he is

00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:58.600
 and he would have to be

00:15:58.600 --> 00:15:59.379
 quite exceptional,

00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:01.159
 and that's going

00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:02.039
 to be very difficult.

00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:02.539
 I think that might be

00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:03.240
 one of the most difficult

00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:04.259
 things I do for her,

00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:04.600
 right?

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:04.919
 I mean,

00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:06.220
 because this little daddy's girl

00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.860
 will from that point on

00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:09.559
 will belong to him

00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.899
 and be his helper

00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:12.419
 and her well-being

00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:13.360
 will depend largely

00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.399
 on that relationship,

00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:14.879
 right?

00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:16.179
 That's painful,

00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:16.899
 that's difficult

00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:18.539
 but then can you imagine

00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.120
 then this,

00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.120
 if that's after,

00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:20.439
 you know,

00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.139
 it's only been two years

00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:22.939
 but imagine that'd be

00:16:22.939 --> 00:16:24.059
 difficult after 20 years

00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:26.000
 but if that's difficult,

00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:26.580
 can you imagine

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.159
 the difficulty

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:28.419
 of the heavenly father

00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:30.039
 who has had an eternal,

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.579
 unbroken fellowship

00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:32.839
 with his son,

00:16:32.939 --> 00:16:34.000
 a perfect union

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:34.639
 and communion

00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:36.339
 and you might as well

00:16:36.339 --> 00:16:37.339
 tear his heart out,

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:37.519
 right,

00:16:37.579 --> 00:16:38.600
 to have him do that

00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.639
 and not to enjoy

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.139
 a good,

00:16:40.199 --> 00:16:40.500
 you know,

00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:41.259
 marriageable partner

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:41.559
 either,

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:41.879
 right?

00:16:42.079 --> 00:16:43.319
 He comes to die,

00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:43.819
 right?

00:16:43.939 --> 00:16:45.000
 He comes to die

00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:46.219
 a sinner's death

00:16:46.219 --> 00:16:47.519
 to bear the judgment

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.519
 wrath of the father,

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.459
 to be separated

00:16:49.459 --> 00:16:50.620
 and alienated from him

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.579
 so that he can redeem

00:16:51.579 --> 00:16:52.639
 a sinful,

00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:53.879
 broken people

00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.600
 as a bride

00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:55.320
 for himself.

00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:58.039
 Yet God the father

00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:59.159
 knowing this fully

00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:01.240
 sends his only son

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:02.500
 into the world.

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.359
 He gave

00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:06.900
 his only son.

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:10.619
 As Romans 8.32

00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:11.940
 says,

00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:13.700
 he who did not spare

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:15.119
 his own son

00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:16.660
 but gave him up

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.579
 for us all,

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:19.440
 how will he not also

00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.700
 with him graciously

00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:22.259
 give us all things?

00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:25.920
 Do you ever doubt

00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.619
 the father's love

00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:26.960
 for you?

00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:30.259
 Do you ever,

00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.000
 because of your struggles

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.059
 and sufferings

00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:33.559
 in your life,

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:35.099
 do they cast doubt

00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:36.559
 on God's good will

00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:37.160
 toward you?

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:40.279
 If that's the case,

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.900
 look at the price

00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:42.839
 he paid for you.

00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:44.720
 Look at the gift

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.819
 he sent to you

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.720
 and look at the lengths

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.140
 he went to save you.

00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:50.500
 Look at the only son

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:52.240
 he gave for you.

00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:55.859
 And what was the purpose?

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:56.900
 So that was the reason

00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:57.940
 and that was God's action.

00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:59.079
 He gave his only son.

00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:00.160
 What was the purpose

00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:00.940
 for which God

00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:02.079
 gave his only son?

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.240
 That's in the last part

00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:04.099
 of John 3.16

00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:05.859
 that whoever believes

00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:06.339
 in him

00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.359
 should not perish

00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.240
 but have eternal life.

00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:11.200
 God's purpose

00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:12.099
 is to save those

00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:12.819
 who are perishing

00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:14.059
 and bring them

00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:14.720
 to eternal life.

00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:16.480
 The world is a perishing place

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:18.059
 and either we will be saved

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.779
 by God

00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.680
 or we will perish

00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.299
 without him.

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:21.440
 There's no third option.

00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:23.680
 Life is found in God

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.120
 and therefore

00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:25.420
 in order to have life

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.400
 we must come to him

00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:27.860
 and when we depart from him

00:18:27.860 --> 00:18:28.799
 when we're separated from him

00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.080
 the inevitable consequence

00:18:30.080 --> 00:18:31.259
 is that we perish

00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:32.299
 without him.

00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.980
 If you want the warmth

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.660
 and the light

00:18:35.660 --> 00:18:36.240
 of the fire

00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.539
 you must draw near to it

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:38.380
 and when you leave it

00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:39.019
 you experience

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:40.160
 cold and darkness.

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.720
 God is the consuming fire

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:43.640
 and the light of glory

00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:45.759
 and to be with him

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:47.200
 is to have eternal life

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:49.000
 and to be separated from him

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.440
 is to perish.

00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:53.180
 So if you do not yet

00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:53.900
 have a relationship

00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:54.900
 with Jesus Christ

00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:56.000
 if you do not

00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:57.099
 if you have not yet

00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:57.920
 entrusted your life

00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:58.319
 to Jesus

00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:59.359
 then I want to ask you

00:18:59.359 --> 00:18:59.859
 do you know

00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:00.740
 that you are perishing?

00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:02.920
 The world is perishing

00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:04.259
 and there is no exception

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.119
 because it is under

00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:06.299
 God's judgment.

00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:09.279
 Yet there is hope

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.000
 right

00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:11.079
 for you

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.699
 in verse 16

00:19:11.699 --> 00:19:11.859
 it says

00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:13.559
 for God so loved

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.500
 the world

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.559
 that he gave

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.779
 his only son

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.720
 that whoever

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.740
 believes in him

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.480
 should not perish

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:21.199
 but have eternal life.

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:23.379
 Whoever believes in him

00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:25.399
 shall not perish

00:19:25.399 --> 00:19:26.220
 but have eternal life.

00:19:26.399 --> 00:19:26.899
 You see

00:19:26.899 --> 00:19:28.000
 this is a radical concept

00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.639
 because the Jews

00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:29.599
 in Jesus' day

00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:30.240
 at the time

00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.000
 this was written

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:31.599
 right

00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:33.059
 they were familiar

00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:33.619
 with the idea

00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:34.939
 that God loved Israel.

00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.519
 They believed that

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.279
 and heartily

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:39.159
 agreed with that statement

00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:40.179
 God loves Israel

00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:41.519
 but there is no

00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.500
 extant writing

00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:44.140
 in all of Jewish literature

00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:44.860
 from this time

00:19:44.860 --> 00:19:45.660
 none of it

00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:46.380
 there is nowhere

00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:47.480
 does it say

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.240
 that God loves the world

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:49.779
 right

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.880
 this was a crazy idea

00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:52.700
 that God loves

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.380
 the world

00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:54.480
 this sinful world

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.500
 and then promised

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.920
 to save whoever believes

00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:58.620
 that is a distinctively

00:19:58.620 --> 00:19:59.480
 Christian idea

00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.880
 that God loves

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.480
 and embraces

00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.120
 all people

00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:02.660
 right

00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:04.519
 and this is

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.480
 you can really see this

00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:05.960
 borne out

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.600
 throughout history

00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.880
 during my studies

00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:08.620
 at Gordon Commonwealth

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.560
 Theological Seminary

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.679
 I worked at the Center

00:20:10.679 --> 00:20:12.159
 for the Study of Global Christianity

00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:14.460
 which is a leading research

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.159
 institution

00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:16.259
 on the world religions

00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:17.960
 and it chronicles

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.619
 the shifts

00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:20.359
 in the gravitational center

00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:21.139
 of Christianity

00:20:21.139 --> 00:20:22.819
 over the history

00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.319
 of the church

00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:25.099
 and what it shows

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:25.579
 is that

00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.799
 around 30 AD

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.799
 predictably

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.740
 the center of gravity

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.220
 of Christianity

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.200
 was in Jerusalem

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:30.720
 right

00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.440
 that's where it began

00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.279
 but then by

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:34.079
 you know

00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:34.899
 1000 AD

00:20:34.899 --> 00:20:36.279
 it had shifted north

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.839
 to Constantinople

00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.539
 which is now

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.059
 Istanbul

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.699
 right

00:20:39.699 --> 00:20:41.039
 and then

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.659
 by 1500 AD

00:20:42.659 --> 00:20:43.539
 it had shifted

00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.539
 further north

00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.919
 and west

00:20:45.919 --> 00:20:47.139
 to what is now

00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:48.199
 Budapest, Hungary

00:20:48.199 --> 00:20:49.839
 and Vienna, Austria

00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:51.639
 and then by 1900

00:20:51.639 --> 00:20:52.179
 it had shifted

00:20:52.179 --> 00:20:53.000
 further west

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.259
 largely due to the rise

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:54.879
 of the US

00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:56.959
 and the gravitational center

00:20:56.959 --> 00:20:58.039
 of Christianity

00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.619
 at that point

00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.539
 was Spain

00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.519
 Madrid, Spain

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:02.639
 and then since then

00:21:02.639 --> 00:21:04.099
 it has been shifting

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:04.799
 further south

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:06.019
 and further east

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:07.480
 and now it's in

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.359
 Niger, Africa

00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:10.240
 and it's expected

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.319
 to continue to shift

00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:11.920
 southeast

00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:13.279
 over the next 50 years

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.980
 into Nigeria

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.819
 right

00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:15.980
 so isn't that pretty

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.940
 I mean that's pretty amazing

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:18.099
 it's gone from

00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:18.440
 right

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.079
 Middle East

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:20.819
 to Eastern Europe

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.900
 to Western Europe

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.599
 to close to

00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:24.000
 the US area

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.599
 Europe

00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.079
 and then now

00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:26.139
 to South America

00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:27.299
 and to South Africa

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.900
 it's been all over

00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:30.619
 the different continents

00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:32.279
 and just 100 years ago

00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:32.859
 the countries with

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.900
 the largest population

00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:34.440
 of Christians

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.200
 were US

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.900
 Russia

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.640
 Germany

00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.120
 France

00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:37.580
 and Britain

00:21:37.580 --> 00:21:38.220
 in that order

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.880
 but today

00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:40.680
 it is US

00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.319
 Brazil

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.200
 Russia

00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:43.019
 China

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:44.180
 and Mexico

00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:46.039
 the five largest

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:47.779
 populations of Christians

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.940
 in other words

00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:50.059
 Christianity has flourished

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.680
 everywhere

00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:52.059
 and in stark contrast

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.799
 if you look at

00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.500
 all the other

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.519
 major world religions

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.840
 the center of gravity

00:21:55.840 --> 00:21:56.960
 has never shifted

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:59.200
 you look at Islam

00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.019
 the center of gravity

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.080
 is now in the Middle East

00:22:01.080 --> 00:22:02.180
 and has always been

00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:02.860
 in the Middle East

00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:04.399
 if you look at Hinduism

00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.139
 the center of gravity

00:22:05.139 --> 00:22:05.959
 is now in Asia

00:22:05.959 --> 00:22:07.139
 it has always been

00:22:07.139 --> 00:22:07.619
 in Asia

00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:09.039
 if you look at

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.699
 Buddhism

00:22:09.699 --> 00:22:10.339
 the center of gravity

00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:11.799
 it's now in Asia

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:13.000
 and it has always been Asia

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:15.259
 the ability to affect

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:15.899
 and embrace

00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:16.839
 all peoples

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.479
 and cultures

00:22:17.479 --> 00:22:18.719
 distinguishes Christianity

00:22:18.719 --> 00:22:19.539
 from all the other

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.500
 religions in the world

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.479
 all the other major

00:22:21.479 --> 00:22:22.159
 religions in the world

00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:23.339
 and that's because

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.839
 the essential characteristics

00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:26.439
 of these other world religions

00:22:26.439 --> 00:22:28.779
 are encrusted

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.839
 they're kind of confined

00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.699
 to their original

00:22:30.699 --> 00:22:31.219
 geographic

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.360
 and cultural location

00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:33.920
 so for example

00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.880
 if you look at Islam

00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:36.079
 they said the Quran

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:37.059
 can never be translated

00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:38.940
 because God spoke

00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:40.600
 originally in Arabic

00:22:40.600 --> 00:22:42.299
 so if it's translated

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.140
 then it's no longer

00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:44.240
 no longer sacred

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.920
 it's no longer

00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:45.740
 has that

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.600
 has the power

00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:46.960
 right

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.860
 unlike

00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:49.339
 our faith

00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:50.079
 in Christianity

00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:50.779
 where actually

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.900
 the scriptures are written

00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:52.980
 originally written

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.480
 in a language

00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.500
 other than the language

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.460
 of our founder

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.120
 right

00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:57.539
 and it's been translated

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.539
 to hundreds and hundreds

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.120
 of languages

00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:01.299
 to great effect

00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:01.799
 right

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:03.659
 the history of Christianity

00:23:03.659 --> 00:23:05.399
 has been a series of advances

00:23:05.399 --> 00:23:06.239
 and retreats

00:23:06.239 --> 00:23:07.699
 in so many different cultures

00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:08.419
 and contexts

00:23:08.419 --> 00:23:10.139
 that you can rightly say

00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:11.279
 that there's no such thing

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.899
 as a particular Christian culture

00:23:12.899 --> 00:23:14.879
 or a particular Christian civilization

00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:16.379
 because we've already had

00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:17.799
 multiple Christian cultures

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:19.899
 and multiple Christian civilizations

00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:21.939
 and what is the reason for that

00:23:21.939 --> 00:23:23.199
 is that from the beginning

00:23:23.199 --> 00:23:23.879
 Christians

00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:25.339
 beckoned the whole world

00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:25.899
 to come

00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.639
 and believe

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.900
 because our God

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.360
 is a God

00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.259
 for all people

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.120
 and because the gospel

00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:30.940
 of Jesus Christ

00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:31.759
 is a good news

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.780
 for all people

00:23:32.780 --> 00:23:33.660
 and because we have said

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.960
 whoever would believe

00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:35.960
 whoever believes

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.980
 may now come

00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:38.720
 and have eternal life

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.860
 and that's the reason

00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.680
 why you and I

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.700
 can be here this morning

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.640
 to worship

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:45.240
 black and white

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:46.320
 richer and poorer

00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:47.800
 more highly educated

00:23:47.800 --> 00:23:48.620
 less educated

00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:49.380
 all of us

00:23:49.380 --> 00:23:50.480
 God saved

00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:52.759
 because he promised

00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:54.060
 whoever believes

00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.859
 in him

00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:55.980
 should not perish

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:58.480
 but have eternal life

00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:02.819
 but if that's true

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:04.119
 and whoever believes

00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:06.019
 is saved

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.659
 the converse

00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:08.659
 also must be true

00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:10.519
 that whoever does not believe

00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.899
 is not saved

00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:12.319
 right

00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:14.419
 and verse 18

00:24:14.419 --> 00:24:15.720
 makes this explicit

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.399
 read with me

00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:18.460
 whoever believes

00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.099
 in him

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:20.539
 is not condemned

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:22.440
 but whoever does not believe

00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.200
 faith is condemned

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:23.820
 already

00:24:23.820 --> 00:24:25.259
 because he has not

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.400
 believed in the name

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.920
 of the only son

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.799
 of God

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:31.380
 faith

00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:32.480
 is a necessary

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.160
 condition

00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:34.240
 for inheriting

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.000
 eternal life

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:37.080
 Jesus is the light

00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:37.620
 that has come

00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:38.539
 into the dark world

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.680
 and we need to respond

00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.320
 by walking

00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:41.460
 into that light

00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.039
 right

00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:43.779
 in a campground

00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.039
 right

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.960
 without electricity

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.240
 fire is a source

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.680
 of life

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:46.960
 right

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.559
 on the fire

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.480
 you boil the water

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.259
 to make sure

00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.680
 that it's clean

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.160
 to drink

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.500
 right

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.120
 at night

00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:52.940
 when you can't see

00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.960
 you gather by the fire

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.759
 so you can see

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:56.160
 when it starts to get cold

00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.200
 you gather by the fire

00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:57.960
 for the warmth

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.279
 and you cook the food

00:24:59.279 --> 00:24:59.800
 in the fire

00:24:59.800 --> 00:24:59.980
 right

00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.740
 that's your source

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.019
 of life

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:01.920
 the fire has come

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.400
 the light

00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.680
 has come into the world

00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:05.019
 yet you must approach it

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:06.080
 what good is it

00:25:06.080 --> 00:25:06.800
 if you stay out

00:25:06.800 --> 00:25:07.340
 in the dark

00:25:07.340 --> 00:25:07.700
 dank

00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.040
 you know

00:25:08.040 --> 00:25:08.480
 forest

00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.660
 and therefore

00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:11.200
 the fire doesn't

00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:11.940
 do you any good

00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.800
 and C.S. Lewis

00:25:13.800 --> 00:25:14.560
 writes about this

00:25:14.560 --> 00:25:15.000
 in his book

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.960
 The Great Divorce

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.240
 he says

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.880
 there are only two kinds

00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:19.100
 of people in the end

00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:20.700
 those who say to God

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.900
 your will be done

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:23.120
 and those to whom

00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:24.460
 God says in the end

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.720
 your will be done

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:28.319
 all that are in hell

00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.160
 choose it

00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:30.580
 without that self choice

00:25:30.580 --> 00:25:31.799
 there could be no hell

00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:33.940
 now without denying

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.559
 the sovereignty

00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:35.200
 and providence

00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:35.559
 of God

00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.140
 in salvation

00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.960
 the Bible

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.400
 unequivocally affirms

00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.700
 human responsibility

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:41.799
 whoever believes

00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.180
 in him

00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:43.019
 is not condemned

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:44.680
 but whoever does not

00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.039
 believe

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:46.039
 is condemned already

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.539
 because

00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:48.059
 he has not believed

00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:48.539
 the name

00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:49.599
 of the only son

00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:50.200
 of God

00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:51.440
 unbelief

00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.420
 is a human

00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.559
 responsibility

00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:57.339
 I once heard

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.159
 a story

00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:58.680
 about some

00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.700
 group of college

00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.159
 students

00:26:00.159 --> 00:26:00.720
 art students

00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.500
 who went

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.279
 to the Louvre

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.220
 in Paris

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.539
 to look at some art

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.740
 they had a professor

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.379
 leading them

00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:08.680
 and they were examining

00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.740
 a famous masterpiece

00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.399
 I don't know

00:26:10.399 --> 00:26:11.059
 which one it was

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.460
 exactly

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:12.819
 maybe it was a Rembrandt

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.879
 or a Da Vinci

00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:15.159
 they're looking at it

00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:17.100
 and one particularly

00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:18.080
 immature

00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:21.160
 and arrogant student

00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:22.720
 started ranting

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:24.000
 and criticizing

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.720
 the drawing

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:27.279
 and the professor

00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.759
 that was leading

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.220
 the group

00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:29.680
 grew impatient

00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:31.220
 and rebuked

00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:31.759
 the student

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:33.540
 she said

00:26:33.540 --> 00:26:35.259
 this is an

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.080
 undisputed

00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.600
 masterpiece

00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:38.019
 by one of the

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.940
 greatest masters

00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.700
 in history

00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:41.779
 the artistic

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.380
 superiority

00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:43.220
 of this painting

00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:43.860
 was established

00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:45.240
 400 years ago

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.360
 and is no longer

00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:47.240
 open to judgment

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:49.580
 it is not the painting

00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:50.840
 but your taste

00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:51.720
 that is open

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.240
 to judgment

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.340
 and has now

00:26:53.340 --> 00:26:54.680
 been found lacking

00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:59.560
 similarly

00:26:59.560 --> 00:27:00.800
 the supreme

00:27:00.800 --> 00:27:01.620
 worth

00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:02.560
 of the son

00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:03.040
 of God

00:27:03.040 --> 00:27:04.260
 was established

00:27:04.260 --> 00:27:05.180
 in eternity

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:05.780
 past

00:27:05.780 --> 00:27:06.640
 and God

00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:07.260
 the father

00:27:07.260 --> 00:27:08.280
 and the spirit

00:27:08.280 --> 00:27:08.780
 of God

00:27:08.780 --> 00:27:09.600
 bear witness

00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.380
 about him

00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.820
 the worth

00:27:11.820 --> 00:27:12.340
 of the son

00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:12.620
 of God

00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:13.400
 is not open

00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.100
 to debate

00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:15.380
 it's not open

00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:16.340
 to our judgment

00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:17.400
 as a result

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.360
 whoever does not

00:27:18.360 --> 00:27:19.280
 believe in him

00:27:19.280 --> 00:27:20.240
 is condemned

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.800
 already

00:27:20.800 --> 00:27:22.180
 that's their judgment

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.320
 because he has not

00:27:23.320 --> 00:27:24.400
 believed in the name

00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:25.680
 of the only son

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.300
 of God

00:27:26.300 --> 00:27:28.760
 when we reject

00:27:28.760 --> 00:27:29.480
 Christ

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.280
 it's not he

00:27:30.280 --> 00:27:31.380
 but we

00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:32.140
 who are condemned

00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:35.440
 verses 19

00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:35.880
 to 20

00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.600
 explain this

00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.040
 further

00:27:37.040 --> 00:27:37.600
 read along

00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:37.880
 with me

00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:38.120
 it says

00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:38.880
 and this

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.660
 is the judgment

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.500
 the light

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:40.980
 has come

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.640
 into the world

00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:42.180
 and people

00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.240
 love the darkness

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:44.400
 rather than the light

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.560
 because their works

00:27:45.560 --> 00:27:46.240
 were evil

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.780
 for everyone

00:27:47.780 --> 00:27:48.560
 who does wicked

00:27:48.560 --> 00:27:48.940
 things

00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.820
 hates the light

00:27:49.820 --> 00:27:50.580
 and does not

00:27:50.580 --> 00:27:51.520
 come to the light

00:27:51.520 --> 00:27:52.860
 lest his works

00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:54.340
 should be exposed

00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:56.460
 the people

00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.300
 are judged

00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:59.800
 because even though

00:27:59.800 --> 00:28:00.440
 Christ has come

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:00.860
 into the world

00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:01.500
 the light has come

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.040
 into the world

00:28:02.040 --> 00:28:03.140
 they have loved

00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:03.640
 darkness

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.380
 and hated the light

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:04.880
 they refuse

00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.760
 to come to the light

00:28:05.760 --> 00:28:06.860
 and why did they

00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.600
 refuse to come

00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:08.060
 to the light

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:09.379
 because the light

00:28:09.379 --> 00:28:10.179
 that enables us

00:28:10.179 --> 00:28:10.720
 to see

00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:12.220
 also makes us

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.579
 seen

00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:14.720
 the light

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.619
 that enables

00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:16.619
 our sight

00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:17.779
 is also the same

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.679
 light that exposes

00:28:18.679 --> 00:28:19.240
 our sin

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:22.819
 and I had a very

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:24.019
 clear experience

00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.359
 of this

00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.079
 when I was leading

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.839
 an investigative

00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.419
 bible study

00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:27.319
 for unbelievers

00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:28.059
 in college

00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:28.519
 one year

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:30.000
 and I had one

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.720
 friend

00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.599
 who was particularly

00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:32.339
 contentious

00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.519
 but we had a good

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:33.960
 relationship

00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:35.519
 and after each

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:35.839
 session

00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.559
 we'd debate

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.079
 and talk

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.799
 for hours

00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.779
 and debate

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.579
 and I'd plead

00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:39.960
 with him

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.399
 and I'd argue

00:28:40.399 --> 00:28:40.839
 with him

00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.940
 and then

00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.720
 one time

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:44.079
 he stopped

00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:44.879
 me in my tracks

00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:45.179
 and said

00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:45.500
 Sean

00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.639
 I understand

00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.000
 what you're

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.299
 saying

00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:47.980
 and I understand

00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.859
 all the arguments

00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:50.200
 but the crux

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:50.720
 of the matter

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.240
 is this

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.339
 is that I like

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:52.700
 girls

00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:54.099
 and I like

00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:54.639
 sleeping around

00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:55.039
 with them

00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.440
 and if I became

00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:56.879
 a Christian

00:28:56.879 --> 00:28:57.379
 I'd have to

00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:58.159
 stop doing that

00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:00.700
 I don't want

00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:00.980
 to become

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.400
 a Christian

00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:04.000
 I mean

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:06.180
 I was shocked

00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:07.460
 but he was

00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:08.240
 brutally honest

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:10.420
 and that was

00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.019
 a strikingly

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.680
 biblical statement

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.300
 because that's

00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:13.140
 exactly what he

00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:13.300
 says

00:29:13.300 --> 00:29:14.420
 people are

00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:15.180
 afraid of the

00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:16.300
 light

00:29:16.300 --> 00:29:16.940
 they don't want

00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.420
 to come to

00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:17.700
 the light

00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.300
 lest their

00:29:18.300 --> 00:29:19.320
 sin be

00:29:19.320 --> 00:29:20.160
 exposed

00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:21.220
 and that's

00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:21.660
 of course

00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.000
 kind of

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.200
 blatantly

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.680
 immoral

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.100
 example

00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:24.500
 kind of

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:24.900
 an extreme

00:29:24.900 --> 00:29:25.300
 example

00:29:25.300 --> 00:29:25.779
 but at

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.160
 the heart

00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:26.680
 of every

00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.180
 rejection

00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:27.740
 of Christ

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.580
 is that

00:29:28.580 --> 00:29:29.060
 same

00:29:29.060 --> 00:29:29.759
 stubborn

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.580
 refusal

00:29:30.580 --> 00:29:31.400
 to conform

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:32.080
 to God's

00:29:32.080 --> 00:29:32.420
 ways

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.259
 and to

00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:33.799
 insist

00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.240
 on our

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.580
 own

00:29:34.580 --> 00:29:34.900
 way

00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:37.380
 people

00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.200
 hate

00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:38.539
 the

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:38.880
 light

00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:39.440
 the world

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:39.779
 hates

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.200
 the light

00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:40.820
 so they

00:29:40.820 --> 00:29:41.120
 will not

00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:41.519
 come

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.560
 to it

00:29:42.560 --> 00:29:43.759
 but

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.620
 it says

00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:44.900
 in verse

00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.400
 21

00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:46.440
 whoever

00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:46.920
 does

00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.259
 what is

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:47.539
 true

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:47.920
 comes

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.279
 to the

00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:48.539
 light

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.120
 so they

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:49.460
 may be

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:49.779
 clearly

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.220
 seen

00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:50.539
 that his

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:50.900
 works

00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:51.259
 have been

00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:51.539
 carried

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:51.880
 out

00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:52.640
 in God

00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:53.880
 now this

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.080
 is a

00:29:54.080 --> 00:29:54.320
 very

00:29:54.320 --> 00:29:54.700
 interesting

00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.100
 sentence

00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:55.440
 because

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.200
 it literally

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:56.560
 says

00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:56.940
 whoever

00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.519
 does

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:57.779
 the

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.220
 truth

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.919
 right

00:29:58.919 --> 00:29:59.519
 the

00:29:59.519 --> 00:29:59.879
 truth

00:29:59.879 --> 00:30:00.099
 in

00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:00.279
 the

00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:00.539
 biblical

00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.619
 perspective

00:30:01.619 --> 00:30:02.000
 is not

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.319
 something

00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:02.619
 that you

00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:02.839
 just

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.319
 believe

00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:03.639
 in

00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.119
 it's

00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:04.279
 not

00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:04.460
 just

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:04.659
 the

00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:04.960
 mental

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.500
 cognitive

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:05.839
 thing

00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.339
 but it's

00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:06.579
 something

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.259
 you do

00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:07.740
 right

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:09.659
 and to

00:30:09.659 --> 00:30:10.159
 do the

00:30:10.159 --> 00:30:10.480
 truth

00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.179
 is to

00:30:11.179 --> 00:30:11.659
 live in

00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:12.079
 keeping

00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.460
 with the

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:12.700
 truth

00:30:12.700 --> 00:30:13.119
 and who

00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:13.480
 is the

00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:13.799
 truth

00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:14.720
 in the

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:14.980
 gospel

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.179
 of

00:30:15.179 --> 00:30:15.419
 John

00:30:15.419 --> 00:30:15.980
 it says

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.319
 in chapter

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:16.879
 14

00:30:16.879 --> 00:30:17.299
 6

00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:17.819
 Jesus

00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.139
 says

00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:18.679
 I am

00:30:18.679 --> 00:30:19.139
 the way

00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:19.859
 I am

00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.460
 the truth

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:20.879
 and the

00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:21.179
 life

00:30:21.179 --> 00:30:21.599
 no one

00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:21.960
 comes

00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.279
 to the

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:22.559
 father

00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:22.960
 except

00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.299
 through

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:23.659
 me

00:30:23.659 --> 00:30:24.679
 in order

00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:25.159
 to do

00:30:25.159 --> 00:30:25.740
 the truth

00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:26.180
 you must

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.680
 come to

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:26.839
 the

00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:27.099
 light

00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:27.259
 of

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.700
 Christ

00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:29.079
 so

00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:29.240
 the

00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:29.620
 cross

00:30:29.620 --> 00:30:29.799
 of

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.099
 Christ

00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:30.319
 where

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:30.680
 Christ

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.140
 died

00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:31.319
 for

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:31.480
 our

00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:31.620
 sins

00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:32.160
 that's

00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:32.599
 God's

00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.319
 ultimatum

00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:33.579
 to the

00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:33.880
 world

00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:34.640
 it's

00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:35.279
 simultaneously

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.019
 God's

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.640
 greatest

00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:37.120
 his

00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:37.720
 gravest

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.440
 indictment

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:38.700
 of the

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:38.859
 world

00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:39.099
 because

00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:39.259
 it

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.839
 displays

00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.059
 the

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.279
 fullness

00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:40.539
 of

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:40.859
 God's

00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.259
 wrath

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.799
 laid

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.240
 on

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:42.940
 Jesus

00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.599
 the

00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:43.960
 innocent

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.400
 son

00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:44.539
 of

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:44.700
 God

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:44.859
 the

00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:45.380
 righteous

00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:45.759
 son

00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:45.920
 of

00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:46.160
 God

00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:47.200
 at

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.339
 the

00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:47.559
 same

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:47.799
 time

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.000
 it's

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.240
 God's

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.519
 greatest

00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:49.200
 invitation

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.960
 because

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.200
 the

00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:50.460
 fullness

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:50.700
 of

00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:50.960
 God's

00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:51.279
 love

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.440
 is

00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:51.799
 displayed

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:51.960
 on

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.079
 the

00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:52.399
 cross

00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:52.819
 because

00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:53.039
 God

00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:53.440
 so

00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:53.899
 loves

00:30:53.899 --> 00:30:54.099
 the

00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:54.419
 world

00:30:54.419 --> 00:30:54.599
 that

00:30:54.599 --> 00:30:54.740
 he

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:54.980
 gives

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.119
 his

00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:55.460
 only

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:55.859
 son

00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:56.119
 for

00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:56.359
 us

00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:56.639
 so

00:30:56.639 --> 00:30:56.799
 we

00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.019
 might

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.279
 not

00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:57.599
 perish

00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:57.799
 but

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.000
 have

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.399
 eternal

00:30:58.399 --> 00:30:59.259
 life

00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:01.079
 like

00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:01.259
 a

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:01.579
 lighthouse

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.180
 that

00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:02.799
 shines

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.180
 into

00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:03.359
 the

00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:03.659
 dark

00:31:03.659 --> 00:31:04.039
 void

00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.180
 of

00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:04.299
 the

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:04.740
 treacherous

00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.220
 sea

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:06.319
 the

00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:06.879
 cross

00:31:06.879 --> 00:31:07.960
 stands

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.419
 to

00:31:08.419 --> 00:31:08.819
 show

00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.159
 for

00:31:09.159 --> 00:31:09.839
 God's

00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:10.759
 persevering

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.399
 love

00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:12.119
 in

00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:12.480
 this

00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.399
 cold

00:31:13.399 --> 00:31:14.079
 desolate

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.539
 sinful

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:14.940
 world

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:17.460
 and

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:17.639
 you know

00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:17.839
 what's

00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:18.119
 amazing

00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:18.440
 when you

00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:18.759
 do

00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:18.980
 the

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.419
 truth

00:31:19.419 --> 00:31:19.799
 it

00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:20.000
 says

00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.359
 when you

00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:20.740
 come to

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.079
 Christ

00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:21.399
 verse

00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:21.779
 21

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.099
 tells

00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:22.279
 us

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:22.500
 that

00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.119
 your

00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:23.559
 works

00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:23.899
 have

00:31:23.899 --> 00:31:24.079
 been

00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:24.440
 carried

00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:24.859
 out

00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.119
 in

00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:25.539
 God

00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:27.859
 you

00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:28.160
 thought

00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.339
 that

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:28.420
 you

00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:28.539
 had

00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:28.680
 come

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:28.859
 to

00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.160
 believe

00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:29.339
 on

00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:29.460
 your

00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:29.680
 own

00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.059
 accord

00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:31.319
 but

00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:31.460
 when

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:31.579
 you

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.559
 come

00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:32.740
 to

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:32.960
 believe

00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.079
 you

00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:33.460
 discover

00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:33.680
 that

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:33.960
 God

00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.119
 had

00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:34.440
 carried

00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:34.660
 you

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:34.899
 here

00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:37.160
 you

00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:37.399
 thought

00:31:37.399 --> 00:31:37.539
 you

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:37.680
 were

00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:37.980
 searching

00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:38.240
 for

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:38.480
 God

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:38.639
 but

00:31:38.639 --> 00:31:38.759
 then

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:38.920
 when

00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.039
 you

00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:39.379
 finally

00:31:39.379 --> 00:31:39.920
 find

00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:40.119
 him

00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:40.259
 you

00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:40.660
 discover

00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:40.839
 that

00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:40.920
 it

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:41.059
 was

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.359
 he

00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:41.599
 who

00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:41.839
 was

00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.839
 pursuing

00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:43.180
 you

00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.779
 searching

00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:43.980
 for

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.200
 you

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:46.319
 why

00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:46.539
 any

00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:47.099
 of us

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:47.299
 as a

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.579
 Christian

00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.039
 is due

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.359
 not

00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:48.859
 ultimately

00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.220
 to

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.279
 our

00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:52.519
 own

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:52.920
 personal

00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:53.279
 soul

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.720
 searching

00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.220
 but

00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:54.539
 the

00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.019
 sovereign

00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.500
 God

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:55.980
 himself

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.480
 that

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:56.960
 he's

00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.119
 the

00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:57.480
 reason

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:57.960
 his

00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:58.379
 pursuit

00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:58.559
 is

00:31:58.559 --> 00:31:58.819
 the

00:31:58.819 --> 00:31:59.180
 reason

00:31:59.180 --> 00:31:59.799
 why

00:31:59.799 --> 00:32:00.079
 we

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:00.200
 are

00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.579
 Christians

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:00.960
 at all

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:05.720
 one of my

00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.019
 favorite

00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:06.639
 poems

00:32:06.639 --> 00:32:07.119
 is by

00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:07.420
 an

00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:07.700
 English

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.059
 poet

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:08.299
 named

00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:08.660
 Francis

00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.079
 Thompson

00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.399
 called

00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:09.799
 The Hound

00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.180
 of Heaven

00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:10.759
 and if

00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:10.980
 you guys

00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.279
 have read

00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:11.539
 that

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.059
 anyone

00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:13.440
 and

00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:14.180
 there

00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:14.359
 he

00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:14.639
 talks

00:32:14.639 --> 00:32:14.879
 about

00:32:14.879 --> 00:32:15.119
 how

00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:15.559
 God

00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:15.799
 was

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:15.980
 the

00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.259
 hound

00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:16.420
 of

00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:16.680
 heaven

00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.559
 with

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:17.700
 the

00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.039
 tremendous

00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:18.539
 love

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.059
 pursuing

00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:19.379
 him

00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:20.359
 and he

00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:20.680
 writes

00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.059
 this

00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:21.279
 I

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:21.799
 fled

00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.059
 him

00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:22.359
 down

00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:22.539
 the

00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:22.879
 nights

00:32:22.879 --> 00:32:23.200
 and

00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.440
 down

00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:23.599
 the

00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:23.879
 days

00:32:23.879 --> 00:32:24.079
 I

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.359
 fled

00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:24.539
 him

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:24.819
 down

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.000
 the

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.399
 arches

00:32:25.399 --> 00:32:25.639
 of

00:32:25.639 --> 00:32:25.779
 the

00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:26.079
 years

00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:26.519
 I

00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:26.879
 fled

00:32:26.879 --> 00:32:27.139
 him

00:32:27.139 --> 00:32:27.419
 down

00:32:27.419 --> 00:32:27.599
 the

00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:27.960
 labyrinth

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.119
 in

00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:28.539
 ways

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.019
 of

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.159
 my

00:32:29.159 --> 00:32:29.480
 own

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:29.819
 mind

00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.059
 and in

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.179
 the

00:32:30.179 --> 00:32:30.379
 midst

00:32:30.379 --> 00:32:30.539
 of

00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:30.960
 tears

00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:31.480
 I

00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:31.779
 hid

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.059
 from

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.359
 him

00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:32.839
 in

00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.119
 under

00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:33.480
 running

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.299
 laughter

00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.899
 but

00:32:35.899 --> 00:32:36.399
 God

00:32:36.399 --> 00:32:37.700
 pursues

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:37.899
 him

00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:38.720
 relentlessly

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.179
 and after

00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:39.599
 tracking

00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:39.759
 him

00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:39.899
 down

00:32:39.899 --> 00:32:40.039
 he

00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:40.339
 tells

00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:40.480
 him

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:40.619
 that

00:32:40.619 --> 00:32:40.720
 he

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:40.859
 is

00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.000
 the

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.539
 only

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:41.859
 one

00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:41.980
 who

00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:42.139
 can

00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:42.419
 truly

00:32:42.419 --> 00:32:42.720
 love

00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:42.899
 him

00:32:42.899 --> 00:32:43.179
 God

00:32:43.179 --> 00:32:43.399
 tells

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:43.500
 him

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:43.639
 he

00:32:43.640 --> 00:32:43.700
 he

00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:45.020
 says

00:32:45.020 --> 00:32:45.280
 this

00:32:45.280 --> 00:32:45.720
 and

00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.020
 human

00:32:46.020 --> 00:32:46.440
 love

00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:46.940
 needs

00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:47.480
 human

00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.180
 meriting

00:32:48.180 --> 00:32:49.540
 how

00:32:49.540 --> 00:32:49.900
 hast

00:32:49.900 --> 00:32:50.220
 thou

00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:50.720
 merited

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.480
 of

00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:51.820
 all

00:32:51.820 --> 00:32:52.280
 man's

00:32:52.280 --> 00:32:52.620
 clotted

00:32:52.620 --> 00:32:52.980
 clay

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.180
 the

00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:53.660
 dingiest

00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.080
 clot

00:32:54.080 --> 00:32:55.440
 alack

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:55.820
 thou

00:32:55.820 --> 00:32:56.400
 knowest

00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:56.780
 not

00:32:56.780 --> 00:32:57.120
 how

00:32:57.120 --> 00:32:57.480
 little

00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:57.940
 worthy

00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:58.140
 of

00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:58.420
 any

00:32:58.420 --> 00:32:58.900
 love

00:32:58.900 --> 00:32:59.360
 thou

00:32:59.360 --> 00:32:59.680
 art

00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:00.860
 whom

00:33:00.860 --> 00:33:01.280
 wilt

00:33:01.280 --> 00:33:01.500
 thou

00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:01.960
 find

00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.200
 to

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:02.660
 love

00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:03.480
 ignoble

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:03.780
 thee

00:33:03.780 --> 00:33:04.920
 save

00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:05.320
 me

00:33:05.320 --> 00:33:06.240
 save

00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:06.680
 only

00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.020
 me

00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:09.579
 and

00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:09.680
 at

00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:09.799
 the

00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:09.960
 end

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.059
 of

00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:10.160
 the

00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:10.379
 poem

00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:10.559
 the

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.180
 protagonist

00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:11.700
 finally

00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:12.480
 gives

00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:12.720
 in

00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:12.859
 to

00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:13.079
 this

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.379
 hound

00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:13.539
 of

00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:13.779
 heaven

00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.359
 and

00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:14.500
 he

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.680
 exclaims

00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.660
 our

00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:17.420
 fondest

00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:17.920
 fondest

00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:18.180
 means

00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.619
 in old

00:33:18.619 --> 00:33:18.839
 English

00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.079
 means

00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:19.539
 foolish

00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.259
 our

00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:20.940
 fondest

00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.839
 blindest

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.599
 weakest

00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:23.559
 I

00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:23.839
 am

00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.220
 he

00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:24.740
 whom

00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.460
 thou

00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:26.160
 seekest

00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:28.460
 that's

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:28.700
 all

00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:28.839
 of

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:29.119
 us

00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:29.619
 God

00:33:29.619 --> 00:33:30.220
 pursued

00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:30.660
 us

00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:30.960
 who's

00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.119
 the

00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:31.359
 most

00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:31.799
 foolish

00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.440
 most

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:32.859
 blind

00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:33.279
 most

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:33.759
 weak

00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:35.720
 God

00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:36.200
 so

00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:36.660
 love

00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.360
 the

00:33:37.360 --> 00:33:37.820
 world

00:33:37.820 --> 00:33:38.920
 that

00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:39.080
 he

00:33:39.080 --> 00:33:39.400
 gave

00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:39.720
 his

00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:40.279
 only

00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:40.680
 son

00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:42.460
 that

00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:42.860
 whoever

00:33:42.860 --> 00:33:43.460
 believes

00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:45.060
 in him

00:33:45.060 --> 00:33:45.480
 should not

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:45.920
 perish

00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:46.519
 but have

00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:47.340
 eternal

00:33:47.340 --> 00:33:48.560
 life

00:33:48.560 --> 00:33:50.000
 let's

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:50.200
 pray

00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.560
 together

00:33:50.560 --> 00:34:04.759
 heavenly

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.160
 father

00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:05.700
 your

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:08.039
 persevering

00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:11.039
 sacrificial

00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:13.260
 initiating

00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:14.320
 love

00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:16.139
 is truly

00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:16.740
 too good

00:34:16.740 --> 00:34:17.019
 to be

00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.360
 true

00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:24.240
 when

00:34:24.240 --> 00:34:24.599
 someone

00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:25.240
 asks

00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:27.679
 why

00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:28.019
 did

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.380
 God

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:28.740
 love

00:34:28.740 --> 00:34:29.019
 you

00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:30.300
 why

00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:30.559
 did

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:30.880
 God

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.440
 choose

00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:31.860
 you

00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:33.000
 Lord

00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.159
 we

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:33.420
 cannot

00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:33.699
 give

00:34:33.699 --> 00:34:33.820
 an

00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:34.159
 answer

00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:37.980
 the

00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.299
 answer

00:34:38.299 --> 00:34:38.539
 is

00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:39.019
 beyond

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:40.319
 our

00:34:40.319 --> 00:34:40.879
 comprehension

00:34:40.879 --> 00:34:45.139
 yet

00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:45.339
 we

00:34:45.339 --> 00:34:45.779
 know

00:34:45.779 --> 00:34:48.940
 without

00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:49.699
 a doubt

00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:51.259
 that you

00:34:51.259 --> 00:34:51.579
 do

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.319
 love

00:34:52.319 --> 00:34:52.659
 us

00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:54.980
 because

00:34:54.980 --> 00:34:55.239
 you

00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:55.739
 displayed

00:34:55.739 --> 00:34:55.960
 your

00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:56.179
 love

00:34:56.179 --> 00:34:56.719
 for us

00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.519
 in

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:57.799
 sending

00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:58.019
 your

00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.259
 own

00:34:58.259 --> 00:34:58.559
 son

00:34:58.559 --> 00:34:59.420
 your

00:34:59.420 --> 00:34:59.719
 only

00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.059
 son

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:01.179
 to die

00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:01.440
 on the

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:01.779
 cross

00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:02.900
 and

00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.040
 Lord

00:35:03.040 --> 00:35:03.180
 we

00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:03.500
 thank

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:03.640
 you

00:35:03.640 --> 00:35:03.780
 for

00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:04.060
 that

00:35:04.060 --> 00:35:04.580
 we

00:35:04.580 --> 00:35:04.760
 give

00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:04.880
 you

00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:05.420
 praise

00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:05.600
 for

00:35:05.600 --> 00:35:05.860
 that

00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:06.280
 we

00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:06.460
 pray

00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:06.620
 that

00:35:06.620 --> 00:35:06.700
 you

00:35:06.700 --> 00:35:06.800
 would

00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:07.040
 help

00:35:07.040 --> 00:35:07.440
 us

00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:07.740
 as

00:35:07.740 --> 00:35:08.019
 your

00:35:08.019 --> 00:35:08.480
 people

00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.200
 to

00:35:09.200 --> 00:35:10.060
 appreciate

00:35:10.060 --> 00:35:10.300
 to

00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:10.760
 appropriate

00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.120
 that

00:35:11.120 --> 00:35:11.500
 truth

00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.019
 anew

00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.639
 so

00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:12.780
 we

00:35:12.780 --> 00:35:12.900
 may

00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.219
 continue

00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:13.400
 to

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:13.639
 do

00:35:13.639 --> 00:35:13.840
 the

00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:14.259
 truth

00:35:14.259 --> 00:35:14.820
 to

00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.019
 live

00:35:15.019 --> 00:35:15.179
 in

00:35:15.179 --> 00:35:15.559
 keeping

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:15.940
 with

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.219
 the

00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:16.579
 truth

00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:16.840
 with

00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.759
 Jesus

00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.360
 and

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:18.519
 his

00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:18.880
 work

00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:22.920
 and

00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:23.039
 we

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.300
 pray

00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:23.539
 that

00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:23.679
 you

00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:23.800
 would

00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:24.099
 continue

00:35:24.099 --> 00:35:24.300
 to

00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:24.659
 use

00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:25.059
 us

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:25.420
 as

00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:25.579
 your

00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:25.940
 people

00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:26.119
 so

00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:26.259
 that

00:35:26.259 --> 00:35:26.500
 more

00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:26.800
 people

00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:27.000
 may

00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:27.280
 come

00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:28.420
 to

00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:28.699
 know

00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:28.940
 you

00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.800
 to

00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:30.159
 believe

00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:30.320
 in

00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:30.539
 you

00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:32.179
 so

00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:32.300
 that

00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:32.440
 they

00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:32.719
 too

00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:32.980
 may

00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:33.139
 be

00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:33.500
 saved

00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:34.300
 from

00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:34.480
 this

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:34.780
 perishing

00:35:34.780 --> 00:35:35.119
 world

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:37.139
 in

00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:37.360
 Jesus

00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:37.559
 name

00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:37.679
 we

00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:37.920
 pray

00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:38.639
 amen