WEBVTT

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 lived in perfect harmony. But what began as blessing has ended in curse. God the loving

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 creator had given to Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman, all that they ever

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 needed. It was all theirs to enjoy and delight in. Here I'm going to stop because, thanks

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 Connor, you've reminded me. I've got little notes here as well.

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 So keep your Bibles open at Genesis. Take two. We'll start again. It was all so beautiful.

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 Everyone and everything lived in perfect harmony. But what began as blessing has ended in curse.

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 God the loving ruler and creator had given to Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman,

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 all that they ever needed. It was all theirs to enjoy and delight in. And all they had to do

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 was obey. Look at chapter 2 verse 16. And the Lord God commanded the man,

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 you are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge

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 of good and evil. For when you eat of it, you will surely die. But like us, they were not content with

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 what they had been given. They wanted it all. They wanted to be like God. And so they listened

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 to Satan and his lies. Chapter 3 verse 4. You will not surely die, the serpent said to the woman.

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 For God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God,

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 knowing good and evil. And with that desire driven from their hearts to be like God, they reached out

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 and they ate the fruit. And at that very moment of rebellion against God, everything broke. The

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 blessing turned to curse. Where the world was once teeming with life, there was now the stench of death.

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 Where man and woman once enjoyed God, there was now a fear of God. Where they walked with their

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 creator in openness, they now ran and hid in shame. Rather than enjoying the blessing of God, they now

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 experienced the curse of God. Chapter 3 verse 23. So the Lord God banished him from the garden of Eden

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 to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed him on the east side

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 of the garden of the garden of Eden and cherubim with there with a flaming sword, flashing back and forth

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 to guard the way to the tree of life. And that separation, that intimacy that they had is now been

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 separated. And it's what the world and we all experience today. We are cut off from the source of all love

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 and life with the fearful expectation of facing God's judgment and eternal and living death. All because,

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 like Adam, we want to live as if we are God, making up the rules for our own lives, deciding what is good

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 and evil. Now the awful truth is, we can do nothing about it. We cannot undo what we have broken.

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 Of course, we've tried to fix it, but history proves that we've done very little to make things better.

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 We could say the world has just gotten worse.

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 The reality is, when we are the problem, we can't be the solution. So what are we going to do about it?

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 Well, the story of the Bible is not about what we can do, but it's all about what God does for us.

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 Not what we do, but what God does. Not because we deserve it or earn it, but because of God's incredible

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 and amazing grace. I have a definition here that I think works very well. God's grace is God's

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 independent decision to treat rebels like us in kindness. And we've already seen glimpses of his

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 grace at work at the very beginning of the story. So have a look at chapter four. Cain was

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 Adam and Eve's first son. But look what we read in verse eight of chapter four. Now Cain said to his

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 brother Abel, let's go out to the field. And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother

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 Abel and killed him. Now look at how God responds in verse 13. God said to the Lord, my punishment is

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 more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land and I will be hidden from your presence.

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 I will be a restless wanderer on the earth and whoever finds me will kill me. But the Lord said to him,

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 not so. If anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over. Then the Lord put a mark

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 on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. You see, in an act of grace, he is protected.

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 God does not treat him as he deserves. We see the same again if we look on in chapter five.

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 Here we have this history of the human race. And because we've all rebelled, we all die. So look at

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 how the theme runs. Verse five, altogether Adam lived 930 years and then he died. Verse eight, Seth

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 lived 912 years and then he died. Verse 11, Enosh lived 905 years and then he died. And look at the

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 very end of the section, verse 31. Altogether Lamech lived 770 years and then he died. And on and on it

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 goes, it's telling us that the tragic fate of every human being is this death. But in the middle of

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 the story or in the middle of this history of death, we see God's act of grace. Look in the middle of

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 chapter five, verse 23. And here we read about Enoch. And what do we read there? Verse 23,

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 altogether Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God. Then he was no more because God took him

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 away. Do you see right in the middle of death, Enoch does not die. God in his grace spares Enoch the pain

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 of death so he might live with God. Even when humans are at their worst, God acts in grace. Look at

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 chapter six, verse five. This is the lead up to the flood and to the story of Noah and the ark. But read

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 verse five, the Lord saw how great man's wickedness on earth had become and that every inclination of the

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 thoughts of his heart was only evil all of the time. And the Lord was grieved that he had made man on the

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 earth and his heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, I will wipe mankind from whom I have created

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 from the face of the earth. Now let's remember as God gives this description of this broken world,

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 Adam is also part of that broken order. He's included in verses five and six. But look how God responds.

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 Verse eight, but Noah found favor or the word there is Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. In other words,

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 God in his goodness treated Noah with kindness. Noah, who was a rebel, received God's grace. And we know

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 that Noah and his family were saved as if God rebooted and started creation again, another start, another

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 beginning by his grace. So here is our God who independently decides to treat rebels like us in

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 kindness. And it's God's desire and his plan and his longing to show this grace, not just to one or two

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 individuals, but that the whole world and every nation and every race would come to experience his

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 amazing grace. And the way that God was going to do it was through a covenant, a promise.

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 A covenant is like a legal contract. It's a promise between two people or two parties. A marriage is a very

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 good example of this. So when two people get married, they enter into a covenant relationship. This

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 lifelong commitment to love one another, to be faithful and loyal to one another and not to leave each other.

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 So we had a wedding recently of Sam and Yelena. When they got married, they made their vows or their

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 promises and they gave rings to each other as a sign of that covenant. It's a symbol of their binding

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 agreement to one another. And in a sense, they are saying, I'll never leave you. I'll be committed to you.

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 I'll be faithful. I'll be loyal. Now it was through a covenant, through a promise that God would show his

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 grace to the world. God saying, I am going to be faithful to you, loyal, committed. I will not leave you.

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 You will be my bride. You will be mine.

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 And that covenant was made with a man called Abraham.

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 Now there's three things we need to know about this promise, this covenant that God would make.

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 Have a look at chapter 12. The first thing we need to know

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 is that it is God's gracious intervention.

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 Genesis chapter 12, verse 1.

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 The Lord said to Abraham, we know that his name was later changed to Abraham, so we'll just use that

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 name. We won't get confused. So the Lord said to Abraham, leave your country, your people, and your

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 father's household, and go to the land I will show you. But well, who was this character? Where did he

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 come from? Well, the Bible tells us a little bit later on that Abraham was an idol worshipper.

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 He didn't know or worship the true creator God. He wasn't anybody special. He wasn't somebody who was

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 living a particularly good life that God looks down and goes, hey, he's doing very well. I think

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 I'll speak to him. No, it's kind of out of the blue. There's nothing special about Abraham, but yet

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 God reaches down and chooses him. This is an act of intervening grace in the life of one man.

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 And having intervened into his life, God makes this amazing promise, verse 2. He says, I will make you

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 into a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

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 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse. And all peoples on earth

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 will be blessed through you. It's hard to miss it. Primarily, this is a promise that God is going to

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 bring blessing. Abraham is going to be blessed. But more importantly, look at the end of verse 3 again.

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 All peoples on earth, every tribe, tongue, and language will be blessed through you.

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 Now let's remember, at this point in God's story, the world is experiencing this terrible curse.

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 The world experiences death and pain and suffering. Men and women are cut off from God,

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 the source of all life and love. But all of that is going to change. God has not given up on the world

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 or the people he has made. He is graciously going to intervene, and he promises to bring blessing

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 instead of curse. And so someone from the line of Abraham, somebody from his family in years to come,

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 is going to bring this blessing that would reach all peoples on earth, and nobody would be excluded.

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 That is God's intervening grace.

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 But we also need to see that there is a binding obligation on our part.

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 You see, when God made his promise to Abraham,

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 well, it was dependent on Abraham having children.

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 Through a descendant of Abraham, the world would be blessed.

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 The problem is that Abraham and his wife Sarah are very old, and they don't have any children.

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 And without a child, the promise of blessing is not going to continue.

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 So God reminds them again of his promise to bless.

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 So chapter 17, verse 3, he repeats the promise to him again.

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 Verse 3, Abraham fell down, and God said to him,

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 As for me, this is my covenant with you.

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 You will be the father of many nations.

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 No longer will you be called Abraham.

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 Your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.

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 I will make you very fruitful.

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 I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.

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 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant

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 between me and you and your descendants after you

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 for the generations to come to be your God

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 and the God of your descendants after you.

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 And this whole land of Canaan where you are now an alien.

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 I will give as an everlasting possession to you

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 and your descendants after you.

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 And I will be their God.

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 It echoes out of Eden, isn't it?

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 Where God was with his people and he says,

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 Adam and Eve, I'm going to be your God.

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 And he's promising again to Abraham,

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 I'm going to restore all of that for the whole world.

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 God has not given up.

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 He will graciously see that blessing will come.

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 But you see, in these promises,

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 God is not just committed to Abraham.

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 Abraham now in turn must be committed to God.

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 In response, Abraham must make promises to God himself.

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 Abraham has a binding obligation to obey God in everything

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 so that he will experience God's blessing.

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 So chapter 17, verse 9,

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 Then God said to Abraham,

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 As for you, you must keep my covenant.

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 You've got to keep your side of the bargain.

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 You and your descendants after you for the generations to come.

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 And this is the covenant with you and with your descendants after you.

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 The covenant that you are to keep.

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 Every male among you shall be circumcised.

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 You are to undergo circumcision,

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 and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

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 Rather than exchange rings,

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 which is a whole lot less painful,

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 they're given a mark.

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 The foreskin of the penis would be cut off.

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 It was a daily reminder of their commitment to the covenant.

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 In the most natural act of a man,

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 going for a wee,

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 or for the most intimate moment with your wife,

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 you could not escape the fact of your binding obligation

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 that you must obey God.

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 So now it's very clear that to obey God,

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 if you want to experience the blessings of God,

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 you must obey God.

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 And if you disobey,

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 if you break the covenant,

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 then the blessing will stop.

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 The problem is,

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 so far in the story,

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 men and women like you and I

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 have a very poor record of being faithful and loyal to God.

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 So the question remains,

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 what's going to happen

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 if Abraham fails to keep his side of the covenant?

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 God will be committed,

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 but what happens if Abraham isn't committed?

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 Well, here's the third part of the covenant

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 that we must understand.

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 God's gracious substitution.

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 And for this, we need to go back to Genesis 15.

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 You see, God has been reminding Abraham of his promise.

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 And now Abraham wants this confirmation

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 that God is going to keep his promise.

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 So chapter 15, verse 8.

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 Abraham says,

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 O sovereign Lord,

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 how can I know that I shall gain possession of it?

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 How do I know I'm going to get the land?

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 How do I know this blessing from you is going to come?

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 Verse 9,

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 So the Lord said to him,

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 bring me a heifer,

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 a goat and a ram,

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 each three years old,

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 along with a dove and a young pigeon.

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 Abraham brought all these to him,

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 cut them in two,

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 and arranged the halves opposite each other.

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 The birds, however,

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 he did not cut in half.

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 Now what a strange thing to be doing.

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 Now picture the scene here.

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 On either side is half a heifer,

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 half a goat and half a ram.

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 And on the other side is the other half of the heifer,

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 goat and ram.

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 And two birds facing each other.

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 And let's remember,

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 Abraham,

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 well, he couldn't just go down to Tesco's

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 or his local butcher

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 and get them all nice,

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 nicely pre-prepared and pre-wrapped

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 and all nice and clean.

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 No, he had to slaughter those animals there himself.

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 So what we have,

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 if you can picture this scene,

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 is bits of meat on either side

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 and in the middle is this bloody mess.

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 But what's it all for?

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 What's it all about?

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 Well, have a look at verse 12.

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 As the sun was setting,

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 Abraham fell into a deep sleep

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 and thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

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 Verse 17.

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 When the sun had set

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 and darkness had fallen,

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 a smoking pot with a blazing torch appeared

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 and passed between the pieces.

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 On that day,

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 the Lord made a covenant with Abraham.

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 You see,

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 when we enter into a contract,

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 what we normally do is sign a piece of paper.

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 We put our signature to it.

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 Which usually means that

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 if you break the contract,

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 there's a penalty or a fee that you must pay.

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 We have it with our bills,

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 with electricity and gas.

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 You sign a contract

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 and if you break that contract

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 or leave early,

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 then there's a cost to pay for it.

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 Well, in these times,

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 what they often did was

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 they would cut an animal in half

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 and place them opposite each other.

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 This was part of the contract.

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.519
 Then the two people

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:53.200
 who entered into the contract

00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:56.059
 would walk between the cut-up animal.

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.019
 And in doing this,

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.819
 they were saying,

00:21:59.379 --> 00:22:01.339
 may it be done to us

00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:03.079
 if either of us

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.539
 break the covenant?

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.799
 In other words,

00:22:06.959 --> 00:22:09.819
 if I break my side of the contract,

00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:12.639
 may I be cut up or punished

00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:14.000
 like this animal?

00:22:16.699 --> 00:22:18.139
 But did you notice

00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:20.019
 what happens in Abraham's vision?

00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:22.740
 Look again at verse 17.

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:25.759
 When the sun had set

00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.799
 and darkness had fallen,

00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:29.859
 a smoking pot

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:32.160
 with a blazing torch

00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:32.740
 appeared

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:34.579
 and passed between

00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.559
 the pieces.

00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:38.859
 You see,

00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.160
 this fire pot,

00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.980
 this blazing torch

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:43.160
 that we see in the vision,

00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.120
 represents

00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:45.680
 the presence of God.

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.759
 Whenever we see fire,

00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:49.539
 particularly in the Old Testament,

00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:50.599
 it's a sign

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.859
 that God has showed up.

00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:52.979
 You know the story

00:22:52.979 --> 00:22:54.500
 of Moses in the burning bush.

00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:55.519
 God is there.

00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.719
 You know the story

00:22:56.719 --> 00:22:57.959
 of the fiery cloud.

00:22:58.399 --> 00:22:59.319
 God is there.

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.679
 And so God shows up

00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:02.379
 in this vision.

00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.919
 But it's not Abraham

00:23:05.919 --> 00:23:07.199
 and God

00:23:07.199 --> 00:23:08.199
 who walk through.

00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:11.199
 It's just God

00:23:11.199 --> 00:23:12.179
 by Himself.

00:23:13.139 --> 00:23:13.859
 God alone

00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.740
 walks through

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:17.179
 this bloody mess

00:23:17.179 --> 00:23:18.599
 by Himself

00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:19.599
 in between

00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.839
 these two animals.

00:23:21.959 --> 00:23:23.019
 And in this vision,

00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:23.859
 God is saying

00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:24.559
 to Abraham,

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.379
 Abraham,

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:27.799
 I will take responsibility.

00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.619
 May it be done

00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.419
 to me

00:23:30.419 --> 00:23:31.959
 if either of us

00:23:31.959 --> 00:23:33.579
 breaks the covenant.

00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.939
 I will take the blame

00:23:35.939 --> 00:23:37.279
 if you fail

00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.339
 to keep the promises.

00:23:38.699 --> 00:23:40.319
 I will step in for you.

00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:42.319
 I will be cut up for you.

00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:44.099
 I will be the substitute

00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:44.599
 for you.

00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:46.480
 I will take the blame

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:48.559
 if you disobey.

00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:52.039
 What an amazing

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:54.139
 act of grace.

00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:57.359
 It doesn't seem right.

00:23:57.719 --> 00:23:59.679
 It seems impossible.

00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:01.939
 But that

00:24:01.939 --> 00:24:03.799
 is the kind of God

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:05.359
 that we have.

00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:08.240
 Now,

00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.179
 it doesn't take long

00:24:09.179 --> 00:24:10.219
 for us to discover

00:24:10.219 --> 00:24:11.199
 as we read on

00:24:11.199 --> 00:24:11.919
 in the story

00:24:11.919 --> 00:24:14.059
 that we just see

00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:15.279
 how man's failure

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.059
 heightens

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:18.039
 and how God's grace

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:19.159
 has to intervene

00:24:19.159 --> 00:24:21.019
 time and time again

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:22.740
 taking the blame

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:24.599
 for man's rebellion.

00:24:25.719 --> 00:24:26.159
 You see,

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.519
 the rest of the story

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.179
 in Genesis

00:24:28.179 --> 00:24:29.879
 from chapter 12 through

00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:31.099
 is all about

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.279
 Abraham's family.

00:24:32.719 --> 00:24:33.819
 They have Isaac.

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:35.460
 Isaac has Jacob

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.079
 and Esau.

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:38.339
 Jacob has his 12 sons

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.399
 which leads to

00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:40.579
 the nation of Israel.

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.559
 And this is the family

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.579
 which is supposed

00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:44.919
 to bring God's blessing

00:24:44.919 --> 00:24:45.679
 to the world.

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.359
 They are to be

00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:49.099
 conduits of God's grace

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:50.299
 to all the nations.

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.679
 But when we follow

00:24:51.679 --> 00:24:52.339
 this story

00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:53.339
 and read about them,

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.759
 they're a definition

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.740
 of failure.

00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:57.839
 Read the story

00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.659
 for yourself

00:24:58.659 --> 00:25:00.240
 in chapters 12 to 50.

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.619
 It's a catalogue

00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.460
 of deception

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.220
 and betrayal.

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:05.100
 Scheming and stealing

00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:06.299
 and murder.

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.980
 This family of blessing

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.400
 is a complete

00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:12.160
 and utter mess.

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.759
 They only add

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:16.160
 to the world's brokenness.

00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.640
 They don't do anything

00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:18.680
 to make it better.

00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:20.740
 At every point

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:22.200
 in their generations,

00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:24.360
 this family fails.

00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:27.719
 But the amazing thing is

00:25:27.719 --> 00:25:28.659
 is that God

00:25:28.659 --> 00:25:30.159
 perseveres with them.

00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:31.740
 He does not

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.579
 give up.

00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:34.339
 With each new generation,

00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:36.000
 He renews His promise

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.539
 to bless.

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:38.159
 It's as if He drags

00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:38.819
 this family

00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:40.240
 kicking and screaming

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.379
 through the story.

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.879
 Time after time,

00:25:42.979 --> 00:25:44.259
 He displays His grace

00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:46.019
 because He's made a promise.

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.659
 He says,

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:48.159
 I'm going to bless you

00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:50.000
 and I will take the blame

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.419
 for your ongoing failure.

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:51.539
 They are here.

00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:55.420
 Reluctant as they are,

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.740
 God takes them through.

00:25:59.360 --> 00:26:00.900
 But this is not just

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:02.140
 a God of history

00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:03.519
 away back then.

00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:07.519
 This is our God today.

00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:10.940
 He does not give up on me

00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:13.300
 and He does not give up on you.

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:15.240
 He perseveres

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:17.099
 with our rebellion.

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.599
 In grace,

00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:21.180
 He drags us

00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:22.579
 kicking and screaming

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:24.879
 to a place

00:26:24.879 --> 00:26:26.159
 of blessing.

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.159
 You see,

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.480
 the story of the Bible

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:34.220
 is about a God

00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:35.339
 who is determined

00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:37.579
 to bless us.

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.980
 He will not give up.

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:42.740
 After hundreds of years

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.940
 of dealing with

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.799
 the world's

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.920
 ongoing failure

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.079
 and we'll be looking

00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.920
 at the story

00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:48.700
 of this failure

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.819
 in the weeks to come,

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.900
 God into the midst of it

00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:52.859
 speaks

00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:55.420
 of a new promise,

00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:56.940
 a new covenant.

00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:58.559
 Have a look at

00:26:58.559 --> 00:27:00.720
 Jeremiah chapter 31.

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.900
 Almost in the middle

00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:04.660
 of your Bible.

00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:06.480
 Jeremiah chapter 31.

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:11.700
 So this comes

00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.839
 at the end

00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:14.120
 of a people,

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.759
 a family

00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.500
 and a nation

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.200
 who have just

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:18.039
 spiraled downward

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:19.440
 into decay

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.420
 and disorder

00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:21.759
 and failure

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:23.059
 and into the midst

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.420
 of this,

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.440
 God yet again

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:26.339
 speaks His promise.

00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.880
 And look what He says,

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:31.539
 Jeremiah chapter 31

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:33.220
 verse 31.

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:42.799
 The time is coming,

00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:44.440
 declares the Lord,

00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.100
 when I will make

00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:47.539
 a new covenant

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:49.339
 with the house of Israel,

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.539
 with the house of Judah.

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.559
 Verse 33.

00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:54.000
 This is the covenant

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.860
 that I will make

00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:55.940
 with the house of Israel

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:57.279
 after that time,

00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.200
 declares the Lord.

00:27:58.200 --> 00:28:00.400
 I will put my law

00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.500
 in their minds

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.860
 and I will write it

00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:03.640
 on their hearts

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:05.720
 and I will be their God

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:07.759
 and they will be my people.

00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:11.259
 End of verse 34.

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:13.600
 For I will forgive

00:28:13.600 --> 00:28:14.660
 their wickedness

00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:16.299
 and will remember

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:18.740
 their sins no more.

00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:21.960
 How can God do that?

00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:24.880
 How can God change

00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:26.100
 this catalogue

00:28:26.100 --> 00:28:27.019
 and this history

00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:28.839
 of rebellious hearts?

00:28:29.379 --> 00:28:30.519
 How can He do it?

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:32.819
 How can He just wipe out

00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:34.379
 our sins and failures?

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:36.039
 Just like that.

00:28:38.139 --> 00:28:39.480
 Well, just as He had made

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.799
 that promise to Abraham

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:43.180
 that one from His family,

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.940
 a descendant of Abraham

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.759
 would come

00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.400
 and would bring blessing

00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:48.980
 to the world

00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.940
 and to the nations.

00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:52.139
 And that person

00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:54.099
 was Jesus Christ.

00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:56.299
 He comes to bring

00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.539
 this new covenant,

00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:59.319
 one that will deal

00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:00.439
 with our failures

00:29:00.439 --> 00:29:03.139
 once and for all.

00:29:05.219 --> 00:29:07.299
 And we see that take place

00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:10.359
 in Matthew chapter 26.

00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:14.139
 Have a look in Matthew chapter 26.

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:17.119
 Here Jesus is nearing

00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:18.799
 His own death.

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:22.680
 It's the Lord's Supper.

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:27.039
 They're going to share

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:28.339
 in this meal together.

00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:32.079
 And the people

00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:32.960
 who are with Him

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.799
 in that meal

00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.700
 are people

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.980
 who will betray Him.

00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:39.139
 People who will deny Him.

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.680
 People who are going

00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.680
 to mess up.

00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:43.180
 People who have been

00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:44.480
 invited into this

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.519
 relationship,

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:47.019
 this covenant relationship

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:47.720
 with Him.

00:29:49.619 --> 00:29:50.940
 And listen to these words

00:29:50.940 --> 00:29:52.059
 as Jesus speaks

00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:54.920
 to these failing disciples.

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:57.119
 People like you and me.

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.879
 Verse 26.

00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:01.319
 While they were eating,

00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:04.099
 Jesus took bread.

00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.980
 Picture it.

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.379
 Okay?

00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:07.639
 This is something visual.

00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:09.059
 He took bread.

00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:10.400
 He gave thanks.

00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:12.279
 And He broke it.

00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.839
 And He gave it

00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:15.019
 to His disciples saying,

00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:15.700
 take and eat.

00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:17.880
 This is my body.

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:21.900
 And then He took the cup.

00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:24.019
 And He gave thanks

00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:25.220
 and He offered it to them

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:25.600
 saying,

00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:27.059
 drink from it,

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.140
 all of you.

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.960
 This is my blood

00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:32.960
 of the new covenant

00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:35.160
 which is poured out

00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:35.799
 for the many

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.640
 for the forgiveness

00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:38.340
 of sins.

00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.160
 You see,

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:41.559
 Jesus is talking about

00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:43.080
 His own death to come.

00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:44.839
 So Jesus is saying

00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:46.119
 to us in these words,

00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:48.240
 may it be done

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.119
 to me

00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:51.639
 if I break

00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:52.699
 the covenant

00:30:52.699 --> 00:30:53.839
 or if you break

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.359
 the covenant.

00:30:55.179 --> 00:30:56.779
 Remember Abraham's vision

00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:59.079
 back in Genesis 15.

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.699
 Just as God

00:31:00.699 --> 00:31:01.359
 had promised

00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.139
 in that vision

00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:03.379
 to walk through

00:31:03.379 --> 00:31:04.819
 the bloody mess alone,

00:31:05.199 --> 00:31:06.859
 so Jesus comes,

00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.980
 the God-man,

00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:08.939
 and He says,

00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:09.759
 I will walk

00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.799
 to the cross alone.

00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:13.299
 His body

00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:14.319
 would be torn

00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:14.899
 in two.

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.000
 His blood

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.859
 would be poured

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.940
 out on the cross.

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.220
 And as Jesus

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.319
 hangs and suffers,

00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.379
 He is saying,

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:23.099
 I will take the blame

00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:24.480
 when you fail

00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.419
 to keep the covenant.

00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:27.599
 I will be cut up

00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:28.379
 for you.

00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:29.960
 I will be the

00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:31.000
 substitute for you.

00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:32.940
 I will take the blame

00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:33.759
 for you

00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.119
 when you disobey.

00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:40.319
 And so no longer

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:42.379
 do we have to run

00:31:42.379 --> 00:31:43.039
 and hide

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.599
 like Adam did

00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:45.819
 back in the garden.

00:31:46.479 --> 00:31:47.279
 No longer

00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.479
 do we have to try

00:31:48.479 --> 00:31:49.359
 and cover up

00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:51.019
 with our own performance,

00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.859
 our own mess.

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.539
 Instead,

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.659
 we now run

00:31:55.659 --> 00:31:56.379
 to Jesus

00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:57.299
 in faith

00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:58.419
 where we discover

00:31:58.419 --> 00:31:59.579
 the true blessing

00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:00.199
 of God,

00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:01.500
 that new covenant

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.399
 where He gives us

00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:03.279
 a new heart

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.180
 to be able

00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:05.299
 to live God's way,

00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.460
 where we receive

00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:07.119
 the forgiveness

00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:08.480
 of all of our sins.

00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.940
 And just as Adam

00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.339
 and Eve

00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:11.460
 walked in complete

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.680
 openness with God,

00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.980
 so we

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.960
 can now

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:16.279
 enjoy life

00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:17.539
 with Him.

00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:21.799
 And just like

00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.960
 God intervened

00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.639
 into the life

00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:24.259
 of Abraham,

00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:26.139
 so God

00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:27.019
 by His grace

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.940
 has intervened

00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:29.160
 in our lives.

00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:31.140
 and in response,

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.600
 Abraham left

00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:34.900
 his old life

00:32:34.900 --> 00:32:35.680
 behind.

00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:37.480
 He turned

00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.100
 his back

00:32:38.100 --> 00:32:39.100
 on his old way.

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:40.160
 In repentance,

00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:41.380
 he turned away

00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:42.200
 from his life

00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:42.600
 of sin.

00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.580
 He didn't go

00:32:43.580 --> 00:32:44.279
 back there.

00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:44.960
 Instead,

00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:46.360
 he stepped out

00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:47.560
 in faith.

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:50.680
 And so the invitation

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.400
 for us

00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:52.400
 is to turn

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.040
 our back

00:32:53.040 --> 00:32:54.360
 once and for all

00:32:54.360 --> 00:32:56.620
 and step out

00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:57.279
 with Christ

00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:58.320
 on a new journey.

00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:00.040
 a life

00:33:00.040 --> 00:33:00.620
 where we can

00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:01.860
 enjoy the source

00:33:01.860 --> 00:33:02.960
 of all love

00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.960
 and life.

00:33:05.320 --> 00:33:05.840
 A God

00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:06.580
 who responds

00:33:06.580 --> 00:33:07.400
 in grace

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:08.480
 and mercy

00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.779
 and compassion.

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.920
 A God

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.720
 who promised

00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:14.380
 us from the

00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:15.100
 very beginning

00:33:15.100 --> 00:33:17.140
 you will receive

00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:17.740
 blessing

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:19.620
 and not curse.

00:33:21.100 --> 00:33:21.720
 What

00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:22.980
 amazing

00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:24.000
 grace.

00:33:26.040 --> 00:33:27.040
 Let's pray

00:33:27.040 --> 00:33:27.660
 together.

00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:31.220
 another

00:33:31.300 --> 00:33:32.460
uno

00:33:32.820 --> 00:33:34.620
ñ

00:33:34.620 --> 00:33:40.480
 R

00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:41.800
 word

00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:42.779
 re

00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.620
 peace

00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:44.019
 and