WEBVTT 00:00:00.540 --> 00:00:05.440 Please do have a seat. It's great to be here this morning. I hope you've had a great weekend. 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:10.300 But let's just, before we turn to God's Word, let's just have a moment of silence. 00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:14.519 Let's just still our hearts and let's pray together. 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:21.940 Gracious God and loving Heavenly Father, we praise you this morning, Lord, like we've sung. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:23.719 You're an awesome God. 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:28.660 That your mercies are new to us each and every morning. 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:32.640 And that your grace is truly sufficient for us. 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:37.700 Lord, we come to your Word this morning desperate to hear from you. 00:00:38.899 --> 00:00:44.019 So, Father, we ask that you would send your Spirit, that he would lead us into all truth. 00:00:44.120 --> 00:00:46.359 He would be our teacher. He would be our guide. 00:00:46.980 --> 00:00:53.260 And, Father, as we look at this wonderful picture of grace, that it wouldn't just be a word that we sing. 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:57.159 But, Father, it would be a reality and a truth that we experience. 00:00:57.159 --> 00:01:02.519 So, Father, I pray that we would leave here this morning with a bigger picture of who you are. 00:01:02.899 --> 00:01:06.079 And this is our prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:15.759 One of the television programs that Alex and I have got into recently is The Voice. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:18.359 I don't know if anyone else watches The Voice. 00:01:18.459 --> 00:01:21.439 Have we got any other voice freaks here? 00:01:21.939 --> 00:01:24.400 It's basically a music talent show on the BBC. 00:01:24.939 --> 00:01:26.780 Now, I don't normally go for stuff like that. 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:27.780 It's not really my thing. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:30.900 But, see, when you're up with a child at five in the morning changing nappies, 00:01:31.039 --> 00:01:32.920 honestly, anything on the iPlayer will do. 00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:35.879 So, loving watching The Voice at the minute. 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:40.859 And the way it works, for those of you who don't know, it's a singing competition. 00:01:41.219 --> 00:01:46.599 Contestant comes on the stage and really belts it out for two minutes, any song that they want to sing. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:48.420 And there's four judges. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:52.840 And as you've seen the picture there, they've got the backs to the contestant. 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:58.219 And the whole aim of the game is for the contestant to convince the judges that they're good enough, 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:00.579 that their voice is worth it. 00:02:01.100 --> 00:02:03.120 And then they hit the buzzer if they're good enough. 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:07.060 And they turn around, they face the contestant, and they point at them, and they say, 00:02:07.579 --> 00:02:08.500 I want you in my team. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:10.439 It's a great show. 00:02:10.920 --> 00:02:11.819 It's a great idea. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:14.500 I was watching this the other morning, 00:02:14.500 --> 00:02:16.740 and it struck me. 00:02:17.939 --> 00:02:19.520 You know, I wonder for how many of us, 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:23.120 actually that is what we think it is to be a Christian. 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:26.759 You know, maybe that you're here this morning, 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:28.599 you wouldn't describe yourself as a Christian, 00:02:29.300 --> 00:02:32.280 and you feel like you're performing for God. 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:35.879 You're trying to live a good life, a moral life, 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:37.099 but deep down you know, 00:02:37.860 --> 00:02:38.539 you think, 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:40.479 you're never going to be good enough for it. 00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:43.459 Or perhaps that the problem isn't with you, 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:45.280 actually the problem is with the judge, 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:46.459 it's with God. 00:02:47.579 --> 00:02:50.500 To you, he seems like he's got his back to you. 00:02:51.299 --> 00:02:52.399 You think he doesn't care, 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:53.819 you think he doesn't know you. 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:56.679 And he comes across as harsh 00:02:56.679 --> 00:02:58.359 and faceless. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:01.019 Or maybe you're here and, 00:03:01.379 --> 00:03:03.199 actually you would describe yourself as a Christian, 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:05.120 but if somebody asked you to articulate 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:06.560 how you became a Christian, 00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:08.719 it would be along the lines of, 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:10.599 actually I was good enough for God. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:14.180 And maybe you wouldn't articulate it like that, 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:15.599 you know that you're saved by grace, 00:03:15.659 --> 00:03:17.479 but actually you're living your Christian life 00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:18.500 as if that's true. 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:21.860 And you need to keep performing 00:03:21.860 --> 00:03:23.680 to earn God's favor. 00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:26.939 Now I think every single one of us in this room 00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:28.280 is in one of those four categories. 00:03:29.579 --> 00:03:31.180 And this is why it's so exciting 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:32.360 to preach this this morning, 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:34.460 because this passage speaks massively 00:03:34.460 --> 00:03:36.139 into each of them. 00:03:36.139 --> 00:03:38.879 So this is the great chapter in the Bible 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:40.079 about Christian salvation. 00:03:40.959 --> 00:03:42.979 Effectively, it's going to tell us three things. 00:03:43.779 --> 00:03:45.939 Firstly, it's going to give us a reality check 00:03:45.939 --> 00:03:48.339 on where mankind stands before God 00:03:48.339 --> 00:03:49.179 in his own right. 00:03:49.619 --> 00:03:52.139 It's going to tell us what God has done about it. 00:03:52.959 --> 00:03:53.979 And in light of that, 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:55.719 it's going to tell us how we should respond. 00:03:56.779 --> 00:03:59.359 So turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 2. 00:04:00.359 --> 00:04:02.579 We're in at the first 10 verses this morning. 00:04:02.580 --> 00:04:06.460 It's imperative that we have God's word open to us there. 00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:07.760 If you've got a Bible in front of you, 00:04:07.820 --> 00:04:09.480 can I encourage you to open it? 00:04:09.860 --> 00:04:11.500 Just, if anything else, you can check this. 00:04:11.540 --> 00:04:12.780 It's not something I'm making up. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:14.400 This is actually what it says. 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:15.740 And as you're turning there, 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:17.960 let me give you a quick 101 00:04:17.960 --> 00:04:20.180 on what we've seen in Ephesians so far. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:22.879 Remember, this isn't a theology pamphlet. 00:04:22.960 --> 00:04:24.000 This is a real letter, 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:25.780 written by a real person, 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:26.920 written to real Christians, 00:04:26.920 --> 00:04:28.199 who've got real struggles. 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:31.519 And Paul's rocked up in Ephesus, 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:33.479 and he's declared, 00:04:33.979 --> 00:04:37.240 in this city where the goddess Artemis is worshipped, 00:04:37.899 --> 00:04:40.139 that a God that you can make with your own hands 00:04:40.139 --> 00:04:41.300 is no God at all. 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:43.759 Now this is effectively like someone 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:45.519 turning up to Paris, 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:47.519 walking right underneath the Eiffel Tower 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:49.779 and declaring that the Eiffel Tower is a fraud. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:52.039 It's not going to go well for that guy. 00:04:53.159 --> 00:04:54.439 But this is what Paul's done, 00:04:54.480 --> 00:04:56.919 and he's been aggressively forced out of this city. 00:04:56.920 --> 00:04:58.759 But here's the thing. 00:04:58.860 --> 00:05:00.140 These Christians remain. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:04.080 These Christians remain living in this hostile, 00:05:04.780 --> 00:05:06.379 pluralistic, dangerous, 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:10.259 spiritualistic, occultic, paganistic world. 00:05:11.420 --> 00:05:13.700 A world that's not too dissimilar from ours. 00:05:14.980 --> 00:05:17.700 And he's writing to give them confidence 00:05:17.700 --> 00:05:20.360 in the incomparable power of God. 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:23.660 And that's what we saw last week. 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:24.680 Paul's been saying this, 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:26.819 that there is no greater power 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:29.600 than God against all the odds, 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:31.459 raising Jesus from the dead 00:05:31.459 --> 00:05:35.000 and seating him above all powers 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:36.300 and rulers and authorities. 00:05:37.379 --> 00:05:39.340 And this is what he's going to say this week. 00:05:39.420 --> 00:05:40.319 That same power, 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:42.899 the resurrection power that God worked in Jesus, 00:05:43.899 --> 00:05:45.120 if you're a Christian, 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:47.000 you've experienced it in your own life as well. 00:05:48.420 --> 00:05:49.800 Big idea this morning, 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:53.520 to be a Christian is to be a living miracle. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:57.079 And grace, 00:05:57.420 --> 00:05:58.960 as we've been singing, 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:00.259 as we've been looking at so far, 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:03.920 grace is the banner that flies right across this section. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:06.660 Now, I love a sporting cliche. 00:06:07.840 --> 00:06:09.120 If you were watching rugby yesterday, 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:10.420 incredible by the way, 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:11.879 watching rugby yesterday, 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:13.520 full of sporting cliches. 00:06:14.020 --> 00:06:14.680 My favourite, 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:16.240 game of two halves. 00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:17.900 This section, 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:20.160 is a game of two lives. 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:23.240 And he's going to contrast the walk of death, 00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:27.060 and he's going to contrast the walk of life. 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:28.180 So let's read about this, 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:29.520 the walk of death. 00:06:29.580 --> 00:06:31.139 This is verses 1 to 3, 00:06:32.180 --> 00:06:33.240 Ephesians chapter 2. 00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:34.319 Paul writes this, 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:37.939 As for you, 00:06:39.340 --> 00:06:41.300 you were dead 00:06:41.300 --> 00:06:44.360 in your transgressions and sins, 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:46.040 in which you used to live 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:47.879 when you followed the ways of this world, 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:50.400 and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, 00:06:50.780 --> 00:06:52.160 the spirit who is now at work 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:53.439 in those who are disobedient. 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:56.000 All of us 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:58.480 also lived among them at one time, 00:06:58.639 --> 00:06:59.400 gratifying 00:06:59.400 --> 00:07:01.340 the cravings of our flesh, 00:07:01.339 --> 00:07:03.519 and following its desires and thoughts. 00:07:04.419 --> 00:07:05.639 Like the rest, 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:07.459 we were by nature 00:07:07.459 --> 00:07:08.119 deserving 00:07:08.119 --> 00:07:09.579 of wrath. 00:07:11.719 --> 00:07:13.639 Now, Paul uses that word once, 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:17.359 two times in these verses. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:19.180 So this is what he's saying 00:07:19.180 --> 00:07:20.500 to these Ephesian Christians. 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:22.199 This is what your life was like 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:23.800 before God got involved. 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:25.780 You were dead. 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:29.580 That's really strong language. 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:31.180 Certainly comes across at that to us, 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:31.639 doesn't it? 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:32.759 Especially, 00:07:33.400 --> 00:07:34.840 since these guys are physically 00:07:34.840 --> 00:07:35.699 alive and kicking. 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:37.740 So what's Paul on about? 00:07:38.960 --> 00:07:39.699 Well, he's saying that 00:07:39.699 --> 00:07:41.780 out with Jesus Christ, 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:44.060 you're separated from God, 00:07:44.060 --> 00:07:46.160 you're spiritually dead. 00:07:47.339 --> 00:07:49.040 This is how the Bible says it is. 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:51.660 If you want a life of fulfillment, 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:52.439 of purpose, 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:53.720 of meaning, 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:54.699 and of lasting joy, 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:56.240 then you're only really going to get that 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:57.620 in a relationship 00:07:57.620 --> 00:07:59.399 with the God who created you. 00:08:00.579 --> 00:08:01.579 And to be outside 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:02.620 of that relationship, 00:08:02.740 --> 00:08:04.420 to be separated from him, 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:06.560 is to be spiritually dead. 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:09.840 That's the diagnosis here 00:08:09.840 --> 00:08:10.759 from Dr. Paul. 00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:12.740 And he's going to write, 00:08:13.459 --> 00:08:14.639 this death shows itself 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:15.680 in two ways. 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:17.099 Firstly, 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:19.079 you were enslaved. 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:20.219 Verse 2. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:22.939 I was driving our car 00:08:22.939 --> 00:08:24.599 on the M8 00:08:24.599 --> 00:08:25.199 a few weeks ago 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:26.000 going to Glasgow. 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:27.599 And I noticed 00:08:27.599 --> 00:08:28.339 that our car 00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:29.439 massively started 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:30.539 veering to the left. 00:08:31.019 --> 00:08:31.480 So much so 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:32.659 that I had to oversteer 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:33.240 to the right 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:34.039 just to make it go 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:34.740 in a straight line. 00:08:35.419 --> 00:08:36.419 So I got back to Edinburgh, 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:38.279 phoned up the garage, 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:39.019 said I've got a problem 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:39.600 with the car. 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:40.539 They took a look at it. 00:08:40.539 --> 00:08:41.000 They phoned me 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:41.759 the next afternoon 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:42.539 and they said, 00:08:42.939 --> 00:08:43.299 Sir, 00:08:43.819 --> 00:08:44.719 your wheel alignment 00:08:44.719 --> 00:08:46.099 massively out. 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:48.360 Now we live in that area 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:48.879 of the city 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:49.559 where there's lots 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:50.620 of cobbled streets 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:52.339 and the cobbled streets 00:08:52.339 --> 00:08:53.019 had knocked 00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:54.159 the car's alignment 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.059 completely out. 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:56.500 So instead of going 00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:57.339 in a straight line 00:08:57.339 --> 00:08:58.699 like it was designed to, 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:00.299 actually this thing 00:09:00.299 --> 00:09:01.559 was veering all over the place. 00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:05.019 And unless we did 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:06.079 something about it, 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:08.199 if we left it 00:09:08.199 --> 00:09:09.039 to its own devices, 00:09:09.139 --> 00:09:09.860 it's going to veer. 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:11.480 And it's going to crash. 00:09:12.419 --> 00:09:13.259 And that's what Paul 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:14.240 is saying is true 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:14.980 of these Christians 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:16.199 outside of Christ. 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:19.339 He uses a shipping metaphor. 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:19.639 Remember, 00:09:19.699 --> 00:09:20.519 he's writing to Ephesus. 00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:21.919 It's a port city. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:22.620 They understand 00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:23.079 what it means 00:09:23.079 --> 00:09:24.379 to have a course. 00:09:26.319 --> 00:09:27.279 That's what he's saying 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:28.319 as a result 00:09:28.319 --> 00:09:30.000 of sin messing up 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:30.519 the alignment 00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:31.419 in your hearts. 00:09:32.319 --> 00:09:33.299 You're just following 00:09:33.299 --> 00:09:34.360 the default nature 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:35.219 of your sick, 00:09:35.539 --> 00:09:36.219 human heart 00:09:36.219 --> 00:09:37.159 and you're just following 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:38.139 the course of the world. 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:41.559 He uses that word 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:42.939 following three times 00:09:42.939 --> 00:09:43.539 in this section, 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:43.939 doesn't he? 00:09:44.460 --> 00:09:45.580 You're following three things. 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:46.179 He says you're following 00:09:46.179 --> 00:09:46.899 the flesh, 00:09:47.419 --> 00:09:48.399 you're following the world, 00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:49.720 you're following the devil. 00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:52.639 You're just behaving 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:54.159 like everyone else. 00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:55.139 That's how he used to behave. 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:55.919 You lived with the same 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:56.480 priorities, 00:09:57.299 --> 00:09:58.120 you lived with the same 00:09:58.120 --> 00:09:59.580 dreams and hopes 00:09:59.580 --> 00:10:00.220 and ambitions. 00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:03.379 That's how he used to live. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:05.759 You know, 00:10:05.800 --> 00:10:06.379 John Stott 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:07.580 says it so beautifully. 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:08.560 He says that it's only 00:10:08.560 --> 00:10:09.540 dead fish that 00:10:09.540 --> 00:10:10.580 go over the stream. 00:10:12.540 --> 00:10:13.720 That's what you once were, 00:10:13.820 --> 00:10:14.440 says Paul. 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:14.820 You were 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:16.139 enslaved. 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:17.600 And secondly, 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:18.620 as well as being enslaved, 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:19.480 you were condemned. 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:21.519 Look at what he says 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:22.300 in verse three. 00:10:23.420 --> 00:10:24.320 You stood guilty 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:25.060 before a 00:10:25.060 --> 00:10:26.080 holy God. 00:10:26.700 --> 00:10:27.680 So this is because 00:10:27.680 --> 00:10:28.600 of their willful 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:30.440 disobedience against him. 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:31.480 They stood at odds 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:32.460 with God. 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:33.100 And they are in the 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:34.180 firing line for his 00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:35.200 holy anger, 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:36.879 his wrath. 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:39.120 That implies, 00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:39.580 doesn't it, 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:40.480 that there is, 00:10:40.920 --> 00:10:41.720 regardless of what 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:42.759 our world tells us, 00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:43.740 there is an absolute 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:44.620 standard of truth 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:45.200 by which we will 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:46.000 all be judged. 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:48.460 And it's God's 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:48.960 standard, 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:50.740 his perfect standard, 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:51.759 which we have fallen 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:53.139 well short of. 00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:56.139 Our world would tell us 00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:57.279 that we're inherently good. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:58.839 Paul would say, 00:10:58.959 --> 00:10:59.559 you're being far 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:00.860 too optimistic. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.620 You were enslaved 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:05.279 and you were condemned. 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:06.639 Outside of Christ, 00:11:06.699 --> 00:11:07.339 you were dead. 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:10.939 And another program 00:11:10.939 --> 00:11:11.600 that I watched 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:12.360 on the iPlayer, 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:12.899 it's getting a lot 00:11:12.899 --> 00:11:13.959 of air time 00:11:13.959 --> 00:11:14.339 at the minute, 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:15.879 J.K. Rowling's 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:16.759 The Casual Vacancy. 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:17.319 I don't know 00:11:17.319 --> 00:11:18.139 if anyone watched it. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:19.480 The only reason 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:20.039 I watched it 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:20.720 is because I read 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.620 something that told me 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:21.919 it was a bit 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:22.539 controversial. 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:24.059 And the reason 00:11:24.059 --> 00:11:24.759 it was controversial 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:26.139 is because the BBC 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:28.179 make of the book, 00:11:28.319 --> 00:11:29.039 the BBC changed 00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:29.519 the ending. 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:30.100 I don't know 00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:30.720 if anyone noticed 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:30.980 that, 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:31.559 if anyone actually 00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:32.600 stomached it to the end, 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:33.340 I made it to halfway 00:11:33.340 --> 00:11:34.159 through episode one. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:35.679 But the BBC changed 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:36.779 the ending from the book. 00:11:37.939 --> 00:11:38.879 So in the book, 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:39.879 it ends on a really 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:40.980 desperate note. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:42.899 Whereas the BBC drama 00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:43.700 ended on a really 00:11:43.700 --> 00:11:44.980 positive note. 00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:47.019 In the book, 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:47.919 the villain 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:48.620 at the end 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:49.279 is exposed. 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:51.480 In the BBC drama, 00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:52.299 actually the villain 00:11:52.299 --> 00:11:52.960 ends up being 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:54.000 the good guy. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.620 Now why did they 00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:57.059 change it? 00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:57.720 That's the question. 00:11:59.080 --> 00:11:59.620 Well the reason 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.220 they changed it 00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:00.940 was because of 00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:01.759 when it was being 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:02.159 shown. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:03.940 On a Sunday 00:12:03.940 --> 00:12:04.799 evening. 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:06.159 Now I well remember 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:06.919 that feeling on the 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:07.440 Sunday evening 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:08.019 before working 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:08.440 the Monday. 00:12:09.460 --> 00:12:09.840 And that's why 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:10.419 they changed it. 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:11.360 Nobody wants to 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.600 see tragic TV. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:13.740 People want to 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.960 see feel good TV. 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:16.659 People want to 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:17.539 feel great as they 00:12:17.539 --> 00:12:18.440 go to bed on a 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:18.919 Sunday night. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:19.360 And that's why 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:20.220 they changed it. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:22.980 And I think the 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:23.919 temptation for all 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:24.719 of us as we read 00:12:24.719 --> 00:12:25.740 these first three 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:28.279 verses here is to 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:29.019 give it a rewrite. 00:12:29.699 --> 00:12:30.379 Is it not? 00:12:31.459 --> 00:12:32.159 Surely we weren't 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:32.959 that bad. 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:34.599 Surely we, 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:36.519 that is just 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:37.179 Paul's opinion. 00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:37.719 That's not really 00:12:37.719 --> 00:12:38.679 what's happening. 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:41.000 But actually it's 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:41.360 true. 00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:43.159 And what Paul 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:44.219 outlines here is 00:12:44.219 --> 00:12:44.939 the staggering 00:12:44.939 --> 00:12:47.419 reality of what a 00:12:47.419 --> 00:12:48.519 life lived outside 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:49.259 of Jesus Christ 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:50.079 looks like. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:52.780 Now if that's you 00:12:52.780 --> 00:12:53.780 this morning then 00:12:53.780 --> 00:12:55.600 can I just point 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:56.440 out to you where 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.000 your life is 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:57.300 heading? 00:12:58.440 --> 00:12:59.240 What's going on? 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:00.780 You know Sinclair 00:13:00.780 --> 00:13:01.500 Ferguson would 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:02.379 write that the 00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:03.740 gospel sobers us 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:05.139 before it satisfies 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:05.800 us. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:08.259 I have a good 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:08.860 friend of mine who 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.520 I met up with this 00:13:09.520 --> 00:13:09.740 week. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:11.180 He's a pastor down 00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:11.680 in Leith. 00:13:12.420 --> 00:13:12.980 And he was telling 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:13.860 me, and the church 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.379 plant there has been 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:15.220 going for two, 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:16.379 three years, and he 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:17.140 was telling me that 00:13:17.140 --> 00:13:18.160 there's a woman who's 00:13:18.160 --> 00:13:18.840 been going for that 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:19.440 whole time. 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:21.040 Not interested in 00:13:21.040 --> 00:13:21.740 any of this God 00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:22.060 stuff. 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.240 And actually she 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.259 was converted a few 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:27.899 weeks ago through 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:28.980 these verses. 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:31.360 That actually it 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.160 made sense to her 00:13:32.160 --> 00:13:33.120 because she couldn't 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.320 figure out why she 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:35.080 kept going back to 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:35.960 church week on week. 00:13:36.780 --> 00:13:38.000 She couldn't fathom 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:38.879 why she suddenly took 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.320 a notion to read 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:40.780 the Bible. 00:13:41.540 --> 00:13:41.899 She couldn't 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:42.700 understand why she 00:13:42.700 --> 00:13:43.700 liked hanging out 00:13:43.700 --> 00:13:44.560 with Christian people 00:13:44.560 --> 00:13:45.780 because this detested 00:13:45.780 --> 00:13:46.100 her. 00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:47.480 And then it 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:47.960 clicked. 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:49.639 She realized that 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:51.220 God was pursuing 00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:52.800 her by his 00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:53.139 spirit. 00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:56.180 That God is into 00:13:56.180 --> 00:13:57.300 making dead people 00:13:57.300 --> 00:13:58.080 alive. 00:13:58.200 --> 00:13:58.780 If you don't believe 00:13:58.780 --> 00:13:59.780 that, come back a few 00:13:59.780 --> 00:14:00.540 weeks time for Easter. 00:14:00.660 --> 00:14:01.399 We go big on it. 00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:03.100 It's kind of what it's 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:03.519 all about. 00:14:04.660 --> 00:14:05.680 And she realized that 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:07.480 God was pursuing her. 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.780 And she gave her life 00:14:09.780 --> 00:14:10.200 to Jesus. 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:11.139 I wonder if that's 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:12.120 something that's true 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:13.060 for some people in 00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:13.680 here this morning. 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:16.000 Actually, you don't 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:17.139 really know why you 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:17.680 come to church. 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.479 You don't really know 00:14:18.479 --> 00:14:19.219 why you like singing 00:14:19.219 --> 00:14:19.799 these songs. 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:20.500 You don't really know 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:21.739 why you kind of read 00:14:21.739 --> 00:14:22.179 the Bible. 00:14:23.239 --> 00:14:24.019 Well, guys, can I say, 00:14:24.579 --> 00:14:25.419 could it be that God 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:26.699 is pursuing you by 00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:27.259 his spirit? 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:29.679 Could this stuff be 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:30.439 beginning to make 00:14:30.439 --> 00:14:31.500 sense because God is 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.679 at work in your life 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:34.239 transforming you? 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.399 Have a think about 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:36.739 that. 00:14:39.359 --> 00:14:40.299 But you were dead, 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:40.979 writes Paul. 00:14:42.979 --> 00:14:44.039 Here is mankind shown 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.479 to be totally inadequate 00:14:45.479 --> 00:14:47.379 to save themselves 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:48.719 apart from God's 00:14:48.719 --> 00:14:50.379 intervening grace. 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:51.679 Dead. 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:54.019 You know the thing 00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:54.679 about dead people? 00:14:56.299 --> 00:14:57.059 They can't make 00:14:57.059 --> 00:14:57.939 themselves alive. 00:14:59.199 --> 00:14:59.979 This isn't like 00:14:59.979 --> 00:15:01.740 Sherlock where he 00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:02.479 puts the squash ball 00:15:02.479 --> 00:15:03.039 under his arm, 00:15:03.099 --> 00:15:03.839 he stops the pulse, 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:04.659 he's declared dead, 00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:05.339 but he's not actually 00:15:05.339 --> 00:15:05.679 dead. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:08.319 Okay, this isn't like 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:09.379 your first aid certificate. 00:15:09.520 --> 00:15:10.100 I don't care what 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:11.160 qualification you have, 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:12.420 you cannot revive 00:15:12.420 --> 00:15:13.240 a dead person. 00:15:13.780 --> 00:15:14.580 Okay, no kind of 00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.280 Heinleck maneuver 00:15:15.280 --> 00:15:16.080 in one, two, three 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:17.080 is going to resuscitate 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:18.000 a dead person. 00:15:19.040 --> 00:15:19.760 A dead person's 00:15:19.760 --> 00:15:20.340 only hope, 00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:22.420 resurrection. 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:25.560 Only hope. 00:15:27.140 --> 00:15:27.879 Now that is pretty 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:29.560 bleak reading as we 00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:30.220 move on to our 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:30.900 next section. 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:33.680 The walk of darkness. 00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:35.060 And it leads us to 00:15:35.060 --> 00:15:35.760 ask the question, 00:15:35.880 --> 00:15:36.460 is that it? 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:39.060 What's going to 00:15:39.060 --> 00:15:39.820 happen next? 00:15:41.780 --> 00:15:42.500 Well, this is where 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.520 I want you to think 00:15:43.520 --> 00:15:45.640 of the first school 00:15:45.640 --> 00:15:46.280 disco that you 00:15:46.280 --> 00:15:46.960 ever went to. 00:15:48.280 --> 00:15:49.080 Okay, do you 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:49.500 remember that? 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:50.860 Boys, you maybe 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:51.920 put on a bit of 00:15:51.920 --> 00:15:52.600 your dad's Paco 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.000 Rabanne, 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:54.100 a bit of 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:54.720 bro cream in the 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:54.960 hair. 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.220 Girls, you maybe 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:56.680 borrowed your 00:15:56.680 --> 00:15:57.500 sister's lipstick 00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:58.360 for the evening, 00:15:58.780 --> 00:15:59.760 and you went to 00:15:59.760 --> 00:16:00.680 the village hall, 00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:02.060 and you went into 00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:02.840 the village hall, 00:16:02.900 --> 00:16:03.780 only to be greeted 00:16:03.780 --> 00:16:04.500 with the great 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:04.980 divide. 00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:06.260 Yeah? 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:07.660 Boys on this 00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:08.240 side of the hall, 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.200 playing keepy-ups 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:09.700 with balloons, 00:16:10.060 --> 00:16:10.580 if you were me, 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:11.879 and girls on this 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.480 side of the hall. 00:16:13.280 --> 00:16:13.860 And there was a 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:15.240 massive separation. 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.100 And the tension, 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:17.840 you could feel it, 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.440 it was palpable 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:19.080 in the room. 00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:20.260 The tension was, 00:16:20.300 --> 00:16:21.040 the question was, 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.500 who's going to 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:22.180 make the first move? 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.379 Who is going to 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:26.440 make the first move? 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:28.700 And as we leave 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.640 verse 3, 00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:30.400 that is the 00:16:30.400 --> 00:16:31.160 question that's 00:16:31.160 --> 00:16:31.420 there. 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:33.060 Who is going to 00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:34.000 make the first move? 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:35.320 Our sin has 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:36.780 separated us from 00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:37.079 God. 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:37.860 There's a massive 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.639 chasm there. 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.419 So who's going to 00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:41.059 make the first move 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:42.539 towards reconciliation? 00:16:45.439 --> 00:16:46.179 Well, we've just 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:46.879 seen, haven't we, 00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:48.220 quite categorically, 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:49.439 it wasn't us. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:51.000 It couldn't have 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:51.600 been us. 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:52.860 We were dead. 00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:54.459 It's not like we 00:16:54.459 --> 00:16:55.699 were crying out in 00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:56.639 God's direction for 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.079 forgiveness. 00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:57.819 We weren't trying to 00:16:57.819 --> 00:16:58.559 make ourselves look 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.179 pretty before God. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:00.919 In fact, the 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:02.019 opposite is true. 00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:03.240 that we were 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:03.919 shoving God's 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.839 kindness back in 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:05.299 his face. 00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:06.039 We wanted nothing 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:06.779 to do with him. 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.559 We preferred the 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.039 darkness. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:10.859 So who's going to 00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:11.779 make this first move 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:14.019 towards reconciliation? 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:14.920 Who's going to 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.639 make the first move 00:17:15.639 --> 00:17:16.980 to bring people 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:18.160 back to God? 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:21.000 Well, this is where 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:23.680 Paul pens two of 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.579 the most beautiful 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:25.559 words that you'll 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.660 find anywhere in 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:26.980 Scripture. 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:29.559 If you've got an 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:31.579 ESV, it just 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:33.240 reads, but God. 00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:36.640 But God. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.480 The two words on 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.160 which the whole 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.000 future of the 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.220 human race rests. 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.620 And it hits you, 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.319 doesn't it, given 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:44.940 everything that's 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:45.680 gone on before? 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:48.160 We were dead in 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:48.980 our transgressions 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:50.160 and sins, but 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:51.059 God. 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:53.700 We were enslaved, 00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:55.620 but God. 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:57.639 We were condemned, 00:17:58.419 --> 00:18:00.119 but God. 00:18:00.699 --> 00:18:01.179 Do you see how 00:18:01.179 --> 00:18:01.759 that works? 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.019 That God is the 00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:04.759 one who makes the 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.759 first move towards 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.419 reconciliation. 00:18:07.699 --> 00:18:08.719 Praise God that 00:18:08.719 --> 00:18:09.739 it's him who 00:18:09.739 --> 00:18:10.659 steps forward in 00:18:10.659 --> 00:18:11.299 grace and it's 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.000 him that comes 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.679 down to us. 00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:15.179 You know, when we 00:18:15.179 --> 00:18:15.959 weren't looking for 00:18:15.959 --> 00:18:17.059 him, he came 00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.379 looking for us. 00:18:18.439 --> 00:18:19.059 This is what it's 00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:19.839 telling us. 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:21.539 That God is the 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.819 loving pursuer. 00:18:23.739 --> 00:18:24.859 That God is the 00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:26.959 gracious initiator. 00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.479 And God is the 00:18:29.479 --> 00:18:30.179 one who changes 00:18:30.179 --> 00:18:31.599 absolutely everything 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:34.419 but God. 00:18:35.479 --> 00:18:36.000 You know, let's 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.299 read verses 4 to 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:37.939 10 and we'll see 00:18:37.939 --> 00:18:38.740 how this works. 00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:41.119 Paul writes this, 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:42.119 God. 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:46.299 But because of his 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:47.979 great love for us, 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:51.259 God, who is rich in 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.759 mercy, made us alive 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:54.379 with Christ even 00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:55.319 when we were dead 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:56.419 in transgressions. 00:18:56.919 --> 00:18:59.019 It is by grace you 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:00.059 have been saved. 00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:02.899 And God raised us up 00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:04.559 with Christ and seated 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:06.059 us with him in the 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:07.059 heavenly realms in 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:09.039 Christ Jesus in order 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:09.839 that in the coming 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:11.940 ages he might show 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.920 the incomparable 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.819 riches of his 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:15.839 grace expressed in 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:16.819 his kindness to us 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:17.680 in Christ Jesus. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.579 For it is by grace 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:21.559 you have been saved 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.619 through faith and 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:23.619 this is not from 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:24.659 yourselves, it is the 00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:25.619 gift of God. 00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:27.559 Not by works so that 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:29.180 no one can boast. 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:31.119 For we are God's 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:33.279 handiwork created in 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.500 Christ Jesus to do 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:36.539 good works which God 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:37.819 prepared in advance for 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:39.059 us to do. 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.500 So what has God done? 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.740 See verse 6. 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:47.159 God has done in our 00:19:47.159 --> 00:19:48.460 lives exactly what he 00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:50.559 did to Jesus back in 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.539 chapter 1 and verse 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:51.960 18. 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.700 Have a little look at 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.039 it there. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.559 God made Jesus alive, 00:19:56.139 --> 00:19:57.079 he makes us alive. 00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:59.779 He seated Jesus in 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:01.919 the heavenly realms and 00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:03.119 he seats us with Jesus 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:04.179 in the heavenly realms. 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.919 God's power raises 00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:07.779 Jesus from the grave and 00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:09.700 the same power raises 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:11.460 us from the spiritual 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.039 grave. 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.379 We were dead, God has 00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:15.259 made us alive. 00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:17.639 We were condemned, now 00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:18.720 God has saved us. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:20.099 We were enslaved to the 00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:21.200 flesh, now God has 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.500 freed us from its grip 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:25.259 and he's seated us, us 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:28.039 with Christ above every 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:29.099 rule and authority and 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.519 power. 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.480 What's the point, 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:31.779 caller? 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:34.559 We share in Christ's 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:34.859 victory. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.700 If we are in Christ, we 00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:39.519 share in his victory. 00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:42.779 And this is something I 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.599 noticed this week. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.579 Notice that it's in the 00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:45.599 plural all the way there. 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.099 It's us. 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.619 So Paul's including 00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:49.879 himself in this. 00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.539 It's us. 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:53.099 And I think something that 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:53.779 hit me this week, this 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:55.559 has implications for the 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:56.299 way that we deal with 00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:56.720 one another. 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:58.299 You know, I caught 00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:59.339 myself this week, every 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.640 time that I was tempted 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.480 to gossip about 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:03.299 something, every time I 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.160 was tempted to speak 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:06.460 badly of someone, every 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.759 time I was tempted to 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.720 belittle someone. 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.480 And guys, listen, I still 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.240 struggle with that. 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.180 Don't think that just 00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:12.980 because I'm standing up 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.960 here makes me immune from 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.500 those struggles. 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:16.640 But I'd reminded myself 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:17.700 that that person that I 00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:18.559 was thinking about, 00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:20.059 actually somebody that 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:20.799 God's raised from the 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:21.019 world. 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:23.400 God has put his spirit in 00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:23.940 that person. 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.819 So who on earth am I to 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:26.500 belittle them? 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.819 To gossip about them. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.660 To try and put them 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:28.900 down. 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.400 Do you see how that has 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:31.500 implications for us in 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:31.900 this room? 00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:33.600 Have a think about that. 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:34.299 The next time you're 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.240 tempted to do something 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:37.200 about that, actually 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:38.079 that's the reality of 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:38.519 what you're doing. 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:43.319 He has seated us with 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:44.259 Christ. 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:45.480 You know, there's that 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:47.339 famous quote from C.S. 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:47.759 Lewis. 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.779 An inquirer came up to 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.660 him and he asked him to 00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.740 summarize the difference 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:53.039 between Christianity and 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.500 every other religion in 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:54.860 the world. 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:56.460 Maybe it's a question 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.539 that you've got this 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:57.860 morning. 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.340 And Lewis said it's 00:22:00.340 --> 00:22:00.960 simple really. 00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:02.799 It's the difference 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.980 between do and done. 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.640 All the other religions 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.980 in the world, it's about 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:09.100 making your way up to 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:10.480 God by your good works. 00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.480 But somehow we can make 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.980 our way up the ladder 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.799 to God. 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.319 I hope, if anything, 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.240 you've seen the futility 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:18.319 of that in these verses 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:18.900 this morning. 00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:21.280 But Christianity is not 00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:22.320 about us going up the 00:22:22.320 --> 00:22:23.220 ladder to God. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:25.200 Actually, it's about God 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.019 coming down the ladder 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:27.160 to us. 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:30.120 Our salvation is based 00:22:30.120 --> 00:22:31.180 on what Jesus has done 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:31.860 for us. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.600 His atoning work on the 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.759 cross is he takes our 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:37.180 filth, the death that we 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.180 deserve to die, and he 00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:39.340 gives us his righteousness. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.440 It is not in what we can 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:42.280 do for ourselves. 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:44.720 What has God done? 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:46.000 He's saved us by his 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.440 grace. 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:49.319 Friends, this should 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:50.519 humble us. 00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.299 Do you see how we can 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:55.619 take absolutely no credit 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.680 for our salvation? 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:59.960 That we absolutely have no 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:01.819 boast about the fact that 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.440 we're Christians. 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:04.160 It wasn't like we performed 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.460 well enough for God to be 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:07.240 impressed by us, and he 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:07.980 chose us. 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:10.079 Do you see how God gets 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:11.160 all the credit here? 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:14.379 It should humble us, and 00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:15.639 it should also cause to 00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:17.259 dwell up within us a deep, 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:20.639 deep gratitude, a heart of 00:23:20.639 --> 00:23:21.660 thankfulness. 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.899 It's a wow factor that 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:23.940 Paul's going for here, that 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:25.899 God saved us, us. 00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.099 Wow. 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.359 And do you see as well how 00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:31.879 this massively takes the 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:32.680 pressure off? 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:38.319 We're free to take off our 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:40.579 masks and stop pretending 00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:42.019 that we're perfect people. 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.180 Two reasons for that. 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.519 First of all, because we're 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:45.799 not. 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:48.180 And second of all, if you 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:49.180 think about it, doesn't it 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:50.339 rob Jesus of his glory? 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:52.839 You know, actually, if we've 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.859 added something to our 00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:56.539 salvation, if we added 5% and 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:58.379 God was 95%, then actually we 00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:59.460 can take some credit for the 00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.220 fact that we're Christians. 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.920 But if we take off the mask 00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:04.759 and we say, actually, amazing 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.220 grace saved the rich like me. 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.399 Do you see how God gets all the 00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:08.000 glory of that? 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:10.460 That Jesus has glorified, not 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.279 me. 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.500 There's something practical I've 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.700 tried to do this week every 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:16.920 time I've come to pray, is I've 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:19.339 just simply gone, but God. 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.319 But God. 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:22.420 You can do it, but God. 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.660 I don't know how you pray, but 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.440 you can do that. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:26.460 Just reminding ourselves of what 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:29.400 God has accomplished for us, all 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:30.200 by grace. 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.700 Why has God done this? 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.860 Because he's a loving, heavenly 00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:34.240 father. 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:36.340 Do you see how that works? 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.779 Verse 4, the adjectives that 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.460 Paul uses. 00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:41.600 What's driving this whole 00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:44.039 salvation venture is the great 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:46.340 love that God has for us. 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.180 You know, I used to think of God 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:50.620 a bit like the, I'm quite into 00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:51.539 football, you may have guessed 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:51.759 that. 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:54.080 I used to think of God like the 00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:54.799 football referee. 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:57.340 Actually, he's there just to spoil 00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:58.819 my fun and he's just there to 00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.460 keep the score. 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:01.779 He is somebody to be 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:03.640 begrudgingly obeyed, certainly 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.200 not enjoyed. 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:07.180 Maybe that's your opinion of 00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:07.880 God this morning. 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:10.980 Well, can I ask you, is this the 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:12.380 God that you see Paul describing 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:12.740 here? 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:17.019 God's rich in mercy. 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:19.960 God's rich in grace. 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.700 Why does he love us? 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.340 He loves us because he loves us 00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:24.460 because he loves us. 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:26.680 Actually, do you see how he's not 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.259 the referee? 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:29.440 He's the one who steps in off the 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.879 sidelines and gets involved in my 00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:32.940 mess, gets his hands dirty to save 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.160 me. 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.680 You know, Rico Tice in the 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:37.200 Christianity Explored course, he 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.079 puts it like this. 00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:40.460 You are more sinful than you ever 00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:42.859 realized, but you are more loved 00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:44.379 than you ever dreamed. 00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.559 But you see, there's another reason 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.500 that God saves us. 00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.980 And I wonder if you remember doing 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:53.299 show and tell at school. 00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.900 I certainly do. 00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.880 Maybe you brought in your pet 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.280 budgie. 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:58.580 Maybe it was your ninja turtle 00:25:58.580 --> 00:25:59.320 figurine. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.580 Show and tell at school. 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:03.000 Something that you were proud of 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.480 that you wanted to show the rest of 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.660 the class and tell them the story 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.220 behind it. 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:10.500 Well, these verses tell us that God's 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.740 doing a show and tell with his 00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.519 church of the world. 00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:16.300 Every single person that God has 00:26:16.300 --> 00:26:19.100 saved is a trophy of his amazing 00:26:19.100 --> 00:26:19.980 grace. 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:23.120 I don't know if you've ever thought 00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:24.660 about that, that God's intention for 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:26.680 Brunsfield Evangelical Church is that 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:29.099 he can showcase his incredible grace 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:29.740 to the world. 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:34.180 As he does a resurrection job on dead 00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:34.579 people. 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:38.519 As he forgives and transforms outrageous 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.680 sinners like us. 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:43.259 As people see that, his grace shines 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.019 forth. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:46.680 Maybe you're here this morning and like 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.980 Paul alluded to earlier. 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.580 We didn't even talk about this 00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:51.519 beforehand so it must be something in it. 00:26:52.320 --> 00:26:55.060 If you have a hard time believing 00:26:55.060 --> 00:26:56.180 that God loves you. 00:26:56.860 --> 00:26:58.680 If you have a hard time believing that 00:26:58.680 --> 00:27:01.160 grace really is sufficient for you. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:03.740 Well, can I ask you from this passage 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:05.039 to look around. 00:27:06.100 --> 00:27:07.019 You can do it. 00:27:07.080 --> 00:27:07.539 Move your neck. 00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.060 Look around. 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:11.720 This is a community of grace. 00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.460 None of us 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:16.259 have earned 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.700 our right in God's kingdom. 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.720 This is all grace. 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:21.059 And this is a place where it's okay 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.700 not to be okay. 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:24.980 Grace. 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.899 If you don't believe me, listen to Mumford 00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:28.359 and Sons. 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.460 They put it like this. 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:32.980 It seems that all my bridges have been 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:33.319 burnt. 00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:35.299 But you say 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:38.279 that's exactly how this grace thing works. 00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.539 It's not the long walk home 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:42.039 that will change this heart. 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:44.359 But the welcome I receive 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:45.720 with the restart. 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.159 Amazing grace. 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.500 What should be our response? 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.220 We'll see that God saves 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:53.319 every Christian 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:55.619 in order that they might do good works. 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:59.419 Saves them so that they can do good works. 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:01.379 So important we get that order right. 00:28:02.419 --> 00:28:04.180 I hope you've enjoyed the Exodus series 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.000 that we've been going through 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:06.180 the last few mornings. 00:28:06.580 --> 00:28:08.140 Taking a little break from it for a while. 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.539 We'll go back to it in a few weeks. 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:10.720 And we'll see them 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:12.440 being given the law 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.380 by God. 00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:15.039 So this is what 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:16.019 is happening here. 00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:17.080 God saved them 00:28:17.080 --> 00:28:18.120 and he's saying 00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:19.500 because you're my holy people 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:21.200 this is how I want you to live. 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.400 And notice that it's not 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:24.220 the other way around. 00:28:25.080 --> 00:28:25.900 It's not that 00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.420 you 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.680 obeyed me. 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:29.039 You lived up to my standards. 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.460 Therefore 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:30.820 I think you're worthy enough 00:28:30.820 --> 00:28:31.539 to be saved. 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.140 No, no, no. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.060 It's grace. 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:37.000 And it's the same for us. 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:40.120 God saved us 00:28:40.120 --> 00:28:41.420 and he says 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:42.180 live for me. 00:28:42.820 --> 00:28:44.279 This is how I want you to live. 00:28:44.360 --> 00:28:45.120 And do you see how it's a 00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.279 worshipful response? 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.279 We are 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.500 God's workmanship 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:52.220 at verse 10 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.360 created in Jesus 00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:54.820 for good works. 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:56.220 Good works that you'll notice 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:57.259 that God has prepared 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.680 beforehand for us to do. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.500 So these works that we're doing 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.759 we can't even take the credit 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.200 for them 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:02.960 because it's God 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.980 that's prepared them 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.700 for us to do. 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.160 You know, 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:08.379 I know a lot of you here 00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:09.379 are in that transition 00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:10.339 stage of life. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:11.440 You know, 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.500 maybe you're a graduate. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.480 Maybe you're leaving uni 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.000 this summer. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:15.140 You're going somewhere else. 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:17.640 Maybe your job's finishing up 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.519 and you're about to move on 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.299 from this city. 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.519 Well, 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:20.859 can I 00:29:20.859 --> 00:29:22.579 encourage you to see 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.599 the wonderful promise 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:24.599 here at verse 10? 00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:27.319 That whatever you go on 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:27.779 to do 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:29.919 you can walk sure 00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:30.619 knowing that God 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.740 has gone before you 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.879 and that 00:29:32.879 --> 00:29:33.899 no matter what you 00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:34.579 encounter there 00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:35.899 he has got good works 00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:36.819 for you to do 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:39.220 in that new situation. 00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:40.259 He knows what you're 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.839 going to face. 00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:41.659 He's prepared works 00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:42.180 for you to do 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:43.000 and you can trust him. 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:47.460 So sovereign and gracious 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:49.460 is God's 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:49.860 that he's 00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:51.480 prepared good works 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.019 for us to do. 00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:52.860 I find that incredible 00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:54.860 and I find that 00:29:54.860 --> 00:29:56.700 amazingly humbling. 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.420 So do you see 00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:59.519 the contrast in walk 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.259 as we bring this thing 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.980 to a close? 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.240 Verse 2 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:03.360 we're walking in darkness 00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:04.279 without a hope. 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.220 Verse 9 and 10 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.480 we're walking in grace. 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:09.200 We're walking in 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.840 good works. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.799 What an amazing God 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.279 we serve. 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.299 What an amazing God 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:15.880 that we know. 00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:18.000 Now let's finish 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.640 by going back 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.440 to the voice. 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:20.820 Is the voice 00:30:20.820 --> 00:30:21.880 theologically sound? 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.700 That's our question. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.600 Well what picture 00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.460 is Paul painted 00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.780 in Ephesians here? 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:32.320 Can we do anything 00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:33.620 to earn our way 00:30:33.620 --> 00:30:34.460 onto God's team? 00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:37.320 Is God the harsh judge 00:30:37.320 --> 00:30:38.220 who's got his back 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:38.880 to us? 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:41.260 Did we earn our way 00:30:41.260 --> 00:30:42.520 onto his team 00:30:42.520 --> 00:30:43.560 by performing 00:30:43.560 --> 00:30:44.200 well enough? 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:46.240 And are we 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.460 outwith God's 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.420 love 00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:49.640 and grace? 00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:52.039 No, no, 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.400 no, no. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.460 Do you see 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.220 this picture 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:57.259 in Ephesians 2? 00:30:57.360 --> 00:30:57.799 Do you see 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.980 how we're the contestant 00:30:58.980 --> 00:31:00.080 that's dead on the floor? 00:31:01.080 --> 00:31:01.580 Do you see 00:31:01.580 --> 00:31:02.620 how God is the one 00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:04.000 who turns towards us 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:04.799 in grace? 00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.539 Do you see 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.380 how God is the one 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.100 who breathes 00:31:08.100 --> 00:31:09.380 new life into us? 00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:10.840 And do you see 00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:11.600 how God is the one 00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:12.400 who tells us 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:13.640 for the rest of our days 00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.720 to sing a song 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.840 of worship to him 00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:16.820 telling the world 00:31:16.820 --> 00:31:18.000 how incredible 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:19.019 his grace is? 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:21.420 This is our great God. 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:23.880 You know, 00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.400 one of the songs 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:25.300 I've been listening to 00:31:25.300 --> 00:31:26.620 in preparation for this, 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:27.280 I don't know if that's 00:31:27.280 --> 00:31:28.060 too small to read. 00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:28.600 If it's not, 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.580 I'm going to read it out. 00:31:30.540 --> 00:31:31.060 It's called 00:31:31.060 --> 00:31:32.240 Grace Unmeasured. 00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:33.560 It's a sovereign grace song 00:31:33.560 --> 00:31:34.280 that we used to sing, 00:31:34.360 --> 00:31:34.860 Alex and I, 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:35.340 at our church 00:31:35.340 --> 00:31:36.100 back in Bristol. 00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:37.519 And I've been listening 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.420 to it this week 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:38.940 and I just think 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.519 it's so poignant. 00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.440 Let me read it to you 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.160 as we close. 00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:44.779 Grace Unmeasured, 00:31:44.860 --> 00:31:45.820 vast and free, 00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.680 that knew me 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.559 from eternity, 00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:50.720 that called me out 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.680 before my birth 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:53.039 to bring you glory 00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:53.820 on this earth. 00:31:54.860 --> 00:31:55.940 Grace amazing, 00:31:56.120 --> 00:31:57.019 pure and deep, 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.420 that saw me 00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:59.279 in my misery, 00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:01.320 that took my curse 00:32:01.320 --> 00:32:02.820 and owned my blame 00:32:02.820 --> 00:32:04.400 so I could bear 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.539 your righteous name. 00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:07.600 Grace abounding, 00:32:07.840 --> 00:32:08.580 strong and true, 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.900 that makes me long 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:11.100 to be like you, 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.920 that turns me 00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:14.320 from my selfish pride 00:32:14.320 --> 00:32:15.440 to love the cross 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:16.440 on which you died. 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.680 Grace unending 00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:19.800 all my days, 00:32:20.300 --> 00:32:21.360 you'll give me strength 00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:22.580 to run this race. 00:32:23.620 --> 00:32:24.620 And when my years 00:32:24.620 --> 00:32:25.880 on earth are through, 00:32:26.800 --> 00:32:28.019 the praise will all 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:29.080 belong to you. 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:31.660 Let's pray together 00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:32.300 as we close. 00:32:32.300 --> 00:32:32.360 Amen. 00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:32.420 Amen. 00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:41.360 Father God, 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.019 we worship you, 00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:42.200 Lord, 00:32:42.280 --> 00:32:43.880 for your outrageous grace. 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.620 Thank you that you are 00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:47.500 the God of all grace. 00:32:48.080 --> 00:32:49.540 You have shown us favor, 00:32:49.820 --> 00:32:50.060 Father, 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.580 sinful and disobedient 00:32:51.580 --> 00:32:52.740 people like us. 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.120 Lord, 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.140 I pray for us this week 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:56.120 that you would help us 00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:57.800 grasp grace more. 00:32:57.799 --> 00:33:00.659 I pray that you would 00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:03.519 help us love grace more. 00:33:04.379 --> 00:33:05.379 And I pray that you would 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:07.039 transform our lives 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:07.960 by grace 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:09.639 more and more 00:33:09.639 --> 00:33:10.720 into the image 00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:11.379 of your Son, 00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:12.240 Jesus Christ, 00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.779 in whose name we pray. 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:14.599 Amen. 00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:14.699 Amen.