WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication,

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 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church.

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 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org.

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 The reading today is from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4, verses 1 through 16.

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 I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of calling to which you have been called,

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 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

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 eager to maintain the unity of spirit and the bond of peace.

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 There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.

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 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,

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 who was over all and through all and in all.

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 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

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 Therefore, it says, when he ascended on high, he led a host of captives,

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 and he gave gifts to men.

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 In saying he ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?

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 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens,

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 that he might fill all things.

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 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers

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 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

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 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God,

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 to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

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 so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by waves

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 and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning,

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 by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

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 Rather, speaking the truth in love,

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 we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head,

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 into Christ, from whom the whole body,

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 joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,

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 when each part is working properly,

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 makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Thanks be to God.

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 Good morning, Christ Church.

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 First things first today, I want to wish you all a happy birthday.

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 Happy birthday, Christ Church.

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 Our church was born on April 16, 2006,

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 after about a year of raising funds

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 and moving the Garrett family and the St. Clair family here

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 and gathering a core team.

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 Our little church startup began in the Marsh Theater,

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 the Gaia Arts Building in downtown Berkeley on Shattuck and Alston.

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 And by God's grace, we're still here.

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 And we survived till our 18th birthday.

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 So thanks be to God.

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 After Easter each year,

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 if you've been here for a couple of Easter's,

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 you'll know that our preaching shifts from the four Gospels,

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 Gospels, and we moved to the Acts of the Apostles

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 and the letters of the New Testament,

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 and we go basically from celebrating the resurrection of Jesus

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 to then thinking out together the implications

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 and the consequences for what it means to be

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 his resurrection people.

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 So just as a reminder,

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 the risen Jesus spent 40 days

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 between his resurrection and his ascension,

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 and he was training and teaching his disciples

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 for church planting and church development.

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 And then the day of Pentecost came,

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 which he was preparing them for,

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 and the Holy Spirit was poured out,

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 and the gospel was proclaimed,

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 and many people were converted,

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 and the first church was born,

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 the church in Jerusalem.

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 And it launched this church planting movement

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 that would go out throughout the Roman Empire

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 through these appointed people

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 that Jesus gave to the church,

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 the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,

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 the shepherds, and the teachers.

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 And so over the next three Sundays,

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 we want to be thinking about the nature of this movement.

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 We want to look at some New Testament texts

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 that lay out some of the basic manual

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 and fundamental instructions

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 for being the church

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 that the resurrected Jesus launched

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 by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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 And our hope is that we can equip you

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 with a New Testament vision

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 of the nature and the purpose of the church,

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 and that you can see the gifts

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 that the Holy Spirit has given to each one of you

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 for building up that church,

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 and you can think about the ways

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 that your time and your talents and treasures

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 might be stewarded for the mission of the church.

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 The apostle Paul uses many different analogies

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 for the church.

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 He calls the church a bride,

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 a building, a commonwealth,

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 a family, a flock of sheep.

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 But his favorite analogy that he uses more frequently

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 than any of the others is the body,

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 the body of Christ.

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 And he mentions it four times in Ephesians 4.

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 So that's what we're going to be looking at today

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 and the next couple weeks.

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 And if you want to open those Bibles in your pews,

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 you can do that.

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 Page 946 is where we're going to be looking.

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 And the apostle Paul's writing to this little church plant

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 in the city of Ephesus around the year 62 A.D.

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 while he's in prison in Rome.

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 And he's basically saying to these friends

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 that here's what it means

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 to be the resurrection people of God.

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 Here's what it means to be the body of Christ.

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 And I'm going to attempt to just unpack this statement

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 over the next little bit.

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 That Christ's body is called.

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 Christ's body is triune.

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 And Christ's body is maturing.

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 Three things we want to think about the body of Christ.

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 It's called.

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 It's triune.

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 And it's maturing.

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 So let's start with the Christ's body is called.

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 And you can see here in chapter 4 verse 1 it says,

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 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,

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 urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling

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 to which you've been called.

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 A key to the exposition of the latter half of this epistle

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 is this word therefore

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 because it points us back to the first half of this letter

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 and emphasizes that the church,

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 the body of Christ,

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 is something which follows

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 as a logical conclusion

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 of what's gone before.

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 And what is that?

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 Well, Paul says,

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 therefore,

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 because of the outline

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 of God's eternal plan of salvation

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 that I gave to you in Ephesians 1, 2, and 3,

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 you are to walk worthy of the calling

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 to which you've been called.

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 So look back with me, if you will,

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 at Ephesians 1.

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 Ephesians 1, 3 says,

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 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

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 who has blessed us in Christ

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 with every spiritual blessing

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 in the heavenly places.

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 And he goes on in verse 7 and he says,

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 In him we have redemption through his blood,

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 the forgiveness of our trespasses

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 according to the riches of his grace.

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 Wow.

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 Wow.

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 So why did God choose to bless us

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 and redeem us and forgive us by his grace?

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 Well, he goes on and he says in verse 10,

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 He did this as a plan for the fullness of time

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 to unite all things in Christ,

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 things in heaven,

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 and things on earth.

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 So what he's saying is that the church,

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 the body of Christ,

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 cannot exist apart from

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 the Lord Jesus Christ himself

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 and apart from his work

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 of atonement

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 and redemption through his blood.

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 But then the question arises,

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 how do we enter into the church?

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 How do we enter into the body of Christ?

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 What's necessary for that to happen?

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 And the apostle goes on

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 in verse 12 of chapter 1.

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 He says,

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 We who were the first to hope in Christ

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 might be for the praise of his glory.

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 And in him you also,

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 when you heard the word of truth,

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 the gospel of your salvation,

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 and believed in him,

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 you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

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 This is how we enter into the kingdom of God.

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 You hear that word of truth.

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 You hear the gospel of salvation.

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 And as a result,

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 you believe it

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 and you place your hope

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 and your trust entirely in Jesus Christ.

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 This is what Paul means

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 when he says,

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 The calling to which you've been called.

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 Ephesians chapter 2

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 is basically an elaboration on this.

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 It's who is this apostle?

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 Who are the people

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 that this apostle is exhorting?

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 Well, he says in chapter 2, verse 1,

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 You all were dead

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 in your trespasses and sins

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 in which you once walked,

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 following the course of this world,

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 following the prince of the power of the air,

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 the spirit that is now at work

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 in the sons of disobedience.

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 That's what you all once were.

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 You were dominated by sin.

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 You were slaves of the devil.

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 You were spiritually dead.

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 He says in verse 3

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 that you were under the wrath

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 and condemnation of God.

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 That's what the church is.

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 The church is a gathering of people

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 who know that they could do nothing

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 for their salvation.

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 A people who are completely helpless

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 and hopeless

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 to bring about your reconciliation to God.

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 But thanks be to God

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 that now you are members of Christ's church,

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 his body,

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 solely because of what God has done to you.

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 You are the calling to you in Jesus

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 by the spirit.

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 It's the calling to which you've been called.

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 You following me so far?

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 I know this is a lot,

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 but you've got to understand the therefore.

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 So look at chapter 2, verse 4.

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 But God, being rich in mercy

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 because of the great love with which he loved us,

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 even when we were dead in our trespasses,

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 made us alive together with Christ.

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 By grace you have been saved.

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 You're a people who've been quickened

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 and who've been regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

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 That God has come and he's put new life into you

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 and he's given you the ability

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 to see the truth in Jesus

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 and the ability to then put your trust

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 and your weight upon him.

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 Verse 6,

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 and he's raised us up with him

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 and seated us with him

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 in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

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 The church is a people who realize

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 that you've actually been united

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 to the living Christ.

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 And you realize the implications

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 and the consequences

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 of the resurrection of Jesus for you.

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 That you're alive

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 and you're raised up with Jesus.

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 What Paul is saying

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 is that you are what you are

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 as a result of what God has done for you

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 and what he's done to you

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 and what he's done in you.

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 It's the calling

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 to which you've been called.

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 So when the apostle writes,

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 therefore,

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 he's pointing us back

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 to these great doctrines

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 that he's elaborated in detail

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 and he says,

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 you are a people

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 who've been saved

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 by the precious blood of Jesus.

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 You're a people

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 who've been regenerated by the Spirit.

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 You're a people

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 who've been given access

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 through Jesus

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 by the Spirit

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 to the Father, he says,

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 so that you can go there

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 whenever you want.

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 You've been brought

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 into God's kingdom,

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 into God's family,

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 into God's church,

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 into this body of Christ

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 on the basis of trusting in it

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 and living by these truths.

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 It's the calling

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 to which you've been called.

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 Therefore, Paul says,

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 walk worthy of that calling

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 to which you've been called.

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 Therefore, walk worthy

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 of that calling

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 to which you've been called.

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 God's gracious calling

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 bestows upon us

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 high privileges

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 and also high responsibilities.

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 You've been called

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 into these incredible blessings

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 of salvation,

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 so now there's a standard way

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 of life that corresponds

00:12:56.719 --> 00:12:58.159
 to that calling.

00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.379
 To walk worthy of it

00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:01.000
 means to walk

00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:02.159
 with an equal weight

00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.339
 and an equal balance,

00:13:03.459 --> 00:13:04.620
 that you've received

00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:05.240
 this calling,

00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:06.399
 so now balance out

00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.199
 that calling

00:13:07.199 --> 00:13:08.399
 with your character

00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:09.939
 and with your conduct.

00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:11.980
 And listen again

00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:12.559
 to what he says.

00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:13.299
 I therefore,

00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:14.919
 this is chapter 4, verse 1,

00:13:14.959 --> 00:13:15.379
 I therefore,

00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.500
 a prisoner for the Lord,

00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:17.240
 urge you

00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.679
 to walk in a manner

00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:19.759
 worthy of the calling

00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:20.740
 to which you've been called

00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:22.639
 with all humility

00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:23.459
 and gentleness,

00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:24.419
 with patience,

00:13:25.079 --> 00:13:26.100
 bearing with one another

00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:26.800
 in love,

00:13:26.940 --> 00:13:27.899
 eager to maintain

00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:29.180
 the unity of the Spirit

00:13:29.180 --> 00:13:31.399
 in the bond of peace.

00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:33.860
 The apostle's writing

00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:34.360
 to people

00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.080
 who've been called

00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:36.580
 into Jesus Christ,

00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:37.540
 and what's his appeal?

00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:39.040
 What's his exhortation

00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:39.540
 to them?

00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:40.759
 He says,

00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:42.279
 you ought to be a people

00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:43.120
 who are eager,

00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:46.000
 a people who make

00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.779
 every effort,

00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:48.460
 a people who strive

00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:49.519
 diligently

00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:51.660
 not to produce a unity

00:13:51.660 --> 00:13:52.960
 or to create a unity

00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:54.379
 or to achieve a unity,

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.500
 but you're to be eager

00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:57.360
 to maintain the unity

00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:59.159
 and to keep the unity

00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:00.460
 and to guard the unity

00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:02.120
 and to develop the unity

00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:04.100
 that the Holy Spirit

00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:06.399
 has created among those

00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:07.759
 whom God has called

00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:10.120
 into Jesus Christ.

00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:14.080
 So there is a unity

00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:16.480
 that is already in existence

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:18.419
 among those who've been called.

00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:20.860
 There's a unity of all those

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.679
 who've experienced

00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:22.699
 the calling

00:14:22.699 --> 00:14:24.679
 into this glorious reality

00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:26.059
 of the gospel message

00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:28.559
 that Paul has just unfolded

00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:30.199
 for us in Ephesians 1-3.

00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:32.659
 Now if you look around this room,

00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:33.299
 and I encourage you,

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.459
 you can turn and look around

00:14:34.459 --> 00:14:36.199
 and see who's seated around you.

00:14:36.219 --> 00:14:36.959
 If you look around,

00:14:37.459 --> 00:14:38.419
 everybody's afraid

00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:39.279
 to look around.

00:14:39.359 --> 00:14:39.739
 It's okay.

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:40.719
 You can look around.

00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:41.739
 You can move your head.

00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.199
 It's okay.

00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.479
 If you look around this room,

00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:46.019
 you probably see many people

00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:47.299
 that you don't know yet

00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.459
 or don't know well.

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:51.480
 But what I want to help you see

00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:53.940
 is that many of those people,

00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.460
 most of those people

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.280
 have been called

00:14:56.280 --> 00:14:57.800
 into Jesus Christ.

00:14:59.160 --> 00:15:00.300
 And if that's true,

00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:02.080
 then there's a unity

00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:04.180
 that already exists among you,

00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:05.879
 whether you like it or not,

00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.980
 because you share

00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:09.180
 a mutual calling

00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:10.620
 into Jesus Christ.

00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:12.580
 Now the Greek word

00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.879
 for the church is ekklesia,

00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:15.340
 which means the called,

00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:16.340
 the called out.

00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:18.700
 And that means that the church

00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:20.500
 are the called out ones,

00:15:20.660 --> 00:15:21.960
 people who've been called out

00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:23.240
 from your old life

00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:24.639
 into a new life

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.399
 in Jesus Christ.

00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:25.899
 People who,

00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:26.960
 as Paul says elsewhere,

00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:28.080
 have been called out

00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.440
 from the dominion of darkness

00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.139
 and brought into the kingdom

00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.840
 of the Son

00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:33.740
 that He loves.

00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:36.500
 And so when the apostle says,

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.440
 walk worthy

00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:38.980
 with humility

00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:39.780
 and gentleness

00:15:39.780 --> 00:15:40.540
 and patience

00:15:40.540 --> 00:15:41.340
 and forbearance

00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:42.660
 and love,

00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:44.000
 eager to maintain

00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.560
 the unity of the Spirit

00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:46.759
 and the bond of peace,

00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:48.619
 what he's saying is

00:15:48.619 --> 00:15:50.939
 don't allow anything

00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:52.839
 to disrupt

00:15:52.839 --> 00:15:53.879
 the unity

00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:55.479
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:57.000
 Don't let anything

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:57.759
 interfere

00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:00.319
 with the spiritual unity

00:16:00.319 --> 00:16:02.059
 into which you've been brought

00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:03.719
 by the calling

00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:05.539
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:16:06.939 --> 00:16:08.039
 So friends,

00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:08.559
 our task,

00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.559
 our task

00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:13.219
 is to do no harm

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:14.420
 to the unity

00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:15.259
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.040
 Our task

00:16:16.040 --> 00:16:17.120
 is to be eager

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.879
 to make this invisible unity

00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:21.019
 of the Holy Spirit

00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:21.759
 a visible

00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:23.200
 and tangible reality

00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:24.300
 in the life

00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:25.360
 of the church.

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.320
 Now what does that mean

00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:28.220
 for so many of us

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.040
 who do not yet

00:16:29.040 --> 00:16:30.300
 know one another?

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:31.860
 Well the apostle

00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:32.639
 is exhorting us

00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.580
 to be eager

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:35.100
 and make every effort

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:36.440
 and to strive diligently

00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:38.120
 to maintain

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.440
 the unity of the Spirit

00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.720
 and the bond of peace.

00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.860
 And so the first step

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:43.740
 is that we just need

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.940
 to get to know each other.

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:48.779
 And we need to get

00:16:48.779 --> 00:16:49.639
 to know the other people

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:50.600
 that have been united

00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:51.340
 together

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.399
 because of their shared

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.460
 and mutual calling

00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:54.840
 into Jesus Christ.

00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.620
 And here are some

00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.259
 of the opportunities

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.080
 we have

00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:58.139
 to maintain

00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:58.980
 the unity

00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.720
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.379
 First of all,

00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.139
 I want you to know

00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.560
 we gather here

00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:03.399
 every Sunday

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:05.460
 and you are encouraged

00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.059
 to come

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:07.299
 every time.

00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:09.000
 And in fact,

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.559
 many of you came

00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.440
 at 10.15

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.419
 on Easter Sunday.

00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:13.460
 You can do that

00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:14.839
 every Sunday of the year.

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:17.559
 And I want you to know

00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:18.980
 that you are welcome

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.779
 to not sit

00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.819
 where you normally sit.

00:17:20.919 --> 00:17:21.399
 You can sit

00:17:21.399 --> 00:17:22.460
 by someone different,

00:17:22.659 --> 00:17:23.599
 somebody you don't know.

00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:24.659
 You can look for people

00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:25.659
 before, during,

00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:26.599
 and after the service

00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.740
 and you can go

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.440
 talk to them.

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.579
 You can talk to them.

00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:30.819
 Secondly,

00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:32.839
 do not run for the exits

00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:34.039
 at the end of the service

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:36.000
 but plan to linger.

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.200
 Plan to make yourself

00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.519
 available to know

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.639
 and be known

00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:41.740
 over our coffee hour,

00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:43.079
 over our lunch time

00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:44.099
 on a monthly basis.

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.159
 And when you gather

00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:45.899
 around those tables

00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:46.599
 later today,

00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:47.819
 you can talk about

00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.220
 the weather,

00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:49.059
 you can talk about

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:49.559
 the warriors,

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.240
 that's great.

00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.519
 But ask questions.

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.119
 Tell me about

00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:55.039
 your spiritual journey.

00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:56.279
 Tell me how

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:58.039
 I can pray for you.

00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.819
 Third thing is

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.559
 I would encourage you

00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.299
 to engage

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:02.079
 in opportunities

00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:02.720
 this spring

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:04.200
 like our dinners for four

00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:05.600
 and our Saturday morning

00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:06.259
 work day

00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.700
 and our loaves

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.640
 and fishes ministry,

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.519
 our second Wednesday

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.920
 prayer meeting.

00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:12.660
 Third thing is

00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:13.319
 if you're not yet

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:14.600
 part of a ministry team

00:18:14.600 --> 00:18:15.259
 here on Sundays

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:15.880
 where you serve

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.480
 once a month,

00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.880
 you can join one today.

00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.180
 If you're not yet

00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:20.160
 part of a community group

00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:21.519
 that's restart in August,

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.640
 plan to join one.

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.079
 And the last thing

00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.539
 I'd say is

00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:25.940
 be proactive

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:27.140
 and take initiative

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:28.420
 to invite people

00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:28.920
 to dinner,

00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:29.920
 go for a walk,

00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:30.860
 grab coffee,

00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:32.219
 so that spiritual

00:18:32.219 --> 00:18:33.500
 friendships can form.

00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:35.500
 These are some

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.740
 of the small ways

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:38.419
 that we can walk

00:18:38.419 --> 00:18:39.619
 worthy of the calling

00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.719
 to which we have been

00:18:40.719 --> 00:18:42.339
 mutually called.

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:43.819
 And these are really

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.559
 simple ways

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.699
 that we can be eager

00:18:45.699 --> 00:18:46.919
 to maintain

00:18:46.919 --> 00:18:48.179
 the unity of the spirit

00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:49.699
 in the bond

00:18:49.699 --> 00:18:50.919
 of peace.

00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:52.979
 Christ's body

00:18:52.979 --> 00:18:54.240
 is called.

00:18:54.979 --> 00:18:55.500
 You with me?

00:18:56.219 --> 00:18:57.339
 Christ's body is called.

00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.119
 I don't know

00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:58.699
 if you're with me.

00:18:59.400 --> 00:18:59.660
 Okay.

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.000
 Stop now.

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.480
 Alright.

00:19:03.600 --> 00:19:04.420
 Christ's body is called

00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:05.220
 but Christ's body

00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:06.420
 is also triune.

00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:08.259
 Christ's body is triune.

00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:08.900
 Now you really

00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:09.600
 got to buckle up

00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:10.140
 for this part.

00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:11.019
 Okay.

00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:12.120
 The apostle goes on

00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:13.319
 to describe the nature

00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:14.380
 of the church's unity

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:15.100
 that's produced

00:19:15.100 --> 00:19:16.620
 by the Holy Spirit.

00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.420
 And here's what he says

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.160
 in verse 4.

00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:18.620
 He says,

00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:19.580
 there is one body

00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:20.360
 and one spirit

00:19:20.360 --> 00:19:21.900
 just as you were called

00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:22.759
 to the one hope

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.860
 that belongs to your call,

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.539
 one Lord,

00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:25.279
 one faith,

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.360
 one baptism,

00:19:26.600 --> 00:19:27.120
 one God

00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:27.959
 and Father of all

00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:28.879
 who is over all

00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:29.699
 and through all

00:19:29.699 --> 00:19:31.639
 and in all.

00:19:32.699 --> 00:19:33.399
 Now notice

00:19:33.399 --> 00:19:34.759
 the exalted way

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.879
 in which the church,

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.000
 the body of Christ

00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.659
 is described.

00:19:38.699 --> 00:19:40.059
 It's not just a question

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.459
 of our friendliness

00:19:41.459 --> 00:19:42.659
 or our fellowship

00:19:42.659 --> 00:19:43.639
 or our desiring

00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.419
 to hang out

00:19:44.419 --> 00:19:45.139
 with one another

00:19:45.139 --> 00:19:46.859
 and do life together

00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:47.500
 but rather

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.739
 life together

00:19:48.739 --> 00:19:49.519
 in the church

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:51.099
 is lifted up

00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:52.059
 into this realm

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.979
 of the blessed

00:19:52.979 --> 00:19:54.059
 holy trinity,

00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:54.899
 spirit,

00:19:55.639 --> 00:19:55.979
 Lord,

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:56.759
 and Father.

00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:58.519
 The church

00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.160
 in her unity

00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.480
 is not to be conceived

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:02.640
 in merely human terms

00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:05.259
 of our own organic relationship

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:08.079
 or our own organized structures

00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:09.799
 but rather the church

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.519
 is to be seen

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.620
 in terms of the God

00:20:11.620 --> 00:20:12.940
 who is three persons

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:14.019
 yet one being.

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.160
 And we are to have

00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:17.420
 a God-centered,

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:19.620
 God-focused vision

00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.779
 of the church.

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.680
 Observe that this word one

00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:25.820
 is used seven times

00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:26.720
 in these three verses.

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:29.560
 There is one body

00:20:29.560 --> 00:20:32.180
 produced by one Holy Spirit.

00:20:33.320 --> 00:20:34.340
 Now the unity

00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:35.220
 and the oneness

00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.000
 of the body

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.900
 and the church

00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:39.100
 is like what we find

00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:41.039
 in the physical body,

00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.019
 Paul says.

00:20:43.600 --> 00:20:44.880
 My body is not

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:46.019
 this loose grouping

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:48.220
 of mechanically attached parts.

00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:48.920
 You know,

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.100
 my head's not stapled

00:20:50.100 --> 00:20:50.900
 onto my neck

00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:52.800
 and my arms not sewn on

00:20:52.800 --> 00:20:54.300
 to my torso

00:20:54.300 --> 00:20:55.880
 like Frankenstein.

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.140
 No,

00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:57.800
 the marvel

00:20:57.800 --> 00:20:58.380
 and the mystery

00:20:58.380 --> 00:20:59.200
 of the human body

00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.380
 is that while it consists

00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:01.820
 of many different parts

00:21:01.820 --> 00:21:03.660
 with all these various functions,

00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:05.560
 they're all one.

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.920
 They're all bound together

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.600
 in a vital,

00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:09.960
 organic union.

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:12.280
 It's not that I have fingers

00:21:12.280 --> 00:21:13.840
 stuck onto my hand

00:21:13.840 --> 00:21:14.780
 and then hands

00:21:14.780 --> 00:21:15.840
 stuck onto my arms

00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:18.240
 and arms stuck onto my shoulders.

00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:21.079
 It's that all these parts

00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:23.200
 came out of an original cell,

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:24.920
 one germ of life

00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:27.839
 and all of these parts of me

00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:29.440
 are extensions

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.720
 and manifestations

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.200
 of the life

00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.140
 and the vitality

00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:34.660
 of my head.

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.759
 Of my head.

00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:39.319
 So to what does the apostle

00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.539
 compare the life

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.120
 and the unity

00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:42.559
 of this body?

00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.059
 He says,

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.240
 the unity of the body

00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:45.920
 of the church

00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:47.779
 is like the unity

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.839
 that characterizes

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:50.319
 the blessed Holy Trinity.

00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.859
 The oneness of the body

00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:54.680
 is like the oneness

00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:55.460
 of the Spirit,

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.339
 the Lord,

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.180
 and the Father.

00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.460
 This mystical union

00:21:58.460 --> 00:22:00.000
 between the Father,

00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:00.519
 Son,

00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.599
 and Holy Spirit

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.579
 from all eternity,

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.599
 three in one,

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.120
 one in three,

00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:06.440
 that is the unity

00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:08.000
 that exists

00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.819
 in the body

00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:10.099
 of the church.

00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:13.079
 Each of those three persons

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:14.779
 and the one Godhead

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:16.480
 play a part

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.939
 in creating the life

00:22:17.939 --> 00:22:19.500
 and producing the unity

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:21.579
 of the church.

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:24.059
 And look at what Paul says

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:24.559
 in verse four.

00:22:24.659 --> 00:22:24.899
 He says,

00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.839
 there's one body

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.639
 and one spirit

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.539
 just as you were called

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.480
 to one hope

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:30.199
 that belongs to your call.

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.299
 The Holy Spirit

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:34.399
 calls us into the unity

00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:34.960
 of the body

00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.179
 by convicting us

00:22:36.179 --> 00:22:37.419
 and regenerating us

00:22:37.419 --> 00:22:38.579
 and enabling us

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.139
 to believe

00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:40.659
 and he gives life

00:22:40.659 --> 00:22:41.319
 and power

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.519
 to the body

00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.200
 and he enters

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.139
 into us

00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:45.660
 and he gives us

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.839
 that one hope

00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:47.940
 that belongs

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:49.279
 to your call.

00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.960
 That one hope

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:52.139
 is that the Lord Jesus

00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:53.379
 is going to come again,

00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:55.039
 that he's going to judge

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:56.359
 evil and sin

00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:57.139
 in the world,

00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.059
 that he's going to

00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.980
 renovate the world,

00:22:59.079 --> 00:22:59.779
 he's going to raise

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.339
 our bodies,

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.180
 he's going to set up

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:01.980
 the kingdom of God

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.920
 finally and fully

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:04.279
 and we are going to reign

00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:05.059
 with him in glory.

00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:06.799
 That's the one hope

00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:08.859
 of the one spirit

00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:09.720
 that he creates

00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:11.139
 in the one church.

00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.559
 And he goes on

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.039
 and he says

00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:15.420
 there's one Lord

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.839
 and there's one faith

00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:18.460
 and there's one baptism.

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.680
 The unity of the church

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.839
 comes from the conviction

00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:22.759
 that there's only

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:24.639
 one Lord of this world

00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:25.500
 and that's Jesus.

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:28.099
 As the apostle Peter

00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:29.619
 preaches in Acts chapter 4,

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:29.940
 he says,

00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:31.019
 salvation is found

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:31.960
 in no one else

00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:33.680
 for there is no other name

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.279
 under heaven

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.299
 given to people

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:37.339
 by which we must be saved.

00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.900
 That's how you know

00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:40.879
 you're part of the church.

00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:42.060
 When you're gathered together

00:23:42.060 --> 00:23:43.200
 with people who believe

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:45.660
 that the absolutely unique

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.660
 son of God

00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:47.980
 is the only mediator

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.000
 with God

00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.060
 and that he saved us

00:23:50.060 --> 00:23:51.240
 by his cross

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:52.160
 and he's been raised

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:52.740
 from the dead

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.800
 and that's what makes him

00:23:53.800 --> 00:23:55.200
 the one Lord.

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:58.040
 And then there's one faith.

00:23:59.380 --> 00:24:01.120
 Justification by faith.

00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:02.980
 That our Lord

00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:03.880
 took our unrighteousness

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:06.240
 onto himself

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.500
 and he took his righteousness

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.920
 and put it onto us

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:10.340
 and the way that we receive that

00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:12.660
 is simply by faith.

00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:15.400
 And then there's one baptism.

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.400
 That we're no longer

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.180
 in the realm

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:19.019
 or in the kingdom

00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.380
 of Adam

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:22.140
 but now we've been

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:23.539
 taken out of that realm

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.380
 and we've been baptized

00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.640
 into the kingdom

00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:27.460
 and into the realm

00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.560
 of Jesus.

00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:30.680
 One body,

00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:31.920
 one spirit,

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.180
 one hope,

00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:34.880
 one Lord,

00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:35.960
 one faith,

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:37.319
 one baptism,

00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:38.940
 one God

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.600
 and Father

00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:40.640
 of all.

00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:42.140
 And he says that

00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.200
 God and Father

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:43.880
 is exalted

00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.900
 over the church,

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:47.279
 his life and power

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:47.840
 is at work

00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:48.799
 through the church

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:50.400
 and his presence

00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.559
 dwells right here

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:53.319
 within the church.

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:54.799
 Whoa.

00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:57.019
 Now you might be saying

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.740
 my goodness

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:59.120
 why is our pastor

00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:00.420
 giving us this

00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:02.100
 high flying theology today?

00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:02.640
 I only had

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:04.019
 one cup of coffee.

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:06.579
 But here's the thing.

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.680
 Most of our troubles

00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:10.079
 and most of our problems

00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:10.839
 in life

00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:12.059
 arise chiefly

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.680
 from the fact

00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.660
 that we persistently

00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.740
 start with ourselves.

00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.759
 And one of the main

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.660
 results of sin

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.779
 is that we put ourselves

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.420
 at the center

00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.579
 and we spend time

00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:23.240
 thinking about ourselves

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.720
 and all of our personal

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:26.079
 and individualistic

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.619
 interests and pursuits.

00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.980
 But what the New Testament

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.139
 does is it pulls us

00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:32.299
 right out of ourselves.

00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:33.960
 And it says that

00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.819
 you've been called

00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:35.839
 into the mystical

00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:37.319
 spiritual

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.700
 eternal body

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:40.399
 of Christ himself

00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:42.839
 of which each one of us

00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.919
 is just one tiny

00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:44.619
 little part.

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.059
 And all

00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.779
 as the three

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.839
 blessed persons

00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.579
 of the glorious

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.519
 holy trinity

00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.419
 are one

00:25:51.419 --> 00:25:53.720
 so we who worship

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.399
 and belong

00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:55.379
 to the triune God

00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:56.079
 are likewise

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.099
 of necessity

00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:58.299
 one

00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.079
 and we better do

00:25:59.079 --> 00:25:59.639
 nothing

00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.619
 to damage

00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:02.039
 that oneness.

00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:04.019
 you see

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:05.299
 it's by looking at

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.899
 and it's by believing in

00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:08.319
 and it's by being amazed

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:10.220
 by the triune God

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:12.119
 in his work of salvation

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.119
 that we will

00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.659
 maintain the unity

00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:15.279
 of the spirit

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.359
 and the bond of peace.

00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:17.480
 And if we look

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.240
 at anything else

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.779
 that unity

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.819
 is going to get destroyed.

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.819
 You see

00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.339
 the church

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:23.039
 and her unity

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:25.240
 is the consequence

00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:27.379
 of our belief

00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:29.160
 and of our participation

00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:30.240
 in this great

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.920
 and glorious doctrine

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:34.060
 that God the Father

00:26:34.060 --> 00:26:35.620
 has provided

00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.440
 in his son

00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.740
 the way of salvation

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:39.740
 and he mediates

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.460
 that salvation

00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:42.040
 through the operation

00:26:42.040 --> 00:26:43.640
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:26:43.780 --> 00:26:44.640
 And if we truly

00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:45.300
 understood

00:26:45.300 --> 00:26:46.320
 and we truly live

00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:47.740
 by this doctrine

00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.860
 of the triune God

00:26:48.860 --> 00:26:50.800
 any idea

00:26:50.800 --> 00:26:52.260
 of self-seeking

00:26:52.260 --> 00:26:54.220
 of self-importance

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:55.519
 of self-interest

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.460
 which is completely

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:56.980
 lacking

00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:58.279
 in God himself

00:26:58.279 --> 00:27:00.420
 any of those things

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.579
 that would

00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.319
 would disrupt

00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:03.140
 and resist

00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.200
 the unity of the church

00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:05.079
 would be utterly

00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:06.339
 unthinkable

00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:07.839
 and impossible

00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.559
 for us.

00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:12.440
 So Christ's body

00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.619
 you gotta know

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.500
 that Christ's body

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.440
 is called

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:17.119
 and you're only part

00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:17.579
 of that body

00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.599
 if you've been called

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:20.419
 and Christ's body

00:27:20.419 --> 00:27:21.240
 is triune

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.919
 and you're only part

00:27:21.919 --> 00:27:22.359
 of that body

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.299
 if you believe

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.319
 in this God

00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.500
 I'm describing to you.

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.339
 But the last thing is

00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:30.319
 that Christ's body

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.579
 is maturing.

00:27:32.679 --> 00:27:33.339
 Christ's body

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.059
 is maturing

00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:35.220
 and I wish we had

00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.819
 more time

00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.899
 for the rest

00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:37.379
 of this text

00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:38.539
 but here's the big

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:38.859
 idea.

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.359
 You notice

00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:41.000
 these key words

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:42.159
 that are in verses

00:27:42.159 --> 00:27:43.099
 7 to 16

00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:44.339
 and the words

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.079
 are mature

00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.619
 and grow.

00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:48.119
 Mature

00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:49.619
 and grow.

00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:52.139
 Now Jesus himself

00:27:52.139 --> 00:27:52.859
 said in the gospel

00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.879
 of John chapter 3

00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.619
 he said the way

00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:55.159
 that we enter

00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:55.700
 into the kingdom

00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.240
 of God

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.319
 is that we're born

00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:57.740
 again.

00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.279
 We're born from above.

00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:00.480
 We're born as he says

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.940
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.539
 And when we're born

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.359
 again like that

00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.599
 we begin as infants

00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:08.039
 who drink milk.

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:10.359
 But we need to grow

00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:12.119
 and become toddlers

00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:13.559
 who eat solids.

00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:15.059
 And then we need

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:16.000
 to keep developing

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.039
 so that we're teens

00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.940
 we're kids

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.759
 and then we're teens

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.819
 and we mature

00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.500
 all the way up

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.899
 into full adulthood

00:28:21.899 --> 00:28:23.299
 where we eat meat

00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:25.700
 or a vegan substitute

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.639
 beyond burgers

00:28:26.639 --> 00:28:27.539
 whatever.

00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:30.680
 But the stress here

00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.740
 is on how important

00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:32.539
 it is

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:34.519
 as the apostle says

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.740
 to no longer

00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.839
 be children.

00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:39.039
 We're to no longer

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:40.259
 be children.

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:41.559
 In fact

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.579
 we're to develop

00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.400
 through these

00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.200
 different stages

00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.579
 into what he's describing

00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.799
 as grown up

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.460
 Christianity.

00:28:47.639 --> 00:28:48.079
 Mature

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.220
 Christianity.

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.920
 As an individual

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.339
 Christian

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.579
 and as different

00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.440
 parts of the

00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.139
 corporate body

00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:55.799
 of Christ

00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:57.700
 the apostle says

00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:58.519
 we in verse 13

00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.139
 are to become

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:00.519
 mature

00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:02.400
 attaining

00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:03.280
 to the whole

00:29:03.280 --> 00:29:03.920
 measure

00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:05.240
 of the fullness

00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:07.120
 of Jesus Christ.

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.060
 And he says

00:29:09.060 --> 00:29:09.680
 in verse 15

00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.620
 that we're to grow

00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:11.220
 and become

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.640
 the mature body

00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.220
 of him

00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.340
 who is the head

00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:15.440
 that is

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.400
 Christ.

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.740
 So this body

00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.640
 is to grow

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:20.460
 and to develop

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.500
 and to mature

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.460
 under

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.280
 and like

00:29:23.280 --> 00:29:24.360
 its head.

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.060
 And when each

00:29:26.060 --> 00:29:27.040
 individual part

00:29:27.040 --> 00:29:27.580
 of the body

00:29:27.580 --> 00:29:28.800
 is spiritually

00:29:28.800 --> 00:29:29.460
 healthy

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:31.200
 then the whole

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.700
 body

00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.700
 will be

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.519
 complete

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.340
 and will be

00:29:34.340 --> 00:29:35.059
 functional.

00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:36.680
 It will be

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.779
 rightly aligned

00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.279
 he says.

00:29:38.340 --> 00:29:38.620
 It will be

00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.140
 properly

00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:40.279
 adjusted.

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:40.819
 It will be

00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:41.240
 fully

00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.100
 developed

00:29:42.100 --> 00:29:43.259
 and proportionally

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:44.259
 balanced

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.360
 and harmoniously

00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:46.299
 coordinated

00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.900
 under

00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:48.200
 the head

00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.079
 and conformed

00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:49.920
 to the likeness

00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:51.420
 of its head

00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:52.360
 which is

00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:52.980
 Jesus.

00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:55.579
 Now how does

00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.019
 a child

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:57.039
 mature into

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:58.259
 the fully

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:58.740
 grown

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.240
 and fully

00:29:59.240 --> 00:29:59.779
 developed

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.460
 adult?

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.400
 And how do

00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:02.900
 Christians

00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:03.559
 and how do

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:04.339
 parts of the

00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:05.039
 body of Christ

00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:05.960
 mature into

00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:06.599
 the fullness

00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:08.119
 of the head?

00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.440
 In other words

00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.059
 how do all the

00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:11.799
 limbs and the

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.119
 organs

00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:12.839
 how do all

00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.720
 the fingers

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.519
 and the toes

00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.220
 how do all

00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.720
 the little

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:17.140
 parts of the

00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:17.559
 body

00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.740
 become filled

00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.619
 with the life

00:30:19.619 --> 00:30:20.920
 and the energy

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:23.019
 of the head?

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.400
 Well Paul says

00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:26.319
 the way to

00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:27.359
 that kind of

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:27.900
 maturity

00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:28.340
 and that

00:30:28.340 --> 00:30:28.720
 kind of

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.240
 life

00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:29.560
 and that

00:30:29.560 --> 00:30:29.900
 kind of

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.500
 growth

00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:31.580
 happens in

00:30:31.580 --> 00:30:32.080
 the body

00:30:32.080 --> 00:30:34.340
 through what

00:30:34.340 --> 00:30:35.080
 he says in

00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:35.740
 verse 15

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:36.840
 speaking the

00:30:36.840 --> 00:30:37.700
 truth in

00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:38.120
 love.

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.320
 We grow by

00:30:40.320 --> 00:30:41.019
 speaking the

00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:42.259
 truth in

00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:42.700
 love.

00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.280
 Now this has

00:30:44.280 --> 00:30:44.700
 been so

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.340
 profoundly

00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:47.220
 misinterpreted

00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:48.340
 and misunderstood

00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:49.280
 so just

00:30:49.280 --> 00:30:50.380
 bear with me

00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:51.900
 to put it

00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.480
 negatively

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.259
 the apostle

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.900
 Paul is not

00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:54.320
 saying

00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:55.240
 you'll grow

00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:56.080
 into the

00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:56.720
 maturity of

00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.380
 Christ by

00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:58.339
 being kind

00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.180
 being friendly

00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:00.279
 being nice

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.339
 speaking honestly

00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:02.380
 but lovingly.

00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:04.299
 The apostle is

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.200
 not exhorting

00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:07.140
 us to say

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:08.059
 kind friendly

00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:08.860
 honest things

00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:09.519
 and love to

00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:09.980
 one another

00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.579
 though you

00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.140
 should definitely

00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:11.799
 do that.

00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:15.019
 This is not

00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:16.160
 at all a vague

00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:17.279
 or nebulous

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:18.160
 or amorphous

00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:19.620
 sentimental notion

00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:20.720
 of just be nice

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:21.400
 and you'll grow.

00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:23.940
 literally what

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.800
 the apostle says

00:31:24.800 --> 00:31:26.240
 is truthing

00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.120
 in love

00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:27.980
 we grow.

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.320
 Truthing

00:31:30.320 --> 00:31:31.180
 in love

00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:32.300
 we grow.

00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:32.759
 Let's say it

00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.000
 together.

00:31:33.580 --> 00:31:34.180
 Truthing

00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.120
 in love

00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:36.019
 we grow.

00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:36.660
 That is

00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.700
 holding on

00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.300
 to the truth

00:31:38.300 --> 00:31:38.940
 of the gospel.

00:31:39.800 --> 00:31:40.420
 Professing

00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:40.860
 the truth

00:31:40.860 --> 00:31:41.460
 of the gospel.

00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.340
 Discussing

00:31:42.340 --> 00:31:42.860
 the truth

00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:43.820
 of the gospel.

00:31:44.080 --> 00:31:44.700
 Walking out

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.259
 the truth

00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:45.900
 of the gospel.

00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:46.800
 That's how

00:31:46.800 --> 00:31:48.160
 we grow up.

00:31:48.320 --> 00:31:48.600
 It's how

00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:49.719
 we mature

00:31:49.719 --> 00:31:51.099
 as the body

00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:51.939
 that has

00:31:51.939 --> 00:31:52.599
 Jesus as

00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:53.059
 its head.

00:31:54.439 --> 00:31:55.119
 And he says

00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:55.579
 we are to

00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:56.019
 hold on

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.579
 to something

00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.559
 particular

00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:58.379
 and something

00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:59.159
 definite.

00:32:00.379 --> 00:32:00.819
 He says

00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.099
 we're to

00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:01.679
 hold on

00:32:01.679 --> 00:32:02.240
 to the

00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.799
 truth

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.519
 with a

00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:03.939
 capital

00:32:03.939 --> 00:32:04.719
 T.

00:32:05.639 --> 00:32:06.259
 The truth

00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:06.799
 revealed

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.659
 by God.

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.079
 The truth

00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:08.639
 recorded

00:32:08.639 --> 00:32:10.139
 in the

00:32:10.139 --> 00:32:10.459
 scriptures.

00:32:10.659 --> 00:32:10.959
 We're to

00:32:10.959 --> 00:32:11.740
 truth these

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:12.240
 things in

00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:12.639
 love.

00:32:13.939 --> 00:32:14.639
 We are to

00:32:14.639 --> 00:32:15.619
 truth the

00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.299
 inspired

00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:17.000
 authoritative

00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.779
 doctrines

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.819
 and ethics

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:20.539
 that

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.460
 have been

00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:22.139
 given by

00:32:22.139 --> 00:32:22.339
 the

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:22.759
 resurrected

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.240
 Jesus

00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.579
 through

00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:24.839
 his

00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.379
 apostles,

00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.160
 prophets,

00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:27.000
 evangelists,

00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:27.539
 shepherds,

00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:28.139
 and teachers

00:32:28.139 --> 00:32:28.500
 in that

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:29.319
 first generation

00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:29.660
 of the

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.099
 church

00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:31.539
 which God

00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.160
 saw fit

00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:33.240
 to preserve

00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:33.740
 for us

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.299
 and record

00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:34.920
 for us

00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.519
 in the

00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:36.079
 infallible

00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:37.079
 word of

00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.339
 the New

00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:37.779
 Testament.

00:32:39.139 --> 00:32:39.680
 The apostle

00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.279
 says do you

00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:41.039
 want to be

00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:41.660
 a mature

00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:42.240
 person?

00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:43.859
 Do you

00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.319
 want to be

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:44.740
 a mature

00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.420
 body?

00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:48.740
 Get really

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.279
 good at

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:49.840
 truthing

00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:50.700
 in love.

00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.580
 Be about

00:32:53.580 --> 00:32:54.100
 truthing

00:32:54.100 --> 00:32:54.779
 in love

00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.900
 about the

00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:56.440
 person and

00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:56.800
 the work

00:32:56.800 --> 00:32:57.360
 of Jesus.

00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:58.380
 Be about

00:32:58.380 --> 00:32:59.060
 the truthing

00:32:59.060 --> 00:32:59.660
 in love

00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:00.980
 about his

00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.400
 atoning

00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:02.120
 sacrifice

00:33:02.120 --> 00:33:02.960
 and physical

00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.580
 resurrection.

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:04.960
 Continue to

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:05.539
 truth in

00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:06.039
 love

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:07.300
 justification

00:33:07.300 --> 00:33:08.420
 by faith

00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:09.000
 alone

00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.519
 and nothing

00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.000
 else.

00:33:10.800 --> 00:33:11.360
 Be really

00:33:11.360 --> 00:33:11.840
 good at

00:33:11.840 --> 00:33:12.340
 truthing

00:33:12.340 --> 00:33:12.980
 in love

00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:13.860
 the

00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:14.299
 ethical

00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:15.160
 imperatives

00:33:15.160 --> 00:33:16.200
 about

00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:16.740
 money

00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:17.720
 and sex

00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.720
 and power

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.440
 and all

00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:19.740
 the other

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.160
 things we

00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:21.299
 find in

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:21.700
 this New

00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:22.059
 Testament

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.000
 that shows

00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.319
 us how

00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:23.759
 to walk

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.339
 worthy

00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:25.019
 of the

00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.539
 calling

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.460
 to which

00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:27.299
 the church

00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:28.160
 the body

00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:28.900
 of Christ

00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:30.059
 has been

00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:30.620
 called.

00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:34.720
 Sermon's

00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.319
 almost over.

00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.460
 Questions for

00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:37.680
 you to

00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:38.039
 consider.

00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.299
 Are you

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:40.839
 growing in

00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:41.500
 this truth

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.240
 of the New

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:42.620
 Testament?

00:33:43.860 --> 00:33:44.539
 Do you

00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.000
 have more

00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.240
 of a

00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:46.920
 grasp on

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:47.480
 that truth

00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:47.819
 than you

00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.799
 had a

00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:49.339
 year ago?

00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.059
 Do you

00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:51.700
 understand it

00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:51.980
 better?

00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:52.460
 Are you

00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:53.599
 more able

00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:55.220
 to truth

00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:55.700
 the gospel

00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:56.319
 and love

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:56.920
 to the

00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:57.360
 other people

00:33:57.360 --> 00:33:57.759
 here in

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.299
 this church?

00:34:00.120 --> 00:34:00.900
 Does the

00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:01.259
 truth of

00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:01.779
 this gospel

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.380
 grip you

00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:02.880
 more and

00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:03.120
 more?

00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:04.799
 Do you

00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.059
 have an

00:34:05.059 --> 00:34:05.460
 increasing

00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.460
 sense of

00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:07.380
 wonder and

00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:08.240
 amazement and

00:34:08.240 --> 00:34:08.960
 astonishment

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:10.559
 that not only

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.159
 is this gospel

00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:11.820
 true but it's

00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:12.599
 true for you?

00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:14.280
 And have you

00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:15.119
 grown so much

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.500
 in your

00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.639
 character and

00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.320
 your conduct

00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.579
 that your life

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.539
 aligns to and

00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.559
 it conforms with

00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.360
 the truth?

00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:22.880
 The truth that

00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.740
 comes straight from

00:34:23.740 --> 00:34:25.539
 the head all

00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:26.260
 the way down

00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:27.320
 into his

00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:28.240
 body.

00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.099
 Brothers and

00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:30.500
 sisters,

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:33.639
 speaking the

00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.539
 truth in love,

00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.219
 we are to

00:34:36.219 --> 00:34:37.360
 grow up in

00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.099
 every way

00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:39.380
 into him

00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.599
 who is the

00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:41.059
 head

00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:42.679
 into

00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:43.239
 Christ.

00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.440
 May it be so

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:45.940
 in the name of

00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:46.380
 the Father,

00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:46.839
 Son,

00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:47.819
 and Holy

00:34:47.819 --> 00:34:48.179
 Spirit.

00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:49.079
 Amen.

00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:49.279
 Amen.